Actually, the ocean was far from peaceful during much of the voyage. It was only through perseverance that Christopher Columbus reached the New World. He persevered in spite of mutiny in his ranks, an uncertain destination and doubters who wanted to turn back and go home.

Even before perseverance came the days of persistence. Columbus' dream began long before, and he spent years in navigational studies and sea voyages. After he mastered his skills, he had to persist to obtain backing from the kings and financiers of 15th-century Europe. He was turned down by King John II of Portugal, King Henry VIII of England, King Charles VIII of France, and King Ferdinand and Queen Isabela of Spain. The Spanish were interested in spite of the high cost of their war with the Moors of Granada, and they eventually backed the venture.

Columbus faced many obstacles as he pursued his dream. It was through persistence and perseverance that brought about his success.

(Compliments of Rutherford Publishing www.Rpublish.com)

If you're smart, dedicated and a nose-to-the-grindstone kind of worker, you're on your way to success, right? Well, not always.

Here are five common obstacles to job success and how to turn them into opportunities:

Obstacle 1: You aren't in step with your workplace culture.

You'll have a good fit with the company when its values match your own, you like most of the people you work with and when you respect the people who run the show.

Obstacle 2: You operate like a lone ranger.

Find an ally. Work with others, and let them discover your talents. Networking is a two-way street, so be prepared to support others in return.

Obstacle 3: You fail to be visible and market yourself to others

Communicating is a good form of marketing. Informal conversations let others know your work or project is going well. Bosses need reassurance that you're on top of things, so let them know.

Obstacle 4: You bring your personal traumas to work.

Others have problems, too. Your co-workers are workplace friends, not personal confidants. They are the last people who should hear of trouble at home.

Obstacle 5: You have such a bad attitude that people avoid you.

Smile. People with upbeat dispositions rise faster than others. In her book, Top Ten Dumb Career Mistakes and How To Avoid Them, Lona O'Connor offers this quiz to check your attitude. If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, you've got a problem:

1. Are you angry more than half the time at work?

2. Do you think people pick on you?

3. Do you feel powerless to change things?

There are two things you can change now, says O'Connor. Never bad-mouth bosses or coworkers, and stop complaining. You'll feel better and the lines of communication will reopen.

(Compliments of Rutherford Publishing www.RPublish.com)