The 7 reasons you’re not going anywhere in your career.

I think it’s safe to say we’ve all been acquainted with just about every ‘get ahead’ career tip there is.

Everyday is a job interview. Dress for success. Stop worrying about the competition. Don’t dream about success, work for it. Passion is the difference between having a job and having a career.

The list goes on. And on.

Enough is enough. We’re not going to bother telling you what you should be doing to climb that ladder or climb that jungle gym – because if you haven’t acted on these age-old tips, let’s face it, you’re not going to start anytime soon.

Instead, we’re going to blow the lid off the the things you’re doing wrong. 

This is a list of common mistakes made by young people in the workplace, and the comments come from people in the know.

1. You sleep in until the very last minute.

From now on set your alarm to wake up fifteen minutes earlier than you normally would.

(If you absolutely, cannot do without even one of your forty winks, tonight, pause your Netflix fifteen minutes earlier and head to bed – it’s that simple).

In these precious extra minutes you’ve gifted yourself – get up, feed your body, get in the zone and start moving.

If you practice yoga, do that. If you meditate, do that. And if you run, well, do that.

If you don’t do much at all, try this: Life-coach extraordinaire, Tony Robbins starts every morning by jumping into a 14 degree Celsius swimming pool – and he is worth an estimated $438 million dollars.

This is why you should be doing yoga right now. (Post continues after video…)

2. You do the bare minimum.

MediaCom’s Executive of People and Culture, Sara Durree, says: “Don’t make the mistake of thinking your career choices start when you get the job or when you walk through the office doors on your first day.”

Read, listen, ask questions and Google any of those tricky words you can’t recite the meanings of.

3. You’re too ambitious.

Wipe that confused look off your face. Ms Durree said, “Ambition is such a powerful attribute, but I do believe people can be unrealistic.”

Instead of drifting off into the stratosphere, take a minute every six, twelve and even twenty four months to take stock of where you are, where you want to be and regain focus.

That way, when opportunities arise, you can better recognise whether this career choice or that, is getting you closer to your goal – or further away.

We’re not asking you to keep a dream journal, we’re just saying, everyone needs a compass point.

4. You’re afraid of failure.

We’re just going to leave you with the wise words of Steven Pressfield, from his novel Turning Pro. Do with them what you will.

“Sometimes, when we are terrified of embracing our true calling, we pursue a shadow calling instead. That shadow career is a metaphor for our real career. Its shape is similar, its contours feel tantalisingly the same. But a shadow career entails no real risk. If we fail in a shadow career, the consequences are meaningless to us.”

5. You think your superior is smarter than they are.

This is an easy one to remedy.

Ms Duree said, “It is so important to clearly communicate your career goals with your manager from day one and to take the opportunity during formal reviews to keep them updated on how you feel you are tracking. If you don’t communicate regularly, your manager may assume you’re happy or at the least, content with your professional development.”

As it turns out, the old adage is true – communication is the key to success. So hop to it.

6. You can fit in anywhere.

MediaCom’s Sara Durree believes, “You need to be sure the company or organization you join is a place where you want to grow and develop as a professional and the culture of a company can make or break someone’s experience.”

In the words of Steve Jobs, “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”

7. You think this advice doesn’t apply to you.

Need we say more?

Looking for inspiration? These 11 excellent women will have you brimming with ideas. 

What do you do to achieve your career goals?