Motivation

As the calendar turns to November, it can be tempting for job searchers to ease up on their efforts. They reason that potential employers will be too busy with holidays and end-of-the-year wrap-ups to focus on hiring so why not just wait until the new year to get a foot in the door.

When we first start out in our careers, most of us hope never to fail—and the most confident among us are sure we won’t. Of course, we all fail occasionally—perhaps even in a spectacular fashion. The important thing is how we recover from failure and what we learn from it.

You have a great idea on how to increase productivity, boost office morale, or attract new clients. So what is stopping you from presenting your thoughts to your boss? Perhaps you’re worried you won’t be taken seriously, or maybe you fear that the idea really isn’t as good as you think.

Sometimes negativity seems to be lurking at every corner, from your 13-year-old son who spends the entire ride to school complaining about the uselessness of algebra and the strictness of his soccer coach to the co-worker who corners you at the water cooler to lament about the pile of work on his desk and the raise none of you are likely to see this year. Such talk can kill your own good mood and make it harder to get things done – if you let it. While it isn’t always easy to maintain a positive attitude under such circumstances, doing so is vital to your own well-being.

From haunted houses to candy-high children, there are plenty of things to be afraid of during the Halloween season. But while sitting through a spine-tingling horror film can be amusing, internal fear – the kind that keeps you from achieving what you want – is anything but fun. Learn to overcome fear and you may accomplish more than you ever dreamed possible.

From leaves turning awesome shades of yellow and red to temperatures feeling like summer one day and winter the next, autumn is a time of change. While nature may make it look easy, humans often resist change, even if we think it might be for the best. The status quo is comfortable, and motivating ourselves to venture into the unfamiliar can be difficult.

Looking for some inspiration to make changes in your life? Consider the following words of wisdom:

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” --Leo Tolstoy

Doing volunteer work as a group is not only a great way to give back to the community, it also can promote valuable office skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity. As people from the following workplaces will attest, helping others feels great – and doing so with colleagues by your side adds an extra element of pride.

Just as the holidays have a way of sneaking up so do year-end performance reviews. If you haven’t thought much about this annual evaluation since last year, it may be time to find your copy of management’s appraisal in order to start preparing for a new assessment.

For some businesses, Halloween is not just another day at the office. These organizations see it as an opportunity to energize the workplace and build company spirit. (Word to the wise, though. You might want to keep the calendar free of client meetings. It is hard to maintain professionalism while dressed as Honey Boo Boo.)