From Zero to Hero: 10 Tips on How to Crush It in Your Career (Even If You Started from Scratch)

Peter Stefanyszyn
5 min readMar 27, 2023

Do you ever feel stuck in a dead-end job with no hope for advancement? Or maybe you’re just starting your career and feeling overwhelmed by the competition and uncertainty of the job market. Whatever your situation, the good news is that it’s possible to crush it in your career and achieve success and fulfillment, even if you started from scratch. Here are ten tips to help you get started.

1. Identify your strengths and passions.

Identifying your strengths and passions is the first step to crushing it in your career. What are you naturally good at? What do you enjoy doing? What are your values and priorities? You can determine what career path best suits your skills and interests by answering these questions. For example, if you’re a creative person who enjoys working with your hands, consider a career in design or craftsmanship.

2. Set ambitious but achievable goals.

Once you’ve identified your strengths and passions, it’s time to set ambitious but achievable goals for your career. What do you want to achieve in the short term and long term? How can you measure your progress toward those goals? Setting clear and specific goals allows you to stay focused and motivated even when the going gets tough.

3. Develop a strong work ethic.

Crushing it in your career requires a strong work ethic and dedication to your craft. This means showing up on time, putting in the hours, and doing your best work every day. It also means being willing to go above and beyond what’s expected of you, whether taking on extra projects or volunteering for leadership roles. When you demonstrate a strong work ethic, you build a reputation as a reliable and valuable team member, which can lead to new opportunities and advancement.

4. Build a network of mentors and supporters.

No one achieves success in a vacuum. You need to build a network of mentors and supporters who can offer guidance, advice, and feedback to crush it in your career. Seek out people with experience and expertise in your field, and don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice. Consider joining professional organizations or attending networking events to expand your network and connect with like-minded individuals.

5. Learn from failure and setbacks.

Crushing it in your career requires resilience and the ability to bounce back from failure and setbacks. When things don’t go as planned, try to view them as learning opportunities rather than defeats. What went wrong? What could you do differently next time? How can you use this experience to improve your skills and knowledge? By approaching failure with a growth mindset, you can turn setbacks into stepping stones toward success.

6. Be adaptable and flexible.

The job market is constantly changing, and you need to be adaptable and flexible to crush it in your career. This might mean learning new skills, changing roles, or switching industries altogether. When you’re open to new opportunities and willing to take risks, you increase your career chances of success and fulfillment.

7. Take calculated risks.

Speaking of risks, taking calculated risks is an essential part of crushing it in your career. This means evaluating any opportunity’s potential risks and rewards and making an informed decision based on your research and analysis. For example, if you’re considering accepting a job offer in a new city, you’ll want to evaluate the cost of living and potential career growth opportunities before deciding. By taking calculated risks, you can increase your chances of success while minimizing the potential downside.

8. Seek out feedback and constructive criticism.

To improve your skills and advance in your career, seeking feedback and constructive criticism from others is vital. This might mean asking your boss for regular performance evaluations or seeking input from colleagues and mentors. You show you’re committed to continuous growth and improvement when you’re open to constructive criticism and willing to make changes based on feedback.

9. Invest in your professional development.

Crushing it in your career requires ongoing learning and professional development. This might mean taking courses or attending workshops to improve your skills or pursuing additional education or certifications to advance in your field. Investing in your professional development demonstrates your commitment to your career and willingness to take your skills to the next level.

10. Believe in yourself.

Believing in yourself is crucial for crushing it in your career. It’s easy to feel discouraged or overwhelmed when facing challenges or setbacks. Still, it’s important to remember that you have unique skills, talents, and experiences that make you capable of achieving great things. Don’t let fear or self-doubt hold you back from pursuing your dreams. Instead, focus on your strengths and your vision for the future. You can overcome any obstacle and achieve your goals with confidence and self-belief.

In conclusion, crushing it in your career is possible, even if you started from scratch. By identifying your strengths and passions, setting ambitious but achievable goals, developing a solid work ethic, building a network of mentors and supporters, learning from failure and setbacks, being adaptable and flexible, taking calculated risks, seeking out feedback and constructive criticism, investing in your professional development, and believing in yourself, you can increase your chances of success and fulfillment in your career. So go out there and crush it!

Are you ready to take your career to the next level? What challenges have you faced in your career, and how have you overcome them? Share your thoughts in the comments below! And if you enjoyed this article, be sure to like and follow for more career tips and advice.

Stand out with Mentor Motivations! With our bold prints, premium fabrics, fashion-forward clothes, coffee mugs, and tote bags, you’ll surely look like someone ready to take on the world. Take your wardrobe of choice up a notch when wearing Mentor Motivations. It’s the perfect way to display your dedication to mastering success.

You got this!

Sign up to discover human stories that deepen your understanding of the world.

Free

Distraction-free reading. No ads.

Organize your knowledge with lists and highlights.

Tell your story. Find your audience.

Membership

Read member-only stories

Support writers you read most

Earn money for your writing

Listen to audio narrations

Read offline with the Medium app

Peter Stefanyszyn
Peter Stefanyszyn

Written by Peter Stefanyszyn

Welcome to Gibberish & Gold—where words get broken down, flipped around, and served up with a side of wit.

No responses yet

Write a response