5 Career Benefits from Journaling

A daily practice of journaling is one habit you might consider adding to your life to see some immediate improvements to your career and work life.

Simply setting aside as little as ten minutes each day to write can help bring a focus and clarity to your life and provide several unexpected dividends.

Here are five ways journaling can benefit your career and enhance your life.

Journaling allows you to process your thoughts and feelings. Writing provides an organized way for you to gain some understanding of the events of the day, and the emotions that accompany them. This can aid you in working through situations or circumstances that contribute to difficult emotions--such as fear, anger, or sadness--and can help provide an honest look at factors contributing to success or failure.

Journaling helps you set your focus for the next day. When you take a few minutes at the end of the day to write you can spend some of that time setting your priorities, listing a few of your major tasks for the next day, and enabling you to be more focused and prepared when you awake the following morning.

Journaling helps you recognize your successes and accomplishments. When you commit to a daily practice of writing you have a record of your accomplishments and can look back over time to acknowledge your successes and appreciate your achievements.  

Journaling can be a way to recognize the good in your life. Life is busy and many times we rush through life without taking account of the good we experience and the things we can be grateful for. Journaling is a great opportunity to take stock of the good you encounter daily, and enables you to read again regularly as a reminder.

Journaling helps you retain what you’ve learned. When you take the time to write down some insight or knowledge you’ve gained during the day, you are better able to recall it and apply that knowledge later.

   

You don’t have to be a prolific writer to benefit from journaling. Try spending ten to fifteen minutes a day writing and you’ll likely soon recognize some of the advantages to your life and career noted above.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: The No. 1 Characteristic of Extraordinary Leaders

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 Inc., Marco Zappacosta discusses the most important characteristic of extraordinary leaders.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 8 Ways to Overcome the Fears Blocking Your Success

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 Ways to Overcome the Fears Blocking Your Success: "Build a dream that gives you a reason to stretch outside of your comfort zone and push pass resistance."

• Career Advice from LinkedIn Co-Founder Allen Blue: "I recommend people help the people in their networks freely and without expectation of return, mainly because it’s so rewarding."

• 3 Tips for Starting and Running a Business With Your Spouse: "Try to keep workloads equal and focus on each other's strengths and weaknesses. Determining what you and your spouse excel at can be difficult, but it's crucial."

• 5 Ways I Became More Productive Without TV: "Whether it’s out of boredom or from having more free time, I’ve begun organizing and planning ahead. On Sundays, I’ll draw the blueprints for my week."
• 4 Qualities That Can Help New Grads Stand Out: "you should also emphasize any projects and ideas that you’ve thought up, launched, or scaled."

5 Advantages (and Disadvantages) to Working from Home

Many companies are wising up to the advantages of offering their employees opportunities for alternative working arrangements and so many workers are taking advantage of this and working from home on a regular basis.

This type of arrangement has many advantages for employees but those advantages can also come with problems to watch out for.

No commute. One of the initial benefits to working from home is the elimination of a morning drive to work. This can save you time, money, and the stress of dealing with road construction and other drivers. Reducing the number of cars on the road is also good for the earth.

A drawback to eliminating your commute is that you might be one of those who enjoys using the commute to prepare for the work day, or unwind following a stressful day; maybe you like to listen to sports radio or a podcast. Of course, you can now do those from the comfort of your home.

Set your own schedule. Maybe you’re not a morning person and you could benefit from some extra sleep; or maybe you’re at your best at 7:00 am. Working from home allows you to work a flexible schedule and work at times when you are at your peak energy levels and have time to focus.

However, your employer might require you to be available at specific times during the day so you might not get as much flexibility here as you might like.

Avoid noisy or distracting colleagues. Working from home eliminates the distractions that come from talkative colleagues or impromptu meetings that come up and distract you from the task at hand.

But working from home is lonely. The only voice you’ll hear is the one in your head and you can’t easily consult with a coworker on a quick question that comes up.

No one is looking over your shoulder. When you’re at home you don’t have to worry about that micromanaging boss keeping close tabs on you. You might feel more relaxed and enjoy your work day a little more.

But you might also struggle with focus, knowing that you can more easily get away with slacking off a little.

Take a nap or longer break if needed. When you’re at home you might be able enjoy a power nap in the comfort of your own home or enjoy a walk around the house when you need a break.

However, you might find the softness of your pillow a temptation to nap too long or find yourself distracted by the TV in the corner.

Working from home is great and provides many benefits but it also provides opportunities to avoid work, too, so you’ll only want to try this arrangement if you have the discipline necessary to stay self-motivated and focused.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: How to Make a Fortune With $100

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 seven entrepreneurs offers a suggestions for how to turn $100 into a fortune. Check out their suggestions and see if one inspires you.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Never Say These Things During a Job 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!

• Never Say These 11 Things During a Job Interview: "Don’t try to beat around the bush. Ask specific questions about company culture and team morale, and be direct."

• 7 Simple Habits to Make You a Remarkably Likable Boss: "If you maintain a positive attitude, however, you'll help your own employees realize a new world of perspectives--ones that will be much more productive than chronic pessimism."

• 30 Little Acts of Necessary Self-Care: "Being kind to yourself is one of those things that sounds easy in conversation but difficult in practice."

• 3 Ways to Practice True Leadership: "True leaders are the pinnacle of what they expect from the people around them. And by setting an example, true leaders encourage their people to aim for that."
• The No. 1 Reason Employers Want Older Workers: "Skills retention. It's something that many companies are now looking at with renewed vigor."

Financial Steps to Take if You Plan to Quit Your Job

If you’re planning to leave your current job, either to take a new job or to step out as an entrepreneur, you’ll want to assess your financial situation.

Consider taking the following steps to ensure you’re in a good financial place to make the move.

Create a budget. Some studies have shown that about two-thirds of us do not have a budget. This is an important first step to determine your income needs and to aid in salary negotiation with your next job. You’ll want to know how much money you need to make so you can pay your bills. In addition, creating a budget will help you determine anything you’re wasting your money on and ways you can decrease your spending so you can take the following step.

Save. You’ll feel much more confident with your next step if you’ve built up a nest egg of savings. If you have enough in your savings to pay your expenses for at least six months you should be fine, depending on your next plans. If you don’t have much in savings right now be proactive and look at your expenses. What can you get rid of? Maybe you can go without cable service for a few months, or perhaps pack your lunch rather than eating out every day. You can likely find some creative ways to reduce your expenses.

Live simpler, cut back, and sell. To continue with the point above, make eBay or craigslist your friend. This is a great time to inventory the things in your home and determine what you can sell to bring in a few extra dollars. This might be some CDs or DVDs gathering dust, or perhaps that old laptop you no longer use. Take a look around and see what can be converted into some cash for your savings.

Evaluate 401k options. If you have a 401k with your current employer speak with a financial planner about the implications and options related to leaving your money with your old company’s plan or moving it to an IRA.

In addition to the steps above you might consider speaking to a financial adviser in order to develop a specific financial plan that fits your situation.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: 5 Morning Success Hacks from Millionaires

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 millionaires set up their morning routine for success in life, career, and business.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 10 Unmistakable Signs You've Stayed at Your Job Too Long

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 Unmistakable Signs You've Stayed at Your Job Too Long: "People in your workplace have put you into a box because they think they know everything about you."

• 3 Ways to Build Trust With Your Body Language: "Make good “web-to-web contact” and hold the other person’s hand firmly but not bone crushingly. Don’t stuff your other hand in a pocket."

• 8 Ways to Build a Life You Love: "We must crave what is new and unexplored, and fearlessly pursue those areas. We must be willing to risk."

• Need a Job? Apple and Disney Are Looking for People Who Want to Work From Home: "It will be interesting to see how the work-from-home trend continues in the coming years. But it appears both Apple and Disney have had a major realization."
• What Hiring Managers Really Mean When They Say "You're Overqualified": "Show a little of your true self, make a genuine connection with a reader, and fixing you with labels like 'overqualified' will become much harder to do."

5 Tips to Communicate Effectively By Email

If you’re like many of us your email inbox is overloaded with messages you’ve been planning to respond to for days (or maybe weeks?) and sometimes it feels like our lives are run by email or text.

There are definitely some benefits to email (its speed and the ability to communicate with a group, for example) but unless we understand how to email effectively we’re just contributing to an overload of unnecessary communication crowding our inbox.

Here are several tips for communicating more effectively by email.

Write a clear subject line. Ensure that the person you’re communicating with can understand the purpose of your message by looking at the email subject line. It also helps you to organize and archive your emails more effectively. Instead of using “hey” as your subject consider something more specific like “Question about Project XYZ” or “Status of budget on Project ABC”.

To avoid miscommunication write in complete sentences. It’s difficult enough to communicate clearly and effectively in complete sentences but it’s made even more difficult when we write in half sentences with questionable grammar, or utilize slang or emojis. Keep your communication clear and brief and not only will you communicate more effectively with your colleagues, but you’ll likely also have a leaner inbox.  

Only include those who need to see the email. Too often we resort to cc:ing too many people in emails, resulting in frustration for those who don’t really need to see a string of fifty messages on a subject they have no direct involvement with. Limit your emails to those who need to know.

Tag important emails when needed. If your email is important use a tag to indicate its high priority and in your message be sure to let the reader know of the significance of your request or information. Another option is to make a note in the subject line that you require a response. Your subject line might read: “Status update needed for Project XYZ; response needed within 24 hours”.

Handle more complicated discussions in person or by phone. Of course, when necessary and possible, stop by your colleague’s desk or give them a call. It can be frustrating to get an email asking a simple question from the colleague sitting in the cubicle next to you. For more detailed discussions email is not effective. Set up a face-to-face meeting or a conference call, and then follow-up with the key points in an email to ensure clarity on key points.

Finally, take initiative and only email when necessary. In some situations you simply need to act and sometimes we email others out of uncertainty about our level of authority or knowledge on a project. Limit your emails and learn to communicate more clearly and effectively and you’ll make your work life more efficient, while also improving your work environment for your colleagues.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: How to Be Persuasive

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 Ben Angel offers a simple technique you can use immediately to become more persuasive. Check it out:

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 3 secrets of Every Successful Job Search or Career Change

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 secrets of Every Successful Job Search or Career Change: "These tools are must-haves for every job seeker if they are searching for a job with an employer as opposed to striking out on their own."

• Develop This One Habit to Reduce Stress and Lead a More Fulfilling Life: "In today's world especially, gratitude is the ally you need to succeed in your business and for your personal health."

• 5 Habits of Successful People: "your daily habits help determine how you run your life. Ask yourself a couple of questions: a) what does success mean to me? and b) is there anything in my daily routine that I need to change that will help me become more successful?"

• 5 Practices of Exemplary Leadership: "Exemplary leaders know that if they want to gain commitment and achieve the highest standards, they must be models of the behavior they expect of others."
• 5 Ways to Elevate Your Social Media Game for Recruiters: "The majority of recruiters are now using platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to find out what resumes, cover letters and interviews can't tell them about a candidate ."

Six Ways to Be a Great Coworker

To be successful in your career you need to learn to work well with others, similarly to when report cards noted when an elementary school student could play well with others.

It is unlikely that your career will lead you occupy a solitary position that doesn’t require you to work closely in collaboration with other people. Your ability to be a good colleague and coworker can significantly benefit your career and help you enjoy your job.

Here are six ways to rock the workplace as a great colleague.

Share the credit. Your success is not your own and is made possible by the support of others working with you. Be sure to recognize and acknowledge the others that help you successfully complete your tasks and projects. 

Be supportive and help out. In turn, offer your assistance to your colleagues and volunteer to help out with other projects when possible. Stay alert to co-workers who might be struggling with a particular task or project and step in to support them.

   

Let your guard down and be social. Some people try to keep their professional and personal lives separate but it’s important to be authentically you in the office. It’s difficult to develop meaningful relationships with colleagues without sharing some details about your personal life and finding some things to bond over. Develop these relationships by socializing with your colleagues at lunch, for dinner and drinks after work, and at the company-wide holiday party.

Smile and be kind. Your generous smile and greeting to a passing coworker can help ease a stressful day and brighten the office for others. Showing kindness to your colleagues is a simple way to build rapport and contribute to a positive work environment.

Offer what you know. You don’t need to have a formal mentoring relationship with someone to provide them with some training and offer guidance. You don’t want to come across as a know-it-all but be willing to share your skills and knowledge with others who could benefit from it.

Communicate effectively. It’s impossible to overestimate the importance of learning how to effectively communicate with you colleagues, customers, and supervisors. Developing positive ways of communicating with others will enable success in many other areas of your career.

Implement these practices and you’ll develop a reputation around the workplace as someone others look forward to working with.