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Big Success (Part Two)
(This is Part Two of the Big Success series.)
Whether you’re looking for a new job or looking to get ahead, here’s some advice…
Remember the yo-yo? It’s the round toy with a string attached and the toy is spun up and down the string from your hand. You probably played with one when you were a kid. Try it again—notice how quickly the skill comes back. Forgot you could do that, didn’t you! Take time to consider all your skills and accomplishments as you prepare or update your resume. Things that come naturally to you shouldn’t be dismissed. Make sure you include yo-yo’s you used in previous jobs. Do a wide-sweep inventory of what you enjoy doing—your skills, talents, and interests. Capture them in your primary marketing tool, your resume. Make yourself stand out.
This is a paragraph from my new book, Find a Job: The Little Book for BIG SUCCESS. It’s focused on preparing your resume. But the same diligence should be applied if you’re fortunate to be employed.
Getting clarity on what you’re good at is one of the first steps in making your mark in the world of work. It’s not enough to be mediocre in today’s economy. You’ve got to perform. Stand out.
When the Ramsey Lewis Trio shows up to perform at a concert, there’s a pianist, bass player, and drummer. They don’t switch instruments. They know their skills. In fact, they probably knew at an early age what they were good at, and they started developing their knack for smoking the ivories, stroking the strings, and pounding the daylights out of the drums.
What are you good at? Don’t assume you know. It’s an intelligent question—take a few minutes to answer it. Go beyond your current or most recent job. You’ve got something the workplace needs.
My suggestion? Make a list of 25 skills and talents. Then identify the top 5 or 6 you want to use on a regular basis. Working with numbers, writing a paper, analyzing data, baking tarts, organizing an office…you get the picture. Is your current job giving you the opportunity to use them? If so, great! If not, talk to your supervisor about other ways of doing your work, or even other opportunities. If that doesn’t work, start thinking about and planning for your next career move.
You have talents, skills, and abilities that are uniquely yours. And you have ways of using them that no one else can replicate.
Stand up and be noticed.
