Remember when you fell off your bike for the first time? What made you want to get back on? You had the desire to go somewhere and be independent. That same drive should help you manage your career. No one is going to stand at the bottom of the driveway and encourage you. It's up to you to take the initiative and succeed.

A big part of managing your career is making yourself more visible and more valuable. Think about what projects you can be part of that will grow your skill set and give you the opportunity to shine. Sign up for the tough ones, even if it means extra hours—in the office or at home. Successfully completing a challenge not only gives you bona fide experience, it will make people within your organization aware of your talent.

Making yourself more valuable is all about expanding your skill set and gaining more experience. The more you know about your area of expertise the more important you are to your company. The more departments within your organization that utilize you and begin to depend on you, the more risk the company faces if you were to leave.

Another way to increase your value is through education. Know what the trends are in your industry, and pursue learning opportunities in line with those trends. Should you have a specific certification? Should you speak a second language? Education also helps you stay current and marketable. If you are on the cutting edge of your industry, chances are you can make a significant career move to a competitor, if need be.

Let's say you are completely happy at your current employer, except that you know you are underpaid and you want to be involved in different projects. The best way to prove yourself worthy of a raise and different job responsibilities is through documented facts of your performance.

Keep any emails or letters you receive that compliment you on your performance. Record on a monthly basis your major accomplishments. Always push yourself to document at least three. Set goals for the next month and plan tasks or schedule meetings that will help you achieve them. This is where your drive to get back on the bike has to kick in.

Once your information is gathered, prepare to have a logical discussion with your supervisor. Be realistic in your expectations and don't be overly emotional—showing disappointment or glee. Remember to be professional at all times.

If your efforts are fruitless, don't regress. Keep looking for ways to advance yourself. Consider working for a different area of the company, for a different manager. Contemplate looking outside the company. Regardless of your manager's response, continue to be honest about your desire to grow. Eventually your manager should see you are serious about your career and the more valuable you are, the harder it will be for them not to grant at least some of your requests.

Always look for opportunities. There's a school of thought that says most promotions occur because the right person was available at the right time. Some people hear that and lose heart thinking they can't do much about timing. But they're wrong. You can go a long way by creating opportunities for yourself.

No matter what industry you are in, or what the job market looks like, one thing is always true. Companies need qualified, reliable employees. The more you do to increase your marketability and create opportunities for yourself, the easier it will be to advance in your career.