Career Advancement

To advance in your career, demonstrate your value to your employer and those around you. Be highly visible and take charge of situations when warranted. Continuously challenge yourself and members of your team. Act like management material by following these guidelines:

• Take advantage of every available opportunity to learn and grow.
• Establish behaviors that stand out positively in the minds of supervisors.
• Develop excellent critical thinking skills.
• Be a self-directed worker who performs duties with proficiency.
• Act professional at all times and display integrity and ethical behavior.
• Take on extra responsibilities and help others.
• Become an expert in your field.
• Participate in lifelong learning to keep your expertise up to date.

Take a long, hard look at your personal qualities and adjust your strategies to align yourself closer to the way management level people behave. With an inner drive and a determination to achieve, you can position yourself to rise to a higher level.

Be Prepared--Create Positive Opportunities

It's still October, but snow has arrived in Pittsburgh, bringing with it a lesson--always be prepared. That's a good lesson for all of us to remember every day. Be prepared. You never know what opportunities or misfortunes might show up on any given day. I prefer to look on the positive side and think each day will bring new opportunities.

Many people miss opportunities they don't realize were presented to them until long after they are gone. Don't let that happen to you. Be on the lookout for opportunities that will improve your personal and your professional life. Here are some ways you can create your own opportunities or take advantage of ones presented to you.

• Help others improve their lives


• Bring happiness to others


• Assist coworkers with their tasks


• Assist the boss with special projects or find other ways to make his job easier


• Ask for help when you need it


• Reflect on the positives in your life and be thankful


• Focus on the important things


• Commit to being open to opportunities

With an awareness of what is going on around us, we can all be better prepared.

Look for Possibilities

Well, I can't believe it but the Pennwriters conference has been over for a week now. I enjoyed myself and learned from many wonderful, insightful speakers.

One thing I tried to get across to conference attendees, especially newbies, was to take advantage of ALL opportunities and to be open to ALL possibilities. The same can be said for every day living.

• Be open to people and things that come your way unexpectedly. The immediate benefit of a meeting or a piece of information may not be apparent at first.


• Build long-term relationships and store each piece of information for future use.


• Don't overlook the small things and the obvious things and people.


• Learn as much as you can every day from every situation.

Look around today and be open to all that you see, do, hear, and encounter. You never know what precious things await.