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Top Career Lessons I’ve Learned Through Reading

Perspective from Kayla Lalik, Account Executive at Advantage – a sponsorship and brand experience agency.
We all struggle at points to stay motivated in our daily lives. It’s a pretty fair assumption that most of us will fall victim to going through the everyday motions of life to an extent, and we forget to stay hungry to surpass the expectations of our day to day. One way I like to stay motivated in work and in life is reading. I especially enjoy reading about successful people who have overcome failures to get where they are today. I’ve read many books that have made a positive impact on my life and career, but I’m going to touch on the top careers lessons I’ve learned through reading.
Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi
“Success in any field, but especially in business is about working with people, not against them” – Keith Ferrazzi
The reason I like this book so much is because it’s not only applicable to business, but to life. I believe that anyone, regardless of the field they work in, can benefit greatly from this book. I don’t want to ruin the book for you, but I will share a few lessons I found the most beneficial from Keith Ferrazzi’s Never Eat Alone.
Start Building Your Network Now, Not Just When You Need It
Nobody likes “that person” who only reaches out when they need something. It’s so important to build a relationship of trust and understanding, that way when you need help, you can count on someone in your network. Staying in touch is one of the most important parts of building and maintaining a professional network. Sending a quick, casual greetings on a regular basis will keep the connection alive and make it easier to reach out when you need something.
Be There. Show Up. Get Involved
This probably goes without saying, but nonetheless it’s crucial to put yourself out there when building your network. Make sure to never pass up an opportunity to network, because you never know who you’re going to meet. Ferrazzi emphasizes the benefits of joining groups and holding leadership positions in them. Being a leader in life takes practice–so practice! The possibilities for making new contacts and reaching out to others are endless. I think Ferrazzi said it best; “Relationships are more like muscles – the more you work them, the stronger they become.”
Energy Bus by Jon Gordon
“Positive energy is like muscle. The more you use it the stronger it gets. The stronger it gets the more powerful you become. Repetition is the key and the more you focus on positive energy the more it becomes your natural state.” – Jon Gordon
Much like Never Eat Alone, Energy Bus is applicable to everyday life, not just business. Energy Bus is a book that has nothing and everything to do with business. This book hardly touches on career advice, but it does focus on the importance of a positive attitude which is so applicable to having a successful career. A positive attitude in the workplace will determine employee morale, productivity and team building capabilities.
You’re the Driver of Your Bus
You have the ability to control how you look at life and transform negative energy into positive. How empowering is it to think that we are responsible for the direction of our lives? Gordon has a formula for this: Events + Perception/Positive Energy = Outcome. There is a lot in life that you have no control over, but you can control how you perceive what is happening. Choosing positive thoughts over negative ones can change the way you think, the way you work, and the way you live.
Invite People on Your Bus and Share Your Vision for the Road Ahead
Share your vision and let it propel your bus and all its passengers forward. You need to get like-minded people on your bus, and the more positive people you get, the more positive energy will be created. There is so much value in a work environment where you are supported by a team with individuals that increase your energy. Working with “energy vampires” can affect your desire to come into work each day and give it your all. At Advantage, you can feel the positive culture the second you walk through the door.
Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
“We hold ourselves back in ways both big and small, by lacking self-confidence, by not raising our hands, and by pulling back when we should be leaning in.” – Sheryl Sandberg