There is a great opportunity waiting for you in the business world. If you want to be seen as the industry expert in demand or get the chance to manage an organization, you have an opportunity like we haven’t seen in sometime.
So what is the opportunity?
Become an industry expert.
There are more and more people new to the business world that decide not to pursue being the expert or the leader in their industry. There are fewer people competing for these positions. There is a price to be paid and many are choosing not to pay the price.
What do you need to do?
- You need the time and willingness to invest in your own future.
- You need a positive attitude.
- And you will need aptitude and capability to learn new skills.
- You will also want to promote yourself to prove to your constituents as well as your superiors that you are the best for the job.
Ultimately, you will need the will and determination to invest your energy to accomplish all of this.
So what is the benefit of being the expert or the leader?
Certainly, compensation is some of it.
Lifestyle, comfort, long term security and providing for ones’ family is a consideration.
But there’s more. There is a fulfillment to being seen as the “go-to-person” for advice and assistance. It is a wonderful feeling when you help a person or organization with a problem that no one else seemed to be able to provide an answer.
Being the leader of the organization is also extremely fulfilling as you have the responsibility for the direction, culture and strategy of a complete team. People will depend on you, your judgment, and abilities.
So, how do you go about becoming the leader or the expert?
- Pick someone who is successful at what you want to become and go talk to them.
- Ask them how they did it and seek their advice on how you should proceed.
- Pick a good time for them and there may be a relaxed moment or ask for an appointment to set time aside to meet with them.
Leaders and experts like to be asked how they did it and usually they are happy to assist the next person coming along. - Be ready to invest.
That’s the tough one, but also the opportunity. So many folks would like the benefits without the investment. It’s going to be a tough lesson for them, but if history holds, many of these folks will be disappointed when the rewards won’t be coming without the effort.
They won’t be able to provide as they had expected. They won’t have the security they had planned. They won’t have the comforts they had hoped would be there in the future.
For some, they might adjust and put the effort in, but for many, it will be too late to get the work done to gain the skills and experience. They will become the resources of companies and organizations and not the experts and leaders.
But that’s the opportunity and always has been, just maybe a bit more today. If you are willing to learn, develop new skills, gain experiences, and invest, you will put yourself in a place to succeed. At the moment, you will have less competition for the opportunities.
Be prepared, life isn’t fair and there will be ups and down, wins and losses. It will probably take longer than you planned and certainly longer than you want.
Don’t give up when your plan is not completely fulfilled and be prepared for a revision to your plan. Being prepared with skills, experiences and energy may also put you in a position for another opportunity you never even dreamed of. Opportunities present themselves to those that are prepared.
Good luck.
Alan Deichler is the president of CPAmerica International and oversees the association’s growth and development. Prior to being named CPAmerica president, Deichler was most recently chief marketing officer at talent management software provider HRsmart in Richardson, Texas, where he headed worldwide sales and marketing efforts. Deichler has more than 35 years of corporate experience, having held previous management and executive positions with Capital Formation Counselors, Inc., IBM and Ernst & Young, LLP.
