Be All You Can Be: 10 Ways To Become The Best In Your Industry

Make sure it’s worth it

If you don’t wholeheartedly believe in what you are doing, it will be really hard to get far. Sure you can do the things necessary to get by but after a while, faking the funk may cause you to settle into a routine that goes round and round without advancement. When you are not passionate about what you do, it shows, no matter how hard you try to conceal it. Things like dreading going into work can put you into a mental funk which can lessen productivity and all around quality of work. When you make the personal commitment to what you do, it will take you far.

Find a mentor

Do you think Luke Skywalker would have become the man he was without help from Obi-Wan Kenobi? The truth is, we don’t know everything in life regardless of how hard we try. Having a mentor that you can look up to will keep you focused and on track to achieving your goals. Find someone in your field who has years of experience in the industry to help guide you on your journey. Sometimes to become the best, you must learn from the best so choose wisely.

Focus on what you do, not how much you make

Don’t let money be your main driving force for doing what you do. In addition, if you haven’t made your first million in a certain amount of years, don’t give up. Everyone has a path that leads them to different results. Your course may take some time to develop and overzealous goals can deter you from continuing. The bottom line is an abundance of wealth and expertise in an industry do not always go hand-in-hand.

Re-assess priorities

If you had to list them, what are your top five priorities in life? Where do you spend most of your day? What do you do? How much time do you dedicate to your activities? Once you have identified what takes up your time, see how it aligns with what you are doing. If you want to become top dog at what you do, make sure you are giving yourself enough time in your schedule to strengthen your craft.

Focus on one niche

While it’s cool to be a jack of all trades, focusing on too many areas of expertise can make you talented in a few, but not exceptionally well in one. Do some soul searching and find a single niche that both excites you and motivates you to be an authority. By focusing on just one, you let others know they can come to you for your knowledge base, and have spent time and energy learning the necessary things to be a reliable “go-to” person.

Step outside your comfort zone

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone” ― Neale Donald Walsch

It’s true. If you continue to do the same routine and see no desirable results, it’s probably time you change up your game plan. When you go beyond what you know, you will challenge yourself to learn more. Sure there will be trials and errors that occur, but you never know what you are capable of unless you push yourself beyond your perceived limitations.

Associate with like-minded individuals

Iron sharpens iron, and the same can be said about your associations. Choosing to hang around like-minded individuals will only push you to achieve your own goals. They don’t have to be in your same industry, but should be on a path to pursuing excellence. When you associate yourself with rising stars, you have no choice by to continue your climb, or be left behind.

Stay current

In this day and age, things are constantly changing on a more frequent basis. How can you claim to be the best in your industry if you are not staying up-to-date on happenings and important events? Make sure you stay in the know by doing research and having a healthy understanding of any changes or advancements in your area of expertise. By staying current, you can forecast trends and be a person people can come to for understanding.

Offer your expertise

One way to establish yourself as an authority in your industry is by getting your name out to others. Participate in a panel discussion at your local Chamber of Commerce, give a seminar, or partake in a question and answer with a website or publication. Discuss issues in your industry, your involvement and your unique approaches to various trends or topics.

A great way to let the world know you are one of the best is by giving tips and advice on your own blog (you can dedicate however much time you think is best). Many media outlets use blogs as a resource for upcoming stories which could put you in a position to establish yourself as a credible source.

Track your progress

You’ll never know how far you’ve come until you track your progress. Mark your calendar for times to evaluate where you are with your career. What’s working? What’s not working or deserves a tweak? A few changes to your course (when needed) can help orient your sails into the right direction of you becoming one of the best in your industry.