Ambassadors

Keep trying to build on skills and say yes to opportunities

During my career I have always looked outside the box to see what oppurtunities there are out there and this has given me a wealth experience and opened unexpected doors.

Even when it feels like you have a setback, there are always opportunities to learn, and having that mindset makes those setbacks so much more manageable and surmountable. If something hasn't gone to plan, rather than feeling too badly about it and beating yourself up, asking yourself what the greatest learning points were makes sure you can gain from the experience. One of the most important things I've realised is that I can also ask others what they think the main take aways are too - and that fresh perspective can really drive your own motivation and help approach new situations from a different angle going forward! Even in circumstances where things have gone really well, it's always worth reflecting why it went well in the first place, and what can be taken away from this and applied to other problems and situations. Your colleagues are some of your greatest learning resources, and no question is ever silly, so don't be afraid just to ask!

Seek out the unanswerable questions; they are the catalyst for true innovation and deeper understanding. Don't settle for easy answers that cannot be challenged.

I always think that most of the time we create our own insecurity. For example, ff you ever feel like you have impostor syndrome, just ask yourself, what are the odds of you really being here by mistake? Of everyone else being much better than you? They're always low and they're is always going to be someone else in a similar situation to you. As another example, if you apply for a job and get a rejection, where only 5% of applicants pass, there is no reason to bring yourself down, 95% of people will be in your same situation. The odds of passing were low but the only way to beat those odds is trying again, and 5% is much better than 0. Many use realism to be negative but I believe it is the best way to have a positive attitude and keep going!

Sometimes you're just ready for a change... and that's okay! Your body gets nervous around change. It likes the status quo (from a purely evolutionary point of view, the status quo has kept you alive so far so why change it!?) Even when we know that a change is what we need, we're likely to still feel nervous about it... even when we know it's the right thing to do. If you've thought it through carefully and it's still what you want to do... it's your life - never be too afraid to make yourself happy.

Be proactive - chances are your dream job won't fall into your lap right away! Ask the right people the right questions, reach out to people on LinkedIn, value the expertise and experience of others and actively seek it out. Also, don't get in your own way - believe in your own skills and abilities, remind yourself of how far you've come, and remember rejection is normal and not a reflection of your potential. Just a reflection of one impression at one moment in time and an opportunity for self-improvement and growth - humble yourself to be open to constructive feedback!

From my experience resilience is the most important thing that helps me to get to the objectives. Sometimes things are not easy but if you really want something keep trying, ask for help if needed and push yourself. Don’t give up easily but also don’t be too harsh on your self when things don’t go as planned, sometimes it happens and you can’t control it. If you did everything in your power to reach what you wanted to and it still didn’t happen it wasn’t meant to be.

Don't make the mistake of pretending to be someone you are not. We recognise that everybody has strengths and weaknesses, so embracing them is vital so that you we can really learn who you are.