How Exposure Helps My Career

Not too long ago, I was reading an issue of Today's Charlotte Woman and I stumbled across an interesting article. The author's information was listed below this informative read; so I decided to contact her. What started out as an email exchange turned into a formal meeting and we now have a relationship where we stay in contact with each other. This week I received an email from her and she wanted to know if I or someone I knew fit the description for an exciting opportunity. Fortune Magazine was looking for someone to profile for an upcoming article and she thought enough of me to forward me the information! Of course when I read her article some months back, I had no idea that she had contacts with the New York Times, Fortune Magazine, and the like. I am learning more and more that exposure is something that we all need in order to get to the next level in our careers. Exposure for you can be extremely beneficial if you are willing to work at it and if you are willing to be patient. Once I realized that I needed mentoring, assistance, guidance, and support, I was no longer challenged nor afraid to reach out to others. The following steps were easy to implement as I started my exposure journey and I still use these steps today:

1. I initiate contact. I am surprised by the number of people who are willing to not only share information and resources with me, but who are also willing to advocate for me. There are 2 successful women who immediately come to mind as I write this article and they both have said the same things to me. "You are going to be successful" and "Let me tell you what not to do so that you don't repeat my mistakes". I wanted to learn more about these women initially, so I introduced myself to them. Not only do I have a relationship with each of them, they are both willing to introduce me to others to ensure that I am being exposed.

2. I avoid my comfort zone. It's one thing to step outside of your comfort zone; it's something else to walk away from it! When I am in close proximity of my comfort zone, I have found that it is easy for me to slip back into it. On the other hand, when I walk away from it, I am functioning in an arena that is unfamiliar, challenging, and full of opportunity. I have found that exposure pushes me to the forefront and shines the spotlight on me, which is the opposite of who I am as a person. The reality is, being comfortable doesn't produce growth and exposure will allow you to grow in ways that you otherwise wouldn't.

3. I protect my reputation. I understand that if someone is willing to be my advocate, that they are taking a risk. Anything that I say or do can jeopardize my relationship with others and I try to keep that in the forefront at all times. I don't want to ruin my reputation or destroy relationships that enhance who I am as a person and a brand.

Since I started using the above steps, I have experienced the benefits of exposure in my career. I am truly enjoying the new relationships, the growth in my life, and the ability to redefine who I am. While I do not know where this path will take me, I am certainly enjoying myself along the way.

More from this contributor:

The Introvert Goes to Work

5 Ways to Gain a Competitive Advantage

How I Decrease Stress and Increase Productivity