I was talking with my friend Steve over the weekend at a graduation party about my book.

During our conversation he told me that the first chapter of my book, finding the need, inspired him to look within his own company to see where he could meet the need of his own company.  Even when I wrote this book I was only thinking about entry level candidates and not thinking about the experienced worker but you cannot limit the genius of individual freedom.

Steve was a seasoned UPS driver doing door-to-door deliveries.  As he looked within the company he realized that UPS was in need of drivers who had their CDL.  A CDL is a commercial trucking license which allows him to drive the 18-wheelers.  Steve’s ability to fresh in his position allowed him to make a wise career choice for him, his family, and even the company he works for.

This introspection of finding the need within his own company helped him do a few things:

• Earn more money because of his new job
• Gain more education within the company
• Help his company meet their needs in a timely fashion

I would venture to say that his introspection not only helped him and his family but his company will be more likely to go to him with more opportunities in the future because he displayed a few characteristics that every company would love to have in their employees:

A willingness to change (Steve is probably at the mid point in his career, with a wife and three children.  It would have been easy to sit back and be content with his situation but his willingness to find the need propelled him to make this change.)

Flexibility – this is a trait that is necessary in today’s job market.  Companies are making changes much more rapidly.  If you are savvy enough to see the changes coming you can then be flexible enough to stay ahead of the curve like Steve did.

Innovative Employees Will Never Be Unemployed – This trait goes along with the willingness to change trait but Steve was looking for the innovative way to get ahead in his company.  In his case innovation meant helping the company in an area it desperately needed assistance, commercial drivers.

Steve’s pursuit to advance his own career could not be done without first looking toward advancing the company he works for.  As his company grows and expands so does his own professional opportunities.  When you are looking to advance your own career make sure you are doing it within the confines of advances the company you work for because your career advancement and your company’s advancement goes hand in hand.

Great job Steve!