Challenges of the young professional

The workplace can be a difficult terrain to navigate for any and everyone. It does not matter if it is a blue collar construction job or a white collar administrator role. Every position and environment has their own challenges. Throw in a new batch of college or high school graduates into the mix and you have an interesting mix of dynamics in the work place. Being a young professional in the workplace myself, here are some first and second hand illustrations of potential challenges and how to get through them.

A common struggle is the matter of being discounted due to age. Everyone has a beginning and needs to learn but after a while, skills are obtained and innovations and insights are developed. For those who are young (or in some cases young looking) there is a need to take an extra step and work a little harder to establish credibility. You’re a seasoned, skilled professional with years of valuable experience under your belt. These tips can make sure all of those things shine through at work—even if your gray hair doesn’t.

Navigating the professional world can be a little tough so it is important to have a career plan and set yourself in the trajectory to reach your career goals via advocating for yourself and setting clear cut goals for yourself. Build your network and share your motivation with your manager/supervisor to help with crafting an action plan to get you where you want to be. Even if you’re starting your own business make sure to get connected and voice your aspirations with those who are and have been where you want to go.

Another important aspect in being a young professional is presenting yourself as such from your dress style, email and text etiquette, and how you communicate with others in a working capacity. That includes leaving the slang at the door during work hours because not everyone in the office is privy to the lexicon used on Instagram and other social media. Do not overconpensate by acting cocky but yet if you are skilled let it be on display in a way that doesn’t make you seem arrogant. And above all else be patient and humble and deliver constant results to show that despite your youthfulnes, you are a force to be reckoned with and the sky is the limit.

To the young and the young in heart I encourage you to use these principles and see how far they take you. Often times I hear “I’m/you’re too young/old” I am a believer that that is a crutch that is used to hold us back from your dreams. If a 20 year old can become a music producer and make over $160,000 a year, or a 80 year old pass the New York bar exam or start a business at 30 anything is possible. It all depends on the willingness to make things happen and the hunger to not stop until the goal is met and when the goal is reached they exceed it! Until next time readers. Excelsior!

A matter of the mind

In life you will come across different points of view on an argument, contrasting worldviews, and limiting beliefs that hold people back. What does this have to do with personal development you might ask? Simply put, looking at things from a different perspective and adapting a different mindset can help shape your way of thinking and how you adapt to changes or challenges presented in life

A prime example of how a mind set can help with priming you for success would be this video i came across in regards to one’s “inner game” and their ability to power through obstacles and get things done. Often times i hear things such as “i can’t” or ” i don’t know if i can” and my response is typically “yes you can” and “what makes you think you cant?” to challenge this limiting belief someone may have presented.

Limiting beliefs are things that can hold up back from where we need to be in life. Beliefs such as “I’m too young/old” i have an article that challenges that. “I don’t have the skill set or know how” there are hundreds of resources out there to educate yourself on different subject matters such as workshops, seminars and free classes for those who might pursue something without going for a degree. There are even websites like khan academy that are available for free for people to learn things such as coding, grammar, history etc. I am a firm believer of finding like minded people to collaborate ideas with to come up with innovative new ideas. Finding mentors to help you get to where you need to get to the next level of life and i strongly encourage finding one to help you push yourself to that level. Above all else, try and fail. You cannot learn without trial and error because when you have an error you can treat it as a learning experience to use for the next challenge. Do not be afraid to try for fear of failure but embrace it and treat mistakes and failures as something to use in obtaining wisdom for yourself those who follow after you.

The world is vastly changing in the digital age. There are more resources on the web, in person and even courses one could take to better a skill set or give people the starting tools for a new chapter in life. But it starts with having a mind to be open and willing to absorb the material required to get to the next level of success in your adventure of life. In my own experience I’ve trained with some of the best people in my position, took on some self study in my own time and above all took time and developed a system that works for me through trial and error to help me become a top producer in my position at work during my first few months. I had to challenge things i knew and didn’t know and learn from the best and find a way to take my game to the next level. Beforehand i had limiting beliefs that held me back on my overall workflow and production and once i obtained the training, self study, experience and getting a mentor I haven’t looked back since. Anyone can do it and so can you!

Challenging and changing one’s inner game is imperative to reaching the next level of success for whatever you are seeking to obtain in life. If you can change your mindset into what it needs to be to reach new heights you’ll find that those limiting beliefs are merely lead shoes that weigh you down. Remember change your mindset from limited to limit breaking and you will see results. Don’t wait what better time to start than right now. Excelsior!