Taking Control of my Future! (My key takeaways from 2021)

Taking control of my future!

You hear the phrase, "take control of your future or career," through many career development, self-improvement articles, books, speeches, blogs, etc. If I were to summarize 2021, "taking control of your future" was the year for me.?

2021 was the year that I decided that I needed to take charge of my future, even if it meant making tough decisions. We've all heard the term "Great Resignation" or "Reshuffle" by now. Sure, this could have influenced and moved the pendulum for me. However, 2021 was the year for me to push myself to my limits, grow, and challenge myself.

In hindsight, it all started in that direction; I had been selected as VP of the Latinx Business Resource group at SCE. It was my long dream to help bring awareness to our community's impact on the workforce, workplace, and marketplace (externally). I was also in an upgrade opportunity as a Manager where I had the chance to lead a talented team in a challenging time through the pandemic. All of this while still overseeing and elevating our recruitment marketing function to attract the very best. Everything sounded as promising as could be. However, nothing ever goes 100% according to plan, and events and circumstances happened that ended one journey and began a new one for me at one of the most popular apps and hottest tech brands out there.?

These are my biggest takeaways for 2021:

Be flexible but don't lose yourself!

The ability to be flexible in your career is essential. Mainly because the business needs change, the environment changes, and we constantly evolve. Throughout my career, this flexibility has opened many doors. At the same time, you can never lose your vision, dreams, or self. Always remain true to yourself and your values.?

Always be willing to learn and remain humble.

Having?the mindset of always being willing to learn is a gold mine. Nobody ever knows everything, and that's okay. In every experience, you should learn something new, which should help shape your future projects and experiences. Being curious and going that extra mile will always shine through and resonate. Recently, being in a new job, I've experienced this 100%. Yes, I have knowledge and experience in my field but being in a new environment and learning team members' communication and working styles is an immersive learning experience! One thing is for sure, no matter how much knowledge you have, always stay grounded, be humble, and be willing to give back.

Practice gratitude.

Never forget to give gratitude for what you have, the people that helped you get where you are, and the experiences that may have come along the way. Personally, I always try to intentionally express my gratitude because I know how a simple thank you can reach a long way. It also serves as a reminder to me that it takes a whole village to accomplish something. It's important everyone gets the credit they deserve.

Never settle and keep moving.

As Albert Einstein once shared, "Nothing happens until something moves." This quote is a very true statement and goes back to taking control of your future. The movement you create within your control is what makes a change. Not settling can be different for everyone. For me, it also means not to conform and always want and expect more. Of course, self-awareness and reading the room are important, too.?

Take chances!

My grandfather once told me, opportunities only come down knocking once. Those opportunities may never come up again. I've always considered myself a bit of a risk-taker, but I've been more conservative when it comes to my career. You may ask yourself why? The reason is I come from a family of both worlds - my dad has worked for the same company for over 35+ years, and my mom has worked in over 25+ offices as a self-employed real estate agent. They both have pros and cons, but as a millennial growing up and starting my working career during the Great Recession had some impacts where security became a priority. However, keeping my grandpa's advice close to me, "el que no ariesga no gana" (you won't win anything if you don't ever risk anything).?

In summary,?it has been a complete roller coaster and paradigm shift as the year wraps up. The optimist (in me) tells me that 2022 will bring even more challenges, lessons, and growing experiences than I aspire for in life. One thing is for sure, I will continue to bring my lessons learned to help me throughout and will look to acquire some new ones. All of this while continuing to take charge of my career. I encourage you all to do the same!