Harmony, joy, contribution, satisfaction - this is how a successful career sounds to me

Introduce yourself in a few words..

My name is Martina and I define myself as a creator, artist, a very positive and proactive person, with a passion for learning and curiosity about new things,  a loving and supportive partner and friend, recently in the role of a parent.

How would you describe your career in a few words?

Interesting. Magical. Diverse and unfolding potential at all levels.

What was the most important choice that shaped your path?

My most important choice has always been to act before  I am ready.

What would you like to know at the beginning of your career, but no one told you?

I would have liked someone to tell me at the beginning of my career – EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE! The reason is that this is a fact and in my opinion, everyone who is starting their path now should know it.

How can a person understand which profession is suitable for them?

In my opinion, the best way is to try different activities, first sitting and thinking carefully about which areas would be interesting for them, what they can be useful for, which of their super qualities can change the world, then making a short list of at least 5 areas and timing for trial and observation and to take action. The wonderful thing for young people is that if they start at an early age, they have plenty of time to try.

Which skills do you think will be key in the next 10 years?

Adaptability, proactivity, desire to learn, curiosity, discipline, and communication skills.

How do we build a network of useful contacts without appearing

interested?

I believe that a network of useful contacts is built by providing value, attitude, interest. The principle is win-win.

What is the biggest mistake you have made in your career, and what did you learn from it?

 I cannot define the biggest mistake, but I have many different challenges and  positive lessons from them. I learned that it is good to trust people with set parameters for exploration, not blindly and through emotion. I learned that the team is an extremely important and valuable resource for good development and even more important is who you invite as a partner and why. I learned that there are no irreparable things and everything depends on my mindset. The most important thing is that I learned a lot about myself and I am satisfied. All these events gave me a good starting point and resilience about what kind of person I am and what I want to give in this ecosystem as an example.

How do we recognize a toxic work environment and when is it time to leave?

We can recognize such an environment almost immediately. It is felt – through our body, through the heavy atmosphere, through reactivity and a bunch of other things. My advice is to run away from such a place if you feel that something is wrong, especially if your voice is not heard and you cannot influence. If there is a lack of positive communication, timely resolution of challenges, culture and values, good practices and development, you should not waste your time. Time is our only limited resource, let’s not waste it in a negative and non-developing environment. There are countless opportunities for your potential.

What would you do differently if you could start over?

In terms of my mindset and emotion, I wouldn’t change anything – I am a driver and I create with ease, energy, and vision. In terms of partnerships, structure, team, and development, I would apply the lessons learned and invest resources in tools that are important for development, whether they are mentors, technologies, people, basically all resources in support of my vision.

How do we maintain our motivation in times of stagnation?

I personally have a few tricks to keep my motivation in difficult moments and times of stagnation. First, I keep my spirit and body in high energy.  Second, I often go to the mountains and listen to motivational podcasts and books. Third – I ask myself a few questions: -Why is it important to me? To whom else  is what I do

(product or service) important and how will it help, influence? How will  I feel if it has already been achieved? What would the best result look like?

How do we achieve a balance between professional and personal life?

Over the years, I have found a very good scheme for balance – I have a program and I focus on sticking to it. And this does not mean, that I don’t have moments of emotional decisions - for example, I start the car and go somewhere, on the contrary, thanks to this program, order, and discipline I have time for everything, even for reactivity outside of me. And this is learned, as long as a person values having time for family, hobbies, work, business, and personal development.

When is it time to change our career, not just the job?

We can change our career orientation at any time, especially if we feel exhausted and have no more resources within ourselves. This is a wonderful way to ground ourselves and determine whether it is really necessary to end one stage or if we are just overworked and need a creative break.

If you had to give just one piece of advice to people seeking success, what would it be?

To be curious and disciplined. Curiosity drives you forward even when there is fear, while discipline keeps you healthy and resilient. I would also add to change your mindset – if success is an end in itself. It is a chimera of the current reality. Rather, for me, having success means living in peace with yourself and the eco environment you are in, having time and commitment to the things that matter to you, providing value, and taking care of your spirit, body, and personal development – then success will be a natural companion of the process.

What is your definition of a “successful career”?

A successful career, for me, is when you are filled with joy and excitement from what you are doing, when it energizes you and through your work and yourself you contribute, change the world around you in a positive direction. Harmony, joy, contribution, satisfaction - this is how a successful career sounds to me.