SECRETS OF CAREER SUCCESS
There is no real secret to success. It is a combination of factors including hard work, tenacity, ongoing education, adapting to change, and yes, a certain amount of luck.
Mostly, success in any field is about being aware and taking advantage of your own skills, resources and knowledge. Many highly successful people will tell you they were just "in the right place at the right time". Being in the right place, though, is often due to knowing what is happening and being there to take advantage when it does happen. Most successful people are those that are:
*Always prepared to change, are aware of change, but only change if it is advantageous.
It is comfortable to follow a routine and do things the way they've always been done.
You are familiar with what your family (or you yourself) have always done. Many people fail to reach their full potential because they don't notice everything changing around them.
There are good things about the past (eg. keeping service a number one priority), and some people are willing to pay for "old fashioned" service (so don't abandon something just because it is old).
Often the most succesful people are those who take the best from the past and combine it with the best from the present. A successful person...
*Knows their strengths and weaknesses, both personally and professionally.
What you know and what you are trained for are only part of the picture. Personality, attitude, strength, adaptability etc are all important in any career.
Identify what your strengths are, both personally and professionally. Then look at your weaknesses, so that you can identify if you need to find support in certain things or avoid certain types of career paths.
If you are a natural leader and very self assertive, it may be appropriate to move toward a management position; but if it is not in your nature to lead and you feel uncomfortable and stressed when under pressure, it may be better to consider a career path that simply does not lead to management.
If you are better at interacting with people than dealing with technical problems, you may be wise to seek a career path that focuses on dealing with people.
Some people who start a business recognize their weaknesses. Support can be found through all types of outside professional services. This can be in the form of bookkeeping service, accounting and legal advice, or through government advisory services.
All areas of business have their own language, be they plant growers, bankers, chemical suppliers or equipment dealers. By having an awareness of the language, you are half way to having the knowledge. If you feel that lack of understanding is a weakness, first try learning the language. You will find in many cases that you know a lot more than your thought you did.
*Plan ahead and always have contingency plans in place.
There is one thing that is sure about any career, and that is that unexpected things will happen.
You need to plan for things such as moving to a different work role or workplace if the need arises. You should continually be watching for changes in opportunity both in and outside your existing workplace.
If you run your own business, watch for changes in your industry. What arrangements, if any, do you have to cope with any problems that emerge?
Diversify your sources of income when you can (e.g. investments, another job) to support you through lean times if they occur.
A contingency plan for dispersal of assets when problems occur can be a useful measure. Selling off assets when under pressure might result in poor returns.
*It is not always what you have (money, facilities, assets etc), it is how you use it.
Usually it is better to expend more time and effort in those areas where you get the most benefit, or look at alternative pathways with potential higher returns.
*Always be different -try to think laterally.
Just because everyone else in your industry (now and in the past) does things a certain way, does not mean you have to do the same. The most successful people are often those who find a different way, and make it work.
*Look at ways to add value before you, your services, or your products hit the market
Each step in preparing for a career can significantly increase your chance of success. Each step in producing a product for sale, can significantly increase its potential value.
Think, plan and take your time.
If you get it right the first time, you earn a reputation of getting it right.
If you get it wrong the first time, your reputation is much poorer for it.
*Know what your business is.
Be sure you know what you are doing, or aim to do. Don't try and be all things to all people. You will generally get better results concentrating your resources (time, money, equipment, etc.) on one, or perhaps two or three enterprises, than on many enterprises, otherwise you will find yourself running from one to another, and not doing justice to any of them. You might literally find yourself a 'jack-of-all-trades, master of none'. Customers will generally prefer to deal with someone who is an expert in their particular field or enterprise.
*You need to give people a reason to spend money with you rather than with someone else.
Your product or service needs to be sufficiently different, or of better quality, be better marketed (e.g. attractive packaging), or you provide better service (e.g. follow ups, transport, advice, etc) than what competitors may provide to ensure customers choose you to provide the service or product.
*Taking Risks
The old saying that "you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs" holds true when considering new enterprises. If new enterprises were easy, or didn't take a lot of time, effort and research, the chances are lots of people would try them. Be prepared to take risks, but make sure they are calculated risks. Ensure that you have done as much research as possible into any proposed enterprises, and that you are as aware as possible of things that could go wrong. Learn from other people's mistakes in the same or similar industries.
*Fallbacks
If possible have fall back plans. Could you use equipment, materials, etc. you have purchased for other things, rather than wasting them if the enterprise you are trying is not successful? It is generally a good idea to experiment at first. Try things on a small scale, and see if you strike any problems. If you do, can they be easily overcome. Only consider expanding when you feel confident with what you are doing. This may be a step by step process, rather than jumping in feet first, spending a lot of time and money, only to fail.