 For years business leaders have been preaching ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.’ With the rise of modern technology, it’s possible to connect with just about anyone.
Think about how quickly we see things go viral today, making people instant celebrities sometimes over night. But most people don’t consider this a potential strategy when it comes to business. While social media is great for selfies and song lyrics, it’s even better for advancing your career. This doesn’t mean you have to delete all of your old college pictures or high school rants. Instead, just make sure those accounts are private and create a work-only page that’s public. Easy! We personally love the idea of a work Twitter account. It’s an easy way to make a name for yourself in your industry and start showing off your skills. One of our BGs made one back in October and some of her posts already have 3k+ impressions. For example - if you’re interested in a career in sports, but have no sports-related work experience yet, creating a work Twitter account may be a good idea for you. Tweeting your thoughts about trades, big games, industry news and your opinion can help separate you from the pack. Come Recommended shares that using social media is a great way to establish status + authority in your field. Bonus points because it gives you the opportunity to interact directly with your audience. Whether you’re into sports, fashion, PR or poetry, using social media for business can show that you’re more than just passionate - you’re a thought leader in your industry. It shows employers you’re confident + prepared enough to engage in conversations on the subject. Go snag a new Twitter or Instagram handle and try it out yourself. Let us know your thoughts in the comments!  At the end of December, people across the world prepare for the year ahead. There’s something about the start of a fresh calendar that motivates people to set new goals for themselves.
You hear things like “new year, new me,” “turning over a new leaf,” and “this is going to be my year.” Setting goals for a new year is so common, in fact, that we even have a name for it: New Year’s resolutions. Most people set goals that are focused on their health, finances, relationships or careers. But according to Business Insider, 80% of New Year’s resolutions have already been failed by February. 80%! A lot of New Year’s Resolutions fail because they are complete lifestyle changes. Let’s use health-related goals as an example since that’s a common one for New Year’s resolutions. We often see a lot of people setting goals like “I want to lose __ pounds,” “I’m going to run 3 miles a day,” “I’m not eating out at all anymore.” Social psychologist Amy Cuddy tells Huffington Post that most of us tend to set resolutions that are unreasonable, and we lose motivation when we don’t see results right away. More effective resolutions are quantifiable and realistic, gradually becoming more challenging over time. This makes us more likely to achieve them and gain momentum that pushes us toward our next goal. “I’m going to start going to the gym 2x a week.” “I’m only going to eat out once a week.” “I’m going to drink 5 glasses of water per day.” If you’re ready to finally achieve your New Year’s Resolutions this year, we have an easy tip that will instantly make you more successful. The answer? Write them down and start today. There’s still over a month left until the new year begins, meaning if you start today you’re already closer to achieving your goals when 2018 begins. Psychology Today argues that it actually takes much longer for the average adult to form a habit than the 21 days we’re often told. A recent study suggests it actually takes closer to 66 days for something to truly become a natural, recurring habit. If you start today, you’ll be motivated to keep working toward your goal up until the end of 2017, and that motivation will only re-ignite once the new year begins. Instead of focusing on the new year, focus on finishing out this year strong first- it will only help you continue to pursue those goals in the new year! |
