Questions to Ask Yourself if you’re Questioning Your Career Path

You’re not completely sold that you’re on the right career path, but the idea of making a change is daunting. There are so many unknowns, and we all know the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Plus, if you do decide to change course, you may have to take a step back to develop necessary skills .

The time and energy required to transition into the right career path may be valid concerns, but they shouldn’t stop you from pursuing a path you love.

Before you make a switch of your own, ask yourself the following three questions.

1. Are You Developing a Competitive Advantage?

In The Start-up ofYou , authors Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha teach that we’re all entrepreneurs of our own careers. They argue that to become competitive in today’s global market, it’s critical to understand your assets (what you’re good at), your aspirations (what you want to do), and the market realities (what people will pay you for).

As you look at your work history, think of these three areas as puzzle pieces. Having only one or two isn’t enough. You need all three to develop a true competitive advantage.

You’ve likely heard the axiom, “Find a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” This may be true for some, but blindly following passion can lead to an unsustainable career. I’ve found Hoffman and Casnocha’s framework more practical. Know your assets and aspirations in light of the market realities—then pursue a path that maximizes all three.

PHOTOS: At The Premier of "Industreet"

 

The highly anticipated TV drama series “Industreet” created & directed by JJC Skillz and produced by ace Nollywood actor, Funke Akindele Bello premiered over the weekend on the 19th of May, 2017 at the IMAX Cinemas in Lekki.

The premiere of the music-oriented TV drama which is set to start showing on the 26th of May 2017, was an interesting one, as many stars like Kate Henshaw, Toke Makinwa, Ariyike Akinbobola, Rita Dominic, Bolanle Olukanni, Linda Ejiofor, Akpororo, Lilian Afegbai, Lolo and more were in attendance.

See more Pictures Below

Discover Who You Are and What Will Make You Happy in Life

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” ~E.E. Cummings

At twenty- six  I had graduated and had a great career, many friends, and some money. During that time I also became deeply depressed and entered what would be a very long relationship with worries.
It was a real struggle for me to understand why I wasn’t happy when I had everything that I thought was important in life. Was I selfish? Were my expectations too high? I honestly couldn’t understand what was missing and how to fill this huge void that gnawed at me every day.

When I look back at my life later, I realize that I really had no idea who I was or what made me happy. I kept expecting something or someone to answer this question for me.

The journey to find out who I was and what really mattered to me eventually involved meeting people,  and resigned from my job


Who am I? What do I believe in? What is my purpose? What fills me with joy and wonder? These are questions that I am just beginning to understand after thirty years of living my life, and I have to admit that getting there has been extremely difficult.

The hardest part for me was just knowing where to begin. After  meditation, self-reflection, and reading, I asked myself five big questions that served as a launch pad to begin my journey of self-discovery.

If you are ready to begin the process of truly understanding who you are meant to be, start here:

1. What or who would you be if you knew you couldn’t fail?

The risk of failure terrifies most people. How many times have you wanted to change jobs or careers, move to a new city, promote a cause that is important you, or become an expert in a certain area? Think about it. No risk of failure.

If you were 100 percent certain that you could be or do anything you wanted and not fail, do you know the answer?

Topics You Should Steer Clear of in a Professional Setting

For most of us, finding just the right words to use when striking up networking conversations is, at best, intimidating. For some, especially the more introverted among us, it can be downright terrifying. Small talk is pretty much never a breeze, but chit-chat can feel even more complex because you may have more to lose than someone just thinking you’re uninteresting or too talkative.

You may have a future job opportunity or business deal at stake.

That being the case, it’s important to avoid bringing up anything that may give the person you’re speaking to a reason to pause and reconsider working with you (or even just reaching out in general).

Here are five topics you should never bring up :

1. Polarizing Views About Tribe, Religion, or Politics

I’m having this, “Do I really even have to remind people of this?” moment as I type, but you’d be amazed at some of the awkward, uncomfortable discussions I’ve been pulled into over the years. Am I saying it’s not your entitlement to have strong views or opinions on sensitive topics?

Absolutely not. I’m saying that a professional event is almost never the forum to share these opinions, especially if you’re a job seeker conversing with someone who has decision-making influence.

What happens if that person you’re talking to feels strongly about the topic, too, in the exact opposite way you do? Chances are you’ll reduce or eliminate your opportunity for further conversation. Even if you’re not a job seeker, if you blurt out something annoying or offensive to the other party, you might alienate someone who could have been an ally or professional friend.

What do you do if someone brings this up?

Simple. You smile and say, “I’m sure this would be an interesting conversation, but I typically keep my views on this one to myself. Care for another glass of wine?”

How to Find Business Deals Online

When we say the internet, it actually covers a few things, which we will try and discuss. Everything boils down to your online presence. This includes being active on some of the most popular social networks, but also active on forums and other websites where you can showcase your portfolio. It doesn’t matter if you are a dentist, or if you are selling chocolate, there are some common ways of properly advertising yourself online, and we are going to start from the basics:

Social Networks
Using social media to your advantage is of the utmost importance. Current trends suggest that you are not likely to be really successful if you do not incorporate every popular social media into your marketing plans. Facebook is generally the weapon of choice, as it is extremely easy to promote yourself and your page, and also target your desired audience. All the major businesses around the world are using Facebook, combined with Google+. Both offer paid advertising, where your page will appear as sponsored. Even Pinterest is great, although it is more inclined towards the visual products, as the majority of its users are female. Social networks are perfect for engaging your audience and maintaining a constant flow of information back and forth. You can easily ask questions, have Q&A, and everything you find out there, you can use to improve your products or services.

GET UP!

"There is no greater agony than an untold story inside of you"- Maya Angelo

You can never tell your potential until you begin to take action. The easiest "road" to a life of regret is to remain idle with great ideas.

Our inspiration for today's write up is a quote by Maya Angelo. Every individual has a treasure (a story) down deep inside. There are several ways to  give expression to this story, and to let the world into our world, this is where we mostly find fulfillment in life.