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As Abraham Lincoln once said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” If you want to advance your career but don’t know where to start, here are some things you can do to get promoted at work. By Michele Reynolds Be a Model Employee Rule number one for being a good employee is to always be on time and ready to go. Even if you work in a culture that runs behind schedule, it’s better to be on time—or even early—each day and to every meeting. If you’re leading the meeting, show up with an agenda and be an active timekeeper. It’s a sign that you’re organized, respect people’s time, and serve as a role model to peers. At the end of the meeting, give a quick recap and identify next steps. Solve Problems, Don’t Just Identify Them One of the best ways to stand out as a budding leader—regardless of your current role—is to be self-sufficient and demonstrate solid judgment. Doing so won’t just set you apart as a critical asset to your team but also serve as a tactic to further develop your leadership skills. A helpful mantra is, “Be a problem solver, not a problem identifier.” When you raise an issue to your boss, also propose a solution. Busy leaders often get bogged down by solving every problem their team faces. Do your boss a favor and find workarounds rather than just surface issues. Respect Your Boss’s Time Be considerate of your boss’s time. Before asking for help, consider the level of urgency and try solving the problem—or at least brainstorm a plan of action to run by your manager. Making an attempt first will demonstrate you know how to take initiative. For things that require your boss’s intervention but aren’t time-sensitive, keep a running list of items to discuss. Ask if you can get some time on your manager’s calendar and outline what you’d like to discuss in your meeting invite so you both come prepared. Don’t Be a Squeaky Wheel Perhaps most important is a can-do attitude. Anything you can do to minimize your boss’s workload will likely benefit you in the long run. You can help by volunteering to take on something new or brainstorm solutions when a crisis pops up. Baseball great Wade Boggs once said, “A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It’s a catalyst, and it sparks extraordinary results.” So, whatever you do, don’t be a whiner.…