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Pursue opportunities to lead using your skills. Being a leader creates value in the skills you’ve developed and authority in your knowledge and experience. If people look up to you as a leader, they may expect you to be an expert, to make decisions, and to handle difficult situations. Having these roles can help you approach things in different ways and consider things in a new perspective. If you have an idea, don’t wait for someone else to step up, go do it! Offer to oversee volunteer opportunities or organize a toy drive for children. You can step up at work and take on additional responsibilities or create new programs. Mentoring someone else who shares your interests is a great way to approach your interests in a new way. You now have a role as a teacher and guide, which means you have opportunities to creatively approach learning in new ways. Knowing that others are watching you or looking up to you can push you to do great work. Feeling competitive is both natural and healthy. Competition can also help us grow. Engage in some friendly competition with someone else who shares your skills.  Compete to sell the most paintings in a month or create the most original designs. Find a business competitor and ask if there’s interest for a short-term competition. It’s easy to forget all the overwhelming positive feedback when you receive one negative comment. Keep in mind your passion for using your skills, and keep trying. Approach criticism as constructive, listen to what is said, don’t be defensive, and realize that failure always accompanies risk. Realize that sometimes people are just mean. Take negative feedback with a grain of salt, see what can be improved, and move on. This can be a great way to network and to keep up-to-date in your field. Whether it’s a professional organization or a hobby convention, joining with other people in a formal setting can help you improve your skills or keep them sharp. Attend workshops or lectures provided by the organization. Immerse yourself with the culture. You may experience temporary lulls in productivity, or feel like your work has become stagnant. Don’t give up. Find creative ways to approach your difficulties, then keep going. Do it, master it, then improve it.
Engage in leadership. Be a mentor. Engage in some friendly competition. Balance criticism. Join an organization. Be persistent.