JP Warren

Understanding your career aspirations and setting clear goals is the foundation of getting out of your own way. As an executive coach, I help clients clarify objectives and create strategic plans, identifying strengths and areas for development. Key to this is breaking down goals into actionable steps. However, the most crucial part is taking action. Without action, there’s no progress or achievement—ideas remain just ideas. Coaches assist in clarifying goals, maintaining accountability, and overcoming limiting beliefs. By taking action, you’ll navigate career challenges more effectively and stay focused on your long-term vision.

There are many ways to gain market insight: articles, podcasts, reports, Wicked Energy Market Analysis, and more. However, the true power lies in conversations with industry peers. Good conversations allow for much more insight to be shared and learned. This is another great reason to start attending networking events and engage in real conversations rather than transactional ones. There’s a lot of power and knowledge in having good conversations with good people.

In a hyper-connected yet disconnected world, your networks matter now more than ever. Building your network actively is crucial, especially when it’s becoming more difficult to do so. There’s so much knowledge and insight to be gained from conversations rather than just emails. Here are some tips: 1. Be okay with being uncomfortable. 2. Follow the 20/80 rule: Talk about work 20% of the time and personal topics 80% of the time to establish a personal connection. 3. Listen actively. 4. Look for ways to help them, big or small. 5. Follow up – the most important and often overlooked aspect. Don’t wait until you’re hungry to plant a garden; do it when you can.

One of the most empowering actions you can take is to control how you perceive both success and failure. Progress and setbacks are not linear. Reflecting on challenging times often reveals that even during these periods, there was growth or a lesson to be learned. This perspective is crucial when dealing with "failures." When facing a setback, consider: What happened? Why did it happen? What can you learn from it? Shake it off and move forward. Sometimes, the best response to failure is to laugh it off and press ahead. Maintaining a positive attitude, cultivating strong reflective skills, and embracing a positive outlook are essential tools for any entrepreneur on their journey.

This industry is far from boring. From embracing the latest technology and utilizing AI in unique and advanced applications. To entrepreneurs stepping out on their own building companies and providing solutions in innovative ways. To the cool technologies that are used to extract the energy needed to fuel the world. This is a pretty diverse, fun, cutting edge industry to be in. Added bonus: an industry full of some genuine, intelligent, supportive individuals as well! The oil and gas industry should continue to re-introduce itself to the world to showcase the excitement, diversity, and fun and important opportunities there are here.

Always be connecting. Attend what groups that you can, what interests you and your career goals. Get to know others on a genuine level, learn about them not their job, determine if there is anything you or someone you know can do to help them, ask questions, and be an active listener. Don’t forget to follow up. Professional networks are low hanging fruit to meet some good people in the industry.