TheMadGrad

We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives… not looking for flaws, but for potential. ~Ellen Goodman

The Mad Grad is back after a long and much needed holiday break! We hope everyone had a nice holiday with the people they love.

Entering January we are all experiencing a very interesting time in our Nation. A new democratic president is coming into office after eight long years of feeling hopeless and the economic downturn is still making a huge impact on society. These are only a few of the things going on in our world and country today. What our nation was in 2008 is changing a lot and since we are trying to adjust to a new environment we will only continue to change.

We need to ask ourselves at this time, What can we as young professionals do during this time? How was can continue to personally strive and be successful? How can we carry on growing when everything around us is falling apart?

Here are some things to consider:

Being young and fresh in your career does make you more dispensable than others who have more experience and tenure than you. Because of this it is crucial to work hard and don’t be afraid to share your input and ideas, even if they get shot down at least it shows that you are making an inventive effort and always thinking forward.

Start working on your personal endeavors. It is never too soon to take those ideas out of your back pocket and start to materialize them. New ideas flourish even more rapidly in a time like this when our economy is not strong. Some of the greatest inventions and new businesses have evolved in a time similar to what we are going through now.

I know this phrase is heavily over used but always have a Plan B. Keep every business card you get and try to make good first impressions on everyone you come across in your current position, you never know when you will need to reconnect with them or use them as a networking resource. Always keep your eye out for new opportunities and remember to continually look out for number one.

Make attainable goals for yourself in both your work and personal life. There is nothing like the feeling of accomplishing goals and once you start to get the small ones completed you can reach for bigger ones. This motivation and determination brings a new kind of energy to your life that cannot be explained until experienced.

For now just continue to be true to yourself and get back into the swing of work to start the year out right!