As back to school time is approaching soon, I have been reflecting on the summer. A big part of our summer is always swim team. While I feel that my kids have learned many lessons from swim team, I was watching one of the races in particular and it struck me how many of the lessons could be applied to our own careers. Keep reading to learn the four career lessons I learned at a swim meet.
Focusing on Your Competition is Distracting
One evening, the swim team hosted a competition where the younger kids raced the older kids on the team. My son ended up winning many of the races and ended up in the final race. At one point, he turned around while swimming in his lane to look back and see where the swimmer in the next lane was and how close he was. In doing so, he lost valuable time where he could have kept swimming towards the finish line.
In our careers, we of course need to be aware of what is happening in the market, industry trends and what other professionals in your field are working on currently. However, if you look too long at what everyone else is doing, you end up “losing time” in your own career. Time that could be spent on developing yourself professionally or learning new skills. Keeping focused on your career will help you get to that next point faster. Sometimes, you need to stay in your own lane!
Focus on the Small Wins
Ultimately, my son did not end up winning the overall competition. I encouraged him to focus on all the small wins he had that night (making it to the final round and beating his own personal best time).
In our careers, similar lessons can be applied. Not everyone interviewing will get the job. Look at the smaller wins – making it to the last round of interviews or making new connections at a company at which you would love to work.
You may not always get the promotion you want or be assigned to lead that big new project. Does this open up the opportunity for a different role or a different project to lead?
What are the successes along the way you can focus on even if you don’t “win” the final round?
Is there an individual achievement you can celebrate? The success may be in relation to your own career, not in relation to others.
Always Try Your Best
Did you give your best effort for reaching your goal? If yes, then be proud of your efforts. If no, why did you not give your best effort? Ask yourself – what might be holding you back?
There is Always Another Race
After each race would finish at the swim meet, it was time to rest for a few minutes before gearing up for the next race.
No matter the outcome of the specific “race” in your career (interview, big project, promotion), look towards the future. What’s next? If you landed the job, what will you do once you start to set yourself up for success? If you did not get the job, what did you learn from the interview process that could help you for the next interview? Did you just wrap up a big project? What went well and what could have gone better? What would you do the same or differently for the next project you lead?
As summer winds down, ask yourself – how can you apply these lessons learned to your own career?
Need help gearing up for your next “race”? Schedule a time to talk with me about working together.