Need some extra inspiration to help push you towards your dream job?
Well, nothing quite beats a few words of wisdom from a selection of famous authors, entrepreneurs and modern-day icons.
Here are ten very special and unconventional pieces of advice to help keep your spirits high.
Sir Richard Branson
“Never look back in regret – move on to the next thing.”
In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past few decades, Sir Richard Branson is the geezer (or pioneer) behind Virgin.
His mother gave him this advice to ensure he doesn’t spend too much time dwelling on past events or missed opportunities in his spare time.
In your career, you’ll turn down jobs, make mistakes and even stay too long in a role.
These things happen and it’s important that you don’t let these things hamper your future progress.
Focus on inserting your energy into new and exciting challenges.
J.K. Rowling
“Embrace failure”
In an interview with Matt Lauer on NBC’s Today show, the author of the best-selling children’s book series, Harry Potter, said how we don’t “talk about failure enough”.
“It would’ve really helped to have someone who had had a measure of success come say to me, ‘you will fail. That’s inevitable. It’s what you do with it.”
J.K. Rowling makes a pretty good point.
After all, we all often have to face a few rejections when searching for a job or go through redundancy.
Before Rowling become one of the richest women in the world, she was a single mum living off welfare in the UK.
After receiving countless rejections from book publishers, she eventually got her break and the rest is history.
She said that her early marriage failure and being broke was a “gift”, as she gained valuable knowledge about herself and her relationships through the adversity.
Salli Setta
“Never eat lunch alone”
Better known in America, Salli Setta is the president of Red Lobster restaurants.
This piece of advice is simple, yet so true – especially when you’re thinking about a career change or actively searching for a job.
Eating lunch with someone else is all about creating opportunities to share ideas, think about a job in a different way and get yourself on your companion’s radar.
In other words, it’s free networking!
If you’re unemployed, try using internet cafes and freelancer hubs where you can mingle with others.
Justin Timberlake
“I like being a beginner. I like the moment where I can look at everyone and say, ‘I have no idea how to do this. Let’s figure it out.’”
The global pop star and Hollywood actor, Justin Timberlake, doesn’t half speak some sense.
While it may sound like he’s just addressing his own problems, he’s actually giving very solid advice to those who are starting out in a new job, a different career path or fresh project.
Not knowing something or how it may turn out doesn’t have to be a daunting prospect.
Embrace the opportunity with open arms, be willing to take some risks and make a few mistakes.
Welcome feedback, ask questions and show an interest in your chosen industry.
Learn from those around you and grow as a person.
So, if you’re thinking, ‘I doubt I can get this job’, just go for it! Who knows what will happen.
Beyoncé
“You don’t have to depend on someone telling you who you are.”
These words from Queen Bey aren’t just for all her single ladies, they are for every person who always feel pressured to do something or act a certain way.
One of the hardest lessons you’ll have to learn in your career is that you are the one who has control over your future – not your parents, not society, not your current boss.
There seems to be a pressure for professionals to only do certain jobs, otherwise, they’ll be judged.
Don’t let anyone tell you what’s right for you.
Re-evaluate your career goals and do what makes you happy.
Life’s too short to waste it caring about what random strangers think.
Oprah Winfrey
“I feel that luck is preparation meeting opportunity.”
Talk show host, entrepreneur and all-round global star, Oprah Winfrey, makes a valuable point about creating your own luck.
Sure, you could sit there and think, ‘I can’t believe how lucky I am to get this interview’.
But when you think about the hours you spent searching for jobs, tweaking your CV and mastering the opening line on your cover letter, was it really luck?
Or was it down to days, weeks or even months of preparation?
Never forget – every positive change you make to learn new things and improve yourself is taking you a step closer to your big break.
A final reminder
Whether you’re struggling to find the perfect job or you’re at a crossroads in your life, don’t panic!
What a lot of people forget is that even these super rich and famous household names have had to face rejection at some point in their lives.
As humans, we all begin our journeys at the same starting line and end up at the same finish line.
What we do in between is entirely up to you.
Just because Justin Bieber released his first hit single when he was 15 doesn’t mean that you should compare yourself to others’ successes.
Just stay positive and keep applying for the jobs you want.
For similar tips, you might find the following blogs useful:
- ‘7 Ways to Stay Positive When You’re Unemployed’
- ‘9 Motivational Videos to Inspire You Today’
- ‘How to Get a Job Quickly After a Career Break’
Good luck!
