Whether you are an entrepreneur, a big corporation person or an employee of a mid sized company, you only go as far as you decide to promote yourself. (Promote as in advance in rank vs promotion in the marketing sense of the word)
If you are the small business CEO, you only make the leap into the CEO of that big business when you promote yourself. Let’s make no mistake – It happens first in the mind, and then in reality. When you make that decision to be the visionary CEO of a big CEO, your prioritize and see things differently. When you are an analyst working directly with very senior folk in your organization versus crunching numbers in the background, you have to make a switch in your mind set and promote yourself. If your behaviour and manner of engagement with people does not change, good luck being invited back into that important room. And yes, the quality of your work is a part of it but it is about being ready and willing to perform in the big stage.
There are many talented footballers who have not been able to cut it in the big leagues. They are stars of their small teams but just don’t seem to be “with it” on the big stage. They have the skill. It’s the mental switch that’s missing. And then you have the big game players..
If there’s a big lesson I’ve taken away in the last year, it’s that you have to be ready and willing to promote yourself and take a shot at playing in the big league. Because nobody else will.
—
Thanks to a wiser friend for point this lesson out as amongst the best lessons he’d observed from a book he’d read. It immediately struck a chord.. or should I say GONG!
A Learning a Day 
