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Career success: Are you a Tracker or Superman?
Toronto
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Career success: Are you a Tracker or Superman?
Developing your competitive advantage using a special skill
May 20, 2009 -- In many old movies, and particularly westerns, there was a scene where a tracker listened to the ground and pronounced the enemy was coming from "that" direction. Or they looked at footprints and pronounced that the person was two days ahead of them. In more modern movies, everyone knows that Superman was faster than a speeding bullet. In each of these cases, the character had a special skill - an ability that everyone else relied upon.
Interestingly, the difference between the Tracker and Superman is significant. "The Tracker learned their skills, but Superman was born with them" says Randall Craig, author of the best-selling career planning book Personal Balance Sheet.
Three key insights:
1) Not everyone is born a "Superman", but everyone can acquire special skills with the right training, mentoring, and time.
2) Even Superman had a choice: he didn't need to fight evil - he could have lived a quite life or become an athlete instead. (Today, one would say that Superman lived up to his potential.)
3) Other people relied on the Tracker's and Superman's abilities. Whether one is born with special skills or works hard to develop them, special skills have value to others, and are critical for a successful career. Adds Craig: "These skills are what win the gold medal, close the sale, or get you that promotion. So it's no surprise that the best managers and companies work hard to help you develop them."
Says Craig: "It doesn't really matter whether you are a Tracker or Superman. It is what you do with what you have that will define your success."
**************
Randall Craig is North America's foremost expert on career planning and work-life balance. He is the author of the popular Leaving the Mother Ship, The Working Resume, the best-seller Personal Balance Sheet Practical Career Planning Guide, and the just-released Online PR and Social Media for Experts. For more information, please visit http://www.PersonalBalanceSheet.com
Randall Craig can answer all questions about career planning, networking, job search, and workplace issues.
Randall Craig, CFA, MBA, CMC
President
Pinetree Advisors Inc.
416-256-7773
-30-
Developing your competitive advantage using a special skill
May 20, 2009 -- In many old movies, and particularly westerns, there was a scene where a tracker listened to the ground and pronounced the enemy was coming from "that" direction. Or they looked at footprints and pronounced that the person was two days ahead of them. In more modern movies, everyone knows that Superman was faster than a speeding bullet. In each of these cases, the character had a special skill - an ability that everyone else relied upon.
Interestingly, the difference between the Tracker and Superman is significant. "The Tracker learned their skills, but Superman was born with them" says Randall Craig, author of the best-selling career planning book Personal Balance Sheet.
Three key insights:
1) Not everyone is born a "Superman", but everyone can acquire special skills with the right training, mentoring, and time.
2) Even Superman had a choice: he didn't need to fight evil - he could have lived a quite life or become an athlete instead. (Today, one would say that Superman lived up to his potential.)
3) Other people relied on the Tracker's and Superman's abilities. Whether one is born with special skills or works hard to develop them, special skills have value to others, and are critical for a successful career. Adds Craig: "These skills are what win the gold medal, close the sale, or get you that promotion. So it's no surprise that the best managers and companies work hard to help you develop them."
Says Craig: "It doesn't really matter whether you are a Tracker or Superman. It is what you do with what you have that will define your success."
**************
Randall Craig is North America's foremost expert on career planning and work-life balance. He is the author of the popular Leaving the Mother Ship, The Working Resume, the best-seller Personal Balance Sheet Practical Career Planning Guide, and the just-released Online PR and Social Media for Experts. For more information, please visit http://www.PersonalBalanceSheet.com
Randall Craig can answer all questions about career planning, networking, job search, and workplace issues.
Randall Craig, CFA, MBA, CMC
President
Pinetree Advisors Inc.
416-256-7773
-30-
Randall Craig, CFA, MBA, CMC
President
Pinetree Advisors Inc.
Toronto
416-256-7773
416-256-7763
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