Clients and prospects come to me to change the trajectory of their careers. Working with them I try to understand what is blocking them and what they need to do to unblock by giving them tools and rules to use in their everyday work. Although there are many of them that apply to different client situations here are a few that seem to have a repeat themes across all clients.

Why do I say this?

This is because I’ve worked now with clients from a broad spectrum of demographics: Age groups vary from 17 to 75; their careers vary from those in different disciplines of engineering to marketing and sales, to those who are engaged in performing arts and in providing social services; from surgeons to therapists. Also, my clientele comes from all parts of the globe and currently I have clients from 23 countries. Having now worked with about 6,500 or more clients, one-on-one, across these varied demographics I can say with some confidence that there are some common themes that cut across all these diverse categories of clients that can be of help in changing their career trajectories. In this blog I’d like to provide that list so that anyone interested in advancing their career can focus on this list and see how they can apply these suggestions to advance their own career:

1. Before you tell your story (via your résumé, bio, or your profile) to others tell it to yourself convincingly and see if that story excites you. Learn how to shape that story so that it galvanizes your own message before you take it to others. Most people suck at telling their story until they learn how to do it well. Remember, Before you sell your story you must first tell your story!
2. By visiting your past accomplishments find where you made the most impact and codify those accomplishments to develop your value proposition. This will help you find your passion and your sweet spot—even your Ikegai.
3. Instead of thinking linearly think laterally to see what paths will allow you to apply that value proposition in a way that will provide you new and uncharted opportunities to shift your career in a new and exciting direction. If you do not want to go in a new direction apply yourself differently if you want to continue on the same path.
4. Expand your network to connect with people who are either already on that new path or in its adjacencies and learn from their writings, affiliations, and achievements how you, too, can become part of their ethos.
5. Join groups (LinkedIn alone as several million of them) that bring together professionals who ply that trade. Contact thought leaders in that group and start exchanging messages with them to see the merit of your ideas.
6. Participate or attend events where top professionals in these groups assemble and exchange ideas. Volunteer to do work for these organizations where they congregate and become part of their “inner workings.” Unless you see yourself as at the top of your game no one will believe you that you are!
7. Learn how to write well, speak effectively, and communicate better and start blogging, speaking, and making your views known to the audience that matters to advancing your cause. Regardless of what career or profession you want to pursue effective communication (speaking, writing, and presenting) is the single most critical skill that will help you advance faster, more than any other skill.
8. Learn how to influence others through assertive communication. Before you ask others for something you want find out what they want from you before you can ask for what you want from them.
9. Find yourself a mentor and take it upon yourself to mentor someone. Both are great ways to expand your learning horizons.
10. Adopt a Growth Mindset. A Fixed Mindset will further reinforce your limiting beliefs. No one is born with a Fixed Mindset; it’s a choice one makes in life.

These are the 10 rules I found to be universal that anyone can adopt to improve their station in life and to get themselves on an upward career trajectory.

Good luck!