Last week, Yahoo! ran a piece about people in the public eye who made big professional strides and damaging missteps during 2006, and how we can learn from their experiences.  Here are some of my thoughts on the subject, some of which were included in the article.

Amelie Mauresmo, who won two tennis majors this year after years of being a runner-up, showed us the value of staying the course.  Success in this world, especially in really difficult professions like sports and the arts, is based on two things: talent and persistence.  Without the latter, the former won’t do you any good.  If you have a dream, always keep it in your mind’s eye, and outline mini-goals that achieve that dream one step at a time.  Every time you complete a goal, do something special to celebrate, because it means you are a little bit closer.

Mark Foley, the Republican Congressman from Florida, learned the hard way not to flirt or send inappropriate messages to minors he worked with.  As far as work is concerned, don’t say or do anything that you wouldn’t want splashed across the front pages of the New York Times.  If you think that your company wouldn’t track something as silly as an instant message conversation, you’re wrong.  Always conduct yourself in a manner that reflects a mature, competent, and professional corporate persona.

Hollywood icon Mel Gibson showed us how damaging it can be to make racist rants in public.  If you wouldn’t discuss something with your grandmother or religious officiant, mums the word at work.  This goes particularly for conversation involving sex, drugs, and politics.  Even if you’re just joking around, I guarantee that a racist remark will be offensive to at least one person listening, and if the comment gets around, you could seriously jeopardize your current job and your career as a whole.