Spring is in full bloom and Summer’s right around the bend. Have you completed your career Spring cleaning?

Just like a home needs to be cleared to free up space and energy, every successful career needs a good spring cleaning to make room for the new opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. So if you want to make your career red-hot, these 10 approaches can clear the space and create the spark.

1. Tough Self-Love
   For genuine, lasting career advancement, look in the mirror and ask yourself a few key questions:
   • Overall, is work enjoyable? Does it provide enough money to enjoy life AND save for the future?
   • What’s the best way to get on an employer’s or client’s radar AND stand out in the midst of all the noise?
   • Is it time to “fire” that troublesome client despite losing the revenue? What’s the potential fallout? Is that fallout manageable?
   • Is it time to take a real stand with a colleague, client or boss, regardless of the consequences?
2. Clean Sweep
   A cluttered workspace is a creativity and productivity killer. Clear space equals clear thinking. It also saves time finding things and makes a good impression on clients, colleagues, customers and the boss. You’ll be surprised how fast and beneficial this step is.
3. Get Smart
   Staying relevant in today’s technology-fueled world requires you to evolve on the fly. Lack of knowledge can be a deal-breaker for some clients, customers and bosses. Approaching technology and professional development from a position of curiosity instead of “dreaded continuing education” makes it more enjoyable and less like “work.”
4. You Don’t Need to Figure Out Life’s Purpose
   Don’t let not knowing your life’s purpose prevent you from making smart career moves. This liberating mindset does two things: removes pressure from decision-making and supports a flexible approach because you’re not constrained by a prearranged plan.
5. Make the Most of Things
   There’s a big difference between settling and making the most of a situation. Settling encourages stagnation, while accepting added responsibilities for future benefit, for example, is being strategic. This approach challenges the mind and allows for the mastery of new skills, which results in clarity and confidence when making career moves.
6. Take a Vacation
   Too much focus can be counterproductive. Whether it’s a week in Mexico or a day away from home, a change of pace and scenery isn’t just fun, it allows the brain to problem solve subconsciously and effortlessly.
7. Sell Yourself
   When you’re updating a resume or home page it’s best not to “leave things to the imagination.” Using numbers to document performance makes an impression. “Managed a team of 6 and increased sales by 20%” is more impressive than “Managed a team of 6.”
8. It Really Should Have Stayed in Vegas
   It’s a world where anyone can get the lowdown on anyone. Why sabotage a current or future career? Potential clients and employers frequently use Google to help make hiring decisions. What will they find? Save the racy photos, political rants and off-color remarks for “friends only.”
9. Get Uncomfortable
   Try public speaking, volunteer to lead a team, write a spontaneous proposal to the boss or invite a big name to collaborate. Being courageous provides accelerated personal growth, which results in new and unexpected opportunities.
10. Put Me in Coach
    Finding a respected mentor or coach can supercharge a career. Be selective. Taking bad advice sinks a career just as fast as not taking any advice. Avoiding pitfalls, having a sounding board and learning from others’ mistakes are just a few benefits an experienced mentor provides.

When it comes to lighting a fire under your career it’s all about making a habit of daily, incremental steps over the long run. Put these tips into practice today. You’ll soon reap the benefits of a career that’s on fire! For support with leadership development and coaching, contact us at https://www.powersresourcecenter.com/leadership-coaching