Response Magic 
Truth be told, you’re
making it hard for others to support your career.
At least that’s the case if
you are skipping any of the ten basic principles on this list.
In the spirit of full
disclosure, not every item on this list is easy to implement, but each is
easier to live with than the frustration of watching your talents go
underutilized:
1. Kindness first.
The first thing you do,
every day, should be to help a few other people.
Do this without fail; put
it on your calendar. Introduce others.
Promote the best work of
your colleagues and/or clients.
Help those on the
margins, not just the already rich and powerful.
This habit will not only
make you feel better, but it also will shift the way that others perceive you.
2. Admit weakness.
Hands down, the best thing
a capable professional can do is to openly admit where they are weak.
Why?
Because this gives your
colleagues an opportunity to help you, which makes them feel more capable and
appreciated.
3. Be both confident and competent.
Confidence without
competence makes you little more than an empty suit.
Competence without
confidence is a tragic waste of your gifts.
To enjoy long-term
success, work to balance these two essential elements.
It’s not easy, but getting
the balance right will make an enormous difference to your career.
4. Be superficial occasionally.
Did you crop your spouse
out of your LinkedIn LNKD -0.66% photo?
Does your Twitter TWTR -0.43% image
look like you were on the lam from the law?
Do you cut your own hair?
Much as I love the idea of
living in a meritocracy, the truth is that we all make snap judgments based on
appearances. Invest some time and money in looking your best.
5. Don’t wait for the title.
If you want a promotion,
act like you already have it.
Do more than is expected
of you, even if it means working nights and weekends.
6. Simplify your goals.
Nine out of ten
professionals I meet can’t explain simply what they want next in their
career. If you can’t understand what you want next, no one else can, either.
Keep stripping away bits
and pieces until you are able to explain what you want, even to a
seven-year-old.
7. Be authentic.
Don’t pretend to be
someone else, and don’t pretend to care when you don’t.
Be 100% honest.
Be 100% yourself.
Most importantly, if you
say you are going to do something, do it.
8. Connect proactively.
The world never stops, and
you can’t ever settle for the people you already know.
Never stop reaching out to
dynamic people with interests that could overlap with your own.
Avoid getting stuck in a
box; even if you are 72, reach out proactively to 23-year-
olds who have energy and
ideas.
9. Change your own damn career.
People always wait too
long for external forces to change their status.
You have the ability to
change your fate, as long as you are willing to pay the price to get what you
want.
10. Proof your own work. If you rely on others –
subordinates, assistants, etc. – to catch your errors, you will get soft and
dependent. Personally make sure your work is perfect.
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