By Staff Writer

Success depends heavily on the growth of your career - you can't really call yourself successful if you've been servicing a drive-through window for the past 10 years. Here are a few tips on how to make sure you move upward on the career ladder:

Set goals. Plot a course for yourself: Where do you see yourself next year? In five years? In ten? Make definite, achievable goals for your career and stick to them. Set periodic checkpoints on your progress and do your best to catch up if you see you're lagging behind. The motivation to accomplish them will drive you to improved productivity and, the more productive you are, the more likely you're bound for success.

Know what you can do. Analyze your skills. Take some time to list down the things you do well, and what you can't yet. Once you've written everything down, take a look at the areas in which you can improve and be proactive about them. Find training courses and seminars that will help you hone your talents and learn the skills necessary for your personal career progress.

One way to make this easier is to make a portfolio of your successes. Reflecting on a job well done will help you identify the things you do right. Your more impressive accomplishments should serve as a barometer of your talents as well as challenge you to do something even greater.

Don't just limit the list to your work-related skills. Personal qualities, such as loyalty and adaptability, can have a profound effect on your professional life. Your congenial personality may just give you an edge in sealing that all-important deal for your company. Grow as much as you can, in talents and in character, and your career will grow as well.

Be a people person. Interpersonal skills are essential for success. Network as much as you can to both build business relationships and to create a favorable work environment. A good business network will also give you access to key players in your industry - people who can mentor you and hook you up with opportunities. You'll be able to learn of ways to further your career that you may never have thought of by yourself.

You can start in the workplace by being a team player. Create a support system with your colleagues and build rapport with them by becoming their friend. Eat together, go out to unwind after a long day's work, and chat by the water cooler. The relationships you build in the office will extend farther than you'd expect, and many new connections will open up for you.

Speak up. Lastly, you're never going to get anywhere without being assertive. If you can think of a way to increase the company's profits, go right ahead and tell your boss. If you think that your workload for the week is far too heavy, talk to your manager. Your initiative will be very much appreciated, and if you speak with respect, you will be heard.