Happy at work

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5 Tips For Reclaiming Your Career & Finding Happiness

Which one describes your morning more accurately? a) Waking up excited to head into work and do what you love. b) Waking up dreading work and seriously considering calling in sick.

If the second scenario sounds more like you, it's time for a change, don't you think? Here are five tips for reclaiming your career and finally finding career happiness:

1. Figure Out What's Causing The Problem

Professional man smiles while talking to a coworker

What is it that you hate about your job? Why do you dread going to work? Is it the work itself or the people you work with? Is it a specific task or a specific individual that is making your life miserable?

Once you determine the cause of the stress/misery, you can take steps to fix or eliminate the problem. Maybe there's more than one problem. That's okay. The key is to identify where the real pain points are in your career. Only then can you make the changes you need to make to ultimately find career success.

2. Manage Up

I'm sure you've heard this term before, but what does it really mean to "manage up" anyway? Well, it means that you need to step it up a little bit with your work and go above and beyond what you're being asked to do.

Managing up will help others recognize your value within the organization, making you an asset. By going the extra mile with your work, you take stress off your manager or boss, which can help you build a better working relationship with him/her.

Remember: your job is to make your boss's job easier. If you're not doing that, you're not doing your jobâand you're not showing your value as an employee.

Your career is yours and yours only. Reclaim it by giving 110% in all aspects of your professional life. When you start making progress, you'll realize the secret to career growth and happiness starts with intrinsic motivation.

3. Attend Workshops & Seminars

Group of happy professionals attend a workshop

Find some local workshops and seminars that will help you enhance and develop your skills. By attending these events, you'll not only learn new, valuable skills, but you will prove that you are willing to take that extra step in order to get ahead.

Figure out what areas you think you should improve in. Do you need better time management skills? Would it help you to learn the HTML basics? Maybe you just want to brush up on your business writing or public speaking skills.

Whatever your interest, there are workshops and seminars for everything! Attend one and see how much it impacts your confidence and happiness as a professional.

4. Find A Mentor

It's always nice to have a little extra guidance and support. Find someone who has extensive experience in your field and ask them if they would mind being your mentor. They can provide valuable insight and contacts that will help you get ahead.

Never underestimate the power of a mentor. Building a close, professional relationship with someone you admire can do wonders for your career. If you already have a colleague in mind, what are you waiting for? Reach out today!

5. Get Out There & Meet The Right People

If you really want to take control of your career, you need the right people in your corner. Are you going out there and meeting the right people? Like it or not, your network is your net worth. Although networking with people outside of your industry has its benefits, it's important to have a focused networking strategy that builds a solid network of contacts.

There are several ways to connect with the right contacts. Here are a few:

Attend industry-specific events (They don't have to be networking events!)
Join industry-specific organizations and clubs
Use keywords and hashtags to find potential contacts on Twitter and LinkedIn

We all have highs and lows in life. The same is true for our careers. If you're feeling unhappy in your career, you have the power to change that. Every hurdle you face, you can overcome.

Follow the tips above and you'll not only reclaim your career but find career happiness as well. We believe in you!

Need more help with your career?

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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5 Tips For Reclaiming Your Career & …

A lot of people tell you to follow your passion, follow your dreams, or do what makes you happy. But how many people are really doing it?

Survey after survey indicates that the majority of employees are unhappy in their professions or wished they had pursued other passions earlier. So, why do they stay?

In reality, it may be a case of not really understanding what they want to do. Finding your work passion is tough when you have no idea where to start. However, the alternative of not figuring it out can leave you even more unhappy, bitter, and unproductive.

When you realize you want to do something else but have no idea where to begin, follow these steps to get started:

Evaluate What Drives You Each Day

In order to find your work passion, you have to evaluate what drives you. What makes you tick? What issues do you feel particularly excited about? What cause or stance would make you drop everything to make life better?

Answering these questions can help you to assess your interests and decide where you can place them in your professional life. They can also help you create an interview bucket list, which is vital to a strategic job search.

Connect Those Strengths To A Career

Professional man and professional woman smiling while going over a work project they are passionate about.

Not every interest translates into a career. For example, just because you love soccer doesn't mean you can make a career out of it. Instead, focus on the strengths that you have and connect these strengths to a career path. So, for the person who's interested in soccer, perhaps you also have a real interest in how the sport is marketed. You may want to look into sports marketing positions, which can fulfill both interests.

(P.S. If you want to know which careers you'd thrive in based on your workplace persona, check out our free quiz!)

Ask Yourself If It's Realistic

Professional woman sitting at her home laptop, wondering if the career she wants to pursue is realistic.

You may be a great public speaker. However, that doesn't mean you should be the president.

Setting realistic expectations can help you to navigate these strengths into a suitable career. While not everyone can be the president, you can pursue public speaking opportunities elsewhere. To help you, try making a list of all of the jobs you would like to have and narrow them down to jobs you have the most chance of actually landing.

Network And Gain Connections

Networking and gaining the right connections can have dual benefits. First, networking can help you meet people with similar dreams and work passions. These connections can then let you know how they got to where they are, share pros and cons about your passion, and provide some real insight into what you can expect.

Next, networking and gaining the right connections can help you break into an industry. Think of it as that golden ticket to finding and then landing those jobs you would do anything for. This is particularly vital to those who haven't worked in the given space, even if they love it.

Be Bold

Being bold can get you far in life. It's how so many innovators and leaders reached that level of greatness.

While your work passion may be out there, it's necessary to pursue it if it's important enough to you. Sure, it's probably going to take a lot of hours and late nights. However, being bold means taking the good with the bad and moving forward with the notion that it's all worth it. And if it's not worth it, then you can move on to something that is.

Finding your work passion and relevant jobs when you have no idea where to start can be very frustrating. However, once you understand what your passion is, you can get busy getting your life started, and be happier because of it.

If you could use more help figuring out what you're passionate about, we're here for you!

We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. Itâs a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It's time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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5 Ways To Find Your Work Passion

5 Ways To Be A Happier, More Confident YOU

Have you noticed that when you're happy, you tend to be more productive, confident, and successful? Heck yeah! That said, we're all guilty of feeling negative sometimes, which can significantly damage those things.

Here are some things you can do to be a happier, more confident you:

Vow To Stop Negative Self-Talk

When you're feeling discouraged about something, it can be easy for the evil negative self-talk (a.k.a. NST) to take over. Don't allow yourself to say (or THINK) things like, "I'll never get a job" or "I'm never going to be good enough." When you focus on this negative mindset, those thoughts turn into motivation-suckers.

In addition, NST can be a big, fat barrier between you and strong relationships with others. According to WebMD, people who think negatively tend to be less outgoing and have weaker social networks than positive thinkers. Studies link positive emotions with more satisfying relationships. So, if you want to build a strong network, your first step is to have a more positive outlook on life!

Find A Reason To Smile Every Day

Whenever you feel down, try to find something to smile about (ex: take a fun online quiz, look at cute puppy videos, or check out funny listicles). If you find yourself giving into negative emotions, allow yourself five minutes to find something to smile about. Honestly, it works!

Embrace Your Quirks

Happy woman thinks about something during a meeting

Think about this quote from Dr. Seuss: "You have to be odd to be number one."

Your little quirks make you who you are. They make you stand out from everyone else. In a world where everyone is fighting to stand out from the crowd, there's never been a better time to embrace what makes you different. Quirks are what give you flavor. Stop wasting time and energy on trying to be someone you're not. Accept yourself and embrace those little things that make you... you.

Learn How To Take A Compliment

Happy man gets a high five from a coworker

You may compliment others all the time, but what happens when someone compliments YOU? Do you smile and say, "thanks!" or do you instantly try to undermine yourself? There are many of us out there who are guilty of this. According to this article in LifeHack, many people feel they don't deserve positive feedback, and anyone who pays them a compliment must be either lying, misguided, or feeling sorry for them.

Here are some tips for how to take a compliment:

Own your accomplishments
Be appreciative
Be honest and optimistic about the future
Recognize your contribution
Follow up
Be gracious

Be Thankful

Happy coworkers thank each other and shake hands

Say thank you. Whether a stranger opens a door for you or your boss gives you a raise, always say thank you. Studies show that showing gratitude makes us happier. Make an effort to give thanks to those who deserve it.

By doing these five things daily, you'll be one step closer to being a happier, more confident you.

Need more help gaining confidence, especially when it comes to your career?

We're here for you!

We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It's time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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5 Ways To Be A Happier, More …

4 Things You Can Do To Be Happier At Work Today

No matter what you do, making sure your happiness and well-being are intact are major priorities. If you're stuck in a position, work long hours, or hate your job, this can be a difficult thing to maintain.

There are things you can do to make your situation better, though.

Here are four ways you can be happier at work today:

Eat Your Veggies At Work

Woman eats lunch while working from home

Constantly feeling down in the dumps? Maybe you need to eat more colorful foods! Researchers found that eating fruits and vegetables every day can actually increase happiness and overall well-being. For optimal results, eat seven servings of fruits and veggies each day.

Set Specific Work Goals

How ambitious are you? Turns out people who set high goals for themselves are happier than those with lower expectations. Make a list of things you want to accomplish—both short-term and long-term goals. It's always good to have something to work toward!

Don't Make Money Your First Priority

You know that saying "money can't buy happiness"? Well, it's true. According to U.S. News and World Report, seeking more money can actually make you less happy. Instead of focusing completely on finances, make sure you take the time to celebrate your own personal growth, like what you've learned, who you've connected with, and how you've improved yourself.

Smile More In The Office

You were late to work, got chewed out by the boss, and spilled coffee on your favorite white blouse. The last thing you want to do today is smile. However, studies show forcing a smile can actually make you genuinely happy. Not only that but putting on a fake smile can help decrease stress.

So, what's not to smile about? These are just a couple of small steps you can take to feel happier at work, starting today.

If you're feeling lost, trapped, or burned out in your career, these tips might not help you feel happier at work. That's a much bigger problem. You're not out of luck, though. We can help!

We'd love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades.

It's time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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4 Things You Can Do To Be …

Ten Reasons Why Happy Individuals Have more Job Opportunities

I really loved Gretchen Rubin’s post upon LinkedIn exactly where she challenged readers in order to quiz themselves as to be able to whether they make other people happy. For me, this validated why being the happy person and, consequently, drawing others along with your own positive attitude is among the factors “happiness magnets” obtain the greatest jobs. A simple […]

Advance Your Career Career Changing Careers and Employment Education Internship