Golden Rules for Career Success

Business is made up of ambiguous victories and

nebulous defeats. Claim them all as victories.

Keep track of what you do; someone is sure to ask.

Be comfortable around senior managers, or learn to

fake it.

Never bring your boss a problem without some solution.

You are getting paid to think, not to whine.

Long hours don’t mean anything; results count, not

effort.

Write down ideas; they get lost, like good pens.

Always arrive at work 30 minutes before your boss.

Help other people network for jobs. You never know

when your turn will come.

Don’t take days off sick—unless you are.

Assume no one can/will keep a secret.

Know when you do your best—morning, night, under

pressure, relaxed; schedule and prioritize your

work accordingly.

Treat everyone who works in the organization with

respect and dignity, whether it be the cleaner or the

managing director. Don’t ever be patronizing.

Never appear stressed in front of a client, a customer

or your boss. Take a deep breath and ask yourself: In

the course of human events, how important is this?

If you get the entrepreneurial urge, visit someone

who has his own business. It may cure you.

Acknowledging someone else’s contribution will

repay you doubly.

Career planning is an oxymoron. The most exciting

opportunities tend to be unplanned.

Always choose to do what you’ll remember ten years

from now.

The size of your office is not as important as the size

of your pay cheque.

Understand what finished work looks like and deliver

your work only when it is finished.

The person who spends all of his or her time is not

hard-working; he or she is boring.

Know how to write business letters—including

thank-you notes as well as proposals.

Never confuse a memo with reality. Most memos

from the top are political fantasy.

Eliminate guilt. Don’t fiddle expenses, taxes or

benefits, and don’t cheat colleagues.

Reorganizations mean that someone will lose his or

her job. Get on the committee that will make the

recommendations.

Job security does not exist.

Always have an answer to the question, “What

would I do if I lost my job tomorrow?”

Go to the company Christmas party.

Don’t get drunk at the company Christmas party.

Avoid working at weekends. Work longer during the

week if you have to.

The most successful people in business are interesting.

Sometimes you’ll be on a winning streak and everything

will click; take maximum advantage. When

the opposite is true, hold steady and wait it out.

Never in your life say, “It’s not my job.”

Be loyal to your career, your interests and yourself.

Understand the skills and abilities that set you apart.

Use them whenever you have an opportunity.

People remember the end of the project. As they say

in boxing, “Always finish stronger than you start.”