Think you can control your career success? Think again. You can't. No, your success is in the hands of a plethora of other people, some of whom you have identified, others you probably have not. Don't ever forget this: Successful relationships with the right people more than anything else in your life will determine your immediate and future success. Your boss of course. A key customer. A fast-track subordinate. Even that pimply intern who may give you a thumbs down when she turns up as assistant to the chairman in a future job.

Each relationship, whether career or personal, has a terminal life of its own. If a successful relationship is to have a long, fruitful life, it must be nurtured with no less devotion that a mother gives her child. Otherwise even the most successful personal relationships eventually die of malnutrition.

What's required here is direct, personal, continuous contact with your personal relationships. Letters are fine. Phone calls are great. E-mails are helpful. But nothing beats personal, continuous and, to the extent possible, face-to-face-contact.

Here's something that may be an eye-opener. Write the names of five or more people with whom you believe you have successful relations.

Under Direct, write how long it has been -- hours, days, weeks, months? -- since you were in direct contact with this person. Under Personal write how long it's been since you were face to face with this person. And under Continuous write the time lapse between the last three times you were in touch, one way or another. Now write down the actions you are going to take -- and when -- to correct any personal relationship weakness you've uncovered.

Bet you'll have a better job a year from now than you have now.