When was the last time you received a job promotion?  You are doing agreat job at work but everyone else seems to get the promotion you want. You may even start making excuses as to why you are not getting the careerpromotions you deserve.  Well, I ask you the following question:

Did you ever tell your story?

The following career advice story will show you how to put your career onthe fast track:

Recently, I was facilitating an oceanfront retreat for over two hundredemployees of a university.  During this session, I had the participantsthink of something or somebody they appreciate.  I then asked forvolunteers to share with the group whom or what they appreciate and why this isimportant to them.

Lonnie volunteered and stood up in front of the group to share his thoughtsof appreciation.  Lonnie explained that in his job he helps childrenimprove their lives.  He mentioned that whatever the lowest pay and titlescale was, he was at that level.  However, he said that was all rightbecause of the joy he received from helping the children.  You could hearand sense the passion in his words as he shared his experiences with theaudience.

About a month later, Lonnie was in another workshop I was facilitating, andhe asked to speak with me before the start of the session.  I could seethe excitement in his eyes as he explained what had happened to him since theoceanfront retreat.  One week after sharing his story at the retreat, hereceived a call from the Office of Academic Affairs.  Someone ofinfluence, who was impressed with Lonnie’s speech and the way he told his storythat day, wanted Lonnie to come in for a job interview.  Lonnie went tothe interview and received the job of Assistant to the Dean of AcademicAffairs, with a substantial increase in pay and title.  That was a careerquantum leap from just a couple of weeks earlier.

So what happened?

Lonnie told his story for career success.  Like so many of you, you aretoiling away in your careers everyday and making a difference for yourorganization.  But if no one knows about your successes, your passions,and your ideas, you will not achieve job and career success.

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The following are three secrets to putting you on the fast track to careerand job advancement:

1. It’s Not What You Know… – I’m sure you have heard theold saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” when talking aboutgetting ahead in life.  Well, in this new age of information and selfresponsibility, I am declaring that this saying is dead.  Instead, Ialways say the following:

“It’s not what you know.  It’s not who you know.  It’s who knowswhat you know that creates success for you.”

There are people doing a great job everyday.  There are people everydaythat know people of influence.  Yet, unless these people of influence knowwhat you know (your skills, your knowledge, your ideas), you won’t be put in aposition for success.  Lonnie, during his two-minute presentation, letpeople of influence know that he was passionate about helping children at hisjob and he was willing to do it for little compensation.  That’s apowerful message.  It moved people to help him and make him a part oftheir team.

2. Prepare Yourself for Powerful Story Telling – When theopportunity comes to tell your story, will you be prepared?  Lonnie wasprepared and made the most of his opportunity.  However, I have seen manyopportunities vanish for a person to tell his/her story because of the fear ofspeaking in front of a group or in a meeting.  Whether it’s in a jobinterview, monthly meeting, or at a conference, have the confidence to tellyour story.  You may never get another opportunity to do so.  Havethe courage to work on your presentation skills.  There are variousresources for improving your presentation skills.  You can take a class,join Toastmasters, or hire a presentation skills coach.

Also, outline what you will tell in your story.  Think of yoursuccesses and how you achieved those successes.  Thinks of the challengesyou faced and how you overcame them.  Express the joy you felt whileachieving your goals.   Relate how your activities helped you developyour skills, your creativity, and your determination.  Let your passionshow in your story.

3. Create Opportunities to Tell Your Story – When Lonnievolunteered, he created an opportunity to tell his story.  How can youcreate opportunities to tell your story?  You can volunteer forjob-related assignments and give reports during management briefings.  Youcan be active in workshops or seminars and tell your story among a variety ofpeople that normally might not be exposed to your story.  Join variousassociations and groups and tell your story.  This is a great way tonetwork among people who are active in their industries.  Contribute yourstory to your in-house publication, local newspaper, or magazine.  Createa blog or website and tell your story.  The more you tell your story to awide variety of people, the greater the opportunity to increase yoursuccess.

Apply these powerful career advice secrets and put your career advancementon the fast track.  Tell your story and others will sit up and takenotice.

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