You possess personal capital. It is comprised of your time, effort, knowledge and skills. Investing that capital wisely yields a return on your investment. The higher your return on investment (your ROI), more profit you earn. Profit in this context yields discretionary endeavors. And discretionary endeavors tap into most powerful thing you can do to create career results - initiative.

There are hundreds of books filled with an equal number of approaches to managing your tasks and time. Use whatever works for you. But as you do, keep your ROI in mind. Every day you invest your capital. Sometimes you invest it wisely, sometimes foolishly, sometime neutrally. The better investments you make, over time, better your returns will be, over time. Think long-term ROI.

Here are three of my personal ROI strategies:

Objection #1: You’ve been fired from your last job

First of all, don’t blow issue out of proportion, either to yourself or to interviewer. Remember, this is fairly common these days. Employers know it too.

There are at least three ways you can handle this issue. If you left your previous employer on reasonably cordial terms, consider asking them to allow you to say you resigned from job. Many employers will agree to this.

Another option is to state facts in a concise, drama-free manner. Tactfully discuss what happened and acknowledge your role in it. You could mention a difference of opinion or personal style as a root cause. Often, candidates who take this approach find that whole thing was no big deal to new employer.

A third way out is to avoid mentioning job from which you were fired. This may work if you held it for less than five or six months. I personally don’t advocate lying in your resume -- it is unethical and can backfire badly -- but you should be aware that this is an option some candidates use effectively.

Objection #2: You have bad references

Don’t assume that your previous employer will say only good things about you when someone calls up for a reference check. If you suspect that your boss may give bad feedback, find someone else to act as your reference. Possibilities include your boss’s boss or someone else who’s senior enough and has observed your work.

You could also use a client as a reference, particularly if you’re in sales or other jobs involving extensive customer interactions. Other possibilities include bankers or lawyers you deal with. While these are alternatives, interviewer might wonder why you didn’t mention someone within company as a reference.

Another option is to briefly explain that you didn’t always see eye to eye with your boss and so you would ask that someone else be approached for a reference check. Many employers appreciate this approach and are willing to go along with it.