The most common topic of conversation in my interviews is growth. Many applicants are looking for a new position because they feel they lack growth opportunities at their current one. There are also those looking to grow their skill set, as well as those looking to grow their compensation, title, or level of responsibility. “everyone defines growth differently”The constant factor is growth – but it’s important to recognize that everyone defines growth differently.

The perfect position for a candidate is one where they can grow professionally, personally, and financially. Similarly, companies want to hire employees eager to grow themselves, and the company as a whole. Employers want candidates who will add value to every aspect of the job. The more valuable you make the company, the more valuable you are to the company. And every employee tends to create more value when their work environment is conducive to growth.

The first step for us is agreeing upon a shared understanding of growth. To me, growth encompasses professional skills, responsibilities, compensation, personal fulfillment, career potential, and being a part of something bigger than yourself. However, others may see it differently. As a job-seeker, it is your responsibility to share your definition during the interview process. Without clear explanation of the growth you desire, an employer may feel you are only interested in titles and money. Of course, there is a chance that you are only interested in titles and money, in which case you should still make that clear!

So what does growth look like at TechnologyAdvice? We believe that growth is multifaceted. It’s not just about a paycheck. It’s about your ability to grow your professional skills, to grow your level of responsibility, and to grow personally in the process.

We believe that growth requires engagement in continuous learning.

Whether it’s reading a book for professional development, engaging in networking opportunities, attending conferences, or getting advanced training, our team continues to embrace learning. To us, growing professionally looks like all these things because they all involve a team member taking advantage an opportunity to learn and grow.

We believe that growth includes increasing your scope of responsibility.

Your title doesn’t have to change in order for you to grow in a position. It’s important to continue pushing yourself by taking on new responsibilities and asking yourself if the skills you are gaining each day are helping to progress your career. “Magic often happens when you leave your your comfort zone”Magic often happens when you leave your your comfort zone. It’s not always easy or quickly apparent, but trying new things usually makes you realize you can do more than you ever thought you could. In doing so, you’ve positioned yourself to grow in ways you probably never thought were possible. We believe in this so much that many of our current full-time team members started as interns, including our current COO.

We believe that personal growth is about learning to give to others.

An often overlooked part of professional growth, learning to give back creates a focus on something bigger than you. Millennials in particular pay attention to a company’s social responsibility, but it should be a prime consideration for all applicants when searching for a future employer. We are dedicated to being active in the Nashville community in a variety of ways, and have seen the ways it can enhance the lives of our team members. Whether it involves donating money, goods, skills, or simply time, giving to others always proves to be an investment in yourself.

Most importantly: We believe that growth is yours to control.

We are a rapidly-growing company where roles are redefined daily. Everyone wears a variety of hats and lends a hand in different areas. That means growth is yours for the taking. Your attitude, outlook, perspective, and flexibility are all major factors in your growth and your ability to grow in a position. Too many candidates think that growth opportunities must be given to them. The reality is you have the greatest power to make them happen. Take chances. Volunteer for new experiences. Ask questions, and be observant. What you do will help mold you as a person and a professional, both positively and negatively. It’s up to you to choose wisely.

Are you on the job hunt? It’s important to consider growth when evaluating potential employers. Is the company expanding? What is their trajectory? Do they have a track record of developing and promoting talent from within? The answers to these questions will be key indicators of your growth potential at these companies. We feel confident in our answers to these questions at TechnologyAdvice, and we’d love to discuss them with you if you think you’re a fit for one of our open positions.

Are you waiting for growth opportunities to come your way, or are you seeking them out? Tell us more about how you define growth in the comments below!

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The post Wanted: “A Company Where I Can Grow” appeared first on TechnologyAdvice.

I have been a runner longer than I have been working in the business world. My foundations in long-distance running began in high school cross-country. I learned that excuses were not acceptable, laziness did not pay off, and the power of endurance, persistence, and determination equated to success I was proud of. There were no outside factors to blame, no playing victim allowed. I could chart my own journey , and I loved it. I have now run six half-marathons and two full-marathons and cannot escape the numerous parallels between running success and business success.

1. Do it because you love it, not because you have something to prove

I have always felt like I was built for long-distance running. It suits me. It forces me to be patient, focused and humble. I do not run to impress anyone; instead I do it for me. When I am out there on the open road, there is no “do you have just a minute?” I have time to think about the day, plan the week, and dream about the future. Every long run requires mental preparation (and a healthy level of stress). For me, there is something enchanting about the dedication, consistency, and loyalty that it involves. Not everyone is willing to make the sacrifice or the effort. Make your work about what you love — not because you have something to prove — and you’ll find that it will energize and de-stress you.

2. Research & make a plan , know your end goal.

When I set out to run my first full-marathon, I headed to the library and to Google. I devoured every article or book written on running a marathon from gear to refueling to how to breathe. I talked to my local running shop and others who had run a marathon before. Then, I picked a date on the calendar and determined how many weeks out I would need to start a training program. The goal was crazy (I had never run more than 13.1 miles, much less 26.2!) but it started to come together once I saw it drawn out week by week.

For me, once the plan is set, I just figure out what I have to do each day and grind it out. I always told friends that I would focus on running intensely for 1-2 hours per day and then the other 20-22 hours of a day were focused on every other part of life.

Business is identical. We set ambitious goals for ourselves at TechnologyAdvice, then figure out what each month, week, and day need to look like for us to pace to hit those goals. That is what makes us successful.

“People who are successful in business often know how to set big goals and break them down into doable steps.” – Laura Vaderkam, Fortune

3. Calm down

One of the best lessons I learned that I tell other people immediately when they ask about running is to calm down. Running conjures images of aggressive, jarring movement that is hard on the body and unsustainable long-term. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. I read a book called ChiRunning that explains how you should feel better after a run than before it. The focus is on posture, breathing, and relaxation. When you realize your body was made to run and that it can be an effortless, enjoyable task, it becomes an addicting part of a balanced day instead of that thing you dread. I consider running a re-energizing part of my life. I also consider working hard a re-energizing part of my life because I have learned to not sweat the small stuff (to use a clich√©) , staying calm during crisis or conflict is key to long-term success.

4. Sacrifice. Every day.

There is no mistaking the need to sacrifice to make a big goal a reality. For runners and business people, those sacrifices are often sleep, time, and relationships. Running a marathon is a huge sacrifice. Long runs on weekends can take four hours or more. Each day there is a workout or nutrition plan to follow.

There are also social sacrifices , the mileage required to run a marathon mandate adequate sleep and nutrition. It is hard to hit the bar, get four hours of sleep, and expect your body to complete a 15-mile run. More sleep, more training, and less time for other activities make marathon training a serious commitment that requires sacrifice.

5. Get out of your comfort zone. Every week. Try things that sound crazy.

When I began training, I read all the literature about ice baths, refueling with gel on long-distance runs, and using Vaseline to prevent chaffing. I read it and laughed — surely I wouldn’t need all those things.

Wrong. Every week I hit a new personal distance record. 9 miles. Then 12 miles. Then 16 miles. Then a 20 miler?! And every week I got out of my comfort zone as I learned that ice baths are a lifesaver, that eating on the run was acceptable and necessary, and that Vaseline is your best friend.

In business, the success stories are not about staying comfortable. It is about taking risks, doing things that sound crazy for the opportunity that they just may work.

6. Visualize success & the need for positive self-talk

The goofiest thing that I was told when training for my first marathon was to pretend during regular training runs that I was on mile 26 and about to cross the finish line. I was told to cement the feeling in my mind of what it will feel like to finish and get a medal and call myself a marathon finisher. I did what I was told. Every week I would pretend at least one of my runs was the final portion of a marathon. I closed my eyes and pictured that finish line. I told myself I would finish. I told myself I was already a success because I was out there grinding every day. I told myself all these things enough that when it came to race day, I (essentially) had already completed a marathon dozens of times. That last mile was joyful and fun , I already knew I could do it.

7. Celebrate the wins!

In business, we rarely celebrate our wins — maybe we are afraid that celebrating will be seen as arrogant, that it will breed complacency, or maybe we have just already moved on to the next goal. However, we could take a lesson from marathon organizers. They know how to throw a good party! Rarely is a race complete without a finisher’s party — a concert, beer, food, massages, and more. Every race I finish, I pick my favorite food, put my feet up, and spend the day with friends. While the successes are built over time, the culmination of hard work and dedication are worth a toast.

Whether it’s getting to go on fun team outings, having the opportunity to serve our community, or even getting to play a round of golf, we know how to celebrate our wins. What are some big goals that you’ve set for yourself lately?

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Either way, these are powerful patterns. Pulitzer prize winning author Charles Duhigg wrote The Power of Habit to explain how habits work, and how they can be changed. In his extensive research, he examines everything from our personal routines to the habits of businesses and organizations, to the power of habits in social movements. To understand how to change these patterns, we must first examine where they originate.

Duhigg proposes the “habit loop” to explain this concept. The habit loop consists of a cue, which triggers a routine, which results in a reward. To change our habits, we must identify what our cues are and the reward we seek. Keep the cues and the rewards the same, but change the routine, Duhigg explains , that’s the key to successful change.

This advice can be applied to almost anything personal, from eating to working out. But Duhigg takes this basic concept and scales it to organizational and societal behavior, examining how changes to habits can have powerful and lasting effects.

So what are 3 ways you can harness the power of habit in your workplace today?

1. Deactivate email notifications

When I first started identifying cues that interrupted my productivity, I immediately thought of the constant email notifications. I noticed that when a new email popped up, I would instantly check it, shift my focus, and wander off of the task I was working on. Not only was it tricky to recover that lost time, but I felt distracted the majority of my day. Deactivating notifications worked wonders on my productivity.

2. Block off time

We block off our days by habit , allotting time to shower, cook, commute, and watch TV. These things aren’t a struggle to find time for. Similarly, it’s possible to block off time for areas of our work life that we want to make a priority. For me, it is reading for professional growth. Since blocking off 30 minutes a day for reading, I’ve finished at least one book per month. I’ve gained new insights into business that have motivated and encouraged me in my professional journey. You can block off time for nearly anything you want to make a priority , outbound calls, networking, organizing your inbox, you name it , you can make it a habit.

3. Maximize the “5 Minutes Before”

Meeting in 5 minutes? That doesn’t mean you should shut off your brain and coast. Instead, use the 5 minute deadline to give yourself an added boost. Maybe it gives you the energy to crank out a couple more ideas, send a few emails, or connect with a team member. Using those 5 minutes for productivity, instead of turning off, can make a huge difference over the course of a day.

At TechnologyAdvice, we’re always finding new ways to increase our workflow, improve our lives, and grow professionally. If you want to join a team where we strive to make excellence a habit, check out our current career opportunities!

Also be sure to check out Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit for more examples and explanations about habit in personal life, organizations, and society. What are other ways you’ve changed your habits to become more efficient or productive? Tell us in the comments!

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