Way too often we can get stuck.  Our education, experience and even our expectations of how we (and others) should behave can cause us to miss opportunities to get better.

In today’s New York Times, Janet Rae-Dupree writes about research conducted by Carol Dweck, a Stanford psychologist.  Dweck, perhaps not so surprisingly, has found that the way people think about their ability to improve their innate talents makes all the difference.  Those who believe that their intelligence and talent has been predetermined by nature are less likely to push themselves to create and innovate than those who subscribe to the belief that their abilities can grow over time.

So which camp do you belong to?

If it is the first - and if you want to move to the other side, consider this quote from Dweck included in the article:

“People who believe in the power of talent tend not to fulfill their potential because they’re so concerned with looking smart and not making mistakes. But people who believe that talent can be developed are the ones who really push, stretch, confront their own mistakes and learn from them.”

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TAGS: change, creativity, life long learning, productivity, Risk-taking, support

I recently wrote a column for MSN Money reviewing five personal finance books that actually said something new and worthwhile about money.

But there are three other, not-as-recent books I’d like to recommend. These aren’t directly about money, but each could make a big difference in your career and your lifetime earning power. The good news: your local library almost certainly has them, so you don’t necessarily have to rush out to Barnes & Noble to grab them.

1. “Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazzi explains how to network the right way by focusing on connecting and helping others rather than on exclusively promoting yourself. Although Ferrazzi doesn’t talk about gender, he promotes what’s been considered a traditionally female way of relating: valuing relationships and connections over competition. This book inspired me to help some freelancer friends land jobs and gave me the nudge I needed to ask some of my well-connected friends for advice and help—which they were delighted to give. The advice is particularly relevant in a bad economy, when you may need all the friends you can get to help you land your next job.  When the going gets tough, the tough may get going—but the smart may quit and move on to something more sensible.
2. In “The Dip,” Seth Godin discusses when to quit and when to stick. Before you spend another week in a bad job or a dying industry, read this slim little book of uncommon good sense. Often the road to the top is a zig zag, and those who stay too long in the wrong place find themselves falling behind. Then again, sometimes success is just around the bend, and a little more effort may get you there. 
3. “Getting Things Done” by David Allen is a productivity system that makes sense—and that’s inspired a lively blogosphere that includes popular sites like 43folders.com, Zen Habits and LifeHacker.com. If you’re a knowledge worker, cranking out intangibles rather than widgets, you need a dynamic system to help you track and prioritize tasks. This system can help you stop feeling overwhelmed and yes, start Getting Things Done. 

TAGS: careers, change, networking, productivity