As a young professional, your success will be built on your skills and talent, as well as recognizing and leveraging opportunities. You need to enhance your knowledge and network to be in the position to advance your career at the right time.

I am now finishing my fourth decade in the accounting profession. As I look back on the peers and mentors that have helped me along the way, their advice and knowledge were essential to my success. It is also interesting to note that many of my acquaintances from the first decade of work are re-entering my world in the fourth decade. What goes around does come around.

There is an old saying, “none of us are as smart as all of us.” The answers to the problems you face in your career and organization are probably already identified and solved by other professionals that you could be networking with right now.

You must be in the position to access people that can connect you to resources to enhance your career and company.

We all have many demands on our time. If we fail to make the most of the opportunities we have now, the impact can be felt throughout our career. There have been so many “doors and windows” that opened at just the right time for myself that I hate to think what would have happened if I wouldn't have been prepared to move forward. My career may have been much less today because I did not take advantage of those opportunities.

Currently, I am the professional coach for two Vistage groups (peer groups of CEOs) in Wisconsin. When I had the chance to join as a member back in the 90s, my wife and I did not have the resources to pay the membership fee. However, we sat down and chatted and recognized that we would probably never have as unique an opportunity to participate in an organization of CEOs such as this. We paid for the membership fee out of our pocket because we believed it was that valuable. It has also proven to be one of the best decisions we ever made.

INCPAS offers networking opportunities for young professionals that can be the stepping stones to another level. However, if you miss one or two of the stepping stones, it makes it more challenging to continue your career growth in a way that will be acceptable to you. Therefore, take a chance.

Investigate what INCPAS has to help you as a young professional. Invest your resources to help build a more successful career. Also, remember the investment that you make includes your participation and willingness to help other professionals. Nothing will be given to you. You must make the investment today for your success tomorrow.

Start now: see INCPAS young pros resources and events.