Leave Your Mark

If change doesn't hurt a little, it's not change. You have to go beyond where you're comfortable, or you're not progressing.

It's funny; sometimes you learn the most from watching people display their worst.

If you don't ask, you'll never know. Be an educated risk taker.

Nothing is yours unless you work for it—and however hard you think you have to work in order to get somewhere, I can promise you that it’s triple. I

Life isn’t a dress rehearsal; you have to go for it. But it takes hard work and dedication and you might not always get what you think you deserve. It doesn’t matter. Handle yourself with professionalism and remember that in business, your personal brand is your greatest asset. Mind your reputation and the rest will come.

People who don't check their email before they get into the office in the morning, need not apply for anything.

If you can't recite your elevator pitch at the drop of a hat, stay home.

If you get to the top of the ladder by pushing people off, you'll find that there won't be a ladder left or people to help you get back down.

If you have no one to show you the ropes, you have to build a ladder.

That gut feeling, the one that pulls at you to get your attention, is definitely worth the time to examine.

How you communicate and influence others often matters more than the idea you’re pitching.

How you brand and market yourself can weigh just as heavily on your success as your actual skills do.

YOU are your own brand, and how you manage your personal brand can make or break your career. Because

If I get a DM that says, “Thanks for following! You can also like me on Facebook!” I literally want to unfollow immediately.

But probably the most important thing that I will impart to you is that YOU are your own brand, and how you manage your personal brand can make or break your career.

I’ve always been a very forthright person, and I think that has helped me gain the trust of many. I believe that there is something very attractive about honesty.

You can always tell when an employee thinks, “Oh, that’s stupid. I’m not going to put a lot of effort into that.” Wrong attitude! You have to think about how that task serves the bigger picture. Every job matters along the food chain, so take pride in everything you do, even if it seems pointless at the time. Also, if you throw a fit when you have to do something you don’t want to, I can promise you that when a good project pops up, it will be given to someone else.

Mentors shape who we are. They guide us and let us learn from their successes and their failures. They’re the ultimate big sister in our professional lives. They give you room to grow and help you realize who you are and what you’re capable of doing. They give you that needed nudge, that sign of encouragement. They challenge you to be your best, and if they’re good, they’re also tough on you. Because mentors aren’t there to flatter you; they’re there to help you.