My name is Mark Wayman, and I’m a Headhunter focused on gaming and high tech.  Over the last twelve years I have placed 800+ executives.  Compensation starts at $100,000, average placement is $200,000+, and last year I placed eight executives north of a million dollars.

What do highly successful executives (top 2%) do differently than everyone else?  How do they end up with the best jobs and the biggest compensation packages?  This is part two in my series on the “secrets” these top executives utilize when managing their careers.

Personal Accountability – Successful executives don’t find fault or place blame on others. Candidates tell me they were fired because the company was no good, their boss was a jerk and/or their spouse did not support them.  It’s their parents fault, kids fault, the dog’s veterinarian’s fault.  Consider this: the only common thread in all your dysfunctional relationships is…YOU!  This has become a huge American cultural issue.  It’s always someone else’s fault.  Take responsibility for your actions and learn from your mistakes.  No one is going to judge you.  There was only one perfect human being.

Get the Right People on the Bus – Successful executives don’t worry about what other people think. Not everyone is going to agree with you or like you.  The world is full of unhappy, miserable people that want to drag you into their vortex.  Avoid them like the plague.  Let me tell you, there is a long line of Mark Wayman haters.  Because I would not represent them as a candidate.  Because I won’t do business with their company.  Because I won’t invest in their cooking show.  Focus on getting the right people on the bus.  People that support you and want to help you be successful.  You don’t need that many!

Givers, Not Takers – Sure, you can make a case for takers like Steve Jobs, but successful narcissist megalomaniacs are an anomaly. My experience is that authenticity, genuineness, and caring about other people are the attributes most common to success.  People want to do business with those they like and trust.  And always remember, to whom much is given…much is required.

Be Realistic – Successful executives are REALISTIC. Every day I see candidates that want to double their salary.  That…is silly.  And being unrealistic is a great way to ensure no Executive Recruiter will represent you.  Maybe your Dad will double your salary, but no company will.  Even if I thought you were worth it, no HR person is going to support me.  A second issue is executives that are making way above market rate compensation, then get terminated and start a job search.  They get their head around that big salary and end up on the beach for six to twelve months trying to duplicate it.  In some cases…they never work again.  Be realistic in your expectations.

My name is Mark Wayman, and I’m a Headhunter focused on gaming and high tech.  Over the last twelve years I have placed 800+ executives.  Compensation starts at $100,000, average placement is $200,000+, and last year I placed eight executives north of a million dollars.

What do highly successful executives (top 2%) do differently than everyone else?  How do they end up with the best jobs and the biggest compensation packages?  In this multi-part series I’ll highlight the “secrets” these top people utilize when managing their careers.

Relationships Trump Talent – Every day I see unqualified executives get great jobs while highly talented executives get passed over. Why?  Because relationships trump talent.  Here is a great example.  It’s a CEO that was hired for a financial services company here in Las Vegas.  He was not from Las Vegas and knew nothing about the gaming industry (his clients).  Even worse, he was a narcissistic megalomaniac.  When I met him in person he talked about himself for 30 minutes without taking a breath.  I’m sitting there thinking, “This guy won’t last six months.  He is dreadful.”  I was wrong.  He made it a year, but the stock sank 80% and the company will eventually be bankrupt.  How did this happen?  Apparently this CEO had a relationship with someone on the Board of Directors.  And you don’t have to be talented if you are buddies with the Boss.  Remember: relationships trump talent.

Ego is the Enemy – I’ll mention this in each part of this series, because ego and arrogance are the #1 way to ruin your career and up unemployed for months…or even years. Recently dealt with a $180,000 VP level candidate that was laid off.  He was pretty bitter about being run off and had sent his resume to a dozen companies.  Not a good combination to start with.  When I asked his desired salary he stated $200,000.  So he is unemployed…but wants a raise?  What?  Perfectly reasonable when you are gainfully employed, however when you are in transition you don’t have any leverage.  Long story short, I checked back six months later and he was still unemployed and willing to take $150,000.  Ego is the enemy.  Be sure you understand the job market and compensation levels for your skill set.

Life is NOT Fair – My Dad was 18 years old when he jumped out of a plane over Normandy on D-Day with Nazis shooting at him. He landed on the wrong side of the enemy line and had to fight his way back.  Talk about “life is not fair”!  When my Dad came back from the war, he got an entry level job selling shoes at the May Company.  A war hero selling shoes for entry level pay.  Life is not fair.  While other people watched TV and had fun, my Father worked long days, then went to school at night to get a degree in computer programming.  Life is not fair.  You know what my Dad didn’t do?  He didn’t protest or complain or march up and down the street with a sign complaining how unfair life is.  Through determination, perseverance and hard work he raised himself up from zero to success.  And he gave me the best advice ever: don’t you ever, EVER give up.  Life is NOT fair – accept it, now move on.  You want to run with the big dogs or sit on the porch and whine?