No silver bullet

I've been reading a lot of the "4 secret tips" and "here's the one color not to wear" and "don't say this in an interview" kind of posts, and they have really been irritating me of late. Nothing -- and I do mean nothing -- about getting the job you want can be encapsulated in four key steps or three key interview words or the color of your blouse. If it were as easy as a step by step by step -- you would already be there! The truth of the matter is that finding your dream job is a combination of knowing what you want to do, being capable of what you want to do, convincing others that you are capable, interpersonal skills, training, results over time, and luck. You can affect the odds of each of these elements with attitude, approach, preparation, and yes wardrobe. But that doesn't mean you "win:" success for me is going to be different than success for someone else, because we all have different environmental, societal, familial, and self-imposed definitions of what success is. That kind of self-awareness requires work, and there is not a proven short cut. So read the 3 keys and 4 tips and 7 breakthroughs with caution: when all is said and done, you own your destiny. Be true to yourself.