This post isn’t so much for business owners, but really for those that are employees in corporations. Although, both types, business owners and employees should be able to take away a good lesson in this post. With that, let’s get started. I don’t think I need to mention that the workplace landscape has changed dramatically in the last say 20 years. Heck, it’s changed even in the last 10 years. No longer are the jobs available like your ancestors worked where one could work in the same place for 30 years and expect a handsome pension or nest egg for retirement. These days, those that can expect a fruitful retirement are those that make things happen in their own career.

If you aren’t where you feel you should be in your career and just not making enough, it’s seriously time to look at the person in the mirror. Ask yourself what it would take to catapult your career and get you noticed. Here are 7 Easy Principles that could set you apart from fellow co-workers:

(1) Better Attitude. Those with a better attitude towards their work are usually more favorable than those who come in and do the bare minimum for a paycheck.

(2) In House Training. If your workplace offers some sort of in-house training that you could benefit from, you definitely need to take advantage of this.

(3) Better Work Related, Additional Training. This could take the form of taking a few night classes at even a community or state college to get ahead. It could be simply Course Based Training or a WhitePaper course on the Internet. Maybe even a short seminar on Leadership. Whatever the training, you want a professional certificate for as an accreditation.

(4) Commitment. When the people in a higher rank than you see your commitment, you will be a more favorable candidate for promotions and career advancement

(5) Autonomy. In a nutshell, this simply means you taking the reins or showing responsibility and know-how to get things done without people having to breathe down your neck to get it done.

(6) Voicing your Concerns. This is a good one. If you haven’t had a proper raise in a few years, say SO! Gather your best compliments, workmanship and other benefits that you have accomplished for the company and carry it to your boss that writes the checks. Schedule an informal meeting with them and lay your cards out and your concerns. If you believe you deserve a 10% raise, ask for it.

(7) Set Career Goals. Of all the above principles, this is possibly the most important. To get where you’re going, you need to know where you are heading. You wouldn’t go somewhere like say ‘Siberia’ without a Map of some kind if you didn’t know where you were heading, would you? Same with your career. You must know you outcome if you are to succeed in where you want to go and what advancement in your career would do for your financial life. Example, you might want a six-figure career so that you can get to your goal of financial independence even faster.

I’m sure they are a lot more that you add to the list above, and you should, but make sure to make these your core set of principles that you follow to help catapult your career. In order to get your career out of the doldrums, it’s important that you become a likable character within your organization, like a mini-celebrity. By building and forging proper relationships within your workplace, you will go places farther than those just existing in their workplace. Make it a habit to look over your financial goals daily and your subconscious will eventually pick it up and start working for you as well. Wish you the best in your career endeavors!