Adding Value to Your Company: The Difference Between Being “Accomplished” and Being “Experienced”

The words “accomplished” and “experienced” are frequently used interchangeably, but they’re actually markedly different. While both are certainly positive descriptors, they shouldn’t be used in the same manner.

An accomplished professional has some major career achievements to his or her name. For example, both an attorney who has won a number of landmark cases or a software engineer who has developed a very successful program are at the tops of their fields.

Conversely, someone who is experienced in his or her field has been honing a craft for some time now, but has yet to realize any specific or notable triumphs. Regardless, this person can certainly be trusted to get the job done right. Though the actual amount of experience may range from mid-level to expert, but he or she is definitely not a newcomer.

How to Transition from Experienced to Accomplished

Want to become a valuable asset to your company? Follow these three tips to turn yourself into an accomplished professional who is vital to the team’s success:

Find Your Niche

No one excels at everything. Instead of trying to master all areas of your field, zero in on one key area. For best results, find the place where your passion intersects with your skill level and follow it. Your success truly knows no bounds when a day at the office doesn’t even feel like work.

Be a Risk-Taker

Industry leaders didn’t make a name for themselves by playing it safe. If you have an innovative idea, don’t be afraid to venture into the unknown. It’s much better to try something and fail than to coast by and watch others pass you up. You’ll never know your true potential if you don’t push yourself to open new doors.

Ask for Help

Even the most successful people in the world didn’t make it to the top alone. There’s no shame in asking others for help. When you’re inundated with work or don’t know how to do something, ask a colleague to assist. He or she will be honored to help you, and the finished product will be of a much higher quality.

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