How Thinking Like an Entrepreneur Advanced My Career
READ-TIME - 5 MINUTES
At some point in your career, you probably believed that if you worked hard, kept your head down, and trusted your boss, your career would move forward.
This never worked for me. Yes, working hard has given me a good reputation, but it has never been the reason for any of my promotions.
Many of us get stuck waiting for a pat on the back or a nod from our bosses to move forward.
And let’s be real—just waiting around and becoming so good at what we do? That’s not going to cut it.
In fact, it’s a reason for your boss to keep you in your place.
What really worked for me was simply operating like an entrepreneur in corporate settings—embracing an Entrepreneurial Mindset at every job I had.
I know some of you might be skeptical about this type of claim, but in this newsletter, I’m going to share with you four strategies that got me a promotion in every company I worked for.
Let’s Dive Right In:
Step 1: Be a Problem Solver Right Where You Are
Entrepreneurs are always on the lookout for problems to solve. They don’t wait for someone else to fix things; they take the initiative. It's not about coming up with the next big thing but making what’s already there work better.
In every job I had, I always looked for issues the team had and worked hard to find a solution.
My trick was to identify the issue, propose the solution, and be the one to implement it.
This is the fastest way to win your boss's heart. Look around you—every job in every company has many opportunities, and it’s easy to identify them. You just need to look around.
Step 2: Look for Cross-Functional Projects
Entrepreneurs thrive on collaboration and leveraging diverse skill sets.
They often work across different areas to bring their vision to life.
I look for projects to showcase my skills and talents. Every promotion I received throughout my career was after leading a big project.
This is the easiest way to show the leadership team that you are able and ready to take on more, have more horsepower to do more, and demonstrate leadership because you were able to influence people on the project.
It’s the fastest way to gain your leadership team's trust.
Step 3: Embrace Risk and Innovation
Entrepreneurs are risk-takers and innovators.
They don’t shy away from uncertain outcomes but see them as opportunities.
As an entrepreneur at heart, I've never turned down the chance to lead initiatives with uncertain outcomes.
I've been at the helm of projects where success was a shot in the dark. Some ideas didn't take off as hoped, but others soared beyond expectations.
Regardless of the outcome, one thing remained constant: each venture ended with me moving up the career ladder.
This pattern wasn't a coincidence; it was a testament to the value of embracing risk and the willingness to venture into the unknown, which are hallmark traits of an entrepreneurial mindset.
Step 4: Don’t Stick Around When It’s Not Working
Entrepreneurs know when to pivot. If something isn’t working, they don’t waste time waiting for miracles; they make bold moves.
I gave every job I had enough time to see if things would improve and if my career would advance.
The minute I realized it wasn’t moving for reasons I couldn’t control, I left. I didn’t waste time waiting for miracles to happen.
I made bold moves and left teams, departments, or even companies.
Don’t miss the point here—I’m not promoting quitting quickly, but you know when you need to leave.
Funny fact: every time I told myself it was time to leave, it was actually the time to go. People know, and you do too!
Working hard alone is not a recipe for success. You could spend your entire career waiting for things to change, but without taking the right actions, nothing will.
The fastest way to a promotion is to demonstrate that you can do more and have more to give. Believe it or not, this is the truth people often ignore.
The four steps in this article are more than just steps; they represent a mindset to adopt.
This mindset has advanced my career across various roles, making me the go-to person for getting things done, solving tough problems, and leading projects with drive and ownership.