Career coach Bobbie LaPorte advises her clients to adapt the mindset and strategies of an athlete in order to manage successful careers. Discipline, self-awareness and resiliency all translate from winning on the field to excelling in the business world, she says. Here’s how to do it:

– Envision the Finish Line and Make a Plan to Reach It: Define your goal clearly and create an action plan to obtain it, much as all-stars start at the desired “win” to frame their training and performance.  Without an overall strategy to guide your efforts, you can be easily distracted.

– Find Your Own Success Team: Ask someone you admire in your industry to be your mentor and learn his or her best practices.  Develop a professional network of people who can help you be successful. Share career aspirations and achievements as well as concerns or fears with close confidants.   They can help you celebrate the good times and push you through difficult periods.

– Don’t Give Up: When you feel discouraged, remember the times you’ve seen professional athletes, Olympic competitors and even the kids in your local soccer league come within seconds of defeat — only to somehow find the inspiration, discipline and singular focus on their goal to win.

1) Create a website-even a simple one.

Register your name as your domain name. (In my case, it would be ToryJohnson.com.) If your name is taken, add a descriptor, such as FirstLastCPA.com, FirstLastEngineer.com, FirstLastAdmin.com – you get the idea.)

Post your profile and include a video. This is the ideal opportunity to deliver your pitch – who you are, your expertise, and what you seek – in two minutes. This may take 30 tries to get it right, but it’s so worth it. You can do this with your computer’s built-in camera or your iPhone. Don’t have one? Get a friend to help.

You can feature examples of your best work, if applicable, on the site. Add a blog component demonstrate your expertise in your field.

If you don’t have a professional photo, now is the time to get one. Not only for this site, but for all of your social media profiles. Dress the part, look your best, pinpoint a professional background and turn on flattering lights. Again, an iPhone will do just fine if it’s taken for this purpose.

2) Enhance your LinkedIn profile.

Surely you have a LinkedIn profile, right? Be sure all fields are complete, including the new option to add volunteer experience, as well as the recommendations, which serve as public references. Add a link to your new website too. Don’t stop until the system says it’s 100% complete.

Get active in Groups that relate to your target employers and industry. That means you can’t just join; you should contribute daily to the conversation. LinkedIn Answers is another place to demonstrate all you know.

This is the site where recruiters hang out all day, so you want to stand out in this playground.

3) Show off your web savvy.

If you’re using an AOL address, swap it for Gmail. Same goes for accounts issued by your cable provider. Go for Gmail, which is the gold standard.

Contribute to the leading blogs in your industry. Don’t worry about getting bogged down trying to remember 30 sites; the top 3 is plenty. This isn’t about showing up everywhere; it’s about actively engaging in the most relevant places. Again, make your presence known with smart comments and observations that advance the conversation.

Be sure your Facebook and other profiles are employer-friendly. That means there’s nothing posted that would prevent you from getting hired.

Tell us how you’re doing in these areas – and let us know where you’re stuck in this blog post. (And be sure to register to join us for events coming up in Los Angeles, New York, Washington DC and Dallas.)

I’m coming off a phenomenal two-day Media Mania program. Everyone met with dozens of top outlets, generated fresh ideas around their most intriguing coverage-worthy nuggets, and ended with exhaustion and exhilaration – in need of a weekend to unwind, digest and plot and plan next steps. The gold is always in the follow-up.

One huge reminder among our group was the importance of always adapting your story to the interests of the person you’re aiming to convince. Different angles appeal to different people. It’s true when pitching media, applying for a job, making cocktail party chit-chat or securing clients for your business.

What’s fascinating about your story? How would it differ for the audiences you’re currently targeting? Are you comfortable and capable of assessing the needs and interests of your target – and responding accordingly? Do some brainstorming and role-play today to see what you come up with.

MEET SPANX FOUNDER NEXT WEEK!

Next week is the kick off of the 13th fall season of Women For Hire Career Expos… and we’re getting going with a big bang.

At the first event of the season, SPANX founder Sara Blakely, one of America’s most successful and sensational entrepreneurs, will join me as my special guest at our early morning seminar. 

For only $10 – the seminar has always been a nominal fee to make it possible for everyone to participate – you’re invited to register now to join us on Tuesday, October 4 at 8:30am in Atlanta for the 90-minute session.

I’ll share job search and small business start-up advice with you – and Sara will wow you with her unique brand of business savvy. You’re guaranteed to elevate your confidence and know-how many notches.

Click here to register now to join us for a spectacular start to the season.

Then next Thursday I’ll be at the Navy Pier for Women For Hire Chicago. More seminars and services than ever before to get you hustling. Join me there,too.

WIN YOUR SPOT TO ADDRESS 5,000 WOMEN!

Imagine speaking in front of 5,000 professional women who are ready to cheer you to victory. I’ve done it – and I know first-hand how powerful it is. I know how many friends, followers and fans it earns. I know how much business can be generated from that unique platform.

Now it’s YOUR chance to experience what I’ve come to love: the ability to WOW a phenomenal audience of women who are hungry to hear from successful peers.

Register now for the Small Business Boot Camp – a partnership between Spark & Hustle and the PA Conference for Women – in Philadelphia on October 24 and 25. Then enter to win your spot on the stage where you’ll address 5,000 women at the keynote luncheon.

Go ahead – accept the challenge to build your business in a BIG way by joining us. Then let me know on my Facebook page that you’ve registered and you’re working on the application. I’ll do everything I can to cheer you to victory.

Let’s make it a spectacular week!

Tory Johnson

P.S. I have many Secret Sales coming up on WABC in New York and on Good Morning America. Let me know if you have must-have product suggestions for inclusions. Complete the form here.

I’ve been so impressed with the caliber of the conversation here for the past four weeks. Smart questions, candid confessions and, most importantly, incredible support and camaraderie among all of you.

A few things:

–All of the call recordings will remain active for you to review anytime. I encourage you to revisit them as you need the reminders and advice.

–We will add fresh calls on the topics that resonate most with you as you request them. If you want direction on a specific aspect of job searching, let us know here and we’ll monitor and schedule based on demand.

–Many of you have promised to stay in touch. You’re welcome to do so right here. Continue to encourage one another and lean on the group for support.

If you’re in one of our six cities, I hope to see you at an upcoming Women For Hire career expo. The events have a lot going on now—all designed to serve your needs.

Finally, keep this in mind: I know you’re exhausted from the search. I know you just want to get back to work. I know this process is the pits. But when you continue to do the same old, you’ll wind up with the same old results. You have to shake things up, you have to try new things, you have to push yourself even when you’re simple sick of pushing.

For every NO, you’re one step closer to a YES because it means you’re in conversation. Never hearing NO means you’re not connecting with enough people.

Please know that we’re always rooting for your success—and we’ll continue to find fresh ways to serve you.

Tory Johnson and the Women For Hire team

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Our good friend Gretchen Gunn suggested today’s topic of how to cold call without getting the chills. She’s got the scoop to help you in the process. Press play to listen below.

Tell us below about your cold-calling experiences. Do you get tongue-tied or are you great at getting (and keeping) someone on the phone?

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Press play below to hear career expert Kim Carswell as she shares tips, tactics and strategies to nail your in-person or phone interview. Everything you must do when you show up on the big day.

In the meantime, post your interview questions (both phone and in-person interviews) and stories (good, bad and ugly) and we’ll try to address them.

Just one more day to go in our program.

Have a good day!

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Press play below to listen to career expert Lauren Milligan as she shares with you her tips and strategies on preparing for an interview. Everything you must do BEFORE you show up on the big day.

In the meantime, post your pre-interview questions and stories (good, bad and ugly) and we’ll try to address them.

Then, tomorrow’s call will discuss what to do when you’re actually in the hot seat during the interview.

Make it a great week!

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More importantly, it’s indicative of a negativity that influences — and harms — your path to employment. There are too many YES, BUTs going on. Too many I CAN’TS and I WON’Ts. And when you always knock every piece of advice because you’re sure it won’t work, you’re sentencing yourself to prolonged unemployment.

Snap out of it…starting here. Let’s be honest: tell us the three things below that you know you’re negative about or three things that you’re convinced simply won’t work so you’ve completely stopped trying.

And then read other people’s posts — and force yourself to give opposing advice…advice that moves from negative territory to positive space.

I want you to challenge yourself to revisit the tactics that you’ve long-ignored. Fresh start come Monday, right?

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Click play below to listen to Gretchen Gunn including a great Q&A section.

In the meantime, tell us below about your experiences with staffing firms and post your questions, which Gretchen will try to tackle on the call.

Make it a great day!
Tory

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There’s a method to this madness and it works. When you give back to your community in a smart, strategic manner, you can make a name for yourself and establish a great reputation around town. This isn’t ordinary volunteering. This is all about creating your very own local hero project.

Today, Laurie Baggett, a tireless promoter who is passionate about connecting individuals with opportunities, is going to show you how to establish yourself as a local hero. She did it — and it caught my attention in a big way. In fact, I wound up featuring her on Good Morning America because I was so impressed and inspired by her work.

Click play below to learn all about this unique approach to landing your next job.

And in the mean time, share some ideas below of how and where you could get out in the community and volunteer in a way that’s CLOSELY connected to what you want to get paid to do.

Make it a great day!
Tory

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