Whether it's career shift or career acceleration, what it really takes to make - or break - a career is not just action. It's not even 10/10 action. It's off the scale action.

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+44 (0) 7976 751 095 dan@danbeverly.com http://danbeverly.com
The Levels of Action it Really
Takes to Accelerate a Career 26 May 2017
Whether it's career shift or career acceleration, what it really takes to make - or
break - a career is not just action. It's not even 10/10 action. It's off-the-scale action.
When you look back at the highs and low of your
career to date, what do you notice about your levels of
action in those pivotal moments?
Let’s take the highs, first. That’s easier.
First, you’ll notice there was, indeed, action – as opposed to
absence of action. That there were a number of
complementary actions, working in harmony. They were
intentional. And they were powerful.
You’ll also notice that it was all somewhat inspired.
Bravery might also be in there, along with resilience
and/or perseverance. And if you’re not already quite over
the superlatives, you’ll notice it was all progressive action:
not action for its own sake, but chosen actions that would
actually move you forward.
And as for the lows: well, your levels of action weren’t
any of those things. In fact, they were quite the opposite.
Not so much inaction as anti-action. Action in the other
direction.
What do I mean by that? Well, here it is in a nutshell …
Isn’t it true that the level of action that moved you
forward – or, indeed, held you firmly back from your
potential – was off the scale action?
Action off the scale
Give your actions a rating scale. Any you like, but to
illustrate let’s go with the good ol’ 1 – 10.
 1 – 4: we’re disinterested and demotivated.
Something else is going on here that might be
worth uncovering – because although it’s not
disaster today, over time it’s going to add-up to a
problem.
 5 – 7: we’re coasting. We’re good at our
jobs, so this is quite good enough – if we want to
stay where we are, doing what we’re doing. But
we’ll not move upwards anytime soon or with
any great impact.
 8 – 10: now we’re doing a good job. We’re
one of the better performers. But honestly: there
are plenty of us at this level. And whilst this is
better than average, it’s not “stand-out
performance”. It’s not stellar.
When we’re doing a good job, but our career isn’t taking
off, the thinking might go like this:

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+44 (0) 7976 751 095 dan@danbeverly.com http://danbeverly.com
My action is 9/10. Why am I not moving onward and
upward? Why isn’t this happening faster? Why are the
results I’m creating not bigger and better?
Because the level of action is not off the scale. And that’s
what’s needed.
Action so powerful that it leaves no room for our fear,
indecision or uncertainty. Action so powerful, it
completely overwhelms a stuck career.
So let’s introduce an extended scale and think again about
what makes a great career:
 11 – 15 (out of 10): now we’re
talking. I move my career forward when I take
massive action. When I make a habit of going
the extra mile – and then some. When I’m
relentless. Inspired. Decisive. And operating with a
certain degree of inevitability.
But let’s also spare a thought for what breaks a career
when we’re off the scale at the other end:
 (-1) – (-5) (out of 10): this
is what stalls our career. Not just inaction. Not just
the lack of embracing the moment. But actively
shrinking from it. Throwing-up excuses that mask
the fact we’re actively in reverse.
Your most powerful action
Your most powerful action is always the very next action.
Because that’s what gets you moving.
You could choose to stay stuck in “I’m unsure”, or “I don’t
know”, or “I don’t know how” and variants on those
themes.
Or you could choose to act. An off the scale act.
Dan Beverly is a leadership and performance coach helping high-achieving,
high-performing professional women PIVOT into rapid career advancement.
His mission is to inspire possibility in others: to help us excel in careers without
compromise; and to leave us feeling energised and uplifted by a new future.
Go online to book your Discovery Call with Dan – and start capitalising on
your pivotal career moments today.
http://danbeverly.com/session-zero