Fwd: 4 ways to fast-track your success
Recently I've been hearing from a lot of LTCWM readers who want to know how to speed up their progress.
Some of you have been job hunting and want to know how to get your foot in the door sooner rather than later. Others have just started coding and want to know the most efficient way to reach their goals.
Of course, there's no substitute for putting in the work, but there are a few ways to fast-track your progress.
Here are some of the approaches that we've been talking about on the podcast recently...
1. Learn to negotiate.
If you're applying for jobs, one way to get ahead is by negotiating a higher wage. If you already have a job, you can ask for a raise instead.
In episode 14, I spoke with Alexandra Dickinson. Alexandra is the founder of Ask For It – a consulting company that gives people the skills and confidence to negotiate. In our interview, she shares her top tips for negotiating a higher salary.
Learn how to negotiate a higher wage.
2. Grow your network.
I cannot stress enough the importance of building out your network. The saying, "it's not what you know, but who" applies to both the traditional and the non-traditional job markets.
In episode 15, I talked to Jamal O'Garro. Jamal is the co-founder of Code Crew – a platform that offers affordable classes, workshops, and meetups. He tells us how he transitioned into tech from a career in finance, and the role his network played in that transition.
Find out how to grow your network.
3. Do market research.
The market will have a huge impact on your success, whether you're looking for a job or starting a business. If a particular skill is in-demand, and you have that skill, you'll have a much better chance of getting a job. If your business solves a problem that lots of people have, it's more likely to succeed.
So it makes sense to find out what the market wants before investing loads of time and money in any one path.
In episode 16, I interviewed Yasmine Mustafa. Yasmine is the founder of ROAR for Good - a hardware company that makes wearable safety devices for women. In our conversation, we talk about how she validated her business idea.
Learn how to find out what the market wants.
4. Find a mentor.
Another way to fast-track your success is by learning from those who have gone before you. This is such a great way to get ahead that you'll often hear me recommending Codementor - a service that matches individuals with mentors.
In the most recent episode of the podcast, I spoke with Matt Lane. Matt is the co-founder of Rithm School - an online learning community for people who want to learn to code. We talk about his journey to building his own startup and the role that mentorship played in that journey.
Hear how having a mentor can accelerate your progress.
I hope these stories give you some ideas as to how you can fast-track your own success. You'll still have to work hard, but you could shave months or even years off your journey by implementing some of these strategies.
Good luck!
Laurence
