1026. If You Fill Your Current Position, You'll Find Your Next One

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Most people think that moving up means getting a new title. It doesn't. Because you can move up long before your position ever changes. And if you want to find your next position, then one of the best things you can do is fully fill the position that you're already in. This past weekend I was listening to Jason Rosty. Jason is the president of Louisiana Dealer Services, and he was on the No Box Checking podcast. And Curtis, one of the hosts, asked him a common question. He said, What advice would you give someone who wants to move up? And Jason said, You can move up without ever changing positions. Man, I love that. Bro, like I stopped right then and there. I'm like, oh my God, that's so true. Because moving up for you has zero to do with the title. Because right now, you can move up in discipline, in skill set, in mentoring, in collaboration, in problem solving, in conflict resolution, in responsibility, and in decision making, exemplifying the responsibility of the role that you want to one day possess. In short, if you want the position later, then you got to act it now. This is why I always say play to the opportunity, not the position. And most people, 90% of people, play to their current position because they're waiting to see an opportunity before they all of a sudden position themselves and be like, oh me. No, some opportunities come when you least expect it. Like out of nowhere. And most people, what they do is they just they play to their current position. And the problem with that, it regresses because you find the hacks, you find the corners that you can cut, you find different ways you can do less, yet still pay the bills. And those people who play only to their current position, oh, they're great about calling out the deficiencies and inefficiencies at the next level. They're great as far as pointing that out. They can give you all the advice, yet they have no idea how to institute the change because they won't do it themselves. Those kind of people are waiting to see the opportunity instead of creating one. But when you play to the opportunity, you're preparing, you're building capacity, you're building a skill set and an infrastructure that is much needed now. Because when you get to that next level, you won't have the opportunity to do it then. You understand that? You should have already been developed at that level. Because when you get to another level, bro, the position changes your entire perspective. I tell young salespeople all the time, they're like, they think I just sit in a big black chair and boss people around. I'm like, come on up here, cowboy. Come sit in this chair. You make these decisions. And see, that's the that's the part that's disillusioned. You think you just have a title. No, my friend. It's a responsibility that you carry. Because, see, at the next level, it ain't about just you. You have to make decisions that affect everyone. You have to resolve conflicts between people that oftentimes make you unfavorable. You have to be willing to change directions and hold steady where everybody else is losing their shirts. You sit there and you stay steady and committed toward the course. See, that's something, man, that most people are never prepared for because they didn't move up in the current position they're in. They just wanted the title. And sadly, when that happens, they're exposed. See, circumstances don't make you, they reveal you. And when these unforeseen circumstances, things that you have never even experienced before, and everybody's looking at you to make the decision and the right decision at that, you can't run to one of your employees and go bitch about it. No. You got to figure things out. It's all on your shoulders. That's what I'm talking about. And that's just decision making. The other part is what you can get others to do. Can you draw out the best in them while also holding them to a standard? See, that's the stuff that most people don't even think about. And so it's a good thing that you haven't moved up yet. I think that's life telling you sometimes, like, bro, you're not ready. You're going to get found out. See, there's a big difference between getting the title and filling the position. Can you fill the position and everything that comes with it? Because it's no longer about what you can do, it's what you can get others to do as well. Let me just put it to you like this because I hear young salespeople that are very, very new in the business, and they're like, yeah, another another place called me and they're they're offering me a manager position. And I'm like, you think you're ready for that? Because knowing everything about you, your work ethic, your indecisiveness, your inconsistency, your lack of emotional regulation, your moodiness, your results, would you want to lead a team of a bunch of people that act like you today? So start with you. Like I said, it's a good thing that you haven't moved up yet. That's good. Because now you don't need anybody's permission to move up. You can move up right now. And I will tell you this I will guarantee you this. If you'll fill your current position, you're gonna find your next one. All right, let's get out of here. Keep it simple, keep it moving, never settle, stay tough. Peace.