Articles by Joanna Dutra, Published in Forbes

14. Uncover Your Key Differentiators

It’s important to focus on what sets you apart as a candidate. In classic brand-building terms, those are called your key differentiators. Picture yourself making a difference in the company based on the job description and the research you’ve done. Be sure to illustrate clearly what makes you an ideal candidate and why you are an integral part of the company’s future growth potential. - Joanna Dutra, MBA, The Creative Confidant

6. Break It Into Bite-Size Pieces

Take the year in small chunks. Make a 30-day goal, a 90-day goal and a six-month goal. Get creative with your goal-making. Identify something you want to leave behind in 2023. Keep track of your success. We’re so accustomed to finding the places we fall short. If a goal isn’t serving you, don’t let it linger for the whole year. Release it. Make new goals and check in with yourself often. - Joanna Dutra, MBA, The Creative Confidant

10. Not Maintaining A Professional Distance

We’ve been led to believe that “too much” of anything is not a good thing. Yet, there’s often conflicting encouragement to be our whole selves. Where is the balance? I think you can strive to be your whole self with your partner, family, and closest friends. However, in the workplace, it’s important to maintain professional distance by neither sharing yourself completely nor requesting it of others. - Joanna Dutra, MBA, The Creative Confidant

13. Envision Yourself Doing An Empowering Task

I encourage clients to step out of their comfort zone by asking them to envision themselves doing a task or activity that brings them the biggest sense of power. Picture yourself poised to do something, a favorite thing, which gives you a sense of total and complete proficiency. It can be as simple as swimming laps or baking great chocolate chip cookies. Allow that feeling to propel you somewhere new. - Joanna Dutra, MBA, The Creative Confidant

3. Disregarding Basic Manners

With the rise of technology, we've seen a decrease in interpersonal skills. Often basic manners are disregarded when it comes to communication in the interest of speed and efficiency. It is still important to address someone personally in an email and not write in the fragments commonly used in texting. Let's not let grammar or common courtesy be forsaken as we proceed boldly in this digital world. - Joanna Dutra, MBA, The Creative Confidant