Your 20s are the years that you will have learned the most about life in such a short amount of time. Your 20s are the years in which you completely immerse yourself in all things possible. Your 20s are the years where you learn to let go of negativity and capitalize on every positive aspect of life. As the end of the academic year creeps up on you, which means graduation is just around the corner. Woo-hoo! Congratulations to you and your completion of your hard-earned college degree. You deserve it! You’re young, fresh-minded and ready to showcase the talents and skills you’ve learned over the past four years to the world. But before you jump right into the workforce, here are some tips on how to keep up the momentum and continue to be successful after school.

1. Remove the following phrases from your vocabulary:

• “I can’t”
• “That’s impossible”
• “No one likes [insert unmentionable person being gossiped about]”
• “I didn’t do it”
• “I don’t know”

You’re an adult in the real world now. Using these phrases only limits your capability of being successful within your new position. These phrases give the impression that you are doubtful, gossip-y, and not quick to accept responsibility for your actions. It’s time to be confident, show off what you’re worth – taking full responsibility for your actions.

2. Create your own brand. When establishing how you want to market yourself you must be consistent in your actions by recognizing your core values. Begin to identify your values by writing them down. Once you’ve jotted down your personal values, cherish them and stay to true them. Exuding your moral characteristics speaks volumes when you walk into a room. This is what I like to call reputation management.

3. Be genuine during your interaction with others. You may have learned in school or at some point in your life to ask the question, “What’s in it for me?” Although you are looking to establish a career after school, you must also step back and ask the individuals you are interacting or networking with “What is it that I can do for you?” By asking this simply question you’ve already proved that you have the ability to be unselfish, even during this crucial time of self-establishment. Remain focused on your goals, be willing to make sacrifices and stay open minded and with that agenda, you will soar.

Are you looking for a way to energize your employees and inspire them to work harder? Most people in a managerial position answer with a resounding “Yes!” A great way to do this is to give your employees an incentive to work other than their paycheck. Turning sales goals into friendly competition between departments, or having an “Office Olympics” style training day breathes new life into organizations that may have taken a turn for the monotonous. While these games may seem childish on the surface, they bring some fun back into the workplace and lighten things up, while still encouraging hard work and dedication. Remember – fostering a good mood in the work place contributes to good business!

  Do you have a salary in mind that you feel you should be making but you are not sure how to go about getting it? Is there a voice in your head that keeps telling you that what you want is unreasonable? Do you find yourself not putting in for all of the hours that you have worked? In a research analysis performed by Ariane Hegewisch for a Huffington Post article found that women are actually working 59 days out of the year for free, while their male counterparts are being paid every single day out of the year.

It doesn’t take a study to prove that men are typically better at asking for what they want and women tend to ask for what they feel is reasonable. Here are some thoughts on how to get what you want.

1. Turn off the negative voice in your head. Stop telling yourself that what you are asking for is impossible.

2. Get clear on what it is that you want. Write down all of the things that you want from your job that will motivate you. Not all rewards have to do with compensation. Often flexibility or ability to work from home are high in the list. It’s impossible to get what you want if you can’t clearly express what it is that you are asking for.

3. When asking for a raise don’t just ask for what you think you can get – confidently ask for what you feel you deserve. Don’t do a comparison of what everyone else in the company is making or what the market analysis looks like. Present an argument based on the dollar value that you have brought into the company, the revenue you have generated or financial losses you have prevented.

4. Remember that if you never ask for something the answer will always be no. So take a shot at getting what you want and prepare a professional presentation to go after it.

5. Don’t begin the discussion by apologizing for asking for additional benefits or compensation. This puts you in a position of giving your power away by asking for forgiveness when you aren’t doing anything wrong.

“Each person holds so much power within themselves that needs to be let out. Sometimes they just need a little nudge, a little direction, a little support, a little coaching, and the greatest things can happen.” - Pete Carroll

The people you surround yourself with play a key role in your success, both personally and professionally. If you are surrounded by negative people, you will be less likely to share new ideas and think big. Having a positive support system, whether you’re an entry-level employee or a CEO, increases morale and productivity. Think about the kind of business you are running. Do your employees feel comfortable coming to you for help and sharing their thoughts and ideas? As important as it is for you to interact with positive people, it is also crucial for you to create a supportive environment for your employees. What goes around comes around, and if you treat everyone with respect and cultivate open communication that is the way you will be treated. If you notice employees not contributing to a healthy work environment, it may be time to reevaluate their role in the company. Above all, be positive!