Three Pieces of Career Advice I Would Give My Younger Self

Everything was going well for me at work, and then I got the news: I was being transferred to a new division at my company.

Suddenly, my orderly world was shifting under my feet. Not only would I be leaving behind people who respected me, I would be joining an untested business segment. I grudgingly accepted my new position. But as soon as I had the opportunity, I got myself transferred back to my comfort zone.

In the years that followed I continued to rise up the ranks, doing challenging and rewarding work. At the same time, the division I had worked for during that short time, went on to become a leader in a disruptive industry.

As I look back, I wonder: What would my career path have been like had I stayed the course?

Time has helped me put my career into perspective in ways I couldn’t possibly understand when I was just starting out. The following are three career lessons I would give my younger self:

Don’t Fear Change

Companies are constantly evolving and at some point in your work life you will be swept up in changes. The redeployment of employees that I experienced early in my career is an everyday event, especially at tech companies.

It’s only natural to fear change. You might worry that you’re not equipped to handle new responsibilities, a new boss, or a different work culture.

But if you let fear overpower you and you resist change, you will be losing a precious opportunity to learn what you are capable of.

Think Progress, Not Perfection

If you’re a high achiever, you’re likely to be a perfectionist. But perfection shouldn’t necessarily be your end game.

Take a lesson from tech companies, which often take a “test and learn” approach to innovation. That means they test out new concepts, observe how they these concepts are received, and adjust them based on feedback.

The same approach can be applied to your work life. There will be pitfalls along the way, some that are your fault and others that are beyond your control. The important thing is to aim for excellence, learn from your missteps, and make smart adjustments.

Think about the many entrepreneurs who failed in their initial business plan only to pivot to a far more promising idea. The Twitter of today looked much different back in 2005, when it started out as Odeo, a podcast web site. As Odeo floundered, its founders switched gears and focused on a side project: a micro-blogging platform that would become one of the most valuable social networks of all time.

Expand Your Definition of Success

In the first ten years of my work life, I was all about advancement.

If I was working on a big project, I took pains to demonstrate to my co-workers all of the hard work and ingenuity that went into pulling it off. Garnering approval, seizing opportunities, and rising in the organization were my priorities.

That all changed when I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma five years ago.

The shocker of cancer was my reset button. When I returned to work after treatment, I was still driven to succeed. But I became much more focused on my diet, exercise, stress management, and positive thinking.

At work, I didn’t just ask myself if what I was doing was best for career advancement. I also started to ask, “Is this fun?” “Am I able to work and still invest time in my health, my family, and my personal passions?” “Do I have a job that aligns with my core values?”

There are multiple joys you will derive from your career. There is nothing like the thrill of validation from your managers and your peers. But I wish I knew when I was young, what I know today: Working isn’t just about getting to the next thing. It’s about enjoying the ride along the way.