Climbing The Corporate Ladder - The Secret To Enjoying The Journey
Tuesday, 01 December 2009 10:57 | 
Author: Steve Sheeren |
It is extremely challenging in corporate America to climb to the top of the ladder of success. Really, how many people can fit on that top rung?? A frighteningly small number of positions that are wanted by a frighteningly large group of people. Clearly the higher one moves up the ladder, the more difficult it gets. Yet the messages constantly being communicated to us include "do whatever it takes to win", "winners never quit" and "beat out the competition". That puts tremendous pressured to move forward, move up and achieve those corporate goals. What is the reward when you do hit those goals ( which most likely were set for you by someone else )? "Stretch" goals for the next month/quarter/year! The fortunate few might get a promotion, though often that means even more pressure to achieve.
It is extremely challenging in corporate America to climb to the top of the ladder of success. Really, how many people can fit on that top rung?? A frighteningly small number of positions that are wanted by a frighteningly large group of people. Clearly the higher one moves up the ladder, the more difficult it gets. Yet the messages constantly being communicated to us include "do whatever it takes to win", "winners never quit" and "beat out the competition". That puts tremendous pressured to move forward, move up and achieve those corporate goals. What is the reward when you do hit those goals ( which most likely were set for you by someone else )? "Stretch" goals for the next month/quarter/year! The fortunate few might get a promotion, though often that means even more pressure to achieve.
How goes YOUR climb up the corporate ladder? Any of the following sound familiar?
"When I get that next promotion, THEN I will be happier"
"Once I get that bump in salary, THEN I can spend more time with family and friends"
"If my team hits their goals, THEN I will be a lot easier to deal with"
"When I am in charge, THEN things will be a lot different"
If "yes" is the answer to any of the above statements......ask yourself this question: Really??
Won't there be another promotion to go after? Another raise to get? Ever higher goals to achieve??? So how CAN one enjoy the journey up the ladder of success?? You can't control the circumstances you find yourself in, you can't control what other people will say or do, you can't control decisions made by the owner or President of the company. The one thing that you CAN control on your journey is your attitude. That doesn't mean "don't worry, be happy" (sorry if that song is now stuck in your head!), but if you take the time to focus on what you have and what you have accomplished, you give yourself the chance to "enjoy the scenery" along the way. It is just that "enjoying of the scenery"being grateful for what you have and have accomplishedthat brings about a more positive attitude. Take a moment right now to focus on what you DO have..and what you HAVE accomplished. If you are feeling challenged and finding it difficult to appreciate what you have, here is a bit of perspective to help:
* If you are reading this, you are literate. 1 out of every 5 people on the planet over the age of 15 cannot read or write.
* If you are reading this, you have your sense of sight. Forty million people do not have their sense of sight.
* If you are reading this, you have access to a computer. There are 5 BILLION people who have no access to the internet.
* If you are reading this, there is a great likelihood that you have at least some "free time" that is not being spent foraging for your next meal. Eight hundred MILLION people suffer from hunger and malnutrition.
Finding things in your life to be grateful for becomes easier and easier the more you practice it. This gratefulness for what you have, and for what you have accomplished, will positively shift how you see and experience your journey up the corporate ladder. Your attitude WILL be positively impacted and it will shine through in every interaction you have and in everything that you do. Don't be surprised if people who know you comment on this change....it can be pretty dramatic! Finally, if you really cannot find enough to appreciate on your climb up the corporate ladder of success, then maybe its time to get off the ladder and discover a different path.
It is extremely challenging in corporate America to climb to the top of the ladder of success. Really, how many people can fit on that top rung?? A frighteningly small number of positions that are wanted by a frighteningly large group of people. Clearly the higher one moves up the ladder, the more difficult it gets. Yet the messages constantly being communicated to us include "do whatever it takes to win", "winners never quit" and "beat out the competition". That puts tremendous pressured to move forward, move up and achieve those corporate goals. What is the reward when you do hit those goals ( which most likely were set for you by someone else )? "Stretch" goals for the next month/quarter/year! The fortunate few might get a promotion, though often that means even more pressure to achieve.
How goes YOUR climb up the corporate ladder? Any of the following sound familiar?
"When I get that next promotion, THEN I will be happier"
"Once I get that bump in salary, THEN I can spend more time with family and friends"
"If my team hits their goals, THEN I will be a lot easier to deal with"
"When I am in charge, THEN things will be a lot different"
If "yes" is the answer to any of the above statements......ask yourself this question: Really??
Won't there be another promotion to go after? Another raise to get? Ever higher goals to achieve??? So how CAN one enjoy the journey up the ladder of success?? You can't control the circumstances you find yourself in, you can't control what other people will say or do, you can't control decisions made by the owner or President of the company. The one thing that you CAN control on your journey is your attitude. That doesn't mean "don't worry, be happy" (sorry if that song is now stuck in your head!), but if you take the time to focus on what you have and what you have accomplished, you give yourself the chance to "enjoy the scenery" along the way. It is just that "enjoying of the scenery"being grateful for what you have and have accomplishedthat brings about a more positive attitude. Take a moment right now to focus on what you DO have..and what you HAVE accomplished. If you are feeling challenged and finding it difficult to appreciate what you have, here is a bit of perspective to help:
* If you are reading this, you are literate. 1 out of every 5 people on the planet over the age of 15 cannot read or write.
* If you are reading this, you have your sense of sight. Forty million people do not have their sense of sight.
* If you are reading this, you have access to a computer. There are 5 BILLION people who have no access to the internet.
* If you are reading this, there is a great likelihood that you have at least some "free time" that is not being spent foraging for your next meal. Eight hundred MILLION people suffer from hunger and malnutrition.
Finding things in your life to be grateful for becomes easier and easier the more you practice it. This gratefulness for what you have, and for what you have accomplished, will positively shift how you see and experience your journey up the corporate ladder. Your attitude WILL be positively impacted and it will shine through in every interaction you have and in everything that you do. Don't be surprised if people who know you comment on this change....it can be pretty dramatic! Finally, if you really cannot find enough to appreciate on your climb up the corporate ladder of success, then maybe its time to get off the ladder and discover a different path.
About the Author:
Steve Sheeren has been teaching and mentoring individuals and corporations around North America for the last 15+ years. He freely shares his expertise and resources for both corporate and home-based business, including an alternative to climbing the corporate ladder.