The Best Two-Word Career Advice That Will Help You Level Up Fast

Ever have a nagging feeling that it’s time to move on from a job, even if, on paper, the job is fantastic? 

Stop me if this sounds familiar:

• You’ve always dreamed of becoming a (fill in the blank), but haven’t actively pursued it because it’s not practical, it’s too late, or you tell yourself what you’re doing now is good enough (when in fact, you feel deep in your bones that it is not).
• When you speak about (fill in the blank), you’re animated and excited; when you talk about what you do now, you are not.
• You’re doing fine professionally, maybe even exceptionally well, but you still feel that something’s missing.
• Your life is good by most standards, yet you’re still unfulfilled.

If any of these statements ring true, it’s time I shared with you the best two-word career advice I’ve ever received: stop hiding.

From the time I was a child, I knew I was born a creative. I was that kid in the corner who was always painting, drawing, and writing stories about the world, expressing herself through color, emotion, and words.

But as I got older and prepared to enter the workforce, I started to suppress my true self, settling for “creative adjacent” roles, like an advertising account executive instead of a copywriter.

Because I genuinely like and work well with people and intuitively understand both strategy and creative, becoming an account person was a no-brainer. I excelled at it, so I naturally progressed in that arena. But the more I managed projects, budgets, and people, the less I got to express and contribute creatively.

By playing it safe, “Account Amy” was killing it in her career—and “Creative Amy” along with it.

It wasn’t until years later that a friend called me out on this. He observed that I had subconsciously placed myself at the periphery, yet longed to jump out from the shadows and into the action.

He told me it was time to stop hiding.

That two-word career advice was eye-opening and forced me to confront what I’d neglected for decades: acknowledging, embracing, and putting my talents to their highest and best use.

And maybe, it’s time for you to stop hiding as well; here’s how:

1. Get clear on what you want

If like me, you spent years doing the same thing, over and over again, suppressing your desires, you need to allow yourself the space and grace to revisit a long-forgotten dream. Carve out time to reflect and have an aha moment or two to gain clarity.

And even if you already have a good idea about what you want, it’s helpful to seek the guidance of a trusted friend or mentor. Those who know us best view us through completely different lenses than we see ourselves, and (spoiler alert) are often much kinder and more honest. If you’re unsure about your next step, confide in someone who will talk you through the disconnect between where you are now and where you want to be. They’ll likely be part cheerleader and part taskmaster, reminding you to be honest with yourself about what you want.

2. Move past your fear by changing the narrative

Why do we hide? Because it’s less risky than putting ourselves out there.

We’re scared of being vulnerable or facing ridicule. We question why we have the audacity to think we could pull what we truly want, plagued by “imposter syndrome,” foolishly believing we aren’t good enough. Or somewhere along the way, some well-intended individuals planted seeds of doubt in our minds, convincing us that going after what we wanted was a bad idea because it was too late or not practical. Those negative stories echo in our heads, stagnating our growth and preventing us from pursuing our dreams.

To move past your fear, you have to change the narrative, and it starts with the stories you tell yourself. For instance, when you shift from “I could never be a (what you want)” to “I am a (what you want),” you replace self-sabotaging talk with self-affirming talk, helping you abandon limiting beliefs and adopt a growth-focused mindset.

Words have power, especially the ones you say — or don’t say — to yourself.

3. Take action to put yourself out there

When you have clarity on what you want and change the way you talk about yourself, the next (and most important) step is to move out of the shadows and into the action.

For me, that meant putting myself out there as a writer. When I stopped hiding, amazing things began to happen. People “saw” me—the right people. And I’m not just talking about the clients who put their trust in my creative abilities or those who engaged with my content. The most important person who finally saw me as “Creative Amy” was the woman staring at me in the mirror.

Real change happens when you align your attention with your intention and then take action. Because action begets more action, and when you finally heed the advice to stop hiding, the trajectory of your career will change for the better.

This article was first published on Forbes.com. Find it here, and my other Forbes articles here.

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I'm a social media ghostwriter (yep, that's a thing) who helps leaders craft their stories to communicate and connect better by magnifying their reach and impact. (Think personal branding and thought leadership.) Contact me if you'd like my help.?

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