Inquire into a mentorship through your professional association. They sometimes offer them for members at the entry-level or internship position. Request help in finding a job. Professional associations often have job lists that other members provide. Seek help with your professional development. Many associations offer seminars, workshops, and literature related to the field they represent. Attend your association’s annual conference. It’s an excellent way to network. Conferences include job fairs and a chance to connect with potential employers. Check into scholarships if you’re a young association member (high school and college).
Think outside of the box. Come up with new ideas for your company through innovative thinking. Look at the way things are and think about how they could be better. [2] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Business Review Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices Go to source Take on projects outside your comfort zone. Taking on more responsibility can help you to learn new skills that will enhance your career. [3] X Research source Solve problems rather than passing them on to other people. Maintain a “can-do” attitude. [4] X Research source Ask a mentor to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses to determine if you’re moving toward your career objectives. [5] X Research source Adapt to new positions. As you move up the ladder recognize that the skills responsible for your promotion may not apply to your new position. Ask a mentor to evaluate your behavioral skill set to ensure you’ve kept pace with your promotion. Be serious at work. Focus on your job and complete tasks with speed and consistency. [6] X Research source Improve your critical thinking skills. Analytical thinkers can foresee problems and prevent them from happening. Take a workshop or seminar that includes critical thinking methodology exercises. [7] X Research source Network as much as possible. Network within your company and within the community to gain visibility and to establish contacts. [8] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Business Review Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices Go to source
A lateral move might pair you with a good boss or mentor. This is especially appealing if your current job doesn’t have either. Moving to a different part of the company that’s more vibrant will lead to more visibility for you. Moving from one organization or department to another will mean that you’re meeting more people, making more contacts, establishing a bigger network of resources. Changing to a different department could lead to more advancement opportunities, especially if you’re stagnant in your current department.
Track your expenses. Log all of your expenses for a month so that you’ll know where your money is going. You can use an App or pen and paper but account for everything. [11] X Research source Allocate about 10% of your income for savings. Better to do a direct deposit so that you won’t be tempted to spend. [12] X Research source Be patient and consistent. Depositing $100 per month means you’ve saved $48,000 after 40 years. Assuming a seven percent annualized rate of return, your $100 per month deposit would equal more than $260,000. Long-term savings should go toward a 401(k). Aim for maximizing your 401(k) deposits. [13] X Research source Apply about 35% of your savings to housing and utilities. [14] X Research source Put aside another 10% if you have specific goals in mind, such as buying a new car or paying for you child’s college education. [15] X Research source Cut back on unnecessary spending. Rent a movie instead of going to the theater. Drop your land phone line. Don’t sign up for cable TV services you don’t need. Use the remainder of your income in whatever way you see fit. Food, entertainment, vacations etc.
Implement a plan to pay off credit card debt using your budget. Know exactly how much you can afford to direct toward your credit card debt. Pay off the card with the highest interest rate first, while meeting the minimum payment requirements for other cards. [16] X Trustworthy Source Investor. gov Website maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commision’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy providing free resources about investing. Go to source Be consistent in your payments. Many people reduce the amount they’re paying toward a credit card debt when they see the balance going down. Pay with cash to avoid accumulating more credit card debt. Use cash for groceries, clothes, vacations and non-essentials.
Apply 10% of your income to investments. Alternately, the money you’ve budgeted for savings can be split between savings and your investment needs. [18] X Research source Invest in stocks using an investment firm if you’re not stock-savy. Over the past 70 years stocks have gained an average of 10% per year in value. Mutual funds are a good choice for the average investor. Offset the potential volatility of stocks by also investing in bonds and CDs. You’re loaning your money out at interest so the balance is growing although usually not at the same rate as stocks. Consider using an automated investment service. Their fees are low. They match your time horizon and goals with your investment. [19] X Research source Try regular monthly direct debit investing. It guarantees you’ll be putting money aside for investments, taking the decision about where the money goes out of your hands.
Discuss your work hours and expectations with your boss so that you can set some boundaries to prevent work from leeching away at family time. [20] X Research source Spend time with your spouse and children even if it means getting everyone together in the morning to exercise or stretch for fifteen minutes before leaving the house. Institute a “no electronics” rule at the dinner table so that the family will pay attention to each other, rather than to their screens. Take regular family vacations. This is a good way to focus solely on family without the worries of the workplace that follow you home. Discuss childcare with your spouse. If you’re both working you’ll want to come up with a firm and fair plan with specific responsibilities for both parents.
Make a list of people in your life who you feel close to. Invite them to your home for dinner or tea or to watch a movie. [21] X Research source Your home environment allows for less self-conscious conversation. Volunteer for a project or group for which you have conviction. Strong friendships are more easily made when you work together on areas of mutual concern and interest. Use your current contacts to make friends. If there are people who you’ve met briefly through friends and liked, try getting in touch with them through your mutual friend. Join a book reading circle. These circles usually meet regularly. Many of them last for years. Lifetime friendships are formed over a shared interest.
Take a class that focuses on an area of interest. Cooking, coding, painting, archery . . . there are numerous classes available. Sign up for a hiking or nature club if you like the outdoors. Volunteer to be a big brother or big sister.
Maintain a healthy diet that includes fresh produce, lean protein sources, dairy products, and whole grains. [22] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source Eat wholesome meals three times a day. When you don’t depend on one big meal daily, your body will reach a level of nourishment that diminishes cravings and helps you to naturally eat less. Make regular visits to your doctor. Think in terms of “preventive maintenance. ” Vaccinations, screenings and regular check-ups can prevent serious illness that adversely affect your future.
Try for 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise. [24] X Trustworthy Source American Heart Association Leading nonprofit that funds medical research and public education Go to source Begin by walking 15 minutes or so every other day and gradually increase the time and pace until you’re jogging 30 minutes every other day. Alternately, try aerobic exercise, 25 minutes of vigorous activity three days per week. [25] X Trustworthy Source American Heart Association Leading nonprofit that funds medical research and public education Go to source Build muscle and maintain bone density through strength or resistance training. You can join a gym or work with weights at home. [26] X Research source
Get enough sleep. Try for a regular sleep schedule. Choose calming activities before bed. No electronics in bed. Being sleepy makes concentration more difficult, raises stress levels and increases mood swings. Steer clear of drugs and alcohol. Keep your mind sharp.
