This is a guest blog by Jen Bunk, Ph.D.
In my last article, I talked about calling forth your confidence. We all have confidence — it’s simply hard to find it sometimes. Especially amidst the chaos, negativity, scarcity, and all of the other problems that we face on a daily basis.
But that’s the whole game, isn’t it?
To be able to shine with confidence despite massive challenges!
That’s how you win as a technical leader.
That’s how you win at the game of life.
And there are lots of challenges, aren’t there? Lots of dragons to slay.
Colleagues who don’t seem to listen. A boss who’s too nice to advocate for you. Or a boss who’s so focused on what’s not working that he can’t give you 15 minutes a week.
Or clients who are demanding. Tech that keeps breaking.
And that’s just at WORK!
Enter the Realm Outside of Work and oh, boy!
We’re surrounded by messages of negativity in the news. Our family members are worried or mad or both.
How is an authentic, assertive, servant leader supposed to navigate all of this? Let alone be the superhero who saves the day?
Here’s the formula for Confidence:
Decisiveness + Commitment + Resourcefulness
It’s that simple.
Decisiveness:
You have to DECIDE that you’re born to win. You have to DECIDE that the only way to lose is to quit. You have to DECIDE to build your dream career and your dream life.
Commitment:
COMMIT to taking the inspired, intelligent actions necessary to win. COMMIT from a place of complete and utter resolve that you will continue no matter what. COMMIT as if your life depended on it. (Hint: It does.)
Resourcefulness:
I list this last not because it’s the least important. It’s as important as the other two. It’s #3 because once you definitely decide to win and you’re 100% committed to doing what’s necessary to make that happen …
… All that’s left is to get resourceful. You get creative. You find a way.
No doors? Build one.
No time? Make it.
No money? Find it.
There is ALWAYS a way once you’ve decided and you’re committed.
And there’s ALWAYS an excuse if you’re not.
Take a long hard look at where you are in your career right now. Are you happy with it?
If so, great! Keep at it.
If not, ask yourself why?
And in that answer, notice where you go.
Approach #1:
Do you list all of the reasons why you’ll get what you want? All of the actions you’ll take to earn that raise, promotion, or new job? All of the creative resources you’ll tap into?
Do you point out all of the abundance? All of the resources that are available to you right now and the resources you can create in the future?
Or…
Approach #2:
Do you list all of the reasons why you can’t get what you want? All of the excuses for why taking the necessary actions are too hard, too risky, or too out of alignment?
Do you point out all the scarcity? All the lack? How you don’t have enough time, money, or energy to get what you want?
One of these approaches will help you build your dream career.
The other won’t.
Choose wisely.
Which one will YOU choose?
About Jen Bunk, Ph.D.
Jen Bunk helps tech managers build their dream careers so they can earn premium salaries of at least $200k per year without working their butts off 50+ hours a week. She is a career coach and CEO of The People Stack. She loves yoga, traveling, and pretending to be a world-class foodie. She’s a wife, mother, and dedicated lifetime scholar. Every day, she strives to balance it all. You can learn more about Jen here.
We would love to hear any questions you might have or stories you might share about having the ability to shine with confidence despite massive challenges.
Please leave your comments, feedback or questions in the section below.
To your success,
Anthony Fasano, PE, LEED AP
Engineering Management Institute
Author of Engineer Your Own Success
