The title of this class is: How to create a totally boss LinkedIn profile. We've been over the definition of a boss, but let me take a second to remind you.
In review, being a total boss has nothing to do with your job title. You can just be a bad mother trucker who gets it done. You add value to the team. Bosses exude confidence and lift up the entire organization. They don't have to brag, because the results of their actions speak for themselves.
This confidence has to come from within. It can not be tied to what other people think of you. Because people are fickle. You have to know who you are. You know what's right and wrong. And if you get in an interview or situation where your gut is telling you that something is not right – listen to it. You do not have to accept the first job that comes along just because you feel desperate.
You have to be willing to take calculated risks. This is a common trait of successful people. Admittedly, this is obviously a lot easier said than done. You may not think you are qualified enough for a job. But apply anyway! Let someone else make that decision. We all suffer from imposter syndrome sometimes. The thing is, it's better to try and fail than to never try at all.
So, let's get real for a minute. Looking for a job is hard. Not only are good jobs rare, and competition is high, but the rejection is real. Furthermore, you may have just come from a job or are currently employed in a job where… you just don't feel that good about yourself. And that can make it difficult to get motivated.
What you have to know is, no matter what people say online, even the most successful people have faced rejection and self-doubt. No one has had a meteoric rise to the top. Not many people talk about rejection or self-doubt publicly, but it happens to everyone.
I've interviewed for and been passed over on jobs. Everyone has. I was upset when I received a rejection email, even if it was for a job that I wasn't that excited about.
At the time you're supposed to project the confidence of Beyonce slaying at Coachella, you're feeling more like Beyonce writing Lemonade. And that's ok. Because I'm going to tell you a few things.
One of the biggest lessons I've learned in life is: do not compare your insides to someone else's outsides.
Everyone has had bad job experiences. Bad bosses, toxic work cultures, unfair policies… we've all been there.
So if you've ever received a poor performance review in the past, just know that maybe the person giving that review didn't have your best interests in mind.
If you've ever been laid off, just know that you didn't have all the information. Maybe you worked for a big company, and your salary was a number on a spreadsheet. There were things going on behind the scenes that you were not privy to.
And if you've ever been fired or quit, just know that maybe that job wasn't for you. Maybe the Universe has other plans for you.
I'm not saying that personal accountability doesn't play a role. It's the appropriate time to take a hard look at yourself and say: I'm good at this, I need to improve on that. I'm just saying that not all the feedback you've received in the past has been constructive, and it does not have to shape your future.
And if you're here, I'm guessing that you do have some sense of personal accountability, because you're willing to take your experiences from the past, move on, and begin a new chapter.
It's time to move forward. It's time to boss up. I think you're ready. Do you?
