What techniques can one use to excel in any career?

Answer 1

Show up early, leave late and always be busy with something. Look at your work form your immediate boss's point of view; what hassles does he have everyday thet you could help solve?

Also find someone you like and respect and model their behavior. It's easier to follow someone who's succeeding than blazing a new trail by guesswork.

Answer 2

1. Be honest - nobody likes a liar or a cheat
2. Be expedient - when you are told to do something, don't drag your feet. Even if your reward is going to be more work.
3. Remove "I am bored" from your vocabulary. If you are bored then you are not working hard enough.
4. Make sure you understand your job description, don't get caught not knowing something falls under your responsibility.
5. Never talk salary. Ever. Your salary is a secret between you, your first line supervisor and HR. Many times your supervisor doesn't even know your salary.
6. Even paranoids have enemies, so watch your back.
7. Make sure you get credit for your work. Don't shy off from claiming something as your idea when your boss tries to steal it.
8. Learn the office politics culture, which is different in every office. Be careful while you pick on these nuissances when you arrive at a new job.
9. Figure out who really calls the shots in the company, and make sure this person knows who you are and what you are able to do, either direct or indirectly.
10. Do something nice for your team, completely random if possible. For example, if you know it is a crappy day and the weather is terrible, stop by a donut shop and pick up a box of donuts or something for your coworkers. It will cost you a few bucks, but it will earn you a little bit of goodwill. Don't do this more than once a month to avoid getting tagged as a brown noser.
11. Most HR departments post a list of birthdays. Most people like when somebody at their office notices their birthday, a well wish is all that is needed.
12. Every few months there is going to be a crisis and one of you is going to volunteer to take one for the team. Make sure you do this at least once a year, since managers will likely remember that you volunteered and rose up to the challence.
13. Nobody likes whiners. If you have a personal problem, don't drag it into the office. Same goes for most of your personal life.
14. The only authorized answer to "how you doing?" is "I'm doing fine, thanks." People don't need to know that your sister in law's deadbeat boyfriend beats her up and just got arrested because he was cooking meth in their basement.

Answer 3

Performance-wise, Passion in whatever you do, putting in 110% of your efforts. Be efficient and produce quality work. Enjoy your work (it can be enjoyed). Happy people produce good results. Character-wise, discipline and inter-personal relationships are important. Never stop learning!