This week on social media, we’re sharing the (3) three best ways to use networking and professional connections to help you find a new job or opportunity. Try out some of these tips at your next party or industry event.
Taking Time Out for Happiness – What Makes You Happy?
No matter who you are – everyone can use a little more happiness in their life and career. Can’t you? This week we’re taking a break to think about, encourage and celebrate what makes us happy.
Today, ask yourself what makes you smile, giggle, or feel “good” inside? Then do it! Follow us on social media throughout the week for our little ideas and ways to attract and share more happiness with others.
Seven Things to Think About When It Comes to . . . Fear Blocking You from The Very Career Change That You Want
Fear is a survival instinct – it tells your brain to remain alert, your body to run from danger, but it can also make you feel stuck and unable to move forward. Believe it or not – fear could be the very thing keeping you from doing something new. The question is – are you someone who fears failure or success?
Making career and lifestyle changes is difficult. Results are not immediate or even guaranteed. You must simply put yourself out there and risk hearing “no thanks” or “we’re going to go with someone else.” Facing this type of rejection month after month eventually takes its toll. Your energy fades and you may find that even though you desperately want a new job, you stop sending resumes and pursuing opportunities simply to avoid another let-down. So, if you’re losing steam in your job search efforts, here are seven (7) great sayings to give you a much-needed boost to keep working towards your end goal.
1. Big breaks and career reinventions are difficult in any industry. Truth is, it’s easier for you to find a new job, advance in your current field or even switch careers/industries - than it is for an actor, musician, or entertainer to make it big in the field of entertainment.
2. Mean people suck: Although it’s hard to hear, we all need and should welcome constructive criticism and feedback. However, you should ignore people who do and say mean things and never internalize words that are unkind.
3. Write your mistakes in sand and your successes in stone: Everyone makes mistakes and experiences set-backs. The trick is to focus on the “wins” no matter how small.
4. Find what is wrong within yourself and then find the courage to change it: Believe it or not, this pearl of wisdom came from the late king of Playboy, Hugh Hefner. This is easier to do than you might think. Simply focus on one professional skill that you can improve or enhance – and improve it.
5. If you’ve accomplished something great before, you can and will do so again: Success is a learned behavior. The more you succeed the more you learn how to succeed. “Failure” doesn’t feel good for a reason – it’s not something that you should want to repeat. When things don’t work out as planned – learn the lesson the first time. And, remind yourself that some things take longer than we would like, but happen eventually.
6. Don’t take “no” personally: Just because someone chooses NOT to hire you, doesn’t mean that they haven’t made a mistake. Remember, even Michael Jordan was once told he wasn’t good enough – and cut from the team. So the next time you hear “no” take it for what it is – someone else’s mistake.
7. Courage is moving forward despite being afraid: Everyone is afraid of something. Life and career require us to move forward anyway. You have to take risks and do things you’ve never done before to get new things you’ve never had. Never forget that fear doesn’t mean STOP – but rather be aware, and that you might be on to something good.
Fear is a great motivator to help propel you to reach your goals. This week, use fear to inspire you to remain focused on what you believe in and what you hope to one day accomplish.
QUESTION OF THE MONTH – ARE HAPPY PEOPLE SUCCESSFUL OR ARE SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE HAPPY?
Recently, we have received several emails from people asking for advice, specifically ways to achieve success. One question that we wanted to share with you is … are happy people successful or are successful people happy? Or both?
How you define happiness and/or success is a subjective thing. However, there is certainly a strong argument for the power of optimism and positive thinking. It suggests that you can create success in your life and career if you are happy and feel a sense of gratitude and accomplishment. Of course, there is much more to it. But perhaps the recipe for success begins with a huge portion of happiness. Think about it. It’s hard to accomplish greatness if you are in a bad mood, let alone unhappy most of the time.
On the other hand, anyone can certainly see how achievements and accolades of success can cause you to feel an incredible sense of happiness. The mere fact of accomplishing a goal – does actually make you feel better about yourself.
Whether you believe in one versus the other, or a combination of both, this week find ways to experience and express more happiness in yourself and the many great things you have in your life. Remember, you have the power to create success – one happy thought at a time
Ask Patrice - Biggest Mistakes People Make in Navigating Office Politics
This week we’re looking at (7) seven ways to rebound from mistakes that people often make when it comes to office politics.
1. Butter up to the boss: Believe it or not, the same strategy that worked for the teacher's pet in grade school can work wonders for you in the office. First, create ways to be helpful and make your boss' job easier.
2. Be generous giving genuine compliments to your boss and anyone who is well connected internally AND externally: Deal out positive feedback and compliments and document the ones that you receive. For example, ask your client or customer who just told you how much they love your work and could not have pulled it off without you to kindly put their praise in writing. Then ask them to send the email or letter to your boss and boss' boss.
3. Create a relationship of trust and respect with your client or supervisor: Extend one-on-one positive feedback and comments via emails and conversations. However, do it only occasionally in meetings or large groups.
4. Perfect the phase "that's a really good idea/question/point." Don't overdo it because people of any age can tell if you're talking BS and simply telling others what they want to hear.
5. Avoid stepping on toes: Often the best way to succeed at work is to avoid negative attention like encroaching on someone's position or area of responsibility. For example, something as simple as setting up a meeting with a senior leader in another department or location without first asking and then CC'ing your counterpart who also works directly with that individual, can make your colleague feel threatened or even so sad as to "come for you" moving forward.
6. Don't tell people everything that you are thinking: Whether it's sharing your reasons why someone's idea WON'T work in a staff meeting or telling others that this is your first time working on a particular type of project – STOP! Stop sharing all of your thoughts with others in the workplace.
7. Be very selective about who you confide in and associate with: Find ways to word and communicate even negative feedback or comments in a positive light.
