10 Affirmations From 10 Years of Work

Just over 10 years ago, I started my first internship in a massive global technology company. I had just finished my sophomore year of college, I was a political science major, and I was hired into a marketing analytics position.

Needless to say, I felt like a first-rate imposter.

But it has turned out okay. I thrived in that internship and turned it into a full-time analytics job with the same company. I then went on to do business operations for a fast-growing technology company that was acquired. And now I work in finance for a world-renowned scientific research organization.

I’ve been fortunate to have a unique blend of work experiences, to interact with colleagues across the globe from individual contributors to CxOs, and to continuously learn and grow.

As a means of personal reflection, I’ve captured the 10 most important lessons that I’ve learned in a decade. I also think of these as affirmations — simple reminders I can recall when things start to spiral. These are not in any particular order, but I do hope that by sharing, you also learn something or take a few moments to reflect on all that your own career journey has given to you.

Enough nostalgia. Let’s get going.

I am replaceable and that’s okay.

This is primarily a freeing thought. The work I do matters and I will dedicate myself to ensuring I do all that I can to be hard to replace. But strong organizations are fluid and adaptable; they are built to withstand the loss of any employee. So, I trust the team around me and know that if it is my time to move on to a new challenge or opportunity, then so be it.

I will never get all that I need from my work.

I will always want more. And I am grateful for that because it means I never stop growing and learning. This is where the real value lies in my career: in stretching myself, challenging myself to be better than yesterday, not resting on past successes but continuing to push forward so when tomorrow comes around, there’s a new goal.

But I need a life outside of work to be successful at work. Over the years, I’ve started to find meaning outside my work. While it’s important to focus on your job and seek personal growth within that space, I’ve realized the vital importance of taking time for myself and looking for what makes me happy outside of work. More than just a hobby, these activities can help bring perspective and give me something else to focus on when I am feeling overwhelmed or burnt out. Writing, cooking dinner for my wife, and playing golf are the primary outlets that bring me joy.

It’s okay to do things that don’t make me money.

I will embrace the tension.

I believe that managing tension is one of the most important skills to develop in your career, which is why I wrote a story on this. It takes courage to embrace and lead through tension, and curiosity to consider alternatives to the tried-and-true. But by not shirking from tension, I can improve myself and those I support or lead.

I am building a career narrative.

My career is like a rolling stone — it takes years to build up momentum, but it can be easily lost by an abrupt turn or a simple fall.

I must not always focus on the immediacy of day-to-day events or tasks. It’s difficult to keep all of your actions in the context of a larger career story, but it is an important exercise. I typically take time at the start of each year to reflect on what I want my future to look like for myself, my family, and the company I currently work for. Then at the beginning of each month or every few weeks, I will stop for a moment and review what I have been doing to get closer to that goal. The result of this exercise is always more clarity on how I should be choosing my current activities so they are in alignment with where I want to be in the future.

I am working myself out of a job.

The path to promotion is not to feel threatened by talented teammates and hoarding knowledge, but to help them grow and flourish. I will do my best to learn something new every day so that when it’s time for me to move on or up, there are many others who can take on the mantle of leadership.

Resist the anxiety that comes with doing this. Focus on the personal growth and new opportunities this mindset will bring.

I will not let self-doubt stifle the value I know I can offer.

Self-doubt can be crippling and debilitating. Never allow it to hold me back; I know that everyone has self-doubts, including those who are successful leaders today. The same goes for risk: while some fears stem from legitimate concerns (risky investments), other times we need to look no further than letting go of the familiar and venturing out into uncharted territory. This is where true learning happens; this is when we truly push ourselves beyond what we believe we’re capable of achieving.

I will go slow to go fast when needed.

I first came across the “go slow to go fast” mantra in Beth Comstock’s book, “Imagine it Forward. She explains that leaders need to be equipped with the ability and conviction to know when it’s time to take a breath and go slow, and when you should put your foot on the gas.

Being patient is difficult. Patience allows time for the warning signs to become clear before reacting or doing something drastic. It’s about taking a step back, seeing the big picture, and making an informed decision that is in the best interest of you and your team.

Don’t rush if it’s not needed.

I can rely on other people.

Work, most often, is truly a team sport. I have a tendency to place all of the burdens of a task at my own feet. I know that this is often the wrong choice. I can leverage the talents of those around me to help complete tasks and projects. I want to be able to rely on other people and this is not a weakness. The only way to get anything worthwhile done is by getting other smart people involved.

I will actively seek feedback, especially on my weaknesses.

Self-awareness is one of my greatest strengths, but I must also understand how I — and my work — is perceived by others. I will not let my own ego stand in the way of gathering feedback and I will be empathetic in how feedback is delivered, as I know it can be difficult to provide.

I am the CEO of my personal brand and I must constantly improve my understanding of how I am valued in the marketplace of my peers.

I will be my authentic self.

Trying to change my personality, my core values, and/or my beliefs for “success” is a trap. I might get some short-term benefits but I am very likely sacrificing long-term gains personally and professionally. My dispositions are mine to embrace, not for others to change. They matter and are useful.

Psychiatrist Carl Jung once said, “Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” As you forge ahead, I invite you to reflect on what you want your personal vision and professional aspirations to be. Be aware that the current way the world operates and the historical rules of success are completely made up. You can use existing norms as guidance, but don’t let them stifle your ambition.

So go forth, boldly. That is what I’m going to do with these affirmations in mind.

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This post was previously published on MEDIUM.COM.

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