4 Tips to Think about your Future in a Whole New Way
For young professionals, or for those you may know who have recently graduated, now is the perfect time to start thinking about the future. What do you want to accomplish in your career? What kind of person do you want to become? How far do you want to go in life? Daniel Burrus, a Ladders contributor, has some advice to get you thinking about the future in a whole new way.
Raise the bar
As you begin to plan out your future, remember that there is always a bigger big. Success can be defined in many ways, so take your definition of success and raise the bar. Ask yourself, “What is even bigger than what I am thinking? Because that’s what I really want to do.”
Be extraordinary
There is no such thing as an average person; there is only average thinking. Make the choice to be extraordinary every day. There are plenty of examples of extraordinary people: world leaders working for a global cause, or even the person in your neighborhood helping to make a better community. Whether you are embarking on an adventure in the corporate world or are enrolled in a graduate program, ask yourself each day, “What would an extraordinary person in my situation do?”, and do it!
Identify your native genius
We all have multiple talents, but the key is understanding that you also have a unique gift, or native genius. Talent relates to competency and can only take you so far, but when you identify your native genius, you can direct your talents to support it and your career will really begin to soar.
Discover what’s inside of you
To really uncover your native genius, spend time getting to know what is inside of you by trying new things. A lot of us find one activity we like that we may be good at and that’s all we do for our entire life. While this is good, you might not discover what you are truly great at and passionate about. Make it a priority to learn one new thing every year. The more variety you add to your life the more deeply you’ll discover what’s really inside you.
Now is your opportunity to really begin to shape your future. By thinking bigger, choosing to be extraordinary, leveraging your native genius and committing to learning new things, you have the ability to create a life filled with amazing opportunities and unforgettable memories.