| A recent NY Times article focuses on a group of | | | | developed an expertise. Get known by others in your |
| women in their 90s that play bridge with each other | | | | field and related fields. Become known as a thought |
| regularly. | | | | leader. |
| Researchers believe there are a couple of | | | | 6. Use social networking to expose people to you and |
| components to longevity - social interaction and using | | | | your ideas. Write articles for your blog. Comment on |
| the mind. The game of bridge has both. | | | | someone else's blog. Answer questions that others |
| Similarly when you are managing your career, you | | | | ask online. Share your expertise with others online |
| want to make sure to have lots of social interactions | | | | through a newsletter, blog or postings to Twitter, |
| with like minded people (networking) and you also | | | | Facebook or LinkedIn. |
| want to challenge your mind in way that helps you to | | | | 7. Don't stay behind the computer or books and |
| grow intellectually in your chosen profession or | | | | magazines. Get out and socialize! Join business groups, |
| occupation. Meaningful work is work that enables you | | | | mentoring circles, and professional associations to |
| to grow both intellectually and interpersonally. Here are | | | | meet people with common interests. Go to or invite |
| 10 Tips that will put you on the road to a long life and | | | | others to a Tweetup. (Gathering of 2 or more people |
| grow your career at the same time! | | | | who know each other through Twitter) |
| 1. Read current periodicals in your profession or | | | | 8. Start a group of your own. Start a business book |
| occupation. To stay current in your profession or | | | | club where you read the latest business books and |
| occupation read the journals, newsletters and | | | | get together to discuss them. Are there several people |
| magazines that are thought to be important in your | | | | in your networking sphere that have something in |
| profession or occupation. You may not have time to | | | | common? Working mothers perhaps who want to |
| read the periodical from cover to cover but you can | | | | share time management ideas for example. Socializing |
| scan the table of contents to pick the one or two | | | | for business purposes should be fun and useful. |
| articles that are most pertinent to you. | | | | 9. If groups are hard for you, have coffee with a |
| 2. Know the hot topics in your profession or | | | | colleague instead. Try meeting someone new every |
| occupation. Use Google Alerts to bring you information | | | | week at work. If you work in a small office where you |
| daily on those hot topics. What are the buzz words | | | | know everyone, find a new person in your building or in |
| that everyone is using? Start to form your own opinion | | | | another office that does work you are curious about. |
| about the trends you see in the industry. | | | | Expand your network with both mental and social |
| 3. Read books related to your field. Identify the thought | | | | growth in mind. Spend time with people from whom |
| leaders in your particular field and read the books that | | | | you can learn and grow. |
| they write. If you see a new trend on the horizon | | | | 10. Pay it forward. Be open to helping others. When |
| explore it and read books related to it. | | | | you begin to build relationships with others, start by |
| 4. Read books and periodicals in other areas too. Look | | | | helping people get what they want. To do this you |
| for ways to integrate your field to another area and | | | | could introduce them to someone they are interested |
| read up on that area too. Try to develop a unique | | | | in meeting, you could provide them with information |
| perspective or expertise so that you can distinguish | | | | they ask about, or you could refer a potential client or |
| yourself from others in your field. | | | | referrer to them. It is said that you have to give to get |
| 5. Write articles and/or speak at meetings. Speak and | | | | so begin by giving. |
| write about current topics in your field where you have | | | | |