Want to know the sneakiest little lie you’re told that is one of the biggest things preventing you from getting what you want in life?
Related: The Lazy Job Seeker’s Guide To Getting A Dream Job
It’s all over the media. It’s ingrained in our culture. And it’s driven so deeply into your head that when you tell it to yourself, it makes sense.
It has a good side though, like creating some fun times with family and friends...
But ultimately, the root of it is what’s holding you back from fulfilling your dreams, getting the job you want, and living the life you deserve.
The Sneaky Little Lie Holding You Back
The root of this lie actually has more to do with how you see the world than anything else. That’s why it’s so effective, hard to discover, and difficult to change.
However, in this article, I’ll give you some clarity on it - which is the most important piece - plus a couple of little tricks on how to combat it…
So here it is:
Tai Lopez, an investor, partner, consultant, or advisor to over 20 multi-million dollar businesses calls it…
The 90% Rule
It means that most people focus on 10% of things in their life, when they should be focusing on the 90%.
Seems simple, right? But wait… check out these examples and see if you’re a victim to this as well:
Ever grind your way through the work week just so you can get to the weekend?
How about push through a month or two so that you can take a one week vacation?
Or maybe stick with a job you hate for way longer than you wanted to so that you could get a bonus or raise?
If so, then you’re focusing on the 10% instead of working on improving the 90%!
What it all comes down to is distraction. We distract ourselves from an unpleasant present situation by focusing on something better in the future…
And while this can be a great way to get through short term challenges - it’s not an effective long-term solution for happiness and success.
How To Overcome The 10% & Get Your Dream Job
So what if, instead of suffering through another work day, week, month, or year by distracting yourself with the promise of something better in the future…
You lived in the NOW. You focused on changing things NOW… and decided 100% that you’re no longer going to accept less than you deserve in your career and life.
If you’re like me, you’ve found that time only seems to go faster and faster as you get older. So, all things considered, none of us have all the much time here to waste.
A great first step to focusing on and changing the 90% - or what I call determining your “highest leverage move” is to figure out the single biggest thing making you unhappy at work - and how to improve it.
Maybe you don’t need to get a new job - and all you need to do is take some courageous action to fix some situation at work.
Or maybe it’s time you start getting your resume ready and look for something better.Next, reflect on what “game” you want to play in this life - and make sure it’s a game worth winning.
For example, when I started out in my career after college, I spent a lot of time thinking about this. I decided that I needed to have a career that:
Would pay really well...
Would grant me time and location freedom so I could make my own schedule and work from anywhere in the world…
Would play to my strengths and passions, and allow me to contribute to the world.
That, to me, is a game worth winning, and I overcame significant challenges in order to make it happen. However, I wouldn’t have been able to if I wasn’t 100% clear on and dedicated to this vision.
For more free info on how I got my dream job with a couple of millionaires (and a few simple tips for you to stand out with the most inspiring companies out there), check out my short, free video here.This post was originally published at an earlier date. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.
In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.
For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.
Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach
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Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:
How did I learn about this job?
How did I apply for the job?
Did I earn an interview?
What was the ultimate result?
A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:
Negative Trends
You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.
The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations, and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.
One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.
The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.
This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.
Positive Trends
You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.
The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview. This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.
The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback, and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.
Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.
The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.
Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention
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Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.
The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.
Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.
While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.
As for writing a good cover letter, the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter. When you write a disruptive cover letter, you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.
If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.
Build Your Personal Brand
Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand.
Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"
Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.
By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.
You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.
Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search
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Your job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.
There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:
Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle, even better!
Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
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