5 Techniques To Stop Dreaming And Start Doing

5 Techniques To Stop Dreaming And Start Doing5 Techniques To Stop Dreaming And Start Doing I began my career in production at ABC before moving into sales, and then into corporate communications at CBS Corporation. Shortly after I joined CBS, I also started working as an adjunct communications professor, all before I turned 23.I was fortunate early on in my professional journey to find models of success people to whom I could relate, and who inspired me with their passion and focus. I looked to them for guidance . Eventually, I identified deliberate behaviors which had helped them flourish in their personal and professional lives, and I crafted a personalized roadmap for a successful life of my own. I spent a lot of time reflecting on and evaluating my goals and tactics a strategy I share with my graduate students and mentees today. I often speak with them about how they can take actionable steps towards achieving their own goals. Here are the steps I believe are necessary to take your dreams into drive. Ready? Lets go.Tracking personal progredienz is, without a doubt, easier when you have a roadmap. Thats why I recommend creating both a vision statement and a mission statement. They serve two distinct functions. A vision statement speaks to your future and answers the question If I were to achieve my personal goals , what would my world look like? This provides an image of your ideal future. A mission statement is your personal how-to, outlining the process by which your vision will be achieved. This tangible, detail-oriented resource describes what you do and your overall intention. It keeps you on track with your goal and communicates your direction. With your vision and mission statements top of mind, itll be easier to figure out what you need to do to accomplish your goals.Be a go-getter and innovator. Invent new avenues for yourself, approach tasks creatively, discover new opportunities for growth, and strive to be enterprising. I regularly look for new opportunities to expand my reach and sharpen my skills. I have often done this in my career by volunteering (which you can do inside or outside of your day job ). Every promotion I have received has been a result of me volunteering to take on more work and responsibility without asking for additional compensation . When you raise your hand, you put yourself in a stelle to learn from someone who appreciates your time and optimistic attitude. When you go above and beyond your requirements, thats when you can add new expertise to your resume and become a leader on key projects. This is when you are seen as invaluable. By discovering new opportunities for development and visibility, you put yourself in a position to score and win.Ideally, your team should include a mentor , sponsor, and friend. A mentor is necessary to guide your direction kusined on your personal mission and vision. Your mentor doesnt have to be in the same industry or field as you, but should be able to encourage and support you. A sponsor, on the other hand, should be someone in your industry who can promote and refer you for positions in your field. By singing your praises, this person will elevate you personally and professionally. Next, choose a true and reliable friend who will be honest, forthcoming, and encouraging. They say your network is like a bank and withdrawals are dependent upon your contribution. Make koranvers to give your team updates on your growth, but also see how they are doing. Hear something interesting about their company? Do they have personal news a promotion, celebration, industry update, or a cool current event they are linked to? Offer yourself up for assistance. What goes around comes around. Give and you will receive.Organically brand yourself and, without being boastful, let people know what youre doing and how youre doing it. When someone asks you, What do you do? do you simply tell them your job title? You shouldnt Instead, identi fy your unique strengths and your tagline. For instance, as a communicator and educator, I have the gift of gab and am an innovative storyteller. The inimitable descriptions of what I do speak to my day-to-day roles as a communications expert and an adjunct professor. The next time someone asks you about your profession, be sure to expand on your answer in your own unique way.New opportunities will fall into your lap when you are having the time of your life. I have had countless career-changing conversations that have happened over coffee, lunch, or drinks with people in my network. These were not work meetings just moments to touch base and catch up. Even so, the end result enhanced my career. Be adventurous , travel , dance, smile, and do things you will be talking about for generations to come. After all, some of your best ideas will unexpectedly emerge when you give your brain a rest.This article originally appeared on The Well , Jopwells digital magazine.The Well is the digital magazine of Jopwell, the career advancement platform for Black, Latino/Hispanic, and Native American professionals and students. Subscribe to receive weekly stories and advice in your inbox.

5 Ways to Make Your Point Faster and Better

5 Ways to Make Your Point Faster and Better5 Ways to Make Your Point Faster and BetterYour story is better than your resume. Use these five points to make your point faster and tell your story better.Looking for a job is nothing but making a pointA point about your value.A point about your accomplishments.A point about your contribution to an organization.Whether youre networking, interviewing or chatting on the phone, consider these five tactics to make your point faster and better1. Articulate ideas in plain language.The less jargon you use, the mora engaging you become. In the writing world, shorter sentences get read. In the speaking world, shorter sentences get heard. Think like a writer. Watch those long and cumbersome sentences. Dont construct your ideas in a way that overburdens peoples brains. Dont spew one idea after another. Otherwise listeners will still be stuck on the first idea, trying to figure out what the heck you meant. Keep your message lean, lows include The secr et is Heres the deal Let me ask ya this Heres the best part Think of it this way Yes, and heres why Heres my suggestion And heres the difference The question I always ask myself is I have one observation and one question - are you ready?The secret to using vocal hangers is to pause ever so slightly before you deliver the goods. This heightens the level of anticipation and energy into the conversation. Whats more, the more you use them, the more youll internalize them. The more you internalize them, the more natural they will sound. The more natural they sound, the more they will become part of your lexicon. The more they become part of your lexicon the more people will begin to expect them. And the more people begin to expect them, the more they will pay attention when they hear them. How do you elicit rapt interest?4. Reflect their reality.In my mentoring program, note taking is essential for point making. My favorite move is to select something in particular from my notes, turn t he piece of paper around, then ask the mentee to read the passage to me. More often than not, people are shocked when they hear themselves speak. This feedback process (which I learned at the Presidents Council) offers a verbal mirror. It reflects the other persons reality and helps people landsee themselves as others see them. Whats more, theres no greater way to make a point than to mirror peoples own words. How are you using note taking for point making?5. Stories trump resumes.Bikram Yoga is my religion. Naturally, friends of mine who are considering taking a class often ask me what its like. Its tough, I used to say. Ninety minutes. 110 heat. 100 percent humidity. The absolute hardest workout youll ever experience in your life. But it will change you forever. Unfortunately, that didnt make the point very well. Hell, you could learn that on the studio Web site. Facts are the refuge of the unimaginative. Instead, I tell people the story about Rhonda. Shes a friend of mine who cam e to class with me. Afterwards, when I asked her how she felt, her exact words were, I think I saw God. She now practices four days a week. Lesson learned Facts are retained stories are retold. Which one are you using to prove your point?Remember Making a point isnt just a skill its an art.

How to go get exactly what you want

How to go get exactly what you wantHow to go get exactly what you wantIm truly inspired. Heck, I just got to see Oprah Winfrey and Seth Godin deliver two keyelende speeches in the past couple days.How has yur week been?I just got back from an amazing four days in Washington, DC. I attended the annual Association of Talent Development conference and learned a tremendous amount. As Ive grown into my true professional self over the last couple of years, Ive continued to become mora reisepassionate about leadership development and wanting to help and serve others. This conference, in so many ways, was validation that Im doing the right thing.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThe point of todays post is to help you recognize when youre on the right track- what that looks like, and what its all about.We all pass sign posts on our life and career journey. Sometimes we notice them. Someti mes, we dont. It became apparent to me in the past several days as I continued to learn, continued to grow, that Im doing the right thing. That Ive surrounded myself with some special people that have been willing to help.But also, that Ive truly gone after my dreams. Im getting it.My hope for every one of you is that you will realize exactly what it is that you want to do- then get after it with intensity, hope, love and commitment.All right, all right. Thanks, Mr. Inspirational, you may be thinking. I hope you know above everything else, Im always substance over style. So, what do I mean by going and getting it?I define this as an everyday commitment to doing work that you believe in with all your heart, and most importantly, that will ignite the passion inside of you and fulfill you in the long-term.Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.?- ?Earl NightingaleGoing and getting it means that youre (above everything else) willing to do two things1 and 2) Learn and take Action.In order to take action in life, we have to feel confident in what were doing. Part of feeling confident is feeling knowledgeable. Its having an expectation that things are going to work out. Maybe not right away, but with time, you believe and have confidence that youre going to get what you want.Learning can come in a variety of ways. Its reading books, listening to podcasts, watching help videos, engaging with experts in your field and attending conferences, among many other things. Its having a thirst for knowledge, in the hopes that you will gain the tools you need to build toward the lofty goals and dreams that you have.And then, of course, committing to this for the rest of your life. Lifelong learning is really where its at. And with the Internet at our disposal, theres no excuse to give up or stop. Our education doesnt end in the school system. It should be a constant throughout our journey.The more you get exposu re to experts, leaders, and people in your field, the more you realize, I can do this. This is my timeThen, the taking action part gets wrapped up in that awesome, electric momentum and you keep going every day.We all define our own success. But, there are certainly common threads to getting on the track to do great things.FocusDisciplineLove for what you doA willingness to create and do good for the benefit of othersAs you reflect on all that youre doing, think about whether youre learning and taking action in a way that will get you to the level that you want to be. There are no guarantees in life, but I do believe hard work and a positive attitude will assure you that you find fulfillment in whatever you choose to do.If youre not on the right track, take a minute and determine what it might take to get centered and focused around what you truly want. Reach out to me, let me know if I can help you.If youre already on the right track, be content with your progress, but keep asking yourself whether you can do more to gain an edge. Make that extra call. Reach out to that former colleague. Attend that conference. Record that video and share your expertise with the world.Go get it. The future belongs to those of us who are unwilling to compromise with mediocrity, and instead will never settle for anything but being the best.Join my newsletter for the bestemotional intelligence and productivity content on the Internet Get a FREE Coaching Call to Explore Your Emotional Intelligence, and Learn how to Achieve Your Biggest Goals Check out my Amazon bestseller, The Value of You, which has helped tens of thousands of people develop the game plan for living their best lifeThis article first appeared on Medium.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you ca n make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people