2011 was a year of change. At least that's what LinkedIn announced to me, informing me that 204 of my colleagues had changed jobs.

204? That sounded like a lot of people changing jobs. Then I looked up my contact list, did a bit of simple math, and figured out it was just over 21%. Now it looks low, because I can't think of anyone I know who's been in a job for more than 5 years. In my industry, a normal number might be 30%. OK, I know a few teachers. I know quite a few attorneys, freelancers and people who own their own businesses. They never change jobs, though if they're good marketers, they make sure to update something on their profiles now and again. And if they're great business people, they open a new business every few years or are asked to be a board member, or something that LinkedIn might consider a job change.

So 21%. Hardly a year of change.

What is the change, though? I think it's a gradual change, and it's a change away from corporate. There are fewer "big company" jobs, generally speaking. More and more people have their own businesses. You hear all these empowerment coaches talking about having your own business as the only way to achieve wealth. There's no question about that. But there's also no question that people need to realize that most of us aren't going to "have a job" for most of our career anymore.

Corporations used to last and grow for decades. Now the corporations that last are not growing but shrinking. If you take a look at the statistics, you'll see that net job growth is found only in small to medium businesses. Public companies show net job losses, year on year. To be successful means to get leaner and to outsource more.

At Tech-Tav we've been in business for 20 years because we make sure that each person is aware of what they contribute, and each employee thinks of himself as a bit of an entrepreneur. All of us have direct contact with customers and take on total responsibility for customer satisfaction. Each of us needs to think that way every day. What did I contribute to my company today? What value did I bring to my users?

Whatever job you have, if you are always thinking of your value as an employee as it relates to your customer, you'll continue to find yourself successful in your business and your career.