No matter what you do, whether you are an employee at the bottom of the totem pole, a middle manager, an independent contractor, or a business owner, there are certain things that you can do to set yourself up for success. Four things that you can do that guarantee your success are the following:
1) Have a great work ethic. People say work smarter, not harder. But I believe that you should work smarter AND harder. Do you things well, do them efficiently, and do them more often than your competition.
2) Be willing to do the tasks that are “not your responsibility” when needed. This doesn’t mean to overstep your boundaries. There should be defined roles and responsibilities for each job position. But if you notice something needs to get done right now and nobody else is picking up the slack, do it. You don’t need to advertise what you’ve done, just get it done and move on.
3) Always be willing to listen and to learn more. Pick the brains from those who have done it before you and from the top professionals in your field right now. Listen to podcasts, read books, read blogs, network, etc. The point is to not think that you know everything. You can always improve.
4) Be optimistic. Don’t let your current circumstances get you down. Be optimistic that you have the ability and determination to turn things around. Being optimistic doesn’t mean that you think things will magically get better, but that things can and will get better if you do something to make it better.