10 GOALS YOU NEED TO ACCOMPLISH IN YOUR CAREER BEFORE TURNING 30
I remember realising how far 30 sounded when I was 15 years old. The years pass by so much faster than I could imagine. Though I'm still a few years away from turning 30, I've already begun to experience some anxiety. I've been feeling this crushing pressure to accomplish everything I want before my youth slips away. It is never about the age, but about the memories and experiences we bring with us into the next decade of our lives. I have no doubt that many of us have already created a list of things we want to accomplish before the age of 30, and some of us may even have started checking items off our bucket list. Aside from bungee jumping and skydiving, have we considered what we should do in our careers when we reach the age of 30?
Let me share some of the things that I personally felt and what studies say we need to accomplish before turning 30.
1. Quit a job you hate.
So, the most important part of ensuring you finish your twenties is determining whether you are satisfied with your current job. There is no harm in trying out a few jobs from different industries, but you must be able to decide which job suits you and, most importantly, which job gives your inner self happiness. After our 30s, we usually start to focus more on our personal lives. Whether it's committing to a relationship, getting married, starting a family, or even being a dog parent. Thus, many studies says as a result, it is recommended to have a stable job before you reach your 30s.
2. Write a vision statement.
Start to create a professional vision of where you want to see yourself and write it down. A written vision will help you to identify your values, goals, and desires. Then, think about how you intend to approach those targets. Look at your vision frequently and ask yourself how close you are to it; and if you are not anywhere close, you should buckle up to run for it.
3. Learn to balance your work and life.
Hard work is important for a successful life, but being a workaholic and focusing only on your work is never a good idea. When you reach your 30s, surely you will have a couple of years' worth of work experience, if not more. So now all you have to do is learn how to balance it out. Always remember that having a life outside of work would benefit you and your mental health way more than you might assume.
4. Establish networking
Having a large number of friends is nice, but building a professional network is even better. Networking is critical to establishing and expanding a successful career. According to studies, there is a direct link between strategic networking and increased income. A strategic network allows one to advance in their career, resulting in a higher income. To be an effective networker, you must step outside of your comfort zone. Creating networks over the Internet has proven to be the most convenient method in this century. LinkedIn has played a very big role in it. The platform helps us connect with professionals around the world and communicate easily. So if you are an introvert, then LinkedIn should be your best option to create great networking.
5. Start investing in yourself.
Despite the fact that we have graduated in specific fields and specialised in our respective careers, investing in yourself to brush up on or improve your skills would be a great investment. This is crucial because the more you start investing in yourself, the more ladders you will be able to climb in your career path. Since your career is your most valuable asset, it will require some financial investment. Don't be afraid to build a career foundation for the future by investing in a library of self-help career books, lunches and dinners with influential people, and ongoing courses. Apart from your own job field, if you feel like exploring other fields, it would be a great investment too.
6. Start setting up your online presence on social media.
It is a fact that whenever a person wants to know about you, they would prefer to visit either your Instagram or Facebook page. Start to reorganise your social media platforms to ensure what is personal stays personal and what is business stays business. If you want to be an influencer, then ensure the content displayed on your social media accounts does not offend anyone. Apart from this, ensure to also update your LinkedIn account, especially about your professional experience, etc. This may make it easier for experts to connect with you and learn more about you.
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7. Learn to speak up for yourself.
Learning to speak up for yourself is the most essential tool you can acquire as you advance in your career, whether you want to request a raise, a promotion, or to work with a team on a significant project. More practise or actual use of these will make you more at ease and increase the amount you can eventually make for yourself. It's best to get used to advocating for yourself now because you'll do it frequently throughout your career as you grow.
8. Have a side income
I think that having extra income can completely transform your life as well. By learning about the numerous ways to earn money, you can stop living paycheck to paycheck, pay off your debt, and do much more. Having a second source of income is always a good idea in case something goes wrong with your current job. Whatever your financial goals are, learning how to earn extra money can help you get there faster.
9. Become an expert.
You owe it to yourself to know what you're capable of by the age of 30. Being an expert in a specific field is more important than I can say, both professionally and in terms of branding. Avoid being a jack-of-all-trades and invest early in becoming exceptional at something. You can sell off your expertise over the coming years if you manage to be an expert by your 30s.
10. Learn to accept rejection.
Despite the fact that rejection is never enjoyable, it is a necessary part of life. Recognize the loss, but move on. Don't waste time or insult someone whose approval you once sought out just because they didn't give it to you. You'll only make yourself bitter and look like a fool.
Our experience in our 20s will allow us to initiate something with a little more confidence as we enter our 30s. To make our 30s a little different, we should shift our perspective to live the life we want, rather than following how other people or society expects us to live. Nobody else can tell us what we should be doing at 30. We have life goals and values that propel us forward.
All I keep telling myself is that turning 30 isn't going to be as nerve wracking as I expected, but it will certainly be the most amazing time of my life.
In your 20s, you learn. In your 30s, you earn - Frank Perdue