“In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.”
—Thurgood Marshall
February honors Black History Month (BHM); it’s a time to celebrate and honor Black people’s contributions, achievements, and culture in the U.S., Canada, and worldwide.
The month also draws attention to some of the more difficult historical periods Black people faced. Here are a few practical ideas for maximizing BHM at work all year round. (more…)
How would an increase in minimum wage affect jobs and hiring? The debate has been circulating for a while over whether a higher minimum wage will cause more people to accept the current job openings or whether those jobs will be eliminated by companies due to the increase in cost to their business. Let us know what you think by voting in our poll.
Anyone who wants to grow in their career has to take the time and make the effort to manage it. Probably no other individuals know this as well as those who’ve served as President of the United States. To reach that point in their career took years of hard, focused work, not to mention the career management it required while they were actually serving as president.
Even if you don’t have aspirations of being the next leader of the country, you owe it to yourself and your future to actively manage your career. So, in honor of President’s Day, here is some advice from past presidents to help you manage your career so you can be successful in achieving your professional and personal goals.
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Self-confidence and faith in your abilities are the essential ingredients in laying the foundation for a successful career. President Roosevelt knew that securing those two things were half the battle toward achieving dreams. After all, if you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will.
“Tell the truth, work hard, and come to dinner on time.” – Gerald R. Ford
President Ford very nicely summed up the qualities of a successful individual in this one simple statement. Hard work and an unwavering understanding of what’s truly important are vital to obtaining a successful career. It takes a little career management to ensure you don’t lose sight of these qualities.
“If you treat people right they will treat you right… 90% of the time.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
Much of your career is tied to other people – what they think of you, how you treat them, what they say about you to others. And President Roosevelt was wise to realize that treating people right rarely ends badly for you. It’s no guarantee, but chances are that you’ll be successful much quicker if you’re known as a person of character.
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams
President Adams knew that being a leader had nothing to do with your title, and everything to do with your actions. Don’t let your current position make you feel like an inadequate leader. Becoming a leader is a vital aspect of career management, and it’s probably not as complicated as you might think.
Social scientist, Amy Cuddy has coined the term “power posing,” which means standing in a posture of confidence, even when you don’t feel very confident. Amy believes as your posture and body language improves, your thoughts will soon change for the better as well. Our body language affects how others see us, but it can also change how we see ourselves.
“Accomplishment will prove to be a journey, not a destination.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
As you manage your career and achieve your dreams of being successful, you must remember that it really is all about the journey. Success is a life journey, not a destination you reach and never leave. President Eisenhower understood that embracing where you’re at each day, including the struggles and difficulties, is the key to achieving the life and career you want.
No matter what you hope to achieve in your professional life, you’ll never reach it if you don’t actively manage your career. So take a cue from these men this Presidents’ Day and learn from their experiences. Their wisdom could set you on your own path to success.
What are some of your favorite quotes from past presidents? How are you managing your career to ensure to you accomplish your dreams? Let us know in the comments section below.
Quotes were pulled from Entrepreneur’s 10 Inspirational Presidential Quotes article.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by stress or if you’re not loving your job anymore, it’s probably time for something new or a fresh perspective. Changing your job could be just what you need, but there’s more to it. Changing your job won’t fix everything. Here are some quick tips to keep in mind when looking for a new job.
Make the Most of Things
Analyze your day and “to-do” list to determine what tasks you prefer to do the most and what tasks you put off until the last minute. Find ways to make unpleasant tasks more enjoyable. Don’t lose yourself in the everyday monotony of your work. If you struggled at your old job with meeting deadlines or if you didn’t enjoy your work at all, try looking at things in a new light. Figure out more efficient ways to get your work done at your new job. Don’t fall back into the rut of hating your job; make the most of where you are.
Have a Good Attitude
Having a good attitude will help you stay positive going into your new job. If you struggle with being positive don’t let a negative mindset ruin your new job. If you’ve ever thought your job doesn’t matter, remember everyone in the company plays a role in its success. Your individual job is important to the business you work for. So have confidence and pride in your work and do your best to keep a good attitude.
Having Fun
Having fun does not mean to neglect your duties, but rather, change your attitude so you don’t see every job you do as a tedious task. Doing your job with a more positive attitude and focusing on the parts that are more fun for you will help you become more productive and help lighten your overall mood. Make your job fun by setting goals for yourself or incorporating friendly competition into your work. Competing with co-workers not only improves the overall performance of work in many instances, but by having someone to compare yourself against, it will highlight your strengths and weaknesses. If you find a way to work together, you can help compensate each other’s weaknesses and build on both your strengths.
Do you love your job and have your own tips to share with us? Let us know in the comments section below.
