Doom & Gloom?

The final quarter of the year has arrived with a weak US economy, a continuing financial crisis in Europe and suggestions of a slowdown in China.  Some commentators have suggested that Hong Kong may already be in recession and certainly the stock and property markets here are soft and showing volatility.

However the US economy is still growing, the Europeans willsolve their problems and any slowdown in China is likely to be short-lived.  While we live in a global economy Hong Kong is still well-placed to weather economic turbulence because of its proximity to China and the increasing worldwide recognition that Asia is the place to be for the future.  Certainly at Gemini we are seeing a continuing influx of companies setting up locally.

The implications of turbulent economic times for the recruitment market are clear - there are plenty of good people available for employment particularly from industries facing difficulties and strong employers should consider adding to headcount.  Gemini's executive and permanent recruitment consultants stand ready to assist with all staffing needs.  Employers should also bear in mind that Chinese New Year falls early in 2012 (23 January) and therefore it makes sense to act sooner rather than later in ensuring that sufficient staff will be available to face the challenges of the new year! 

No, this isn't an eyeball-catching headline to get you to click. I'm really going to prove to you why, if you spend your career focused on salary, you'll lose out big-time in the long run. 

Even worse, you'll always wonder why so many people are doing better than you and what you did wrong. That's no way to live. And just so we're clear, I'm not saying money doesn't matter. Are you kidding? The goal here is to achieve financial success, enjoy the process, and feel good about the result.

When it comes to your career, you need to look at the big picture. If your focus is too myopic or narrow, you won't achieve big things.

Things More Important Than Your Salary

Your goals. Yogi Berra said, "If you don't know where you're going, you may not get there." He was right. You need to have goals and a plan. You can revise them anytime, but you need to have them and focus. If you're smart, opportunistic, adaptable, and work hard, you'll achieve great things ... including financial success.

Loving what you do. "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle."

The company you work for. If I have one secret to career success, it's this. Think of every company as a possible rocket ship to the moon. Sure, you've got to get on the ship, but if the ship can't get you there, what's the point? Work for a winning company where you'll have room to advance or a cool startup where you can wear lots of hats. You have choices. Exercise them.

How opportunistic you are. Given the choice between skills at negotiating a fat comp package and being adept at creating your own opportunities and making your own luck, I'd choose the latter in a heartbeat.

How hard you work. These days it's more popular to talk about working smart than working hard. You need to do both. Success does not come without hard work. Period. You need to be willing to do whatever it takes to achieve your goals.

Your attitude. If you believe you're entitled to what you didn't work for, you may get it, but that's all you'll get, and it won't be much. If, on the other hand, you earn everything you get, are willing to work your tail off to get that promotion, and have a can-do attitude no matter what's asked of you, you'll kick butt, guaranteed.

Making an impact on the business. Business is about business, and the closer you get to making a real impact on the business, the more valuable you'll be to the company, the more opportunities for growth and advancement you'll have, and the more money you'll make.

Opportunity to get out and network. If you're locked away behind a desk all day long, your opportunities are limited.. In terms of future opportunity, it's worth far more than a fat paycheck.

Pay for performance. Salary is only part of the compensation picture. If you're aggressive and believe in yourself, you can benefit more from a healthy, well-structured, and somewhat open-ended bonus plan where your goals are clear and achievable and you can knock them out of the park.

Bottom line: if you focus on the above things instead of your salary, you'll do far better in the long run.

Steve Tobak

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