Hi Everyone,Just wanted to hear from you all on this issue. Is hard work and dedication the key to a successful and long career? Or do the 'tortoises' with their slow and steady approach tend to outperform the 'rabbits' in the long run.It seems the job function also decides the kind of approach people should adopt for a successful and long career. A job function like trading which is based on revenue generation is good for people with 'rabbit' approach. Whoever performs the best in a year gets the maximum bonus.Whereas a job function like manager/management/IT role is good for people with 'tortoise' approach. In such job functions there is no absolute benchmark like revenue for measuring performance. Instead, the benchmark is based on 'human/intangible' issues like interpersonal skills, communication skills, team building skills etc.

QuoteOriginally posted by: rishikuKey to a long and successful careerTubal ligation.

QuoteOriginally posted by: rishikuHi Everyone,Just wanted to hear from you all on this issue. Is hard work and dedication the key to a successful and long career? Or do the 'tortoises' with their slow and steady approach tend to outperform the 'rabbits' in the long run.It seems the job function also decides the kind of approach people should adopt for a successful and long career. A job function like trading which is based on revenue generation is good for people with 'rabbit' approach. Whoever performs the best in a year gets the maximum bonus.Whereas a job function like manager/management/IT role is good for people with 'tortoise' approach. In such job functions there is no absolute benchmark like revenue for measuring performance. Instead, the benchmark is based on 'human/intangible' issues like interpersonal skills, communication skills, team building skills etc.being at the right place at the right time is probably the single most important thing.

Showing continuous visible productivity in your current role, yet investing enough time in being ready for when you happen to be at the right time in the right place and signalling that you're open to these occurrences (if you signal correctly, it's a matter of when not if).How exactly to do all of the above is unfortunately extremely job-specific.

Zmei, thats a very nice explanation. I will keep that in mind .As Veeru said, luck too plays a part. But I guess thats the noise part for which no one knows its exact absolute size and reason. One of the reasons can be hard work as well. People who think they were unlucky to miss out on a promotion may infact be very lucky in the eyes of others to be in their current position but do not appreciate or know that.Thanks

Eat lots of scones, and drink plenty of tea, what?

Luck only plays part in the short term - will your break come during any given week. However, due to the law of large numbers, if you position yourself so as to be available to the breaks (and are capable, prepared and committed enough to be able to run with one once you get it), it is 'almost certain' in the statistical sense (p->1) that you will get them. Not to mention that the people who distribute the breaks are also constantly, if somewhat randomly, on the prowl for likely targets.Besides, why strive for a _long_ and successful career? My personal goal is a career that is successful enough to culminate in an exceedingly early retirement.

PMed instead

Senor Zmei, you are truly a man after my own heart... I would even go as far as suggesting that, in the limit, "long AND successful" is a contradiction. Successful, of necessity, must equate to short, in this business...

what's long and what's successfull?is 10 years long?how do u measure success? Is anything below CEO unsuccessfull?