Four simple words that can transform your career

Does perfectionism ever stop you from doing what you want to do? You don’t try something new in case it doesn’t work out. You worry that someone else might be disappointed in you if you don’t do well enough. Your anxiety levels increase as you become fearful of failing to reach the unattainably high standards you have set yourself. You really don’t want to fail, so you decide not to do it at all. You become reliant on four words: ‘I can’t do it’. These are not the four simple words I am referring to that can help transform your career. These four words form a wall that temporarily keeps you safe and blocks you from trying anything new.

How many times a week do you find yourself saying ‘I can’t do it’? These four words are easy to say and are commonly used by those who wish to change career, return to work or work towards a promotion but have developed a fear of failure. The benefit of using these words is that they initially provide a temporary wall between you and the unknown, keeping you safe from having to experience the anxiety and stress that may come with trying something new. You feel comfortable when these words form an enclosure around you, so they can’t be that bad, can they?

What happens when your enclosed world isn’t working for you anymore, but you have overused the ‘I can’t do it’ phrase to the extent that it now forms a wall between you and all things new? It has placed unnecessary limitations on you and is blocking you from moving towards something new and something better. You want a job promotion that gives you satisfaction. You want to return to work and maintain a good work-life balance. You want to change career and find greater fulfilment in your work. However, none of this now feels possible. You feel the stress and anxiety you were initially trying to avoid and are struggling to achieve what you want to achieve. You can’t do it.

To move forward, you now need to challenge this ‘I can’t do it’ wall and find a route through it.

‘I can do it’

One way to begin finding a route through is to replace your ‘I can’t do it’ phrase with ‘I can do it’. Experiment with removing ‘can’t’ and replacing it with ‘can’.

This simple four-word phrase, ‘I can do it’, may begin to weaken the ‘I can’t do it’ wall. It does not guarantee success or remove every obstacle, but it can help you question the belief that change is impossible. When paired with realistic action, it may help you move towards career transformation.

Here are five simple steps to help you:

1. Become aware of how many times in one week you say, ‘I can’t do it’. Make a note of what caused you to say it and what you then did because of that belief. Ask yourself the following questions: ‘How did this make me feel?’, ‘Is it 100% true?’ and ‘What would a good friend say?’
2. Replace ‘I can’t do it’ with ‘I can do it’: ‘I can find a job’, ‘I can get that promotion’ or ‘I can change career’. Use the phrase as a reminder, then identify one realistic action you can take.
3. Be kind to yourself and set achievable standards. What is more important to you, progress or perfection?
4. Give yourself a break and allow for some imperfection. Remember, no one is perfect. What is realistically likely to happen if something doesn’t go to plan? By accepting that we all make mistakes, you can develop an understanding of what you could do differently next time.
5. Enjoy yourself and celebrate your achievements along the way. Recognise your achievements, all of them!

What small step can you take now to move towards career transformation? Taking that step may help you begin enjoying what you do and fulfilling your potential.

You can challenge unhelpful beliefs and take steps towards career success.