Since I completed my first book last month, I have been asked repeatedly why I wrote “52 Weeks: 52 Ideas for Scaling the Mountain of Career success.” Other questions asked are “how many copies the average book on Amazon is selling?” and “how many copies have you sold?” Sure, I had dreams of Oprah recommending my book on her show, or to her book club. But realistically, I am aware that the market is intensely crowded. There are many great books out there, but they are in small demand. When people do buy books, they prefer books by famous authors who are already popular. The truth is that new books by unknown authors perform poorly. If so, why the heck did I write this book, and why am I continuing to write? The answer is that writing is the way I stay connected to my “why.” I write because I hope my blog posts and books would mean something to somebody. If the content I produce help only a handful of people get clarity on their career path and find job satisfaction and success, it is a good enough reason for me to put in the time and effort. And most importantly, purpose is not about money and fame. It’s about the sheer joy of the craft, of bringing something of myself into existence. I believe this applies to every job.
To build a fulfilling career, we need to stay connected to our “why.” The two principles guiding my work are:
1. Everybody’s story matters. My story matters.
Each of us has a story that needs to be told. I can offer a unique perspective based on my experiences, which I hope would help people make positive changes in their life.
2. The pursuit of challenges unlocks potential and drives excellence.
Years ago, I was introduced to the concept of Misogi, a Japanese Shinto ritual involving standing under a 45-degree waterfall from Mount Fuji for one minute. It’s about taking on challenges to expand our belief about what is possible and to build physical and mental resilience.
Writing a book, much like navigating a successful career, is all about embracing challenges throughout a long and difficult journey. Only by daring and doing we can find out what we are truly capable of. And the most difficult part is the beginning, deciding what the book is about, or what our career purpose is. What we often don’t recognize is that we can have more than one “why.” To be successful in any endeavor is to leverage our skills and our voice to show up and do our best every single day.
10 things you need to write a book and/or navigate a successful career:
1. Figure out the theme of your story
To write a book, you need a book idea. To build a career, you need to know your main themes. Ask the following questions:
What do I want to write about/what work to I want to do?
What is important to write about/what is important to contribute in the work I do?
How can I carry my book idea effectively/How can I effectively build a career?
2. Create an outline
To write a book, you need an outline. To build a career, you need a big picture plan. Pick the approach and format that works for you starting with the end-goal in mind.
3. Focus on substance
The cardinal rule of writing and on the job is to always be thinking about your audience and take a “reader-first, “customer-first,” and value-first approach.
4. Stay focused and track your progress
Once you figure out what you want to write about, or do, you need a strategy for accomplishing it. Set one major goal for the calendar year. Break it into monthly sub goals then create your weekly mini-goals to drive your daily planning. In writing it’s easy – you need to hit your daily word count. On the job, align your daily deliverables to your weekly, monthly, and annual goal.
5. Keep yourself motivated
Even at a job you love and find fulfilling, productive work can sometimes feel like a grind. Success is about continuing to work whether you are inspired or not. To enhance your intrinsic motivation:
Write at least 3 reasons why you want to write a book/achieve your goal.
Use an accountability partner to keep you committed to progress.
Reward yourself for small wins and reaching milestones.
6. Leverage setbacks to accelerate success
Recognize that a chapter in a book is not the book. Don’t confuse the immediate situation with the long-term outcome. There are many chapters and stories in your career lifespan. Your storyline is full of choices. Embrace the plot twist and be open to explore and expand your options.
7. Cultivate self-discipline to drive progress then achievement
Writing is not about creative genius, and career success is not about sheer talent. Goal achievement requires repeated practice, a devotion to the purpose. Success is about commitment to action.
8. Establish a healthy lifestyle and a positive mindset
To hit your word count goal or any goal, build routines that keep your life and work in balance. Establish a daily schedule to prioritize your time, activities, and tasks. Practice daily habits to achieve a positive mindset and an optimistic outlook when the enormity of the task seems daunting.
9. Do the work but don’t rush the process
Writing and career success highlight the motto of persistence and patience. It is the small consistent steps that lead to the accomplishment of big goals. Recognize that working toward your goal and being willing to put yourself out there are huge accomplishments in and of themselves.
10. Embrace imperfection and impermanence
Constantly striving and toiling can be stressful. Learn to appreciate that everything in life is impermanent and imperfect. Not every chapter will be successful. But you can always course correct. This will allow you to forgive yourself for any bad decisions, mistakes or mess-ups. Find the freedom in giving yourself permission to just do your best vs. the need to be the best.
Navigating a successful career requires intention and planning. Yet, there will always be change. So, be able to adapt and adjust to an ever-changing life, circumstances, and realities. Write your career story one scene at a time. Release your ideas and talent into the world and see what happens.
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