Every week I check dozens of “career” blogs and other online publications, looking for things that will help you find a job, get promoted, develop your skills, and keep everything in perspective and balance. Here’s the pick of the lot for this week. I’m pointing you to items about finding a mentor, your office walls, stealing your boss’s job, shooting straight, and taking the long and the short view.

From JT and Dale Talk Jobs: Do I Really Need a Mentor? Yes, Yes and Yes

“If you’re looking to rationalize away the work of finding mentors, you’ve come to the wrong place. It’s absolutely worth your time; the issue is how to also make it worthwhile for the people you seek out.”

Wally’s Comment: Yes you need a mentor. And, no, it won’t happen without work.

From Jobacle.com: What Your Office Walls REALLY Reveal About You

“When we think about going from the very apex of office couture to the more utilitarian stuff that we’re all used to, the way we decorate our spaces does say a helluva lot about us. And, while our wall space does indeed send a message, this, of course, isn’t necessarily good, either for our images or for our future career.”

Wally’s Comment: If these walls could talk … Well, they can. Sort of. Think of what’s on your walls as part of what creates your personal brand.

From Tara Weiss at Forbes: How To Steal Your Boss’s Job

“Anyone who’s ever held a job knows what it feels like to resent management. Sometimes it seems like your boss couldn’t screw in a light bulb without help. Thankfully, there are ways to get ahead in business and leave your troubles behind. A few devious tricks can help steal your boss’ job–particularly if you’re willing to engage in cutthroat behavior.”

Wally’s Comment: I suppose that this is “Greed is good” transmuted to the workplace. So here’s a thought. Once you steal your boss’s job, then you’re the one with the target on the back and, almost magically, you’ll be the one who can’t screw in a light bulb without help.

From Marshall Goldsmith: Why Shoot Straight in a Crooked World?

“With the crazy economy, the up-and-down stock market, the layoffs, buyouts, and takeovers, I’d like to know: What’s the good in being good?”

Wally’s Comment: This post makes an interesting contrast to the post above. I think honesty is what you should do because it makes for better relations. But I’m skeptical of “proof” that it creates profitability.

From Jon Gordon’s Blog: Zoom Focus

“I believe every one of us has a desire to accomplish great things, to do something meaningful, to have an impact. Yet, so many of us don’t take the actions necessary to create the success we desire. Then there are others who are very busy taking actions but the actions have nothing to do with their vision and goals. They’ve become lost in the busyness of life.”

Wally’s Comment: Focus on the big goal, then zoom focus on the details you need today. This is a great post about a kind of thinking that’s used for success in a variety of situations.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 10th, 2008 at 7:31 am and is filed under Tools and Strategies for Success. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.