Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: How to Become Unbusy

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, Joshua Becker provides some tips for becoming less busy and reducing stress in our lives, starting with recognizing that being busy is a choice. Check out the video to learn more.

How to Prepare for Your Upcoming Business Conference

Getting the most out of your attendance at a business conference is not just good for your career but it also demonstrates good stewardship of your company’s commitment to you and the resources that make your attendance possible.

Here are five ways to prepare for your upcoming conference so you can get the most out of it:

Dress for success. Don’t hesitate to go shopping and add something new to your wardrobe for the conference. It’s important to feel confident and often looking your best can increase your confidence level and enable you to make those important connections.

Set up contacts in advance. You might not get a list of attendees in advance, but you’ll likely know some of the speakers or panelists who will be there. Identify a few people to get in touch with prior to the conference, letting them know you’ll be attending, and try to set up lunch or even a quick coffee. 

Be clear with yourself about what you are looking to gain from the meeting.

Plan your schedule. Don’t wait until you get to the conference to decide how you’ll use your time there. Even if you’re unable to get a detailed schedule you can get a general sense for the keynote presentations that you want to attend.

Pack your business cards. Be sure to have your business cards at the ready and up-to-date with your current job title and accurate contact information.

Get rest. Conferences can be very busy and overwhelming so prepare for this by getting enough rest in advance, and if possible, take a nap on the plane if you’re flying.

Use the time away to recharge your batteries and gain some new ideas for your company and career.

6 Tips For a Successful Business Trip

The good news is your business or the company you work for is doing well and now you’re needed to go to a conference or meet some clients across the country. The bad news is you might not be in charge of your travel logistics and, even if you are, there are always challenges.

Traveling for work can be a great experience but it can also be exhausting and stressful if you’re not careful.

Implement the following tips and, not only will your business trip be a success, but you’ll return home energized.

Stay hydrated. Be sure to drink a lot of water. This will help you stay energized and will also minimize the negative impacts of travel, such as jet lag or infrequent meals.

Get rest. It might be tempting to stay out late enjoying the nightlife in a new city but leave the karaoke for home. Ensuring that you get enough rest will enable you to be at your best in those meetings will clients or help you be more engaging as you network at a conference.

Enjoy the outdoors. Don’t get stuck in a conference hall or a convention center all weekend. It can be easy to avoid fresh air and day light when staying at the hotel hosting all your events. However, our bodies need the sun and it helps our emotional well-being, too, to spend time outside.

Limit the alcohol. Having a drink can help decrease your anxiety and make it easier for you to talk with strangers or new acquaintances, but it can be easy to overdue it. Not only will you feel lousy for the next days’ agenda, but you might discover you’ve said some things you regret.

Make friends. Be sociable and kind to those you encounter, from the taxi driver to the receptionist at the hotel, to the sales manager you have lunch with. These encounters will shape how you experience your trip and will go a long way toward determining the success of your trip and the impact it makes on your company. Kindness is good business.

Expect things to go wrong. Yes, things will go wrong. Prepare to be disappointed. Your flight might be delayed. The hotel shuttle might make you wait longer than you’d like, or you might even miss a meeting. Be prepared for this and don’t let it throw you off for the remainder of your trip. If you adopt a bad attitude it will impact some of the other issues we discussed, making you less interested in traveling again for work in the future.

5 Ways to Strengthen Your Career Over the Holidays

With the holidays fast approaching you are likely looking forward to some time off and some time away from the job. Use this time away wisely and you can do some simple things to strengthen your career and feel good about getting off to a great start in 2016.

Here are 5 ways to strengthen your career over the holidays:

1. Read a good book. It doesn't have to be a business book or a career-related book but there are many good ones out there. You might simply read a book that inspires you to think about the world or a particular problem in a different way. This can help you apply some creative thinking to your job.

2. Take time to dream. Think about your future and where you want to be and how to get there. Think about what motivates you and what your passions are. Connect your passions and these future dreams to a career path and set it in motion for next year.

3. Rest and recharge. Be sure to take some time to simply rest and relax and avoid thinking about the stresses of your job and career. Do fun things you enjoy.

4. Set goals. Take a few minutes to consider some goals for 2016. Don't spend all day on this but identify one to three goals that would propel your career and life forward in an exciting way.

5. Connect with people who inspire you. Meet up with an old friend over coffee or take that former colleague to lunch. Spend time with others who motivate you and inspire you to be your best.

And enjoy the holidays!