How to Get Your Boss to Like You

Your relationship with your boss can often seem similar to your relationship with your significant other—it’s a delicate balance of give and take. In both instances, you’re looking for love (well, in your boss’s case it’s more akin to approval and respect versus a good ol’ spoon-on-the-couch). It’s great to go out of your way to impress your boss, but you certainly don’t want to look like a kiss-ass. How do you make her fall in love with you without weirding her out?

Remember the time you snuck into your crush’s dorm room freshman year, and wrote “Sweet dreams!!! xoxo” on his mirror with your prettiest shade of Clinique lipstick? He wasn’t so thrilled, and it made sitting next to him through Intro to Modern Lit pretty awkward. You’ve learned a lot about love since then, so you should know it doesn’t take expensive gifts or over-the-top surprises—that time you ordered an explosion of flowers for your boss’s birthday made people stop and stare…and not in a good way. Keep your gestures small and subtle, and take your cues from her. It’s easier than you might think!

Be Thoughtful. You know how much your boyfriend loves to sleep in on Saturdays after a long week? Think of how happy he gets when you close the blinds and sneak out for brunch with your friends while snores away in a quiet apartment! When things are in overdrive at work cut your boss some slack. Chances are she’s got much more on her plate than you do, and needs all the help she can get. Think of what she may need before she has to ask. Hand in work ahead of schedule, or follow up on small details so she doesn’t have to worry about them. Hell, leave a grande cappuccino on her desk if you start to see bags under her eyes! Your thoughtfulness should win you as much appreciation and loyalty as they do with your boyfriend.

Be Respectful. When out to dinner with your fiancé and his work colleagues, would you launch into an hour-long rant about how impossible it is to find a decent bridesmaid dress? Well, I hope not. Being respectful of your boss can often mean knowing your place, too. You may think you’re helping by chiming in at meetings with ideas and suggestions, but you may actually be undermining your boss, or even embarrassing her. Let her present your work, and support her by showing up prepared and alert. If she falters, just help her out with a subtle reminder or a note. Recall last year’s fiasco when your fiancé had too many vodka tonics at his company party. You stepped in with a smile and a firm grasp, and guided him toward the coat check. Be that same source of silent strength for your boss, and she’ll be eternally grateful.

Be Aware. Keep in mind that your boss is human, too—and she’s probably got a lot going on that you might not know about. When you get home after a rough day at work, the last thing you need is to be peppered with questions and small talk by your boyfriend. Give your boss the same consideration! If she looks exhausted, don’t try to go over tomorrow’s to-do list or ask her how to fix something. If she’s moody or short with you, don’t take it personally. Just like in any relationship, most fights start over petty things, and blow over quickly. So jot down the things you need to ask her and save them for a time when she’s happy and receptive. Trying to impress your boss in outrageous ways is for amateurs. Understanding her needs and personality is the real key to winning her love—and a successful career.

How to Clean Up a Mistake At the Office

We all make mistakes. Even the queen of DIY Martha Stewart has been in hot water and was able to bounce back. We can say that we won’t ever make a mistake but we’re all human. Mistakes at the office happen. How you handle mistakes at work is the most important and can set the tone for the rest of your career.

Most Common Workplace Mistakes: Employees who lie on expense reports, bad mouthing the company/boss on social media or to clients, proofread mistakes, missing deadlines…just to name a few.

How You Should Handle Mistakes at the Office. Take responsibility for your actions. If you majorly screw up, you have to suffer the consequences — in silence. Don’t protest, don’t try and get out of it, and don’t put the blame on someone or something else. People will respect you more for owning your mistakes.

If No One Knows it Was You… Should You Fess Up? In this day and age of 24/7 social media and advances in technology how can you really be sure that no one is aware that you made a mistake? Companies can very easily track any correspondence you’ve had over your company’s email. So that issue that you thought was resolved months ago – could come back to haunt you when your employer cleans out their servers.

Who Should You Talk To After You Made a Mistake? Depending upon how this mistake relates to the company – it should be handled accordingly. Did you offend someone on a personal level? Then go to the person you wronged. Otherwise, head straight to your boss.

How Should You Explain Yourself? Think of this faux pas as a time to rebrand yourself…an opportunity to start over. To do so, you have to think strategically about what aspect of your image needs revamping. Think about what you can do to help the company fix this situation and what you can do to avoid it in the future. This is what you need your boss to focus on other than the mistake. Actions speak louder than words; put your plan into action shortly after speaking with your boss. The next meeting you have walk into the boardroom and pitch an idea that will knock people’s socks off. You have to alter people’s memory of you. That way, when they hear your name, they’ll think of the great work you do, not that horrible faux pas you made last year. Create a team dynamic by celebrating your company’s successes on LinkedIn. Helping to promote your company and coworkers can also help change their perception of you from someone who wronged the company to someone who has its back. Share relevant articles on your Company’s Page about the great work they’ve been doing and Share notes of congrats to employers who hit a goal or presented a winning product idea.

What Should Your Never Say? Do not try and push the blame onto someone else – especially if you were caught red handed. Do not get defensive. You should be brief as possible but if your boss wants a play by play – rehearse what you’ll be saying beforehand. Calmly, focus on the mistake and why it happened and how you plan on fixing it. Remind your boss you are a loyal employee and this is a one-off situation.

But what if you are right and everyone in the office thinks you are wrong? You might need to get a third party to weigh, someone who can play devil’s advocate. Sometimes it will help you detach yourself from your emotions and see how maybe, just maybe, you did make the mistake after all.

How to Graciously Handle a Mistake and Come Out Ahead. A client of mine made a massive project-related error. He contacted me and asked for my advice. I told him to go to a non-work-related area and ask himself “What’s the practical solution?” I also told him to avoid kvetching with colleagues, which will only make you more anxious about your screw up. The next step for him was to see your boss somewhere unusual—this one-off location unconsciously signals that this is a one-off conversation and therefore a one-off error. Explain everything, hide nothing, and provide solutions.

Healthiest Late Night Foods

Healthiest Late Night Foods

We’re all familiar with this scenario: You’ve just logged 12 hours at the office and scarfed down whatever you could scrounge up between meetings and managing projects—namely 100-calorie packs and gum. The moment you set foot into your apartment, you rip off your heels like a woman unleashed. While you feel a slight twinge of hunger, you pause and deliberate… Skip eating altogether and collapse into bed? Or dig into a pint of Häagen-Dazs and pass out on the couch?

Though we’ve all opted for door No. 2 on occasion, eating right before bed has its undesirable consequences. According to Tanya Zuckerbrot, dietician and founder of F-FactorDiet.com, late-night pig-outs can “sabotage a day’s worth of healthy eating.” She also adds that choosing the wrong foods can not only pack on the pounds, but also disrupt sleep patterns. For those nights when you just can’t hack going to bed hungry, heed Tanya’s guide to smart late-night food choices.

Don’t curb the calcium. Your mom wasn’t far off when she gave you a glass of milk to drink before bedtime. Actually, the calcium in milk can help increase serotonin levels in the brain to relax your body and mind and promote a good night’s sleep. Just make sure it’s low-fat or fat-free to minimize excess caloric intake. Jell-O fat-free pudding is also a low-cal, calcium-rich snack that satisfies a sweet tooth.

Don’t go nuts with nuts. While they’re a good source of vitamin B and magnesium, which promote serotonin production, nuts are high in fat and calories. Blue Diamond oven-roasted almonds are the perfect night nut because the container has a portion scale—crunchy satisfaction without a worry.

Favor fruit. For something sweet, try a handful of dried fruit. The fiber, potassium, and magnesium it contains promote good digestion. Mix the dried fruit and/or a tablespoon of almond slivers in with Greek yogurt for a yummy treat packed with fiber and protein. Or, go frozen! Frozen grapes are a fun-to-eat, low-cal snack because they keep your mouth busy, perfect for expelling anxious energy. Also try freezing a banana, which contains vitamin B6, an essential nutrient for serotonin production. To sneak in some protein, spread a tablespoon of peanut butter across the banana slices.

Try turkey. If you’re ravenous and need a mini meal, have 2 ounces of sliced turkey on one piece of whole-grain bread. This will fill you up and get you ready for some solid z’s, due to the sleep-inducing tryptophan in turkey.

Beware of beverages. While a cup of hot cocoa seems like a great way to unwind before bedtime, it may actually have the opposite effect because cocoa contains caffeine. While we’re at it, so do many green and black teas. If you’re seeking something warm and soothing before bed, stick to herbal tea or a glass of warm milk.

Say no to simple carbs. Simple carbohydrates such as white bread, pasta, pretzels, and candy should be avoided late at night. These foods cause a spike and then a rapid decrease in blood sugar, which can affect your sleeping patterns. Although they may provide temporary satisfaction, simple carbs aren’t filling and can cause you to wake up in the middle of the night (and head for the fridge again!). Stick to a combination of foods high in protein and fiber to keep you satiated—and asleep.

Safe Snacks
• Greek yogurt topped with ½ cup high-fiber cereal (like Kashi Go Lean Crunch) or ¼ cup dried fruit
• Sliced banana with 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 1 cup frozen grapes
• 2 ounces turkey with one slice whole-grain bread
• Instant oatmeal made with ½ cup warm low-fat milk
• 2 cups air-popped popcorn (for a sweet tooth, sprinkle with cinnamon and Splenda; for a salty tooth, sprinkle with Parmesan)
• Jell-O fat-free pudding with 1 tablespoon Almond Accents (sliced almonds)
• Frozen treats: Skinny Cow Vanilla Truffle Bar, Tofutti Pops, 1 cup fat-free frozen yogurt

Got Time Between Jobs?

 

Were you lucky enough to have secured a job while currently employed and found yourself with some time on your hands between jobs? Are you debating asking to take a few months before the start date or power through to your new position with only a weekend to get ready? Find out what steps you should think about before scheduling your start date.

How much time to take off: If you can – take a week off. Were you thinking of taking a trip to Mexico in a few months or spending time visiting with your mom and dad? Book your ticket and go. Keep in mind that most firms ask you to stay 2 weeks for your work to get sorted out and for them to hire a replacement. Always leave on good terms and offer to give them this grace period. Your new company will understand and also admire your loyalty. Have a conversation with your new boss about a start date. Find out if it is flexible and if you can push it back a week. They want you to start the job feeling energized as opposed to feeling stressed and crunched for time.

Schedule in ME time: Take the time to relax but also to congratulate yourself on a job well done. Treat yourself to a massage, new power outfit or out to a nice dinner. You aced a job in a dim market and should take the time to be proud of yourself.

Use this “free time” to spend time with family and friends. When you start any new job you should expect to work longer hours – at least the first several months. Utilize this time to make the most of being at home. Whether that’s helping out with the PTA, planning a dinner party or watching your niece’s dance recital – you’ll be happy to experience it before the new gig starts.

Did someone say, ohm?: Your mantra during this time should be refresh, recharge and relax. When you relax you actually tend to be most creative and get your best ideas. Your mind is at ease and you are free to brainstorm in an open environment. It’s also a great time to concentrate on all of the great work you’ve done and update your LinkedIn Profile. Let your Network know that you’ll be starting a new gig. You should also update your experience from your old job and include the last few months of projects and presentations you were working on. The best time to do it is now – since it is fresh on your mind. It’s also a good time to study your new gig and get to know your co-workers. Check out their profiles and work history. See any commonalties that can help you break the ice the first few weeks? Is someone a part of the same alma mater, charity committee, Industry Group? Being able to insert these tidbits in conversation will help create a more relaxed work environment for you.

Don’t be out to lunch…: You might have a long stretch between employment – say 6 months – which is actually fairly common since very large firms typically hire in January and June. You might think becoming a beach bum for those months is the best way to use this time but you’d be wrong. Sure, sitting on the beach is fun for a week or two but you need to keep your head in the game. Stay on top of industry news with LinkedIn Pulse. Has your new company been mentioned in the news? If so, this is the time to reach out to your new supervisor and check in and indirectly let them know you’ve been keeping abreast of the company and industry. You always want to be top of mind and this is a great way to do so between jobs.

Generational Differences

 

A Generation Y employee was reprimanded by her boomer-era boss because of the casual way she talked to the president of their firm. You see, this employee spoke to the president the same way she spoke to the receptionist, and believed that treating all of the office staff the same way was a sign of respect; however, her more seasoned boss was horrified by her lack of etiquette and justly let her know.

This scenario points to the difficulty of navigating generational differences in the office, and also to the importance of learning to work effectively with co-workers of all ages. “Generational differences have been named as a major concern in office settings,” says career expert and cofounder of SixFigureStart Caroline Ceniza-Levine. “This is the first time we have four generations in the workplace. Each generation has different defining events, attitudes toward work, communication styles, and other differences that naturally pose challenges in close settings like the office.”

The good news is that young women can bridge the generation gap. Here’s how.

Know what’s in it for you. Overcoming difficult tasks is easiest when you understand the benefits. Fortunately, there’s a long list of motivators for improving multigenerational office relationships. “A successful career is relationship-driven. You need mentors to guide you, a network of colleagues at all levels to tap into the hidden job market of internal and external opportunities, and peers to support you,” says Ceniza-Levine. What’s more, younger staffers can use these relationships to learn more about their company, while more established women gain insight into current trends and technological advancements.

Find common ground. Multigenerational relationships improve dramatically when you find a way to connect with an older or younger crowd. “Topics such as diet, clothing, cooking, men, movies, TV, and hair never grow old,” says Katherine Crowley, coauthor of Working With You Is Killing Me. Better acquaint yourself with co-workers by discussing these everyday topics over lunch or a coffee break. And if the conversation transitions to work, act curious—not threatened—by your colleague’s background and experience. “Your interest will quell their anxiety,” says Crowley.

Think like them. Different generations communicate in specific ways, so learning to adapt to an older or younger colleague’s style plays a key role in improving your relationship. Start by asking co-workers how they prefer to be contacted: Do they like calls, e-mails, or face-to-face chats? Do they like to get regular updates on projects or do they want you to touch base only after you’ve completed them?

Next, start studying your co-worker’s values and work ethics closely—they’re more similar to yours than you think. “All generations share similar values—they just express them differently, and that’s what causes issues,” says career coach Elene Cafasso. “For instance, older generations honor their family values by working long hours, being a good provider, keeping a job, and funding a college plan. Younger folks honor their family values by working more flexible or less hours, and spending more time with the family. They place the emphasis on being there for them versus doing for them. It’s the same value, just a different expression.”

Don’t count them out. To improve office relations, younger women must value the experience of their elders in the office. This is especially important for women who are managing an older staffer. “When managing an older person, be sure to solicit their opinion. Give them recognition for their unique contributions. Bounce things off of them,” says Cafasso. “It’s very easy to show a person you value them without taking a lot of extra time or effort, or feeling like you’re kissing up to them. And you might learn something in the process.”

Building an Emergency Fund

 

Building an emergency fund is one of those things that no one really wants to do but they know they have to do it. There are lots of reasons to have one: an unexpected job loss, emergency medical expenses, a natural disaster, an appliance breakdown, auto repairs — the list goes on and on. You want to be as prepared for these things as possible, which takes effort and requires planning. Whether you’re starting a fresh fund or rebuilding a depleted one, here are some tips that will not only make the process much simpler but also a little less intimidating.

1. Evaluate (or re-evaluate) your budget.

The first step in building an emergency fund is to take a look at your budget and see how much money you have to play with. If you don’t have a budget, now is the time to make one. Keep it simple by subtracting your mandatory monthly expenses (things like rent or mortgage, bills, loans — pretty much anything with a due date) from your monthly income. The difference is what you can use to spend on entertainment, shopping and other things that you don’t necessary need. If you have a substantial amount leftover, that’s good — it means you can use a lot of that to put toward your emergency savings fun. If you don’t, that’s OK, because you can…

2. Figure out how to cut back.

Devise a plan to lower some (or all) of the expenses in your life. Lower your grocery bill by creating weekly menus, make dishes that you can freeze and eat again and again, and stick to your list. Be smart about your phone and cable bills — bundle your cable services, and only sign up for packages you know you’ll actually use. Determine whether you’re really using that monthly membership, and cut the cost by walking or jogging outside instead.

Even if you’re working with a salary on the lower side and you’re already struggling to make ends meet, you can still contribute to an emergency fund — you just have to…

3. Start small.

You may have read or heard that it’s important to have six months’ or even eight months’ worth of living expenses saved in your emergency fund. While this is ideal, it’s simply not probable for many of us. Rather than beating yourself up about being unable to achieve such a large target goal, lower your standards. Set a small goal at first, maybe just $500 or $1,000. Determine how much money you can put toward that goal each month (that’s where tip No. 1 comes in). As your income increases, your monthly emergency fund contributions should, as well.

4. Set it and forget it.

Set up direct deposit so that a portion of each paycheck goes directly into your emergency fund. Think of it this way: You can’t miss what you never knew you had.

When Should You Call In Sick?

 

It’s cold-and-flu season, and you know what that means: lots of germs lurking around the office. If you do catch a cold, it’s easy to see why, since a recent survey found that 49% of people go to work “very frequently” even when they feel sick.

Respondents cited a lack of sick days and a fear of falling behind or appearing weak as reasons why they refuse to stay home when they’re under the weather. If you can’t decide whether you’re sick enough to stay home, follow this advice from Patty Haddeland, a nurse practitioner in Ore. “If you are vomiting, have a fever over 101, or work in close quarters with other people (especially the very young or very old), please stay home. Otherwise, wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough and avoid touching your face—this is how germs are spread.”
If you’re not vomiting, but really can’t take the day off, try these strategies for working under the weather.

Ask to take a half day. Your boss will clearly see that you’re sick and will most likely take pity on you. Plus, since you were in the office all morning, you won’t feel like you’re “missing out” on anything important.

Consider “working” from home. While you should use your sick days to rest, if you’re feeling up to it, there’s no harm in checking your e-mail or sitting in on a conference call from the couch. Just be sure to mute the volume on the daytime TV you’ve been watching all day long.

Stay away. While you are in the office, minimize your contact with co-workers to help prevent the spread of germs. They’ll understand—especially when they don’t end up catching whatever it is your harboring.

Be careful of the cold meds. Some medicines can make you drowsy, which may make you more prone to mix-ups or mistakes. Make sure to read the label before popping any pills.

The Perfect Interview Outfit For Every Job

A great way of expressing that you are the perfect person for the job is to dress the part. It takes about three seconds to make a first impression and what you’re wearing is a huge non-verbal and often subconscious way of ensuring the interviewer thinks you are a great fit. Speaking of fit, regardless of industry or what you wear fit is the key to looking your Most Unexceptional. Don’t hesitate to ask a tailor to help!

When you’re “artistic
In creative fields, you want to do just that, express your inspiration through your outfit. This can be one of the harder industries to dress for because the boundaries are much less defined. In this industry, you have more leeway to express yourself through your clothes, hair and nails via colors, prints, shapes and fabrics. The interesting thing about the creative industry is that whatever you’re wearing should ideally be inspiring you to be your Most Unexceptional in the interview. There is going to be less judgment on the other side of the desk, so make sure it’s something that you feel reflects you and helps your creativity to shine.

There is one caveat with this let-your-creativity-shine-through advice; make sure whatever you’ve decided to wear isn’t distracting to your interviewer. You risk sensory overload with an arm full of jangling bracelets, a mix of too many colors or the interviewer’s preoccupation with, ‘is that a bird in her hair’?

If you’re on Wall Street
In the financial sector what you are attempting to communicate via your outfit is utter confidence. You are responsible for one of the things that many people hold most dear: their money. There are much stricter rules for dress and in a lot of ways, this makes your outfit option must simpler. Very simple hair (pulled back off your face), a suit or a dress with a jacket. If you’re wearing a skirt or dress, in many firms the expectation is that you should be wearing pantyhose.

The good news is that the shape of suits and the style of professional looking shift dresses are very flattering. In this industry, you are choosing a more subdued color. Stay away from neon, loud pinks or Easter egg pastels. The goal is to not distract away from your intelligence and in fact to emphasize your ‘seriousness’. Shoes should also be simple and a professional bag (that is well organized and not filled with kid’s toys and fiber bar wrappers) is a key to conveying an, ‘You can trust me with your money’ message.

Dealing with Patients
One of the interesting things to consider when dressing for an interview in the ‘helping’ sector is that the focus is not on you, but on them – the patient (who in the interview is being played by the interviewer). In this industry, you want to wear an outfit that doesn’t overpower (by virtue of being under or overdressed) and ideally, makes others feel comfortable with your competence. This industry is uniform-dominant with the aim of not surprising people (for example when you walk into a hospital you expect to see scrubs).

When interviewing in this industry think simple. Hair styled in a bun or beyond your ears, ideally with your hair off your face. Wear a modest dress of pants and a button up shirt. Soft colors are preferable. Sometimes when thinking about what works for an interview in an industry it’s helpful to think in reverse: what wouldn’t work. And in this case, anything provocative, a towering, trendy heal, a ton of heavy make-up or perfume. Even if this wouldn’t be your usual selection of wardrobe for you day-to-day job in this industry, make sure it isn’t what you decide to wear for the interview.

Laying down the Law
The legal industry is much like the finance sector where competence is the key message that you are trying to communicate in the interview (as you would be with a client). But importantly, there is more room for conveying a sense of individual style.

Power is a big part of the legal industry and from my experience investing in a beautiful designer bag or a signature piece of jewelry is a good way of saying, I’m here to play…and win. More traditional suits, dresses, a mix and match of jackets and pants should be your staples. You can integrate some individual flair via your accessories – a beautiful scarf, trendy shoes or luxurious portfolio. This is also an industry where a blowout and a manicure can go a long way in the interview process.

Head of the Class
The focus in academia is your brain so this is an industry where the rules are much less strict. As a teacher, the key to your success is commanding attention and so much of that has to do with your posture and presence. The use of your hands and facial expressions to convey information are as important in the interview as your clothes in this industry.

One thing to consider is that the choice of your outfit is also going to depend upon the faculty you’re applying to teach or research within. Many instructors are expected to dress in a way that is consistent with what would be appropriate in the field they are teaching within so you can follow the information above. If you’re applying for a marketing teaching position you’re going to be more creatively dressed than if you were applying to teach law.

Fashion Forward
The fashion industry is a whole different beast. The outfit you choose is going to be as scrutinized as your resume so you better to be ready to impress. The rule to fashionable dressing is you want to as closely dress to the brand you are applying for. How close? The outfit you choose if you’re applying to Calvin Klein is…Calvin Klein. Discounts are provided to employees so they can afford to wear the brand they are working for exclusively – it’s that important. For the interview bag, borrow a friend's or rent one to get your hands the brands’ tote.

Public Relations
When you work in PR you are an extension of the brands you are representing. That means you really do need to dig in and get a feel for company culture and the companies business prior to selecting your interview outfit.

In PR a business is hiring you to “be them” when you are pitching and sometimes representing them in the media. This means you have to think about your outfit very carefully. In selecting your interview outfit you’ll want to show you’re on top of fashion trends so feel free to wear the color, fabric, design of the season. This is one industry where a dark wash jean with heels and a jacket may fit the bill. Just make sure to roll up your sleeves and wear accessories that dress this ensemble up!

If you’re not sure
LinkedIn profile pictures are the key to success and this question is infinitely easier to get a feel for. Before you go into an interview you should definitely be checking out their Company Pages and the interviewer’s profile.

Not only are you going to get a ton of valuable information about their career trajectory, their picture is a perfect representation of what they think is appropriate career attire and what they think works for them, is likely to work for you. How formal is their hair, their clothes, their posture…all of this will give you some important clues to how to dress for the interview. But at the end of the day and long story short when in doubt: wear a black shift dress.

Are You an Entrepreneur?

 

Some are born as one; others grow into it. While their backgrounds vary, these risk takers share certain characteristics. If you relate to many or all of the following characteristics, and you have an idea you really believe in, consider yourself ready to join the entrepreneurial ranks.
Optimistic. The entrepreneurial road isn’t an easy one to travel. From a lack of funds to a small client list, new business owners face many challenges. Yet they tackle these obstacles and turn them into opportunities. Rather than moping over problems, they’ll find the silver lining and work hard to find solutions.

Independent. Starting a business is a huge responsibility. Those who do it successfully have the ability to work on their own, day after day. While they may be able to work within a corporate structure, they take pride in being their own boss.

Driven. Entrepreneurs want to succeed. They feel a strong need to achieve, and set goals to track their progress. Watching the business grow is rewarding; the profits that follow are a bonus.

Self-confident. Henry Ford, an accomplished entrepreneur, once said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” High levels of self-confidence go a long way when asking for a bank loan, sending out advertisements, or officially opening doors for business. When owners believe in themselves and their business, others take notice and react positively.

Disciplined. Entrepreneurs recognize the need to be on top of their game, 24/7. They regularly take time for exercise and eat healthy. They understand the importance of getting away and spending time with family and friends. Setting up a schedule puts them at their best, both personally and professionally.

Visionary. They carry out the daily tasks to run a business, but they don’t let the small things smother their dream. New business owners think about where they’ll be in the future. Setting five-year and ten-year goals helps them stay focused and ride out the bumps along the way.

Competitive. Whether they shot hoops or aced tests in school, entrepreneurs are often competitive in some areas of life. This nature flows into their business endeavors. It pushes them to do better each year and beat personal records.

Persistent. They don’t take no for an answer. Entrepreneurs don’t throw in the towel when problems arise. They work through the trouble spots and persist until they reach the level of success they’re satisfied with.

Risk Taker. Not everyone wants to leave the security of a monthly paycheck, benefits, and a Christmas bonus. Entrepreneurs are willing to take the leap out of their comfort zone. They’d rather seize they opportunity than wonder “What if?”

Feeling overwhelmed? You don’t need to excel in all of these areas to be a successful entrepreneur. Everyone, even entrepreneurs, has strengths and weaknesses. Focus on your strong points, and look for ways to work with your idiosyncrasies. When breaking out on your own, the most important thing to have is the determination to turn a dream into a reality. You’ll learn the rest as you go.

Tips for Choosing the Right Job

Is there such thing as choosing the right job? That’s a question that’s been often debated. However, you can choose the wrong job. With so many job options out there it’s easy to get bogged down when you are looking to make a change. Read on for my tips on how to narrow down your job search and find the right fit for you.

Why it’s important to love your job: You spend over 70% of your time at the office. Why wouldn’t you go into a career that you were truly passionate about? Life is too short to be clocking in at job you don’t like.

Narrow down your job search: Many people feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices in profession. The best thing you can do is to get a reality check. Log onto LinkedIn and do an advanced people search of professionals who are holding positions you are interested in. Connect with them by sending a personalized message asking for an informational interview on their career path and their current job. Going straight to the source is often the best way to judge what is right for you. Remember, it’s always best to try something out than to put it on hold.

Is it a good fit: The best jobs are the kind that don’t feel like work at all. Sure that will still mean long hours and busy work – that’s inescapable. But knowing you are contributing to something greater and ignoring the later nights for the massive end reward is how you know you’ve picked wisely.

Create a happy work environment: Speak up. Your boss doesn’t have ESP – so if you are unhappy with a task, want to learn a skill or work with a different department you need to let your boss know. If you are looking for a change – you need to seek it out. Same goes for getting a promotion and a raise. You need to make it known. The days of promotions and raises arriving after your employee review are a thing of the past. You need to campaign for them and show the results you’ve made in the last years’ time.

Transparency in Your Workplace

 

What words come to mind when you hear…workplace transparency? For me, it means working for a company that shares everything with their employees and is very clear about their goals. Many companies start out trying to have an open work space but as they grow from 5 to 50 to 5,000 it becomes more difficult to include the whole team on this type of openness – although it can be done.

How open is your workplace? Are you comfortable asking what your coworkers are working on, what their salary/bonus is or getting face time with the boss? I was interviewed recently on HuffPost Live about this very issue. Working at a company that is open and attempts to utilize team work is a growing trend. However, if your office hasn’t taken the measures to become fully transparent you should be the one to set the tone.

Learn to Ask: Normally when an employee feels out of the loop it means they most likely haven’t done the obvious and that’s to sit down with their boss. They assume their boss is too busy or not interested in having the one on one. My advice, don’t be afraid and just ask…9 times out of 10 your boss will appreciate it. Schedule a meeting and simply ask to see what has been going on and where the company is headed. This is also a great time for you to see if there is any additional responsibilities you can take on that could lead to a promotion or a raise down the road. If possible, schedule these meetings at least once a quarter. Being clued into the company and having private time with your boss will help you strengthen your relationship and also help you do your job better.

Lead by example: As a boss, you need to be the one in charge of setting the tone of transparency in the office. Whether it’s sending a weekly email update, planning meetings or stopping by an employee’s desk to chat and learn about their projects. Creating an environment that includes open discourse will connect your employees to you, the company and more importantly to each other.

Create Partnerships:  Feedback and knowledge-sharing are essential to any business. Look at your weekly team meeting as a way for you to learn about the different channels in your business and how your coworker’s contacts or methods can help you. Did Steve from digital mention setting up a social media strategy…isn’t that something you wanted to do for your client? Take advantage of these meetings as a time to figure out how your different channels can work together.

Understanding the business: A business will only run as long as the higher-ups translate their intentions to their employees. What are their goals for the company this quarter, next quarter and the years to come? Having an open dialogue about how an employee is essential to that growth will help the company get there faster.

Being Vocal: One of the features employers look for during the hiring process is personality. Employers want people who are honest, eager to learn and can give feedback. You should never dance around the truth or hold back on your opinions. Always speak your mind and don’t wait around for the next meeting or opportunity. The sooner you give your feedback – the sooner you’ll be helping the company.

Drinking with Co-workers

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beeeeeeeeeeep. You reach over and flail your hand around until you locate the snooze button and silence your ear piercing alarm clock. It takes all of your energy to lift your pounding, hungover head and peer at what ungodly hour it must be. Not only do you realize that you have exactly six minutes to get to work, but you’re hit with a startling wave of panic. Last evening’s “Let’s have a drink” happy hour with your work crew turned into a blurry, all night booze-a-thon. The last thing you remember is blabbing to your cab driver about how delicious your late night pizza was and then trying to unlock the door to your neighbor’s apartment. To avoid a morning after freakout session, try these dos and don’ts for drinking with co-workers.

DO: know your limit and stick to it. Binge drinking with Bob from Accounting rarely ends well.

DO: order something to eat! The last meal you had was lunch, so it’s crucial to fill up on chicken fingers, sliders, pizza, wings and fries (to share with co-workers, of course). Gotta love a good happy hour menu. (PS: Be sure to take a cab home, get a ride or leave your car parked at work if you’re feeling tipsy.)

DON’T: talk about people that report to you. If you’re a manager, make sure to keep confidential information to yourself. Don’t reveal employees salaries, whether they’re up for a promotion, or if they royally messed up a huge project and are about to get canned. If you can’t keep these things private after a few margaritas, you shouldn’t be a manager.

DO: lighten up! Getting together with work buds after office hours is a great way to show them your fun, laid back side. Keep your deepest, darkest secrets to yourself (awkward, much?), and avoid talking badly about co-workers. But definitely kick back, relax, and freely discuss your favorite reality shows without worrying that the boss will walk by.

DON’T: make-out, hook-up or sleep with a co-worker … or worse, your boss! This sounds like a no-brainer, but it happens all the time after a few too many cocktails. On one hand, tons of great couples meet at work, fall in love and live happily ever after. But that’s typically when both are unattached, have taken into account the numerous risks involved, and make a conscious decision to take a working relationship to the next level. Know the facts. Does your company have a policy you should be aware of if things get serious? On the flip side, could you handle seeing this guy everyday if things go South? Unless you both can laugh about it, in most cases, a drunk smooch leads to awkwardness, avoidance and regret.

DON’T: talk shit about co-workers (including your boss) that aren’t there. Just because you’re in a bar doesn’t mean it’s “no holds barred”! You never know how it could get back to them. If they find out, it could cause a very bad working relationship and/or really bad career consequences. Plus, you don’t want the reputation of “office gossip queen.”

DO: pick up an egg sandwich, a large bottle of water, Gatorade, Advil, and coffee on your way to the office to help cure your hangover. Text your equally hurting work friends and take orders while you’re at the deli. Then, before the boss walks by barking orders, do a brief re-cap of the night to reassure each other that all is good and no one needs to resign.

Get Over Mistakes

Mark Wahlberg, Robert Downey Jr., Martha Stewart… They’ve all been in jail. Yet somehow their career lives came out unscathed, and we can barely recall the time their names were splattered on headlines for breaking the law.  While your biggest blunder probably didn’t involve a prison sentence, repairing your rep may start to feel like one. Whatever you did, know that you can bounce back from it. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Take responsibility for your actions. If you majorly screw up, you have to suffer the consequences—in silence. Don’t protest, don’t try and get out of it, and don’t put the blame on someone or something else. Shut up and take it. People will respect you more for owning your mistakes.

Rebrand yourself. Think of this situation as an opportunity to start over. To do so, you have to think strategically about what aspect of your image needs revamping. To help you stay on track, give yourself a debut date. On that day, you’re going to walk into the boardroom and pitch an idea that will knock people’s socks off. You have to alter people’s memory of you. That way, when they hear your name, they’ll think of the great work you do, not that horrible faux pas you made last year.

Figure out who your friends are. When you’re a success, your list of hangers-on is limitless. Make one misstep, however, and life gets mighty lonely. Be thankful for those who stick by you, and make a note to call on them when you land your next big gig. You’ll want people like them on your team.

Believe that you will survive. Though it may seem hard to fathom right now, you will make it through this rough period. And if you work for a small company or in a small industry, surviving may mean switching companies or even careers. Don’t freak out about this. Instead, think of it this way: Sometimes mistakes are a way of letting us know that we need to be on a different path. Let this be your chance to find yours.