7 Steps I Followed For Success In The Digital Age - Serena Dot Ryan | Ad Strategist | Author

25 years ago when I was asked what I wanted to be when I left school, I said a fighter pilot. When I actually left school 2 year later I took on a traineeship as a florist. 25 years ago the job (read company) I have now, didn’t exist.

Little did I know, the biggest asset I had 25 years ago was that I really didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. Thankfully, I was instilled with a strong work ethic from a young age (thanks to my incredibly hard working and successful parents). I always saw the sense in staying employed and would have a new job before resigning from the existing one.

As I moved from job to job, industry to industry, I identified skills that helped me stay employed. These skills where not skills taught in a classroom, but rather were acquired through life experience. These skills when applied in the digital age have set me up for success. As you read through each of these 7 key points realise that when there were first applied by me, they were applied before the internet when mainstream, before email was common and Social Media was just a dream.

1. Share with purpose

Don’t share anything online or offline unless it’s adding value. No one needs to know everything. Seriously what you ate for breakfast is not essential to be posted online. However, if you’re an aspiring food blogger and you have discovered an amazing cafe with the best poached eggs and smashed avocado, may be it’s more relevant.

On the topic of sharing personal photos. Yes, I’m a mum and I started my entrepreneurial life to enable flexibility to be able to work and raise my kids and spend time with my family. I rarely share photos of my family, because my choice is that not everyone needs to know the details of my life for them to have value.

Think twice, if it’s not adding value, don’t post it.

2. Be an opportunist

Create and look for opportunities to grow, develop and connect. There are always opportunities. The biggest one is to talk to people. I’m a firm believer everyone is an expert in something. When you approach live like this, your next big job an come from talking to your uber driver. Always have your business mindset on. What I mean from this, have your business cards on you. This can be hard copy or virtual. I have my details saved in Haystack ready to share, I have business cards on me, and I also suggest to people depending on how where I meet them, to connect via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

You never know who can connect you with your next opportunity.

3. Give and receive support

Network and support both in person and online. Your community will help you and you should help them when you can. This applies in person and online. If someone asks a question, do your best to find an answer and respond. Fostering these relationships can help you immensely.

Community is key.

4. Be a learner

Updates are made daily to the digital landscape make time to incorporate learning into every day. A minimum of 15 minutes a day is recommended. I personally allocate 30 minutes each day at a minimum. My learning includes, Podcasts, Audio Books via Audible Live Videos, Mentoring Sessions and playing with newly released Social Updates like Augmented reality on Facebook Live.

5. Be flexible

Digital is agile. Use it to listen, learn and respond to your customers. It’s great to plan, but don’t get stuck to the plan. Allow the ability to take on feedback and adapt your plan to incorporate feedback. This does include personally and professionally. If I hadn’t done this, I would still be an average florist and not have realised my strengths and full potential that I have to apply my skills…

6. Set priorities

Digital moves fast. Maximise your return on investment by being in the best places to help you grow. Focus on the activities that are income generating. A classic example, do the proposal for a new client before blog writing.

Do the activities first that will help you keep the lifestyle you want.