Problem: Article: Everyone has a website now. It's an important part of getting taken seriously in the business and general work world. Make a website that functions as a sort of long-form resume, showcasing what you're about and all of the cool things you've done. You don't need to be a pro and making websites either, in order to get a nice one. Get a Tumblr and redirect it to a unique URL or use free website templates from services like Wix. A good thing to have on your website would be a blog, where you talk about your ideas and the latest developments in your industry. This shows employers that you take your job seriously and you're invested in what you do. Social media is crucial in terms of giving people the ability to feel like they know you. Keep your personal social media accounts under a slightly different name (your first and middle, for example) and attach your real name to public social media accounts. These will come up when employers or contractors look you up, so make sure the content and ideas that you post are relevant and good. Business cards can still be very useful, even in this digital age. But you need to have one that stands out. Get a professional, unique looking business card. Many sites sell these online and even offer customization services. These are not as expensive as you'd think! Make yourself a card that no one will forget! You want people to be able to picture you and feel like they really know you as they read about you. Don't look like some second-rate wanna-be with a blurry picture of you on your last vacation (complete with sunburn and embarrassing shirt). When we put a lot of work into how we look, we tell people two things. First, we tell them that we believe in taking this professional effort seriously. Second, we tell them that we believe they are worth making an effort for or that they're worth impressing. This shows respect. Between the two, you make people much more willing to take you seriously. Dress like you mean business for your industry, wear clothes that fit and compliment your body, and work on getting nice skin and a flattering hairstyle. Sometimes this might mean updating your style a bit or moving outside of your comfort zone. This is okay! Change is good for you and it will help you start a new chapter in your life. Find a way to make this new style more "you" and everything will be fine. This will probably mean hiring a professional to write it for you. When we write about ourselves at any length, we tend to write about what's important to us, rather than what's really interesting or valuable to someone else. This is why it's a good idea to get a helping hand. How your bio reads will depend on the nature of your industry and your particular "brand", but a little humor and a smidgen of humility are usually valuable assets to a bio.
Summary: Have a website. Be present and active on social media. Get a unique business card. Get a great head shot. Put a lot of work into how you look. Get a good bio written.

Problem: Article: If you generally say yes to most requests, you may lose touch with how you actually feel about having someone in your house. If someone shows up at your door and says, “Can I come in?” or, “Can I stay over?” take a moment and tune into your body. If you're genuinely happy to see them, let them in. However, if you don't want to get up to open the door, your first reaction is a groan, or you feel knots in your stomach after they ask, it's clear that the person is not welcome.  If you get a “no” answer from your body, tell your friend, “This isn't a good time. I'm sorry.” Sometimes it can be helpful to talk through how you are feeling with your partner or a trusted friend to get to the bottom of how you really feel. There may be some situations that excite you and some that deplete you depending on whether you are an introvert or extrovert. Introverts prefer to spend most of their time alone, while extroverts prefer to spend most of their time with other people. If you are not sure which type you are, then you can take the Myers & Briggs test to find out. For example, you may feel excited when an old friend shows up unannounced, yet feel depleted after they stay for more than a few hours. Are there situations that feel good and others that feel bad? Are there certain people you can tolerate and others you cannot? Begin to notice what situations energize you and which ones drain you. This can help you to become clearer on what limits you can set and how you might enforce them. For example, you might like the person who drops in, but hate that they come to unload all of their negativity onto you. If you're constantly bending your own needs to accommodate others, you may lose sleep, feel angry or upset, lose money, or overextend yourself. If you know that having someone over will drain you or affect you negatively, say something.  You can say, “I'm really stressed and I need some alone time right now” or, “I'm working on a project and I need to concentrate by myself.” If you notoriously neglect your own needs, get into a routine of taking some time for relaxation. Join a yoga class, talk a daily walk, or meditate on a regular basis. This can help you deal with stress and not let things compound over time. If you are an introverted personality type, then it is especially important to regularly schedule in time for isolation and quiet. This will help keep you charged for social interaction. You might say yes to everything to avoid making others upset, yet this can lead you to feel unhappy or taken advantage of. If you fear someone's disappointment, remember that a lack of boundaries can lead to long-term resentment or bitterness over time. If something makes you unhappy or resentful, that's not fair to you. It's okay to say no, even if the other person doesn't like it. If someone becomes upset, say, “I understand this isn't what you expected, but I'm afraid I can't help you this time. I'm sorry you're disappointed.”
Summary:
Check with your body. Notice what energizes and drains you. Prioritize your needs. Tolerate others' reactions.