4 Keys to Work Productively from Home

Many companies now allow employees the flexibility to work from home at least part-time, or occasionally. In addition, many people leave the work force and start businesses from their homes.

So how does one stay productive and focused with the distraction of home?

Here are four keys to manage your work at home situation and to maximize your productivity:

1. Set aside a dedicated space. You'll want to have a space to work that is located in a comfortable part of your house or apartment, and that you can use every day you are working. It is distracting and unproductive to change work spaces every time you're at home. Set up a dedicated place for you to work and ensure that you have everything necessary to do your job within arms reach.

2. Disconnect. Turn off the TV and put your mobile phone on mute. If you like a little background music feel free to have the radio on but for many the radio will be another distraction. Check your phone at designated times but otherwise leave it alone so you can focus on the task at hand. Speaking of focus ...

______________________________________________________________________________

To be most productive you want to give 

your attention to one thing at a time.

______________________________________________________________________________

3. Focus on one thing. Get rid of the multi-tasking mindset. To be most productive you want to give your attention to one thing at a time. Set yourself up for 45-50 minutes of uninterrupted time to focus on tackling one specific task before moving on to something else.

4. Move around. It's important to your energy levels and to aid in creativity to move around. If you have stairs go up and down a few times. Or take a walk around the block. A good way to manage this it to schedule time (5-10 minutes) to move after each working session described above. You'll find yourself energized and focused to move on to the next task.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: How to Immediately Connect with Anyone

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

In the video below from Entrepreneur, you'll learn five tips to connect with anyone you meet, starting with leaving a good first impression with positive body language.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 22 Qualities That Make a Great Leader

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!

• 22 Qualities That Make a Great Leader: "If you focus on becoming authentic in all your interactions, that will rub off on your business and your culture, and the rest takes care of itself."
• The Office of the Future Will Be Natural, Chair-less, and Designed for Collaboration: "The trend will be to prevent workers from sitting all the time, in favor of walking, standing, or doing literally anything else besides sitting to maintain blood flow."
• 9 Fundamentals of Leadership Success: "Successful leaders must constantly communicate the core values which underlie their organization’s vision. In turn, the leader’s vision and actions must also be congruent with these values."
• 4 Simple Ways to Be More Creative at Work: "A rested brain, and one that is not so tightly wound around or attached to the task at hand, is more likely to think of a new idea or the solution to your idea than an overworked one. Don't force the creative process."
• 5 Ways to Be Influential: "You can influence more if you collaborate openly and willingly, with complete, honest and full disclosure."

5 Steps to Developing a Positive Reputation at Your Workplace

In order to achieve great things in your life and career you need to work at it. Success will not be handed to you without putting in the time necessary. One key to becoming successful in your career is to develop a great reputation in your workplace. This will carry over to other jobs as your former colleagues speak positively and enthusiastically about you and the work you do.

Here are five steps to developing a great reputation at work:

1. Do great work. Of course the first thing you need to do is deliver on your promises. Do great work, deliver it on time (or preferably early), and meet or exceed any financial targets for your work. Doing a great job in all aspects of your work is the foundation for your reputation.

2. Be of service. Support your colleagues and co-workers and provide assistance when and where needed. Be the first to volunteer to help on a project or step in when another colleague is out sick.

3. Participate in task-forces or work groups. Get to know others within your company and increase your understanding of the industry by participating in cross-functional teams, task-forces, and other types of work groups.

4. Avoid negative talk. Do not criticize your supervisor or upper management in conversation with your colleagues. If you have an issue or concern take it directly to your supervisor of executive. Make every effort to speak positively about your work and the people you work with. Be a source of encouragement, rather than another naysayer in the workplace.

5. Be kind. In addition to doing great work, your reputation will be cemented by the way you treat people. Don't just watch your words. Your body language can indicate that you're not listening to someone or don't respect their opinion. And be kind to everyone, including the person at the front desk when you walk in. Greet everyone with a smile and treat them with kindness and you will be well on your way to developing a positive reputation at work.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 4 Ways to Become More Disciplined

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

In the video below Brendon Burchard offers four tips to become more disciplined, starting with a daily morning practice of bringing your attention to the benefits and payoffs of what you're working toward.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Getting Fired, Great Jobs for Veterans, and More

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 Great Jobs for Veterans in 2016: "An analysis of which positions were well suited to former military personnel looking for new careers."
• 10 Ways Successful People Stay Calm: "90 percent of top performers are skilled at managing their emotions in times of stress in order to remain calm and in control."
• 4 Unconventional Rules for Building a Better Professional Network: "To truly cultivate new ideas and harness the ones that will drive you forward, you need a team of mentors to rid you of your comfort zone."
• Why We Need to Stop Thinking of Getting Fired as a Bad Thing: "The duration for each mission is typically one to three years, and once that time is up, the manager and employee should work together to come up with a new tour of duty, depending on how to best progress the employee’s career."
• 4 Ways Millennial Women Can Boost Their Careers: "This includes speaking up at department meetings, getting involved in a variety of initiatives outside the scope of your job and strengthening ties with allies."

5 Books to Inspire a Better Career and Life

Books are a great resource for career development and to improve your life and so we're recommending five recently published books to inspire you to excel in your career and life.

Happy reading!

1. Better Than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits--to Sleep More, Quit Sugar, Procrastinate Less, and Generally Build a Happier Life by Gretchen Rubin--Many habit experts offer one-size-fits-all solutions. But as we all know through hard experience, no magic formula exists. The secret, Rubin explains, is to pinpoint the specific strategies will work for us. From finding the right time to begin a new habit, to setting up a counter-intuitive system of reward, to using the pleasure of treats to strengthen our good habits, Rubin identifies the 21 strategies that will allow every reader to find an effective, individual fit.

2. Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg--Productivity relies on making certain choices. The way we frame our daily decisions; the big ambitions we embrace and the easy goals we ignore; the cultures we establish as leaders to drive innovation; the way we interact with data: These are the things that separate the merely busy from the genuinely productive.

3. #AskGaryVee: One Entrepreneur's Take on Leadership, Social Media, and Self-Awareness by Gary Vaynerchuk--#AskGaryVee is the product of over a year’s worth of answering questions on business, entrepreneurship, social media, leadership and more on a YouTube show.

4. Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant--Originals is about how to champion new ideas and fight groupthink. Using surprising studies and stories spanning business, politics, sports, and entertainment, Grant explores how to recognize a good idea, speak up without getting silenced, build a coalition of allies, choose the right time to act, and manage fear and doubt.

5. How to Be Alive: A Guide to the Kind of Happiness That Helps the World by Colin Beavan--In this breakthrough book, Beavan extends a hand to those seeking more meaning and joy in life even as they engage in addressing our various world crises. How to Be Alive nudges the unfulfilled toward creating their own version of the Good Life—a life where feeling good and doing good intersect.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: How to Switch Careers Later in Life

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

In the Forbes video below Kerry Hannon offers some steps to take to find a new vocation with meaning, before you retire from your old job.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 8 Tips to Fast-Track Your Career

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 Fast-Track Your Career: "Know where your organization/industry is going and understand what you can contribute to making your team more successful. Make sure your supervisor sees you as an asset."
• 5 Ways to Tackle Job Insecurity: "If you've been neglecting your network for a while, now is the time to reconnect. Don't wait until you need to call in a favor. It's also a good idea to expand your network by attending events or joining a professional association."
• 13 Time Management Tips for Success: "One of the biggest mistakes is just doing whatever comes your way instead of having exact times when you will do certain things in your week. Discipline and planning is required if you want to achieve your career goals."
• 7 Interview Questions That Determine Emotional Intelligence: "Curiosity and the desire to learn are vital signs that a prospective employee wants to get better at something."
• How to Dress for Your Next Job Interview: "Whether you like it or not, your appearance is the first thing people notice about you–and the hiring managers first impression may play a big part in his or her hiring decision."

5 Tips to Develop a Reputation for Kind and Generous Communication Skills

Based on the current political environment you might be mistaken for thinking the best way to become a success in your life and career is to belittle those who stand in your way, and speak rudely of the so-called competition.

However, you'll find true success when you develop a reputation for kindness and generosity in the way you communicate with others.

1. Say thank you. Be gracious toward others for their time and generosity. If someone takes the time to interview you for a new position or if someone provides a reference for you, be sure to thank them for their time and effort.

2. Apologize. We all make mistakes and we all sometimes treat people in ways we wish that we hadn't. In those circumstances we need to be sure to apologize to those we've hurt and offended.

3. Promote the accomplishments of others. Give credit where credit is due. Don't hog all the credit for your successes and accomplishments. You did not succeed only on your own efforts. Be sure to acknowledge those who have contributed to your success. And also promote the successes of others, even when it has nothing to do with you. Making the effort to support others will help diminish a tendency toward jealousy.

4. Speak kindly of your enemies. Many people have burned a few bridges along the way, or been fired from a job, or argued with a previous employer. Train yourself to speak kindly of those who might have treated you poorly. It's a small world and you might find yourself working with them again so work to think and speak well of others, even those you did not get along with.

5. Encourage others. Be known as one who encourages the best in others rather than one who tears others down or belittles them. When you focus on the positive and encourage others you bring out the best in them and in yourself.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Follow Your Fear

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 Marie Forleo suggests that instead of following your passion or your bliss, you follow your fear.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: How to Practice Mindfulness Throughout Your Work Day

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!

• How to Practice Mindfulness Throughout Your Work Day: "When you get to the office, take 10 minutes at your desk or in your car to boost your brain with a short mindfulness practice before you dive into activity."
• 7 Tips to Build a Business While Working a Day Job: "Read your vision aloud every morning and evening, focusing completely on the end result -- your vibrant, flourishing business."
• 12 Habits of the Most Productive People: "People who are highly productive have established clear goals and a vision for what they want to achieve long term."
• 7 Things Successful People Do on Monday Mornings: "Start with these tips and see that Monday can be your best friend and biggest motivator—if you let it."
• 10 Items to Ban from Your Resume: "Résumé objectives never help and often hurt. Not only do they feel antiquated, but they're all about what you want."

Why (and How) You Might Benefit from a Reverse Mentor

We've talked about mentors before and the importance of finding a mentor to move forward in your career and life but perhaps you haven't considered the idea of a reverse mentor. What is a reverse mentor?

A reverse mentor is someone younger than you who can help mentor and train you on modern trends and technologies.

The world and the world of work changes quickly and it can be difficult to stay up on current trends and new technologies. A reverse mentor can bring you up to speed and ensure you can talk and work confidently among those skilled in these areas.

What are some trends or technologies you might consider identifying a reverse mentor for?

1. Social media: the most effective uses of twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and others.

2. Productivity: using services and apps to more effectively manage your time and schedule.

3. Understanding millennial perspectives on specific industry trends.

A reverse mentor can provide the edge you need to move forward with confidence in your career.