There is a single indicator that predicts your long-term career success. It does not matter if you are an employee, self-employed, or run a business that employs others, this will predict your success. You already know what this indicator is: your diligence and thoroughness in performing tasks. How well or poorly you perform tasks, over time, is a certain indicator of how your career will either flourish or flounder. Luckily, it is something that you can improve no matter how poorly you’ve performed in the past.
The earlier someone begins working hard, the steadier this habit becomes throughout their career. For example, children who never worked in high school or during college are simply not hard-wired to working hard. When parents or teachers set someone’s schedule all week, they rarely acquire habits of self-motivation to accomplish their own goals or to surpass the expectations of others. Studying hard and playing hard does not always correlate to working hard and cooperating with others toward a long-term goal.
So let’s examine your current work habits. Would your co-workers currently rate you as an elite performer or an average performer? Would they say that you are normally a whiner and complainer or that you silently work toward getting things done? Would they say you dodge responsibility or volunteer for new and additional assignments?
Certainly, there are bad managers and companies where a great work ethic is overlooked. But if you are an elite performer, you can figure out what you are worth in the marketplace and find a better work environment where you are treated and rewarded appropriately.
Your work habits are a result of your personal philosophy toward work along with your personal attitude about work. Is your attitude about work good or bad right now? Is your philosophy about work empowering or caustic to you and others around you? When you get both your philosophy and attitude pointed in a favorable direction then your work habits will improve automatically.
I recommend that you set a goal to becoming an elite performer. Employers reward them with increasing duties, responsibilities, promotions, company stock, rewards, perks, and much more. The first step toward managing your career is to become someone that consistently provides the most value, giving you the most options inside and outside of your company.