How many years of experience do you have?

Several years ago, an HR professional passed along a piece of wisdom warranting consideration by anyone who works: Lots of people claim twenty years experience, when what they really have is one year of experience, twenty times over.

Since that conversation, I’ve used her statement to gauge my career:

• What new skills, capabilities, and accomplishments have I demonstrated in the past year?
• Based on near term potential, what opportunities exist to gain new experience in the coming year?
• What can I do specifically this year to increase the likelihood I’ll be developing additional valuable skills?

Ask yourself those same questions. If it looks like you’ve posted several years of the same experience, you owe it to yourself to take deliberate steps and correct the situation. Potential solutions?

• Work to redesign your job – formally or informally
• Step forward for new and different work assignments
• Figure out ways you’ll increase your learning
• Volunteer for associations and specific roles to help grow your experience

If you haven’t done this self-assessment, do it now and get to work making sure your next twelve months are materially new and different.

Mike Brown is an award-winning marketer and strategist with extensive experience in research, strategy, branding, and sponsorship marketing. He’s a frequent keynote presenter on innovation and authors Brainzooming!