Business &amp; Branding

Business &amp; Branding Archives

Stay ahead in business: strategies and insights for success

<p>To
drive for Uber, you need a car. To list on Airbnb, you need a spare room. To
become an “influencer,” all you need is your personality and a social media
account.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.business2community.com/instagram/the-rise-of-the-instagram-micro-influencer-everything-you-need-to-know-02124222" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Micro-influencers</a>, social users whose followers range between 10,000 and 50,000, on average, can earn a few hundred dollars per post. Although they exist on every social media platform, they generally earn the most on Instagram, where <a href="https://readwrite.com/2019/04/09/what-to-consider-when-choosing-an-influencer-marketing-agency/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">influencer marketing agency</a> Mediakix found nearly 70% of marketers planned to spend the most on content this year.&nbsp; </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-making-it-as-a-micro-influencer">Making
It as a Micro-Influencer</h2>



<p>Fortunately,
you don’t have to be a Kardashian to get noticed on social media. Many of my
friends and acquaintances have grown their Instagram followings from zero to
five and six figures in under a year, often by investing less than two hours
each day. </p>



<p>Intrigued?
Here are five tips to build or grow your own following:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-brand-yourself">1.
Brand yourself. </h3>



<p>Take stock of your existing interests and areas of expertise. Don’t force it—if you don’t like going to the beach, don’t pretend to be a surfer—but do think about what interest or hobby you can capitalize on.<br> <br>What if you find traction in an area other than your passion? Don’t sweat it. <a href="https://news.stanford.edu/2018/06/18/find-passion-may-bad-advice/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Stanford researchers argue</a> that “follow your passion” is actually poor career advice because it prevents people from pursuing unfamiliar fields. New passions are developed, not discovered. </p>



<p>Plus, exploring small and overlapping interest areas is what makes you unique as a micro-influencer. Your particular mix of skills and experiences is what attracts users and potential brand partners. Marketers value genuine support, and followers can tell if you’re acting authentically or not. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-put-quality-over-quantity">2.
Put quality over quantity. </h3>



<p>As tempting
as it can be to focus on your follower-to-following ratio, it’s not a good way
to measure your worth as an influencer. In fact, your value as a
micro-influencer rests on the fact that you don’t have millions of followers.
The engagement you elicit from your followers depends on your relatable image.</p>



<p>Instead of trying to increase your follower figure, focus on the quality of those relationships. Comment thoughtfully whenever a follower tags you. Post images and videos that show you interacting with real people in everyday circumstances. Explain your strategy to brands by pointing out that the ratio of likes and comments to followers peaks when an account has around 1,000 followers. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-embrace-video">3.
Embrace video.</h3>



<p>There’s a reason platforms from Facebook to Instagram have added video features: Animated video producer <a href="https://www.wyzowl.com/video-social-media-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Wyzowl notes</a> social media video viewership has increased by double or triple digits in recent years, and Twitter videos are six times more likely to be retweeted than photo-based tweets. </p>



<p>Some
activities lend themselves better to video than others. If you’re a whitewater
rafter, for instance, you’ll have no problem coming up with exciting clips.
What if you like to play chess or read novels? Get creative: Dress up as a
chess piece and go dancing. Take a trip to your favorite book settings. Read
while riding a unicycle. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-be-generous">4. Be generous.</h3>



<p>Don’t give away so many gifts that you can’t make money as a micro-influencer, but be on the lookout for opportunities to give and share. The easiest, least expensive thing to give is information. If you’re a backpacker, post a checklist for two-, three- and five-day trips. Personal shoutouts are another free tactic: When a follower tags you in a post of their own, publicly thank or joke with them from your account.<br> <br>When is a gift or product sample appropriate? Save those costly, time-consuming acts for serious favors. If another camping influencer talks you up, for instance, you might send a handwritten note on a scrap of tent fabric. Try to put strings on gifts that benefit both parties: A head-to-head tasting with another influencer in the craft beer space might be a good reason to send a 12 pack. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-tell-great-stories">5. Tell great stories.</h3>



<p>Human beings are hardwired for <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-tell-your-story/">storytelling</a>. That’s why it’s not enough to just post a photo of a product and hope your followers will fill in the blanks. Don’t be too on the nose, either: Saying, “I like this product, and you should, too,” comes across as stiff and overly promotional. Your followers won’t take you seriously, and potential brand partners won’t find your content to be worth their investment. <br> <br>What do the best stories have in common? <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://lifehacker.com/the-science-of-storytelling-why-telling-a-story-is-the-5965703" target="_blank">Studies show</a> that they’re simplistic in their phrasings, show clear cause and effect, and describe relatable sensory experiences. If you post a Thanksgiving video of your baby brother getting mashed potatoes on the ceiling, for example, you might start by describing how sticky they were or how hard he flung them. <br> <br>Don’t expect micro-influencing to replace your full-time job, but don’t underestimate your potential, either. Once you’ve attracted a few hundred followers organically, try sharing a few product suggestions. If they’re successful, email each brand’s marketing team and tell them how much you like their product. When those marketers search your account, they’ll see loyal followers and authentic recommendations. <br> <br>What’s next? If the brand’s marketers don’t offer an influencer gig, be proactive. Ask whether they’d appreciate your help promoting the product further. If so, ask for a per-post fee in the $100 range. If not, move on; there’s plenty of companies trying to get attention on social media.<br> <br>The bottom line? You don’t need fame or a fancy title to make money online. In fact, <em>not </em>being famous might just be the secret weapon you need to get ahead.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p><strong><em>Related:</em></strong> <strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-instagrammers-who-are-crushing-the-personal-branding-game/">5 Instagrammers Who Are Crushing the Personal Branding Game</a></strong></p>
</blockquote>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><br><em>Image by Lepusinensis/Shutterstock.com</em></p>



<p></p>

Becoming an Instagram influencer is easier than you think. Use these five tips to build or grow your following.

Becoming an Instagram influencer is easier than you think. Use these five tips to build or grow your following. | SUCCESS

5 Tips to Become a Micro-Influencer

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5 Tips to Become a Micro-Influencer | SUCCESS

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Brittany Hodak is co-founder of The Superfan Company, an entertainment agency that helps brands and celebrities identify, engage and retain their most important customers. She’s been mentioned as one of the top sales motivational speakers in the industry. You can book Brittany to speak at BrittanyHodak.com.

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Brittany Hodak

5 Necessary Skills of the Most Successful Salespeople

Turning a prospect into a loyal customer starts with the sales experience. It’s the salespeople who set the tone, and to make that first impression count, they must learn to work efficiently and communicate effectively. Successful salespeople know they have to hone specific skills to deliver a fan-worthy experience; here are five of the most important, and how you can get better at them to sell successfully, too:
<blockquote><strong><em>Related: </em></strong><strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-5-very-best-ways-to-thrill-your-customers/">The 5 Very Best Ways to Thrill Your Customers</a></strong></blockquote>
<h3>1. Prioritization<strong>
</strong></h3>
All salespeople are busy. So why do some seem stressed and disorganized while others manage to stay cool through anything? Because the latter group has learned to prioritize. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/8-ways-to-effectively-prioritize-the-things-on-your-to-do-list/">Prioritization</a> allows salespeople to separate what’s actually important from the tasks that would merely be nice to tackle.

Prioritization isn’t just a matter of making a to-do list. The Center for Sales Strategy suggests an <a href="https://blog.thecenterforsalesstrategy.com/time-management-tip-the-problem-with-your-to-do-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">“ABC” method</a>: The “A” category should contain projects that are vital to the company’s success, such as sending proposals to target prospects. In the “B” category, place things like follow-ups, which are important but can wait for later in the week. Leave tasks like cold outreach to the “C” category, signaling that they’re of low priority. Move through them in alphabetical order, moving tasks up as appropriate.
<h3>2. Negotiation<strong>
</strong></h3>
Whether selling enterprise software or used cars, salespeople need to know <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/15-negotiation-tips-from-people-who-always-get-their-way/">how to negotiate</a>. Although successful negotiation requires you to understand the other party’s needs, negotiation training group SAB Negotiation Group also uses <a href="https://www.sabonline.com/services/sales-training-overview" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">personality profiles</a> to understand the individual.

Get a sense early in the sales process of who your buyer is. Rather than send them a personality test, use cues to guess at their <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-understand-peoples-personality-types/">personality type</a> and tailor your pitch to that. For example:
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">●<em> Introversion vs. extroversion:</em> Introverts think before responding to questions, while extroverts tend to answer immediately. Periodically ask introverts during presentations if they have any questions; expect extroverts to ask them freely.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">● <em>Intuition vs. sensing:</em> If they focus on the here and now, they likely prefer sensing to intuition, which causes people to focus on the future. Spend extra time showing sensing prospects you understand their challenge, while giving intuitive prospects a rich vision of the solution.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">● <em>Thinking vs. feeling:</em> People who lean toward feeling consider how others will be affected, while thinkers tend to be more objective. Expect thinkers to focus on hard factors like price. Prospects who prefer feeling may be more concerned about things like implementation plans.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">● <em>Perceiving vs. judging:</em> Perceiving types are all about the experience, while judging types are more concerned with the end result. Be patient with perceivers, who may require more time or touch points to close the sale. Cut to the chase with judges.</p>

<h3>3. Responsiveness</h3>
Entire companies rise and fall on the basis of their customer experience. Salespeople must be responsive not just in terms of time, but emotionally as well. Factors like response speed, flexibility in communication channels, empathy and positivity make prospects want to work with the salesperson and, by extension, the company they represent.

Be there when their prospect is ready to take the next step. Communication platform Ping Pilot suggests <a href="https://dev-pingpilot.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2019_Conversational_Content_Marketing_Guide_eBook.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">conversational content</a>: Embed links in materials that enable prospects to get on the phone, shoot an email or request a meeting when they’re ready. Replace gates to on-site content with click-to-chat buttons. Keep sales and customer service lines separate so prospects don’t have to request a transfer, sit on hold and re-explain themselves in order to buy.
<h3>4. Writing<strong>
</strong></h3>
Salespeople don’t need to be the next J.K. Rowling, but they do need to come across as competent and warm in their written communications. Prospects won’t trust someone who can’t string a sentence together to understand stakeholder needs. Even email typos can create a perception of carelessness.

Unlike some of the skills on this list, writing skills are largely built through solo practice. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-read-like-your-success-depends-on-it/">Read regularly</a>, and model the conversational-yet-professional style of authors you admire. Focus on creating emotional connection without using superlatives, which can make sales pitches seem pushy or overblown.
<h3>5. Non-Verbal Communication<strong>
</strong></h3>
<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-ways-to-build-trust-with-your-body-language/">Body language</a> is a big part of the message conveyed during a sales conversation. How a salesperson holds herself can communicate anxiety and confusion, or it can show confidence and ease. Even from across a room, prospects pick up on these cues.

Learn to control the signals they send. Hubspot suggests <a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/body-language-tips-for-your-next-sales-presentation" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tweaks</a> that can give you an air of authority and confidence: Open your chest and stand up straight. Walk while you talk. Keep a smile on your face, even when things get tense. Vary your gestures, but keep them small.

Superfans don’t just waltz into sales pipelines. They’re cultivated, starting with the first interaction with your company. Master these skills to give prospects a great experience, and they’ll reflect it right back as loyal customers.
<blockquote><strong><em>Related: </em></strong><strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-power-of-storytelling-in-business/">The Power of Storytelling in Business</a></strong></blockquote>
<em>Photo by GaudiLab / Shutterstock</em>

Successful salespeople know they have to hone specific skills to deliver a fan-worthy experience. Here are five of the most important, and how you can get better at them to sell successfully, too.

Successful salespeople know they have to hone specific skills to deliver a fan-worthy experience. Here are five of the most important, and how you can get better at them to sell successfully, too. | SUCCESS

5 Necessary Skills of the Most Successful Salespeople | SUCCESS

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Personal Development

Personal Development Archives

Personal Development | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

Debt is heavy. Until you’ve had it on your shoulders, you can’t know how it feels. When you want to take a career leap, debt can dissuade you from taking a chance. When you know you need a vacation, debt keeps you grinding away. The trouble is, not every debt can be paid down just by writing a check. If you’ve spent years subsisting on junk food, for instance, digging out of your dietary hole can seem impossible. But until you commit to paying down the various types of debt you carry, you can’t meet your potential, professionally or personally.

Imagine how much more you could achieve if you were free from the following five types of debts:
<h3>1. Physical</h3>
Less than one in four Americans get enough exercise, the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr112.pdf">CDC reports</a>. If you’re on the wrong end of that statistic, consider your bucket list: Do you want to run a marathon? What about backpacking in a national park? Think, too, about your family: Do you want to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-expert-tips-to-be-a-healthy-influence-on-others/">pass on healthy habits</a> to your kids? If you don’t have kids, do you care about living a long, healthy life?

Especially if it’s been years since you’ve been to a gym, opt for a personal trainer. Yes, a customized training plan costs money, but it’s also the best way to realize your fitness goals. Not only can a trainer help you get fit faster, but he or she can tailor a plan to your bucket list or family priorities you might have in mind.
<h3>2. Personal</h3>
Most people who are trying to reach their potential think they have to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/are-you-a-workaholic/">put in extra hours at work</a>. If you’ve been working 10-hour days, you’ve probably built up interpersonal debt. Be honest with yourself: Are you being all you can be for your friends and family? If not, it’s important to make more time for them.

Start by setting up a “friends and family” calendar. Not only will doing so help you stay on top of housework like dishwashing, which can strengthen your relationship with your spouse, but it’ll also ensure you have time for bonding. When you look back, you’ll be glad you spent those weekends at campsites and amusement parks instead of conferences.
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-35764" title="5 Types of Debt Holding You Back" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/5-Types-of-Debt-Holding-You-Back-1024x682.jpg" alt="5 Types of Debt Holding You Back" width="1024" height="682" /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Niklas Hamann on Unsplash</span></p>

<h3>3. Financial</h3>
Financial debt comes in many flavors. Focus on paying back those with the highest interest rates first, which tend to be payday or title loans. Pay medical debts last, which have less impact on your credit score than other types of debt. If you truly can’t afford to pay, consider restructuring—but beware that lowering your monthly payments likely means extending the term.

What about student debt? Prioritize it above medical debt, but ask whether your employer or a government agency might be able to help. <a href="https://futurefuel.io/about/">FutureFuel.io</a> recently came on my radar as a woman-founded company that helps companies contribute to their team members’ student loan payments, which is a company benefit I see growing in popularity. Public employees like teachers can apply for loan forgiveness or cancellation through the U.S. Department of Education.
<h3>4. Professional</h3>
If you’ve had a mentor—and we all have, even if it’s informal, like a friend or colleague—you know how <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-excel-as-a-mentor-or-mentee/">valuable mentorship</a> can be. You also know, however, how indebted the experience can make you feel. Serving as a mentor doesn’t just alleviate that feeling; it’s actually as helpful for the mentor as it is for the mentee.

Career expert <a href="https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2011/08/12/5-reasons-youll-benefit-from-helping-a-mentee">Heather Huhman explains</a> that mentors improve their understanding of the things they teach, strengthen their own relationships and develop leadership skills. If there isn’t someone at your company you can mentor, look to your network. Can you help a former colleague learn the ropes of a new industry? Is there a local college where you can volunteer to mentor students?
<h3>5. Spiritual</h3>
Of all the areas where you might accumulate debt, your spiritual life is the place where it’s toughest to spot. You may not be cut out to be a Buddhist monk, but you’re still subject to <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/extreme-states-mind/201211/spiritual-crisis-spiritual-awakening">spiritual crises</a>. Although serious spiritual debts can produce physical symptoms, such as panic attacks, most are quiet and existential in nature. Have you given back to the world the way you want to?

Unfortunately, this kind of debt is also the toughest to pay back. It doesn’t have to be paid through a church; find a spiritual community you’re comfortable with. It can be as informal as a weekly <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-thoughtful-ways-you-can-benefit-from-meditation/">meditation</a> group or as involved as a Doctors Without Borders mission. Even if you already have your own answers, ask your peers those big-picture questions. What does it mean to be fulfilled? What sacrifices do others make to find fulfillment, and for whom?

Don’t turn down help from employers and friends, but realize that only you can take control of your debts. After all, you’re the one who racked them up; one way or another, you have to pay them back. Doing so will release you to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/unleash-your-true-potential/">reach your full potential</a>, professionally and personally.

<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Jessica Furtney on Unsplash</span>

Debt is about more than money, and until you commit to paying down the various types of debt you carry, you can’t meet your potential.

More than money: These debts could be costing you your potential. | SUCCESS

Don’t Let These 5 Types of Debt Hold You Back

Don’t Let These 5 Types of Debt Hold You Back | SUCCESS

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5 Ways to Create Your Own Opportunities at Work

It’s often said that patience is a virtue. At work, waiting for opportunities—especially those that feel like they’re <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-keys-to-leveling-up-your-career/">advancing your career</a>—can be torture. Counting the months until your next performance review, only to be disappointed if it doesn’t come with a bump in pay or title, is emotionally draining and likely one of the reasons the median time spent with an employer <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/career-experts-share-how-long-you-should-stay-at-a-job-2018-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">is declining</a>.

I spent a few years in corporate America before launching my first startup, and one of the most important lessons I learned is that if you sit around and wait to be offered a chance to step into the spotlight, you’re going to be waiting for a long time. That’s because the most successful employees don’t wait for opportunities to come their way—they <em>create </em>them.

Instead of waiting for your boss to bring a new challenge to the table—or worse, waiting until your next performance review to talk through how well you tackled last year’s goals—here are some actionable steps you can take right now to prove that you’re a natural leader who is ready to move up the corporate ladder.
<blockquote><em><strong>Related: </strong></em><strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/4-steps-to-successful-career-mapping/">4 Steps to Successful Career Mapping</a></strong></blockquote>
<h2>Cultivating Opportunity</h2>
<h3>1. Specialize.</h3>
Every field has its standards. You can’t be a journalist without learning Associated Press style. Good luck getting a software engineering gig without a solid grasp of JavaScript. But once you’ve got the basics down, reach for a lesser known—but still needed at your office—skill or competency.

Say you’re fresh out of a college business program. You’ve probably learned the ropes of sales, marketing, accounting and more. Pat yourself on the back, but realize that those are relatively common skills. Why not pursue a certification in advanced financial modeling? If you’ve got a soft spot for marketing, why not take HubSpot’s courses in content, SEO or inbound marketing? Pretty soon, you’ll become known as the expert in your area. That’s how my career as a <a href="https://www.brittanyhodak.com/speaking" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">speaker</a> began: I developed a reputation as the go-to source for people who wanted to talk about superfans, and before long, I had so many requests that I began speaking full time.
<h3>2. Embrace conflict.</h3>
Workplace conflict might not sound like a way to win friends, but it doesn’t have to be destructive. Matt Levy, founder of Credera, recalls in <a href="https://www.credera.com/blog/management-consulting/conflict-at-credera-part-1-conflict-is-opportunity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a series of blog posts</a> how he got off on the wrong foot with Rob Borrego—who he’d just invited to be the company’s CEO. By discussing their differences respectfully and building trust deliberately, Levy and Borrego are now close friends. Their partnership’s strength is grounded in that initial conflict.

Don’t create unnecessary conflict with your co-workers, but don’t run from it, either. See it as an opportunity to better understand someone you’ll be spending 40 hours a week around. Chances are, the other person will respond the same way. Goodwill is taken for granted less often than you might think.
<h3>3. Ask for help.</h3>
At first, asking for help might sound like the opposite of creating your own opportunities. But consider <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Franklin_effect" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the Ben Franklin effect</a>: By asking someone for a small favor, you endear them to yourself. The reason is that, when you help someone, your brain rationalizes your actions by assuming that you must like that person.

The root of opportunities are personal relationships. The Ben Franklin effect isn’t enough to build a trusting one overnight, but it can be the seed. To get it to sprout, nurture it the same way you would a friendship. Somewhere between <a href="https://www.payscale.com/career-news/2017/04/many-jobs-found-networking" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">70 and 85%</a> of jobs are found through networking—in other words, relationship-building. I’ve helped more than a dozen friends find jobs over the years, and the majority of the people I’ve hired to various positions were referred by a friend or acquaintance.
<h3>4. Share factory-floor workarounds.</h3>
At every company, how management <em>thinks</em> things get done and how they <em>actually </em>get done are two different things. But while managers often have good reasons for pushing certain processes or products, sometimes they simply haven’t thought of the more efficient method. In healthy company cultures, at least, leaders don’t punish people for those discoveries; leaders reward them.

Although it took consumer products company 3M some time to come around to the idea, <a href="https://www.ideatovalue.com/insp/nickskillicorn/2017/04/true-story-post-notes-almost-failed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">its Post-it Notes</a> were actually an employee’s alternative to reusable bulletin boards. When the worker kept losing church hymns from his church song book, he didn’t buy a bulletin board; he added a reusable adhesive strip to the back of his hymns. Fast forward to today, and Post-it Notes are one of 3M’s most valuable product lines.
<h3>5. Be a mentor.</h3>
As much as <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/a-letter-to-the-best-mentor-career-lessons/">mentorship</a> benefits the mentee, it can also be a professional boost for the mentor. Mentoring others develops leadership and communication skills: Spotting strengths and weaknesses, explaining things diplomatically, and giving supportive advice are key to mentorship as well as management roles.

But mentorship does more than hone leadership skills and catch the eye of executives. When that mentee matures, guess who they’re going to look to when they need a co-founder, adviser or investor? Guess who other employees will turn to when they’ve got a new project or opportunity in mind? It can be tough to predict how, but mentorship inevitably pays off for both parties.

Opportunities can’t be built by following a user manual, but that’s the beauty of them. If opportunities didn’t require hard work and helpfulness, they’d all be taken by people who hadn’t earned them. And is that really the sort of environment any of us would want to work in?
<blockquote><em><strong>Related: </strong></em><strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-best-career-advice-from-successful-people-who-made-it-to-the-top/">The Best Career Advice, From Successful People Who Made It to the Top</a></strong></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by @anniespratt via Twenty20</span>

Instead of waiting for your boss to bring a new challenge to the table, here are some steps you can take right now to create your own opportunities at work.

If you sit around and wait to be offered a chance to step into the spotlight, you’re going to be waiting for a long time. That’s because the most successful employees don’t wait for opportunities to come their way—they create them. | SUCCESS

5 Ways to Create Your Own Opportunities at Work | SUCCESS

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4 Ways to Surround Yourself With People Who Challenge You

You may not be average, but according to Jim Rohn, you are <em>an </em>average: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

Through his studies, Jim Rohn came to understand the power of peer influence. Peer pressure, he realized, isn’t always a bad thing—it may be <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170821102718.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a primary reason</a> teens pick up smoking, but it can also <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/peer-pressure-has-a-positive-side/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">promote stronger performance</a> in school.
<blockquote><strong><em>Related: </em></strong><strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-happened-when-i-tried-to-cut-the-negative-people-out-of-my-life/">What Happened When I Tried to Cut the Negative People Out of My Life</a></strong></blockquote>
Peer pressure doesn’t simply go away after adolescence, either. Whether we realize it or not, each of us faces implicit pressure to think and act like those around us. If our friends like to drink, then we’re more likely to indulge as well. If they prefer to hit the gym on a Friday night, then we might also start our weekend with a workout.
<h2>‘We’ for Willpower</h2>
Health and fitness habits aren’t the only ones affected by peer pressure. When my son was born in 2017, I made a conscious effort to spend more time around friends with young kids. I’ve picked up countless parenting hacks (and lots of reassurances that <em>yes, that’s normal toddler behavior!</em>) from my parenting “tribe.”

When I began taking on more speaking gigs, I made a conscious effort to research the best in the business and follow them on social media. A year later, many of them have become friends and colleagues in real life, which has helped propel my career.

To better yourself physically, mentally, professionally, socially and spiritually, surround yourself with people who challenge you. Here’s how:
<h3>1. Get in on group exercise.</h3>
Whatever your exercise of choice, you’ll get more out of it if you join a group. <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171030092917.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Research</a> published in <em>The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association</em> found that, unlike individual exercise, working out with others decreases stress by 26 percent while significantly elevating quality of life. Group classes also create an external source of accountability while teaching their members new exercise moves.

Those who <a href="https://www.good.is/articles/in-fitness-deserts-working-out-isn-t-as-simple-as-hitting-the-gym" target="_blank" rel="noopener">live in a fitness desert</a>  can try <a href="https://www.gixo.com/trainer-tips/motivation/group-fitness-classes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">group fitness apps</a> like Gixo, which also can attract more diverse participants to support each other. You can also just simply invite people to the Apple Activity app and make a game out of your health goals. What’s most important is to find a way to create a supportive group that will help challenge and push you to achieve something greater.
<h3>2. Join a mastermind group.</h3>
No matter how tough your job seems, you’re not challenging yourself if you’re spending all your professional time around the same people. Attending conferences can be a short-term solution, as can after-work meetups. Rarely, though, does either setting provide deep enough interactions to facilitate meaningful growth.

Instead, look for a mastermind group. Although many mastermind groups cater to corporate CEOs, not all of them do. In fact, Napoleon Hill, the mastermind who came up with the concept in his 1937 book <a href="https://store.success.com/shop-all/think-and-grow-rich-by-napoleon-hill.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Think and Grow Rich</em></a>, grew up in a one-room schoolhouse. No matter your background or role, you need exposure to those outside of your organization in order to advance.
<h3>3. Find a creative community.</h3>
Contrary to the myth of the “creative genius,” creativity can be trained like any other skill. In his latest <a href="https://amzn.to/2FY3vlJ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">book on creativity</a>, big data entrepreneur Allen Gannett argues that anyone trying to challenge themselves creatively needs a like-minded community. Not only do such communities serve as support networks, but they tend to be the best sources of peer feedback.

Although you might find the creative network you need at a nearby meetup, don’t prioritize proximity over specificity to your craft. For obscure interests, you’re likely to find the most vibrant creative community online. Gannett’s book notes that Ben &amp; Jerry’s has even built one through its email list. After brainstorming new flavors, the ice cream brand asks their 700,000 ChunkMail subscribers to weigh in on which they’d want to try.
<h3>4. Put the ‘social’ back in social networking.</h3>
If you’re like many busy professionals, social hour has become social media hour. Although the occasional Facebook session isn’t likely to hurt you (and can actually help if you’re following the kind of people you aspire to be the average of), studies have <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health-news/social-media-use-increases-depression-and-loneliness" target="_blank" rel="noopener">linked social media overuse</a> to depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, hyperactivity and sleep disturbances. In contrast, frequent socializers enjoy lower risk of stroke, a stronger immune system and improved memory.

No matter the direction in which you want to grow, you need the right network to do it. That’s not a slight; it’s a simple truth about how humans work. Neither you nor anyone else is free from peer influence. You might as well put it to good use.
<blockquote><em><strong>Related: </strong></em><strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/7-reasons-you-should-join-a-community-of-professionals/">7 Reasons You Should Join a Community of Professionals</a></strong></blockquote>

To better yourself physically, mentally, professionally, socially and spiritually, surround yourself with people who challenge you.

To better yourself physically, mentally, professionally, socially and spiritually, surround yourself with people who challenge you. | SUCCESS

4 Ways to Surround Yourself With People Who Challenge You | SUCCESS

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No one enjoys stress. Managers of distressed teams scramble to lead their worn-out employees and struggle to keep their companies productive.

Not all stress is bad, though. <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-eustress-3145109" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eustress</a>, unlike distress, describes psychological discomfort that’s beneficial to the person dealing with it. According to Alia and Thomas Crum on <a href="https://hbr.org/2015/09/stress-can-be-a-good-thing-if-you-know-how-to-use-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Harvard Business Review</a>, people who learn to deal with stress in a positive way are better equipped to handle challenges and avoid burnout.
<blockquote><strong><em>Related:&nbsp;</em></strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/10-ways-successful-people-stay-calm/"><strong>10 Ways Successful People Stay Calm</strong></a></blockquote>
“Stress is a natural part of life,” says Curt Cronin, a former Navy SEAL and the co-founder of <a href="https://www.ridgelinepartners.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ridgeline Partners</a>. “If we run from it, we can’t learn from it. But, if we embrace it, we emerge from the experience stronger and more prepared to tackle tougher challenges in the future.”

Leaders can help their teams avoid burnout and stay productive, but to do so, they first need to change their own ideas about how stress works.
<h2><strong>The Good Kind of Stress</strong></h2>
In terms of evolution, stress is the state the body enters when it feels a looming threat. It is a big part of the fight-or-flight response, which inspires people either to run from problems or to tackle them aggressively.

A little stress can motivate someone to meet the challenges of the day and work harder to reach important goals. Too much stress, however, turns positive motivation into negative reactions. In fact, <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health-news/mental-eight-ways-stress-harms-your-health-082713#2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">excessive stress</a> can cause illnesses, negatively affect relationships and hamper productivity.

Unfortunately, leaders cannot always control the amount of stress their teams encounter. Tight deadlines, client demands and budgetary concerns can all turn normal days into panicked situations. Rather than attempt to influence factors outside their control, leaders should learn to view <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/6-of-my-best-tips-for-managing-stress/">stressful situations</a> as challenges they’re ready to face—and encourage their teams to do the same.
<h2><strong>Stress as a Motivational Tool</strong></h2>
Leaders can follow these best practices to transform stress from an imposing obstacle into a powerful weapon:
<h3><strong>1. Identify the stress factors.</strong></h3>
<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01916.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Research</a> from a team of neuroscientists found that simply acknowledging a stressful situation can shift the brain from a panicked state to a proactive one. The stress won’t leave on its own. Rather than hide from it, name it and face it head on to limit its power.

Delaying the response to stress makes it easier to handle. When someone delivers bad news, don’t let it create a cloud that looms over the whole day. Set a time to plan a response to the issue and handle the tasks already on the calendar so you can return to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/think-slow-and-other-tricks-for-better-problem-solving/">the problem</a> later, ready to solve it. If the problem requires immediate action, take a minute to sit quietly and plan a response rather than barge in without an agenda.
<h3><strong>2. Break the stress into smaller pieces.</strong></h3>
Big problems create big stress. Rather than attack big stressors directly, break them down into smaller components and delegate responsibility for each component to a different person. Communicate the entire issue to team members so they understand the context of their work.

This approach serves two purposes. First, it <a href="https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/1016/pages/7-tips-to-increase-employee-engagement-without-spending-a-dime.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">increases engagement</a> by showing employees the value of their work to the whole. Second, it reduces the individual stress felt by each team member as every person works on a specific task less scary than the sum of the parts. Managers can reduce their own stress levels by tracking the contribution of each component to the solution, rather than the immensity of the problem.
<h3><strong>3. Translate vague stress into definite facts.</strong></h3>
<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/6-stress-relieving-tricks-to-reduce-anxiety-at-work/">The anxiety of stress</a> is directionless. In a stressful environment, people feel the cloud of stress on top of all their work—unless they isolate that stress by tying it to specific, achievable actions.

Reduce the bandwidth of the stress effect by connecting the stressful feeling to concrete deadlines. <a href="https://www.psych.rochester.edu/people/jamieson_jeremy/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Research</a> from the University of Rochester found that students who viewed their pre-test jitters as a positive motivating factor performed better than students who did not reframe their stressful feelings. When team members complete the task associated with the stress, they free themselves from the burden of the feeling and gain a sense of accomplishment in the process.

Stress at work is unavoidable, but it doesn’t have to be unpleasant. By following these tips and reframing stress as a motivating factor, leaders can help their teams stay focused and accomplish more—no matter how big the task.
<blockquote><em><strong>Related:&nbsp;</strong></em><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-5-pillars-of-authentic-leadership/"><strong>The 5 Pillars of Authentic Leadership</strong></a></blockquote>

Leaders can help their teams avoid burnout and stay productive, but to do so, they first need to change their own ideas about how stress works.

What leaders need to know about stress as a motivator | SUCCESS

3 Best Practices for Turning Stress Into Success

3 Best Practices for Turning Stress Into Success | SUCCESS

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