“Your First (NEW) Year as a

Professional”

I got this years and years ago my last semester of college and thought that this would be the perfect time to pass it on. You don’t have to start a new job or get a promotion or even go and finish school to start your new profession. You just have to start it new. This year, try to see day 1 as that very first day and incorporate these steps into that feeling. I guarantee that you will have a much better year!

Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Professional Appearance

Based on appearance, a positive or negative first impression can be made.  Appropriate dress can lend credibility to you and your

position because wardrobe projects self-esteem, level of confidence, and professionalism.  In addition, appropriate business attire works to your advantage when it comes time for promotions, raises, and job evaluations.

More than 70% of American companies allow some form of casual attire on occasions. To ensure that you dress appropriately, research dress code in your field and specifically, your place of employment. If in doubt, always err on the conservative side and remember the following rule of thumb: Dress like the successful people in your organization.

Here are the Don’ts of professional attire:

Avoid excessive or flashy jewelry and make up, shorts, miniskirts, stretch, or capri pants, sleeveless or bare back shirts and dresses, low-cut blouses and shirts, form-fitting spandex attire, ties with large prints or cartoon characters, sandals, shoes with elaborate bows and buckles, bare legs.  It is a good idea to keep an extra shirt or blouse, pressed and boxed, in your car.  You may also consider having an extra tie or an extra pair of nylons available at the ready.  Keep a toothbrush and breath mints in your desk for bad breath emergencies.

Cultivate Solid Time Management Skills

Good time management skills begin with goal setting.  Plan your day in advance by rehearsing what you need to accomplish that day during your morning commute.  Ten to fifteen minutes of planning in the morning will equal an extra hour or more of productivity during the day.  There are a number of tools available to help you plan your daily activities (e.g., a Day-Timer, Franklin Covey Planner, or other pocket planners).  It is a good practice to carry a notepad with you to write down your thoughts or daily reminders as they occur to you.  If you drive, get a windshield-attached notepad.

Develop a routine that increases your personal productivity.  If you can take public transportation to work it will give you time to read (and may also save you money).  If you drive, get in the habit of listening to books on tape or podcasts.  It is amazing how much reading you can accomplish over the course of a year.

Don’t forget to schedule times to relax and take a break throughout the day.  Park at the far end of the lot in the morning, go for a brisk walk each day, or stretch your legs during lunch.  It will clear your mind and make you more productive for the remainder of the day.  Join a health club: Exercise will increase your level of energy; you will look better and feel better.

 

Develop Strong Interpersonal Skills

Talk 20% and listen 80% because you learn by listening and not by talking.  Get in the habit of remembering the names of those you are introduced to.  In your first few days on the job it might be a good idea to jot down names until you remember them and don’t be afraid to ask the person to help you with his or her name in case you forgot it.  Project positive attitude by smiling (even if you feel like frowning) because everyone loves a cheerful person.  Be the first person to say “hello” to others in the morning.  If someone is confrontational with you, avoid the confrontation.  Take time to cool off before you respond and focus on solutions and not problems.  Don’t be a complainer and ignore those who attempt to practice their art upon you.

Finally, always take the opportunity to praise others who are worthy of praise.  If someone has done well, take the time to compliment him or her.  When someone compliments you for your work, don’t say “it was nothing” or try to talk them out of it.  Just say “Thank you” with a smile and move on.

Focus on Career Development, Education, and Training

Ask your boss to point out areas for continuous improvement.  Know and understand the company training program and take advantage of it.  Continue your education; even if you do not pursue a formal degree, make learning a lifelong vocation.  What you learn will affect what you earn.  Computer skills are one of the skills you should focus on developing as you need to be proficient in the use of technology in your work.

Be aware of the work that is going on around you because these could be your areas of potential future growth.  Make sure that you understand your role in contributing to the bottom line of the company and keep your eyes focused on the big picture rather than your own cube.  Invest time in networking with professionals within the organization.  Take others out to lunch to learn about their jobs and departments.

Know who your boss’ boss is as this is the person who may recommend or authorize your promotion in the future.

If you love what you do, success will follow.  If you think that you do more than what you are paid to do, you will eventually be paid more for what you do.  And finally, don’t ask for a raise because you need more money; ask for a raise because you are worth more money.

 

Learn About Ethics and Politics in the Workplace

Develop a reputation for honesty and integrity.  Integrity means doing what is right, even if it is unpopular, unfashionable, or unprofitable.  Don’t lie, cheat, or steal, even when the temptation is great. Stand for honesty and integrity in all you do, and you will be amazed how far it will set you above your peers.  If you have failed in these areas in the past, your new job is an opportunity to start fresh.  You must earn your reputation over time and live up to it at all times, at work and everywhere else.

Don’t use profanity, never tell dirty jokes, racist jokes, or sexist jokes and ignore those who attempt to share them with you.  When dining out with co-workers or clients limit yourself to one glass of wine or beer and wait for someone else to order liquor first—don’t be the only one.

Watch and emulate those who are successful in your company; allow them to be your mentors from afar.  Make sure to show respect for your boss in everything you do.  Don’t join in when others are boss bashing—it can be contagious.  Always seek the good in others, and they will be more likely to find it in you.

Manage Your Money Wisely

Eat lunch in to save both time and money.  Even just $5 per lunch eating out adds up to $2500 per year.

Besides, it is healthier to bring your own lunch, not to mention that you will often be viewed as a hard worker for consistently staying in when others are going out.

Take time to understand your company’s benefits plan instead of waiting until you need to use one of the benefits to understand it.  Sign up for your 401(k) plan as soon as possible so that you can be taken care of later in life.  If your employer provides the option, have your paycheck set up for direct deposit to save the time and hassle of depositing each paycheck and giving you quicker access to your money.

Always pay your bills on time, especially credit cards and student loans.  An unblemished credit record is an asset that should be protected.  Don’t run a monthly balance on your credit card–if you can’t pay it off, don’t buy it.  Remember, wealth and happiness are not the same thing.  There is more to life than the endless accumulation of wealth.  There will never be enough money.  You must find your wealth elsewhere in your life.

And Lastly…

Always give back to those who are less fortunate than you.  No matter how hard you have worked to get where you are now, there is always someone who has not had the same opportunities that you have had in life.  Do your best to give something back.

I wish you all the best in your new life.

JEFF

As a coach, a lot of times I get asked, if I myself am Happy and what (or who) makes me happy. That’s not as easy to answer as it might seem. Yes, I am happy. I am happier then I have been in a long time, I hope to be happier someday. As for who or what makes me happy. Well, only I can make myself happy, but I choose to let my life be a happy one and accept the good as good and the bad as learning experiences.  That is not the same as saying my boys make me happy or that Ann makes me happy.  In a way they do by my relationship with them, but they are not the depending factors on my internal happiness.  I have had some post cards I made a long time ago as flash cards I keep to remind me of Happiness and I want to share with you those. I do apologize now if someone knows where these came from I would love to give full credit. I just don’t know for sure where they all came from.  I have tweaked most of them in a way that makes sense to me and way and added a few. Ultimately though, here are the things that are key to being happy.

1. Forget the past

One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory.
Rita Mae Brown

You won’t be happy if you carry the burden of the past. Did you make mistakes? Did you have terrible experiences? Whatever they are, you should let them go. There’s nothing you can do about the past, so you’d better let them go and focus your energy on the present.

2. Take responsibility for your life

The secret of Happiness is Freedom, and the secret of Freedom, Courage.
Thucydides

The most essential freedom is the freedom to choose. No matter how bad a situation is, you can always choose how you respond to it. People can annoy you, but it’s up to you whether or not you will resent.

But, as the quote above says, freedom takes courage. Freedom to choose requires the courage to take responsibility for your life. Don’t blame someone else when something goes wrong. Take the responsibility and you have the power to choose.

3. Build relationships

Life’s truest happiness is found in friendships we make along the way.
Unknown

The reason is simple: only through relationships can we love and be loved.  Make relationships your top priority and you are on your way to true happiness.  Bad relationships can destroy your chances of happiness so go back to #2.

4. Develop multiple passions

The more passions and desires one has, the more ways one has of being happy.
Charlotte-Catherine

Passions lead you to happiness. So not only should you discover your multiple passions, you should also expand yourself to new passions. This way you will create new ways to happiness.

The key is curiosity. If you are curious, you will have an endless stream of exciting things waiting for you.

5. Build your character

Character is the basis of happiness and happiness the sanction of character.
George Santayana

Building your character is essential for happiness. When you are true to yourself and others, you will be in peace.

The way to start building character is by making promises and keeping them. For example, you make promise, you keep it, you build your character.

6. Be who you are

The summit of happiness is reached when a person is ready to be what he is.
Desiderius Erasmus

You can only be happy if you become who you are. Don’t live other people’s life by trying to meet their expectations. People may expect you to have certain job or certain way of living but don’t be intimidated by them. Find who you are and be yourself.

7. Live your life purpose

The only true happiness comes from squandering ourselves for a purpose.
William Cowper

To have a fulfilling life, you should find your life purpose and follow it faithfully. Find what matters to you and build the courage to follow it. Having a one-liner will help you internalize and communicate your mission.

8. Count your blessings

Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have.
Unknown

Being happy is easy if we are grateful. Unfortunately, seeing what we don’t have is often easier than seeing what we have. Sometimes we need to experience loss before appreciating what we have. So don’t take things for granted. Look at what you have and soon you will have plenty of reasons to be happy.

9. Have positive mind

It is not the place, nor the condition, but the mind alone that can make anyone happy or miserable.
Roger L’Estrange

Happy people know how to control their mind. They don’t let negative thoughts come in. While a situation may seem bad to others, happy people look at them in a positive way. They always believe that no matter how bad a situation seems, there is always something positive to take from it. Your mind can make or break you, so guard it well.

10. Work creatively

Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

When you work creatively on something you will find happiness. There is a well-known phenomenon regarding this called flow. When you are in the state of flow, you are fully focused on the task at hand that you no longer realize the passage of time. This state of flow allows you to achieve high productivity and being happy at the same time.  “Use the force Luke.” “In the Zone.” There is a reason these sayings are timeless.

11. Change

They must often change who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.
Confucius

Being happy requires you to constantly grow. In fact, the process of learning itself is essential for happiness. Have you ever felt the excitement of being enlightened about something? Have you ever felt the excitement of achieving a new level in life?

12. Use your talents

True happiness involves the full use of one’s power and talents.
Douglas Pagels

There are two lessons to take from this quote. First, you should find your talents and second, you should use them to the fullest. Working in your talents is a sure way to enjoy your work because it’s something you are “hardwired” to do. Using your talents fully will make you even happier because of the satisfaction of doing your best.

13. Beware of small things

The happiness of most people we know is not ruined by great catastrophes or fatal errors, but by the repetition of slowly destructive little things.
Ernest Dimnet

Ding Ding Ding Ding…  Often it’s not big things that ruin your happiness. It’s the small things that do. Perhaps you don’t like someone or break some “small” promises. But even small leaks can sink your ship of happiness, so beware of them.

14. Make others happy

Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

The more you help other people and make them happy, the more you will be happy. Happiness doesn’t come through selfishness but through selflessness. You reap what you sow.

15. Practice compassion

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
The Dalai Lama

Compassion is perhaps the highest level of selflessness we could have. As this quote aptly says, practicing compassion can make both others and you happy.

But of course, it requires practice. Start with thinking about the people around you. Look at their needs and find ways to meet them. Even if you don’t do it out of compassion in the beginning, your compassion will grow over time.

Happiness depends upon ourselves.
Aristotle

It’s you who decide whether or not you are happy in life.

I choose to be happy.  What about you?

JEFF