Professional Development

The Simple Secret to Ruling The World…Someday.

Guest Author Networking Tips, Professional Development, Uncategorized 11 Comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the famous song from the 80’s goes: “…Everybody wants to rule the world…”

There’s plenty of truth to these lyrics.

Although you might not actually want the burden of being responsible for ruling the whole world.

But most of us wouldn’t mind if we were able to have a little more influence over parts of our world.

Would you like to have more ‘pull’ in the workplace? Maybe just be more influential in your personal life?

Many of us have a feeling deep down inside that we’d have so much more to give, but we’re not sure how to go about it.

There’s a way to begin expanding your impact on the world. But many people are unaware of the simple way to do it. And that’s what keeps them stuck, eventually concluding that no one is going to listen to their great idea, to their potential contributions.

Sound familiar?

Introducing: Your Sphere of Influence

There are things in life which we are able to control, and things which are outside of our grasp. Simply put, the things that we’re not able to control directly are outside of our current sphere of influence.

For example, most of us – as individuals – have very little power over the global economic situation. We may worry about it, but its state is largely out of our control.

Whereas some people are actually able to affect economics on a larger scale. Here I’m thinking about world leaders and heads of large corporations.

For them, the economic situation might be counted as being within their sphere of influence.

The larger our sphere of influence, the more we’re able to impact the outside world.

Here’s an illustration depicting the sphere of influence of an average person.

As you can see, the average person has many matters which he or she can’t currently affect. These things are in their sphere of concern.

So the question remains. How does someone begin expanding their personal sphere of influence?

First, let’s explore where many people stumble so we can avoid the most common mistake.

Keeping Your Sphere of Influence Small

If you’ve been struggling to expand your influence, you are most likely committing one major error. This error has to do with your mindset.

This thought error – as one might call it – leads to staying stuck with whatever sphere of influence you currently have.

Here’s the thought that keeps you stuck:

“If only more people would listen to me, I could make a difference. But they don’t. So I can’t.”

It’s this mindset that keeps most people stuck. In their jobs, in a personal friendship, on a project committee, etc. They stay stuck.

My Personal Stuck-ness

I’ve had my fair share of struggles with this issue.

For example, I’ve been blogging for quite some time now, and like most bloggers, I’d like to have more readers.

I’ve let myself get frustrated when a post of mine has only had a few clicks.

It can be frustrating when you put a lot of work into a single post and you can’t even be sure if the message reaches anyone.

I nearly quit over this – see the ‘”thought error” I mentioned above.

But my frame of mind started shifting when I contacted a more experienced blogger about this issue.

He challenged my thought error and led me to a moment of clarity. And I quickly realized how I was keeping myself stuck. I was doing that!

He advised focusing on the few readers that I did have at the time, and not to concern myself with the potential readers I had no influence over…yet. I had to ask myself how I could serve my current readers better and make their lives more amazing.

He was basically telling me to focus my energy within my existing sphere of influence.

The Only Way to Expand Your Sphere of Influence

By this point you might have already realized what the simple secret is.

Put all of your energy and effort into matters which are within your current sphere of influence. When you do this, your sphere can’t help but start expanding gradually.

It’s pointless to put your focus outside of your current sphere. This will only lead to wasted energy.

In my case: worrying about readers I didn’t have was getting me nowhere. All it did was divert my attention away from things I could actually impact.

We need to carry out important work within the boundaries that we have influence over. This is the key.
Everything starts from your current sphere. Be happy with whatever influence you have at the moment.

For the moment.

How Your Influence Will Grow

There are many possible ways in which your sphere of influence will begin expanding.

Here’s a list of things that might happen:

  • When you put your efforts towards things you can make a difference in, word will begin to spread. This leads to referrals, new opportunities, and high trust levels.  And don’t forget good Karma.
  • As you work with what you can influence in the moment you’ll begin developing yourself a positive reputation. There’s no telling what this may lead to. Including an immense sense of pride and confidence.
  • Your opinion will be listened to – even asked for! –  as you gain credibility. What this means in practice, is that your word will have a bigger affect on those around you.

Rule the World? Maybe. Maybe Not.

There’s nothing wrong with the desire to increase your influence on the world. To make a difference.

If your heart is in the right place you can do a lot of great things with the leverage of having greater influence.

So remember, just switch your focus to doing important work within your current sphere of influence.

Make the most out of what you have control over right now. No matter how small you think its reaches may be currently.

You’ll soon see results. And let me know how it works out!

Juha Kaartoluoma writes at Prince Awakened on Personal Development for conscious men. If you liked this article, you might also enjoy one of his top posts: We are Becoming Obsolete – 7 Tips to Help You Stay Relevant in the Future.

 Image courtesy of Jared Tarbell.

5 Big Blunders To Avoid On Your First Day At a New Job

Michelle Agner Blog, Professional Development 1 Comment

It’s your first day at a new job, and there’s no shortage of advice on what you should do to make a good first impression.

But in reality, making a substantial positive impression on your first day is somewhat unlikely, no matter what you do.

However, there are mistakes you can make which can cause a significant negative impression right off the bat.

As a result, you’re better served focusing on avoiding those crucial mistakes rather than making an extra effort to impress and dazzle your co-workers and bosses as soon as you step through the door.

Here are five serious mistakes that you need to avoid if you are looking to make the most out of your first day at a new job.

1. Showing Up Late

This is definitely one of the worst things that you can do, because it makes you look like you don’t care about rules and company practices. As a general rule, you know not to show up late to work, but the first day is especially important. In fact, showing up 15 or so minutes early on your first day is recommended, because it makes you appear not only timely and responsible, but also eager to begin working at your new place of employment.

2. Dressing Inappropriately

During the recruiting process, you’ve likely been to the office already. So you’ve seen environment and the people who work in it, which gives you a feel for the company dress code before anyone attempts to spell it out for you. Follow their lead on the first day at a new job.

Some folks are under the wrongful impression that when it comes to dress code, your employers will cut you some slack if you are still assimilating into the company.

But that is not always the case.

Play it safe, and assume you’ll be analyzed and judged as soon as you enter the office.  Presume that one of the first things that will get noticed is your attire. Be aware of the company dress code and follow it rigorously on the first day.

3. Not Asking Questions

You might feel a bit embarrassed asking questions on the first day at a new job.

But keeping your mouth shut and trying to handle things on your own instead of asking for help you will not gain you any points. In fact, it might make you seem unfriendly and insecure.

Everyone expects the new guy to ask questions, so don’t disappoint them. If you’re tasked to deliver an item elsewhere in the building, don’t risk wandering around the building aimlessly for half an hour in search of the place. Ask.

4. Bragging

Some people feel the need to brag about themselves on day one in order to prove their worth.

Generally, this tactic will neither win you friends, nor influence people (sorry, Mr. Carnegie).

For now, the fact that you were hired is proof enough that you can get the job done. If someone asks you about your past professional accomplishments or education, feel free to let them know, but don’t be the first to mention them. Especially on the first day at a new job.

There is a good chance that most people in the office will already know about your accomplishments and why you were hired – remaining humble will only make them respect you more.

5. Skipping Out on Orientation

Despite its good intentions, the general consensus is that orientation (for many companies) is dreary. Regardless of whether your orientation is optional or not, you should not skip it.

And consider taking it seriously. While there is no need to go overboard with participation and excitement, refrain from outright  goofing off no matter how silly you think the exercises are.  Stay awake no matter how boring the slide shows are.

You never know who is attending these orientations. The new VP may have insisted she go through the process like any other new hire. And perhaps she’s sitting right next to you, like any other newbie.

No one expects you to wow the office and make jaws drop on your first day at a new job.

But being able to avoid these crucial mistakes will put you in a better position to make a strong impression within the first few weeks at your new job.

Have you ever made one of these blunders on the first day at a new job? Or one similarly bad?

David Lazar is a regular blogger at PDF tips blog. With a background in journalism, he specializes in writing blogs on a variety of topics, including freelancing, careers, finances, technology and new media.

Image courtesy of Kimberly Jones.

 

What to Do If You Have a Soul Sucking Job? (A Choose Your Own Adventure Post)

Bryce Christiansen Blog, Professional Development, Understanding Yourself 2 Comments , ,

No one needs to convince you, your job sucks.  You see the mindless drones around you and realize you’re done being like them.  You start to wonder how much longer you can procrastinate making a career move.

Every day you stick around you’re popping more blood vessels in your brain from having to deal with a psychopathic boss and vendetta driven clients.

But you know it’s not easy to just quit.

Maybe you have kids and a family to support and leaving a steady income isn’t the most comfortable thing you could do.

Maybe you have no idea what’s next in your life.  Where you will work, what you will do, who will support you?

But you do know one thing.

You’re tired of working in a soul sucking hellhole and are ready to change that.

As complicated as this seems, you really have only two choices.

Either you…

A.  Figure out a way to deal with your job and turn it around.

Or you…

B.  Leave the daily grind that did nothing but stress, drain, and depress you.

To quit or not to quit, that is the question.

So When Is It Time to Quit?

First, you can read my previous post “Top 10 Reasons Why You Need to Quit Your Soul Sucking Job.”

If you find yourself reading along and nodding your head like a major league bobble head doll riding Montezooma’s Revenge, then you probably need to quit.

Another exercise worth doing is to just simply write out the worst case scenario if you quit.  If your job is THAT bad, then you’ll see you don’t have much to lose.

But what else are signs it’s time to quit.

Well, if you are finding that you are becoming a person you don’t want to be.  Or the job is a never ending source of pain, stress, obsession, fretting, or worry.  Or if the only speck of hope for staying is to, “wait and see if it gets better.”

Don’t stay.  Like the best friend by your side that comforts you after a tough breakup, I’m here to tell you, “YOU CAN DO BETTER.”

So When Is It Time to Stay?

We live in a time where if you’re happy in your job others will call you “lucky”.

And often these “lucky” folk didn’t get there on their first try.  They had the joyless jobs just like everyone else, and some of those they stuck with for the following reasons.

1.  It’s not the right time.

I know, I just said earlier you shouldn’t wait, but there are exceptions.  Maybe the next job you REALLY want requires you to have a certain amount of experience your current job is giving you.

You want that awesome Video Game Editor position?  Well suck it up and pay your dues writing for your C list video game site until you can prove you have the ability to write reviews worthy of the big guys.

2.  You’re not happy with management.

Management isn’t always a permanent roadblock to your happiness, so be careful not to jump ship too quickly just because of your manager.

When I was in college I worked in a bank for about 2 years.  Over those two years I think I saw 4-5 managers come and go.  Whenever there was a manager I didn’t particularly see eye to eye with, I just sucked it up and knew more than likely things would change if I just gave it a few more months.

And it did.  Instead of complaining about management, I tried to adapt to their style.  I found that when they were happy, I was happy.  While all the other coworkers who refused to adapt either left for other positions or got fired.

If it just took a little adaptation in order to ride out the bad times, you may avoid making a jump that isn’t necessary.

At the same time, if  you work at a small company where the founders are your bosses, then you might be out of luck waiting for a new manager to step in.

In a lot of ways life is like a giant “Choose Your Own Adventure Book”.

So with that said do you…

A) Choose to stick it out and learn how to make the best of your current job (If so read on below.)

B) Choose to ditch your job for something better. (If so skip to “Okay, I’ve Decided to Ditch My Job…Now What?)

Okay, I’ve Decided It’s Best to Ride it Out…Now What?

So you’ve decided to ride it out.  You feel work is not the most rewarding at the moment, but there’s a reason to be here…at least for a little longer.  How can I  make the most of it?

1.  What can I do to make a better work situation for myself?

You might be surprised by how much you can change how you feel about a job by just making a few changes yourself.

For example, I have a friend who by night is a popular cosplayer/model but by day works at a cubicle just like the rest of us.  On the weekends she’s visiting comic, video game, and anime conventions from Vancouver, to Phoenix, to Tokyo.  While Monday through Friday, she’s got a “regular” desk job.

Going from nerd celebrity one night to cubicle warrior the next has got to take a toll on you.  So I asked her, how does she cope with such a drastic change in environments.

This is what she sent me.

Sure, Jessica would like to be out at comic and anime conventions 40 hours a week, but she’s realistic and knows that won’t pay the bills.  So why not make the best of the situation?  Add some personality. Be yourself.

2.  What made you happy before work took a dive for the worst?

Chances are if you’re willing to stick it out at your job, something had to have been working at some point.

What were the things that made you happy to work there?  What were the moments that made you proud?

Did you feel warm and fuzzy inside when you were recognized for bringing in the most leads that month?  Did you feel happy when you went to lunch with your buddies instead of staying in the office?

Write these things down.  Then answer yourself, “How can I make these things happen more often?”

Every “high” moment can really add up while you stick it out.

3.  What are the underlying issues?

Maybe your job is soul sucking, but if you could overcome a few hurdles it could actually be quite rewarding.

It could be that you’re weak in a few skill sets like managing your time, sales, organization, or presentations.

These days there are a number of resources you can check out to get help with what ever business skills you are lacking.

Get some books, find online courses on Udemy, or just Google it.  It’s truly an age of information we live in.

Okay, I’ve Decided to Ditch My Job…Now What?

So you’ve decided to move on to greener pastures.  How should I prepare?

It’s like you are embarking on a grand camping trip and just want to make sure you don’t forget anything before you set out.  Because the last thing you want to do is get yourself out in the woods and realize you forgot your flashlight.

So here’s your checklist for leaving a job.

1.  Prepare enough notice for your current employer to make the transition smooth for them too.

Most people think two weeks notice is standard practice for leaving a job, but that’s not always the case.

Sometimes it’s more.  What if you are the only one in the company that knows how to run their complicated systems.  If you leave without giving them documentation for the next guy, your boss isn’t likely to leave a glowing recommendation when you decide to look for your next job.

Your new employer will likely understand this as well.  Who knows, maybe they’ve been caught in that situation themselves.  If they are “good people” they won’t force you to do that to your current employer either.

2.  Prepare for your own departure.

Chances are you’ve built up some impressive resume items working for your company, and you might like to share some of those things on your own portfolio to land the next gig.

Take note of any metrics you’ve accomplished for the company whether it was sales, customer satisfaction, or whatever metrics were used to keep you accountable.

If you worked on some impressive projects, you might want to have a copy of your project plan on hand.

Warning: be sure you don’t violate any of your companies policies by doing so.  Making copies of confidential, client, or other works can end up getting you fired.  If you don’t know the company policies, be sure to get clarification from the HR department.

3.  Write a formal resignation letter.

Don’t be one of those dopes who quits with a bang to get attention from their friends or the internet.

Even though work did some things to wrong you, they also were the same people who kept a roof over your head.  So the least you can do is thank them for the job experience and investments they placed in you.

Again, remember that when you look for your next job, it’s these guys who you’ll want as your references.

4.  Avoid gossiping to coworkers before you let your boss know.

I know how you feel.  You are excited to finally get out of your hellhole of a job and you want to share it with your buddy in the cubicle next to you.

But you never know how far word might spread. Suddenly Susan in marketing knows all about your plans and happens to be meeting with your boss at Applebee’s tonight.  Guess what’s going to come up while they’re chowing on buffalo wings?

We’ve all been the last to know about something we feel we should have been the first to know.  It’s a bummer.  And no matter how much you hate your boss, the last feeling you want to leave is that you were an office gossip.

5.  Finish strong.

There are two types of impressions you have on someone.  A first and a last.

You probably aced your first impression by securing your job.  You should end the same way.

Let your boss know you want things to work out for them, that you’ll wrap up loose ends, finish projects, and ultimately leave them in a better position than when you started.

What’s Your Biggest Challenge When It Comes to Dealing With or Leaving a Soul Sucking Job?

The last thing I want to do is assume you all have the same situation when it comes to work and that there is one silver bullet for each of you.

That’s preposterous. So let me know what’s challenging you in the comments and I’ll be happy to help.

image courtesy of Jessica Watkins DeWinter

6 Things You Should Do in the First 30 Days at Your New Job

Guest Author Blog, Guest Articles, Professional Development No Comments

Your first few weeks at your new job can be overwhelming.

There’s often an avalanche of introductions, orientation meetings, training sessions, and new hire paperwork and administrative tasks. While these are all important, there are six additional things you should do in your first 30 days to set yourself up for success.

1. Craft your elevator pitch.

You only get one chance to make a first impression. So, before you start introducing yourself to everyone at your new job, figure out what you’re going to say when you meet them.

Prepare succinct responses for anticipated questions about what you were hired to do, what company or school you’re coming from, and what your professional qualifications are. Give the people you meet a reason to continue building a relationship with you.

“This allows you to focus on the relationships you’re trying build as opposed to the tasks right away. It’s about getting to know people and letting them get to know you,” says Evelyn Walter, VP of Human Resources at Inspirato.

2. Understand your role and how you will be evaluated.

The responsibilities of the job you were hired for could change by the time you start work. Reach out to your manager about what may have changed, and make sure you have a clear understanding of your current role, responsibilities, and authority before you take on any projects.

In addition, understand how your performance will be evaluated. Lisa Quast, career development consultant and CEO of Career Woman Inc., advises, “Find out what criteria you will be judged against to determine if you are successful in your job. When it comes time for your performance appraisal, you don’t want any surprises, so don’t be afraid to ask your manager to define the requirements for success in the job.”

3. Learn the business.

Before you can begin to truly contribute to an organization, you need to figure out how the company works. What are the business objectives? What’s the organizational makeup of the company? How does your company do business?

Taking the time to explore the business will help you understand how your work supports departmental and corporate objectives. According to Tracy McCarthy, Senior VP of Human Resources for SilkRoad Technology, that’s the biggest difference between average and exceptional employees.

The exceptional ones are trying to understand before they make decisions or assumptions about what’s going on in the business,” she says.

The people who ask questions and really seek to understand the business and where they fit in end up being the best employees. The employees who wait for all the information to come to them are going to be average at best.”

4. Interview your boss.

According to Quast, the key to being a successful new employee is helping your boss be successful. Find out what keeps your boss up at night and come up with creative ways to alleviate those worries.

Moreover, you need to establish a positive working relationship with your manager. Find out how he or she wants to communicate with you. For example, does your manager want to meet in person every week for project updates, or would he or she prefer to receive updates less frequently by email?

Also, ask your boss about goals and objectives for the team. Determine how you can use your skills to help the team accomplish those goals.

5. Be ambitious, but have restraint.

You might be eager to start contributing right away and fixing everything wrong you see with the organization. That intention is good, but tread lightly. As a new hire, you won’t have the historical context about why a policy or process may or may not need fixing.

As McCarthy notes, “If you come in and try to make a change and don’t understand why, you might be trying to change the wrong thing. Or you might be giving ‘new’ ideas that have already been done. Ask the questions to seek to understand and then you can be more effective.”

Walter adds, “Be willing to make suggestions, but be careful not to come in guns blazing, calling out all the different things that are broken within your department. You want your team to come to the conclusion of ‘what would we have done without you’ without you sending that message.”

6. Be proactive.

One day of orientation and a meet and greet with your team may be the extent of your company’s onboarding program. If so, be proactive with your managers about their training plan and what you need to accomplish in your first three months on the job.

“Be appropriately aggressive about meeting with your manager, discussing your projects, training, and responsibilities, and creating a meaningful 90-day plan,” says Walter. “Then, be proactive about following up at the end of your 30, 60 and 90 days to review and gauge your success.”

All of these things will require extra time and energy on your part, and might extend beyond the first 30 days on the job. But asking the right questions, building the right relationships, and learning the ins and outs of the business will help you earn credibility and give you the opportunity to add value to your organization faster.

Jennifer King is an HR Analyst at Software Advice – a company that compares and reviews HR and employee evaluation software. She reports on trends, technology and best practices in HR.

Image courtesy of Chris.

 

3 Surefire Ways to Impress Your Boss & Get a Raise

Guest Author Blog, Guest Articles, Professional Development 2 Comments

Even if you got one just last week, chances are you could use a raise. While more money isn’t always necessary, it sure is nice. And if you can easily impress your boss, why wouldn’t you want to earn a few more dollars for the duties you perform at work?

Chances are, though, that your employer has your position pretty accurately valued. If your salary requirements ever exceed that value, you’d need to be promoted to a new position with more responsibilities, or find a new job. So if those options aren’t appealing at the moment, the best way to earn a raise is to impress your boss. On a regular basis.

How you can you do that, though?

While I’m self-employed now and set my own rates, I learned quite a lot about earning more money while working for a vanity book publisher. In fact, those lessons took me a long way in setting up my current self-employed situation. If you’d like to earn more at your job, and if you want to set a foundation for setting out on your own, here are a few pointers.

Let The Profits Guide You

When I first started at the book publisher, I remember reading a bit about a man named Michael Masterson. He got his start in the publishing industry, editing a newsletter. According to his story, when he wanted to make more money he realized that he’d have to make his boss more money. When he did that successfully, he got a stake in the company. Which was worth over $1 million soon enough.

So if you want to earn more money, you could be like Masterson and arrange to share in the profits you generate.

But an easier way to impress your boss is to just improve the bottom line a bit, not explode it. Take a look at where your company draws its profits. Without taking away from your normal duties, start to come up with ideas that will improve those profit-driving areas.

You can take these ideas to your boss or, if it’s feasible, you can just start working on them. Either way you’ll create an impression. An impression coupled with profits leads you to greater benefits.

Find Areas of Excessive Spending

There are two ways to make more money. The first is by earning more. That is admittedly a great path, because there aren’t many limits on how high you can go. Another way is to cut spending. If you can’t do this from your current position — if you don’t have access to spending information — you can still make differences here and there.

While reading about society’s energy consumption lately, I came across the energy efficiency page at our power company. One fact on there struck me: Buildings account for 40% of the energy consumed in most countries. That seems like an enormous amount. This includes heating, cooling, and electricity. Doesn’t that seem like an opportunity? Even if you can’t access the bills, you can still undertake initiatives to reduce your company’s energy usage.

If you do even simple things, such as encouraging employees to shut down computers after work (rather than putting them to sleep), turning off every unnecessary light, and keeping unnecessary appliances unplugged, you can make a dent in that building cost. Suggest to your boss that your landlord install new insulation, or timed thermostats. All of these initiatives can reduce the building energy cost, which will in turn save the company money.

Yes, increasing your company’s bottom line is what will most impress your boss. There is no substitute for that. If you take initiative and drive profits, you will be rewarded. But there are other things you can do in order to make yourself more valuable. One of the best ways I’ve found is to ease your boss’s anxieties and fears.

Find Out What Keeps Your Boss Up At Night

At the publishing house, my boss was petrified of losing clients. The money he personally made was based on a commission from client payments. If we lost a $200,000 contract after just two $20,000 payments, he lost out on commission for $160,000. He’d constantly threaten the entire staff if something even seemed to be going wrong. Sick of those calls, I found a way to not only get him off my back, but to have him actually appreciate my services.

When a client expressed or gratitude during any of our conversations, I made note. After a few of these conversations, I’d subtly suggest that the client call my boss and express the same feelings. He was the one who signed the client in the first place, so it was an easy suggestion. “You know who would love to hear what you just told me? Larry.” And so the client would pick up the phone and express the same jubilance to my boss. I’m sure he slept easier those nights, which certainly made my job easier — and made him appreciate me more.

We could all use a raise, and now is as good a time as any. But in order to earn a raise, we have to take initiative and help the company in additional ways. By increasing profits, reducing costs, and easing our boss’ troubled mind, we can truly earn our eventual raises. At the same time, we learn valuable lessons for self-employment, in case you ever consider that path.

So, are you ready to take those steps and earn what you are really worth?

Joe Pawlikowski owns and works for a number of startups. He writes about those entrepreneurial issues, plus anything else that interests him, at his personal blog, A New Level.

Image courtesy of 401(K).

7 Ways to Stay Productive & Focused at Work

Guest Author Blog, Personal Growth, Professional Development 6 Comments

Being productive at work is often all about staying focused. The days can feel long, the workload seems endless and when that happens, your motivation can dwindle. So what can you do?

Although it might feel like you’re not always in control, there are actually a number of things you can do to retain focus and stay productive.

1. Feed Your Body

Sugary pastries for breakfast, greasy fast food for lunch and vending machine fare for a late afternoon boost may taste good, but it’s all bad fuel. Stick with whole grains, lean proteins and fresh fruit and vegetables for your workplace meals. Whole foods help to keep metabolism even. An even metabolism creates an energized, focused mind and body.

2. Practice Self Care

If an inbox with hundreds of e-mails, a phone ringing off the hook, back to back meetings and urgent deadlines are all a typical day, it’s essential to practice self care. Like you do with other daily activities, schedule some short breaks to ensure you take them. Breaks are a terrific way to hydrate, stretch the body and recharge the brain. A well-rested mind is a focused mind.

3. Just Do It!

Sticking to a comfort zone can lock us in to the status quo and prevent professional growth. A challenge or new project helps with focus. Play around with a new idea. Commit to learning a new skill. Think outside the proverbial box. An injection of excitement can make staying focused at work a breeze.

4. Become an Idea Pioneer

Go looking for new ideas, new opinions, new sources of information and new methods. Be cutting edge. Be the person being talked about at the water cooler instead of the one doing the talking. Create your own excitement even if you are standing alone for a while. New ideas are contagious. Eventually curiosity will bite your co-workers. A new idea can refocus and refresh.

5. Be Generous and Gracious

At times, business can seem cut throat. To minimize this possibility, become a partner with your co-workers even if you are in competition. It’s so much easier to focus on a goal when boundaries and respect are present in an office. Invite your peers to share in your adventure and ask to be included in theirs. Sharing and collaboration sharpen focus. New methods and insight bolster productivity.

6. Smile, Don’t Frown

It’s oh-so-easy to complain. But how productive is it? Not very. While we all need to air frustrations from time to time, don’t make it a habit. Acknowledging a bad feeling is one thing, while allowing it to fester and grow is another. Negative energy and thinking brings focus and productivity to a screeching halt. Keep things even and keep moving forward. Complaints and bitterness do nothing to ignite change.

7. Seek Solutions

Productivity is largely based on the ability to handle all kinds of situations. It’s nearly impossible to complete a long to-do list when there are 10 unfinished tasks lurking around. Become a solution seeker. Utilize avenues and channels that were never a consideration before. An expanded and growing network creates a web of almost limitless productivity. Accomplishments feed the good part of focus.

Staying productive and focused is within your control, if you have the desire and are willing to invoke the self-discipline. Be creative and try new strategies. And remember, learning what works for you is often a trial and error process. Good luck!

Johnny Fireman writes about self-improvement, business efficiency and saving money at www.grouphealthinsurance.org.

Image courtesy of Johnny Goldstein. 

Skyrocket Your Career With The Right Mentor

Guest Author Blog, Personal Growth, Professional Development 6 Comments

Have you ever had the misfortune of playing an electronic game with a kid?

Here’s how it goes:

He lets you go first, and 3 minutes later it’s game over for you. Then it’s the kid’s turn. He dodges, he shoots, he jumps and he crawls – your next turn comes 45 minutes later.

Question is: is he really that much better than you? Is his young mind just faster? His hand-eye coordination superior?

Of course not. Here’s why he lasted 45 minutes while you lasted 3:

He has played the game so many times, he knows what comes next at any point in time. He now has nearly flawless foresight. But he wasn’t born with it – he developed it. Over time. And it took some effort.

Wouldn’t it be great to have that in your career? Right now?

The Gift of Foresight

Well, you can. That’s just one of the things a mentor can do for you.

They’ve been there and done that already. They know you will face various challenges in your career as you grow, and a mentor can help you plan strategy – often before those challenges even appear.

And the same is true when it comes to business, parenting, dating, sports and practically every other part of life.

Here’s an example: networking – an activity many people simply don’t actively engage in. Like sales, many people view traditional networking activities as painful and pointless.

And of those who do actively work to build a network of resources, many are doing it wrong.

Then they reach a roadblock in their career where it’s almost impossible to progress without knowing influential people in the industry. Without having a few folks in their corner.

You know what I’m talking about: at a certain point in career advancement, it rarely matters how many years’ experience you have.  Bottom line: if you’re applying as head of a division, you’d better know an insider. Someone who knows that you are more than your resume, someone who has seen you develop & improve, someone who knows someone who already knows you can do the job successfully.

Generally, it’s only when the need for such a resource arises do people scramble to try and fill that need. But then, it’s too late.

Among other things, a mentor will guide you to build a your network – and how to do it right – years before you need that big ticket.

While you know that you need to develop certain skills, a mentor can help you actually do it. This alone can save you from years of career stagnation.

Which brings me to my point….

The Gift of Connection

You already know that networking is a crucial ingredient in a successful career. Even if you don’t like that fact.

But here’s the thing: networking is an investment. It takes time and sweat to build. What if you have an urgent problem networking can solve, but you have no idea how to go about it?

That’s where your mentor comes in: he can introduce you.

Your mentor has spent decades building his network. And if you sincerely and genuinely connect with him, he will share that network with you, one relevant introduction at a time. In fact, he can introduce you to people you’ll have a hard time reaching – people who are two or three levels higher than those you were looking to talk to.

The Gift of a Third Eye

The Chinese has a saying that goes something like this, “The third party views it clearest.”

Sometimes you’re so engrossed in doing what you’re doing, you fail to see a better way to do it.  Or worse, you fail to see what you’re doing wrong. You tell yourself, if only I work harder, if only the economy improves, if only the government introduces this law… THEN my career will soar.

It’s like a struggling golf player who blames his club for not qualifying for the tournament.

Sometimes you’re just too emotionally involved. You’ve invested thousands of dollars and months of your work into a project and all data indicates you will fail… but you can’t just quit, can you?

But with a mentor in your corner, not only can they tell you what’s wrong with your approach, they’ll also be able to tell you when you’re being irrational about it. This is why all elite athletes have a coach. Not some, not most. ALL.

Remember: you don’t know what you don’t know. But the right mentor does.

How To Find Your Mentor

Ok, Andre. You’ve sold me. Now what?

Great question. Here are six ideas:

1. Volunteer. I met my first mentor back when volunteered in a local church and when we talked about my interest in marketing, he took me under his wing and I interned for him for the next 6 months. Here is a guy who runs a 300-employee business and I got to learn from him directly all because we shared a common passion.

You’d be surprised how many successful people volunteer their time at various charities.

2. Stalk them. If a volunteer gig isn’t for you, then start by identifying who you’d like as mentor. Once you have your list, subscribe to their blogs if they have one, connect with them via social media – Twitter, Linkedin and, if possible, Facebook.

Some of these people might announce an opening for apprenticeship to their followers. Others might mention a particularly difficult problem they are facing – that’s an opportunity for you to swoop in.

For example, I once landed an internship because an industry influencer mentioned that his first child will soon be born so he’ll naturally have to cut back his working time. I volunteered to take on some of his workload.

3. Know where to look. This is the easiest of all: an official mentoring program. Certain companies have them, and if yours doesn’t, simply Google for one. But a word of warning: anything that’s easy to get is probably not the high-end guidance you’re looking for.

So set your expectations with that in mind if you go this route. But it’s certainly better than going it alone.

4. Pay for it. If you have the cash to spare, let me tell you that getting a mentor is one of the best investments you can ever make. I think it’s a better investment than a degree, a seminar and it’s certainly a better investment than a car.

Some mentors, however, don’t sell their time. In that case, you need to pay for it some other way, like providing a free service to his/her company just so you can work together.

For example, back in college, I volunteered as a photographer for a local start up’s advertising campaign. The experience was not only fun, but I got to hang out with the founder over coffee each day, while discovering how he devised and executed his marketing plan.

5. Join The Club. If you don’t have the cash or service to spare for one-on-one attention, then perhaps join a club. A lot of industry influencers have a paid membership of some kind. They cost anywhere from $50 a month to a couple hundred.

It’s not as good as one-on-one attention, but you’ll still get help. You can post in their forums or even email them directly with a question.

6. Bonus method. When you hear of a major industry conference coming up, volunteer to be an unpaid staff. Working as staff at a conference will not only get you into exclusive sections of the event, you’ll also be able to rub shoulders with the attendees, speakers and organizers – so make sure you check out who will be there and who you intend to convince to mentor you!

That’s it. Six ideas to get a mentor. But here’s a fair warning: not all mentors are created equal. Even those who are personally successful might not make a great mentor. It might take a couple attempts until you find the right match for your particular needs, goals, and interests. But if you’re willing to make this investment in yourself, there’ll be no stopping you.

Have you attempted to find the right mentor? Any experience with a mentor? How did they help you?

Andrianes Pinantoan is part of the digital team behind Open Colleges, an education provider where you get access to a personal mentor. When not working, he can be found on his personal blog, Awesometastic Writer.

Image courtesy of Steve Jurvetson.

Nine Impressive Questions To Ask At Your Next Job Interview

Guest Author Blog, Professional Development 5 Comments

You’ve found an opening for your perfect job. But first you need to ace the interview.

After confidently answering your interviewer’s questions, you can tell she’s impressed with your extensive knowledge and experience.

Will you get an offer? Mid-interview, all signs point to yes.

But before any other moves are made, that awkward moment arrives when your interviewer asks, “So, do you have any questions for us?”

Honestly, no. You did your due diligence prior to the interview. The company’s online resources and reputation told you everything you wanted to know. Which is why you’re so jazzed about the position.

But if your goal is to impress, you should never say “Nope, no questions!”

So you need some. Even if you think you won’t really care about their answers.

And the questions you choose to ask now are as important as the answers you provided earlier in the interview. So in order to make a lasting impression on your potential boss, you want to have two or three thought-provoking questions ready to go.

Here’s a list of nine popular questions to consider asking your interviewer. These questions will not only make a good impression, but they could also provide valuable info about the company.

1. “What is your favorite part of your job and what do you find most challenging?”

I’ve always gotten good results with this question, because even though our positions are different, it provides insight to the inner workings of the company beyond just the position for which you are interviewing. It also shows you are interested in what they do, not just what you’ll be doing. A side bonus: people love to talk about themselves.

2. “Are there any skills you don’t currently see that you’d like to have in the company?”

This can give you an even better idea of what characteristics are already present in the company and what they are looking for beyond general qualifications. It may even offer you the chance to illustrate how your skill set applies.

3. “In your opinion, what is the most important part of this job?”

Knowing the most important parts of the position can give you an idea of what you’ll primarily be concerned with should you get the job as well as helping prioritizing your duties. If you’ve been provided with a generic job outline or description, this question will help draw out your future boss’ perspective of what’s most important.

4. “Could you give me a typical walk-through of a day or week of this position?”

Knowledge always alleviates stress and understanding the flow of a typical day will prepare you for it.

5. “Why is the position open?”

The answer to this question gives you a deeper look at the company. Perhaps the firm is growing, or the previous person was promoted, or you might discover hints of an issue with employee turnover. Any of which is helpful info.

6. “How would you describe your management style?”

You want to get to know your potential boss as much as possible during the interview to discern if you will be able to flourish under her leadership.

7. “What particular things on my resume or in my cover letter gave you the impression I would be a good candidate for this position?”

This one give you a general idea of their impression and specifically, what skills and experiences you will need to draw from should you get the position to be successful.

8. “Do you have any concerns about my potential success in this position?”

Contrary to question #7, this one gives you an idea about any reservations your interviewer may have and show you potentially how you size up against other potential candidates. It may also give you the opportunity to explain these perceived weaknesses or illustrate ways in which it could actually be a positive trait.

9. “How does this position fit in with the overall goals of the company?”

Finally, this one will give you an idea of how you personally will fit in with what the company is trying to achieve and how you will be able to help them meet these goals.

So as you prepare for your upcoming interview, you’re sure to knock their socks off with a few impressive questions.  Good luck!

Interviewers love when you ask questions, it shows that you’re more than interested in the job. Consider a degree from AMC Online to land the perfect job for you.

Do you have any impressive questions that you’ve used in the past? Feel free to share them in the comments. Thanks!

Catie Keeler is the primary researcher and writer for mortgagerates.info. Her most recent accomplishments include graduating from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill with a degree in business and communications. Her current focus for the site involves daily mortgage rates and 15 year mortgages.

 Image courtesy of Howie Le.

5 Ways to Enhance Your Resume While Job Hunting

Emily Hankinson Professional Development 2 Comments

You’re in between jobs, actively seeking the next stop on your career path.

But finding a new position is taking longer than you had expected, and you’re worried about the growing “gap” on your resume. Yes, there can be plenty of excellent reasons for gaps in a resume, but the general rule is to minimize them whenever possible.

In an interview you’d have a chance to explain these gaps, but it’s those same gaps that might keep your resume out of the “to interview” pile in the first place. Oh, the irony.

Getting Around Resume Gaps

Have no fear, dear jobseeker. There are a few things you can do to beef up your resume with relevant experience during this brief period of unemployment.

Here are five resume builders you can tackle during your job hunt to increase your chances of getting hired:

  • Volunteer.  Non-profits don’t have the big budgets of larger corporations, so they are always looking for help. In many cases, volunteers complete the same tasks that employees do, so you’re still learning valuable skills. Many employers look for volunteer experience these days, because it proves that you’re not afraid to do hard work for no pay. In fact, a lot of companies require the employees to complete service hours a couple times a year, so proving that you already have a servant heart is a huge bonus.
  • Get a temp job. While working as a barista or lifeguard isn’t exactly on the job training for what you might want to do 10 years from now, it does help you learn skills like team building, interpersonal communication, customer relations, and more. If you can connect these relevant experiences to the job you want, it’s time well spent.
  • Learn a new skill. If you have been looking at online job descriptions, you might see that many positions require you to be familiar with various computer programs. Lynda.com is a great resource for self-paced learning on a variety of software applications. This is a great time to take advantage of the opportunity to learn these skills. Even if you simply check out the 30-day free trial of a software package, you could still have a leg up over other applicants.
  • Increase your social media presence. If you’re looking for a position in social media, PR, marketing, advertising, or any field for that matter, having knowledge of social media, and the proof that you have this knowledge, is paramount. It’s not enough to have an account in your name, or know how to “like” things and post pictures. Consider starting a blog discussing your job search, or increase your twitter followers by sharing content more regularly. You might even be inspired to use social media to nail your dream job, like Jeanne Hwang did.
  • Organize a community event. Whether it’s an art show, a carnival for kids, a 5k race, or an attempt to set a Guinness World Record, organizing large events provides valuable experience, and looks great on a resume. It proves that you work with others while under a lot of pressure and still complete a goal. Companies love to see experience like this, plus it can be a ton of fun for you, your friends, and the community. You might even make a networking contact at the event!

You’ll find your next career opportunity soon, even though you might be feeling anxious in the meantime. But rather than sweat the potential time gap on your resume, try taking one or more of these suggestions to add some experience to your resume.

Have you ever stressed about potential gaps on your resume? How did you overcome it?

Emily Hankinson is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh where she majors in Communications and is working toward a certificate in Public and Professional Writing. She also served as the PR and Social Media Coordinator for her service sorority, Gamma Sigma Sigma. Emily Tweets regularly and blogs.

 

 

Laptop image courtesy of Robert S. Donovan. 

 

How Being Scary Can Help Your Career

Michelle Agner Blog, Personal Growth, Professional Development 3 Comments

New & Improved!

How many times have you seen that on a product label? And just how improved is it?

It might have a new scent, slightly improved packaging, or perhaps a new ingredient that doesn’t really translate to an increased benefit.

So, from the user’s perspective, it’s not very improved at all.

This is an example of what Harry West, CEO of the global design & innovation firm Continuum, calls incremental innovation: changing something about a product or service without affecting the experience that it creates.

New and improved? Perhaps.

Particularly valuable? No.

The ‘Scary Zone’ of Innovation

In his recent HBR article, West invites designers to get in the “Scary Zone” when they innovate.

The Scary Zone of Innovation

Explaining further, West says:

At one extreme we have Incremental Change. For example, changing color or style without significantly affecting the experience of a product or a service. At the other extreme is Cold Fusion: that far-out vision of the future that is the staple of glossy magazines — flying cars, and so on. It is not that cars cannot fly (Terrafugia is working on that) but they are unlikely to address the real needs of significant numbers of people in an affordable way in the foreseeable future. Real innovation falls in the scary zone: that frightening area that both pushes the boundaries of what is possible and can actually be made real in a relevant time frame. It is scary because it is real.

What This Means To Your Career

We already know that being innovative in the workplace is key to getting noticed, earning a promotion, advancing your career.

But how do you do it?

“I’m not really innovative,” you say. “How can I ‘get scary’?”

West defines “innovation” as the creation and delivery of new value. With emphasis on the ‘value’ part.

Great innovators focus on solving important problems and finding simple ways to make people’s lives better. Sometimes this compels them to do something radical, but often it calls for smaller changes that most of the world may not immediately recognize as innovation.

Don’t look at it as “being innovative.” That can feel overwhelming. Instead, approach the mission as “problem solving” or “making people’s lives better.”

How You Can Innovate in the Scary Zone

So look for innovation opportunities based on what you see in your current work environment.

  • What are co-workers complaining about?
  • What issues are customers reporting over and over?
  • What frustrations do you experience regularly?

That’s your starting point. Beyond that, West advises, “Be a humble servant: listening hard, thinking hard, anticipating and rolling up your sleeves to lend a hand.”

Now, I don’t consider myself innovative. In fact, just yesterday a friend and I were talking about how we both are very linear, methodical thinkers, despite our efforts to approach problems more creatively.

But as I read West’s article this morning, I recalled an innovation from my past.

And West is right: I didn’t consider it innovative. Until I saw the results it created.

One Scary Innovation = Two Promotions

While serving in an administrative role at a technology company, I noticed a number of the software developers complaining that fixing software bugs was taking up too much of their time. It was a recurring complaint, expressed via email, in meetings, even overheard in the cafeteria.

This made me nervous. I took pride in our company. Were our products so poor that half our developers’ time was spent fixing what was broken? So I asked one of them, “Are there really that many bugs to fix?”

Turns out, no.

But the process of recording, assigning, communicating, documenting, and closing out the fixed software bugs took a lot of time. And it was time spent doing things they hated: tracking, listing, data-entry, etc. Lower-level tasks that highly paid technical folks shouldn’t be doing.

So I dug in.

A month later I had a team of three admin people supporting a new bug-fix process.

The engineers and their leadership team were thrilled with the workload shift and cost savings. And my admin team members were happy to develop skills beyond just making travel arrangements and ordering lunch.

Yes, it was scary at the beginning. I didn’t know software. There was no guarantee I could make a difference. I was risking my reputation – and my company’s budget. Scary? You betcha.

But it got me noticed. And within a year I’d been promoted twice, with a compensation package that more than doubled my original salary.

Kinda scary, eh?

Have you ever been in the scary zone of innovation? Just how scary was it?

Image courtesy of Jason Scragz. 

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