Need an Edge Up on Your Career?

You want that promotion? You need to wow your employer.

You want to land that client? You need to impress them.

That’s why I asked Frances Cole Jones for an interview. I read her book “The Wow Factor,” and I knew that a podcast would be a good resource for people who want to get an edge up on their career.

I’m going to be honest. You can skip over some of the chapters. There is one on proper hygiene that most people don’t need to read, but this is easy to do since the chapters are so short. You can pick and choose what you need.

My favorite part of the book is the last third. She has so many good ideas that will help you improve your life. You won’t be disappointed.

Self Acceptance

You’ll love the section on self acceptance. Frances really breaks it down. We try to keep improving so much that we sometimes forget to enjoy where we are.

You have probably improved a lot in these past five years, but you don’t always take time to acknowledge it. This self acceptance can bring happiness into your working life, more than any promotion ever could.

6 Layers of Why

The book also talks about getting to the heart of a problem. The only way to do this is to ask “why” 6 times. No more, no less. It helps an individual understand what they are really trying to accomplish.

If you don’t know why you are doing what you are doing, then I guarantee your career will flounder. You must find the why behind your effort so you can steer your energy to accomplish your goals.

Plan for Courage

I’ve talked about the value of confidence at work. Without confidence, you will be too afraid to tackle the type of work that will wow your boss or clients.

The best way to plan for courage is to create lists. You probably create a list for projects all the time, but do you ever think about creating a “to do” list for things that make you happy? If you are working on a stressful project, make sure you add fifteen minutes to take a break and play a game on your phone or take a walk around the building. When you add fun stuff to your list, you will keep your stress level tolerable and your confidence high. You’ll find the courage to tackle tough projects.

Who This Book is For

There are a lot of great ideas in Frances’ book, and the people who can use this book the most are 18 – 29 year olds. I know that a book like this would have helped me survive in the corporate world.

So pick up this book right now and learn a few new ideas on how to wow the people that can help your career – The Wow Factor: The 33 Things You Must (and Must Not) Do to Guarantee Your Edge in Today’s Business World

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s podcast. It’s 22 minutes long. Just cut out that one sitcom that you watch that you know you really don’t like. There is your time.

In order to wow people, you have to appreciate the details because that’s how you separate yourself from the average Jane next to you.

If you want a Free copy of the book then tweet (I’m reading: Need an Edge Up on Your Career? http://bit.ly/4owGtf via @WorkHappyNow) or leave a comment right here and you’ll be eligible to win. I’m paying for the shipping.

Are you on Twitter? Then check me out at @workhappynow. I give stress relief tips, happiness ideas, and cool quotes that save the day.

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I’m a game changer. That’s right. Go check out my audio interview at NathanHangen.com.

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