1. Be first, but with a purpose. Many people try to be the first to arrive each day. That's great, but what do you actually do with that time? Organize your thoughts? Get a jump on your email? Instead of taking care of your stuff, do something visibly worthwhile for the company. Take care of unresolved problems from the day before. Set things up so it's easier for other employees to hit the ground running when they come in. Chip away at an ongoing project others ignore. Don't just be the one who turns on or off the lights — be the one who gets in early or stays late in order to get things done. Not only will your performance stand out, you'll also start to... 2. Master a specific — and valuable — skill. Meeting standards, however lofty those standards may be, won't help you stand out. So go above the norm. Be the leader known for turning around struggling employees. Be the shipping manager who makes a few deliveries a week to personally check in with cus...