LEVEL UP : What Video Games can Teach You about your Business

When you defeat an enemy in a video game, you gain experience points. Experience points help you learn new abilities, level up and make it easier for you to win the game. Growing up, I would spend an insane amount of time trying to get my character as much experience points as possible. Although it was time consuming, when I got to the higher levels I had an easier time beating the stronger enemies.

Your business can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. Whether you're working for a company, searching for a new job or self-employed, sometimes it can feel like you're stuck in an endless boss fight with no hope of winning. Maybe you feel like you just don't have a chance.

Maybe it's time for you to gain some experience points.

And no, I'm not talking about hitting your friends with sticks or kicking rocks until coins fly out. I'm talking about doing things that give you an advantage in your life and your business.

Learn New Abilities

It's true - the game has changed. Skills that used to be in high demand like being able to use a computer or create a Word document are now seen as basic skills that everyone should know how to do. In video games, new abilities make you more powerful - if you choose the right ones and utilize them correctly. The same goes for skills in real life. Learn what skills are in demand by the people in your field or learn what skills will give you an edge. This could be writing, photography, graphic design or even something like learning physics or economics. Take the time to learn a new skill so you can have a step-up on your competition.

Choose your Party Wisely

It is so important to surround yourself with people who support you. You want people in your life who lift you up and make it easier for you to face those everyday challenges. Unfortunately, sometimes you and your friends aren't on the same page. Maybe you're at a higher level than they are or maybe you feel like they're bringing you down emotionally or in terms of your business. It could be time for you to step away from a friendship if it's impacting you in a negative way.

Be Patient

If you've ever played Pokemon, you know the feeling of sitting there for hours defeating Pidgey after Pidgey until your Pokemon finally gains a level. If you're not Pokemon-savvy, I'm basically saying that sometimes you have to do the easy stuff over and over again so you can move on to the big stuff. Sometimes you have to work that minimum wage job until your small business takes off. Sometimes you have to get rejected until you find your dream job. Other times you have to sit at your computer, learning Photoshop basics until you become a graphic design master. Keep at it. Before you know it, you'll be a Pokemon Master. (Or something equally as awesome.)

Take a break

Have you ever played a video game and gotten that feeling like you want to throw your controller across the room? If you're feeling like that at your job or in your business, it's time for you to take a break. Take a moment to reflect on what you think you're doing right or wrong. Have a snack break. One of my favorite things to do when I'm feeling a little overwhelmed is to grab a friend and take a walk outside. The fresh air always helps me to cool down.

Have fun!

We all know those people who take life way too seriously. Make sure that at the end of the day you are being true to your vision. If you're not happy with the way your life or business is going, change it. You deserve to be happy.


What about you? What things are you doing to give you an advantage in your business?
Let me know in the comments below!

Stop Making These 5 Social Media Mistakes

Whether you're unemployed and searching for a job or currently employed with an awesome company, social media is important. It can connect you with the best parts of the internet...and it can also keep you from getting that job you love (or even get you fired!)

If you're making any of the five social media mistakes below, it may be time to reconstruct your online presence before it gets you into trouble.

Do you post about drinking, drugs or other activities?

Everyone likes to have fun. However, there's a huge difference between posting about mimosas with your girlfriends and posting about that party you went to last weekend where you blacked out. Some things just don't need to be shared, and if a potential employer sees that post on your page, it could stop you from getting the job. It's also something to avoid if you're currently employed with a company. Whether you like it or not, you represent that company through your social media pages.

NOTE: If you are underage, don't even think about it. Posting about the illegal things you did last weekend will come back to bite you.

Are you posting inappropriate photos?

You would be amazed at the amount of people I knew in college who would post dozens of pictures from their wild night out. Am I telling you to stop having fun? No, but posting a picture of you drinking or doing something illegal (you'd be surprised what I've seen) is not something you want your boss stumbling upon while he/she is checking out your Facebook Photo Albums.

Are you posting hateful things on the internet?

We already have enough problems when it comes to bullying on the internet. Don't contribute to the problem. While I do speak my mind on the internet, I try to shy away from comment wars or getting into hateful discussions. If you do feel strongly about something and feel you need to speak your mind, it may be better to send that person a polite message. Facebook comments are a prime example. People love to comment on Facebook posts and nine times out of ten they get carried away. Sometimes it can be better to keep it to yourself.

Do you post on social media about how much you hate your job?

Please don't post about how much you hate your job on social media. Don't post about that coworker that annoys you and definitely don't post about your boss. If you don't like your job, text it to a friend or find a new job. You'd be surprised at how fast that kind of stuff gets back to the people you work with.

Are you even on social media?

Despite all of the precautions, social media is important. It can help you network with potential employers and connect with new and old friends. It can help you to share information and can open up a world of opportunities.

It is so important to have a strong social media presence that positively represents you and your brand.

When it comes down to it, your posts, tweets and photos are all online. They are not as private as you think. You'd be amazed at the people I know personally who have gotten fired or have gotten in trouble due to comments made on social media.


Do you use social media like Facebook or Twitter? What are some other things you think people should stop doing on their social media accounts? Discuss in the comments below!

What the Heck is a Cover Letter?

There are resumes, there are interviews and then there are cover letters.

It's kind of crazy how many people I talk to either don't turn in cover letters with job applications or don't know what they are in the first place.

Once you get the hang of it, writing cover letters can be pretty simple. They can also be pretty fun to write. But before we get to the mechanics of how to write a cover letter, we have to ask ourselves: What the heck is a cover letter?

IS the perfect place to explain some of the things on your resume.

Maybe you have a weird gap on your resume or you listed a one-of-a-kind skill. Your cover letter is the perfect place to explain those little things. Maybe the gap is from an impromptu trip you took your Junior year to travel the world. Now you can let employers know about your awesome trip where you learned to speak fluent Spanish and play the guitar.

IS NOT a replication of your resume.

Don't repeat information. They already know about your job history and accomplishments, so why would you tell them again? Don't waste an employer's time.

IS a chance for you to tell employers your story.

Your cover letter is the perfect time to tell your future employers about the time you wrote your own book when you were seven years old or how a trip to a museum in High School made you realize you wanted to be a curator. Your cover letter is the perfect time to show employers who you are.

IS NOT a chance for you to write a novel.

Everybody loves a good story, but a cover letter shouldn't be any longer than one page (even one full page is pushing it!) So keep it short and sweet.

IS a place to tell the employer how awesome they are.

Show that you know what job you're applying for. Show that you know the company like the back of your hand. Talk about the article they wrote on their blog that helped you be more awesome or talk about an art exhibit they hosted that changed your life. Talk about how much you love them. This is about them, not you.

IS NOT the same for every job you apply for.

Every job that you apply for needs to have a different cover letter. Can it be the same format? Sure. Can it be the same words? Nope. Sit down and write a new cover letter. It's worth it.

IS one of the most important things you can submit with your job application and resume.

Your cover letter does a few things. First, it shows an employer who you are. Second, it allows you to show your love for a company. Third, it allows you to tell a company why you would be perfect for the position you are applying for.

IS NOT optional.

Don't even think about applying for a job without a cover letter. Sadly, many people don't submit cover letters and 50% of the people that do just copy and paste information off of their cover letter or the internet. Take the time to craft a personal cover letter and you will have a huge leg up on the competition.


Now that you know what a cover letter is, it's time for you to write one. One of the best resources I've found for writing cover letters is this article by Alexandra Franzen. If you don't know how to start writing a cover letter, that article is the perfect place.

I'm going to touch more on cover letters and exactly how to write them later on, but for now...

Have you ever written a cover letter? If you haven't, what stopped you? 

Talk about it in the comments below!

How to Find your Niche

In order to stand out from the crowd it can be smart to find a specialty or niche to push you forward and give you an edge in your business. Finding your niche can be advantageous for artists, writers, bloggers, designers, coaches, and more!

Although it can be scary to think about, there are a lot of people out there that are in the same field as you. But remember: there is only one you! Finding your niche can strengthen your brand, and confirm your passion.
 
Try New Things and Retry Old Things
Finding your niche requires you to step out of your comfort zone. If there is something that has always interested you, try it! If there is something that you did in the past that still interests you today, try it again! You may end up rekindling a passion for writing stories, drawing, solving problems, or something else!

What do you love?
Take out of a piece of paper or open a new document. Now start writing down what you love to do. Don't think too hard about it (you shouldn't have to!) and write down anything and everything that comes to mind. On my list I had down books, movies, superheroes, and Hello Kitty, to name a few.

Does that mean I'm going to start a Hello Kitty business? Not likely, but it's important to write down everything. Who knows - the style or color of Hello Kitty could end up inspiring a new design project.

What are you good at?
Still have that list up? Go through and circle the things that you're awesome at.  It's important to do this with a little discretion. A few weeks ago I would have put 'design' on my love list but not circled it. Now that I'm learning more about design everyday, however, I can safely circle it knowing that although I'm not the greatest, I can only get better.

Practice makes perfect.
Once you know what you love and what you're good at, it's time to work it. Write everyday. Draw a new picture everyday. Take the ultimate challenge and practice for 100 days. Keep on going, even when you don't think you're doing well, or when it's hard. Each step is a step forward.

Keep your niche.
Say you finally figured out your niche. Maybe it's writing children's stories, filming black and white movies, or making jewelry out of found objects. The important thing now is to keep going even when it's hard. Keep practicing. Don't second guess yourself. Maybe your niche needs tweaking in the future, but don't throw everything away in one moment of doubt.

Keep going forward, embrace your niche, and take the world by storm!