When you’re building your career, there often comes a time when you have to pull back put an idea on the back burner and bring it out another time. Don’t you just hate it when that happens?

You may be dealing with a boss who hasn’t stepped out of the past completely. Over the years he has worked and found the company’s niche - and isn’t opened to changes just yet. Perhaps he or she is offended that a much younger person could even suggest there is a better new business strategy.

Yes, there are still bosses today that don’t want to spend too much money in order to make money.

They slap you on the hand when your budget is extended and demand an explanation for every bit spent, right down to the last cent.

The idea of sitting in his office with the door closed is humiliating at first - but look at it this way: he is your boss. Demanding clarification of expenditures is often a first meeting after you start out on your own.

Something comes up and you decide to wine and dine a client once too often or you order an elaborate rental at the company’s expense. At the time you thought it was a fine idea to express the client but was it necessary? Not at all!

First of all: get your head out of your ass.

The magnifying glass will be on you, no matter what, until you have proven your value to the company and achieved your business profitability goals.

You really can learn a lot from your peers if they are willing to teach you, and if they feel you have the attitude. Then some are not friendly to share there secrets with the younger new comer because of the fear of being replaced by you at some later date.

Remember this at any point of your career development. You aren’t dealing with the clients that have been associated with the company for years. Those clients are being handled by your peers who have worked closely with the client and have proven their loyalty.

So again we are faced with the self-teaching of what business strategies work for us.

Obviously if you are handed an expense account you are responsible for managing it. Spend it wisely. It is not there to make you a friend, but a client.

Most companies give you a company credit card with X number of dollars for a limited time. This is to cover your transportation and lunches and dinners you invite your clients to. Keeping all your receipts - and a log of which is which - is important, and it will be examined closely but the accounts payable department.

What I do is this.

After getting my foot in the door and the signature on a business contract, I foot for lunch. Why reward someone before they sign with you?

It just isn’t necessary to waste the money wooing a client until you know you got him where you want him.

Your company looks at your full performance, so remember, if you are spending your employer’s money too frequently without just cause, you will be sent to his office to explain and you will be told to cut back.

It isn’t pretty but many have made this mistake in their careers.

You have to use common sense and learn how to win your bosses over and show them you understand, and you don’t spend money, but earn it - by using the revenue made by the bigger dogs with bigger clients.

Also, research your clients. Are they the high end accounts or are you going for too many smaller ones? Just remember, experience is needed. So starting out with smaller account is good, but once you get a major account they are going to take up a lot of your time.

It is good to mix it up a bit, I think.

This also will impress your boss as he sees you are not intimidated with the bigger companies, and this is to your advantage. Because he may just send a more experienced peer to show you the ropes until the business contract is signed. Then, finally, it will be your baby. Now you have gained the experience of working alongside an appointed mentor who will show you some techniques he has learned over the years. So watch and learn. Take advantage of the situation and make it work for you in other areas. Ask questions and take notes. Basically, sit back and watch the show!

Check out the denominator between the two.

There will be an air of common grounds. Your mentor will find the comfort zone very fast and soon he will be having the potential client talking nonstop. Both have been around longer in the industry; they have years of experience and remember things that happened before you even started elementary school.

Do NOT take this as a personal insult.

Keep smiling and be alert. You’re there because YOU have gotten the attention of the boss and he is sending you back into the client’s office with one of the big dogs! This account is wanted and you were the first to break ground.

Now you have your boss’s attention.

When you’re back making the meetings solo, your potential client has gained a new perspective on you. You have shown him you are a company team player - and that if you don’t know the answer, you know where to go. He is more at ease and open to you because you have proven yourself.

When you’re building your career, just remember not to be some young pup that thinks she knows it all, and everything will fall into place eventually. This is how it happened to me.