What are parades? They are an event where you have organizers, participants, and watchers. It has a lot of: fan fairing, clapping, cheering, and spotlighting on the participants. It also brings out the best and worst in people.

Some people don't see any reason to attend a parade. They ignore and avoid the entire event.

People may want to come and watch, but they want nothing to do with organizing the event. Too much work for what they feel is too little return is their motto..

Some watchers come to watch for the dropped baton by the 15 year old majorette. They snicker at the off key trumpet player. They remark how stupid one looks or sounds when giving a speech. They are there to criticize. Said another way, they are there to rain on the parade.

Participants want to join the parade. Some add value and help. Some just participate by being there. Those that add value take their skills and apply it to the organizer's goal. Those that help want to direct the organizer without the responsibility of ownership. Those that are just there, well, they just want some of the organizer's limelight without any effort. I call them, limelight stealers.

Organizers take up the challenge. They see the goal, find the people that will add value to the cause, organize and set it in motion. They are the one with full responsibility for the event. They're the ones that take the risks. They are the ones who catch the heat and deal with all the hiccups along the way. The success of each event may or may not be noticed. It may even be taken for granted. It is their own responsibility to find the limelight and do with it as they want.

Let me give you a bit of insight. Your career is a parade. You are the organizer; the one that takes the risks, the one that may be taken for granted if you let it. You are in control yet will have to deal with the many hiccups along the way. Since you are the one in charge, you have to find the right people that will add value along the way to help ensure the parade (your career) is as successful as you want it to be. You are the headmaster of the parade.

As the headmaster, your job is to drive your own career. Success is achieved only when you please those customers (business users and business) on the sidelines enjoying the acts one by one. You must organize, direct and deal with the unforeseen hiccups when they occur. You must turn the limelight stealers into productive value-added participants (aka leadership). Remember, some of the audience members (management) are watching how you perform. They are watching both your leadership and your organizational skills to see the value you add to the company.

As the headmaster of your own career, you will meet many people that are not interested in your advancement. About one in a thousand of these uninterested individuals you will require his/her help at some point. You'll need to be creative in coming up with an idea about how they will actually benefit in helping you. The other 999 non-interested individuals will avoid you. You should avoid spending much time with the other non-essential 999 individuals. It is wasted energy and time to enlist them.

As the head master, you will find many (and I mean many) critics. These people rain on your parade because they do not have a parade of their own (note: this issue's inspirational quote). They are intimidated by the thought of your success. They are afraid of risk, lack creativity, as well as ambition. They will drag you down. They will chip at your self-esteem. Tell them "thank you," hand them an umbrella and say, "Go find your own parade." Then turn away.

As head master, if you give even the slightest inkling that you'll be successful; people will flock to be part of your parade. They will follow you and make you feel good. Do not mistake these as cheerleaders. They are there because they want part of your limelight and will steal it when the opportunity arises. They may help you to a point. They may provide value to a point. However, they are too scared of forming their own parade. Their advice may be self-serving. They want you to be successful but only to the point where you don't make them nervous. They will hold you back so they do not have to feel at risk. They will make you feel guilty if you move too fast or don't take their self-serving advice. They will start chipping away at your self-esteem if they feel threatened that you are going to leave them (which you must at some point) or take them into uncharted, unfamiliar, and uncomfortable to them territory. Recognize the signs (similar to those of a critic) and move on. They will tell you "I told you so!" at every opportunity.

Sorry, everyone must be responsible for his/her own parade/career. Only worry about your own. Weed out those leaches when they have sucked too much blood (or taken too much of your limelight) for their own parade.

Along the way, you will find valuable participants. These individuals are mentors, colleagues, customers, and subordinates. These individuals see your vision. They know what value (skill) they can provide in achieving your vision. Each of them understands the value of helping you. It could be as simple as wanting to see you succeed because they believe in you. The difference between these and the limelight stealers is that the valuable participants will not hold you back but rather be the true cheerleaders when (and it is when and not if) necessary.

Value participants that have a goal know it before they join your parade. Do not worry about what they get in return. They will know how to get it for themselves. It may be to practice a new skill. It may be to work and learn from a master. It may be for exposure to people for his/her own parade. As long as they do not prevent your parade from happening, keep them on board.

Value-added individuals are rare and should be cherished, recognized publicly, and ensured that they meet their individual goals as well. Be creative in sending them a thank you...and do it often. Find opportunities after the individual parade to keep in touch. Reciprocate when you can provide real value to them. Winners need to hang together. Winners remember the value helpers as they climb for their dreams.

Beware of too many followers and helpers all the time. They are not your equal. To be really successful, you want to be around more people with whom you can learn and grow. You want to be the value helper to them. Being the leader with many followers is an ego booster...when you are already at the top. However, being with equals (those with their own parade and those that can add value to yours which you can reciprocate) puts you in an environment of continual growth and success. These individuals take chances, learn from mistakes, and catch the real limelight from their own parade. These individuals are recognized by the audience that really matters to your career...the business executives.

Be the head master of your own parade.

SBDi speaks both Business and IT languages. Bring SBDi in to help communication between both organizations. Let us help you find the right flexible solution that will help business increase revenue.

Pat Ferdinandi, Chief Thought Translator