by florenzie
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Think about yourself worthy to be called as IT professional, how do you see yourself 10 years from now, what are your strategies to get there?
As I have picture myself ten years from now, I would possibly be an Information Technology professional, specifically an IT Consultant. However, calling oneself as “worthy” one makes a big distinction. It encompasses many aspects to be considered. One must possess different skills and personalities which are fundamental in this role. It entails that I should be an adroit IT professional and morally upright individual.
But how can I be a worthy IT Consultant?
The future depends on what we do in the present.~Mahatma Gandhi
In a fast changing environment we have now, I can never tell what lies ahead. There is a lot of thing to be needed to be planned and a lot of things to work on.
Basically, I must study first and must be responsible for the every task needed to fully endow me in the real scenario of my future life.
Being an IT Consultant is actually a hard to find dream to an individual like me. Although, we are not fully-equip in the first institution that we have entered the University of Southeastern Philippines- Tagum Campus; we are not deeply exposed to the latest trend and the intensive training on the development of our programming skills which is definitely a fundamental requisite in becoming an IT Consultant. But that is not an excuse, instead I must strive harder to cope up and not be left behind to the Obrero studs. Through acquiring information and studying harder to elevate my knowledge on the latest trends of technology and by using the available resource which the university is offering to its constituents. More to the point, by proper planning and intensive self discipline I will probably reach my goals and will be successful IT Professional sooner or later. “Footprints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down.”
Every pronouncement is obliged to arrive from a plan, which will funnel my way in conquering all my goals and targets in life.
Planning is really momentous in our life because it provides us an alternative on what to be meeting throughout the voyage of our life, even though it is not easy facing all the trials and failure that we might encounter along the way, remember that “The road to success runs uphill.”~Willie Davis. With this I learned that we should not plan to fail but plan to succeed.
Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.~
Ronald E. Osborn
Moreover, a consultant is usually an expert or a professional in a specific field and has a wide knowledge of the subject matter. A consultant usually works for a consultancy firm or is self-employed, and engages with multiple and changing clients. Thus, clients have access to deeper levels of expertise than would be feasible for them to retain in-house, and may purchase only as much service from the outside consultant as desired. It is generally accepted good corporate governance to hire consultants as a check to the Principal-Agent problem.
An IT consultant works in partnership with clients, advising them how to use information technology in order to meet their business objectives or overcome problems. Consultants work to improve the structure and efficiency and of an organization’s IT systems. IT consultants may be involved in a variety of activities, including marketing, project management, client relationship management and systems development. They may also be responsible for user training and feedback. In many companies, these tasks will be carried out by an IT project team. IT consultants are increasingly involved in sales and business development, as well as technical duties.
Definition and Nature of the Work
The widespread use of computers in businesses of all sizes has created a need for computer consultants. Companies that are large enough to computerize their operations but too small to need a computer specialist on staff usually hire computer consultants on a contract or retainer basis.
Most computer consultants work independently, although some are employed by consulting firms. Their duties vary according to the needs of their client companies. A computer consultant might spend only a few hours helping a dentist select and learn to operate a small office system. For a larger company, the consultant might spend several months establishing a complicated database, creating a network of small and large computers, writing user manuals, designing a Web site, or conducting computer training classes. Consultants also may recommend and design security features for a computer system. Computer consultants can be software programmers, hardware system installers, networking specialists, database specialists, systems analysts, or a combination of the above.
Education and Training Requirements
Most computer consultants are college graduates. They may have degrees in computer science or data processing. Experts recommend that aspiring consultants gain experience as staff computer specialists before working independently.
Task typically involve:
• meeting with clients to determine requirements;
• working with clients to define the scope of a project;
• planning timescales and the resources needed;
• clarifying a client's system specifications, understanding their work practices and the nature of their business;
• traveling to customer sites;
• liaising with staff at all levels of a client organization;
• defining software, hardware and network requirements;
• analyzing IT requirements within companies and giving independent and objective advice on the use of IT;
• developing agreed solutions and implementing new systems;
• presenting solutions in written or oral reports;
• helping clients with change-management activities;
• project managing the design and implementation of preferred solutions;
• purchasing systems where appropriate;
• designing, testing, installing and monitoring new systems;
• preparing documentation and presenting progress reports to customers;
• organizing training for users and other consultants;
• being involved in sales and support and, where appropriate, maintaining contact with client organisations;
• identifying potential clients and building and maintaining contacts.
Information technology (IT) consultants work in firms of management consultants, software and systems houses within large manufacturers of computing equipment, or occasionally internally in major industrial companies.
The secret of success is to do the common things uncommonly well.~John D. Rockefeller
What IT consultants do
• analyze IT requirements within companies and give independent and objective advice on the use of IT
• provide specialist support and back-up to professionals within client companies
• advise on strategic planning and operational efficiency
• may run facilities for clients
• design, develop and test new systems
• train staff in new systems.
Key skills for IT consultants
• analytical approach to work
• excellent problem-solving skills
• interpersonal skills
• communication skills
• ability to absorb complex technical information and pass this on clearly
• stamina to meet deadlines
• ability to work under pressure
• project-management skills
• detailed technical knowledge
• motivation.
Training to be an IT consultant
Training is usually on the job, and may include training in programming languages, systems analysis and testing, or in business skills. Practical project experience under supervision is also given.
Information technology consulting (IT consulting, Computer consultancy, Computing consultancy, technology consulting or business and technology services) is a field that focuses on advising businesses on how best to use information technology to meet their business objectives. In addition to providing advice, IT consultancies often implement, deploy, and administer IT systems on businesses' behalf.
The IT consulting industry can be viewed as a three-tier system:
• Professional services firms which maintain large professional workforces and command high bill rates.
• Staffing firms, which place technologists with businesses on a temporary basis, typically in response to employee absences, temporary skill shortages and technical projects.
• Independent consultants, who function as employees of staffing firms (for US tax purposes, employed on "W-2"), or as independent contractors in their own right (for US tax purposes, on "1099").
There is a relatively unclear line between management consulting and IT consulting. There are sometimes overlaps between the two fields, but IT consultants often have degrees in computer science, electronics, technology, or management information systems while management consultants often have degrees in accounting, economics, Industrial Engineering, finance, or a generalized MBA (Masters in Business Administration).
According to the Institute for Partner Education & Development, IT consultants' revenues come predominantly from design and planning based consulting with a mixture of IT and Business Consulting. This is different from a Systems Integrator in that you do not normally take title to product. Their value comes from their ability to integrate and support technologies as well as determining product and brands.
With all these thoughts and beliefs, I would probably say that that the mere fact that I’m holding my own key to success is the fact that I have to struggle more in fulfilling my vision and mission in life not only an ordinary person but as the future IT professional.
Strategies For Achieving Career Success
An impressive and consistent career growth record is every professional’s dream, a dream that most would do anything for. Yet, many believe that achieving professional success is an impossible feat requiring complex Machiavellian maneuvering. Contrary to popular opinion, there is no mystic mantra for achieving career success. The strategies for achieving career growth and success combine plain old hard work, planning, and common sense. Below examines a few strategies:
Improve your employer’s ROI (on you of course)
Like it or not, we all get paid to produce results (unless your employer is unusually benevolent). Ideally, the employer expects you to be at par with -- or at best, outperform -- established objectives for your position. The employer pays you a certain salary and expects you to return more than what is invested on you; in other words a high return on investment (ROI) is expected. Work hard and do everything possible to deliver a high ROI.
Professional development
Learning never ends, they say. Continuously investing in professional development -- training programs, professional associations, education, certifications, reading professional literature, and the likes -- will help you stay abreast with the latest advancements in your field, and also a step above the competition. Set aside an annual budget (if your employer doesn’t sponsor) for your professional development and growth.
Challenge yourself
Top professionals constantly challenge and reinvent themselves, pushing the bar to achieve more every time. If you are able to produce 100%, try for 110%. Constantly challenge yourself to achieve more every time.
Become a valuable resource
Do people come to you for advice very often? If not, take steps to become an expert in your profession. From internal employees to the media, you must be viewed upon as a valuable resource. Look for publishing (articles, books, etc.) and public speaking opportunities in your profession.
Love all, serve all
No, I am not trying to preach. Try volunteering on projects, community initiatives, company presentations, internal committees, etc. Take on extra tasks. The rewards of such service (translation: the extra mile) will go beyond the professional frontier. Being perceived as “helpful” and motivated could do wonders for your career.
Learn to work through the political machinery
You don’t have to become a conniving politician in order to achieve career growth (success). Just know what to say and when; avoid confrontations, disputations, etc.
Improve your visibility
Do you attend company events, conferences, etc? Does your boss know what results you are producing? If not, you might be missing out on great opportunities.
Network, network, network
If I could, I would summarize this article in three simple words, they would be as follows: network, network, network. Knowing the right people, both within and outside the organization (especially experts, authors, and industry leaders) can do wonders for your career. If you don’t have a mentor, consider having one. The right mentor can make a significant difference in your career.
Become a better leader
The corporate world values leadership skills like no other. Irrespective of your profession or position title, leadership skills are always desirable. Be proactive and develop your leadership skills.
Follow professional ethics
Qualities like punctuality, reliability, precision, diplomacy, enthusiasm, positive attitude … are always valuable. The stronger your professional ethic, the more successful your career will be.
Although success doesn’t come overnight, common sense, hard work, and careful planning is what it takes to catapult even an ordinary career to enviable heights.
In addition I have also found an interesting article which will help us to give an information on the strategies that we are going to practice.
According to Stacey Mayo, there are 10 of 26 proven strategies gleaned from interviews with highly successful people who have overcome obstacles to accomplish such feats at climbing Mt. Everest, winning a Grammy, becoming a multi-millionaire, becoming an established author and humorist, a professional pitcher in the Major Leagues, an internet entrepreneur who earns millions and more. Regardless of your career or industry, when applied, these success principles can shorten your learning curve and be a catalyst for your success.
These principles were excerpted from the book, “I Can’t Believe I Get Paid To Do This!” Remarkable People Reveal 26 Proven Strategies For Making Your Dreams a Reality by Stacey Mayo.
Create Wealth in Alignment with Your Passions
It is important to focus on what you are passionate about first and then find a way to make money at it. Get in touch with your heart first, otherwise, the left side of your brain will rule out perfectly good ideas without having explored them.
“Money allows us the freedom to pursue the things that are important to us. Money is not an end it itself.” Stacy Allison, first American woman to successfully climb Mt. Everest
Honor Numero Uno: Design Your Life around Your Priorities
Many people try to fit their dreams into their life and complain there are not enough hours in the day to make it happen. If you want your dream to become a reality, make it a priority. Otherwise, it will never be more than a pipedream.
Visualize Every Step of Your Dream and Watch the Magic Unfold
The muscle movement that helps us physically take action in our lives begins in the mind. That is why all great golfers, tennis players, basketball players, etc. visualize themselves making a shot beforehand. An experiment conducted by Alan Richardson, an Australian psychologist, found 23% performance improvement among subjects who visualized every day for 20 days. In his paper published in Research Quarterly, Richardson wrote that the most effective visualization occurs when the visualizer feels and sees what he is doing.
“I really visualized it, too, even as a child watching those programs. I could visualize myself walking up the stage, up the stairs. For me, visualizing those dreams happening was pertinent to making that happen, because I could see it. I pictured it in my head” Mary Youngblood, welfare mom turned Grammy Award Winner
Easy Does It: Inspired Action Always Trumps Forced Action
Inspired action is joyful action that is in alignment with your dream. It is action you want to take and the idea of it brings a smile to your face. When you take inspired action, you are aligned with what you are doing and things flow naturally.
Contrast this to action that you are forcing yourself to take regardless of whether you feel like doing it. Maybe you are in a bad mood or have a headache but decide you have to take this action and keep trudging forward. The likelihood is that if you take action from this place it will take you twice as long to accomplish your task or goal or there will be obstacles that come up along the way. It’s like swimming against strong currents.
Laser in On One Idea, Business or Income Stream at a Time
One of the mistakes people make is diversifying too quickly. This is true whether you are trying to build multiple streams of income or are just working on several different ideas at one time. The key is getting the first stream or idea up and running, producing good revenue, and having systems in place so it will keep running without you before going on to the next unrelated stream.
“Several things going on at one time is a distraction to cash.” Loral Langemeier, single mom, financial literacy coach and millionaire
Strengthen Your Relationships: Your Financial Independence is Dependent on Your Connections with Others
Many people think of the day when they will be financially independent as “freedom day.” And, while financial independence is a worthwhile goal, it does not mean that you are free of your dependence on other people. As a matter of fact, in order to create financial independence, you just might need a lot more people in your life than you have right now.
Develop Your Resilience Muscle: Bounce Back From Setbacks
The truth is that you will have setbacks along the way. This is just inevitable. The sooner you accept that, the better. Many of these setbacks will take the form of circumstances that come up and block your way. If you look closely, you may find these setbacks are directly correlated with your innermost thoughts, fears, and limiting beliefs. This is because we create what we focus on including those things we don’t want.
Don’t get stopped by these bumps in the road; learn from them. As you work through the setbacks that come up, you will become the person you need to be to live out your dreams.
Streamline Your Efforts; Align Your Natural Talents with Your Goal
Success comes easier and more quickly when you enhance your strengths and delegate in areas where you are weak. Your natural talents are those things you do so easily and naturally that you think they are no big deal. Many of my clients were overlooking their natural talents when they first came to me. They thought if it is this easy for them; it must be this easy for everyone. This is rarely the case.
The key is to take your natural talents and abilities and strengthen them through education and experience. You are not born an expert at anything. It is something you develop.
Disarm That Sneaky Inner Saboteur
Even when we know what we need to do, we often don’t do it out of fear of experiencing the emotions and other things that may come up as a result. Fear of failure and fear of success are the two biggest internal fears that people often face. Most other fears such as fear of rejection fall underneath one of these major categories. As human beings, we will go to great lengths to avoid our fears. That is why so many ideas never get beyond being a great idea, or projects are started and never finished. It is easy to find reasons, excuses, other diversions or projects, create chaos, and sometimes to even create emergencies to avoid these negative feelings or outcomes.
One of the most important things you can do is allow it to be okay to have these feelings. Then step back and notice what it is you do to get in your own way. When you have identified what you do, you can make a conscious decision to do it differently.
Shorten Your Learning Curve by Learning from The Best
You can learn from the people who are barely getting by, from those who are doing fairly well or from those at the top of the heap. Talk to people who are already successful and find out how they did it. That’s what the book; “I can’t Believe I Get Paid to do this!” is about. Its purpose is to provide success principles and philosophies from those who have excelled. They’ve already been down the road and you can learn from their experience. Why reinvent the wheel when someone else already did a great job of creating it?
Have faith. In spite of all the difficulties in life that we will encounter in upcoming days, we should not lose our faith in Him. If we find hard time in our journey just take a break and read the Bible. Just call in Him. Don’t refuse to do so. Just believe because nothing is impossible in Him.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consultant
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_analyst
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/p/types_of_job/it_consultant_job_description.jsp
http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/196/Computer-Consultant.html
http://top10success.htm
http://saicarreers.com/career_growth_career_success.html
As I have picture myself ten years from now, I would possibly be an Information Technology professional, specifically an IT Consultant. However, calling oneself as “worthy” one makes a big distinction. It encompasses many aspects to be considered. One must possess different skills and personalities which are fundamental in this role. It entails that I should be an adroit IT professional and morally upright individual.
But how can I be a worthy IT Consultant?
The future depends on what we do in the present.~Mahatma Gandhi
In a fast changing environment we have now, I can never tell what lies ahead. There is a lot of thing to be needed to be planned and a lot of things to work on.
Basically, I must study first and must be responsible for the every task needed to fully endow me in the real scenario of my future life.
Being an IT Consultant is actually a hard to find dream to an individual like me. Although, we are not fully-equip in the first institution that we have entered the University of Southeastern Philippines- Tagum Campus; we are not deeply exposed to the latest trend and the intensive training on the development of our programming skills which is definitely a fundamental requisite in becoming an IT Consultant. But that is not an excuse, instead I must strive harder to cope up and not be left behind to the Obrero studs. Through acquiring information and studying harder to elevate my knowledge on the latest trends of technology and by using the available resource which the university is offering to its constituents. More to the point, by proper planning and intensive self discipline I will probably reach my goals and will be successful IT Professional sooner or later. “Footprints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down.”
Every pronouncement is obliged to arrive from a plan, which will funnel my way in conquering all my goals and targets in life.
Planning is really momentous in our life because it provides us an alternative on what to be meeting throughout the voyage of our life, even though it is not easy facing all the trials and failure that we might encounter along the way, remember that “The road to success runs uphill.”~Willie Davis. With this I learned that we should not plan to fail but plan to succeed.
Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.~
Ronald E. Osborn
Moreover, a consultant is usually an expert or a professional in a specific field and has a wide knowledge of the subject matter. A consultant usually works for a consultancy firm or is self-employed, and engages with multiple and changing clients. Thus, clients have access to deeper levels of expertise than would be feasible for them to retain in-house, and may purchase only as much service from the outside consultant as desired. It is generally accepted good corporate governance to hire consultants as a check to the Principal-Agent problem.
An IT consultant works in partnership with clients, advising them how to use information technology in order to meet their business objectives or overcome problems. Consultants work to improve the structure and efficiency and of an organization’s IT systems. IT consultants may be involved in a variety of activities, including marketing, project management, client relationship management and systems development. They may also be responsible for user training and feedback. In many companies, these tasks will be carried out by an IT project team. IT consultants are increasingly involved in sales and business development, as well as technical duties.
Definition and Nature of the Work
The widespread use of computers in businesses of all sizes has created a need for computer consultants. Companies that are large enough to computerize their operations but too small to need a computer specialist on staff usually hire computer consultants on a contract or retainer basis.
Most computer consultants work independently, although some are employed by consulting firms. Their duties vary according to the needs of their client companies. A computer consultant might spend only a few hours helping a dentist select and learn to operate a small office system. For a larger company, the consultant might spend several months establishing a complicated database, creating a network of small and large computers, writing user manuals, designing a Web site, or conducting computer training classes. Consultants also may recommend and design security features for a computer system. Computer consultants can be software programmers, hardware system installers, networking specialists, database specialists, systems analysts, or a combination of the above.
Education and Training Requirements
Most computer consultants are college graduates. They may have degrees in computer science or data processing. Experts recommend that aspiring consultants gain experience as staff computer specialists before working independently.
Task typically involve:
• meeting with clients to determine requirements;
• working with clients to define the scope of a project;
• planning timescales and the resources needed;
• clarifying a client's system specifications, understanding their work practices and the nature of their business;
• traveling to customer sites;
• liaising with staff at all levels of a client organization;
• defining software, hardware and network requirements;
• analyzing IT requirements within companies and giving independent and objective advice on the use of IT;
• developing agreed solutions and implementing new systems;
• presenting solutions in written or oral reports;
• helping clients with change-management activities;
• project managing the design and implementation of preferred solutions;
• purchasing systems where appropriate;
• designing, testing, installing and monitoring new systems;
• preparing documentation and presenting progress reports to customers;
• organizing training for users and other consultants;
• being involved in sales and support and, where appropriate, maintaining contact with client organisations;
• identifying potential clients and building and maintaining contacts.
Information technology (IT) consultants work in firms of management consultants, software and systems houses within large manufacturers of computing equipment, or occasionally internally in major industrial companies.
The secret of success is to do the common things uncommonly well.~John D. Rockefeller
What IT consultants do
• analyze IT requirements within companies and give independent and objective advice on the use of IT
• provide specialist support and back-up to professionals within client companies
• advise on strategic planning and operational efficiency
• may run facilities for clients
• design, develop and test new systems
• train staff in new systems.
Key skills for IT consultants
• analytical approach to work
• excellent problem-solving skills
• interpersonal skills
• communication skills
• ability to absorb complex technical information and pass this on clearly
• stamina to meet deadlines
• ability to work under pressure
• project-management skills
• detailed technical knowledge
• motivation.
Training to be an IT consultant
Training is usually on the job, and may include training in programming languages, systems analysis and testing, or in business skills. Practical project experience under supervision is also given.
Information technology consulting (IT consulting, Computer consultancy, Computing consultancy, technology consulting or business and technology services) is a field that focuses on advising businesses on how best to use information technology to meet their business objectives. In addition to providing advice, IT consultancies often implement, deploy, and administer IT systems on businesses' behalf.
The IT consulting industry can be viewed as a three-tier system:
• Professional services firms which maintain large professional workforces and command high bill rates.
• Staffing firms, which place technologists with businesses on a temporary basis, typically in response to employee absences, temporary skill shortages and technical projects.
• Independent consultants, who function as employees of staffing firms (for US tax purposes, employed on "W-2"), or as independent contractors in their own right (for US tax purposes, on "1099").
There is a relatively unclear line between management consulting and IT consulting. There are sometimes overlaps between the two fields, but IT consultants often have degrees in computer science, electronics, technology, or management information systems while management consultants often have degrees in accounting, economics, Industrial Engineering, finance, or a generalized MBA (Masters in Business Administration).
According to the Institute for Partner Education & Development, IT consultants' revenues come predominantly from design and planning based consulting with a mixture of IT and Business Consulting. This is different from a Systems Integrator in that you do not normally take title to product. Their value comes from their ability to integrate and support technologies as well as determining product and brands.
With all these thoughts and beliefs, I would probably say that that the mere fact that I’m holding my own key to success is the fact that I have to struggle more in fulfilling my vision and mission in life not only an ordinary person but as the future IT professional.
Strategies For Achieving Career Success
An impressive and consistent career growth record is every professional’s dream, a dream that most would do anything for. Yet, many believe that achieving professional success is an impossible feat requiring complex Machiavellian maneuvering. Contrary to popular opinion, there is no mystic mantra for achieving career success. The strategies for achieving career growth and success combine plain old hard work, planning, and common sense. Below examines a few strategies:
Improve your employer’s ROI (on you of course)
Like it or not, we all get paid to produce results (unless your employer is unusually benevolent). Ideally, the employer expects you to be at par with -- or at best, outperform -- established objectives for your position. The employer pays you a certain salary and expects you to return more than what is invested on you; in other words a high return on investment (ROI) is expected. Work hard and do everything possible to deliver a high ROI.
Professional development
Learning never ends, they say. Continuously investing in professional development -- training programs, professional associations, education, certifications, reading professional literature, and the likes -- will help you stay abreast with the latest advancements in your field, and also a step above the competition. Set aside an annual budget (if your employer doesn’t sponsor) for your professional development and growth.
Challenge yourself
Top professionals constantly challenge and reinvent themselves, pushing the bar to achieve more every time. If you are able to produce 100%, try for 110%. Constantly challenge yourself to achieve more every time.
Become a valuable resource
Do people come to you for advice very often? If not, take steps to become an expert in your profession. From internal employees to the media, you must be viewed upon as a valuable resource. Look for publishing (articles, books, etc.) and public speaking opportunities in your profession.
Love all, serve all
No, I am not trying to preach. Try volunteering on projects, community initiatives, company presentations, internal committees, etc. Take on extra tasks. The rewards of such service (translation: the extra mile) will go beyond the professional frontier. Being perceived as “helpful” and motivated could do wonders for your career.
Learn to work through the political machinery
You don’t have to become a conniving politician in order to achieve career growth (success). Just know what to say and when; avoid confrontations, disputations, etc.
Improve your visibility
Do you attend company events, conferences, etc? Does your boss know what results you are producing? If not, you might be missing out on great opportunities.
Network, network, network
If I could, I would summarize this article in three simple words, they would be as follows: network, network, network. Knowing the right people, both within and outside the organization (especially experts, authors, and industry leaders) can do wonders for your career. If you don’t have a mentor, consider having one. The right mentor can make a significant difference in your career.
Become a better leader
The corporate world values leadership skills like no other. Irrespective of your profession or position title, leadership skills are always desirable. Be proactive and develop your leadership skills.
Follow professional ethics
Qualities like punctuality, reliability, precision, diplomacy, enthusiasm, positive attitude … are always valuable. The stronger your professional ethic, the more successful your career will be.
Although success doesn’t come overnight, common sense, hard work, and careful planning is what it takes to catapult even an ordinary career to enviable heights.
In addition I have also found an interesting article which will help us to give an information on the strategies that we are going to practice.
According to Stacey Mayo, there are 10 of 26 proven strategies gleaned from interviews with highly successful people who have overcome obstacles to accomplish such feats at climbing Mt. Everest, winning a Grammy, becoming a multi-millionaire, becoming an established author and humorist, a professional pitcher in the Major Leagues, an internet entrepreneur who earns millions and more. Regardless of your career or industry, when applied, these success principles can shorten your learning curve and be a catalyst for your success.
These principles were excerpted from the book, “I Can’t Believe I Get Paid To Do This!” Remarkable People Reveal 26 Proven Strategies For Making Your Dreams a Reality by Stacey Mayo.
Create Wealth in Alignment with Your Passions
It is important to focus on what you are passionate about first and then find a way to make money at it. Get in touch with your heart first, otherwise, the left side of your brain will rule out perfectly good ideas without having explored them.
“Money allows us the freedom to pursue the things that are important to us. Money is not an end it itself.” Stacy Allison, first American woman to successfully climb Mt. Everest
Honor Numero Uno: Design Your Life around Your Priorities
Many people try to fit their dreams into their life and complain there are not enough hours in the day to make it happen. If you want your dream to become a reality, make it a priority. Otherwise, it will never be more than a pipedream.
Visualize Every Step of Your Dream and Watch the Magic Unfold
The muscle movement that helps us physically take action in our lives begins in the mind. That is why all great golfers, tennis players, basketball players, etc. visualize themselves making a shot beforehand. An experiment conducted by Alan Richardson, an Australian psychologist, found 23% performance improvement among subjects who visualized every day for 20 days. In his paper published in Research Quarterly, Richardson wrote that the most effective visualization occurs when the visualizer feels and sees what he is doing.
“I really visualized it, too, even as a child watching those programs. I could visualize myself walking up the stage, up the stairs. For me, visualizing those dreams happening was pertinent to making that happen, because I could see it. I pictured it in my head” Mary Youngblood, welfare mom turned Grammy Award Winner
Easy Does It: Inspired Action Always Trumps Forced Action
Inspired action is joyful action that is in alignment with your dream. It is action you want to take and the idea of it brings a smile to your face. When you take inspired action, you are aligned with what you are doing and things flow naturally.
Contrast this to action that you are forcing yourself to take regardless of whether you feel like doing it. Maybe you are in a bad mood or have a headache but decide you have to take this action and keep trudging forward. The likelihood is that if you take action from this place it will take you twice as long to accomplish your task or goal or there will be obstacles that come up along the way. It’s like swimming against strong currents.
Laser in On One Idea, Business or Income Stream at a Time
One of the mistakes people make is diversifying too quickly. This is true whether you are trying to build multiple streams of income or are just working on several different ideas at one time. The key is getting the first stream or idea up and running, producing good revenue, and having systems in place so it will keep running without you before going on to the next unrelated stream.
“Several things going on at one time is a distraction to cash.” Loral Langemeier, single mom, financial literacy coach and millionaire
Strengthen Your Relationships: Your Financial Independence is Dependent on Your Connections with Others
Many people think of the day when they will be financially independent as “freedom day.” And, while financial independence is a worthwhile goal, it does not mean that you are free of your dependence on other people. As a matter of fact, in order to create financial independence, you just might need a lot more people in your life than you have right now.
Develop Your Resilience Muscle: Bounce Back From Setbacks
The truth is that you will have setbacks along the way. This is just inevitable. The sooner you accept that, the better. Many of these setbacks will take the form of circumstances that come up and block your way. If you look closely, you may find these setbacks are directly correlated with your innermost thoughts, fears, and limiting beliefs. This is because we create what we focus on including those things we don’t want.
Don’t get stopped by these bumps in the road; learn from them. As you work through the setbacks that come up, you will become the person you need to be to live out your dreams.
Streamline Your Efforts; Align Your Natural Talents with Your Goal
Success comes easier and more quickly when you enhance your strengths and delegate in areas where you are weak. Your natural talents are those things you do so easily and naturally that you think they are no big deal. Many of my clients were overlooking their natural talents when they first came to me. They thought if it is this easy for them; it must be this easy for everyone. This is rarely the case.
The key is to take your natural talents and abilities and strengthen them through education and experience. You are not born an expert at anything. It is something you develop.
Disarm That Sneaky Inner Saboteur
Even when we know what we need to do, we often don’t do it out of fear of experiencing the emotions and other things that may come up as a result. Fear of failure and fear of success are the two biggest internal fears that people often face. Most other fears such as fear of rejection fall underneath one of these major categories. As human beings, we will go to great lengths to avoid our fears. That is why so many ideas never get beyond being a great idea, or projects are started and never finished. It is easy to find reasons, excuses, other diversions or projects, create chaos, and sometimes to even create emergencies to avoid these negative feelings or outcomes.
One of the most important things you can do is allow it to be okay to have these feelings. Then step back and notice what it is you do to get in your own way. When you have identified what you do, you can make a conscious decision to do it differently.
Shorten Your Learning Curve by Learning from The Best
You can learn from the people who are barely getting by, from those who are doing fairly well or from those at the top of the heap. Talk to people who are already successful and find out how they did it. That’s what the book; “I can’t Believe I Get Paid to do this!” is about. Its purpose is to provide success principles and philosophies from those who have excelled. They’ve already been down the road and you can learn from their experience. Why reinvent the wheel when someone else already did a great job of creating it?
Have faith. In spite of all the difficulties in life that we will encounter in upcoming days, we should not lose our faith in Him. If we find hard time in our journey just take a break and read the Bible. Just call in Him. Don’t refuse to do so. Just believe because nothing is impossible in Him.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consultant
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_analyst
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/p/types_of_job/it_consultant_job_description.jsp
http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/196/Computer-Consultant.html
http://top10success.htm
http://saicarreers.com/career_growth_career_success.html
