30+ Career Skills Every Teen Needs to Have.

First published in 2024.

Copyright © 2024 Lana and Ryan Graves
ISBN Paperback 979-8-9861383-2-9
ISBN Hardcover 979-8-9861383-3-6

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 FREE BONUS

SCAN TO GET YOUR

FREE CAREER QUIZ!
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 7

SECTION 1: HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR

DREAM JOB

Chapter 1 – How to Discover Your Talents. 10

Chapter 2 – What to Do If You Don’t Know What You Want. 13

Chapter 3 – How to Choose The Right Career. 16

Chapter 4 – How to Get Scholarships. 28

Chapter 5 – How to Ask for Recommendations. 32

Chapter 6 – How to Gain Valuable Work Experience. 36

Chapter 7 – How to Prepare Your First Resume. 41

Chapter 8 – How to Write the Best Cover Letter. 48

Chapter 9 – How to Set Up Your LinkedIn Profile. 51

Chapter 10 – How to Get a Job Interview. 56

Chapter 11 – How to Prepare for a Job Interview. 60

4
Chapter 12 – How to Answer Difficult Questions. 63

Chapter 13 – The Best Questions to Ask In a Job Interview. 73

Chapter 14 – How to Negotiate The Job Offer. 77

Chapter 15 – How to Overcome Rejection. 83

SECTION 2: HOW TO BE GOOD AT YOUR JOB

Chapter 16 – How to Communicate with Colleagues. 87

Chapter 17 – How to Collaborate with Different Personality Types. 90

Chapter 18 – How to Ask for, Give and Receive Feedback. 93

Chapter 19 – How to Have Great Meetings. 99

Chapter 20 – How to Handle Stressful Situations. 103

Chapter 21 – How to Work with Difficult People. 107

Chapter 22 – How to Ask for a Raise. 112

Chapter 23 – How to Give Effective Presentations. 116

Chapter 24 – How to Write Persuasively. 121

Chapter 25 – How to Manage Your Time. 126

Chapter 26 – How to Stay Organized. 130

Chapter 27 – How to Be Productive If You’re Working Remotely. 134

Chapter 28 – How to Navigate Company Culture. 138

5
Chapter 29 – How to Maintain Work-Life Balance. 141

Chapter 30 – How to Manage the Money You Make Wisely. 144

SECTION 3: BONUS CAREER ADVICE

Chapter 31 – Top 3 Strategies for Smart Negotiating. 156

Chapter 32 – How to Build Your Professional Network. 159

Chapter 33 – What Is Imposter Syndrome and How to Manage It. 162

Chapter 34 – 3 Powerful Strategies for Effective Decision-Making. 165

Chapter 35 – 7 Must-Haves of Workplace Etiquette. 168

Chapter 36 – What Is Growth Mindset and How to Benefit From It. 172

Chapter 37 – How to Take Care of Your Mental Health at Work. 175

Chapter 38 – How to Stay Motivated. 178

Chapter 39 – How to Adapt to Change. 183

Chapter 40 – How to Build Resilience in the Face of Challenges. 186

Chapter 41 – 5 Powerful Ways to Develop Leadership Skills. 189

Here’s What to Do Next. 193

6
 Introduction

S omeone who cares about you got this book for you.
They want you to be the happiest and richest you can
be. You can make money, lots of it, and enjoy life in the
process. Reading this book will help you figure out what
you want to do for work so it doesn’t feel like work.

Right now you may have no idea of what you want to do

for a career. A lot of your friends may look like they have it
all figured out. It is normal not to know. It is normal to want
one thing today and another thing tomorrow. It is normal
to have interests and desires that conflict. It is normal to
not have it figured out even though you might feel like
you're expected to.

Don’t worry, this book will help you understand what you
want and how to get it. If you have little motivation to read
the whole book, just read these chapters:

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 30+ CAREER SKILLS

● 2
● 4
● 7
● 11
● 15
● 20
● 22
● 29
● 30
● 38

The others you can do later.

Your dream career exists, you can find it, and you can be
very successful with it.

8
 SECTION 1:
How to Choose, Find, and
Get Your Dream Job.
 CHAPTER 1.

How to Discover Your

Talents.

S tart with your hobbies and interests. People are

drawn to things they are good at. If nothing comes to
mind, try different things. When you find something
interesting, try it and then you’ll see if you are good at it.

It's pretty easy to find out if you're good at something or

not. See how hard it is for you. Also see how much you
want to do it, how much you want to practice, and how
much you want to learn.

If you feel like you want to do it a lot with little motivation,

you're going to be good at it. Even if you're not good at it
yet, if you keep doing it, you will be good at it eventually.

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

Here Are 3 Other Ways You Can Discover Your

Talents:

1. Think about activities or tasks you did in the past

that were fun for you and came easy. These can be
clues to your talents.

2. Ask people you respect for feedback about your

natural strengths. Ask them—what are some
unique qualities about me? What do you appreciate
the most about me? What do you think I'm good at?

3. Take a personality quiz like 16Personalities.com (it

is free). It can give you ideas about your talents and
strengths and can be a useful starting point.

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 30+ CAREER SKILLS

Remember, everyone is talented at something. You are no

exception. If you don’t know yet what your talents are, or
you think you have no talents, try new things with an open
mind and see what you find out.

12
 CHAPTER 2.

What to Do If You Don’t

Know What You Want.

I t is totally normal to not know what you want. To find

out, think about the people in your life—do you know
people whose careers look awesome? People who are
happy, healthy, and wealthy? You don’t have to know them
personally, just know about them. What about their lives
do you like? What would you like for yourself?

Now let’s be honest, it can’t be all rosy. The successful

people you came up with, what did they have to do to get
to this level? What do they still have to do to maintain it?
For example, a doctor makes a lot of money, but they had
to study for 10+ years and they have to work long hours. A
successful entrepreneur has likely failed several times
before they built their current successful company.

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 30+ CAREER SKILLS

Here Are 3 Ways To Zero In On What You Want:

1. Start with your dreams. Do you have an exciting

goal? Like traveling, living abroad, starting a
business or creating something? What kind of career
would help you reach this goal? What kind of career
would help you achieve your dreams?

2. Think about your values. What do you care about?

Is it freedom? Is it financial stability? As much money
as possible? Fulfilling your potential? Helping other
people? Fun? Teamwork? What kind of career would
help you live out these values?

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

3. What do you want the perfect day in your life to

look like? Imagine a day where you are doing some
kind of work and enjoying it. What kind of career
would fit into your ideal day?

It is totally okay to not have all the answers. In the next

chapter there is a quiz that will help you. For now, put this
book to the side. There’s a lot to think about and you
should take a break. Come back when you’re ready.

15
 CHAPTER 3.

How to Choose The Right

Career.

Y ou're back and I'm assuming you thought about what

you like to do and what you want in your life. If not,
take some time to do it now.

If you have no clue, this quiz will help you choose the best
career for you. If you already have an idea of what you
want to do, this quiz will confirm it’s a great choice.

The quiz is easy. It has four steps:

1. Brainstorm
2. Explore
3. Score
4. Target

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

Think about your answers or write them down directly in

the book.

Step 1: Brainstorm

What are your favorite subjects at school? (if any)

What do people tell you you are good at?

What kind of work would you be happy to do in your free

time because it’s fun?

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 30+ CAREER SKILLS

What careers do you want to try?

What is easy for you that is hard for everyone else?

What lifestyle elements are important to you? (underline)

• work from anywhere

• option to work alone

• working on a great team

• low stress

• lots of money

Imagine you meet someone at a party and you tell them—

“This is what I do for work”, what would you be happy
saying?

If you feel like it, ask ChatGPT for ideas. Type in something
like: “Please give me your perspective on the best careers
for me. I like .... (insert what you like doing). I'm good at ….
(add the things you’ve gotten compliments on in the past).
I have experience in.... (insert any work you’ve done). I
want a career that will allow me to … (add what’s
important to you)”. See what it comes up with. If you come
across an idea you like, get more information on it in the
next step.

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

Step 2: Explore

Look at job descriptions for your career ideas on

Glassdoor.com or LinkedIn.com. Do information
interviews (optional). Ask people you trust. You want to
find out:

• What skills do you need for this job?

• Is it on-site or remote? Is it stressful? Is it teamwork or
independent work?

• What education or training do you need? What is the

minimum for entry?
• What is the day-to-day like?

• How much does it pay? (go to Glassdoor.com, click on

Salaries tab, enter name of the position and choose
your local area)

You can also ask ChatGPT these questions to speed up your

research. Type in these prompts:

• What skills are required to be …? (insert career)

• What is the salary range of … (insert career) in …?

(insert your location)

• What are some good resources to learn the skills to

become …? (insert career)

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 30+ CAREER SKILLS

If you want to do information interviews with

professionals doing this job, find them on LinkedIn and ask
them these five questions:

#1. What are the most important skills for someone to be

successful in this profession?

#2. What are your favorite parts of the work?

#3. What are the hardest things about this profession?

#4. When you are hiring a new team member, what

experience and qualities are you looking for?

#5. What are your favorite resources in this field? Are there
books, blogs or podcasts you would recommend?

Based on what you found out, give your career ideas a

score in Step 3.

Step 3: Score

Pick a career from your list of ideas, answer the questions

below and keep count to find out its DREAM score.

D - desire (how exciting is this idea?)

When you think about dedicating the next 10 years of your

life to this profession, how does it feel?
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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

• I really like this +2

• I like this +1
• Neutral 0

• I don’t like this -1

• I really don’t like this -2

R - relevance (how does this career fit your personality,

your talents, and the lifestyle you want?)

Do people who work in this profession have the lifestyle I

want?

• Yes, totally +2

• Mostly yes +1

• 50/50 0
• Not really -1

• I don’t want this -2

Will I be able to use my talents in this profession?

• Yes, all of them +2

• Some of them +1

• Kind of 0
• Not really -1
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 30+ CAREER SKILLS

• Not at all -2

This profession fits my personality (introverted or

extroverted, with focus on the things I like)

• Yes, exactly +2
• I think so +1

• Maybe 0

• Not really -1
• Not at all -2

E - education (how much will it take before you can start

working in it? how long is the formal education? how
expensive is it?)

Will I have the money to pay for the education without

getting into massive debt?

• Yes +2

• Probably +1
• I need to research scholarships 0

• Probably not -1
• Definitely not -2

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

Is there a way to learn this faster and cheaper than a

college degree?

• Yes +2
• Not fully +1

• I don’t know 0
• Unlikely -1
• No -2

Do I want to learn as much as possible about this?

• Yes, totally +2
• Sometimes I feel like it +1

• If I’m bored 0
• If I have to -1

• Not at all -2

A - activities on the job (are they mostly fun or not? are

you excited to become better and better at them and
become the best in this profession?)

Am I excited about most of the activities on the job?

• Yes +2

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 30+ CAREER SKILLS

• Some of them +1

• I don’t know 0
• Not really -1

• Not at all -2

Can I shadow under a professional doing this job to

understand it better?

• Yes, and it’s easy to find +2

• Yes, but it’s hard to find +1

• Maybe - 0
• Not really -1

• Not at all -2

Do I want to be friends with other people in this field, share

knowledge and help each other?

• Yes, totally +2
• I wouldn’t mind +1

• I don’t know 0
• Not really -1
• Not at all -2

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

M - money (earning potential)

Will the average salary for someone starting out in this

profession cover my living expenses?

• Yes, fully +2

• I think so +1
• I don’t know 0

• Not really -1

• Not at all -2

Will I be able to increase my income as I build valuable skills

and experience?

• Yes, a lot +2

• Yes, a little +1
• Maybe 0

• Unlikely -1

• Not at all -2

Does the income ceiling on this professional track suit me

and the lifestyle I want?

• Yes, totally +2

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 30+ CAREER SKILLS

• Mostly +1

• Possibly 0
• Not really -1

• Not at all -2

Score all the career ideas that are interesting to you here:

Career Idea DREAM Score

Compare these careers. Which ones scored the highest? Do

you have a favorite? Is there a career with a lower score
that you still want to try?

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

Step 4: Target

• Start learning the skills you can learn independently

• Research tips for the job (YouTube, social media, etc.)

• Tell friends and family that you want to do projects in
this field. Tell them you are looking for experience
and are willing to work for a reduced rate to gain it

• Set up a freelance account and start doing projects

• Look for an internship or an apprenticeship
• Join a professional community. Look for a local
organization or non-local community with virtual
events

• Go to meetups
• If you discover something about this career that you
can’t live with, consider other career options

These are not in chronological order and you don’t have to

do everything. Choose what you feel like doing. The goal is
to find out if you like these jobs and careers as much as you
thought you would.

27
 CHAPTER 4.

How to Get Scholarships.

C ollege can be expensive. To make the best choice,

look at a college degree as an investment that has to
produce a return. People often make a huge mistake when
they take on student loan debt for a degree that leads to a
low-paying job or a job they don’t like. Don’t be one of
them.

First, does the career you want require a college degree? Is

there a way to learn the skills you need faster and cheaper?
If a college degree is a big advantage to get higher pay, in
this chapter you’ll find out how to get it more affordably.

If you are thinking about student loans to get a degree,

consider the payback period of this degree. How much will
you be making in the entry-level job after you graduate?
What is the career progression? How will your income
increase as you go up the ladder?

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

Some degrees offer a much higher return on investment

over the course of a career than others. Getting the wrong
education can set you back in both time and money.
Consider all your options before you say Yes to an
expensive degree.

A free or low-cost degree that will bring higher pay is a big

advantage. It is possible to graduate debt-free by getting a
scholarship.

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 30+ CAREER SKILLS

To Get A College Degree For A Reasonable Price,

Take These Steps:

1. Search online for scholarships that match your field

of study, ethnicity, or extracurricular activities.
2. If you have a college in mind you want to go to, check
with the financial aid office about available
scholarships.
3. Look for scholarships that are offered by
organizations in your community, such as local
businesses, civic organizations, and religious groups.
4. Look online for scholarships offered by national
funds or foundations.
5. Check with the guidance counselor at your school
about the scholarships you qualify for.
6. Apply for as many scholarships as you qualify for.
You are literally making money by increasing your
chances to save money, or get your degree
completely free. If you want to use an AI to help with
essays, try Conch (getconch.ai). It is a browser
extension for Google Chrome and it has all the
features you need for essay writing.
7. Follow the scholarship application instructions
carefully and submit all required materials on time.

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

Scholarships are free money. It might be time-consuming

to apply, but it’s worth it.

31
 CHAPTER 5.

How to Ask for

Recommendations.

R ecommendations can open doors for you. They can

help you get scholarships, internships, and jobs.

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

Here’s How To Ask For A Recommendation:

1. Be specific.

Choose someone you respect and reach out to them.

Remind them who you are and how they know you. For
example, say “I took your class”, “I wrote this paper”, or
“You might remember me from this project”. Share what
you liked about the time you spent together and why you
chose them to write a recommendation for you. Next, let
them know what the recommendation is for and what you
are hoping to accomplish. Let them know why this
opportunity is exciting for you and how their
recommendation will help.

2. Provide details.

Share any instructions you have about the format of the

recommendation. Mention what qualities would be helpful
to highlight. If you can think of examples when you
demonstrated these qualities in their presence, remind
them. For example: “This school (or this employer) is
looking for someone with the following qualities… I would
appreciate it if you could highlight this project to serve as
proof that I possess these qualities.”

If relevant, include your resume and cover letter for their

reference.

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 30+ CAREER SKILLS

3. Give them a timeline.

For a written recommendation, give them two weeks. Say

something like: “I would really appreciate it if you could
send me your recommendation by this date”. If it's going
to be a referral phone call, let them know what you'd like
them to focus on during the call.

Ask several people for recommendations. Mention the

qualities you would like them to highlight.

4. Show gratitude either way.

Acknowledge that they might be very busy. If they are

unable to provide a recommendation for you, be
understanding and thank them for their time anyway.

When you receive a recommendation, respond with a

Thank you and let them know how much you value their
support.

When the outcome of your application is clear, follow up

with the people who provided recommendations and
share an update.

Don’t be shy. Ask your favorite teachers, professors,

managers or co-workers for a recommendation. Make it
easy for them. Tell them what qualities to emphasize, give
them ideas of examples that illustrate these qualities, and
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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

provide a timeline. Thank them and follow up with

updates. Most people will be happy to be helpers in your
life like this.

35
 CHAPTER 6.

How to Gain Valuable Work

Experience.

W hen you have work experience, you are more

attractive to future employers and can get a higher
salary. Just as important, experience can help you find out
what the jobs are like and which one is the best fit for you.

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

You can get valuable work experience through internships,

part-time jobs, freelance projects, and volunteer work.

When You Are Ready, Take These Steps:

1. Look online for internships.

Internships can help you gain valuable skills and build your
network. They can be paid or unpaid.

Important: If the internship is unpaid, there must be

learning value for you. Someone at the company has to be
showing you how to do things, mentoring you, and guiding
you. If you are not getting paid and no one is paying
attention to your development, this is not a good
internship and may be illegal. If you find yourself in this
situation, you should look for a different internship.

2. Look for ways to volunteer.

Look for companies and businesses that need help with

the things you want to get experience in. Offer your help
in exchange for a reference. You could say you are
available for a certain number of hours over the course of
a few weeks. For example, 5 hours a week for a month. At
the end, you will have valuable work experience you can

37
 30+ CAREER SKILLS

put on your resume. You will also have co-workers who

could open doors for you.

3. Do freelance projects.

If possible, start doing freelance projects. Don’t worry

about making a lot of money right away. Real-world
experience is super valuable right now. Start to build your
skills and your portfolio. Your income will grow as you get
better and better at what you do.

4. Use your network.

Do you know someone who is working in the field you are

interested in? Do you know someone who could use help?
Ask friends and family members if they know anyone. If
someone comes up, talk to them. If it’s an expert in the
field you want to get into, ask them these questions:

• What are the most valuable skills for this profession?

• What is the best way to learn them?

• If you were me, how would you get started in this

field?
• Is there something I can help you with?

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

Conversations like these could lead to internships,

volunteer projects and even part-time jobs.

For example, Jessica wanted to get into product marketing

and needed experience with pre-launch activities. She
asked Jill, a friend of a friend, who was working as product
marketing manager, if she could help her prepare for the
upcoming product launch. Jessica offered to work for free
for 1 month, 5-7 hours a week. Jill said “Yes”, and they
mapped out what Jessica would be working on. They got
everything done before the launch, and now Jessica had
launch experience she could add to her resume and talk
about in interviews. Even better, Jill connected Jessica
with a friend who was looking for product marketing help.
Jessica did a video interview and I got the job. This time she
was making great money and had the flexibility she
wanted.

5. Build your network.

Go to workshops and meetups with people who are

interested in the same things as you. Add them on
LinkedIn. Include a personal note with your connection
request.

Starting out in a new field is tough. Don't be embarrassed.

You're not the only person going through this. Many

39
 30+ CAREER SKILLS

people are happy to help. Don’t be shy! Reach out to

professionals on LinkedIn, ask for information interviews,
ask about internships and volunteer projects. It might take
time to find opportunities, but your persistence will pay
off.

40
 CHAPTER 7.

How to Prepare Your First

Resume.

S kills are great. You have the baseline. You have the
foundation. Now you need the presentation to go
with it, otherwise companies might overlook you. The
presentation is your image, your resume, your experiences
described in a professional way. Companies are looking for
it. It’s nothing personal.

If you are not ready to work on your resume right now, skip
ahead and come back later!

If you are up for it, let’s do it. You can get a professional
resume template together with a cover letter template for
$2.99 at start.lanaryan.co. You could also get a good
resume template on etsy.com for around $10.

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 30+ CAREER SKILLS

Your resume needs to have these 5 sections:

• Header with your name, contact information and

headline
• Summary

• Skills
• Professional Experience
• Education

1. Header

In the Header, add your name, phone number, email

address, and the link to your LinkedIn profile if you have
one (we’ll talk about it later).

In the headline, put the name of the position you want. If

you don’t have a specific position in mind, put your areas
of interest into the headline. Your headline could look like
this:

e.g. Graphic Design | UX/UI Design.

To type in a straight line, press “Shift” and “Backslash”

together.

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

Important: When you apply for a position, put the name of

this position into your headline exactly as it shows up in the
job description.

2. Summary

The Summary is like a movie trailer. It has to be punchy.

What are you the most proud of so far? Include it. What are
your most valuable skills? Include them. Get ideas for
effective phrases from job descriptions. Use words like:
“Strong at…”, “Strengths include…”, “Natural talent
in…”, “Proven track record of…” This is not bragging. This
is saving them time.

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 30+ CAREER SKILLS

3. Skills

In the Skills section, list the skills you have that are
important for this position. You don’t have to be a top
expert. A good understanding and some experience is
enough to include the skill in your list.

Tailor your list of skills for each position. Refer to the job
description. Remove the skills that are not relevant for this
position and add the skills that are more relevant.

4. Professional Experience

In the Professional Experience section, list your projects or

positions starting with the most recent one.

Mention:

• Your role
• Company name

• Company location
• Time you worked there

• 1 sentence about the company

• 3 bullet points about your work

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

If you worked at the same company or business in more

than one position, mention these roles separately,
especially if you got promoted. This way you can describe
more of your contributions.

If you worked in a position for more than one year,

mention the years, e.g. 2021–2022. If you worked in a
position for less than a year, mention the months, e.g.
August–November 2022. If you are still working there, put
the starting month and year and the word “Present”, e.g.
July 2023 – Present.

For your bullet points, use this formula:

• What did you do?

• What was the goal?

• What were the results? (include numbers or
percentages if you can)

For example: “Prepared the pitch and reached out to 50

podcast hosts to secure guest spots for the company CEO.
Resulted in 15 guest appearances in relevant podcasts and
30% increase in leads for the business.”

If your work experience is not relevant for the position you

are applying for, focus your bullet points on transferable

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 30+ CAREER SKILLS

skills, for example, research, project management, and

collaboration.

If you don’t have any relevant experience yet, look for

freelance projects or volunteer projects to get it.

For example, Mike always wanted to be a designer. He

couldn’t afford the design major at the University, so he
studied archaeology instead. But his passion for design
never went away. Mike completed a UX/UI Design
Bootcamp and then came the hard part—he had to find his
first design job. Mike had some graphic design projects in
his portfolio, but he needed more UX/UI projects to get the
visual designer job he wanted. He told all his friends that
he was looking for design work and got introduced to a
startup founder who needed a website designed. Mike
took on this project, did a great job, added it to his
portfolio and even made some money! A few weeks later,
he got an interview for a visual designer job. The
prospective employer contacted the startup founder that
Mike designed the website for. The founder gave him a
glowing reference. Mike got the job.

5. Education

In the Education section, mention the name and location

of your college or university, your degree, your major, and
the year of graduation if you have already graduated.
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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

If you received professional training outside of college or

university, for example, from a bootcamp, mention the
name of the organization and the course(s) you
completed.

Check your resume for typos, then share it with a family

member or a friend. Ask them for feedback and
suggestions.

If you want another perspective, copy/paste your resume

into ChatGPT and ask it for improvements. Implement the
suggestions you like.

When you are applying for a job, you can copy/paste the
job description into ChatGPT along with your resume and
ask it to tailor your resume for this position.

Congratulations! If you followed the instructions, your

resume is now among the best out there.

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 CHAPTER 8.

How to Write the Best Cover

Letter.

A cover letter will help you stand out. You can get a
professional cover letter template together with
the resume template for $2.99 at start.lanaryan.co

The best cover letter has 3 parts:

• Why Are You A Good Fit

• Why You Want to Work At This Company

• What To Do Next

First, share your strengths:

“Dear Hiring Manager,

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

I am confident that my qualifications meet your

requirements for the position of … (insert position)

Below is a brief summary of my relevant experience and

strengths:

• Track record of… (get ideas from the job description).

• Strong ability to drive complex projects to success.
• Sharp analytical mind combined with empathy.
• Natural collaborator with a deep sense of ownership.

• Talent for… (get ideas from the job description)

• Experienced user of (add relevant tools from the job

description)”

Next, let them know why you want to work for this
company. Say something like:

“I have a deep personal interest in… (the field the company

is in) and I believe the problem of… (add the problem the
company is solving with its products) is extremely important
to solve. My experience in… and my strength in… make me
uniquely qualified to help the company overcome
competitive challenges and fuel success.”

Finally, let them know how they can reach you.

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 30+ CAREER SKILLS

“I welcome the opportunity to discuss our collaboration

further. You can reach me at (your phone number)

Sincerely,

(Your name)”

If you really want the job, add the cover letter. Use the
template and tailor it to fit the position.

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 CHAPTER 9.

How to Set Up Your

LinkedIn Profile.

L inkedIn is important. It’s your networking space. It

can help you get information, find work and build your
reputation in the community.

If you are over 16, create your account. Now take these 7
steps to make your LinkedIn profile awesome.

Step 1. Add Your Profile Photo

If you don’t have one, take a selfie.

If you feel like it, add a background photo to your LinkedIn

page.

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 30+ CAREER SKILLS

Step 2. Write Your Headline

If you're just getting started and you feel like there’s not
much to put there, don’t let it hold you back. There is
always stuff you can say. It could be your interests, for
example, “Aspiring Graphic Designer. Cat Lover. Chess
Master”. The more genuine your headline is, the better,
even if it's unimpressive. Impressive is not always
attractive. Normal and open is best. People will feel
comfortable engaging with you.

Step 3. Write About Section

Imagine you meet someone and they’re asking what you’re

up to professionally. Imagine what you would answer in

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

person. It could be a couple of sentences about your

background, what you are into, and what you are looking
for. Simple and sincere is best. If you already have a few
technical skills, add a paragraph called “Technical side of
things” and mention the tools you are familiar with.

Step 4. Put Together The Experience Section

It can be very similar to your resume. On LinkedIn we have

more space so you can add more detail if you want.

Use the job descriptions of the jobs you like for inspiration.
Take words and phrases that sound good to you and are
true for you, and add them to your resume, cover letter,
and LinkedIn.

Step 5. Education

Enter the name of your college or university, your major,

and the years you attended this school.

*Optional* include your extracurricular activities in the

Activities and Societies section.

If you received professional training outside of college or

university, for example, from a bootcamp, mention the

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 30+ CAREER SKILLS

name of the organization and the course(s) you

completed.

Step 6. Volunteering

Add all your volunteer experiences.

Step 7. Recommendations

Write recommendations for your favorite teachers,

coworkers and people you’ve volunteered with. These
recommendations don’t have to be long. Three sentences
is perfect. What did you like about working with someone?
What did they do that was awesome? What talents did you
notice? How did they help you? How did they help the
project?

When you are done, ask your favorite people for

recommendations. Use this template:

Hi (insert person’s name),

I hope all is well with you! I have a huge favor to ask you—
would you be so kind as to leave a recommendation for me
on LinkedIn? I really enjoyed working with you at … (add
where you worked together) and I would really appreciate it
if you could share a few words about what it was like

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

working with me. I’m looking for … (mention the kinds of

jobs and projects you are looking for) and your
recommendation would really help me. If you don’t feel
comfortable writing a recommendation for me, no worries!

If you would like me to write a recommendation for you—I’ll

be happy to, let me know!

Thank you,

(Your name)

Use your LinkedIn profile to connect with the people you

meet. Like and comment on their posts if you find them
interesting. Unfollow people who post stuff you don’t like.
Reach out to industry professionals, ask them for
information interviews. Share interesting things you have
discovered. LinkedIn can be fun! And it can help your
career.

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 CHAPTER 10.

How to Get a Job Interview.

A lot of people apply for jobs for months and get no

responses. They don’t know there is an easier way to
get job interviews. It is the “Reach Out to Stand Out”
strategy. It has 4 steps. Here is how to do it

Step 1. Apply For The Job On The Company Website

Recruiters look at these applications first. If the position is

not listed on the company website, apply on the platform
where you found this job.

Step 2. Find The Recruiter On Linkedin

Go to LinkedIn and enter the company name into the

search bar together with the keywords “recruiter”, “HR”,

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

“human resources” or “talent”. If several people come up

who might be the recruiter for the position you just applied
for, choose two of them to connect with.

Step 3. Connect With The Recruiter

Go to the profile page of each person you chose and click

Connect. If there is no Connect button, click More and the
option to connect might show up. Include a personal note
with your connection request. Use this template:

“Hi (recruiter’s name),

I just applied for … position on your website. I understand

there is a process for applying, but I certainly want to do
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 30+ CAREER SKILLS

everything I can to make myself stand out from the rest of

the candidates. What is the best way to get 15 minutes on
your calendar for an initial discussion?”

If you don’t hear back within two business days, connect

with two more recruiters who came up in your LinkedIn
search and send them the same message.

For example, this strategy worked great for Sean. It helped

him get the account manager job he wanted. Sean found
this job on Glassdoor.com and applied. Then he looked for
the company recruiter on LinkedIn. He found Natalie and
connected with her. In his personal note he asked for an
initial discussion. Natalie got back to Sean the next day. A
few hours later they got on a call. It turned out, Natalie
wasn’t the right recruiter for the position, but they talked
anyway. Then Nathalie introduced Sean to Kyle, who was
the right recruiter. Sean talked with Kyle, then the hiring
manager, then the team, and he got the job offer.

Step 4. Connect With The Hiring Manager

To boost your chances even more, connect with the hiring

manager in the same way. Enter the Company name and
the title of the potential hiring manager into the search bar
on LinkedIn. Use keywords like “(department) manager”,
“head of...”, “director of...” or “(team) lead”. If several

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

people come up who might be the hiring manager for this

position, choose one and send them a connection request
with a personal note. Use this template:

“Hi (person’s name)

I just applied for … position on your website. Assuming you

are the right hiring manager, what would be the best way to
get 15 minutes on your calendar to discuss? If you are not the
right hiring manager, can you please direct me to the correct
person?

Sincerely,

(Your name)”

If you don’t hear back within two business days, connect

with another person who might be the hiring manager.

For example, Claudia always contacted hiring managers on

LinkedIn after applying for UX design positions. A hiring
manager from a web security startup liked Claudia’s
initiative and her skills. Claudia went through the interview
process and got the job.

If you want more job interviews and job offers, reach out
to the recruiters and hiring managers on LinkedIn. You’ll
save yourself a lot of time.

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 CHAPTER 11.

How to Prepare for a Job

Interview.

T o win the job, do the things that other candidates

don’t take the time to do. Research the company,
research the interviewer, prepare your answers to the
most common questions, and prepare great questions.

Before the interview, go to the company’s website. You

want to find out:

● What products or services the company is offering

● What customers the company is trying to attract
and what is the value proposition
● How the company started out and what its mission
is (check out “About Us”)

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

Next, learn more about the interviewer you’re about to

meet. Go to their LinkedIn page and learn about their
career. Read the descriptions of their previous positions.
This is what they are proud of and what they value in their
work. Read the recommendations they wrote for other
people. This is what they appreciate in co-workers. Finally,
read the recommendations other people wrote for the
interviewer. This is what they are great at.

If you are curious about something you read on the

interviewer’s LinkedIn page, write down a couple personal
questions you could ask them. They will appreciate it.

Done! The interviewer is not a stranger any more. You are

potential partners. This is huge. A job interview is not an
exam. It is a discovery. You find out more about what the

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company needs. You share your strengths, skills, and goals.

Then it becomes clear if there is a match.

A cool hack for the job interview is to pretend that you don’t
need the job at all. You showed up because you are curious
about the company and the interviewer’s work. You want
to help them. You are not trying to sell yourself. You are not
trying to prove anything to anybody. You came to meet an
interesting person and share what you’ve done and what
you’re up to.

It’s a great idea to ask thoughtful questions. We’ll cover

them in the chapter called The Best Questions to Ask in a
Job Interview.

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 CHAPTER 12.

How to Answer Difficult

Questions.

N obody is great at job interviews starting out. To do

better, prepare a few key answers ahead of time.

Common questions that trip up a lot of people are “Tell me

about yourself” and “What are your salary expectations?”

How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself”

“Tell me about yourself”, “Tell me about your

background” and all other variations mean the same thing:
“Tell me why you are a great fit for this position”.

Include two things in your answer:

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1—Quick look at what you’ve done so far (2 sentences)

For example:

My background is in…

For the past few months/years, I have worked in…

I have done projects ranging from A to B to C…

2—How your experience is relevant for this company and

this position (2 sentences)

For example:

My favorite project so far has been… (choose a project

that is similar to what you would be doing in the new job)

My time at… (company or project) taught me to…

(valuable skills for this job)

The results we got were…

I noticed from the job description that this is what you are
looking for.

The projects and examples you include in your answer

don’t have to come from a job. They could be school
projects, freelance projects, or volunteer projects.

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

Keep your answer short. Let the interviewer ask follow-up

questions.

How to Answer “What Are Your Salary

Expectations?”

To put yourself in the best position, find out the market

rate for this job. Go to Glassdoor.com and click the Salaries
tab. Under “Are you paid fairly?” enter your target position
and your location. You will see the average compensation
for this position in your area.

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 30+ CAREER SKILLS

If the job is remote and the company is in a different

location, run a search for their local area.

ChatGTP can help you with this research. Ask ChatGPT

about the average salary for your target position in your
area. It will give you a ballpark. Choose the salary range you
want.

When the interviewer asks “What are your salary

expectations?” don’t share the range right away. Say
something like: “My first goal is to find out if we have a
good fit. At the same time, I understand that you are
working with a budget, and I want to be respectful of our
time. To help us get on the same page, would you mind
sharing the salary band for this position?”

The interviewer might share the projected salary and then

ask you: “How does this sound?” If the numbers work for
you, say: “This aligns with my research, and this is a good
start.”

If the salary is lower than you thought, you could say: “This
is lower than my research shows the market rate is for this
position, and lower than the value I can bring. Is the salary
band negotiable?”

If the answer is “No” but you still want the position, say:
“Both the company and the position are interesting to me.

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

When I make my final decision, I will consider all the

elements of the offer, not just the compensation.”

If the conversation goes in a way that you have to share

the salary range you are looking for, say: “According to my
research, the market range for this position is between X
and Y, I would be comfortable with the higher end of the
spectrum.”

If the interviewer asks how much you were making before

or how much you are making now, say: “I don’t believe the
answer to this question would be helpful for us.
Compensation is very contextual and includes more than a
salary figure. I would love to understand how much value
the company places on this position. Would you mind
sharing the salary band for this role?”

Even starting out, you are valuable. Do your homework and

be ready to politely stand up for yourself.

How to Answer Questions Like “Tell Me About a

Difficult Situation and How You Overcame It…”

During the interview you might get one of these behavioral

questions:

• Tell me about a difficult situation and how you

overcame it.

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• Tell me about the hardest project you had to complete

and how you did it.

• Tell me about a time you had a difficult working

relationship with a coworker. How did you approach it?

• Tell me about a time when someone disagreed with

you.

• Tell me about a time when you went the extra mile.

• Tell me about a time when you made a mistake.

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Answer with a story. Use these building blocks:

1. Setup

First, share the project you were working on or the

company you were working at and your role.

2. Challenge

Share the task or the challenge you faced.

3. Obstacle

If there were obstacles that made the situation harder,

share them.

4. Action

Share what you did and why you chose this course of
action.

5. Result

Share the results, both positive and negative.

Rachel, the hiring manager at a unicorn technology

company, said:

“Failing can be a scary thing, but we're all going to fail. I

would rather the candidate tell me about a time when they
failed completely and walk me through that process, instead
of only talking about the things that worked.”
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When you have a job interview coming up, paste the job
description into ChatGPT and say: “Please ask me
questions related to this job as if you were the hiring
manager interviewing me”. ChatGPT will give you a list of
questions. Think through them and imagine what you
would answer.

How to Answer Interview Questions When You

Don’t Know What to Say.

When you get a really hard question, use these three

techniques to make a good impression anyway.

Technique #1: Clarify the Question

Say: “Before I answer, could you help me understand what

you mean by…? (add what the question is about).
Alternative: “Before I answer, could you help me
understand how you define…?

The interviewer will expand the original question and the

details might help you come up with a great answer.

Technique #2: Ask for Time to Think

Say: “Would you mind if I thought about it for a minute”?

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A lot of people think that if they don’t answer a question

right away, they will come across as incompetent. This is
not true. When you ask for time to think, it can increase
your credibility. It shows that the quality of your answer is
important to you, and you know how to stay calm under
pressure.

Technique #3: Follow Up

If you don't know something, or you don't remember, say:

“I don't have the exact answer right now, and I don't want
to misguide you or make a mistake by guessing. Would it
be okay if I followed up with this information shortly after
our interview?”

If they agree, include this information in your follow-up

email.

The bottom line is this: it’s best to be prepared, but you

don’t have to be 100% smooth.

You don’t have to pretend you’re someone you’re not. Be

your normal self. Be friendly and concise.

Going into the interview, pretend that you don’t need a

job. Imagine that you are already financially free with all
your expenses covered. You don’t have to work, but you
want to, because you like the work and you like the

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company. When talking to a recruiter, a hiring manager or

a teammate, imagine that your goal is to get to know them
and help if you can.

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 CHAPTER 13.

The Best Questions to Ask In

a Job Interview.

W hen you ask questions, it shows that you care. It

shows that you value yourself and you respect the
company. You want to understand the situation. You want
to make sure it’s a great fit for everyone.

5 Great Questions for the Recruiter:

• How does this role contribute to the company’s

goals?

• What is important to the hiring manager? What are

their priorities when they review candidates?

• From your perspective, what makes me a strong

candidate?

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• Why is this position a great opportunity for a

professional like me?

• Why do you enjoy working at this company?

5 Great Questions for the Hiring Manager:

• Imagine—it’s 6 months from now and we are talking

about the great positive impact I was able to make in
this role. What happened that made you feel good
about choosing me for this position?

• What is the hardest part of your work, and how could

this position help alleviate it?

• Could you tell me about the team?

• What’s the biggest challenge the team is facing over
the next 6-12 months and how can someone in this
role help overcome it?

• What is the company's biggest threat to success this

year, and how can someone in this role help tackle it?

5 Great Questions for A Colleague:

• How did you get into this kind of work?

• What are your favorite parts of the work?

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 HOW TO CHOOSE, FIND, AND GET YOUR DREAM JOB

• What are the hardest things about your work right

now? How could a new team member make things
easier for you?
• What are the most important things for you in a co-
worker on a personal level?
• What are you into outside of work?

In addition, it would be helpful to get a feel for the

company culture. To understand what it’s really like
working at this company, ask any of the interviewers some
of these questions:

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• What makes you feel that the company cares about

you?

• What are the relationships like within the team and

between teams?

• Are you happy with the career progression

opportunities you have?

• Do you feel heard?

• How does this company compare to the best place

you’ve ever worked?

For example, Lisa didn’t ask any of these questions during

interviews and she got burned. The company culture
turned out to be toxic. Lisa’s position was eliminated soon
after she joined, and she was asked to do completely
unrelated work. Lisa tried to transfer to another team, and
she got in trouble for it. A few months later, there was still
no light at the end of the tunnel. Lisa knew she had to start
looking for another job. She found one, and this time she
made sure the company culture was a great fit before she
accepted the job offer.

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 CHAPTER 14.

How to Negotiate The Job

Offer.

Y ou got the job offer. Congrats! Now let’s negotiate

the best terms.

Negotiating is hard for most people. For example, Jen said:

“Negotiating my salary was a huge stress. I didn’t know
what to say. I knew what would be acceptable. When the
hiring manager proposed a higher salary, I exhaled. I was
happy that I didn’t have to negotiate”.

The truth is, it doesn’t have to be a conflict. You and the

hiring team have the same goal. It is the long-term success
of the company. When you negotiate, you are creating
alignment so you can meet this goal together.

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To Negotiate The Best Job Offer, Take These 4 Steps:

Step 1: Choose The Salary Range You Want

Find out the market rate for this position. Go to

Glassdoor.com, enter the position and the word “salaries”
into the search bar and choose your location. The average
compensation for your area will show up. Choose the
salary range that fits your experience.

Step 2. Map Out Your Ideal Work Situation And Choose

Your Top Priorities

Make a list of things that are important to you in a job. For

example:

• Salary within your desired range

• Health benefits (medical, dental, vision)

• Flexibility to work from home

• Easy commute or no commute

• Convenient working hours

• Convenient start date

• A learning budget for courses and training

• Professional certifications covered by the company

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• Trips to professional conferences covered by the

company

• Allowance for commuting expenses

• Allowance for fitness expenses

Now choose your 3 top priorities—things that are the

most important to you. If you don’t get them, nothing else
matters.

Next, choose 3 nice-to-haves. These would be great, but

you wouldn’t walk away from the offer if they aren’t
possible.

The rest of the items are concessions you could bring into
the negotiation later.

Step 3. Review The Job Offer, Identify The Changes You

Would Like, And Respond

If there are top priorities that are unknown or are different

from what you would like, start your negotiation with
them.

Your first response has to include everything that will make

you reasonably happy. If the hiring team says “Yes”’, you
will accept the offer. Leave out the concessions for now.

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We will bring them into the negotiation later if something

of higher value is not available.

Use this template:

Hi (Recruiter’s name),

Thank you very much for offering me the … position with …

(name of the Company). I am thrilled about the opportunity,
and I look forward to making a valuable contribution to the
team and the company.

Before accepting the position, I wanted to follow up on

several elements of the offer. I noticed that the starting
salary is listed at … (number from the job offer). Based on

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my research, the market rates for professionals with my

skills and experience are between … (higher number 1) and
… (higher number 2). If you are able to move the starting
salary to … (add the number you want), it would make the
offer much stronger. I am confident that the value I will
create for the company will more than justify this
adjustment.

In addition, the job offer does not mention … (add what’s

important to you). Would it be possible to include it in the
compensation package?

Additionally, is there a monthly or annual budget allocated

for … (mention an expense you would like covered by the
company, e.g. courses or training). What about … (add
another expense you would like covered by the company,
e.g. conferences)? It would help me … (describe how
receiving this benefit would help you create more value for
the company).

I am excited to help … (add Company name) meet its goals,

and I will be happy to join the team. I hope we can
accommodate these changes and proceed to the next steps.

Sincerely,

(Your name)

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Step 4. Respond To The Improved Offer.

When you hear back, see what improvements the

company was able to make.

If the updated offer looks good, accept it.

If your top priorities are how you want them, but some
other things you asked for are not possible, you could bring
up a concession.

Use this template:

“I really appreciate the updates you were able to make to the

job offer. Thank you for sharing the company policy
regarding … (add the thing you asked for but got a “No”). I
understand that this is not possible at this time. Do you
foresee this changing in the future? In the meantime, might
it be possible to (... propose an alternative) as a workaround?
This would help me… (share how it will help you help the
company)”

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 CHAPTER 15.

How to Overcome
Rejection.

R ejection happens to everyone. Don’t get

discouraged, focus on what you can control. Here are
5 things you can do to boost your chances of getting a
great job. Do these things, and you already won. It doesn’t
matter what each company decides. You’re on your way.
It’s a matter of time.

#1: Tailor your resume and cover letter for each position

#2: Reach out to the recruiter and hiring manager on

LinkedIn after you apply

#3: Research the company and the interviewer before the

interview, prepare questions

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#4: Prepare your answers to the questions “Tell me about

yourself” and “What are your salary expectations?”

#5: Send a follow-up email after the interview

Use this template for the follow-up email:

Hi (Interviewer’s name),

It was a pleasure talking with you. Thank you for sharing your
vision for the role and the team’s growing contribution to
the success of the company.

Based on what you shared about the position, and what I

know about myself, there seems to be a strong match. I look
forward to applying … (mention the skills and knowledge
that came up as valuable) to help the team reach its goals.

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I have been thinking about the challenges you mentioned—

both current and those on the horizon, and I wanted to share
some ideas with you how I could help address them….
(mention the challenges that came up and your ideas to
tackle them).

I would be happy to put my skills to work and help the

Company reach its goals. I look forward to the next steps.

Sincerely,

(Your name)

Looking for a job can feel like a self-esteem roller-coaster,

especially if you’re just starting out. Remember, you are
valuable. There is a team looking for you. Apply for the
positions you like, take the 5 steps we covered in this
chapter, and you will get a great job.

You finished Section 1! Now you know what you want and
how to get it. In the next section you will learn valuable
skills that will help you be great at it.

If you like this book so far, please give it a 5-star rating on

Amazon.

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SECTION 2:
How to Be Good
At Your Job.
 CHAPTER 16.

How to Communicate with

Colleagues.

T o develop your career, it’s very helpful to know how

to communicate effectively and share your ideas
clearly.

When you are starting a new job, watch your colleagues,

learn their personalities. Some will be easy-going, some
will be more serious. To get them on board, adapt your
communication style.

With easy-going people, a friendly conversation is a great

place to start. If an issue comes up, you might say: “Let’s
get lunch and talk about this.” When people are relaxed
and comfortable, it is easier to collaborate.

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This casual approach might not work with people who are
more serious. Here you have to be strategic. Do your
homework to learn their motivations. Pay attention in
meetings—what questions do they ask? What are they
advocating for? What do they bring up as concerns? When
you talk to these people, connect your ideas to the things
they care about.

If you’re going to the office, talk to people you run into.

Ask them about their work. Ask them about their hobbies.
Start building relationships. When you have a relationship
with someone, there is trust, and it’s easier to have healthy
conflict if necessary.

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A healthy organization always has healthy conflict. It’s hard

to create anything great when people go along with the
first idea. It’s good to disagree sometimes. Just do it
respectfully.

When you disagree with someone, do your best to leave

your emotions out of it. Have good reasons for your
argument. Don’t say things like “This won’t work, my way
is better”. Instead, say “Ok, this is one option, how about
this alternative? Based on this data, this approach might
help us accomplish our goal.”

It can be tough when people have strong opinions about

your area of expertise. Try not to shut them down. Instead,
say: “How about we try this first, see how it goes, and we’ll
keep this idea as plan B?” Sometimes people just need to
feel heard.

You might be more comfortable listening than expressing

yourself or influencing others. Don’t worry, some of the
most influential people are quiet. Effective communication
is not about charisma. It is about understanding the other
person, finding things that motivate them, and working
together towards a common goal.

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 CHAPTER 17.

How to Collaborate with

Different Personality Types.

Y ou will work with a lot of people. They will have

different personalities. They will have their unique
strengths. Even if your colleague is the complete opposite
of you, you can still have a great working relationship with
them. Here is how.

Take full responsibility for your tasks. Do your best to

deliver high quality work on time. Every time you do, you
are building trust with your teammates and it gets easier
to collaborate with anyone.

To work well with people who are different, show that

you’re interested in them. Learn about their roles. Ask
them what they are working on day-to-day, what they like

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about it, and what is challenging. Let them know you’d like
to help if you can.

Even if you would do something differently, give your

colleagues a chance to accomplish their tasks how they
would like. Make room for them to be themselves. When
people feel accepted, they do their best work.

Sometimes personal differences will make things hard. To

get through it, focus on the end result. If you are getting
closer to your goal as a team, you are on the right track.

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At the same time, don’t let people go too far down the
wrong path. Address issues when you see them. Be kind
and professional about it, assume positive intent.
Remember that your colleagues might have a completely
different view of the situation. It’s not you versus them.
You are on the same team. You have the same goals. You
might have different opinions about how to get there. You
can talk about it and find the best way together.

You might find that some people are conflict-oriented. It’s

their language, their way of communicating. If you prefer
a more gentle approach, this might be challenging at first.
To collaborate effectively with people like this, remember
that it's not personal. They are just used to being direct. Be
patient, it will get easier as you continue to work together
and get used to each other.

To work well with people who are different from you, be

respectful and have an optimistic view of them. Always
expect the best from people and they will do their best for
you.

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 CHAPTER 18.

How to Ask for, Give and

Receive Feedback.

F eedback helps us grow and get better every day.

Here’s how to ask for feedback in the best way.

During your regularly scheduled 1-on-1 meeting with your

manager, ask them: “Would you mind sharing your
feedback on my performance so far? It’s important to me
that I’m doing the best job in this position and I really value
your opinion.” If you have specific things you’d like
feedback on, like a project or a presentation, bring them
up and ask: “What went well and what could I improve?”

Be mindful of your body language. Keep an open posture,

maintain eye contact. Non-defensive body language sends
a positive message that you are willing to learn. Take notes.

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Thank your manager and take action on the insights you

got.

If you run into a situation when you need to offer

constructive feedback to a coworker, here’s how to
position it in the best way.

How to Give Constructive Feedback:

If possible, offer constructive feedback in private and soon

after you notice something that could be improved.

Start by giving credit to your colleague for the things they

have been doing well. Share what you especially like about
their work. Say what you see as their strengths. Something
like: “You’ve been doing a great job at this… You are
naturally talented at this…”

Next, bring up the goals you are working towards

together. Say something like: “I’ve been thinking about
our goal of…. and it seems there are a few steps we could
take to get there faster. Is it ok if I share some ideas with
you?”

If they say yes, share your constructive feedback. Be

specific. Say: “I noticed that you are doing something this
way. It works, and at the same time, it might be worth
experimenting with doing it this way. It might help us…

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(mention the benefit)” Don’t say that what they are doing
is wrong. Keep your focus on the big picture. Describe how
a change can help accelerate great results for everyone.

Frame it as a choice. Say something like: “Of course, this is

your choice. You could choose to experiment or keep
things as they are. In any case, I will respect your choice.”
Our goal is for them to become motivated inside. This way
the change is more likely to take hold.

Finish by reinforcing that you respect and appreciate your

colleague. Say something like: “I know that you are very
dedicated and you are doing your best. You are doing a lot

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of great things and I really appreciate it. If there is

something I can do to help, please let me know.”

How to Give Positive Feedback:

Give positive feedback as much as possible. When you

notice any of your colleagues doing a fantastic job at
something, let them know. Say something like: “I thought
that was awesome. You were really good at this. You did a
phenomenal job at this.” It’s important that your feedback
is sincere. If you don’t feel it, don’t say it.

Adults don’t get credit very often. A kind word can make
someone’s day. When people feel noticed, they feel
honored and cared for. They will do their very best for you.

How to Receive Positive Feedback:

When someone gives you positive feedback, listen

carefully and say Thank you! It might be tempting to brush
it off and say something like: “It’s nothing, it’s no big deal”.
The truth is, even if something wasn’t difficult for you
because you’re naturally good at it, it doesn’t mean it’s less
valuable.

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If you feel like it, use this opportunity to learn something.

You could ask: “Is there something I could do better? Do
you see opportunities for me to improve?”

Receiving negative feedback is much harder, and this is

exactly what we’ll cover next.

How to Receive Negative Feedback:

If someone criticizes you just because they are having a

bad day, it is safe to disregard this feedback. If you can,
have compassion for them. They might be going through
rough times. This has nothing to do with you.

If someone tells you something critical and it is real

feedback—this is the most valuable gift you can get.

Be careful. Negative feedback may trigger you. You might

start thinking “They don’t like me”, “I’m not good
enough”. None of these things are true. The truth is, no
one is perfect, and no one has to be perfect. We all have
opportunities to improve. With this feedback you can find
out how you could get better.

Put your mind into neutral and look for something useful
in the criticism. Ask questions to clarify. Resist the
temptation to explain and defend your choices. Just listen
with an open mind. Try not to get mad at the person who
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is giving you feedback. They are trying to help you. For

most people, it’s not easy to be critical, but they’re doing it
for you.

Even if it's difficult to hear, remember that critical feedback

is not a personal attack. It is an opportunity to get better.
If something in the criticism rings true, choose a course of
action and act. Look at it as an experiment. If the results
aren’t as good, you can always try another approach.

No one is born a master at asking for, giving and receiving

feedback, but you can build this skill with experience. As
you work with different people, you’ll be getting better
and better at exchanging feedback. Give your colleagues
the gift of feedback, both positive and constructive. Seek
out feedback and practice receiving it with an open mind.

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 CHAPTER 19.

How to Have Great

Meetings.

M eetings help everyone get on the same page. They

help brainstorm ideas and find creative solutions.
They can also be a complete waste of time. Here’s how to
always have great meetings and make progress no matter
what the meeting is about.

Always be on time. Show up a couple of minutes early, if

you can.

Prepare ahead of time. Think of ideas and potential steps

to reach the goals the meeting is about. Take notes of your
thoughts. Do research and prepare data to support your
ideas.

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If you will be sharing an update on your work, write a draft

in a couple of sentences. Remind the team what you are
working on and why. Share your progress and the
challenges you ran into. Give credit to the people who have
helped you. Keep it brief. Let your teammates ask
questions if they want to dig deeper.

When your colleagues are speaking, listen actively. Ask

open-ended questions. Show that you are interested and
you value their thoughts.

Even though you might be a junior team member, it

doesn’t mean you just have to sit and consume
information. Your ideas are valuable. Your team is counting
on you to contribute.

At the meeting you might have many things on your mind,

and only a few seconds to share your input. Be patient. Do
not interrupt or cut off others. Use eye-contact and non-
verbal cues to show that you have something to say. When
you have an opportunity to speak up, choose your best
idea and share it concisely. Support it with data.

If you have a question, ask. Chances are, others are

wondering the same thing.

Sometimes people feel like they have to say something in

a meeting for the sake of saying something, to show that

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they have an opinion. You don’t have to do that. It’s ok to

just listen. Only share what you feel would be valuable.

It’s always good to phrase ideas as a question. Instead of

saying: “No, this is what I think we should do.” Say
something like: “Has anyone thought about doing this?” or
“What do you guys think about this?”

Use the word “we”, even when you’re talking about the
things you’ve done or are doing personally. This creates a
team feeling. People hear you out and don’t put defenses
up. It might be frustrating to give up the credit you
deserve, but it’s for the better.

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Before a virtual meeting, take a look at what’s behind you.

The camera will pick up your background. Make sure it is
tidy, or use a virtual background.

If you are hosting the meeting, always have a goal. Be clear

about what you are trying to accomplish with this meeting.
Send out the agenda ahead of time to set expectations.
The attendees will know what you will be covering. If you
would like a team member to present, give them a heads
up. After the meeting, send a follow-up with action items
to make sure no one forgets about what they have agreed
to do. If you have a choice, schedule 45 minute meetings.
30 minutes might be too short to accomplish anything
meaningful and 1 hour is too long—people start to drift
away and lose focus.

To have a great meeting every time, prepare, share your

ideas, listen to others, and follow up.

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 CHAPTER 20.

How to Handle Stressful

Situations.

I deally, you’re enjoying your work 90% of the time, but

there are going to be stressful situations, and it’s ok.
Look at it as a workout. When you lift weights, you stress
out your muscles and they get stronger as a result.

We’re not talking about constant stress. If you are

constantly stressed out, it is not healthy. It might be time
to make changes to your lifestyle or your career.

To Overcome Occasional Stress, Try These Tools:

1. Work in sprints of 50-60 minutes and take 10-minute

breaks in-between sprints. You will stay sharp and
productive.

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2. Get more brains on the problem. You don’t have to

have all the answers. When you run into a challenge,
ask a colleague or two for advice. Do some research
about how others have approached this problem.
Knowing how to find a solution is just as valuable as
already having a solution.
3. Break it down. A big project can feel overwhelming.
Write out the steps that go into it, and get started on
the first step. Completing a big project stops being a
source of stress. It becomes a plan.
4. Share how you feel with someone you trust. If you
feel like you’re hitting a wall, talk to a friend or a
family member. Reaching out for help is a sign of
strength. Talk to people who love you. They will be
happy to support you.
5. Suggest alternatives. You don’t have to do every task
in the exact way that it showed up. Keep the company
goals in mind and propose alternatives. If the
deadline for a task is unrealistic, negotiate. Ask to
deliver the highest priority work first. Your manager
might not be aware of everything you are working on.
If your hands are already full, ask them to clarify the
priorities. You could say something like: “I’m working
on this. Would you like me to jump over to this?”
6. Take care of your body. Try to get good sleep most
days, eat healthy food, drink water, get into fresh air

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every day. Imagine your system is a car. Maintain it,

put in good fuel, and it will run smoothly.
7. Make time for fun. Make time every day for the
things that give you joy, for example, music, hobbies,
sports or time with friends. This will help your
emotional state. According to research, people in a
positive mood think more creatively and generate
more solutions to a problem than people in a negative
or neutral mood.
8. Get a little exercise. Go for a run, a bike ride, a walk,
or just stretch. Moving your body increases blood
flow to your brain. This improves your mood, your
memory, your attention, and your problem-solving
skills.

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It’s ok not to be at the top of your game all the time.

Nobody is. Ask for help. Take care of your body. Negotiate
your workload and deadlines. You are the best person to
take care of you.

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 CHAPTER 21.

How to Work with Difficult

People.

I t is inevitable. At some point in your career you will have

to work with a difficult person. It can be stressful, but
you can make it work. Here is how.

How to Handle a Difficult Coworker

1. Understand their situation.

Talk to your coworker. Ask them what they think about the
challenge you are facing together. Ask them how they feel
about it. Ask them what the ideal outcome would be for
them. Listen to their answers. Do not interrupt. Use phrases
like: “I see”, “I understand”, “Thank you for sharing”. Then
ask more questions. Use words like “Why is that?” “Could

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you tell me more about that?” If you are feeling angry with
your coworker, it might be hard to be so patient. Use this
hack: imagine you have nothing to do with this challenge.
Imagine that you are writing an article about this situation
and you need to understand it fully in order to write a good
one.

When your coworker is done sharing, say what you heard

back to them using your own words. Say: “Let me make sure
I understood you correctly. You shared that…. Is this
correct? Did I miss something?” You don’t have to agree
with them. In fact, you might have a completely different
point of view. It’s ok. Your goal right now is to help them
feel heard and understood, not to make them change their
mind.

2. Share your thoughts and feelings.

Now it’s your turn to share. First, ask them: “Would you be
open to hearing where I am on this one?” After they say Yes,
share how you feel without blaming anyone. Use phrases
like: “It’s hard for me when…”, “When you do this…. it
makes me feel…” When you are done, ask them: “How
could we resolve this?” If they don’t have any ideas, share
your ideas. Then ask for their feedback. If there is an idea
they agree with, get their commitment to act on it. Say: “To
help us get through this, going forward, would you be

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willing to…. (do things differently)?” If they say Yes, thank

them, and keep them accountable. If they don’t do what
they have committed to do, talk to them again.

3. Get help.

If the situation is not improving, bring it to the attention of

your supervisor or HR manager. Explain the situation, share
how it is preventing you from doing your best work, and ask
for their advice. You are in this together.

4. Stay professional.

If you're feeling extremely frustrated or upset, take some

time to calm down before addressing the situation. Go for a
walk, listen to a song you like, etc. Bring yourself closer to a
neutral state. It will be easier to remain professional and
respectful as you are looking for solutions.

5. Share with people you trust.

Talk to a friend or a family member. Share what you’re going

through and ask for their advice. They might have
experienced something similar in the past. They will be
happy to support you. Together you might come up with
good ideas for things to try.

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How to Handle a Difficult Manager

Dealing with a difficult manager can be harder because

they have authority. At the same time, if the situation is too
stressful for you, you might have to look for a new job. Try
to fix this one first. You have nothing to lose. Look at it as
an experiment.

First, take the same steps as you would with a difficult

coworker. Schedule a meeting with your manager. Ask
them questions to understand their situation. Repeat what
they shared back to them using your own words. Make
sure you understood everything correctly. Try to see the
situation from their point of view. They might be under a

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lot of stress. Think about what you could do to help them.

Then share how you feel. Use fact statements like: “When
you do this…. it makes me feel…” Propose solutions you
would be happy with. Say: “Would it be possible to…?”

If the situation with your manager becomes unbearable,

start looking for a new job right away. It might be worth
keeping your current job while you are looking.
Remember, you are valuable, and you deserve a friendly
work environment with kind people.

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 CHAPTER 22.

How to Ask for a Raise.

Y ou are ready for a raise. To boost your chances of

getting one, just working harder is not enough. You
need a strategy. You need to ask for a raise in the right way.
In this chapter we’ll cover how.

Most people ask their boss straight up. They say something
like “Would it be possible for me to get paid more?” This is
not the best approach. We need to lay the foundation first.

Schedule a meeting with your manager and tell them: “It’s

important to me that I am creating as much value as I
possibly can in this role. Could we define 2-3 goals that will
help us quantify how well I’m doing?”

Choose the goals together. Ideally, it would be something

that helps the company’s profits and is easy to measure. If
this is not possible, agree on new responsibilities you could
grow into over the next few months that would create
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more value for the company. After your meeting, send an

email to your manager, list the goals you have agreed upon
and share how excited you are to work towards them.

Start working on these goals right away, track your

progress and send email updates to your manager at the
end of every month. Share what you have accomplished so
far. Share what challenges you have run into. Share what
creative ways you found to be the most effective. When
you get praise from coworkers, customers, partners, and
management, take notes or screenshots of these
acknowledgements and save them.

Before your scheduled performance review, do research

about current compensation in the market for
professionals in your position. Go to Glassdoor.com and
click the Salaries tab. Under “Are you paid fairly?” enter
your target position and your location. You will see the
average compensation for this position in your area. If the
job is remote and the company is in a different location, run
a search for the company’s local area. Take a screenshot of
the results.

During the performance review, recap with your manager

what goals you have agreed upon. Share what you have
accomplished and how it translates into revenue growth or
cost savings for the company. Show numbers and
percentages if you can. Show that you are driving the
metrics that matter. If you have saved the praise you got,

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share it now. Next, share with your manager the results of

the compensation research you have done. Show how
similar professionals are rewarded at other companies.
Finally, say: “I’d like to discuss a compensation
adjustment”.

You don’t need to be confrontational. The best attitude is

positive and constructive. Help your manager see that you
are a great asset and worth keeping around.

Your manager might have to get approval from senior

leadership. Be flexible and open to negotiation. See what
they come back with.

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If your manager shares that they cannot pay you more

now, ask when this might change and how you can help
make it happen. If a raise is not possible at all, know that
this does not reflect on you personally. It only means that
your manager doesn’t have the budget or the power. Now
you have a decision to make—do you want to stay in this
job or do you want to start looking for a new one? In any
case, continue putting in great work in your job. The
budget or management might change in the future, and
even if they don’t, you will have great results to talk about
in job interviews.

It is normal to want financial security. Getting a raise is the

fastest way to make more money. Even if you are working
hard, doing an extraordinary job, and your manager knows
this, it is unlikely that a raise will happen by itself. You have
to ask. You don’t have to be a master-negotiator for this.
Follow the plan we have mapped out in this chapter. Plan
for your salary negotiation months ahead of time. Define
mission-critical goals with your manager and work towards
them. Approach the process with patience and
professionalism and you will get rewarded.

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 CHAPTER 23.

How to Give Effective

Presentations.

P resenting can be stressful, but we all need to do it

sometimes. In this chapter we’ll cover how to give
great presentations even if you’re nervous.

The secret of a great presentation is what you talk about

and how you feel about it. If you believe in the idea, your
presentation will be a success.

To prepare, start with your goal. What do you want your

audience to take away? What do you want them to do?
Create your presentation with this goal in mind.

First, introduce the problem and why it matters. If you can,

share a surprising fact or a real-life example. Mention the

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positive outcome if the problem gets solved and the risks

if it doesn’t get addressed.

Next, share what you’ve tried and what you’ve learned.

Take your audience on a journey of discovery with you.

For A Great Presentation Every Time, Use These Five

Tips:

1. Accommodate different learning styles.

Some people in your audience will care more about the

Why? (the goals and rewards). Others will care more about
the What? (the concepts and how they fit together). Some
others will care more about the How? (the process of
reaching the solution). The rest will want to know What
Now? (specific actions to solve the problem). To give
everyone in your audience what they need, paint a picture
of a great outcome, share key facts and concepts, describe
how we can solve the problem and share the next steps.

2. Don’t use a lot of technical terms your audience

doesn’t know

If you can, use images, photos, videos, and metaphors to

illustrate your points. Use graphics and charts to share
complex information in a way that is easy to grasp.

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3. Don’t fill your slides with text

Instead, use the speaker notes section to remember what

you wanted to say.

4. Use real-world examples and stories

Stories grab people’s attention instantly and stay in their

memory. If your topic allows, use a little humor. People
learn best when they are relaxed. Even if you are talking
about important subjects, you don’t have to be too
serious.

5. Keep eye contact with your audience

Choose a few people who look friendly and make eye

contact with them every now and then.

You might be feeling nervous before a presentation. It is

normal. This kind of spotlight is difficult for everyone
starting out. As you are getting used to it, imagine that the
people in the audience are your friends. They like you and
they are curious about what you have to say. Talk as if this
were true and the audience will respond with warmth.

Did you know that when you feel nervous before the
presentation, it’s actually your body preparing you to do
your best? Stress hormones make you sharper and more
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alert. If the nerves are too much, breathe deeply for a few
seconds.

Another thing that will help calm the nerves is practice. The
more you practice, the more confident you’ll be. Don’t
write your script word-for-word or try to memorize the
whole presentation. If you get stumped, it would be tough
to recover. Instead, make a list of bullet points you want to
cover, and practice talking through them.

If possible, practice with a friend or a family member. Ask

them for their feedback.

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It’s ok not to be 100% smooth when you are presenting.

With every presentation, it will get easier to build a
connection with your audience and deliver your message.

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 CHAPTER 24.

How to Write Persuasively.

W ords can be very powerful. With the written word,

you can inspire people and motivate them to take
action. In this chapter we’ll cover 5 secrets of persuasive
writing.

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Secret #1. Think About Who You Are Writing For and
What Matters to Them

Before you sit down to write something, think about who

will be reading it. What do they care about? What are their
goals? What do they worry about?

Most people have a short attention span. They want to

know as soon as possible what’s in it for them. Put yourself
in your reader’s shoes. Think about what they want.
Mention how what you’re proposing will help them get it.

Secret #2. Introduce Consequences

People are twice as motivated by fear than desire. To get

your reader ready to act, mention the negative
consequences of not taking action.

In your message, describe the problem. Describe in detail

the negative effect it is having on the company. Draw your
reader’s attention to the massive pain that can happen if
nothing changes. Then propose a course of action. Support
it with data.

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Secret #3. Write Like You Talk

Imagine you are talking to your reader in person. Write like

that. Like a human. Use words and phrases you would use
in real life. People like genuine messages.

If you are an expert on the subject you are writing about

and your reader isn’t, keep it simple. Our goal is to help
them understand what’s going on, and what they need to
do next.

Secret #4. Keep It Concise

Keep your message short. Separate your ideas into

paragraphs. Use short words and sentences. Have a clear
next step you want your reader to take.

This is what your reader’s thought process looks like and

how you can use it to write with impact:

Your Reader You

What is this about? This is about this problem.

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Here is the negative effect this

problem is having, and here are
Why should I care?
the benefits for you if it gets
solved.

These are the negative

Why is it a big deal? consequences of not taking
action

What can we do? Here is a course of action.

Here is data to support this

How do we know?
approach.

What do I do now? Here is what you can do now.

Say what you need to say in as few words as possible. If a

detail doesn’t add impact, chop it out.

Secret #5. Make It Scannable

Most people don’t read–they scan. When it fits, use these

scannable elements in your writing:

• Subheadlines
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• Bulleted lists

• Relevant images, charts or graphs

• Spaces between paragraphs

• Italics

• Bold type

These “hooks” will catch your reader’s eye and key

messages will stay in their memory.

Whenever you have a chance, practice writing

persuasively. It will pay huge dividends. Show that you
have your reader’s interests in mind. Mention the problem,
the benefits of action, and the consequences of inaction.
Map out next steps. Support your ideas with data and
make your message scannable.

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 CHAPTER 25.

How to Manage Your Time.

Y our rewards at work will be tied to how productive

you are. If you want to grow your income fast, be
intentional with your time. In this chapter we’ll cover how
to create the most value and have the most fun at work.

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First, make a list of all your tasks. Next, arrange them by

urgency with the most time-sensitive ones on top. Tackle
the tasks with tight deadlines first.

Some tasks might have a generous deadline, but they are

big and complex. Don’t put them off. Break them down
into smaller chunks and put time into them on a regular
basis. You’ll be making progress and you won’t be stressed
out when the deadline is coming up.

When you prioritize tasks, urgency might feel more

important than impact. At the same time, the highest value
tasks could be the ones without tight deadlines.

To tell which parts of your work would make the biggest

difference, keep in mind your company’s North Star metric.
The North Star metric is the most important performance
indicator that shows how well the business is doing. It is
usually measured in numbers or percentages. The North
Star metric can differ from company to company. If you
don’t know what North Star metric is at your company, ask
your manager. Then brainstorm how you can contribute to
this metric with your work. Use it as your compass when
there are competing priorities or no clear priorities. Focus
on the things that would help your company reach its goals
faster.

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How you’re feeling is another huge factor in your

productivity. Notice your natural flow. When do you
usually feel the most energetic? Is it in the morning? After
lunch? In the afternoon? In the evening? At night? Work on
your hardest tasks when you are feeling your best.

When choosing what to work on, consider both the

urgency/importance of the task and your current state.
From the things on your plate that are important, choose
the one you feel like working on the most. Sometimes you
will have to do what you don’t really feel like doing because
the deadline is coming up, but if you have a choice, work
on the things that you are excited to work on. You will be
the most creative, productive, and you will have the most
fun doing it.

The goal is to get into the flow of really enjoying your work.
If you are feeling stuck, take a break. Work on something
else. The solution to the earlier problem might show up
while you are busy with other things. Sometimes it helps to
knock out an easy, not-so-critical task before tackling a
harder one. You will get a boost of energy and will be ready
to crush the complex thing.

Experiment to find what works best for you. Some people

can have a simple to-do list and get through it. Other
people prefer to skip between projects, go back and forth
between easy and complex tasks. Notice what you feel like

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working on at different times of day and on different days

of the week.

When you find the best time to do focused work, block off
this time in your calendar. Do the same with the time for
creative work. As much as you can, structure your week in
a way that matches your natural vibe and allows you to
work on important things proactively.

Time management is attention management. Choose your

priorities carefully, find your natural flow, protect your
focus, and take breaks to recharge. With a system like this,
you will be very productive and happy, have less stress, and
reach your goals faster.

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 CHAPTER 26.

How to Stay Organized.

S taying organized can be a challenge. Emergencies

show up, new tasks get assigned, a coworker asks for
help. To stay productive when things get chaotic, have a
flexible plan. Choose the tasks you want to complete, but
be open to adjusting your plan.

If you find that your to-do list is full of urgent and important
tasks, negotiate the deadlines or ask your manager what
they would consider the highest priority.

Use These Proven Tools To Stay Organized And

Manage Your Time Effectively:

1. Batch similar tasks together

Task switching takes energy. Do similar things at the same

time.
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2. Minimize distractions

Turn off the sound on your phone and put it away until it’s
time for a break. When you get distracted by notifications,
you lose focus. Building it back up takes energy.

3. Don’t check your email first thing in the morning

Start your day in proactive mode. Work on the hardest

things first. Work on the creative things that challenge you.
Reactive mode, like responding to email, can wait.

4. Choose specific times during the day to check your

email

Turn off the alerts that notify you when a new message
lands in your inbox. If you don’t have to be easily reachable
on chat platforms, turn them off for chunks of the working
day. This will help you stay focused and productive.

5. Work in sprints of 50-60 minutes

Take 5-10 minute breaks in-between sprints. If you are in

the flow and awesome work is coming out, you might
choose to keep riding this wave even if it’s time for a break.
Go with it. As soon as you notice that you are getting tired,
take a break and recharge. Breaks keep you happy and
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creative. Stretch, chat with a coworker, watch a short

funny video, listen to a song that’s your current favorite.

6. Protect your best focus time.

Your colleagues will probably have access to your calendar

for scheduling meetings with you. If they see a free slot,
they can book it. Here’s a trick to keep your peak
performance time free from meetings: schedule a meeting
with yourself. Add a meeting to your calendar and call it
“Focus”. Your coworkers don’t know what your meetings
are about. All they can see is that you are busy at a given
time. Reserve chunks of time on your calendar for the
hardest tasks that require your best energy.

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7. Choose your priorities for the next day.

At the end of your working day, make a plan for what you
want to accomplish tomorrow.

To stay organized no matter what, be proactive and

flexible. Choose what you want to accomplish and focus on
it without distractions. When new tasks show up, evaluate
their importance and urgency. Adjust your plan if needed.
If you find that you are stretched too thin, negotiate or
delegate.

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 CHAPTER 27.

How to Be Productive If
You’re Working Remotely.

W hen you are working remotely, no one is watching.

You could work in your pajamas if you wanted. At
the same time, since no one can see you working, you have
to focus on delivering real results. Here’s how to stay at the
top of your game when you’re working remotely.

You have a lot of freedom. You can work early in the

morning. You can work late at night. You can work any time
in-between. Notice when you have the most energy and
plan your working day around these peak states.

When you are working from home, dedicate a specific area

of your house to work activities. Do work only in this area.
You’ll learn to quickly snap into work mode when you are
there, and disconnect when you are done.

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Create your ideal work environment. Make sure you have a

nice desk and a comfortable chair. Don’t skip this. It will pay
off. Hour after hour, day after day, month after month, you
will be enjoying comfort and increased productivity. A
workspace that is uncomfortable will hold you back.

Always have your list of action items handy, or use a task

management app. This can help you keep track of what you
have worked on and how much time you spent on it. Even
if you don't have a micromanaging boss, it helps make sure
you're staying focused and working on the right things. As
an added benefit, if someone ever asks — “Hey, what did
you do last week?” you have a record you can refer to.

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If you’re not sure about something, ask a coworker or your

manager right away. Don’t delay. Don’t waste your time
going down the wrong track. When you are not at the
office, proactive communication becomes even more
important.

To stay on task, eliminate all distractions. Turn off the

sound on your phone, or even put it in another room. When
it’s time for a break, you’ll have a chance to check if
anything interesting came up.

Take breaks between work sprints. They could be 5-10

minutes or longer depending on how you feel and what
you’ve planned. Every day, make time to go outside, meet
with friends, exercise the way you like, prepare and enjoy
healthy meals. Take care of yourself and you will be
rewarded with awesome energy and focus.

Tidy up your workspace every now and then. Take care of

any dishes and put some fresh water within easy reach.

Sometimes you might want to work from somewhere

other than your home, like a coffee shop or a library. Do it!
A change of scenery can boost creativity.

When you are working remotely, you have a lot of

flexibility. You don’t have to be in a certain place at a
certain time and look a certain way. You can work when
you want to and where you want to. You control your time,

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but with great freedom comes great responsibility. When

no one is looking over your shoulder, you get to be your
own time manager. Create your ideal work environment.
Plan your work day around your best energy. Sprinkle in
breaks to refresh and recharge. Communicate proactively
and take care of yourself. These habits will help you be
both happy and successful when you are working
remotely.

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 CHAPTER 28.

How to Navigate Company

Culture.

A s a new employee you will have to integrate into

company culture. This can be uncomfortable at first.
Even at healthy companies there might be things that are
different from what you are used to.

Starting out, watch and learn. Take the time to understand

how things are done and why. Ask questions. Be open to
trying new things.

Invest in relationships. Get to know your coworkers, help

when you can.

As a new employee, you are coming in with fresh eyes. This

is very valuable. You might run into things and wonder —
”Why are they doing it this way? This other way is better!”

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Don’t rush to share your observations. You might not have

all the information yet. Take notes of what you're noticing,
then be strategic around when and where you bring it up.

If you notice something that's irritating, ask yourself—is it

a big deal? It could be a matter of personal preference. In
this case, try to ignore it. You might get used to it and even
like it later. If a change would make a big positive
difference for the company, share your alternative
approach. Say something like: “I noticed that this is
different from the other places I’ve worked at. Would you
mind sharing why we are doing it this way?” There might
be a good reason. If there is no good reason, and your new
approach would benefit the company, offer it politely. For
example: “What do you think about trying this way as an
experiment? It might give us this benefit and this benefit”
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Your team will likely thank you for your initiative. If they get
uncomfortable or defensive, don’t rush into sharing more
feedback. Give it time. You might need to build more trust
with them first.

Be patient and respectful around the decisions that are

made after you’ve shared your suggestions. If people are
not interested in change for the better, focus on what you
can control. Optimize your own work process.

It's still great to make a list of potential improvements.

Your awareness of these things is important. Comparing
different ways of doing things and choosing the best one
is part of your professional development.

If something happens at the company that is against your

values, start looking for a new job. No job is worth
sacrificing your integrity.

Starting a new job is stressful. This stress might make you

more sensitive to things that are strange or ineffective.
Have compassion for yourself and for the people at your
new company. Even if you feel that there is no good reason
to do things this way, remember, no one is perfect and
everyone is doing their best.

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 CHAPTER 29.

How to Maintain Work-Life

Balance.

T he goal is that you’re happy and enjoying your life.

Fun work is a part of it. Warm relationships are a part
of it. Your hobbies are a part of it. To have your life this
way, shape it proactively. In this chapter we’ll cover how.

To make sure your work is a source of joy, be intentional

with it. Choose the field that lights you up. Master it.
Challenge yourself to get really good at it. It becomes a fun
game and you are paid to play it. That's when you can make
a big impact on your company. You can make big changes
in the world and you can make a lot of money. Every day
you will look forward to getting started instead of waiting
to be done.

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It’s also important to take care of the essential areas of

your life outside of work, like physical fitness,
relationships, and hobbies. Here’s how you can shape your
life to be the happiest it can be.

Think about the top 5 things you value. They could be

health & fitness, friends & family, financial success, fun,
travel and new experiences, professional growth, or
others. Next, think of activities you can do to live these
values and get the results you want. You might find that
some activities crossover between categories, for
example, going for a hike with a friend is both health &
fitness and friends & family. Going to a conference is both
professional growth and new experiences.

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What gets scheduled, gets done. Choose your favorite

activities that match your values and plan them. Add them
to your calendar. The goal is that the things that matter the
most are getting the most of your time and attention. For
example, if you value health and fitness, you might choose
to spend several hours every week doing your favorite
types of exercise.

If you don't value spending hours cooking and cleaning up,

you might choose to meal-prep simple meals for the week.

Respect your plan. Follow it if you can. If something

unexpected shows up when you have something else
planned, adjust your plan. It’s ok to be flexible.

Everyone's different. Some people feel their best when

they plan their whole day. Others prefer to have more
spontaneity. There is no right answer. Experiment to find
what works best for you.

Only you know what a happy life would look like for you.
Only you know how work fits into it and what other things
you want to have in it. Decide what you value, choose your
favorite activities and plan them. You’ll be making progress
towards your goals and having a great time in the process.

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 CHAPTER 30.

How to Manage the Money

You Make Wisely.

W hen you are in control of your money, you feel

strong and confident. In this chapter we’ll cover
how to manage your income wisely.

Here Are The 7 Key Steps To Mastering Your Money:

1. Choose your goals

2. Understand your position
3. Optimize your expenses
4. Create a financial cushion
5. Boost your income
6. Tackle your debts

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7. Make smart investments

Step 1. Choose Your Financial Goals

The money you make can go away quickly or it can serve

you for a long time. It all depends on what you do with it.
The biggest gift money can give is freedom. Freedom to
work or not, freedom to choose where to work, freedom
to choose where to live. If you have cash to cover your
living expenses for a period of time, you have options. You
can make changes in your life without getting into debt. If
you want the flexibility money brings, make creating a
“financial cushion” one of your goals. A financial cushion is
the amount of savings equal to 3-6 months of your living
expenses. We’ll talk about it in more detail in a bit.

If you want your money to be making more money for you

without having to actively earn every penny, add making
smart investments to your financial goals.

Finally, if you have dreams that require money, include

them in your financial goals. Make sure these things and
experiences are truly meaningful to you. Don’t go after
things other people want if you personally don’t care
about them.

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Choose your financial goals. They could be 3 or more things

you want money for, for example, flexibility, profitable
investments and living your biggest dreams.

Step 2. Understand Your Position

Put together your personal balance sheet. Include the

things below that apply to you:

• Your current savings (if you have them)

• Your current income after taxes (if you are making

money right now)

• Your current assets (things that can be sold for a

significant chunk of money)

• Your current expenses (make an estimate taking into

account your biggest expense categories like rent,
utilities, phone bill, food, and gas)

• Your current debts (if you have them)

Wherever you are right now is ok. No savings right now?
No problem. No income or assets? No big deal. Large
amounts of debt? Not the end of the world. We don’t want
perfection. We want clarity. After you put down all the
numbers, you can see if you’re in the plus or the minus.
Either way is ok. This is just a starting point.

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Step 3. Optimize Your Expenses

Every dollar you save is worth more than a dollar you make
because you already paid taxes on it. Before you look for
ways to make more money, look for ways to save more of
what you are already earning. Here’s how:

• Track your expenses. You can read your bank account

statement, use an app to track your spending, or
write down your expenses manually if you use cash.
• Group your expenses into categories (an app may do
it for you)
• Mark which of your expenses are essentials, like rent
and car insurance, and which are extras, like paid TV
subscriptions.
• Are there extras that you could do without? Cancel
any expenses that are not worth the money you are
paying.

• For the things you want to keep, is there an

opportunity to bring the cost down? Start with your
biggest expense categories. How could you spend
less and enjoy similar benefits? Make it a game. How
much can you save and barely notice that something
is missing?

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Step 4. Create a Financial Cushion

A financial cushion is 3-6 months of living expenses in your

savings account. This cash protects you from life’s
surprises. You might lose your job or get hit with a large
expense that you didn’t see coming. For example, your car
breaks and repairs cost a fortune. If you don’t have any
savings, you might have to get into credit card debt to pay
for it. Credit card debt is very expensive—interest rates on
it are extremely high. You’re in a much better position if
you use your savings to cover big unexpected expenses.

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Make it your habit to put a percentage of your income into

savings. 10% is the minimum. If you would like, you could
save more. The more you save, the more flexibility you
have, and the more you can invest. At the same time, you
don’t have to penny-pinch to be on a great financial
trajectory. Choose a healthy savings rate that works for
you and stay with it. If you have to dip into your financial
cushion to cover a large expense, replenish it as soon as
you can.

Step 5. Optimize Your Income

If you are working, ask for a raise (use the step-by-step plan
in the chapter How to Ask for a Raise).

If you find yourself in a low-paying career with no

opportunities for bigger income down the road, consider a
career pivot. At the same time, don’t only focus on the
money. The new career has to be something you will enjoy.
Take a look at the chapters How to Choose the Right
Career and How to Gain Valuable Work Experience for
actionable ideas.

You don’t have to switch to a completely new field to make

more money. Look for related professions in your field that
are better-paid. You might need to learn some new skills in
order to transition. Do information interviews to find out

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the most valuable skills in these better-paying positions

and the best ways to learn them.

As an additional source of income, you might choose to

take on freelance projects doing the things you are already
good at. Besides extra cash, you will also be improving your
craft and increasing your value as a professional. Another
good way to boost your income could be side hustles you
enjoy, even if they are not related to your profession.

If you would like to start a business of your own, consider

doing it on the side at first. Even great ideas might take
time to become profitable. To reduce the risk, have your
living expenses covered by a job while you are building
your business. When your business starts generating
steady profit that covers your living expenses, you will
have the option to leave your job and focus on it full-time.

As you are increasing your income, don’t forget about your

health and your relationships. No amount of money can
replace them. Make sure you always have time to eat
healthy, sleep well, get some exercise and spend quality
time with your friends and family.

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Step 6. Tackle Your Debts

Make a list of everything you owe. Include the amounts

and the interest rates. Make a plan to pay these things off.
From a financial point of view, it makes sense to pay off
debts with the highest interest rates first. You will end up
paying less money overall, because large interest
payments will have less time to accumulate. If your highest
interest debts are also your largest ones, it might feel great
to pay off smaller debts first, even if they have lower
interest rates. Crushing small debts will start the positive
momentum of taking control. Do what feels best for you.
Consistency is the most important thing. Direct a
percentage of your income every month to debt pay-off.
Make minimum payments on all of your debts to avoid late
fees. In addition, focus on one debt at a time and stay with
it until it is gone.

If you have debt and no financial cushion yet, split the

amount you are saving every month between these two
buckets. Use half to pay off debt, and the other half to
build up your financial cushion. It will protect you from
incurring new expensive debt if an emergency happens.

Do your best to not take on new debt. Be mindful of your

expenses. Resist the temptation to buy things you don’t
really need. The pain of paying off the new thing would
probably last much longer than the joy of buying it.

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Step 7. Make Smart Investments

Invest from a position of strength. If you have debt with

high interest rates and no financial cushion, take care of
these two things first. Build up 3-6 months of living
expenses in your savings account. Pay off your debts with
the highest interest rates. In the meantime, educate
yourself about potential investment opportunities. The
right ones for you will depend on what you are interested
in, how involved you want to be, and how soon you want
to get the returns from your investment.

If you want a completely passive investment avenue with

a long time-horizon and a healthy return, you might
consider investing in index funds. If you want an active
investment that will require education and work, you
might look at real estate. There are other investment
opportunities with varying degrees of risk and return.
When you have cash to invest, it might be a good idea to
talk to a fee-only financial advisor to get a professional
perspective.

Whatever you choose to invest in, dedicate a lot of time to

educating yourself about it. Read books & blogs, listen to
podcasts. Take advice only from people who are
knowledgeable, experienced in this specific area, and have
been consistently successful with it. Research each

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investment opportunity very carefully. It is much easier to

lose money than to make it.

To master your money, take these steps: build a financial

cushion, look for ways to reduce your expenses and
increase your income, consistently pay off your debts and
make thoughtful, informed investments.

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 Congratulations!

You have finished the main part of this book. Now there
are a few extra chapters that have valuable information
that we couldn’t fit into the core of the book. If you feel
like it, please take your time to read them.

If you haven’t already, please give this book a 5-star rating

on Amazon. We really appreciate it.

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 SECTION 3:
Bonus Career Advice.
 CHAPTER 31.

Top 3 Strategies for Smart

Negotiating.

I f you negotiate respectfully, you don’t lose anything,

you can only gain. Next time you negotiate, use one or
all of these strategies:

Strategy 1. Be Polite And Firm

Great negotiators are not aggressive. They are polite and

firm. Use statements instead of questions. Instead of
saying “Can you do something for me?”, try ”I need you to
do this for me”.

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Strategy 2: Want-It-All Approach

The biggest victory in any negotiation is when the other

person thinks they’ve won, but you got what you wanted.
To get this outcome, at the beginning ask for more than
you are hoping to get. You will be able to make concessions
and let go of the things that don’t matter as much. The
other person will feel good because they didn’t have to say
“Yes” to everything you asked for.

Strategy 3. Win-Win Or Walk Away

Don’t stop the negotiation until both you and the other
party are happy. It’s not a zero-sum game. The top priority

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of your negotiation partner could be something that’s easy

for you to give, and what matters most to you could be
completely optional for them. If you can’t reach a win-win
outcome, it is best to not have a deal at all. To have the
most power, only engage in negotiations if you can afford
to walk away.

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 CHAPTER 32.

How to Build Your

Professional Network.

A strong network is very helpful for your career.

Here Are 3 Simple Ways You Can Build Yours:

1. Nurture your existing network

You already have great professionals in your life—your

family members, your friends, your neighbors, and the
people you know through your hobbies. Connect with your
favorite people on LinkedIn. Include a personal note with
your connection request. Say something like: “It would be
great to be connected here”.

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If you haven’t talked in a while, check in on them, ask what

they are working on, what they are excited about. Help
them if you can.

If you are working at a company, try to get to know your

coworkers. Invite them for coffee or lunch. Ask them about
their projects and things outside of work. Add them on
LinkedIn and comment on the things they share that are
interesting to you.

2. Build new connections

Connect with the people in your industry that you like and
respect. Include a personal note with your LinkedIn
connection request. Let them know how you found them
and why you’d like to connect. For example, you might ask

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for a 15-min information interview to get their advice on

something.

Following thought leaders in your industry is another great

option. You could do it on LinkedIn or other social media
platforms. Engage with the thought leaders’ content if it
resonates with you. Join the conversations you are
interested in and share things you feel might be helpful for
other people.

3. Join professional communities and attend events

Events are a great way to make new friends in your field,

exchange ideas and experiences. When you meet
someone new, ask them what they are excited about and
what their biggest challenges are. Help them if you can. Try
to be helpful to the community as a whole, for example,
organize an event or write a useful article.

Networking is about making friends. It’s about building a

community of collaboration and mutual support.

Be patient. Relationships take time. Make it a habit to

connect with the people you like and help them whenever
you can.

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 CHAPTER 33.

What Is Imposter Syndrome

and How to Manage It.

I mposter syndrome is the feeling that you are not

enough for the role you have. It happens to many
people. When someone is given more responsibility than
ever before, they may start feeling inadequate. They may
worry about the coworkers finding out that they are not as
competent as they look.

Imposter syndrome is temporary. Here’s how you can

overcome it.

Give yourself credit for your hard work and achievements.

It is not by chance that you were given higher
responsibility. You have earned it. Even though a lot of
things are new, you have figured out new stuff in the past,
and you can do it again. You are not expected to be

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perfect, no one is. Dedication and resilience are more than

enough.

You will likely make mistakes as you are learning. Don’t be

afraid of them. Don’t be ashamed of them. See them as a
natural part of your professional growth. Do your
homework to make the best decisions. Ask for advice
when you need to, then act with courage. When a mistake
shows up, admit it quickly, learn, and move on.

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You can build your confidence by building your knowledge.

Invest in new skills that are helpful in your work. Read
books and blogs, take courses, go to workshops and
conferences. Your growing expertise will make the
imposter syndrome fade away.

Be patient with yourself. Give it time. It might be a while

before you feel that you belong in your role. Know that you
are there for a reason. You don’t have to be more than you
already are.

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 CHAPTER 34.

3 Powerful Strategies for

Effective Decision-Making.

Y ou will be making decisions every day. Some will be

easy. Others will be difficult. Some will be quick.
Others will be time-consuming.

Use These Strategies To Make Smart Decisions Every

Time, Even If You Don’t Have All The Information.

1. Replace Yes/No questions with open-ended

questions

Instead of asking “Should we do this?”, ask “How could we

solve this problem?”. There are many ways to tackle the
challenge in front of you. Don’t limit yourself to just one

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option. Open-ended questions make room for new ideas

and you’ll be able to choose the best one.

2. Ask “Why?” 5 times

State the problem in one short sentence. Now ask “Why?”

and give the first answer that comes to mind. Ask “Why?”
again referring to the answer you just gave. Answer the
second “Why?” and repeat this three more times, for a
total of 5 Whys. By the time you answer the 5th Why, you
will know the root cause of the problem. Focus your
decision on solving this root cause.

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3. Create a decision team

Deciding alone is risky. Everyone has blind spots. To

increase the chances of a great decision, invite 3-4 people
to share their ideas for solutions. The more diverse your
decision team, the better. If possible, include people of
different ages and genders, with professional
backgrounds. They will all have a unique take and together
you can come up with a brilliant solution.

Sometimes you will have to decide quickly. If the decision

is reversible, do it. You can always adjust later. If the
decision has long-term consequences, resist the
temptation to get it out of the way as soon as possible. Do
your homework. Get to the root cause, ask for input from
a group of colleagues, and keep an open mind. You will be
making smart decisions that will have a great impact on
your career and your company.

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7 Must-Haves of Workplace
Etiquette.

B
with:
uild these 7 habits and you will always be known as
an effective professional and a great person to work

1. Be on time

Punctuality shows that you know how to manage your

time. It is also a sign of respect. Show up on time for
meetings. Complete your tasks by the deadline. If you
aren’t able to meet the deadline, communicate this early,
share the reason, and negotiate an extension.

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2. Be respectful

Be polite. Listen attentively. Don’t interrupt, even if you

feel that you have something valuable to say. If you are
working at an office, be considerate towards your
colleagues. Keep your workspace tidy. Keep noise to a
minimum. Go to dedicated rooms for meetings.

3. Be inclusive

Being inclusive is a sign of wisdom. It shows that you have

an open mind. You recognize that everyone is unique and
has a valuable perspective. Invite a diverse set of people to
share their takes on big problems and you will end up with
the best solutions.

4. Own your mistakes

You will make mistakes. It is inevitable. What matters most

is how you respond to them. As soon as you become aware
of a mistake, acknowledge it and take action to remedy any
negative consequences. Next, learn as much as you can
from this mistake.

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5. Share credit

When someone has helped make the project a success,

give them full credit. If possible, do it in public—during a
team meeting or in a group chat. Acknowledgement is
emotional air. It nourishes everyone. People’s natural
strengths may feel unimportant to them and it’s easy to
overlook how valuable they are. Be a source of
acknowledgement for your team and their talents will
shine even brighter.

6. Write and answer emails effectively

Choose specific times during the day when you will check
your email and respond to messages. If a response requires
a lot of time or additional work, acknowledge the message

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and let the sender know you will get back to them as soon
as you can.

When you are done with an email, proofread it for typos

before sending. Make sure you have included any
attachments you wanted to send.

7. Manage your social media footprint

Open a private window in your browser and Google your

name. Potential employers might look you up to get a
sense of your character. Make sure everything that shows
up is appropriate. When you share your thoughts on public
platforms, be respectful and polite. If it is a heated subject
and you want to take a firm stand, try doing so without
being rude.

Keep your personal life private. Do not share controversial

statements or images publicly. Remove any such
statements and images that might already be public.

True professionalism is a combination of competence and

character. Continue building your expertise, take
responsibility for your work, be mindful of your digital
footprint and treat everyone with kindness. You will
quickly become everyone’s favorite person to work with.

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 CHAPTER 36.

What Is Growth Mindset

and How to Benefit From It.

G rowth mindset is knowing that you can get better at

anything. It doesn’t matter if you are naturally
talented at it or not. You are not limited to the things you
are already good at. If there is something you want to
master, you can become great at it if you put in the time.

To Benefit From A Growth Mindset, Take These

Three Steps:

1. Take on the challenge

When you run into something that would be helpful to

master, go for it. Say Yes to new projects that will require

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the skills you don’t have yet. These projects are

opportunities to expand your comfort zone.

2. Focus

Take the time to identify the most valuable knowledge in

the new field. Ask your senior coworkers: “If you were
getting started, what would you learn first? What skills
make the biggest difference? What resources would you
recommend?” Find experts on LinkedIn and ask them for
information interviews.
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3. Persist

Be patient. Progress might feel slow at first. Don’t worry, it

takes time to synthesize new information into knowledge.
Be patient with mistakes. They are a natural byproduct of
learning. You are winning just by showing up. You will get
rewarded.

Look at growth mindset as your best friend. With it, you are
limitless. Choose what you want to learn and go for it. Read
blogs and books, listen to podcasts, take courses, go to
meetups and conferences. If you are working, check with
your HR manager—your company might cover the cost of
paid resources as part of your professional development.

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 CHAPTER 37.

How to Take Care of Your

Mental Health at Work.

W hen things move fast, you’ll want to move fast too

and you could lose sight of your well-being.
Burnout is a real risk for someone with a strong work ethic.
It’s easier to prevent burnout than to recover from it.

Use These Three Strategies To Take Care Of Your

Mental Health At Work And Be Your Happiest:

1. Check in with yourself regularly

Add a 30-min meeting to your calendar on a day that is not

too busy, like a Friday afternoon. Set it to repeat monthly.
Call it Check-In. You don’t need to invite anyone to this
meeting. It’s just for you. The goal for the Check-In is to

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take a fresh look at your work situation and your emotional

state. Ask yourself: “How am I feeling? Am I still enjoying
my work? Is it what I was hoping it would be?” If you are
not enjoying your work, why is that? When did it start? If
you are stressed out, are these challenges temporary or
constant? Are they constructive, like a difficult project that
stretches you and makes you learn new things, or are they
destructive, like personal conflict at work? If you are happy
with the current situation, try to think of something that
would make it even better. If you discover that your
current situation is not sustainable, think about what you
could do to change it. Schedule a meeting with your
manager and share your ideas. To get buy-in easier,
highlight the benefits for the company this would bring.

2. Address issues as soon as you become aware of

them

Working with friction is a waste of time and energy. Don’t

wait. As soon as you become aware that something is
having a negative impact on you, bring it up. It might be
uncomfortable, but it’s worth it. If you do it politely,
everyone will win. Take a look at the chapters How to
Work With Difficult People and How to Handle Stressful
Situations for tips and action steps.

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3. Include other people in solving problems

You don’t have to have all the answers and fix everything
yourself. Invite other people to help. They might have just
the right experience and skills to come up with the best
solutions.

You are the best person to make sure you are ok. Make it a
habit to check in with yourself and take action to fix things.
It could be something as small as talking with your
coworker or your manager, or it could be a bigger step of
looking for a new job. Whatever it needs to be, don’t delay,
act. Your emotional well-being is more valuable than the
safety of a stable but sad situation.

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 CHAPTER 38.

How to Stay Motivated.

E ven in a great job there will be challenges. Hard

projects. Tough deadlines. Difficult coworkers. This
could last for a day or drag on for months.

Here’s How To Stay Motivated And Come Out On

Top:

1. Remember why you’re doing it

What is your dream? How is your job helping you make

progress towards it? If you don’t have a dream or a goal in
mind, come up with one. Think about how your job can
help you achieve it.

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2. Look at the challenge as a chance to learn and grow

If you run into a major obstacle and you figure out how to
tackle it, this new skill is yours for the rest of your life.

3. Bring to mind the good things

If you’re enjoying your job most of the time, that’s pretty

lucky. Remember all the things you like about your job, for
example, interesting work, good pay, coworkers with a
great sense of humor. Even when things get hard, these
awesome benefits are still there. They are worth fighting
for.

4. Look at the challenge as an opportunity to save the

day

Tough situations can bring out the best in people. They

eliminate shyness and insecurity. When you do what you
have to do, you might find out that you are even more
awesome than you thought.

5. Look at the difficult situation as a game

Get competitive with it! How can you win? Who can you
invite to be your ally? Without battles there would be no
victories. Until you do something hard, you won’t know for
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sure that you can do it. Once you do, this new level of
confidence is yours forever.

6. Push yourself to get better

If you’ve been in your job for a while, boredom can set in.
You have mastered all of your job responsibilities and now
it’s automatic. It’s time to go in high gear. How could you
go from good to great? How could you do things better, or
faster, or both? Don’t wait for outside rewards to get
motivated. Get better first, rewards will follow. Talk to
your manager about new ways you could help the

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company. Ask about new responsibilities you could grow

into. Next, set goals for yourself and break them down into
steps you can take every day

7. Connect with your colleagues

Spend time together. Go to lunch, grab a coffee, chat

about stuff not related to work. Social connections make
work more fun. Show your appreciation for your
coworkers. Let them know what you think they are great
at. A sincere compliment is one of the best gifts you can
give. It feels great and costs nothing.

8. Take care of yourself

Get fresh air, exercise, eat healthy as much as you can.

Don’t skimp on sleep. Make time for friends and hobbies.
Do things you enjoy. Self-care is not an expense, it is an
investment. If you feel that you are too busy to take a
break, remember that sometimes working harder is not as
effective as working smarter. A small break could get your
creativity flowing.

9. Recognize your accomplishments

Notice all the things you are great at. Reward yourself for
work well done. When you get acknowledgement from
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other people, pay attention to what they see as your

biggest strengths and talents.

10. Ask for help

If you have no clue about how to resolve a difficult

situation, ask a friend or a family member for help and
advice. You don’t have to know everything and you don’t
have to do everything by yourself. Be brave—ask for help!

11. Remember that you have options

It’s easier to stay motivated if you like your career

direction. This job or another job, if you like what you do,
you can be motivated just by the work itself. On the other
hand, if you are struggling to get through the day, this field
of work might not be the best fit for you. Think about what
other fields would light you up and learn more about them.
Take a look at How to Choose the Right Career for action
steps.

When your motivation gets low, try the things we covered

in this chapter and nothing will get you down for long.

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 CHAPTER 39.

How to Adapt to Change.

C hange will happen. Unless it’s something great like

getting a promotion, you're probably not going to
like it. Change brings stress, but it can also help you. Here’s
how to adapt to change and benefit from it.

A new manager, a new teammate, new responsibilities.

Anytime there's change, there's friction. Try to be patient
with it. Don’t resist it. Imagine you’re surfing and change is
like a wave that’s coming at you. The best thing you can do
is paddle towards it and try to ride it.

When change shows up, be proactive around it. Make the

adjustments you need to make, then look for the
opportunities. What is possible now that wasn’t possible
before? Look for the good in the change. Look for
something that can help you reach your goals faster.

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When You Are Facing Change At Work, Use These

Tools To Make It As Smooth And Helpful As It Can
Be:

1. Look for ways you can grow

You might have to do things in new ways. Use this

opportunity to experiment with new approaches. Try what
you haven’t tried before. Invest in building new skills that
will help you in the new environment.

2. Take care of yourself

Pay attention to how you are feeling. If you notice that you
are stressed out, worried, frustrated, or in any other
negative state that doesn’t go away, talk to someone you
trust. Share what you are going through. Ask them for
advice. They might have had similar experiences.

3. Help your coworkers cope

Some people on your team may be more sensitive to

change. If you notice that someone is struggling, help
them. Invite them to lunch or coffee. Ask them how they
are feeling. Let them share their concerns. Brainstorm
together what benefits this change could bring.
Brainstorm the best actions to take.

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Change is something you can count on. Companies will

restructure. New people will come and go. Technologies
will emerge. When disruptive change happens, instead of
holding out as long as you can, embrace it as quickly as you
can.

Look at change as a personal trainer that offers you a new

workout routine. Your muscles aren’t used to it. You might
get very sore at the beginning, but you will get stronger
over time.

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 CHAPTER 40.

How to Build Resilience in

the Face of Challenges.

C hallenges will show up, especially when you are

doing things you haven’t done before.

To Overcome Any Setback, Use These Tools:

1. Focus on effort

Give yourself credit for showing up. Results may take a

while, but you are already successful because you are
putting in the work. When something happens that sets
you back, it’s frustrating, but it doesn’t take away all the
skills and knowledge you have already built.

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2. Embrace learning

If you have a goal that lights you up, you have what it takes
to reach it. Right now you might not know everything, but
this is not the final stop. This is just the beginning. If you
discover a gap in your skill set, work to fill it. Nothing is out
of reach. You can master anything that interests you.
Choose your focus and start learning.

3. Experiment and welcome all outcomes

Every outcome has a valuable lesson in it. Look at your

actions as experiments. You try something new and you
get the outcome. If it is positive, it means this approach
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works. If it is negative, it means another approach would

work better. Choose what you want to try next and go for
it. A negative outcome is not a statement about you or
your abilities. It is not a predictor of what is possible for you
in the future. A negative outcome only means that you had
the courage to try something new. Now it’s time for the
next experiment.

To stay strong in the face of challenges, remember that

you are always awesome, you are always loved, and you
don’t have to earn it. You always belong. If there is
something you want, take action, experiment, learn,
adjust, and you will get it.

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 CHAPTER 41.

5 Powerful Ways to Develop

Leadership Skills.

L eading people and companies is not about having a

big personality. It is about skills. Skills you can build.

Here’s How To Become A Natural Leader:

1. Own it

Great leaders care about the success of the company more

than they care about their comfort or how they look. Use
your talent, knowledge, and skills to do what needs to be
done, no matter how difficult it may be. Take initiative.
Focus on results, not on getting credit. Share credit with
other people every chance you get.

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2. Develop yourself

To lead others, learn to lead yourself first. Learn about your

strengths. Discover your current weaknesses and growth
opportunities. Choose the skills you want to build. Choose
the talents you want to develop further. Work towards
these goals every day.

3. Care for others

Leadership is not about being the best. It is about helping

other people be their best. Take the time to get to know
your coworkers, learn about their interests, and notice
where they shine. Try to incorporate their strengths into
your work together. Be generous with positive feedback.
People bring their best when they feel appreciated. Pay
attention to the needs and feelings of others and
accommodate them when you can.

4. Remember why you are doing it

Great leaders inspire people to follow a cause. Keep in

mind the mission of the company. Who is it helping? Why
does it matter? When you are at the crossroads and the
right direction isn’t clear, remind the team why you are in
business. Focus on the company’s purpose. It will help you
make the right choice.

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5. Document and delegate

Effective leaders aren’t hubs of knowledge. They don’t do

all the important work themselves. Instead, they empower
others. They build processes and systems that allow all the
team members to contribute great work. To build this
habit, document your workflow in detail. Imagine another
team member will be doing your work for a week. What do
they need to know? Create a step-by-step plan for them. As
an added benefit, once you are done, you’ll be able to go
on vacation knowing that your work will be in good hands.

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Bonus Tip: Ask for Help

Great leaders model humility. They know they can’t know

everything, and they don’t pretend they do. When you are
not sure what to do or how to approach a problem, ask for
help. This is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of courage
and dedication. Other people on the team will benefit from
your example. They will know it is safe to ask for help.

Being a great leader doesn’t mean being inspiring, perfect

or getting everything right. It means having determination,
self-discipline, dedication to learning and empowering
others. Take the steps we’ve mapped out in this chapter
and you will naturally grow as a leader.

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 Here’s What to Do Next.

First of all—Congratulations!!! Now you have career skills.

Pick your top priority. Do you want to choose what you

want to do for a career? Do you want to find a great job?
Do you want to boost your income? Go back to the chapter
that covers this topic and choose one thing to do today,
just one. Whatever you feel like doing, it will get you one
step closer to your goal. Tomorrow do another thing. The
day after, one more.

Include the people who care about you into your journey.
Share with them the steps you are taking. Share what you
are discovering. Share this book with a friend or a family
member who needs it. It is easier to overcome obstacles
when you have people who believe in you motivating you.

If you liked this book, please give it a 5-star rating on

Amazon. If you got this book as a gift, thank the person
who got it for you.

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If you are up for looking for a job, you can get a

professional resume template together with a cover letter
template for $2.99 at start.lanaryan.co

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