The world is complex. And when things are hard, it can be easy to play it safe and hold back. But what if you didn’t? What if you leaned in?

Because the world doesn’t need you to just work. More than ever, we need innovators...people who can look through problems and use their unique gifts to find solutions.

But how do you get there?

Here’s a glimpse of what we’ve been sharing with both students and career professionals over the years, and a fly-by of the new 7-day course we’re launching in a few days:

Start Inside

When’s the last time you thought about your values and beliefs? How about the “brand” characteristics you hope to embody as an individual? It takes work to set those foundations, but when you do, you’ll make the rest of your decisions with a sound mind.

Shape, Make, and Share your Story

When you’re building a career, your “story” often gets belittled to a list of things you’ve been paid to do. But that’s not a story. That’s a list. Instead, can you share the challenges you faced, the action you took, and the impact you experienced (personally and professionally)? If you can write your own story, sharing it becomes infinitely easier in a resume, portfolio, and LinkedIn profile.

Design Your Next Steps

Once you have a story finalized, there won’t be a ribbon cutting. No fireworks. It’s time to get it into the world. And sending your story blindly to people doesn’t work (we call this “spray and pray” and it never works). Instead, consider how you can begin on your own. What projects can you design that mix your past experiences, skills, and community. What can you do this week, this month, this quarter? As you start working on things, you’ll find a very different way to engage with peers, employers, and friends.

Build Your Community

Now that you’re on the move, it’s time to connect with others. Who shares your interests? Who’s involved in similar work? Who might be looking to partner with someone like you? Start sharing your story and your desire to learn more with those people. Don’t worry about asking for a job — ask for stories, insights from their journey, etc. If there’s a connection, there will be more to explore. No matter what happens, be organized, generous, and always show gratitude for others’ time.

Let's Do This Together

Our next class of Career Leaps will help you with each of these steps and more. Enrollment is open for 5 more days. Learn more here and use the code oneweektoleap for 35% off registration.