It’s good to be amibitious and always wanting to do better than you are. Whether it be moving up the corporate ladder, or setting new goals for yourself. Often, people, and lately the terms seem to be hurled more at women than men, those who chase big dreams are referred to as “selfish”, ”ambitious” and ”ruthless”. But, what exactly constitutes being selfish in the professional arena? Is it being competitive? Or being strategic? Can being selfish actually help a person climb the ladder of success?
At times, personal commitments or limitations restrict people to pursue their dreams. More so in the case of women, who are bound by domestic duties, motherhood or may be inhibitions. But, irrespective of gender, people who are highly ambitious go that extra mile without caring much about social restrictions. Some manage to surpass the bar of excellence and get recognised in their career. They succeed. But, success comes at a cost. These same people are branded “selfish achievers”.
Should such achievers take this tag as a compliment?
Being selfish is a human trait. The only thing is that it varies from person to person. However, it isn’t really an unhealthy trait, as long as it doesn’t have a negative impact on yourself or others.
The following “selfish” tips can help you manage your work-life balance and be a successful person, without feeling guilty.
1. Put yourself ahead of all: Give due importance to your needs, dreams and emotions. Be confident, speak up, be heard and be visible.
2. Your children may not need you all the time: Time is money. And when you are at the pinnacle of success, you can barely spend time with your kids – a guilt that haunts most working parents. It’s important to squeeze in time for kids, but outsource tasks (cooking, laundry, grocery shopping) that don’t require your personal attention, whenever possible. Don’t feel guilty because the benefits of success will soon pass on to your children.
3. Get Better: Being selfish is first competing with yourself and then with others. Improvise your skill sets and behaviour. Seek constant feedback and pay attention to the feedback being given to you. The key to getting better is continuous learning.
4. Set boundaries: When people know that you have set “personal” rules, they accept and respect you for that.
Self-interest can be a great motivator too, it makes you push your limits and discover a new “you”. So, be a little selfish – it may just be what you need to give your career that extra push.
This article has been contributed by Kontent Factory.