Humble leaders, CEOs of global businesses, and inspirational mentors are often role models. They are in the spotlight for a reason. Their career advice might just help you live your life and do your job with more confidence and satisfaction. Take a look at some of the lessons shared by leaders who have been successful on a global scale.
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Success takes passion
High-performing managers stress that simply wanting to work at the top and earn a high salary is not enough for you to grow and be the best you can be. The right motivation will help you to be truly successful. “Most of my success came from my actions that were driven by a need for global improvement, rather than trying to become successful for success’s sake,” Tim Draper said for Inc. Magazine.
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Tim is one of the most successful venture capitalists in Silicon Valley and has invested in Hotmail, Skype, and Bitcoin. He believes that his dedication to making the world better was essential for his achievements.
Jacqueline Hinman, former CEO of Fortune 500 engineering company CH2M HILL, agrees that you cannot lead without having “a passion for your business and a desire to serve shareholders, employees, and customers.”
Take the freedom to experiment
What distinguishes big thinkers from the rest is that they approach failure as the freedom to experiment and an opportunity to look for truly innovative solutions.
In fact, every big thinker and inspirational leader has had to fail many times to get where they are now. Anjali Sud, CEO of the leading professional video platform Vimeo, recently highlighted the benefits of embracing failure for Inc. Magazine:
“Having more of a willingness to fail, and putting yourself in vulnerable positions, can often be the fastest way to succeed. I’d encourage people to be vulnerable and take the opportunity to do that proactively – and see if that stretches you as a person.”
Follow your curiosity
Next to being motivated and open-minded, successful leaders are also curious. They know that they can accomplish a lot more when they bring in ideas and resources from diverse fields. Research findings from the World Economic Forum and Pew Research Center also support the notion that curiosity is one of the most essential qualities to demonstrate across sectors, roles, and demographics.
Michelle Broderick, Senior VP of Marketing at Automattic (the company behind Wordpress), says she is convinced of the power of learning from outside your industry bubble:
“Art, literature, science, and religion have so much to teach us about how to run a business, how to launch a campaign, or how to build an audience. It’s amazing what you’ll learn when you follow your curiosity.”
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Unplug to recharge
Remember to renew your power of learning. Often people are so busy in pursuing ambitious goals, deadlines, and schedules that they forget to give themselves a well-deserved break. Just as your body needs rest after physical exercise, your brain also relies on good sleep, a good diet, and diverse activities to refresh it.
Like many ambitious professionals, Arianna Huffington, Founder of The Huffington Post, had to learn this lesson on her own. In a 2016 interview for Time, she reflected on her experience:
“I’m often asked what advice I would give to my younger self if I had the chance. My answer? I wish I could go back and tell myself: ‘Arianna, your performance will actually improve if you can commit to not only working hard, but also unplugging, recharging and renewing yourself.’”
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You can use the career advice of successful leaders to prepare for what lies ahead. Soak in the inspiration and use their rich experience to move your career forward, grow to be your best, and be happier.