Learn from the masters, learn from your contemporaries. Always try to update yourself.
James Stewart
This might seem obvious, but there are people out there already in the job you want to be in (and also people who used to be in that job and have since grown), why not learn from the people who are or were already where you want to be?
Preferably this person is someone you look up to, has some sort of shared background or values with you. This can create a better connection for both parties, increasing the candor and insight you receive.
Talk to them about their work, how they got there, what they have learned. There is a vault full of knowledge from people who have already done what you want to do. Successful people often enjoy sharing their wisdom (assuming you ask nicely and don’t come off like a weirdo).
Things you can ask them…
Tell me about your journey getting here – what were some of the big challenges in securing the role?
What are your weeks like? What is unique to the job that you did not experience before this role?
What was most surprising to you about the role when you started? (can be positive or negative)
Were there any skills, requirements, networks necessary that held you back from advancing? How did you discover and grow through these?
Add any question to your list that might give you insights to their challenges, process and journey.
Your path will be different
Their path and experience won’t necessarily be identical to yours, but hearing how they did it might guide you. It certainly could help you avoid some pitfalls along the way.
If they are open to it, you can also tell them about your journey so far – especially where you have succeeded and / or failed in your goal of the next role. Ask about their thoughts – what you might need to work on to secure the promotion. What are you missing that other people have in the role? They will likely have insights that would take you far longer to discover on your own.
What do you need to work on?
Perhaps the conversation will have revealed specific gaps in your skills. If that’s the case, ask them if you can come back to talk with them in a brief targeted time in the future.
There is an absolute wealth of knowledge available to us in others who have already gotten to where we want to be. This can apply to a promotion at work, starting a company, buying a property, winning awards, getting that next jujitsu belt, just about anything – it’s incredibly versatile.
nate funaro 