I was taken aback not only with the participant’s response, but also with the multitude of attendees nodding their heads in agreement. Mixed in with surprise was a feeling of sadness for the individuals who felt that keeping their jobs equated to career success.
No doubt the soft economy of the past several years has contributed to some people being in a job survival mode. With what seemed to be wholesale layoffs in 2008 and 2009, it is hard to blame people for being concerned about their employment.
Yet, short-term economic realities should not deter individuals from seeking short- and long-term career success versus playing a game called “job survival.” A good friend once told me, “Anyone can have a job, but few people really have a career.”
If you find yourself embracing “living for the weekend” and thanking you-know-who that it’s Friday, consider that you might only be “living” two out of every seven days. And because we only have one pass through this life, maybe it is time to consider enjoying seven out of seven days each and every week. That would mean enjoying work every day in addition to non-work activities. Here are a couple of thoughts if you are considering a career change.
Define success. This is a critical first step in developing a fulfilling work life. Defining the who, what, where, when and why of work is the foundation of your career game plan. If you are honest with yourself, chances are you may have a breakthrough to the path that is going to lead to a much more satisfying job.
Be selfish. Career success is not a function of what other people think you would be good at or what friends and loved ones think you should do. Pursue a career path that you desire; otherwise, you are performing jobs in a career to please everyone else. Is that really what you want?
Light my fire. The most successful people will tell you that their success is directly attributable to their passion for their livelihood. The old saying, “Love what you do, and you will not work a day in your life” applies to this crowd. Believe in what you are doing, and you will not care if it is Friday or Monday. Ironically, if you love what you do, you might be saying “thank goodness it’s Monday” instead of TGIF.
Knowledge is power. You better know your stuff. Continuous learning on and off the job is a lifelong requirement for those passionate about their trade. Invest in training in and out of the classroom, attend applicable conferences, and gain the critical experience necessary to get better and succeed.
Work your butt off. Hard work and a little luck go a long way to support a successful career. And it does not have to be about how many hours you put in, rather what you put into the hours you work. Highly efficient workers are often the most effective in achieving job and career success.
Play time. As you define career success, don’t forget to include family, leisure, civic and other non-work activities. Career planning is really a part of life planning.
Plugged in. It does not hurt to develop a strong professional network regardless of if you are working or in a job transition. In fact, too many people forget about developing strong professional and personal relationships while they are gainfully employed.
Talk to me. Regardless of the career path, strong written and verbal communication skill sets are critical. Great communicators add credibility to an already strong foundation of knowledge and experience. Incidentally, if your strength is communicating through e-mail or texting, you might want to consider enhancing your ability to hold in-person conversations and write out professional correspondence.
Be happy. There is no rule that says you need to be unhappy in your job or career. If you hate your job, it is time to take action or accept your fate. Complaining about your job to others is a dead-end street and does not help anything. Remember that you have total control over your destiny.
Attaining success in your career might not happen overnight. It might take four weeks or 40 years. Regardless, it is a journey that I hope you enjoy. So do yourself and your co-workers a favor if you want something more from your job and career. Take the steps necessary to move on if necessary. The alternative is to occupy a job where you quit and stay.