12 Chapter 1 Exploring Careers
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Achieve Your Potential
Everyone is born with potential. This is the capacity to develop,
succeed, and make further advances in life. You have the ability to make
good choices and develop new skills to achieve whatever you want.
You may experience temporary setbacks, but realize this happens to
everyone. Maintain confi dence in yourself and accept any challenges you
face. Here are some recommendations for achieving your potential.
Be Realistic About Your Expectations of Yourself
Remember that no one is perfect. Know that you will do some things
very well, but not everything. Others will excel in certain areas. Feel good
about all your accomplishments and do not be afraid of failure. Failure
can be benefi cial if it forces you to take a fresh look at yourself.
Think about what went wrong and fi nd a way to make a comeback.
With that comeback, you can experience a sense of freedom that allows
you to take new risks. You may fi nd untapped inner resources as you
tackle challenges head-on.
Develop Your Skills
Look for opportunities to develop your talents and abilities instead
of sticking to “safe” activities you already do well. What type of skills
will be needed for the career you want? Pursue activities that may relate
to your future career. You can develop and strengthen your skills by
joining a career and technical student organization (CTSO), such as
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).
Look for Positive Relationships with Others
Living in a negative psychological environment and maintaining
a positive outlook is diffi cult. Therefore, try to surround yourself with
positive people who support you. Everyone needs positive reinforcement
to get through challenging times.
Spend Time Alone
All people need to devote time to thinking about their lives, hopes,
and dreams. Spend some time alone, imagining yourself in your future
career. For example, maybe you like to walk or ride a bike when you are
feeling stressed. These activities can help you relax and see things more
clearly.
Develop a Sense of Humor
Most importantly, develop a sense of humor. Learn to laugh at
yourself without being embarrassed. A sense of humor can diffuse tense
situations. It can take the sting out of cutting remarks and sarcasm.
Finally, a sense of humor also makes others feel more comfortable
around you.
21st
Century
Skills
Social skills. Andy has
great job skills and is
confi dent that he will succeed
in his new job. Andy also
realizes that although job
skills are important, it’s also
important to have good
interpersonal skills as he
builds relationships with
his new coworkers.