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But there's more to winning at working than survival. To grow and thrive in corporate world you must find your resilient center and evolve. That may mean learning new skills, aligning with a new boss or company, changing direction, letting go of way things used to be done, compromising approaches or moving on.
Only fifteen percent of S& P 500 companies listed at end of 1950's are still in existence fifty years later. In a Fast Company (Nov04) interview with Jim Collins, author of best selling book, "Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies," he advises companies to, "Preserve core! And! Stimulate progress!" He claims, "To be built to last, you have to be built for change!"
His advice is as true for successful companies as it is for successful people. You need to preserve your core and stimulate your progress. If you do, you'll stay a player and deal with changes coming your way. Sure, change can be painful and difficult and uncomfortable, but if you're open to what it brings, it may surprise you. It did me. My best lifetime career opportunity came after I was denied promotion I coveted. It never would have happened if I hadn't stayed in game.
(c) 2005 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved.
Sign up to receive Nan's free eColumn, Winning at Working, at http://www.winningatworking.com. Nan Russell has spent over twenty years in management, most recently with QVC as a Vice President. Currently working on her first book, Nan is a writer, columnist, small business owner, and instructor.