Whether you’re looking for work, running a business, launching a project, a key thing to remember is “don’t go it alone!” We all are limited by our own experience, education, preferences and so on, but by asking others their opinions–and staying open to feedback that may be surprising–we’re enriched, stimulated, and connected to resources that will help us succeed. Isolation is one of the worst problems job seekers face–maybe out of shame or hurt pride or any number of factors. Make a list of people whose opinions you value and then ask for advice. It could be very specific, such as “Can you help me think of industries that might use my skills?” or broader,  “I’ve been looking for a job in marketing and feel stuck. Could we talk for 10-15 minutes so I can pick your brain?”

And sometimes, by talking with other people, we learn things about ourselves that we didn’t know. I was just at a breakfast meeting of an association I belong to, and several people commented on how good I am at creating titles. I sort of knew this but never thought of it as something that I might add to my website as a service to others. So get out there, talk to people, keep a spreadsheet as follow up is critical, and be surprised by what happens. And don’t forget to add to your list reference librarians. They are fantastic at problem solving and know how to find resources that can help you.