What do successful entrepreneurs and guests on the Jeremy Kyle Show have in common?
They followed advice to “be yourself and follow your passion!”
“Just be yourself” is common advice these days. You see it scrawled over social media, you hear it when asking for tips on how to get through that job interview or first date, and if you’re searching for career advice it might be followed up with something like “…and don’t forget to follow your passion.”
“Be yourself and never apologise for it,” ran a headline in the ‘Careers’ section of a national newspaper recently. The article went on to quote various business leaders, all of whom riffed on that same theme of being yourself above all else, then simply following your passion to get the career you’ve always dreamed about.
I’ve been paying close attention to career advice ever since I changed my own way of working a year ago, and I’ve noticed that people who give advice like this are either old enough to know who they are (so “be yourself” makes sense), or they’re successful enough to get away with being whoever they like!
Following your passion is all well and good too, but what if you haven’t got any particular ‘passions’, you’d just quite like to do a job that doesn’t make your heart sink as Monday morning approaches?
Unless you’ve inherited millions, the route to career success is often messy. Talking about it in detail seems to compare with talking about childbirth, in that people who have been through it don’t really want to dissect it in any detail, because if you haven’t been there yourself then you simply won’t understand – and in any case some of it is far too horrific to be described!
This is the most likely reason why you tend to see so much smooth, glib advice, like“just be yourself and follow your passion” - which when you really think about it, describes a guest on The Jeremy Kyle Show just as well as it does a successful entrepreneur.
So what kind of career advice does help, then? For me, the words that really struck a chord came from the comedian Steve Martin, when he was asked in an interview to give advice to aspiring performers.
“Be so good they can’t ignore you,” he said.
This simple advice inspired me to work harder, which in reality is the only way to succeed at most things. Discover what you need to do to be so good, then do it. You’ll not only find that people will want to work with you, but you’ll gain the kind of confidence that only comes from being very good at what you do. It’s an encouraging circle!
As for following passions, that’s fine if you’ve got them. If not, try simply following positive feelings and positive leads. Open yourself up to opportunities, and try to create them wherever you can – so if you happen to meet someone who does something interesting as a job, why not arrange to catch up with them over a coffee and find out how they got there?
Instead of “just be yourself”, how about something like, “be the best version of yourself for the situation you’re in”. After all, I wouldn’t be the same version of myself in a group of my friends as I would in a networking group, or with a client. If I was, I probably wouldn’t have many friends, or many clients, in the first place.
Finding a support group really helps, too. If you want to make big life changes, it always helps to tell a few trusted people about them. They’ll hold you to account, and they’ll also care enough to ask you how it’s going, supporting you through harder times.
All this takes a lot of hard work, of course, and I’d be lying if I said I had it all sorted myself! But trust me when I say that ignoring glib career advice is a great first step on the road to your own personal success story.
Related Articles
Appreciate your freelancers, and be rewarded with their best work
How to become every freelancer's favourite client!
Read moreWhy a degree doesn't equal real-world competence
Sometimes, just putting the work in is enough.
Read moreRelax: a “no” for a freelance job can be a good thing!
Know what you're good at, and rejection won't seem so bad!
Read more
Talk confidently about something you love: set a speaking challenge!
How setting a speaking challenge forced me to talk confidently about the work I love.
Read moreFreelance reflections in the snow
Just like building the perfect snowman, carving out your freelance identity can be tough!
Read moreWhy spelling and grammar don't matter
Don't let bad spelling put you off writing the next bestseller!
Read moreWhat's in a name? Captivate and connect with simple business stories
Finding the 'what's', 'whys' and 'hows' of your business will help people connect with you.
Read moreFive New Year's Resolutions for Freelancers
Are your social media posts crushing your business?
Lone wolf or team worker - which is best?
How to write interesting content for any business (even yours)
What are your customers really saying about you?
How will I sound like me, when you're doing the writing?
Ironically, it's when you're writing about yourself that you will sound least like you. Hiring a writer to do it for you can bring a whole host of benefits.
Read moreWhy storytelling is your secret weapon in business (and how to do it properly)
Learn how to live happily ever after through the power of storytelling
Read moreHow coffee and cake can change your career!
How involving others will help expand your career horizons.
Read moreTake control of your career this summer
Take advantage of summer downtime to learn and grow in your career - or discover a new one!
Read moreWhy you definitely shouldn't write a book in a weekend!
Writing books is big business - or at least it can be, if you get it right. For starters, this means not rushing the process!
Read moreTry this simple formula to create a killer profile headline!
Headlines are always difficult to write, so here's an easy way to craft something original for your personal and professional profiles.
Read moreWhat do successful entrepreneurs and guests on the Jeremy Kyle Show have in common?
There's a lot of vague career advice out there, so if you're looking for insight that goes beyond "be yourself and follow your passion" you may have to leap before you look!
Read moreHow to beat those pre-presentation jitters
Standing up and presenting to a group of people is something that strikes fear into the hearts of even the most confident people - so if you're an introvert like me, it can really be the stuff of nightmares! Here's how I tackle my nerves head-on, with some careful preparation and relatable content.
Read moreCreate a schedule you can stick to (it's not as hard as you think!)
Creating a schedule can be a difficult task, especially when you're planning for work you're not being paid for - or that nobody is expecting! Here's how to get started on crafting a time plan that will work for you.
Read moreOn creating a writer's life
This week I'm responding to the questions people have asked since my Careershifters' Success Story was published recently - all about creating a writer's life.
Read moreHome truths for aspiring remote workers
Remote working is on the increase - so here's some advice on how to work it well!
Read moreDiscovering your unique writer's voice is easier than you think
You don't have to be a professional writer to discover a unique writing voice that speaks to its readers. Finding your own voice is often easier than you might think, and it all starts when you write from the heart.
Read moreReal-life lessons I learned from changing my career
I'm a 'Success Story'! My career change journey was featured on Careershifters' website this week, and I'm incredibly proud of it. But I wouldn't want anybody to think changing my career has been easy. And so this is a reflection of sorts, on where I was when I began, and how I've ended up where I am now.
Read more“Telling it like it is” – giving effective feedback in writing
There's a new trend sweeping Silicon Valley - giving honest and direct feedback to your colleagues. Before you go rushing in, focus your message by writing it down first...your colleagues and your career will thank you for it!
Read moreShare your expertise - write a business book!
All those celebrated business gurus had to start somewhere...and the most successful ones know how to tell their stories in a relatable way that inspires others to act on their dreams and ideas. By writing a business book, you can do just that yourself!
Read moreRead this before you write your next recruitment ad!
Writing a recruitment ad is often a rushed activity, with the words used ones you've read many times before ("dynamic" anyone?) Here's how the Banks children managed to recruit their ideal candidate - Mary Poppins! - by using clear and creative words that stood out.
Read more‘CV Greatest Hits’ Countdown – 10 ultimate CV tips to prepare you for the Great 2017 Job Hunt!
'Greatest Hits' countdowns are rife at this time of year - so now, here's one featuring the best CV advice. This list will give you the ultimate steer if you're looking to get your CV on track for the new year job hunt. Wishing you a very happy 2017!
Read moreGive yourself a special Christmas gift...a happy working life in 2017!
If you're stuck in a job you don't particularly like, mindlessly searching job boards for something else, it can be hard to dredge up any enthusiasm to make a change. But that little bit of rest time between Christmas and a brand new year beginning is perfect for considering exactly what you want, and how to take the very first step towards making 2017 your happy work year!
Read moreHow to write your life story
With a new year on the horizon, why not make a resolution to tell your life story? Committing your personal tales to paper can be a rich and rewarding experience for you to write and others to read...for generations to come. Here's how to get started.
Read moreWriting to get what you want at work!
Have you ever thought that making a few tweaks to your working life would help make living it much easier? Harness the power of well-chosen words to state your case and win better work-life balance in the process.
Read moreFitting in ‘me’ projects – five panic-free time management tips for the professionally overwhelmed
Is time getting the better of you? With a growing business, several passion projects on the go, books to read and friends I'd quite like to see, I was starting to feel overwhelmed...until I decided to take a closer look at planning my time more effectively. Here's how you can do the same.
Read moreUse your sense of style to build trust and win business!
Looking for ways to sound consistent and authentic in your written communications? Here are a few tried, tested and original ways to do just that.
Read moreGhost stories…how shadowy script can light up your life and work
BOO! Like a ripe pumpkin Hallowe'en has rolled around yet again, so what better time to extol the benefits of ghostwriting, definitely not just the province of bargain-bin bound celebrities.
Read moreSTOP! Attention-grabbing writing – made easy
Everybody's busy these days - far too busy to read all the words that come their way. Get the right people to read YOURS by honing in on your ideal audience and creating compelling copy that will get them hooked.
Read moreThe (Not-So) Secret Life of an HR Manager
Ever wonder what your HR Manager is really thinking, or what they do all day? I worked in this oft-misunderstood profession for a number of years and now I'm safely out of it, I'm free to vent!
Read more
Have you ever wondered how working with a writer could boost your business and career prospects, or even keep your personal life on track? I can help you in so many ways...take a look at a few really good reasons for you to work with me!
Read moreSpecial Deliveries - writing fabulous letters
Getting the tone of a letter right - especially when you're writing to someone you don't know - can be difficult. No matter whom you're writing to, here's how to get started on a letter that's relevant, informative and authentic.
Read more
