Be the Author of your career path!

It is the time of the year when many professionals celebrate career transitions or the appointment to new roles– with many exciting announcements currently taking place across the LinkedIn platform. Therefore, in this edition of Seeds for Growth, I would like to share 3 insights based on my experiences working with many who thrived in their transitions to new roles. And I would like to link these 3 take aways to my personal career and life journey. Hopefully – if you have recently being promoted or appointment to a new career position - these small seeds for growth will see you blossom in your new role as well. I said Seeds for Growth: will the seeds take root? Or “will we be sued by Monsanto & forced to use their (definitely non Ayurvedic!) seeds?” (Jim Carey) ??

On a serious note, I moved to Australia in 1997 and I did blue collar jobs for a few years: getting a forklift license and being warehouse manager, I thought that was going to be the pinnacle of my career! Until - 25 years later - I look back at the rollercoaster ride in the carnival fun house and see my career and life progression as truly magical. And how was that growth possible? Here are 3 insights for you to consider:

First: Look beyond your current role, look out further: who do you want to become? What impact do you want to have? While you’re going through the daily grind, you won’t always know exactly what to do; you won’t always have the answers, and that is OK. Because you will always have the opportunity to learn, stretch and grow and raise to the challenges if you keep a can-do attitude and an open, curious and brave mindset. A growth mindset! Mindset – the new psychology of success

Second: Invest in yourself: embrace continuous learning, learning on the job and of course your personal and professional leadership development. Your experiences, your career, they are truly “yours to build”. Take ownership. Leadership starts with you! Love + work

Third: Connections! Connect with yourself first, check in with your intentions regularly; AND connect with others: Network, network, network! Succeeding in the transformative age comes down to having a deep sense of purpose and strong relationships, and this is also the essence of leadership today. Leveraging the power of networks and relationships. We need the support from others to navigate change and complexity, because we are better together. We need to know that we are not alone in this — and, in fact, we are wired for human connection and to be of value to others. Never eat alone

Connections, finding meaning in what you do, and growth: 3 actionable insights for your success! Most of all, as you transition in your new role, be open, be curious and be brave. We live in a crazy world, but at the same time I have never felt so much and hope and trepidation for the opportunities ahead. For sure, though, the challenges we are facing are truly wicked and resilience is key. And if there is one lesson I have learnt in life, is that even when it all seems really hard and we might come to feel lost at stages, in those critical moments that matter we always have a choice and a certain degree of control: all it takes is curiosity and the ability to put the next foot forward.?One after the other, receptive to the myriad of learning opportunities and personal growth and connections that lie within this fascinating, enduring journey of ours.

Truth is, not everybody needs to become a CEO, a successful entrepreneur, a boss, a billionaire, an Insta influencer, a celebrity. But eventually... eventually everybody needs to set an example: to peers and colleagues, clients, our kids, spouse or partner, friends, within their community. Everybody needs to stand up for something they believe in, their purpose, the impact they want to make in the world, something that deeply matters - close to heart. And that – my friends – is what real Leadership is about. Not a rank, not a role, not a fancy job title. But a decision inside us. A decision to step in the best of our being, and step up, show up to set an example and make impact , make a difference to others, starting from our circle of influence, knowing that it will create ripples.

What we need to know is that we have the capability within ourselves to find a way forward. The deep question is: "What′s your real intention, the opportunity here?" And "Who is that intention asking you to be?"

YOU are the only one who knows what your real motivations are; check in with them regularly to have more positive influence on yourself, on your team, and ultimately on the world around you. And remember that you are never alone. So make a commitment to yourself to continue to build your network and to hone your skills to nurture and foster more positive relationships.

Becoming the best version of yourself requires ongoing commitment and consistency of purpose: and that is the secret of success! That′s why I love quote: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit.”

And that is why I would like to close this newsletter with an invitation: “What choices can you make consistently - with your actions and interactions - so that YOU are the author of your transition to a new role, and YOU write this very next chapter of your leadership story?”