Motivation

While experts routinely stress the importance of networking, many people make excuses to avoid it – especially during the summer. Rather than rationalize that you’ll make a full-scale effort in the fall, go with the flow of the season. You might be surprised at the results.

A great thing about warmer weather is the chance to get outdoors. Is your alma mater hosting a picnic or your neighborhood having a block party? The setting may help you to relax and mingle more than usual (and being able to network without having to wear business attire is certainly appealing).

If you haven’t had the opportunity to watch any of the National Spelling Bee, don’t despair. The championship round is being televised tonight on ESPN, and you’ll be amazed at the talents of these young word wizards. While I’m guessing you haven’t used last year’s winning word, guetapens, in any recent correspondence, there is plenty for everybody to take away from the competition – and not just a richer vocabulary. Here are four lessons adults can learn from spelling bee contestants:

Research shows that happy employees are better workers. According to this article, increasing happiness levels can raise sales by 37%, productivity by 31%, and accuracy on tasks by 19%. In addition, happy workers tend to have fewer health problems and report a higher quality of life.

Just as you wouldn’t set out for a trip without planning how to get to your destination, failure to think about how to reach your goals can keep you from arriving there in a timely manner. Career coach Deborah Brown-Volkman, president of Surpass Your Dreams, Inc., offers these strategies for an effective journey:

1. Decide Where You Are Going

Graduation season is upon us and with it words of wisdom from those who have already set out in the “real” world. Truth be told, we could all use a little pep talk from time to time, so here are some thoughts from actual commencement speeches:

“Develop your own compass, and trust it. Take risks, dare to fail, remember the first person through the wall always gets hurt.” – Aaron Sorkin, screenwriter and producer (Syracuse University, 2012)

• Recipe for Success in Any Job [Psychology Today]
• How to Organize Your Job Hunt [CBS News]
• Why a Five-Year Plan Doesn’t Always Pay [Jobacle]
• 4 Ways to Deal with a Bad Day [Lifehack]
• Resume Verbs That Pack a Punch [US News]

If returning to the office on Monday morning brings with it a sense of restlessness or dread, it might be time to evaluate whether your current position is working for you. Psychotherapist Jude Bijou, author of Attitude Reconstruction: A Blueprint for Building a Better Life, suggests giving your job a grade:

Has this ever happened to you? A great idea pops into your head during a meeting. You’re just about ready to share it with the group, but then you stop yourself because your brain starts playing the doubting game – I’m not important enough to contribute; people might laugh or think I’m stupid; I’m probably wrong.

We’ve all heard of the “old boys’ network” in which men help one another make connections and formulate ideas. Taking a cue from their camaraderie, women are starting to create their own all-female support systems. Journalist Pamela Ryckman explores this movement in her new book Stiletto Network: Inside the Women's Power Circles That Are Changing the Face of Business. Here, she shares some suggestions on constructing your own girl-power group:

Start now!

Today, we continue presenting thoughts from Daniel Steenerson, founder and CEO of San Diego-based Disability Insurance Services, on how any person within a company can take steps to become more successful. If you missed part 1, click here.

Embrace discomfort.