Working Smart

How do you become smarter and more successful in the workplace?

How do you plan your career and position yourself for a job promotion?

In this book, you will find many practical, real-life examples that answer the above questions. It will show you how to work smart, but more importantly, it aims to lead you toward a more satisfying and joyful life. By becoming more effective at work, you also increase your ability to connect with your family and devote energy to what is most important to you.

Working smart is about creating favorable situations - essentially setting up the stage so you show up at the right place, at the right time, and with the right people supporting you. You want this to occur more frequently to you than to others. You need to actively cultivate these favorable situations, instead of waiting for luck to come. This is the basis for the Blueprint for Success as depicted in this book for achieving success in the corporate workplace.

The Blueprint for Success contains four components:

1. Developing a professional attitude: Nurturing the right professional attitude is the foundation to success in the corporate workplace. The other three components build on top of this.

2. Preparing for opportunities: Get ready to seize opportunities when they come your way. The right time can happen at any moment, when you least expect it.

3. Adapting to workplace dynamics: Increase the odds that you are at the right place at the right time. Increase the chances that decision makers think of you when opportunities arise.

4. Building connections: Surround yourself with the right people you can count on, and actively maintain these connections. Connect with your bosses, influence your peers, and lead your subordinates.