Successful people look tired. Well not so much tired as downright frazzled.  It takes them a moment or two to remember the dog’s name, let alone their children’s ages.  You ask them how they are and they rattle off in a dazed stupor – “Busy… wow… you know – really, really busy.” Whatever happened to “Fine… thanks for asking. How ‘bout you?”

You are used to long hours, hard work, painstaking mental processes and little personal time. In fact, the simple mention of the word “networking” sends chills up and down your spine. The intense scrutiny and competition of your Ivy League University was not as daunting as this single, solitary word. And you may wonder, “Why is this even a topic of discussion? I am a scientist (or engineer) for goodness sake, not a salesman or public relations specialist!”

Without a doubt, today’s professionals are being pulled in gargantuan sized directions. If it’s not spending the third night in a row trying to crunch out that project milestone, it’s going to the fourteenth meeting of the day.

So what can you do (exhausted as you are) to think and act strategically? In truth, there are a few tactical solutions to being strategic that will better position you as you interact and speak with those in the leadership ranks. Here are just a few: