Work, success, and meaning at every stage of your career
When we talk about “good” communication skills, we often mean a single competency: persuasion. The art of persuasion, if you have it, means that you can articulate your thoughts clearly and win over opponents. You can write better copy or make a better sales pitch. You can become the top candidate for a job.
Life and career coaching are multi-million dollar industries in the United States. For those who aren’t interested in paying someone else to get their lives in gear, this is a useful (free!) guide with tips about how you can serve as your own career coach.
There’s little doubt that when a person stands quietly, with relaxed posture, she seems more confident. Humans rely on hundreds of non-verbal signals when we’re communicating: smiles, involuntary grimaces and your eyes tell much more than what you say with words. We associate fidgeting with nervousness, and nervousness with unfavorable traits like dishonesty, guilt, or lack of self control.
I think the idea of pursuing a dream job is something every worker should aspire to. You should enjoy your work, use your strongest skills, and be paid well. Even in this recession, it’s possible to pursue and find your dream job; it just may take a little longer.
So here is the first step you might take to find your dream job eventually.
After you’ve been job searching for a while, your confidence takes a beating. You may feel invisible; especially if your job search is mostly online, you may feel like no one knows you’re there. It may be tempting to go for comfort over style when you do venture out. After all, who cares what you wear to the grocery store, right?
Organizations like WorkSource are there to help with funding education for demand occupations. But that’s not your only option. Many top universities offer free courses online. Education Portal.com ranks several of the best free university courses available for people who want to enhance their personal knowledge or advance in their current field.
In Think and Grow Rich, published in 1937, Napoleon Hill speaks of persistence as an essential quality. He writes, “Without persistence, you will be defeated before you start. With persistence, you will win.”
In Think and Grow Rich, published in 1937, Napoleon Hill spends many pages on discussing your subconscious mind. Hill believed strongly in the power of visualization and your ability to influence your destiny through positive thoughts. He also believed that you must engage your subconscious as well as your conscious thoughts if you want to succeed.
If you are considering a career change, you might want to consider jobs that are brand new. Positioning yourself as a worker in an emerging field has several advantages. Here are three to consider.
Marshall Goldsmith, is the author of MOJO: How to Get It, How to Keep It, and How to Get It Back If You Lose It. He might not have been thinking about careers, but MOJO is a necessary component of your job search as well.
