If we go back by, say, 20 years, when my parents were still working, the number of hours you put into work determined your growth. If you were hard working or worked long hours, you deserved to be promoted and grow.
However, a decade ago, when I started my career, skills determined growth. For example, IT professionals were quite in demand back then. However, today, none of these factors determine your growth.
Since the parameters for growth keeps changing from time to time, it is imperative that we evaluate ourselves periodically by asking questions like, ‘Am I growing in my career by simply putting in more hours at work?’ or ‘Is my career progression plan aligned with my organization’s current growth plans?’ Simply working hard is no longer enough to succeed. It is not the numbers of hours you work but how much knowledge you have and whether you believe in the company’s vision is what matters.
Here’s an insightful tip I read in HBR:
“What matters now is not the skills you have but how you think. Can you ask the right questions? Do you know what problem you’re trying to solve in the first place? Hartley argues for a true “liberal arts” education—one that includes both hard sciences and “softer” subjects. A well-rounded learning experience, he says, opens people up to new opportunities and helps them develop products that respond to real human needs.”
Source – https://hbr.org/2017/07/liberal-arts-in-the-data-age
‘Success is not a destination, it is a journey with a few sojourns that requires you to keep improving yourself.’
To Dos:
Review your website and your pitch to clients and check if your focus (priority order) is on hours, knowledge or care.
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