Going back to work after a relaxing Christmas break is a hard slog. That first week back seems like an endless to-do list of catching up on emails, messages, meetings and deadlines. That week back can feel extra tough if you’re feeling a little disillusioned with your career.
Don’t let negativity steal your drive, productivity and passion in the new year. Instead, use January as a time to refresh your mindset and re-engage with your work life. It will set you up for a successful year of kicking goals and feeling more fulfilled.
We spoke to Emma Isaacs, the Founder and Global CEO of Business Chicks, ambassador for MyRoad mentoring by Coca-Cola Australia and Beacon Foundation, and also the author of the best-selling book, Winging It.Needless to say. Emma knows a thing or two about refreshing a career. Here are her top six tips for refreshing your career in the new year.
1. Consume everything you can
“Listen to podcasts. Read books. Go to events. Network! Study the work and words of the people whose careers you admire and apply their secrets to your own work. Back in the early days of my career, I would read a couple of business books a week. These days that’s a little harder, and I’m lucky to have Business Chicks events as a constant form of learning, but I’ll never pass on the opportunity to grab a new book (or even a magazine) for a flight or listen to a podcast in the car.”
2. Give back
“One of the most rewarding things we can all do is to stop focusing on ourselves and instead start to think about how we can help others. This year I became an online mentor to high school students through MyRoad, which is an amazing initiative of Coca-Cola Australia and the Beacon Foundation, and I swear I got more out of it than the kids! It was a chance for me to impart some knowledge and wisdom, confirm that I’ve done something worth sharing, and it was also amazing to give these girls a sense of reassurance that if they work hard and apply themselves, then that’ll make for a great start to their careers.”
3. Get clear on your strengths
“To really be truly happy at work, I believe you need to be working in a job that allows you to play to your strengths. There are a bunch of tests you can do online that will help you identify your strengths. The best companies and organisations understand that they’ll get more from you if they have you work to your strengths for most of the available time (it’s what we do at Business Chicks and it’s been a game changer for our business.) We’ve all worked for companies that expect you to fill your day with tasks that drive you insane. If you’re working for one of these companies and you can’t see your role changing then perhaps it’s time to start thinking about your next move.”
4. Find yourself a work wife
“Everyone needs someone to turn to in times of achievement, in moments of uncertainty, or just to share a cuppa with at 3pm. Science has proven that when people have a best friend at work they’re more likely to enjoy more job satisfaction and their productivity increases too.”
5. Don’t sit back and wait for opportunities to come to you
“Go and make them for yourself. Being positive, offering solutions, showing up and being extraordinary (rather than average!) can go a long way toward loving your job day in and day out.”
6. Change something
“Not all of us jump out of bed every morning, bursting with joy to get to our jobs, but if this is an ongoing feeling, you might want to think seriously about what needs to change. It starts at the level of the individual and I’m a big believer that we create our own luck. Being successful is all about mindset and the quicker we can understand that, the more fulfilled life becomes. So whatever it is that you really want to do – whether it’s in your current business or another one altogether – the first thing to do is believe that you can get there, and the next is to just take one step at a time to get on your way.”
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