I'm 25 years into my career. When I started, my goal was to develop technical skills. I believed long-term success was about my ability to be good at something. I was wrong. Technical skills get you started. Emotional competence keeps you going. These habits cultivate it:

Know Your Red Flags: These days, I hear story after story of C-level executive quitting their job because their life has imploded. Their failure has nothing to do with being good at their job, And everything to do with how they manage their internal world while doing it.

Emotional competence is the collection of skills and habits you use to manage your internal world. It's different for everyone. But it starts with an awareness of your own personal red flags. We all have internal warnings that signal to us that things are off. Identify yours.

Practice Perspective: I once saw a speaker hold up a quarter and claim it was larger than the sun. It obviously wasn't. But, held at the right angle in front of your eye, it can appear like it is. It's all a matter of perspective.

In the struggles of life and career, perspective is the first thing to go. Small problems can become overwhelming. Setbacks can become crushing defeats. In those moments, you need to reset your perspective. When things get tough, Remind yourself of what really matters.

Do Hard Things: This winter, I ran outside in sub-zero windchills. Simply because it made me feel tough. When you intentionally place yourself in challenging circumstances, It has a spillover effect on your work life. You build confidence that you can apply to any challenge.

As my career has advanced, I've found incredible value in physically demanding hobbies. They have a dual benefit: - They relieve stress - They increase my mental toughness Your career will have big ups and even bigger downs. You need daily reminders of you how tough you are.

Laugh At Yourself: Surviving is about toughness. Thriving is about finding joy in the midst of whatever you're facing. When it comes to managing your emotional life over the course of your career, Laughter is truly the best medicine.

Those of us who are driven and goal-oriented tend to take ourselves way too seriously. I know I'm guilty of this. Everything becomes heavy. Joy takes a backseat. But a small dose of silliness cures many emotional ills. Pause each day to laugh (especially at yourself).

Cultivate Friendships With People Ahead of You: Something tends to happen as we get a little experience under our belt. We start thinking we've got it figured out. We isolate ourselves. This is a mistake. We need the wisdom of those older than us who have been there before.

In many of my critical moments, it was the words of someone 20 years older than me that came to my rescue. If you have these relationships, nurture them. If you don’t, develop them. Adopt a teachable spirit. Open yourself up to be influenced.

Keep Short Accounts: Broken relationships and bitterness rot you from the inside out. No amount of success is worth leaving a trail of bodies behind you. Apologize frequently. Forgive freely. It will strengthen your heart.

It's the work people see that puts you in the limelight. It's the things they don't see that keep you there for the long haul. If you want to thrive in your career, develop habits that strengthen your emotional competence.

Thanks for investing your time in my thread. If it helped you, I'd be grateful if you'd: •Retweet the first tweet so others find it too •Follow me @wdmorrisjr ⏤ it encourages me to keep writing!

@wdmorrisjr Doing hard things will get you noticed and help you build skills/ resilience.

@barrettjoneill No greater skill than resilience

@wdmorrisjr “It's the work people see that puts you in the limelight. It's the things they don't see that keep you there for the long haul.” Love this.

@blakeaburge It's always what you do when no one is looking that makes (or breaks) you

@wdmorrisjr @blakeaburge when did it go subzero in Oklahoma??

@nathanbaugh27 @blakeaburge Gets brutal around here in January and February!