15 Career Quotes to Motivate You

1. It’s not what you achieve, it’s what you overcome. That’s what defines your career. -Carlton Fisk

2. The best career advice given to the young is: Find out what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for doing it. -Katherine Whitehorn

3. To find a career to which you are adapted by nature, and then to work hard at it, is about as near to a formula for success and happiness as the world provides. One of the fortunate aspects of this formula is that, granted the right career has been found, the hard work takes care of itself. Then hard work is not hard work at all. -Mark Sullivan

4. I think everyone should experience defeat at least once during their career. You learn a lot from it. -Lou Holtz

5. Climbing to the top demands strength, whether it is to the top of Mount Everest or to the top of your career. -Abdul Kalam

6. The biggest mistake that you can make is to believe that you are working for somebody else. Job security is gone. The driving force of a career must come from the individual. Remember: Jobs are owned by the company, you own your career! -Earl Nightingale

 7. Your Career is your business. It's time for you to manage it as a CEO. - Dorit Sher

 8. Your Career is your own responsibility. Your employer is not your mother -. Jurgen Appelo

 9. A career is all very well, but no one lives by work alone. - Lorna Luft

 10. Employees no longer come to companies for life. They join for experience with a career plan already in mind; they are taking control themselves. - Vanessa Lawrence

 11. Your success in your career will be in direct proportion to what you do after you've done what you are expected to do. - Anurag Prakash Ray

12. Do more than is required. What is the distance between someone who achieves their goals consistently and those who spend their lives and careers merely following? The extra mile. - Gary Ryan Blair

13. Think not of yourself as the architect of your career but as the sculptor. Expect to have to do a lot of hard hammering and chiseling and scraping and polishing. -BC Forbes –

 14. If the career you have chosen has some unexpected inconvenience, console yourself by reflecting that no career is without them. -Jane Fonda

15. What is the recipe for successful achievement? To my mind there are just four essential ingredients: Choose a career you love, give it the best there is in you, seize your opportunities, and be a member of the team.-Benjamin F. Fairless

10 Ways You Are Sabotaging Your Career Unintentionally

Career

You want to get ahead at work and you think you are doing fine and in control of your career. Deadlines are met and work is carried out smoothly. However, there are things that you have overlooked or because it is your daily habits you do not notice that are obstructing you to grow your career. Find out if the following bad habits are sabotaging your career: 

1.      Confine to your own department: You run your own department in tip-top condition and you don’t care about what’s happening in other departments. If you aim to play a bigger role in an establishment you need to expose yourself to the whole setup. Find out how all the departments are interconnected in order to function as an operating unit. According to an article, 5 Ways You're Sabotaging Your Career Success, if you’re not actively networking outside of your own team, you could be seriously hurting your success.

  

2.      Not to upgrade yourself: Do not rest on your laurels, your ways of doing things and your thinking may be outdated. You need to update yourself and learn the latest technology in order to work productively.  You need to contribute more and provide more value, as an example, in order to be the last one to be considered in case of a retrenchment exercise.  

  

3.      Not accepting offers to take up new challenges: Your boss spotted your potential, but you denied yourself to catch hold of an opportunity. To take new challenges is to make progress in your career. Nothing in life comes easy, you have to face difficulties but with determination, you will be able to overcome obstacles.

4.      Low profile: Do not just bury yourself in your work. You need to promote yourself to get noticed.  Do not think that people will recognize and reward you even if you don’t let them know what you’ve accomplished on a regular basis. Your boss is a busy person and you need to keep him posted about your progress so that he or she can keep you in mind. 

5.      In your comfort zone: You are comfortable at work. You do not want to make changes. One day you may be the victim of changes that are taking place in the company. Your job may be redundant.   

6.      You are all by yourself: Getting to know the right people and get connected is more than just for your survival but it is crucial for you to move up your career. You need the help of other people in your circle to move up the ladder or move to a greener pasture.

7.      Appearance: It is not enough to be able to perform. You need to take care of your packaging to impress others that you are smart, neat, and meticulous. It will enhance your confidence and complement your image.     

8.      Your think you are irreplaceable: Nobody is irreplaceable. There are people who are just as good if not better willing to take your post at a lower remuneration.  If you can’t be replaced, you can’t be promoted.  You can’t grow, move on, and expand your horizons. Being irreplaceable is actually a hindrance in your career.

9.      Wrong attitude: Examine yourself closely. Do not think that you are not the problem, the others are. Find out from someone who can relate to you about your attitude. Listen and make positive changes.  

10.  Procrastinate: You are smart; you know what to do but you never t take the first step. When you are not prepared, as an opportunity presents itself, you are going to miss the boat.   

Conclusion

You can make changes in your life, if you find some points which are relevant in your situation. The most important thing is to move with the time, embrace new ideas, get to know more people, keep fit, be healthy and never stop learning. Updating and upgrading yourself is crucial to survive and sustain your career.

5 Ways Millionaires Approach Their Careers

In the majority of cases, it’s not luck that makes people money, nor is it who they know. Rather, the people who make the most money in their careers are the ones who display discipline, and who have a definitive sense of purpose and heavy duty resiliency.

The positive news is that even if you don’t possess these skills now, it is very possible to obtain them. The first step in doing so is to analyze how millionaires approach their careers and begin to alter your thought processes, practices and overall professional approach.

To get you started, here are five ways the highly successful approach their careers:

1. Maintain an Open Mind and Active Imagination – Effective job seekers and entrepreneurs understand that tolerance and maintaining an open mind are necessities for anyone seeking wealth and prosperity from their job. They are not afraid of new ideas and understand that closed minds do not inspire faith, courage or belief.

2. Effective Job Seekers Are Success-Conscious – One of the main weaknesses of the average employee is their familiarity with the word “impossible.”  They know all the rules that will not work.  They focus on the things that cannot be done.

Instead, superior job seekers think about possibilities and focus on solutions, not problems.  Their thought process does not include the terms: lack, want, resentment, failure or capitulation.

3. Their Desire for Success Results in an Unmatched Determination –The most successful job seekers buy into the belief that desire is the starting point of all achievement. They aim to make their dreams a reality regardless of hurdles or current setbacks.

The success-oriented understand that they are the masters of their own fate.  They have taught themselves to displace destructive thoughts with a viewpoint that is constructive, visionary and promotes movement rather than stagnation.

4. They Possess a Keen Ability to Influence Others – Successful individuals have an ability, whether inherent or learned, to influence and gain favor from others.  They greet others with enthusiasm and show a sincere interest in those whom they work with. Their positive energy is contagious and allows for heightened productivity both in themselves and those around them.  This belief system naturally combined with a deep knowledge of their business lends itself to others wanting to be around them.

5. They Remain Optimistic in the Face of Adversity – Highly paid individuals don’t quit in the face of adversity. They realize that everyone makes mistakes, that every leader stumbles and falls. When this happens, they regroup and get going again with a renewed speed, sense of purpose and confidence. The global business world will knock everyone off course from time to time. What makes millionaires so highly paid is their resolve and sense of purpose.

Simply knowing about the above five facets is not going to suddenly catapult you into the career stratosphere, which brings us to the unifying component of success. It isn’t enough to know that successful people keep an open mind, or focus on success itself, or have the skills to genuinely influence others.

You’ve got to be willing to put in the time and effort of forming these five new habits, not just 9-5 at the office, but throughout your whole life.  These are baseline things that must be practiced consistently if you are to achieve your best level of success and fulfillment in your career.

Source: 5 Ways Millionaires Approach Their Careers

5 More Ways to Grow Your Career

To find a career to which you are adapted by nature, and then to work hard at it, is about as near to a formula for success and happiness as the world provides. One of the fortunate aspects of this formula is that, granted the right career has been found, the hard work takes care of itself. Then hard work is not hard work at all.

~Mark Sullivan

Getting a job relevant to your skills and qualifications is a great way to show others what you can do with what you know. Working smart and productive will expand and grow your career. Here are 5 more ways to make progress and grow your career: 

1.      Welcome problems: Problems are golden opportunities for you to show your worth in a company. Be creative and be determined to provide a workable solution when there is a problem. Update your boss and let him or her know that there is a problem and you have a way to overcome it. In an establishment, you are judged by what you can do and not how qualified you are for the job.

2.      Step outside your comfort zone: One wise move is to stretch your comfort zone further by doing things differently. The aim is to improve productivity. Be proactive and take action before it develops into a crisis situation.   

3.      Share your wisdom: Showcase your knowledge and experience by writing articles on your blog. It is a good way to connect and network with like-minded people. It is also an excellent way to attract others to notice you. You will be offered opportunities to take on other challenging posts relevant to your expertise.

4.      Build and sustain your personal qualities: Apart from your technical skills, you need soft skills to move ahead and stay ahead. Always start and finish a job. Be an effective communicator verbally and in writing.  Know how to manage your time and get the most important things done in a day. Be punctual for meetings and appointments and keep your promises. Be flexible, adaptive, and willing to accept criticism with an open mind. Stay enthusiastic and motivated on the job and be ambitious. Work calmly under pressure.  

5.      Positive mindset: It is said that it is not important what has happened to you, but how you react to it.  Look at the bright side of things; be optimistic and confident in the face of difficulties. Overcoming adversity successfully will be a great boost to your self-esteem.

Are you doing the right things to grow your career? 

Related post:

How to Grow Your Career

10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Get a Job

Are you getting a job for the first time or are you thinking of changing your job? Answer these soul-searching questions and be sure of making the right move:   

1.       What are you good at?

Are you working with your talents and applying what you do best in your job? The best thing in life is to release your potential in a job you are capable of because you are matching your skills to a relevant job.  

2.       What do you like to do?

If what you like to do is marketable, useful to others, you can build a career out of it.  Passion is the key to excel in your career.

3.       What capabilities are you proud of?

It is most likely that you have overcome some problems in the past successfully. How can it help you connect to a challenging job?  

4.       What are your strengths that others compliment you?

Perhaps you have overlooked what you can do but others have noticed about you.  Find out what it is. 

5.       What have you learnt and you are now skillful?

You should continue to learn and know more so that you can stay ahead with the skills that you have acquired.

6.       What are the things that you have tried and still not good at it?

Don’t waste your time correcting your weaknesses. Instead, develop your strengths further and sharpen your skills. You will be able to sustain your effort in things you are interested in.

7.       What are the things that you dislike to do?

Delegate those mundane tasks so that you can focus on those things that you find interesting and productive.

8.       To get the job done well, what skills do you need?

Equip yourself with additional skills and make yourself a more valued employee.

9.       What are the people that you are happy/ angry to work with?

Learn to get along well with everyone in the workplace. It is important to maintain a cordial relationship so that you can get things done easily through others. Be interested in the people around you.

10.   What is your career ambition?

Is the job able to fulfill your dreams in life? Do you see the potential for growth in your present job?

Hopeful you are able to find a challenging job that is fulfilling and satisfying after answering the above questions.

10 Effective Ways to Develop Your Career

What is the recipe for successful achievement? To my mind there are just four essential ingredients: Choose a career you love, give it the best there is in you, seize your opportunities, and be a member of the team.” ~ Benjamin F. Fairless

Congratulations! You have just graduated and you have landed on your first job. How do you build a successful career?  Consider the following:

1.      Build your career: Your priority at this stage is to lay a firm foundation of your career. To learn and gain experience is more important than your starting salary. Throw yourself into the job and get to know the nitty-gritty of things. 

2.      Develop your skills: Pay attention and build your skills. You are employed because of the specialized knowledge that you have learned over the years. Now that you are employed it is a golden opportunity to apply what you have learnt to get the job done. You are not going to stop here; you will continue to update your skills by continuous learning and gaining insights from your working experience. As a competent person, you will gain the respect of others and be a valued employee. Do not be boastful but be humble when you connect with others.

3.      Get along with positive people: Mix with the right people. People who are successful and forward-looking. Get to know the effective habits of high achievers and see how you can adapt to your advantage. 

4.      Be responsible: There is one thing to bear in mind that you alone are responsible for your success or failure. Do not complain, do not blame others but look at yourself critically and analyze the mistake that you have made. Learn from your shortfalls and be smarter and wiser the next time. 

5.      Be productive: Learn to manage time wisely. You can have fun but not too much of it. Spend time to read books and learn more. Get to know more things in life because in order to get ahead you have to stay on top of things.

6.      There is no failure: You are young. This is the time to learn and try new things. If it does not work in one way try another way. Don’t allow setbacks and defeats to get the better of you. If you do not try, you will not learn and you will not progress and develop your career.   

I think everyone should experience defeat at least once during their career. You learn a lot from it. ~Lou Holtz

7.      Look after yourself: While you work hard and smart, do remember to exercise your body every day. To be fit and energetic is the way to deal with challenges and stress in life. You have to look good, feel good and be good.

8.      Soft skills for your career success: Your technical skills may get you the job; to get ahead you need to possess essential soft skills. It is about your working attitude, the way you look at your work, how you get things done, and the manner you interact with others. You will advance in your career when your attitude is positive.

9.      Be happy: Find the little child in you. The world may not be fair, but you can decide to be happy. Laugh often and don’t treat yourself too seriously. To live life is to be happy.

10.  Plan ahead: It is also the right time to look into the future and set challenging goals. It is time to pave the direction of your life. The end results may be what you are looking for, but the journey itself is more important.  When you are along the way, be present and enjoy what you do. 

Job security is gone. The driving force of a career must come from the individual. ~Homa Bahrami

Related post:

Effective Ways to Build a Successful Career

10 Top Soft Skills for Career Success 

5 Areas to Develop Your Career Successfully

Today, many companies are reporting that their number one constraint on growth is the inability to hire workers with the necessary skills. ~William J. Clinton

To develop your career success is to develop your key skills simultaneously in the following areas:

1.      Technical skills: You are employed because your technical skills are relevant to the post that you have applied for. It is good to apply what you have learnt to good use. It is more important that you always stay competent while at work. Continuous learning is the most effective way to stay up-to-date.  Learning from experienced staff and asking questions is the right attitude to adopt. The more you learn and know, the more skillful and valuable you will be.    

2.      People skills: The ability to get things done through others is a challenge. Always show a sincere interest in others. When you acknowledge and pay attention to them, they will respond to you more willingly. Help others to get what they want so that you can get what you want easily. Treat them the way you want to be treated. Be polite and be firm. It is also necessary to work with your boss productively and effectively. Always keep your boss posted regularly about your work. Honesty is the best policy in all dealings. Don’t hide the truth because it will be out sooner or later.  

3.      Communication skills: It is important to give verbal instructions fully and clearly. It is also essential to write effectively. Listening is another important skill in effective communication.  Listening fully and attentively is to pay attention and respect the speaker.  Understand the message fully before you speak your mind.

4.      Soft skills: Soft skills are the most important skills to decide your career success. It is about your attitude at work. It is what you think about the job and the way you get things done. It is also your response to things that are happening to you. Soft skills are about a positive attitude, enthusiasm, optimism, confidence, taking pride in what you do, looking after your reputation, responsiveness, adaptability, flexibility, and be proactive and creative. 

Any fact facing us is not as important as our attitude toward it, for that determines our success or failure. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

5.      Wholesome self-development: Physical fitness holds the key for you to work calmly, zestfully, and withstand stressful situations. Exercise daily such as jogging is to boost not only your stamina but your brainpower as well. When you uphold moral values and do what is right, you are building an honorable and trusted brand. Your true character will withstand the test of time.   

Are you constantly focused on developing the key areas for career success? 

10 Top Soft Skills for Career Success

According to Wikipedia Soft skills is a sociological term relating to a person's ”EQ” (Emotional Intelligence Quotient), the cluster of personality traits, social graces, communication, language, personal habits, friendliness, and optimism that characterize relationships with other people. Soft skills complement hard skills (part of a person's IQ), which are the occupational requirements of a job and many other activities.

Your technical skills will not guarantee success in the workplace. The most important things are your attitude, how you interact with others, the way you get things done, and how you react to events. What are the most important soft skills? Check out the following:

1.       Positive mindset: Your thinking is decisive in whatever you tell your mind and eventually do it like the way your thoughts dictate. A positive mindset is more likely to get things done and achieve success because you think you can and you will. You are also more inclined to look at things optimistically.

2.       Work with your heart: Do you enjoy what you do? Are you enthusiastic about your job? Do you take responsibility for your work and proud of it? Do you care about your reputation?  Can you make and keep promises? Do you possess a learning attitude so that you will be more competent and knowledgeable?

3.       Communicate effectively: Write often so that you can write clearly, precisely, and fully.  To talk less and listen more is the way to understand others better. Develop the ability to read unspoken words as shown by their body language.  

4.       Personal effectiveness: Do you plan ahead and get organized in advance so that you can manage your time effectively? Do you continue to develop yourself and upgrade your skills? Are you working efficiently so that you can be more productive? Do you dress smartly and project a clear and clean image? Do you always wear a smile and acknowledge people you meet?

5.       Be confident: Do you like yourself and feel good about yourself? Do you sit upright, walk straight and look ahead of you? Be composed, calm, and alert when you are with people. Look at people in the eyes. Speak clearly and loud enough to be heard.

6.       Willingness to learn: Do you accept criticism with an open mind? Are you adaptable and able to accept changes? Don’t be adamant but flexible.

7.       A sense of urgency: Do you possess the drive and self-initiation to take immediate action? Do you produce timely reports and go to work and meetings on time? Are you committed to meeting deadlines without fail?

8.       Manage your emotions: Are you able to keep your personal problems to yourself and avoid the outburst of anger and rage when you are working under stress? Are you not easily provoked and able to keep your cool? 

9.       Persistence, perseverance, patience, and resilience: Success is measured in the long term. Meeting challenges, overcoming obstacles, and rising from failures are crucial to ensure success.

10.    Creative: It is about your resourcefulness in solving problems and getting solutions to get things done. It is also about seeking improvement constantly and avoiding standing still.

The rules are simple. Take your work, but never yourself, seriously. Pour in the love and whatever skill you have, and it will come out. ~Chuck Jones

Smart Career Planning

  

Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life. ~ Confucius

To find a career to which you are adapted by nature, and then to work hard at it, is about as near to a formula for success and happiness as the world provides. One of the fortunate aspects of this formula is that granted the right career has been found, the hard work takes care of itself. Then hard work is not hard work at all. ~ Mark Sullivan

It is never too early to plan for your career and the business application of SWOT is equally useful in planning your career. Doing a personal analysis of your strengths and weaknesses and looking at external opportunities and threats ahead of you is the best way to plan your career effectively and successfully.  

Personal SWOT analysis

INTERNAL

Strengths: Find out more about your personal values. What is more important in your life?  Is it freedom, monetary rewards, or something else? What are you good at? What do you usually do when you are free? Do you draw or do you dismantle your PC and look inside?  What technical skills do you possess? Are you friendly and outgoing? What are your passions and interests?

Mary Kay Ash
Don't limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, you can achieve.

Weaknesses: Look for your bad habits and other negative personal characteristics to avoid.   

EXTERNAL

Opportunities:  In the next five years what are the most required skills. Which are the growth industries?

Threats: Are your skills still marketable in the next five years? Are there technology changes threatening your position? Are you facing obstacles? Do not go into an industry that the outlook is gloom and doom. 

Career goals: When you get to know yourself better and have a good grip of the external factors that affecting your career choice, it is time to decide the skills to acquire in order to embark on a meaningful career. It is better to study a variety of subjects in the beginning before going into a specialized field.

      

Action plan: Gain practical experience in your chosen field of study as soon as possible. Get more information about those companies that you wish to seek employment for. Find out what other skills you need to possess as an added advantage. 

Mahatma Gandhi
The future depends on what we do in the present.

How to Grow Your Career

All growth depends upon activity. There is no development physically or intellectually without effort, and effort mean work. ~ Calvin Coolidge

If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living. ~ Anatole France

Are you feeling restrained in what you do at work?  Are you able to develop your talents? It is important to work at a place where you can make changes, be progressive and see growth in your career. How do you know you are able to do your best? Check out the following:

1.   
    Challenging tasks: Are you given tasks that challenge your skills and intelligence? A job that does not require thinking will not be able to develop your capabilities. Unless you try to do something beyond what you have mastered, you will never grow. ~ C. R. Lawton

2
.      Able to apply what you have learnt: It is a waste to work at a place where your knowledge and skills are not put to good use. You will not be able to practice, learn, make mistakes, experience, and gain insight by applying what you know; you will be rusted away

3
.       Creative ideas: Is it a job that can stretch your imagination? A job that demands creative ideas will differentiate you from all others. Your unique ideas will be noticed and it is one great way to grow your career.

4
.       New skills to take on new assignments: Are there opportunities to learn new skills and take on new assignments to utilize what you have learnt? Learning new skills is to create more value for yourself and applying new skills at work 

5
.       Your contribution is highly valued: Does your boss value what you do? Is your performance being noticed? There is no motivation and growth when there is no appreciation.

6
.       Corporate culture: Does the company encourage initiative, risk-taking, and making changes? Growth is only possible when there is progress. Progress is only possible when you make changes for the better. You take a risk, you innovate and grow. Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown. ~ George Shinn

7
.        A Trusted brand: A manager may not be a leader but a leader makes a good manager. The most important thing is that you must be competent in what you do so that people will follow you and look up to you without using your authority.

8
.       Networking: Connecting with your circle of influence is to share what you know and learn what you don’t know. They are also able to assist you when you need to move on to grow your career.

9
.       Continuous learning: To be up-to-date and to be knowledgeable is to learn continuously. The most important thing is to be aware of things happening around you and embrace changes and grow.

Growth itself contains the germ of happiness. ~ Pearl Buck

Are You Getting Career Well-Being?

Well-being is more than just about happiness; it is also about satisfaction, comfort, and health. What is the level of your career well-being?

1.       Are you doing what you like: Are you a square peg in a round hole or your job is what you enjoy doing?  Career well-being is doing a job that you are interested in and good at.

2.       Are you contributing: Do you find your job meaningful? Do you think what you do is important for the well-being of the establishment? It is essential to create value for what you do.

3.       Are you learning continuously: Continuous learning is a way to keep yourself updated and be aware of changes that are taking place around you.  Getting new knowledge and acquiring more skills is the way to sustain career growth.

4.       Are you working in a healthy environment: Is your office in a cubicle with four-wall around you?  You will be happier if you are sitting beside a window.  A pot of plants on your desk is also an effective way to uplift your mood. A conducive working environment such as fewer distractions, a well-lit office, and a tidy workstation are all contributing to your career well-being.

5.       Are you being rewarded according to your performance: Do you think you are underpaid? It is time to do your homework and present your case to justify your request for a raise from your boss. When you want something you ask for it. Perhaps your boss is busy working and has overlooked this matter.  Career well-being is also about being appropriately rewarded.

6.       Are you getting career advancement: Are there rooms at the top for you to advance your career? You do not want to be stagnant in the same old position for long. Getting promoted is making progress and meeting new challenges which are a part of career growth.       

7.       Are you a trusted brand: Trust is an important factor. You must be competent in the field of your expertise to deliver what is expected of you in a timely fashion. Trust can only be earned, be committed to honor your promises. Satisfaction is knowing that you are a person that can be depended on. 

8.       Are you creative: Creativity differentiates you from others. You are able to get things done in your unique way in less time and no less thoroughly. Happiness is getting ahead and staying ahead in your career path.   

9.       Are you getting along with others well: Be interested in the people around you. Offer help whenever possible. It is easier to be interested in others than to get others to be interested in you. What you do will be appreciated and be noticed. You will then be able to get things done through others easily. Career satisfaction is working hand in hand with others to achieve the goals of the company.   

To find a career to which you are adapted by nature, and then to work hard at it, is about as near to a formula for success and happiness as the world provides. One of the fortunate aspects of this formula is that granted the right career has been found, the hard work takes care of itself. Then hard work is not hard work at all. ~ Mark Sullivan

Effective Ways to Build a Successful Career

You have already started building your career long before you get your first job. Over the years you have mounded your belief system, core values, and interests. You are what you have done until now and you are more likely to continue to do what you feel is comfortable for you.  Here are the things that you can do to develop your career.

1. Know yourself: The thing that you usually do to occupy your time is what you are interested in, such as drawing or looking inside a CPU. Find out how you can expand your particular interest and develop it into a meaningful and challenging career.

2. Career decision-making: Before you embark on the long journey of a working career. You need to acquire knowledge and education. It should be in line with your aspiration, interests, and core values. The other thing is to make sure that there is a demand for the expertise that you are going to equip yourself with.

3. Career path: The objective of your career is to seek progress and growth which brings you satisfaction and happiness in life. It is not necessary or warranted that you stick with one establishment for many years. You need to change to widen your horizon and adopt new skills to deal with changing situations. 

4. Build energy: Along the career pathway, you need to build and sustain energy for the long haul. Taking care of your health and fitness is one effective way to stay alert and energetic. Be highly charged to cope with stress at the workplace.   

5. Build your brand: Your brand is what others perceive you. The most important thing is to build your reputation and the trust of others in you. Your brand is more than your job title, it is about how you get things done and also the way you carry yourself and interact with others,

6. Networking: Building a circle of influence is essential for your career growth and success.  It is good to learn from others and share what you know for mutual benefit.   These are the people that you can depend on when the need arises like looking for a new job.

7. Get noticed: Promote yourself and be opened to opportunities. Start a blog and broadcast your area of expertise and be noted by others. It is the best way to get connected with the right people.

8. Lifelong learning: An attitude of open-mindedness is the right way to sustain your career. Learning new knowledge and acquiring new skills is the way to be more productive at work. 

9. Family: Do not pursue your career goals at the expense of your family, the key is a balanced life. When you are at work, work hard and work smart. When it is time to be with your family, do not bring work home. You will vibrate your harmony and happiness at home to your workplace as well.

To find a career to which you are adapted by nature, and then to work hard at it, is about as near to a formula for success and happiness as the world provides. One of the fortunate aspects of this formula is that granted the right career has been found, the hard work takes care of itself. Then hard work is not hard work at all.  ~  Mark Sullivan

How to Manage Your Boss and Your Career Effectively

Performing well is not enough

Your success at work, no doubt, is measured by how well you perform. Work is all about getting the right things done efficiently. However, you may be sidelined when it is time to pick the right staff to get promoted. Essentially you need to manage your boss in order to manage your career effectively and get promoted

The truth of managing your boss

It is not apple polishing. It is about getting along well with your boss to achieve the goals of the company.

How to manage your boss and yourself

·         Know your boss and yourself: The most important thing is to understand the strengths, weaknesses, working style and needs of your boss and yourself to develop a healthy relationship.

·         Report regularly: Brief according to the preferred style of your boss. Report verbally if it is your boss’s preferred way. Otherwise, put it in writing in the summary form under one page. Update the boss about your work; notify him or her of problems encountered and how you have resolved them.

·         Be a good follower: Just like your subordinates following you, you support your boss and get things done.

·         Be noticed: You get noticed because you touch base with your boss and interact with him or her regularly.

·         Trust: Build the trust of the boss in you so that your boss can rely on you to get things done and your input to make wise decisions.

·         You don’t have to be a yes-man: Your boss will appreciate your valuable ideas. A reasonable boss is willing to listen to constructive criticism when you do it tactfully with supporting facts and figures.

·         Pay compliment: It is not to flatter but to appreciate the strengths of your boss. Do it sparingly at the right time to boost his or her ego.

The rapport that you have built over time with your boss will impress your boss and you will be considered preferentially and favorably to get promoted.