No one, not even a career veteran, is immune to mental roadblocks when it comes to their job. No matter where you are on your professional path, sometimes advancing is as much about mindset as it is about qualifications.
“One of the biggest hurdles in my personal growth was building the self-confidence needed to move beyond familiar routines and take on new challenges, especially when I had internal doubts,” said Kathy Gross, Ph.D., Animal Sciences and Industry adjunct faculty at Kansas State University (and formerly with Hill’s Pet Nutrition for 32 years). “After reaching a place of comfort and mastery in a current role, my feelings of self-doubt and critical self-talk made it difficult to imagine succeeding in something new. Questions like, ‘Can I handle the demands of a new position?’ or ‘What if I fall short?’ came into my head, creating hesitation about the next step and concerns about long-term impact on my career.”
