“Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.” – Salvador Dali

10 Ways to Get Rich as an Employee

Most people know me as an entrepreneur, a person that has started and/or consulted with dozens of successful multimillion-dollar entrepreneurial businesses, and the author of Ready, Fire, Aim, a NYT bestselling book on entrepreneurship.

In fact, I made my first 10 million as an intrapreneur – an employee that became a partner in a business that went from $1 million to $135 million in about seven years. I did that by doing everything I’m about to tell you…

1. Begin well.

Recognize a simple truth: If your ambition is to go as far as you can go as an employee, you have to accept the fact that you have to distinguish yourself as a superstar. That means you have to be willing to do more, learn more, and care more than your peers. This won’t increase your general happiness in life, but it will give you the opportunity to have more freedom, authority, and autonomy. Plus you will make a whole lot more money.

2. Set the only goal that makes sense.

On day one of your new job, set this goal: to become the CEO of the company. It doesn’t even matter if that’s really not your goal. Anything and everything you can get from your current job will come faster and easier if you assign yourself this crazy goal of becoming the CEO.

3. Study the architecture.

It’s amazing how many people come to work each day with little to no idea of what their business does or how it does it. They enter data or process accounts payable or write computer code without any knowledge of or interest in how the company works.

Remember: The goal you’ve assigned yourself is to become CEO. That means you must take the time to educate yourself about the structure, the key people, and the basic operations of the business. Read company literature. Interview your boss and other bosses. Talk to your fellow employees.

4. Take names.

Walk around. Make eye contact and smile. As you expand your knowledge of the business and its functions, get to know some of the people outside your immediate work environment. Your goal is not to make friends, but to create a network of people that can help you have a bigger and more meaningful impact on the growth of the company.

5. Use your brain.

You can’t always be the smartest person in the room, but you should seek to be. Pay attention. Ask questions when you don’t understand. Take notes. Study. Be determined to know the business inside and out. This will mean extra work, evenings and weekends. It will be a good investment of your time.

6. Catch the worm.

Don’t believe anyone that tells you it’s quality, not quantity, that counts. Both are important. That applies to every aspect of your work performance, including the hours you work. To get on the fast track in a new company, you must not only work at least 10 hours a day, at least one of those hours should be in your office before your boss arrives. Being willing to work late shows loyalty and commitment. Arriving early shows initiative and ambition.

7. Make your first fan.

Your fate during the early days of your employment is dependent on your boss’s opinion of you. So, make it your first priority to figure him out and become the employee he wants you to be.

8. Be thankful and thoughtful.

Every time someone helps you, teaches your something, or does you a favor – even a small one – send them a personalized thank-you of some sort. In some cases, an email will suffice. In other cases, a handwritten note would be better. The point is to let people know that you are open to, and grateful for, advice and encouragement.

9. Step up.

When something bad happens under your watch, don’t make excuses. If it’s your fault, fess up immediately. If it isn’t your fault, don’t play the blame game. Explain what happened, but also take responsibility for it. You want to be known as someone that can be relied on to solve problems, not just point fingers.

10. Get ready for a promotion.

What is the job you should do next? The one that will advance you fastest? You should always have your eye on a position with more responsibility and authority. And usually, that means a job that can make the company more bottom-line dollars.

Think about what that job can be and then start spending your free time hanging out with the people that are currently doing it. Learn everything they know. Help them solve their problems. Become their fervent apprentice. And when a job in their department opens up, they will think of you… and you will be fully prepared to jump on it.

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