High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: How to Reach Your Most Ambitious Goals in 20 Minutes a 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!

• Reaching Your Most Ambitious Goals in 20 Minutes a Day: "This approach will require radical clarity. Trying to get something done in 20 minutes when you have a limp plan will be about as compelling as a limp handshake."

• 7 Lessons Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Elite Athletes: "You must be willing to invest time and energy into achieving each of those mini goals. You must be willing to go above and beyond to achieve each step of your plan."

• A Brainstorming Exercise to Come Up With Better Business Ideas: "Once all of your ideas are down on paper, begin working across the columns, and place a checkmark next to each idea that fits within the parameters."

• 4 Reasons Slowing Down Will Make You More Successful: "Slow down and make time for clarity. You can't see where you're going if you're too busy running with your head down."
• Finding Passion in Your Job:"leaders are more willing to invest more effort, time and energy into improving a competency they care about than one they don’t."

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: Things You Should Never Say in 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!

• 14 Things You Should Never Say in a Job Interview: "That is a clear signal that you may be using the company name to set yourself up for your next job somewhere else."

• 5 Decisions You Will Always Regret: "Some decisions have repercussions that can last a lifetime. Most of these decisions are made daily, and they require focus and perspective to keep them from haunting you."

• How to Accomplish Your Biggest Career Goals This Year: "The first step to making your career goal happen is to clearly define it and know why you want it."

• The Ugly Truth About Working from Home: "be sure you understand the implications. There are trade-offs to all jobs. Knowing the limitations can help you minimize the downsides."
• Exploring Absurd Ideas is Essential to Your Success:"Simply having a sense of humorous curiosity will unlock a continuous burst of stimulating concepts. Let them be outrageous at first, knowing that each is the potential seed of a future-shaping business idea."

4 Attitude Adjustments to Make About Your Job & Career

Did you find it difficult to get up this morning with enthusiasm for your job? If so, you’re not alone. Depending on what you read, most people are dissatisfied with their work situation.

If you are unhappy with your work, there are ways to make your job work for you until you move into a more satisfying position. But it will take some work and some changes to your attitude.

Make the effort to make some adjustments to how you view and approach your job and you can see your satisfaction levels increase.

View your job as an opportunity for growth. No matter what position you’re in the job provides opportunities for growth. You might have to look hard for these opportunities and the truth is, they might not be directly related to your job, but they exist. For example, if your current position does not seem to offer a way to move up or receive a promotion you can view this as a chance to develop patience. You might be an impatient person and this situation with your job allows you a chance to grow in this area of your life. Sure, it’s not why you took the job in the first place but don’t let that stop you from growing as a person.

View your job as an opportunity to serve. Wherever you work and whatever the nature of your job, your efforts impact others, regardless of whether you work as part of a team or are a lone freelancer. Someone else depends upon your efforts. You have an opportunity to serve those “customers” by making their work experience more pleasant and easier by doing excellent work with a view to support and serve others.

View your job as an opportunity to fulfill your purpose. As noted above, if most people feel dissatisfied at work, it’s likely they do not feel their job offers an opportunity to fulfill their purpose. To remedy this in your situation first requires you to become clear about your purpose. If you’ve done this work, then you are ready to think creatively about how your current job allows you to fulfill that purpose. You might find this to be a stretch, but you can likely come up with some basic ways your work supports the fulfillment of your purpose through your strengths and skills. 

View your job as a step to meeting your goals. You are not stuck, and this is not your final job (or resting place). There will be other opportunities that come along. View your current position as one step toward meeting your bigger goals and keep those goals clear, perhaps by writing them down and posting them on your desk in from of you. Take advantage of the opportunities that you have in your current position to develop the skills, learn the processes, gain the experience, and meet the people required to move to the next level in your career and meet your goals.

By adjusting your attitude to your job and career in these four ways, you can experience a greater sense of fulfillment, purpose, and energy at work.  

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: How to Become the Best Version of YOU

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 Modern Health Monk, Alex Heyne discusses how daily habits and goals help you attain the vision you have for your life. Take a look.

How to Decide Between Multiple Job Offers

You’ve sent out a million resumes, gone on a thousand job interviews, and all your hard work has paid off. You have a job offer.

But wait, there’s more!

You have multiple job offers. You’re in demand. That’s great news but it also complicates your life.

How do you know which job offer to accept?

Consider these factors to aid in making the best decision for your career.

Goals. What do you want to accomplish in your career? What skills do you need to get there? The clearer you are on the answer to those two questions, the clearer you can be about which job better matches your career goals. When you have multiple job offers you have the luxury of thinking beyond your short-term needs and consider the best long-term fit for you.

Location. You obviously want to factor in the location of the jobs and the distance you would need to travel. If you enjoy a long commute this might not be an issue, but if you prefer to spend more time at home or with your family, this might be a consideration, along with factoring in transportation costs.

Related to location is the question of travel. Will you need to travel for one job but not another? How often will you need to be away for work? You might love to travel and see this as a great opportunity or you might have small children at home and want to avoid frequent time away.

Work environment. Each work place has its own unique work environment or style. You need to determine the work environment of your potential employer and see if this fits with you. Do you like to dress casually but would need to wear a suit? Have you heard that your immediate supervisor likes to micromanage? Is the team or company welcoming of new employees? You’ll want to try to answer these questions and determine what situation works best for your work style, personality, and career plans.

Salary. You will most likely be concerned with how much money you make and, though it might not be the most important factor to you, it can make the decision easier if most other considerations are equal. However, don’t just think about the money you see in your paycheck. Pay attention to the benefits offered. Will you have a 401K? What are the details of your health plan? You also want to factor in continuous learning and ask if your new company provides you with a budget to attend training sessions.

Opportunity. This factor might be difficult to assess but it’s important to determine if there is a clear career path at a potential employer. You don’t want to accept a job that provides an immediate dead-end, with limited chance for promotion, and will require you to move elsewhere to advance in your career.

There are definitely other considerations to make when choosing a job, and some factors will have more personal importance than others, but these five can serve as a starting point to make a good decision on the job offer you accept.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: 7 Steps to Stay Motivated for the Long Haul

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!

• 7 Steps to Stay Motivated for the Long Haul: "For a resolution to stick, it must be aligned with your core values and hold deep personal meaning that you connect with on a deep emotional level."

• 5 Ways to Pursue the Job You Want: "Mentoring has many personal benefits, too. Learning to listen, to creatively approach problems or explanations, or to work with people who are different from you are all important leadership skills you’ll need in order to advance."

• 8 Steps to Stay Focused and Reach Your Goals: "Instead of trying to do a million things at once, take a step back and tackle one task at a time. And while your inclination might be to start your day with busy work ... get your brain moving by challenging yourself with with a bigger, more creative endeavor first thing."

• 7 Ways to Overcome Toxic Self-Criticism: "The best way to change the channel is by getting active. Find an activity that will temporarily distract you from the negative tapes playing in your head. Go for a walk, call a friend to talk about a different subject, or tackle a project you've been putting off. But refuse to listen to your brain beat you up."
• 15 Habits That Could Be Hurting Your Business Relationships: " It’s hard to convey your investment in a conversation if you’re glancing at your phone every 30 seconds. Always be sure to give people your undivided attention."

Five Career Goals to Set in 2018

With the new year approaching, now is a good time to reflect on the past year and set goals for your career that will propel you closer to doing the work you love.

Feel free to take the five goals below as yours or use them for inspiration to come up with your own.

Utilize company resources more effectively. The benefits your company provides are there for your … yes, benefit. Use them. Are you taking advantage of the 401k plan or health savings account offered? If not, do so. Use all your vacation time next year. If your company allows you to work at home occasionally, try it out. Do you have a training allowance? Sign up for a course right now. Why spend money at the coffee shop on the way to work when your company provides free coffee in the lounge? Perhaps your company arranges carpooling opportunities for employees? Consider how your companies benefits and resources can enhance your work life next year.

Create a personal advisory board. Instead of looking for a single mentor develop a strategic group of advisers to meet with periodically to gain feedback from on your career and its direction. This group can be comprised of mentors, former bosses and college instructors, along with successful entrepreneurs and individuals in related fields. Meet with your advisers at least quarterly and plan to do so in person. They can help you identify areas to improve your career and introduce you to important people in their networks.

Take a class to learn a new skill. The world is changing quickly and its important to stay up on the latest trends and knowledge in your field. If your company offers regular training sessions for its employees be sure to take advantage of that, or sign up for a relevant online course or class at a local university or community college.

Attend the annual conference of an association in your area of work. Nearly every job or career path has a membership association for individuals in that field and these associations often present an annual conference. Attend this year. Conferences provide excellent opportunities to gain a new skill, increase knowledge about your area of work, meet new people and extend your network, and often provide a renewed sense of purpose and enthusiasm for attendees.

Make time for something you love. Be sure you have time in your life and schedule for that hobby or side project you love: woodworking, photography, writing, or scrap-booking? Who knows … next year might be the year to turn your passion project into a side hustle and make some additional money with it.

Take a few moments in the next week to reflect on the past year and set your course for the new year ahead by setting three to five goals.

Evaluating Your Career Goals Mid-Year

It's June and that's a good time to evaluate progress on your career goals and perhaps reset your priorities if necessary.

Here are a few things to consider:

1. Evaluate career goals. What goals, if any, did you set for the year? How are you doing? You might realize that a goal or two you set no longer fits your current situation and it's time to revise. Or perhaps you've accomplished several goals already. If so, celebrate!

2. Update resume and LinkedIn profile. Take a few minutes to update your resume and LinkedIn

profile now with any important accomplishments or skills gained during the first half of the year. This will make updating your resume and profile easier next year.

3. Evaluate skills. In light of your current responsibilities and career goals take some time to assess your current skills to determine where you might want to focus your attention. Then you can sign up for a training session or online course over the second half of the year to develop these skills.

4. Evaluate your relationships. How engaged are you with your networks? Have you been staying in touch with your friends and key business contacts? If not, make plans to reconnect before the year passes you by.

By taking a few minutes to evaluate your goals now you ensure that you progress steadily throughout the year rather than getting off track.

Gauge your excitement to accomplish goals: last in a series

S.M.A.R.T. goals are bound to fail unless they are created from a positive, resonant place (as I covered in my first post) and options are created from that place (as noted in my second post). Now that you have brainstormed a list of options, you can move on to the final component of making your S.M.A.R.T. goals truly work...

Step three - gauge your excitement around your options

When you explored your options in step two, anything was on the table: you had license to brainstorm the most wild, vibrant options available to you. You didn't judge what you wrote and you didn't hold back. But it's natural that - even from the resonant options you created - there are some options that would work better than others. This is where the "1 to 10" scale comes in.

Pick three options from your list that meet the following criteria:

• One that would elicit a "quick win" (to build momentum)
• One that would elicit a "wow, I can't believe I did that!" (for a greater thrill)
• One that would elicit a "ugh, it's doable...but it's going to be tough" (to celebrate your resilience)

Once you have your three, gauge each of them on a scale between 1 and 10, with 1 being "there is no possible way I would ever do this" and 10 being "there is no possible way I will not do this."

If you are at a 8 or below for any of options, reconsider it. Adjust it in some way, or pick a new one. When you are an 8 or higher, that's a strong indication that you will follow through. 

Now that you have your three options that are an 8 or above, build in to each one:

1. When you will do it by?
2. How will we know it is done?

You can set up an accountability with a friend, post something on your Facebook profile, whatever. But set the accountability!

The S.M.A.R.T. framework is a valuable framework with which to frame your goals, but creating them with resonance and excitement will make your goals all the more likely to be accomplished.

Assignment: walk through Step Three above and, in the comments section, create an accountability for all the Daily Leap readers to see!

Exploring options to accomplish goals; second in a series

When it comes to formulating goals, the S.M.A.R.T method is a succinct and logical way of creating them. But as I covered in my last post, there's more to a goal than making it S.M.A.R.T: there has to be positive, resonant energy around it. 

Again, creating a S.M.A.R.T. goal around eating a food you hate will not make you more likely to eat it. So before you create your S.M.A.R.T. goal, you need to do some energy work around it, which is why I recommend to clients that they spend time visualizing that ideal future state. Describe it in detail: who and what is around you? How does your body feel? Is it sunny? What's the temperature like? 

Once you spend some important time feeling it, it's time to get to the nitty-gritty of the goal: the details. 

Step two - explore options

There is more than one way to skin a cat, and there is more than one way to accomplish a goal. However, when we approach goal setting we tend to be limited by our Rules (yes, capital 'R') which I define as our mental models on how we think things ought to be.

I can only apply for a new job if I have a perfect resume is a rule.

My network is not big enough is a rule.

I am not smart enough to go back to school is another rule.

However, after spending time in a resonant place (step one) your rules melt away. You are now in a place to truly explore possibilities. 

So do it, and do it boldly.

What are the different ways you can go about accomplishing this objective? What actions and possibilities are available to you? Brainstorm them and write them down. There is only two rules for this endeavor: no judging the possibilities and no holding back.

Once the possibilities are out there - generated from a place of resonance - it's on to the third step...

Assignment: get back into your resonant place and feel it. From there - and only from there - start brainstorming options to accomplish the objective you want to overcome. Enroll a friend if that would help you be more productive.

Why your SMART goals fail (and what to do about it); one in a series

The act of setting goals is an important, well-researched practice to achieve personal and professional success. The experts say if you want to make something happen in your life, set a goal around it, particularly a S.M.A.R.T. goal. 

So why is it that you still fail to accomplish a goal, even after you have set one? Because no matter how specific and measurable you make your goal and despite how realistically achievable, rooted in reality and timely it is, there is still a high likelihood that you will fail to live up to the expectation you set for yourself.

We often fail to achieve our goals because we are setting goals that we are not that in to. We may think that we want to take some classes or advance in our current jobs or take a leap toward a new career. We may even set concrete goals around these notions. But if there is no resonance, no excitement around them, we will fail. Every time.

Think of a food you hate: what goal could you set to make you like that food? Or think of a household task you despise: what goal would motivate you to do it? Do you now see why it's so difficult to write you resume, go to a networking event, create a business plan, or conduct an informational interview?

Goals are only part of the answer; resonance is the other part. In this series, we'll explore way to build and work with this resonance.

Step one - visualize the future state:

Think about your goal, and then life a month after you have accomplished it. 

For example, if you were to leave your job for one that is more appealing to you, what would your world be like? How excited would you feel? What would be available to you that isn't available to you right now? 

By spending time in this "place" you are visualizing you future, a powerful way of creating resonance and making goals stick. When you visualize, you cultivate a positive, prosperous point-of-view. You dwell in the outcome of your goal and the magnificent change you have created for yourself. When you visualize, the goal not only seem possible but you can't wait to accomplish it. 

Get the image in your head and spend time in it. Hear the sounds, smell the smells...feel it.

Assignment: write you goal on a piece of paper. Then, look at it, close your eyes, and imagine what it would be like to accomplish it. Explore the positive changes to your being: the way you behave, the depth of your relationships, the way you spend your time, how you are "being" while you are doing. What does it feel like to you now? Comment on this below.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup

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

© Bellemedia | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

• Improve Your Networking Skills  -- Right Now: "Try to listen more than you talk, be thoughtful in your interactions and generous with your time when you can."


• How to Have a Year that Matters: "Rugged individualism is nice in theory, but the truth is: if you're going to make a difference, you're probably not going to make it happen all by your lonesome. So who are your mentors and allies, friends and peers? Who's at your back, manning your sails, crewing your boat?"


• How to Be a Career Prepper: "Begin seeking opportunities to meet people who work outside your company and build mutually beneficial long-term relationships. Also begin creating a personal reputation of excellence, on- and off-line."


• 4 Ways to Figure Out Your Future: "For one week, invest an hour every day to research. Check out top job lists, browse career exploration sites, or just read your favorite section of the newspaper. Your goal? Write down any career that catches your attention. This exercise can stretch your vision of what opportunities actually exist."


• Why You're Not a Leader: "True leadership isn’t found seeking the spotlight, but seeking to shine the spotlight on others. The best leaders only use 'I' when accepting responsibility for failures. Likewise, they are quick to use 'we' when referring to successes." 

Create a Vision for 2013, not Goals

It's almost universal that the beginning of a new year is a time for establishing a new direction for ourselves, particularly our careers. Like many people, you have probably spent time pondering what you would like to do differently in your professional life in 2013. Perhaps you have thought about or have started creating goals for yourself. If you have done this or in the process of doing this, I have one thing to say to you...

Stop. Immediately.

Don't get me wrong: goals are important. But they are only one part of the success equation. In fact, they are merely the manifestation of something bigger and more compelling for you and your career:

A vision.

Visions are powerful and are the drivers of goals. Before you set the goal to lose 30 pounds or write that novel, feelings manifest around what it would be like to accomplish those goals. There's an underlying state or result that you are trying to accomplish and you use goals as a means to do so. But to make your goals powerful and more likely to be accomplished, it's essential that you have a strong vision that taps into those feelings.

How do you create a strong vision? Answer this question: what would be different for your career in 2013 that would make you feel powerful, accomplished, and terrific about yourself?

From there, continue with these questions (and don't just answer them: feel them. Experience them.):

What about this "different thing" would make you feel powerful and accomplished?

Imagine that it's the end of 2013 and you've created that which you want to be different: what would that be like?

When you think about the previous question, where do you feel it in your body? What "glows?"

Who would you become by this happening (not in the physical sense, but the spiritual one)?

What is a metaphor for this vision that you can tap in to when needed?

What is a visual (an object, a picture, etc.) that you can keep close by you to remind you of this vision?

Spend your time to create powerful, clear visions for your 2013, and create your goals from those visions. And spend time - every day - revisiting those visions to help strengthen your commitment to your goals.

How are you envisioning your 2013? Share in the comment section below.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup

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

© Bellemedia | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

• 5 Career Goals You Can Live With: "Get clear on your performance expectations.  Sit down with your boss to fully discuss their expectations of you for this year.  Ensure you ask how you will be measured."


• The Future of You: "Welcome to a new era of work, where your future depends on being a signal in the noisy universe of human capital. In order to achieve this, you will need to master three things: self-branding, entrepreneurship, and hyperconnectivity."


• How to Turn 3 Career Resolutions into Reality: "Making resolutions is easy; putting them into action can prove to be more challenging. If you're ready to take action, read on for some helpful hints to achieve those career goals you've set for 2013."


• 8 Reasons Why You Never Hear Back After Applying for a Job: "Your online brand stinks. With many companies using social profiles to research candidates, you can’t afford to leave your online presence unattended. Run a Google search of your name to ensure all results are favorable, and tailor your public profiles to reflect your career goals."


• New Year's Resolutions for Your Career: "Has someone made your life at work easier, connected you with a helpful contact, or simply been a pleasant person to interact with this year? Tell them—and vow to keep thanking people into the new year."