Career Success

As working professionals, we constantly hear about the importance of work-life balance. And many employers now brag about their work-life benefits and family-friendly policies. But for many of us, trying to find the perfect way to juggle these roles can seem nearly impossible.

We all have bad days. Yet some of us seem to have more bad days than others. Employees who continuously have bad days are not the victims of bad luck but the victims of a bad attitude. We’re taught from a very young age the importance of having a healthy, positive attitude. Your attitude is your choice, so choose wisely.

Office professionals know the value of a good education. We studied hard in school and know how much being a diligent student can improve our lives and the qualities of the opportunities that come our way. However, one’s education never stops. Once we’re out of school and in the workforce, we must continue to learn and grow within our chosen industries.

Networking is a funny thing. People hate it, so they avoid it. But these are the same people that will spend a fortune on education and the same people that will work 60 hours a week to please their bosses and colleagues. Wouldn’t you think someone as motivated as that wouldn’t avoid setting up coffee meetings and informational interviews to further their careers? Sadly, they won’t take that extra step. And they are selling themselves short.

• Tools That Make Job Networking Easier [MainStreet.com]
• When to Tell the Boss About Your Pregnancy [CBS News]
• Seven Secrets of Effective Networking [Glass Door]
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The woman in the cubicle to your right is quiet. The man in the cubicle to your left won’t shut up. They have different personalities; in fact, they’re complete opposites. Nevertheless, they both landed a job in the same company, in the same department, on the same floor in the same corner of the building. How does this happen? Different people can be qualified for the same job even though they have completely different personalities and ways of seeing the world and the people around them.

No matter how much you prepare or how well you know the rules of a job interview, sometimes things just don’t go well. We’ve all had at least one or two nightmare interview experiences, where we later wish we could rewind and have a do-over. Worse yet, we often get the most nervous at interviews for jobs we really want, which in turn can cause us to sabotage ourselves.

There is a significant difference between having a job and having a career. A job begins with the first minute of the workday and ends with its last minute. A career is a not a matter of hours in a day, but a lifestyle. People who simply have jobs are collecting a paycheck in exchange for their time and energy. Career-driven employees are paid to live out their lives according to their passions.

What do you want to do with your life? Most of us have a dream project or a goal we are passionate about—but we figure it will only become a reality if we win the lottery or otherwise become financially comfortable enough to leave a reliable paycheck behind.

Well, life is short and (let’s face it) the odds of hitting that jackpot are pretty slim. So maybe it’s time to reconsider whether there’s any way to make that dream a reality. If you are toiling away at a job you hate, this should give you extra motivation to come up with a plan to follow your passion.