Why The Most Successful NETWORK?

Have you ever wondered why the most successful people, seem to be visible, everywhere you look, seemingly know everyone, and are known to most people? Do you believe it is a coincidence, or does it require a significant amount of effort, energy, and commitment? While we each may define what success means to us, most would agree, there's more involved than merely making lots of money, because we have all witnessed some miserable, sad, unhappy millionaires! In my 4 decades of leadership training, and personal / self - development consultant, and speaker, I have learned, truly successful people are those, who NETWORK!

1) Nuances; needs; necessary: If you want to be successful, you can't proceed, as a secret agent. You must get to know and understand others, and therefore, must meet them! Only when you know and respect needs, can you improve!

2) Educate; empathy: Successful people have a consistent quest to learn and know more, and to educate themselves. When you listen and learn, you gain the necessary empathy, to better connect and relate.

3) Timely: if you desire success, you must be ready, willing and able, to take well - considered, timely action.

4) Which way: How will you be able to succeed, if you don't focus on goals and priorities, and determine which way to proceed?

5) Organize; opportunities; optimize: Begin by becoming a professional planner, and organize your efforts, in a focused way? Often, the difference between success and failure, is recognizing the best opportunities, and optimizing your efforts and chances!

6) Relevant; real: Getting out, helps you better know what's most relevant, and behave in a real way!

7) Knowledge: Knowledge is often golden! The more you know, especially if you transform it to expertise, better judgment, and wisdom, enhances one's possibilities for success!

Will you hide within your comfort zone, or will you expand it, and, thus, your opportunities! NETWORK, so you become a successful, individual, of quality!

https://ezinearticles.com/?Why-The-Most-Successful-NETWORK?&id=9706410

How Do You Keep Up In A Changing World?

The amazing pace of change affects all of us, both at work and at home.

At work, changes in technology, globalization and demographics can cost us our jobs but also create new amazing opportunities.

Heraclitus said, "The only thing that is constant is change"... and he lived 500 years BC!

What should be clear to all of us is that constant change requires a constant investment in learning.

So... what do YOU do to stay up to date in your field? What do you do to try and understand how change might impact your life? Are you taking advantage of new technology, new services and other innovations to enrich your life?

There are a few ways that you can stay up to date on what is going on, and I believe the trick is to have the right mix of:

(a) Breadth of understanding... that gives you a high level understanding of the coming potential changes; and

(b) A focus on what really matters to you... which means a more in depth understanding of the changes that will be important to you.

Here are three things you can do to take charge of your career in a changing world:

1. READ... A Lot! Too many people don't read enough.

• Read the newspapers, at least weekly to understand trends and what is happening in the world... online newspapers are just fine, but the paper ones still work!
• Read industry publications.
• Read blogs by thought leaders and experts in your industry.
• Read articles on specialist websites that focus on trends, on your industry.

2. STUDY.

• Take courses related to your field of expertise. Upgrade your skills continuously.
• Take course on the soft skills... communications, presentations, writing, selling, time management etc.
• Take advantage of the free courseware online, available through many credible sites today.

3. TALK to PEOPLE.

• Network with people that know what is going on in your industry.
• Join groups online in places like LinkedIn and other sites that promote collaboration.
• Go to events that focus on your industry and listen to the speakers, engage them in conversation and talk to the other attendees.
• Talk to the experts in your company, in your supplier companies and in your client companies.

In addition to taking charge of your career, you can use a similar approach to understand innovation in the world around you. It is only in the last "relatively few" years that we have been able to shop online, find and book a restaurant online and been able to order groceries online that get delivered to your door. We have one device that fits in our pocket which is capable of being a GPS, Calendar, email, instant messenger and a phone! This is just scratching the surface of recent changes.

Your world at home is changing as quick as or even more quickly than your job!

Most people will NOT put in the effort to keep up with change, so if YOU decide to put in the work you will be ahead of the game!

"It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory." W. Edwards Deming

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Do-You-Keep-Up-In-A-Changing-World?&id=8477035

16 Rich Habits

 


Your autopilot mode can make you wealthy or poor.

Intelligence, talent and charm are great, but more often than not these aren’t what separate the wealthiest among us from the poorest.

Instead, the differences are in our daily habits. Do you realize that these subconscious, second-nature activities make up 40 percent of our waking hours? That means that two out of every five minutes, all day and every day, we operate on autopilot. It’s true: Habits are neural pathways stored in the basal ganglia, a golf ball-size mass of tissue right in the center of our brains, in the limbic system.

This neural fast lane is meant to save the brain energy: When a habit is formed and stored in this region, the parts of the brain involved in deeper decision-making cease to fully participate in the activity. However, we all know there are good habits and bad habits.

I spent years studying the difference between the habits of our country’s rich and poor, questioning hundreds of individuals. On the rich side, these were people with annual gross income north of $160,000 and net liquid assets of $3.2 million or more. I defined the lesser-off as those with gross income of $35,000 or less and no more than $5,000 in liquid assets. When I was done, I analyzed the results of my research and boiled down the responses to create a picture of what allows the wealthy to prosper where others do not. My ensuing book became a sort of instruction manual for how to become wealthy.

The gulf between Rich Habits and Poverty Habits is staggering. If you’re well off already, chances are you already adhere to most of these Rich Habits. Integrating the ones you’ve neglected will push you further. But be assured: If you’re doing fine now without minding these principles, it’ll catch up to you.

Some of the differences between rich and poor are obvious, while others are a little more surprising. Here are the most important Rich Habits you can take up to reach and maintain your wealth potential.

1. Live within your means.

Wealthy people avoid overspending by paying their future selves first. They save 20 percent of their net income and live on the remaining 80 percent.

Among those who are struggling financially, almost all are living above their means. They spend more than they earn, and their debt is overwhelming them. If you want to end your financial struggles, you need to make a habit of saving and budgeting what you spend. Here are some sensible ways to budget your monthly net pay:

• Spend no more than 25 percent on housing, no matter if you own or rent.
• Spend no more than 15 percent on food.
• Limit entertainment—bars, movies, miniature golf, whatever—to no more than 10  percent of your spending. Vacations should account for no more than 5 percent of your annual net pay.
• Spend no more than 5 percent on auto loans, and never lease. Ninety-four percent of the wealthy buy instead of leasing. These folks keep their cars until the wheels fall off, taking great care along the way so that they save money in the long run.
• Stay away from accumulating credit card debt. If you are doing this, it’s a clear sign that you need to cut back somewhere.
• Think of savings and investments as two completely different things. You should never lose money on your savings. Try to stash six months of living expenses in an emergency fund in case you lose your job or your business goes belly-up.
• Contribute as much as you can afford to a retirement plan. If you work for a company that matches your contributions up to a certain percentage, great. Always take that free money when you can get it.

2. Don’t gamble.

Talk about a sucker bet: Every week, 77 percent of those who struggle financially play the lottery. Hardly anyone who is wealthy plays the numbers. Wealthy people do not rely on random good luck for their wealth. They create their own good luck. If you still want to bet after knowing the risk, use money from your entertainment budget.

3. Read every day.

Reading information that will increase your knowledge about your business or career will make you more valuable to colleagues, customers or clients. Among wealthy people, 88 percent read 30 minutes or more every day. Just as important, they make good use of their reading time:

• 63 percent listen to audiobooks during their commute.
• 79 percent read educational career-related material.
• 55 percent read for personal development.
• 58 percent read biographies of successful people.
• 94 percent read current events.
• 51 percent read about history.
• 11 percent—only 11 percent—read purely for entertainment purposes.

The reason successful people read is to improve themselves. This separates them from the competition. By increasing their knowledge, they are able to see more opportunities, which translate into more money. Comparatively speaking, only one in 50 of those struggling financially engages in this daily self-improvement reading, and as a result the poor don’t grow professionally and are among the first to be fired or downsized.

4. Forget the boob tube and spend less time surfing the Internet.

How much of your valuable time do you lose parked in front of a screen? Two-thirds of wealthy people watch less than an hour of TV a day and almost that many—63  percent—spend less than an hour a day on the Internet unless it is job-related.

Instead, these successful people use their free time engaged in personal development, networking, volunteering, working side jobs or side businesses, or pursuing some goal that will lead to rewards down the road. But 77 percent of those struggling financially spend an hour or more a day watching TV, and 74 percent spend an hour or more a day using the Internet recreationally.

5. Control your emotions.

Not every thought needs to come out of your mouth. Not every emotion needs to be expressed. When you say whatever is on your mind, you risk hurting others. Loose lips are a habit for 69 percent of those who struggle financially. Conversely, 94 percent of wealthy people filter their emotions. They understand that letting emotions control them can destroy relationships at work and at home. Wait to say what’s on your mind until you’re calm and have had time to look at the situation objectively.

Fear is perhaps the most important negative emotion to control. Any change, even positive changes such as marriage or a promotion, can prompt feelings of fear. Wealthy people have conditioned their minds to overcome these thoughts, while those who struggle financially give in to fear and allow it to hold them back.

Whether you fear change, making mistakes, taking risks or simply failure, conquering these emotions is about leaning in just a little until you build up confidence. It’s amazing how much confidence helps.

6. Network and volunteer regularly.

You’ll build valuable relationships that can result in more customers or clients, or help you land a better job if you spend time pressing the flesh and giving back in your community. Almost three-quarters of wealthy people network and volunteer a minimum of five hours a month. Among those struggling financially, only one in 10 does this.

One perk of volunteering is the company you’ll keep. Very often the boards and committees of nonprofits are made up of wealthy, successful people. Developing personal relationships with these folks will often result in future business relationships.

7. Go above and beyond in work and business.

Unsuccessful people have “it’s not in my job description” syndrome. Consequently, they are never given more responsibility, and their wages grow very little from year to year—if they keep their jobs at all. Wealthy individuals, on the other hand, make themselves invaluable to their employers or customers, writing articles related to their industry, speaking at industry events and networking. Successful people work hard to achieve the mutual goals of their employers or their businesses.

8. Set goals, not wishes.

You cannot control the outcome of a wish, but you can control the outcome of a goal.

Every year, 70 percent of the wealthy pursue at least one major goal. Only 3 percent of those struggling to make ends meet do this.

9. Avoid procrastination.

Successful people understand that procrastination impairs quality; creates dissatisfied employers, customers or clients; and damages other nonbusiness relationships. Here are five strategies that will help you avoid procrastination:

•  Create daily “to-do” lists. These are your daily goals. You want to complete 70 percent or more of your “to-do” items every day.
•  Have a “daily five.” These activities represent the crucial things that will help you get closer to realizing some major purpose or goal.
•  Set and communicate artificial deadlines. There’s nothing wrong with finishing early.
•  Have accountability partners. These are people you team with to pursue a big goal. Communicate with them at least every week, and make sure they hold your feet to the fire.
• Say a “do it now” affirmation. This is a self-nagging technique. Repeat the words “do it now” over and over again until you begin a task or project.

10. Talk less and listen more.

A 5-to-1 ratio is about right: You should listen to others five minutes for every one minute that you speak. Wealthy people are good communicators because they are good listeners. They understand that you can learn and educate yourself only by listening to what other people have to say. The more you learn about your relationships, the more you can help them.

11. Avoid toxic people.

We are only as successful as the people we spend the most time with. Of wealthy, successful people, 86 percent associate with other successful people. But 96 percent of those struggling financially stick with others struggling financially.

If you want to end your financial struggles, you need to evaluate each of your relationships and determine if they are a Rich Relationship (with someone who can help you up) or a Poverty Relationship (with someone holding you back). Start spending more and more time on your Rich Relationships and less on your Poverty Relationships. Rich Relationships can help you find a better job, refer new business to you or open doors of opportunity.

12. Don’t give up.

Those who are successful in life have three things in common: focus, persistence and patience. They simply do not quit chasing their big goals. Those who struggle financially stop short.

13. Set aside the self-limiting beliefs holding you back.

If you’re hurting financially, you’ve probably told yourself some of these untruths before: Poor people can’t become rich. Rich people have good luck and poor people have bad luck. I’m not smart. I can’t do anything right. I fail at everything I try.

Each one of these self-limiting beliefs alters your behavior in a negative way. Almost four out of five wealthy people attribute their success in life to their beliefs. Change your negative beliefs into positive affirmations by reading lessons from the greats of personal development, like Napoleon Hill, Dale Carnegie and Jim Rohn.

14. Get a mentor.

Among the wealthy, 93 percent who had a mentor attributed their success to that person. Mentors regularly and actively participate in your growth by teaching you what to do and what not to do. Finding such a teacher is one of the best and least painful ways to become rich.

If you know your goals, find someone who has already achieved them. You’ll be amazed by how many people want to lend a helping hand.

15. Eliminate “bad luck” from your vocabulary.

Those struggling financially in life have a way of creating bad luck for themselves. It’s a byproduct of their habits. Poverty Habits, repeated over and over are like snowflakes on a mountainside. In time, these snowflakes build up until the inevitable avalanche—a preventable medical problem, a lost job, a failed marriage, a broken business relationship or a bankruptcy.

Conversely, successful people create their own unique type of good luck. Their positive habits lead to opportunities such as promotions, bonuses, new business and good health.

16. Know your main purpose.

It’s the last Rich Habit, but it might be the most important. Those people who pursue a dream or a main purpose in life are by far the wealthiest and happiest among us. Because they love what they do for a living, they are happy to devote more hours each day driving toward their purpose.

Odds are, if you are not making sufficient income at your job, it is because you are doing something you do not particularly like. When you can earn a sufficient income doing something you enjoy, you have found your main purpose.

Believe it or not, finding this purpose is easy. Here’s the process:

1. Make a list of everything you can remember that made you happy.

2. Highlight those items on your list that involve a skill, and identify that skill.

3. Rank the top 10 highlighted items in the order of joy they bring to you. Whatever makes you happiest of all gets 10 big points.

4. Now rank the top 10 highlighted items in terms of their income potential. The most lucrative skill of all is worth 10 points.

5. Total the two ranked columns. The highest score represents a potential main purpose in your life. Presto!

http://www.success.com/article/16-rich-habits

When Work and Life Collide - My Five Step Formula for a Successful Resolution

How many times has your stress level soared when you are at work and get a call from home with an emergency? Emergencies are not planned events. However, there are steps you can and should take to minimize the impact at work and at home.

Step 1: Quickly begin analyzing the issue.

Is it critical, urgent, or important? Is this something that can be handled over the phone? Does it need to be taken care of in person?

The response to a spouse reporting a broken pipe flooding the house could be different than a teenager calling to say they have a project due tomorrow and they need you take them to the store tonight to get supplies.

The response to a call telling you a family member has been injured in a car accident and in the hospital will typically call for getting additional information before taking action.

The response to a call from a doctor telling you your test results indicate you need immediate surgery will require yet again another type of response. This can bring up questions about whether a second opinion is appropriate and whether there is time to get one.

Step 2: Begin looking at options.

Do you have a copy of the family calendar at work and at home? What and/or who are your best resources? You do have a quick way to get information for people at work, as well as family and friends, don't you?

The broken pipe - do you have your plumber on speed dial? Does anyone at home know how to turn the water off? If not, is your water utility emergency information available at work and at home?

Hopefully the person calling about the family member who is in the hospital can at least give some general information. Is there any word on the general condition? How far away is the hospital and what kind of travel time is involved to get there? Who might be available to take care of things at home, at least on a temporary basis?

What about options for the recommendation for immediate surgery? What are the possible impacts at work and at home? Taking the time to prioritize critical work and home issues now can make a huge difference to all concerned.

Step 3: Assess your role at work.

Is someone at work prepared to take over for you if necessary? What is the right time to let your boss know about the issue?

In the case of the broken pipe, if no one at home can resolve the issue and the plumber is two hours away, you are probably going to be the one to take care of the issue. Depending on your travel time and the time of day, you may be able to take care of getting the water turned off, meeting the plumber to assess the next steps and possibly return to work. Keeping your boss in the loop is appropriate in most cases.

Based on the information you obtain about the family member in the hospital, you may need to leave work immediately or another family member may be able to be at the hospital and keep you updated. If the hospitalization is out of your area, then a series of additional decisions may need to be made. Once again, keeping the boss apprised is usually the best option.

With possible surgery looming, you may have someone working for you who could take over at least routine responsibilities. When you notify your boss, you may be able to make that suggestion as a possibility depending on your final decision. What and when to tell your boss can vary greatly with the organization and the individual. Just remember that most bosses do not like surprises. The more information you have on hand when you talk with them, the better equipped they will be to make organizational decisions.

Step 4: Do you have a backup plan?

What do you do if the issue takes more time and other resources than you originally anticipated?

The broken pipe may be a two-part issue. Do all family members know where the water meter is located? Do you have a water meter key available? Do the teenager and adult members of the family know how to turn off the water? Depending on the level of damage, either sheet rock or flooring may have to be removed and replaced. Once you have enough information, you can make decisions about future resource needs that minimize issues for all concerned.

If the hospitalized family member will need home care once out of the hospital, there are additional decisions which need to be made. This typically means some compromise on the part of all of the caregivers to ensure smooth recovery for the patient.

If surgery looks like the course of action you need to take, getting as much information in advance as possible will improve your decision-making. It may be possible for you to do some work at home while recovering. There may be neighbors willing to barter their time now in exchange for a need they may have in the future. What part of your work responsibilities could be shifted temporarily to someone else?

Step 5: Evaluate the situation when concluded.

Take the time to look at the situation - at work and at home.

What went right? What went wrong? Have you talked with the people involved to see how they feel about the solutions?

Look for ways to reduce stress in the future (plumbing, family member in the hospital, your surgery) at work and at home. If you have not developed a personal network of people who can help you when the need arises, you may want to put this close to the top of your personal priority list. Improve your preparedness for a successful outcome the next time an emergency occurs. You will be glad you did!

http://ezinearticles.com/?When-Work-and-Life-Collide---My-Five-Step-Formula-for-Successful-Resolution&id=9325610

The Unfair Truth About How Creative People Succeed

The other week, I was invited to a dinner hosted by a friend. Those attending included people I’ve admired for years. Halfway through the dinner, I silently asked myself, “How did I get here?” The answer lies in what I subsequently learned.

For years, I had heard people talk about their influential friendships and subsequent success, and each time, I would seethe with envy. It seemed unfair. Of course those people were successful. They knew the right people. They were in the right place at the right time. They got lucky.

Years later, however, I discovered that success is born of luck -- I don’t think any honest person can dispute that. But luck, in many ways, can be created, or at the very least, improved. The truth is, life is not fair. For creative work to spread, you need more than talent. You have to get exposure to the right networks. And as unfair as that may seem, it’s the way the world has always worked.

The good news is, you have more control over this than you realize.

Creativity: a systems approach

What makes a person creative? As human beings, of course, we are all endowed with the ability to create. But, what is the difference between that kind of “little c” creativity and the world-changing “big C” creativity that changes industries and leaves a legacy for generations to come?

In his decades-long study of creativity, management psychology expert Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi described what he called a “systems approach.” Since "creative" work tends to be subjective, he posited a model that included three systems:

• The domain
• The field
• The individual

In order to be considered creative (in the sense that it offers some kind of enduring work the world remembers), a work must satisfy all three of these areas. Here’s how it works: First, an individual must master his or her craft in a given domain (art, science, mathematics,etc.). Then, this person must offer the creative work to a field of influencers in that domain who are trusted experts. Finally, those gatekeepers must decide whether the work is worth being accepted into the domain as being authoritative.

That’s the systems approach to creativity. And as much as I initially winced at the word “gatekeepers” when considering what makes creative work succeed, once I started reading biographies of famous artists, scientists and musicians, Csikszentmihalyi's theory made a lot of sense. Talent is only part of the equation. The rest is networking.

Hemingway, Paris and enduring work

When he was just a young man in his early 20s, Ernest Hemingway moved from Chicago to a poor district in Paris. He had just returned from a short stint of serving with the Red Cross in World War I and wanted to pursue a career in writing.

There was just one problem: Hemingway didn’t have much exposure to other writers. Who would teach him?

In Chicago, Hemingway met Sherwood Anderson, who encouraged him to move to Paris to meet Gertrude Stein, who led a community of writers, poets and artists there. Plus, it was cheaper to live in Paris, and Hemingway could live modestly while still having time to travel and write.

In Paris, he met Stein, as well as Ezra Pound, James Joyce and many others who would shape his work for years to come. This included a connection via F. Scott Fitzgerald to Scribner’s, the publisher that would later publish his novels and change the course of his career forever.

Before that decade in Paris, Hemingway was a writer of some notable talent and a pretty good journalist. But after those years when he immersed in the creative work of others, he became a household name.

Due to the connections created through that Paris community, Hemingway became one of the most famous writers of the 20th century. It’s inconceivable that such a development could have happened anywhere else. Not because there was something special about the Left Bank at that time, but because without a network, creative work does not endure. In other words, without Paris, there would have been no Hemingway. But, what does that mean for mere mortals like you and me?

Finding your own Paris

Are we doomed to failure if we don’t live in the right place at the right time? Of course not. But networks matter, maybe more than we care to admit. Vincent van Gogh’s work matured much more quickly once he met the French Impressionists. And why wouldn’t it? He now had a field of gatekeepers who both critiqued and validated his work.

Whether we like it or not, we all need some kind of objective standard against which to measure our work. And although van Gogh did not sell much of his work in his lifetime, it was the tenacity of a well-connected sister-in-law that eventually brought his paintings to market. In fact, most of the great art the world has ever seen came about not through a single stroke of genius but by the continual effort of a community.

Networks. Partnerships. Creative collaborations. This is where enduring work originates, and, incidentally, this is how we get works like The Lord of the Rings and The White Album. Creativity is not a solitary invention but a collaborative creation. And communities create opportunities for creative work to succeed. But how do you apply this approach if you don’t live someplace like Paris, New York or Rome?

Well, of course, you could move. According to Csikszentmihalyi, it’s better to move somewhere new than it is to will yourself to be more creative. And today, it’s easier than ever to transplant yourself someplace inspiring, even if your move is just temporary. I did this eight years ago, relocating from northern Illinois to Nashville and unknowingly inserting myself into what would become a hub of creativity, technology and entrepreneurship. I’m glad I did.

But you could also let go of your excuses and realize that there’s a network available to you right now, wherever you are. This may come in the form of an online mastermind group or a series of events you attend, maybe even one you organize yourself. The truth is, there are connections everywhere and always more resources available to those willing to look.

A seat at the table

Five years ago, I decided to do something radical -- well, radical for me at least. I let go of my cynicism and began reaching out to influential bloggers and authors, people I had watched for years and wanted to know. I asked them to meet me for coffee. And here’s the crazy part: Most of them said yes.

Even though I was a shy person, I met these heroes of mine and followed up with them, doing everything I could think of to help them. In some cases, it just meant buying their coffee. In others, I would interview them for my tiny blog, realizing that even the most influential people don’t mind talking about themselves.

I tried to be the kind of person these people would want to invest in -- following every piece of advice they gave, doing everything they told me to do and not questioning a single word of it. And at some point, I got lucky.

It’s naive to say success doesn’t involve luck. Of course, it does. Crazy stuff happens all the time, stuff we can’t control that sometimes works in our favor. At the same time, luck is not completely out of your control. Luck can be planned. Although I can’t tell when or where luck is going to come from, I do know that the more you put yourself in the company of greatness, the more likely some of that greatness will rub off on you.

So if you want a seat at the table, the process might look something like this:

1. Find a gatekeeper.

For Hemingway, this was Sherwood Anderson and eventually Gertrude Stein. These were the people who held the keys to the kingdom, and every domain has at least one. Find someone who is connected to the people you want to know, and be strategic in reaching out, tenacious in staying in touch and intentional in demonstrating your competency.

2. Connect with people in the network. 

Stein introduced Hemingway to other writers in Paris who could help him, but he was also relentless about meeting with them. He used to spar with Ezra Pound on a regular basis, boxing with him and learning how to write terse prose in the process. If you show the gatekeeper you’re willing to learn, he or she will likely introduce you to others and keep investing in you.

3. Help as many people as possible. 

This is crucial. It’s not just whom you know, it’s whom you help. People remember what you do for them a lot more than they remember how clever you were. In spite of his reputation as an alpha male, Hemingway did this, too -- helping Stein get her work published, encouraging Fitzgerald when he suffered from creative blocks and bringing attention to the work of the Left Bank.

Of course, every person’s journey is his or her own. But what I am now more certain of than ever is that success in any creative field is contingent on the networks you are a part of. The question is, will you embrace the power of networks, or will you keep thinking those people are just "lucky"?

Luck comes to us all. But those who recognize it are the ones who succeed. Every story of success is really a story of community, and the way you find yours is by reaching out and taking advantage of the opportunities that present themselves -- whether the setting is Paris, Chicago or your own hometown.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/250468

7 Career Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes

Don't Fall Into the Trap

Sometimes we get very specific about problems and pitfalls on this site. Resume mistakes, potential errors on cover letters, individual ways you can network more effectively.

But sometimes it’s good to step back and look at the bigger picture.

Many people say they’re unhappy at work, but fewer really take a deep and introspective look to figure out why. Look past your annoying boss and other issues on the surface, and figure out what you’re doing that might be negatively impacting you. That’s what we did, and we came up with a list of traps most people are falling into without even realizing it.

7. You Don't Know What You Want

If you don’t know what you want, it’s going to be hard to go out and get it.

Are you spending too much time at work? Are you not able to devote enough time to your job because of personal issues? Are you someone who wants to skyrocket up the career ladder with promotions every 6-12 months? Do you need a raise to feel validated or are you happy doing something lower paying that you love?

Whatever the case, you can’t achieve your goals until you’ve identified what you want. So many people are working without having an end goal in sight, so when you ask them what they want you can hear crickets. Figure it out and then work toward it.

6. You're Unhappy

Happiness is not overrated in the slightest.

Look, not every job is going to fuel your soul, help the planet, save orphans, or give you the warm and fuzzies. Nothing is perfect. But if you’re truly miserable in your job then you have to take steps to remedy the situation, because if you’re miserable then your job performance likely isn’t far behind.

Maybe you can switch jobs internally? It might be possible to relocate within the company or find another job. Perhaps you can work on an upcoming project to help get you out of your rut. Or try asking your boss to work from home so you can spend more time with your family.

Anyone who has ever worked a job in which they dread coming in to the office every day can appreciate how much better life got when they found something they liked. Whatever the problem is, there’s likely a few things you can do to better your situation. You just have to take action.

5. You're Not Working Toward Anything

Yes, you have a job and that’s great. But what’s next?

It’s not enough to know you want more, you need to have an idea of what “more” is. Do you want to be team leader? Do you want your boss’s job? Do you want to use the skills in your current job to jump ship somewhere else for more money? Or do you want to work toward a better work/life balance?

If you don’t identify what you’re working toward, you’re in a career limbo of sorts. Things always get a little easier with a plan, so make one.

4. You're Only Interested in Money

This is going to sound odd coming from Salary.com, but it’s not always about the money.

I mean yes, money is good. We all need it to live and getting paid what you’re worth is important. But sometimes people feel pressured to leave jobs they love because they don’t feel they can turn down the pay increase the new position brings. Or they take a job they know will destroy their work/life balance when they’re trying to raise a family, simply because it’s more lucrative.

Sometimes you just have to trust your gut instead of your wallet, and realize money isn’t the end all be all. Then refer to #6 about happiness.

3. Taking a Promotion Just Because It's Offered

I’ve seen this happen to a lot of people.

The good news is you’ve been offered a promotion. It comes with more prestige, a better title, and more money. However, it also means leaving the team you love, no longer doing the job you excel at, and managing people (which you’re not even sure you want to do). Your gut tells you to turn it down but then your head says “Are you crazy? No one ever turns down a promotion.”

So you take it. And you’re miserable. And your gut was right about not wanting to lead people, which means you’re not meeting your goals and your career is starting to suffer. Not to mention you’re unhappy everyday and wishing you could go back to doing what you loved and were good at.

Promotions can be great, we’re just advising people to think long and hard about what it’ll all mean.

2. You're Over/Undervaluing Yourself

Either way, it’s not a good situation.

If you’re constantly undervaluing yourself then you’re putting yourself at a severe disadvantage. It means you’re probably not advocating for yourself or your ideas, and you’re less apt to put your name in the hat for advancement opportunities (assuming you want them).

On the flip side, if you’re overvaluing yourself then you might be hurting your professional reputation amongst colleagues and bosses, by talking about things you haven’t properly researched and for which you don’t have the background. If you’ve taken a job without having the necessary skills or you’re going for a promotion for which you’re unqualified, it’s going to hurt your career.

1. You're Afraid to Fail

Fear is an extraordinarily powerful emotion.

I’m not going to list the numerous celebrated historical figures who failed a whole bunch of times and then went on to greatness. You know those names and you’ve seen them a thousand times. But the point still stands – if you’re not willing to take a chance every once in a while, don’t be surprised when you don’t get what you want or meet all of your goals.

Get out of your comfort zone. I know it’s easier said than done, but it’s still necessary. You still might fail because success is never guaranteed, but you can also learn from every experience and continue to take calculated risks until you succeed.

It’s better than never trying.

Never Mistake the Importance of Negotiation

Unfortunately for most people, fear leads to a failure to negotiate salary. But Salary.com can help you get paid fairly what you do.

The first thing you should do is research, so you're able to come to the table armed with the knowledge of what your job is worth. Use our free Salary Wizard below to find out what's a fair salary for your position. You can enter your location, education level, years of experience and more to find out an appropriate salary range before you negotiate.

Good luck.

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https://www.salary.com/chronicles/7-career-mistakes-almost-everyone-makes/