Knowing the best route for your career trajectory is tough at the best of times. Add in the after-effects of the pandemic, little face to face contact, and pressure to over deliver in the day job. The life of a sales professional can be really difficult.

I recall when a client and I were walking around the beautiful Italian Gardens in Hyde Park. Given the beauty and lack of noise, he commented that he could not believe we were in one of the busiest cities in the world.

He had recently been promoted and was feeling out of his depth in the new environment of an esteemed group of leaders. He asked me how he could close this seemingly insurmountable gap?

I reminded him he had been promoted because he was a stellar performer. He was exceptional at what he did; yet the key to make the difference would be to “get in better rooms”.

I was suggesting that he build his own authentic leadership muscle and get used to operating at a higher level of conversation. I asked him to step in and actively meet more people, both internal and externally, who were at the level he was expected to operate at.

This got me thinking of the wider challenge we all face, namely how to continue to walk the tightrope of growing our careers without feeling overwhelmed during the process?

The most valuable exercise of my career

I had reached a point in my career where I felt that I wanted to examine how I could develop and become more fulfilled. My first step was to identify and subsequently interview people who had achieved the results that I desired. These leaders were all very successful in their chosen fields and, as a result, were very wealthy, in some cases, millionaires.

I wanted to uncover what had made them so successful. They were from a variety of disciplines, including property development, technology and accountancy. I considered all these people to be super- successful in their chosen field. I was very nervous about contacting them and wondered if they would help me; however, I needn’t have worried, as the result was fascinating. By stepping out of my network, making a friendly introduction, and acknowledging their successes, every one of them was willing to share their wisdom and career story.

One of the unifying themes was that every one of these individuals had a clear vision for their futures...

...Since the passing of my mum, I realise my time is limited. So, as I want to leave a positive legacy, I had better evolve. I have changed direction in my life's journey by becoming a full-time career coach. What a privileged job and position to be in! Often people say to me, “You truly love your job.” I certainly do!

Helping people in their hour of need emotionally, as well as guiding them towards a better career decision, is a multiplier - it helps their families too. It is rather selfish really; I sleep better at night knowing I have helped someone that day.

During our recent podcast interview with Keith Douglas (EVP at Mastercard), he shared a hopeful and empowering message:

“Whilst you are on this planet, your only job is to be as good as you can be, at being you."

I urge you to ask yourself:

· What do people seek my advice on?

· What would I do if I knew I could not fail?

· What do I want to have achieved by the end of my career?

Our purpose at Enterprise Sales Club is to enable SaaS Sales Professionals to achieve their potential through the power of life-enhancing connections, shared experiences, and collaborative learnings.

If you have found this podcast valuable, please like, re-share and pass onto a work colleague or someone within your network whom it could help at this stage of their career.

To discover exclusive content for our community, go to https://www.enterprisesalesclub.com.