Dawn, I’m glad this is opening up your thought process. A great way to get – and keep – ideas for your job flowing is to start thinking about things that will move your employer forward, but move you ahead as well. Once you make the connection between the two goals, it’s easier to get motivated and come up with ideas.

What improvements can you contribute to that will get you noticed? Maybe you can identify processes that you could streamline or improve to make things more efficient – and get credit for doing so. Here’s an objective: Think of things that bring value to your employer, recognition to you, and enhance your skills and/or increase your worth in the workplace. If you can accomplish all three of these, you’ll have a hat trick!

The most important thing is that you will be thinking of new things, ones that will take you in a positive and productive direction.