Pursuing your dreams can be hard, there are moments of discouragement, countless rejections and disappointment. This can encourage us to throw in the towel and just give up (that’s the easiest option right?), but every now and again, you’ll read a story that inspires you and encourages you to not give up. I hope that this blog will do exactly that.
Over the Christmas break, I have been lucky to spend more time with my family than I usually would, and also some downtime that gave me an opportunity to reflect on everything that has happened over the past 12 months. It has been incredibly busy with Rebox HR as the business continues to grow, but I have also grown as a person too, I’ve spoken at multiple events, hosted my own conference, launched training programmes, won multiple awards, and appeared on 17 different podcasts. Overall, it has been an incredible year, but it hasn’t been without it challenges.
Once you achieve the dream (for me, Rebox HR is exactly that) it is also challenging to sustain that dream. Taking time to reflect on your achievements is as equally important as the steps it took you to get there.
The break also gave me some time to reflect on my career journey, it’s a subject I am asked about regularly, and I find myself sat in my office wondering how on earth did I get here? As I look around the room, I can take it in; my own business, I get to work with Faye, I have lovely clients that I get to work with, and I made it happen. If you would have told me that this would be my reality 10 years ago, I would have laughed and said “no, I’m going to be an HR Director for X company”. Back then, I was certain that was my dream, but aspirations change as we mature, being an HR Director now, just wouldn’t suit the life that Rebox HR has allowed me the freedom to create.
Sure, creating a business is not everyone’s cup of tea, but I feel like it has always been there, a part of me just waiting to come out at the right time, I am so glad I took that leap of faith nearly 4 years ago. It really has changed my life and it all started with an idea in my living room. For background, I started my working life as a travel agent – selling holidays and taking people all over the world, I absolutely loved my job but I didn’t feel a sense of purpose in my work. I’d just left school and whilst I wasn’t academically minded, I really needed a challenge, so long story short, I went after a career in HR and nearly 18 years later, here I am, sat at my desk, in my office with my company name in big letters above my desk! I know how I got here, it was hard work, more rejections than I could mention, and being determined to do a good job.
Job titles don’t matter!
One of the things people often ask me is “I’m an HR Admin, HRBP (insert other job title here), how can I become an HR Director/Head of HR/Head of People (again, insert another desirable job title here) I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it a thousand times over – job titles in HR don’t matter, what matters is the value that you bring. If you can justify your value, you’re making a difference.
There was a time when job titles did matter to me, and looking back, that clouded view really hindered my opportunities many times, to me now, it is obvious, but back then it was the whole carrot and stick theory – I work hard = promotion = salary increase, rinse and repeat etc. As a business owner now, I don’t make anywhere near as much money as I did when I was employed, but hand on heart, when I stopped chasing that carrot, my life became so much better. There’s more to life than money, cars, houses and the flashy images you see on Instagram!
Success can be created, but it is not guaranteed
It’s important to keep in mind that success is never guaranteed, the only guarantee is that if you stop trying, you simply won’t achieve your dreams. I’ve achieved what I have because I kept showing up, I didn’t give up and whilst I still have a lot more to achieve, I actually feel successful now, but not just in my work, in all areas of my life.
Instilling healthy habits has really helped to transform my mindset. I practice gratitude on a daily basis and it really can change how you view your career, your relationships, and your life.
To help you reflect on your journey, try thinking about a past achievement you accomplished, think about the journey it took you to get there, the challenges you faced and how you felt overcoming them. By not giving up and pushing through despite those challenges can help you become successful. Not giving up is the key. Keep showing up.
Tips
Here are some things I do to focus on my goals:
1. Create a vision board
This changed everything for me! Creating a visual representation of my aspirations serves as a daily reminder of what I am working towards. I make mine pretty by cutting out images, quotes, and words that inspire my dreams and arranging them in areas relating to each area of my life.
2. Break your goals into bitesized chunks
Goals can seem overwhelming when viewed in their entirety. Breaking them into smaller, manageable steps has helped me in many areas of my life and it was a skill I learnt whilst studying for my GCSE’s. Achieving the smaller milestones gradually provides a sense of accomplishment, all whilst contributing to the overall goal you have set. This really helped me when I was writing “Launch Your HR Career” and is helping me with books two and three as we speak!
3. Learn from setbacks
Setbacks are part of the journey whether we like it or not! Take it as an opportunity to learn and develop yourself further. It helps you become more aware, and helps develop resilience. Don’t dwell for too long, remember that we succeed from our failures!
4. Create a routine
This was really hard for me, previously I had been winging it for so long! Developing a consistent routine or schedule that aligns with your goals can establish a sense of discipline and focus. Small, regular actions add up over time, which leads to those significant results you’re looking for. A fabulous book to read is “The Power of Discipline” by Daniel Walter – this really helped me get focused on what I wanted, and identify exactly what I didn’t want my life to look like!
I will be writing my morning routine in another blog post, coming soon!
5. Seek inspiration, but be careful!
Explore some success stories that inspire you, make sure they relate to your work or interests. Learning about others’ successes can offer insights, strategies, and the motivation you need to persevere. Be careful not to compare your journey to anyone else’s, as this is where things can go wrong! Your journey is unique and special, embrace it, enjoy it and most of all have fun with it – life is for living!
I hope you enjoyed this blog post, it would really help if you liked and shared it if it inspired you! Let me know what content you’d like to see in future posts in the comments below, and do keep an eye on my YouTube channel, more fabulous motivational content is coming soon!
Natalie Ellis HR 