We all have our comfort zone: a world where we are at ease in our routine surroundings, job, community, and relationships. We know these routines like the back of our hand and feel comfortable in knowing that things will rarely change. But here’s the problem with that: the world is always changing. Nothing ever stays the same. If you always stay inside your comfort zone – especially when it comes to your career – you will find yourself stuck, or worse, left behind.

Not sure what we mean? Take a look at the way we consume music, as an example. Depending on your age, you might have listened to music on records, 8-tracks, cassettes, CDs and now on your phone. If musicians who once distributed their music only on 8-tracks tried doing that today because they were “comfortable” with that format, their sales would seriously flop.

The point is this: our world is always changing and, as professionals, we have to be ready and anticipate those changes. More than that, we should invite those changes into our lives. The most successful people are the ones who know that change is inevitable and adapt to those changes faster than others. So staying in your comfort zone simply won’t cut it.

To help you be as successful as possible, consider engaging in some simple habits that can prepare you to think and live outside your comfort zone – even if it’s just a little bit at a time.

For starters, ask yourself these questions:

1. What would you do if you could do anything?
2. What would you like to learn about?
3. What small changes would you like to make to your life?

We oftentimes get stuck in our comfort zones because of the routines we adapt to, often without intention. While routines and schedules can be helpful, they can also keep us stuck. Be open to trying new things every once in a while. Consider changing up your routine by doing one of the following:

1. At Home:
   1. Think of a way to reward yourself for the new habit you WANT to build.
   2. Try a new restaurant or eat radically different food items.
   3. Eliminate TV after dinner and find new activities.
      
      
2. At Work:
   1. Make a point to notice positive efforts daily and compliment people.
   2. Invite a colleague to lunch who you don’t know well.
   3. Do a favor for a coworker.
      
      
3. Explore Your Community:
   1. Visit a museum, art store, antique mall, etc.
   2. See a play.
   3. Go to a friend’s kid’s soccer, baseball, or hockey game (even if you have your own kids’ games).
   4. Walk, run or ride on a new trail.
      

These simple and fun adventures allow you to see opportunities you are missing and help you to stretch out of your comfort zone. As you exchange stale routines for fresh and healthy new ones; you’ll likely find you have increased energy, better attitudes, more friends and optimism for the future. It doesn’t take much to shake things up and elevate your opportunities for career advancement and life enjoyment.

Another way you can break out of your comfort zone without leaving the comfort of your chair is by joining online community groups of like-minded professionals. If you’re looking to shake things up professionally, consider joining our free Facebook group. This group is designed to help talented, ambitious professionals and motivated leaders develop the Presence, Power and Persuasion they need to make a positive impact, advance their careers and be successful in executive roles. Click here to request to join.

Simply put: too much stress negatively impacts your life and can prohibit success. Daily stressors will always exist, so the key is to learn how to eliminate the stress toxins that build up in the body. Below are some steps you can take to calm your nervous system whenever stress kicks into high gear.

1. Stop Thinking.
Even though you may be having a bad day or even a bad week, push the pause button for a second and reframe your thought patterns. Put things into perspective. Think about the many things you can be grateful for – starting with the positive people in your life. Focusing on those we love and what is good in our lives is a powerful way to control our body’s response to stress and keep things in check.

2. Breathe Deeply.
It might seem silly at first, yet oftentimes we forget to start with the basics and just BREATHE! This ancient practice instantly reduces stress and allows us to tap into our creative energy. And from our creative resources, we can find the solutions we need.

3. Let Go.
Make of list of the things that overwhelm you. Then, put a check next to the things you can control or influence. For the items that remain unchecked, take a minute to acknowledge that you cannot control them and let go of the idea of doing so.

Then, with the items you checked off as being in your control, start going through that list and strategize how to tackle those items.

1. Move It.
To help reduce the stress hormones in your system, it’s time to get moving! Stretch, walk, bounce; move however you need to to get the stress toxins out of your body.

2. Drink Water.
We all know that water fuels your body, but did you know that it can reduce your stress levels as well? Studies have shown that dehydration can lead to an increase in the stress hormone, cortisol. So just by sipping your water, you will see a decrease in your stress levels and feel the effects of reduced stress.

Work-related issues such as inter-office politics, constant deadlines, feeling overwhelmed, being stuck in dead-end roles are all frustrating and persistent problems that can exacerbate your stress levels and make life miserable. If you are dealing with work-related stress and you want to eliminate it – Excelerate can help. To find out more, schedule a free consultation with an Excelerate team member to establish a game plan. 

If you think about it, the Irish are experts at building social capital. They know how to build trust and rapport with others. As a cultural norm, the Irish make people feel special and cared for, which lays the foundation for creating strong and impactful relationships.

Think this ability is just the luck of the Irish? It’s not! You don’t need a four-leaf clover to have the same impact on your professional and personal relationships. The Irish’s reputation is not luck at all, it’s culture, and you can build this culture within yourself. Here’s how:

1. Always Make People Feel Welcome.
Something that comes second nature to the Irish is making others feel like family. Locals take the time to ask others how they’re doing, they help each other out without expecting anything in return and they take outsiders under their wing and make them feel like Ireland is their home, too.

All of these acts are also great ways to build social capital. Start by being approachable and engaging, be honest and show up when others really need you, and be loyal – have their back even when they’re not around. Doing so demonstrates that you care and are willing to go the extra mile for others. This builds trust that is like money in the bank. Soon enough, you’ll see that behavior reciprocated, creating a strong foundation for long-term social capital.

2. Stay in touch with others.
The Irish community is a pretty tight-knit group of people. Because of its small-town likeness, everyone makes an effort to keep in touch and checks in on how others in the community are doing. This helps create strong relationships within the community.

You don’t have to be local to borrow this trait. There’s nothing like getting an unexpected call from an old friend who wants to check-in and see how you’re doing. It makes you feel important and cared for, which is exactly why it’s a great way to build social capital.

Wondering where to start? Reach out to former colleagues, clients, mentors, and other professionals in your industry and let them know you appreciate them and are thinking about them. This will make a positive impression and lead to more opportunities for you. Whether it’s extending congratulations for a job promotion, forwarding a newspaper clipping, or simply checking in to say hello, these small gestures have an exponential positive impact.

3. Be persistent.
The country of Ireland is a story of persistence. With wars, famine, and poverty coloring its history, the people of Ireland have built up strong willpower. Whatever comes their way, they keep pushing forward with an outward optimism that is both charming and admirable. There are two great ways to learn from this bit of Irish culture – first, when your chips are down; keep your chin UP! Others are inspired by an optimistic and resilient person and they will remember your confidence and good character.

Second, investing in social capital takes a little perseverance; it doesn’t happen overnight. There’s an investment in getting to know people and building authentic trust. With some people it’s organic, with others it takes more time. Don’t give up; as time goes by, you’ll see evidence of success in your ability to build positive and powerful relationships.

4. Have Fun!
Even though St. Patrick’s Day technically celebrates the death of a saint who reportedly removed all the snakes from Ireland during the fifth century, these days, people of other cultures all around the globe pause for a moment, put their “Irish on”  and celebrate what is festive, fun and heartwarming in life. The Irish are known for having a great sense of humor, being open to new adventures, storytelling, and bringing life to any party, wherever they are and whoever they are with.

This is a critical aspect of building social capital. You want to be the person everyone loves to spend time with. In order to do that, take a queue from the Irish and show off your fun-loving side. Display your true personality, take others on adventures and always be the life of the party wherever you go.

Forget about a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Building Social Capital is better than gold, it’s money in the bank of life that will get you much further in your career. So, the next time you want to create a good impression, have some fun, and make a friend for life — channel your inner Irishman and enjoy yourself.

For more tips on how to create the career of your dreams, click here to watch my master class on The Keys to Executive Success.

Countless adjectives can be used to describe a great leader, and while our definitions of leadership may differ, we all know a great leader when we see one. Think of a great leader that you respect… what makes you admire them? What skills do you think they possess?

You don’t have to be the CEO of a company, or start a movement, to be a leader. Leadership is demonstrated by how we live our lives day-to-day.

Below are six qualities of great leaders that, with practice, you can master:

1. Confidence – It gives great leaders the ability to get things done. By remaining calm and self-assured, you as a leader, will assist in keeping the team feeling the same. Remember: your team will be observing you, so if you radiate a level of confidence, your team will pick up on that vibe. This way, when they hit a bump in the road, they have the confidence to know they will figure it out or attain the right resources to do so. The goal is to keep the entire team working and moving ahead.
   
   
2. Inspirational – Great leaders inspire action into their team. They do what it takes to set their team up for success. However, a great leader also acknowledges the work that has been given and applauds the team on each their contributions. It is the job of a leader to keep spirits up, and that begins with an appreciation for the hard work.
   
   
3. High-Integrity – All of the greatest leaders have led by example. They have resilient values and can be counted on to be dependable, truthful and fair-minded. A great leader makes ethical choices, they practice what they preach, and support their team in doing the same.
   
   
4. Communication – As a leader, being able to clearly explain your vision and what you want done is extremely important. If you can’t properly communicate this, the team won’t all be working toward the same goal. Great leaders listen to their team, and establish systems and routines to ensure ease of communications throughout their organization.
   
   
5. Positive Outlook – One of the most important qualities a great leader can possess is being able to use positive thinking to motivate others. Leaders see opportunity in every challenge. They keep the entire team focused on a successful future while helping them overcome obstacles.
   
   
6. Tenacity – Persistence is everything. Great leaders refuse to let temporary setbacks derail them. When working toward a goal, a tenacious leader demonstrates drive, while having remarkable determination until the goal is achieved. People admire a tenacious leader because it lets them know their effort won’t go to waste if reaching their target is more difficult – or takes longer than predicted.
   

A quick way to up your game is to select a couple areas where you would like to improve, and practice the actions indicated above. Pay attention to the changes you witness. Developing and consistently using your leadership skills is a commitment that will greatly benefit you through the course of your life. Leadership is about guiding ourselves just as much as it is about guiding others, too.

Before you’ve even said a word, you have been assessed on several key factors including style, confidence, competence and friendliness. And when you do start to speak, according to a recent New York Times article, over 93% of what you communicate comes through body language. So while words matter, your presence is essential to your success. The question is: are you making a positive or a negative impact through the way you present yourself?

It’s even more important if you’re a leader in your organization. If you manage people or projects, the quality of your presence drives your ability to get this done effectively. In fact, a study conducted at MIT found that training in soft skills to boost executive presence issued a 250% return on investment. An additional study revealed that 62% of senior executives consider Presence or Gravitas the most important factor in hiring decisions. In a nutshell – a powerful presence is great for you and for the organization.

Now, if you’re thinking, “some people are just born with a powerful presence. There’s nothing I can do to change how other people perceive me.” You’re wrong. Presence is a combination of variables well within your own control. Your presence can be molded into almost anything you want it to be. A little effort spent improving your presence will make a HUGE difference in your first impression, and the result is a whole new world of possibilities.