Standing out in the Crowd…by getting lady luck on your side

by Jane-Michele Clark

We all know people who seem to be truly blessed. They get top marks, get promoted easily and have the best social life – all without trying as hard as the rest of us. Or so it seems.

Whether you are a Baby Boomer who has gone back to get an MBA in the hopes of fulfilling new career ambitions, or a GenXer who wants to get ahead and still have time for the fun things in life, or a soon-to-be-grad hoping to land a plum job, you’ll do better if you can stand out above the crowd and get counted among those fortunate few. But how do you court the elusive lucky lady?

North American CEO’s agree that today, more than ever before, two old adages provide the best advice on how to become lucky enough to get promoted quickly: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity” and “Luck favours the backbone, not the wishbone”.

So, what are some practical things you can do to become lucky?

Ten Tips to an extra Ten Percent

• Keep abreast on what’s going on in the business community at large (you never know when breaking news in one industry will impact yours, or will fuel ideas applicable to your own). Suggestions: The Globe & Mail’s ROB, The National Post, Time, The Economist, Inc Magazine, Profit, Forbes, etc.

• Regularly read about developments in your own industry (subscribe to trade publications and journals). Even 15 minutes a day will place you head and shoulders above your current peers – and can help make you an authority in your field within 18 months.

• Get to the office early and DON’T watch the clock. People with a 9 to 5 attitude are promoted far less quickly, and never to as high a rung, as those who apply themselves diligently and aren’t afraid to put in some extra time and effort. As Don Sutton says, "Luck is the by-product of busting your fanny!"

• Continually ask yourself three questions:

1) “How can I do this job better?”,
2) “How can this job be done better?", and
3) “How can this job/function/task be improved to make the company more efficient/profitable/fun?”

• Anticipate what needs to be done – and do it without having to be asked.

• Be prepared to share the credit – even when you deserve it all.

• Be able to readily and graciously admit when you are wrong – and know how to show how you have learned from the error.

• Remember the birthdays and other special occasions/ important events of your clients and colleagues (peers, bosses and “juniors”). NO, this is NOT sucking up. Barbara Bush put it best by saying, "You don't just luck into things . . . You build step by step, whether it's friendships or opportunities."

• Everyday do one thing personally and one thing professionally that takes you beyond your comfort zone. As another truism has it, “You can not discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore”.

• Every day take time to strengthen your body (no, fit is not a four-letter word) and soothe your spirit (yes, daydreaming can be productive!).

The above tips are among the answers given by almost every CEO interviewed. Obviously there are many things that can be added to this list – things like getting and being a mentor, job shadowing, and more. As a first step, however, these ten tips are enough to increase your income by at least 10% within a year, if practiced on a daily basis.

As Thomas Jefferson said, "I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it."

So…Good luck – it will be hard work!

Copyright @2005 Jane-Michèle Clark. All rights reserved.


Jane-Michèle Clark is president of The Q Group ( www.theQgroup.com ), a strategic positioning and marketing communications firm that has worked with many blue chip companies over the past 30 years. In addition to being seasoned business strategist and marketing expert, Jane-Michèle also teaches MBA level marketing at the top-ranked Schulich School of Business York University). Jane-Michèle is also a corporate trainer and speaker and 9-time nominee for the RBC Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Jane-Michèle can be reached at jmc@theQgroup. or by calling 416-424-6644.


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