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November 12, 2013 One of the most common questions asked by an employee of his or her company is, “What can I do to get promoted?” The thinking behind the question is obvious: The employee assumes there be some key initiative, some specific action, some high visibility project, or some critical role the employee should take on, and if they do, promotion is almost guaranteed. And maybe, just maybe, that is occasionally true. But there’s a much better approach. The key to advancing – whether professionally or personally – is not based solely on what you should do (although what you do is certainly important.) The key to advancing is based on what you should  be . Attitude informs action. Attitude informs behavior. Attitude is the driving force behind every achievement, every accomplishment, every success, attitude, where performance and therefore advancement is concerned, is  everything . Here are some of the attitudes and perspectives that inform the actions...

A  recent study published in an American Psychological Association journal,   Emotion , suggests that early birds are generally happier than night owls. More than 700 respondents, ranging from ages 17 to 79, were surveyed and asked about their emotional state, health, and preferred time of day. Self-professed "morning people" reported feeling happier and healthier than night owls. Researchers hypothesize that one of the reasons could be because society caters to a morning person's schedule. It's certainly true that the working world does. Working "9-to-5" is more than an expression, but a standard shift for many Americans. It also stands to reason that those who like rising with the sun are also the most productive employees in the office. Do you want to be more like them? Then take note of the tasks these high-functioning, productive, and more awake employees have completed before lunch: 1.   They make a work to-do list the day before.  Many swea...