Personal branding is absolutely essential today. Research has shown repeatedly that the first place potential employers look to learn about you (after reading your resume) is the internet. Your profiles on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and so on all offer a glimpse into who you are as an employee and where you're heading in your career. With that in mind, you need to … [Read more...]
5 Easy Ways to Look and Feel More Confident in Business and Life
Perception. That 10-letter word says so much and carries so much weight. How you perceive yourself and how others perceive you affects your career, your relationships, and your life. Perception matters. But there's a problem. Often, the way you perceive yourself doesn't align with how others perceive you. That's because perception is 100% subjective. You might not perceive … [Read more...]
How Social Relationships Impact Professional Success
Do you remember when you were young how simple it was to find a best friend? I remember around the 3rd or 4th grade – my teacher randomly assigned me a seat behind a girl in class whose name was also Denise. Naturally, it was love at first name. Of course, that was then, and now we’re all grown up. As adults, there is a lot more that goes into deciding who we’ll let … [Read more...]
How to Achieve Peak Performance – Business Lessons from a Baseball Mom
My son has been playing travel baseball for nine years, and throughout those nine years, I have learned some valuable lessons: An eight a.m. baseball game in a state outside my own is the perfect alternative to the average family vacation. Life is far too short to waste precious time scrubbing stains out of white uniform pants. The True meaning behind “heads up!” is … [Read more...]
You Only Get One Chance to Recognize a Good First Impression
I recently read an article indicating that using emoticons in professional correspondence might make a wrong first impression. The author shared a recent study published in the Journal of Social Psychological and Personality Science: Effects of Smiling Emoticons on Virtual First Impressions. The results indicate that including the adorable smiley in your work email might be … [Read more...]
Fear of Rejection isn’t Reserved for Anyone – It’s Represented in Everyone
I’m afraid of rejection. The idea of putting myself out there, sharing my opinions and experiences for the world to judge, is terrifying. And yet, I do it. I am opening myself up to scrutiny right here, right now. A friend and business connection recently asked me, "How do you do it?" after learning I am now contributing content for Women on Business. Meaning, how do … [Read more...]
Say What You Really Think and Transform Your Life
Saying what you really think is, in my experience, much easier said than done. I have amazing women in my professional and personal circles who don’t seem to struggle with this, and I am in awe of them. If a thought enters their head, they say it. This doesn’t mean they are rude or abrupt; quite the opposite. They are kind and diplomatic and powerful. But they don’t hold their … [Read more...]
How to Conquer Negative Self Talk (And Why You Must)
The scenario may be familiar to you. Your best friend has had an awful day. Her boss yelled at her, her kids won’t stop squabbling, and she feels fat. She calls to vent it out with you. She confesses that she feels stretched thin, that she’s doing a lot of things badly, and that all she wants to do is lie down on the floor and go to sleep. What do you say to her? You likely … [Read more...]
Your Defense Mechanisms Could Sabotage Your Career
According to Sigmund Freud and many psychologists since Freud's time, human beings use defense mechanisms to protect ourselves from negative feelings such as anxiety and guilt when we feel threatened in some way. They're not bad in and of themselves, but defense mechanisms can be destructive in life and sabotage your career if you use them at the wrong time or overuse … [Read more...]
What is Your Emotional Intelligence Level? Take the Infographic Quiz
How emotionally intelligent are you? The answer could affect not just your personal life but also, your career. Emotional intelligence includes three things: Your ability to use your emotions to solve problems or complete tasks Your ability to understand small or large differences in emotions and perceive emotions in others Your ability to control your emotions and … [Read more...]