Work Mode with Brown Uzoukwu: For the Career-Minded Person, A is Not For Apple

As we strive to continue to improve in our individual career paths, I want to subtly chip in some of the common phrases or noun that we have to acquaint ourselves with throughout the journey. For the career person, the alphabet represents the following:

A is not for Apple, A is for Action
People that succeed in their careers are the who act on their plans. You can set million-dollar career goals, but if you don’t get to act on it, you will be as good as someone who has no career goals.

B is not for Ball, B is for Boss
This is one personality you will always get to deal with on a daily basis if you are a career person. It is either you are working for a boss, or you are a boss yourself. Whatever be the case, just have it at the back of your mind that you will not work with the best of bosses. Don’t allow that put a clog in your career advancement.

C is not for Cat, C is for Colleague
At the workplace, you are not dealing with animals that can be easily tamed. You have colleagues and they are human. Humans are dynamic, complex and difficult. Expect different characters, ideologies and idiosyncrasies. Improving your people skills will go a long way.

D is not for Dog, D is for Development
As a career person, you must understand that learning is a continuous process. Young career persons are too focused on job security that they throw career development to the wind. Yes you have landed the job, what next? It does not end there. Keep developing yourself professionally.

E is not for Elephant, E is for Emotional Intelligence (EI)
To succeed in the workplace you must realize you are not dealing with elephants, neither are you an elephant. You must put your emotional intelligence to work. It is your capacity to be aware of, control and express one’s emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and emphatically.

F is not for Fan, F is for Finance
As a career person, you need to acquire financial education. Financial intelligence is not exclusive to entrepreneurs. Learn how to save, spend and invest wisely. You need to understand that you won’t be active forever, so secure your future.

G is not Goat, G is for Goal
High flyers set specific goals. Career success don’t just happen, you must set SMART career goals in order to succeed exceedingly.

H is not Horse, H is for Hard work
You can’t neglect the place of hard work in one’s quest to attain career success. There are no short cuts in life. There is dignity in labour.

I is not for Ice cream, I is for Interpersonal skill
You must know how to get along with others while getting the job done.

J is not for Jug, J is for Job/Job Hunting
Job hunting is a full time job. Job seekers must prepare themselves effectively, to be able to secure their dream job. Jobs are scarce, yes. But people still get their dream job. Don’t give up yet.

K is not for Kettle, Knowledge
Knowledge is power. Knowledge are facts, information and skills acquired through experience or education. When you know, it gives you an edge in your career journey.

L is not for Lion, L is for Love
The easiest way to achieve career success and fulfilment is to love what you do. Do you love your job? Are you still in love with your job?

M is not for Monkey, M is for Motivation
You can be deriving your motivation from various sources in your career. However, to be able to withstand the dynamics and intricacies of the workplace, the best form of motivation is still self-motivation.

N is not for Nest, N is for Nepotism
This is favoritism granted to relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs. It is not going to end anytime soon. So brace yourself up because you will definitely encounter it in your career journey either as a beneficiary or a victim.

O is not for Orange, O is for Organogram
You must understand how your organization is structured and how positions in your workplace are related to each other.

P is not for Pot, P is for Politics
There are strategies that people deploy to gain advantage, personally or for a cause they support in the workplace. The workplace is full of politics. You must learn how to navigate through office politics as a career person. You must be politically savvy.

Q is not Queen, Q is for Query
Issuing of query is a common practice in the workplace. You need to be ready to accept one when it is issued to you. It is nothing personal.

R is not for Rat, R is for Results
Career success is for people that deliver results. Organizations are looking for people that are result-oriented. If you make excuses a lot, career success is not yet for you.

S is not for sheep, S is for Salary
This is the sweetest part of our career right? When you get the alerts of job done. Enjoy the moment, but don’t forget the advice we recommended as regards your finances. Also learn a thing or two about salary negotiation, it is very important.

T is not for Tie, T is for Time
Time is one of the most priceless asset we have. Any lost time can never be regained. Improve your time management skill. Learn to delegate, priorities and avoid unnecessary procrastination.

U is not for Umbrella, U is for Unemployment
The term unemployment is familiar with career persons, especially in this part of the world. Be productive, be a solution-provider and you will conquer the tsunami called unemployment.

V is not for Violin, V is for Value
Are you a value provider? People that get to the pinnacle of their career focus more on value optimization, not profit maximization.

W is not for Watch, W is for Work
Many people are looking for jobs, but few are looking for work. It is in the place of work that you find a job. Embrace the concept of work and you will end your job search.

X is not for Xmas tree, X is for eXcellence
Individuals that get to the top of their career are excellence-driven. Excellence is the quality of being allergic to mediocrity. When you are excellence-driven, you are not just concerned about the volume of targets you cover, but the quality. Remember, excellence is not an act, it is an attitude thing.

Y is not for Yacht, Y is for You
You are responsible for what happens in your life and your career. Start assuming responsibilities today and stop relinquishing powers to other people over your life. Nobody has a vested interest in your success than yourself, so pay attention to you. Always strive to get better than you.

Z is not for Zebra, Z is for Zeal
Zeal is passion. Passion can drive you to the heights of your career. Are you still passionate about the career path you have chosen for yourself?

Have a great day and stay productive.

Photo Credit: Piotr Marcinski | Dreamstime.com