In less than a month, during one of my flagship training sessions titled "The New Rules of Professional Networking," I found myself on the receiving end of a joke, one I had rightfully earned. I aim to open up about one of the most significant mistakes I've made throughout my career and decode its implications. By sharing my story, I hope to help you avoid making the same costly error.
Part 1: The Mistake I Made
Not long ago, during one of my flagship training sessions called "The New Rules of Professional Networking," I found myself in a rather embarrassing situation. I opened up about one of the most significant mistakes of my career. I felt it was essential to decode my blunder and explain how it went horribly wrong.
My hope is that sharing this story can prevent you from making the same mistake.
At this training session, we were discussing networking on social media. However, my social media presence was far from strong, and I have to admit that I'm an introvert. The pressure of being active on social media didn't sit well with me.
So, I'd given in to my reasons and excuses, failing to create a reasonable social media presence.
The challenge was that I was teaching social media networking, and when I realized I wasn't practicing what I preached, it led to an internal conflict.
Part 2: Overcoming Confirmation Bias
The key issue that I had to address was that I had created my own mental barriers when it came to social media. I was a self-proclaimed "green brain," someone who thrives on creative chaos and prefers idea-focused work over structured tasks.
What I didn't realize at the time was that I had let my discomfort and personal preferences become excuses for not tackling a vital aspect of my profession.
I'd fallen victim to a cognitive bias known as "confirmation bias." This cognitive shortcut involves interpreting information in a way that confirms our existing beliefs.
In my case, I'd seen social media as something I could avoid, even though I knew its importance. This was a critical mistake, one that I didn't recognize until recently.
For further guidance on this, you might find the '2-hour Activate Your Network Webinar' a valuable resource to help you in your journey.
Part 3: The Long-Term Costs of Delay
I need to make a confession: my avoidance of social media has come at a high cost. While I'm proud of the training and coaching work I've accomplished, my limited online presence means that my impact remains confined to those I directly interact with.
The potential reach and visibility of my work are greatly restricted. And, sadly, this mistake isn't limited to just a few months or a year. I've been making this error for a staggering twelve years.
The harsh truth is that I never had a real problem with social media; I had simply built my own reasons and excuses around it. I'd prioritized short-term comfort over long-term success.
In conclusion, my journey serves as a cautionary tale. It's essential to recognize where in your life you might be postponing actions you know are crucial for your long-term success. The biggest non-renewable resource we possess is time, and it's up to us to use it wisely.
Don't make the same mistake I did; don't allow excuses and justifications to hold you back from achieving your full potential.
I'm encouraging you to take action, to reverse this pattern and avoid the pitfalls that I've faced. Begin by identifying the crucial actions necessary for your long-term success and start executing them. Remember that the most non-renewable resource in life is time.
Time spent waiting is time lost, and there's no getting it back.
By acknowledging our excuses, justifications, and biases, we can move past them and initiate lasting change. Instead of making up reasons to avoid essential tasks, we should confront them head-on. The aim is not to be like me but to be a better version of yourself.
Be the person who acts now rather than later, the individual who doesn't compromise long-term success for temporary comfort.
In conclusion, this blog post underscores the significance of recognizing and rectifying our personal limitations and the consequences of sacrificing long-term goals for short-term relief. It serves as a lesson on the importance of taking decisive action and not succumbing to complacency, offering valuable insights for both personal and professional growth.
To take a proactive step towards improving your professional networking skills, consider participating in the
where you can gain hands-on experience and practical knowledge to avoid the pitfalls I've faced.
