Top 6 Tips to Reinvent Your Career

It’s a fact.

At any given moment you (or someone you know) will find yourselves in the midst of web-weaving moments in life. To set your career and personal life on a trajectory of success will require time and commitment. Your hard work will inevitably pay handsome dividends.

Positioning yourself for the next job or career opportunity requires mental acuity and a sufficient amount of physical prowess. Exercising both mind and body will cause you to feel more confident during the down times.

When you’re engaged in the community and enhancing your personal development, it awakens new skills within you. So, when that defining moment presents itself, you will be well-equipped.

Here are six tried-and-true actions to implement to bolster your credentials, jump-start your career and boost your confidence.

#1: Volunteer

Support an organization that has written volunteer job description and even if there isn't one, create it. Attend volunteer meetings and participate on the conference calls, if necessary. If transportation or mobility is an issue, look for a virtual volunteer opportunity on www.volunteermatch.org or www.Linkedin.com. Once you are successful with the assignment add it to your resume and Linkedin profile.

#2: Personal Development

Increase the quality of your conversation by developing yourself first. Read personal development books. Two books that I recommend are The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz and The Fine Art of Small Talk by Debra Fine. Stay abreast on local and global events so that you can form an opinion when asked.

#3: Educate Yourself

Nelson Mandela once said, "Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world." And the statement still holds true. With a myriad of free online courses, you can earn a certificate from any of the top universities and colleges in the world. A few of my personal favorite sites are: www.coursera.org, Hewlett Packard's learning initiative for entrepreneurs and Market Motive. Don't be afraid of challenges. Be afraid of the the opportunities you will miss when you don't try at all.

#4: Prepare Healthier Meals and Exercise

During economically challenging times, you can still enjoy healthy and nutritious foods at your local farmer’s market. Consider items that you can prepare in a variety of ways, like apples, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, cabbage and mangoes. A daily walk with one pound wrist weights can increase your metabolism and build muscles too. Consult your physician before you begin a weight-lifting regime.

#5: Build Networks and Connections

Building a network goes beyond Linkedin and Facebook. It helps but it isn't a one-stop shop for building your connections. Attending a business networking breakfast or scholarship luncheon will put you in the presence of like-minded people, business owners and possibly hiring managers. Become a member of an organization that you are passionate about. Use your transferable skills and develop new ones along the way, while serving the organization’s cause and mission. Surround yourself with people who are for you, not against you. It is not about the quantity of your connections; it's about the quality of your networks.

#6 Think Strategically

During those web-weaving moments in life, analytical and critical thinking skills are both an art and a science. Organizing the chaos in your life without breaking a sweat oftentimes requires support from others. Ask for help. It sounds simple, doesn't it? The reality is many people don't ask. Major corporations have "Think Tanks." Why not you?

Don't fear failure but fear being in the same place next year as you are today. Make a commitment to thrive in every area of your life, rather than just survive. Living an abundantly life requires for you to be in the moment and committed to the process. Work hard and continually raise the bar to impress yourself, not others. (Courtesy photo)