Confused on How You Should Navigate Your Career? Treat it Like an Investment

Your decisions in life are like investments of time and energy.? Some you allot to career, some for relationships, and some for learning – then you grow them. But how??

I learned a lot from Nirupa Umapathy, someone who has traded 14 successful years of working on the trading floors for forging her own path in the art scene, creating a community of creatives. From her wealth of experiences, she shared some really SYCK advice for professionals, especially those just starting out.?

Your network is your asset

Your performance can only get you to a certain point, but your network stays with you. And these people will get you internships, jobs, mentorships, sponsorships, promotions, and even help in your entrepreneurial endeavors. This affords you leverage, makes you stand out, and lets you bypass the long line.

But don’t mistake it as a transaction. The partnership is merely an unintended byproduct. To Nirupa, it’s more of the joy of building relationships, connecting on a good idea, or catching up in a casual coffee conversation. You’d be surprised what thank you notes or sharing gifts can do.?

Understandably, this skill isn’t natural to everyone, but it’s worth building this muscle. As you start off, view every conversation as an opportunity to learn something new. Pay attention, listen, be curious, ask questions that’s one step above the obvious. Likewise, the other party will do the same.

How will you seal the deal? Through trust. Build it by deep listening, knowing your clients inside out, and thinking from their shoes on what are the burning problems they want to solve. Approach your clients? with the same stewardship as you would of a problem in your own life. This kind of accountability and care, instills confidence that they’re in the right hands.

At its core, networking is serving as a sincere friend and being generous with whatever you can offer, whether it’s a job opportunity or a simple book recommendation. Why only be at the receiving end??

Invest in yourself

According to Nirupa,there are three things you have to invest on to grow. Most have a difficult time balancing them, but just do your best to manage. In the long run, they will serve you well.

• Financial Capital: This is what pays the bills and lets you save. Do the work, expand your knowledge, perfect your craft, and in time, you’ll be able to grow your net worth. However, don’t make the mistake of focusing too much on this, and forgetting other parts of your life.
• Social Capital: Whether it’s inside or outside of work, invest in relationships of all kinds. Treat all co-workers – senior to junior – with respect and make them feel they belong. In building your network, be more mindful to reciprocate other people’s needs.?
• Creative Capital: What fuels your soul and your mind? Expose yourself to novel ideas and hobbies. Take creative risks. Experiment. Learn. Curate your circle to include people who share your lifestyle, habits, or those who will push you to the path of growth.

If needed, don’t be afraid to cut your losses

Sometimes, some people or jobs aren’t for you – even if you were so convinced they were. How will you know? With the compass of self-awareness. Know what makes you happy and what doesn’t. Try to detect the tell-tale signs of failure. Is it taking too much of your energy? Do you feel like this has happened to you before? Are you seeing a pattern?

Again, this skill doesn’t come automatically. It takes years, but it’s good to try being more mindful of your emotions through exercises like yoga, therapy, or journaling.

The easiest decisions are usually the ones with clear-cut consequences, tangible data, and objectives. The difficult ones are often the intangible, like walking away from a sizable financial gain or cutting off a friend – easy to question and tricky to justify. But don't be afraid. Think of cutting your losses, like you would prune and weed as a discipline, as you grow an enduring and luscious garden.?

And if you lose, then you learn, otherwise, you just lose.

Other skills that people just starting out should know:

1. Know how to tell a good story – for interviews, networking, or with friends. We’re all sales people. A coherent narrative can sell a product and even yourself.
2. Explore other disciplines. Now that people can google everything, it will probably be customary for people to rotate between skills.
3. Your career is not forever. If you’re able to be an entrepreneur earlier, do it. Take more creative and entrepreneurial risks earlier on in your life.
4. Constantly learn. You’re either skill building or you’re not. Always push the envelope and be comfortable with discomfort.?

Nirupa Umapathy on LinkedIn

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