Ten Differences Between Star Employees and Duds

Have you ever wondered what separates company stars from office duds? (We're pretty sure you've worked with both at some point in your career.) In the book The Young Professional's Guide to the Working World: Savvy Strategies to Get In, Get Ahead, and Rise to the Top" (Career Press/Available now), author Aaron McDaniel presents many defining traits of underachievers and top-notch performers. Hint: It's not always about effort, although work ethic does play a big role. And accomplishment is not measured by how many hours you show up at the office. Oh, and don't be fooled into thinking that your job title alone means you've "made it." While the book's primarily targets 20-something professionals, the takeaways here translate effectively to mid- and senior-level pros as well. McDaniel is an entrepreneur who has founded, among other ventures, Spark Source, which focuses on putting young employees on a path to success. He also has held management roles at AT&T and other companies.