Maintaining motivation can be hard, regardless of the roles you hold at home or at work. As you advance in your career and take on more advanced tasks, you’re often expected to speak up and handle greater responsibilities. This can feel a little scary and overwhelming, especially when you’re “faking it till you make it.” During these times, I often find encouragement in inspirational quotes, the right quote for me can repeat in my head providing a quick boost of encouragement and confidence. Here are a few of my favorites that might help you too:
“Being fearless is having a lot of fears, but you jump anyway.” – Taylor Swift
Starting off with a good ‘ol Taylor Swift quote. This quote perfectly encapsulates the courage needed to face new challenges. Whether it’s traveling to attend an event for the first time, a local networking dinner, or tackling a new project, overcoming your fear of failure is crucial. Once you accomplish that, you’ll likely reflect on what you achieved with pride.
“A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.” - John Shedd
As you progress in your career, expectations placed on you will evolve. Transitioning from a “new employee,” to a “seasoned professional,” comes with increased responsibilities. Careers are meant to challenge us; so volunteer for that new assignment, speak up during a meeting (aka leave the harbor), staying in a comfort zone can prevent you from realizing your full potential.
“The only time you are actually growing is when you are uncomfortable.” – T. Harv Eker
I use renditions of this quote all the time in work and personal life (especially as I learned to navigate a tradeshow floor!). As hard as it may be, embrace the discomfort. Whether it be learning to work a tradeshow floor or handling an expanded workload for a new client, being uncomfortable and working through it is a true sign of growth and development.
“One day, you will tell the story of how you’ve overcome what you’re going through now, and it will become part of someone else’s survival guide.” – Brene Brown
As you gain experience, you’ll have the opportunity to mentor others. When that time comes, take what you’ve learned and share your stories of trials, tribulations (even the embarrassing ones), because that will show your new team members how you learned along the way, and it will help them as they navigate their own paths and feel more comfortable in their growth journeys.
