In her newest book, Alexandra Levit reminds us that in order to succeed today, we need to forget about the old business myths of the past.
“This is not your parents’ business world,” she states. “It’s not even your older sister’s business world. The recent recession has toppled and transformed our ideas about just about everything. Massive change is afoot and many of us are still reeling from the work-force bloodletting that began three years ago and the downfall of companies we thought we all respected.”
In the book, Blind Spots: The 10 Business Myths You Can’t Afford to Believe on Your New Path to Success, Levit reveals the 10 biggest myths of business success.
Here are the three I feel are vital to keep in mind while navigating your career path:
Myth: Overnight success is possible.
Most people persevere for a long time and experience several setbacks before achieving an objective definition of success. You’ll be best served if you are able to move your dream forward a little bit at a time, and are able to cope when things temporarily go south.
Myth: Being good at your job trumps everything.
You can be the most talented employee your company has ever hired, but if your contributions aren’t visible and people don’t value what you do, it simply won’t matter. So instead of slaving over your job, spend a little more time devising ways to promote the great work you’re doing.
Myth: You won’t get laid off, you’re too essential.
I often tell people that they should aim to be indispensable at their jobs. But today more than ever company loyalty is a thing of the past, and while consistently trying to add value to your organization is a good move, sometimes it isn’t enough. You need to be able to recognize when you’re on the chopping block and take active steps to prevent a bad outcome.
If you want to protect your career and learn more about these myths, check out all 10 myths in the book, Blind Spots: The 10 Business Myths You Can’t Afford to Believe on Your New Path to Success, available today. In my opinion, this book is a particularly good read for students and recent graduates – but it certainly applies to people at all career stages.
