“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go”

~Dr. Seuss~

If I had to pick only one thing (other than relationships with other people) that has made the biggest difference in the level of happiness, productivity, contentment and success in my life, that one thing would have to be BOOKS.

I LOVE reading. I love reading for pleasure (my favorite fictional book series is The Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward–love me some sexy vampires!) but even more than that, I really love reading for personal development. I absolutely credit much of the transformation that has taken place in my life to the multitude of books that I have read. Reading has provided me with a wealth of information, inspiration and motivation. Plus–research shows that reading can actually make you sexy (it’s true–you can read more about it here). So, with so many incredible reasons to read, the question simply becomes, what to read–and I’m here to help you with that. In order to help you live your most FabYOUlous year yet, I’ve  compiled a list of twelve books that have all had a huge impact on my life. These books are all from the personal development genre but some are more geared toward spirituality while others are geared more toward business development or goal setting. One thing that they all have in common though, is that each one of these books has made a powerful and lasting impact on my life, and I’m sure that the same will be true for you.

If you are ready to take your life to the next level in 2018, add these twelve books to your reading list today!

12 Books to Read for a FabYOUlous 2018

1. The Universe Has Your Back–Transform Fear to Faith by Gabrielle Bernstein: Okay, I know that Gabby’s new book Judgement Detox is out now and garnering rave reviews, but as wonderful as it is (and it is wonderful), my favorite book by everyone’s favorite girlfriend guru is still The Universe Has Your Back. This book came into my life at exactly the right time (just further proof in my mind that the Universe does indeed have my back) and had a tremendous impact upon the way I view everything. I found myself burning through two highlighters as I read this book because I was literally highlighting something on nearly every page. With simple reminders such as “the Universe picks up what you put out” to deeper lessons on manifestation, Universal co-creation and consciousness, this book has given me more confidence to boldly pursue my dreams, because I am able to see the evidence that the Universe does truly have my back. 

   “ The Universe picks up what you put out —GABRIELLE BERNSTEIN

2. How to Live an Awesome Life–How to Live Well, Do Good, Be Happy by Polly Campbell: This book is a quick and easy read (I read the entire thing on a flight from Denver to Florida) but just because it’s simple doesn’t mean that it isn’t powerful (and funny…and inspiring). I especially love the fact that this book can be read from cover to cover; or you can simply jump around to the chapters that most appeal to you in any given moment. I’ve read the book through entirely, but I also find myself going back to certain chapters when I need a little boost in that particular subject.
3. Finding FabYOUlous–A ‘Self-Help with Sass’ Guide to Finding, Celebrating and Capitalizing On the FabYOUlousness that Makes You, YOU by Melissa Venable: Out of all the books in the history of the world, this book has had the biggest impact on my life. Granted, that’s because I’m the one who wrote the book, and the process of writing a book is bound to have a lasting impact on the writer. Despite my slightly biased point of view however; this book truly does have a lot to offer for anyone who feels stuck in a less than fulfilling existence.  Based upon my own experience of turning my life around after escaping from an abusive marriage and battling a debilitating Anorexia Nervosa diagnosis, Finding FabYOUlous provides a wealth of inspiration and guidance, coupled with actionable steps to help the reader discover her true and powerful purpose and begin living that purpose in every aspect of her daily life. With chapters titled “Ditch the Drama to find Your Dharma” and “Do My Boundaries Make Me a B!tch?”, Finding FabYOUlous is a fun and entertaining read that also packs a powerful, purposeful punch. Oh and if that’s not enough to convince you to check out Finding FabYOUlous, it also provides readers with access to a private website that is full of additional material to supplement what is in the book. 

   “ Ditch the Drama to Find Your Dharma —MELISSA VENABLE

4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho: This is a self-help book disguised as an adventure tale. Normally, I’m not drawn to this kind of book, however; this book (which has been around for over 25 years) captivated me from the very start. The story follows the life of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy as he sets out on an adventure to find worldly treasure, and yet (through a series of trials, journeys and magical experiences) discovers something of far greater value. By combining magic, mysticism and ancient wisdom, The Alchemist has transformed the lives of countless readers across generations. Santiago’s journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life’s path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.
5. The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte: I absolutely love Danielle LaPorte. Seriously, I want to meet her somehow and become her new BFF. She’s cool, strong, beautiful and oh so smart. I make it a point to read her book, The Desire Map every year around my birthday. It lines out an incredible goal-setting strategy that I have found to be more inspiring and effective than any other goal-setting system out there (and trust me, I’ve tried them all). Danielle’s Desire Map system is all about setting “goals with soul” and freeing yourself to set life goals based upon how you want to feel. By combining the power of emotions with the study of manifestation, Danielle guides the reader through a goal-setting process that is rich with purpose and intention while also honoring the ambitious nature within each of us. I love Danielle’s work so much that I’ve gone a step further in my study and have become a trained Desire Map facilitator, so, if you like the book but find yourself wanting to go even deeper–hit me up, I’d love to work with you.

   “ Joy is the fiber of your soul —DANIELLE LAPORTE

6. Material Girl, Mystical World–The Now Age Guide to a High-Vibe Life by Ruby Warrington: Okay–I’ll confess, I don’t usually read books that are this woo-woo. However; I had recently had an unexplainable, mystical experience that left me scratching my head and wondering to myself “how on earth did she know that” after a self-proclaimed, intuitive psychic came up to me (totally out of the blue) and told me something about myself that (I swear) she couldn’t have known. That incident still gives me shivers when I think about it, and it led me to start exploring topics that, before then, I had always considered to be too “new-agey” and well…weird. It wasn’t long after I opened this book however; that I began to understand just how much about this Universe there was that I didn’t understand. I love how relatable Ruby is as she herself explores new age topics such as Astrology, Numerology, the Tarot, Oracles, Crystals, Shamanism etc. Sure, I still find some of it to be a little weird, but my mind has become much more open to possibilities and willing to consider that just because I don’t fully understand something, doesn’t mean that it’s not legit.
7. Live Your Best Day Ever–Thirty-Five Strategies for Daily Success by Anne-Marie Faiola: With practical advice such as “align real-life time management with your goals” and “assume goodwill”, this book is full of powerful strategies that, if implemented, are sure to help you truly improve the quality of your days. I especially love that each chapter includes suggestions on how to take the advice from each chapter and make it personal, as well as how to apply it to your business or professional life.
8.  365 Ways to Live Generously by Sharon Lipinski: This book is broken up into 365 short chapters that are intended to be read once a day for a year, but I’ll confess, I finished the book in like three weeks. The basic premise of the book is that the only thing standing between you and the life that you want, are your habits and that the habit of generosity is the one habit that can have the greatest impact upon your level of fulfillment. 365 Ways to Live Generously features lessons each day that focus on one of the seven generosity habits: Physical health, Mindfulness, Relationships, Connection with self, Gratitude, Simplicity and Philanthropy. Each habit appears once a week, giving you a year to practice and make them all a part of your daily life. Using this inspiring book, you’ll develop the habits needed to create a life that’s good for you and for others.
9. 52 Ways to Live a Kick-Ass Life–B.S. Free Wisdom to Ignite Your Inner Badass and Live the Life You Deserve by Andrea Owen: In this powerful book, the author guides you through her acclaimed strategies for creating a more fulfilling life. Each goal-orientated lesson empowers the reader to take control of the barriers that keep her from achieving the love and success she desires. From breaking the unrewarding cycle of people pleasing to dealing with unsupportive friends, this book approaches the problems that we all face with a candid look at why you aren’t satisfied–and how to fix it. This book’s life-changing wisdom helps you to uncover your self-limiting beliefs as well as push you out of your comfort zone by zeroing in on your most difficult issues. Plus–the author’s fun but plucky personality shines through the book and makes you want to form your own “girl gang” with her.
10. 50 Ways to Yay–Transformative Tools for a Whole Lot of Happy by Alexi Panos: While we’re on the topic of girl gangs, let’s add Alexi Panos to ours too. She’s super cool, super beautiful and super enlightening. Alexi once liked a post that I had posted on Instagram and that was it–I had an immediate girl crush. Her book, 50 Ways to Yay has 50 empowering and thought-provoking lessons that will help you to break out of the ordinary and jump into the extraordinary. With her guidance, you can experience a domino effect of inner peace, inspiration, and a whole lot of happy.
11. She Means Business–Turn Your Ideas into Reality and Become a Wildly Successful Entrepreneur by Carrie Green: If you are at all interested in starting your own business, you need to check out this book. With advice on creating your brand, moving beyond doubt, building a platform and so much more, this book will walk you through the basics and help you lay a solid foundation for your business pursuits. Trust me, If you’re a creative and ambitious female entrepreneur, or are contemplating the entrepreneurial path, this book will provide the honest, realistic, and practical tools you’ll need to follow your heart and bring your vision to life
12. Platform–Get Noticed in a Noisy World by Michael Hyatt: To be successful in the market today, you must possess two strategic assets: a compelling product and a meaningful platform. In this step-by-step guide, author, Michael Hyatt, takes readers behind the scenes, into the new world of social media success. He shows you what best-selling authors, public speakers, entrepreneurs, musicians, and other creatives are doing differently to win customers in today’s crowded marketplace. I love this book because, well, because I want to be Michale Hyatt (or at least a female version of Michael Hyatt) and I have found his advice on how to increase one’s influence and monetize it to be especially helpful as I grow FabYOUlous Life and promote Finding FabYOUlous. 

I truly, truly, with all of my heart do believe that reading these books will add so much clarity, abundance, fulfillment and purpose to your life. Don’t delay–there is still plenty of time to make it through this entire list before the end of 2018, but the sooner you get to reading, the sooner you’ll start experiencing your most FabYOUlous life!

For some added FabYOUlousness, be sure to click the image below to get your TWO free ebooks: “365 Questions to Help You Find Your Answers” and “50 FabYOUlous Ways to Energize Your Life”

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

~Mahatma Ghandi~

When was the last time you intently studied a new, unfamiliar subject or set out to learn a new skill? If you can’t remember the last time, it is high time you brush the cobwebs off of your brain cells and get those synapses firing again.

Now, don’t panic–I’m not suggesting that you rush out and enroll in your local university or sign up for an intensive online course in astrophysics (though both of these suggestions certainly are options). I’m simply suggesting that the only real way to guarantee a FabYOUlous life for yourself, is to adapt the habits and mentality of a lifelong learner. 

“ the only real way to guarantee a FabYOUlous life, is to adapt the habits and mentality of a lifelong learner —MELISSA VENABLE

When you envision your most FabYOUlous life–what are you doing? Where do you live? Who are you with? What activities are you enjoying? Chances are, in order to actually begin living that life, there are going to be some things that you are going to need to learn. For me, living my most FabYOUlous life required that I learn about website development, book publishing, life coaching and sales funnels (just to name a few). When I started out on my quest for my most FabYOUlous life, I knew absolutely nothing about any of these subjects–like seriously, nada. Fortunately, it didn’t take long for me to figure out that there are ways of learning almost anything these days and that the information is often right at our fingertips. One of my absolute FAVORITE online learning platforms is Udemy. With a few quick clicks of your mouse, you can learn anything from knitting to Photoshop to marathon running on Udemy. I’ve literally taken classes on personal development topics, website creation, book marketing and more using Udemy’s user-friendly platform.

YouTube is another favorite platform of mine when it comes to learning. Oh sure, you can find music videos, funny cat videos and all kinds of other mindless distractions on YouTube, but you can also find how-to videos on every subject under the sun. I recently thought that I needed a macrame plant hanger for my office and guess what–I found several video tutorials on how to make macrame plant hangers on YouTube. I’ve also learned new make-up techniques and how to plan a creative retreat/workshop on YouTube–the sky truly is the limit when it comes to learning on this Fab and free platform.

Finally–I think my hands-down favorite way to learn something new is to read about it. There is just something about the feel of a book in my hands that I find to be so soothing but also empowering. That’s probably what compelled me to write my book, Finding FabYOUlous: A ‘Self-Help with Sass’ Guide to Finding, Celebrating and Capitalizing on the FabYOUlousness that Makes You, YOU. I wanted women to be able to (in the comfort of their own homes and on their own terms) learn how to peel back the layers on their authentic selves so that they could show up for life in a more powerful and aligned way. Whether you are desiring to learn something from the self-help genre or are looking for more practical instruction on a subject like dog training, guitar playing or photography, there are countless books available on nearly any subject.

This ability and desire to be a lifelong learner is one of the most crucial ingredients when it comes to fashioning a truly FabYOUlous life but there are other benefits as well…

Benefits of Lifelong Learning

• No more boredom! Honestly, it drives me crazy when people complain of being bored. In my opinion, boredom is just a by-product of laziness. Unless you are in solitary confinement in prison, there is no reason to be bored. If you have access to your smartphone or a laptop, you can instantly plug into a number of educational podcasts, how-to videos etc. Not only do I keep my phone handy, I also carry a book and notepad around in my purse so I can read if I find myself in an otherwise boredom inducing scenario.
• It boosts confidence. Any time we gain proficiency at something new, we get a little shot of confidence. The more confident we are, the more we are able to show up in the world as our best self.
• It makes you more marketable. Okay–learning how to make macrame plant hangers probably isn’t going to make me more upwardly mobile in my career–but knowing how to design a website or create a successful sales funnel just might. What skills are you interested in learning that can be transferred to your current career, or the career that you desire?
• It sets a good example. I have always had a thirst for learning (except when it came to algebra–I didn’t give two hoots about algebra) and I can see now how that desire to learn has rubbed off on my young adult sons. Both of my boys love to read and both keep their minds active as they study different subjects that interest them. I hope that this example of lifelong learning continues to be passed down once my boys have kids of their own.
• It keeps your brain healthy and your mind sharp. Our brain is a muscle, and just like any other muscle in the body, the more we use it, the stronger it becomes. Studies have shown that continued learning can help to protect the brain from age related issues such as Alzheimers and dementia.
• It can help you sleep. Just as our body tires when we work it, so does our brain. Learning new things can help us to sleep thereby allowing our brain time to rest, recover and prepare for more learning.

What new skills would you like to acquire in 2018? What do you hope to know a year from now that you don’t know now? Whether it’s how to paint with watercolors or rebuild the transmission on a ’69 Mustang, you’re sure to find a way to gain the knowledge if you just commit to looking. Make 2018 the year that you indulge your yearn to learn.

Let me ask you something…how do you feel on Sunday evening? How about on Monday morning?

Do you look forward to the start of a new work week and the promise of fresh opportunities, or are you crushed by feelings of dread over the inevitable onslaught of hassles, headaches and hurry-ups that you know are waiting for you…just like they were last week…and the week before?

If your situation more closely resembles the latter scenario, take heart–you are not alone. This is a predicament that many of us find ourselves in at one time or another. Fortunately, this treadmill of tedium is something that can be rectified. It is possible to revive a stalled-out career and take back control of your professional aspirations. It may take a little time and intentionality, but ifyou’re willing to get real with yourself, think outside the box and expand your horizons; a purposeful profession can be yours. Try these six suggestions to help you once again find the passion in your profession and jump-start a stalled-out career…

1.)  Decide if you need a tune-up or a complete overhaul: Sometimes we can find ourselves stuck in a rut, even in a career that we love. Often this means that other factors outside of our profession are causing issues within our work life. How are you feeling physically? Are you getting enough sleep? Have you put on weight? Are you fighting a cold? Do you feel okay emotionally? Are outside stressors causing you anxiety that follows you into the office? How is your relationship with your spouse or your kids? Are your finances causing you worry? All of these things (as well as myriad others) can wreak havoc on our professional lives. This happens when we mistakenly assume that the lethargy or frustration that we are feeling at our office is due to our work, as opposed to other outside factors. It is not uncommon to misappropriate blame in this way so it is crucial that we take the time to investigate what is truly at the root of our unrest before making a drastic move in regard to our career. Perhaps a tune-up in other aspects of your life can help you to feel more fulfilled in your career as well.

If you’ve taken the time to assess aspects of your life outside of your career and have determined that they are not the cause of your unrest, it is time to take a good look at your work life. Do you generally find your work satisfying but lack the passion that you once had? If so, it is time to tweak your career in a way that allows you to grow and find meaning within your current professional setting. This can be done by giving your current job a tune-up. If you are bored with your current projects, solicit help from others and in return, offer to help them with their projects. Switching things up a bit might be all that is needed to infuse some enthusiasm back into your work. Another way to breathe some life into a stagnant but otherwise fulfilling  job is to enlist the guidance of a mentor. Find someone who is a few steps ahead of you on your career path and ask them to help you plot out the best strategy for moving your career forward. Sometimes all it takes is a few simple tweaks to tune-up and tune in to career fulfillment.

What if a tune-up doesn’t cut it though? What if all the tweaking in the world isn’t enough to bring passion to your profession? If this is the case for you, it is likely time for you to do a complete career overhaul. This certainly requires more work, more extensive planning and more than a fair amount of risk taking; but the payoff can be incalculable when you find yourself in a career that adds meaning, fulfillment, joy and prosperity to your life. Keep reading for suggestions on how to navigate the often treacherous waters of a career overhaul…

2.)  Do some serious soul searching: So often we end up in careers for reasons other than fulfillment. We take a soul sucking job because the pay is good only to find ourselves unable to enjoy the pay because we are drained of all energy and enthusiasm. Or, we wind up with a law practice only because dad, grandpa and Aunt Louise were all lawyers so of course that’s what we were meant to be (even though our soul longs to teach yoga).

If you find your work life to be unfulfilling in ways that go beyond occasional meeting fatigue or deadline dread (because let’s face it–even the most rewarding of careers still have meetings and deadlines); it is time to take a good, hard look at the type of work that you want to do and at the skills and experience that you bring to the table. Make the effort to conduct a thorough self-assessment. What are you passionate about? What are your greatest strengths? What special skills or aptitudes do you possess? How can you differentiate yourself from others in your chosen career path? Where do you need more training/experience in order to secure a job in your chosen field? To add extra power to this exercise, try asking for feedback from your colleagues, friends and family members–often, others are able to see us more clearly than we can see ourselves.

3.)  If you can’t take a leap, build a bridge: Okay–so maybe your job sucks BUT the financial security that it provides doesn’t. I get it. In fact, I would venture to guess that there are many out there who find themselves in the same boat. When you can’t afford to take the risk of leaping into the financial unknown, it is time to start building your bridge. Do you long to monetize a hobby that you love so that you can make a living from it? Great–start working on that plan during your evenings and weekends while you are still clocking in at your 9 to 5. Do you long to pursue a career in writing? Then do it. Many novels and screenplays have been written during lunch breaks. Are there educational or training gaps that need to be filled before you can land your dream job? If so, use your evenings to take night classes or enroll in online trainings that can be taken at your leisure (check out www.udemy.com for a great selection of trainings on a wide variety of topics–I’m currently learning Photoshop through a Udemy training). Another way to start building a bridge toward your purposeful profession is to start saving money in a “bridge fund”. This money can serve to keep you afloat when the time comes to make the break from your day job.

Eventually you likely will need to step out of your comfort zone as you pursue your purposeful profession, but in the meantime, you might as well use the income earned at your current job to help finance the training that you need in order to pursue your dream career. If it helps, start to view the money that you make at your current job as venture capital for your calling.

“ Start to view the money that you make at your current job as venture capital for your calling —MELISSA VENABLE

Use the resources and stability that your current employment offers as stepping stones to your next career. By putting these pieces of your bridge together ahead of time, you are shortening the length of your eventual leap.

4.)  Try it on for size: Okay, so you love horses. Are you sure that being a ranch hand in Montana is really your calling? Have you ever been to a ranch? Do you know the weather patterns of Montana? Do you know what exactly being a ranch hand entails? If not, it is probably time for you to do some research. Maybe you can use your vacation time to visit a working ranch and shadow the workers. Maybe you can reach out to friends with ranching backgrounds to help you make connections with ranch workers so that you can correspond with them regarding the qualifications that are needed for their line of work. Maybe you can explore other career options that allow you to work with horses. Perhaps your research will lead you to discover that ranching is in fact your calling, but perhaps it will lead you to decide that leading trail rides at a local summer camp is more your speed. Either way, this “trying it on” is a great way to prepare yourself for your dream job while still employed at your day job. This notion of “trying it on” can work in nearly any profession, just be on the lookout for internships, volunteer positions and networking opportunities related to your dream field.

5.)  Make the transfer: Even if your dream career feels light years away from your current job (lawyer to yoga instructor for example), there are likely several transferable skills that you’ve gained in your current position that can be beneficial in your new endeavor. Maybe yoga instructors don’t need to know the ins and outs of immigration law but they do need to know how to work with people, present their classes in a compelling manner and manage their time and resources–all skills that any good lawyer would possess. Start thinking about the trainings you’ve had, aptitudes that you possess and natural abilities that make you valuable at your current job. How can you “repackage” them so that they provide value in your dream career?

6.)  Train your brain: Often, the thing that most hinders our ability to move into a career that aligns with our passions and our purpose is our own brain. We get caught up in a spiders web of limiting beliefs that have us believing that we are stuck where we’re at and that aspiring for anything more or different is a waste of time. One way to counter these limiting beliefs is simply to add the word “yet” to your self-imposed limiting thoughts. For example, if your dream job involves public speaking but you’re not confident in that arena, simply say to yourself, “I am not a prolific public speaker…yet”. Adding that one simple word opens you up to a whole universe of possibility. The next step is simply to look for ways to improve in that area. Another way to reprogram your brain for expansion is to plot out a week’s worth of baby-steps so that you can take one step toward your dream career every single day. By taking gradual but persistence steps towards your purposeful profession, you are building momentum, gaining confidence and adding extra length to your your “bridge” thereby shortening the length of your “leap”. For practical ways on how to incorporate this D.O.T. (Do One Thing) strategy in to your career development, click here.

For most of us, the largest portion of our (awake) time is spent working–that being the case, doesn’t it make sense that we should pursue a career that lights us up and fills us with passion and purpose. Life is far too short to spend your days, weeks, months and years doing something that makes you miserable. If you find yourself with a bad case of the Monday morning blues every single week, it is time for you to get serious about making a change. Follow your heart, follow these suggestions, and start putting your plan into place. Your future self will thank you.

If you’re not exactly sure just what your dream profession is, click the box above to receive the enlightening ebook “365 Questions to Help You Find Your Answers”. It’ll help you to gain clarity on many aspects of your life. As an added bonus, you’ll also receive another FabYOUlous ebook entitled “50 FabYOUlous Ways to Energize Your Life”.

Nothing can suck the FabYOUlousness out of life faster than a soul sucking job that does nothing to fill your heart or inspire your spirit. Most of us (out of necessity) spend more time at work than we do with our families or in leisure time activities. Because of this, it is imperative to our overall well being that we find work that uplifts us and provides purpose and passion, instead of just a paycheck.

If you find yourself with a case of the blahs when Sunday night rolls around or have a hard time dragging yourself out of bed in the morning on work days, it might be time for you to start thinking about a career change. This isn’t something that has to be a rash decision–in fact, it will be far less disruptive to your life if this is a gradual process that you go through as you continue to work at your current job. By identifying specific elements of your ideal work, you’ll be better prepared for when the time comes that you are ready to make the leap–plus, taking the time to explore your ideal work will help provide you with a sense of hope and direction as you continue to put in the hours at your less-than-ideal job.

While pinpointing your ideal work can feel like a daunting task, there are some strategies that can help to sharpen your focus and make the exploration less overwhelming and more enjoyable. Try the following ten suggestions to jump-start your search for your most FabYOUlously ideal work…

10 Fab-YOU-lous Suggestions for Finding Your Ideal Work

1.) Reflect upon who you are and who you want to become. It will be impossible for you to find your ideal work until you become crystal clear on who you are and who you long to be. The more you work to understand your passions, talents, personality traits and purposes, the more equipped you will be to find work that excites you, aligns with your unique gifts and talents and empowers you to put your best work out into the world.

In order to better discover who you are at the core, you can take assessments such a the Myers Briggs Personality Test. This assessment will help to determine your personality type and provide insight as to how that type might influence your career choices. You can also click here for a post on discovering your soul’s purpose and here for access to our FabYOUlous monthly questions series that will help you to determine your values, interests and strengths.

The more you are able to understand how you view and interact with the world, the more clarity you will gain on the kind of work that is most suitable for you.

2.) Envision your ideal work environment. Do you work best in a typical office environment or do you prefer the freedom of being able to work on your laptop at a coffee shop or on your front porch? Do you like a lot of stimulation from a high-energy space or do you work best in a low-key, quiet setting? What kind of co-workers will bring out the best in you–ambitious go-getters or thoughtful encouragers?

By thinking about your ideal work environment, you are creating a concrete picture in your mind of the conditions in which you will be able to produce your best, most FabYOUlous work. Be sure to consider things like work hours, commute time, flexibility and company culture. By creating a mental image of your optimal work environment and conditions, you will be better able to recognize those conditions when they present themselves to you in real life.

3.) Go with the FLOW. What causes you to lose track of time? What activities cause you to become so engrossed that the hours fly by without you realizing it? This state of activity is known as “flow” and it is the optimal state for living our most FabYOUlous lives.

Think about those times in your life when just the right mix of skill, enjoyment and challenge came together to produce a state of flow in your life. What were you doing? How did you feel when you were in that state? What activities can you incorporate back into your life to bring about that state more often? What kinds of work would allow you to experience that state on a regular basis?

By examining our lives to determine what activities bring us the greatest sense of flow, we will gain a sense of what types of work we should be doing in order to experience this highly productive (and highly enjoyable) state on a regular basis.

4.) Uncover potential roadblocks. Rarely is the path to our ideal work without hazards and roadblocks. Perhaps we lack a particular skill set or feel as though our connections are in the wrong field. By taking an honest and deliberate look at what our shortcomings (real or perceived) might be, we can come up with strategies to address them while we are still receiving a paycheck at a current job. Whether it’s going back to school to receive additional training in a particular field or scheduling coffee meetings with people outside of our normal field so as to expand our professional network, we can begin to take actions that will help us to navigate our roadblocks and bring us closer to our ideal work, without giving up the security of our current paycheck. It might be frustrating to think about how much time we may have to invest in overcoming these roadblocks, but the bottom line is that the time is going to pass regardless–we might as well put the time to good use and make it count.

5.) Leverage your “trust equity”. Who would you rather work with, someone who looks good in a shiny magazine ad or someone that you know personally, like and trust? We all are more comfortable working with people that we know and respect so it is important that we cultivate those qualities of trustworthiness and integrity in our own lives.

Trust equity is something that is built over a period of time with our professional peers as well as with those in our personal life. As we build and demonstrate our levels of competence and integrity, people will begin to see us as someone with whom they want to be associated. In turn, as people begin to trust us, we will be able to turn to them for connections and to help bridge the gap between where we currently are to opportunities and possibilities that we might not even be aware of.

When people know, trust and like you, they will be far more willing to help you in your pursuit of your ideal work.

6.) Research companies and industries that interest you.  According to Simon Sinek, author of the bestselling book, Start with Why, “corporate culture matters. How management chooses to treat its people impacts everything-for better or for worse”. This is why it is so important to consider the type of company culture that appeals to you when you are looking for your ideal work. By researching various companies that interest you, you can begin to filter organizations according to how well they align with your personal attributes and professional aspirations. This is important because at the end of the day, companies want to offer jobs to candidates that not only meet their position requirements but who gel well with the company culture as well.

7.) Get in the hunt, but do it strategically. If you like your current company but feel that your job isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be, consider ways in which you might leverage your current contacts to learn about lateral opportunities with different job functions that might better align with your ideal work. If however; you’ve done your research (see above entry) and feel that there are other companies out there that offer more of what you’re looking for, use these tips to help you find positions that match what you are looking for.

8.) Strut your FabYOUlous stuff. As you strive to find your ideal work, you are going to need to position yourself in such a way that when the opportunity to seize your ideal work arrives, you are ready to go for it.

Your resume is your first opportunity to showcase your FabYOUlousness when pursuing your ideal work. Make sure that it is doing its job and grabbing the attention of potential hiring managers by following these suggestions. Additionally, be sure that your LinkedIn profile is up to date because it is a tool that more and more companies are using as they look for outstanding job candidates.

Once your resume has landed you an interview, be sure to bring your A game with these FabYOUlous suggestions on how to nail the interview.

9.) Understand that your habits will make or break you. There is a quote that I absolutely love from the book War of Art by Steven Pressfield. It says…

“ The difference between an amateur and a professional is in their habits. An amateur has amateur habits. A professional has professional habits. We can never free ourselves from habit, but we can replace bad habits with good ones. —STEVEN PRESSFIELD

It is so imperative that we grasp this truth. Good Habits = Good Energy. What we are doing, thinking and feeling right now is creating our tomorrow. When we replace negative habits with positive ones, we are setting ourselves up for success in the future. This success might manifest itself in our personal lives, but personal success has a way of spilling over into our professional lives.

Take a good, objective look at your life and see if you can identify one bad habit that you can replace with a good habit. If that’s too much of a stretch, try replacing one bad habit with a less bad habit (baby steps!) For example; I drink way too much Coke. I know that ideally, I should just replace my Coke with water but here’s the deal–water is so blah (unless you use some of these delicious infused water recipes to jazz it up!) so instead of always choosing water, I sometimes replace my Coke with unsweetened iced tea. It’s probably not as good for me as plain water, but it is certainly better for me than Coke.

By taking control of your habits, you are truly taking control of your life. This proactivity and self-discipline is sure to result in rewards in your professional life. To help you stay on track as you work to establish new, positive habits for yourself, download and print this free FabYOUtracker habit tracking worksheet.

10.) Don’t be afraid to experiment. All life is an experiment (I wish I could take credit for that wisdom but I can’t, it comes from Ralph Waldo Emerson). When you begin to expand your skills and professional competencies, you increase your perceived value in the job market. You can do this by experimenting with new and different types of work and testing your ability to adapt to different work cultures. A few ways that you can experiment your way to your ideal work include…

• Volunteering for an organization whose mission aligns with your core values. Use your volunteer time as a time to try new things and learn new skills that you can then carry forward into your ideal work.
• Take a class or start a small project related to your ideal work. Use this as an opportunity to learn or expand upon a skill that you can leverage in your ideal work.
• At your current job, volunteer for work assignments that fall outside of your normal job duties. These assignments might just lead to you discovering a new set of interests and abilities.

By consciously choosing and creating a life that incorporates our ideal work, we not only get to live out the expression of our soul’s purpose, we also get to replace the Sunday night blues with Monday morning motivation. What better way to live a FabYOUlous life than to live it both off and on the job.

Anyone who has a job in which they report to a supervisor knows that 99% of their job security rests in the ability to keep the boss happy.

Working hard and excelling at the duties of the job is obviously the best way to accomplish this goal, however; there are other strategies that employees can use (in conjunction with excellent work, not in place of) to stand out and earn their bosses esteem.

Check out these 10 Fab-YOU-lous tips on keeping your boss happy and your job secure…

10 Fab-YOU-lous Ways to Keep Your Boss Happy (Without Losing Your Mind or Selling Your Soul)

1.) Figure out who your boss respects. Do a little detective work and see if you can get a feel for the kinds of people that your boss looks up to. This will give you insight into the personal qualities, character traits and personality types that your boss values. Then, you can compare those traits with your own and be sure to exemplify those qualities that you also possess so that your boss will see them personified in you.

2.) Determine when your boss is most approachable. Is your boss a bear until she’s had her first cup of coffee in the morning? Is she always in a mad-dash to get out the door in the evening so that she can pick up her son from baseball practice? Take some time to analyze the flow of your boss’s work day and use that information to determine when the best time to bring your work-related concerns to her is. If your boss’s schedule is hard to pinpoint, be sure to request a designated meeting time if you have something important to discuss–there’s nothing worse than trying to discuss an important work matter with someone who is irritated because they are trying to get out the door and you’re causing them to run late.

3.) Figure out what kind of reputation your boss has with his/her colleagues. Is your boss a known hard ass? Or, is she the emotional, touchy-feely type? Do her colleagues look up to her or do they find her annoying? Gathering this kind of information can be beneficial in determining the role that your boss plays within the department and can help you to figure out the supporting role that you need to take on as a result.

4.) Gain understanding on what your boss is trying to accomplish in his/her supervisory role. What are your boss’s goals? How is she contributing to the company’s overall mission? One of the best ways to be seen as invaluable in your boss’s eyes is to help her to reach her goals and to look good to her superiors. Obviously, you can’t (and shouldn’t) do her job for her, but if you can play a role in helping her to accomplish her goals, your perceived value as an employee will increase dramatically.

5.) Make adjustments according to your boss’s management style. If your boss is the “all business all the time” type, you probably don’t want to bring in photos from your daughter’s dance recital to show off at work. However; if your boss has a more relaxed management style, you might come across as too serious or inflexible if you insist on keeping everything ultra-professional 100% of the time. Knowing how to adapt to your boss’s management style will solidify your position as a valuable team member and as someone that your boss can relate to. You don’t have to change who you are, simply be adaptable enough to work well within the parameters of her management style.

6.) Watch the interactions between your boss and his/her boss. By observing the way in which your boss interacts with her supervisor, you can gain clarity on how your boss likely wants/expects you to interact with her.

7.) Analyze the areas in which your boss has influence.  Does your boss have influence over several areas within your department or just one particular arena? Knowing this can help you to understand where much of your professional focus should be.

8.) What appears to be your bosses biggest concern? Is your boss worried about slow sales numbers or high employee turnover? Is there a looming project that your boss is stressed out over? Understanding your boss’s worries and stressors not only gives you a sense of empathy regarding her situation; it can also provide you with input regarding her top priorities and thus give you ideas on ways to help alleviate the stress associated with them, thereby increasing your professional value.

9.) Observe the kinds of behavior that your boss rewards as well as that which he/she disciplines. Obviously, you need to know the rules of your workplace and make sure that you adhere to them at all times (no using your work computer to set up your online dating profile!) Beyond that however; work to determine what kind of effort draws the most praise from your boss so that you can incorporate that type of effort into your own work. Conversely, you’ll obviously want to do your best to avoid the behavior that most irritates your boss.

10.) Work to understand your boss’s primary motivation. Is your boss climbing the corporate ladder with eyes on the corner office or is she just putting in her time so that she can retire in two years? Knowing this type of information can help you to better formulate your own career plan. Maybe you’ll want to make yourself so invaluable as an employee that when your boss does retire, you’ll be a natural fit for her position. Or…perhaps you’ll want to become so indispensable to your boss that when she is on the rise professionally, she takes you along with her, thus expanding your opportunities for career growth. Your career aspirations don’t necessarily have to follow your boss’s path, but becoming aware of that path can open your eyes to possibilities that you might not have previously considered.

As valuable as it can be to have insight into your boss’s psyche as well as her professional goals and demeanor, no amount of inside information is going to compensate for poor work habits, laziness or a bad attitude. If you’re not willing to do the work at hand, you need to find a new job. Period. If however; you do have what it takes to be successful in your industry, these helpful tips can help you to gain valuable insight into what makes your boss tick and therefore boost your value as a Fab-YOU-lous employee.

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Juggling is for circus clowns but unfortunately, it has become an activity that far too many professional women have had to master. Maybe we aren’t juggling bowling balls or chainsaws (yikes!) but we are spending our days in a non-stop cycle of trying to juggle work responsibilities, family obligations and community involvement; not to mention leisure activities and fun (if we have any energy left that is).

The fact of the matter is that, as women, not only are we still paid less than our male counterparts, we also rate lower in satisfaction when it comes to things like career fulfillment and a happy home life. In fact, a recent study found that men are consistently found to be 25% happier on the job than women and 8% happier at home.

What gives ladies?? Why the discrepancy between our job satisfaction and happiness at home and men’s?

As a strong willed, self-empowered and success focused female, it is difficult for me to admit when I find something that men seem to do better than women; however, as I did my research for this post, it became clear to me that there is something that the fellas really do seem to be better at…juggling.

Study after study shows that women on average spend more time engaged in non-paid, domestic work than men–even when both parties hold down full time jobs. Research shows that in the “average” american home (with a husband and wife who both work full time), women do 62% of the laundry, 56% of the cooking, 53% of the household cleaning and 61% of the grocery shopping. The data also shows that men are 35% more likely than women to take a break and relax and 25% more likely to engage in leisure activities that they enjoy (golf, TV viewing, video games etc.) In short–men appear to be better at finding a balance between their professional and personal lives.

This “juggle struggle” that women seem to be losing is one that should not be ignored. The World Health Organization estimates that 35% of work related stress cases result in prolonged mental health issues. Additionally, 87% of women (and men) surveyed say that an imbalance between work and leisure affects their physical health in a negative way. EIGHTY-SEVEN PERCENT! These physical ailments include (but are not limited to) headaches, weight gain and depression, and end up costing employers nearly three billion (yes that’s billion–with a B) dollars a year in lost productivity due to absences.

So…what can be done about this? Is it possible to truly find a work-life balance? I think that the answer to this question is yes, but that we first need to redefine the word “balance” so that it fits into our personal experience; and then, we need to become very mindful of what things we allow to take up space in our life and and how we manage our energy levels.

First, let’s look at our definition of the word balance. I bring this up because to many people, my life looks as though it is completely out of balance. In fact, I’ve even been called a workaholic and “Type A” personality (though I definitely am not). This is because I hold down a full time job but then often spend my nights and weekends with my fingers furiously typing on my laptop (my super adorable new Chromebook) as I work on content for FabYOUlous Life while also racking up miles on my running shoes as I am in training for a half-marathon. To people who don’t know me well, they think that I am burning the candle at both ends and am destined to find myself exhausted and overwhelmed. What they don’t understand is that this combination of working, running and hustling feels completely comfortable and in balance to me. Yes–work is work and it must be done, but I am fortunate to work for an organization that values their employees enough to encourage vacation time and self-care. As for the nights and weekends on my computer–that, to me, is fun. I enjoy working on FabYOUlous Life and would rather spend my free time doing that than most other leisure activities. So–what others might perceive to be work, is actually pleasurable for me. Additionally, running (though certainly work) is a great way for me to get centered and focus on my own needs. Plus–I use my running time to indulge in another favorite activity of mine, listening to audio books (I am able to do this thanks to my handy FlipBelt that holds my iPhone as I run and my Yurbuds wireless earbuds). So, though my life doesn’t appear to have a lot of “down time” it does include a fair amount of “me time” and to me that feels balanced. I am also incredibly blessed because I have a husband who is my true partner in life and who does more than his “fair share” of cooking, cleaning and shopping. So–what appears to be completely out of balance to some is, in fact, very comfortably balanced to me.

Don’t let others decide what is or isn’t balanced in your life. You’ll know balance when you find it because you’ll feel energized, enthused and optimistic. If you’re not feeling this way, then yes, something needs to give. When this happens to me it is usually because I’ve allowed too many things to drain me of my time, energy and sanity. In order to combat this, I’ve learned the value of creating space in my life. This process that allows me to step off of the hamster wheel of busyness is outlined here.

Once you’ve come up with your own definition of what balance looks like (and more importantly, feels like) in your life and have created a plan to allow more space where it is needed, here are a few other additional suggestions for creating a better work-life balance…

Six Strategies for Striking a Balance Between Work and Life

1.) Take your vacation time. It is ridiculous the number of vacation hours that go unused every year. Use your vacation time! Even if you don’t necessarily go anywhere, still make it a point to take time off to focus on hobbies, family, Pokemon Go…or whatever your “thing” is. Workers who take their vacation time feel more refreshed and end up working an average of 21% harder than employees who are burned out and frustrated.

2.) Make your mornings count. Don’t check your work emails as soon as you roll out of bed (it takes some practice but I promise that it is possible!) Instead, take a few minutes to stretch, meditate and eat a good breakfast. Setting the tone for your day in this manner will allow you to ease into your work day and feel less chaotic.

3.) Establish your evenings as a work-free zone. Yes–I spend a great deal of time during the evenings on my laptop, but as I explained earlier in the post, this is because I am working on content for FabYOUlous Life and that is something that I truly love doing so it doesn’t feel like work.  What I’ve gotten better about not doing is constantly checking my emails from my 9 to 5 job.  If something truly important is going on (I work for the Red Cross so that is a very real possibility), my team knows how to get a hold of me. If however, my phone isn’t ringing with reports of floods or fires, I tend to leave my “work” for work hours and keep my evenings free for fun.

4.) Get some zzzzz’s. Nothing in your life will feel balanced if you are exhausted and barely able to keep your eyes open. In order for you to excel in any area of your life, you must get adequate sleep. This one is a challenge for me because I tend to be a night-owl by nature, however; I’m learning that turning off my electronics at a decent hour and hitting the sack at a time that will allow me a full seven to eight hours of sleep makes a huge–HUGE– difference in my mood, outlook and productivity levels the next day. Sleep is not optional–it is essential.

5.) Set boundaries. Don’t be afraid to speak up in order to protect your physical an emotional energy. You don’t have to accept every party invitation if you’re tired and looking forward to a restful weekend. You can also be honest with your boss and advocate for yourself when she asks you to tag one more assignment onto your already crazed schedule. Setting boundaries isn’t always easy but as you start to value yourself more, you’ll find it easier and easier to speak up and protect your time and energy.

6.) Give yourself a break. Don’t just gobble down your lunch while sitting at your desk. Take an actual lunch break. Enjoy your meal while chatting with a friend or slip on your sneakers and go for a stroll outside. Take a mid-afternoon coffee break to help recharge your batteries. Give yourself a weekend off if you’ve been working hard all week. Our bodies (and our psyches) need time for rest and refreshment.

Though a solid work-life balance looks different for every single person, it is something that each one of us should strive to achieve if we truly want to live our most FabYOUlous life. Make the effort today to put an end to your “juggle struggle” and thank yourself tomorrow.

Look the Part

It goes without saying that you need to make a good impression during your interview but much of that outcome is determined before you ever even set foot in the interview room. In fact, much of that outcome is determined before you ever even leave your house. To ensure that you put your best foot forward, you will want to make sure that you are dressed appropriately for the type of job that you are interviewing for. Typically, this means dressing one notch above what you would be expected to wear at a normal day on the job. For women, a skirt or pants are both acceptable but if you opt for a skirt, make sure that it hits just above your knee. In fact, I always do a “sit test” before heading to an interview in a skirt. I sit down in front of a mirror to ensure that my skirt completely covers my thighs and doesn’t ride up while I’m seated. It is always better to err on the conservative side when it comes to dressing for a job interview.

This “conservative” rule also applies to the color and print of your attire. Unless you are interviewing for a position within the fashion industry or another more “flashy” role, it is advised that you select an outfit in a dark, neutral tone like black, navy or grey with no pattern or with a very small, subtle pattern (like a faint pinstripe). If you want to add a bit of flair to your outfit, you can add a colorful scarf for a little pop of style but it is best to go with neutral colored shoes that match your skirt or slacks and have a sensible heel. If you are interviewing in colder weather, you will also want to select sheer hosiery that that matches your skin tone or opaque tights that match your shoes as closely as possible.

As you walk out the door to head to your interview, give yourself a good once-over to ensure that your clothing is free of lint, dust, pet hair etc. and that no tags are showing. Also be sure to go light on the fragrance–you want the interviewer(s) to remember you by your amazing qualifications and accomplishments, not by the way you smell.

Power Up

Before entering into an interview, it is vital that you do your research on the hiring company. This research should be done before you ever even submit a resume, but it absolutely must be done before the interview. Knowledge is power and the more you know about the company’s mission, culture, history and operations, the more confident you will feel going into the interview and the more impressive you will be during the interview.

Another way to power up before an interview is to imagine a time in your life when you felt powerful and victorious. According to the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, simply reliving a memory like this can automatically lower your body’s production of the stress hormone, cortisol which will help you to feel calmer while also revving your confidence, communication skills and optimism–all traits that employers are looking for in new employees.

Be On Time–Be Prepared

Yes–I know that you know how important it is to be on time for your interview, but it still gets a mention because even though everyone knows that punctuality is important, people still show up late for interviews! Usually this is because candidates don’t take the time to plan out how long everything will take. A good rule of thumb is to plan to arrive at the interview a good 10 minutes early so that you have time to relax, use the restroom if necessary and review your strategy one last time. In order to do this, it is imperative that you consider traffic conditions, road construction an elevator ride to the 42nd floor etc. and plan accordingly. You do not want to have a hiring manager (who has planned his/her day around your interview) waiting on you.

In addition to being on time, you also want to arrive prepared. This means having a few hard copies of your resume with you. Yes–you already emailed your resume to the hiring manager and yes, your entire work history is in your LinkedIn profile. Still, there may be others joining the interview who have not seen your resume or the hiring manager may have several interviews lined up and therefore not remember what differentiates you from the other candidates. Having extra copies of your resume on hand shows that you are prepared and may help the interviewer(s) to remember you more favorably.

Give Em What They Want

Once the interview has started, one of the most important qualities that you can exhibit is positivity because people tend to view positive people as lucky and successful. According to Cynthia Shapiro, author of What Does Somebody Have to do to Get a Job Around Here, “employers know that they can teach skills but they can’t teach attitude”; this makes a positive attitude a very sought after commodity in the job market.

Employers are also interested in finding out how potential employees go about solving problems or overcoming obstacles. As you answer these types of questions, remember that not every answer needs to come from a work example. Certainly, most of your answers should be based upon real life work scenarios but it is acceptable to use personal examples as well. For example, when asked about your problem solving skills, you might cite a time when you enrolled in a database management class to help your neighborhood HOA better track its residents for promoting the neighborhood potluck and community garage sale weekend. Examples like this paired with a work scenario show that you are proactive and a troubleshooter both on and off the job.

Nail the Curveball

Hiring managers want to know how candidates will perform in specific situations, therefore, they will ask tricky situational questions. As an example, they might ask you about a time when you persuaded others to see your point of view or even trickier–they may ask about a time when you failed. If you get the failure question–don’t panic; everyone has failed at one time or another and employers know that. Instead, pause for a moment (to show that you’re not just rattling off a canned response) and give an honest answer. You can also use the failure question to showcase your problem solving skills by showing how you learned from your failure experience and implemented strategies to correct the situation.

Another topic that often throws candidates off is conflict resolution. It is important to be prepared to talk about this though because it is a hot topic these days for employers. When asked how you handle conflict, it is important that you reflect the fact that you are aware that conflict happens naturally due to everything from someone having a bad day to legitimate misunderstandings. It is also important to show that you know how to defuse conflict and are able to contribute to a satisfactory resolutions. If possible, you might want to also tie in a lesson that a particular conflict taught you.

Share the Right Weakness

It’s almost inevitable…at some point during the interview process, you are going to be asked the dreaded question about your weaknesses. Hiring managers ask this question to see how you function under pressure and to test your self-awareness. According to Chaz Pitts-Kyser, author of Careeranista: The Woman’s Guide to Success After College, the best way to answer that question is to “offer a real but small weakness that doesn’t directly relate to the actual position.”  For example, if you are interviewing for an accounting position you might mention that you are a little nervous about public speaking. Don’t stop there however; follow this up by also mentioning the steps that you’re taking to overcome the weakness (joining a Toast Masters group or reading a book on public speaking techniques.)

Ask the Right Questions

Before your interview wraps up, you will most likely be asked if you have any questions for the interviewer. You always want to say yes and then follow up with a few relevant questions. In order to make sure that your questions are appropriate, remember the acronym TIARA which stands for Trends, Insights, Advice, Resources and Assignments. According to Steve Dalton, author of The 2 Hour Job Search, asking about trends in the field shows that you are interested in how your field is evolving while asking for the interviewer’s insight has a more personal spin. An advice question might be something like “what is something you know now that you wish you had known back when you were in my position?”. Inquire about resources by asking if there are any websites or articles that they have found to be beneficial in regard to the position and finally, inquire about assignments by asking what projects have had the biggest impact on them. Just asking one or two of these TIARA questions will show that you care about the position and will leave the interviewer with a great impression.

Let Your Personality Come Through

Yes, this is a job interview so you want to maintain a higher-than-normal level of professionalism; that doesn’t mean however, that you can’t give the interviewer a glimpse of the real you. To this day, I am convinced that one of the reasons that I landed a great job was because when the interviewer asked me what my biggest weakness was, I answered “cake” (because let’s face it–who doesn’t love cake?) Now obviously–I followed that answer up (after a good chuckle on the interviewer’s part) with a more appropriate, professional answer but my “cake” answer gave the interviewer a small peek at my sense of humor and helped him to see that I would be an enjoyable person to work with.

Hiring managers want to hire the most qualified person for the job, but they also want to hire someone that they like. Letting them have a glimpse of your upbeat and friendly personality can be the icing on a well qualified and highly motivated cake (there’s that word again–ha!)

These tips can help to better prepare you for a positive interview experience and help you to land your FabYOUlous dream job.

Last month we took a look at different ways to go about finding your dream job (click here to read that post). What do you do once you find that dream job though? Well, you submit your resume of course.

It sounds simple enough but too often, wonderfully qualified candidates never make it to the interview stage of the hiring process because their resume failed to grab the attention of or impress the hiring manager.

So many people focus a lot of time and energy on learning to polish their interview skills, and while that is important, those interview skills will never be needed if their resume doesn’t first land them the coveted interview. Make sure that your career aspirations don’t get the kiss of death before you even get out of the gate, by incorporating these easy tweaks as you update your resume for your next position.

 8 Easy Resume Tweaks to Help Land You the Interview

1.) Add a middle initial. Can something as simple as adding your middle initial on your resume really make a difference? YES! A new study in the European Journal of Psychology reveals that hiring managers tend to consider those who include a middle initial on their resume (for example, Melissa S. Venable instead of Melissa Venable) to be smarter and more competent–without ever even looking at any other information on the resume. This assumption happens because people are used to seeing middle initials only in formal contexts such as diplomas, contracts etc. therefore, we automatically associate middle initials with higher intellectual abilities. Put this information to work for you and add your middle initial to your resume TODAY.

2.) Activate your resume. Actions words are one of the most effective keys to building an impressive resume. Think about the impact that you had on your last job. Did you lead a team, collaborate with department heads or negotiate an important acquisition? These are all strong action verbs that gain favorable attention from managers.

3.) Make it easy for hiring managers to find what they’re looking for. Research shows that most managers review a resume for fewer than eight seconds–yes, EIGHT SECONDS–before making a decision as to whether or not to discard it. Another astonishing fact is that most managers spend 80% of that eight seconds looking for just five items: your name (include that middle initial!), your most recent title and company, your previous title and company, employment dates and education.  With this being the case. it is imperative that you make these pieces of information easy to find. You can do this by bolding the type, using bullet points and making sure that there is no clutter around them.

4.) Send a letter–certified. Even in today’s high tech society, a lot can be said for good ol’ snail mail. According to job expert Skip Freeman. you can double your chances of snagging a great job by sending a good, old fashioned letter. Freeman says “in addition to e-mailing your resume, you should also send a certified letter to the hiring manager because 90% of certified mail gets opened by the person it’s addressed to instead of an assistant.” This trick will help increase the odds of your resume landing in the hiring manager’s hands. Also–regardless of whether you are delivering your resume by mail or email, you’ll want to make sure that you include a quality cover letter. A cover letter’s sole purpose is to get you an interview but before it can do that, it must first get noticed. Some tips to help your cover letter stand out include 1.) Addressing your letter to the decision maker by name rather than “to whom it may concern” 2.) Starting you letter off in a unique way, for example: “inspired by the excellent reputation of (name of company), I am submitting my application for the position of (job title). This will make your letter stand out from all of the others that follow an outdated and boring format 3.) Keeping it brief. You only need a few sentences stating why you’re writing and requesting a meeting and a short paragraph explaining why you are a good fit for the position. Semantics are important here because requesting a meeting sounds more compelling and down-to-business than requesting an interview. 

5.) Use the right font. Obviously you’re not going to use Comic Sans as your resume font (unless you’re applying to be a clown? Nah–don’t even use it then.) But do you know what font hiring managers prefer? It’s Helvetica. That’s according to a recent Bloomberg Business survey, which found that the simple, easy to read font helps to increase the odds of a headhunter or hiring manager spending more time looking at your credentials.

6.) Include ad keywords–but not entire blocks of text. You’ve no doubt heard that it is smart to include in your resume words that describe the position straight from the job listing. That’s because many companies (especially larger organizations) use computer programs to search for these “keywords” as a way of filtering resume submissions. That said, you should avoid copying and pasting large chunks of text from the ad into your resume. In fact, a recent survey showed that 41% of recruiters said that they would dismiss even a well qualified candidate for this very practice. Instead, stick to short key phrases from the ad. A few other VIP phrases to include are “Proven track record” and “continually exceeds goals and expectations.”

7.) Tailor your resume to the desired position. Avoid the xerox effect! Do not send out the same copy of your resume for all of your applications. Instead, follow the above advice by using keywords for each position listing and make sure that your resume highlights the particular skills that each position is looking for.

8.) Let your personality shine. Naturally you’ve listed your work experience and skill sets in your resume, but what about personality traits? Do you work well under pressure? Have a positive attitude? Maintain flexibility while juggling multiple projects? If so–make sure those things are mentioned in your resume as well. A recent study shows that a whopping 77% of hiring managers want to see evidence of these kinds of “soft skills” when screening for candidates.

While nothing can guarantee you an interview offer, having an accurate and impressive resume is certainly the most important and necessary first component when hunting for a job. By incorporating these eight simple tweaks into your resume, you’ll increase your chances at landing the interview (stay tuned next month for FabYOUlous interview strategies) and ultimately landing the job of your dreams.

Remember last year’s office holiday party and the account executive who got drunk and ended up making out with the college kid from the mail room?

(Please tell me that wasn’t you…)

Well, it’s that time of year again and while holiday office parties can be a wonderful time to loosen up a bit and interact with your co-workers in a more festive and social atmosphere; it can also be a bit tricky to navigate the balance between having fun and maintaining your professional reputation (not to mention dignity).

In order to ensure that you aren’t the one making a fool of yourself at this year’s office party, follow these simple etiquette guidelines for a FabYOUlously festive (but not career ending) holiday season. In fact, these tips might just help you to impress your higher-ups and make a positive impression upon the influential decision makers within your company.

Holiday Office Party Do’s and Don’ts

-DO attend the holiday party.  You may think that attendance is optional, but your absence will be noticed. Social business events are wonderful opportunities for you to show off your polished social skills and mingle with upper management. Don’t miss out on this chance to have fun, make a good impression and be seen.

-DO think about the kind of impression that you want to make. The way that you  present yourself to others, how you look, how you carry yourself and how you treat other people will all form the impression that you leave on others–make sure that it is a positive one.

-DO make an entrance. No, you do not need to come riding in on a fiery steed nor do trumpets need to announce your arrival. Still, your entrance is your first opportunity to make a good impression. Be sure that you enter the room with confidence, authority and a smile on your face.

-DO dress appropriately. Sure, your thigh high boots, fishnet stockings and sequined micro-mini might be perfect for a New Year’s Eve bash with your girlfriends (or not) but it probably isn’t the best attire for your office holiday party. Make sure that you know the type of party that you are attending so that you can select your outfit accordingly. For social business functions, it is always better to play it safe and err on the conservative side with an outfit that is fashionable but not too revealing.

-DON’T bring a guest unless the invitation specifically indicates that guests are welcome. If in doubt, ask the party host if guests are included.

-DO wear your name badge if everyone else is wearing theirs (and remember–it goes on your right side). This might not be necessary if you have a small, well acquainted office but can be very beneficial for larger gatherings.

-DO shake hands, smile and maintain a comfortable level of eye contact (no creepy staring!) These gestures are just as important at a social function as they are in a strictly professional setting.

-DON’T gorge yourself on food and drink. Instead, eat a quick bite before arriving at the party so that you’ll be energized and more able to focus on socializing rather than on stuffing your face. Certainly feel free to enjoy the food and beverages at the party, but again–moderation is the key. No running to the front of the food line and piling your plate so high that those behind you are left with crumbs.

-DO carry your beverage in your left hand. This leaves your right hand free for handshakes and ensures that it won’t be cold or damp.

-DO enjoy alcoholic beverages IN MODERATION. Social events like holiday parties are where managers get to see their employees’ true colors. Drinking too much can be counterproductive to your professional ambitions. DO NOT be the embarrassing drunk that everyone is gossiping about the next day.

-DO keep the conversations light, positive and non-controversial. This is not the time to complain to your boss about your co-workers or to your co-workers about your boss. Instead, chat about things like community events, current culture, books, movies, sporting events etc.

-DON’T forget about your guest. If you bring your spouse, friend or significant other to the party, they will not be familiar with the office dynamics, culture or personalities. Help them to feel involved by introducing them to others with whom they have something in common.

-DO eat or speak. Do NOT try to do both at the same time.

-DON’T only hang out with the people that you already know well. Make a point of meeting three new people. Once you meet them, try to find three things that you have in common with them. This three/three strategy is one that I use regularly and over the years it has brought me unexpected professional benefits. People like people with whom they share common interests.

-DON’T go overboard on the self-promotion. If you are in the running for a promotion or are trying to leverage a raise, the holiday party is not the time to corner your supervisor and blast them with all of the reasons as to why you deserve the new position or salary. Instead, let your behavior at the party and the way you present yourself to everyone in attendance speak on your behalf.

-DO leave your cell phone in your pocket or purse. Don’t take a call unless it is a true emergency. If you absolutely must take a call, leave the room and find someplace private to talk.

-DON’T take photos of your colleagues without asking for their permission to do so. If they give you consent to take the photos, don’t assume that that means that you also have their permission to post them on Facebook. Be respectful of people’s privacy.

-DO be sure to thank the host before leaving the party, or write and mail a thank you note the day after the party. You’ll also want to make sure that you follow up in a timely manner with any contacts that you made at the event.
Holiday office parties truly can be an enjoyable opportunity to become better acquainted with your colleagues and supervisors. Following these simple tips will help to ensure that you have a FabYOUlously festive time and make a favorable impression on those whose opinions matter to your career.

If you follow my blog at all, you already know that I recently changed jobs. I left my position as the Executive Director of Hope Lives Breast Cancer Support Center to accept the Executive Directorship of the Northern Colorado chapter of the American Red Cross. You can read about the challenges and excitement that I faced while making this change here.

Since making this change to a bigger job with greater responsibilities, many people have asked me how I did it. It seems that many of my friends and colleagues are feeling stuck and stagnate in jobs that they no longer consider to be rewarding.

While there is no sure-fire way to guarantee job hunting success, there are numerous steps that you can take to help give yourself every possible advantage as you look to advance your career. Here are some FabYOUlous job hunting tips that are sure to help you stand out among the competition and land that dream job.  

Find Your Dream Job by Knowing Where and How to Hunt

–Ask the Right Questions: Ask yourself exactly what you want. Are you looking to expand your current position with a possible promotion? Do you like your current career but hope to take your talents to a larger company with more opportunities for growth? Do you long to do something all-together different? Once you’ve determined what you are looking for in a career, ask yourself what you are good at and what skills and experiences you bring to the table. Finally, take a look at which companies in your area might be a good fit for the type of position you are looking for.

–Know your ABC’s: Networking is one of the most effective tools in the job hunter’s arsenal and yet, despite its effectiveness, it is a tool that is often underutilized.  We all have three different “circles” within our personal networks and when looking for a job it is vital that we make use of all three. A-listers are those who make up our innermost circle of friends and family. Be sure that each of these individuals knows that you are looking for a new career opportunity and that they are familiar with your professional credentials, experience and skill sets. These individuals who know you best will (out of their love and concern for you) be highly invested in your success and therefore willing to introduce you to any connections that they have who might be beneficial to your search.  Your B-list is comprised of your acquaintances, neighbors, colleagues etc. Be willing to give these individuals your business card and ask them to keep you in mind if/when they hear of job opportunities that fit your interests. You never know what connections your butcher might have. Finally, your C-list is made up of people that you don’t necessarily know but that you would love to be introduced to. Take a chance and reach out to these individuals via a LinkedIn message or send them an email with an attached article that you think might interest them. Small gestures like this might just be enough to put you on their radar–a position that you might be able to leverage in the future.

–Become a Networking Superstar: Once you’ve mastered your ABC’s (above) it is time to start working your network. Click here for Eight tips for FabYOUlously Successful Networking. 

—Be Search Engine Savvy: Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com, Craigslist.com, TheLadders.com…where do you start when it comes to online job searches? Fortunately, there is one website that does the work for you by searching all other job search sites and online classified listings. Just visit www.Indeed.com for a complete listing of all relevant online listings for careers fitting your criteria. To maximize your results, hit the “advanced search” option and enter your location.

–Find Hidden Jobs: Take the time to join industry associations and groups related to your field on LinkedIn.com and you will occasionally receive “alerts” about positions that have not yet been posted publicly. This insider information will provide you with a jump start and competitive edge as you apply for the position before others know about it.

–Make the Most of Career Fairs: Career fairs can be wonderful opportunities to learn about various companies and the jobs that they have available. Unfortunately, career fairs also attract a large number of qualified job seekers which makes it difficult to stand out among the masses. According to David Bukovinsky, author of 15 Minutes to a Better Interview and career fair veteran, it is best to attend a career fair with the intentions of making an impact on one or two specific employers rather than just making the rounds and submitting resumes to everyone. “If you hit every booth around us before coming to ours, it looks like you’re just doing a resume drop and hoping for the best” says Bukovinsky. “Instead, come to our booth from another area of the fair, speak to us with passion and then walk out of sight to another part of the fair. That conveys to us that you were solely interested in our opportunity and that works to your advantage.”

–Go for Growth:  Make a list of the top 10 to 15 companies in your area. Are they growing or shrinking? If they are growing, do your skills and interests fit with what they do? Does anything pop up on Google indicating that they are expanding? Are people buying what they are selling? Companies that are growing will always need good employees. Even if they haven’t yet posted any specific job openings, it is a good idea to connect with the Human Resources department to express your interest in working for the company. Oftentimes, HR Directors will know of job opportunities before they become public and can provide leads on potential hiring timelines.

–Volunteer: Yes, you want to find a job that will pay you. However; one often overlooked opportunity is that of volunteering. Volunteering for a cause that is close to your heart will not only help you to gain valuable experience that you can later transfer to your paid position, it will also help you to connect with others that share your passion. These individuals will oftentimes know others who may be in a position to hire someone with your experience and level of commitment.

Following these eight tips will give you a leg up when it comes to seeking out potential career opportunities. Next month we’ll cover resume tweaks that will help you to land an interview and in January we’ll help you to nail the interview and land that job. Applying these lessons will help to ensure that 2016 is the year that you finally become satisfied and successful in a FabYOUlous career that you love.