Yahoo Finance Petra Nemcova's Tips for Building a Successful Professional Life
Petra Nemcova, model, host and philanthropist, is a master of transformation, both professionally and personally. She was recently honored at the LinkedIn Discussion Series in New York City, where she shared many powerful tips for reinvention, and discussed topics such as building your professional brand, motivation, mentorship and change. By wearing various professional hats, Nemcova is now able to offer career advice that's applicable to nearly any career stage and industry.
Motivation from the heart. Nemcova was on vacation in Thailand in December 2004 when the tsunami hit. During the storm she suffered several serious injuries and lost her fiancé. Following her recovery, Nemcova was inspired to dedicate her life to philanthropic work. She set out on a mission to establish a nonprofit that would rebuild schools and restore hope in the lives of children after natural disasters; founded in 2005, this organization became the Happy Hearts Fund.
Nemcova soon came to realize the key to making a real change was by having the ability to understand the motivation behind the work you're doing. This is true whether you're working in the nonprofit sector or a nine-to-five office job; the stronger and more clearly defined your motivation is, the more likely you are to succeed.
Look to others for inspiration. In addition to personal motivation, the energy of others can be crucial in helping to kick-start your professional transformation. Petra looked to mentors and those she respected professionally for advice, asking them to share their motivation with her. Learning how successful people maintained their drive helped fuel her passion to succeed.
The work of global leaders, such as LinkedIn Influencers who have proved their ability to stay motivated and achieve their goals, can be excellent inspiration. For example, educating yourself about someone's professional story, such as that of Arianna Huffington, author, editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post and LinkedIn Influencer, may inspire you to think outside the box and achieve something that's never been done before.
Let your results do the talking. When Nemcova first started the Happy Hearts Fund, she worked to overcome stereotypes about models by focusing on results and narrowing in on her goal of building the first Happy Hearts Fund resilient school. Today, the organization has built 85 schools in seven countries for children affected by natural disasters. By taking immediate action to achieve her goals, Nemcova was able to establish the fund's credibility as a group working toward global change.
This is a tremendous lesson in re-branding yourself. Whether you're a young professional striving to be taken seriously or a seasoned employee attempting to reinvent your career, actions speak louder than words. Don't simply describe yourself as "creative" or "innovative" in your LinkedIn profile, also upload your work as an example of what you have the power to produce.
Identify what makes you happy. During the LinkedIn Discussion Series, Nemcova explained that there was a time in her professional transformation when she seemed to repeatedly hit a wall. Frustrated and trapped in a cycle of 'what should I do now?' she realized she needed to start living her life according to those moments when she felt happiest. One of the things she realized during this period is that no matter how exhausted, overwhelmed or discouraged she felt, every time she flew into Haiti to help others, she was happy. Nemcova focused her Happy Hearts Fund efforts on Haiti and was named Ambassador-at-Large to the country in June 2012. Taking what makes you feel happy and infusing that with your work can be valuable for both professional and personal success.
Nemcova's story of transformation from supermodel to super philanthropist is a true inspiration. For those looking to transform themselves professionally -- or even just take their career to the next level -- her story will not only help you be more successful in your career, but will help you live a happier and more fulfilled life overall.
What is your story of transformation? Learn more about Nemcova's professional and personal transformation via her LinkedIn profile.
Nicole Williams is the bestselling author of three books, the latest of which, "Girl on Top: Your Guide to Turning Dating Rules into Career Success," has been optioned by Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, the producers behind the Academy Award winning films "American Beauty," "Milk" and "Silver Linings Playbook." Nicole is also LinkedIn's Career Expert. Nicole's role at LinkedIn is to help professionals understand how to enhance their careers using the LinkedIn network. The company she founded, WORKS by Nicole Williams, is the go-to resource for career-minded young women and was named one of Forbes magazine's Top 10 Career Websites for Women. You've seen her on TV -- as a regular guest on "TODAY," "Good Morning America," and CNN -- and in print, where her advice has appeared on the pages of ELLE, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Marie Claire and the Wall Street Journal.
More From US News & World Report
