Finding travel opportunities in community college: an international student shares her story

The short video below features a me interviewing a successful international student for the college success TV show I host, The SKiNNY on College Success.

Whether you're an international student or not, her story offers some great insights - including some unique ways to volunteer and travel while in community college!

 

The cycle of success: how to reach up and out

I was recently inspired by the video below which stemmed from a GradNation report about why students really leave high school. It features student voices, explaining, in short, that they don't leave because they don't care - it's often because life gets in the way.

I've heard very similar stories when it comes to community college students. The tagline for this blog (see above) was inspired by just that - I've found it's often life circumstances (not any inherent levels of intelligence) that make the difference between those who go to community college versus straight to a four-year university.

The GradNation Report, "Don't Call Them Dropouts" lists some important ideas for making sure we don't miss out on the talent of students for whom life makes education more difficult than some of us can ever imagine.

Many of those recommendations involve other people:

"To meet long-term goals like staying in or going back to school...young people needed more than their own perseverance; they need to 'reach up.'...young people began to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally when they were able to connect to individuals and institutions that support them."

I believe this idea is transcendent - we all need to feel supported and connected in every stage of our lives; but it seems that strong foundation is crucial in our earliest years.

Some of us happen to be born into situations where we get support and connection directly from our families and communities. But too many are left behind and then judged without considering what they've had to endure. 

I love the idea of "reaching up," as if you've read my book you know that's what it's all about. Most of my work revolves around the idea of teaching students how to reach up, how to ask for help, and why no one is successful alone. 

It's so easy to tell ourselves that if we aren't successful in a particular moment that maybe it means we're just not cut out for whatever that thing we're trying to do is (e.g. like if you fail a test or drop out of high school). However, most of the time it might mean you just don't have the right supports and strategies. 

I could go on and on about this idea, but since that's basically what I do in my book, I just want to leave you with two things you can act on right now:

1. Who do you need to "reach up" to today to ask for help in accomplishing your #1 goal for this year? 

If you're not sure, think about something you really want to accomplish, and then ask yourself how you can find someone who's already accomplished it to ask for their advice. Some great places to start looking for that person are: LinkedIn, Twitter, teachers, professors, family members, alumni networks, and your college career center.

Contact them right now!

2. What organization in your community can you reach out to in order to become a mentor to a high school or college student? 

If you're not sure, check out this awesome search tool via Mentoring.org to easily find mentoring organizations in your community. 

Can you imagine what the world would look like if each one of us reached up and out? 

I encourage you to get going today so you can see what happens when you decide to build a community to support your own success, and then use that success to help support the success of others.

It's one of the most beautiful cycles there is. 

What your online presence can do for your career

Did you know I host a TV show? I know, crazy right? I never in a million years thought I'd be hosting anything, but that's what happens when you put yourself out there online. Things start happening.

This can happen to you too.

When I decided to write a book and get it published I read all there was to read on how to do this, and most of the books said to get a publisher as a non-fiction author you have to have a platform (e.g. an online presence).

So I started this blog to begin to connect with my audience and start to give away content for free. 

And since I'm a big fan of multiple learning styles I thought to myself (why don't I read some of my blog entries to my laptop camera and post them on YouTube for students who prefer to listen or watch something rather than read it).

My first YouTube videos are literally me reading my blogs (kind of embarrassing...I can't even watch them now). 

But I just went for it. And eventually, these producers of a local college success show filmed at Tallahassee Community College found me, connected with me, and hired me. I just got back last week from finishing the last episodes for season 2.

The latest episode below is all about professional and social networking, and let me tell you, it works!

When you put yourself out there, especially in the context of something you love and care about, like-minded people will flock to you. Job offers will flock to you. And the best part - you'll meet and connect with amazing people all over the world.

So do you have a good online professional presence right now? Could someone searching to fill your dream job find you? Get going, and hopefully this episode will help!! :)

And for more on building your online presence be sure to download my free ebook How to Get a Job Without a Resume!!

Success Series: Why Asking for Advice is the Best Networking Strategy

"But I'm young."

"But I have nothing to offer."

"But I'm shy."

"But I don't know anything about business."

"But I'm awkward."

These are just a few examples of some of the comments I've heard from young people who are afraid of networking. And they are all valid and understandable.

But they're also all wrong. 

Networking is this scary weird term that often conjures up some sleazy guy in a suit trying to talk himself up and force his business card into your hand.

This is not the kind of networking I'm talking about. The kind of networking I believe in feels more like friendship, and being young and/or a student can be a huge advantage if you know how to leverage it. 

I've written about this formula a lot (it's pretty much the basis for the last third of my first book and the entirety of my second book) but I think it's always helpful to have a reminder. 

The best way to start to build your network in college is to ask for advice.

Sure, you may not know a lot. You may have nothing to offer. You may be awkward and shy. And that's okay!

You actually have more to offer than you realize. Because when you ask someone for advice, listen, and then take that advice, you turn that person into your coach/mentor.

And feeling like a coach or mentor to someone is one of the best feelings in the world.

We all want to impact people's lives. We all want to feel like what we've learned in our life can be passed on and add value to someone else.

When you ask someone you admire for advice and really listen, you create an incredible bond and build a friendship that can lead to some amazing opportunities and often add value to your life in ways so beyond the traditional business-card exchange (heck you don't even need a business card for this kind of networking!)

Building a network is vital to succeeding in college and career. It just is. 

No one is successful alone. 

Here is one way to start right now:

Go to your college's student life office, career center, or the office hours of your favorite professor and ask for their advice regarding something you're trying to accomplish right now.

You don't have to have all the answers. Be vulnerable and honest about your struggles. Ask for advice. If the advice seems good to you, take it, and then go back and say thank you.

Start small and be persistent. This takes time. Try to ask for advice of someone you admire at least once a week. 

And then watch as your network grows, your opportunities expand, and your path clears.  

Ask Isa: Should I attend this networking event?

From the Ask Isa inbox:

Dear Isa,

I am in undergrad and and there is a networking event in the area with attorneys. I want to attend but I'm not sure. Will it be useful to attend it or not?

Sincerely,

Confused

Dear Confused, 

I'm assuming you want to be an attorney? If so - definitely attend this networking event!

Anytime there is an opportunity to meet people in the industry you are interested in, you should go. Will it always be useful? YES. Though not always in the way you think. 

Sometimes it may show you the industry you're interested in isn't what you thought. Sometimes the event may not be what it was advertised to be. And sometimes it will be just plain awkward. 

For example, one time I showed up to a networking event for entrepreneurs (hoping to meet other young people who worked from home on their own business) where everyone there was 25 years older than me and just wanted to sell me insurance or some kind of weight-loss pyramid-scheme smoothie. But guess what, it was still useful. I learned something: 'entrepreneur' isn't synonymous with cool start-up.

However, anytime I've shown up to a networking event or professional association meeting on a topic I was interested in (e.g. education, communications) I've loved it. 

The first time I showed up to a professional association networking dinner I got a job offer. For real. 

And not because I was some special shining star. Most of the time (if you're a traditional college student) you'll be the youngest person in the room. And while that will make you feel out of place, it will also make you stand out; the others will be impressed that you showed up. Not a lot of young people do. 

While every networking event will not yield immediate results, getting in the habit of attending them will pay off. Because you never know who you'll meet, what you'll learn, or what can come out of it. By attending, you put yourself ahead of everyone who was too scared to show up. 

And when it comes to what to say, I found the best thing to do was to try to get to know the people putting on the event (they'll usually be wearing some kind of name badge and/or be at the registration desk). Ask them questions. Ask for advice on who you should talk to. Sometimes they will be so excited you're there they'll start introducing you to people. 

Otherwise, just walk up to someone who looks alone and uncomfortable too and just shake your hand and introduce yourself. They'll be relieved you did.

And then you can say something like "This is my first networking event and I have no idea what I'm doing. How many of these have you been to?" Or anything else that expresses how you're honestly feeling in the moment and then opens up a question to them. You don't have to put on some fake "professional" self. Just be you. 

Then, keep asking questions and listening. Don't be afraid to say (briefly) what it is you're doing now and what you're interested in, but focus the conversation on them as much as possible. This is a great opportunity to learn more about your industry and what jobs are like. 

Then, exchange business cards and follow up follow up follow up. Email them and say how great it was to meet, mention something they said that you remembered, and then ask for advice regarding something you talked about.

I think one of the best things you can do for your career is to keep attending these events. Sometimes they'll be a bust, but sometimes they'll change your entire career path. And you'll never know if you don't show up.

Let me know how it goes!

Sincerely,

Isa

Tuesday May 14th, 2013 update: 

"Dear Isa, This is Confused (the one that asked the question about networking event). I went to the event. It did not turn out the way I wanted it to be but I was able to learn that what I thought of being an attorney is different from real life. Thank You... continue the great work and hope one day I can serve my community the way you do. 

Sincerely, 

Not Confused Any More :)" 

Have a question? You can ask it anonymously in the Ask Isa inbox and it may show up on the blog. You'd be surprised how many people your question will help.  

Video: An interview on how to do informational interviews!

I recently had the privilege of getting interviewed via Skype for the Unlost blog and wanted to share it with you. 

In the interview I share many of the tips in my book regarding how to figure out what you want to do with your life, how to build your network from scratch, and how exactly to do an informational interview.

You can check out the video here! 

New video series!

Hi Guys,

I am so excited to announce this new 20-video student success series filmed for the P.S. Blog! The videos will release every week for the rest of the Spring semester and then pick up again in the Fall. They all feature quick tips to help you Break Through to success in your college life. There are also a few surprises in each video to keep things fun. 

I hope you enjoy and I hope they help! You can keep up with them on the P.S. Blog, and I'll also be sharing each one here :)

This week's video features tips to help you start networking for success in college. 

The #1 way to make a bad first impression

I recently heard a speaker say it takes fifteen good impressions to fix one bad first impression.

I don't know about you, but I believe that 100%. 

And recently I have noticed this one thing people do frequently to make a bad first impression. I must warn you, once you know this, you will start seeing it everywhere.

Are you ready? The #1 way to make a bad first impression, every time, is to open with:

unsolicited advice. 

In my book and in much of my networking advice, I explain that what works best to establish a first impression is to tell someone how much you admire them, why you care about their work, or how much you appreciate what they do. 

That tactic has gotten me and the dozens of other students I've mentored meetings with executives from the White House, Disney, the NBA, The New York Time, etc. 

But you know what never works? 

Yep, you guessed it: unsolicited advice. Which is, in short, telling someone what you think they need to change, how they need to do something better, or why you know something they don't. 

Have you ever posted something casual on Facebook and had that one random person give you some kind of advice or feedback when you weren't asking? It's awkward. It's uncomfortable. And, regardless of the correctness of the advice, it gives you a bad feeling towards that person.

You don't want to be that person. 

If you're number one concern is being right, putting forth your opinion to everyone, and making sure you are telling people what they need to do, then, well, unsolicited advice just might be for you. Just know that you will sacrifice the ability to network effectively.

When someone gives advice to a person who didn't ask, it's frankly a bit insulting. There is no way around it. Unless it's in the context of a mentorship relationship, professor-student relationship, boss-employee relationship, or close family/friend relationship where you already have a strong foundation of trust, it's an instant relationship-ruiner.

Especially when it comes to first impressions.

So if you ever feel the need to give someone advice that they didn't ask you for, ask yourself these questions before you proceed:

1) Do I have a strong foundation of trust with this person?
2) If I don't say what I'm about to say will this person get into serious harm?
3) Is this person going to appreciate me giving this advice? 

If the answers are yes, go ahead. But if they're not, just say no to unsolicited advice.

(And, to be honest, even my husband and I joke about the unsolicited advice we give each other, because it still drives us crazy!)

Instead, the best way to build good first impressions in your networking and personal relationships is to think about how you can give unsolicited positive feedback. Nothing will endear people to you more. 

Overachievers Action Item

Think about how you feel when someone gives you a compliment on Facebook. Today instead of just "liking" your favorite pictures and comments on your newsfeed, comment and compliment generously. And then watch what happens. :)

The only two things you need to know about networking

I just started sharing quick networking tips on Tout, and it's made me think a lot about networking.

I've realized that while there's always a lot of tips and ideas that can help you figure out who to network with and how to make that first approach, in the end it all boils down to two simple things: 

1. Word Hard
2. Make Friends

The end. :) 

Okay I'll explain a bit, though I'm sure you already see where this is going. 

Note: When I talk about networking, I'm not talking about the sleazy kind of using-people to get ahead kind of thing, because, really, that doesn't work. I'm talking about the most powerful kind of networking, the kind that moves people up ladders and towards their dreams through a mutually beneficial community. 

Work Hard
Before you start to think about networking, you'll first want to develop a strong work ethic. You don't have to know what you want to do with your life, but you do absolutely have to work hard at whatever it is you are doing. People with a strong work ethic are constantly growing, and thus have something to offer about when they meet new people. 

As your career blossoms, as it does for hard-working people, you will eventually be able to help your network too. But in the meantime, being  a hard-worker gives you something meaningful to talk about; you're able to share your mutual love of wanting to make a difference in the world. 

To develop your work ethic, read books like The Compound Effect, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and Outliers. Also there's this pretty cool book to help you achieve and network in college, written by the coolest author ever... ;)

Make Friends
People hire their friends -- from the President of the United States to the president of a club. And while many times it can feel unfair, it is something that will never change. The key word, though, is friends. People don't hire the sleezy people who just try to use them. And they don't hire acquaintances.

They are hiring and helping friends. Real friends. Ask anyone who has a large powerful network and they'll be able to tell you personal details about each person - stuff outside of work. They'll know about their kids, their hobbies, their personalities, their favorite weekend activities, their favorite sports teams, etc. Do you know those things about the people in your network? Make no mistake, it takes a lot of effort and selflessness to develop these kinds of rich relationships, but it is well worth it. 

My two favorite books that really focus on the friendship of networking is How to Win Friends and Influence People and The Little Black Book of Connections. 

I think we often over-think networking. In the end, it's as simple as kindergarten. Get to know people. Enjoy people. Have fun. Be yourself. You'll know you have it right when you forget the word networking all together and realize you just have a lot of great friends. 

What NOT to do when networking

With only about 30% of all jobs posted online, networking is the best way to get a job. And as I share in my book, the best way to network as a college student is to ask professionals you admire for advice. The formula is pretty simple:

1. Say why you admire them.
2. Ask to meet with them for 10-15min to learn more about them & their job.
3. Leave an easy way for them to make the appointment. 

I've used this formula over and over again. From winning a $110,000 scholarship to now being able to live my dreams working from home, the mentors I found through my career center, mutual friends, and social media changed my life. 

However, now that I have progressed in my professional career, I am now on the other end of those e-mails, with students asking me for help and professionals asking me for business. 

Most of the e-mails I get from students are genuine asks for help, and I love nothing more than carving out 10 minutes of my day to e-mail them back a heartfelt answer.

But there are some e-mails that don't warm my heart. There are some that are just plain annoying. And trust me - you do not want to be one of the annoying people when it comes to building relationships. Because whether or not that person can help you get a job right away, you never know how they could affect your professional life in the long term. 

Below are the worst types of e-mails I get. I wish I could show you examples of the ones I receive, but I can't because these types of e-mails get deleted immediately. You do not want to be one of these people:

1. The Generic. These are the form e-mails that people send out in mass, without any personalization. Something like "Hi friend - I've read your blog and I think you would love for me to write an article for it as I have a lot to say about your topic." 

Any e-mail sent in mass is not worth sending. Personalize any e-mail request you ever send to a specific person. Use their name, and do your research so you have something unique to say to show them you care about who they are and what they do. 

2. The Me Me Me. These are the e-mails that devote a few words to the recipient of the e-mail, and then go on and on about themselves and their work and what they want. They share too much about their accomplishments just for the sake of it, and by the end of the e-mail you can tell they've never actually done any research on you, have any interest in what you do, and are just trying to get something from you and benefit from the work you have already done. They seem like they are trying to take a short cut.

Getting advice is a short cut, the best kind, but you can never seem like you're trying to take an easy route. The way to avoid this is to dedicate 90% of your e-mail to genuinely complimenting the person you want advice from on their work. If you can't do that, then you're e-mailing the wrong person.

3. The Too Much Too Soon. This is the kind of e-mail where someone asks for a huge favor before taking the time to get to know someone first. You can't e-mail a stranger and ask them to edit five scholarship essays for you. Your first encounter should be for the sole purpose of you listening to that person and learning from their experience, and for no longer than 15 minutes (unless they insist they can spend more time with you). 

The more a person talks in a conversation, the better he or she feels afterwards; studies show that the person who talks the most rates the conversation the highest. So when you're networking initially, ask lots of questions and let other people talk about themselves. You will make them feel great, and when they feel great about the conversations they have with you, they will want to bend over backwards to help you. 

In short, the longer you spend building a genuine relationship with a person, the more vibrant and beneficial your relationship will be. 

There are no "vegas weddings" in networking. Real networking happens over time, and feels more like friendship than a business exchange. 

Proud CC grad starts non-profit to help CC students build networks

You know you've found a mover and a shaker when you see someone with three jobs on the "current" section of their LinkedIn profile, with "founder" being one of those three titles. Jean Schindler is one such mover and shaker, and she is a proud community college graduate. 

Inspired by her community college experience, Jean is the co-founder of Emergent Leaders Network, an incredible non-profit dedicated to helping community college students become leaders by providing scholarships, networking opportunities, and mentors. 

In high school Jean was home schooled, and when she graduated, her anti-establishment parents said "ah you don't need to go to college." Jean's parents were intelligent and self-educated - going to the library was a weekly family tradition. 

But Jean wanted to go to college. She found it difficult to get many 4-year institutions to recognize her high school grades, so her parents encouraged her to try one class at community college. Jean enrolled at Glendale Community College in California. 

"Community college saved me from falling between the cracks."

Jean owes a lot of her success to getting involved outside the classroom right away: "I was always interested in international relations and politics, and got involved in Model UN on campus, after my professor - who was also the Model UN advisor - told me to get involved." 

Jean attended four Model UN conferences and served as the leader of her team in her final year at GCC. 

Seeing her dedication, another professor encouraged her to transfer to an internship with the US State department. "I didn't think I could get it because I was from community college. My professor believed in me and told me to apply anyway."

"I couldn't believe it when I got the internship! That really shifted my perspective in understanding what I was eligible for. I could compete with these so-called 'smart kids.'"

Jean was a smart kid. Community college kids are smart kids. The idea that open-admissions means less-smart is what inspired me to start this blog in the first place. It's a stereotype that is - as Jean understood -  so incredibly wrong. 

Jean also got involved in student government at GCC: "It made me so much more aware of the resources available. I ended up with a lot of scholarship money because we also had a great scholarship office. I transferred to UCLA with no debt and was able to pay for most of the first year at UCLA, including study abroad!"

Jean graduated with her Bachelor's degree from UCLA in 2005 and worked for a year doing research for a professor who was writing a book on intelligence reform after 9/11.

"One day on campus I saw a sign that said ‘do you want to teach English for a summer in China?' I decided to just show up. It turned out the opportunity was with Tsinghua University (known as the MIT of China). They would pay for the airplane ticket, provide housing, feed you every day, and give you a stipend! I was like 'are you sure this is legitimate?' It seemed too good to be true."

"But I realized it was legit, I applied, I got in, and I went to China! It was another step in being aware of international policy careers and international affairs."

After China, Jean moved to London and got her Master's in International History from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and did a fellowship in South Korea. 

Today, Jean is Publications Director for a major non-profit that provides over 120 million dollars in grants per year to support democratic freedom in over 90 countries. 

And she never forgot her community college roots. "For years my close friend and I talked about establishing scholarships at our alma mater, Glendale Community College. But as our conversations evolved we realized there were so many other things we wished we had known in community college - those first few years are so critical!" 

"We realized having networks where students can talk to other professionals are really key. Networking is not about business card exchanges. It’s about understanding who someone is, how they fit into the larger picture, how you can connect them, and how can you help them. It’s really about relationship building."  

So two years ago Jean and her friend Daniella Foster started the non-profit Emergent Leaders Network (ELN) to provide micro-scholarships and round-table networking discussions for community college students in their local areas. 

Initially, they will give out four $250 scholarships at Glendale Community College, and have already held successful roundtable events - the first in Washington DC with a panel of local entrepreneurs and students from Northern Virginia Community College and the newly established University of the District of Columbia Community College. 

First ELN Entrepreneurship panel

In the future, ELN hopes to partner with interested faculty and staff or SGA's in community colleges across the nation to provide them with free tools, resources, support, and local networks to establish roundtable discussion events on their community college campus. 

Jean has a beautiful vision: "Once the staff member is on board, there would be a cohort of students who meet together and have these round tables and invite other students, and create this network among colleges. The goal is to  connect students to people in their community who can offer job and career advice."

And as always, I had to ask this incredibly successful community college graduate for her advice for you: 

"Start slow with your goals -  it’s about making small modifications in your habits. For example, when you go to a networking event, you don’t have to set a goal to shake hands with everyone in the room. Just start by showing up!"

"Half the time there are things students hear about, that sound interesting, but they don't go because it is inconvenient or it seems intimidating. Just go, even if you stand in the back of the room."

"Also - always think of a question to ask the speaker at the end. The best place to meet engaged people is the circle around the speaker after the event. Ask the people waiting to talk to the speaker a question too - you will make great connections."

And did I mention Jean is a very proud community college graduate? "So many students go to community college now, and yet so few actually list their community college on their resume!" More advice from Jean, and from me - list your community college on your resume. 

Never forget where you come from, and whenever you can - even if it's just a few bucks or your advice - think about ways to give back to your community college once you graduate. Jean is such a wonderful inspiration on how to do just that. 

You can also follow Jean and ELN on Facebook and Twitter. 

Taking bold chances to get your dream job

I recently interviewed Jacquee Polak-Wahler, the Director of Internal Communications for Disney, where she has worked after extensive experience as a television anchor and as Disney's media spokesperson. 

Jacquee got her first on-air media job by walking up to a stranger at a baseball game. And you can too. 

Huh? Let me explain. 

Jacquee is the first in her family to go to college and worked at a Chrysler assembly plant building cars during her college summers to help cover expenses. When Jacquee graduated college with a degree in communications, she landed a job doing radio, TV, and print media for two stock brokers. "I was producing a television program at the time and thought if I could produce, why not try reporting!”

So Jacquee began to build her resume to try to move towards an on-air job. 

Not too long after Jacquee made this decision to pursue a new job, she was attending a Cubs game in downtown Chicago for fun. But something caught her attention: "I saw a videographer who was working with a reporter covering the game, and I decided to walk up to him and ask for help."

This seems like a very basic statement, a very basic choice. But it is a huge choice. A huge moment. And it is the boldness to take risks and take advantage of opportunities, wherever you see them, that makes all the difference. It's also about being focused enough on your goal to be able to be aware of opportunities everywhere you go. 

Jacquee approached the videographer and told him she was interested in getting into TV and asked his advice on what she should do. And like most people whom you genuinely ask for advice, he was happy to help.

He had a friend at a cable station in Indiana who was hiring and gave Jacquee his  contact information. 

"I took his information and contacted this person. To be safe, I made sure it was a legitimate cable station, I made an appointment and had my mom drive me there. Sure enough it was legitimate, and I ended up getting a job there - my first official on-air job."

Eventually there was a really big job opening for Chicago's first 24-hour news station. "I landed the interview because of my relationships with the station in Indiana;I was never guaranteed a job, only got an interview. I was very new and green in the TV profession; all the work I had done was always on tape,  and had never been live." 

"When I had the interview I could sense there was an interest but they were a little concerned about my ability to deliver on a live shot. Over the course of three months I had to keep my name front of mind. There were hundreds of people looking for these jobs - a lot of motivated people just like me. I wondered, how was I going to set myself apart? 

Jacquee's mom had a bold idea (for the times): "My mom said 'send them a fax;' at the time the fax machine was a pretty big deal. My mom said just once per week send a note on the fax that you are very interested that you can do the job. I thought ‘mom that’s ridiculous.' But then I decided to do it. Once a week I wrote a simple note, telling them I was very interested and that I know I can do this. My interview was in May; I got the job in October."

"The first day when the news director brought everyone together and was welcoming us and telling us everyone’s story and where we all came from, and when he got to me he said: 'I hired Jacquee because she sent me a fax once per week.' Of course today sending a fax is laughable, but at the time it was a very cutting edge tool and for me it was very effective! Always think of creative ways to leverage the newest technology that is available, and leverage in a way that makes sense."

I had to ask Jacquee what motivated her to take those bold chances, like walking up to a stranger at a Cubs game and sending a fax each week: "You have to be comfortable realizing that you are going to get a lot of 'no’s.' You just have to keep at it! At some point, you are going to get a yes. I’m thankful for all the nos I had along the way to get to the right place. It’s really about having the confidence in yourself to make the ask and put yourself out there. It’s not easy; I haven’t always been perfectly confident in myself, but you just do it! The more you take those chances, the more you realize hey it’s not that bad! 

Jacquee's final advice: "Find the mentors in your life that you trust and you value and ask for help. Its about taking personal ownership and control. No matter where you are in life or what you are doing, when you’re interacting with people you are always in a potential to build a relationship and expand your network."

"So whenever you’re attending any event or out with your friends - no matter what public setting you’re in - there is an opportunity to build your network. Engage with a waiter, a manager at your current part-time job, or even someone standing near you at the gas station; you can't minimize any opportunity because you never know who is around you. Take advantage every opportunity to be around people, because the people you know help you advance your life personally and professionally."

And when it comes to approaching those people: "obviously do it in a way that isn’t overbearing. Find the right ways to engage with people, which is so critical to success. Be genuine."

While it may seem terrifying to engage with strangers, you don't really have to do a lot of talking. You just have to have the courage and motivation to genuinely ask for advice - and then you just have to listen.

The more you seek out strangers who are doing something that fascinate you, the easier it will be to genuinely ask for advice (I share a lot of email formulas and questions to ask when seeking out professional mentors in the third section of my book). 

Jacquee is also the Chairman on the Board for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Florida, which is an incredible organization that provides mentors to young children. While it's vital to seek out professional mentors for yourself, it's never too early to "be that mentor for someone else."