6 Practices That Will Make You More Successful Tomorrow

We all want to be successful in our lives and in our careers but sometimes we let the busyness of our personal and work lives interfere with taking care of ourselves and doing the things we need to do.

It can be easy to get off track and find ourselves filled with anxiety while we struggle to meet deadlines and prioritize competing demands.

Apply the following 6 practices to your day today and you'll have a better day tomorrow.

1. Turn off the social media. Avoid your Facebook, twitter, and Instagram accounts. These take time away from the important things and we often find ourselves unfavorably comparing our lives or circumstances with others we barely know.

2. Forget multi-tasking. Focus on only one thing and work at it until you complete it. Attempting to multi-task is a distraction and might even lead to taking a look at those social media accounts we suggested turning off.

3. Replace negative self-talk. When you're stressed out or struggling with work you can find yourself stuck in a rut of negative self-talk. You're not good at this. It will never get done. No one will like this. The self-talk can be ruthless. It's important to recognize this and replace the self-talk in your mind with positive affirmations: I've got this. I'm good enough. I'm brave and capable.

4. Take a walk outside and breathe. Get outside into the fresh air, go for a walk, and focus on your breathing. You'll feel better, more relaxed, less stressed, and ready to take on the world.

5. Eat a healthy and energizing meal. Be sure to get at least one meal in every day that consists of healthy food that will make your body feel strong and provide the energy you need.

6. Sleep. You need good and adequate sleep to be at your best. Make sure you get 7-8 hours in order to be rested and focused to start your day well.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 9 Things Managers Do That Make Good Employees Quit

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.

The video below from Entrepreneur points out that people don't leave jobs; they leave managers.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 4 Psychological Reasons You Aren't Attracting Success Into Your Life

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 Psychological Reasons You Aren't Attracting Success Into Your Life: "We create the outcome we (consciously or unconsciously) expect. Once you start assuming the best in people and assuming there will be positive outcomes in all situations, you’ll be surprised how right you can be."

• To Be Successful Take the Stairs, Says Richard Branson: "Take the slower route. You’ll be able to learn from your experience and better prepare yourself for a future of success."

• 4 Times When Aiming for "Good Enough" is a Great Productivity Strategy: "So if and when you find yourself stuck in this endless loop of revisions, you’re better off just picking something and committing to it. Because, honestly, either way is likely just fine."

• Why It's a Bad Idea to Follow Your Passion: "Following your passion isn’t necessarily a bad choice for a career, but there are some drawbacks people tend to ignore. Consider them carefully before choosing a field you’re passionate about."
• 5 Things Most Leaders are in Denial About: "That information shortage hurts working people and their employers in several ways. It keeps people from being able to make the best decisions, and creates stress."

5 Reasons to be Grateful for Your Job

A daily practice of gratitude has been shown to improve your mood, among its many other benefits and there is no better time than the Thanksgiving holiday to begin showing a little gratitude for your job.

Not sure where to start? Try these five reasons to be grateful for your work situation.

1. The job itself. You might simply start by feeling thankful that you even have a job. There are many people out there looking for work, or are soon-to-be graduates anxiously anticipating the job search. You don't have to live with this daily anxiety and have a reason for getting up every morning.

2. Your boss. Yep, your supervisor, whether you like him or her or not, provides you with support in your job or offers you opportunities to grow by being difficult to work with. Either way, your boss provides you with a reason to be grateful.

3. Your co-workers. You likely have some friends and supportive colleagues at work and they are often the reason we enjoy going in each day. Take a moment to appreciate them and even to let them know how grateful you are for their support.

4. Opportunities to learn. Your job provides you with opportunities to learn something new. Sometimes you learn a new skill, sometimes you learn patience, sometimes you learn how to deal with a difficult co-worker, or sometimes you learn how to use new technology or a new program.

5. Opportunities to use your strengths. It's likely you were hired for your job because you have the skills and abilities required. This provides an opportunity to be grateful for the opportunity to apply your strengths to accomplish something worthwhile.

You might also find yourself grateful for a short commute, or a long commute (affording you the time to get something else done), or you are grateful for opportunities to make a difference in the world and in the lives of others.

If you really think about it you'll likely find many reasons to be grateful for your job.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: Resilience in Hard Times

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 The School of Life, we are reminded that at the very darkest points of individual and national life, we need – more than ever – to practice the art of resilience.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 8 Morning Secrets of Highly Successful People

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 Morning Secrets of Highly Successful People: "Those who are successful don’t waste time or opportunity. Just about every minute of their day is planned and has purpose. Some devote time in the morning to visualize the rest of the day."

• 3 Things I Wish I'd Done When Layoffs Started at My Company: "I responded by firing off a few applications for positions that looked OK, did a few interviews that went OK and before long, settled back into the same old routine of doing my job."

• 6 Habits That Turn Dreams Into Reality: "One of the benefits of a structured approach to goal and vision setting is that individuals can clearly see how each action and effort propels them toward their highest goal."

• Employers Need to Recognize That Our Wellness Starts at Work: "While we can argue about the best ways to maximize productivity, it’s hard to dispute that the physical, mental, and (yes) emotional conditions of employees are very much the business of the company, given that they greatly impact performance, morale, and absenteeism."
• How to Talk Politics at Work Without Being a Jerk: "If you don't think your co-worker's political beliefs are deserving of your respect, take that as a sign that you shouldn't be engaging in the conversation at work at all."

4 Steps to Prepare for a Difficult Conversation with Your Boss

To be successful in your life and career requires vulnerability and courage. Sometimes you'll put yourself out there and be rejected for a promotion or be looked over for that new project.

There are times in our careers when we need to have a difficult conversation with our supervisor and unless we're able to muster up the courage to confront the situation head-on we'll be unable to move forward.



Here, then, are four steps to prepare for a difficult conversation with your boss.

1. Understand exactly what you want and and what you hope to accomplish. Are you looking for a raise? Perhaps you think you were wrongly denied a promotion or an opportunity on a new project. Or maybe you feel stuck with little opportunity to move up or learn new skills. Whatever the situation is, be sure you're clear about what it is you want and what outcome you are looking for.

2. Acknowledge your feelings about the situation. It is okay to be angry, sad, disappointed, frustrated, discouraged, or any number of other feelings you might experience but in order to have an effective conversation with your manager you need to fully own and understand how you're feeling about the circumstances.

3. Write out your ideas and imagine the response of your boss. By writing down what you want to say it will help you better formulate your thoughts, and help you anticipate and prepare for your supervisor's reaction. Be sure to focus on your feelings and thoughts about the situation without blaming your boss and people him or her on the defensive, making it less likely they'll be receptive to you comments.

4. Practice the conversation with a friend or family member. Role-playing the discussion will provide you with confidence before you meet with your boss, along with an opportunity to gain valuable feedback from your role-playing partner.

Now you're ready to schedule that difficult conversation.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 10 Uncomfortable Deeds That Will Make You More Successful

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, learn how the act of stepping outside of your comfort zone contributes to your success and well-being.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: To Get Promoted, Get Feedback from Your Critics

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!

• To Get Promoted, Get Feedback from Your Critics: "Find adversaries who are critical, pinpoint specifics, and are nitpicky. But rather than having them point out your deficiencies, ask them to identify your strengths, and show them you’re committed to improving."

• 10 Things Job Seekers Are Tired of Hearing From Family and Friends: "To someone who isn't engaged in the daily slog of a job search, this question can sound innocent, but it can be exhausting to have to explain repeatedly that no, that job didn't come through."

• 5 Things Being a Marine Taught Me About Being an Entrepreneur: "Show up early. Do your homework. Take the extra time to do it right. These are things that are good advice no matter what your profession, but they are especially important when you are running a business."

• 5 Things Freelancers Do to Supercharge Their Careers: "Companies don’t always invest in sending employees to conferences, which is where they can network to advance in their field. (Many that do go are busy representing their company at the event and less focused on making connections to propel their own careers.)"
• 10 Job Skills Veterans are Great For: "LinkedIn analyzed the profiles of 1.1 million veterans in the workforce and found skills that they’re more likely to have compared with average LinkedIn users."

5 Steps to Improve Productivity and Build Success in Your Life and Career

Many of us struggle with productivity and focus in your jobs and careers. Here are five steps you can try to increase your productivity and find greater success in your job and in your life.

1. There's an app for that. Many routine tasks we need to do in our lives and at work can be made simpler and more effective by using technology to help us. Often we think of technology as enslaving us as we spend too much time on social media but look to find apps and sites like IFTTT to make your life easier.

2. Develop a routine. The discipline of following a routine, similar to an athlete in training, can help you be much more productive than when you let each day rule you with the tyranny of the immediate.

3. Focus on your health and wellness. You cannot underestimate the importance of daily meditation, exercise, healthy eating, and good and adequate sleep on your ability to be productive and successful. Incorporate these aspects of your life into a routine, as mentioned above, and you'll find yourself enjoying greater success.

4. Plan for success. Take time each day to plan out the key tasks and responsibilities you have for the following day. You're more productive when you plan your day out, allowing you to more easily accommodate and integrate surprises into your schedule as they come up.

5. Tackle the most difficult task first. One simple strategy that will pay significant dividends for your productivity is to take on your most pressing task immediately and work to complete it before moving on to something else. You'll find that knocking out a difficult or dreaded item on your to-do list first thing motivates you to get more day and take on some of those things you really enjoy with more energy.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 22 Qualities That Make a Great Leader

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, discover 22 characteristics of great leaders and be challenged by the wise words of leaders who strive to embody them.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: The 5 Best Questions to Ask in an Interview

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!

• The 5 Best Questions to Ask in an Interview: "Since a job interview is your chance to interview the company while they interview you, it's important to ask the hiring team questions that will help you decide if it's the right fit for you, too."

• How to Calm Your Nerves Before a Big Presentation: "Don’t take the basics for granted. Get a good night’s sleep, hydrate, and watch your caffeine intake before a big presentation so that your heart rate isn’t already elevated. Also, make sure that you’ve eaten a good meal and that you aren’t going in hungry."

• 7 Small Changes that Will Make a Big Difference in Your Life: "It is impossible to be confident and self-assured if your thoughts are filled with self-doubt and judgment. If you would never speak to others the way you internally speak to yourself, you can change."

• 5 Characteristics of Grit: "The definition of grit is courage and resolve or strength of character. It can also mean an indomitable and irrepressible spirit that doesn’t back down in the face of failure or obstacles."
• 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do: "They say that bravery is being scared to death to do something and doing it anyway. Many times, that’s true, even when it comes to your career."

4 Ways to Network Without Networking

You know you need to expand your professional network yet you can't stand traditional networking events. Perhaps you're an introvert and you find a formal networking event intimidating or you just feel like everything said is insincere.

Whatever your reasons for avoiding networking it doesn't change the fact that an effective network can be very important to your career success, especially when you find yourself looking for work.

So, what are your options? If you don't want to attend a networking event try the following four strategies instead:

1. Get social with professional bloggers. Whatever field you're in there is someone blogging about it. Find the influencers and the voices for your industry and follow their blogs. But don't just follow the blogs. Be sure to comment from time to time about specific elements in a post. You just might find yourself becoming friendly with the blogger and other readers, thereby expanding your network.

2. Attend TEDx events or similar conferences. Get recharged by hearing some great speakers. You'll likely leave more motivated and might have a card or two from the woman sitting next to you or the guy you spoke with during a coffee break.

3. Work in a busy coffee shop. If your company allows you to work remotely consider spending some regular time at a local coffee hot spot. As long as you can get work done it can also be a place to engage in casual conversations with others working there.

4. Join online groups through LinkedIn. Similarly to the first point above, by following and commenting on posts made by others you can become engaged with others with similar interests and in similar jobs.

Implement these four strategies and take your networking to a new level.