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Career Advice Blog

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How to Make & Break Habits

Ah, ’tis the season of inspiration, my friends!

Every December, I find myself spending a lot of time reflecting on the past year and planning for the new one. As I’ve shared many times before, I am a total geek for goal setting. It makes me feel unbelievably motivated and optimistic about the future. So, this time of year is my “happy place.”

Lately, I’ve also been thinking a lot about habits.

Habits are an interesting sub-set of goals. Over the past 6 months, for example, I’ve developed a new habit for morning workouts—and as a result, I’ve come closer to attaining several of my health and fitness goals. It’s no secret that developing strong habits can propel us forward, while holding onto bad (unproductive) habits can stifle our progress.

A lot of people set “goals” that are really habits they want to make or break: drink more water each day, workout more frequently, wake up earlier, watch less television, eat out less often, etc. In my experience, these habits are really step stones toward achieving some kind of bigger goal—eating out less often may relate to a goal of saving money or losing weight, watching less television might support a goal of spending more quality time with the kids, and so on.

The process for developing or breaking a habit is similar to the process for achieving a goal, but it’s not precisely the same. You see, habits are engrained patterns of behavior. While a goal can be attained and completed, habits are meant to be ongoing. They’re never really done. So, when you want to develop a new habit, you have to go through certain steps to “imprint” the behavior in your brain. The same is true for breaking a habit—there’s actually a specific formula that makes the process of deprogramming the behavior much easier.

If you’re in the middle of setting goals for the new year, it’s worth your time to consider the habits you might need to make or break to improve your chances of success. In this webinar, you’ll learn how to leverage the power of habits to boost productivity and help you achieve your personal and professional goals.

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Time Management for Admins

This is an excerpt from a special report available in the Career Resource Library, a convenient and affordable training program featuring 100+ on-demand professional development resources for career advancers and administrative professionals. Learn more and access the full report by visiting www.MyCareerLibrary.com/about

Administrative assistants and executive assistants have a unique set of time management challenges. In essence, as a support professional, your time is not your own. Your job is (primarily) to help others accomplish their goals. Therefore, when they need something, you’re supposed to drop what you’re doing and help. To make matters worse, they often need things that are both unexpected and urgent. Simply closing your door and focusing on your own priorities isn’t an option. All of this can make time management feel like a nearly impossible task!

But take heart, my dear admin friend. There are strategies that will help you make the most of your time, while still being appropriately responsive to the needs of the people you support.

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How to Hide Your Age on Your Resume

As a career coach and professional resume writer, I work with a lot of “older” job seekers. I use quotes there because age is relative. It always surprises me that the people most concerned with age discrimination are usually women in their mid- to late-forties. I hardly consider this old!

However, when launching a job search, insecurities are often heightened, and age discrimination is, indeed, a real thing. So, when people ask me how you hide your age on your resume, I understand where they’re coming from—even if I find the question a little silly.

Hiding your age on your resume is not necessarily a smart move, for a number of reasons. First, depending on the role you’re seeking, a few more years under the belt professionally might be considered a great thing.

Secondly—and this is a biggie—your age is part of who you are, like it or not. You don’t have to shine a great big spotlight on it, but you can’t change it. Unless you’re Benjamin Button, your general age range will become evident sooner or later.

Still, if you’re concerned about age discrimination in your job search, it doesn’t hurt to de-emphasize your age on your resume. Here are a few strategies to try.

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How to Build a Powerful Partnership with Your Boss

Note: I realize that a lot of people dislike the word “boss.” I use it here for ease as a catch-all for any workplace superior. It is not intended to sound derogatory or condescending in any way.

As a former executive assistant, I have some very specific beliefs about the relationship that takes place between “boss” and “employee.” Whether you’re an administrative professional or in another field entirely is immaterial—everyone (except the CEO) has a manager or leader to whom they report (and some have more than one!). Additionally, everyone, at some point or another, has struggled to build a satisfying relationship with that person or group.

It is my belief that employees should always attempt to build partnerships with the people over them. Admittedly, that’s sometimes easier said than done. This partnership idea usually requires a bit of a mindset shift for both parties. And often, the employee must forge the road ahead, positioning himself or herself as a partner by taking intentional action and demonstrating purposeful behaviors.

Having built a few powerful partnerships with bosses in the past, I can tell you the results are well worth the effort. As a partner, my boss treated me as a trusted colleague. I was encouraged to share my opinions, ideas and perspectives. I influenced key decisions, helped solve problems, and even acted as a sounding board when my boss just needed to brainstorm.

I was able to have a deeper impact through my work, which meant my boss got a more effective employee and I enjoyed greater career fulfillment. It was a win-win.

Building powerful partnerships with superiors is a process that takes time and intention. There are specific things you must do to help make it happen. If you’re looking to create this kind of relationship with your boss—or if you want to strengthen an already established partnership—this month’s webinar will show you how.

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Career Advancement is a Privilege, Not a Right

I’ve encountered a number of counterproductive attitudes in the workplace, but one in particular really bothers me.

Too many people out there think they deserve career advancement for all the wrong reasons. For example, they believe they’re entitled to it because they’ve worked at the company for a certain number of years. Or, they think it’s justified because someone else just got promoted…and it’s only fair that they should as well.

This kind of approach easily leads to resentment because, in truth, these are not valid reasons. Career advancement is not a right. It’s not something you get just for showing up. It’s a privilege that has to be earned through your contributions. Further, it’s not enough for YOU to think you’ve earned it. You have to prove it to the decision-makers as well.

I’ve seen people earn promotions in incredibly short periods of time. I, myself, was promoted after 3 months at my last job!

I’ve also seen people remain stagnant for years, never earning advancement regardless of their tenure.

There are several factors that come into play here.

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How to Identify Bad Career Advice

I’ve written a lot about bad career advice in the past. It’s funny how, once you start thinking it about it, you notice it everywhere. It’s like when you’re looking to buy a new car and then suddenly it seems like everyone in the world drives the exact make and model you want. Bad career advice jumps out at me like a bright yellow Porsche in a sea of black Hondas.

With all the bad career advice floating around out there, I’ve identified a few common themes—signs that the guidance you’re getting may be less than helpful. Next time you get some advice and wonder if you should follow it or forget it, give it some serious thought using the tips below.

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