It's the dog days of summer and between the oppressive heat and overwhelming humidity, even the most heat-loving of people are getting tired of being sweaty, over heated and just miserable. Even though there are plenty of things you can do to cool off, it's hard not to let the heat go to your head and make you feel discouraged. It's difficult to be motivated and enthusiastic about your job search when all you really want to do is jump in the nearest pool. The nice, cool water would feel amazing, but when you're focused on finding a new career, you can't spend every day hanging by the pool.
In an effort to help us all get, and stay, motivated, I thought it might be nice to get career advice from some of the best in their fields. Here are 5 pieces of advice from the experts about how to live your best life and how to be fulfilled both professionally and personally:
From Byron Wien, Vice Chairman of Blackstone Advisory Partners LP (who recently turned 80):
Network intensely – Luck plays a big role in life and there is no better way to increase your luck than by knowing as many people as possible. Nurture your network by sending articles, books and emails to people to show you're thinking about them.
When you meet someone new, treat that person as a friend – Assume he or she is a winner and will become a positive force in your life. Most people wait for others to prove their value. Give them the benefit of the doubt from the start. Occasionally you will be disappointed but your network will broaden rapidly if you follow this path.
From Tim Westergren, the founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Pandora
Notice ideas when you have them – Stop. Take the time to consider them seriously. If your gut tells you they're compelling, be fearless in their pursuit.
From Alexander Ljung, co-founder and CEO of SoundCloud
Learn the importance of simplicity – Sometimes it takes more mental (and sometimes physical) bandwidth to create something simple or communicate something complicated in basic terms. It's not about building every feature or understanding everything the first time around. It's about creating the best, tailored experience.
From Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States
Your professional reputation is more important that you think – Abraham Lincoln said, “Reputation is like fine china: Once broken it's very hard to repair” How you carry yourself, how you dress, how you socialize, how you use social media and how you treat the people you work with all contribute to the way other professionals view you. Strive to be someone who lifts others up and strives for the utmost degree of professionalism.
There is so much we can all learn from the mistakes and the successes of those who came before us. When you find that your motivation is reaching an all time low or you want to get motivated, take a look at some of the advice from successful people. It really does help.
What other quotes or sayings do you find helpful? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Image source: Wikipedia
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