Career success is not guaranteed. Yet, there are certain things we can all do to leverage our chances of achieving it. Here are four of the most important ones.
It is All About Knowledge
Every single ability that you possess or skill that you acquire is useful. Whether it is an online BDIC course to improve the way you drive, a second or third language you can master, or a programming or other information technology tool you become an expert in, when two individuals put in the same amount of effort in similar circumstances, the person with less will never beat the person with more.
As such, one of the best things you can do to give yourself a chance to succeed in your career is to get as much knowledge as you can as often as you can. If one of your siblings can teach you something and both of you have the time, learn it, no matter how inconsequential it may seem. If you meet a person from a different country, ask them questions regarding their place of birth. You never know when you might have to go there on a business trip, and this information will come in handy.
Maximizing What You Have
One of the best quotes in the Hollywood 1993 coming of age crime drama A Bronx Tale is when Chazz Palminteri’s Sonny says to a young Calogero, “The saddest thing in life is wasted talent, and the choices that you make will shape your life forever.” If you have very little to no skill playing basketball, nobody will expect you to become the next Michael Jordan or Lebron James. If you are short and afraid of the water, no matter how hard you try, you will not catch Michael Phelps’s record 23 gold medals at the Olympics.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t excel at that which you are good at. It doesn’t mean you can use your surrounding circumstances as an excuse not to shine.
We are all given abilities that can grow and expand exponentially if we are willing to work and dedicate ourselves to improving them. The key, therefore, lies in taking the time to find out what they are and then maximizing them as best we can.
Holding Yourself Accountable
Control is an illusion, something that we think we have but ultimately do not. It is true in all areas of life but especially when you are dealing with other people. Even if you put them in a cage or pay them vast sums of money, you cannot get inside their brains or predict how they react to any given situation.
Sadly, this will oftentimes lead to disappointment. But while it is expected that others will disappoint you or even surprise you in an expected and marvelous way, the last thing you want is to look in the mirror and realize that you have disappointed yourself, that you have let yourself down. Unfortunately, self-deception is something human beings can’t do.
If you say you will get up early in the morning tomorrow to go for a jog or work on that report you need to submit at work, do it. Don’t come up with excuses on why you can’t. If you do this, they will soon become good habits and a strong foundation for prosperity.
Building Meaningful Relationships
In many cases, career growth is linked to the people you know and the positions in which they are. If you are friends with the company CEO, chances are you will be ahead of the competition to get a promotion. If you know the person working behind the counter at your local Starbucks, you might not have to wait as long for the morning latte as everybody else.
Whether this is or isn’t fair is a matter of opinion and one that can be discussed at a different moment in time. What is important to understand is that knowing the right people can do great things for your corporate development, not to mention your life.
Nevertheless, be mindful of the people you are connecting with and be expeditious and careful with those you choose to let into your life. Remember, it is much more about quality than quantity, and having five thousand friends on Facebook does not guarantee pretty much anything.
If you want to give your career the best chances to flourish, never stop learning and make the most out of your natural abilities. In addition, hold yourself accountable for your actions and do your best to building meaningful relationships. By doing so, you will be giving yourself a much-needed boost to do great in your profession, whatever that may be.
