This is your life. 

Do what you love, and do it often. 

If you don’t like something, change it. 

If you don’t like your job, quit. 

If you don’t have enough time, stop watching TV. 

If you’re looking for the love of your life, stop; they will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love.

Stop over analyzing, all emotions are beautiful. 

When you eat, appreciate every last bite. 

Life is simple. 

Open your mind, arms, and heart to new things and people, we are united in our differences.

Ask the next person you see what their passion is, and share your inspiring dream with them.

Travel often; getting lost will help you find yourself. 

Some opportunities only come once, seize them. 

Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them so go out and start creating. 

Life is short. 

Live your dream and share your passion. 

– Dave & Mike Radparvar and Fabian Pfortmüller

Winning is more of an attitude than having the largest score. Our world is full of ‘winners” and “losers.” An unknown author gave the following check-sheet on winners and losers. 

A winner says, “Let’s find out.” A loser says, “Nobody knows.” 

When a winner makes a mistake, he says, “I was wrong.” When a loser makes a mistake, he says, “It wasn’t my fault.” 

A winner works harder than a loser and has more time. A loser is always “too busy” to do what is necessary. 

A winner goes through a problem. A loser goes around it and never gets past it. 

A winner makes commitments. A loser makes promises. 

A winner says,”I’m good, but not as good as I ought to be.” A loser says, “I’m not as bad as a lot of other people.” 

A winner listens. A loser just waits until it’s his turn to talk. 

A winner respects those who are superior and tries to learn something from them. A loser resents those who are superior and tries to find chinks in their armor. 

A winner explains. A loser explains away. 

A winner feels responsible for more than his job. A loser says, “I only work here.” 

A winner says, “There ought to be a better way to do this.” A loser says, “That’s the way it’s always been done here.” If you’ve taken the time to read and reflect on this column – you’re a winner! A loser never takes time for self-improvement.

– Author Unknown

If you always try your best

Then you’ll never have to wonder

About what you could have done

If you’d summoned all your thunder.

And if your best

Was not as good

As you hoped it would be,

You still could say,

“I gave today

All that I had in me.”

– Barbara Vance

To “let go” does not mean to stop caring, it means I can’t do it for someone else. To “let go” is not to cut myself off, it’s the realization that I can’t control another. To “let go” is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences. 

To “let go” is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands. To “let go” is not to try to change or blame another, it’s to make the most of myself. To “let go” is not to care for, but to care about. 

To “let go” is not to fix, but to be supportive. 

To “let go” is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being. 

To “let go” is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own  destinies. 

To “let go” is not to be protective, it’s to permit another to face reality. 

To “let go” is not to deny, but to accept. 

To “let go” is not to nag, scold, or argue, but instead, to search out my own shortcomings and correct  them. 

To “let go” is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself  in it. 

To “let go” is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future. 

To “let go” is to fear less and love more. 

– Author Unknown

If you cringe as soon as you hear the word “networking,” you should know that you are not alone. Many of us in the world feel the same way. During the course of my professional career as a leadership and career coach, networking has been a recurring theme discussed in practically every single one of my coaching engagements. No matter where you are in your career, you need to embrace networking to expand your professional reach or move up to the next level.

Last month, as a guest Webinar speaker for the Georgetown Alumni community, I encouraged participants to view networking from a different perspective and consider it as a way of making connections, talking to people, seeking information, and building community by interacting with others. Think about it not only as a great opportunity to hear fresh ideas and open doors to help you progress in your career no matter your profession, but also to develop new friendships whether on a personal or professional level.

Some individuals have a natural talent for interacting with other people in professional and social settings while many others struggle and agonize at the thought of putting themselves out there. The good news is that networking is a skill that anyone can learn if you are committed to it and challenge yourself to go out of your comfort zone from time to time.

To help you navigate the process of making connections effectively, I present to you my 6 Rules for Effective Networking.

1. Bring your true and authentic self to any networking efforts. Do not pretend someone you are not.

2. Instead of being afraid of making connections with strangers, change your frame of mind to view networking as sharing, learning, connecting, having good conversations and interactions with others.

3. To be an effective networker you must first adopt the attitude of a giver. Give every person you meet your undivided attention. Listen carefully and ask open-ended questions seeking to learn as much as you can about the other person to support or offer your help with no expectation that something will be given to you in return.

4. As you are building and maintaining your personal network, focus on quality of the relationships. Networking is not a numbers game. If you are planning to attend an event, avoid committing yourself to meet everyone that you come across. Be prepared to devote time and energy to develop meaningful and long-lasting connections.

5. Think of networking as a two-way street. Effective networking requires “sharing.” Someone helps you out today and you help them out later.

6. Always be prepared to make connections. Be open to starting conversations and speaking to everyone around you. You will be surprised that when you ask someone to tell you their story, amazing connections can develop.

What do you commit to do today to move forward in your networking journey?

Originally published by the Georgetown Alumni Association | Alumni Career Services – https://georgetownacsblog.com/2018/09/19/six-rules-for-effective-networking/.