What's Your Cup of Tea?

life by the cup

Written by Marisol Dahl

A daily dose of love and inspiration can be transformative. 

Love and warmth—that’s what I felt after reading Zhena Muzyka’s Life By The Cup. Just as Sri Lankan tea farmers gently pluck only the best of the tea leaves and buds, Zhena chose her words with great care and esteem. With each chapter she invites you in with a warm cup of tea at hand and confides in you her deeply personal story of struggle and success.

In her early twenties, Zhena was jobless, broke, and unsure of her next step forward. Her baby boy Sage was born with a life-threatening condition, and for years to come they would be in and out of the hospital for dozens of tests, check-ups and operations.

Through these years of hardship, Zhena still managed to achieve her dream of starting a tea business. Without any money or assets to her name, she sat down one day and wrote up a business plan, the very beginnings of what is now the multi-million dollar Zhena’s Gypsy Tea.

At the grand opening of her tea shop, Zhena had six dollars in her bank account and her only customers were her sympathetic landlords. She came back the next day vowing to sell more.

After finally gaining a few investors, she was asked to cut costs and use conventional, non-organic and artificial ingredients. Zhena took a great risk in saying no, that she would stand by her commitment to fair trade practices and natural ingredients. She lost her investors and struggled to sell this premium-priced tea, but she came out with a renewed mission and passion.

Zhena’s story is one of perseverance and heart. But her story doesn’t have to be extraordinary or one-in-a-million. We certainly don’t have to sing the praises of the “little tea company that could” and then return to our own uninspired, half-fulfilled lives.

Perseverance isn’t a super power, it’s a human habit. Sure, it may be tough to keep going, especially after a long day, rejection after rejection, and stifling limitations. It may seem as if your reserves of perseverance and strength have finally run out.

But this is when you need to whip out your secret weapon, the thing that will restore your reserves and keep you chugging along. No one ever said you need to persevere alone—a little help and inspiration can be enough to get you back on your feet.

For Zhena, it was a teacup brimming with exotic, flavorful, revitalizing tea. This was her sanctuary, where she’d retreat after a rough day to remind herself of her mission and mull over her next move. Zhena’s teacup acts as a gentle push to reach her full potential.

I love a cup I can wrap both hands around as I raise it to my lips. A cup is a touchstone of tranquility, or warmth and nourishment. It is also a measure of capacity, for how much a cup can hold is critical for anchoring our experience. The thinness of a cup’s walls conveys the craftsmanship and mindfulness that went into its making. If you truly notice the cup you drink from, you create a meaningful ritual that infuses your tea drinking and your life.

Keep going. Find that cup of tea, a journal, an old family portrait, a hike in the woods. Take a moment to recognize the things that truly re-energize you and make a commitment to incorporate them into your daily life.

Healing the World Through Business

On September 8-12, Zhena will be hosting a virtual en*theos conference on responsible business. She is featuring 29 responsible business experts who will share their top tools, techniques and ideas on how to make a positive impact on the world no matter what industry you work in.

Get your free ticket, cozy up with a cup of tea and learn how to align your business with your goal to change the world for the better.

Giveaway

To enter to win a copy of Zhena Muzyka’s Life By The Cup, answer the following questions in the comments by Friday, September 12:

Comment to be entered to win: What is your comfort activity when your chips are down?

About Marisol Dahl

Marisol is currently a Sociology and Education Studies major at Yale University. A longtime New Yorker, she is interested in pursuing a career in education and child advocacy. Marisol started her blog in 2011 as a way to document her college years and beyond. When not running around campus and catching up with her school reading, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading dystopian fiction and volunteering in her community. She can be reached on Twitter at @marisoldahl.

How to Conquer Your Fear Of Public Speaking

We humans can be pretty funny, can’t we? Any species would have to have a sense of humor to evolve the way we did. Because could you actually guess that our number one fear is public speaking? In fact, surveys show that we fear it more than death. And yet public speaking and proper communication skills might just be the most important thing we will learn on this planet.

We fear the very thing that will bring us success. I hate to say it, but I am one of the 75% of people in this world who would rather eat a fistful of worms than get up on stage.

But I don’t want it to be like that. I don’t want my speaking anxiety to keep me from standing up in front of the classroom to share my research, or from asking a question as an audience member, or from walking into a room and confidently introducing myself.

No fear should ever keep us from sharing our ideas and opinions.

And this is why I am so so excited for the Speak Like A Pro virtual conference. Five days with some of the best speakers and thought leaders out there. I can’t wait to hear all their tips on how to calm nerves, practice like a pro, connect with the audience, and still be authentic and, well, real.

I was so eager I decided to do a little interviewing myself with the Life After College crew.

The Life After College Team on how to Speak Like A Pro

Melissa, tell us about your process for structuring and organizing speeches:

"The first thing I do when structuring my speeches is to create a bullet list of the three or four key takeaway items I want the audience to leave with. Whether it's a shift in mindset, new knowledge points, or a big idea - I start with these points as the basis of the talk/or a loose outline.

From there, I fill in the content with a story or anecdote to ensure that the talk is engaging and relatable, and end with placing the transitions, additional explanations and stage actions."

—Melissa Anzman

Davis, what is the most important thing you do to practice for a presentation?

"The first time I was asked to give a speech was in 3rd grade for Black History month. I was assigned the role of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,  a great honor. I researched everything I could and even read his MSN Encarta entry (this was before Wikipedia). Up until the day I was suppose to give my report in front of my class, I had done everything except practice. I thought the words would naturally come out of my mouth; after all Dr. King gave great impromptu speeches and even Ms. Britton, my 3rd grade teacher, did not have a script when she taught us.

In short, when it was my time to speak, I had no lines memorized, I didn’t even have a script; I froze, didn’t say a word, and had to be escorted back to my seat. I received an F on the assignment.

That was 12 years ago and since, I have won multiple state public speaking competitions, been a finalist in multiple national competitions, and delivered multiple key notes. My secret? Making time to practice. Everyone from Tony Robbins to my mentor Susan Cain, who have both built careers public speaking, practice their speeches daily, what excuse do I have not to?"

—Davis Nguyen

Rebecca, how do you ensure you are connecting with your audience?

When I'm giving a talk, I make sure to actively read my audience throughout: is anyone nodding along, smiling at my ridiculous jokes, glaring, sleeping, running for the exit? This audience read is only worth as much as I'm willing to act on that read and change course, though - and that's the scary part.

So I've worked to get comfortable with being somewhat spontaneous. When I'm working with slides it's hard or impossible to fully alter my path, of course, but what I say with each slide often varies depending on what's happening in front of me. I find that the best way to lose an audience is to have a speech prepared and to hold to it stubbornly, come dirty looks or confused glances.

I'm also a big believer in the use of self-effacing humor. The expert advice on speaking probably holds something like, "act confident and your audience will feel at ease" but I find that personally, the more uncoordinated and self-conscious I act, the more people are right there with me. That's because, at heart, I am uncoordinated and self-conscious.

I find that it's all about being comfortable with vulnerability - both my own and that of the people listening to me. When I'm willing to good-naturedly point out my faults - without getting anywhere near self-pity, of course - and perhaps run into a podium or chair while I talk, all the better for the likeability factor, and for my audience's willingness to open up to me in return.

But this last point brings up the most important matter of all: being self-effacing and appearing physically clumsy is my shtick. It's what works for me. If someone else tried it, it might be a total disaster, just as it's a total disaster when I attempt to appear perfectly polished and pulled together, which I've tried more often than I care to admit.

It's like a story a colleague recently told me: days before she had a big speech, her partner encouraged her to "be inspiring - like Obama!" My reserved, thoughtful colleague thought the 180-degree turn from her usual approach might be just what she needed to make her audience enthralled. Long story short, my colleague is no Obama, and the more she tried, the worse the talk went. Her partner was actually in the back of the room covering her eyes by the end.

Above all else, audiences sense authenticity. So being who I truly am - and sizing up the audience as I go to make sure my authentic self is connecting - are the ways I keep an audience in their seats...and their minds in the room, too!"

—Rebecca Fraser-Thill

Jenny, do you ever get nervous before a speech? How do you deal with those last-minute anxieties?

"I almost always get hit with a huge wave of nerves before delivering a speech, whether I'm in front of 50 people or 500; but the most helpful thing for me to remember is that it is a wave, not permanent state or a reason to panic.

If I take three deep breaths, pace a little bit (where no one can see me), and open and close my fists a few times, I can usually work out the extra adrenaline in my body before going on stage. Even if I still have a pounding heart when I first start, it will often calm itself down after a few minutes.

Public speaking understandably engages our fight-or-flight response. As author Scott Berkun put it in his book Confessions of a Public Speaker:

• We are an animal standing alone on an open plane
• With no weapons and nowhere to hide
• With dozens (if not hundreds of eyeballs staring at us)

Evolutionarily speaking, this is a scenario in which we were surely about to die! So our bodies produce extra adrenaline to help us high-tail it out of there.

The key when public speaking is to give this adrenaline something to do, so that it doesn't express itself in a shaky voice (or if you're like me, a whole shaky leg). From a post I did earlier this year on Michael Bay's CES freak-out, here are 5 Tips for Handling an In-the-Moment Flood of Nerves:

1. First and foremost, you must breathe. This is critical. Take a few moments just to collect yourself and breathe. Take in a nice big inahle of air. The audience will hardly notice and it will start to reactivate your relaxation response, letting your brain and body know they are safe.
2. Second, if you’re in a Bay or Blake Situation (hah) try to laugh! Crack a joke. Which brings me to number 3:
3. BE YOURSELF! Nobody expects you to be perfect, especially when they can clearly see that things are going haywire.
4. Acknowledge the issue. Bay did a good job of saying, “The type is all off . . . sorry, I’ll just wing it.” Okay, great! Now breathe and ad lib. Take an improv class if you want to get more comfortable with this.
5. KEEP GOING! This is critical! The show must go on! Don’t make a fight-or-flight response worse with the internal monologue of, “Well now you’re really fucking it up.” Or, “Screw those tech guys — this should not be happening! My reputation is ruined!” Acknowledge the snafu, but KEEP. GOING. An American Psychological Association study even recently found that Getting Excited Helps with Performance Anxiety More Than Trying to Calm Down. The worst thing you can do is start freaking out about freaking out.

People will love you more for keeping strong and (awkwardly) carrying on.

—Jenny Blake

Paul, what inspired you to get into the business of public speaking?

"There is no other work that makes me feel more alive than up on stage doing my best to bring an audience to life. Because as a public speaker I feel like I'm part performer, artist, advocate, comedian, entertainer, teacher, and story-teller -- changing my role from one sentence to the next.

Public speaking requires me not only to fully be myself, but to be more than I thought I was capable of. It requires me to be fully present as I strive to present something that might change someone's life from that moment on."

—Paul Angone

More About Speak Like a Pro

The Speak Like A Pro conference is going on now through Friday, August 29.

Conquer your fear and get your free ticket here!

How to Write Anything (ever)

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Written by Marisol Dahl

Okay, so we all know the plan.

You know, the plan. The one that our third grade teachers taught us back when we were writing our first paragraphs. You find your topic, brainstorm content, outline and organize, draft and revise.

And then you sit down at your desk, open up a blank Word document, crack your knuckles, and start typing out the best piece of writing man has ever known. You’ve done all your research, you’ve outlined to perfection, the words come magically to you. Your readers are sure to be enchanted. It’s just so easy.

Oh. This doesn’t happen to you? But you’ve followed the plan! What could possibly go wrong?

This happens all too often. A surefire process ends up being a total fail. Instead of a path freeing us from complexity, all it does is keep us frozen in our seats thinking about what terrible writers we are.

Here's the thing about writing that nobody tells you: it doesn't have to be hard.

As Dr. Laura Brown writes in the introduction of her book How to Write Anything: A Complete Guide:

I’ve met people who hate to write and I’ve met people who think their writing is no good. But I’ve never met anyone who “can’t write.”

I don’t know about you, but that was pretty refreshing to read.

With over 30 years of experience teaching people how to write, Dr. Brown gets straight to the point about this whole I’m-a-terrible-writer-virus that’s been plaguing us: a new perspective on the writing process.

Sure, research and outlining and revising are still incredibly important steps to the process. But they don’t necessarily have to happen in that order. Instead, Dr. Brown invites us to dive into writing in the way that feels most natural to us. Writing a first draft might happen before coming to a clear understanding of who you’re writing for, or what the true purpose of your piece is. And that’s okay.

Draft before you research. Outline before you brainstorm. Draft, revise, then draft some more. It’s all good.

Dr. Brown’s How to Write Anything champions this message of freedom and flexibility. This easy-to-use reference book is your go-to guide for anything (and I mean anything) you will ever have to write.

Book Giveaway:

We’re so happy to give away a copy of How to Write Anything by Laura Brown to a Life After College reader—it’s one of those books you’ll keep reaching for in years to come.

To enter to win, answer the following question in the comments by Friday, July 18. We will pick a winner and email to let you know!

Comment to be Entered to Win:

What’s your biggest challenge when it comes to writing?

About Marisol Dahl

Marisol is currently a Sociology and Education Studies major at Yale University. A longtime New Yorker, she started her blog in 2011 as a way to document her college years and beyond. When not running around campus and catching up with her school reading, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading dystopian fiction and volunteering in her community. She can be reached on Twitter at @marisoldahl.

Welcome to the Real World (+Giveaway!)

welcome-to-the-real-world-lauren-berger

I love symbolism. I’m a sucker for all those stars-aligned, metaphoric, mystical happenings in the world. I don’t know about you, but I eat it up for breakfast. So it’s certainly not lost on me that I am writing about Lauren Berger’s new book Welcome to the Real World: Finding Your Place, Perfecting Your Work, And Turning Your Job into a Dream Career on the anniversary of a day that’s been pretty darn important to my life so far. I’m writing this post on June 10, 2014. Today is the three year anniversary of my high school graduation.

I just finished my junior year of college. I’ve completed three full years--to the day--of college student life. This summer I have my first internship that does not require me to wear the same exact camp counselor shirt. (Dude, I even have my own office. Score.)

The one year countdown to the “real world” has begun. And I’m kind of glad to have Berger’s Welcome to the Real World as my side-kick.

Known to her followers as “The Intern Queen,” Lauren Berger has built a brand around empowering students and recent grads throughout their internship and career journeys. By the time she finished college, Berger had successfully interned at a grand total of 15 companies. In less than ten years, she’s transformed from eager intern to weary assistant to poised and polished CEO. I think we can all take a page out of her book (yes, pun intended).

Berger’s second book, Welcome to the Real World, guides you through your first, second and third job. While geared towards the young, newly-professional woman, the book offers a thorough look into modern-day workplace expectations and culture. Whether you’re just about the enter the “real world” or want to brush up on the most current tools and techniques to make the most of your job, Welcome to the Real World is a great place to start.

Some bite-sized wisdom from The Intern Queen

On success

“Success means being happy in the way you’re spending your time every day. Success is being able to constantly grow and learn, to make mistakes and then pick yourself up the next day.”

On confidence

“Confidence comes from experiencing things and just living life.”

On rejection

“Rejection doesn’t mean never, it just means not right now. … One way to move forward is by having multiple projects going on at the same time. … I find that the more baskets I have, the less likely rejection will ruin my day.”

On humility

“Your boss isn’t a mind reader and remember, you are expected to do a good job and to do your work--that’s part of the job description.”

On career development

“I’d rather you hustle and be happy than make a ton of money and be miserable.”

Book Giveaway!

To enter to win a copy of Welcome to the Real World by Lauren Berger, answer the following questions in the comments by Friday, June 20. We will pick a winner via random.org and email to let you know!

Comment to be Entered to Win:

Was there a specific moment you felt you had officially entered “the real world”?

What would you have done to better prepare yourself for your first job?

About Marisol Dahl

Marisol is currently a Sociology and Education Studies major at Yale University. A longtime New Yorker, she is interested in pursuing a career in education and child advocacy. Marisol started her blog in 2011 as a way to document her college years and beyond. When not running around campus and catching up with her school reading, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading dystopian fiction and volunteering in her community. She can be reached on Twitter at @marisoldahl.

Love Yourself & Catch those Gremlins, for Nothing Changes Until You Do (+Giveaway!)

Written by Marisol Dahl

nothing-changes-until-you-do-cover

Today we are so excited to celebrate the official launch of Mike Robbins’s new book, Nothing Changes Until You Do: A Guide to Self-Compassion and Getting Out of Your Own Way.

A keynote speaker on teamwork, emotional intelligence and the importance and impact of authenticity, Mike Robbins is on a mission to help people better connect to each other and to themselves.

Mike's third book, Nothing Changes Until You Do is a collection of 40 stories and reflections from Robbins’s own life and from the lives of those who have most inspired him. Each essay has its own bit of wisdom to impart, everything from why it is important (and courageous!) to embrace powerlessness to the value of owning up to your accomplishments and letting your light shine.

I was fortunate enough to interview Mike and get a peek into his book-writing process, how to battle the inner gremlin (that nagging inner-critic), and his top tip for recent college grads.

Interview with Mike Robbins

As you mention in the introduction, this is the first book you've written in five years. Your other two books were written within three years, with two new babies, and lots of ups and downs. How has writing Nothing Changes Until You Do been different? What's been the best part?

Writing this book was very different. First of all, I’m a few years older now (and hopefully a little wiser). Second of all, we didn’t have a baby associated with this book directly – when I wrote my first one we had a new baby at home and when I wrote my second one, we had a 2-year old and a baby on the way. My girls are now 8 and 5, which is a very different phase of parenting. And, finally, I decided to write this book in a different way (short essay style), which made it even more fun and easy for me to write. I also used speech recognition software to write much of it, which worked really well for me.

Many of our readers are 20-somethings and recent college grads. We're entering the working world, forging new relationships, navigating unchartered territory. What is one thing we can do right now to better embrace our vulnerabilities?

Give yourself permission to feel scared and own it. One of the scariest times in life is when you graduate from college. Of course it can be fun and exciting, but even the most confident, successful, and focused person gets scared when entering a new phase of life. The rules of life in the “real world” are much different than the rules of life in school and it takes some time to figure it out.

A common mistake that most of us make in our early 20s is we spend and waste a lot of time and energy pretending we know what we’re doing, when oftentimes we don’t. This is true throughout life, but especially in our 20s. Embrace your age and exactly where you are. And, remember that it’s okay to feel scared and, at times, completely overwhelmed – everyone else does, they just pretend that they don’t.

What is the first thing you do when you feel your gremlin sneaking up on you?

First of all, it’s important to recognize the gremlin (that negative voice in our head). The most dangerous aspects of the gremlin are the ones we aren’t aware of (i.e. we think it’s the “truth.”)  Once we recognize that it is our gremlin, not us, who is talking or leading the way, we can gently take back our power by having compassion for ourselves and reminding ourselves that the critical voice in our head does not have the final say.

When my gremlin shows up in an intense way, it’s often important for me to reach out to people I know and trust and to let them know some of the negative thoughts and judgments I am experiencing about myself. Talking about it often helps loosen the grip and helps me take back my power from my gremlin.

In one of your later chapters you mentioned that "being bold, while scary and challenging at times, is essential to living an authentic and fulfilling life" and that it's important to "swing hard, just in case you hit it." Can you tell us about a time when you may not have swung hard enough? What would you have done differently?

I have many examples of “not swinging hard enough.” Most of the times I’ve failed – back when I was playing baseball all of those years and in my business now – it is a function of not swinging hard enough (as opposed to swinging too hard).

One recent example is related to a speech I gave at a big conference for one of my clients. It was a huge event and I had a relatively short time I was scheduled to speak on stage. Instead of doing what I normally do – trust my gut, speak from my heart, and allow myself to create in the moment, I got scared and didn’t want to mess up, so I over prepared, rehearsed my speech, and it ended up falling flat, one of the worst ones I’ve given in a long time. It felt like I missed the moment, got overwhelmed by the situation, and didn’t allow myself to trust and risk in the way I know how…in other words, I didn’t swing hard enough. It was painful, but a great learning experience.

I loved your chapter on gratitude, and I find this to be so true: "The way gratitude works is that the more we focus on feeling grateful, the more we have to feel grateful for." In this moment, right now, what are you grateful for?

Such a great question – thank you for asking it. I don’t think we can ever ask or answer this question enough. Right in this moment, I’m grateful for my wife Michelle and our two amazing girls Samantha and Rosie. I’m grateful to be doing work that I love and to have people (like you) asking for my perspective and advice.

I’m grateful that I had the courage and commitment to write another book, even though it can be scary to put myself out there. I’m grateful for the enormous amount of support I have in my life and with my business. I’m grateful for the ability to express myself authentically and to learn each and every day. And…so much more!

Giveaway

We’re excited to be giving away two copies of Nothing Changes Until You Doby Mike Robbins. To enter to win, answer the following question in the comments by Friday, May 16. We will pick a winner via random.org and email to let you know!

Comment to be Entered to Win: What is one blessing-in-disguise that you are grateful for?

About Marisol Dahl

Marisol is currently a Sociology and Education Studies major at Yale University. A longtime New Yorker, she is interested in pursuing a career in education and child advocacy. Marisol started her blog in 2011 as a way to document her college years and beyond. When not running around campus and catching up with her school reading, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading dystopian fiction and volunteering in her community. She can be reached on Twitter at @marisoldahl.

Time to Revolutionize Your Leadership Style (+ Giveaways!)

Written by Marisol Dahl

Time for Leadership

As Willy Wonka once said, “Time is a precious thing. Never waste it.” 

But this is so much easier said than done, right? In a world of endless distractions and never-ending to-do lists, how do we harness the time, energy and leadership skills to attain the results we really want?

Pierre Khawand’s new book Time for Leadership: The Accomplishing More in Less Time, Less Effort, and Less Stress Leadership Journey is all about looking at leadership in a totally revolutionized way. Khawand recognizes the recent paradigm shift in the concept of leadership and what that means for you and your career.

Leadership is no longer considered something you are simply born with--your leadership skills can grow and develop with experience and sincere effort. Leadership is also not just for those on top. It is needed at all levels, whether you’re the CEO, a front-line employee, or somewhere in between. Finally, this new age of leadership requires a healthy balance of leading and following, knowing when to step up to the plate or when to back down and let others take the wheel.

Khawand and his company People-OntheGo are devoted to helping people use time efficiently, take control of the technological world and tap into their leadership potential. Time for Leadership compiles all the new game-changing models from some of the top minds in leadership. Khawand’s approach is all about having leadership “broken down into digestible and practical behaviors” that we can implement immediately and effectively in our daily lives.

Some quotes that really got me revved up:

On focusing on strengths:

When we focus on people’s strengths, they gain confidence, they get engaged, and they produce great outcomes, and in doing so, they are more likely to overcome their weaknesses.

On deltas and weak links:

80% of our results come from 20% of our effort.

Most of what we accomplish comes from certain activities that are closely connected to our desired results. The link between these activities and these results is strong. We refer to these activities as Deltas. And many of the other activities that we perform don’t generate much result. The link between these activities and the desired results is weak. We refer to these activities as Weak Links.

Before engaging in any activity, gigantic or minuscule, ask the leadership question: Is this activity a Delta or a Weak Link? This is the leadership mindset.

On creativity, in Daniel Guillory’s chapter:

To be truly creative, be prepared to have a thick skin. The reason for this goes to Picasso’s famous quote, “Creativity is first of all an act of destruction.” A creative act changes the way we do or view something--and by definition, most human beings do not embrace change.

The ability to be truly creative in an area is directly proportional to the extent of your base of knowledge about that area. For example, the creative jump that my seven-year-old son can make in terms of his paintings would not compare to the kind of creative jump that someone like Claude Monet could make, who studied for years and years.

Giveaways!

We are so excited to be giving away a copy of Time for Leadership by Pierre Khawand as well as a free seat in People-OntheGo’s upcoming program the Accomplishing More Leadership Program to five lucky Life After College readers!

To enter to win answer the following question in the comments by Friday, April 18th. We will pick winners via Random.org and email to let you know!

Comment to be Entered to Win:

How do you demonstrate leadership in your own everyday life?

About Marisol Dahl

Marisol is currently a Sociology and Education Studies major at Yale University. A longtime New Yorker, she is interested in pursuing a career in education and child advocacy. Marisol started her blog in 2011 as a way to document her college years and beyond. When not running around campus and catching up with her school reading, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading dystopian fiction and volunteering in her community. She can be reached on Twitter at @marisoldahl.

Book Review and Giveaway: They Don't Teach Corporate In College

they-dont-teach-corporate-in-college-10th-anniversary-cover

Written by Marisol Dahl

In college, we get book smart. We become masters of supply and demand curves, we balance chemical equations in our sleep, and we read Foucault with ease. Okay, maybe not that last one.

But the world outside college is a whole new playing field. It’s not enough to study the material and show up for the test on time with a #2 pencil. Surviving the business world requires the ability to get your work done, navigate messy corporate politics, and maintain your “professional persona” at all times. Much easier said than done. But don’t worry—Alexandra Levit’s got you covered.

In her book They Don’t Teach Corporate in College, Levit walks us through all the things about the corporate world we might not know about—everything from the importance of performance reviews, to working your way up the ladder, to figuring out if you’re going to get the axe. Levit is direct and open in her approach. She wants you to succeed, and she’s not afraid to divulge all the secrets to becoming a corporate superstar.

A former PR manager for a Fortune 500 company, Levit wrote They Don’t Teach Corporate In College in 2004 at a time when her career was finally picking up and she was eager to share all she’d learned. Now an expert, she devotes her time to writing and speaking about modern workplace issues and concerns. This 10th Anniversary edition of her book is filled with even more tips on how to thrive in a corporate world that is becoming even more global, fluid and unpredictable.

As a college student who has yet to take the great leap into the “real” working world, I’m fortunate to read this book and start preparing myself now. But there are lessons to be learned at all ages, and the great thing about The Don’t Teach Corporate In College is that it addresses all stages of the corporate lifecycle—finding a job, working your way up, and moving on to the next big thing.

So what are my biggest takeaways?

• Focus on results. The working world values results more than it values effort; we have to work smarter to get ahead, not necessarily harder.
• Swallow a healthy dose of humility. Don’t underestimate the value of a little modesty. No one likes a know-it-all, and employers and co-workers alike appreciate it when new employees make an effort to understand an existing workplace culture.
• Act with intention. Make sure your current actions and work habits align with your long-term career and personal development goals.

Book Giveaway

To enter to win a copy of They Don’t Teach Corporate in College by Alexandra Levit, answer the following questions in the comments by Friday, March 21st. We will pick a winner via Random.org and email to let you know!

Comment to be Entered to Win:

What is one piece of career advice you’d like to give to your younger self? What do you wish you had known before starting your current position?

About Marisol Dahl

Marisol Dahl

Marisol is currently a Sociology and Education Studies major at Yale University. A longtime New Yorker, she is interested in pursuing a career in education and child advocacy. Marisol started her blog in 2011 as a way to document her college years and beyond.

When not running around campus and catching up with her school reading, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading dystopian fiction and volunteering in her community. She can be reached on Twitter at @marisoldahl.

3 Tips to Succeed in the Economy of You (Plus Book Giveaway!)

Written by Marisol Dahl

You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again: gone are the days of climbing the corporate ladder at that job you’ve had since forever. Job hopping is our go-to dance move. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average worker stays at his or her job for only 4 to 5 years.

But what does this really mean? It means change, chances to start fresh, and a lot of new co-workers. It also means greater financial insecurity.

In steps Kimberly Palmer.

In her new book The Economy of You: Discover Your Inner Entrepreneur and Recession-Proof Your Life, you’ll learn how to leverage the power of the side-gig, the key to gaining greater professional control and financial security in this modern-day economy.

As a successful side-gigger herself, Palmer knows exactly what challenges new entrepreneurs encounter. With everything from time management strategies to marketing tactics, Palmer offers great, practical tips for building your own thriving side business.

What I love about The Economy of You is that you can pick it up at any stage of the process. Whether you’ve had a side-gig for years or haven’t even thought of having one, Palmer’s book offers a perfect mix of big-picture inspiration and a focused set of resources to help you launch your business and stay afloat.

So, is your side-hustle in the works? Nowhere near starting? Don’t quite know yet what your side business will be? No matter where you are, here are the top 3 things you should be doing right now to ensure you hit a grand slam.

1. Start branding yourself—now.

Create an identity independent of your current job position or workplace hierarchy. What sets yourself apart from the rest of your coworkers? What are you an expert in? If you could be known for one thing in the professional world, what would it be?

But labels and name tags are only part of it. You’ve defined your brand, now embody it. How can your everyday actions align with the image you want to put forth? If you want others to come to see you as competent, dependable and approachable, you must demonstrate these qualities. Be up to date on the latest topics in your niche, engage frequently and showcase what you have to offer.

2. Build your posse, your community, your tribe.

Once you’ve established your brand, surround yourself with inspiration. Use social networking sites to connect with others in your niche, start reading the appropriate books and blogs, and most importantly: start a conversation. Business doesn’t have to be cutthroat. While others in your niche may be your competition, they are also trying to establish themselves and grow their own networks too.

Connecting with people will keep the creativity flowing, and while you may not at all be ready to launch your side-gig, your niche allies will have valuable advice and ideas. Connecting with them now will give your brand exposure and might lead to future opportunities for collaboration.

3. Expect failure—and embrace it.

Every success has a story behind it, and what’s a story without some plot twists along the way? There will be times of failure and rejection, but for each challenge there is an opportunity to learn and to extend yourself in ways you might not have thought possible.

Palmer’s own tale of a presentation fiasco is a great reminder that discomfort, while discouraging, can push you to re-evaluate, re-calibrate and improve your business practices and brand. Remember: when you overcome an obstacle, you aren’t just getting back on track. You are coming out stronger than ever before.

Book Giveaway

To enter to win a copy of The Economy of You by Kimberly Palmer, answer the following questions in the comments by next Thursday, February 27. We will pick a winner via random.org and email to let you know!

Comment to be Entered to Win:

If you were to start a side-business tomorrow, what would it be and why? What is one thing you can do right now to put yourself on the path to side-gig success?

About Marisol Dahl

Marisol Dahl

Marisol is currently a Sociology and Education Studies major at Yale University. A longtime New Yorker, she is interested in pursuing a career in education and child advocacy. Marisol started her blog in 2011 as a way to document her college years and beyond.

When not running around campus and catching up with her school reading, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading dystopian fiction and volunteering in her community. She can be reached on Twitter at @marisoldahl.