What's Next? - The big question of every year

What next? So that's a big question that some of us regularly ask ourselves, while there are people that might not even stop to think about where they want to go be

fore starting their journey.

Recently I had the opportunity to have a breakfast with a man that was able to give me some sound advice that I thought was worth sharing.

The breakfast started asking about what I wanted to do in my life, and where I would like to go. Soon after that it turned into a conversation about personal future, professional career and how to get the most out of every single experience we get in life.

I must mention this gentleman is well experienced in global talent and mentor to master's graduates of one of the best business schools in the world.

Some professional advices he gave me were:

Learn First and then Capitalize:

We need to take time to build our own experience, through corporate, non corporate, personal and professional interactions that would allow us to kickstart our future in a different level and with different wisdom.

Build a strong network:

Use every instance to know people that might support you in the future. There is nothing unethical about doing this, while you strive to give the best for the organization you work with. Every interaction is an opportunity. Scale up, go national, regional, global. Keep moving, keep building relations. In those relations most of the capacity of you having an impact relies. No matter how good you are, you are going nowhere by yourself.

Choose the Company, not the Job:

Sometimes we think too much of the job without paying attention to the development opportunities we might have. Be wise, choose a place where you can grow fast. Smart companies want people able to capitalize on their life experience, its not about being a specialist, there might be many specialists better than you. But not many people might have the experiences you have, and that is raw talent. Smart companies and managers understand that if they don't you might not want to be there. Talk to the right person.

Stretch yourself:

Don't stay in your comfort zone. Expand your horizons, grow, go where you haven't been. Think of new experiences, jump from one experience to the other, gain knowledge and move. It is easy to accept something safe and certain. But the true potential is where we haven't been yet, dare.

Tell people what you are doing:

It is important that you let others know what you are doing, what you are planning to do. Let others tell you what your opportunities are and then choose the best for you. It is totally ok to let people know that you have been offered something better and that you are taking it. Doing this will open you doors to opportunities you didn't know you had. Tell them what you are doing, when time comes they will know you are thinking of your next steps and they will connect with you. Who knows what you are doing you right now in your life and what you are looking for?

Invest:

Your decisions are investments. Take them as such. Don't think so much in the salary... that comes later.