7 Reasons Leaders Can’t Transfer their Success to Other Organizations

I am often asked whether people that are effective leaders in their current organization can lead as effectively in any organization. My response: only a few can – and they are able to do so because they have an intuitive sense about how to lead people, cultivate relationships, be authentic, manage change and navigate the political landscape that exist in every organization as well as their respective industry.

Leadership is a funny thing.  You either are a leader or you are not.  You either have the ability to inspire and guide others to perform and be successful or you don’t.  Leadership can be taught, but leadership is more of an attitude than a set of learned skills.   Leaders know when they are leading.  They recognize and are aware that others are paying attention and taking note.  Great leaders have the intangibles that translate and shine in any environment. 

President Reagan was able to take his leadership from Hollywood into the White House.  Steve Jobs took his leadership from Apple to Pixar Animation Studios and back to Apple.   Phil Jackson took both the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers to three-peat championships.

Leadership is always being purposeful and mindful of your actions and how they impact those around you.   That is why the selfish know-it-all type leaders fail in environments they can’t control.  In fact, the very best leaders are less concerned about controlling others and more concerned about creating the environment that allows those around them to be successful.   People love to be led by those that help them mature, develop and prosper.

So what makes these great leaders tick?  To get the conversation started, here are seven of the most important areas that you must master:

1. Lead people (don’t treat them like puppets)

Employees (regardless of hierarchy or rank) want to know that their leaders are paying attention to them.  People want their leaders to be knowledgeable of what they are truly capable of achieving.  Great leaders have an ability to detect great talent.  In many cases they are able to unleash the hidden talents in others.

Leaders that treat people like puppets are short-lived leaders.  They drive talented people away.  And they destroy organizations.  Look at the dismal series of recent leaders at Hewlett-Packard for good examples of how to destroy a great organization. 

2. Earn relationships (don’t use your power to manipulate others)

Too many leaders use their power to manipulate and purposely create confusion in their organization to maintain control of others.  This is artificial leadership and I have witnessed this too many times in my career.  

Great leaders take the time to earn relationships.  They cultivate them by being responsible for them.  This approach injects confidence and builds trust.  People in the organization begin to feel that you care about them and are able to view them as peers not subordinates.  This is the only successful form of leadership in today’s global marketplace with its instant feedback and 24/7 news cycle.    

3. Be Authentic (don’t hide behind the title)

Reveal who you really are as a person.   Whether you like Bill Clinton or not, in person he makes you feel like he is approachable, and fun.   How about Tim Tebow?  His popularity is not an accident.  He is as authentic as it gets and extremely humble and grateful for the opportunity to lead the Denver Broncos as their quarterback.  Tebow’s leadership style will transcend and be equally as effective in any organization he leads.    Pepsi CEO, Indra Nooyi – is another great example.  Her warmth and eye contact make you feel that she is listening to you and that you are able to have a candid conversation.

Too many leaders hide behind their title instead of delivering the responsibility that is inherent in the title.   Are you always impressed by those you meet that have important titles?  Of course not.  It’s because they lack authenticity and deep down inside they also lack self-esteem.

4. Manage change organically (don’t try to control outcomes)

Great leaders have a way of going with the flow.  They don’t panic and are incredibly strategic about how to handle change and uncertainty.   They step back, carefully assess the situation and utilize points 1 -3 to when communicating and working with their teams to resolve problems.

The leaders that try to control the problem believe that they are at fault and don’t want to be exposed.  During times of crisis, it’s about solving the problem not identifying the culprit. 

5. Be Politically Savvy (don’t create the politics)

Every organization has its inherent dynamics and no one individual can completely control them.  They’re just part of the company DNA.  The most effective leaders embrace that and don’t try to change too much too quickly.  They observe and give people the benefit of the doubt.  They don’t attempt to create their own political web to override the current culture.

6. Serve the Industry your lead (don’t disrespect it)

Just because you were a hero in your previous industry, doesn’t mean the industry you are about to serve will easily accept you.   Believe me, I have lived this first hand when I entered the seafood industry after being an executive in the beverage industry.  It took time, but I was able to use what was unique about the seafood industry to incorporate the best practices that I had brought with me from the beverage world.   Ultimately, my peers respected the fact that I was trying to make the industry better.

Don’t undermine the industry.   If you do, it will undermine you.  It doesn’t matter how powerful you are, the industry defines the ground rules – not you.  Respect it and learn to grow with it.

7. Know the Organization and its History (don’t ignore it)

This probably is the most valuable point: know your employer and its backstories (both internally and externally).

The smartest thing I did when I moved from one company to the other was to understand the organization’s past.  I found that the most effective way to do this was by leading Town Hall type meetings and asking the employees to share their perspectives about the organization’s future -- because when you ask about the future, they always tell you about the past.  This helped me connect the dots more quickly and allowed me to plan more effectively.  It also helped me accomplish points 1,2,3, and 5 quickly.

Leadership is a rare quality, and those that can lead in more than one organization are rarer still.  These 7 characteristics form the basics of the intangibles that distinguish great leaders.  Study them and make them your own, especially if you are moving up – or over – in the leadership ranks. 

4 Things That Set Great Companies Apart from the Crowd

Most businesses these days are operating in survival mode. But take a look at the ones whose performance has been steady. This may sound idealistic, but the companies flourishing in this environment are finding non-traditional ways to compete, they’re staying focused on what matters most to their clients, and they’re not losing sight of how their product or service can make a difference in the world.

Here are four ways the best companies are naturally wired to lead:

1.They Discover Opportunity in Unlikely Places

Great organizations are always on the lookout for opportunities that others don’t see. Think of what Steve Jobs did with Apple: he sought to create new industries rather than competing in highly saturated markets. Leaders who seek to discover new opportunities are fearless when embarking upon new things and will continually test different methods to get the formula right. 

The best companies focus on the opportunities that create new kinds of experiences for their clients. They take on projects that most would see as unnecessary, or too complicated to invest in. They end up with products and services that make people’s lifestyles more enjoyable, more secure and easier to manage.  Clearly, Apple’s iPad is a great example of this, but there are others like Groupon, Facebook, Google, Skype, Zipcar, and more.

Great organizations are also always looking for talented people who can help them create new opportunities. For example, the New York Knicks signed Jeremy Lin after losing Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony to injury. They needed fresh talent with a new attitude and the ability to reignite their momentum and ultimately win games. Not only has Jeremy Lin delivered, he has turned out to be a media darling, and the fans love the way he plays. The Knicks were able to see a winning opportunity in a player who was undrafted and even released by other teams where he didn’t fit with the organization’s culture.

2.They’re Structured, Yet Entrepreneurial

This is a tricky one, but the best companies have mastered it. Companies like Zappos, Google and Facebook (all Gen Y companies, by the way) have designed their cultures to be structured in how they operate, yet entrepreneurial in how they encourage their employees to think, act and innovate. They encourage transparency and open-mindedness. But their leaders are disciplined enough to ensure that the organization’s performance goals are met while the company culture remains intact.

This requires a leadership team that trusts its people and celebrates differences. Leaders must recognize that there are many ways to find success, and that diversity of thought creates serendipity. Those who earn serendipity see what others don’t, do what others won’t, and keep pushing when prudence says quit. Here is a list of the top 10 serendipitous product discoveries, including Viagra, chocolate chips¸ artificial sweetener, and brandy.

3.They Don’t Let Their Focus Get Clouded By Distractions

The uncertainty of the US economy makes it difficult for any company to stay focused. But in today’s marketplace, being strategic is not only about anticipating your competitor’s next new product or advertising campaign, it’s about having an instinctual feel for the crisis and change that may surface around you. Leaders with high levels of strategic focus have a knack for anticipating the natural ebbs and flows of the marketplace.

Companies like Nokia and Blackberry were caught off guard by the disruptive technologies of the Android OS and the iPhone; Blockbuster never anticipated Netflix. Most automakers and consumers alike were shocked by the sudden reinvention of Hyundai and its sister company KIA that captured market share not only in the US, but around the world. This is why businesses talk so much about risk - and why companies shake up their C-suite from time to time. 

Strategic focus requires leadership with circular vision: vision with the capacity to see around, beneath and beyond what you seek in order to anticipate change and find the most valuable opportunities. 

4.They Seek Social Significance

The best companies use the platform of their corporate brand to create social significance that reverberates and multiplies. For example, IKEA partnered with UNICEF to create a program to help prevent child labor by changing the conditions that led to child labor in the first place: poverty, hunger, and illiteracy.

Because poverty is often the result of illness, IKEA and UNICEF also worked with the World Health Organization to establish a five-year vaccination program, vaccinating almost three hundred thousand women and children from three thousand villages from 2002 to 2007. IKEA has consistently been a leader as a company that makes the world a better place.

That kind of charitable work may seem like mere marketing, or worse, a distraction from the bottom line. But it’s the mark of a truly great company to recognize that a sense of mission and purpose inspires workers and customers alike. When people work for a company that is genuinely trying to make the world a better place, they’re inspired. They see opportunity in new places, and they’re willing to take risks to achieve great things.

Leadership Success is no Longer Measured by Money or Power

What is leadership success? Is it money, promotions, happiness, raising a family, changing the world, or advancing your industry or community? This simple question has grown complicated over the years, so it’s more important than ever to clarify what success means. Leadership success is measured by one’s complete body of work in life: nothing more, nothing less.

Historically, leadership success has been associated with money and power. The more you have, the more successful you are. This is a false idea of success. How many people do you know that have money and power that are also happy, ethical, and purposeful? Sure, there are a few - but only a few.

While I support free enterprise, it’s important to put things into perspective. There are a lot of people who are successful but not wealthy. They view success through a lens that balances their professional, personal and spiritual lives.

Leadership success is earned and its impact is timeless.   

The post-2008 economy has taught all of us that greed, selfishness and short-sighted leadership aren’t sustainable. Today’s global marketplace requires better judgment from our leaders. Think of the hundreds of decisions leaders make each day. These decisions will ultimately define their body of work. Unsuccessful leaders make decisions without thinking through the consequences or considering how their decisions will reverberate throughout their professional, personal and spiritual lives. Successful leaders are always consciously aware of their body of work and the purpose that it serves. Are you?     

Your journey to leadership success starts with figuring out what matters most to you and then doing something to advance that goal every day. It’s about focusing on the body of work that you are creating and making sure that it represents your leadership style and the outcomes you seek.   

Unfortunately, most leaders prefer to just be what others want them to be, rather than doing the harder work of setting goals for themselves. This is why there are so many leaders that are financially well-off but aren’t connected with those around them. Some of the most powerful executives I have met are single-minded and shallow. They’re insensitive, selfish and insecure. Their identity is their company and their title; they focus only on recognition, salary and bonuses. These selfish leaders believe that they have all of the answers. While these leaders claim to understand the bigger picture, they don’t see what matters most – the people that have made them successful. 

Leaders in the workplace must recalibrate their definition of success so that it’s based on the opportunities and advancements they create for others and not just themselves. Successful leadership is something that happens organically when a leader focuses on the true impact of her actions. A true leader must be mindful of his personal and spiritual goals as well as his professional goals, and take care that his decisions at work reflect not just the kind of money he wants to earn, but the kind of person he wants to be.

Your Top 5 Career Investments for 2012

It’s 2012 and it’s time to get serious about investing in yourself, your career and your immediate future. January is just around the corner – and that’s reason enough to take action – and hold yourself accountable for a fresh beginning.

As you reflect upon 2011 – here are a few questions to get you started:

1. Did you get better at your work?

2. Did you help advance those around you? Are you a better leader?

3. Are you more influential? Did you advance your organization’s goals?

4. Did you improve your skill set and your mindset?

5. Did your networking generate a positive ROI?

6. Did your perspectives change about what you should be doing for a living?

7. Did the industry you serve discover your unique talent?

8. Were you asked to give a keynote and/or contribute to a blog?

9. Did you “package yourself (your brand)” better for success?

10. Are you making more money? Do you feel more successful and significant?

If you answered “yes” to 80% or more of these questions – your momentum is strong and your 2012 looks bright. If not, here are a few investments you must strongly consider to ensure that your 2012 gets started on the right track:

1. Smaller Networks of Influential People

Invest in a smaller, more focused network of people that can add value to your career and help give you the insights you need to broaden your perspective. Making the right choices in people will save you time, money and frustration.

Unlike the stock market, when people you invest in aren’t adding value, it is unlikely they willc change. Remember your time is your most precious resource. Know that your network values your time and what you bring to the table. Avoid spending time with leeches and loafers.

2. Improve Your Speaking and Negotiation Skills

Speaking and writing represent two of the most important skills for career success. Mastering the art of communication is more important than ever at a time when trust and relationship building is at a premium.

One of the wisest investments I’ve made is taking an improvisational course. Whether you are shy or not, this class makes you think on your feet and keeps you on your toes. Learning to talk about something you don’t know much about is a powerful skill. This is a non-traditional approach of improving your speaking and negotiation abilities. It’s also a great way to broaden your network.

Another step I recommend is to become familiar with the work of Nick Morgan. He is the most effective communications coach in America and his books and blog deliver immediate benefits.

3. Develop Your Wealth in Resources

Entrepreneurship isn’t just a business term anymore; it’s a way of life. You don’t need to be an entrepreneur to be entrepreneurial. In fact, entrepreneurship isn’t just about making money but rather about creating the wealth in resources that authentic relationships can bring.

Resources can have just as much value as money if you know what you are looking for.

4. Play a more Active Role in the Industry You Serve

If you want to advance in your career, give back to your industry. You may be a hero inside the corporate walls, but what do you mean to the industry that your company is serving? Do people know who you are because of the company you represent or because your talent is extraordinary and could help to develop the future generation of industry leaders?

Make a mark and leave your legacy on your industry. Be active, contribute and earn respect from your peers. Down the road they may help your career.

Also, use this opportunity to connect with the leaders in your industry. Know who they are, what they represent and get to know their back stories. Learn how the industry allowed them to succeed.

5. Evaluate Your Investment and Your Own Progress Each Month

Always work to improve yourself by evaluating your own performance. Write your career goals down, and the steps needed to get there. Evaluate the outcomes each month and course-correct as needed. While getting feedback from your peers and your boss is extremely important, over time you must learn how to evaluate yourself.

In the end, you’ll always know if you are making progress and if your investments are paying off. Others can have an opinion, but your gut will tell you if you are making the right investment decisions. Too often people focus on what others want them to be rather than following their own passions. 2012 will be your year if you focus, invest, and stick to your plan.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit is About Connecting the Dots that Don’t Yet Exist

The entrepreneurial spirit isn’t just about money alone.  It’s about building wealth through resources that only great relationship can bring.  It’s about connecting the dots:  those connection points of intelligence, wisdom, desire and ability that exist amongst people and having the intuitiveness to not only know that they exist but what to do with them to continuously cultivate innovation and initiative. This is what Steve Jobs did every day of his life: he used his intuition to connect dots of opportunity that didn’t exist knowing that they would someday.

As we celebrate the life and legacy of Steve Jobs, ask yourself:  how many dots are you connecting on a daily basis?   Are you fueling the life of your ideas by being courageous enough to know where the dots exist?  Or are you unknowingly giving your ideas to others to fuel their selfish agendas?

Steve Jobs was a community-minded leader that focused on the advancement of the world.  He created tools (products) to inspire people to share and advance their own ideas.   Steve Jobs cared about being significant at the risk of his own health along the way.

As you think about the dots you want to connect in your life, I would like to share a quote from Steve Job’s now memorable Stanford University commencement speech in 2005:

“You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

It simple terms:  Trust Yourself.  Trust yourself to think big, make a difference and be impactful in everything you do every day for the betterment of a healthier whole.  You can’t do this alone.   Steve Job’s gift was that he trusted himself enough to navigate his life’s journey in the face of tremendous adversity and along the way he created wealth and opportunities through the resources that only great relationships can bring.

Thank you, Steve Jobs for your trusting yourself enough to connect the dots that didn’t exist to change the world.  

 

 

 

Why Your Resume is Becoming Extinct and What to Do About it

As America’s corporations try to figure out how to compete in the global economy, we all need to step back and examine our own abilities and if they are still relevant.     More than ever, employees are reflecting upon their careers and what the future has in store for them.   Some are scared and most uncertain about their career advancement and how to avoid a personal recession. Unfortunately in today’s marketplace an old-fashioned resume just isn’t enough.

When was the last time you reviewed that old resume in detail?  Have you noticed that the success stories that once gave you leverage no longer have the same impact as they did before?   How do you plan to manage your career and its advancement when your resume and skills are becoming extinct?

With the recent announcement by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke that America’s unemployment poses a national crisis ringing in our ears, more and more of us are having trouble getting jobs because we are no longer qualified for the jobs that are available. The bottom line is that the market is moving too fast for old skills to remain relevant. 

On top of that, the traditional workplace makes it very difficult for you to market the internally focused skills you’ve developed working at your current job.    The skills sets that we have been taught in the workplace and in business schools no longer are transferable and quickly lose their value.  Through outsourcing and crowdsourcing, it has become much easier and less risky for companies to borrow talent for a defined period of time rather than assuming the growing costs of employment as healthcare inflates and 401ks become less attractive to retain talent.

What steps should you take now to keep yourself relevant?  A few things to reflect upon:

1. What are the characteristics that make you relevant in your work today?
   1. a.     How do they contribute to your success and eventually significance in the organization you serve?   Are you actively investing in these characteristics?   Your investment isn’t just about money alone, but how you are developing the right network of people that can help you make the best investment decisions in support of these (6) characteristics.
2. Are you building your personal employee brand?
   • Ask 20 people to answer the following questions about you
   1. What is your enduring idea? 
   2. What is your primary differentiator?
   3. What is the primary experience that you deliver to those around you?
   4. Whom does your personal employee brand serve?
       If 90% (18 out of 20) give you the same responses, you have a powerful identity that you need to leverage more actively in creating opportunities that matter for your career goals.  If that number is below 90%, you have some work to do and I highly recommend that you download my eBook, Why a Personal Employee Brand will Save Your Career and Your Workplace.    Having an identity that you can control in the workplace is tremendously important before you get ready to make your next move.  

3.  What is your unique Point of View (POV)? 

What gets others to talk about your ideas and perspectives in meaningful and purposeful ways? What is your unique point of view (POV) that can cultivate new growth opportunities for your existing employer – or a new one?  Your POV must help guide a new type of conversation that broadens your impact and influence and that showcases your skills with other influencers in the organization. In today’s marketplace, you must work to get discovered!

I recently met with a senior executive who had just been laid off.   He was not given a legitimate excuse by his employer, just a formal six months’ notice.  When I asked him to answer the aforementioned questions, amongst others, he did not have any real answers.  He looked at me with a blank stare then quickly referred to his resume and reference letters as if to impress me. When he asked me to be frank about my observations of him and his situation, I said, “You have lost your relevancy. You have no game.  Though you have an impressive background and education full of awards and accolades, you need to rewire yourself to think differently about how you represent, sell and package yourself for today’s marketplace.”  Upon reflection he said, “Thank you for the truth, I can’t disagree.  I have worked for my current employer for over 25 years and have lost touch with how the marketplace has changed and what is required to create impact and be relevant.  I have spent most of my career selling people internally that speak the same language and I’m wired to operate in a linear thinking environment.  It’s time for me to start over.”

These are the realities for most of today’s employees and those in transition.   Most people just don’t know how to sell themselves in a genuine way that represents who they really are and the value they are capable of offering an organization.  I suggest that you videotape yourself delivering a 30 second elevator pitch.  Do you like how you sell, what you sound like and the impact that you create? Evaluate yourself critically because in the end you must trust yourself enough to feel that you can make a difference, be relevant, impactful and hirable.   

Here a few final tips that you should be able to consistently deliver to make yourself relevant in your search for career stability, advancement and new opportunities as you navigate the changing terrain:

• Embrace Your Immigrant Values:  focus on seeing and seizing opportunities previous unseen by being your authentic self in the workplace. 

• Always Mitigate Risk:  embrace the ability to lead and manage crisis and change.  Allow risk to be your best friend.  Make sure that others know that you are comfortable with transformational changes.
• Trust Yourself:  never give up in your passionate pursuit to make things happen that make a difference to those around you.  Think about those around just as much as yourself.  This means that you are a dependable team player.
• Be a Thought Leader: share your ideas and ideals freely to help those around you achieve their goals.  Share the harvest of the momentum you are building with others every day by being a community-minded leader.
• Be a Focused Farmer:  shift your mindset to continuously cultivate new ideas in the most fertile grounds.    Continually sow seeds of opportunity that focus on building relationships, advancing commerce and that better humanity. 
• Legacy Builder:  focus on leaving a legacy for the organization your serve and its people so they can teach others how to do the same.     

 Armed with these new approaches to your career and your current job, you can increase your relevance, your portability, and your personal employee brand.  Each of us must take on this challenge to keep ourselves relevant as we navigate the difficult economic waters of the current unstable recovery – and a highly uncertain future job market. 

4 Skills that Give Women a Sustainable Advantage Over Men

In a recent study by Pepperdine University, women in top positions reported beating the industry average in terms of productivity and profitability.  Beth E. Mooney, CEO of KeyCorp, just became the first ever woman chief of a top 20 US Bank. In fact, nearly 52% of managerial or professional positions are now held by women, according to a Catalyst, July, 2011 report. More women are obtaining MBAs than ever before in history. Yet, although major strides have been made by women in every industry, there are only 28 female CEOs in the Fortune 1000 companies according to the Catalyst, August 2011 report.

Nonetheless, it is clear that women are reshaping the landscape of business.  Women are naturally wired to think, act and innovate like immigrants.  Women, more than men, have the ability to see what others don’t, do what others won’t and keep pushing their ideas and ideals when prudence says quit.

These skills taken together mean that women are better than men at earning serendipity! Here’s the breakdown:

1.     Women are Opportunity Experts

Women see opportunity in everything and everyone – their neighbors, friends, family, business associates, strategic partners, etc. Women have the ability to see opportunity and give their ideas life and inspire others to do the same. Women, when given the opportunity to be themselves, are natural leaders!

I have seen time and again how women are much more strategic, focused and keep their eye on the prize.  They are not easily distracted and don’t get their egos in the way.  That is why women just don’t see opportunity, they seize it.   Look at the list of the top women CEO’s world-wide.  Impressive!   Review this list of the 50 most powerful women in America.  Pay attention to these women:  they are reinventing America’s enterprises. 

2.     Women are Networking Professionals

Women are masters of navigation and putting their ideas to the test is their gift. They do this through networking. They follow-up and make sure they sow their seeds of ideas in the most fertile networking ground. Additionally, their inherent ability to be creative allows for the discovery of opportunities that most miss.

The ROI of your business network is only valuable if those in it are willing to risk in your growth.  Unlike men, women stick together and protect one another (though many would equally say that women also fiercely compete against each other too).   At the initial stages of networking, women are gracious and generous in their ability to give and open doors for one another.   They want to feel as if they are making an impact, helping to make a difference in the lives of others.

3.     Women Seek to be Relationship Specialists

Women are specialists at cultivating relationships that are purposeful, genuine and meaningful. They focus on growing healthy, long-lasting relationships. Women don’t quit. They thrive at creating and sustaining momentum for both themselves and others.

Women are masters at facilitating connection points between people, resources and relationships.  This is why women are such effective and efficient leaders.  They don’t waste time and can quickly identify areas to consolidate, organize and strengthen business outcomes.  In fact, some of the best project managers I know are women.  Their attention to detail is uncanny and their ability to track, evaluate and manage change is impressive.  They aim to assure the betterment of a healthier whole.

4.     Women are Natural Givers

Women seek to give to others but also to their communities. Why do you think most non-profits are run by women? Women enjoy living their lives through a cause that serves the advancement and acceleration of societal needs.  This is why in the workplace women are great at inspiring and lifting those around them.  This is why most women leaders are such excellent long-term strategic thinkers.  They are less inclined to rally behind a short-term strategy if a more sustainable approach can be executed.

Additionally, women are socially conscious leaders that serve to cultivate innovation and initiative for both themselves and others.  No wonder the fastest growing sector of small business owners in America are women.

In the end, women are more naturally inclined to represent the immigrant perspective on business leadership.  Like the immigrant, they are wired to survive and thrive in fast-changing times like these and can lead fast changing organizations that desire sustainable growth.  

May this immigrant perspective on business leadership serve you well.

Set a Career Strategy Now to Beat Your Competitors!

We all recognize that in today’s marketplace we must create a strategy for change in our career, whether it's within a current role or taking on an entirely new career path.  Unfortunately, most people just don’t trust themselves enough to define their career strategy since this is the basis for ultimate accountability and transparency.   Yet, given our challenging economic times, our economy can no longer wait.  People must stop procrastinating and start defining their career strategy not only for their own advancement but also for the betterment of a healthier whole.   America’s reinvention and the fiercely competitive global marketplace demand it.   The marketplace is just moving too fast and most people don’t even realize that their market value is quickly becoming a commodity. Especially since the rules of business engagement are being redefined by developing countries. 

International business leaders believe America’s workplace is lazy and unable to contribute in meaningful and purposeful ways to the weakening economy.   They believe America’s current economic duress is nothing compared to the reform, revolution and the wars that have been fought for independence and democracy in developing countries.   As such, these business leaders are carefully monitoring each move we make and how we are reacting to the unexpected changes in our business climate. 

As more immigrants invest in themselves to pursue the American dream, US-based companies are looking actively to recruit them.   The United States may be the land of opportunity, but those who lead America’s corporations are disproportionally immigrants with an immigrant's hungry perspective.  This means that today’s workforce must pay more attention to their foreign-born counterparts that are perceived as more able to thrive in today’s fast changing times.  

What does this mean to you?  Don’t get comfortable with your career status.  

More than ever, you must refresh your perspective and evaluate your skills sets and capabilities to see what has already lost its value.  In fact, ask your boss how relevant you are to your organization and its future.  One thing is certain:  you should be more concerned about whether you are investing in the right skills sets and leadership aptitude. 

With America’s growing reputation of employing a lazy workforce that doesn’t want to roll-up their sleeves and get their hands dirty, our US-based value proposition of the past is becoming difficult to sell.  It’s time to lift your game. 

You must define your career strategy with just as much focus as Pepsi does when competing against Coke.  There is a new game in town that most people are ignoring.   This game is neither being defined nor made in America.   It is being crafted by developing countries that are emerging as new world leaders and the new American Fortune 500 founders.

What are you passionate about?  What excites you most?  This should define your career strategy and inspire you.  This is what your foreign-born competitors are doing.   They are focused and are willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to tend to their family, cultivate their legacy and make a difference that matters.

It’s time to revitalize our passion and desire to compete, get better and make a difference in our careers.  Define your career strategy today before it’s too late!   

Note:  If you are interested in knowing whether or not you are applying the skills-sets and capabilities that are most relevant for you to succeed and thrive in today’s new workplace, please take the following assessment.   This assessment will specifically measure your ability to use the (6) natural characteristics that define your immigrant values in your everyday work life; the immigrant values that exist within you and that will give you a competitive advantage in today’s fiercely competitive global marketplace.