Build a great team. Surround yourself with the best people you can find, attract and retain. If you are good (ideally great) at what you do, you want people who are amazing at what they do, preferably, in areas that are not your strengths. Furthermore, don’t simply post a job description on your website and wait for applicants. Instead, leverage your networks and go out proactively and recruit the best people you can get. Build a great team, one person at a time and do it intentionally and proactively. Your success and the success of the entire organization, depends on them, so act intentionally and thoughtfully.

Plan ahead, but live in the moment. Don’t allow today to be wasted because you are daydreaming about next week, month, year or even a decade. Always have long-term plans and goals, but work hard each day to get that much closer to those goals. Make progress one day at a time, patiently, yet efficiently and effectively.

You get what you tolerate, in life and in business. If you attract and retain mediocre players and contributors, you are going to end up with mediocre results, outcomes and performance. This is also applicable to your individual careers as you have the final say on where you are and where you continue to be. If you have decided to stay in a place without leadership, vision and growth opportunities, this is your choice and a decision after all and it is important to be aware of it. Don’t blame others, own your life and career.

Who you hire matters, a lot! It is essential to surround yourself with honest people who will always tell you the truth, instead with those who will simply nod their heads in “agreement” with everything you might say. You want the truth, you want to learn from others as well and do what’s best for the organization overall, not only a number of select individual careers.

Being helpful to people is always the right thing to do and it is a smart long-term strategy in every filed you might be in.

Knowing how to present, negotiate and sell are critical skills for your overall success. Even if you are not in “sales” you should know how to sell your ideas, plans, products, services and so on. This also applies to yourself as you navigate your career and look for new opportunities.

Furthermore, quality of a product or a service is essential, but don’t ever underestimate the need to know how to effectively sell that product or a service as it will make a huge difference.

Ask for help. As you are tying to grow, advance, get promoted or build a business it is important to use the opportunities to learn from others who may be further along in the process. Ask for help, ask multiple people and in due time, one of them (at the very least) will be glad to help you make progress.

Switching industries mid-career is a topic I come across frequently and those inquiring almost always doubt their abilities to make the switch successfully.

While every industry and profession has its nuances, terminology and software used, the fundamental experience in areas such as leadership, management, technology, finances, marketing and the like don’t change that much. After all, P&L is P&L in every industry so trust your experience and knowledge and move forward with confidence and belief in success. Want to switch industries? Full steam ahead!

Time off is important and can be very valuable on multiple fronts. It goes without saying that it is valuable to take some time off from work, change the environment and create a bit of distance, both mentally and physically (I don’t believe in “staycations”) and actually leave the area if possible, unplug and immerse yourself in the moment (with significant a other, family, friends…even alone). Additionally, it is important as it provides new perspective and a better reference point with respect to where you are today and where you need or would like to be in a year or two. Try it, take some time off and enjoy the benefits.