By Trang Le
I know what it’s like to have a dream, but don’t know how to get there. The steps are not clear and it can become overwhelming. As I navigated my journey, I realized there’s no fool-proof framework out there so I created my own. This framework helped me discover my strengths and unlocked my potential. With that knowledge, I am able to exercise my superpowers everyday. I hope it will do the same for you.
Here’s how you can determine your path forward, and find work that energizes and ignites your passion along the way:
Part 1: Reinvent
This stage of the framework is realizing you can achieve more by reinventing in small ways.
- Start off by answering the following questions in the order they are presented:
- What are current responsibilities at work?
- Pick 5 things on that list that you like to do the most.
- Narrow that list to 2 things that you absolutely love to do.
- How can you use what you love to connect with others, build a community, and create strong relationships?
- Which of the 2 things do you love the most and why?
- Which of the 2 things make you happiest if you keep doing it?
- What are some ideas that will allow you to explore what you do best and also enhance your happiness?
- Next is assessing what’s currently available at your workplace. This includes your current work responsibilities and your wishlist items. Find how these opportunities are connected to your values, strengths, and vision. Make a detailed list.
- Add opportunities to grow outside of your work to this list. Example: sponsor costs for new training, obtain a certification, join an education program, attend an event relating to your field, etc.
- Now categorize that list into what you can do in a day, within a week, month, quarter, and year. This list will act as your base and point of reference for the future. You can always move things around as needed.
- Have a chat with your manager to express interest in expanding your responsibilities to build knowledge. Share the areas that interest you and raise your hand for existing projects or propose new ones you can lead.
- Ask your manager if the company is willing to support you with outside opportunities to grow and mention the timeline you wish to accomplish it. If the company can’t support you financially and you still want to pursue it, make sure that your manager knows, restate your commitment to your work responsibilities, and mention how they can best support you in the timeframe.
Part 2: Revamp
The next stage is to control your path by revamping what’s already in place.
Remember, you got this far because what you did worked. Now, you’re just looking for ways to give yourself a new and improved structure to follow.
Revamping is to change or arrange something again, in order to improve it. So… you’re doing just that. Things do not need to change drastically to get better. A combination of smaller modifications over time will build better habits.
Assess everything you’ve written down and see if there’s anywhere you can change or improve. It could be as simple as there’s a process that has been manual work for you and you see an opportunity to automate it or reassign it to someone else in your team. Whatever you choose as the next step, list out the next steps on how you can get that done. Be as clear as possible because this will alleviate any type of stress you may experience in between. When you can see everything in detail, you know exactly what to expect.
The key here is to prioritize and put a deadline on things you feel are most important to you. You do not need to do everything. Pick your top 5 and go from there. You can revisit those other things later on. It will be a work in progress, a journey you decide works for you and you get to control the direction you want to go.
Part 3: Rebrand
Lastly, make your mark by rebranding and writing your own story.
You’ve already started your personal brand. It began the moment you looked for your first job. Every conversation, transaction, and experience you share with someone in the professional world is part of your brand.
The sad truth is people will remember the bad ones more than the good ones so this is your opportunity to build the strongest possible brand for you. If you haven’t done so, reflect on your brand and think about what you want to deliver when people connect with you.
The buckets I like to focus on are:
- You – What are the best ways your strengths can be displayed? What are the 3 things you can say about yourself if someone needs your help? For example, you can say building strong customer relationships, internal process design, and project management. I can help with x, y, z.
- Others – What do you want others to say about you when they tell someone else about you?
- Connection – What experience do you want others to feel when they interact with you?
Now, all you have to do is remember your principles and apply them on a daily basis. Before you respond, think about your brand and what response you want to portray. It takes effort, but it will pay off in the long run. I guarantee it.
All it takes is the realization you can achieve more by reinventing in small ways, controlling your path by revamping what’s already in place, and recognize there is an opportunity to make your mark and write your own story by rebranding.
Trang Le
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