Mistakes to Avoid in Your Career This Year

It's New Year's Eve and I've been checking the news feeds on Facebook throughout the day. Of course people are excited about the stroke of midnight because at that very moment, 2011 will be a thing of the past. I, like many of my friends on Facebook, am looking forward to the future. Not because I didn't have a great year, but because I'm ready to take risks and reach the next level in my career. 2011 gave me success, joy, disappointment, change, promotion, tears, and life lessons that I will never forget. Some of those lessons were based on career choices that I'd made and I'm certain that I won't make those some mistakes in 2012! I like to think of my career as a sport and if I plan to be a champion this year, I have to avoid the following:

*Spending more time on the sidelines than in the actual game. Every sport has a season, which means there is a limit in terms of time that players will get to partake in their sport of choice. When it comes to your career, please know that duration, seasons, and timing is critical to your success. Therefore, when you make a decision to sit out and allow others to take advantage of opportunities that could potentially belong to you, you're making a big mistake. In order for me to gain momentum in my career, I have to strengthen my weaknesses, assess the competition, self-assess, and learn the rules of the game.

*Playing it safe instead of playing smart. Have you ever watched a basketball game and wondered why someone would dive in the stands to save the ball? I think it's because safety is no longer a priority when you're playing to win. Safe for me screams comfort and as much as I love comfort, I understand that complacency is comfort's close relative. Anyone who has ever achieved any level of success will tell you that they've done so by taking calculated risks, which ultimately allowed them to grow. I truly enjoyed serving in the capacity of Communications Officer this past year locally and decided that I wanted continue to grow. Growth for me in this instance meant staying in the current role or self-nominating for a role on a national scale. I stepped out of my comfort zone, self-nominated for a different role, and was offered the position! Playing it safe would have been a huge mistake and would have limited my exposure as well as my growth.

This year, don't be afraid to get in the game, to play smart, and take calculated risks. I don't know how much longer I will be able to play this career game, but I can assure you that I plan to win. I wish you much success in 2012 and let's take our careers to the next level!