Finally, the new year is here, which means it’s time to pull out all of the inspirational hoopla to get those career go-getter juices flowing again. (But this year it will be different! Right? Right?!) We’ve compiled a list of ways to help kick-start the momentum you need to make 2015 a career success.
(Photo Credit: Leland Francisco / Flickr)
If 2014 didn’t treat you kindly or turn out the way you had expected, now’s the time to reflect on the lessons learned in your life, love, and career this past year and plan for a promising year ahead. The bad news is, we can’t help in the love department. The good news is, we can help you get your head back in the (professional) game, which will, most likely, enhance your life, too. Without further adieu, here are a few ways to rekindle the fire that may have burned out in your career over the past year.
Quotes to Make You Feel Unstoppable
1. “Your career is your business. It’s time for you to manage it as a CEO.” – Dorit Sher
2. “If you want something you’ve never had, you’ve got to do something you’ve never done.” – Drina Reed
3. “First LEARN, then remove the ‘L’.” – Mohit Manke
4. “It is never too late to be who you might have been.” – George Eliot
5. “The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed.” – Chinese Proverb
Books to Learn a Thing or Two From
1. The Start-Up of You: Adapt to the Future, Invest in Yourself, and Transform Your Career, by Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha, puts you in the driver seat of your career and your future.
2. If you’re looking to unveil your many strengths and use them to catapult your career, then Now, Discover Your Strengths (Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton, Ph.D.) is the book for you.
3. For professionals seeking a first-time career or a career change, What Color Is Your Parachute? 2015: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers, by Richard N. Bolles, will help you find that dream career you’ve been searching for.
4. This one’s for professionals looking to improve their leadership skills or simply unleash their inner leader: Leadership: Essential Writings by our Greatest Thinkers (Norton Anthology), edited by Elizabeth D. Samet.
5. Last, but not least, for those working women looking to find work-life balance, Laura Vanderkam brings you, Their Own Sweet Time: How Successful Women Build Lives That Work, which is based on her 1001 days with women earning over $100,000 and whom still manage to find time for family, friends, and leisure.
Influencers to Follow on Social Media
1. Laszlo Bock, SVP People Operations at Google
Why you should follow: If you’re a job seeker or are looking for hiring advice, Bock is your go-to guy. Oh, and he works for Google, which took the No. 1 spot (for the fifth time) on Fortune‘s Best Companies 2014 list.
2. Guy Kawasaki, Chief Evangelist of Canva
Why you should follow: Kawasaki has helped rejuvenate mega-brands such as Motorola, Google, and Apple, and he is also a world-renowned bestselling author. We are guessing he knows a thing or two about this career success thing.
3. Marie Forleo, entrepreneur, business coach, and web TV host
Why you should follow: Forleo puts a fun, down-to-earth spin on “creating a business and life you love” (which is part of her business motto). Her energy is infectious and her message is real, which helps make her weekly web TV show such a hit!
4. Abby Kohut, seasoned recruiter, motivational career speaker, and author
Why you should follow: Kohut is on a mission to inspire college students across the US achieve their dreams post-graduation. Her endeavors and expertise have awarded her a spot on CEO World Magazine’s Top 24 Women to Follow on Twitter list.
5. Deepak Chopra, motivational public speaker, author, and new-age medicine advocate
Why you should follow: Chopra’s message is universal and will help bring a bit of perspective to your day. It’s a dose of inspiration or introspection to help get you back on the path of success.
As Brad Paisley puts it, “Tomorrow, is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.” Godspeed, you tenacious career-goers. Make 2015 the year your career shines.
Happy New Year!
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