| It may be a good idea to see the past in order to | | | | someone else will take you under their wing and |
| get direction for the future. This may be the | | | | show you everything you need to do so you can |
| obvious for the seasoned managers, but this may | | | | advance your career. You have more |
| help a few of you who are just starting out. | | | | vested-interest in your personal success than |
| It had been weeks since I received the advice | | | | they do. |
| from my boss, "I needed to develop my people | | | | You need to ask for help. Let the person that can |
| skills." Hmmm. I still had a very narrow idea of | | | | get you that promotion know what you want. He |
| what he was talking about. | | | | or she may not even realize you are interested. |
| People Skills to me meant: I was pleasant with the | | | | Remember they also have their own set of |
| customers Got along well with all of the other | | | | objectives. Your needs may not be their top |
| staff members Took pride in my appearance | | | | priority. |
| Reported to work a few minutes early for my | | | | People form opinions about you on a continual |
| shifts, and Always did a better than average job. | | | | basis. If you are looking for advancement to a |
| In my mind, I had become 'the model employee.' | | | | management position, start acting like a manager. |
| But, I was still making close to minimum wage and | | | | All your actions and reactions to situations which |
| not getting anywhere fast. I wanted more. I | | | | occur in your business everyday should |
| wanted more than just being an employee, and I | | | | consistently follow the company rules and |
| wanted the benefits that came along with it. I | | | | standards of operation. |
| wanted to make more money. | | | | Life is not always fair. You can use "the wait and |
| It was time for me to make a big change. It was | | | | see method" for your success, and hope |
| time to take charge of my own development. It | | | | someone notices your exceptional skills and offers |
| was time to admit that I had more to learn, if I | | | | you everything you think you deserve. I can tell |
| expected my dreams to come true. I made a | | | | you from first-hand experience, this doesn't work. |
| vow to myself, "I would change, I would take | | | | Know that life is usually not fair, so I suggest you |
| charge of my development, I would learn | | | | do things that tip the scale in your favor. Use |
| whatever it took to get what I wanted." | | | | your head, be creative and make a difference. |
| And so the journey began: | | | | Making a difference is 95% related to the |
| I learned several valuable lessens that had | | | | company's bottom line, the bottom line meaning, |
| previously seemed to be hiding from my view. | | | | the amount of money the company is actually |
| These are but a few: | | | | making after all the expenses are paid. If you can |
| You have to be the one to start the ball rolling. | | | | contribute to generating more dollars in sales and |
| Ask for help. You are being observed by | | | | profits, you are well on your way to being |
| someone, all of the time. Life is not fair. The | | | | recognized as a valued employee, a leader, and an |
| bottom line is money and profits. You have to be | | | | ideal candidate for becoming a MANAGER. |
| the one to take the first step. Don't expect | | | | |