High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: How to Make Your First 90 Days at a New Company Count

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 Make Your First 90 Days at a New Company Count: "Regardless of your experience, title or level of authority, you have a lot to learn about your new role and organization. Tap into the wisdom of those who’ve been there for a while as well as those who may be somewhat new."

• Got 15 Spare Minutes? Here's How to Make it Count: "You can use small pockets of time to catch up on social media and scan emails, but your ultimate goal should be to help you, your client, or your team move forward."

• 10 Unmistakable Habits of Utterly Authentic People: "Authentic people, on the other hand, are accountable. They understand that they -- and no one else -- are responsible for their own lives, so there’s no point in complaining."

• To Succeed as a First-Time Leader, Relax: "Evidence-based mindfulness strategies, such as meditation and controlled breathing, can empower new managers to navigate challenges including delivering a critical presentation, running a contentious meeting, or making a high-stakes strategic decision."
• Ready for a New Job?: "Although it is more strategic to start with outlining your ideal position, the reality is we all invest an inordinate amount of energy into thinking about what we don't like."

5 Steps to Build Confidence

If you don't have confidence in yourself and in your skills you will not attain the success in life or in your career you are striving for. If you don't believe in yourself no else will.

It's normal to go through times when you struggle with self-confidence and it can be difficult to break out and restore your confidence.

Here are 5 steps you can take to build (or re-build) your confidence.

1. Pay attention to your appearance. Do what you can to feel good about the way you look. Get a haircut, shave, get a new cologne or perfume, invest in some contacts, or purchase a new outfit. If you feel good about the way you look you'll likely feel more confident.

2. Get sleep, eat well, and make time for exercise. Your health plays an important role in how confident you feel so be sure to get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, avoid alcohol and nicotine, and take some time to stay physically fit.

3. Work on positive self-talk. Your voice is the one you hear the most throughout the day so focus on positive and encouraging messages.

4. Surround yourself with people who believe in you. Try to arrange regular conversations with friends and colleagues who support you and build you up.

5. Take small risks. Find some successes. Take on a new project. Start small and begin to have some success and you'll find your confidence increasing.

Want more? Check out this list of 25 killer actions to boost your self-confidence.                      

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 6 Tips for Becoming a Successful Solopreneur

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, Kelsey Humphreys speaks with Jon Acuff about his six tips for becoming a successful solopreneur.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Is Job Hopping Really Just a Basic Human Need?

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!

• Is Job Hopping Really Just a Basic Human Need?: "Many people in the workforce have seen their parents and older colleagues reach the end of their careers only to wonder what the sustained effort added up to. So they make career changes to stay engaged, clear space for the personal lives, and pursue side projects and passions outside of work."

• Three Ways to Bounce Back After Adversity: "Failing can open up the chance to improve the skills you currently have and gain insight into what makes you unique."

• How to Get Better at Dealing with Change: "Reminding ourselves of what’s important to us — family, friends, religious convictions, scientific achievement, great music, creative expression, and so on — can create a surprisingly powerful buffer against whatever troubles may be ailing us."

• 6 Tips for Smart Risk-Taking: "What is the worst thing that will happen if this does not go as planned? If the worst thing happens, can I work around it? How would failure impact my other goals? Am I OK with that impact? If I'm comfortable with the answers to these questions, I'll move forward."

• How Complaining Rewires Your Brain for Negativity: "All the extra cortisol released by frequent complaining impairs your immune system and makes you more susceptible to high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. It even makes the brain more vulnerable to strokes."

5 Things to Do When You're Unemployed

There can be nothing more discouraging and disheartening than long periods of unemployment and it can be easy to sink into a malaise and do very little. Before you know it, months have passed and you've made little progress toward obtaining a new job.

Below are five things you can do to make the time during your unemployment more profitable for you in the long run.

1. Get clear about your strengths. Develop a focused understanding about what your strengths and skills are. Be able to concisely state what it is you would bring to an employer. If you're not sure, speak with an employment counselor or read some work by Marcus Buckingham to help you assess your strengths.

2. Stay social. It can be tempting to withdraw and isolate from others during a time of prolonged unemployment but be sure to maintain your friendships and attend social gatherings. Your friends can help you stay motivated, and can even provide leads to job opportunities.

3. Learn something new. You might not be able to afford to take a class while you're unemployed but there are many free classes available online, or through your local library. Speaking of libraries, reading a book can be a great way to acquire some new knowledge or understanding.

4. Set a schedule. Live as if you were working. Don't allow yourself to simply sleep in and watch TV throughout the day. Set an alarm and get up at a reasonable time, get in some movement or exercise, and plan some time for job searching or career development every day.

5. Stay positive. Finally, work at remaining positive. You can do this through a daily meditation practice and by surrounding yourself with uplifting media, messages, and friends throughout the day. An optimistic attitude will help you negotiate the difficulties of an extended period of unemployment.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 3 Types of "No" You Need For Your Career

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, Rich Bellis from Fast Company, discusses how to say "no" in different situations at work to put yourself at an advantage.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 6 Ways to Work Less But Get More Done

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!

• 6 Ways to Work Less But Get More Done: "Say no to more things than you say yes to. Choose your projects carefully and purposefully. A general rule of thumb is to focus on one thing at a time. Have one goal, or one big thing, that needs to get done everyday, and focus on that."
• 11 Easy Ways to Boost Your Energy in the Afternoon: "The best way to combat a slump is by getting something done. Instead of tackling a tough issue that you’re likely to give up on midway through, send one sincere thank-you email to someone who has helped you on your journey."

• 5 Reasons to Make a Lateral Career Move: "When you take a new job, even if it’s a role you are very familiar with and even if it’s in your department, you learn a lot. Your 'learning muscles' get revved up and your confidence grows."

• How to Make a Great First Impression: "Before meeting someone new — whether it’s a potential employer or a new client — do your homework. Know who you’re meeting, what he cares about, and what he might need from you."
• 3 Brain Hacks to Boost Your Motivation When You Need it Most: "When we know that our work will make a difference to someone else, it makes us work harder."

5 Great Podcasts to Boost Your Career and Life

In last week's post we shared four tips to renew your passion for work. The basic point was to look at things in a different way and one of the tips to do this was to check out a new podcast.

There are so many excellent podcasts out there and it can be overwhelming to know where to start. That's where this post comes in.

Below find five great podcasts to help you see things in a new way, therefore helping provide you with a boost and spark to your life and career:

1. The School of Greatness with Lewis Howes: "The goal of the School of Greatness is to share inspiring stories from the most brilliant business minds, world class athletes, and influential celebrities on the planet; to help you find out what makes great people great."

2. Building a Story Brand with Donald Miller: "Through his company StoryBrand, Donald Miller has helped over a thousand businesses, non-profits and personal brands clarify their message to create better websites, email blasts and marketing material."

3. Snap Judgment hosted by Glynn Washington: "Mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic, kick-ass radio. Snap's raw, musical blend of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another."

4. The Tim Ferriss Show: Ferris "deconstructs world-class performers from eclectic areas (investing, sports, business, art, etc.) to extract the tactics, tools, and routines you can use. This includes favorite books, morning routines, exercise habits, time-management tricks, and much more." 

5. TED Radio Hour hosted by Guy Raz: "A journey through fascinating ideas: astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, new ways to think and create. Based on Talks given by riveting speakers on the world-renowned TED stage, each show is centered on a common theme."

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: The Importance of a Positive Work Environment

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 Jason Balin and Chris Haddon from Hard Money Bankers discuss the importance of a positive work environment.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 10 Things You Can Do to Boost Self-Confidence

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!

• 10 Things You Can Do to Boost Self-Confidence: "The best way to overcome fear is to face it head-on. By doing something that scares you every day and gaining confidence from every experience, you will see your self-confidence soar."
• How Writing T0-Do Lists Helps Your Brain (Whether or Not You Finish Them): "Many studies have shown that note taking helps us distill the information we hear and remember it better than we would if we'd just heard or read it."
• How to Ace Your Interview With a Great Story: "The single most effective thing you can do to improve your odds of getting a job offer is to tell a great story in the interview; share a vivid example from your experience that illustrates how you can help them."
• 10 Ways to Be the Best Version of Yourself: "Tackle a challenging goal this week and commit one hour per day until you succeed. Take note of your increased resilience."
• 8 Mistakes You're Making on LinkedIn: "This is your online reputation, so no typos allowed."

4 Tips to Renew Your Passion for Work

Yes, it happens.

You lose that passion and drive you once had for your job. Instead of getting up with enthusiasm you reach for the snooze button on the alarm, or you start to feel the anxiety creeping up on you throughout the weekend in anticipation of that Monday return to work.

Sometimes it's not easy to restore your passion and enthusiasm you once had for your work. It might not be as simple as taking a few days off.

Consider taking a look at things from a new perspective in the following four ways:

1. Attend a conference. A conference provides a great opportunity to learn new things and hear from some motivational experts in your field. It also provides a great opportunity to meet new people who can help shake up your perspective and see your work in a new light.

2. Check out a new podcast. This can be particularly useful if you have a long commute or spend some time at the gym. There are so many incredibly useful and interesting podcasts out there that can help you gain new understanding of your field and the world. Next week we'll take a look at some of these and recommend some podcasts to add to your playlist.

3. Read a book. If you have time and enjoy reading there's never been a better time to find a great read. Head over to the library and check out the books on the new book stand and you're likely to find several fantastic books to challenge your view of the work you're doing.

4. Attend a special training. Don't have time or the money to attend a conference? Attend a local training session or an evening workshop on a topic of interest to you. Wherever you live, it's likely you'll find some excellent training or workshops put on by local libraries, nonprofit organizations, or community colleges.

Implement one, or better yet ... all four tips, and you'll be on the way to feeling more enthusiasm and energy for your work and career!

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Common Interview Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

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 Kathleen Davis from Fast Company discusses common interview mistakes and how to avoid them.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 6 Things You Should Unlearn to Succeed 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!

• 6 Things You Should Unlearn to Succeed at Work: "Part of having a job and a boss is that your boss may sometimes point out weaker areas of your work and ask you to do things differently (or simply better). An unspoken part of your employment agreement is that you'll listen with an open mind."
• The Best 25 Motivational Quotes to Kick Start every Morning: "Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs."
• 12 Things Truly Confident People Do Differently: "The more difficulty you have saying no, the more likely you are to experience stress, burnout and even depression. Confident people know that saying no is healthy, and they have the self-esteem to make their no’s clear."
• Smart Entrepreneurs Build Startups Without Investors: "Entrepreneurs who don’t have someone else’s cash for outsourcing come up with the more innovative and creative approaches to get things done."
• Being a Successful Entrepreneur Isn't Only About Having the Best Ideas: "Conviction is the feeling, deep down, that what you’re doing — and even struggling with — when acting outside your comfort zone is worth it. That the pain is worth the gain. And given the inherent challenge many tasks present to budding entrepreneurs, having this conviction is a critical part of the puzzle."