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“Easy Money” was my nickname during one of my internships and reflected the economy at that time. Sadly, that is not the situation today. An intern might just be willing to take on the name “Any Money” just to have a job lined up. With the disruption that has occurred in workplaces all over the globe, it is no surprise that college students, recent graduates, and working professionals (early-career and seasoned) are expressing concerns about the future. 

While I cannot look into a crystal ball to see what lies ahead of us, I can share with you some core qualities that I have found to be widely appreciated and accepted in the workplace, regardless of its size, type or purpose. This is based off my last 15 years working in corporate America for Fortune 100 global leaders, small and large organizations, employee-owned and privately owned companies, and the United States military. To make these qualities easy to remember, use the acronym C.O.R.E.

C – Contribution

The nickname of “Easy Money” was given to me by a construction project manager while I interned on a construction project. He had multiple projects going on and would come out once a week. I would use his desk on the days he was not on site. During his visits, if I was sitting at his desk when he walked into the trailer, he would say, “Uh-oh, there’s a nickel holding up a dollar.” He also told me that I was one of their highest paid interns. It bothered me that he kept implying that I was over-paid for what I did, but in hindsight, that was a very important lesson. 

The professional quality of “Contribution” is understanding the value one brings to the organization. Professionals know that they should be paid commensurate with the value they bring. Regardless of whether you are a seasoned professional, Gen X, Y, Millennial, or post-millennial, you are (or should be) paid in proportion to the value which you provide to your organization. While we all would love to enjoy a 7-digit income, we must not forget that we must be worth the pay we seek. If we want higher pay, then we must accept the responsibilities and duties that come along with those higher-paying positions. Or, you can just invent the next greatest thing, like a teleportation device.

O – Optimism

Let’s not confuse what optimism is with what it isn’t. As I train soldiers on resiliency practices, I have to remind them that optimism isn’t pretending that life is full of rainbows and unicorns. Rather, it’s an attitude based on hope and confidence for a positive outcome and/or future. I am sure we can all think of people who are way too positive as well as the opposite, the never-ending pessimist. 

Professionals who excel and progress are active managers of their careers. They observe those who have succeeded before and understand the requirements needed for advancement or success in their respective fields. They take whatever steps they can to keep themselves relevant and valuable. By doing that, they are contributing to a future of success. That lends itself to a more positive outlook and attitude in the workplace.

R – Realism

The evolving and advancing professional is realistic about their career. That’s not to say one can’t be optimistic and hopeful…one should be as was previously mentioned. However, I observed that many professionals, especially those new to their respective industries, may have unreal expectations about their career. The most successful professionals I have worked with all have a solid understanding of their industry, their career path, and how to influence their progression. They seek the advice of those who have gone before them and find ways to self-develop along the way.

Realism does NOT mean a person has to be pessimistic about their job. As I’ve told people, I’m a realistic optimist or an optimistic realist, take your choice. As long as I know that I am doing what I can to improve my value, my skills, and my knowledge, then I can enjoy an extra measure of confidence in being able to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. Sometimes those opportunities are not in the same company and require a change, but that is the world we live in now. Just as companies have learned to be agile and adapt to ever-changing circumstances; we must also be agile and adaptive in our own careers.

E – Environment

There are numerous factors that an alert and attentive professional can influence and/or change throughout their career; and there are some factors that are somewhat immoveable and/or unchangeable. By using the word Environment, I am referencing the company, the culture and outside factors which may not be easily influenced by the professional. These are those elements that are beyond the professional’s control to change in a short period time. That’s not to say there is no ability to influence change over time, but the professional seeks an accurate understanding of the environment in which they work.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the external factors that play a role in our careers. The solution is to recognize where we have influence and focus on those areas. By exerting our energy only on those areas which we can manipulate, influence or change, we conserve energy for better performance, attitude and understanding. As you can see, all these elements work together.

Conclusion:

Are these the only qualities/attributes/characteristics that make professionals successful? Of course not. However, I noticed that the professionals I’ve respected most and were mentored by demonstrated these qualities in their careers. They were always contributors, optimistic about their careers but real at the same time, and were fully aware of the environment in which the operated. Having this understanding, I invite every reader, employed or unemployed, to look at how you can use the time you have and the insights provided here to enhance your career. To help you remember, I’ve provided a one-pager download. Who knows, maybe you will find yourself with the nick name “Easy Money” someday 🙂