GarthBox

Will they miss you if you’re gone?

You want them to. That’s a great evaluation tool of whether or not you’re doing work that matters.

Unless, of course, they miss you because you didn’t do the work that they needed done.

For a client or customers, yes, they should miss you.

For a coworker or partner, you should be doing all that needs to be done so they don’t miss you if you’re gone.

Stay Positive & Going Going Gone

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The only skeptic that matters is the one inside your head.

The others; the ones saying “don’t do it” or “a gal like you can’t do a job like this” or “you’re not qualified” – proving them does nothing because they don’t care. Prove them wrong and they’re onto the next person to skepticize.

But yourself on the other hand; that voice inside your head – that skeptic matters, that skeptic is worth proving wrong (or, how I prefer to frame it “prove yourself right”.) That skeptic matters because once you’ve proved yourself right, they catch on and the skeptical voice dies down.

Pave the way for doing meaningful work by shutting the only skeptic up that matters.

Stay Positive & Show Who Is Right

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Embarrassment doesn’t do one any good.

It does good for others, though.

When they know you feel it. When you share stories about a time you were embarrassed. When you acknowledge that you’re embarrassed by something, but you talk about it anyway.

Not because people connect with the embarrassment piece, but because they find inspiration in overcoming their own feelings of embarrassment too.

So I guess I’m wrong in how I opened this blog post. Embarrassment does do one good, but only if one overcomes it.

Stay Positive & Let It Be Fuel

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You’re going to be asked it. Might as well start off the day with something that gives you the ability to answer.

Read something. Create something. Ship something.

What’s new can be a new-to-you bit of information, it can be something you’ve shared, it can be an idea you’ve been ruminating on.

If there’s nothing new, then it’s time to change that.

And if it’s the person asking that you’re not excited to share with, find different people.

(Or better yet, be the one that gives them something new to share.)

Stay Positive & New Is Always Better

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The only way to get to frequently original is to get to infinitely unoriginal.

It’s a numbers game, as all meaningful things are.

The more you ship, the more likely you’ll ship something unique. The more you ideate, the more likely you’ll ideate something original. The more you create, the more likely you’ll create actual change.

Originally doesn’t just happen, it’s a byproduct of being unoriginal time and time again.

Stay Positive & Increase Your Numbers

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I have prioritized other speaking engagements over ones with college students for awhile, but the other day I met with a handful of sophomores, juniors and seniors who had myriad questions about work in the real world.

Here are a handful of tips you can share with a student you know, in no particular order.

1. The quality of tangible real-life work isn’t as important as the fact you have tangible real-life work. Ask a local brand if you can help with their marketing. Volunteer your skills to a local organization. Opt for classes that have you produce real work (a rebranding guide for a real-life brand, a class that produces a magazine, etc.,)
2. Include a few hobbies on your resume. It’s as awkward going into interviews for the interviewee as it is the interviewers. Give us something to help break the ice. At the end of the day, anyway, if you match the same qualifications as another – the person who has a more cultural fit will get the job.
3. The real interview is the one you schedule, not the one they schedule. In other words, reach out and ask for informational interviews. Ask them questions before they ask you them. Every time, the people who give you the informational interview will be the ones to give the decision-maker feedback on how awesome you are.
4. Uncomfortable asking for informational interviews or it’s too soon? Then use your student card. Use a homework assignment to interview someone’s life in the job role you think you want. Let people know you’re a student and working on a school assignment to get an in. It’s incredible how many professionals are happy to help a student.

Stay Positive & Hit Me Up If You Want More Tips (And I’m Always Happy To Review A Resume)

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Resources can be replenished. Morale can be rebuilt. Plans can be replanned.

But time. All time is no time if time is passed.

The best leaders manage the amount of time they take (and give) to their team members.

Stay Positive & Give More Than You Take

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