In need of some solid career advice? In an effort to make this work week slightly more bearable, CreativeLive is once again delivering a roundup of our favorite job tips from experts in every field –– including Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn! Whether you're embarking on a new career or happy in your current one, we all need the occasional impetus to get motivated. Check out the advice below so you're ready to work!
Passion Turns Into Strength
"Always focus on your strengths. They are your strengths for an important reason. At one point you were passionate about them (and perhaps still are) and so dived into the subtleties enough to make yourself a master of those strengths. That’s why you are strong in them. The weaknesses are there because you have no interest in them, are no good at it, and for many reasons, may never be good at it. You may have new passions in the future. And those passions will turn into strengths eventually. But weaknesses don’t turn into strengths." –– James Altucher, author
Have a Dream? Just Go For It
"I wrote Sharp Objects and Dark Places [the books I published before Gone Girl] at night, on weekends and on holidays while I still had my job at EW. Lots of people spend too much time on the edge of the pool, looking at the water instead of jumping in. What I always tell people who want to be writers — and I think this goes for anything — is that you just have to do it. Preparing is only going to take you so far." –– Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl author
Ask Questions
“Ask that ‘stupid’ question that everyone else is dying to ask and respect deadlines.” –– Donna Player, David Jones Group executive merchandise
Take Risks
“Risks are what keep you going, they make you grow as a person and in most cases they will only grow your career and take you to different places.” –– Amy Nelson, Harrolds assistant buyer
Every Experience Is A Stepping Stone
"What I advise my own son — and what I advise anybody in their 20s — is that as long as you’re pursuing something, even if it ultimately isn’t going to be what you're going to do in your life, as long as you go after something, it’s going to lead to the next big thing. My years training and working as an actor has made me the writer and the director that I am — that experience on the other side of the camera, the other side of the stage, has made me more compassionate toward actors, and it also makes me write better scripts for actors." –– Jane Anderson, Emmy-winning screenwriter
Use Social Media Wisely
"This may sound like old business talk but networking does help. I’ve met some great people by joining in sharing images on Instagram and blog posts via hashtags such as #stylingtheseasons and #urbanjunglebloggers. I do encourage bloggers to join in group hashtags, they’re brilliant. You can learn so much by just chatting to other people in your industry and maybe make some friends." –– Hannah Trickett, blogger
In need of some solid career advice? In an effort to make this work week slightly more bearable, CreativeLive is once again delivering a roundup of our favorite job tips from experts in every field –– including Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn! Whether you're embarking on a new career or happy in your current one, we all need the occasional impetus to get motivated. Check out the advice below so you're ready to work!
Passion Turns Into Strength
"Always focus on your strengths. They are your strengths for an important reason. At one point you were passionate about them (and perhaps still are) and so dived into the subtleties enough to make yourself a master of those strengths. That’s why you are strong in them. The weaknesses are there because you have no interest in them, are no good at it, and for many reasons, may never be good at it. You may have new passions in the future. And those passions will turn into strengths eventually. But weaknesses don’t turn into strengths." –– James Altucher, author
Have a Dream? Just Go For It
"I wrote Sharp Objects and Dark Places [the books I published before Gone Girl] at night, on weekends and on holidays while I still had my job at EW. Lots of people spend too much time on the edge of the pool, looking at the water instead of jumping in. What I always tell people who want to be writers — and I think this goes for anything — is that you just have to do it. Preparing is only going to take you so far." –– Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl author
Ask Questions
“Ask that ‘stupid’ question that everyone else is dying to ask and respect deadlines.” –– Donna Player, David Jones Group executive merchandise
Take Risks
“Risks are what keep you going, they make you grow as a person and in most cases they will only grow your career and take you to different places.” –– Amy Nelson, Harrolds assistant buyer
Every Experience Is A Stepping Stone
"What I advise my own son — and what I advise anybody in their 20s — is that as long as you’re pursuing something, even if it ultimately isn’t going to be what you're going to do in your life, as long as you go after something, it’s going to lead to the next big thing. My years training and working as an actor has made me the writer and the director that I am — that experience on the other side of the camera, the other side of the stage, has made me more compassionate toward actors, and it also makes me write better scripts for actors." –– Jane Anderson, Emmy-winning screenwriter
Use Social Media Wisely
"This may sound like old business talk but networking does help. I’ve met some great people by joining in sharing images on Instagram and blog posts via hashtags such as #stylingtheseasons and #urbanjunglebloggers. I do encourage bloggers to join in group hashtags, they’re brilliant. You can learn so much by just chatting to other people in your industry and maybe make some friends." –– Hannah Trickett, blogger