50 Pieces of Career Advice You Need to Hear

This article was originally published on CareerAddict.

Sometimes, we may know something to be true but still need to hear it from someone else, especially when we’re feeling a little stuck or unsure of ourselves. In a high-speed, ever-changing world, little reminders and nuggets of wisdom can be enough to get us moving forward when we hit a wall!

In this article, we’ve compiled a list of 50 tips on how to be successful at work, not just in a financial sense but in a more holistic way that touches your happiness, self-esteem and overall satisfaction. Here’s some of the best career advice we’ve come across!

1. Set clear goals

As minister and educator Benjamin Mays famously said, “The tragedy in life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.”

Setting specific, realistic goals for yourself is vital in progressing as a professional. Clearly defined goals act as a sort of compass, guiding your choices and informing your decisions. If you have no compass, you’re likely to end up wandering aimlessly!

2. Have realistic expectations

Inevitably, things at work sometimes get tough. And inevitably, sometimes you plateau. Or your focus disappears, or your motivation runs out. These things happen, and the more we resist them, the more tension we create for ourselves.

Instead, it’s better to practice acceptance. This doesn’t mean putting up with inexcusable behaviors, but rather accepting that roadblocks and dead ends are part of the journey.

3. Keep things into perspective

Perspective plays a huge role in how we feel, which in turns informs the way we think and act. Making mistakes at work, taking a risk that doesn’t work out or having a bad day (or month) for whatever reason doesn’t have to signify the end of the road. You have to keep going!

4. Practice gratitude

“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance,” says Eckhart Tolle, self-help guru and bestselling author of The Power of Now*.

Indeed, practicing gratitude has been shown to decrease anxiety and depression, contributing to improved overall health. And let’s be honest: at a time of sky-high levels of workplace stress, gratitude can be the antidote that helps us stay motivated and focused.

5. Keep learning

Albert Einstein said that “wisdom is not a product of schooling, but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.”

Indeed, lifelong learning is vital in keeping the mind young. Besides acquiring new information, it helps in replacing old beliefs with new ones, which is vital in growing as an individual and as a professional. Think of it as pruning a tree, making room for growth by removing unhealthy branches!

6. Question your beliefs

Things in life are hardly black or white. Our shared experience is full of nuances, and the more you challenge your beliefs, the better off you’ll be. What we tell ourselves plays a huge role in how we feel and act, and it can also dictate the course of our relationships, professional or not. So, stay curious and keep an open mind!

7. Take risks

Many of us reach a point where our role feels stagnant or otherwise unfulfilling. In moments like these, we have a choice: to stay in our comfort zone or pave a new path for ourselves.

So, start that company you’ve been dreaming of. Try breaking into a new industry. Give yourself permission to take risks. It’s essential to happiness!

8. Invest in your relationships

Human connections are a sort of magic ingredient to career advancement. The closer your bond with your coworkers (at least with some of them!), the better you’ll be able to handle challenges in the workplace — and that’s essential in progressing your career.

At the same time, making friends can also open doors down the line; if someone hears of an opportunity, they’ll think of you and put a good word in.

9. Be kind to others

Bryant McGill, bestselling author of Voice of Reason*, said: “Giving is the master key to success, in all applications of human life.”

Acts of kindness, even small ones, can boost our confidence, give us a precious sense of control and help us feel more connected to those around us. All of these things help in building resilience, which then benefits us in the workplace as well as outside it.

10. Leave work at work

We’re not saying that you should have a “clock-in, clock-out” mentality. But we are saying that compartmentalizing is important in preserving your mental health and avoiding ending up resentful towards your boss, clients or colleagues.

To achieve this, set healthy boundaries with yourself and others: no answering emails or calls outside of work hours, for example.

11. Don’t wish — do!

This one sounds simple, but it can be hard.

A lot of the time, we get in our own way without even realizing. We think of something we want to do and then we think of reasons not to. The thing is: we’ll never arrive to where we want to be unless we start taking steps.

12. Allow yourself to be bad at things

Advancing your career means doing things you’ve never done before. You can’t go from junior to senior to manager without ever acquiring new skills or knowledge, for example. And fear of failing or doing something that’s not “good enough” can stop us from taking chances that don’t come by often.

13. Forgive your mistakes

Being too harsh on yourself isn’t going to do you any favors when you’re trying to propel your career forward. Everyone makes mistakes: even the people you admire and strive to be like.

Instead of allowing self-defeating thoughts to take up most of your mental and emotional capacity, reframe your thinking around errors: see them as opportunities to learn and not as obstacles.

14. Keep a growth mindset

Someone with a rigid mindset is someone who thinks that intelligence and ability are unchangeable qualities. As a result, they’re less likely to take on challenges or listen to feedback, and tend to be intimidated when they see others succeed.

A growth mindset is the opposite. It’s being open to changes and trusting in your ability to grow and overcome challenges!

15. Know when to walk away

There comes a point both in our personal and professional lives when we outgrow people or situations. While this doesn’t mean leaving things behind at the first glimpse of something we dislike, we must have the willingness to be honest with ourselves and others.

If your work environment, partnerships or career path in general no longer fulfil or challenge you, it may be time to move on.

16. Learn to say “no”

Saying “yes” to everything you’re asked to do may seem like a good way to earn approval at work. But it will actually work against you.

Rather than frequently taking on tasks that aren’t your responsibility or staying late, it’s best to preserve your mental and physical health by setting boundaries. This way, you’ll have more energy and focus to spend where it matters.

17. Strive for balance

There’s a quote circulating the internet that says: “20 years from now, the only people who will remember you worked late will be your kids.”

While work is important, in that it can offer a sense of security, purpose and fulfilment, it shouldn’t take up all the space in our life. Resting, spending time with loved ones and having hobbies is vital to our wellbeing. This makes us more productive at work, too.

18. Make your voice heard

Whether it’s standing up for yourself, sharing an out-of-the-box idea or presenting in front of an audience, making your voice heard is a good way to build your confidence and resilience. At the same time, it can also help you form stronger professional connections!

19. Be the bigger person

Over the course of your career, you’ll come across all sorts of people. Some you’ll love, some you’ll hate. But being respectful to everyone equally (unless they straight-up disrespect you) is going to work in your favor. Keep your composure in disagreements and let things slide where you can… Even if on the inside you’re doing it purely so you don’t give someone the satisfaction of knowing they got to you!

20. Know your worth

When you’re at the beginning of your career, it’s easy to sell yourself short. However, self-doubt can lead to you getting the short end of the stick later in life, too, never quite receiving what you deserve.

When you know your worth, people can’t take advantage of you. You set the rules.

21. Ask questions

When we’re young, our teachers and professors love to tell us that “there are no silly questions”. As adults, we sometimes forget that, and we end up overthinking or keeping ourselves in the dark.

Asking questions opens up dialogues between you and your colleagues. This can enhance collaboration, improve efficiency and even help you think more critically.

22. Don’t wait for the perfect moment

As existential philosopher Simone de Beauvoir said: “Change your life today. Don’t gamble on the future; act now, without delay.”

It’s true: the future may never come as we envision it, and (usually) we’ll never be 100% ready to take a chance, regardless how long we wait.

23. Network

Whether done online or in person, the benefits of networking are plenty: besides helping you access job opportunities, your contacts can offer you new insights, ideas and advice to move your career forward.

Networking also boosts people skills and confidence, which are key in career progression.

24. Learn to prioritize

Prioritization skills are essential to career advancement. This doesn’t refer only to prioritizing tasks at the office, but also prioritizing in your personal life. When you need rest, for example, carve time out of your day for it. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, schedule in a catch-up with your closest friends.

25. Take breaks

One of the most important things you must do sometimes in order to be great at your job is to not do your job. Taking breaks from work goes beyond resting physically, however; mental and emotional breaks are necessary, too.

Give your body and mind the chance to recharge and process, even when you feel like you don’t really “need” to. It’s best to be proactive with some things!

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