1. Work in a place where you're comfortable by ensuring that your values are compatible with the employer.
2. Remember that your "life needs" are just as important as your career. Keep a balance between them.
3. Re-evaluate often what you want out of life, especially when life presents its big changes: engagement, marriage, birth, loss, relocation, major investments, and health crises.
4. Find role models, ask them outright to mentor you, and keep those relationships going; even when you change jobs.
5. Think of yourself as a creative problem-solver, not a "subject matter expert". This focus will help you change careers or jobs, which you're apt to do at least seven times! So keep learning about new concepts, methods, tools in your field. Also find out what other industries can make use of your "tools" (your skills, abilities and knowledge).
6. Be assertive in seeking out new assignments that stretch your skills, qualities and knowledge. Don't be afraid to set yourself apart from colleagues with unique accomplishments. The most capable people aren't threatened by competition.
7. Plant networking "seeds" and "cultivate" relationships with the best and the brightest of your colleagues and leaders.
8. Share your ideas with others. Networking is a give-and-take proposition. Play fair.
My mission is to empower youth with: - The knowledge about career possibilities, and the education and training needed to attain them - The creative-thinking and emotional skills that make for good career decisions and which employers prefer; - And the resilience needed to flourish in life.
