☠️ Beware of career pitfalls

Today’s Thoughts ☠️

Hey there 👋,

It’s Thursday. What are we doing here? Good question.

I’m testing a second edition every Thursday over the next month. Sometimes I feel Tuesday’s version is already stuffed with so much value that I can’t add anymore without overwhelming you.

Yet, there’s always more value to share.

So, I'll be sharing more of that in this second weekly drop to cut through the noise with the best insights, tools and memes.

Get your tea 🍵 or beverage of choice ready, we've got lots to discuss!

In today’s chat 👇

• 4 strategies to escape career pitfalls

• 5 Edtech platforms redefining workplace learning

• Meme Wars: Learning vs Education

The Big Thought

How To Escape Career Pitfalls

Your career stalls because you focus on the wrong things. Don’t be that person.

I’ve worked with enterprise organisations, scale-ups and startups to improve skills development and career strategies. I even wrote a book about it (I was bored).

Here’s why people’s careers often stall or hit a complete dead end, and what to do about it.

1️⃣ You don’t do quarterly skills health checks

Just like your physical and mental health, your skills need maintenance too.

The world moves fast. So must you. A simple way to keep on top of everything is to do the following:

1. Open a Word doc or grab a notebook

2. Draw 3 columns with the headings ‘expiring’, ‘evolving’ and ‘emerging

3. Place your current skills across the first two columns

4. Use the third to reflect on the skills that could help your future

2️⃣ You rely on your job title (alone) to build your career

Unless you're some unique unicorn CEO. Don’t do this.

Invest in skills that people want = more money and those fancy job titles.

3️⃣ You need to have something to get something

Imagine your career as a marketplace of skills.

Companies are bidding for certain skills. The more unique the skill, the more it’s worth. You can't participate in this marketplace if you don’t have something to offer.

Life passes most people by while they’re busy making grand plans for it.

Don't get lost in that by sitting on the fence.

To get started do the following:

• Get going (you’ll suck for a lil while but embrace that)

• Get good (hone your craft to build credibility)

• Get smart (find ways to automate your skills or position to the highest bidder)

4️⃣ You need to find the right environment for you to thrive

Not everywhere is going to be the right place for you to shine.

If you aren't learning and earning where you are. That’s a problem.

To help with this, consider:

1. What are you good at and why?

2. What do you enjoy and why?

3. Where is that combination most valued?

I hope that helps you.

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New Thoughts

Content that has just dropped or recently been updated.

If you're curious, here's three ways I can help you 👇

1/ My L&D toolkit stack with 20 zero-cost tools.

2/ Work smarter with AI in HR and L&D in my ChatGPT Crash Course.

3/ Work with me on your projects and L&D challenges.

Please share your thoughts with me on these pieces or anything I share on LinkedIn or hit 'reply'. Chat to you soon.

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