When it comes to career advice, Clark Kent (a.k.a. Superman) may not be the first person that comes to mind. But if you take a closer look at Superman’s journey, there’s a lot we can learn about our own life journey and the career path we choose.
Here are six career lessons we’ve learned from Clark Kent.
1. Test Your Limits
In the Man of Steel film, Jor-El, Superman’s real father, tells him that the only way he can grow stronger is to push his limits.
The same can be said for your career. When you push your limits, you become better. Growth is difficult, and it requires action. The journey is never easy, and at first, you may resist taking action out of fear. But after you take that leap, you grow and become even better.
If you want a promotion, for example, you have to put in the time and effort. You have to push your limits and step outside your comfort zone. You can’t achieve success if you don’t take action.
2. Discover Your Purpose
Clark Kent starts his journey on a quest to discover who he is and where he came from. We all go through this same reflective period as we transition from our teenage years into adulthood. During this crucial time, we’re faced with a number of choices and decisions, mainly related to our careers. What do you want to do with your life? What do you want to study in college? What’s your life’s purpose?
Many of these questions are difficult to answer, and you’re the only one who holds the answers.
Clark Kent traveled to the far corner of the earth to discover his purpose and who he is. While your purpose may not be to save the world, you do have one. Find your purpose, and your career path will become much clearer.
3. Know Your Kryptonite
Kryptonite is Superman’s weakness. If it’s nearby, he grows weak and loses his power. Naturally, he tries to avoid it as much as possible.
Everyone has a weakness, or a kryptonite. The key to overcoming it is to first identify your weakness.
Maybe you’re not a punctual person. You show up to work late, or you walk into meetings midway through. You may think that it’s okay to be late, but your boss doesn’t. Eventually, that lack of punctuality will get you fired.
Find out what your kryptonite is, and avoid it whenever you can. Doing so will allow you to change your behavior and improve your performance.
4. Dress to Impress
Sure, Superman may wear a cape and superhero suit, but when he’s Clark Kent, his alter ego, he dresses sharply.
Dressing well is important in the career world. When you’re sharply dressed, you’re confident and you give off the impression that you’re serious about your career. As unfair as it may be, people judge others on appearance. Make sure yours is a good one.
Clark Kent can teach us a lot of about how to get ahead in the job world. While we may not be superheroes, we can all progress in our careers by testing our limits, finding out what our true purpose is, knowing our weaknesses and dressing to impress.
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