Articles tagged "Professional development"

How to automate a manual process without feeling overwhelmed

We talk a lot about automating manual processes on the Zapier blog. It's kind of our thing.  But something we've realized over the years is that an automation mindset is something that takes time to develop. People don't always know where to start.

It's ok not to have goals 

Career progression is one of the most important stories in our culture. The American Dream. You're supposed to start at the bottom and work your way toward the top. But you know what? The top sounds like a nightmare to me, and so do the steps in between.

What to expect when moving from a small company to a big(ger) one

Before working at Zapier, I was at an eight-person company. So before I started, all I could do was think about the 400 some-odd difference in size—I had no idea what to expect.

Forget networking—connect with people because they're interesting 

The idea of networking makes me cringe. Here's the thing, though: I actually love connecting with people, and that enthusiasm works out for me professionally. I got this job because of a friend I made on Twitter. That's networking. 

Why I don't work first thing on Mondays

Reader, let me tell you a secret: I spend the first two hours of my Monday workday not working. Let me explain how this happened. 

Job titles matter

"Don't worry about titles. Titles don't really matter."  I can't tell you how many times I've heard that before. But titles do matter—here's why.

How to write real good

Now that I get paid to write and have a shred of credibility, folks often ask me how they can improve their writing. And I almost always give the same answer: learn grammar, mechanics, and figures of speech. 

How to write a bio that gets results

Your bio can work wonders for you and your business—here's how to write one, including a template to start with.

3 ways to power up mentorship to move your career forward

"Find the trees, move around the stumps." These wise words stuck with me from one of my first mentors. I'm not even certain that I knew to call her that, but looking back on that time, I would.

A company is not a family

What corporate jargon do you hate the most? I asked this question on Twitter recently and was surprised by the most common answer: "family."