MSEJ May 2017 | Page 11

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that you see on your colleagues’ Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts… the things they attended (that you did not).

There are a million reasons to skip “the things”—I’ve used plenty of them myself. Finances, scheduling, childcare, distance, anxiety, and doubt are all powerful forces. But ask yourself: How do they compare with that sinking feeling you have inside? How do they compare with your desire to be doing something to work toward your goals?

You don’t have to attend every conference in your field, every job fair in your city, or every networking event in your area. If you know several people who can’t afford such options, you could schedule an alternate, more cost-effective meet up instead as long as you promise to spend at least half the time truly focused on work-based discussions. You also don’t have to take every skills workshop or renew every certification you possess.

Attending the things is not an act of desperation; it’s a carefully calculated plan of action. Look at your calendar and your budget, and work out what it would take for you to attend two events per year to help you meet your professional goals. As you do so, think about the events, meetings, and workshops that could expose you to new ideas and skills, while enabling you to build your professional network (and then book at least one of them). If you work as an independent contractor, you may find that some of these events can count as a tax deduction, depending on your profession.

It can be easy to think of “the things” as luxuries, events and meet-ups that you should attend after you’ve gotten your career together. But I’m here to tell you, conferences, networking functions, and workshops are not luxuries. They are vital tools to help you keep on track with your larger career goals as you continue the daily work that pays your bills. You deserve to have a fire, to have dreams—you just have to make a space for them to grow into reality.