Training Manual on Theeranaipunya - Equipping Fisherwomen Youth for Future 283 Successful Career and its Attributes Sandhya Sukumaran Senior Scientist, Marine Biotechnology Division, CMFRI, Kochi Email: sandhyasukumaran@yahoo.com Everyone wants to succeed in life and career and a few people only will realize their wish. But there is no short cut to success as it could only be realized through sustained efforts and hard work. So to begin with we shall see the tips to a successful career. Tips to a successful career 1. Set priorities and goals It is very important to set your priorities. Think deeply and decide about what you want to achieve. Discuss with your peers and make an appropriate decision. Probably at this stage you can set 2-3 achievable goals. Once the goals are set, plan it accordingly. Make a daily plan and fix priorities for each day. The most important and urgent ones should be mentioned at the top. 2. Have adequate focus You should be mentally and physically ready for the goal. All distractions should be blocked so that you get adequate time to focus on your tasks and career. It needs a single minded devotion. 3. Enhance and broaden your skills It is the most important step to reach into a successful career. You should be able to judge yourself and identify the weak points. Update your knowledge and skills. You should aim at continuous improvement of your skills and be ready to learn anything new from any source. Attend any kind of conferences, seminars, read books and be an eternal reader. 4. Improve socialization skills Socialization is an important step in improving your personality traits. You should be an active listener first and should show some interest and enthusiasm in knowing the other person. You should try to know more about them so that you will get adequate attention and respect. 5. Know about yourself; your merits and demerits You should be aware of your strengths and weaknesses. Be confident enough to claim a promotion or position if you feel you deserve it. 48