As an experienced professional, what is the biggest lesson you've learned that will help youth on their career development journey?

We all have our share of strengths and weaknesses, and while the best way to go about your career is to showcase your strengths, it also helps to work on your weaknesses instead of expending energy and effort in trying to hide them from coming to the fore. While your strengths could be many, you must remember to keep honing your skills so that they always remain relevant and top-notch. At the same time, it is equally important to identify weaknesses. And instead of relegating them to the sidelines, you must take responsibility for them and work on them to nurture improvement and growth. A great career is not built on strengths alone. It is also built on your ability to identify, accept, and transform your weaknesses.

My childhood dream was to be a writer. I went to college for journalism with the intention of starting my own writing business one day. But I struggled to make that dream come true for years. That's because I thought I needed experience before I could start my own business. I wanted to work for someone else and learn from them, make low-risk mistakes, and grow and thrive until I was ready to work for myself. The reality is that I didn't need any of that. I'm a self-taught digital writer and built my business from the ground up -- with zero experience. I finally wised up to the fact that I was driven and dedicated enough to teach myself what I needed to know and learn the rest as I went. Don't limit your career by thinking you have to do things a certain way. Doing things differently was the best decision I ever made.

Don't get discouraged when you receive a rejection. Everything happens for a reason and that opportunity may not have been a right for you at the time, or it's not leading you to your destined path. Ask the hiring manager what you can work on for the future, take that information and work hard to make it a strength. By the time you receive an offer, it will make sense why that previous role didn't work out and you'll be grateful for the rejection later down the road.

One of the best things you can do for your professional and personal growth is to learn how you can become an indispensable asset to any organization. When you aim for this trait, you’re bound to not only work harder but also more efficiently, and before you know it, you are indeed an indispensable cog in the wheel. When you work towards being indispensable, you inevitably take on responsibilities that are far beyond the usual task list and prove your capabilities in areas where nothing is expected of you. This way, you learn more than most and develop your career faster. Being indispensable also increases your value as an employee, service provider, or business associate, thus allowing you to gain more from your career in terms of remuneration as well as reputation.

Invest in your education and your skills. If you invest in yourself, you will be able to gain skills and knowledge that will make you qualified for more job positions with better responsibility and pay. This will boost your career advancement. This will help you develop your journey to get to the dream job you want. Investors and high-profile CEOs read one book per week. This is one way you could invest in your career; never stop increasing your knowledge.

The biggest lesson I've learned is that it's okay not to have it all figured out. When I was younger, I thought that by the time I reached a certain age or level of experience, I would have a clear idea of what I wanted to do with my life. However, that doesn't always happen. And that's okay. The beauty of a career is that it can be an ever-evolving journey. There is always something fresh to learn and skills to enhance. So, if you don't have everything mapped out, don't worry. Take everything one step at a time and enjoy the ride. Who knows where it will take you?

In work, business, and in life, it always pays to be good to those around you and help as many as you can. Your subordinates today may turn out to be your colleagues tomorrow, and the interns you went out of your way to help may grow to be business rivals representing the younger generations. When you work towards growing into a leader in your domain, you will often come across people you have crossed paths with in the industry before, and the experiences they remember of you will determine their behavior, opinion, or, when required, even their recommendation. Always remember that those you treat well today will treat you well tomorrow, even if they are your rivals in business at a later stage in your career. And if you are looking to build a meaningful and successful one that finds the spotlight in your industry, it helps to have as many people as you can on your side.

Most people focus on building skills and being competent in their work. These are great catalysts to wonderful and sustainable career development. However, the shift gear exists in embracing networking. Whether you are networking online or offline, standing out in this professional activity will help you grow faster in your career as it will help open new opportunities for you. I recommend taking a public speaking class and learning a few things about cold pitching to help you network better and communicate your value to the connections you make.

One of my biggest pieces of advice for any young professional entering the workforce is to know you have more to offer than your employers give you credit for. When I first graduated I was constantly rejected for "not having enough experience." I started to believe that I had nothing to offer. This mentality changed when I realized that I was more experienced in an area that is unique to the youth. Life experience. Think about it, who are companies targeting their campaigns towards? The youth. You. You are who they are targeting. You know more about current trends in society than anyone else because you are from the generation of buyers. You are the future workforce, the future decision-makers, and the ones who can take risks with finances. You understand how today works and what you want. And that makes you more qualified to predict future trends because they directly affect you. Don't settle for "don't have enough experience" because you have that. Now go show your future boss that.

The more you communicate and learn from your colleagues and management, the more engaged you’ll be at your job. In order to be as productive as you can, it is pivotal to ask questions when needed and effectively process advice, insight, and instruction. Listening and learning from my peers and leadership has been the biggest lesson for me as I’ve progressed through my business endeavors. Being attentive to those around me has allowed me to sharpen my skill sets and refine my business acumen. Showing your eagerness to improve your work by applying what you learn is highly noticeable to management and shows that you are a proactive and reliable worker.

Be sure to always stay up to date with industry news and trends, network and meet with key players in your field to expand your knowledge, and be sure to focus on one or two industries you would like to work in and stay up to date with their news as well.

Having a positive attitude and good energy will take you extremely far. Work projects can be extremely difficult and it's always helpful to have someone who brings joy to challenging assignments. More colleagues will turn to you for support and appreciate the excellent energy you give. Not only does this make projects a bit easier, but you'll also lead by example.

I have learned that it is really important to be willing to engage in teamwork. Unless you run your own business and you are the only employee, professionals usually need to work with other people on a team. While you do not necessarily always have to agree with your teammates' ideas, you still need to learn how to listen to others enough to at least respect their opinions and perspectives. Sometimes your ideas will be more in favor and sometimes they won't. You should learn to work with people and to appreciate collaborative thinking if you want to be a part of a business. That being said, if you strongly disagree with your teammates' ideas on a constant basis, you may want to consider working at a company that aligns more with your values.

Always remember to fail forward. For example, my game plan with any business venture is to plan, prepare mentally, and know going in that it will be much harder than you think. Remember that when you want to panic, choose to pivot instead. Optimism is not optional as an entrepreneur, so get used to failing forward now.

One of the most important lessons I've learned is that it's never too late to learn new things. No matter what stage you are in your career, there is always room for growth and development. If you're willing to put in the effort, you can always find ways to improve your skills and knowledge. This is especially important for young people, who are just starting out on their career journey. There is so much to learn, and it can be overwhelming at times. But if you're willing to keep learning and growing, you'll be able to achieve your career goals.

Always be kind to others. You will come across many people throughout your career development journey. Throughout my many years of professional experience, I’ve found that teamwork and networking are two of the biggest reoccurring themes in business. Thus, it’s important that you are welcoming, personable, and a pleasure to work with—DO NOT become someone that people don’t want to be around. You will have to engage with people in one way or another at every step of your journey. Treat other with respect, maintain a positive attitude, and always be kind to others.

Networking is an integral part of every career blueprint and for those who have foresight, the business of networking begins from day one. By staying in touch with your early colleagues and managers and adding more connections to your network along the way, you are able to plan your career better even as you work towards growth. And putting in all this time and effort into building a good network delivers its share of benefits too. A great network is crucial for learning and stability in the early stages of your career, and growth and success in the later ones. From job and growth opportunities in the early part of your career to the right industrial connections in the later years, the time and effort you have spent in building a good network are bound to have a positive effect on the measure of your opportunities.

You've probably been asked that question hundreds of times before graduation. While that's likely been annoying, no one's really trying to aggravate you. It's actually an essential question for career-seekers. I actually found that not knowing what I wanted to be when I grew up slowed my process of growing up. Instead of seeking a career, I simply hoped for a job I might like. With no career path, I had no plan for professional development. I was reluctant to settle down in any one place, or with any one person, because my future was uncertain. As a financial planner, I now recognize how the absence of a career path stunted my personal growth as well as professional growth. I was unable to focus on foundational concerns like savings or insurance. It's difficult to set goals when you don't know where or what you want to be in ten years. But as I sometimes tell my clients, you can't achieve a goal you don't set. Finding your career can be frustrating, but keep soul-searching.

You need to have passion for your work. When you’re excited about doing something, it doesn’t feel like work. It’s a daily opportunity, a daily joy. I went into the business of facilitating medical research because I believe in it: I’ve seen research saves lives, and that knowledge lights a fire under me every day. It makes me want to constantly do better–to always strive for excellence, because lives depend on it. Youth need to know that no matter what career they choose–be it neuroscience or garbage collection–they need to be interested and engaged in it or it’s not worth doing. The garbage man in my neighborhood is proof of this. He’s a celebrity to the small children who run outside to see his truck, and he loves it! It’s nice to pay the bills, but if that’s the only reason you’re going to work every day, you’re going to burn out sooner than later. Believe in what you’re doing. Everyone’s work can make a difference if they are passionate about it.

Just show up. Be on time. Give an honest effort to whatever it is you were hired for. Those three things will get you further than 90% of todays workforce. Good employees are so hard to find. Be a good employee. It will get noticed. It will be recognized and it will be rewarded!!!