Give yourself firm deadlines so you don't need to stay late at work, writes Elizabeth Grace Saunders. Dedicate time to getting smaller tasks done early in the day instead of leaving them until the end.

If your work feels stale, remember why you took the job in the first place, writes business coach Ashira Prossack. Ask yourself what you're passionate about, and find ways to integrate your personal interests into your work.

Think about what you want to get out of a conference before you attend, and consider who will be there, writes University of Illinois career development director Derek Attig. Give yourself achievable goals for meeting new people, ask questions and initiate conversations, he writes.

Lowe's will unveil an employee education program dubbed "Track to the Trades" at stores in four cities on March 1, with plans to roll it out nationwide. The program, designed to recruit and retain top talent in a shrinking labor pool, will offer financial assistance to employees who want to train in trades including plumbing, electrical and appliance repair.

Difficult interview questions are often best answered with anecdotes that shed light on your personal career narrative, resume writer Andrea Gerson says. Prepare for interviews by brainstorming five personal stories you can use as responses to questions.

Fox's "The Simpsons" predicted Team USA's Olympic gold medal victory in curling in 2010, even depicting the US team beating Sweden in the episode. The show's successful predictions also include Donald Trump winning the presidency, Lady Gaga performing at the Super Bowl and Disney's purchase of much of Fox.