Brutally honest career advice

I’m 35.

The first 10 years of my career were an emotional roller coaster.

• Reluctantly became a recruiter

• Was embarrassed by the job

• Started earning good money

• Really enjoyed the job

• Earned great money

• Outgrew the job

• Felt trapped by the job

• Had a breakdown

• Quit

Since then I’ve:

• Started a training consultancy (I had no prior experience)

• Upskilled myself in new areas

• Worked with some big exciting clients

• Winged a lot of things

• Felt trapped by my training consultancy

• Started a coaching business

• Genuinely helped a lot of people

• Found my ikigai

In short… I’ve made A LOT of mistakes. But I’ve also learned a lot.

Today, I want to share a few pieces of brutally honest career advice that I’d give to my younger self if I were going again (so you can avoid some of my pitfalls).

1/ Don’t leave one prison to build another

I was so desperate to leave my company and just do something else, I really didn’t give it the necessary thought.

None of my friends had left corporate to start their own businesses so I didn’t get any advice.

Because of this I didn’t have a plan. And I couldn’t tell you what type of future I was building.

I was just focused on earning money.

And this can lead you down a path where you’ve built something you don’t enjoy but can’t stop.

2/ Actively build a new network

I underestimated the role that community plays when you enter a new industry where you haven’t built up years of experience and contacts.

Sure, I was able to win client work.

But the day-to-day was lonely.

I could go a couple of weeks without having a non-transactional conversation.

You quickly learn that speaking to other people going through the same journey is great for your mood, your development and your soul.

There’s a good chance your friends aren’t going through the same transition as you so they likely a) won’t be that interested or b) won’t be that useful.

3/ Systems are everything

As an employee so much is done for you that you take for granted.

You’re given rules and processes to follow, which can seem restrictive but have been designed over years sometimes decades specifically for your role.

As an entrepreneur, you decide what you do, when you do it and how you do it.

Freedom!

But this freedom is costly if you don’t have new systems in place to help you live the life you want to live whilst also building the business you want to build.

4/ Focus on now not how

I’ve wasted a lot of time thinking.

Thinking about HOW to do things instead of executing. And this has definitely lost me opportunities.

There isn’t a perfect way to write an email.

There isn’t a perfect way to DM someone.

There isn’t a perfect way to approach a client.

We all have the tendency to talk ourselves out of ‘doing’.

But it’s in the ‘doing’ that the magic happens. Where you learn, develop, and build the confidence you need to make shit happen.

5/ Learn copywriting

I used to think this was for journalists.

But actually, it’s learning the skill of persuasion.

And it’s vitally important in EVERY business.

Regardless of what business you build, you will have an online presence.

Which is where this is vitally important.

But it also helps you clarify and simplify your thoughts. Which you need to be able to communicate effectively with customers.

And just a god life skill with an insane ROI.

6/ F*ck other people’s opinions

“Sometimes you have to let other people’s dreams for your life die for yours to live” ~ Alex Hormozi

No truer words have been said.

2 things are true:

1. most people actually don’t care about what you’re doing. They’re focused on their own lives. So whatever you’ve convinced yourself they will think is a complete lie

2. The people’s opinions that you’re worried about likely aren’t qualified to give you advice worth listening to - unless they’ve done what you’re trying to do

Run your own race. The upside is SO BIG.

7/ Mentors are overrated

Wanna know the best way to find a mentor? Become someone worth mentoring.

• Start things

• Encounter a problem

• Ask for SPECIFIC feedback, not advice

• Report back on how you did

• Repeat 🔁

You’ll realise you never needed a “mentor” in the first place.

8/ Don’t be held to ransom by the 21 y/o you

Don’t limit your future opportunities to what you’re currently doing now.

You likely made a decision at 21 to pursue your current career.

It’s admirable that you’ve lasted this long but that doesn’t have to define you forever.

Instead, think about how you can leverage your skills, knowledge and experience in new areas.

You’ve grown and developed.

You’re career should too.

9/ Fail fast and often

The longer you take to execute the more the chips are stacked against you.

Markets change.

Circumstances change.

You miss your opportunity.

The most successful businesses, big and small take swings often.

They learn and go again.

A year from now will you be in the same position THINKING about what you can do…

I hope not.

10/ Make £1 before thinking about £100,000

It’s easy to dismiss an idea as “not worth it”.

But learning how to turn your idea into an actual business and getting your hands dirty is invaluable.

Don’t wait for the perfect moment for the stars to align for you to finally take action.

Find out now whether that great idea you have can actually make you ANY money.

Ideas without execution are hallucinations.

11/ You’re gonna be okay

You have time.

Despite what you tell yourself.

It’s okay if you don’t have everything figured out.

Hang around optimistic people. Do things that inspire you.

Seize the time you have.

It will all work out.

That’s all from me.

See you next week,

Garvey

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