Thriving Under Pressure: Business Leaders’ Secrets to Making An Impact in Early Careers
Early career pressures can be daunting, but with the right strategies, they can become a catalyst for growth. We’ve gathered insights from Founders and HR professionals on how they navigated these challenges, from employing a turnaround strategy for a startup client to adopting a “Gamer’s Mindset” for career progression. Here are nineteen diverse techniques that helped these achievers thrive under high expectations.
- Turnaround Strategy for Startup Client
- Reframe Self-Proving Expectations
- Communicate and Set Clear Goals
- Embrace Learning Over Immediate Impact
- Try a Methodical Approach to High-Pressure Situations
- Break Down Tasks and Know Yourself
- Solicit and Apply Constructive Feedback
- Set Personal Milestones Beyond Company Goals
- Navigate Pressure with Patience and Positivity
- Embody Confidence Through Physical Poses
- Transition from Fieldwork to SEO Success
- Channel Nervous Energy into Project Management
- Prioritize Tasks for Quality Content Delivery
- Accept Humble Beginnings for Career Growth
- Maintain Can-Do Attitude and Seek Feedback
- Focus on Impactful Projects and Collaboration
- Balance Ambition with Health and Family Life
- Seek Mentorship to Help Set Specific Goals
- Adopt a “Gamer’s Mindset” for Career Progression
Turnaround Strategy for Startup Client
As the owner of a profitable marketing agency for over a decade, my early career was filled with pressure to deliver results. Making an impact is critical in the fast-paced, highly competitive marketing world, especially when you’ve just started building your credibility.
When I was just starting out, I took on a struggling startup client. As a result of a lack of sales, they gave me an ultimatum: turn things around within 3 months or lose them.
By conducting surveys, interviews, and data analysis, I thoroughly researched both the client’s and end users’ needs. Using those insights, I overhauled their positioning, messaging, offers, and content. Executing new campaigns and sales materials from scratch on a lean budget was incredibly difficult. Many long nights and weekends were spent sacrificing personal time.
The effort paid off in the end. In just 90 days, my focused efforts resulted in a 400% increase in sales for that client.
Leslie Gilmour, Founder, BeFound SEO
Reframe Self-Proving Expectations
Handling the pressure to prove myself was a heavy weight to carry at the beginning of my career. However, as a psychologist, I made a point to be sure to follow my own advice. Meaning, I observed areas in my life where I had a “story” around needing to prove myself. Next, I questioned the origin of that expectation and let go of what no longer served me.
This is a technique I recommend to my clients.
Azmaira Maker, Ph.D., Founding Director, Aspiring Families
Communicate and Set Clear Goals
The pressure is real, as were regular bouts of imposter syndrome! The number one thing that helped early on was to critically think about my goals (overall and within the organization), and to communicate them—often! Becoming an advocate for your goals and growth helps in seeking support to achieve them, creates accountability, and gives you something to work towards.
Finding my community was also pivotal in seeking guidance and confirmation that I wasn’t alone, that my struggles were valid, and that I had a cheering section throughout my growth.
Ali Aguilar, HR Manager, Envisionit
Embrace Learning Over Immediate Impact
Entering any new career can feel like a whirlwind. You’re eager to prove yourself, but that pressure can be stifling.
Honestly, for me, it helped to take a deep breath and focus on learning, not immediate impact. Early on, I joined a project with a steeper learning curve than anticipated. It was humbling, but instead of panicking, I threw myself into research and asked tons of questions.
My manager was impressed with my initiative to learn, and that led to even more responsibility down the line. It showed I wasn’t just about flashy results, but about building a strong foundation for long-term success.
Udemezue John, Digital Entrepreneur, Tchelete
Try a Methodical Approach to High-Pressure Situations
In the early stages of my career, I often felt the intense pressure to prove myself and make an impact. It was a daunting task, but I found several techniques that helped me thrive under these high expectations.
When faced with high-pressure situations, I learned the importance of giving myself time to think things through. I set realistic timelines to solve problems and leaned on trusted individuals for their insights and support. This approach allowed me to tackle challenges methodically, reducing the immediate stress and anxiety.
As my career progressed, I realized the importance of taking one step at a time. There’s only so much one can achieve in a day, and understanding this was pivotal in managing my expectations and workload. This realization significantly alleviated the mental pressure I felt, allowing me to focus more on productivity rather than stress.
Another technique that proved beneficial was writing things down and prioritizing tasks. Depending on the situation, I would handle smaller, easier tasks first to build momentum, or tackle the most challenging tasks head-on if they were critical. This not only helped in managing my workload but also in clearing my mind.
These strategies did not eliminate career pressures, but they made them more manageable. By understanding my limits, relying on my support system, and organizing my responsibilities, I was able to not just survive but thrive in the early stages of my professional journey.
TK Morgan, Founder and Visionary, Tuesday At 1030
Break Down Tasks and Know Yourself
When I faced pressure to prove myself early in my career, I learned some valuable techniques to thrive. I remember one time when I had a huge project weighing over me. My family saw how stressed I was and gave me a piece of advice that stuck with me: live in the present.
Instead of trying to solve all my problems at once, they suggested breaking the project down into smaller tasks, which are much more achievable. It was a game-changer. Along the journey, I also learned the importance of knowing myself. Understanding my strengths and weaknesses allowed me to handle pressure more effectively.
I paid attention to signs of stress and knew when to take a step back. These techniques have greatly contributed to my success for the past 15 years, allowing me to make better decisions and keep moving forward.
Brittney Simpson, HR Consultant, Savvy HR Partner
Solicit and Apply Constructive Feedback
Early in my career, I actively solicited feedback from my peers and leaders. My goal in requesting feedback was to understand how people around me perceived me and where there were gaps in my development.
The feedback I solicited took place outside of routine performance review cycles and often followed a significant project or milestone. Not only did I solicit feedback, but I also communicated with the team, several weeks later, regarding the feedback I received and the actions I implemented to better myself.
Jim Leahy, Head of Talent Acquisition, DailyPay
Set Personal Milestones Beyond Company Goals
Early in my career, the pressure to prove myself and make an impact was intense, especially in the competitive field of digital marketing. One technique that significantly helped me thrive under these high expectations was setting personal milestones that were aligned with, but not limited by, the broader goals of the organization.
For instance, during my initial years at CodeDesign, I committed to not just meeting the targets set by the company but also to adding my personal touch by exceeding client expectations in innovative ways. This meant not just delivering projects on time but enhancing the client’s experience by providing additional insights and follow-ups that weren’t necessarily part of the original scope.
This personal commitment to go beyond the call of duty helped me stand out and rapidly gain a reputation for reliability and creativity. It also built a strong personal brand within and outside the company, leading to more opportunities and responsibilities. Setting these personal milestones allowed me to create my own metrics of success, reducing the external pressures and focusing on continuous improvement.
For anyone starting their career, I recommend not only aligning with your organization’s goals but also setting personal benchmarks that challenge and fulfill you beyond conventional expectations. This strategy can significantly reduce the pressure by shifting your focus from trying to prove yourself to others, to proving to yourself that you can exceed your own standards.
Bruno Gavino, Founder and CEO, CodeDesign
Navigate Pressure with Patience and Positivity
Poorly! (Laughing)–early in my career, I struggled to discover a few things: passion, consistency, and my “true path.” At one point, I had five jobs—just trying to hustle, juggle, and find the real priorities. There were times when I succeeded and times when I didn’t. A few of my past roles included a variety of high-stress/high-energy situations.
You have to slow down and take a deep breath—it sounds cliché, but it truly helps with clear-minded analysis. Patience is a virtue, but sometimes you really have to move your you-know-what! I made an impact with hard work, positive energy, and smiles. When I couldn’t do that, I worked fast and just hoped I didn’t break anything.
Alexander Dodge, Account Executive, Bristol Associates, Inc.
Embody Confidence Through Physical Poses
We can express confidence by faking it ’til we make it. “Acting” confidently can start by following the mannerisms of confidence. When I was younger, I saw confident people take up space, be assertive, and fully extend their bodies. Confidence is comfortable taking up space. After reminding our bodies to take up space repeatedly, we can effectively fake the feeling by emulating the behavior.
One example is the Wonder Woman or Superman pose, which can increase confidence before an interview or other stressful scenario by getting us used to taking up more space. Stand tall with your hips forward, legs spread, hands on your hips or out, and chest evenly puffed out. We can trick our brains into feeling what we’re doing. When we ‘fake’ confidence or the ‘symptoms’ of confidence, we come to embody it more than if we did nothing at all.
Logan Shooster, VP of Strategic Growth, Answering Service Care
Transition from Fieldwork to SEO Success
My journey started quite differently—in the fields of the UK, picking peas and strawberries. Switching from fruit picking to freelancing as an SEO specialist was a massive leap for me. Here’s how I tackled the challenge of proving myself and making an impact early in my new career:
- Hit the Books: Coming from a totally different field, I had to start from square one. I dived into learning everything about SEO from free online courses, YouTube tutorials, and tons of articles. It was about getting the basics right and building from there.
- Use What You’ve Got: Even though fruit picking seems unrelated to SEO, some skills do transfer. I’m used to hard work, being precise, and keeping an eye on quality — traits that are super important in SEO too. I made sure potential clients knew I brought these strengths to the table.
- Small Wins Matter: I focused on getting small projects first. This helped me gain practical experience and build my portfolio. Each small project was a chance to prove my worth and refine my skills.
- Ask for Feedback: After finishing each task or project, I asked for feedback. This wasn’t always easy to hear, but it was gold for learning what works, what doesn’t, and how to get better.
- Keep Your Cool: The pressure was on, but I knew stressing out wouldn’t help. I kept a cool head, made sure to take breaks, and kept my health in check. All this helped me stay focused and creative.
- Connect with People: I reached out to other SEO professionals online, joined forums, and participated in virtual meetups. Learning from those who’ve been in the game for a while gave me insights and encouragement.
Georgi Todorov, Founder, Create & Grow
Channel Nervous Energy into Project Management
I vividly recall one of my first large-scale installation projects for a major auto trade show—a make-or-break situation. Flags and banners were to be executed flawlessly across multiple halls, levels, and booths within 48 hours. It could have destroyed our reputation as a young company had we failed to complete this complex job.
By channeling my nervous energy into hyper-effective project management, I was able to avoid becoming overwhelmed by the stakes. I created detailed checklists, schedules, and direct communication lines between my crews and vendor partners. To motivate my team, I also remained calm and resolute.
Ultimately, the massive installation was completed on time and without a hitch. Both staff and external stakeholders were impressed with my calm guidance, and I earned tremendous respect.
Stephen Hudson, Managing Director, Printroom
Prioritize Tasks for Quality Content Delivery
Joining a fast-paced startup meant learning quickly and delivering high-quality content to meet deadlines. It was important for me to set achievable goals and not compromise the quality of my work. One technique that helped me thrive under high expectations was prioritizing tasks based on their impact and urgency, ensuring I effectively allocated my time and resources.
Although there are many resources online to help with organization, the most effective way to organize my tasks was very traditional—pen and paper. Having visual reminders of tasks next to me that I could cross out once completed helped me monitor my progress and stick to my goals.
Additionally, I sought feedback from colleagues to improve and refine my approach continuously. By staying organized, adaptable, and open to learning, I was able to navigate challenging situations confidently and make a meaningful impact from the start of my career.
Mia Naumoska, CMO, Internxt
Accept Humble Beginnings for Career Growth
When I started my career, I hit that common wall we all face at some point—the pressure to prove myself in a field packed with competition. Looking back, how I mentally approached this hurdle made all the difference in surviving and thriving under high expectations. One thing that stood out to me was learning to take pride in starting from scratch without letting it bruise my ego.
I realized expecting immediate success or recognition was setting myself up for a fall. Sure, I had the skills and the drive, but without a solid track record, I wasn’t in a position to demand top dollar or win over the big-name clients just yet. This wasn’t a setback; it was a reality check that kept me grounded, pushing me to focus on what was in my control—putting in the effort, constantly learning, and bouncing back stronger from setbacks.
Instead of seeing the need to prove myself as a hurdle, I started to view it as my ticket to building a solid reputation. I looked for and cherished any chance to work with clients who were open to giving me a shot, or projects that seemed unappealing to others. I tackled these with gratitude and determination, knowing each was a step toward where I wanted to be.
I made it a goal not just to meet expectations but to exceed them at every turn. Even the smallest project was an opportunity to show what I was capable of, helping me slowly but surely build a portfolio that was a testament to my commitment and quality of work.
Esther Buttery, Director, CLIQ Marketing Content
Maintain Can-Do Attitude and Seek Feedback
Making an impact early in your career can be daunting, and the pressure can be overwhelming—but one thing to remember is, you’re there because someone saw potential.
Adopting a can-do attitude to things is something to embrace. Be fearless in your approach—but ask for help when you’re not sure. Working creatively involves a level of self-confidence; maintaining that in the early stages of your career is essential to your growth. It enables you to present yourself and your ideas—and regardless of feedback, people will see that you have something to say, even when it might need further development.
One approach I liked to use, and that helped me greatly as a junior, was “I have nothing to lose”—when I presented an idea, I just went with my gut and a belief that I could do it, and if my idea was chosen over someone more senior, it was a win-win.
James Sanderson, Creative Director, EverydaySomething
Focus on Impactful Projects and Collaboration
The first few years of my professional life were so hard, as I had to fight to demonstrate that I was capable and able to bring about change. I could not help but dust myself off, bite off more than I could chew, and deliver the best that I could. Nonetheless, it did not take long before I discovered that this incessant desire for excellence was no longer sustainable and it could be exhausting. However, it was here that I realized an approach to work, which allowed me to thrive under pressure and maintain a healthy work-life balance at the same time.
The art was to arrange and maintain concentration only on the matters which really held the essence. The lesson I learned was to distinguish between low-impact projects that did not correlate with the company’s strategic goals and those with the power to create tangible change. Hence, I could achieve outstanding results by concentrating on these important projects, which in turn proved my capability and brought worthwhile returns for the organization.
To illustrate my mentality, I use this example: when I introduced the advanced payment gateway to our online shopping platform. This project was critical for customer convenience and security—the aim which the company was pursuing. Notwithstanding the fact that I faced extremely short deadlines as well as very complicated technical problems, I stayed specific and committed to assigned responsibilities and made use of the expertise of the team members.
With the use of precise planning, flawless communication, and underlying quality, we launched the new payment gateway just in time and within the set budget. The superfluity of integration not only took care of the checkout procedure but also brought about drastic growth in customer satisfaction as well as online sales.
From this experience, I learned to emphasize the importance of smart prioritization and the effectiveness of a collaboration strategy involving a solution-oriented mindset. Focusing on major projects that solicited team support in dealing with the pressure also helped me reach results that exceeded all expectations.
Lyle Solomon, Principal Attorney, Oak View Law Group
Balance Ambition with Health and Family Life
When I was starting my career, I was nothing but ambitious. I always reminded myself that hard work always pays off—so that’s what I did. I worked really hard and put in extra hours (I even ended up working 12-13 hours daily, including weekends and holidays), I sacrificed my comfort, I prioritized working over having a ‘good time’ and relaxing, and I strived hard to learn new things that were very unfamiliar to me but were needed in order for me to thrive.
This helped me reach the heights I aimed for, but this lifestyle also left me burnt out and feeling sick almost every month. I also gained a lot of weight because all I did was sit and work all day, and I missed a lot of important family events and social gatherings.
I let the pressure get to me, and it wasn’t until very recently that I told myself that even though I want to excel in my career, there are also other important things in life that I cannot just set aside. So, I created a very detailed schedule of how my day should go—from doing my chores and running errands to having meetings with clients, attending webinars, finishing my certification courses, and, of course, doing my daily work.
I ensure that I only include doable tasks on my to-do list. In short, I don’t try to overload it with tasks because my goal has been to balance everything rather than do as much as I can and burn myself out in the process.
I also reduced my social media use to about 30 minutes during the day and just scroll once again before I go to sleep (since all my tasks are done by then). This strategy helps me finish as many tasks as I can without compromising my health and without taking up the time that should be spent with loved ones.
Joanna C., Founder and Owner, The Millennial VA
Seek Mentorship to Help Set Specific Goals
Early in my career, the pressure to prove myself and make a significant impact was particularly intense, partly due to my unique background and the financial challenges I faced growing up. Coming from Estonia and having moved to the U.S. for my studies, I was not only adapting to a new cultural environment but also managing the financial burdens associated with international education. These experiences instilled a strong work ethic and a determination to not only succeed but to excel in my chosen field of multimedia design and branding.
To thrive under these high expectations, I adopted a meticulous approach to personal and professional development. I set specific, measurable goals that aligned with both my career aspirations and my need to manage financial constraints effectively. For instance, during my time at the University of Rochester, where I completed my bachelor’s studies in digital media, I leveraged every opportunity to build my portfolio. I undertook projects that not only challenged me creatively but also offered the potential to expand my professional network and open doors to potential job opportunities.
I also made it a point to seek out mentors and industry professionals from whom I could learn. Their guidance was invaluable as I navigated the complexities of starting a career in a highly competitive field far from home. This network not only provided moral support but also practical advice on managing financial and career-related challenges.
Reflecting on this period, a key experience that helped me manage pressure effectively was my role in organizing the Estonian Cultural Days in New York. This project not only honed my skills in large-scale event management and cross-cultural communication but also reinforced the importance of resilience and adaptability—qualities that have been crucial in overcoming obstacles and exceeding expectations throughout my career. This initiative was not just a professional task but a personal milestone that underscored the value of hard work, strategic planning, and community engagement in achieving professional success.
Valev Laube, Branding Expert, Designer and Marketing Director, ValevLaube.com
Adopt a “Gamer’s Mindset” for Career Progression
A couple of years into my professional life, I started thinking about my career as playing a video game. Every game has its rules, so I invested time learning the ins and outs of the business ‘game.’ I learned from people who were successful at the levels above me. When someone got promoted, I looked at what they had done to earn that promotion and asked them for their insights on how they leveled up in their career.
Just like in a game, some levels were more brutal than others. However, I approached each level as something to complete. Rather than being overwhelmed by the pressure, I viewed it as an opportunity to level up.
Reminding myself that everyone starts at level one helped keep things in perspective. It normalized the experience of facing challenges and setbacks, reassuring me that leveling up is won through persistence and learning from mistakes. No one starts at the final level!
Amie Sparrow, Founder, SEO WTF
