There are so many lessons to learn about your professional life. The best professional advice I received from one of my coworkers was "always take the time to introduce and reintroduce yourself." She gave me this advice after I had been at a new company for about four months and it changed my trajectory.
 
In this blog post, we will explore when you need great introductions and how to create an introduction that people will remember.
 
When are introductions important?

• In a Job interview or when you start a new role
• Every day when you meet new people at work
• When you reconnect with colleagues to share updates
  

 
How to create a great introduction
 
Step #1: Think about what you want people to know about you
It is important to help people get to know you. When you think about your story and reputation, ask yourself what the important aspects of your career are. Some of the things I share with people include projects I have worked on, skills that I have, certifications or degrees and what I am passionate about. Remember also to include aspects of your personal life. There is so much power in connecting with people on a personal level.
 
Questions to consider

• What do you want people to know about you?
• How do you want to be perceived by the people you work with?

 
Step #2: Write your intro statements
In my experience, I have learned that when you write down a short introduction, it allows you to think through your message. Write down many options and refine your introduction as you go. As you work on your introduction statements, try not to over-engineer it.
 
Questions to consider

• What are the most important words you want to include in your introduction?
• How long would you like your introduction to be?

 
Step #3: Practice your introduction with people you trust
One way to improve your introduction is by sharing it with your trusted advisors. You can send it to them in written form or practice telling them in person. The objective of this activity is to gather feedback and ideas from people who know you really well.
 
Questions to consider

• What feedback do people that know you very well have for your introduction?
• Which improvements do you want to make to your introduction?

 
Step #4: Update and tweak your Introduction
Based on feedback and your experience as you tested your introduction, it is time to adjust your intro statements. The goal is to have a version you are comfortable with sharing with more people. It might not be perfect, and that is fine.
 
Questions to consider

• How will you keep your introduction fresh and relevant?
• What aspects of your introduction are the most important?

 
Step #5: Introduce and reintroduce your self
Now it is time to start using your new introduction. Depending on your audience, you may want to tweak your introduction. By practicing and working on your introduction, you will get better. I have also started being more aware of how other people introduce themselves and what I can learn from them.
 
Questions to consider

• What parts of your introduction resonate the most with others?
• Is your professional brand being strengthened by your introduction?

 
Action Plan

• How do you want to be remembered by the people you meet at work?
• How will you keep improving your introduction?

 
Final Thoughts

• Take every opportunity you get to introduce yourself to people at work.
• Your introduction is your opportunity to share things with people that you really want them to know.
• Own and manage your professional brand.

 
Great Resources

• 2 Ways to Create a 1-Line Elevator Pitch (That'll Make People Want to Keep Talking to You)
• How to introduce yourself so you’ll be unforgettable (in a good way!)
• The Best Way To Introduce Yourself In Five Potentially Awkward Situations
• Ways to introduce yourself in person, at parties or networking events (and a few you should skip)
• A Complete Guide to Answering “Tell Me About Yourself” in an Interview (Plus Examples!)
• How to Tell People What You Do—and Be Remembered

Your passion is often what fuels you and gives you a reason to do great things. We all have various passions in our work, personal life, or in our businesses. However, not all of us know what our passions are or are using utilizing them.
 
In this blog post, we will explore the meaning of passion, the benefits of reviving your passion, and ways to keep your passion alive.
 
What does having passion mean?

• Your passion can be anything that simultaneously challenges you, intrigues you and motivates you
• A desire fueled by passion will bring about the greatest results in life.
• Passion is when you put more energy into something than is required to do it. It is more than just enthusiasm or excitement, passion is ambition that is materialized into action to put as much heart, mind body and soul into something as is possible.

 
Why is it important to revive your passion now?
The benefits of living your passion

• Following your passion will help you feel fulfilled in life
• Doing things that you are passionate about energizes you
• You achieve great success when you follow your passion

 
How to find and revive your passion
 
Find and know your passion
It is crucial to be aware of what your passions are. When you ask children what they like, they tend to have a very quick response to these questions. However, as adults, we may lose the ability to think about what we are passionate about if we are not more deliberate. Spending some time thinking about your passion will help you use it.
 
Talk about your passions
I have found that when you tell people around you about what you are passionate about, it makes it very real.  Keeping your passions a secret is the easiest way to let them die. We cannot let that happen. Take every opportunity you get to talk about your passions with the people you care about.
 
Do things you are passionate about
The best way to keep your passion alive is to use it. For the longest time, I knew that I was passionate about helping people and building communities. However, I let self-doubt stop me from using my passion. Ever since I started following my passions, I have experienced high fulfillment and success. 
 
Continue discovering your passions
As you grow and go through changes in your life, the things you are passionate about may change. Make time to check in with yourself and see what you are passionate about. This will help ensure that you live out your passions.
 
Support others who follow their passion
If you know people around you who are discovering their passion, make it a point to support them on their journey. There is power in helping other people on the journey to feeling more fulfilled through using their own passion.
 
Final Thoughts
Let's wrap up this post with great quotes about finding your passion

• “I think that in order to be successful, women have to figure out what they’re passionate about first. No matter what you aspire to, you’ve got to love what you do in order to be successful at it.” - Michelle Obama
• “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” - Oprah Winfrey
• “Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there’s love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” - Ella Jane Fitzgerald
• “You can do anything as long as you have the passion, the drive, the focus, and the support.” —Sabrina Bryan
• “If you feel like there’s something out there that you’re supposed to be doing, if you have a passion for it, then stop wishing and just do it.” —Wanda Sykes

 
Call to Action

• What are you passionate about?
• When last did you do somethings you were passionate about?
• How can you revive your passion today?

 
Great Resources

• How to Define Your Passion in Life
• 6 Fresh Ways to Find Your Passion
• How to Find Your Passion and Live a Fulfilling Life
• Five Steps to Finding Your Passion
• [TED Talk]5 steps to help you figure out your passion
• How to Find Your Passion

We spend a lot of time in our lives at work. Recently, I have been reflecting on some of the experiences that I have had at work that had very different outcomes than I expected. I am making peace with the fact that setbacks are a part of every successful career.
 
In this blog post, we will discuss five ways to deal with disappointment at work.
 
Starting point: What type of professional setbacks have I faced?
Some of the experiences that have stuck in my memory include:

• Being passed up for a promotion
• Not getting the project that I really wanted to work on
• Being unable to negotiate my salary or a pay raise

 
Five ways to deal with disappointment at work
 
Don’t be too hard on yourself
It is important to not let all the weight of a setback rest on your shoulders. Going through a difficult time at work can often make your life feel less balanced and make you unhappy. Being aware of the impact of disappointment at work on your happiness is essential. Putting it all in perspective will help you move on.
 
Questions to consider

• Would you care about these experiences one month or one year from now?
• How can you take care of yourself in these difficult times?

 
Be better prepared
After major setbacks in my career, I wondered if there was a way for me to be more prepared to overcome the deep sadness I felt. And I have found that the answer is yes, you can prepare for the impact of disappointment on your life and work. Taking the time to plan for the negative events helped me bounce back.
 
Questions to consider

• What steps can you take after a career setback?
• Who will support you on your journey to get over your disappointment?

 
Identify the learnings
One of the things I am learning about all negative experiences in life is that there is always a lesson to be learned. When you experience setbacks at work, make time to think about what the lessons may be. It might not be easy to see the lessons. However, they exist and would help you a lot on your future journey.
 
Questions to consider

• What can you learn from this experience?
• Is there a common theme with the disappointments you have faced at work recently?

 
Find something positive that motivates you
Having a positive outlook on your career is a great gift. Especially when something does not go the way you planned, having something that excites you can help you stay happy. A great mindset to have is to view your future journey with optimism.
 
Questions to consider

• What is the one thing you enjoy about your job?
• What are some recent accomplishments that you have had?

 
Know when it is time to find a new job or role
Depending on the type of situation you may be going through at work, it may be time to move on to the next career adventure. It is crucial to know when that time comes and to take action.
 
Questions to consider

• What are you looking for in your next job or role?
• How will you utilize the learnings from your past experiences in your next job or role?

 
Final Thoughts

• Disappointment at work can be expected, how you deal with it will determine how successful you will be.
• Going through any negative experience with an active support group will make it easier.
• Building resilience for setbacks in your career is a strategy you can learn.

 
Call to Action

• What is one of the biggest setbacks you have faced in your career?
• What strategy helped you get over that disappointment?

 
Great Resources

• 5 Ways to Bounce Back from Disappointment at Work
• How to Deal With Professional Disappointment at Work
• Overcoming Career Disappointment
• How to get over career disappointment
• 5 Major Work Disappointments and How to Handle Them

When I reflect on my 18-year relocation journey, I wonder if anything could have prepared me for it. I started thinking about things I wish people told me about living in different countries. Who knows how different my journey would have been? In service to people who just moved or are thinking about moving to a different country and city, I am sharing some things to help them prepare better and enjoy the journey.
 
Continuing the Her Relocation series, in this blog post, we will discuss ten things people never tell you about living abroad or in a new city. It is crucial to know these things as it will help you address them heads on and increase your happiness in your new home.
 
It gets lonely sometimes
Leaving your social network behind when you move to a new country or city can be very difficult. And the truth is that it takes a lot of effort to build your new social network. At different phases on your relocation journey, you will miss people in your life.
 
MC's Tip: Make it a priority to build a new social network when you move.
 
The search for the food you enjoy will take more effort
Food is an integral part of feeling at home in a new environment. If you have followed my previous posts about my relocation journey, you know that finding food that I really enjoyed when I moved to Germany and the US was a priority.
 
MC's Tip: Find your favorite meals early.
 
There may be hurdles on your way
Settling into life in a new country may not be as smooth as you expect. The truth is that there will be some unexpected challenges that you may face on your journey. Even with very good plans, reality may look slightly different.
 
MC's Tip: Remind yourself of the good that is happening to you.
 
Your experiences may differ from previous experiences
For a while, you might be trying to draw parallels between your current relocation journey and prior experiences. When I moved to the US, I kept expecting my experience to be like when I moved to Germany about fourteen years before. I can now confirm that there are some similarities, but some experiences are very new.
 
MC's Tip: Accept that your relocation journey may be very different
 
People will ask you questions you are not prepared for
In my recent video titled Questions not to ask an Immigrant and Questions to ask an Immigrant, I discuss the different questions people have asked me in the different countries I have lived in.
 
MC's Tip: Guard your happiness by assuming the best intentions with the questions people ask you.
 
You will eventually adapt
The good news about change is that eventually, you will adapt to your new life. Especially at the beginning, it's hard to think about things improving. However, as you learn more about your new home, you'll grow to enjoy it.
 
MC's Tip: Be patient and hopeful. It gets better with time.
 
There will be things you don't get used to
In the previous point, I stated that you would eventually get used to your new life. While that is true, there are still somethings that you will never adapt to. In my post titled "10 Things you never get used to when you move to new countries" I share some of the things for me.
 
MC's Tip: Accept the fact that somethings may remain foreign.
 
You will continuously learn something new
Even after many years of living in a place, there is still so much to learn about your new home. Live each day with an open mind to learn new things about the people, culture, food and environment.
 
MC's Tip: Be open to learn and expand your perspective continuously.
 
You will have many opportunities to learn about yourself
The best way to grow personally is to take yourself out of your normal situation. When you move to a new environment, you are pushed to spend a lot of time getting to know yourself. With the right focus and having a growth mindset, you will become a better you.
 
MC's Tip: Spend time getting to know yourself and your boundaries
 
It could potentially be the start of a great future
The change associated with your relocation may be the well-needed beginning of a successful future. From my experience, I can confidently say that moving to new countries has propelled my life in the right direction and brought me a lot of success.
 
MC's Tip: Seek out new opportunities and make the best of them.
 
Final Thoughts

• Relocating to a new city and country may seem daunting and scary. However, a lot of good comes out of change.
• Sharing our journeys can be very beneficial to the people around us.
• Enjoy the ride and your experiences.

 
Call to Action
What are some things you wish you knew before you moved?
What has been your favorite moment of your relocation journey so far?