Career Archives

How to Deal With Task Avoidance and Procrastination

Why do we avoid the things that matter most to us, even when we know that doing so makes us unhappy in the long run? What can you do to overcome procrastination? Sometimes, task avoidance and procrastination result from being overwhelmed with the work itself—especially when tackling a large or complex project. If that’s the case, try breaking down the project into manageable parts to avoid procrastination-spawning emotions like fear and anxiety. Here’s how “chunking” or breaking down projects can help break the habit of procrastination.

Circle of Competence: How to Identify & Develop Your Own

What are your circles of competence? How can you identify them? What should you do if you need to work outside of them? Shane Parrish and Rhiannon Beaubien explain a simple model for pinpointing where your strengths and weaknesses lie. Knowing whether you’re in a circle of competence allows you to avoid blunders and make better decisions. This helps you learn, grow, and succeed more in life and work. Keep reading to learn how to identify your circles of competence, what to do if you find yourself outside of one, and how to develop a new one.

How to Manage Your Career: Treat It Like a Business

Have changes in your industry impacted your career? Have your opportunities changed, even though you haven’t? In Only the Paranoid Survive, Andrew Grove discusses strategic inflection points—market disruptions that demand a response from your business. He also explains that your own career will face strategic inflection points, bringing major change down to a personal level. Read more for Grove’s advice on how to manage your career and ride the waves of change.

Good Work Habits to Make You Successful

What are good work habits? Do you want to develop a strong work ethic? Exhibiting good work habits not only makes you stand out to managers or other employees, but it can help you achieve your work goals. These work habits can cater to anybody—whether you want to run your own business, want to get solo projects done, or want to get a raise. Here are some great work habits to develop so you can have a successful career.

Pivoting in Business: How to Know When It’s Time for a Change

What types of market disruptions warrant a large-scale response? How do you know when your business is at a strategic inflection point? Intel CEO Andrew Grove offers guidance on how to know when a change in your business environment requires an overhaul of your company. He recommends that you foster a continual culture of debating and listening. Read more to learn Grove’s advice on pivoting in business.

Steve Jobs’s Products: Where Art Meets Technology

Was Steve Jobs an artist? How are Steve Jobs’s creations like art? Walter Isaacson’s biography, Steve Jobs, depicts the entrepreneur’s highs and lows throughout his career. While reflecting on Jobs’s successes, Isaacson compares Apple products to works of art. Learn the similarities between famous artists and Steve Jobs’s art.

What Is the Main Purpose of Education in Society?

What is the main purpose of education in society? Does education have a hidden agenda? Do employers care more about your education or your degree? According to Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson, some institutions are about shaping society in a desired direction. They argue that education is about producing good citizens and employees, getting them accustomed to rules, schedules, and authority figures. Keep reading to learn more about this intriguing view of education’s purpose.

Why Reputation Is Important: Leveraging Trust

Do you have a good reputation in your field? Are you making the most of the trust you’ve earned from others? In The Unfair Advantage, entrepreneurs Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba explain how your reputation can give you a leg up over the competition. Other businesses and professionals do what you do, but they don’t have the same status and connections you have. You can leverage your reputation and relationships to find success. Read more to learn why reputation is important and how to use it to your advantage.

How to Be More Competent: 1 Crucial Behavior

What behaviors should you adopt to become more competent? How does demonstrating competence help others trust you? Author and former CEO Stephen Covey believes building competence relates to demonstrating trustworthy behaviors. In his book, The Speed of Trust, Covey explains that your most valuable interpersonal currency is having trust in your relationships. Read on to learn Covey’s advice on how to be more competent by building trust with others.

How to Expand Your Network in Just 3 Steps

What if socializing doesn’t come naturally to you? Is success really about who—not what—you know? Not necessarily, according to peak performance expert Eric Barker. But, your relationships are essential, so you must expand and nurture your network. He shares three steps to cultivate professional connections: focus on building friendships, mentor and be mentored, and regularly thank the people in your life. Keep reading to learn how to expand your network and make the connections stronger.