3 things NOT required for career success

Just a reminder that these 3 things are totally unnecessary for career success: 

1. Perfection
2. People being pleased with you 24/7
3. Someone else’s belief in you

Not necessary. And will ultimately hold you back. 

• I don’t know any successful people who are perfect. Zero. Not even close. 
• I definitely don’t know anyone, successful or not, who has the magical power to make people pleased with them all of the time. And of course, the more senior you become in your career, the less likely it is that everyone will be pleased with you. 

• I also don’t know any really successful people, who wait for other people to believe in them (or give them permission) before they follow their dreams. 

The problem is, using these three strategies may have been quite effective in the early stages of your career. They may have been actively encouraged. They were probably protective in some way.  

They were for me, so I understand the hesitation in letting them go. 

But none of them are required. 

• You can be an imperfect person AND hugely successful. Just look around. 
• You can be a great employee or leader AND people can be annoyed with you sometimes. They’re allowed. You work with human beings.  
• You can go after your dreams WITHOUT anyone else having to believe in them. You go first. 

We need your imperfect ideas and impact in the world. 

Don’t hold back because of things that are totally unnecessary.