The Best Advice I Wish I'd Had Sooner

I often find that high achievers hold themselves to the most stringent standards. And that's a good thing. Performance matters -- and it's important to strive for your best.

Sometimes, however, those high standards morph into big barriers. We care so much about getting it right that we hold ourselves back from even trying. We find faults with ourselves instead of stepping forward to show others how much we can do.

I've been thinking about this because, not long ago, a young professional asked me, "If there is one piece of advice you wish you had earlier in your career, what would it be?"

As I thought back to when I was starting out, I remembered the times I'd second-guessed myself, or questioned my own ability. The times when a little voice in my head worried that I didn't have the know-how or the experience to reach for an exciting opportunity.

"You haven't been in the business long enough."

"You didn't attend an Ivy League school."

"You've never done anything like that before."

You didn't… you don't… you shouldn't… you can't.

Sometimes, my self-doubt became self-limiting.

In retrospect, I wish someone had told me to quiet that inner voice, because the only way to become a leader is by building up your own experiences. You can't expect to know it all from day one, or to succeed at whatever you do on the first try. Instead, you need to reach for opportunities to grow, because that's when you learn and broaden yourself. And often, the adversities you face are what really forge your character and improve your confidence. It's the problems you've worked through in the past that will position you for future success -- along with the mastery and expertise that can only be developed by doing something.

Over time, I came to realize this in the course of my own career. And, as I did, I got more comfortable with stepping forward to accept new opportunities, even if I hadn't already perfected every possible skill I might need. I made it my policy to say yes, do my best and trust in myself.

As a result, by the time I was selected to be the CEO of Lockheed Martin, I'd held 19 leadership roles in the company. It's that collection of lessons, experiences and relationships that I now draw on every day. It's what has equipped me to lead, more so than any specific skill or talent. It's everything I've confronted so far that gives me confidence I can handle what comes next.

That's why, when I'm mentoring young professionals and they ask me for advice, I say: Get out of your comfort zone. Learn something new each day. Go for the opportunities that stretch you and push you to grow.

Most importantly, don't put constraints on yourself because you want to be perfect. Just get out there. You will be amazed at what you can achieve as you discover strengths you didn't know you had and develop skills that will serve you for the rest of your life.