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The most impactful lesson I’ve learned in my 10 year Civil Engineering career and personal financial life is the power of action. In order to get ahead in your career and achieve the goals you have set out for yourself, you have to be willing to listen, learn, and act on the advice and counsel you receive.
Complaining won’t get you anywhere. It’s a waste of time.
If you’re interested in a position, career, business opportunity, etc., don’t be afraid to go for it. Complete your due diligence (develop a plan and seek out guidance), but don’t let the fear of failure stop you.
If you do fail, you will learn from the experience. Maybe it was as simple as a mistake you made along the way that can be easily fixed next time around. Or you discovered that this specific area of focus wasn’t for you, but another related area might be.
Table of Contents
Example 1: Action in my Own Life
When I graduated college and went to work for my first employer, I made a modest $40,000/year (give or take) and my wife (girlfriend at the time) had just quit her job to move to the area with me. Just for context, we live in a lower cost of living area, so this wasn’t a terrible income starting out.
Although a modest income, we were just starting out and didn’t have anything of our own. We rented an apartment in a cheaper part of town and everything we had was items that we had been given from our families for college.
If we wanted to cook from home we often had buy the tools, appliances, spices, etc. it took to make it.
If we wanted a little entertainment, it often meant doing something that is free or at least cheap enough that we could afford.
We quickly learned that living on $40,000/year was not terrible, but not where we wanted to end up. Because of this, I made a vow to myself that I would find a way to make a six-figure income, either by traditional means or multiple income streams, by the time I was 30.
I worked hard and looked for advice and counsel anywhere I could get it. I looked into various ways of making money including extra income opportunities (surveys, credit card churning, selling on Amazon), blogging, real estate, investing, etc.
What I Learned Along the Way
Through all of this hustling, I learned a lot of valuable lessons about what it takes to get ahead. I learned that relationships are paramount when it comes to moving up (hiring is more about trust and fit than experience in a lot of cases).
I was taught the importance of being your own advocate. You have to be willing to speak up for yourself to get ahead.
I also learned that my goal of making a six-figure income wasn’t nearly as difficult as I had first imagined.
I Failed, or Did I?
I’m older now, was able to secure a position with my dream company and have a six-figure income. So, I failed to meet the goal I set out for myself 10 years ago, but if I hadn’t pushed myself these past 10 years, I wouldn’t have learned about the possibilities that were out there just waiting to be taken advantage of. Also, I wouldn’t have achieved my goals just a few years later than planned.
Example 2: Acting on Advice from Someone Who is Already Successful
Meet John and Joe
In one of the offices I worked in, two of my direct reports were twin brothers. For anonymity lets call them Joe and John. Every day Joe and John would come to work on time, do the bare minimum, and leave. Every day they would both complain about their jobs, how much money they made, and how they needed a raise.
On several occasions they threatened to quit and pursue other jobs if they didn’t get a raise. On those occasions, I would sit them down separately, explain to them why they weren’t eligible at that time. I would also give them guidance on how they could achieve their professional and financial goals (I had been in the same position just two years prior). I would then let them know that as much as I would hate to lose them, I completely understand having to do what’s best for their careers and family.
Following these informal meetings, I would always track their progress to see if either had taken the guidance to heart. For 2 years, neither would take action. They would say they were going to, but then resort back to doing the bare minimum and complaining about their situation.
Joe Takes Action in His Professional and Financial Life
At about the 2 year mark, we had another one of our informal meetings and went over the same information. Following this meeting, I noticed that one of the twins, Joe, had started volunteering for harder assignments; would help others any way he could, even if it meant working overtime; and signed up for all of the recommended training and certification classes.
Right before I accepted a promotion at another office, Joe got the promotion he was looking for (and more) and has continued to move up since I left. John eventually got a raise, but never did earn a promotion.
Lessons Learned
Even though they were both given the knowledge to achieve their goals, the brother that succeeded was the one that took action.
It’s important to identify your dreams, create goals to achieve them, and create a plan, but you have to take action to live your dreams.
What can you do now to achieve your goals?
Is it learning more? creating or finalizing a plan? actually executing a plan?
Whatever is it, quit putting it off and take action now!