When you feel like you’re a highly valuable asset to your organization, yet you’re bored, under-appreciated, or under-paid… what do you do?Related:3 Powerful & Universal Laws For Getting What You Want
You know you have options… but finding a new job takes effort. Plus, what if it winds up being worse than your current position?
You feel like your mind has been numbed by the boredom of doing the same thing, day in and day out…
…And even though you crave more…
Know you’re worth more…
And truly, legitimately deserve more…
It’s easy to get caught in the trap of comfortable boredom. Well, I have good news for you.
These three unusual tricks for doubling your success are about to make you uncomfortable. And you’re going to like it.
The 3 Unusual Ways To Conquer Career Complaints & Double Your Success This Year
Trick #1: Write Your Own Eulogy
Here’s a fun - albeit kind of dark - way to manipulate your mind into helping you conquer challenges and double your success this year.
Imagine that you live out the rest of your life the way you’re on track to do so right now.
Years down the road, you start to feel that it’s time to get your affairs in order. So you decide to have some fun with things, and write your own eulogy, to be delivered by you to your closest friends and family before you pass on.
What would it say? Would you be happy with the course you’ve led? Would you have any regrets?
Then think about the eulogy you’d want to write. If you could do anything from now until the end of your life, and today was the last day of the “old you,” what would that eulogy say?
If your desired eulogy is different than how things are looking now, then you know what you have to do - and having seen how things will be if you don’t, you’ll be pretty motivated to make it so.
Trick #2: Use The Idea Of “Pain” To Your Advantage
Here’s a fun trick I learned from a mentor. It’s based off the idea that most people will do more to avoid pain than they will to seek pleasure.So here’s what you do: Think about what you want more than anything in the world.
Get specific about it, and set a goal to achieve it with a hard deadline.
Then, get some help from a trusted friend. Tell them about your goal and why it’s important for you to achieve it.
Ask them for ideas of what kind of punishment they could inflict upon you if you fail to achieve it, and then ask them to promise to hold you accountable - NO MATTER WHAT - if you fail.
I’ve heard of people giving a friend a $1000 check, and telling them to cash it if they don’t succeed.
Years back, my wife’s idea was for me to get a bikini wax if I failed to start a business by a certain date (which, believe me, was VERY motivating. Needless to say, I didn’t fail).
Depending on your sense of humor and how bad you want it, you can have a lot of fun with this.
Trick #3: Get Excited About Something New
Inspiration is found by exploring the world and seeing what excites and drives you.
If you’re a high achiever, but find that you’re bored or under-appreciated, then a good place to start looking for something better is the GameChangers 500 website.
It’s a list of the world top For-Benefit companies, and includes inspiring organizations renowned for both empowering their employees and making a huge difference in the world.
Examples include Zappos, Kiva, and Patagonia, and there are thousands more companies like this if you know where to look.
However, if you’re going to apply - be sure to use modern job seeking strategies like you’ll find here. Old school resumes don’t work in this arena, my friend.
In fact, my mentor - who is the founder of the GameChangers 500 - helped me put together a free video for you showing three practical tips on how to get their attention and get a job with one of them.
Good luck!
Ryan Niessen is a keynote speaker and co-creator of The Gateway Method: a simple, proven way to gain inside access to the world’s best employers and get your dream job. Connect with him on LinkedIn or Facebook.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert. You can learn more about expert posts here.Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com
Are you terrified of screwing up a job interview? Does the thought of writing a cover letter horrify you? Are you scared to network with others? What do you even say, anyway? If you're struggling to overcome your job search fears, this live event is for you.
We get it. Looking for work can be scary, especially if you’ve been at it for a long time and haven’t gotten any results.
Understanding which fears are getting in the way and how to overcome them will make all the difference. Sometimes you might not be aware of which obstacle is getting in the way of your goals. If you want to overcome these fears once and for all, we invite you to join us!
In this training, you’ll learn how to:
Utilize strategies for coping with your job search fears
Be confident in your job search—from writing your resume to networking
Face your fears and move forward
Join our CEO, J.T. O'Donnell, and Director of Training Development & Coaching, Christina Burgio, for this live event on Wednesday, October 5th at 12 pm ET.
CAN'T ATTEND LIVE? That's okay. You'll have access to the recording and the workbook after the session!
True or false? Recruiters don't read cover letters.
Most people may think this is true, but guess what? They're wrong!
Recruiters do, in fact, read the good cover letters.
So, what does that tell us? If most people don't hear back from recruiters, and recruiters only read good cover letters, that means a majority of cover letters aren't written well and, therefore, don't stand out to them.
That may be hard to hear, but it's the truth.
CRITICAL Cover Letter Mistakes
Often, there's WAY too much "blah, blah, blah" and "brag, brag, brag" going on in a cover letter. If you write a cover letter that only focuses on how great you are, recruiters are going to toss it.
Why? Because it's exactly like all the other cover letters they've read.
Think about it. Why should they think you're incredible when they've read hundreds of other cover letters saying other people are incredible, too?
If you want to stand out in the hiring process, you MUST have an attention-grabbing cover letter. This an important tool to have, and one that shouldn't be glossed over. In some cases, your cover letter can hold more power than your resume. That's huge, right?
Getting Personal On Your Cover Letter
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Because the cover letter holds so much power, you need to know how to write one that stands out from the rest. One way to do that is to show a personal connection with the employer.
So, how exactly do you do that?
You can explain how you learned that what they do is special. Showing them that you personally connect with their brand will make you memorable.
Another thing you can do is tell them what it was like the first time you used their product or service. That also shows recruiters that you understand the company and that you believe in what they do.
Lastly, you can tell them about an overall life experience that helps you feel connected to their tribe. This shows that your values and beliefs align with theirs.
The big fact here is that the more personal the cover letter, the better! When you have a cover letter that really has recruiters at "hello," you know you have their heart AND their mind engaged.
Creating That Crucial Connection
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The reason you want to get personal in your cover letter is because you want to create an emotional connection with a recruiter. Once you establish that connection, you're not just a piece of paper anymore.
This is what we at Work It Daily call a disruptive cover letter. Why? Because it disrupts the reader and gets them to snap out of autopilot mode and really think about who you are as a candidate.
The First Step When Writing A Disruptive Cover Letter
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The first thing you need to do is watch a quick video tutorial on how to write this kind of cover letter. You're going to want to see specific examples so that you know how you should be writing them.
Step 2: Fill Out A Simple Template
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You'll have a template that tells you where the beginning, middle, and end of your cover letter are, and what content should be where. This gives you a great foundation for how to fill out a cover letter properly.
Step 3: Submit That Cover Letter For Review
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Once you're done with your amazing cover letter, have someone review it.
It's always good to have a second set of eyes on this, especially someone who understands cover letters, recruiters, and the hiring process. This person should be checking grammar, spelling, etc.
So, when all is said and done, how long should it take you to craft a disruptive cover letter? The average time is between one and two hours. That may seem like a lot of time, but think of it this way: once you've built a cover letter you know will grab a recruiter's attention, you'll be able to use that cover letter format for other job opportunities. You'll just have to tweak the content in your disruptive cover letter here and there to match the company and job you're applying to.
Does The Disruptive Cover Letter REALLY Work?
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Here at Work It Daily, we know these disruptive cover letters work. We've seen hundreds of our clients write KILLER cover letters and get calls for their dream jobs!
So, wouldn't learning how to write your own disruptive cover letter be good for your career? If so, how much would it be worth?
All of us at Work It Daily personally believe that it's priceless.
Owning your career change or job search process is a powerful thing, and we believe you can take control of that process and do incredible things.
Need more help writing a disruptive cover letter recruiters will love?
Let's face it: job search can be challenging, and staying motivated during a frustrating job search can seem impossible sometimes. However, it's critical that you stay positive. Otherwise, you risk falling into a downward spiral, which will only make things worse.
So, how can you get past your job search struggles?
Here are some tips for staying motivated during a frustrating job search:
1. Find Things You Can Get Excited About
What gets you excited? Think about your hobbies and interests. What do you do for fun in your life? Make sure you dedicate at least one day a week to doing what you love. This will help you get your mind off of the negative and focus on the things you enjoy.
Looking for a job shouldn't take up all of your time. By customizing your resume for each position you apply for and writing disruptive cover letters, you won't need to spend hours a day sending your job applications to a dozen different employers. Two or three will do.
For a strategic job search, quality is always better than quantity. It also means you'll stay motivated, won't get burnt out, and still have time to do the things you love to do. Balance is key!
2. Surround Yourself With People Who Inspire You
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When you're feeling down in the dumps, it's important to surround yourself with positivity. Make an effort to meet up with positive influences in your life—your family, friends, significant other, and mentors. These people will help you stay on track.
Also, surround yourself with your "virtual mentors," people who inspire you from afar. Whether they're celebrities, successful business people, or authors, keep them "nearby." Read their books or showcase their inspirational quotes. A little inspiration can go a long way.
3. Help Others
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Helping makes us feel good! If you're feeling bad about yourself, see how you can help someone else. Volunteer. Pay it forward. Give back somehow. This will recharge you and get you in a good mood.
Another way to help others is to provide value to your professional network, whether on LinkedIn or in person. Share articles, videos, or podcasts you find inspirational, informative, and insightful. Offer to help your connections in any way you can. Chances are, they will be more than happy to return the favor, and may refer you to an open position at their company.
Never help anyone with the expectation of receiving something in return, though! If helping others keeps you motivated and makes you feel grateful for what you do have, don't stop doing it while looking for a job.
4. Get Some Exercise
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You've got to expel that negative energy! Make sure you take time to exercise daily. Take a walk. Go for a run. Do yoga. Lift weights. Just get GOING! Exercising equal endorphins and endorphins make you happy.
Not having structure can make your life seem unstable. Create a plan for your week on Sunday nights. Have a schedule and stick to it. If you like to-do lists, write one of those too.
You'll feel accomplished at the end of the week when you look back and see everything you got done while making time for yourself and prioritizing your career as well as your physical and mental well-being.
Staying motivated during a frustrating job search isn't easy. We hope these tips will help you find the motivation to not only land your next job but also improve your career.
When everything feels overwhelming, just remember to work it daily! Small, consistent actions can make a big difference. Good luck out there.