The 4 Fundamental Habits of $100,000 Employees
According to the US Dept. of Commerce, 5.6% of business professionals earn $100,000 a year or more. That number rises to 15.8% if you consider household income. Earning a place in the top 5% of US wager earners happens by understanding the keys to career advancement. It has nothing to with being ruthless, selfish, or driven by blind ambition. And having a college degree is no guarantee either. Personally, I was 29 years old (I'm 38 now) when I first joined the $100,000 a year club. I finished just 3 years of college, but that never stopped me from consistently earning the elusive $100K a year. If you've ever wondered what's kept you from earning $100,000 a year it's likely one or more of these habits hindering your career development.
$100,000 Habit #1 - Make, Keep, and Deliver Really Big Promises
Most employees believe they can't make promises and commitments unless it's spelled out in their job description. They're really happy to drift through their jobs, be mediocre, and cash their paychecks. The $100K earner loves promises and commitments. For them, these are opportunities to demonstrate their significant value to their clients and company. These high achievers think meeting a quota is failing. They rewrite and shatter quota systems by consistently delivering on big promises and commitments. They're keenly aware that as their reputation for making and delivering big promises grows their company, and competing companies, will in turn make big promises and commitments back to them.
$100,000 Habit #2 - Heightened Problem Awareness
The problem awareness I'm talking about has nothing to with water cooler gossip. Astute problem awareness that earns a six-figure income knows the kinds of problems people in their role solve. Professionals not earning what they're worth often struggle when I ask them this question. Often I'll hear, "I'm just a ___". Which is exactly why a company will never see them as being valuable enough to pay them a six-figure income. Six-figure professionals are astutely aware of the high demand and trust that comes to those who solve client, co-worker, and management problems. They are blood hounds when it comes to sniffing out problems other's have abandoned or didn't even know they had.
Six-Figure Habit #3 - Lead Client and Company Innovations
If you're afraid of making mistakes chance are high you'll never join the $100K club. That's because you never question what you're told, and don't ask questions when other people's emergencies abuse your valuable time. It's not a problem, if you're ambition is to earn less than you're worth. $100K earners make lots of mistakes and stir up trouble because they're all about trying to rally support for solving meaningful problems. They challenge co-workers and management to rethink "we tried that" attitudes and stale knowledge. They don't hesitate to call upon their past experiences. And borrow ideas from colleagues in other industries for innovative approaches to long standing problems that will create new offerings, reduce costs, and increase revenue for clients and their company.
$100K Habit #4 - Skillful Decision Making
Most employees hate to decide things. Although countless hours get wasted in meetings because of this, the Six-figure earner doesn't let it get her down. She makes decision with the information she has and has well thought out reasons for backing them up. She doesn't put her clients, or company in harms way with decisions that think of her career first either. She understands that not making a decision is a decision and that every decision has a consequence. She's quick to make decisions and slow to change them, because they're often excellent choices. Which makes her rare, and highly sought after.
Take a look at your career. Are any of these habits missing or noticeably weak? What's the last really big promise you made and delivered on? Only one? Find and deliver on 1 a month. How many problems have you found that you just didn't complain about, but researched their impact to your company and clients and championed? How many mistakes have you turned into innovations by looking outside your industry and previous jobs? Your clients and company needs those ideas, why not get recognized for brining it to them? To help you remember these six-figure habits think PAID: Promise. Awareness. Innovation. Decisions.
Article Source: http://www.search-raven.com
About the Author
Need help developing $100K habits? Work with Life Strategist John Reisinger to develop your own Career Advancement or Career Change strategy.
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by: JohnM.Reisinger
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