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We released our 100th “Career Sessions, Career Lessons” podcast episode this week, a little over two years since the show was first launched. I remain thankful that some of my first guests were willing to take a chance and do the show with me, particularly Michael Alter, who was featured in the very first episode.
In the time since, I’ve interviewed a broad mix of people, in a range of categories:
- The C-Level
- Entrepreneurs
- Non-Profit Leaders
- Leading Thinkers
- Coaches
- Recruiters
- People From All Walks of Life (yes, this one is sort of a catch-all)
Guests have shared their journeys, their unique perspectives on certain topics, their successes and struggles, and the many lessons they’ve learned. I’ve benefited tremendously from these conversations, and I hope you have as well.
If I were to summarize some of the key lessons these first 100 guests have imparted, here are the top ones:
1. Worry less. This has been far-and-away the most common response to, “What advice would you give your younger self or someone just starting out?” Guests say they would advise their younger selves to worry less about making money at the start of your career, worry less about how fast success will come, worry less about the twists and turns, and worry less about pleasing others.
2. Know your passions. I say “know your passions” rather than “follow your passions” because guests have acknowledged that it’s not so simple as just following your passion. Some passions won’t pay the bills, and some are better left as part-time hobbies. Still, it’s essential to figure out what lights you up and what leaves you flat. If you understand that, you’re more likely to end up in a job – and on a career path – that works well for you.
3. Seize opportunities and take risks. As the saying goes, “Fortune favors the bold.” Guests repeatedly talked about the value that came from being adaptable and open to change, from forgoing a “conventional wisdom” career choice to pursue a non-traditional opportunity, and from pushing themselves outside their comfort zones.
4. Build good habits. Many guests talked about the importance of habits, in the form of how they manage their time and relationships, how they prioritize self-care (such as exercise, healthy eating, and meditation), and how they operate on a day-to-day basis. The earlier you make these a regular part of how you work and live, the better off you’ll be.
5. Invest in continuous learning. While perhaps a more implicit point, it’s been clear that guests have focused on developing themselves and on being lifelong learners. This focus has enabled them to create professional optionality and to reach greater heights.
6. Establish a good support team. Whether it’s in the form of a strong network, a good set of mentors, or a personal board of advisors, guests conveyed how important it is to have others to whom you can turn for advice, support, feedback, opportunities and expertise. This week’s guest, Ruth Gotian, speaks eloquently about the significant value in having mentors in terms of its impact on career success and satisfaction.
7. Embrace failure and setbacks. It’s safe to say that none of the guests I’ve interviewed have had fully smooth sailing. They’ve all made mistakes and experienced setbacks. But they’ve treated these as learning opportunities, picked themselves up and moved on, and used these instances to strengthen their resilience in the face of challenge and adversity.
8. Stay true to yourself. Many guests have acknowledged that they lost themselves in one way or another at some point in their careers. This came in the form of working too hard, ignoring their health and /or personal relationships, finding themselves in toxic situations, or staying in jobs they no longer loved. They emphasized the importance of stepping back to create perspective, and in taking action to realign their professional lives with their values and interests.
Even if you’re not at the start of your career, these are all great lessons from which you can benefit. Take them to heart, and consider what ‘course corrections’ you might want to make to better position yourself for career success and joy. And in parallel, we’ll keep seeking out new lessons from the next 100 guests.
JR and the PathWise team
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