Hear the story of how John Murphy’s persistence led to an internship in the Scottish Parliament and a successful career working for the FDIC. John was the middle child in a large family that struggled financially, yet his parents instilled in him a passion for education and hard work that served him well in life. In this episode, you’ll learn how John didn’t let rejection stop him from pursuing his goals and what steps he took to achieve his success. Listen to his story, then choose which action will help you reach your goal and make John a part of your journey.

Action Principles 

Pick one to do this week: 

1. Be persistent. Don’t just accept a no. Go after your goal with polite, passionate persistence. ACTION: Were you recently turned away from something you want? Reassess your approach and try again in a polite, genuine manner.
2. Define your strengths. Find the intersection between what you enjoy doing, your natural talents, and your skills. Then, look for opportunities that match those strengths. ACTION: Take the course Discovering Your Strengths on LinkedIn Learning.
3. Create a personal learning fund. Continued learning leads to new opportunities and growth. ACTION: Set a monthly contribution budget for your personal learning account and use it to invest in your ongoing education.
4. Admit when you don’t know something. It’s better to admit you don’t know something than to pretend you do. ACTION: Ask someone experienced in a new skill to help you learn.

Guest Resources

Connect with John Murphy on LinkedIn. 

Suggested LinkedIn Learning Courses

Discovering Your Strengths

Free Time Management Course

Thanks to Dave Crenshaw's partnership with Microsoft and LinkedIn Learning, you can get free access to his full course, Time Management Fundamentals, at DaveGift.com.

Dave Crenshaw develops productive leaders in Fortune 500 companies, universities, and organizations of every size. He has appeared in Time magazine, USA Today, FastCompany, and the BBC News. His courses on LinkedIn Learning have been viewed tens of millions of times. His five books have been published in eight languages, the most popular of which is The Myth of Multitasking—a time management bestseller. As an author, speaker, and online instructor, Dave has transformed the lives and careers of hundreds of thousands around the world. DaveCrenshaw.com