What makes a great life and a great career?

Here’s what high performing professionals and managers have said during my seminars on The Career Edge.

Key #1: Life Comes at You Fast – Be Prepared, Plan and Anticipate

• During change, don’t be an ostrich hiding your head in the sand. Be aware of what’s going on.
• Be open to opportunities and even challenges. It can change your career trajectory.
• At the same time, have focus – it provides clarity for what you want to accomplish.

Key #2: The Power of Attitude – We Can Change our Lives with Optimism

• Be resilient. Challenges, disappointments, mistakes happen. The important things is to move on.
• Stay away from negative people. If they’re not happy for themselves, they certainly can’t be happy for you.
• Visualize success, talk success, believe in your success. Expect success to happen.
• Thank the people who have made a difference in your life and career.

Key #3: NETWORK = Net WORTH

• Increase your connections. Success is all about relationships – building,maintaining, leveraging.
• By increasing your network, you build the number of people that can impact you and that you can help in return.
• Make it easy for people to help you. Give them the tools they need to make connections and introductions for you.
• Be happy for others, acknowledge their success, celebrate their achievements. They will remember.

Key #4: Feedback is a Gift – Information is Power

• Be open and acceptable to both good feedback and constructive criticism.
• Nobody takes the time to give feedback to someone they don’t like. They just walk away.
• Then decide on how you are going to turn that feedback into positive behavior and skills.

Key #5: Politics is NOT a Dirty Word

• It’s all about knowing your organization and how things get done.
• Assess the situation and understand what’s important to decision makers.
• Be realistic. There’ll be times when it’s better to compriomise and times when it’s important to take a stand.

Key #6: Do a Great Job Every Day

• Know your strengths and use them in the most effective way you can.
• Don’t stop learning – new ideas, new skills, new ways of doing things.
• Make sure your work serves the larger goals of the organization.

Key #7: Remember, a Fulfilling Life Is a Journey Not Just a Destination

• Take time to enjoy – stop and smell the roses!
• Realize that you’re the only person who can lead your life – so don’t wait for others to take charge.
• Know that people remember not what you say but how you made them feel. So make people feel good.

Career Success Tip:

Success is more than working hard, being busy and burning a lot of energy. It’s a laser focus on what matters. So examine all your “to-do”s and pick the ones that count the most - the ones that can make a big difference in your life and career.

Do you know what YOU do today will directly influence your career in 3, 5 or 10 years?

• Start right now to be a Career Builder!
• Take charge of your future with the Career Success System.
• Get performance and career boosters in the Smart Moves Blog.
• Copyright © 2011 Marcia Zidle career strategist and leadership coach.