Win your career race

“Don’t waste life in doubts and fears; spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour’s duties will be the best preparation for the hours and ages that will follow”

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

The job market today, though not very hot, is however full of opportunities. It is you who has to exploit your prospects to make certain that you are in command of your future and that success kisses your feet. To be able to achieve fully what you are capable of, it is necessary that you comprehend all fundamental prerequisites indispensable for the advancement of your career.

Your career is like a race – you are on your marks, the shot is about to be fired and you dash forward towards the finish-line. You cannot run with your eyes closed and hope that you will emerge the winner. In other words, you should be fully geared up and your objectives should be clear. While your academic criteria, current place of work and experience to your credit are important contributory factors for your career advancement and success, the sole most significant one is how you acquit yourself at work.

The basic tenets of performance that make you win your career race are:

·   It is not exchangeable:  Surveys conducted have concluded that in any establishment, around three-quarters of the productivity are on account of the efforts by one-quarter of the employees. Companies are always keen to have such performers on their rolls; Even if there are adverse conditions, this category of people is always noticed and recruited. The balance people whose performance level is not as high are not seen as positive performers and hence their job protection is always subject to perils. It is therefore, no wonder that many employees are retrenched or superseded. On the other hand, good performers receive acclaim and promotions.

·   It is the prime determinant:  Will you ever pay more than the marked price for anything? Will you ever purchase a substandard item? The answers are obviously no, particularly if there are other options available to you to get value for your money. Today, the working atmosphere in all companies and organizations is highly ambitious and aggressive; and it is only good performers find a place to hang on. Therefore, if you discharge your duties well, meaning you contribute to efficiency and effectualness, you will for certain witness career advancement.  Career progress implies moving up in the pecking order of any setup and entails acquiring a greater capacity to deal with demanding responsibilities so that profitability registers an upswing. Your good work gets acknowledged and you get to be called by the higher management and thus are in the loop for planning and implementation. Your growth is consequently facilitated.   

·   It is noticed and commended:  All organizations that perform are prosperous organizations, though there may be some odd aberrations. Unlike iron, gold never rusts; similarly performers do not lose their worth and their value is always set to register an upswing. The value of gold never decreases, though it may tend to be at a plateau for some period of time. But with the passage of time, it increases manifold, particularly in the long term.

·   It cannot be superseded by familiarity:  No company will let go a good performer by a person with more experience. A good performer will invariably be recognized, retained and promoted. The way you acquit yourself at work will manifest your stalwartness, tenacity and competence. Your performance alone will count in your quest for excellence and efforts to do well in your career.

You should ensure that your aspirations are not rendered inferior to meet your performance. It is important that your level of performance goes up to be in consonance with your hopes and objectives. To be able to achieve this, you should look forward to preeminence from yourself and then take all necessary steps to transform it into an actuality.

Remember that your winning the career race is contingent on execution; simply having a vision serves no purpose. The price of success is commitment, hard work and unrelenting loyalty to the things that you want to see happen.