With the start of the new year, you may be planning some new career goals you want to achieve in 2008. But before you start acting on your plans, it’s a good idea to stop and consider how people currently see you.

In this article, you’ll learn a strategy that can help you build a winning image and start your career on a winning streak.

Build Your Winning Image

Have you ever wondered how some people just keep winning…
and winning… and winning?

They always manage to land on their feet, while other equally talented people stumble again and again.
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Do you have a strategy to distinguish yourself in your career and help you stand out from the crowd?

As Tom Peters said, in today’s business environment you need to be distinct, or you’ll be extinct. Today promotions, raises, and important career-accelerating assignments often go to the most visible people - not necessarily to those who are most “deserving.”

In this post we share 7 steps you can take to develop a strong career identity and position yourself as someone to watch. (more…)

How are you celebrating National Boss Day (October 16th)? Or are you  celebrating at all? Here are some tips, extracted from our new career development manual, How to Become a Rising Star in Your Career in 60 Days or Less, that will help you celebrate with a gift that keeps on giving.

National Boss Day was first registered in October 16, 1958 as a day for workers to officially acknowledge their bosses.

But how to celebrate?

Giving flowers, cards or gifts is traditional, but probably won’t help in getting that promotion you’re after. However, there is a way to both show appreciation to your boss and accelerate your career at the same time. This National Boss Day, in addition to your tangible tokens of appreciation, why not give a gift that will keep on giving. Learn how to Manage Your Boss.

Managing your boss effectively isn’t a matter of being a “yes man” or playing politics. It involves working together to generate the best solutions for you, your boss, and your company.

Here are some action steps you can take RIGHT NOW to build a more productive and rewarding relationship with your boss: (more…)

These expert performance strategies can help you get on the road to the top.  

Do you long for the financial acumen of a Warren Buffett, the presentation ability of a Steve Jobs, the magnetism of an Oprah Winfrey, or the golf swing of a Tiger Woods? Have you ever wished that you too had been born with advantages that would lead you to success in your chosen field?

Well think again.

Researchers in Expert Performance Psychology have found that no one is “born great.” Over 20 years of data suggest that there’s no significant inborn difference at all between average and top performers in any field. The only exceptions the researchers found were in a few sports, like basketball, where physical size offers you a competitive edge.

While top performers may not have any inborn advantages, there are some significant differences that distinguish leaders in their fields from everyone else.

Top performers put in more practice than average people, they practice strategically, and they seek out feedback and coaching to make them even better.

The good news is that by adopting these expert performance strategies and habits, you too can put yourself on the road to leadership. Here’s how to get started. (more…)

Employee motivation involves more than just salary and bonuses.

A frequent question we get from managers at all levels is how to motivate consistent high performance from others.

In today’s business environment, you can’t force anyone to do anything.

As a manager, you need to think of yourself as leading a volunteer army. In the words of President Dwight Eisenhower, you need to get people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it.

The fact is, psychological research proves that praise and appreciation is far a more effective employee motivation strategy than threats or punishment. 

When people want to do something they tend to put in more and better effort than if they believe that they have to do it. And in this post we share a motivation strategy that you can use to encourage this kind of voluntary contribution from everyone around you.  (more…)