Top 10 Ways to Get Ahead

Robert Half International

Vince Thompson was willing to do whatever it took to make his company successful. He shifted from sales management to leading sales training when the need was there, and when the company asked him to run its Southwest territory, he relocated for the position.

"The knowledge I needed to change positions did not come from my predecessors or even bosses," Thompson says. "It came from mentors and colleagues within the company that were vested in my success and willing to teach more and provide honest feedback."

It's no good to sit still in any area of your life -- work is no exception. Thompson, author of "Ignited: Managers! Light Up Your Company and Career for More Power, More Purpose and More Success," says we should all try to live up to our potential as contributors and to do that, we have to aim to get ahead at some point.