When setting goals, try to focus on small tasks that can be accomplished on an everyday basis, writes Sabina Nawaz. Then, make a "yes list" where you can simply mark whether you met your particular goals for each day.

A positive attitude and a resilient mindset will help professionals dig in and tackle the most difficult tasks throughout their careers, advises Gary Cohen. "Nobody wins all of the time, but your record will vastly improve with a strong dose of resilience," Cohen writes.

You can create a better network through LinkedIn if you're willing to reach out to others, accept connection requests and make use of the groups feature, writes William Arruda. He suggests customizing your connection requests and regularly reviewing LinkedIn's suggested connections for ideas.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs' federal workforce subcommittee held the first in a series of hearings on workforce management and discipline, with a focus on hiring. "You don't have as many issues with firing and with oversight if you have good hiring," said Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla.

Leaders can help employees feel better about their job and performance through simple phrases used in conversation, writes Joel Garfinkle. These include: "You have what it takes," "I'm impressed" and "What is your vision?"

Avoid telling others that you "can't" do certain things when you know that you'd rather not do them even if you could, writes Kat Boogaard. Instead, take a firmer stance by using "don't" in those instances so your intentions are clear.

NASA scientists have narrowed to three the number of potential landing sites for its 2020 Mars rover, which will pick up soil and rock samples and attempt to return them to Earth. The sites are the Jezero crater, Northeast Syrtis and Columbia Hills.