Can-Do Attitude Is Essential For On-the-Job Success

By Tory Johnson
CEO of Women For Hire

Not a day goes by when I don't receive e-mails and calls from people who say they're frustrated by their inability to reach their career goals. They express serious doubt about their abilities to accomplish what they really want to do.

Each time I tell them an anecdote about a young Michael Gelman.

While in journalism school at the University of Colorado, Gelman says he solicited a lot of advice from his professors. Most of them said that if he wanted a career in television, he'd have to start in a small market and hope to work his way up. He listened carefully, and then proceeded to abandon their directives.

Gelman said he knew for sure that someone had to get those entry level jobs on the top-rated shows, so shouldn't one of them go to him. He truly believed that if others before him could do it, then so could he.

Armed with an abundance of energy and determination, Gelman headed to New York City and landed a spot on an early version of what ultimately became Live!, the popular talk show hosted today by Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa.

That passion, guts and logic worked: In 1987, after freelance assignments and staff stints, Gelman became the youngest executive producer of a national talk show, and he proceeded to turn the program into a ratings powerhouse.

It could be argued that his talents in television are on par other people's skills in their chosen lines of work -- from administrative assistants to electrical engineers. But it's his strong can-do attitude that really sets him above and beyond many of his peers.

Instead of figuring out why you can't accomplish what you've set your eyes on -- there's way too much competition or you just don't have enough time or you're fearful of rejection -- turn the tables on that negativity. Figure out exactly what it'll take to get you where you want to go and start heading down that path. Get going today!

Johnson is the CEO of Women For Hire (www.womenforhire.com).

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