4 Small Ways to Improve Your Career Every Day - The Muse

4 Small Ways to Improve Your Career Every Day - The Muse4 Small Ways to Improve Your Career Every DayIts super easy to think big in your career. Im going to achieve this ginormous goal. Ill develop 100 new skills. Ill reach the top level in my field.But the problem we face is that reaching those big goals feels impossible from wherbeie we stand today.So, one resolution Ive made for myself is to think smaller. Not to say I dont hold myself to high standards, but Im allowing myself to take easier, more bite-sized steps to get there.Want to know how? Here are four things I swore to do every day to improve my career this year- and I promise, theyre so simple youll be surprised you dont do them more often.1. ReadBefore you panic that Im asking you to dive into a new book every day, dont. Reading can mean a lot of different things. For me, it sometimes means checking out one in-depth blog post, while other days it means reading five pages of a book before bed.Smart people know that by keep ing up with industry news or downloading the latest professional development book, theyre always one step ahead of the game. Theyre constantly learning, and constantly engaging with new ideas, new voices, and new perspectives- and these further shape and stab und sttze the decisions they make. Plus, the only way youre going to become a better communicator is by witnessing good written communication first hand.So, make a vow to read something every day. Maybe you settle for five pages a night like me, then increase that number over time. Or, maybe you subscribe to popular publications in your field and spend your commute reading as much as you can. This isnt school, so dont make it feel like work- rather, engage with material that inspires and motivates you to be and do better.2. ConnectChances are you check social media daily, if not more often. What Ive found, however, is that I dont spend enough time actually talking to people on these platforms. Youve heard the usual career advic e, like reach out to a stranger on LinkedIn or email your network to grab coffee. But realistically, were not going to do that every day (how exhausting would that be?). However, theres something called keeping your networking warm, and its just as important- things like commenting when someone changes their job status on LinkedIn, sending a private Facebook to a colleague who just got engaged, or texting an old friend to catch up. While they may not directly impact your career now, they keep the door open for when you may need something later on. Maybe youll need that rolle to serve as a reference, and since youve stayed in close contact you know theyll speak highly of you. Or, youll start a partnership with their company and because you get along so well, youre able to sell a bigger deal. When that time comes, you wont regret having spent two minutes a day nurturing that relationship.3. WriteIm an editor, so I dont normally throw the word write around loosely. However, just like r eading, I believe its so important to practice regularly- in no matter what fashion.I have a friend whos been journaling since the sixth grade. I dont think if you asked her why she continues to do it shed say because it helps her advance in her career. But I can tell you that this outlet has helped her process her feelings and clear her head better than any form of therapy out there.Its also how she keeps track of what she accomplishes. Shes kept every notebook shes filled since she first started journaling, and as a result she can look back on the past week, month, or year and see how far shes come (eighth grade crushes excluded).Maybe you also journal (or want to start). Or maybe you hate it like me, thats OK. But find ways to express yourself, your thoughts, and your ideas through writing. Start a blog, write a LinkedIn article, take on a freelancing project, track your accomplishments, write for your companys website, craft clever tweets, post on Facebook, contribute to a discu ssion group, create an idea journal. Form a paper trail you can be proud of and thatll also remind you how much youve grown and learned.4. Ask QuestionsThis is the easiest advice youll get all day.Ask your boss how they got where they are today, ask your colleague what theyre working on, ask a friend to explain a foreign concept to you, ask for help when you need it. Be curious- in meetings, while sitting at your desk, at events, over drinks. Always strive to learn more and understand what you dont know. Theres truly no such thing as a dumb question (in fact, itll only make you look smarter), and if you dont ask now youll only look back later and wish you had.Seems almost too simple, right? But if youre someone who tends to get lazy when it comes to your career, these are great places to start. After all, how hard can it be to read, write, connect with, and ask about one thing a day? Try it out and let me know how it goes on Twitter.