This is your guide to success in both your mind and in reality.

There are classic Mission-ista pitfalls I have witnessed.

In today’s working world, visualization and action aren’t enough.

Has a coach ever told you to ‘be the ball’? In my case, I heard that phrase in the gym a lot growing up. It always helped me focus to picture the volleyball being blocked by my two hands and slamming back on my opponent's side of the court. “See the ball, be the ball” was originally from Caddyshack. I’ll leave the movie and sports references here.

Visualizing success in your mind’s eye is why CEOs strategize a 1-2-3 year plan and professional athletes hire sports psychologists to help deepen premonitions.

Science has proven we can predict our future with deep imagining and actions when they are in alignment. In today’s working world, visualization and action aren’t enough.

There are classic Mission-ista pitfalls I have witnessed. Clients over-strategizing or under deliver from frustration, visualize without clearly articulated goals, moving on an over thinking hamster wheel.

In your ‘see the ball’ career dream, do you have a movie-perfect corner office and a shiny job title? This dreamy state is important to define next steps, but if these images are only burned in your mind and no one knows about them, you’ll land in a sad state of high expectations and low probability of reaching that goal.

Many clients come to me frustrated about hitting a career wall. Most often their aspirations were never articulated at the right time or to the right people.

This frustration is pervasive. Girl Boss wrote all about how to hire a Work Therapist, like Wendy on Billions, to help navigate this winding road of expectations with your mental sanity intact.

Take this quick Missionista quiz to see if you are a Mission-ista.

Answer Yes or No to each question.

1- I initiate the creation of annual and/or quarterly goals for myself and with my team.

2- I take continuing education professional classes on my own in addition to my field’s required classes.

3- I come to my year end review with a list of accomplishments I’ve captured in a file all year and a list of questions for my manager.
4- I talk to a mentor monthly, or more, about additional ideas they have for my next role.

5- I believe hard work, good grades, constructive feedback and constant improvement have gotten me to where I am.

6- Everyone around me knows I do extra credit and therefore I know my promotion is coming soon.

Bonus question: I am not rewarded monetarily, or otherwise, for the questions I answered yes to above.

If you answered yes to 2 or more of these questions, you are a Mission-ista.

Mission-istas internally dream and externally, do but often keep all of their goals a secret. If you do not want to feel bragg-y and love to crush the world, and are counted on, it's critical to communicate clearly about what you expect and need to feel successful and support.

Often, those who take on more, take initiative to get ahead, want to feel seen as easily as they were in a school setting. In a more linear environment, completing an assignment or adding volunteering to a resume will work to get a role.

Now, as the stakes change, Mission-istas need to focus on articulating your career needs to the right people at the right time.

Here are my exclusive client- only tips to do the work and get recognized for it

1- Take time to set up meetings with your boss and their peers 30-45 days after your annual review. If you are new to the job, start this process 3 months after your start date. The most critical part of this process is to know something about who you are speaking with and their communication style. This will help you quickly get on good footing.

2- Have talking points memorized both goals, ideas or questions. Do homework to keep the conversation open ended. Edit the topics and questions based on each meeting(ie., don’t ask the CFO a detailed HR question)

3- Follow up with an email after the meeting playing back what you heard and thanking them for their time. This is so easy yet often forgetten

4- Understand your team’s promotion culture. What is everyone discussing as a success. Is it title based or project based? When you find that secret sauce, timing and requests will come easier.

5- For anyone frustrated with the lack of movement in your career, now is the time to get clear on what you need and by when. Looking externally, interviewing friends and mentors, hiring a coach can propel you forward.

Communication Styles will be the next in my series here in 2023.

Happy Holidays.