Taking Charge: How Accountability Transformed My Life.
I recall arriving at work on a cool June morning and finding all of my coworkers glowing with joy over the performance bonus they had gotten. I checked my banking app to see whether I had missed the message, and then glanced through the payslip; I hadn't.
In this blog I talk about how realizing and owning my mistakes can help me make the necessary changes in my career.
Months leading up to this, I always wondered if I was doing well in my role, and that day I got my answer: I was not. I first blamed everyone and the company, but as I sat there, thinking about what it meant to not receive a bonus when everyone did, a harsh realization hit me: I was the common denominator in all my problems. That was the day I decided to take accountability for my actions and turn my life around.
For years, I'd been the master of excuses. Bad luck, difficult bosses, not being fully equipped for work– I always had someone or something to blame for my shortcomings. But as I looked at the direction my career was taking, I knew it was time to face the music. Accountability, I realized, wasn't about punishment; it was about taking control of my life.
I had always been a high achiever and was always in the top 5 in school. At the university, I was awarded the Golden Key award and graduated in record time without repeating a module. Why would I not do well at work? It became very clear to me that academic success does not automatically translate to career success. I began to look around the organization to study people who seemed to be doing well to figure out where my mistake was. I was already putting in the long hours and working hard on projects, so there must be something missing.
My journey began with small steps. I started by simply admitting when I made mistakes, both to myself and in the organization. It was uncomfortable at first – vulnerability isn't easy – but it was also liberating. I stopped comparing myself to the engineers around me, I wrote down my career aspirations and committed to showing up on time every day.
As I embraced accountability, I noticed a ripple effect in other areas of my life. My health improved, I started feeling more in control and I looked for courses to enroll for to prepare me for the career of my dreams. At work, I started trying to understand the organization and what I was responsible for, and doing that made it even more clear for me that my journey in that industry would soon end.
I eventually wrote and passed the CFA level 1 exam. I applied for at least ten positions per day; some days I received feedback, others I did not. This continued for three years until I received my first interview in the financial services area, which lead me to where I am now. I currently work in a different industry, am continuously working to improve my skills, and have mentors who are always available to guide me.
How taking responsibility helps:
1.Take full control of your career. Accept that you are where you are because of yourself, and you are the only one who can change what you are unhappy with.
2.Set short- and long-term career goals. Evaluate your performance on a regular basis and determine whether what you are doing now is in line with your goals.
3.Dedicate yourself to learning. It does not have to be a university degree; instead, look for books, podcasts, or articles online that are relevant to your field.
4.Search for a mentor. Allow someone who already does what you want to become to guide you on your quest.
5.Networking. Create a strong network both within and beyond your organization.
Challenge Yourself. Any job can be learnt; don't limit yourself to what you've studied at university.
Today, my life looks dramatically different from that morning many years ago. I have transitioned from one industry to another and I am doing my Masters using systems and tools I learned in the new industry. All because I decided to take responsibility for my actions.