“Follow your passion” is pretty flawed career advice, in my mind.
Far better to get really good at something. Deliver more than expected. Become indispensable and irreplaceable. Commit to the discipline required to earn the “high potential” designation.
Achievement creates career velocity and expands opportunity. Developing my sales skills and competency along with a track record of exceptional performance was the single most important thing I did early in my career.
The momentum created through intentional, strategic planning early on often affords flexibility, leverage, and opportunities later in life. That’s just as true today as it was when I started my career.
Build Career Velocity to Advance Your Career
Our very own ImpactEleven SVP of Community & Product, Connor Trombley, defines “career velocity” as “a conscious commitment to maximize the speed and trajectory of your professional advancement. It’s an intentional decision to deliberately drive toward meaningful objectives, consistently uplevel your skills, expand your strategic network, and run towards opportunities that stretch you, that challenge you, that scare you.”
Connor has delivered nothing but outsized impact early in his career, which actually started in his sophomore year of college during an internship with my business partner, Josh Linkner. Josh is an extraordinary entrepreneur, and Connor thrived under the intense and generous mentorship of Josh, recognizing that a traditional career path was no longer in the cards for him.
Connor leveraged everything Josh taught him, delivered more than expected, and pressed Josh with the ask, “How do I work for you permanently?” Josh created a role for Connor as the outcome of what Connor now calls his “two-year interview.” He has never looked back!
Connor shared with me that “Career velocity increases when you “maniacally action on what you believe you’re capable of, rather than simply focusing on what you’re told to do.” His advice:
“Invest a disproportionate amount of your time and resources into accelerating your advancement NOW to create asymmetric success and balance LATER. Stay curious, take unreasonable initiative, and focus on adding 5x value to whatever you’re working on. The choice is yours. Aim high and dial in. The results will follow.”
Connor epitomizes the outcome of career velocity — and wears it literally as a daily reminder. No, really. This is his bracelet:
How to Advance Your Career: 6 High-Impact Steps
If you’re in the early-stage career phase, it’s important to remember that the decisions you make now will compound over time, affecting your long-term success.
Use these lessons I’ve learned through the years to build velocity in your career.
Focus on Skill Development
Instead of chasing your passion, focus on becoming really good at something the world values. Stay a student, build expertise, and continually improve. Achieving your career goals requires dedication to learning and developing a unique value proposition.
See Sacrifice as an Investment
Early in your career, it may feel like you’re giving up short-term fun or flexibility. Reframe that as an investment in your future. The effort you put in now will pay dividends later in the form of options, freedom, and leverage in the job market.
Be Intentional About the Long Game
Don’t get stuck in short-term thinking. Every decision you make today should align with where you want to be in 5 or 10 years. Whether it’s choosing a role, setting goals, or taking a risk, ensure it pushes you toward your long-term career growth.
Build Expertise and Credibility
The expertise I’ve built over the years is one of my most valuable assets. It’s allowed me to pivot into speaking, writing, and coaching. Spend time mastering your craft and creating a body of work. Whether you share your knowledge through a blog, a podcast, or by joining a professional network, expertise is something no one can take away from you.
Choose Your Boss, Not Just Your Job
Your manager has a bigger impact on your career growth than the company name on your resume. Choose leaders who invest in your development, challenge you to grow, and leave you better than they found you. A strategic career transition can often depend on finding the right mentorship and leadership.
Balance Sprinting With Well-Being
Career growth involves seasons of sprinting — times when you push hard to achieve results. There have been times in my career when I worked long hours, took big risks, and maintained an intense focus. But I’ve learned to balance that with taking care of myself and prioritizing relationships. Long-term success is about sustainability.
If there’s one thing I’d tell my younger self — or anyone just starting out — it’s this: Be intentional. The choices you make now will shape your career for decades to come. Invest in yourself, work hard, and trust that the momentum and skill you cultivate will carry you forward.
Start Gaining Career Velocity Now
No matter where you are in your career, it’s not too late to build and maintain velocity.
Ready to get started? Over the coming week, identify one skill that’s critical for your current role or desired career path and dedicate time to improving it. Whether it’s public speaking, data analysis, or relationship building, invest in an online course, read a book, or seek out professional mentorship to refine your skills. Continually improving in key areas will set the foundation for fast career growth and a successful job search in the future.
Focusing on just one skill and putting it into action will create noticeable progress and lay the foundation for long-term career velocity.
Growing your career and creating a compelling view of your future means creating meaningful change in your life. This guide will help you get started.
