Reaching your potential (journal article)
by Robert S. Kaplan
from Harvard Business Review Jul-Aug 2008, Vol 86 No 7/8, pp. 45-49
The goal isn't about getting to the top. Rather, it's about taking a very personal look at how you define success in your heart of hearts, and then finding your own path there. To discover your way, you need to step back and reassess your career, recognizing that managing it is your responsibility. Many people feel like victims when, in fact, most career wounds are self-inflicted. Taking control begins with understanding yourself: seeking frank feedback about your strengths and weaknesses from colleagues above and below you, and figuring out what you truly enjoy doing. That understanding--not other people's definition of success--should guide your career choices and goals.