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Your #Career : Friends With Benefits: Befriend Your Co-Workers to Make More Money…The Easiest Ways to Make your Way to the Top, Or at Least make More Money, is to Know the Right People — so, Making Nice with your Professional Colleagues Can Be Very Important.

May 23, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Wondering how to make more money? You can gun for a management position with your company, or even work on some of those intangible skills that could lead to a raise or promotion. The truth is, there is a multitude of ways to improve your productivity and job performance in order to work your way up the ladder. But one of the easiest ways to make your way to the top, or at least make more money, is to know the right people — so, making nice with your professional colleagues can be very important.

It may be more important than you realize. Many people despise their co-workers (often justifiably), but new evidence shows the friendlier we are with our work mates, the more productive and efficient we become at our jobs. So, if you’re looking to make more money by getting a promotion or raise, working on those relationships may be the key.

While it may be intuitive to think the friendlier you are with your co-workers, the less work you’ll get done — you’ll end up spending time gossiping and goofing around, after all — new research seems to suggest otherwise. “Multiplex relationships,” a study published in the journal Personnel Psychology says, can actually make us more productive and increase our job performance.

“In a study of insurance company employees, we found that the number of multiplex workplace friendships in one’s social network is positively associated with supervisor ratings of job performance,” the study says. As for what, exactly, a “multiplex relationship” means, the researchers define them as “multifaceted relationships that superimpose friendship with work-focused interactions.”

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So, while the research did show that these relationships can lead to positive outcomes in terms of performance and ratings, there were a couple of caveats to note. “However, we also found that there is a negative indirect effect on job performance through emotional exhaustion, which is offset, in part, through enhanced positive affect.” Also, while looking at workers in the restaurant industry, the researchers found there was some lost productivity in that these relationships required effort to maintain — that is, we have to engage our friends at work, detracting from our professional duties.

The researchers call these multiplex relationships a “mixed blessing,” but the positive implications here are pretty clear: The better we get along with our co-workers and colleagues, the more we’re going to benefit in positive feedback and ratings. There’s also a “greasing of the wheels” sort of effect at play — where we have a better idea of how to read and anticipate our co-workers’ thoughts or actions, and can increase or productivity through that anticipation.

Making more money

So, how can this research and the knowledge generated from it actually serve you? As mentioned, if you can manage to really kindle some strong relationships with your colleagues, then it should pay off in a number of ways. You’ll have more people looking out for you (as opposed to those looking to potentially sabotage you), and you should be able to get more work done. Employers want to see more getting done and increased productivity, and when they do, it’s typically grounds for a raise or promotion.

It’s also never really a bad thing to be on good terms with your superiors in management. After all, they’re the ones who will ultimately make the call during a salary renegotiation, or when promoting someone.

But you also need to make the effort to keep track of what you’ve been doing, and make sure that your relationships with co-workers are symbiotic and reciprocal. If your co-workers are going to be helping you out, you need to be there for them as well. If you can work together, you’ll all be better off in the end. And make sure you’re keeping a tally of your accomplishments, or making note of how your work performance has improved. You can use it when asking for a raise or promotion, and if all else fails, show it to other prospective employers.

It all comes back to building strong relationships, though. You may get annoyed with your colleagues, but being on good terms with them can make a huge difference when push comes to shove. And if you are serious about making more money, strong relationships could be the key.

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CheatSheet.com | May 23, 2016 | Sam Becker

Your #Career : These are the Worst Mistakes we Have seen Young People Make in Job Interviews…You Have One Shot to Demonstrate your Knowledge & Skills — So Make Sure you Get the Details Right, the First Time.

May 19, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

At Business Insider, we have interviewed hundreds of job applicants. We are usually impressed with the calibre of candidates. Most people we meet seem smart and accomplished, and applicants “get” our all-digital, fast-paced, antiboring way of handling business news.

But … young people are human, too. They make mistakes. And the following mistakes have cost them the jobs their CVs and résumés otherwise said they were good for …

23. Showing up 20 minutes early.

REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton

It may seem like a good idea to show up early, but it puts pressure on the interviewer to meet with you. A time was set for a reason. You should never be late, but five minutes is enough for showing up in advance.

Tip: Find a nearby coffee spot and hang out there until your interview time.

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22. Being too general.

REUTERS/Gary Cameron

You have one shot to demonstrate your knowledge and skills — so be as specific as you can when answering questions. Don’t answer questions with “yes” or “no.” The interviewer shouldn’t have to feel as if he or she is carrying the conversation.

Tip: Review the projects you’re most proud of before heading into an interview. It’s easy to forget the details even if it’s your own work.

21. Not bringing a printed CV to your interview.

David Goldman / AP/Press Association Images

Bring a printed copy of your CV even if you previously emailed a copy. It shows that you’re organised and prepared, and it’s less work for the interviewer.

Tip: Bring several copies in case you are being interviewed by more than one person.

20. Typos in your cover letter, CV, or résumé.

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Your command of written English — spelling, grammar, and punctuation — is a shorthand test of your intelligence, or at least of your ability to memorize the rules of the language. Typos make you look unintelligent, even though smart people make mistakes all the time.

Tip: Get someone else to edit your letter and CV before you send them.

19. Having bad breath.

DaveOratox/Flickr

Everyone suffers from dry mouth at the office.

Tip: Chew a piece of gum and then remove it five minutes before the interview.

18. Not telling a good story about your life.

20th Century Fox

Who are you, what are you good at, and what do you want to do with your life? We want a quick, clear history of your life and career so far. At Business Insider, storytelling is literally what we do, but at any company, communication is key. If you cannot communicate who you are quickly, you’re not getting the job.

Tip: Write it down beforehand and rehearse with a friend.

7. Being overly sarcastic or negative.

Business Insider / Matt Johnston

We do not expect you to be a cheerleader. But if we hire you, we’re going to be spending a lot of time together, so we don’t want you killing the buzz.

Tip: Just be nice. Smile.

16. Being arrogant.

Lara Cores / Flickr, CC

Sure, we’re interested in hiring you. But that doesn’t mean you’re a rock star, and our company won’t collapse without you.

Tip: Just because you got the interview doesn’t mean you got the job. You still have to sell us.

15. Not knowing anything about the field you’re interviewing for.

racetraitor

If you’re interviewing for a job that requires you to stay abreast of the technology industry, obviously we’re going to ask you what you think is so interesting about tech. So if your answer is “Er … ,” then we’re going to be less than impressed.

Tip: Prepare! Literally write some speaking points on a notepad before you arrive at the interview. It will help you in case you freeze.

14. Sending email attachments.

REUTERS/Frederick Murphy/CDC/Handout

We hate downloading email attachments because of the malware risk they pose. If you use only text and links in your application email, we can see your stuff on our phones as well as on our laptops.

Tip: Your CV or résumé is best displayed as a LinkedIn URL. Examples of your work are most easily seen if they come as links within the email.

13. Wearing a Ramones T-shirt to a job interview.

conejoazul / Flickr, CC

We get it. You’re young and cool. And we love the Ramones, too.

Tip: Make us feel as if you’re a safe bet by wearing a shirt and tie (men) or go conservative but stylish (women). One candidate impressed us by wearing a shirt and tie to a Google Hangout video interview.

12. Letting your cat escape out of a window during a live video chat.

Peter Hellberg / Flickr

We often use Skype and Google Hangout. A video interview may feel casual, but you need to prepare: In the background, we can see the dishes piled in your sink or the laundry hanging off your bedroom door.

One candidate interrupted her conversation with us when her cat jumped out of an open window. We hired this person anyway.

Tip: Take a screengrab of what your laptop can see so you can tidy your room before the interview starts.

11. Trying to negotiate your salary in the first meeting.

Flickr, CC / quaziefoto

We get that you’re trying to make sure you aren’t wasting anyone’s time. But asking salary questions early marks you as a rookie.

Tip: Remember that this is a process. The further you get through the process, the more it shows we want to hire you, and the stronger your negotiating position eventually becomes.

10. Using a photo of your dog or kids — or a bad picture of yourself — on your Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ accounts.

Flickr/Jason Vasquez

If you’re using those personal email accounts to apply for jobs, then we also see Mr.Snuffleupagus when you send us your CV/résumé.

Tip: Send test messages to a friend who will let you see how all your email/social accounts appear to others, and sanitize accordingly.

9. Forgetting to follow up via email.

Nate Grigg/Flickr

When we reject a good candidate, it’s usually because we never received an email follow-up. We want to recruit people who really want to work here, and a simple thank-you note ticks a big box for us.

Tip: This needn’t be a big production. Just a single sentence offering to answer any further questions is all it takes.

8. Putting career “objectives” at the top of your résumé.

Skye Gould/Business Insider

Young candidates pad their CVs with fluffy, clichéd career-goal statements.

Do not do this!

Tip: We want to see only a simple list of your education and work experiences, and maybe a list of other useful skills at the bottom.

7. Trying to impress us with your off-the-wall creativity.

Wikimedia Commons

We’re looking for people who seem reliable and trustworthy. We’re not looking for weirdos who want to blow our minds. One job application began, “I am a chameleon …” It went downhill from there.

Tip: We want to be able to trust you. So behave and communicate in a way that feels reliable and trustworthy.

6. Sending us a video résumé.

Virgin

We need résumés to be sent easily by email to other HR staff, and we may want to print them out so we can compare candidates side by side. Off-format CVs are useless for this.

Tip: Your best bet? LinkedIn.

5. Failing to provide a link to your LinkedIn profile.

We can’t emphasize this enough: When you have to compare hundreds of CVs, LinkedIn is really useful because it makes all candidates’ résumés look the same — and that makes it easier for us to figure out who is relevant and who isn’t.

Tip: A LinkedIn URL in an email is a lot easier for us to deal with than a Word or PDF attachment.

4. Eating a sandwich during our meeting.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

If you’re discussing a potential job with an employer over “coffee,” don’t break out one of Starbucks’ “Sure As Eggs Is Eggs” sandwiches. It’s distracting.

Tip: Drink coffee, tea, water or nothing if offered.

3. Being “low-energy.”

REUTERS

Demonstrating the correct level of “energy” during a job interview is a tough call. You want to demonstrate that you’re a low-drama person — but not a monosyllabic introvert. You’re happy to be here, but we don’t want you bouncing off the walls like a crazy person.

Tip: If we can see you’re excited at the idea of working for us, we’re more likely to get excited about the idea of giving you a job.

2. Men forgetting to shave.

flickr user Ben Smith

Beards and mustaches are fashionable on men right now, and many guys brought them along on their job interviews. But what looks good at a 19th-century bare-knuckle boxing match is sometimes not so great when you’re up close and personal with a prospective employer.

Tip: If you’re rocking facial hair, make sure it is impeccably groomed.

1. Making your CV three pages long when you have no experience.

Wikimedia Commons

Don’t worry about your CV not looking full enough — that’s OK. We don’t have a lot of time to figure out what your job history is.

Tip: Less is more with résumés — we skim them for only about 30 seconds, an

Businessinsider.com | May 17, 2016 | Jim Edwards

Your #Career : Millennials, This Is Why You Haven’t Been Promoted…Maybe we’re Entitled & Delusional. But, If you’re Ambitious but Stuck on Level 1, Below are 6 Possible Reasons. (Warning, Tough Love ahead.)

May 13, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

According to a recent millennial leadership survey from The Hartford, 80% of millennials see themselves as leaders today. Yet only 12% of Gen Y held management roles in 2013; and less than a third of The Hartford’s sample reported that they’re currently business leaders.

Maybe we’re entitled and delusional. Or maybe, explained millennial expert and author of Becoming the Boss, Lindsey Pollak, we have a progressive understanding of what it means to be a leader. “Millennials believe they can lead from whatever position they’re in,” she said. We know we don’t need an official title to impact our organization.

But if millennials really are leading from behind, why aren’t we getting promoted? If you’re ambitious but stuck on Level 1, below are six possible reasons. (Warning, tough love ahead.)

1. You overwork.

Slade Sundar, COO of Forte Interactive, Inc., observed that working 60-80 workweeks actually “devalues the work an employee does, because it shifts the measurement from results and quality to time and quantity.” When an employee’s work is measured simply by how much time she puts in, she seems cheaper and more expendable—“someone who is willing to do twice the work for half the salary.” Promoting her would thus ironically oppose the best interests of the company. As a result, over-dedicated employees are “rewarded” not with a promotion but with more work at the same pay.

On the other hand, one survey revealed that 71% of managers didn’t promote employees because they were unwilling to take on additional responsibilities. Jennifer Dulski, president and COO of Change.org, speculated that employees who volunteer to do work outside the scope of their roles are “the most likely to be promoted.”

When you’re considering how to balance managing your time with new responsibilities, ask yourself where you’ll be most able to demonstrate leadership and problem solving abilities. Sundar explained, “We don’t hire people to create widgets anymore, we hire people to solve problems. Widget Makers are expendable, Problem Solvers are not.” To get promoted, wrote Sundar, “you’ll need to prove you’re more than just a nose-to-the-grindstone type.”

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2. You’re incurious.

The least attractive quality in an employee—or anyone, really—is thinking you know everything.

If you’re prone to being a know-it-all, start asking questions. Famed Silicon Valley executive Guy Kawasaki blogged that the key to great schmoozing is to “Ask good questions, then shut up.” If you get others to talk instead, “Ironically, you’ll be remembered as an interesting person.”

Then do your homework—over and over again. Leadership is the “10,000 hours thing,” said Pollak. It requires “wanting to read and learn and be curious about the topic, loving what you’re talking about.” If you don’t know where to start, Pollak suggests, “Learn from watching people who are good at it. Take classes, learn public speaking, observe difficult conversations.” Curiosity is, at its core, a product of engagement.

If you start to feel bored by your investigation, that’s a sign you should pick another reign.

3. You’re agreeable.

I once had a boss whose confrontational communication style led several employees to leave the company. Noticing that these employees tended to be soft-spoken and acquiescent, I resolved to stand my ground in my new role. My boss admired that I (respectfully) challenged him, and he quickly identified me as “leadership potential”.

Statistics support my story: Researchers at the University of Notre Dame found that less agreeable employees earned an average of 18% more annuallythan their agreeable coworkers. Those who demonstrated more agreeable traits, by contrast, were less likely to receive promotions. Research also showsthat we tend to think agreeable men will make worse leaders.

Why?

Art Markman, Founding Director of the Program in the Human Dimensions of Organizations at the University of Texas at Austin, explains that “While some managers may want to surround themselves with people who obediently agree, most want those who will find the flaws in a plan before it is implemented.” Less agreeable people offer this needed skepticism.

If you tend toward people pleasing, Markman suggests considering potential flaws in ideas that come your way at work. Or internalize this: always agreeing doesn’t make you a good employee, or a good person for that matter.

4. You’re untrained.

Many millennials fail to advance because we don’t know what skills we lack. In The Hartford’s study, millennials least desired written and oral communications training—but employers consistently rank these skills as the ones millennials most need.

Determine what skills you need for the leadership role you seek. Then find a way to acquire them. David Goldin, the founder and CEO of Capify, toldBusiness Insider that millennials who want to be promoted should proactively seek assistance. “Show that you want to learn.”

Of course, employers also play a critical role in training their workforce. Markman said, “The most successful organizations are ones that promote learning throughout a career.” If you repeatedly request training and your organization doesn’t deliver, it may be time to let them go.

5. You’re clingy.

Employees often think that checking in with their supervisors constantly is conscientious (a skill paramount to success). In fact, it’s a sign of neuroticism, which is associated with compromised career success, emotional instabilityand lack of leadership potential. More immediately, incessantly checking in reflects insecurity and lack of self-sufficiency.

Some anxious employees, one study noted, use work to satisfy “unmet needs for love”. Managers can, in turn, find this clinginess “aversive and seek to distance themselves from the instigator.” In short, it’s the last thing you should do if you want to be promoted.

You might recognize this scenario: your boss hates when you don’t check in—“touch and go”, as some call it—but then complains that you can’t think for yourself. The solution is to outline exactly what you’re going to do. This requires preparation. Even if it’s a small task, think of it as a presentation. Schedule one meeting with your managers, present how you’re going to tackle this specific project/assignment, and get their approval on every bullet. Follow up explicitly confirming that you’ll do xyz. Then here’s the key part: don’t check in again until it’s done the way you agreed.

6. You’re alone.

If you’re not dying for your boss’s attention, you may suffer from the opposite problem. As an introvert, I convinced myself for years that I could manage my entire career alone. I eventually learned that lone wolfing isn’t sustainable. As Markman explained, “we are a fundamentally social species. We succeed primarily because of our ability to learn from others.”

I hesitated to get outside help because I was intimidated by the elusive “mentor” concept. I didn’t know how to get one, and I felt like I couldn’t request mentorship outright without spending money.

Pollak conceded that having one mentor is often unrealistic. “I think it’s too much pressure to ask someone to be my mentor,” she said. Markman, likewise, is wary of assigned mentors. “Mentorship is much more effective when it grows organically.”

Instead, Pollak prefers having a board of advisors and a collection of people who inspire her. “There are so many options to connect with people,” Pollak said. Markman advised, “Find time to go out for coffee… Ask questions. Find out what books they are reading. Get advice on how to handle difficult situations.” Many people can act as mentors without even knowing they serve that purpose for you.

Put concisely, here are some immediate actions you can take to advance your career:

Seek to understand and master your field and your role.
Stop punching the clock and start solving problems.
Evaluate the facts and defend your informed opinion.
Seek guidance and then demonstrate self-sufficiency.
Surround yourself with and learn from inspiring people.

“Believing you’re a leader is one thing,” said Pollak. “Acting like a leader is another.”

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Forbes.com | May 13, 2016 | Caroline Beaton

Your #Career : How To Know Which Skills To Develop At Each Stage Of Your Career….By Mid-Career, the Hard Skills that Got you the Job Won’t Be the Ones That Get you Promoted.

May 8, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

At the start of your career, chances are good that you’ll be hired primarily for your “hard skills”—the stuff you know that’s relevant for the job. When you’re fresh out of college or even a few years into your career, things like what software you’ve mastered, the knowledge you’ve picked up during internships and in school, and your other technical credentials really matter.

But what no one quite tells you is that while you might’ve been initially hired for those hard skills, they gradually matter less. The further you get in your career, the less you’ll be evaluated on those same skills—and this is especially important once you reach your mid-career point. Why? Because the hard skills that got you the job won’t be the ones that get you promoted.

Now that’s not to say that improving your technical skills isn’t important. You should get better and faster at whatever your craft is over the course of your career, whether that’s coding, designing, researching, or something else. But if that’s the only area you improve in, you may find advancement more elusive than you’d expected. Improving your technical skills may be enough to get you promoted from level one to two, or coordinator to associate, but to advance higher, you’ll have to show improvement in other areas as well.

SHIFT TOWARD SOFT SKILLS . . .

So how do you do that? It starts with knowing what really counts when it comes to advancement at each stage of your career. While every role is different, the secret is to progressively invest more in your “soft skills”—your ability to get things done, your leadership abilities, and your likability at work (like it or not).

To get started—and no matter where you are in your present career—take a minute to assess where you stand in each of these categories:

The further you climb, the more decisive these traits will become. Maybe you have a few of them under your belt but could brush up on others. Now that you know what you’re up against, it’s time to take action. Here’s a game plan for growing your soft skills:

1. Self assess. Taking stock of your recent work and workplace habits, which areas do you feel strongest in? Weakest in? Which do you believe is most crucial to prioritize now, and why? Knowing the answers to these questions will be important for framing your conversation with your manager in the next step.

2. Discuss with your manager. Now it’s time to get on the same page. Work with your boss to determine what’s most important for you to learn now versus in the future: How much weight does your manager give to growing in these areas? And do you agree? What can you expect to happen when you show growth in these areas? Try to get specific about what you’re being evaluated on at each level. Your responsibilities may look different at various career stages, so make sure you understand any internal “career ladders” available to you, and how these map to your strengths and areas of development.

3. Explore ways of growing these softer skills in your current job. And that growth may be closer at hand than you think. What opportunities for collaboration and leadership might already exist? What are some avenues for taking on more responsibility in these areas? Brainstorm opportunities and check in with your manager on them. You’ll want her support to take on new things, and to keep an eye on the progress you’re making.

. . . WITHOUT LOSING SIGHT OF THE HARD ONES

What if your manager says you still need to improve your technical skills?

If you find that your manager is focusing on the technical skills even while you’re trying to bulk up on soft ones, this could mean two things: Either you’re still at junior level and need to grow in the basics (which is normal at the beginning of your career), or, if you’re mid-career and still getting this feedback, you may be at a company that values technical skills over people skills when it comes to promotions.

If that’s the case, you might find that the higher you go in a company like that, the less you enjoy the people who surround you. Consider whether that view (and company!) is a good match for you. Perhaps you’d be better off finding a different company that values your soft skills as much as you do.

FastCompany.com | April 29, 2016 | XIMENA VENGOECHEA

Your #Career : The 5 Questions Everyone Should Ask Before Accepting a Promotion…The Fatter Paycheck. The Bigger Office. The Increased Authority to Make Decisions . Note: 2015 Gallup poll, Only 35% of U.S. Managers actually Feel Engaged in their Jobs.

April 15, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

To most people, moving into a management role seems like a natural rite of passage when climbing the career ladder. But for all its impressive-sounding perks, joining those ranks may not necessarily upgrade your job satisfaction: According to a 2015 Gallup poll, only 35% of U.S. managers actually feel engaged in their jobs.

As the numbers attest, not everyone is cut out for management, or will actually enjoy having the increased responsibilities that come with a more impressive title. So how can you tell whether you’ll love being a manager — or want to go scrambling back down the ranks as fast as possible?

For starters, you need to decipher what your job will really entail; opportunities that sound impressive on paper may end up not being all they’re cracked up to be.

So we rounded up five big questions you should be asking your HR rep or hiring managerbefore you say yes to the new job — because a move up the corporate ladder won’t always be the step forward you want it to be.

1. Will I actually be managing people?

Many people may assume that a management title means you’ll be, well, managing others. But sometimes a role will be more about managing processes than managing actual direct reports.

“It could be thought leadership or team leadership or people management or project management,” says Leigh Steere, co-founder of human-resources research company Managing People Better. “Ask questions to understand the scope of the proposed role so that you have an accurate, comprehensive picture and realistic expectations.”

If you discover that you’ll have more responsibility but few (or no) direct reports, Steere says, you’ll need to probe further to discover how your time will be spent.

“Ask about the types of decisions you’ll be involved in as a manager, which meetings you’ll attend, if you’ll be involved in the budget,” she says. Steere even suggests asking if you’ll stay in your current work space, lest you assume being a manager means moving into a cushy office — or even one with a door.

Trivial as some of these details may seem, they can help you determine whether the management role is superior to a non-management title based on what you value professionally. If you’ve loved your job as a hands-on graphic designer for years, for example, but would now have to spend most of your time on conference calls or doing client pitches, your job satisfaction may suffer.

If the role does manage employees, Steere says to ask more specifically about how much autonomy you’ll have leading the team, and what kind of training and development you’ll be given to hone your management skills.

And if your proposed role is in a start-up with a fluid organizational chart or your company adheres to matrix management (meaning there are dual reporting structures within cross-functional teams), be clear on how the responsibility over your reports will be divided.

“I recently worked with a company where two or three different people were managing each employee. The employees didn’t know how to prioritize, and each manager assumed the other(s) took care of the management tasks. There needs to be clarity on who is responsible for pay decisions, performance coaching and setting performance expectations,” Steere says.

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2. What will my typical day look like?

Whether you’re managing budgets, presenting to the C-suite, networking or maneuvering office politics, there’s likely to be one constant across any management position: Your schedule will be a lot more packed.

That being the case, you have to know what your average day will look like. Will you be in meetings nonstop? Will you be asked to make on-the-spot decisions all day long? How many fires or urgent requests will fall into your lap each day?

“There is a premium on my time and where my attention goes in terms of real dollars and opportunity costs … and it’s fantastic for someone like me who likes formulating the big picture and directing the moving pieces,” says Chad Modad, a managing director at a Houston–based software consulting firm. “[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][But] sometimes I really miss just sitting down and building something from beginning to end.”

Indeed, Modad says, it’s often hard to block off more than an hour at a time to focus on things like presentations, strategic planning or employee development plans. If that sounds more nerve-racking than exciting, you may want to reconsider that future management role, suggests Steere.

“If interruptions bother you, that’s a signal you may prefer individual contributor work and may find people management stressful and/or distasteful,” adds Steere.

3. How will my performance be measured?

Speaking of individual contributors, one big change that may take some getting used to is the shift from being measured by your solo efforts to being measured by your team’s output or productivity.

Kathleen Steffey, CEO of Tampa, Florida–based Naviga Recruiting & Executive Search, says you should ask detailed questions about exactly what metrics you’ll be measured on, such as your department’s revenue or profitability.

“There isn’t a right answer, but it’s an important one. [For example,] revenue is the top-line number, which means it’s greater than the margin,” Steffey says. “If you’re only being measured on profitability, which would be a lower number, then you need to make sure your compensation program is designed to meet your needs.”

You’ll also want to be clear on departmental profit expectations as well as budget-trimming requirements before you take the job, says Modad. If expectations are too high or performance timelines too tight, you may want to pass on the promotion.

Steere says you should also ask whether employee feedback is used to assess a manager’s performance — if it is, you have to be ready to inspire your team, give them the coaching they need, provide adequate direction and be able to monitor without micromanaging.

If the thought of potentially basing your raise, your bonus or even your whole job on your team’s performance sounds scary, take heed before accepting that manager role. “To succeed as a manager, you need to care about getting great work done through others, as opposed to focusing on your own personal output,” Steere says.

4. How much say will I have in personnel decisions?

Not having control over who is on your team, or the amount of training and development you can offer them, can be a source of frustration to a manager.

So it’s important to “ask whether you have the authority to place an employee who is underperforming on a performance improvement plan, to move an employee into a role for which you think they’d be better suited, or to promote a top performer — and [be sure to understand] how those processes work,” says Steere.

For instance, forced rating systems to determine things like bonuses or compensation may limit how much you can reward someone.

Also, remember that control over hiring likely means control over firing — a difficult decision you may find yourself making as a manager. Modad says the ability to develop a hard-working employee still makes him feel elated after four years in the executive ranks, but he feels it in the pit of his stomach when he has to fire or lay off someone. In fact, he says staying positive in tough times is one of the most difficult aspects of being a manager.

Ultimately, what you want is to be able to agree with the company’s approach to leadership. “Does the organization feel that people inherently want to do a good job — or [does it believe] that they are lazy and need to be managed as such?” says Modad.

Based on what you hear, consider how confident you will feel in going to bat for your staff with other leaders, or in communicating the corporate mission to your employees — even if raises aren’t granted or jobs are eliminated.

5. Why did the previous manager leave?

A company is only as good as its executive leadership, so it behooves you to figure out if you’ll be supported by your higher-ups. One way to do some detective work is to inquire about why your predecessor headed for the exit, and how long it took them to do so.

If, for instance, their departure was swift, it could be a sign that the C-suite had an unrealistic timeline for results.

“Does the employer understand [you’ll need to] ramp up and learn about the business, or do they expect someone to jump right in and impact revenue immediately?” Steffey says. Asking what your 30-, 60- and 90-day goals are can also provide more insight on this.

Another telltale sign a management role isn’t all it’s cracked up to be? High turnover.

Steffey even suggests checking out the LinkedIn profile of a predecessor to see if they had a good tenure and track record previously. If they did, that raises the question of whether the company will really be supportive of you.

“[That can be] a discerning moment for the candidate to determine if the company knows what it’s doing, or if it’s just too hard on an executive,” she says. “Do they give a person the right tools to be successful?”

Businessinsider.com | April 14, 2016 | Stephanie Taylor Christensen, LearnVest

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Your #Career : 10 Signs You’ve Stayed at Your Job Too Long…So How Do you Know it’s Time to Move On & Try Something New?

March 26, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

According to Business Insider, the average person spends 90,000 hours at work in their lifetime. Since work comprises most of our lives, it is critical that you spend time at the right company, pursuing the right opportunities. Among so-called middle-class wage earners, work is glorified. People vie to be the first in and the last out of the office or laboratory in order to prove their dedication (The Harvard Business Journal).

Americans don’t just spend physical hours at work. Work also composes our mental energy even when not in the office; stressing, reminiscing highlights, reflecting, or replaying exchanges with our bosses and co-workers.

So how do you know it’s time to move on and try something new?

You dread getting out of bed in the morning

There are times when we simply just don’t want to go to work. But when the thought of going to work is filled with loathing, or you are constantly convincing yourself that you are just having a bad week or month, then it’s more than likely that your job isn’t the right fit.

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You are not included in key meetings and decisions

This is a telltale sign that you are being phased out. When your expertise is no longer needed or valued, chances are you are no longer seen as an asset to your employers.

Your work performance and productivity has slipped

You stop coming in early, staying late or taking on extra projects to get ahead. The work you produce is not something you are very proud of, often put off until the last minute. However, it is enough to keep you from getting reprimanded for not doing your job, and also not stand out enough to warrant being assigned additional tasks and/or projects.

Technology will soon make your job obsolete

Technological advancement is occurring rapidly. Many jobs that once relied on the skills of a single person may not be the case anymore. It is important to consider training and/or retraining in your field to continue to make yourself valuable to your company. Additionally, with the rise of technology it is important to consider that your skillset may need to evolve beyond your scope and line of work and into another discipline.

You frequently waste time surfing the internet and social media outlets

You spend less time working and more time surfing the internet, watching videos, or in the break room. Much of your time is spent intentionally distracting yourself from your job duties as you count down the minutes until you can leave.

Your personal life is suffering

Business Insider has observed that couples in which one partner spends 12+ hours more than the usual 40 hours at work divorce at twice the average rate. So, whether it’s the physical hours you spend at work, the time at home engaged in work-related projects, or the time you invest your mental energy distracted or stressed about work—when work permeates into your personal life, it is time to consider new options.

You are not learning or growing

You are not challenged by your work and your skillset is not being fully utilized. Your work should enhance your skills, ultimately adding to your value as an employee. Trainings are review, not applicable to your work, or nonsensical for one reason or another. As a result, you frequently try to concoct doctors appointments or other personal reasons as to why you cannot attend company meetings, trainings or events.

You harbor resentment for your boss and colleagues

Regardless of your place in a situation, you blame your boss and/or colleagues for your lack of success, not being promoted, or your shortcomings. Often times, you find yourself bitter and jealous of others.

Staff and budget cuts

When budgets and staffing are cut, you and your team are still expected to produce the same amount of work with significantly less manpower and financial means. Meeting deadlines will be challenging and work quality will certainly suffer; ultimately putting your job at risk.

You are no longer passionate about your work

Your job and the work associated with it just doesn’t interest you anymore. The corporate culture doesn’t seem to fit your personality. Even after a vacation, or time away from your work; you come back feeling deflated, uninspired, and disconnected upon returning to the office. If recharging doesn’t reinvigorate your passion or interest for your job, it is time to investigate things that may do so.

Forbes.com | January 26, 2016 | Jennifer Cohen

Your #Career : Looking for a Better Job? 6 Expert Job-Hunting Techniques…If you’re Sick of your Job, you’re Not Alone. A Full Quarter of America’s Workforce is Fed Up, & Either Actively Searching for Another Job, Or is at Least Giving it Some Serious Thought.

March 24, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

This says a lot about the current state of the American workplace – and a lot about how Americans view the economy. On one hand, it’s a drag that so many people are unhappy. On the other, it’s a good sign that people are confident enough to test the waters of the job market.

The age-old question, of course, is how to mount an effective strategy to find a new, better, more satisfying job.

Job-search and career guidance site CareerCast has just issued a report to help everyone out. We all know that we should be taking certain measures to increase our chances of securing an interview – tailoring our resumes and cover letters, for example – but there are numerous other small, worthwhile steps to take to give yourself an edge over the competition. Employers are looking for quality candidates, and though you may know or think that you’re the ideal applicant, you need to sell yourself; that is, find a way to make that known to potential employers.

“Even with a low unemployment rate, applicants will always face some kind of job market competition, particularly for the most desirable positions,” CareerCast’s report says.” To help you get a leg up, CareerCast.com spoke with job-market experts in different capacities for the most up-to-date job hunting advice and guidance for 2016.”

With input from a number of recruiting and hiring experts, CareerCast’s report outlines six bulletproof strategies you can employ in your job search to help get results. Working in concert with your established tactics, these should help you get a leg up on the competition.

Here are CareerCast’s suggestions.

1. Get creative

Your resume is your primary tool in your job search, and it should be constantly evolving and changing to make sure that it is up to date, memorable, and hard to ignore. CareerCast suggests trying to put together a graphical resume, which commands attention, and looks incredibly slick.

“If you are in a visual or presentation focus field it’s nice to present something a little more than Times New Roman,” Blue Fountain Media hiring manager Tom Duffy told CareerCast.

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2. Get out of your comfort zone

You’ll have to slog through the proverbial mud a bit, if you’re hoping to break new ground in your career. The fact is, most people aren’t willing to get out of their comfort zone, and those that do are able to open up new paths and doors that weren’t there before. If you truly want to see change, you’ll need to take bold steps – which includes vanquishing fears and self-doubt.

Get off the beaten path, and think of different approaches to old problems. That means getting a little dirty, sometimes.

3. Become a Networking Warrior

You’ve heard it before: it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. Though you may have been apprehensive or shy about networking, you need to start getting out there. That may mean giving your LinkedIn profile some serious work, or transforming yourself into a permanent fixture at local networking events. The fact is, employers hire based off of employee recommendations. You need to be one of those recommendations.

“If anybody who works at Blue Fountain Media refers someone, I’m going to call them,” Duffy told CareerCast. “[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][A referrer is] 1. Going to know if [a referral] might have the skills we’re looking for, and 2. We communicate as a sign of respect to current employees.”

4. Know your value

Knowing what you’re worth can be tricky, but with tools like PayScale, Glassdoor, and information from the government about your industry, it’s easier than ever. Just sit down and do some research – figure out what skills you have, and what they are potentially worth to a company in your industry. Recruiters know what you’re worth. So go in to a negotiation with realistic expectations.

5. Do your homework

Again – do some research ahead of time. That not only includes salary expectations, but digging into the details of the company that you’re applying to, the industry it’s in, and perhaps even the individuals you’ll be meeting if granted an interview. When preparing for the interview, make sure you have a plan to demonstrate how and why you’re the perfect fit, and discuss your skill set as it relates to what the company is looking for.

Be versatile, quick, and confident.

6. Be respectful

Above all, you need to have a good attitude when putting yourself on the job market. That doesn’t mean simply smiling and going through the motions, but also highlighting the positives from the job you’re leaving, and any other work experience – even though it may not have all been rosy. Employers don’t need to think that you’re going to quit after a year, and go trash them on the Internet and to others in the industry. Be respectful, and communicate that you’re the type of person they’ll want on staff.

Follow Sam on Facebook and Twitter @SliceOfGinger

CheatSheet.com | March 23, 2016 | Sam Becker

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Your #Career : Bulletproof Your Position: 10 Tips For Improving Job Security…The Key to Job Survival is to Find Ways to Make yourself a More Valuable Employee, So you Stand Out From the Crowd.

February 17, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Sometimes, coming to work each day and doing your job isn’t enough to protect you from being let go due to “downsizing.” The key to job survival is to find ways to make yourself a more valuable employee, so you stand out from the crowd.

Question: I’ve worked in the same job for several years, but there are rumors that our company will be laying off employees later this year to cut expenses. Is there anything I can start doing, right now, to help make sure I won’t be one of the employees laid off?

Answer: Most employment in the U.S. is “at-will,” which means an employee can be dismissed by their employer for any reason and without warning. That means the best way to decrease the odds of your employment being terminated is to create a strong relationship with your manager and to clearly demonstrate your value to the company (so your boss won’t want to lose you). Here’s how:

Understand your manager’s goals. Find out his or her objectives and priorities. What keeps your boss up at night? Think about ways you can help achieve these department goals.

Agree on your goals, objectives and projects. Meet with your manager to ensure you fully understand and mutually agree on your goals and objectives for the quarter/year as well as all projects for which you’ll be responsible. Then track and provide progress updates, asking for help or advice as needed.

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Create a “Goals and Objectives” document. Take those goals you agreed on with your manager and put them into a simple document where you’ll be able to track your progress. Use a simple format, like an Excel spreadsheet, and include column headers such as: ID#, Project Name, Description, Timing (due date), Goal/Objective (whatever it might be), Stretch Goal/Objective (a slightly more challenging goal or objective), and Progress (such as color coding to denote your progress). Use this document during your progress review meetings with your manager.

Learn your manager’s communication style and flex your style to his or hers. Find out how your manager prefers to interact with you. Do they want weekly, bi-weekly or monthly progress review meetings? Do they want to meet in person or receive email updates and then follow up with you if they have any questions? Adapt your communication style to best fit your manager’s style.

Never miss a commitment. Complete all your projects/assignments on time (and under budget). If you hit an obstacle, “go ugly early” as the old saying goes, by letting your boss know and asking for help.

Do outstanding work. You can’t do mediocre work – your work needs to be exemplary if you want to stand out. Look for ways you can go above and beyond the daily requirements to demonstrate how you add value to the organization.

Think of yourself as an “internal consultant.” Be more than just an employee. Consultants are hired to assess a current situation and then create action plans for improvement. They are paid for their expertise and their calm, professional demeanor, especially in times of difficulty. By thinking of yourself as an “internal consultant” you can use this same frame of reference to demonstrate how you add value to your department, to your company and even to your boss.

Become an expert in something. People turn to the experts when there are challenges and to solve problems. Look for areas in your business where you can put your skills to use and become an expert. Then, volunteer for projects that will allow you to use these skills and show them off.

Offer to help coworkers. Don’t wait for someone to approach you. Offer your help to others when it appears they might need it. Don’t expect any return favors – help others because you want to, not because you expect something in return. Always play nice with others and learn to flex your style so you can get along with any personality type.

Improve your skills every year. Become a more valuable asset by treating yourself like a product that you work on improving, year after year. Define your career aspirations, create a career development plan and then share this information with your boss and ask for his or her help and support.

Lisa Quast is the author of Secrets of a Hiring Manager Turned Career Coach: A Foolproof Guide to Getting the Job You Want. Every Time.

Forbes.com | February 15, 2016 | Lisa Quast

#Leadership : 7 Valuable Skills You Can Learn in Less Than a Day… If you Really want to Add to your Personal Value & Become More Attractive on the Job Market, You can Learn some New Skills.

November 20, 2015/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

We’ve listed seven of those skills below. Some will take more effort than others, but making the decision or commitment to learn any of them will leave you better off when you go to sleep tonight

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Your #Career : 45 Pieces of Career Advice That Will Get You to the Top…We’ve Collected 45 of the Best Tips for Whatever Stage You’re at In your Career.

September 12, 2015/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

When it comes to your career, sometimes it feels like you could use all the advice you can get. From picking the “right” career to actually excelling in it, there’s certainly a lot to learn.

And that’s why we’ve gathered our all-time best career advice. From starting out at the bottom of the totem pole to advancing to a more senior position to—who knows?—maybe even branching out to open your own business, we’ve collected 45 of the best tips for whatever stage you’re at in your career.

On Working a Not-Quite-Dream-Job

1. The best career or job is the one in which you’re using the skills you enjoy. But, not every job needs to address all of your passions. Use every job as an opportunity to learn something new and keep an open mind; you may find that you really enjoy something you never imagined would appeal to you. Miriam Salpeter, Founder of Keppie Careers

2. Don’t take yourself (or your career) too seriously. Plenty of brilliant people started out in jobs they hated, or took paths that weren’t right at the beginning of their careers. Professional development is no longer linear, and trust that with hard work and a dedication to figuring out what you want to do with your life, you, too, will be OK! Kathryn Minshew, CEO of The Muse

3. Every person you meet is a potential door to a new opportunity—personally or professionally. Build good bridges even in that just-for-now job, because you never know how they’ll weave into the larger picture of your life. Kristina Leonardi, Career Coach

4. My friend Andre said to me, “You know, Marissa, you’re putting a lot of pressure on yourself to pick the right choice, and I’ve gotta be honest: That’s not what I see here. I see a bunch of good choices, and there’s the one that you pick and make great.” I think that’s one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever gotten.” Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo!

5. No matter how low on the totem poll you are or how jaded you’ve become by your to-do list, it’s still important to show up early, wear something sharp, and avoid Facebook like the plague. I discovered that when I acted like a professional, I suddenly felt like my work was a lot more valuable. “Looking the part” boosted my confidence, helped me begin to see myself as a highly capable contributor to the team—and ultimately led the rest of my team to see me in the same light. Lisa Habersack, Writer

6. Remember that a job, even a great job or a fantastic career, doesn’t give your life meaning, at least not by itself. Life is about what you learn, who you are or can become, who you love and are loved by.Fran Dorf, Author and Psychotherapist

7. If the career you have chosen has some unexpected inconvenience, console yourself by reflecting that no career is without them. Jane Fonda

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On Advancing Your Career

8. Every year or two, spend some time really thinking about your career. Go out and warm up your network, check out new opportunities, and do some salary comparisons. You make smarter career decisions when you have real data. Also, if you are afraid or uncomfortable, you are probably onto something awesome! Fear means you are growing your comfort zone. Christie Mims, Career Coach

9. Don’t be afraid to speak up in a meeting or to schedule a sit down with a colleague or boss—whether to hash out details on a project or deal with a sensitive situation. When it comes to having your ideas heard, or to really connecting with co-workers, never underestimate the power of face time and the importance of in-person communication. Catherine Straut, Assistant Editor of Elle

10. You’re setting yourself up for failure if you’re not preparing for an eventual promotion right now. Even if the next step in your career seems far off, you should be taking advantage of training and professional development courses and looking for ways to pitch in and expand your current role. Otherwise, even when the opportunity comes up, you won’t be ready to take advantage of it. Avery Augustine, Writer

11. Take criticism or “feedback” for what it is: a gift given to you to make you better at what you do. Don’t concern yourself with the person or the method of delivery. Instead, glean out the teachable nuggets and move on. Michelle Bruno, President of Bruno Group Signature Events

12. I know. You’ve heard it a thousand times: Dress for the job you want, not the one you’ve got. But I think this message goes far beyond the clothes you wear every day: It’s how you present yourself in meetings and at office events, how you interact with staff both above and below you, and how seriously you take your work. Adrian Granzella Larssen, Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Muse

13. In chaos, there is opportunity. Most major career accelerations happen when someone steps into a mess and makes a difference. Kristi Hedges, Leadership Coach

14. Work harder than everyone under you or above you. Nothing commands respect more than a good work ethic. This means being the first one at the event in the morning and the last one to leave in the evening. No one said this gig was easy. Keith Johnston, Event Consultant at Plannerwire

15. When you’re offered a big opportunity, consider it carefully—even if it scares the heck out of you. In the end, high risk often leads to high reward. But if you turn down every opportunity that comes your way, you won’t even have the chance to succeed. Avery Augustine, Writer

On Excelling in Your Career

16. I first heard Zig Ziglar say it when people challenged him on his “positive attitude” manifesto: “You can do anything with a positive attitude better than you can do it with a negative one.” Lea McLeod, Career Coach

17. Work hard and be nice to people. It’s a very simple motto I try to live by daily. Marie Burns, Recruiting Leader at Compete

18. There’s never going to be a precisely right moment to speak, share an idea, or take a chance. Just take the moment—don’t let thoughts like “I don’t feel like I’m ready” get in the way. Look to see if you have the main things or the opportunity will pass you by. Don’t let perfect get in the way of really, really good. Kathleen Tierney, Executive Vice President and COO of Chubb Insurance

19. “Find a way to say yes to things. Say yes to invitations to a new country, say yes to meet new friends, say yes to learn something new. Yes is how you get your first job, and your next job, and your spouse, and even your kids.” Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman of Google

20. No matter what your dream job is, you’ll likely hear “no” many times before you achieve your goals. Just accept that as a fact. But by refusing to accept that “no,” you’ll separate yourself from the pack. Sometimes you just have to outlast the competition—and wear down your boss! Shannon Bream, Supreme Court Correspondent at FOX

21. Tenacity and persistence—nothing beats it. Even if your talent isn’t there yet, you can always develop it to what it will eventually be. But people who are persistent and tenacious and driven and have a really clear, defined goal of what they want, nothing compares to that. Not giving up is really huge. Catt Sadler, Anchor at E!

22. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. No one got to where they are today without help along the way. Don’t be afraid to ask, and then remember to return the favor. Elliott Bell, Director of Marketing of The Muse

23. Even if you aren’t feeling totally sure of yourself and your abilities, it’s important you present yourself otherwise. That means shifting your body language to portray confidence. So, while you may be so nervous before your big interview or meeting that you want to curl into a ball, resist the temptation to cower or make yourself smaller, and walk in with your head held high. Michele Hoos, Writer

24. My advice for everyone in the industry is to find a mentor and to be a mentor. You’ll learn a great deal from both of these experiences, and make sure to leverage these roles for networking. Ask your mentor for introductions, and introduce the person that you’re mentoring to others—both will increase your visibility in the industry. Mariela McIlwraith, President at Meeting Change

25. I live by the 80/20 rule. 80% of the impact can be done with 20% of the work. It’s the last 20% that takes up the most time. Know when to stop, and when things are close enough. Alex Cavoulacos, COO at The Muse

26. Having a strong network adds to your value as an employee. In other words, the more people I can reach out to for help, the more valuable I am. Hannah Morgan, Founder of Career Sherpa

27. Do what you say you’re going to do. Danielle LaPorte, Entrepreneur

28. One of the most important things I’ve found is the importance of playing to your strengths. I think it’s common for us to learn while in school that if you get an A+ in writing and a C- in math, that you should focus your time and attention to getting better at math. In the working world I find it to be the opposite; by putting your focus on those things that you are strongest at, over time you will become an expert at it. By outsourcing your weaknesses to others who excel in those areas, you’ll be able cover those weaknesses better than you could have otherwise. Trying to be great at everything could be spreading yourself thin and keeping you from reaching your full potential in your strongest areas.Ryan Kahn, Career Coach

On Starting Your Own Business

29. I think the biggest thing to keep in mind is that a lot of people have a lot of ideas that they’d like to turn into businesses—but if your ideas don’t turn into actual money, then you’re not able to turn it into a business. You have to be able to generate revenue first and foremost. A lot of people have conceptual ideas and conceptual dreams, and you just have to be able to distinguish between what is a hobby and what is a passion and what you can actually turn into a business. Emily Cavalier, Founder of Midnight Brunch

30. No matter what you do, you’ll make it through. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. The thing they don’t tell you is that it nearly kills you. Tyler Arnold, Founder of SimplySocial Inc.

31. Early on in my career, I was determined to be independent and create my own success, and I thought this meant learning everything on my own. The reality is, you can’t always be an expert at everything, so surround yourself with brilliant, creative people and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Humility is key to success, especially in your early years. Ivanka Trump

32. I wish I knew that working smarter, not harder, is essential to surviving as an entrepreneur. You can get by working hard in the corporate world, but you won’t last long in small business ownership without working smart. Andrew Schrage, Partner and Editor-in-Chief of Money Crashers Personal Finance

33. Don’t let fear be the reason you don’t launch your new business. When have you ever felt fully ready to do anything this important in your life? All you can do is prepare as much as humanly possible, know that you’ve done all you can for your baby to shine, and send it out into the world. Megan Broussard, Founder of ProfessionGal

34. Remember all those stories you’ve heard of how the most successful entrepreneurs in the world made it to where they are now? Well, most of them started with different jobs or interests and amounts of money in the bank. The one thing they had in common is an unyielding commitment to doing whatever it was that needed to be done in order to make their dream a reality. Danielle Mund, Life Coach

35. If you’re serious about building a great, enduring company, you have to be willing to sacrifice some things. A vacation in the first year is likely going to be one of those things, so take one before you start! Ronnie Castro, Founder of Porch

36. If you are like me and follow many relevant business people, you often see tweets like “5 things to avoid when starting your business” or similar posts. You may even read them. But here’s the thing: None of that matters. Every journey is different. No two things work exactly the same. You will make mistakes. Embrace the fact that you made the mistake, learn from it, move on, and never repeat it. John Jackovin, Founder of Bawte

37. Be confident, don’t doubt yourself, and go for it. If you are sure there is an opportunity, you need to believe wholeheartedly in it—your team won’t be driven to succeed unless you are. Kellee Khalil, Founder of Loverly

On Doing What You Love

38. Don’t sweat it. Don’t beat yourself up about it. It’ll probably be scary or uncomfortable, but you always get to make a new choice if this one doesn’t work out. Steve Errey, Career Coach

39. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life…have the courage to follow your own heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.” These words, spoken by Steve Jobs during his 2005 Stanford commencement address, guide me on a regular basis. Michael Terrell, Founder, Terrell Leadership Group

40. Having an evolving bucket list or a career path that defies logic is 100% OK. After spending years envying the neatly defined careers of my friends, I came to the better-late-than-never conclusion that I wasn’t wired that way… Once I stopped fighting who I was and relaxed into the idea that different was okay, all the possibilities before me were exciting, not stressful. I love what I’m doing now, but I also know that I’ll probably have multiple careers throughout my lifetime. Kacey Crawford, Career Coach

41. When you need the courage to be bold, simply ask yourself, “What’s the worst that could possibly happen?” When you have the answer, ask, “Can I live with that?” And if the answer is yes, then take a leap! Cindy Bates, Vice President of Small and Mid-Sized Businesses at Microsoft

42. If you really want to know where you destiny lies, look at where you apply your time. Time is the most valuable asset you don’t own. You may or may not realize it yet, but how you use or don’t use your time is going to be the best indication of where your future is going to take you… Don’t follow your passions, follow your effort. It will lead you to your passions and to success, however you define it. Mark Cuban, Entrepreneur

43. Ultimately, you won’t really know what you love to do unless you actually bite the bullet. Until you give it a go, it’s really just speculation. So, whether you take a small step like signing up for a class or you dive head-first into entrepreneurship, roll up your sleeves and do it. You’ll never know until you try. Ruth Zive, Writer

44. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. Steve Jobs

45. Life’s too short to be stuck in a job you hate. Kathryn Minshew, CEO of The Muse

The Muse | September 2015