A GPS for gaining more health care influence -- 1. First lessons: Know yourself and your values : Foundational elements for a successful career ; Capitalizing on your strengths and identifying opportunities for growth ; Recognize and acknowledge the strengths that others bring to the workplace ; What is your preferred future? ; Build your plan ; Build your model of sufficiency -- 2. Nursing organizations 2.0 : Advantages of joining a professional organization ; Matching your goals with the right professional organization -- 3. Let your light shine: portfolio principles : The value of a portfolio ; What is a nursing portfolio? ; The advanced portfolio ; The electronic portfolio ; Portfolio designs ; When to use a nursing portfolio ; Advantages of the nursing portfolio ; Ready, set, go create your portfolio -- 4. Cultivating recognition : Why professional recognition for RNs is necessary and appropriate -- 5. Igniting your cheering section : Recommendation formats ; You're ready to go -- 6. Graduate school: crafting successful applications : Mapping a strategy for the application process ; Four to six months prior to application process ; Less than four months prior to application deadline ; One month prior to application deadline ; The interview ; Last step in the process ; Conclusion -- 7. Landing fellowships and internships : Internships and fellowships help you shine ; Internships and fellowships ; What will you gain? ; Pursuing opportunities ; Winning strategies for success ; Preparing for the interview -- 8. Expressing your professional best : Persuasive communication requires planning, understanding, and self-awareness ; Good listening skills cannot be overemphasized ; Nonverbal communication ; Social networking ; Appreciative inquiry ; Persuasive presentations to groups -- 9. Advocating for the nursing profession : Be prepared ; Make no assumptions about your audience ; Disruptive innovations ; Working with organizations: think outside the box -- 10. How to act powerfully : Act like you mean it ; Introduce yourself with pride ; Be empowered at the bedside ; Gain power through advocacy, political activism, and politics -- 11. Two of nursing's finest: Their personal journeys : Expressing your best as a leader: initial steps on the journey ; My experience with the Department of Veterans Affairs ; Leading in society: creating a virtual leadership community ; Nursing leadership -- The dynamics of leadership: a personal perspective : Concluding thoughts -- Appendix: Resources for success : Tools to keep current: so much information, so little time ; What to read?