8 Pieces Of Solid Career Advice To Kickstart Your Week

career advice
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Whether you’re embarking on a new career or happy in your current one, everyone needs the occasional kick-in-the-pants when it comes to getting motivated. Each week, CreativeLive will round up our favorite pieces of advice from experts in every field –– be it art, design, fashion or business. Get inspired by the words of wisdom below, and then go ahead and give your career some love!

Stay Optimistic

“Along with dark skies, storm clouds, and everything else that’s bleak, running a business requires optimism. You have to keep telling yourself that it’s always darkest before the dawn or, as Mumford & Sons puts it, ‘night has always pushed up day.'” ––  Matt Certo, founder and CEO of Findsome & Winmore

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For More

“Ask for a raise. I think the worst anyone is going to tell you is no. You know, it’s always better to ask and get a no than to not ask at all.” –– Chelsea Clinton

Never Let Rejection Get The Best of You

“There have been some roles I didn’t get that I really wanted. Originally I auditioned for Joan for Mad Men. They said, ‘You didn’t get that, but will you play a switchboard operator instead?’ I said, ‘Sure!’ Then I saw Christina Hendricks in that emerald dress, and I went, Oh, I get it now. I also auditioned for Pam for The Office. I didn’t get far in that audition, but I was such a fan of the British Office I was just excited to be there. Both of the ladies who got these parts are so perfect. You have to audition for a thousand ‘no’s so you can get a ‘yes.'”  –– Stephanie Courtney (aka “Flo” from Progressive)

Maintain A Clear Vision

“My advice to anyone is to have a clear vision of exactly what you want to do. It can be as crazy as, ‘Someday, I want to have a store and the door is going to look like this, and the shelves will look like that.’ It’s good to be as precise as possible in your vision, because you are your brand. And, if you don’t have a clear-cut vision, you’ll never be able to show people on your team what your vision is, or be able to stay on a straight path. When you know what your path is, then every day you work toward that goal, and it becomes a building block to get there.” –– Cynthia Sakai, founder of Vita Fede jewelry

If You’re Starting A Business, Do What You Love

“Do you really, really enjoy what you will be doing? If it’s making something, do you like making it so much that you’d still like it if you were making it over and over again? Will you still enjoy it if you’re doing it all day, every day? If you don’t really love it, it will turn into a burden. Some things are only enjoyable when they’re a hobby, or done for fun, and turning them into a business can spoil that. So make sure you absolutely love what you’re going to be doing!” –– Kaye Blegvad, founder of jewelry design company Datter Industries

If You’re Unhappy At Work, Shop Around

“Start talking to people who are doing something you think you might like to do. Go interview. If you think the grass is greener somewhere else, go munch some grass on the other side of the fence. Finding work that you love is a fair amount of work. So, do the work.” –– Patty McCord, founder of Patty McCord Consulting and former chief talent officer at Netflix

Embrace The Moment

“Your life right now is as real as it will ever be. It won’t be more real in the future, when you get into or out of college or into or out of a relationship or a job or a financial quagmire or a health problem. In fact, the things keeping you back — these embarrassing, boring, stupid obstacles — are the heart of what it is to be human. They’re the whole reason for making and needing art.” –– Miranda July

Love What You Do, But Be Realistic

“The idea that your job is going to make your heart sing on a daily basis is just not true. If that’s the expectation of a 25-year-old today, they’re going to be sorely disappointed. But you can aim for a pretty good heart-singing-to-bummed-out ratio.” –– Cindi Leive, EIC of Glamour Magazine

 

Mehera Bonner FOLLOW >

Mehera Bonner is a freelance lifestyle and entertainment writer. She lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband and two children.