Usain Bolt didn’t show up on track one day and zoomed to the finish line. Brett Lee didn’t master the art of fast bowling on a whim. Mark Ritson didn’t become the toast of the marketing world based on a fluke campaign success.
What these elite successful people have in common is that they stuck to the basics. And went back to them. Again and again. They chased the fine margins and toiled hard to fulfil their ambitions.
Most people imagine career growth as one big leap, a dramatic turning point or a lucky break that suddenly pulls everything together. In reality, the story usually looks very different. Progress tends to come from a collection of small choices that compound quietly in the background. It could be going that extra mile for an important client. Or skipping a party on a weekend to master a niche hard skill. Or even taking more responsibility when a co-worker can’t show up. These choices are rarely glamorous, and they do not earn loud applause, yet they often end up being the difference between feeling stuck and feeling capable of moving to the next step.
The Power of Small Consistent Actions
If there is one thing professionals often underestimate, it is how much momentum comes from consistency. A short habit repeated every week often outperforms the ambitious plan that never quite gets off the ground. Something as simple as reaching out to one new person on LinkedIn each fortnight, scheduling a monthly conversation with a colleague you respect or reviewing one area of your workflow for improvement each week can, over time, alter the trajectory of your entire career. “Micro habits”, as many people call them, can snowball into something substantial when they compound over time.
Networking (Without the Fuss)
Networking is one of those words that makes people uncomfortable, mostly because they imagine crowded rooms, awkward conversations and overly rehearsed introductions. The truth is that most effective professional networks are built through quiet, genuine interactions that happen over months and years rather than through a single, flashy moment. You can start by checking in with people you already know, sharing a useful article with a colleague, or asking someone senior for fifteen minutes of advice. These low-pressure interactions slowly create a reputation for being thoughtful, curious and engaged. Over time, you become the person people think of when they need someone reliable. That is how opportunities often emerge, especially in countries like Australia, where industries are tight-knit, and word travels quickly.
Seeking Feedback and Actually Using It
Feedback is uncomfortable, yet it remains one of the fastest ways to improve. Most people ask for it occasionally, then let the insights fade into the background. Real progress comes from treating feedback as a tool rather than a criticism. Asking your manager or peers one simple question each month, such as “What is one thing I could do better?” can give you a small, actionable insight that compounds over time. These insights are easier to implement because they are specific and timely. They help you build self-awareness, reduce blind spots and develop humility, which are all essential qualities for leadership.
According to a recent Forbes article, annual reviews are increasingly seen as outdated because they focus on past performance rather than ongoing growth, and organisations that adopt regular, ongoing conversations instead of once-a-year check-ins create a culture of continuous improvement rather than judgement. This conversational approach aligns closely with the idea of levelling up through small but consistent choices.
Being Intentional About Learning
Professional learning is not only about courses or formal qualifications. It can also go beyond that. Staying curious and deliberately exposing yourself to new ideas, even in small bursts, can be a good start. Reading ten pages of a leadership book each morning, listening to one industry podcast per week, or completing a short online module every month is sometimes enough to refresh your thinking and give you a broader view of your field. For some people, taking their career to the next level includes studying for an MBA to gain broader strategic and leadership capabilities, especially when they want to transition from technical work into management or executive pathways. An MBA can offer a structured approach to developing financial literacy, organisational strategy and decision-making skills, which are increasingly important in fields shaped by digital transformation and complex stakeholder environments.
Deloitte’s workforce reports show that employees are feeling a stronger need to expand their skills each year, largely due to changing job expectations and rapid digital transformation. This has pushed many professionals to adopt regular, self-directed learning practices that help them stay adaptable without needing to rely solely on employer-provided training.
Small choices feel insignificant in the moment, which is why many people do not commit to them. They assume that change requires intensity, not consistency. Yet almost every senior leader will tell you that their growth came from simple habits that accumulated slowly. In a market where career paths are less linear and more fluid, these small habits matter even more. They help you stay visible, informed and confident in environments where roles evolve quickly and expectations shift often. These choices may look modest today, but they are often the reason people are ready when bigger opportunities finally arrive.
