By Renee Weisman
Owner of Winning at Work

Starting a new career is exciting and challenging. If only there was some set of rules to follow or some magic formula that could help you as you start on your journey. Don't you wish someone could just go “Poof,” and you'd have the benefit of what others have already learned?

Then again, maybe there is a set of magic words or at least some important principles I can share from my forty years in industry and education. Not exactly poof but PPFF…

These letters stand for my secrets to success, namely:

- Performance
- Persistence
- Flexibility
- Fun

Let's take each one in turn.

Performance

Successful people know how to get results. Results matter, be it getting good grades in college, bringing new clients into your company, making a profit, or inventing the solution to the current problem that has your entire company depending on you.

It isn't how hard you work, although hard work can get results.

It isn't how quickly you can get it done, although successful people get things done promptly.

It isn't how many balls you can juggle at a time, although you will need to juggle them.

Performance is recognizing what is needed, stepping up to make it happen and following though. Some people talk about luck, but I believe you make your own luck by performing well. Get results. They matter.

Persistence

Successful people don't give up. But more than that, they have goals and are unrelenting in working towards them.

Since this is a website for women, let me share with you an observation I have made coaching and mentoring many many men and women.

There IS a difference between the sexes in setting goals. Men set goals, and they ask for opportunities to get there, even if it is really stretching it. Women, on the other hand, have a hard time setting meaningful goals and asking for those opportunities.

A question I always ask when mentoring is, where do you want to be in 5 years? Invariably, the women indicated they wanted to contribute and be recognized for that contribution. While that is a noble thought, it is too vague to move you ahead. The men who came for coaching typically could name the job they wanted, and who had it today! They would ask me how to prepare for that job and what I could do to help them get there.

Men asked and were persistent in asking. Women didn't. So men got there, and women didn't.

Stretch yourself, set lofty goals, and be persistent in asking how to achieve them.

Persistence is also about establishing good habits. In my book, I have a chapter devoted to your first years on the job but much of that advice also applies to your college years. I call them Renee's rules. They include:

- Read the newspaper or news on line every day
- Read business journals
- Read technical reports

Staying current is critical to success. If you don't know what is going on, what's in, what's out, or what's new, how can you make informed decisions about anything?

Another important habit is to network. It's never too early to start. When I retired from IBM and started my consulting business, some of my best leads came from my college and professional society connections.

Finally, publish, patent, write, and make yourself digitally distinctive. Google yourself periodically and make sure you like what you see.

These are habits you can start today, and they will give you a great base from which to grow.

Flexibility

Hopefully, you will set goals, but your goals and your priorities will change over 40 years.

When I said be persistent, I did not mean unbending. It's perfectly alright to take a step away from your goal if it affords you a new path, a great opportunity, allows for work-life balance, or is something you or your company really wants you to try.

Be open to changes because the world is going to change. It will be flatter, even more connected and hopefully, more green.

Flexibility also means balance. Don't let your job own your happiness. You need to have many sources of support and balance since things at work can go up or down, can seem bleak, or can be amazing. If you have balance and flexibility, you will handle these ebbs and flows with ease.

Finally, have fun!

You are going to work for a very long time so make it something you can enjoy and from which you can derive satisfaction. Make the most of what you do. Try new and exciting opportunities inside and outside of your career. Networking and staying current will help you find those opportunities.

So there you have it - my prescription for success. I did it and so can you.

Go out there and make some magic!