The 4 Secrets of Career Success

Today’s episode answers the often-asked question:  “What is the very best way to advance my career?”

So I’ve challenged myself with distilling down my strategic career advice. In this episode, I share the 4 secrets of career success. I’m keeping this concise - concentrated and bite-sized - so you can take these strategies and begin using them TODAY. 

By the end of this episode I want you to feel like the future of your career is within your control. That you have the power to make your career something fulfilling and meaningful - something that you can grow. You’ll know what you need to do to advance yourself and become more successful.

Transcript

Today’s episode is a concentrated, juicy one. People are always coming to me for advice, asking “what can I do to advance my career?” “If you could give me any strategies, what would it be?”

Of course, my head is constantly swirling with strategies. This is my 51st episode about career strategy!

So I’ve challenged myself with distilling it all down. In this episode, I’m going to share with you what I’ve identified as the 4 secrets of career success. I’m keeping this concise - concentrated - so you can hold it in your head. Most of all, I want you to be able to take these strategies and start using them TODAY. 

By the end of this episode I want you to feel like the future of your career is within your control. That you have the power to make your career something fulfilling and meaningful - something that you can grow. You’ll know what you need to do to advance yourself and become more successful.

Are you ready? Let’s do this. 

Mark Twain said that, “Without dreams and goals, there is no living, only merely existing. And that is not why we’re here.” 

Which brings us to the first secret of career success: 

1. Set your eye on the prize.

What do you want to achieve? 

When you answer this question, you take the first step to advancing your career. Ask yourself: Do you want a promotion? Is your eye set on a specific position? Do you want to leave your organization? Do you want to change your career path? Pivot your career path?

Give yourself a timeline and decide what you want to achieve. For example, “One year from now I want to have a new position that is more meaningful and flexible.”

Then, write it down. There’s a now- famous study conducted at the Dominican University of California by Dr. Gail Matthews. It revealed that you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals if you document them. Writing down your goals not only forces you to clarify what you want, but it provides a visual representation of what you hope to achieve. Your ambitions become more tangible…”real”. 

The 2nd secret of career success is to: 

2. Identify (and leverage) your strengths.

Donald Clifton, known as the father of strengths psychology, stated that “You will be most successful when you craft your role to play to your signature talents.” 

His research was groundbreaking in that he asked the question, “what would happen if you focused less on what’s wrong with people - their weaknesses - and more on what’s already right with people - their strengths?

Each of us possess unique talents that, when exercised, drive you toward your goals. Your greatest strengths are such a natural part of you that you may not be aware of them. They’re easier for others to notice than for you to articulate on your own.

That's why I kick-off all of my client relationships with the CliftonStrengths assessment. This assessment is grounded in over 50 years of research. It’s been taken by over 28 million people and it generates highly personalized results (the odds of two people having the same top five strengths in the same order is 1 in 33 million). It measures 34 different talent themes. 

The CliftonStrengths assessment is available online. You can purchase results showing your top 5 strengths or get a whole analysis of all 34 of your strengths. I recommend beginning with the top 5 - you get a lot of information there. Just understanding your top 5 strengths is a huge gift.

If you don’t want to take an assessment, sit down and have some conversations about your strengths. Reach out to your family, friends and coworkers and ask them for help. Tell them that you are doing a strengths finding exercise. Here are some Qs to ask them: 

• When have you seen me at my best?
• What things do you feel come naturally to me?
• What sets me apart from others?

Once you know your strengths, you can use them to advance in your career. The Gallup organization has done a lot of research on strengths and how it applies to the workplace. Listen to some of these findings: 

People who focus upon their strengths are six times more likely to be engaged in their jobs. They experience more positive energy, are more confident, more productive and are more likely to achieve their goals. 

The 3rd secret of career success is:

3. Give generously.

In the words of author and entrepreneur Keith Ferrazzi, “If your interactions are ruled by generosity, your rewards will follow suit.” 

Good things come to those who give. This applies throughout your life. And it applies to your career. Ask yourself: What can you do to help within your industry? How could your strengths, skills and connections benefit your organization? 

In the groundbreaking book, Give and Take, Adam Grant reveals that those who achieve extraordinary career success take determined action to accomplish personal goals while simultaneously fueling the success of others.  

Generous acts set the foundation of strong relationships. Build your network authentically, investing time in meaningful activities that support others. When done in tandem with striving towards your own objectives, everyone wins.

The key ingredient with generous giving is “authenticity”; Grant found that those who give with the sole intention of getting something in return are less likely to succeed.  

4. Assemble your team.

“The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.” - Epictetus

Career advancement comes readily when you have a support system in place. Consider the players you want on “Team You”. Your friends, family, coworkers, mentor or coach can all boost, inspire and encourage you as you channel energy into your work.

Discussing your career aspirations also puts the element of accountability into play. Powerful research by The American Society of Training and Development found that accountability makes all the difference as you set goals for yourself. They revealed that:

• Individuals who keep their aspirations to themselves have a 10% chance of realizing that goal.
• The chance of goal achievement jumps to 65% when you tell someone else about it.
• You have a 95% chance of accomplishing your goal when you schedule accountability sessions with a mentor or coach.

The research is clear: leaning into your support system and having them hold you accountable will drive your career ambitions forward.

To recap, the 4 secrets of career success are:

1. Set your eye on the prize.

2. Identify (and leverage) your strengths.

3. Give generously.

4. Assemble your team.

These four elements work together to create the powerful combination of strategic goal setting, supportive relationships, accountability, generosity and integrity. 

Focus on them and watch your career thrive.