Career Success Guide

Author: Jay Meng Liping et al
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: What kind of pursuit do you have? We all have many pursuits in our work. Perhaps you want a promotion, or maybe you want to close a substantial deal, or perhaps you simply want to have harmonious relationships with your colleagues. You might also have the following pursuits:
· Actual work rewards (e.g., salary increase, promotion, or extra bonuses);
· Satisfactory work results (e.g., strong sales performance, accepted suggestions, or improved systems);
· A relaxed work environment (e.g., good interpersonal relationships, advanced office equipment, or suitable working hours).
Have you noticed that some people seem to put in little effort yet achieve everything they want, while others work hard but get little in return? That’s because you need to use the right techniques appropriately to achieve your goals. Since your pursuits vary greatly, the skills you need should also be diverse. Like most people, you may excel in certain areas and reap significant rewards. You might have harmonious relationships with colleagues, enviable achievements in your career, or skillful sales techniques. However, there will always be skills you haven’t mastered yet—this is where this book comes in.
From this book, you will find all the skills you need to achieve your goals—whether it’s actual work rewards, satisfactory work results, or a relaxed work environment. Once you learn these skills and put them into practice, integrating them into your daily work life, you’ll find that you can achieve your objectives most of the time. This alone is enough to ensure your dreams come true. When dealing with important matters, you’ll need to pay closer attention and use these skills more effectively.
Set Your Goals
First, you must set a clear goal for yourself. For example, don’t just tell yourself, “I want better rewards at work.” You need to define what kind of reward—such as a high-end office, a higher position, or a salary increase? How much more? Only when you have a clear goal can you focus your efforts on achieving it.
Are Your Goals Realistic?
Once you have a clear goal, ask yourself if it’s realistic. If you’re not qualified for a salary increase, daydreaming won’t help. Can you find reasons for a raise? Or will you be able to do so within six months? Similarly, don’t expect to close a ￡500,000 deal with a client who has never done ￡50,000 worth of business with your company. Make sure your pursuits are realistic, or find ways to make them so before you expect to achieve them.
Plan Your Strategy
Think about how you can achieve your goal. What do you need to do? Who do you need to talk to? For example: If you’re honest and admit you don’t deserve a raise, but you can justify it if you increase sales in the second half of the year, what should you do? Suppose you really want to improve your relationships with colleagues—should you talk to them? Should you change your behavior? In other words, how can you start now and gradually work toward your goal?
Go All Out
Once you know what to do, put all your effort into the techniques described in the following chapters until you succeed. Follow your plan and monitor each step to ensure you reach your goal. Unite others (Chapter 3 will tell you how), so that as you work toward your goal, you’ll make friends rather than alienate people. If you don’t gain everyone’s support, you’ll never succeed.
By learning the necessary skills and setting clear goals with actionable methods, you’ll be unstoppable and achieve success in everything you do.
About the Author:
Rose Jay is a freelance writer and editor who has written a series of articles on business topics, specializing in marketing and communication skills. She has also contributed to and edited company publications (both print and online). She is a senior partner in the Direct Selling Association. Other best-selling books she has written include: Fast-Thinking Manager's Manual, How to Manage Your Boss, How to Get a Pay Rise, How to Build a Great Team, and How to Handle Tough Situations at Work.