Not everyone is blessed to have a mentor to give them sound career advice so below are some tips from the masters. From Forbes Agency Council members to CEOs of the biggest corporations, here are some words of wisdom they have shared over the years. The first comes from Karen Wickre, former editorial leader at Google and Twitter, who told Business Insider: "I didn't get this advice, but I learned it by doing, and now it's what I tell others: Always be building your brain trust. This is the web of contacts you can call on when you have questions or need expertise beyond yours."
It's hard not to get disheartened when someone rejects your idea. Freelance writer and New York Times bestselling author, Sara Bliss, says she received invaluable advice from Tony Freund who was a staff writer for Town & Country magazine, that has helped her defeat this mindset. "If an editor rejects an idea, do not scrap it. Instead, he suggested refining and repitching it to the same editor or trying a new one.
You might think that showing off your mental prowess is the key to impressing everyone at your job - but sometimes acting like a know-it-all can hinder you. Said Jacob Hanson, PR with Panache! to Forbes: "Oftentimes, leaders feel that they need to be the "smartest guy or gal" in the room, and that couldn't be further from the truth. Good leaders are the smartest one in the room, great leaders surround themselves with smarter people that will challenge ideas, bring new perspectives to the table and drive innovation.
We've all had those days when we feel overwhelmed as if the work keeps stacking up - well Nicole Rodrigues, NRPR Group, LLC said to Forbes embrace it. "I was told by a mentor very early on that I should never complain when there’s a lot of work to do. I agree and tell my team the same thing. Be thankful there’s work to do. When something becomes easy or routine, it’s a clear sign you’re not growing."
It's great to get career advice from people you admire but in the end, you should make sure you're the one in control of your destiny. Said Gina Michnowicz, Union+Webster to Forbes: "One of my mentors always said don't let others manage your career because you will be unhappy with the results. What he meant by management is focusing on what skills and experiences you need to ultimately be in your dream job. I managed my moves carefully, making sure that I built the right skills to be a CEO. In the end, he was right and I am happy with the outcome."
