Career Advice from Wildly Successful People

Great job advice can be transformative. It can set you on a whole new trajectory, land you a new role, or even prompt you to make a big change. Through her podcast, Amantha Imber has had the opportunity to interview and learn from some of the most successful business leaders, musicians, writers, entrepreneurs, chefs, and entertainers. Here is some advice from them:

• Not all feedback is created equal. Take a moment to reflect on the feedback giver. Ask yourself: Do they have your best interests at heart? Do they have experience or expertise in the subject they have given you feedback on?
• Flirt with your future self. It’s normal to get urges to try out different roles or career paths. But instead of doing something dramatic, think about small experiments you can do in your current role that can help you understand your choices better.
• Schedule a life check-up. A life check-up involves asking yourself how you’re tracking with your career and the job you are in. It ensures that you’re not blindly following a career path you’re going to regret years down the track.
• Do your current job well — even the boring bits. Every single job is a mix of good bits and bad. Do them all well to stand out from the pack.

I once sat across from a boss and listened as he gave me a brutally honest performance review. At the time, I was working as a consumer psychologist for a multi-national advertising agency. My job involved advising big brands on how to best persuade their customers to engage with their products and services.

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