This is part 2 of Monday’s post, 10 Career Poisoning Moves to Avoid.

• 6.) An office romance. Disastrous under any circumstances.
• 7.) Not taking some risk. You must push yourself outside your comfort zone to grow. If you don’t grow as a professional you loose your marketability.
• 8.) Having no career goals. Career goals keep you focused on the direction you want your career to take and how to get there.
• 9.) Neglecting your image. Presenting a positive image includes: appropriate dress and grooming, being honest, the use of proper grammar and avoidance of profanity.
• 10.) Being indiscreet. If you are told something in confidence you cannot betray your source; this would come back to haunt you as you will never be trusted again. Additionally, the use of off-color jokes, gossip about co-workers, discussions of race or religion are not appropriate in the workplace.

This is Part I of a two part series.

• 1.) Poor likeability. If you are disliked, it’s irrelevant whether you’re good at your job because your co-workers will avoid you.
• 2.) Not being a team player. No one is comfortable around a prima donna. Even professional athletes like Terrell Owens are reprimanded for opening criticizing his teammates.
• 3.) Missing deadlines. Everyone depends on you. It is better to under-promise and over-deliver.
• 4.) Conducting personal business on company time can get you fired.
• 5.) Isolating yourself. You don’t get promoted by doing good work; you get promoted by doing good work that is noticed. Keep your boss informed of special projects you’re undertaken. Tell others in the organization of your accomplishments.

This is the second installment of 10 Strategies to Help Develop Your Career. See our website for last month’s archived article.

6. Manage your own morale; in today’s flat organization don’t look to senior management to be your cheerleader. Be self-motivated.

7. Be deliberate in changing employers; if your learning and career growth options have stalled, look elsewhere.

8. Take initiative; take a bold step in becoming a leader. Offer to take the lead on an important project or volunteer to give a presentation on a topic you would like to learn about or are already an expert on.

9. Create work/life balance; time away from work recharges your batteries.

10. Be a lifelong learner; learning shouldn’t end with graduation.  Read books and articles to develop your technical skills and presentation skills.

Career success is not obtained by accident or luck..  It requires commitment, which is defined as the difference between wishing and doing.