Stop Waiting
I remember the day that I STOPPED WAITING. It was the day that I gave up on all of the excuses that had comforted me for so long.
No longer was I waiting to be old enough, for the economy to be stronger, for my boss to give me the promotion I deserved, for someone else to offer me the education I was lacking.
The day that I took complete responsibility for my career, I was an AGM of a single site, but wanted to be a group Operations Manager. After many attempts, one of the best group Operations Managers in the city agreed to have a coffee with me. This 15-minute meeting changed the course of my life.
He said something to me that woke me up:
“If you want that promotion, ACT LIKE IT TODAY! Do remarkable things with what you have. Engineer your own success and put yourself in a position to advance.”
He then asked me some questions: What was I reading? What responsibility had I put my hand up for above my pay grade? What skills/courses did I need to obtain to give myself the best chance to earn the position I desired?
His questions drew an uncomfortable pause from me. He asked his final question:
“If you are not willing to invest in yourself, why should anyone else feel compelled to?”
I must admit, it stung, but he was right. Up until that point, I got by on hard work and my willingness to put myself out there. Yet, I was jammed firmly up against a glass ceiling.
Within the month, I was enrolled in a course to read/make balance sheets and P&Ls. Two years later, I had a group operations position. Three years after that, I owned my first restaurant.
If you feel that you are up against a glass ceiling, don’t wait until you run out of air and don’t wait for someone else to rescue you. Figure out what YOU need to do, and then SMASH THAT GLASS!
Life is too short to be stuck,
PS: See me speak at Tales of the Cocktail Tomorrow!
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