One of the most interesting conversations I had recently was with a risk expert. We were discussing how businesses identify risks before they become problems and put plans in place to reduce the impact. Naturally, I put on my Unsolicited Corporate Advice cap and started wondering, what if we approached our careers the same way?
Yes, we plan and God decides. Life does not always unfold according to our timelines. But there are things within our control that can either increase or reduce the risks to our future success.
Here’s a simple exercise.
Ask yourself: “Where do I want to be in 5 or 10 years?“
Now imagine you have arrived in that future and you did not achieve what you set out to achieve. Maybe you’re not the Senior Manager, Executive, Business Owner, or Industry Expert you hoped to become.
Then ask yourself: Why?
Perhaps you never applied for leadership roles because you doubted yourself.
Perhaps you lacked a qualification that was a requirement for promotion.
Perhaps your network was too small.
Some of those reasons may be outside your control. Economic downturns happen. Companies restructure. Industries change. But many of the reasons will be things you can influence today.
If the future risk is that you won’t become a manager because you never applied for a management roles, start applying.
If the risk is that you won’t qualify for senior positions because you lack a certification or degree, start studying.
If the risk is that nobody knows your work, start building relationships and increasing your visibility.
The future version of you is depending on the decisions you make today. So don’t wait for the problem to arrive before addressing it.
Derisk your future while you still have time.
Until next Wednesday.
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