Tips to Succeed in the Real World

Throughout life, there are always times in which you feel as though you are in life but are not really living. Just going with the flow of life whether you are working a regular 9-5 or have just graduated college. With everything going on in the world, the last thing that needs to be happening is you mentally taking a toll on yourself and not getting the help which is there for you.

All in all, there have been times when you just want to be successful. While we are all busy in our own ways, we all have the same amount of time to work each day. While some may have more responsibilities than others, it still seems to be that some people are able to get more out of their days than others. Here are some real life tips for success that have been proven to help increase productivity, and help you get the most out of the time you have.

TIP 1: Prioritize

Make sure that you prioritize the activities or projects you need to take on for the day. Determine how important each task is to determine which things need to get done first. This is one of the best ways to increase your effectiveness to help promote growth not only in your personal life but your professional life as well. 

If you look at each event based on how it can impact the growth or profitability of your organization then you can start getting more out of your day. Prioritizing your schedule is a great way to make sure your daily activities will help you work towards your long term goals.

TIP 2: The Great Ones Sweat the Small Stuff

Most people have heard the phrase ‘don’t sweat the small stuff.’ However, if you talk to truly successful people, you will find that they do in fact sweat the small stuff. In fact many of the truly great successful individuals pay a great deal of attention to the small things. 

Remember that your smallest habits impact your future each and every day. Most successes and failures in life are actually the result of small errors in judgment over time, not large mistakes. All of your daily actions, even the smallest ones, can become a habit that over time helps take you further or farther away from your goals.

TIP 3: Know the Difference Between Being Efficient and Effective

There is a difference between being efficient and effective. They are both equally important, but you need to know the difference between how you can be effective with your actions and get the most out of the actions you do complete and how you can be efficient with your time and get the most out of the time that you put in. Focusing on doing things that make you effective in a manner that is efficient is one of the best ways to find success.

TIP 4: Flood Your Mind with Positive Input

Positive thinking can go a long way for those who are looking to be more successful. Remember to fill your mind with positive and educational input as often as you can. Listen to positive and educational materials, especially in the mornings, to help get you in a more positive and productive mindset.

If there are topics you want to learn about, read at least five books on that topic so that you are truly flooding your mind with positive and informative information on that topic. Make sure that you are also protecting your mind from negative influences so that the positive ones can have more of an impact.

 TIP 5: Learn new skills

Whether or not you land your ideal position, be sure to learn from it. Your first job after college may not be super challenging in the ways you would like, but try to take advantage of the opportunities provided so you can develop new skills. Whether your tasks are answering phones, writing emails or making spreadsheets, learn to master them. Always ask questions and be willing to undertake more responsibilities. All of these skills can still help strengthen your resume as a recent college graduate.

This also applies to your new "real world" living situation. You can learn a lot about how to approach sticky situations while living with a not-so-fabulous roommate! So make the best of all your new experiences even if they aren't ideal right out of the gate.

Even if your employer doesn't offer professional development opportunities, that doesn't mean you don't have a chance to learn something new. 

TIP 6: Make time for the important things

You may be struggling to find balance in the midst of this new transition. Adjusting to the working world isn't easy, but our advice for college graduates is this: making time for the things that make you happy will make it much less difficult. 

When you first begin working, you may get completely caught up in your new responsibilities (which is a good thing), but don't forget about the other aspects of your life that make you feel good and uniquely you. Be sure to make time for your friends and hobbies and don't neglect your health!

TIP 7: Move at your own pace

It's hard not to compare yourself to your peers. Just because someone seems to have it all figured out before you doesn't mean that you should feel lost. Try to avoid making decisions based on where you think you "should" be. Don't panic if you're not exactly where your friends are. The key is to do what feels right for you. Take your time growing into the professional you know you can become.

All in all, this is your life that only you can live. Everyday we just never know when it will be our last day so it is always best to live each day learning new things and always remembering that we can only be our best self by being our best self.

 

For more tips and advice for how to carry yourself in the professional world, or personal branding strategies, check out the rest of Power Move Marketing's blogs.

 

Author: Tamara Scantlebury