Three Keys To Career Success

If you want to succeed in your career, you have to do good work...really good work! Your work has to be noticed and respected. And for this to happen, you have to have at least three things:

Strengths: We all have them. Have you identified what you're naturally good at?

Environment: Are you in an environment that nurtures not only your strengths, but also your core values? Do your boss and co-workers support you and bring out the best in you?

Passion: Are you playing to win, or playing not to lose? Passion always precedes great work.

Now, here's where the first two keys matter...a lot. How can you play to win if you're not playing from your strengths or if you're not in a work environment that nurtures you? You can't.

But what if you haven't identified your strengths, aren't in an environment that supports you, and your work isn't fueled by passion...what then?

Announcing your resignation today isn't the answer (Whew!) Until you get the three keys aligned, here's a suggestion. Resolve to do what you're doing now, where you are now, with all the passion you can. Take pride in what you do.

Do what you do and do it well. Aim to be the best at what you're doing now even if you don't love it. If you go to work with that mindset and work from it, your boss will notice. Things won't be perfect, but they'll be much better.

Take that momentum and make a plan to find work that allows you to play from your strengths, in the right environment, doing what you're passionate about. Then, bring your plan to life!

Alan Allard: http://www.alanallard.com