Foreword by Dean Spitzer
Preface
PART I: YOU AND YOUR JOB
Thinking Outside the Box
Be Your Own Boss: Seeing the Big Picture
Toolbox: Unleashing Employee Innovation and Creativity
Take Action Now! Personal Attributes for Initiative
Doing Your Homework
Be Your Own Boss: Learn from Your Mistakes
Toolbox: Systematic Problem Solving
Take Action Now! Identifying Your Organization's Culture, Values, and Norms
Taking Action/Capitalizing on Opportunities
Be Your Own Boss: Taking Responsibility for Your Actions
Toolbox: Attitude and Balance Are Important to Taking Action
Take Action Now! Tips for Being in Charge
Making Improvements
Be Your Own Boss: How to Make Suggestions Count
Toolbox: Selling Your Ideas to Others
Perseverance and Persistence
Be Your Own Boss: Choosing Your Peaks and Valleys
Toolbox: Managing Your Time
Take Action Now! Persistence Pays Off
PART II: YOU AND OTHERS
Leadership and Influence
Toolbox: The Five Sources of Power and How to Use Them
Be Your Own Boss: What Makes a Leader?
Take Action Now! Leaders Influence Actions
Communication/Networking
Be Your Own Boss: How to Get Others to Help You
Toolbox: How to Have Influence in Meetings
Take Action Now! Communication and Networking Tips
Managing Up
Be Your Own Boss: How to Say No: A Story
Take Action Now! Secrets to Managing Up
Working in Teams
Be Your Own Boss: Deciding What's Important
Toolbox: Empowering Teams
Take Action Now! Tips for Teamwork
Above and Beyond
Be Your Own Boss: Putting Yourself in Your Customer's Shoes
Toolbox: Naive Listening
Take Action Now! Delivering Above and Beyond Service
PART III: YOUR CAREER AND YOUR LIFE
Taking Charge of Your Career
Be Your Own Boss: How to Improve Your Marketability
Toolbox: Networking Made Easy
Toolbox: How to Ask for a Raise
Take Action Now! Planning for Advancement
Learning and Education
Be Your Own Boss: Deciding Your Career's Work
Toolbox: Ten Great Ways to Learn at Work
Take Action Now! Life-Long Learning
Developing Skills on the Job
Be Your Own Boss: Expressing Your Opportunity Interest
Toolbox: Cultivating a Mentor
Overcoming Obstacles
Be Your Own Boss: Seeing Challenges as Opportunities
Toolbox: Balancing Work and Family
Take Action Now! Strategies for Taking Initiative
Career Options
Be Your Own Boss: Constantly Search for Your Next Job
Toolbox: Simplifying Your Life
Take Action Now! Unlimited Opportunity
APPENDIXES
1. Index to Innovators
2. Index to Featured Companies
