With Christmas just a few days away, there's no better time to rest, relax, and rejuvenate yourself for 2005. If you've got a few days off from work, it's also perfect time to think about how you can grow your career in '05.

When you work for someone else, it can seem like you have very little control over your career, but you actually have more control than you think. Here are five steps you can take to increase your visibility within your company and expand your career options:

MAKE TRACKS: To find out how you can really shine you need to find out as much as you can about all areas of your company. Make tracks and talk to as many different people as you can. Find out what's going in different departments, what's working, and who's in charge. Attend as many company functions as you can. Actively listen to what people have to say, even if they disagree with you. In process, you'll learn a lot, get inspired by new ideas, and develop more confidence.

SET QUICK START TARGETS: Set your sights on achieving from short term goals that will really boost your career in New Year. Just act of setting your intention will galvanize you to get moving. Do you want a raise? Different working conditions? To complete a project? To gather courage to present a new idea you've been working on? To get more comfortable with your-coworkers? Pick two or three goals that you can achieve in first quarter of '05.

After three years teaching in Japan I entered management and what an eye opener that was! Besides being expected to work 70 to 80 hours a week, I was also expected to hire, and train teachers which is fine but after a new teacher starts and sees what’s going on they turn to me! What can I do? The real ball was not in my hands and it hurt because new teachers trusted me and counted on me not to take advantage of them. After being in Japan for three years I just about had it when a friend suggested I start my own school. To make a long story short, that’s what I did and it’s been BEST!