Six Beliefs that Held Back My Success

When I graduated from school, I had a single objective: get a job. Eventually, it happened, but it wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. I ended up working in roles different than I expected. Soon enough, I would find myself taking a role adjacent to the field I wanted to be in. I felt I was steps away from making a breakthrough, but I wasn’t fully satisfied.

I followed the path that was expected of me. Still, I didn’t feel successful. I found myself unable to advance in my career while feeling a sense of demotivation. There was no clear path for my development, and the next logical step didn’t seem appealing.

At some point during your career, you’ll realize that you need to take success into your own hands. For me, this meant shedding the traits and beliefs that halted my progress. I needed to perform a self-audit and question my behaviors that had become routine. As a result, I realized that I had to change my perspectives and approach my career differently.

Defaulting to Education

When struggling to find a job in my field, my default response was to go back to school. This is the path I was encouraged to follow as a young adult, even if it gave me work and left me with student loan debt. Much of my frustrations resulted from the expectation established during my studies, so going back to school seemed counterintuitive.

Of course, all jobs have qualifications. You need to be in a position where you can get hired, but too much schooling will make you overqualified. Sometimes, it’s better to get out and do things. If you want to be a writer: write. If you want to be a developer: develop. If you want to be a podcaster: podcast. Classes can be beneficial, but information isn’t important if it isn’t put into practice.

Looking for a Straight Path

Many people have career aspirations, but they seldom have “entry level” in the job description. This doesn’t discredit these positions, because they can provide great experiences and be steps in the right direction. After a couple of years working, people can feel as if they shouldn’t take an “entry level” role. It can be tempting to try to move upwards, but many people have non-linear career paths.

If you have a long-term goal, you might need to take a few steps back before you can move forward. At the moment, this can be a hard decision, but it can have great benefits when looking at your entire career. In the end, you are the person who defines your own success. Career titles can change, but you’re the only one who knows what’s best for your unique situation.

Feeling Like an Imposter

Imposter syndrome has been a buzz-worthy term over the past few years, but there’s certainly some merit to the concept. Many fully-qualified individuals feel unworthy of their roles because they believe they’re unqualified compared to their peers. Anyone can feel this way, but it’s especially prominent among people who have switched careers.

People who feel like imposters are also the ones who care significantly about their careers. Often, they’ve worked hard to earn those positions and fear they won’t be qualified. However, non-traditional backgrounds still have value. If you’ve put in the work to get hired, you can put in the work to excel in that role. It can be hard to shake the feeling of being an imposter, but the fact that you’re employed should be a reminder that your skills have value.

Striving to Be Perfect

When trying to advance your career, it can be hard to admit that you have some faults. Nobody is perfect, but everyone wants to appear to be the best. When talking to other professionals or interviewing for jobs, it seems like you shouldn’t admit your faults. When listening to them talk, you can tell when people are trying way too hard to look perfect.

I’ve been that person, and I’ve come to learn it didn’t reflect my skills properly. It’s OK to admit that you have weaknesses or you need to improve in some areas. As long as you have demonstrated the ability to acquire skills and can convey your passions, you don’t need to be perfect. It’s better to be flawed and ambitious than a flawless robot.

Comparing Myself to Others

If you scroll through social networks, it will be easy to find people who hold the positions you desire. They’ll flaunt them proudly while your latest experiences aren’t as desirable. While jealousy creeps in, it’s easy to forget that these profiles overlook struggles. They focus on successes and paint an overly positive picture. This land of comparison is a place where motivation goes to die.

As much as I’d like to say I’ve outgrown my comparison mentality, I can still find myself slipping into the habit. Unless these people are mentoring me, the act of comparison serves no purpose other than making me feel inferior. This is one of the cases I’ve needed to approach with a rational mind. By design, many people are going to have better job titles than you. Comparing yourself to those people won’t make you any better, nor will it make people view you more favorably. It’s best to stop yourself in the act because it turns into a slippery slope.

Relying On Others

Ultimately, you are in the driver’s seat when it comes to your success. Some people may have the power to transform your career, but nobody is giving you a handout. You need to work toward making progress, and you’re not entitled to anything.

This advice doesn’t mean you shouldn’t reach out to others. In fact, many people want to be helpful and are willing to share advice. Every small piece of information you receive should be met with gratitude, and you should be willing to connect with others. Still, you need to hold yourself accountable. You are in control of your own development and should never assign that responsibility to others.

Redefining My Success

Sometimes, you need to relinquish expectations and reassess your meaning of success. When I was a student, I felt I needed to travel a specific path. Once I entered the workforce, I discovered that path isn’t always straightforward.

Fortunately, I was able to pivot when necessary. The process was often hard, but I eventually took control of my own path to success. Sometimes I needed to take steps backward, and other times I needed to be my own source of strength. There’s no doubt this can be a challenging endeavor, but every accomplishment feels doubly rewarding.

As I continue to improve my skills, my concept of success has changed. I no longer define it with degrees or dollars. Rather, I focused on my output. I am proud of the skills I’ve acquired and the opportunities I’ve embraced. If I earn new job titles in the process, that is great. Otherwise, I can only be disappointed if I choose to be.