Prep For Success

I seem to be at that certain age where young people just starting their careers approach me for advice on what they need to do to succeed in their careers. While I am delighted they believe I have some useful knowledge to impart, I'm not sure but that I owe my career success—such as it is—more to the "every now and then even a blind pig finds an acorn" phenomenon. Even so, I do know a lot about making mistakes, and this being our end-of-year Black Book issue listing the bios of hundreds of executives who exemplify career success, I thought it would be fitting to address the question albeit with the help of someone whose career success I envy, Colbert Matsumoto, Chairman of Island Insurance. Between us, we came up with the following short list of qualities:

First, be willing to commit; that is, to put the time and effort over the long haul to achieve your goals. Today's twenty- and thirty-somethings are reputedly used to being coddled and allowed to dabble in myriad endeavors without having to commit themselves to any of them. Being willing to commit is essential.

Second, work hard. It sounds as much a cliché now as it did to every earlier generation who had to hear it, but it remains absolutely true today just as it did in the past: nothing succeeds like hard work. The guy with less talent who works hard will out-perform the more talented guy who doesn't over the long term. The willingness to work hard coupled with a can-do attitude will impress your employer more than you can imagine.

Third, exercise good judgment in your career moves. For most, judgment comes from experience, but it doesn't always have to be personally obtained from the school of hard knocks. There are plenty of us older people out there who've graduated from that school and who'd be willing to share their knowledge if you're smart enough to ask.

Fourth, be sincere and genuine. Successful people are always willing to help, but they don't like being used merely as stepping stones. Take the opportunity of asking people for advice to develop an enduring relationship with them. Take an interest in them, think about what you can do for them, and be appreciative.

Finally, have the courage of your convictions and act on them. We're not talking about "Horatio at the bridge" kind of physical courage; on a day to day level, it's more about having the intestinal fortitude to speak your mind when your boss asks for your opinion, or the willingness to follow that road, however rocky, that could lead to what makes your heart sing. In a culture that teaches "don't make ‘A'" this seemingly cuts against the grain, but it could make all the difference in your career as well as be more personally edifying and help raise the standards of the business community as a whole.

Colbert summed it up very succinctly: bottom line, what a person needs to succeed is character. If any readers have additional advice to share on this subject, please send them to me at hoytz@pacificbasin.net. Heaven knows I can always use the help myself, plus we'll publish them in future issues. Happy Holidays and best wishes for success in 2007!

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