Career success factors

If you want to succeed in anything (like, oh, for example, your career), it makes sense to look to those who have already done so. This article offers nine key points that play a role in career success. Those points are:

1. Self-Confidence: "People who are successful in their careers invariably have feelings of self-worth and self-acceptance."

2. Personal Esteem: "Our self-image, the way we habitually think of ourselves, is crucial to career effectiveness and success because of its prescriptive power. What we believe is possible directly influences our actions and determines the outcome of our plans."

3. Persistence and Perseverance: "Persistence frequently is even more important for career success than talent or special skills."

4. Enthusiasm: "When we're enthusiastic, our perception of opportunities abounds, as does our ability to make the most of them."

5. The Luck Factor: "Luck is essentially a readiness to perceive opportunities, coupled with a willingness to take advantage of them. Many individuals fail not only to notice, but to seize opportunities that come their way."

6. Response to Failure: "Characteristically, high-performing individuals view mistakes and setbacks only as temporary detours or barriers to their goals."

7. Concern, Not Worry: "Worry is a form of fear, and fear is like a stream of poison trickling through the mind. When worry becomes habitual, it forms a channel in which all thoughts are drained, producing discouragement and depression."

8. Challenge and Change: "Successful individuals welcome challenge and change."

9. Freedom From Success-Guilt: "Success-guilt is a fairly common phenomenon, and it not only impedes many individuals' career progress, but makes them feel unworthy of their accomplishments. Successful people aren't afflicted with a sense of guilt when they achieve even higher career goals."

--

Curt Rosengren

Passion Catalyst  ^SM

Career passion e-books

Comments

[woolstar]

Well since I'm stuck at an airport (expected connection time), and on my way out to a new job, lets see if I can predict how well this one is going to go:

1. Self-confidence -- this job is pretty much made for me, computer graphics, big existing code base in need of cleanup, hiring manager that thinks I can walk on water; "I think I can" so I'll score this a 10.

2. Personal Esteem -- I've done so many things in my career so far that this seems like another challenge like the ones I've done before. (Note to Kurt: I'm not reealy sure how to differentiate 1 & 2). Still, I'm in an optimistic mood, so I'll score this one 10 too.

3. Persistence & Perseverance: oh this I have in spades. How else does one advance a career in kick-but software development from the rural location of Flagstaff (middle of nowhere). Score 10.

4. Enthusiasm -- this sounds like a really neat project. Its a good fit, and doing things in the graphics space is always fun (when you can find work that pays enough to cover rent). So I'm excited to be doing this, though check back with me in six months once the honeymoon is over. Score 10.

5. Luck -- this job was total luck. I was out in the bay area, and a friend got an interview with this company, but wasn't a fit. Since I was staying at his house, he recommended that they talk to me, and they were totally impressed. They made an offer which I had to decline, because of another commitment, but I called back a few months later and they still wanted to move. 10 points for luck.

6. Response to failure -- this is sort of a mixed bag, as I tend to stick with things even past the point of no return (see persistence). Still, after more than 15 years doing this, I know things go up and down, and while I will hit a day or two where my gumption runs low, for the most part its march ever forward, come what may. 10 points

7. Concern -- I know things are going to go wrong. Usually this is not a technical problem, its a people problem. But after my initial obnoxiousness, people get to know that I'm competent and only being combative about technical matters, not personalities, so we usually reach a truce and learn to work together. Here's where my support system could be better; having someone to vent to or get outside feedback, but still I'm willing to believe that problems can be surmounted, so there's nothing to worry about. 9 points.

8. Challenge -- I love change & challenge. Drives other people crazy, but life shouldn't be boring. Bring it on. 10 points.

9. Freedom from success guilt -- I don't know about this one. Maybe my successes haven't been big enough (I'm not a millionaire yet). Have to let you know when my reputation exceeds my ability. 10 points

10. Bonus: 10 points just for fun.

Total: 99 out of 100. Just let me at 'em.

[K. Crawford]

Very good points to remember in life.

[dinosauria]

these traits really are truthful. =)