First Law of Career Development: Be The Force Acting on Your Career

By Larry Boyer, Career Coach & Personal Branding Strategist

How do you get your career moving in the direction you want at the maximum possible speed? In last week's Friday's Rocket Fuel we explored the connection between Newton's First Law of Motion and career development. Remember that Newton's First Law of Motion states that an object in motion tends to stay in motion and an object at rest tends to stay at rest unless an outside force acts on it. Expanding on Newton's First of Law of Motion, we have:

The First Law of Career Development

Your career will continue to develop at the same pace and in the same direction unless YOU do something to accelerate it or change direction.

In other words, your career will continue to develop on the same course and at the same pace until you actively and regularly pursue a course of action to achieve your goal including continuous learning and development, increasing self-knowledge, and gaining experience.

You have more power, influence and control over your career development than any person you meet or any event or circumstance you face. You choose what career you want. You choose how satisfied you are with your job. You choose how much effort you put into pursuing your career. You choose what you learn. You choose how you spend your time. 

So where is your career heading? Will your career top out in 20's or 30's? Are you destined for raises of 3% per year? Or will your salary jump as you learn, develop and get promoted? Will your career follow the average path, like most others?

If you are looking for exceptional career growth come back on Wednesday to learn what you can do to put the First Law of Career Development to work for you.