4 Career Resolutions to Make for 2016

As we approach the start of the new year it is a time to evaluate 2015 and consider how to move forward in 2016. Of course your goals and resolutions should take your job and career into consideration.

Here are four career resolutions you should make for 2016:

1. Take a class to learn a new skill. Many employers offer tuition reimbursement programs or offer some funds to pay for training classes. Consider learning a new language or a new skill, such as coding or social media marketing.

2. Find a mentor. One of the most important things you can do for your career is find a mentor. Identify a few candidates, at your current company or in your community, who have attained some success in an area of particular interest to you and contact one or two.

3. Attend a conference. When you attend a conference it does at least three positive things for your career: a) it provides you with new skills and knowledge, b) it recharges your batteries, reduces stress, and increases your enthusiasm and energy for your work, and c) it provides opportunities to meet new and interesting people and to expand your network.

4. Take care of yourself. Make an extra point of scheduling and getting adequate sleep every night, eating foods that energize you, and being active and avoiding a sedentary life that can come with working in an office.

Make these four resolutions, or better yet, take on and implement these four resolutions and you're likely to have a great 2016.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 5 Career Lessons from Han Solo

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In light of the new Star Wars film we share this Forbes video on five career lessons from Han Solo, including having an ally, like Chewbacca, who you can always depend on. See more below:

5 Steps to Evaluate Your Career Over the Holidays

Over the last several weeks we've discussed some things you can do to enhance your career and your network over the holidays. Today, we'll think about the current state of your career and job and take some time to evaluate where you stand.

Here are five things to consider:

1. Are you learning? Do you have opportunities to learn new skills and develop the ones you have? You'll enjoy your career much more if you're not bored and have the chance to branch out and learn more.

2. Are you developing relationships? Very few of us have no need to interact with others on the job and so it's important that we're developing effective and productive working relationships. Our job is often a place to develop new friendships, as well as expand our our network.

3. Do you have opportunities for advancement? Work can feel frustrating if we seem trapped in our current job and have no opportunities to advance or to move into other more challenging roles.

4. How do you feel on Sunday night? When you're thinking about going to work on Monday morning how do you feel? Do you feel stressed out or are you dreading going into work? If you look forward to the challenges awaiting you that is a good sign that you're in a good place.

5. Are you applying your strengths? You'll enjoy your work much more when you are able to apply your strength and skills, those things you do well, to your job. If you're unable to utilize your strengths at work it is probably a good indication that you're in the wrong position.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: The Importance of Optimal Sleep to Work Performance

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In this video Kathleen Davis, from Fast Company, discusses recent research on the importance of sleep to work performance and considers the optimum sleep levels.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 9 Things Successful People Won't Do

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• Career Boosting Resolutions to Make Right Now: "Define exactly what your ideal job and company would look like. Make sure that the choice you make fits with your current values and priorities."
• 6 Creativity Habits For People Who Think They're Not Creative: "The interaction with new people can bring perspectives never before considered and spur new ideas within the group."
• 9 Things Successful People Won't Do: "Emotionally intelligent people know that success lies in their ability to rise in the face of failure, and they can’t do this when they’re living in the past."
• 4 Important Ways to Look at Employee Well-Being 'Holistically": "Offering small breaks, especially during busy and stressful times, can keep employees focused without the added stress of being away from their work for long stretches of time."
• 10 Nonverbal Cues to Convey Confidence at Work: "When speaking to others, ideally look directly into their eyes at least two to three seconds before looking away or moving to the next person."

5 Ways to Strengthen Your Career Over the Holidays

With the holidays fast approaching you are likely looking forward to some time off and some time away from the job. Use this time away wisely and you can do some simple things to strengthen your career and feel good about getting off to a great start in 2016.

Here are 5 ways to strengthen your career over the holidays:

1. Read a good book. It doesn't have to be a business book or a career-related book but there are many good ones out there. You might simply read a book that inspires you to think about the world or a particular problem in a different way. This can help you apply some creative thinking to your job.

2. Take time to dream. Think about your future and where you want to be and how to get there. Think about what motivates you and what your passions are. Connect your passions and these future dreams to a career path and set it in motion for next year.

3. Rest and recharge. Be sure to take some time to simply rest and relax and avoid thinking about the stresses of your job and career. Do fun things you enjoy.

4. Set goals. Take a few minutes to consider some goals for 2016. Don't spend all day on this but identify one to three goals that would propel your career and life forward in an exciting way.

5. Connect with people who inspire you. Meet up with an old friend over coffee or take that former colleague to lunch. Spend time with others who motivate you and inspire you to be your best.

And enjoy the holidays!

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Focus on Your Strengths

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In this video author and speaker John C. Maxwell encourages us to focus on strengths rather than on areas of weakness.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 9 Tactics to Land You the Job

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• 9 Tactics to Land You the Job: "Ask for the job enthusiastically. If they say they are 'still looking,' ask what for and explain how you are a perfect match, and then ask again."
• 11 Career-Related New Year's Resolutions: "Want a raise or a new job? Better work-life balance?"
• Veterans and the Holiday Job Search: "When a job seeker displays initiative in setting up informational interviews during the holidays, she communicates that she is resourceful and hard-working."
• 6 Qualities of a Non-Toxic Employee: "Look for employees who are good with taking direction and take full responsibility for their work."
• 6 Strategies to Transform a Job You Hate into One You Love: "Knowing that by sticking it out, you’ll be gaining skills that will aid you in getting to the next level in your career, and that can help to keep you engaged."

5 Ways to Cultivate Your Network Over the Holidays

The end of the year is approaching and you likely have a lot to do before taking some time off over the holidays. Without adding to your stress here are 5 ways to cultivate and enhance your network over the next few weeks.

1. Attend that holiday party. Yes, sometimes the company party seems like a waste of time and you're tempted to skip it or make a brief appearance. Resist that temptation. The company party is a good opportunity to develop deeper relationships with others in your company as you likely will have a chance to talk about more than just work. Going beyond the superficial discussion of projects can enhance the relationships with those you work with and provide new career opportunities in the future. And, at the holiday party, you just might get some time to talk with the company president or CEO.

2. Send a card to your top 5 business associates. If your company uses freelancers or vendors for any part of the business be sure to send a card of thanks to the most important ones you work with. Personalize the card and use it as an opportunity to strengthen the relationship you have. You never know, you just might want to contact one of these vendors or freelancers for a job in the future.

3. Smile and bring some joy to your coworkers. Build on your relationships with coworkers by having a positive attitude over the holiday. By smiling and being positive you can help to reduce the stress your colleagues might be experiencing. Some holiday cookies might even help too!

4. Send an email of thanks to your colleagues. Think about some of your colleagues and co-workers and consider those who have helped you in some way over the past year. It's unlikely you're a lone ranger so you probably depend on support from many others in your company. Prepare a brief email of thanks for some of these partners and you'll likely make their day and strengthen your relationship with them.

5. Send a note of good wishes to new contacts. Have you attended a conference or networking event during this past year? Perhaps you've started doing business with another company or vendor. If so, take a few minutes to send a note of reintroduction, extending well wishes for a happy holiday and new year.

If you spend a few hours implementing some of the ideas above over the next few weeks you'll likely strengthen your network and deepen your friendships, helping you enjoy your job and career even more.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Confidence

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In this fun, animated video from the School of Life we learn about confidence and why many of us struggle with a lack of confidence and what can be done to increase confidence.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do: "It’s futile to wallow in your problems, exaggerate your misfortune and keep score of how many hardships you’ve endured....Self-pity keeps you focused on the problem and prevents you from developing a solution."
• Succeed in New Situations: "According to several studies ... the more questions new employees ask and the more help they seek, the better they perform."
• 5 Tips for Running an Awesome Meeting: "Decide how you can change your meeting planning to only cover subjects that require everyone's input or that affect an entire department."
• 6 Habits to Improve Memory and Boost Brain Health: "Multitasking diminishes mental productivity, elevates brain fatigue and increases stress."
• Is the Workplace Responsible for Lack of Confidence?: "The conclusions of the study were that the current work environment does not provide women with female role models or managerial support and encouragement. It endorses an ideal worker stereotype that doesn’t resonate with most women."

5 Steps to Evaluate Your Career and Job at Year-End

As you come to the end of the year you might be getting some feedback from a manager or a supervisor about your work performance this year. It's great to get useful feedback from your employer and this often offers much to consider and implement in the upcoming year.

However, you should also conduct your own personal evaluation of the past year and how you did in relation to your career goals.

Here are five things to evaluate when assessing your career progress:

1. Major projects completed. What did you work on this year? Did you contribute to the completion of a major project in the past year? How successful was it and what was your role in it? Be sure to celebrate your achievements from this year.

2. New skills developed. Did you learn something new this year, take a class, or develop new skills through the completion of the projects you identified above? How do these new skills and abilities impact your career goals? How can these new skills move your career in the direction you envision?

3. New contacts and collaborators. Take some time to identify new contacts, collaborators, and friends you made over the past year. You might want to take a few minutes to reconnect with them before year-end. Think about some ways you can add some value to their life and career and seek a way to help them attain their goals. You can also spend some time identifying how these relationships might contribute to your career goals.

4. Areas for improvement. Be sure to consider the things that did not go well in the past year. Make an honest assessment of your role in the failure and identify ways you might have handled the situation/project/task differently.

5. How satisfied were you with your work? Take some time to consider what you liked and didn't like about your job and career path. Are there some things you can change to increase your level of enjoyment?

Finally, after you've completed your evaluation, update your resume and LinkedIn profile so you'll be ready for any new opportunities at the start of the new year.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Useless Phrases to Eliminate from Your Emails

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

The Fast Company video below provides some great tips to making your emails for efficient and to the point.

5 Reasons to Be Thankful for Your Job

Some of us (many of us?) spend a good deal of time complaining about our jobs, our bosses, our companies, our salaries, and anything else we can muster a complaint about but, in reality, we have it quite well.

What better time of year to take a few moments and be thankful for our jobs? Need some reasons? Here are five:

1. Be thankful you HAVE a job. Yes, sometimes that old adage "you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone" applies to your job and while we might spend some serious time daydreaming about another place to work, our current gig is actually pretty good.

2. Be thankful for your co-workers. You likely work among friends or are at least on friendly terms with those you work with. That is a great, and undervalued, perk of the job. I still miss the people from the job I worked at longest (over 16 years). It was a great group.

3. Be thankful for opportunities to learn. Those opportunities can be very different depending on the job. You might be learning a specific skill such as how to code, or you might be learning a "soft skill": how to facilitate a good working relationship with a difficult co-worker or manager. But take some time to appreciate and be grateful for those new skills you are developing.

4. Be thankful for opportunities to apply your skills. Again, like the point above, you might apply some of your strengths and skills in limited ways but if you think carefully about your work you can creatively apply your skills to anything. The skills you have in handling a demanding boss are useful when dealing with an angry customer.

5. Be thankful for the chance to do something of value. Theodore Roosevelt noted that "far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing."

What are you thankful for? Do you have a flexible work schedule? A great boss or coworker? Opportunities to advance?

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: On Finding a Mentor

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In the video below Felicia Day discusses how to go about finding a mentor.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 4 Career Mistakes You Should Make by 30

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• 4 Career Mistakes You Should Make by 30: "But making some missteps and mistakes early on in your career is actually a critical part of growing -- both professionally and personally."
• The Best Way to Learn: "Learning is best done by people acquiring ideas from various sources, running experiments in their context, and then sharing their insights with their peers."
• Building a Better Company Culture in 5 Steps: "While you don’t want your employees failing 100 percent of the time, taking away the fear of failure can free up employees to not just win but win bigger than they ever would have had they been afraid to fail."
• Strategies for Dual-Income Families: "Lots of parents with big jobs work what’s called a 'split shift.' They leave work at a reasonable hour, spend the evenings with family, and then do more work at night after the kids go to bed."
• Do These 4 Things to Avoid Losing Your Mind as an Entrepreneur: "But in the end, listen to your gut. Create the business you want, on your terms and in your time. You’ll reap far greater rewards than revenue."

Regaining Your Confidence After a Career Setback

Everyone has disappointments and setbacks in their career, from that promotion or raise you didn't get to getting fired or laid off.

Sometimes that setback can impact your confidence and leave you struggling to regain it.

Here are 5 steps you can take to get your confidence back after a career setback.

1. Small victories. Set some small, immediate, and attainable goals in order to restore your confidence in your abilities. Sometimes simply the process of setting a small goal and attaining it is enough to set one back on the path to larger goals.

2. Focus on strengths. You have specific skills and areas of strengths. Try to focus your energies on activities that utilize these strengths and build confidence.

3. Surround yourself with support. Find those around you--family, friends, coworkers--who believe in you and your abilities. Their belief in your skills and strengths can speed your recovery from a setback.

4. Find a mentor. Seek out another expert in your field to serve as a mentor and to guide you through this time. Your mentor can assist you in making the best decisions for your career as you move forward.

5. Learn something new. Take some time to learn a new skill or take a class. Experiencing some success in a class and adding to your skill set can provide the confidence to move ahead in other areas of your life and career.

Implement these 5 steps following a career setback and you'll be back on your feet and headed to new successes.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Stay Focused

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

The video below discusses the importance of staying focused and persistently pursuing your goals.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Make Friends Not Contacts

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• Networking 101: Make Friends Not Contacts: "Check your circle of friends. Surround yourself with people who aspire to do better."
• The Rainn Wilson Guide to Success: "For me, meditation is a great tool that I use in my daily life to ground me, to get me more connected to my soul. To the part of myself that’s beyond my thoughts. To God and to a higher purpose."
• 21 Ways to Unlock Creative Genius: "Consider this list of tricks and strategies your roadmap, all planned out with the benefit of the latest research and expert advice."
• Start Looking for an Internship!: "Interns that show professionalism and demonstrate their creativity gain a network of people who can mentor them, give recommendations, and collaborate on future projects."
• 4 Interview Tips for Veterans: "One of your greatest resources may be other veterans who have landed a job through mastering the interview process."

4 Steps to Your Job Search Plan

So, you're out of work, expect to be unemployed soon, or want to change jobs. What is your plan? In order to effectively move forward and find the right position for your interests and set of skills you need to have a job search plan.

Below are four steps to an effective job search plan:

1. Be specific. What position are you interested in pursuing, and in what industry? One key to your job search is to be as specific as possible about the job you want so you don't waste time, energy, and resources pursuing jobs that don't fit your skill set.

2. Clarify your offer. What is it, exactly, that you bring to the table? What are the range of skills you have that can make you successful in this job? Having a clear understanding of what you can bring to a job will enable you to clearly communicate this in your resume and when speaking with potential employers.

3. Find the right place(s). Where do you want to work? What are you looking for a place of employment? Decide if a startup works for you, or if you prefer a large established corporation. Maybe you'd like to work for a smaller, more intimate family-run business? Being clear about this will again help you be more specific in your search. And also think about location. Are you interested in leaving your city or state?

4. Find the right people. You likely know some people who can aid you in your job search. Or you know someone who knows someone who can assist you. Be sure to reach out to your network. But be choosy. Not everyone can help you. Select those individuals with a connection to the specific job and industry you are pursuing.

Searching for a new job can be stressful but implement these four steps to be more effective in your job search.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Career and Life Success with Less Stress

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In the video below Darren Hardy, publisher of Success, shares 10 secrets to success with less stress.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 3 Ways to Be More Likeable at Work

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• 3 Ways to Be More Likeable at Work: "Listening is like a superpower, and people who are likeable tend to intuitively understand this. They make time to listen to what others have to say."
• Why You Should Stop Going to Networking Events: "Networking events almost never lead to business. And I have been to hundreds of them. It was a way for me to think I was being productive, but it wasn’t. It was a distraction."
• How Serving Others Can Help Make You a Great Leader: "The more I help people, the more it comes back to me in some way—we get ahead by helping others get ahead. Don’t lose sight of that, ever."
• How to Manage Distractions: "While you probably can't disconnect for the entire day, as little as 20 to 30 minutes of focused time can take you much further than two hours spent on the same task filled with constant interruptions."
• 4 Tweaks to Rev Up a Stalled Job Search: "While you might view flexibility as a virtue, it may at the same time be self-defeating. Remember that employers hire people who answer their needs."

4 Tips to Get a Job Online

Finding a job can be a difficult process and requires patience, a plan, and persistence. Fortunately, the internet has made it easier to identify potential opportunities.... if you're using the internet correctly.

Below are 4 tips to use the internet during your next job search.

1. Identify the top five companies you'd like to work for and check their web sites regularly for job postings. Many companies require you to create a profile in order to apply for a job so go ahead and get some of the initial work out of the way. Then when you see a posting you're interested in you can get that application done early.

2. Search for jobs on twitter. You can do this is several ways but here are two to keep in mind: a) follow the companies you're interested in (again, many companies will post their new openings on twitter, or even Facebook), and b) search twitter for jobs by searching on #job and #titleofjob. For example, if you're interested in human resources you can search on #job and #humanresources to find jobs posted on twitter.

3. If you're a college graduate be sure to check your alumni association web site. Many alumni sites include job postings from businesses and individuals looking to hire someone just like you: someone who graduated from the same college or university.

4. Are you a member of a professional organization? If so, these organization web sites are great places to identify job openings. And you just might have the extra advantage of knowing the person doing the hiring.

Implement these four tips during your next job search and you'll be on your way to securing that new job.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Morning Visualization

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In the video below from Entrepreneur, Franco Lofranco discusses the importance of daily visualization for career success.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 5 Tips for Networking Your Way to a Job on LinkedIn

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• 5 Ways to Instantly Connect with Everyone You Meet: "It doesn't matter your title or experience, if you want to connect with someone or influence them, you must make them feel valued."
• 4 Rules for Making a Flexible Schedule Work: "Most of us have trouble sitting still and working for eight hours at a stretch without taking some kind of break. That holds true, even if you’re working from your couch."
• How to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking: "Nothing helps you feel more confident than thoroughly preparing for your presentation. When you know the subject matter well, you'll feel more comfortable and confident."
• 9 Tips for Creating a Stress-Free Work Environment: "If your workspace stresses you out, it might help to add personal items to your desk, cubicle or office that have some special meaning to you."
• 5 Tips for Networking Your Way to a Job on LinkedIn : "Start connecting with classmates, alumni and professors, plus former bosses, supervisors and colleagues. Then branch out to less obvious potential connections, like your neighbors."

4 Things to Do for Your Career Before Year-End

It's almost November and with that we head into holiday season and the weeks seem to speed up. Before we get to the end of the year there are a few things you should consider doing for your career in order to get 2016 off to a good start.

1. Update your resume and LinkedIn profile. You've accomplished some great things and learned new skills this year so be sure to document it by making the necessary changes to your resume and LinkedIn profile. It will also help you be ready in case you decide to start the new year off with a job search.

2. Evaluate your performance. If your employer does not conduct formal reviews or evaluations at this time of year ask your supervisor or manager for feedback on your performance. Get a sense for the things you did well and the areas that need improvement. This will provide you with a clear road map as you enter the new year.

3. Check in with your network. Before everyone gets busy with the holidays take a few minutes to check in with some of your key contacts, including your mentor if you have one. Make sure you are continuing to develop the important relationships in your life and career.

4. Set preliminary goals. Now is a good time to begin to set some goals for 2016. Is it time to look for a new job, find a mentor, or take some classes? Consider what you can do next year to strengthen your skills, increase your knowledge, build your network, and improve your life and career.

Do these things now, enjoy the holidays, and enter 2016 feeling confident and focused!

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 5 Tips to Ace a Job Interview

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In the video below, Harvard career services adviser Linda Spencer provides five tips to ace your next job interview.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: What You Need to Succeed

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

• 8 Tips to Resign from Your Job Gracefully: "If your manager has a track record of taking feedback gracefully and generally makes it safe to be honest, you might consider sharing the factors that led you to look for another job."
• Why You Don't Need to Be Smart or Talented to Succeed: "You don't need to focus on padding your resume or hiking your GPA, you need to focus on understanding and improving yourself."
• Two Things You Should Do After Getting Fired: "Use the experience to learn how to change some workplace behaviors, whether [they're] personality-driven or communication-driven or something else."
• 7 Secrets to Entrepreneurial Success: "Jump past barriers and countless years of indecision by hiring a business partner that gives you the kick you need to stay motivated or a sales representative to get your product out in stores."
• Be Your Own Best Advocate: "So we all need a strategy for everyday negotiations that will allow us to come away not only successful but also still held in high regard by bosses and colleagues."

5 Tips to Work More Effectively and Productively

If you find that your days seem to run into each other and you're constantly working on yesterday's to-do list, here are 5 tips to manage your work day more effectively and productively.

1. Start the day with a tall glass of water and some energizing food. You need energy and strength to be at your best and so it's important to hydrate with water when you awake and to eat something high in protein and low in sugar, in order to avoid a crash later in the morning.

2. Identify your top 3 tasks the night before. Your day should start the previous night or afternoon. At some point in your day identify the top 3 tasks you need to complete tomorrow and write them down.

3. Ignore email and complete your most important task first. Avoid getting bogged down by email early in your day. Save the email for the afternoon and attack your most important task of the day first. Once that is completed you'll experience a great surge of energy and pride in your work.

4. Work in 45 minute bursts followed by a short break. Allow yourself to focus more efficiently by working hard but briefly on your tasks and then allowing time for a short break. If you work for 45 minutes and follow that with a 10-15 minute walk you'll return to your work with more focus.

5. Eliminate everything in your in-box before the day ends. Attack your email and clear out your in-box in the afternoon, once you've completed your most important tasks. Respond to necessary emails and file away those you need to save. Stop working with an in-box empty and you'll feel a great sense of accomplishment and won't spend the evening worrying about the items you need to deal with.

Implement these 5 tips and your work day will be much more efficient and productive.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 3 Resume Myths You Shouldn't Believe

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

The video below from Fast Company tackles three resume myths that should be discarded.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 5 Steps to Get Promoted Faster

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

© Bellemedia | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

• 5 Steps to Get Promoted Faster: "If you want to get promoted, then associate with those in your field who have been promoted. They’ve done something right. Habits rub off."


• 5 Ways to Amplify the Good Life: "Really think about and visualize what you’re grateful for. If you write down 'my spouse,' for example, remember a great meal or activity you shared together recently."


• A Simple Formula for Changing Our Behavior: "Practicing a new behavior, showing up in a new way, or acting differently, feels inauthentic. Changing a dance that’s been danced many times before will never feel natural."


• How Successful People Keep Track of Their Best Ideas: "I have a seven-second rule in my home ... I have to be able to reach a working pen and notepad or I risk being distracted and forgetting."


• 5 Mistakes to Avoid as an Entrepreneur: "Customers should be treated with honor and respect, but sometimes they are just wrong."

10 Thoughts to Stay Motivated at Work

We all have those days when getting up for work is difficult. There are many reasons for this: lack of
sleep, too much fun the night before, procrastination on an important project, we're in the wrong job, etc.

So it can help to find some motivation and inspiration to get after it. Below are ten quotes to help inspire you to have a great day at work. Print them out and place them somewhere you can view them every morning.


1. "Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work." --Booker T. Washington

2. "The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today." --Elbert Hubbard

3. "Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt

4. "There is no substitute for hard work." --Thomas A. Edison

5. "Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart." --Rumi

6. "To find out what one is fitted to do, and to secure an opportunity to do it, is the key to happiness." --John Dewey

7. "To find joy in work is to discover the fountain of youth." --Pearl S. Buck

8. "There is joy in work. There is no happiness except in the realization that we have accomplished something." --Henry Ford

9. "Work is love made visible." --Khalil Gibran

10. "Life grants nothing to us mortals without hard work." --Horace

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 8 Daily Habits That Will Raise Your Game

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

The video below from Entrepreneur reminds us that it is important to take the time to do the little things, such as reading every day and practicing gratitude.