I always wanted to share these secrets with you.

On this occasion of my birthday, I have decided to share these success tips rather than sounding emotional or just excited. These are some tips to succeed that I learned over the years, and some of them are lessons I learned the hard way. However, I am sharing them with you all – fresh graduates, mid-level staff, and others who care to learn- so that you do not necessarily need to learn them the hard way.

These are the tips:

1. Never relax even if your job pays well

This is a reality that many people may take for granted. Having a good-paying job is never the destination but a stepping stone to becoming who you dream to be. If you become very comfortable and relax, just know that anything can happen in a short time or a little longer.

Possibilities
The company may reduce salary or lay off staff, you may get more financial responsibilities, inflation may rise higher etc. Anything can just happen and disrupt the status quo throwing you off balance. Moreover, other colleagues of yours or even your junior ones might have upgraded while you chose to remain in your comfort zone. Always think of the next higher level you can attain. Be hungry to advance. That is the key.

2. Keep learning to improve yourself

Prioritize self-improvement. This is very important as doing so helps you to prepare for the future. In this regard, make learning new skills your top priority because skills open doors beyond mere certificates/degrees. Learn relevant skills that may cut across other fields that are of great interest in this rapidly changing world driven by technological innovation.

Further education and more certifications
Additionally, you can go further academically. If you have a first degree, nothing stops you from enrolling to obtain a Masters degree to give you an edge above many other people. You can also take courses and get relevant certifications that will attest to your constant self-improvement. Keep improving yourself because such investments will continue to pay you all your life.

3. Build your portfolio
Your portfolio is a very vital asset apart from your CV. Imagine being wowed reading an impressive portfolio of an individual you do not even know who has done amazing things with evidence to show for his/her accomplishments. The next thing you would want to do, especially if you are an employer in need of the services such a person renders, is to contact that person. A somewhat wise saying in Pidgin that still trends goes this way, ”You go explain tire, no evidence” (meaning, ”You will explain and get tired, no evidence”). To avoid long explanation to recruiting agents, HR Managers and employers, build your portfolio and highlight you achievements, especially the outstanding ones. Doing so will sell you and may even keep making employers to poach you if you know your onions.

The challenge and suggestion
Building a portfolio may be a little challenging. So, start building it gradually by adding any significant accomplishment you make. If you keep doing so one by one, by the time you check your portfolio after a few months or years, you will be amazed at how much achievements you have made. You will simply be very proud of yourself.

4. Decide if you have a future at your place of work

This particular point is may come off as a tall order to some people but it is a very momentous decision that can significantly impact your professional growth and your future in a few months or years to come. Based on learning and person to person interaction to get peoples’ opinions, I suggest that 3-6 months (or by extension one year) on the job is reasonably good to determine if you have a future in an organisation.

Things to consider before deciding if you have a future at a place of work
Things to consider to help you in deciding if you have a future at your place of work include: (a) The company’s values and culture (b) The managerial style in relating with staff (Theory X aka conservative/anti-staff welfare theory vs Theory Y aka liberal/pro-welfare theory. (c) The company’s structure (hierarchical order). (d) The growth prospects in the company (e) The company’s plans for staff training and development. (f). How important the company takes staff welfare. (g). The alignment of the company and its operations with your career goals. (h). The conduciveness or otherwise of the working environment (a toxic work environment is a red flag). The list is not exhaustive but it is meant to provide a guide.

Interestingly, I think this piece may continue so that I can treat other aspects. However, I believe the four points I discussed above will be useful to you, especially the new entrants into the working population and other mid-level staff trying to navigate their career and find their feet in their quest to make it in their chosen profession.

Sharing these tips does not mean that I have reached my own destination. No, I am still on that journey but I feel that it is great to share my lessons which are now cherished success secrets so that we will progress together because I believe in ”rising by lifting others.”

It’s my birthday.
This is my little way of sharing love, genuine concern about you and wishing you well in your chosen career.
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Image credit: Finfit WS