5 Steps to Own Your Career

Everyone has moments where they feel like the best-kept secret about something they love. During those moments, even the most confident individuals wish the right people would see them make the right moves at the right times. Only then, these dreamers believe, will they be recognized for what they are.

But what if the respect everyone craves already exists within reach? According to Certified Executive-Level Performance Strategist Dr. Tana Session, every human comes equipped for their own brand of success. Session, who is also a best-selling author and award-winning international speaker, argues reaching one’s true potential only requires a few simple steps.

On Wednesday, Session spoke during the NextGen Government Training Summit. The summit is an annual, two-day professional development event for public servants. Here are five tips Session shared for leaving best-kept secret status behind:

1. Own Your Power

According to Session, owning your power includes forgiving yourself and others. Ultimately, abandoning negativity can help people reach even their hardest goals.

“You clear your heart space to let other things into your life,” Session said. “You have to give yourself permission to succeed.”

2. Own Your Truth

Humans love stories, and the ones people share give shape to their beliefs, goals and lives. More importantly, they can forge valuable connections that eventually become fulfilling relationships.

“Speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we have,” Session said. “It’s important to do that in a trusting and authentic way.”

3. Own Your Healing

Adversity is a given, and no one can escape struggling personally, professionally or both. Realizing this, Session suggests, can help people acknowledge and overcome hurdles that would otherwise slow them down.

“It proves you have a story, and you overcame it,” she said of past challenges. “It helps us leave baggage at the door and fly so much easier and lighter.”

4. Own Your Worth

According to Session, knowing what makes them unique can help individuals achieve their deepest desires. For example, those who value their time spend it wisely.

“Never let your worth be determined by the acceptance or rejection of others,” she said. “If I’m saying ‘yes,’ I’m saying ‘no’ to another part of my life.”

5. Own Your Destiny

For many people, the hardest part of progress is taking control of the future. According to Session, recognizing stagnation is the first step to conquering it.

“What do you want your life to look like?” she asked. “We have to be able to get out of our comfort zone.”

Put Everything Together

Armed with Session’s five strategies for taking personal ownership, the sky’s the limit for public servants, private citizens and everyone in-between.

“Give yourself a challenge,” she said. “Push yourself to the limit. It doesn’t matter where you start. What matters is where you see yourself going.”