Legal Research

"Five Steps to Make Yourself Great"

Posted by Penelope Trunk: "The best way to get control of your career and stability in your life is to be great at what you do. Superstars are not out of work right now. Really. Even in finance. If you have an amazing track record in your field of work, you'll have a job. And if you need to change jobs, or adjust what you're doing, you'll be able to do it if you're great at what you do.

Here are five steps to follow:

1. Aim to be great at something that matters in the world...

2.  Expect that being great will entail many levels of disappointment...

3. Try starting and stopping; we feel desperate to do what we're great at...

4. When you know what's special about you, refuse work outside of that...

5. Quit quickly if you won't be great. You don't have time for mediocrity...

You know why I write so much about social skills on this blog? Because mine are so sub-par and I have to work so hard at learning how to make myself less awkward socially. So radio is never going to be my strength.

And here's another reason I know: because people are, at their core, honest, caring, and supportive. And people will tell you, effusively, if you have exceptional talent at something. Because it's fun to see great talent, and fun to be a part of watching it bloom. And people do not say that with me and radio. They say they like the show, but I know what it is like when people think I have huge talent. So I am not doing my radio show anymore. Because maybe I'm good, but I won't be great. And I don't have time in my life to not be great."

Full text and active links are available at the source site listed below.

Source: Penelope Trunk's Brazen Careerist, 7 May 2009

Full post as published by Stark County Law Library Blawg on May 08, 2009 (boomark / email).