Here's another way you can win a free copy of Career Intensity. All you have to do is leave a career tip in the comments below. If it's the "best" one, you win a book. Here are the details on how it works:
1. Leave a comment below on this post (only one comment/entry per person, please) giving a career-related tip (it can be on any career subject you like).
2. I'll give it a few days, review the entries, then announce the winner (the "best" tip) by leaving a comment on the post myself.
3. While I don't have specific criteria in mind, the "best" tip will be one that's practical and applies to the majority of Free Money Finance readers.
4. If you're named the winner, be sure to email me the name and address where you want the book to be sent as well as if you want the author to sign it for you or to a special person (I'll need the name). (Note: I will not be sending you an email telling you you've won, you'll need to check the site.) I'll send you a confirmation email that I got your note. If you don't hear from me, I didn't get your email. BTW, the books are shipped out every Friday by media mail, which can take 2-3 weeks to receive from the time they are mailed. If you want to look at all the posts/winners, click on my giveaway category link. If I don't hear from you in a week, I will give the book to someone else.
As for rules, they simply are:
1. If you leave more than one comment, your entries will be invalid for that particular giveaway.
2. Once you win a book, you can't win another one. But if you have won a previous giveaway here at Free Money Finance, as long as it wasn't for this book, you are eligible to win this book.
3. I will be the complete and final judge.
4. U.S. mailing addresses only.
Good luck!
Always be generating portable individual career equity such as trained skills, certifications, or unique experiences. The key is portability. This not only makes you valuable to your current employer, but to others as well. The best part about generating this kind of equity is that your employer usually pays for it!
Posted by: Mike H. | May 19, 2006 at 08:04 AM
My best tip is to always keep a positive attitude. You define your circumstances, and if you refuse to let the little things get you down, then you will have a much better chance of weathering the big problems. If you are always upbeat and positive, you will have less stress and your coworkers will enjoy working with you more which will make you a better team player.
Having trouble being positive and upbeat? Force yourself to smile. You might feel like an idiot for the first week or so, but sooner or later it leads to becoming a habit. Smiling is infectious. If you don't believe me, smile at every stranger you meet over the next few days and count how many don't smile back.
Posted by: Blaine Moore (Run to Win) | May 19, 2006 at 09:09 AM
Personality counts at least as much as job skills.
I've worked in a fairly technical field most of my life, and I've seen people come and go on my jobs. While I've seen people get let go for sheer incompetence, I've seen more lose their jobs for personality problems. One place I worked had to let two people go. One was technically ok, but had huge personality problems. He lasted a month. The other had a great personality and absolutely no tecnical skills. She made it three months.
An employer would rather give someone who can work in a team setting a chance, than keep someone who knows everything and is a jerk. It's important advice no matter what your profession.
Posted by: Financial Reflections | May 19, 2006 at 09:52 AM
Best tip I can give for your career is to be yourself. Lying about who you are will only lead to trouble, and pretending to be something you aren't will lead to stress and failure.
True, you can improve your skills, but people will appreciate a person who is showing improvement as themselves more than they will suffer someone who is completely fake.
Posted by: CraigM | May 19, 2006 at 10:45 AM
1) Know thyself and Identify where you want to be. (for your entire career span, in the next 5, 10, 15 .... years
2) Identify what it takes to get there (some abstracts like optimism, attitude, being upbeat etc. as well as qualifications, certifications, networking skills to connect to the right people etc.)
3) Make a plan that outlines the transition plan from your 'as is' state to the 'to be' state in a chronlogical fashion.
4) Most important one. IMPLEMENT the plan, stay focused and organized. This requires a lot of self-discipline. BUt remember the rewards are outstanding.
Posted by: Arif K | May 19, 2006 at 02:18 PM
Don't get bored!
It's easy to develop a false sense of loyalty and security that can lead to danger and disservice to your employer.
What happens is that you get used to your job and become so good that nobody else can possibly do your job. You stop seeing challenges and become entrenched. The boredom creeps up, your productivity drops... And although you're almost irreplacable, you have to be replaced.
Don't let that happen.
As soon as your work starts getting natural and easy, start training your replacement and looking for the next opportunity. When the work's the most fun, you'll have the most ability to teach, and you'll be at your peak of looking good to the management.
-Billy
Posted by: William Tanksley | May 19, 2006 at 11:50 PM
Lots of great thoughts here -- thanks!
I'm going togive the nod to Arif K. as the best one. Congrats! Send me your contact info and I'll get you a book!
Posted by: FMF | May 22, 2006 at 08:35 AM