Here are 7 things you can do to benefit your career

Here are 7 things you can do to benefit yur careerHere are 7 things you can do to benefit your careerWhen it comes to how to push your own career forward, there are some pretty obvious must-do things that come to mind You need to meet deadlines and produce high-quality work you need to build a solid relationship with your boss and, if youre chasing a promotion, you need to be vocal about tossing your hat into the ring for consideration.However, advancing your career doesnt completely need to happen inside the four walls of your office. As a matter of fact, there are plenty of awesome things you can do to give your career a boost- things that have very little to do with your actual job.So, if youve been on the hunt for some productive things you can do to elevate your own professional reputation- that dont involve extra hours in the office- weve pulled together seven suitable suggestions for you right here.1. Volunteer your time and skillsIts likely not a surprise to you, but voluntee ring can be a great way to make new connections, pick up new skills, and help out in your community.Whether you want to do manual labor with an organization in your area or offer your time and expertise as part of a nonprofit board, look into volunteering opportunities available to you. Not only will you advance your career, but youll feel good about yourself while doing so.2. ReadReading is a great way to expand your horizons and learn new things. And- whether geschftlicher umgang related or not- making time to read is always recommended for beefing up your knowledge.Bookmark thought-provoking articles you want to come back to. Or, pick up an awesome read on entrepreneurship to inspire you. After all, theres really nothing better than being able to unwind while also knowing youre doing yourself (and your career) a favor.3. Build a personal websiteWhen you hear the words personal website, you likely think its something only people in creative professions need to have. Right? Time to think againIn todays digital age, a website or anonline portfolio is a key part of your personal and professional brand, regardless of what industry youre in.Set aside some time to start putting your own together. Whether youre currently job hunting, building a side hustle, or just want to position yourself as a thought leader in your field, a website will work wonders for your career and eventual career goals.4. Try something newLife gets busy- which means that, oftentimes, each day becomes rigid and structured to combat the chaos. We get stuck in a rut and lean on our daily routine to get us through.However, putting yourself out there and trying something new is a great way to not only boost your career, but also discover new interests. You just need to make the time.So, go ahead and finally pick up a camera and try your hand at photography, just like youve been meaning to do for years. Or, sign up for anonline course that will teach you the basics of coding. Learning new skills is never a bad thing- and you might just be able to take them into the office with you5. Seek out a mentorNo matter how busy your schedule, you likely still make time for your relationships- its not often that you miss a happy hour with your friends.But, heres one more productive relationship you can foster outside of the office A relationship with a mentor. Seek out an accomplished and successful person- he or she doesnt even need to be in the same field or position as you- that you can learn from, bounce ideas off of, and just generally look up to.Having this resource will be undeniably helpful as you continue to move through your career.6. Strike up conversationsI know, you were likely anticipating seeing the age-old advice of networking on this list somewhere. And, I definitely wont refute the importance of networking- its crucial. However, Ive found that slapping such a formal title on an exchange can make it all feel forced, fake, and completely unnatural.Instead, Id encourage you tostrike up conversationswherever you go. Whether you want to chat with the person in the chair next to you at the hair salon or compliment the person ahead of you in line, dont be afraid to get the conversation rolling. You never know who youll meet7. Relax and rechargeHeres one we could all use a little more of Make time to rest, relax, and recharge. Downtime is crucial for your own mental health and productivity. After all, its tough to be impressive in the office when youre feeling completely burnt out.So, as counterproductive as it might seem, make time to just sto back and do nothing outside of working hours youll be able to come into the office with a fresh outlook.Advancing your career doesnt all have to happen at work. These seven things have nothing to do with your actual job duties, but can grow your professional reputation by leaps and bounds. Take a break from the office, give them a try, and see for yourselfThis article was originally published on The Everygirl.

3 Life Lessons You Learn From Failure - The Muse

3 Life Lessons You Learn From Failure - The Muse3 Life Lessons You Learn From FailureWell, Ive got that in the bag, I thought to myself as I strolled out of the office building where Id just completed a job interview- my second one with a company I welches ridiculously excited about.I walked to my car feeling confident and self-assured. I had an eloquent and thoughtful response for every single question the interviewer tossed my way. She had laughed at my jokes. We even bonded over our love for dogs. I knew I had knocked the meeting out of the park, and I was already picturing my name emblazoned on those glossy new business cards.A couple of days later, the schmelzglas I had been anxiously awaiting arrived in my inbox. I clicked it open as fast as I possibly could, eager for the confirmation of the news I was so sure was headed my way. Visions of confetti, a marching band, and the hiring manager leaping out of an oversized cake flashed before my eyes.But, that good news and rejoicing isnt what I got. Instead, I quickly skimmed through the email to see all of those clich lines we all dread reading. They really liked me, but I wasnt the perfect fit. There were many qualified candidates. It was a pleasure to meet me. Blah, blah, blah.My heart sunk into my shoes. How could this happen? I thought I had this all locked up. But, things didnt pan out- I had failed. Youll hear a lot of advice and sympathetic anecdotes about failure during the course of your career. And, Ill be the first to admit it In the heat of the moment- when your eyes are still teary and your ich is still bruised- they dont really help all that much. Yes, the intentions are great. But, when I just want to put on my sweatpants and drown my sorrows in a bottle of wine and a bag of Hot Cheetos, your canned story about the trials and tribulations of Abraham Lincoln goes in one ear and out the other.Believe me, I can sympathize with you. I know that failure sucks. Theres no ifs, ands, or buts about it. However, it really can still be a valuable learning experience. In fact, there are a few things that you can only learn by failing.So, when youve finally polished off those snacks and are feeling at least somewhat receptive to some constructive encouragement, keep these lessons in mind. Because, no matter what it feels like, that torturous brush with failure really was good for something.1. Theres Always Room for ImprovementWhen youve failed, its human nature to grasp at straws and generate all sorts of excuses as to why this wasnt your fault. That project was too difficult or the deadline was too short. That client was rude. That company was always going to hire someone from the inside. There was nothing you could do.However, youll never be able to view something as a learning experience if youre convinced you have absolutely nothing to learn. Im sure youre stellar at what you do, but that doesnt mean you get to coast for the rest of your life. All of us- I mean it, every single on e of us- has areas where we could do better. And, theres nothing like failure (and that insightful feedback that results from it) to highlight those areas for us in obnoxious, cant-miss neon yellow. 2. Persistence Is Your Greatest QualityEverybody fails (but, no, I wont bring up Abraham Lincoln). Its an inevitable part of life. You wont succeed at everything you try. And, if youre currently operating with that assumption, I hate to tell you that youll soon end up sorely disappointed.However, miserably failing at something quickly reminds you that you cant let a few stumbles (or even full-blown wipeouts) completely stop you in your tracks. Instead, you need to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep pushing forward. You likely have tons of great qualities that make you an awesome person and employee. But, of all of these, persistence is the one thats going to get you the furthest in your career. Because you wont ever get anywhere if you insist on staying stuck. Just ask good ol Honest Abe. 3. Life Goes OnHere it is The granddaddy of all clich career lessons. When youve failed at something- particularly something that you really, desperately wanted- its all too easy to picture the entire world crumbling down around you like a scene from Independence Day. This is it. Youll never get past this. But, if you take one thing from this article, it should be this The world does not stop turning simply because things didnt pan out the way you wanted them to. In fact, once you take a minute to breathe deeply and collect yourself, youll likely realize that this glitch doesnt have the devastating and catastrophic effect that you like to think it does when youre hyped up and over-sensitized.Yes, life really goes on. And, you need to, too. I wont deny it- failure is a tough pill to swallow. It can be pretty brutal, and definitely enough to knock the wind right out of your sails. Believe me, I get it.But, as with anything, there are helpful lessons to be taken from those situations that tie your stomach into knots and make your eyes well with tears. Its up to you to glean what you can from them. Personally, I could write a novel about the many, many setbacks Ive experienced throughout my life. But, you know what else I could fill those pages with? My successes. And, now that I think about it, those wins were all results of tweaking my approach after previous failures. So, while failing might never be fun, you can bet it will always be valuable.

How side hustling can hold you back at your real job

How side hustling can hold you back at your real jobHow side hustling can hold you back at your real job7 Side Hustles You Can Actually Start in 2019. 8 Side Hustles You Can Start This Weekend. Why havent you started that sweet side hustle yesterday so youd have all that cash today? Only talk to any Uber or Lyft driver or Postmates delivery partie its never as much cash as it seems like its going to be.People take side hustles for a few reasons, but the main one is serious they cant get either enough hours or enough money at their main job.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreIn the New York Times Opinion section, Alissa Quart points out that people take on second or third side hustles because of wage stagnation or low pay at their full-time jobs. In other words, they very much need to side hustle, once called taking a second part-time job.According to a NPR/Marist survey from last y ear, cited by Quart, 30% of Americans do something else for pay in addition to their full-time jobs.In this case, the situation is dire economically. Side hustle if you have to, by all means.But dont just side hustle because you want toSide hustling has become hip, almost the norm amongst the younger demographic, where people side hustle for extra spending money, the chance to pay down debt or to save up for a big-ticket item. Thats where the side hustle can also be an insidious squeeze on your time, energy, and what you actually want to do.When youre side hustling, youre taking your focus away from your main hustle, which should be the thing youre concentrating on, usually your job. Even if you dont make enough money now, you should be putting your resources and brainpower into turning out a better work product, leveraging your position within your company, networking outside it, and doing things that will enable you to ask for a raise when the time is right.You might not be gettin g paid enough right now. But work through the pain as you work on improving your career instead of running around doing odd jobs when you could be getting ahead.Put your resources you into your main thing can be your thing. Having extra money is nice, but the side hustle can become a distraction. What would you rather be an ace at marketing or a really good food-delivery person? Weigh your options carefully, and look at the long term. Sometimes its better to try to improve things where you stand, rather than have two things going on at once.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 can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people