by James Hale,
80 – 90 % of job openings are filled by people who knew someone within the company to put in a good word for them. Chances are you have landed a job in the past based on who you knew.
Technical skills alone will not get you job offers. You need friends, coaches, mentors, colleagues, family, and a nice mix of people who recognize your potential and want to help you succeed. Maybe PathChoices can be one of the people to help you on your career path. Regardless, there is no doubt that you cannot succeed by yourself. No success in Hollywood, politics, or the business world did so alone. You must surround yourself with people who help you learn, grow, and flourish. Think of all the coaches and managers that surround the big name Hollywood stars and the great business talent. The most successful people have surrounded themselves with an “inner circle” of 8 – 20 people who can help them. The road to success is rarely traveled alone.
And while you are surrounding yourself with people who can help you, keep an eye open for people you can help. The world is packed with both children and adults who do not recognize their gifts or potential. They have never had anyone who believed in them. A few of them will succeed in life, but many others will fail because no one invested in them.
At any time, there should be at least one person in your life whom you invest in with confidential discussion, productive advice, and genuine encouragement. This person should be someone you are not required to help and who cannot offer you any assistance as a payback. There should be nothing for you in the relationship. It should be a selfless, giving act on your part. It should come from the heart, even if you do not want to and you need to force it just a little.
Work is a social undertaking. No one achieves success in their career without the help of others. Find someone whom you admire and take them out to lunch once a month to pick their brain. Hire a coach who will be totally honest in encouraging you and helping you see your blind spots. Get to know people who work for the business you want to work for. Chances are, the next giant step on your career path will come from one of these three sources.
