Your Path to Promotion and Growth

If you’ve just been promoted, or are working toward your next promotion, how do you make sure you succeed and keep growing?

Many professionals in their early to mid-30s find themselves at a crossroads. In the early years of your career, your focus was on doing high-quality work. But as you grow, that alone isn’t enough.

To reach the next level, you must learn how to bring in new business. Building your book of business, your personal contribution to your company’s growth, is what will secure your future.

To do this, you need to overcome two common mindsets. Then, you’ll be ready to follow a simple system to win new work, even when you’re busy.

Mindset 1: “I’m Too Busy to Win Work”

A common belief is that there’s no time to build relationships when you’re already swamped with work. But if you don’t make time, you’ll limit your growth.

You probably know the Eisenhower Matrix, work that feels urgent, like answering emails and finishing projects, takes up most of your time. But those tasks won’t get you promoted. Building relationships and winning new work will.

Instead of thinking, “I don’t have time for this,” ask yourself, “What small step can I take this week?” Even a few minutes of effort is better than doing nothing.

Here’s the surprising part: being busy actually helps you grow your book of business.

When you’re working with clients, you gain deep insights into their problems, have constant access to decision-makers, and show genuine scarcity, making you more valuable. Use this to your advantage!

Mindset 2: The Right Time Fallacy

Another common mistake is waiting for the “perfect time” to reach out to someone important. Maybe you’re waiting for the right update to share or hoping for a response from a previous message.

The truth? There’s never a perfect time. The best time is now.

Here’s how to overcome three common fears:

Not knowing what they need? Ask them! A simple message like, “I’d love to hear about your current priorities and see how I can help. Let’s grab lunch!” can open doors.
Feeling like you don’t have enough to offer? Remember, your expertise is valuable. A casual conversation can provide insights they didn’t even know they needed.
Only reaching out in “safe” ways? Broaden your conversations. Ask about their goals, challenges, and future plans. Strong relationships grow beyond work transactions.

A Simple 15-Minute Weekly System

Once you’ve overcome these mindsets, it’s time to take action. You don’t need hours, just 15 minutes a week.

Use a One-Page Business Development Plan to stay focused:

Key Relationships: List 5-10 people who can help grow your business. Include potential clients, referral sources, and colleagues.
Opportunities: Write down specific things you want people to say yes to, whether it’s a project, an introduction, or a speaking opportunity.
Three Weekly MITs (Most Important Things): Choose three key actions each week. These should be impactful, within your control, and focused on growth.

Make It a Habit

Schedule 15 minutes each week to review your plan, update your priorities, and commit to your next steps. The key is never having a zero week, even small progress adds up over time.

Stick to this system, and your career will grow faster than you ever expected.

You can grab the one-pager here!

Want to dive deeper? Watch my video on the habits of high-growth professionals.