How to be a powerful connector without feeling used

How to be a powerful connector without feeling usedHow to be a powerful connector without feeling usedRecently, a Bossed Up podcast listener called in with a career conundrum all about how to provide advice and encouragement to budding professionals without feeling used and burned when her prospective proteges up and ghost herDont get me wrong I want all of us to lift as we climb and support one another. But Bossed Up women including those of us who find ourselves in the position of supervision and counseling others along the way must set clear boundaries for how we give back.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreSet boundaries for giving backOne thing to consider is to set limits on how many of these meetings youll take. Perhaps you can justify mentorship meetings once a month or once a week.Whatever you make space for, send the folks who ask for your counsel aCalendlylink thats se t up to just allow them to book time on your schedule during those limited hours. That way, you know youre making yourself available to give back, but also can protect your time, too.Ask more of the person whos asking for helpSecond, its perfectly fine to ask more of the folks you choose to mentor. When I meet with people like this, Im promising them a certain amount of my focused time. The follow-up game is really up to them to pursue.During our initial meeting Ill typically drop a few names of people who Id bewillingto connect them with. I tellthemto first do their due diligence and look those folks up before I introduce them, so they can be sure that yes, that is someone theyd be interested in being connected with. Otherwise, we run the risk of connecting people before theyre sure its what they really need and want.From there, I always ask the folks I mentor to send me a quick introductory paragraph I should use when introducing them. This allows them to ensure that Im introducin g them by highlighting whats most important for their purposes, and it saves me the time, energy, and effort of writing up my own little explanation of who they are and why theyd like to connect.At the end of my mentorship meetings, I tell them Ill respond to their email when they send me those two things a list of the folks theyve vetted to make sure they want to be introduced toandthe blurb I should use when making the connection.Opt for the double opt-inFinally, its always best to opt for the double opt-in before introducing someone. By that I mean, email your contactfirstto get their permission to be connected. In the spirit of ensuring that none of us feel used while supporting other professionals on the rise, this is key before you CC everyone together, get permission to connect folks first.Ive written in the pastabout how I used to jump the gun and make this networking mistake. But it can earn you a reputation for taking your connections for granted, so dont make the same roo kie error.If you get ghosted, its not about youKeep in mind if the folks you mentor completely ghost on you after you made time to give them advice thats not about you, boo. Thats on themOn next weeks anfhrer tip podcast, well turn the tables on this question and answer another listener career conundrum about how to slay the follow-up game when youre the one asking to pick someones brain over coffee, so stay tunedThis article originally appeared on BossedUp.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

9 Top Female Models You Need to Follow on Social Media

9 Top Female Models You Need to Follow on Social Media9 Top Female Models You Need to Follow on Social MediaIts no secret that social media has changed the modeling industry. Thanks to popular networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, we no longer have to wait a whole month for the next issue of Vogue to update us on the latest fashion trends. We dont have to travel to Paris and get a front-row seat at Fashion Week, either, or bump into Gisele at Starbucks to know how her day is going.No, these days models are mora than happy to give their fans real-time insight into their not-so-exclusive worlds. And while its true that some models are contractually obligated to tweet up a storm, most do it because its fun and because its an easy way to build their brands. Clients prefer models who have a strong social media following because it means theyll get more exposure.So whether youre looking for inspiration for your own modeling career or cant get enough of your favorite models, these are the ladies you need to check out online. 01Kendall JennerGetty Images for Veuve Clicquot / Getty ImagesCoco Rocha is an outgoing and outspoken social media master. Shes acquired millions of followers across 13 social media platformsand wants nothing more than to use her power for good. Cocos all about being a role model and making the industry a safer and healthier place for both new and experienced models.

27 surprising things that affect whether you get hired

27 surprising things that affect whether you get hired27 surprising things that affect whether you get hiredThere are many pieces to a job interview.Theres the obvious stuff Have you done your research on the company? Are you polite to the interviewer and eager to join the staff?But theres also the less obvious stuff How do you treat the receptionist? Are you smiling too much?Below, we put together a list of seemingly trivial details that can affect your chances of landing the gig - and only some are within your control.Jacquelyn Smith and Vivian Giang contributed to a previous version of this article.1. The time of your interview1030 a.m. on a Tuesday is the best time for you to schedule an interview, reports Glassdoor. People are shown to be most productive on Tuesdays and wont feel rushed by the time they meet you. Its also late enough in the day that your interviewer has had time to check their email, have a cup of coffee, and get ready for your arrival.You also dont want to be someones last meeting of the workday, because theres a good chance the interviewers attention might not solely be on you. They could be thinking about priorities that they have after work, for example, such as dinner plans, kids homework, etc.Also, avoid interviewing pre or post-lunch because your time with them could either be cut short or you could be left waiting for a long time.2. The weather on the day of your interviewUniversity of Toronto researchers Donald Redelmeier and Simon D. Baxter found that medical school applicants fared worse if they interviewed on a rainy day compared to sunny day interviewees.They say Overall, those interviewed on rainy days received about a 1% lower score than those interviewed on sunny days. This pattern was consistent for both senior interviewers and junior interviewers. We next used logistic regression to analyze subsequent admission decisions. The difference in scores was equivalent to about a 10% lower total mark on the Medical College Admis sion Test.The data included nearly 3,000 applicants over a six-year period.3. How early you arriveYou may think itll look good if you arrive early - but if youre excessively early, you could be hurting your chances.Of course arriving a few minutes early is a good idea, and is certainly better than arriving late - but dont show up a half hour before your interview, says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job.It can make you appear too anxious or put pressure on the interviewer. If you have extra time, gather your thoughts in your car or take a brief walk to get your energy up.4. Whether your rival also interviews on the same dayYes, it may be difficult to know when your rival is interviewing, but if you happen to know, schedule your interview on a different day. Research suggests that whether or not youre considered qualified for a position depends on who else is applyin g for the job.People are averse to judging too many applicants high or low on a single day, which creates a bias against people who happen to show up on days with especially strong applicants, according to a study in the journal Psychological Science.However, this comparison only lasts for one day, which means that you are only compared to people who are interviewing on the same day as you - not the day before or after.5. When you send your thank-you notenzeichenWe all know how important it is to follow up after a job interview with a thank-you note - but not everyone realizes that when they send it can be just as important.If you wait too long, the hiring manager may forget about you or assumeyoure not interested in the job. It may also make you seem like a slacker.The best timeframe to send a thank you email is within 24 hours after your interview, Whitney Purcell, formerly the associate director of Career Development at Susquehanna University, previously told Business Insider. It should be sent during business hours no 3 a.m. emails that make your schedule seem a little out of whack with the companys traditional hours.For mora on how to craft the perfect thank-you note, check out this handy guide.6. What you do while waiting in the lobbyDrinking coffee, eating, or talking on your cell is not the first impression you want to make with the hiring manager - or the receptionist, says Taylor. You dont know exactly when the interviewer will show up, so be at the ready.She suggests keeping one hand free so that you can quickly shake hands without awkwardly placing all your personal items on a chair or on the floor. You want to appear organized and attentive.Also, as you wait, either make conversation with the receptionist (if he or she is available to talk), review notes from your notebook, or review any company materials for guests. Maintain a pleasant smile and upbeat demeanor.7. How you treat the receptionist or the driverEmployers want to know how you inte ract with others regularly, so a common tactic is to ask the receptionist about you later.Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that he will ask the shuttle driver who picks up candidates whether they were impolite or rude.A lot of our job candidates are from out of town, and well pick them up from the airport in a Zappos shuttle, give them a tour, and then theyll spend the rest of the day interviewing, Hsieh says. At the end of the day of interviews, the recruiter will circle back to the shuttle driver and ask how he or she was treated. It doesnt matter how well the day of interviews went, if our shuttle driver wasnt treated well, then we wont hire that person.8. Your handshakeAs in any business or networking situation, a weak, tentative handshake conveys a lack of confidence, Taylor says. And this gesture is a key part of your first impression.Make sure you convey your self-assurance with a firm handshake and a smile on your face - and dont be af raid to take the initiative in reaching out. Some people go overboard, however. You dont need to cause injury to make your point.9. If you accept the offered coffeeIf the interviewer offers you something to drink besides water - especially coffee - dont accept it.Your interviewer doesnt want to spend 10 minutes just to make you a cup of coffee, say authors John B. Molidor and Barbara Parus in their book Crazy Good bewerbungsgesprching How Acting A Little Crazy Can Get You The Job.This is especially true if they have a busy day ahead, since theyre now spending even mora time than they originally planned just to make you coffee.10. Whether youre a little narcissisticResearch from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln suggests that narcissists score much higher than others in job interviews, and its because theyre comfortable with self-promoting.Since narcissists typically think theyre fantastic, the interviewer may think so, too.11. The color of your clothingAccording to 2,099 hiring m anagers and human resource professionals who participated in a CareerBuilder survey, blue and black are the best colors to wear to a job interview, and orange is the worst.Conservative colors, such as black, blue, gray, and brown, seem to be the safest bet when meeting someone for the first time in a professional setting, whereas colors that signal more creativity, like orange, may be too loud for an interview.Red is the most powerful color, but consider whether you want to outshine your interviewer. This, of course, depends on what role youre interviewing for and the culture of the company.12. Whether you glance at your watch or cell phoneAs benign as this might seem, people notice when youre peeking at your watch or phone, and you certainly dont want to convey that youre not engaged in the conversation, Taylor explains.Even having your cell phone in plain sight is disrespectful. Youre not going to text or take calls, so turn it off and put it away. Make sure your hiring manager ha s your undivided attention.13. Sitting before youre asked toShow respect for your interviewers space by waiting for them to offer you a seat, or wait for them to sit first.After you sit, Molidor and Parus say to sit tall with squared up shoulders and try to occupy as much space in the chair as possible. Dont be like a shrinking violet with a bowed head, no eye contact, and slouching shoulders.14. Tailoring your answers based on the interviewers ageDifferent generations are most impressed by different values. By being aware of your interviewers age, you can tailor your answers to what you think theyre looking for, advise Molidor and Parus.With a little practice, you can home in on the values that each generation holds most dear. You can shape your answer using the language of their values, they write.15. The way you make eye contact in a panel interviewKeep everyones attention in a panel interview by making eye contact with different people at specific times during your response, say Molidor and Parus.In a panel interview, always begin your response by making eye contact with the person who asked you the question. Then make random and soft eye contact with each of the other interviewers. As you finish up your response, return your eye contact to the person who asked you the question. Do not mow down the interviewers by going down the line making eye contact after the other. Soft random eye contact does the trick.16. Your postureWhen youre in the interview, your default should be sitting straight and keeping a pleasant smile on your face, Taylor says.Avoid slumping in your chair and remember to lean forward, showing interest in the interviewer. Even if you feel the discussion is going south, maintain your poise, posture and inflection. That can sometimes help you turn things around.17. What you do with your handsMolidor and Parus writeShowing your palms indicates sincerity.Holding your palms downward is a sign of dominance. Do not shake hands with your palms dow n.Pressing the fingertips of your hands together to form a church steeple is a display of confidence.Concealing your hands, as in putting them in your pockets, is a sign that you have something to hide.Finger tapping is a sign of impatience.Folding your arms across your chest is a very defensive position, indicating disappointment or disagreement.Overusing hand gestures to the point of distraction.18. The questions you askMaybe youre capable of answering every question sent your way with flying colors, but you also need to leave on a good note by asking smart, thoughtful questions at the end.Below are two questions from Vicky Olivers book 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview QuestionsWhat are some of the problems your company faces right now? And what is your department doing to solve them?What type of employee tends to succeed here? What qualities are the most important for doing well and advancing at the firm?19. Where you grew upIf you spent your childhood in LA and your intervie wer did, too, you may have a better chance of landing the job.Its clearly unfair (and out of your control), but your interviewer may not even be consciously aware that shes biased toward Californians. Its called the similarity-attraction hypothesis People simply gravitate toward those who are similar to them in some capacity.There are a few potential explanations for this phenomenon. One is that people with a decent level of self-esteem are satisfied with their personalities, so when they see their qualities reflected in someone else, they like that person, too.Another idea is that humans have evolved to like people who look and act the way they do. At one point in human history, the safest bet was to only trust people in your small social group.20. How competent you seemComing across as super-competent can in some cases hurt your success in an interview.Thats because your interviewer might worry that youll threaten his status in the organization. And thats especially true in organi zations with highly competitive cultures.Of course, you should still put your best foot forward in any job interview. If the company doesnt hire you because they feel threatened, you might not want to work there anyway.21. The sound of your voiceIn the near future, some companies may begin analyzing candidates voices to determine if theyd be good fits, according to an NPR report.Essentially, an algorithm would determine whether your voice is engaging, calming, or trustworthy - which could be especially important in industries like hospitality and retail.Humans would have the final say on hiring.22. Whether youre smilingIts common sense that flashing a smile makes you look friendlier and more approachable.But research suggests that, for certain professions, smiling too much can undermine your success in a job interview.In one study, published in the Journal of Social Psychology, researchers asked college students to role-play job interviews. They found that students who played candi dates for the position of newspaper reporter, manager, and research assistant were less likely to get the hypothetical job when they smiled - especially during the middle of the interviews.23. Your accentResearch published in the Journal of Applied Psychology suggests that some employers may discriminate against candidates for executive positions when the candidates have foreign accents. Specifically, the employers may believe that those candidates have less political skill.This is another example of completely unfair discrimination, and the researchers behind the study say companies should add accent-bias awareness training to existing training programs for hiring managers.24. Your weightRecent experiments suggest that were less inclined to hire job candidates when theyre overweight.In the study, published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, men and women rated digital resumes that included photographs of non-obese people and digitally altered phot ographs of those same people as obese. As it turns out, obese candidates were rated significantly less competent than non-obese candidates.Right now, Michigan is the only state that has a law against weight discrimination - theres no protection under federal law. But if you feel that weight discrimination has affected your chances of landing a job, you can get in touch with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the American Civil Liberties Union.25. Whether you have tattoos or piercingsA Salary.com survey found that some 76% of people say tattoos and piercings hurt a job candidates chances of getting hired.Your body art might stand out more in certain fields - for example, the survey found that just 8% of government workers have tattoos, compared to 20% of those in the hospitality, tourism, and recreation industries.26. Your body languageExperts say that when people like each other they mirror each others body posture and movements. In a way, it looks like the two people are dancing.If you dont mirror your interviewers body language, it might seem like youre not interested in what theyre saying or even that youre lying.Obviously, you dont need to go to extremes here - like scratching your nose every time your interviewer does. But if theyre leaning forward in their chair or sitting with their legs crossed, you can subtly mimic these behaviors.27. How sweaty you areOffering a clammy palm to shake the hiring managers hand is the greatest fear of many a job candidate.And for good reason - sweating suggests youre nervous and can undermine the image of cool confidence youre trying to project.One public relations recruiter tells US News that she recommends asking for a cold cup of water while youre waiting to be called in for your interview. That way, youll lower your body temperature and stop some of the sweating.On the other hand, you can just accept that sweating and nervousness are modell in a stressful situation and hope your interviewer feels the same way.This article first appeared on Business Insider.

How To Identify And Embed Your Company Culture To Grow Your Business

How To Identify And Embed Your Company Culture To Grow Your BusinessHow To Identify And Embed Your Company Culture To Grow Your BusinessDo you know what makes your company tick and what makes it unique? Do you and your team truly live the culture and values of your business? Is your team working smoothly, without having conflicts? If the answers a No to any of these questions, its a good idea to think about what to change in order to answer Yes. In his study, Professor Noam Wasserman looked at 6500 failed businesses. 65% of those failed as a result of co Our value is teamwork, then the expected behavior is the team always comes first. The interview question is When last did you take one for the team?, How did it feel and what happened? When you ask each candidate this question, youll be able to score them against those answers afterwards. The values based hiring process is the missing piece in many companies at the moment. And its the best way to ensure that candidate matches your v alues. Another thing that most companies dont do very well is the onboarding process. After the candidate joins the company, its important to help them hit the ground running and be productive from day one. Some companies invest in training and dump a lot of information on the new hires. The best companies, help the new joiner develop relationships within the company as the first step. They have a buddy ordnungsprinzip which helps the new joiner work out what the real issues in the company and in their role are, and who are the most important people. So they use a bit of training, but the focus is on relationships, because relationships create trust. And trust allows teammates to work well together.6. How can companies measure their company culture?Measuring company culture is quite hard because for most companies it is an invisible and subconscious liability versus a tangible measurable asset. You can do surveys on employee engagement but this is a snapshot of time and employee eng agement is only a small piece of the culture puzzle. Ask yourselves the following questions to evaluate the strength of your company culture. Are we able to hire the right A+ candidates who fit with the companys culture?Are those candidates approaching us?Do we have low staff turnover? Does the leadership team have mora energy and time available to work on the business rather than in the business? How strong are the bonds between team members? Do we have a happier workplace environment, with fewer sick days, lower stress levels and more respectful communication? Do our people take personal responsibility for results? Is there more autonomy, healthier intra- and inter-team dynamics, less conflict, less need for mediation in our company? Does everyone pull in the same direction during times of hardship for the company? Do we have highly engaged employees who happily invest their discretionary energy back into the company? Is there a values match, meaning that for our people, it is mor e than just a job it is self-development? Can we demonstrate that we have improved happiness and job satisfaction?Back to youDefining your company values and then company culture is something that cant happen overnight. Investing the time into it, though, can have a positive impact on both employees and the future of your company. As the co-founder and CEO of Airbnb saidclickToTweet tweet=CompanyCulture is the foundation for future innovation. An entrepreneurs job is to build the foundation. bchesky quote=A companys culture is the foundation for future innovation. An entrepreneurs job is to build the foundation. Keep it in mind.In case you have any more questions, let us know in the comments below. You can also follow Brett or his company Culture Gene on Twitter for more info.

The Holiday Hiring Myth

The Holiday Hiring MythThe Holiday Hiring MythMany believe companies do little hiring in December, but HR execs call it a myth. Get your application in. December may be your best chance to get hired.The weeks between Thanksgiving and the new year are often perceived as the job-seeking equivalent of a lump of coal in your stocking.A perception persists that hiring managers push off hiring until January either to save money before they close the books on the old years budget or to avoid the administrative hassle associated with onboarding a new employee during the busy schedule that accompanies end-of-year deadlines and holiday vacations.But the slowdown in hiring during the holidays is a myth, said several hiring managers and recruiters. In fact, many say they feel increased pressure to fill open slots before the end of the year.If a job is available, whether its the holiday season or not, it has to be filled, said John Robak, chief operating officer and executive vice president for G reeley and Hansen, a global environmental and engineering consulting firm. Were a professional services firm, and, at the end of the day, were about selling billable hours. If theres a job vacancy, were leise interviewing people.Robak said hes interviewed people all during the holidays, including on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. People who wait or think that those jobs might be available after the first of the year might miss a golden opportunity.The end of the year also brings use-em-or-lose-em deadlines at many companies. If hiring managers dont fill open positions before the New Year is rung in, they risk losing the open slots.What ends up happening is that hiring managers put a great deal of pressure on recruiters to be able to get them candidates and set up interviews before everyone in the company goes away for Christmas break, said Phil Rosenberg, president of reCareered, a job information site and career coaching service. So, the first weeks of December are oftentimes som e of the best times to be active, especially in strong years.Holiday PaceIf the volume remains steady, hiring managers admit the pace can sometimes slow during the holidays.One of the challenges at this time of year is getting all people needed to make a hiring decision in the same room and on the same page. The volume of hiring might remain the same, but the pace does seem to slow, said Kathleen Brush, author of Leadership = Motivation = Innovation + Productivity.Theres a good reason that some companies slow down their hiring during the holiday season, and thats because there are a lot of people who are out, she said. Its very difficult to jump through all of the hoops that go along with the hiring process because you need to meet with a number of different people.Brush doesnt advise that job seekers sit out the job search until the last badestrand of tinsel is vacuumed up. She does recommend making a concerted effort to keep the connection fresh.In other words, its great if you u se the holidays to your advantage to make a connection with a key player at a company for which youre interested in working. However, you will need to make a concerted effort to rekindle that relationship after the holidays and to connect with other stakeholders at the company.Whatever the actual pace of hiring during the holidays, take advantage of your rival job seekers impression that its a season better spent sipping hot toddies than aggressively interviewing, says Robak.Everyone is busy with holiday festivities and all of the things we have going on, he said. There are fewer job seekers and fewer resumes being sent. That can be an opportunity for someone who truly meets the requirements of the job to stand out because the competition might be less.

Secret Techniques for Functional Resume That Only a Few People Know About

Secret Techniques for Functional Resume That Only a Few People Know About Functional managers also require interpersonal skills since they will need to get together with people within or outside their function, for instance, senior managers or investors. A functional manager is someone who has management authority over an organizational unitsuch for a departmentwithin an organization, company, or other organization. A superior functional manager needs to be in a punkt to accomplish tasks in time. Functional managers and project managers have various roles and duties inside an organisation. At times, once employers see your work background isnt matching with the job demands of the position they can offer, they have a tendency to not look on the opposite pieces of your resume. Indirect work experiences are able to make your prospect employer select different applicants who have undergone jobs which are directly linked to the department or position that youre applying for. Exami ne the different sorts of job resumes you can utilize when applying for employment. Keep in mind that a good resume is always useful to secure you the job of your pick. The Appeal of Functional Resume Functional resumes are extremely tricky and might or might not go nicely with the recruiters. They do not contain a reverse chronological listing of past positions. They make it look like the applicant is trying to hide something from the recruiter. Functional and conventional resumes arent the only resume types to select from. There are a few simple tweaks that may make a functional resume advantageous Job searchers have plenty of choices when it has to do with creating their resume. All you have to do is merely download resume template and edit it the direction you want to find the best outcomes. There are several on-line templates which you can utilize to design your resume. A great resume format is simple to scan. A simple approach to format your resume is to choose a template that you may come across online and just insert your information into the proper sections, following the prompts provided by the template. Consider your requirements and see the explanations below to select the best resume format for you. A functional resume is an excellent choice for folks who have gaps in their professional experience. You should say that the functional resume can be a game changer for certain groups of individuals. Functional resumes are perfect for individuals who dont have a great deal of work experience about the job they are applying for. All About Functional Resume Functional managers are accountable to handle people with specific abilities and distinct resources within a department or section to satisfy functional objectives in addition to corporate objectives. Functional medicine integrates the very best medical practices. By switching the traditional disease-centered focus of medicine to a patient-centered approach, it is able to addres s the entire person. Type of Functional Resume At the peak of the resume is a list of somebodys skills and qualifications. The response is yes in the event you wish to.The absolute most important skill for the job which you are applying to should go first. On the contrary, it focuses on the skills you have developed that fit the needs of the job for which youre applying. On the contrary, it highlights your abilities and abilities. Next, you will start to list your key abilities and abilities. Theres no need to bring a subheading. When writing a resume, its essential for you to know the sort of job youre hunting for. A combination layout has many characteristics that will allow you to produce the desired impact. Based on your work history, you might want to think about utilizing a functional resume. What You Need to Do About Functional Resume Otherwise, your resume may get set aside immediately. Nowadays you have the information which you need and youre prepared to co mpose your resume. All resumes begin with contact information at the peak of the webpage. The info in your resume should paint a photo of the kind of employee you are and show employers what youre capable of accomplishing. The functional resume is utilized to concentrate on skills that are particular to the sort of position being sought. If youve got more than 1 objective, you might need more than one resume. In such instances, youve got enough experience but not in one specific field. If youre just starting your career, or in case youre changing career fields, you may consider a different resume type. Because you dont have anything to show in your experience section and everything you have are some skills, which you want to improve or extend. If you dont have sufficient work experience, you should earn a functional resume instead of a chronological one. Rather than having a work history section near the top of your resume, you may have an expert experience or accomplishm ents section that lists various skills which youve developed over recent years.

What It Takes to be Great

What It Takes to be Great A year ago I had the opportunity to meet motivational speaker Don Yaeger after he presented for the company I welches interning with. He talked about having what it takes to be great, taking various qualities from the numerous people hes met and worked with in his careerpeople such as Michael Jordan, Walter Payton, Warrick Dunn and Coaching legend John Wooden. Yaeger left the audience with a bookmark-like handout containing 16 consistent characteristics for greatness. The characteristics varied from understanding the value of association and seeing victory before the game begins to not playing for the money and embracing the idea of being a role model.As a senior in college soon to enter the workforce, I welches inspired by his message. A quirky hobby of mine is reading biographies I love to see the story behind the success, so Yaegars examples hit home for me. After read ing his provided characteristics and the qualities from numerous biographies, I was inspired to write down a few characteristics of my own.No matter what area you enter, whether sports, technology or HR, you should always aim to be great, always push to be the best in yur field. Check out four commonalities of successful people below1. RecognitionThose who have excelled in their field did so because they first recognized what it is they were supposed to be doing. We all have innate abilities and recognizing what they are and how to use them in our futures is vital. Iconic athlete David Beckham said that even at an early age he always knew he wanted to play soccer, even stating this each time a teacher would ask in school what he desired to be when he grew up.2. DeterminationSuccessful people are determined. They have the attitude that theyre going to do whatever it takes to reach their goals. It is said that Thomas Edison had around 1,000 unsuccessful attempts before inventing the l ight bulb, but, as we all know, he did not throw in the towel. He said, The three things that are most essential to achievement are common sense, hard work and stick-to-it-iv-ness Stick-to-it-iv-ness e.g. determination.3. ConcentrationWith our fast-paced society, staying focused can be difficult, yet necessary. Its very easy to begin a task, or even a career path, and never finish it. But those who have accomplished their goals and attained the highest levels in their industry did so because they concentrated on their professions. Being great requires the ability to eliminate outside factors and devote time, attention and resources to your craft. Michelangelos Statue of David is a 17-foot masterpiece that took three years to sculpt. Michelangelo started out with a misshapen block of wood that two artists before him had attempted to carve, yet he focused on his vision and did not give up until he completed the task.4. AppreciationThere are always obstacles on the path to greatness it s inevitable. Yet, if you look at the life of any successful person, you will learn how the setbacks and adversity he or she faced prepared the individual for the future. Valuing what you had to go through is essential to success because it helps you see the life lessons. At 30, Steve Jobs was fired from the company he started, Apple Inc. He then started NexT, which was eventually bought by Apple and became the heart of the companys rebirth. Jobs said that although it didnt feel good at the time, he was convinced that the benefits of NexT never would have happened had he not been fired. He appreciated what looked like a setback in his career because it eventually propelled him forward.