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Jim Citrin Leadership by Example

Key Advice for Your Career Strategy

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Very Good (167 Ratings): 3.257488/5

Posted on Tuesday, March 24, 2009, 12:00AM

It has been a great run. Since February 8, 2006, I've written 66 Leadership by Example columns, totaling some 230 pages and 131,000 words. But the time has come to draw this effort to a close. This, the first half of a two-part final column, will synthesize my most important advice about career strategies.

How different the world looks today from when I started! In 2006 college graduates and mid-career professionals experienced the most ebullient job market in years, and opportunities continued to be abundant across all sectors in 2007. Employers hired more than 15 percent more new college graduates that year, the fourth straight year of double-digit growth, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, and the number of retained management and executive searches reached an all time high.

The class of 2009, by stark contrast, is wading into the roughest employment waters since the Great Depression; the 8.1 percent unemployment rate in February is the highest in a quarter century.

In this challenging context, let me organize my sweep of career advice along a roughly chronological order, one that will hopefully characterize your professional life.

How to Launch Your Career Successfully

If you have the option in today's market, try to join a blue-chip company so that you can become associated with its brand. Select your boss carefully, recognizing how important he or she will be in setting the norms and standards that will guide how you will behave in organizational life.

Recognize, too, that first impressions are lasting ones. Maintain a positive, can-do attitude, which is the single thing over which you have nearly complete control. Work hard -- get in early and stay late, not just to create face-time but to get more high-quality work done; and always meet your commitments so you develop a reputation for reliability and responsiveness.

Be a technology mentor. If you've grown up with digital technology as a normal and integral part of your life, you have the opportunity to bring tech-phobic senior managers into the modern era. Teach them how to use Facebook, how to upload a video to YouTube, how to organize digital photos on Flickr, how to create a profile on MySpace, and how to watch 'SNL' on Hulu. In the words of Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, "I believe that it's a better path to join a quality company, work hard and well with people, and navigate your way into the right roles than to join a lower-quality company, even if you start in a more senior position."

Patterns of the Very Best Careers

You can manage your career more proactively than you may realize if you understand the patterns that govern extraordinary careers. First, find the right fit in terms of a culture and role that play to your strengths, personality, and interests. Seek creative ways to gain access to new responsibilities and opportunities through cultivating mentors, volunteering for stretch assignments, and pursuing an advanced degree.
As you progress through your career, build upon your experiences from one role and apply them in fresh ways to new roles; think of your career as a series of building blocks that can be mixed and matched to best position you for new opportunities.

Recognize that your value in the market is inexorably linked to the reputation of your employer. In many cases, you'll be associated with the company you work for more than the specific job you hold. Working in a company with great people will plug you into valuable networks and offer the best opportunities for skill-building and professional development. Also, it's easier to move from a large, widely recognized, well-respected organization to a smaller or more entrepreneurial one.

It is trite to say that hard work is the foundation for enduring success. Nonetheless, as Geoff Colvin puts forth in his fabulous book, 'Talent is Overrated', great performance is in our hands far more than most people believe. What makes certain people great is not their inborn talent. Rather, it is something called "deliberate practice," a sustained, often lifelong, period of purposeful effort designed to improve performance in a specific domain. This is just as true in the case of business as it is in sports, music, medicine, chess, science, and mathematics.

The Art of the Job Interview

There are typically four parts of a job interview for which candidates should prepare: 1) The opening, which is intended to set the stage and, ideally, help you, the interviewee, feel comfortable by establishing some common ground; 2) Chronological review, where the intention is to learn who you really are as a person, how you think, and what the major influences and key turning points were in your life. Here, make sure to emphasize your work ethic, values, personality, and impact; 3) Assessment of your background and track record against the core skills, experiences, and competencies required for success in the role, which will hopefully have been defined up front; and 4) Your questions, which are just important as your answers, so be sure to prepare in advance to show the homework you've done and the insight you have gleaned about the company and its competitors.

Strategies for Internal Job Candidates

One of the most delicate situations for executives is being an internal candidate competing against one or more external candidates for a key position. How do you handle yourself? First, embrace the process without projecting resentment that you aren't just handed the job. Declare your candidacy, balancing your personal interest in the opportunity with an attitude of support for whatever is best for the organization.

Determine how the process will work and who the decision-makers are, and conduct yourself professionally and with maturity. When it is your turn at bat in the interview, organize your thoughts into a few powerful themes. Tell your story without assuming that, because you are the internal candidate, people really know who you are or from whence you've come. Use analogies to demonstrate how you've been successful in similar situations; prepare for the tough questions; and practice your examples and responses repeatedly beforehand.

Making the Best Transition

Because of the tough economy, many people find themselves having to find a job and make a transition. Believe me, I recognize the difficulty of being downsized or restructured out of a job, and let me acknowledge that it's far easier to give advice than it is to actually do this. But here is my advice nonetheless: 1) Start preparing for a transition before you need to by beefing up your internal and external relationships and broadening your skill base and credentials; 2) Take stock of your situation by objectively assessing your strengths and figuring out what gets your juices flowing; and then 3) Find ways to apply your experiences in new ways by soliciting advice from trusted friends and mentors, reading voraciously, and seeking opportunities to present your case to as many people as possible.

The First 100 Days of a New Position

When you do get that new position, it is critical to get off to a strong start to establish the foundation upon which long-term success is built. Done well, the first 100 days create momentum for the next 100 days, and the next. Done poorly, you squander the unique honeymoon period during which you get the benefit of the doubt and when your authority and influence come more from the appointment than from your accomplishments. The keys to succeeding in this period are to prepare and do your homework, set proper expectations with your boss and other key influencers, and to pick three themes around which to organize your priorities and your continuous communications.

Working Effectively with Your Boss

"What bosses want more than anything else is loyalty, good advice, and to have their personal brands polished," says David D'Alessandro, best-selling author of 'Career Warfare and Executive Warfare'. There is no single person who has more direct influence on your short- or medium-term career success than your boss. Figure out how to support his or her success, and tailor your efforts accordingly. Doing so will create and sustain your career momentum.

By contrast, there is nothing a manager disdains more than the subordinate who goes behind his back. Never make yourself look good at the boss's expense. Since the rules of the game in organizational life are governed by hierarchy, if you circumvent your boss, then you'll be seen as breaking the chain of command or, worse, betraying him or her. All intelligent bosses instinctively separate their people into three distinct categories: the sycophants, the devil's advocates, and the small percentage of employees who are the balanced players. You definitely want to be seen as a member of the third group.

The Power of Relationships in Your Career

Relationships are core to your success, since everything you do in professional life is dependent on others. Therefore, it is imperative to have a relationship mindset. This means recognizing that all business relationships are also personal relationships, that one relationship or interaction leads to another, and what goes around comes around.

People genuinely appreciate hard work and thinking on their behalf, as well as responsiveness and straightforward communications. When you're at a critical turning point in your career, it's wise not to go it alone. A proven strategy is to cultivate a small group of professional and personal relationships to serve as your sounding board, brain trust, or personal "board of directors."

A Tactical Lesson

Most of my columns generated hundreds of comments (usually robust and valuable but often requiring a thick skin). The one that was by far the most commented upon was "Tapping the Power of Your Morning Routine," in which I detailed how 20 CEOs get the most out of their early-morning time. The lessons: 1) Start early -- 80 percent of the CEOs I surveyed wake up at 5:30 or earlier; 2) Get a jump on email -- virtually all report using this time to triage their overnight email; 3) Exercise every morning -- 70 percent work out daily in the morning; and 4) Problem solve -- most use the morning, when the mind is at its clearest, to develop ideas about how to resolve the thorniest issues of the day.

Coming up in part Two: I will review some of the most interesting people profiled in the column and distill leadership lessons that I hope you will carry with you over time.

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Blake - Monday, March 30, 2009, 4:14PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 4/5
The above article was very good for what it was trying to portray. It gave good advice for helping you create your own brand. It's sort of like when you go shopping at the grocery store. You buy cheaper brands when money is a focus...like in a recession and realize that it gets you by almost the same. The same goes for large corporations that have been just growing in certain areas when it wasn't needed because money was plentiful. And to be realistic...most everyone is smart, and most everyone with a bachelors degree can do the work of any position in a large company. So, setting yourself apart and making your own brand will help you. Which is what most people don't remember, everyone now days thinks they are worth so much, but reality check, you aren't special and gifted so much better than everyone else, and you thinking that way hasn't helped you get to where you are now. So make sure you make yourself stand out better than anyone else in the room. I know your thinking duh right now, but next time your in that situation, directly think about that, and it will reflect in your actions. And to the other fact that most people seem to all to easily to forget; businesses are in to make money, that's why they were started. And too many people now days expect to be taken care of by other entities or people. Reality check, take care of yourself and have backup plans. The world will spit in your face and then kick you. Don't sit around and just be content...that is unless you can afford it, always try to be aware of yourself adjusting and trying to grow. As far as being bitter about losing the job...it sucks, it really does, and does venting to people on here really make you feel better? This goes with my other point, reality, a lot of times, sucks, and you can't just sit around and complain about it and the others who are lucky. Instead of using the energy complaining...put it to good use. As for anyone complaining about graduates and younger generation coming in and replacing them...would you go buy a computer from year 2000 with a 200 mghz processor speed and upgrade (train) for who knows how many dollars then, or a year 2009 2gzhz computer for 1299...you do the math. Kids today coming out of school are ambitious, conforming and excited for half the price. This and they are excited about learning...it sucks, but if you are complaining about it, that means you care, so go out there, and prove why you deserve the job (which is probably how you got the job to begin with: by being passionate and eager) get back up and show them what you have. Fight it, fight for it; but your not gonna make the situation any better for yourself by being bitter. It's hard, but it can be done...just don't give up. Life will give you all the joys and misery you can handle...so try and make the best with what you are dealt. Not everyone gets a good hand...
Yahoo! Finance User - Monday, March 30, 2009, 5:50AM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 1/5
you can wor hard and brown nose,,,,but the bosses son will always win....and his girlfriend
Browns Fan - Sunday, March 29, 2009, 10:49PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 1/5
Reality - work your ass off, get laid off once your salary is too high and once over 40, impossible to get a decent job again. Corporations suck.
Yahoo! Finance User - Sunday, March 29, 2009, 12:48PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 3/5
Not bad... I'm unemployed, but like CEOs I work out in the morning as well. I triage playing with myself, walking my dog, and watching movies. No need though because there's plenty of time for all of it. Article is not really useful, but funny... keep em' coming!
Stephen - Sunday, March 29, 2009, 3:48AM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 3/5
I've worked at a few Fortune 100 companies and can tell you that the sense of control that Jim gives is not realistic from what I've seen. I'd suggest the following: 1)Know what you want; 2)Be flexible; 3) Learn; 4) Build a strong network. Most people don't know what they want. When you talk with senior leaders, if you can tell them what you want to do within 3 - 8 years, then you are far ahead of most people. Talk 1 - 2 jobs ahead. Saying I want to be CEO in 20 years is simply out of range and presumptuous. Second, be flexible with what opportunities are given. In large companies, you have much less control than you think. (And yes, affirmative action plays a significant role in mid-level manager and higher roles). Third, strive to learn by having an attitude of openness and asking people to help you learn. Tough assignments are only part of the equation. Get the feedback. (You never see the full picture yourself, and we are are delusional to some degree.) These people could be at any level. Mentors are usually marginally effective. Just find people who really work with you and care enough to help you get better. Finally, actively build a strong network. The people who have the jobs available are the ones who give the jobs. In large companies, your current boss has limited power in getting you into the next role. It is much better to be "invited or pulled into" a role than for your boss to advocate or try to "sell" you to others. Jim, thanks for your work in these articles, but there is a marked difference from what I have experienced in large companies.
Hillbilly Economist - Sunday, March 29, 2009, 1:48AM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 3/5
Be careful, be VERY careful. The columnists are shifting gears and looking beyond the financial crisis. The experts are cautiously optimistic. And I am seeing more headlines asking if you have missed the bottom of the market. Do not let up your guard. Hunker down and protect your money. Keep it out of stocks, commodities, and gold. Cash is king. For my part I don't even trust the bank, a good mason jar and a long handle shovel in the middle of the night can work just fine if you don't have nosey in-laws or neighbors. Remember all of these experts are no better at predicting the end to this recession than anyone else. I think round two is just under the horizon. The financial institutions are going to take a beating on commercial real estate next, count on it! Remember, hunker down and you might get through this more or less intact. For what it's worth, the governments actions have helped tremendously in my opinion, there is just more to come. I think the 1st quarter of 2010 we'll see some daylight. Good luck and God bless you.
Yahoo! Finance User - Saturday, March 28, 2009, 9:40PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 2/5
Careers - what to tell the kids? Be a plumber (steady and job cannot be offshored) or a lawyer (sue the hell out of everybody and everything and cash in). The new America! Enjoy folks the next few decades will really suck.
Yahoo! Finance User - Saturday, March 28, 2009, 10:57AM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 2/5
Generally reasonable advice, but the notion to "select your boss carefully" made me laugh. Really now; how are you supposed to do that? No mention of Affirmative Action and the quota systems in place at blue-chip companies used to fill entry level positions and ensure that women and minorities are moved up the ladder. Impossible to compete with an Affirmative Action candidate. After a few years on the job, the vast majority face the cold reality that they are just a small cog in a big wheel going nowhere fast.
Yahoo! Finance User - Saturday, March 28, 2009, 7:49AM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 4/5
Well done Jim. I've used your "Career Approach" for years and it works.
Yahoo! Finance User - Friday, March 27, 2009, 2:17PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 3/5
Reasonable advice for anyone in the workplace... remember these are suggestions not absolutes. Interpersonal interactions in the workplace are some of the more difficult to navigate. People who drive their own career progression usually are better in touch with the reality of their value in the organization. Stuff does happen, people get laid off for different reasons not all because of performance. But if I asked who amongst you thinks they are a bad or talentless employee... no one would say "I am an average employee with no particularly distinguishing features." Yet some people are... it's like everyone is "middle class" and no one ever identifies themselves as poor. It's always interesting to read so many self-declared talented people complaining about everyone remaining at a company as stupid brown-nosers with no real talent. People who view themselves as the most talent tend to express that to coworkers and bosses in ways that they don't imagine and can limit their ability to negotiate anything in the workplace. Self-examination and self-defined goals and not those set by your boss and company will lead you to a path of longer term career success rather than success at that one job you happen to be doing at the moment.
dan - Friday, March 27, 2009, 12:58PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 3/5
There sure are a lot of people posting 1-star reviews here. They seem bitter that they no longer have the jobs that they feel entitled to. Being successful is all about having a great work ethic, positive attitude, and at least some talent - these people never have to worry about being successful. On the other hand, those who went to school on Daddy's dime, found a job and put in the minimum effort (just like they did in school), can't write a coherent email or white paper (omg!!, lol!, wtf?), cried or felt insecure when their boss tried to give them a warning, and finally got laid off: they come here and post 1-star reviews and scream "ass-kissers". Here's some advice: try having a good attitude and working hard if you're lucky enough to find another job.
Yahoo Bill - Friday, March 27, 2009, 12:12PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 4/5
Overall I think this is a good collection of good advice. Basically I think for the most part a successful and ethical career boils down to work hard and don't be a jerk although Jim certainly offers more advice and more eloquent advice in his column. The one thing that I don't think is necessarily true in every industry is the thing about your reputation being "inexorably linked" to your company and about it being easier to move from big companies to small ones. In engineering at least sometimes big companies are perceived (probably correctly) as not being as good a place to get a broad range of experience and also are perceived as places where you'll spend more time and effort dealing with beuracracy than doing "real work". But the big/small company tradeoff may be different for different industries.
Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday, March 26, 2009, 12:39PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 1/5
Typical and old advice. He's right- much much much easier to give advice than it is to actually do it. Most of article based on people who are employed and might be let go soon or those who are starting employment. The vast majority of us reading this are unemployed and have no frigging idea what to do next or where to go. Everybody seems to think the economy is stablilizing and getting better, Market is going up, etc. Try telling that to the smart, educated and experienced out of work people who are faced with the grim reality of competing with teenagers and retirees for $8.00/ hour jobs, if such are even available. I think the situation in Ohio where 500 people applied for ONE $15.00/ hour school janitor job says it all.Or how about in Calif. at Dodger Stadium where 7000 folks lined up for 500 concession/ maintenance positions. And these are seasonal! Bottom line is don't believe what you hear or read. Your particular situation determines your perception. Thats why anyone who has a good job and/or nakes good money, thinks that the economy is fine Obama and his administration are just great. Anyway, good luck to everyone. I'm right there with you.--AHN
Yahoo! Finance User - Thursday, March 26, 2009, 12:01PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 1/5
TAX THE AUTOWORKER BUYOUTS. NO AUTOWORKER BUYOUTS WITH $ OF MILLIONS$$$$ of TAXPAYER MONEY!!
Daniel B - Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 7:58PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 1/5
ho-hum, ho-hum, so tired of the same old, blaise advice. a lot of feedback left here is right on the money: kiss-assers get ahead, and usually at the expense of hard workers, what a country! at the rate this economy is tanking(which is driven by all the massive layoffs), i predict a revolution in about 5 - 10 yrs. the have-nots can only take so much more!
Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 6:33PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 1/5
I don't care about successful CEOs who get up early, get a jump on e-mail, exercise in the morning, and problem solve in the morning. Each one of them could be replaced by a foreigner who'd do the job more honestly and a helluva lot cheaper.
Manoj - Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 6:25PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 3/5
The key advice is how not to get axed when you are in 40's and have good experience and draw a good salary. Look at IBM which will announce cutting 5000 jobs in US (which means getting rid of high paid professional and replace with low cost professionals). How to avoid this recycling of human intelligence? There is no easy answer.
The Head - Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 6:20PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 3/5
You want some real adviceâ¦â¦â¦â¦â¦.here it is: Donât get yourself killed! What do I mean by this? From my experience, that being a currently an unemployed engineer, thank you idiots for fâing up the economy. You are at WAR potentially with everyone, do not trust anyone, no matter what they say, because with time they will be proven to be liars. You can expect that people will intentionally do bad things to you. So go right ahead and work those extra hours, raise the bar on your fellow employees, do exceptional work, and make your boss look good, you will get some compliments and knives in the back. Donât take me wrong, there are other good people in Corporate America, I have found that if I was lucky I could find a handful of people that were actually intelligent, talented, and worth speaking too, but they are usually hiding per say, the rest are okay or just plain evil. If you are truly good and I know, because I am, then you can expect that many of the other people will show their evil faces. They will attack you, cause trouble for you, and may even try to get you firedâ¦â¦..I have experienced all three and worse. Be this youâre warning that nobody ever told you about. People are lustful, gluttonous, greedy, lazy, wrathful, envious, and prideful, all of the Seven Deadly Sins. This being said, you have to protect yourself. Since it is WAR, you would be wise to be loyal to your boss, but that does not mean kissing his ass. He is in battle with his fellow managers struggling for power, and believe you me it is WAR. He needs people on his side to fight the others. The last thing he wants is to fight with his subordinates. There are plenty of egotistical idiots out there that you have to fight with to prevent them from making certain decisions that would ultimately bring destruction to the company in one form or another. If you are in disagreement with the boss, show him the evidence and present your case, and donât argue, you will never win an argument. You will find, by not fighting with the boss that he will give you what you want. Fine the good people and make alliances with them, you will need their support, logic rules, but it has no power over the egoâs of others. They simply donât care, they will scream and cry like infants, which I would have to compare some of my ex-coworkers to. Remember it is WAR, so you will need some soldiers fighting with you, otherwise you will become surrounded and killed. The baby boomers unfortunately run Corporate America at this time, and they love their hierarchy that they built and even more so they love their company and power that they have spent say the last 20 or so years of their life creating. Try to show some respect for it, even if it is the biggest disorganized disaster you have ever seen in your life. Respect is earned, not granted, I donât give a f**k how long you have worked for any company. There is only one thing worth respecting, and that is results. This can however get you in trouble. Do the best work you can, double check it, and do it in a timely fashion. Do not make friends at work, your only purpose at work is to do a job. It is recommended that you occasionally spend some social time with your co-workers, I donât want you to think that you need to be a robot. You have to sell everything all of the time, yourself, your ideas, and your work. There is age discrimination, if you are younger expect it. If you are older expect it the other way. Negotiate everything with everyone. Read as many self improvement and business books as possible. And donât be afraid to put your name and contact information on what you do. Wyatt Rose rosewc@hotmail.com
Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 4:21PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 1/5
I love it when we hire new college graduates - so idealistic and full of hope! They believe that they'll all be CEO's by the age of 28! Within one year they are completely broken. They realize their entire life will be spent sitting in a cubical and shuffling paper while surrounded by idiots and brown-nosers that they hate. You can almost see the exact moment when their spirit dies.
Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 4:19PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 1/5
Kiss your bosses ASS. Come in Early without pay. Stay Late without Pay. Be a Phony. Be Heartless. BE A CORPORATE SLAVE!! CORPORATE AMERICA SU*KS!!
Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 4:17PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 1/5
and remember when its all said and done you have to live with yourself......so take a moment to brown nose yourself...blah blah blah
foodie - Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 4:03PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 1/5
in one word : kiss your bosses ass. No matter what you do unless the above is not done, whether explicitly or implicity you'll get fired. I have seen 3 of my friends get fired they did everything the writer has mentioned but forgot the above one word.
Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 3:45PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 3/5
Most of the advice seems naive if you consider that the author quotes successful executives. Only a handful can be executives and so statistically insignificant. Work hard for companies all your life is what the article seems to convey. No time for anything else. I have worked for a couple of the big and best companies and found the politics to be brutal. There is no place for talent. If you think startups are better they are actually no better. The one thing that seems to work is never come across as a threat to your boss and do a reasonably good job on the projects.
Devin - Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 3:35PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 2/5
This is great advice for the workplace the Boomers knew. I don't really see the relevance today. I spent a few years beating my head against the wall in corporate America. I wowed a series of bosses who absolutely loved my work...problem was it was a series of bosses as departments were always being restructured, acquired, merged, etc. I'm not bitter, I just learned my lesson that the loyal company/employee relationship that existed for Boomers doesn't exist anymore. These days, you've got to build your own brand. Network. Cast a wide net in as many companies and even career possibilities as possible. I'm 30 and in my third different career field right now. And it turns out I'm able to use all the various skills learned along the way in productive ways at each new opportunity. I'm currently keeping a foot in the corporate world for some of the benefits there, but I also have my own business with its own set of individual clients and do a lot of work for small companies. I always have a number of back-up plans in place. If you're planning to go to work for some big company your whole career and expect them to take care of your whole working life for you, you might as well also plan on commuting to work in a horse and buggy.
Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 3:09PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 2/5
amen...so much for yahoo...instead of well-deserved outrage we get more of the old *How to Make Friends and Succeed at Brown-Nosing Your Boss* pro-business tripe. See "French strikers hold 3M exec hostage amid talks" AP Story.
Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 2:01PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 1/5
What I have found to my dismay is exactly the opposite of the previous posters'. In the corporate world, it is the ones who work hardest and show the most dedication and loyalty to the brand and to the company who are most likely to be resisted and fired. Others resent you, managers feel they can take advantage of you, and if you are single, you are expected to even fill in for married workers who take advantage of workplace pro-marriage bias. Hard working middle managers were fired in the 1990s, and that was the end of the American business. That is like an army firing all of its sargeants. Executives and upper management strictly look out for themselves and scream to politicians for tax cuts so they can cut and run when times are tough with even more money. No, far from some ideal family run business, the American corporate world is very, very sick. It is not what you know or what you do for the company, it is who you know and how much you can take advantage of fellow employees and underlings. May times I have had managers claim my work for their own, and claim I was part of a failed project or responsible for a failed project that I was not. That's is how power is kept. If you open your mouth to what is wrong, you risk dismissal, so the sicknesses persist. All in all, that's what dog eat dog means, and that is the corporate working world.
Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 1:46PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 4/5
The one star guy will never get ahead precisely because of their attitude. I have worked for large and small companie and grew up in a very small family-owned business. The one thing I learned is that the people with a "can-do" attitude and an ability to work hard, along with gratitude for their job, are the people who don't get laid off. Companies always find a way to keep them on the payroll in some capacity. BTW - I was a college graduate in the early 80s when unemployment was 8% , just like today. Work hard, live small, dream big and keep at it. You can succeed. In the long run, effort rarely goes unrewarded.
Baby boomer - Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 1:31PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 4/5
The column may seem trite but that doesn't make it any less real. The first company doesn't have to be the biggest, but it does have to have a good reputation. It is what you will build on. I don't agree with getting in early and staying late. I wake up at 6:00, get to the office at 7:15 am and leave at 5:00 pm and have been doing this for 40 years. So I didn't make it to V-P level but I do get a very good salary and generally enjoy my job. We can't all be V-Ps. Take responsibility for getting your projects completed and bosses are always looking for someone to take hold of a project and just keep them informed as to progress plus problems and solutions. No surprises. When you get passed over for a promotion for someone you think is less competent, just wait and keep working. Sometimes the new person may surprise you and other times, he just blows up and out. Learn from every new experience. Definitely try for balance as I tend more to devil's advocate as I try to find what can go wrong to deal with it. 80% of my time is spent on handling problems and I don't want them to be big, toxic and career limiting. So look ahead and keep your lines of communications opens throughout the company. Relationships within and outside the company enable you to successfully complete your projects even when some days, things seem to be going to hell. As with all these columns and self help books, no one has all the answers but each one can have some idea that can help you be successful, no matter how you personally define it. Enjoy.
Yahoo! Finance User - Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 12:59PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 1/5
The author assumes that a career is possible, when in fact what you are more likely to experience is a careen. Everything appears orderly on the surface but the fact is the American worker is just trash to be discarded at the first sign of trouble....Employers routinely get away with chiseling their workers. Employment fraud is rampant in this country today, thanks largely to the Bushies' destruction of regulatory powers that favor the workers: *The federal agency charged with enforcing minimum wage, overtime and many other labor laws is failing in that role, leaving millions of workers vulnerable, Congressional auditors have found.* NY Times article today. BEWARE EMPLOYERS! They are out to cheat you and steal your hard earned paycheck!
Sophos - Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 12:54PM ET Report Abuse
- Overall: 1/5
HE JIM, GOOD FOR YOU FOR WRITING A LOT OF COLUMNS. GO GET A REAL JOB. GET READY FOR THE BEG CRACH OF THE MARKET, STOP LISTENINIG THO THESE FOOLS EVEN OBAMA OPENS HIS MOUTH THE DOW GOES UP 400 PTS, B.S. THE HOUSING NEWS ARE GOOD MOSTLY FORCLOSED HOMES THE DOW UP 200 PTS, MORE B.S.

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