The One Thing That Will Instantly Improve Your Career

Are you surrounded by chaos? Easily distracted? Are you ambitious yet always seem to be spinning your wheels and not progressing professionally?

All the grind, hustle, and grit in the world are meaningless without the one thing that will improve your career: clarity.

When you’re clear, everything becomes easier.

People understand you, what you offer, your value, what differentiates you, how you can help them, and how they can assist you. Having clarity enables you to align your goals with a plan to achieve them—and stay away from the things that can derail you.

Ask yourself these two questions to attain greater clarity:

1. What do I want?

Though simple, that question isn’t easy for most to answer. Some wrestle with insecurities and fears about coming to grips with their true desires; others have never pushed the pause button on their busy lives to give themselves space to do so.

It takes thoughtful reflection, and sometimes, a reality check: do you really want (fill in the blank), and are you willing to do what it takes to achieve it? Make sure that your reply isn’t merely a grass-is-always-greener scenario fueled by envy or comparison, but a genuine desire for which you’re willing to work.

It’s likely that your answer will be different from your friends’ or co-workers’, or what someone else may want for you, or even what you thought you wanted, and that’s okay. This is about being crystal clear with what is of the utmost importance to you. Challenge yourself to be open enough to allow new and alternative—and sometimes even better—possibilities to emerge.

But here’s the thing about clarity: it demands specificity, and there is no room for a wishy-washy answer. You can’t make progress if you “kind of” want something. The more focused you can be about what matters most to you, the better.

2. Does what I’m doing (or about to do) support that?

Just because you’re busy doesn’t mean you’re productive. You must make a conscious decision to align your attention with what you want.

That starts with understanding how you’re spending your time. Ask yourself to what or whom you’re currently choosing to devote your time, and if this choice helps you move closer to your goals or prevents you from achieving them.

Say yes to those people and things that support what you want, and don’t be afraid to say no to those things that do not. If individuals and activities are dragging you down and preventing you from moving forward, let them go.

One note: We tend to make time for things that are important to us. Your actions—or lack thereof—can speak louder than words. If you find that you’re consistently struggling in making time for what you say you want, ask yourself if maybe you want something else. Because if you’re not changing it, you’re choosing it. Make sure you’re intentional with your choices and that your actions support your goals.

Remember, clarity is the key to career progress.

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

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?Amy Blaschka is a social media ghostwriter who helps leaders craft their stories to communicate and connect better. Contact her if you'd like her help.?

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