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Career Moves - Swim In Deep Water
By Jim Pawlak
People often ask me: "What does it take to be successful?" My response: "First, make sure you always swim in deep water." That usually brings "please explain" looks. Here's my explanation: Successful people don't have a comfort zone; they aren't afraid to take risks. They operate in an uncomfortable zone that drives them to push their boundaries. Deep water means RISK. Distance from land means RISK. Those that succeed swim from the middle of the ocean; they are confident in their ability to swim tirelessly (i.e. execute their plan) until they reach land (i.e. the objective of that plan).
Successful people don't understand those who are afraid of the water, those who only stay in the shallow end of the pool and those who only swim in a pool. They see wasted talent; people with self-defined comfort zones that limit their ability to tap their talent. They don't trust that talent, so they are afraid to take risks. If you don't make the most of your talent, you limit career possibilities and lose opportunities. You'll look back on your career by playing "Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda"; it's a game no one can win. Use your talent. A line from the New Testament Luke 12:48 says it best: "To whom much is given, much is expected." Don't disappoint yourself.
Second, successful people don't see failure the way others see failure. Plans don't always go as planned. Why? Because you can't control every element of the plan. What's beyond your control is risk. When things don't go as planned for those in the shallow end of the pool, they rationalize, "I tried and failed, but at least I tried", and almost always spend their careers in the shallows (shadows?). The successful person says: "That didn't work. What will?" Thomas Edison once quipped, "I found over 10,000 ways not to invent the light bulb." If "Attitude is Everything", then the successful attitude says: "Always look for the upside when you're upside down." There's always an upside. Look for ways to make things happen. When you make things happen, you control more of a situation than when you simply let things happen.
Third, if you want to be successful, surround yourself with make-it-happen, go-to people. Get rid of the doom-and-gloom "friends" who tell you what you can't do - the ones who say "I told you so" when something goes wrong. Find friends who will help you trust your talent. In other words, build a network.
How do you build it? By remembering that networking means learning about people first, then sharing information about you that fits what you've learned about them. It involves staying in touch, not just when you need them - be on the lookout for information you think they'd be interested in and share it with them.
Meeting the right people starts with where you work. Who are the people that make things happen? Once you've identified a few, how do you get to meet them? Call them; explain that you're impressed with their work (reference a project) and ask about how they do what they do. I'd be surprised if they wouldn't meet with you. You'll gain insight about how they do their job, but also how they work within the organization. By staying in touch, you'll undoubtedly be introduced to others in their circle; you can make introductions, too.
Memberships in professional associations are important, too. There you'll meet with people with common interests from other organizations. If you do some homework on "hot topics", breaking the conversational ice should be easy. Don't just go to the meeting; getting involved with committees (especially membership and program) is a great way to meet those in charge. It shows them that you're a doer.
Fourth, successful people aren't content with their accomplishments. They always think, "What's Next?" For them, success IS the journey, not the destination.
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