Sharp readers are going to catch me stating the obvious on occasion...that's ok. Often, the most obvious is really a profound truth. Here is one that can make your life a lot more pleasant, and increase your chances of success:

Try and work and do business with people you like and respect.

Being successful in your work, career and business dealings to a large extent is about putting yourself in situations that fit.

Cultural fit. Environmental fit. Job fit. And, people fit. If you can't stand…

I don’t know about you, but I am certainly guilty from time to time of undermining, or self-sabotaging myself. My latest Monster.com article - Self-Sabotage: Stop Underming Yourself at Work tackles the subject.

“From time to time, you may undermine yourself on the job with your behaviour. This form of self-sabotage not only prevents you from performing at your full potential, but also gives colleagues and customers an opportunity to think less of you as an individual and professional.

With self-…

"A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do."
- Walter Gagehot

"Do not follow where the path may lead.
Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
- Unknown

"Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go."
- William Feather

"There is no future in any job. The future lies in the man who holds the job."
- George Crane

"A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does …

One of the powerful things about blogs is that their very nature encourages we authors to share what is going on in our lives, professionally and personally.

I am often guilty of editing myself when it comes to posting on my site, but many readers and coaching clients have let me know that the value they receive from me is in large part made up of my personal experiences - both the successes and failures.

So, I remind myself to get personal.

Which is a neat segue to how I am feeling today. Running …

How to make your work compelling

You need to be aware of a significant career management danger. In this tough economy and job market, your professional expectations may be unmet. Whether it is job satisfaction, career development or job search success, things may not be going your way. When this happens, there is a natural tendency to disengage, to unplug. You go through the motions, but part of your mind is elsewhere, unfocussed.

You can instantly recognize people who are fully engaged. They are…