Twenty years in the business world has taught me plenty about how people get ahead and achieve maximum job satisfaction. I’ve managed hundreds of employees, many of whom wisely adhered to winning behaviors. You can benefit from their experience by following these fifteen career tips:

1. Develop your own personal style - Behaving like a cookie-cutter image of someone else --— no matter how admirable he or she might be --- doesn’t work. Focus instead on polishing your strong qualities and sanding down your rough spots. Above all else: Be your (best) self rather than a cheap imitation of someone else.

2. Gravitate toward “feel good” people - You feel like a million bucks around some people at work, while others cause all of your insecurities to bubble to the surface. To keep your self-esteem soaring, spend maximum time with “feel good” folks and minimal time with those who bring you down.

3. Check your motives - Let’s face it, we all have impure motives at times. Jealousy, competition and resentment cause us to do or say hurtful things to co-workers “for their own good.” While we like to portray our motives as noble, in reality they are anything but. Before you behave in a way that could cause someone pain, take an honest look at your objectives.

4. Limit your “issues” to those that really matter – Whine, whine, whine. Some people don’t know when to quit. No organization is perfect, and you will surely find inconsistencies and annoyances. Keep your gripes limited, lest you resemble a nagging housewife instead of a respectable professional.

5. Your job --— or your life? - Regardless of how much you love your job, it’s not a fair exchange for your heart and soul. Careers can become too consuming if you aren’t careful --— and the end result is rarely positive. In fairness to both you and your employer, strive for balance in your life.

6. Know when its time to move on – People, organizations, and jobs change. If you are finding it difficult to cope, it may be time to say adios. Don’t waste time performing an “autopsy” to determine what happened. Move on! A job that is a constant struggle simply isn’t a good match, no matter how perfect it may once have been.

7. Back up your boss – You don’t have to always agree with --— or even like --- your boss. But the fact remains that he or she holds authority over you. It’s smart to respect the position --— even if it is difficult to respect the individual. Bad-mouthing the boss can be tempting, but it clearly demonstrates low integrity and it will not help your career one bit.

8. If you can’t say anything nice . . . – Careless remarks have damaged many reputations and careers. Before you speak—think! Would you say this if the person affected was standing right next to you? Things have a way of circling back to you. And they can be quite painful when they hit you between the eyes! You can’t sling mud without getting dirty.

9.  Don’t get lazy – It’s hard to coast uphill. If you want your career to progress, stay sharp and marketable. Take courses, maintain contacts in your field, and stay current on business trends and events. Warning: Complacent people are easily replaced.

10. Listen to your instincts - Most of us have strong, accurate “gut feelings” that are underutilized. If you are uneasy with a person or a situation, or have a nagging sense that there is “more to the story” than meets the eye, you are probably correct.

11. Get over yourself - One woman was convinced that her unusually withdrawn boss was angry with her. After spending excessive time agonizing over this matter, she discovered that he was going through a divorce and was simply preoccupied. Keep things in perspective and stop over-analyzing. It’s not all about you!

12. Take charge of your career – Sad but true: Your career is not a top priority with your boss or employer, but it should be with you. Don’t sit back and wait for someone else to show you the grand plan for your success — it’s up to you to develop and orchestrate it!

13. Increase your empathy level – Want to build loyalty and tight bonds with people at work? Sharpen your empathy level — it’s the glue of human relationships. Make a stronger effort to “get inside their minds” and understand their feelings. When people feel appreciated and understood, it brings out their soft side and makes them nicer to be around.

14. Stop pointing the accusing finger – It takes no creativity, confidence, or courage to point an accusing finger at someone else when you screw up. You’ll draw less attention to your blunder (and more respect for yourself) if you step up to the plate, and move forward with resolution.

15. Ask for feedback – You can bet that your co-workers have ideas for how you can improve your performance. However it’s risky volunteer these thoughts. Give them permission by simply asking for constructive advice. You might be surprised at the valuable insight you’ll gain.