by Solange Lopes | May 26, 2015 | Career |
We often think of our jobs, or even careers, and our passions as two different things. Very few manage to combine the two, finding fulfillment in their everyday work as they perform tasks they’re passionate about. For the rest of us mere mortals, is left the drudgery of heading to the 9-to-5 we love to hate daily, while dreaming about the kind of work that’d make us want to jump out of bed in the morning. And for the bravest and most entrepreneurial among us, this means living the double life of the entrepreneur, hustling after-hours, surviving on coffee and big dreams…
What if, after all, it weren’t all black-and-white? What if we could pierce through this veil of separation between work we have to do and work we’d love to do? Yes, what if we could all leverage our day jobs to pursue our passions? Ridiculous, unrealistic, or a rearrangement of our mindset and how we view the nature of our work…
Many will tell you following your passions will make you broke, unhappy, and ready to hit the bottle. Others swear by doing what you love, at the risk of wasting your life. In the midst of it all, bills don’t stop coming, your fridge keeps emptying itself at a faster rate than ever, and did you notice how any pair of vintage heels will now cost you your mortgage? Yet there exist a few surefire ways to leverage your time at work, and develop your passion while excelling at your day job:
1. Use your talents! We all have particular talents, abilities and a distinctive work style. As tempting as it may be to fit into a pre-determined box, user your talents to differentiate yourself and build a competitive advantage at work. Great writing skills? Put these into crafting memorable reports and on-point emails. Outstanding presenter? Volunteer for department and company presentations.
2. Share your passions! While many may think sharing passions and personal pursuits outside of work could be detrimental to their careers, there are many more instances when actually opening up about these can give you a boost at work. Why hide the fact that you’re passionate about web marketing if this can open a new niche for you at work? You can also promote your leadership skills at work by mentioning your outside mentoring activities. In any case, be mindful of your environment, and trust your instincts when revealing anything personal.
3. Look for your niche in your current company! Being in a certain role does not mean you cannot evolve to another role that fits you better. Keep your eye open for positions that require your particular strengths and talents!
Are you leveraging your current job to develop your passion?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | May 21, 2015 | Career |
Can you work with friends?
We’ve talked about building up work relationships that build up our career, as well as scoring genuine relationships at work. However, when it comes to relationships at work, how close is too close? Can you work with your friends? If so, how do you maintain the necessary professional boundaries, while preserving your own personal ties?
My $0.05: I’ve worked with friends before, and although I would like to give a one-sided, objective answer to this question, I would have to say, yet again, it depends. It depends a whole lot. About your environment, the type of friendship you have, and the type of person you’re dealing with, not to mention the mindset you’re in. My best work relationships with friends have been one where both m y friends and I knew the difference between being friends at work, and being friends outside of work. Work came first at work, while personal and professional boundaries were clearly set and expected to be respected. Outside of work, friendship was a priority, and work was left…at work.
And of course, for those work relationships with ex-friends I’d rather bury in a deep, dark corner of my mind, they may have thrived and flourished better, had clearer limits been set, and hard conversations been had earlier on. You live, you learn, right…
What has your experience been with friends at work? Would you even be willing to work with a friend?
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | May 21, 2015 | Career
Tulip faux-wrap skirt – Photo credit; crew.com
Loving this tulip faux-wrap skirt from J. Crew in ivory Ikat! It’s perfect for the summer, and makes a statement without being overly provocative. I also love the fact it was made by Indian artisans! It’s $118 at J. Crew!
The skirt is a perfect length, and the colors are versatile enough to allow for various top and footwear options. Great for work and for the week-end too!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | May 21, 2015 | Career
Photo credit: susanliddy.com
Building up and maintaining positive, fruitful work relationships can be a job in itself. From managing management’s demands and expectations while refraining from throwing sharp objects at your boss, to remaining engaged with your teams, having genuinely fulfilling relationships at work can sometimes sound like pulling hair, teeth, and all the patience and dedication in the world. And frankly, in between the month-end meetings, quarterly reports and the boss’s last minute projects, not to mention your toddler’s new tantrum phase and your hairdresser moving out of town (hello crisis), who has time for that?
I’ve made some wonderful connections at work, and some that felt more like biting your tongue after chewing gum too hard. Yet through it all, the common denominator that made the difference between the relationships that made it beyond the cubicle, and those that ended up lost somewhere on Linked In, rested solely in how genuine the connections were. And genuine connections, especially at work, take time, effort and a few extra rearrangements in your professional habits. Here’s a quick infographic on simple, no-nonsense ways to score genuine work relationships, that may very well lead you to career success:
by Solange Lopes | May 19, 2015 | Career
Photo credit: salary.com
Maintaining healthy, positive relationships at work can be a challenge for some. While some may make friends at work and religiously abide by the office’s happy hour schedule, others would rather be caught having their wisdom tooth removed than socializing with co-workers after-hours.
So really, should you strive to socialize with your fellow office dwellers after-hours, or just politely pull the good ol’ “I have to bail my kids out of daycare” argument (valid most days)?
My $0.05: Socializing with co-workers is not a work pre-requisite (unless you’re an auditor in Public Accounting, and you may very well eat all 3 meals with your teams).
However, if you’re not into socializing after-hours with your cubicle neighbors, you may want to consider strategically attending at least one event per quarter to keep your work relationships on a decent footing. Consider it a part of work, and while you’re at it, have a drink on the company!
Do you think professionals should socialize with co-workers after-hours?
The Corporate Sis.
We often think of our jobs, or even careers, and our passions as two different things. Very few manage to combine the two, finding fulfillment in their everyday work as they perform tasks they’re passionate about. For the rest of us mere mortals, is left the drudgery of heading to the 9-to-5 we love to hate daily, while dreaming about the kind of work that’d make us want to jump out of bed in the morning. And for the bravest and most entrepreneurial among us, this means living the double life of the entrepreneur, hustling after-hours, surviving on coffee and big dreams…
