When you’re early in your career, you’re often focused on titles, promotions, and simply proving yourself. But experience has a way of shifting your perspective.
I recently asked professionals:
“What is one piece of career advice you wish you heard early on in your professional journey?”
Their answers were honest, practical, and grounded in real-world experience. Here’s what stood out.
1. Curiosity Matters More Than Your Job Title
Paul Towers, Founder & CEO of Playwise HQ, shared a perspective that challenges the way many of us think about career growth.
With 15 years in sales and sales management and experience as a multi-time SaaS founder, he said:
“One piece of advice I wish I’d heard earlier is that your job title is far less important than the curiosity you bring to work, especially when you are starting your career… Curiosity helps you see the bigger picture, spot opportunities and become someone leaders trust to add value beyond your role. Over time, that mindset opens doors and advances careers.”
It’s easy to get fixated on the label people may give. But curiosity is what actually expands your value. When you look beyond your task list and understand the business as a whole, you position yourself as someone who thinks strategically and not just operationally.
Curiosity builds trust.
2. No One Is Tracking Your Growth But You
Aliyyah Camp, Founder & CEO of Aliyyah Media Group, shared a truth that many professionals learn the hard way:
“One piece of career advice I wish I heard earlier is that no one is tracking your growth but you. Early in my career, I assumed that if I worked hard, stayed reliable, and delivered strong results, opportunities would naturally follow. Sometimes they did. But often, they didn’t. Managers are juggling multiple priorities, and they don’t always keep track of their team members’ professional growth. That’s your job!”
Hard work is important. But visibility and ownership of your progress are just as critical.
Aliyyah recommends:
- Keeping a running document of your accomplishments and measurable impact
- Updating your resume every year, even if you’re not job hunting
Career growth doesn’t just happen overnight. It happens when you advocate for yourself, track your wins, and intentionally steer your next move.
3. Build Your Support Circle Early
Steve Schwab, CEO of Casago, reflected on something he learned later in his career:
“A piece of advice that I heard later on in my career that I think really would have helped me earlier on was to prioritize building your support circle. My mentor gave me this advice because he could see that I was struggling in many ways by internalizing so much and taking on so much work entirely on my own. He helped me see how important it is to have people in your life, both professionally and personally, who can lift you up and give your support and energy when you need it.”
Ambition can sometimes isolate us. We try to prove ourselves by carrying everything alone.
But sustainable growth requires community:
- Mentors who guide you
- Peers who challenge you
- Friends and family who recharge you
Success isn’t just about what you know, it’s also about who supports you when things get hard.
Final Takeaways
- Stay deeply curious: learn beyond your job description.
- Own your career trajectory: track your wins and advocate for yourself.
- Build a strong support circle: you don’t have to do it alone.