Take charge of your career

Here’s a great quote from Steve Kerr, coach of the Golden State Warriors. He’s speaking about Luke Walton who’d just been fired from his position as head coach of LA Lakers.“I just know how perfect he is for the job of being an NBA coach. But given my experience, I'm also well aware that every single one of us,…., is dependent upon circumstances -- i.e. management, ownership, talent, expectations. All those things factor in.”Ain’t that the truth. You can possess all the capabilities you need to succeed in sales. And still come up short.Fit is everything. Ultimately, fit is on you.Much of your success will depend on the circumstances you put yourself in.Of course, you don’t have complete control over this.However, you should always be proactive about putting yourself in a position to succeed. Make sure that you’re selling in a situation that is aligned with your values. And your ambitions.Once, in the aftermath of an acquisition, I ended up reporting to the President of the acquiring company who managed his senior executives through fear and intimidation at the top of his lungs. The guy was a joke. He had nothing to teach me. Life was too short to put up with his BS. Being proactive about leaving that company catapulted me forward in my career.Don’t be afraid to take control of the circumstances of your career.Before you take that new job, make sure that you’re working in an environment where management is committed to your development. And invested in your success.Ask yourself this question. When you envision where you want to be in your career, is this the job, and the boss, that is going to help you get you there?If not, don’t settle. Be persistent and go the extra mile to find a better fit.- Andy