Graduated And Clueless

The #1 Way to Guarantee Success

On December 15, 2009, In Careers & Business, by Jeff

Photo Courtesy of Pixel Addict (flickr)

In the spirit of setting big goals for 2010, I wanted to discuss this topic because I can’t stop thinking about it. Could I actually guarantee that I will accomplish the commitments I have set for myself? Assuming that I can, how will I make them a reality? This has been bugging me because I have a lot on my agenda right now. I have the feeling that I have overbooked myself and have bitten off more than I can chew. So, I have prioritized my personal and professional goals and now I’ll be making cuts. I have realized that in order to accomplish the goals I care the most about, I have to sacrifice the goals that are of least importance in my life right now. (more…)

What’s Your #1 Goal for 2010?

On December 9, 2009, In Goals & Personal Development, by Jeff

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As a ridiculous goal setter, New Year’s Resolutions offer an amazing opportunity to really challenge myself. In 2009, my number one goal was to move to Nashville, which Tessa and I did in early February. My second goal was to start my own business, which I accomplished in June. My third goal was to get married, which happened in September. I set all three of these goals at the beginning of the year and I was able to accomplish all of them in nine months.

I remember a conversation I had with a co-worker before I moved from Boston. I was explaining my goals for 2009, how I planned to move 1000 miles across the country, start my first business, and get married, all in the same year. She told me I was crazy and that it was only realistic to set one big goal per year. At the time I thought she was being helpful and I began to think I might be overdoing it. Today, I can confidently say that she was playing it safe (more…)

100 Wishes

On December 6, 2009, In Goals & Personal Development, by Jeff

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(This is a guest post from Alie Davis of AlieDavis.com)

#66 I wish to go to Antarctica

I am so happy to be here, guest posting on the Graduated And Clueless blog! Today I want to share with you my biggest secret for setting ridiculous goals and making them happen…write your goals down!

#13 I wish to shake hands with President Obama

In life, we are often told to be happy with what we have, that it’s selfish to ask for more. After graduation you might quickly give up on finding your dream job, as your friends and family tell you that your job is perfectly adequate (or that you’re lucky to have a job at all). In big ways and in small ways everyday you are told that you can’t have it all, that you should just be happy that you have your health, or that you should be satisfied just doing what everyone else is doing.

# 71 I wish to take painting classes

Of course you should be grateful for what you have. Of course you should be happy you have your health. Of course you can cut yourself a little slack when it comes to finding your dream job. BUT that doesn’t mean that you should stop dreaming. That doesn’t mean you should stop looking for new experiences. That doesn’t mean that you should stop growing. That DEFINITELY doesn’t mean that you should be satisfied doing what everyone else is doing! (more…)

Give Feedback – Get a FREE Gift!

On December 1, 2009, In Misc., by Jeff

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The holidays are here and so I’m gearing up for the giving season by offering something to all the readers of my blog. Since I first started Graduated And Clueless I have been giving free advice about topics I have personally struggled with or found very interesting. What I failed to do was get a solid understanding of what you actually want to read about! So, this is your chance to not only give your opinion but also to get something in return. (more…)

Achieve Excellence by Eliminating Mediocrity

On November 30, 2009, In Goals & Personal Development, by Jeff

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: Photo Courtesy of Pink Sherbet Photography (flickr)

I love progress. I love achievement, success, and all things extraordinary. I love being passionate, getting excited about things I love, and sharing my excitement with others. I especially love showing others how to improve their lives, even when it means telling them to stop doing what their doing.

Mediocrity Defined

Averageness; ordinariness as a consequence of being average and not outstanding; moderate to inferior in quality; ordinary: not extraordinary; not special, exceptional, or great; of medium quality

In a nut shell, mediocrity is neither amazing nor terrible. It’s neither fantastic nor miserable. It’s just blah. However, what seems average to one person is amazing to another. Where I might say graduating from high school with a C average is mediocre, someone else may be filled with joy because they achieved something they never imagined possible. (more…)

Top 5 Alternatives to the 9-5

On November 27, 2009, In Careers & Business, by Jeff

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Traditional work is changing. It has been changing for many years, but a dramatic shift has occurred in the last 10-15 years. Despite the birth of the Internet, which has created many more possibilities for financial growth, many companies are scaling back on benefits, pension plans, 401(k)s, vacations, salaries, and other “guarantees” many employees have come to expect. My first recommendation is to change your mindset. Because of these radical changes, thinking of yourself as an employee who is trying to “find” work has become an old way of thinking. The new, 21st century, gen-y model is to take your income and your career under control. Be your own boss. Decide where and how you will earn your money without leaving it up to a mid-level manager in some big corporation.

1. Freelance & Personal Service

Did you ever mow your neighbor’s lawn or get paid for doing your friend’s homework? These are both examples of work-for-hire or freelance jobs. Basically, all you do is (more…)

How to Become an Expert – Fast! (Part 2)

On November 23, 2009, In Careers & Business, by Jeff

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Photo Courtesy of puliarf (flickr)

(If you haven’t already, read Part 1 Here)

7. Join National Organizations

If nothing else, joining trade organizations will boost your perception, kind of like using fancy resume paper, people love it, even through it doesn’t make you any more qualified for the job. Check out the about us page to see how I’ve incorporated this idea. Don’t forget there are many organizations that you can use for networking, finding insider information, obtaining discounts on products, and many other perks you wouldn’t find otherwise.

8. Highlight Your Real and Ridiculous Experiences

To promote his best-selling book, The 4-Hour Work Week, Tim Ferriss highlighted how he was a Chinese kickboxing champion, MTV break dancer, and (more…)

How to Become an Expert – Fast! (Part 1)

On November 22, 2009, In Careers & Business, by Jeff

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Expert is a great buzz word online today because our perception of others as experts has changed dramatically since the birth of the Internet. Twenty years ago, or even sooner than that, being an expert meant having a PhD, decades of experience, and a dozen best-selling books. Today, being an expert could mean many different things. Here’s a breakdown of how you can become an expert quickly and with greater ease than you think.

Expert Loosely Defined: someone widely recognized as a reliable source of information and/or special skills

1. Establish What Credibility Means in Your Industry

Having worked many jobs myself, I can tell you that every industry is different. Being a credible expert will vary dramatically across the board. Know your industry and know it well. If you want to teach, having a PhD is highly recommended; but if you want to (more…)

How Networking Can Jumpstart a Recent Grad’s Career

On November 19, 2009, In Careers & Business, by Jeff

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Photo Courtesy of Elvire.R. (flickr)

(This is a guest post from Heather R. Huhman of Come Recommended)

No matter what industry you plan on entering upon graduation, networking with professionals and your peers is pivotal. More often than not, you will make giant leaps in your career thanks to the relationships you’ve made along the way. For many students, the necessity of networking can go overlooked but if approached correctly can produce several benefits.

Improve your communication skills. Building relationships out of thin air is nearly impossible. Networking will help you to get to know people on a more substantial level beyond what appears on their nametag or online profile. (more…)

Why Running at 5 AM is Awesome!

On November 12, 2009, In Health & Wellness, by Jeff

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Let me just first say that I am a night person. Until a few weeks ago, I would only be awake at 5 a.m. if I was up studying or enjoying a Guinness or two, or twelve. I am more awake at night than any other time of the day, so that is when I would schedule my workouts. A few months ago I was finding it harder and harder to find time to exercise regularly. I love running, but even with my crazy passion to run long distances every weekend, it’s always a constant battle to squeeze short runs into my work week. Despite this dilemma, I recently signed up for the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati, Ohio in May of 2010. This will be my 2^nd marathon and let me just say, I am insanely excited about this race. Not because it’s in Cincinnati, or because I get to miss work to go running, but because it’s an opportunity to focus on a ridiculous goal for the next 6 months. (more…)

How to Survive on a Low Budget

On October 28, 2009, In Finances, by Jeff

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What you’re doing now isn’t working. Presumably, you already have some sort of a financial plan in place, but something isn’t right. Maybe you’ve overdrawn your checking account, or racked up a huge bill on your credit card, or you constantly find yourself needing to buy stuff, but you’re broke. You don’t think there’s enough money coming in to cover the expenses that are going out. But how do you know for sure? Is it possible to live on a tiny income right out of school? Can you afford to even make the minimum payments on your credit cards?

If you’re reading this article in search of a solution to actually survive on a low budget, you’ve come to the right place. By following the action steps below, in order, you will be able to accurately calculate how much money you actually have and if you can afford to continue to live your current lifestyle. Take these steps seriously and make a plan today to start on number 1. Every step is important and all of them add up to a life of financial intelligence. You’re going to need it. If you’ve ever tried to pay your own taxes, start a business, or even understand what your insurance bill actually says, it’s complicated. Start the learning process now to ensure a life filled with financial blessings, instead of annoying burdens that ruin your day. Let’s get started! (more…)

Finances 101: The Truth About Debt

On September 28, 2009, In Finances, by Jeff

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Photo Courtesy of Andres Rueda (Flickr)

I’ll be as transparent as possible in this article and state my position right up front: I hate debt. (I’m usually a very positive person so this is kind of difficult to be so negative – Please bear with me!)

I don’t like paying interest. I don’t like borrowing money. I don’t like the idea of creditors calling me asking for money. I don’t like tailoring my spending habits to increase my credit score. I don’t like pay-day check-cashing businesses. I don’t like excessive credit cards offers in my mailbox. I don’t like borrowing $100k to go to grad school . . . you get the idea.

So what’s the deal with debt?

To put it simply, debt is dumb. You can thank Dave Ramsey for that statement. Now, to back it up, I have 7 truths about debt that should shed some light on why I’m so passionate about this subject. If you can’t tell already, this is one my hot buttons. I don’t have many, but when it comes to talking about debt, I really can talk about this stuff for hours. So let’s get started!

(more…)

Passions 101: The Power of Giving

On September 20, 2009, In Goals & Personal Development, by Jeff

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Photo by Cox Sports Marathon

What are Passions?

If you look in the dictionary, or on wikipedia, passions are described as everything from a strong emotional state, to anger, greed, lust, or other deadly sins. Though these my be historically accurate, on Graduated And Clueless we want to focus on the strong, positive emotions that get you excited about life. REALLY EXCITED! In my own life, passion is something that I stumble upon, something usually unexpected, and surprisingly amazing. For example, I am an avid runner. I love long distance running, especially marathons. This passion of mine was not something I was born with or had beaten into me by a track coach. Though I did run track and play soccer for many years, it wasn’t until I started running on my own during college that I discovered my love for the sport. I began running because I was fat. Not super obese, but definitely out of shape and in need of a total body makeover. I started running a half a mile per day, monday through friday. I then increased my distance by a half a mile per day, every week. Within a few weeks I was running 4-5 miles a day and getting in really great shape. When I ran my first 6-mile run, I was hooked. For some reason, that initial 6-miler turned me on to running like nothing else before it. I didn’t see it coming, and I never expected to turn that experience into a marathon the very next year. My passion was born.

(more…)

How to Start Your Own Blog

On August 23, 2009, In Careers & Business, by Jeff

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Photo Courtesy of Andrew* (Flickr)

What is a blog and why would I want to start one? Great questions. First of all, you’re reading a blog. Secondly, blogs are awesome. Any more questions? I’ll assume you already have some interest or avid curiosity about starting your own blog or you wouldn’t be reading this post, so let’s get started!

1. Free OR Un-Free

You’ll first want to choose a free blogging platform or pay for one. Here’s the breakdown:

FREE - There are a number of free services on the web that allow you to create your own blog, meaning there is no financial obligation on your part. However, you will have some price to pay, mostly in the form of advertisements on your site and/or a lack of creative potential. The most popular sites are WordPress.com and Blogger. My personal preference is WordPress, for a number of reasons, but just pick one for now. You could also choose among these: LiveJournal, Vox, Xanga, MySpace, or many others. Simply visit one of these sites, set up a profile, and continue to step #2 below. (more…)

How to Create Time Outside of Work

On August 15, 2009, In Careers & Business, by Jeff

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Life offers just one thing, time, and it is up to you to make the most of it. Benjamin Franklin once said there are only two things certain in life: death and taxes. Though he may be right in many respects, the reality is that we have an unknown amount of time in life and working a full-time job certainly uses quite a bit of it. This reality leaves you with two choices, find a way to avoid ever working, or find a way to create time outside of work.

At the end of each day I always analyze what I was able to accomplish that day. I question whether or not I used my time wisely and if there was more I could have achieved. I’m careful not to take this too far because time in any given day is limited and there really is only so much you can do. However, I have found ways to maximize the time that I have been given. I’ve listed a few tricks and tips here and I hope there are as useful to you as I have found them to be. Enjoy!

Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.
–Carl Sandburg

(more…)

Baby Steps: Setting Achievable Goals

On August 9, 2009, In Goals & Personal Development, by Jeff

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Photo Courtesy of Arkansas ShutterBug (Flickr)

“You will never change your life until you change something you do daily.”

- John C. Maxwell, Today Matters: 12 Daily Practices to Guarantee Tomorrow’s Success

In his book, Maxwell argues that today is the most important day of your life and that change will only occur if you make today matter more than any other day. Maxwell is a well-known author and public speaker who’s primary focus lies on leadership. If you’re interested in other books he’s written you have about 60 others to choose from.

I agree with Maxwell in that making today count is your first step to making every day count, and eventually achieving your long-term goals faster than you could have imagined. Most people have goals and truly want to make positive changes in their lives, but the process of dramatic change is very daunting, which is why few people ever achieve enormous success. Maxwell also touches on this point, explaining that “Successful people conquer their feelings and form the habit of doing things unsuccessful people do not like to do.” Essentially, if you’re willing to change, you CAN change. You simply have to make the (more…)

Blazing Your Own Path

On August 4, 2009, In Careers & Business, by Jeff

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Photo Courtesy of docman (Flickr)

From the post college years up to your early 30′s, you are bound to encounter hundreds of thousands of opinions about who you are and what you should do with your life. Ultimately, the decision is up to you, but it will take determination to eliminate the numerous distractions and stay focused on your own dreams. To get started on blazing your own path in life you will need your own dreams. This may sound silly, but I was one of those people who had a great story to tell about my big plans for the future, but the truth was that I really had no clue and didn’t want anyone to know that. I basically piggybacked off others’ dreams and touted them as my own. In the end, I was the one who suffered because I lacked any direction and ended up graduating from college with two unrelated and seemingly useless majors.

The reality is that my college experience was incredibly beneficial, but I left school without a sense of belonging or ownership of any specific niche in life. So, I have listed some (more…)

How to “Ask” for Time Off Work

On July 31, 2009, In Careers & Business, by Jeff

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Photo by Jeff Sanders

It’s time to play Good Cop, Bad Cop. When it comes to asking for a little time away from the office, you’ll have to learn when to be the nice guy, and when to turn on the heat. I have worked a variety of jobs throughout my life and the culture in every work environment has been a little different. Every boss has come with a quirky personality. Every rule about vacations and time off have varied just enough that it’s hard to figure out what to say, and especially how to say it. Here’s a few tips to get you by in those tricky scenarios you’re almost certain to face.

Top 5 Tips

1. Learn the Office Rules – Your office will have it’s own set of rules about how employees ask for time off work. You’ll probably figure it out pretty quick, but you need to understand how your boss wants you to do it, and how the other employees actually do it. (more…)

Staying Cool at Group Interviews

On July 25, 2009, In Careers & Business, by Jeff

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Photo by Jeff Sanders

Throughout my own personal career search I have stumbled aimlessly into many interviews completely unprepared. It was one thing to tackle a one-on-one interview, answering a question or two without any clue of what I was talking about, but to do it in front of a group of people took my lack of preparation to a whole new level. Group interviews are hard. Simple enough. They are a different beast than than the traditional one-on-one and it takes a different skill set to master the tricks necessary to avoid getting weeded out by the employer. The hard part is figuring out what the employer is looking for and why they have chosen the group format over others. Some of them may come right out and tell you what they want, most won’t. You’ll have to be the mind reader and the observant cool kid in the back who catches the vibe before your competition does. Here are some tricks to help edge you in the favor of the employer. (more…)

The #1 Way to Guarantee Success

What’s Your #1 Goal for 2010?

100 Wishes

Give Feedback – Get a FREE Gift!

Achieve Excellence by Eliminating Mediocrity

Top 5 Alternatives to the 9-5

How to Become an Expert – Fast! (Part 2)

How to Become an Expert – Fast! (Part 1)

How Networking Can Jumpstart a Recent Grad’s Career

Why Running at 5 AM is Awesome!

How to Survive on a Low Budget

Finances 101: The Truth About Debt

Passions 101: The Power of Giving

How to Start Your Own Blog

How to Create Time Outside of Work

Baby Steps: Setting Achievable Goals

Blazing Your Own Path

How to “Ask” for Time Off Work

Staying Cool at Group Interviews

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