Kiana L. Wilson - Too Sharp to Fail: How to Own Your Career and Thrive in the Workplace

TOO

SHARP

to

fail

This generation faces many hurdles to satisfactory employment, from saturated hiring markets to historically high living expenses. Fortunately, Too Sharp to Fail gives specific examples of how to develop the skillset and mindset you need to break through and build the career that you genuinely want.

Marshall Goldsmith , The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Triggers.

Wilson uses a unique lens to share her career advice with readers. You will be caught up in her well-written story and her experience as a coach will help you ask the right questions (and find the right answers) to move forward in your own career. There is no way you can come away from this book without some excellent pointers and a large dose of inspiration.

Beverly Kaye , Co-author of Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go: Career Conversations Employees Want and Love It Dont Leave It: 26 Ways to Get What You Want at Work .

This is a must read! Too Sharp to Fail masterfully presents the real challenges young professionals face in the workplace affecting their motivation and drive and also clearly outlines concrete steps that can be taken to rise above and accelerate your success!

Mignon Bissonnette , Associate Director, Career Advisement and Pre-Professional Services, Nova Southeastern University.

Its more important now than ever before to take control of your career. In this book, Kiana Wilson uses the story of Justin, a new young employee, to guide YOU the reader through assessing and analyzing your own desires at work. Packed with practical tools and exercises, Wilson provides readers with great insights to help YOU start owning your own success. A must-read for ambitious high performers!

Bruce Tulgan , Best-selling author and founder of RainmakerThinking, Inc.

Kiana Wilsons, Too Sharp To Fail, is written in an engaging format that speaks to todays young professional. She uses storytelling and experiential scenarios to inform readers on how to succeed in the world of work and helps them dig into their own sense of purpose. Too Sharp To Fail is chock-full of practical information and tips, but offers it in such a way that allows the reader to absorb it through examples, comparisons, and real-world situations. Its a great read and a valuable resource for any young professional or those serving them.

Lynn Chisholm , Director of Internships and Career Readiness, University of South Florida Career Services

Kiana Wilsons Too Sharp to Fail offers an inspirational story with a wealth of good advice that is particularly pertinent to the millennial generation and those early in their careers.

Stephanie Thomason , Associate Director of the TECO Energy Center for Leadership & Associate Professor of Management, The University of Tampa

TOO

SHARP

to

fail

H OW TO O WN
Y OUR C AREER AND
T HRIVE IN THE W ORKPLACE

Kiana L. Wilson

NEW YORK

LONDONNASHVILLEMELBOURNEVANCOUVER

TOO SHARP to fail

H OW TO O WN Y OUR C AREER AND T HRIVE IN THE W ORKPLACE

2018 Kiana L. Wilson

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in New York, New York, by Morgan James Publishing. Morgan James is a trademark of Morgan James, LLC. www.MorganJamesPublishing.com

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ISBN 978-1-68350-142-8 paperback

ISBN 978-1-61448-660-2 eBook

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016946881

Cover Design by:

Rachel Lopez

www.r2cdesign.com

Interior Design by:

Bonnie Bushman

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Creative Writing Coach:

Dianne A. Allen, M.A.

Editor:

Anna Floit

The Peacock Quill

In an effort to support local communities, raise awareness and funds, Morgan James Publishing donates a percentage of all book sales for the life of each book to Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg.

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My younger self,

Today I stand in the knowledge that the career challenges I experienced for many years now serve a greater purpose. To be of service to others in this way gives me immense joy and gratitude. Never lose sight of your dreams and always have the courage to OWN your career!

To my son,

Each day I am reminded that the path to success requires a strength many people will never know. My desire for you is that this book will help you along your career journey and serve as a reminder of what is possible.

To my readers,

What may seem impossible today will one day be a distant memory. I hope the messages in this book will serve as a catalyst for you to keep pushing forward no matter what.

Friends and family, you supported me during my toughest challenges and for that I am truly grateful. Like so many others, I needed the encouragement to keep going, so thank you for not allowing me to settle. Thank you for continually putting me in situations in which I could grow and see just how amazing I truly am. Lastly, thank you for being the inspiration I needed to find my voice and become the person I knew I could be.

Mentors, coaches, and advisors, words cannot express what it has meant to receive your guidance and support over the years. In many ways, you took a chance on me by believing in my capabilities long before I did. You led me to create my own path and held my hand every step of the way. Thank you for knowing just what I needed to keep pushing forward. I will always acknowledge and be grateful for your support.

Lastly, special thanks to Danielle C. Miller, Patricia A. Sullivan, and Dr. Lashun Aron for your feedback and contributions.

Do you work for money or satisfaction? This is not a trick question. Many people believe that work is simply an exchange of service for money. And although this belief may resonate with you, I wantand needyou to understand that limiting your talents and efforts to a simple exchange undervalues and undermines who you are. As I look around, I see many opportunities for young professionals to redefine what a career can be. Long gone are the days when people started in the mailroom of a company and worked their way up the career ladder. Thats simply not realistic in todays business environment. And, quite frankly, staying with one company throughout an entire career is a dated practice.

If you dont make the decision now to own your career, you will never realize your potential. Even worse, the chapter youre currently in will continue to repeat. Imagine your best days are behind you instead of before you. And the boss you complain about each day is as good as it gets. This could become your realityand for many people it already is.

If youre currently happy and fulfilled in your career, then consider yourself fortunate. Although, I suspect that you too could still learn a few things. This book is for the vast majority of young professionals who want to achieve career success yet feel lost, disconnected, and directionless. The problem I see most often is that people have fallen into a routine, a rut. They go through the motions of completing tasks and assuming responsibilities without ever taking the time to understand their who , what , or why .