BE THE BRIGHTEST STAR

Be so good at what you do that you become indispensable to your organization.

THE ONLY WAY you can truly succeed in this knowledge-based economy is to become a star at work. Commit to live by a benchmark far higher than anyone would have the right to expect from you.

The next step is to dedicate yourself to becoming “a person of action”. In life there are three types of people. First, those who make things happen. Second, those that watch things happen. And third are those who wake up one day, and ask “what happened?” Make a firm decision to join the first group – human beings who have decided that life is a gift and every day is a new opportunity to learn, grow and contribute. Look for opportunities to bring a touch of excellence to your work. What little things could you do over the next few hours to build relationships at work or make your clients say “wow”? What simple gestures of decency could you show your teammates that you care and are committed to showing leadership in a world where real leaders are few and far between?

There’s nothing really difficult only if you begin. Some people contemplate a task until it looms so big it seems impossible, but I just begin and it gets done somehow. Here are some more things you can do to become a star at work.

Hero worship
If there is an author you admire and he or she lives in your city, pick up the phone and ask for a meeting. If you have just read an inspiring article about someone who had turned adversity into advantage and you know you can learn from him, send out an email and open the lines of communication. In this new knowledge economy, the person who learns the most wins.

Set goals
Most wise performers set career, financial and personal goals but few set specific learning goals. For this year, I have set clear objectives as to how many books I will read, how many seminars I will attend and how many personal growth retreats I will visit. I also try and set a daily learning quota of three new things every day to keep me stimulated and excited about my work as a professional speaker and leadership coach.

One and only
The real secret of success is to be so good at what you do that your company will not be able to run without you. Be so good at what you do that you are the first person your boss will think of when he needs advice. Be so good at what you do that you become indispensable. Then your success will be assured. So, pick your best three talents that truly make you special and then commit to refining them over the coming 12 months until they set you apart from the crowd. Make a personal vow that you will become so good at your professional craft that you become indispensable to your team and to your organization as a whole.

Busybee
It is a strange paradox of the times we live in that we do not have time to think about the things we are so busy about. We spend our days on projects that need to get done and in meetings that need to be attended. We spend our evenings with people we need to meet and do activities that need to be completed. But let me ask, when was the last time you went for a solitary walk in the woods and deeply reflected on the way you are working and living? When was the last time you took a few hours to think where you want to be professionally five years from now? The question is what are you so busy with? Carve out at least one hour every week for some serious reflection, introspection and self-examination so that you will keep learning from your weeks.
[The Telegraph Calcutta Tuesday 24 March 2009]