This is why elegance is better than winning

This is why elegance is better than winningThis is why elegance is better than winningMany years ago my wife whisked me away for my birthday to Anderson Valley, located near the coastal region of Mendocino County in Northerbein California. Our lodging was the Philo Pottery Inn, a charming little bed and breakfast that since closed down. Beyond the beautiful scenery, the primary purpose of our weekend was to attend a wonderful Alsace wine dinner at Scharffenberger Cellars.We dressed up for the vorstellung and were seated at a large table full of friendly strangers. As the evening unfolded, appetizers and tasty dishes were paired with outstanding wine selections.Then, at some point in the dinner conversation, a woman at our table ventured into politics. She made a very partisan statement, nodding affirmatively with the expectation that everyone agreed with her.Some at the table nodded in agreement. Others were silent. I was young, full of opinions and ready to joust.Spoiling for a figh tI grew up in a household of readers. My father, an administrative law judge and learned man, often held court at dinner time. Wed discuss current events, news and politics. I couldnt compete with my fathers expansive knowledge of history, but I enjoyed testing him on political issues.I grew to enjoy lively debate, however, I learned that its generally bad form to make partisan political comments to a table full of strangers. Its presumptuous and a little arrogant to drop political bombs among polite company. It puts people on the spot, and can turn a pleasant gathering into an uncomfortable evening.Unfortunately, when the woman at our table made her political remark, I immediately disagreed and challenged her.Well, things got interesting. Real fast. The woman was an accomplished attorney. I was a cocky law enforcement professional with a graduate degree. Before the dessert and aged port arrived, the woman and I were engaged in a heated debate.The fool chatters while the wise man li stensMy wife rolled her eyes and slid across the table to converse with a quiet woman who seemed unimpressed with the political banter. But the most fascinating chap at the table was an elegant Irish gentleman. He had white hair, was impeccably dressed and non plussed by the political salvos being hurled back and forth. The gentlemans name was Guinness McFadden.My wife, who has far mora common sense than me, stayed completely out of the political morass. Apparently, others tired of it as well and the table thinned.Mr. McFadden was queried at one point to offer his opinion. I recall that he raised an eyebrow and briefly shared a bit of his military background. Somehow, he managed to deliver a salient yet non partisan point. He smiled, fell silent again, and leaned back in his chair. He seemed content to let us exhaust ourselves.Later that night, back at the Philo Pottery Inn, I sensed my wifes displeasure. That woman should know better. You cant drop political bombs and expect everyo ne to agree with you, I reasoned. My wife countered with her observations about Guinness McFadden. About how dignified he was. Above the fray. Clearly capable of delivering trenchant, probably devastating insights that would have ended the debate. But he didnt. Too much of a gentleman.Mistakes of youthI was younger then. It took less to tease an argument out of me. I didnt understand that such debates were often of little consequence. People believe what they believe.Mr. McFadden obviously knew this. He had wisdom and much more life experience on his side. In fact, hes quite a remarkable guy. He turned down an Ivy League scholarship to attend the University of Norte Dame. He earned a bronze star in Vietnam. In Potter Valley, where he makes wine, he is also a pioneer in the Mendocino organic movement.As the years marched on, I often thought about our little weekend getaway to Mendocino County. Over time, I learned to stand down when someone tosses out provocative remarks or political statements.I took a page from Guinness McFadden, with my wifes approval. I guess wisdom, like caviar, is an acquired taste. You need some experience and time to develop it.Wolves and monkeysPeople often say that mans natural inclination is towards violence and war. I remember a quote by the historians Will and Ariel DurantNo one ever wants to recognize the inexorable periodicity of war.Perhaps theyre right. In many ways men can be like wolves. They like to pack together, go on the hunt and fight. They respect strength and usually pick a leader of the pack.But men can also be like monkeys. They can form tight bonds, families and supportive networks. They can look out for one another and demonstrate great tenderness.A few years ago the Wall Street Journal carried an article that questioned whether man was innately violent. The article relied on some fascinating research with monkeys.Id like to think that mans deeper instincts, eventually, bend towards elegance, peacefulness, and love . Maybe thats why aged felons who get out of prison infrequently reoffend. Theyre older and hopefully wiser. All the piss and vinegar of youth is spent and the mind turns to more important concerns. Thoughts about purpose. Family. Legacy.Choose elegance over winningIf you want to please your spouse, impress fellow dinner guests and actually enjoy your dessert, heres some advice for you. Namely, three reasons why elegance is better than winning.1. You wont look and sound like a jerk. You might have all the answers and even be right, but sometimes you lose even when you win an argument.2. Winning rarely changes peoples minds. As noted above, people believe what they believe. Try convincing a Palestinian that Israel should exist. Or vice versa. Same thing with apologists and atheists. People become entrenched in their beliefs. Beating someone in a debate may feel good, but have you really influenced your opponent?3. Elegance transcends bias. It didnt really matter to me what side of th e political fence Guinness McFadden was on. I was far more intrigued and impressed with his kind demeanor, distinguished flair and friendly disposition. Not to mention the fact that my wife was more smitten with how he behaved at dinner, as opposed to my combative approach.I have nothing against wolves, but they do help illustrate my point. The next time you are tempted to jump into the fray, snarl your fangs and nip at the heels of your political opponent, take pause. Picture those amazing gorillas we see in nature films, sitting placidly in a lush rain forest, rocking their babies and grooming one another. Which better illustrates what we should strive for?Guinness McFadden already figured this all out. Thanks to his example, my wifes gentle reinforcement and the mellowing refinement of time, Im starting to figure it out, too. Elegance is better than winning.Before you goIm John Weiss. I draw old school, handcrafted cartoons and write about life. Get on my free email listherefor t he latest cartoons and blog posts.Thisarticlefirst appeared on Medium.

How to Win Friends and Influence People at Work

How to Win Friends and Influence People at WorkHow to Win Friends and Influence People at WorkYouve probably heard of Dale Carnegies book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, but have you read it? Probably not (although many people have). If you have read it, have you applied the principles in the book at work? While friendship isnt necessary for the office, it sure is a better place to work in when everyone gets along. Here are three of Carnegies principles about how to win friends and influence people adapted to the workplace. Use these ideas so you can know how to win friends and influence people at work. Become Genuinely Interested in Other People That water cooler chit-chat wont help you if your focus is always on you. I did this, or Heres what I think about that, is often how people talk. People love to talk about themselves. But, if you can switch that interest and become genuinely interested in other people, youll become someone people want to be with, and youll be a ble to selectively influence people on factors that are really important. Remember, you already know everything there is to know about you, so dont waste your time talking about you and your ideas. While its not appropriate to get too personal in the office (especially with people over whom you have hire/fire/evaluation power), it is appropriate to find out about their outside interests and use that information to build relationships. For instance, Hey, Karen, I saw that the Dodgers won last night. You must be thrilled This is a simple statement. Its not personal, and its not invasive. But it tells Karen that you care enough about her to know what her favorite team is and its important enough to you that you paid attention to last nights game. You should know peoples marital status, how many children they have, and the general health things.No, you dont need to dig into their personal business, but giving an employee or a coworker a small, inexpensive gift for her babys first birth day will put her over the moon with her thoughtfulness. When John tells you that hes stressed because hes had to move his grandmother to the nursing home, inquiring as to how his grandmother is every few months can show you care. While all the above are critical to building a good relationship, you also need to focus on specific work-related tasks. Of course, you follow up on projects that you assign to others or with people who need to provide you deliverables, but if you want to build relationships, youll need to go a step farther. Along the saatkorn lines as the personal information, ask questions about how things are going for others, but in an Iminterested manner, not an Im telling you what to do manner. Here are several examples of good and badly expressed interest. Good Examples of Expressed Interest I saw that you were handed the Jones project. Congratulations, youll do an awesome job. Hows it going?Hey, have you decided on a vendor yet for the Jones project? I saw the p resentations too and wondered which one you thought was the best fit because Ill probably need something similar later this year. Bad Examples of Expressed Interest Have you got everything under control on the Jones project?Who is your vendor for the Jones project? In the good examples, youre demonstrating that you think your coworker is a capable worker. In the second, you sound like youre trying to become the anfhrer and second-guessing their ability to handle the job. Always congratulate people for jobs well done, and offer help and sympathy when appropriate. This doesnt mean that you have to take over and do extra work- your job is still your job and their jobs are still their jobs- but you do want to let people know that youre available. Let the Other Person Think That the Idea Is His or Hers This may seem antithetical to getting ahead in the workplace, but its actually the key to success. If you want your ideas implemented, the best way to do that is to have senior peo ple think that they thought it up. But what advantage is there to let your peers or direct reports think they thought up your fabulous ideas? Well, remember, this is about making friends and influencing people at work. You want them to feel good about themselves, and theres no better way than congratulating them on an awesome idea. Its winning all around- you get everything accomplished that you wanted to do (influence) while having everyone else love you (winning friends). This strategy can be a bit tricky, and you cant just say, Jane thought of that. But, if youre in a meeting, discussing a project, you can steer the conversation toward assigning credit. Heres a sample dialogue. Boss Were really having difficulty pinning down the finance team to get the right projections before we have to submit our headcount projections for next year. You Working with finance is tough. Like you were saying yesterday, Kevin is the key person for contact here. We should go ahead and set up a meetin g with Kevin. If we can get him on our side, it will be possible to get the whole team working on this. Now, your claim shouldnt be a complete fabrication. Your boss has undoubtedly mentioned Kevin before, and youre taking it to the next level. The boss will feel silly if she says no to the Kevin idea since she was the one who said he was the key to this success. The result is, you get your idea implemented, your boss feels good about herself, and finance gets the right numbers to you on time. Begin With Praise and Honest Appreciation This is not a feedback sandwich. If you dont appreciate the work others have done you will come across as fake and manipulative. Fake praise is more damaging than no praise. So, you have to switch your brain to start appreciating the work other people do. If you think about it, you can make a list of a ton of things people do that make your life easier. For instance, the person who starts the coffee pot before you get in, the admin who keeps your c alendar straight, and the person who maintains the client database all do jobs that make your job significantly easier than it would be otherwise. This is also true of the janitor that cleans and stocks the bathroom, the cooks in the company cafeteria, and the payroll department that ensures you get paid on time and accurately every single pay period. Many people dont stop and think about those people, and as such dont appreciate them. But, once you think about it, you can show appreciate them. So, start by saying thanks to the janitor every time you see her. Make a point to use her name. If you dont know it, find out by introducing yourself, Hi, Im Jane. I see you all the time, and Im afraid I dont know your name. Dont worry if the same person has been cleaning the office for three years and youve never asked. Now is the time to act. There are 27 other principles in Carnegies book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, but hopefully, these three will give you the kickstart you n eed to make your life at work better. - Suzanne Lucas is a freelance journalist specializing in Human Resources. Suzannes work has been featured on notes publications including Forbes, CBS, Business Insider and Yahoo.

Why you never seem to have enough time

Why you never seem to have enough timeWhy you never seem to have enough timeRight now, I can feel the tight squeeze of stress in my stomach. This morning, I got a call from a close friend needing support, which prevented me from starting this article. At any moment, I expect one of my coworkers to email me asking for help with a last-minute assignment. And Im set to leave my desk early for a dentist appointment, after which Ill rush home to cook a late dinner.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraIm under time pressure- and I know Im not alone. If youre awoman, or asingle parent, or practically anyone living in todays go-go-go American society, you probably are, too. When researcherssurveyedAmericans before 2011, about half said they almost never had time on their hands and two-thirds said they sometimes or always felt rushed (though a more recent study suggests things may beimproving a bit).As researcher Cassie Mogilner and her colleagueswritein a 2012 paper, With waking hurs largely consumed by work, precious minutes remain for the daily list of to-dos, including exercise, cleaning, and socializing with friends and family.At first glance, the issue seems straightforward. Time pressure comes down to a lack of time, right? Well, partly. Its the feeling that we dont have enough time to do what we want to do- but it turns out thatfeelingsandenoughandwantsare somewhat subjective.From 1965 to 2003, theaverage American workweekactually declined by three hurs, whileleisure timeincreased. And in many places in the developed world, the workweek has gotten even shorter since then. Inone studyof more than 7,000 working Australians, researchers declared that time pressure is an illusion. They estimated how much time is necessary for basic living- hurs of paid work, housework, and personal care- and compared it to how much free time people had in their actual schedules. It t urns out there was a big discrepancy, which was most extreme for households without children and the smallest for single parents.Those who feel most overworked- those who have least free time- largely do it to themselves, the researchers wrote. In other words, we could theoretically spend fewer hours making money, vacuuming and washing dishes, or cooking and eating, and wed get by without getting overwhelmed.Although you may not want to subsist just above the poverty line or give your kids as little attention as possible, the broader point is important Tight-squeezy time stress has to do with the things we value and the time we devote to them. And, other research suggests, it also relates to our attitudes and mindsets about time. Rather than always blaming the clock, we can find some roots of the time crunch deep in our own psychology. Here are some scientific insights to help you make a distinction between real stopwatch pressure and the unnecessary pressure you might be putting on yourself.1. Enjoyment and passionIn a2004 studyof nearly 800 working people in Ohio, researchers were confronted with a puzzle.When women did more than 10 hours of housework a week, they felt more pressed for time and in turn more depressed. But when men did the same amount of housework, they didnt. A similar pattern appeared for volunteering Men who volunteered more were less depressed, but women got time stressed and didnt seem to experience as much benefit.The explanation that the researchers came up with, bolstered by peoples accounts of how they spent their time, was that men tend to do more enjoyable housework and volunteering. They cut the grass and coach soccer teams they get into flow and feel a sense of accomplishment. Women, on the other hand, are often occupied with small, repetitive daily chores and service work less cheering and high-fiving and more trying not to thema asleep at school meetings.Unsurprisingly, a day packed with somewhat engaging activities feels less busy and stressful than a day of drudgery. If time flies (in a good way) when youre having fun, it also seems to fly (in a bad way) when youre not. This subjective element might have created more of a sense of time pressure in women who participated in the study, even if mens activities equaled or exceeded theirs in hours.A similar effect takes place at work. Inone study, researchers surveyed more than 2,500 employees at a technology company and a financial services company. They found that people who are more passionate, who aspire to do things that matter to them at work, arent as rushed and harried as others.If you feel short on time, you might simply not be enjoying the activities that fill up your schedule. Life can be like that sometimes, but if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, it might help to add one more thing to your day- something that keeps you engaged.2. Inner conflictWhy does passion seem to free up our time? The researchers who observed this phenomenon wanted to discover what was really going on.They found a clue when they asked employees about how conflicted or aligned their goals were. Employees lacking in passion said that their goals were competing with each other, fighting for time and attention for example, the drive to do well at work might make it hard to get home for dinner with the family. But passionate employees were different They saw their goals as supporting each other. After all, healthy home cooking and family bonding might give them more energy and motivation tomorrow.So, time pressure isnt just about how enjoyable our activities are, but also how well they fit together in our heads.One studyfound that people who simply think about conflicting goals- like saving money vs. buying nice things, or being healthy vs. eating tasty foods- feel more stressed and anxious, and in turn shorter on time.Knox College professorTim Kasser, an expert on materialism who coauthored a seminalpaperon time scarcity, once joked, If every resear ch project that Im currently working on right now was a cat living in my house, it would be very clear that I had a problem. If your to-do list feels like a herd of hungry felines, all in competition for your one can of food, its no wonder youre overwhelmed.While we may freely choose some tasks on our plate, others are largely the product of our society or culture, says Australian National University professorLyndall Strazdins, who has spent the last decade trying to show how time scarcity matters for individual and public health. For example, being a good suburban mom today seems to include chauffeuring your kids around the neighborhood to countless sports and hobbies.If you dont do that, then you feel youre not living up to one set of norms, but if you dont do something else, youre also not living up to another set of norms, says Strazdins. Youve got 24 hoursand you get to a point where you just cant expand your day. If you feel a lot of inner conflict about a task, then you might consider just letting it go.3. A sense of controlOften when were caught in a time conflict, its because of some external obligation Daycare pickup runs up against an important meeting your work shift starts at 9, but the bus is late. Time pressure goes hand in hand with feeling youre not in control of your own schedule.In one2007 study, researchers interviewed 35 low-income working mothers who were caring for at least one child. They asked the moms to talk about how they spent the previous day, and how they manage to feed their families when its hectic.The researchers were able to pinpoint different ways of managing time- some of which were more successful than others.The least successful was the reactive style, where mothers didnt feel in control of their days. All those mothers felt time-scarce, beholden to the clock, unable to accomplish everything they wanted to. In contrast, mothers who had an active time-style had some success at scheduling, managing, and structuring their da ys. They felt slightly more in control of their own time and a bit less time-stressed than the reactive group.People often complain of being in a time bind not only because they are objectively busy, but also because they perceive a lack of control over their time, researcher Ashley V. Whillans and her colleagueswrite. That perception may be based on our life circumstances- because we havenon-negotiable work hoursor babies who arent fond of sleeping through the night- but it can also be part of our psychology.According to research, rather than experiencing life as masters of their own fate, some people tend to feel like theyre at the mercy of external forces (and thusless resilient to stressandmore depressed). If this describes you, it may be harder for you to seize back a sense of control over your schedule.In that case, try to keep your eyes on the prize and do what you can to gain a sense of control over your time. Take little steps, likeoptimizing your to-do listorpracticing say ing noto people who ask for favors.4. The value of your timeOne last piece of the time-pressure puzzle is money, and that one is complicated. If you work multiple jobs or cant pay for a babysitter, youre bound to feel short on time. Butsomeresearchhasfoundthat people with high incomes feel particularly short on time- and people who get richer becomeeven more harriedthan they were before. Even justfeelingrich- when your savings is on the higher end of the scale on a form youre filling out- can make you feel more rushed.In a society like ours, the go-to answer for happiness is make more money, buy more stuff, says Kasser. What were trying to say is, well, no what people actually need is more time.Why would an abundance ofmoneyfeel like a scarcity oftime? One possibility is that rich people have so much they could do with their money but only a handful of hours outside work to do it,suggestresearchers Daniel Hamermesh and Jungmin Lee. So many expensive hobbies to pursue, so little time But another possibility is that they simply put more value on their time. If each hour theyre not working is $100 they could have earned, they better use that hour well.As economists would remind us, when something is scarce, its value goes up- but the opposite is also true. When something is valuable (like time), we perceive it to be scarcer. Inone experiment, researchers asked 67 students to engage in some mock consulting work, for which they would charge $1.50 or $0.15 per minute. The students who were charging $1.50 felt more pressed for time- even though they werent actually going to earn that money In another experiment, when people were asked to calculate their hourly wage, high earners felt even more time-starved.Feelings of time pressure are not just a function of individual differences, the quantitative amount of time spent working, or even peoples working conditions, although these factors are obviously important,writeresearchers Sanford E. DeVoe and Jeffrey Pfeffer. Time pressure is at least partly a result of psychological processes and the perception of times value.This is all good news and bad news. It means that our efforts to optimize and schedule, plan and streamline, might not be getting to the heart of the problem. But it also means that we may have more leverage than we think, even if we cant manufacture spare hours to call a friend or get to the dentist. Time pressure is the uncomfortable gap between how we wish we spent our time- and how we think that would make us feel- and how were spending it and feeling now. With that in mind, we just might be able to find some room to breathe.This article originally appeared on Greater Good, the online magazine of The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityTh e worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

7 Easy Ways to Advance Your Career This Summer (Without Giving Up Pool Time)

7 Easy Ways to Advance Your Career This Summer (Without Giving Up Pool Time)7 Easy Ways to Advance Your Career This Summer (Without Giving Up Pool Time)When the sunshine beckons and the backyard hammock starts to look a lot more appealing than your cubicle, it becomes all too easy to put off those small but important career-building tasks.But the less-harried pace of the office during the lazy days of summer may actually provide an opportune time to do a little professional fine-tuning.Everyone gets a bit more laid-back when the weather is warmer, says Jill Jacinto, a Millennial career expert and Associate Director of Editorial and Communications for career site WORKS by Nicole Williams. Dont fall into this trap. Use the summer as a time to shine and develop new projects while your co-workers take summer Fridays and long lunches.Just think Youll be ahead of the game for the busy fall hiring season- or when your babo takes a renewed interest in your duties in anticipation of year-end reviews.So we asked workplace experts to share their top summer career to-dos for everything from developing your skills to beefing up your personal brand- so that youll be moving ahead professionally while your competitors are working on their tans.Summer To-Do 1 Revamp Your Online BiosDo the descriptors you use to define your professional persona on the internet seem a bit blah? Then nows a good time to assess whether those few- but important- words really showcase your best self.There are three versions of your online bio that you should take the time to hone, says Cachet Prescott, a resume writer, career coach, and workplace trainer.The first is a micro bio you might use on social media platforms like Twitter, which Prescott suggests keeping to about 50 words. You might use a medium-length bio (100 words or so) on your own professional blog or website, as well as content you contribute to other sites. And theres the deeper-dive version (up to 500 words) that may appear on Linked In or your companys staff about pages.Regardless of a given bios length, make sure your brand message is consistent across all platforms, Prescott says. Think about what you want people to know about you, who you are, and what youre doing professionally.If youre unsure of the personal brand you really want to portray- creative visionary? customer-service pro? take-charge leader?- then ask colleagues how they view you.If theres a disconnect in how they see you and how you want to be seen, look for ways to close the gap in your branding, she says.Summer To-Do 2 Liven Up Your LinkedIn PageTheres research showing LinkedIn is the primary way employers are going to get their candidates, says Mark Frietch, President of Frietch Consulting Group, a career coaching and recruiting firm. So working on a resume is elend going to be the best use of your time.Indeed, a 2014 Jobvite survey found that 94% of recruiters are active on LinkedIn. So, rather than while away a lunch hour looking at viral videos on YouTube, consider using that time to update your profile with your latest credentials, promotions, or any other career strides youve made over the past few months.Jacinto even suggests setting aside time every week to maintain your LinkedIn network. Connect with people you dont talk to as often. Maybe theres even a project theyre working on that you can help out with, she says. Summer is a good time to do this because youll be the most prominent one in their inpckchen.And if your photo hasnt been changed since the early 2000s, tis the season to freshen up your LinkedIn look.Take advantage of the suns rays for amazing professional head shots, Prescott says. Winter is a depressing time of year, and you dont tend to capture the saatkorn happiness and carefree spirit that you can in photos in the summertime.Summer To-Do 3 Request a Mid-Year EvaluationIf your company does only one employee performance review at the end or very beginning of the year, summer may be a good time to check in with your manager to see how your boss thinks youve been progressing since winter.Put your request in an email, saying something like, I know we set some goals in January, but can we do a mid-year check-in? suggests Lauren McGoodwin, a former recruiter at Hulu and founder of work-life site Career Contessa.With this move, you can review your strengths and weaknesses, McGoodwin says, and have time to correct any performance issues before the next formal review time rolls around.Successfully capturing your bosss feedback and giving yourself time to make subsequent changes could mean the difference between spinning your wheels for the rest of the year- or ringing in the new year with the raise youve been gunning for.Summer To-Do 4 Take Your Networking OutdoorsFace time can go a long way toward furthering professional relationships, so why not take advantage of the nice weather and do a little alfresco networking?If a traditional networking game of golf isnt your thing, you can turn pretty much any summer outing or personal hobby into a meet-up opportunity- baseball games, yoga classes, and even outdoor concerts.Most cities have a free music series during the summer. Invite colleagues youve recently met, and look to build that relationship, suggests Frietch.Jacinto suggests taking advantage of shorter work days by trying to attend at least one networking event per week. And it neednt be a run-of-the-mill mixer or industry panel.It could be a great cooking class, or a documentary screening, she says. Or maybe you decide to go to an industry event one week, and a non-industry event the other- as long as you arent meeting the same people over and over again.Summer To-Do 5 Fill in for Vacationing Co-workersHave you been curious to learn more about the project your colleague is working on? If hes planning to take a two-week cruise, offer to pinch-hit while hes away.Your co-worker will be happy that youre willingly pitching in, and youll be able to further your skills, Jacinto says, adding that its an opportunity to shine for a new department, a new set of stakeholders, or a new supervisor.And you dont have to wait for a co-worker to go on a European excursion to make an impact- thinking outside the box is an evergreen endeavor.Make it known that you want to take on more, Jacinto adds. Managers always want to hear that youre thinking about the business and ways to make it better. So if you share a great idea, and it gets positive reception at a staff meeting, dont wait for the official assignment- get it to the rough draft phase and show it to the team.Summer To-Do 6 Schedule Informational InterviewsIf youre planning to spend some time this summer figuring out your next career move- especially if an industry change is in your future- try to squeeze in as many informational interviews as you can while your workload is light.Picking the brains of some of the smartest and most capable people in your extended network could give you the push y ou need to make the leap to your dream job.McGoodwin knows from experience She sent 30 LinkedIn messages to recruiters in the Los Angeles area- and met with 28 of them over the course of seven months- before deciding she wanted to become a recruiter herself.Your goal for the conversation should be to walk away knowing what the day-to-day is of that job, McGoodwin says. You want to gather enough information to decide This is the job for me.Summer To-Do 7 Start a Career JournalSometimes deciding where youll go and what youll do next career-wise requires a more introspective take.So just as youd keep a travel journal for the summer, consider regularly jotting down your thoughts about your professional life- particularly if you feel like youre in a rut.Create a list of the things that make you tick, or write down how you feel about work after each week, suggests McGoodwin. What makes you feel like the best, most productive, most authentic you? Maybe its when you write, or create graphic s, or teach someone something new.Journaling can not only help you discover things about yourself that you can use to boost your personal career brand, but also help you deal with a hard day at the office. Research has shown that writing down how they thought and felt during a stressful event helped people better cope with the situation afterward.And while its true that writing may come more naturally to some, dont let writers block discourage you- there are no rules for perfect prose.Feel free to just brainstorm, McGoodwin says. But it helps to write it down so you can go back and reference it when you need a little work inspiration.More From LearnVest8 Traits Youll Find in Every Fearless Job Hunter4 Intrepid People Dish My Crazy, Risky Career MoveThat Paid Off8 Ultimate Opening Lines for Fearless Networking

Is Pursuing Your Dream Career Worth It

Is Pursuing Your Dream Career Worth ItIs Pursuing Your Dream Career Worth ItHow to decide whether you should quit your day job to follow your dreams.The short answer is that only you can make such a decision. You must look at your current career, your financial status, and much more, to decide if this is something you can and should do. There will be many reasons why you should quit your current job immediately to follow your dream path- such as gaining satisfaction, becoming happier, reducing stress. But there will also be many reasons for why you shouldnt pursue your dream job- not enough pay, no available insurance, will have to relocate. For either decision that you make, sacrifices will have to be made. You have to decide if those sacrifices will be worth it, in the long run, compared to what you will gain.Is this your dream job?Has this been a lifelong passion that you have experience in and know you enjoy doing? Or is it just a hobby that you do on the weekends that brings yo u joy? A lot of the times, we can come up with idealizations of what another job will be like when we simply dont know what the day-to-day schedule looks like. For example, the idea of being a zookeeper might be appealing to you. Ideally you get to work with animals, feed them, talk to visitors and educate them on animals. However, during regular work operations, much of the job involves cleaning up after the animals- meaning feces, bodily fluids, old food, etc. Have you really researched this ideal career and gotten a feel for what it will be like? If you arent quite sure, perhaps try getting some hours of experience in, whether through a part-time job or volunteering, to make sure this is the right path for you.Why now?Motivation is key here. Why do you want to pursue your dream career now, of all times? If you are unhappy at your current place of work, this could be a big motivator. However, then its time to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Are you unhappy with y our career field of choice, or just the current company that you are looking for? It is much easier to find a career in the same field than it is to change career paths. Do you think this dream career path will be more fulfilling and give yourself purpose? This could be possible. But as mentioned before, there are still boring and unsavory tasks with any job out there. A good idea would be to make a list of what you think day-to-day tasks would look like at this job, good and bad. Put in some research online to make sure you arent missing anything.Can you do both?A good way to decide if you should pursue your dream career, or if you can, is to start doing it. However, you dont have to quit your day job right away. Make your dream career part time. Put in some hours every day, build up some progress. For example, if your dream is to make your income off a food critic blog, then start doing it If you see success slowly starting to build, you can gradually add on more hours, and then e ventually quit your day job. Same goes for any other schriftart of job. Get a part-time position that allows you to get your foot in the door. Even if you arent seeing any type of advancement coming your way yet, you at least have relevant experience.Have you tried researching and networking?Big factors that go into the job search process is researching and networking. This is something that you can still do without quitting your day job. Tailor your online profiles to match the dream job that you are searching for. Attend networking events for that industry and start making connections- get to know people. You may get lucky and find a job Join groups that are related to the industry- such as the groups offered on LinkedIn. Add constructive information to the conversation. You should know what is going on in the industry and be knowledgeable. If you feel like this is a transition you can make, then take that step.

High School Student Resume Objective - Is it a Scam?

High School Student Resume Objective - Is it a Scam? The 30-Second Trick for High School Student Resume Objective High school templates are perfect for students to highlight their abilities and expertise. There are an assortment of student and teacher resumes here to pick from. A high school student resume doesnt ask for much, but you should be certain that all of the essential information is correctly presented. Students with minimum work experience may also add a section discussing their involvements. An individual can write hobbies that are associated with the work too. Work depend on region to spot. Your work is always to thoroughly take a comprehensive research before enrolling within an internship. It is possible to also leave off any jobs that are entirely unrelated to the job that you desire. Resumes arent the trendiest paperwork. Your resume will be split into sections. Filtering out resumes for mechanical engineers is simple after you get started using the peop le that seem odd. The Little-Known Secrets to High School Student Resume Objective Conclusion If youre a high school student seeking to land a part-time job which brings you extra income and aids you build some skills that might become important to your career in future, you have to present a compelling resume to prospective employers to enhance your probability of being picked for the job. Rather, the objective of the career objective is to showcase your abilities and abilities that can help you to successfully fulfill the responsibilities of the position. Though you might not have a work history or lengthy collection of impressive degrees, you can definitely find something to include. Therefore, if your student intends to work while theyre in school or simply wishes to be ready for graduation, developing a scholarship resume now gives them the framework they have to receive one ready for work applications whenever the time comes. You just need to select the opportunity to cau tiously mine your experiences and determine how to present them to the employer. It could be inviting to embellish your resume, and you will possibly get the job, but in the long run, it is going to come back to bite you as soon as you cant deliver on your promises. Who knows, they might even supply you with a fulltime job the instant you end your level. Thus, take some time to explore your past. You must find out strategies to adapt your experience to the demands of the new job and platzdeckchen it in such a manner your strengths are displayed on top. Be sure the skills are related to the job which you desire. Write down what skills you used, and the way they may relate to the job that you desire. Strong interpersonal skills enhanced by participating in theatre activities to come up with confidence and communication abilities. However tempting it may be to stretch the truth, lying on your resume is always a poor idea. A clearly defined resume objective will be able to help y ou convey your abilities and experience that lead to your professional objectives. A normal college application doesnt always provide a student room to highlight all her or his accomplishments and experience. If you wish to put in an application for a lifeguard position, your resume objective should mention all certifications you have gotten. Its easy to compose an outstanding objective. Bear in mind that the objective is the very first glimpse an employer will get of you and your skills-and you simply get one chance to create a first impression The intention of the career objective isnt to tell the hiring manger what you want to escape from the business.

4 Kinds of Hiring Data You Need to Start Tracking

4 Kinds of Hiring Data You Need to Start TrackingHiring today looks a lot different than it did 10 or 20 years ago. What used to rely on a piece of paper and a gut feeling now relies on recommendations, evidence, and data. And its all thanks to recent advances made in technology. Of these factors, hiring data is particularly important, as it can essentially reveal how well (or not well) a job candidate will perform in a role, if hired. Rather than taking a candidates word for it, hiring data can provide the much-needed evidence hiring professionals need to make an informed decision.So, to help you better identify top talent, here are fur things to take into consideration when it comes to hiring data1. Start with a rubric.Before you even begin gathering candidate data, you need a streamlined evaluation process. Thats why we advocate for using interview rubrics to eliminate emotional biases and conduct a more efficient recruiting process.A rubric can prevent you from jumping to conclus ions by replacing emotional judgment with bite-sized factors helping you make objective, micro-evaluations about each candidate.Great candidates come in different forms. A rubric will help you compare different profiles and resolve differences in strengths and weaknesses.Jordan Wan, founder and CEO, CloserIQBefore hiring data can be collected, you need a streamlined evaluation process. jordanxwanClick To Tweet2. Focus on predictive dataHiring managers should focus on data metrics that have evidence of being predictive of on-the-job success, such as a pre-hire assessment score, a company culture fit score, a job test score, and a structured interview score. Using these types of data metrics will increase the likelihood of hiring the right candidate, but it wont guarantee it. This is because there are many on-the-job contextual factors (e.g. your supervisor, your co-workers) that also determine how successful someone is at work.The best ways to use these data metrics when evaluating potential new hires is to put in place a standardized, objective ordnungsprinzip for every candidate. My biggest tip for effectively using this data when hiring is to use software tools that automate and standardize the process for you software that assesses every resume for you, software that tests candidates job-related knowledge, software that helps you interview candidates, etc. Using software will not only allow hiring managers to accurately use data to compare candidates to each other, it significantly reduces the amount of time and administrative burden it takes to collect and analyze this data.Ji-A Min, Head Data Scientist, IdealLooking for top talent? Focus on data metrics that have evidence of on-the-job success. ji_aminClick To Tweet3. as well as what can be measured.Our experience shows that the most reliable metrics are the ones that can be properly and objectively measured. It is easier and less subjective to focus on hard skills. Skills such as how well somebody can use Excel can be a reliable metric, especially when it comes to productivity at the workplace, so it can be hard to ignore.Everybody knows that soft skills are really important. However, it is so hard to measure them, let alone to get honest responses from candidates, that the attempt to get any metrics usually is not worthwhile. Stelios Lambropoulos, Product Manager, TEST4UThe most reliable metrics are the ones that can be properly and objectively measured. s_lambropoulosClick To Tweet4. Rethink time to hire.Weve been using time to hire for a while, until we found ourselves in this situation OK, this job takes longer to fill than the other job. But why? Often, its by the end of the hiring process. Thirty days have gone by and we honestly didnt know where to dig up the reasons for the slowness. So, we found a better metric to use interview to hire.We track both the time and the reason why the hiring decision is made. The time tracking starts the moment a candidate is tagged with int erview stage and it ends the moment they sign the contract. Then, we track why the candidate gets the job offer. Since the implementation of this metric, we have seen two improvements in our hiring process we close candidates faster and we are more aware of why we choose some candidates over others.Perry Oostdam, co-founder and CEO, Recruitee Forget time to hire, try interview to hire. PerryDamClick To TweetWhat hiring data metrics do you measure? Let us know in the comments below

Military Family Separation Allowance (FSA)

Military Family Separation Allowance (FSA)Military Family Separation Allowance (FSA)Family Separation Allowance (FSA) is payable when a military member is separated due to military orders from their dependents for more than 30 days. In order to be payable, the staffelung must be involuntary, i.e., the dependent is not allowed to accompany the member at government expense. The rationale for FSA entitlement is that forced family separation results in added household expenses when the member is absent for a period greater than 30 days. Family separation allowance rates have not changed for several years. Types of FSA Therbeie are three schriftarts of Family Separation Allowance FSA-R - This type of family separation allowance is payable when a member is assigned to a permanent duty station (either overseas or in the states), where the members dependents are not allowed to travel at government expense. Payment begins once the member has been separated from their dependent(s) for more than 30 days.FSA-S - This type of FSA is payable when a military member is stationed on a ship, and the ship is away from the homeport continuously for more than 30 days. Prior to February 9, 1996, dependents were required to live in the vicinity of the homeport in order for the member to continue to receive this type of FSA. Effective February 10, 1996, the dependents were no longer required to reside in the vicinity of the homeport. FSA-T - This type of FSA is payable when the member is on temporary duty (TDY) (or temporary additional duty) away from the permanent station continuously for more than 30 days, and the members dependents are not residing at or near the TDY station. Prior to February 9, 1996, dependents were required to live in the vicinity of the permanent duty station in order for the member to continue to receive this type of FSA. Effective February 10, 1996, the dependents were no longer required to reside in the vicinity of the permanent duty station. A member c an only be paid for one type of FSA at a time. For example, if a member is receiving FSA-R because he/she is stationed at a dependent-restricted base, and the member then performs temporary duty (TDY) away from their home station for more than 30 days (FSA-T), then the member cannot receive double payment. FSA is payable for temporary duty/training even before proceeding to the initial duty assignment. This means that new recruits who attend basic training and/or job training when they first join the military, receive FSA, once they have been separated from their dependent(s) for more than 30 days. Amount Payable Separation Requirements FSA is payable at the amount of $250 per month. FSA is not subject to federal income tax. FSA is not authorized unless the separation is involuntary due to military orders. In other words, the dependent(s) must not be entitled to travel to the new duty station at government expense. For example, if a military member receives an overseas assignme nt to Germany, and is given the option of serving an accompanied tour, but elects to take a shorter, unaccompanied tour instead, FSA is not payable because the member had the option of being accompanied by dependents, but voluntarily elected to be unaccompanied. There is one exception to this rule if transportation of dependents is authorized at government expense, but member elects an unaccompanied tour of duty because a dependent cannot accompany the member to or at that homeport/permanent station due to certified medical reasons, FSA is payable. FSA cannot be paid when a military member is legally separated from his/her spouseunless there are other qualifying dependents. FSA can also not be paid for separation from dependent childrenif the children are in the legal custody of another. The lone exception occurs when the member has joint physical and legal custody of the child(ren) and the child(ren) otherwise would reside with the member but for the current assignment. Family sepa ration allowance does not accrue to a member if all of the dependents reside at or near the duty station. If some (but not all) of the dependents voluntarily reside near the duty station, FSA may accrue on behalf of those dependents who do not reside at or near the duty station. The military considers dependents as residing near a duty station if the member actually commutes daily, regardless of distance. Dependents are also considered as residing near a duty station if they live within a reasonable commuting distance of that station, whether or not the member commutes daily. A distance of 50 miles, one way, is normally considered to be within reasonable commuting distance of a station, but the 50-mile rule is not inflexible. Commanders make the decision, based on the individual circumstances. Military Couples Not many years ago, a military member who welches separated from their military spouse due to military orders was not entitled to FSA unless he/she was also separated from his/her minor dependents. This has now changed, but not more than one monthly allowance may be paid with respect to a married military couple for any month. Each member may be entitled to FSA within the same month, but only one can receive payment. Payment is usually made to the member whose orders resulted in the separation. If both members receive orders requiring departure on the same day, then payment goes to the senior member. Temporary Social Visits For FSA-R, a member can continue to receive FSA if the dependents visit him/her for no longer than three months. Facts clearly must show that the dependents merely are visiting (not changing residence) and that the visit is temporary and not intended to exceed 3 months. For FSA-S (when the ship is in a port), and FSA-T, social visits cannot exceed 30 daysor entitlement to FSA is lost.

Toxic workplaces How to spot on e and what to do about it

Toxic workplaces How to spot on e and what to do about itToxic workplaces How to spot on e and what to do about itIssues with the cultures of big companies, including Uber and Google, have recently been in the news, turning the spotlight onto the subject of toxic workplaces. But few are talking about the causes.What are the indicators that a companys culture or workplace could quickly turn toxic?The roots of a company culture include rules, expectations, and policies. If these are subjective - left open to interpretation - the company invites differing opinions, which causes conflict, which results in toxicity. Subjective work processes and systems are the sources of most toxic company cultures.How you can spot a potential problemIf you are on the outside of a company looking in, there are some indicators that should encourage you to explore further. Using whatever access you have to people in the company and/or company materials such as job descriptions, policies, and procedures, look for subjectivity.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreFor example, if a job description consists of vague phrases such as must be a team player, have strong communication skills, or be a power user of authorware, how are you going to be evaluated on your wertzuwachs in that job? Someone will be making subjective decisions about your performance.When you ask people in the company, even if you are asking during an interview, how to qualify for pay raises or promotions and the responses are subjective descriptions such as excel in your job, go the extra mile, stay out of trouble, or keep your quality scores up, you will probably face that same subjectivity when it comes pay raise and promotion time.The more objective the job descriptions, policies, procedures, and processes in a company, the less chance there is for conflict and the workplace turning toxic.What to do if you are al ready in a toxic situationIf you realize that your workplace, like most workplaces, is already toxic, you may be able to do some damage control - even if you arent the boss. You can make the attempt to bring objectivity to at least your realm of the workplace.Start with your job description. The ideal, objective job description defines thePrimary tasks you accomplish in your jobConditions under which you perform those tasksObjective standards by which your performance on each task is evaluatedTake whichever parts of that formula are lacking to your boss with the humble, sincere intent to turn the subjectivity into objectivity. You do this by taking the fuzzy language out of the job description.Fuzzies can be squeezed out of job descriptions, policies, and processes through a relatively simple process taught by philanthropisch performance guru, Dr. Robert Mager. He calls it Goal Analysis, but he describes it as defuzzifying fuzzies.Once a fuzzy is discovered, it must be translated t o observable performances. If done in conversation it sounds something like thisBoss You have to be a team playerEmployee Well said, Boss. When you observe me being a team player, (or whatever the fuzzy is) what actions are you observing?Boss Well, first of all you show up to team meetings on time.Employee Fair enough. What else?Boss You should be volunteering for assignments on the team.Employee Got it. What else?The what else questions continue until the boss decides the list of observable performances describes a team player.Calling this a simple process does not mean this conversation or the efforts to review and revise work processes to rid them of subjectivity are easy. It takes a lot of effort, but the process is not complex.In plus-rechnen to the job description, some of the processes that you want to be objective, includeYour performance evaluation processHow your pay raises are determinedHow promotion opportunities are evaluatedHow your work is scheduled and assignedHow yo u are recognized for the work you do and the innovations you introduceIf any of these are open to interpretation, they are open to the possibility that the interpretation may not be in your favor.The problem with having fuzzies in these processes is that it puts bosses in the tenuous position of being the judge. Yes, you want bosses to have good judgment, but you dont want work processes to cause them to interpret subjective guidance on what should be done, how it should be done, and how it should be evaluated. That opens each situation to conflict, which is a tremendous obstacle to performance in the workplace.When you strenge ausbildung down to the root of most workplace conflict, you will find the disagreement is over a work process that is subjective. Even a good boss will find it difficult to be good when they are trying to defend subjective work processes and systems. As W. Edwards Deming, the acknowledged Father of the Quality Movement, put it, A bad process will beat a good person every time.Rex Conner is the lead partner and owner of Mager Consortium and the author of What if Common Sense Was Common Practice in Business?You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Want to become a multi-millionaire Do these 15 things now

Want to become a multi-millionaire Do these 15 things nowWant to become a multi-millionaire Do these 15 things nowThe greatest reward in becoming a millionaire is notlage the amount of money that you earn. It is the kind of rolle that you have to become to become a millionaire. - Jim RohnMost people wish their circumstances would magically change for them. They dont have the desire to become better themselves so they can proactively improve their own circumstances.Unlike fruchtwein people, who simply wait and wish for luck, you can seek to become the kind of rolle equipped with the skills and abilities to do brilliant things.You can become the kind of person who does highly influential work. Your work can solve pressing problems, improve peoples lives, and get noticed by important people who share your work not for your sake, but for theirs Sharing your work makes them look good because of how great it is.The quality of who you are as a person, and the work you do, is completely with in your control. But you cant wish for it to happen. You must become the kind of person who naturally attracts the success you seek.Heres how1. Invest at least 10% of your income in yourselfIf you dont pay for something, you rarely pay attention.Most people want stuff thats free. But if you get something for free, you rarely prize that thing. You rarely take it seriously.How much do you invest in yourself?How committed are you to yourself?If you arent investing in yourself, than you dont have any skin in the game of your own life.Ladders is now on SmartNewsDownload the SmartNews app and add the Ladders channel to read the latest career news and advice wherever you go.If you arent invested in your geschftliches miteinander, you probably wont do high quality work.If youre not invested in your relationships, youre probably mora focused on what you can get than what you can give.When it comes to self-improvement, investing 10% of your income on yourself will yield a 100X or mora return on that investment. For every dollar you spend on your education, skills, and relationships, youll get at least 100 dollars back in returns.If you want to do something extremely well, you need to surround yourself with the right mentors. Anything that youll ever do well will be the result of high quality mentoring. If you suck at something, its because you havent received quality mentoring in that thing.The best mentorships are the ones where you pay your mentor. Often, the mora you pay the better, because youll take the relationship far more seriously. You wont solely be taking in that relationship. You wont purely be a consumer. Instead, youll be invested, and as such, youll listen more carefully. Youll care more. Youll be more thoughtful and engaged. There will be higher consequences for not succeeding.I invested $3,000 to get help writing my first book proposal from a highly successful writer. That $3,000 got me maybe 4 or 5 hours of his time. But in those 4 or 5 hours, he taugh t me what I needed to know to create an amazing book proposal. He provided me resources that dramatically enhanced and sped up my process. With his help, I welches able to get a literary agent and eventually a multi, six-figure book contract.Had I been overly concerned about the $3,000, Im confident that to this day, Id still not have written a book proposal. At the very most, Id have written a terrible one. I would not have been as motivated or invested, so I would have been far more likely to procrastinate needed action.If you dont have much money, surely you can afford to buy a book. How much money and time do you spend on entertainment, clothes, or food? Its a matter of priority.Its only when you invest in something that you have the motivation to make it happen.Beyond mentorships, you should invest in education programs such as online courses, books, quality products such as food and sleep.Your level of success can generally be directly measured by your level of investment. If youre not getting the results you want, its because you havent invested enough to get those results.Your number 1 investment must be yourself.Who you are determinesthe quality of marriage youll havethe quality of parent you becomethe quality of work you producethe level of happiness you haveHeres what youll find when you financially invest yourself in something. You become very committed to that thing. Economists call this sunk cost bias. But you can leverage this to your benefit. If you want to escalate your personal commitment to something, invest heavily in that thing.Eventually, it will become a point of no return.Youll become so fiercely committed that withdrawing will seem ridiculous.Hence, youll need to truly know WHAT you want and WHY (see 14 below). If you dont know these things, then over-committing could be a huge and irrational problem.However, if you are certain about WHO you are/want to be, WHAT you want, and WHY, then you need to invest yourself.2. Invest at least 80% of your off time into learningMost people are consumers rather than creators.They are at work to get their paycheck, not to make a difference.When left to their own devices, most people consume their time as well. It is only by investing your time that you get a return on that time.Nearly every second spent on social media is consumed time. You cant have that time back. Rather than making your future better, it actually made your future worse. Just like eating bad food, every consumed moment leaves you worse off. Every invested moment leaves you better off.Entertainment is all well and good. But only when that entertainment is an investment in your relationships or yourself. Youll know if it was an investment if that entertainment continues to yield returns over and over in your future. That may include positive memories, transformational learning, or deepened relationships.Even still, life isnt purely about being entertained. Education and learning is also key. And although both a re essential, education will provide far greater returns in your future.The worlds most successful people are intense learners. They are hard readers. They know that what they know determines how well they see the world. They know that what they know determines the quality of relationships they can have and the quality of work they can do.If you are constantly consuming junk media, how can you possibly expect to create high value work? Your input directly translates to your output. Garbage in, garbage out.3. Dont work for money, work to learnWhen you are young, work to learn, not to earn. - Robert KiyosakiJust as a large majority of your downtime should be spent learning, so should a great deal of your working time.Wealthy and happy people work to learn. Unsuccessful and unhappy people work primarily for money.Only 20% of your energy should be spent doing your actual work. The rest should be spent learning, improving yourself, and resting.It is by sharpening your saw that youll cont inue to become a better and more capable person. Thus, as you dedicate large portions of time becoming a better thinker, communicator, and better at your craft, the quality of your work will continue to increase. Eventually, youll be able to charge VERY VERY high fees for your work, because no one else can do it like you.When you prioritize learning and recovery, then during the hours you are actually working, youll be in a deep flow state. You wont be distracted like most people are when they work. Youre either 100% on or 100% off. While working, you can get more done in a few hours than most people get done in a number of days.Your time is spent well because your priorities are clear, youre well-rested, and your mind is stimulated.4. Dont learn for entertainment, learn to create more valueThe key secret to success is not excessive expertise, but the ability to use it. Knowledge is worthless unless it is applied. - Max LukominskyiIn our media and information age, there are a millio n things you could learn. But if you dont put that learning into immediate practice, it becomes shallow information.Information and knowledge are two very different things.Knowledge and wisdom are also two very different things.It takes wisdom to determine what you should learn, why you should learn it, and when you should learn it.Unless youre invested, you probably wont learn with the intensity needed to maximize that knowledge.Unless you understand the value of your time, you probably wont have the discernment to ignore almost everything while learning that which will bring the highest return.When you learn something, you should get a return on that learning. Far too many people read books now just to say theyve read lots of books. If youre not applying what youre learning, your consuming and wasting your time.5. Invest at least 10% of your income into vehicles that will generate more moneyVery few people create true wealth.Even those who have high incomes are not truly wealthy. Most peoples lifestyles match their incomes. When they make more, they consume more. In fact, most people make money solely to consume.Very few people make money to invest that money.Its best to think of your business as only 1/2 of your income equation. You have your business which brings income. Then, you have your investment entity to turn your income into even more money.Like anything, how well you manage your money is determined by how well mentored you are. If you want to become brilliant with money, invest in education and mentoring.The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The best time to start investing was also in the past. If you havent started yet, dont sit and wallow in regret. Tomorrow doesnt exist for people who dont do something today.departure today. Get yourself educated. Create a vehicle, or several vehicles, where you put at least 10% of your income. Eventually, your investment vehicle may even start producing more profits for you than your actual business .Compound interest is a real thing. If you put 10% of your income into your investments over a long enough period of time, youll be set. Unlike the majority of high earners out there, youll be able to STOP WORKING whenever you want, because your money is making more than enough money for you to comfortably live with.6. Shift your motivation from getting to givingThe world gives to the givers and takes from the takers. - Joe PolishMost people are only focused on what they can get out of life.Me, me, me.However, once you become more consciously awake to the world, your desire will shift from merely receiving to giving.Youll realize that its actually far more satisfying to give than to get.Moreover, youll be driven by a cause you fully believe in.The truth is, you really only have 1 of 2 orientations towards people (and life).Either you are in relationships as TRANSACTIONS, or as TRANSFORMATIONS.Most people have transactional relationships. Theyre focused only on what they get out of t he relationship. Its all about furthering their own agenda. Its rooted in scarcity. Its selfish.This isnt how you get far in relationships and life.Its also how you get stuck in your own small-mindedness.Transformational relationships, on the other hand, are completely focused on giving and gratitude - the hallmarks of abundance. In these relationships, the whole becomes more than the sum of parts. Both parties, in vulnerability and trust, transcend their own small-mindedness and become something more.At the core, this requires being a giver, not a taker. As Adam Grant has explained in his book, Give and Take, when two givers come together, the results are astronomical.Heres a pro-tip dont surround yourself with takers.When your motivation is to give, youll often get insights about how you can improve your relationships. Random thoughts will pop into you head to send Thank you texts to various people.Youll have more ideas about how you can improve other peoples lives and businesses .Youll start contributing more, which will lead to far more opportunities and deeper relationships. People will come to love and trust you. Your work will be motivated by a higher cause and thus will be far more inspired and impactful.7. Openly acknowledge how dependent you are on other peopleJust because your primary motivation is to give, doesnt mean you dont also seek a lot of help.Actually, you are constantly seeking and receiving help.The truth is, everyone is highly dependent on other people to do what they do. But it takes wisdom and humility to openly acknowledge that dependence. Rather than seeing it as a weakness, realize that its a strength.Beyond acknowledging your dependence, constantly express your appreciation to the people in your life. That which you appreciate, appreciates. Relationships are assets that can and should grow bigger and better over time. As the brilliant entrepreneur Michael Fishman has said, Self-made is an illusion. There are many people who played divine roles in you having the life that you have today. Be sure to let them know how grateful you are.If you dont appreciate and give to your relationships, your relationships will suffer. All relationships are like bank accounts, and if one person is constantly depositing and the other person is constantly withdrawing, eventually all of the resources become depleted.In such relationships, 1+1=less than 2.Conversely, in synergistic and healthy relationships, 1+1= far more than 2. When two people are continually giving and receiving, the relational bank account continues to grow and expand, providing several intended and unintended benefits.For example, I was recently at the gym with my brother. At the beginning of the workout, he was struggling mentally. He wasnt adding to my energy and helping my workout become better than if I was alone, but instead, he was sucking my energy and requiring me to exert more energy and effort than if I was alone.I made him aware of what was happenin g, and he immediately shifted his emotional posture. He realized how dramatically his mood was impacting me. His motivation shifted from consuming an experience to creating something great.Our shared mental state heightened, taking us into group flow. Our workout become far superior to anything I could create on my own. notlage only that, but we began to engage in inspired conversation. This led to brilliant insights and connections that were relevant to the book Im writing.The amazing workout was the intended outcome of our synergy. The insights for my book were unintended benefits. This can only happen when both parties are actively giving and receiving from the relationship. Where both are focusing on creating rather than consuming. Where both have the primary motivation of helping the other person succeed.8. Create win-win strategic partnerships to achieve 10x or 100x goalsAll failed companies are the saatkorn they failed to escape competition. - Peter ThielMost people are in a state of competition rather than collaboration.Collaboration is a much higher level than competition.Competition is focused on the self. Its also very low level thinking, because what you can do on your own is very limited.People who are competing are grinding. Theyre more focused on winning than creating real solutions.However, when your thinking becomes expanded, you realize you could do so much more with other people. Collaboration creates unique connections working by yourself never could.You have skills and knowledge that are awesome in your field. There are other people in different fields who have skills and knowledge completely outside of your current awareness. These people also have assets you dont have.If you want to get 10X or 100X the results of other people in your field, you need to develop strategic win-win partnerships. This generally happens when you devise a plan where your skill sets and assets merge with the skill sets and assets of someone else.What you can do well, someone else may struggle with. What you struggle with, others can do extremely well.Who can you partner with that could speed your process?Who has assets and resources you dont?How could you help these people?What types of partnerships could you develop, that would allow you to more quickly achieve your goals and help them more quickly achieve theirs?When you collaborate with other people, 1+1=more than 2. The whole becomes DIFFERENT from the sum of its parts.This is how TRANSFORMATION occurs. Only those who engage in collaboration actually experience true transformation. People who only work well by themselves are stuck in their own narrow worldview and agendas.When you merge with others, your ideas and goals change. They become bigger and better. They become DIFFERENT from what you could ever create on your own.The only way to have these types of partnerships is to think long-term. You must be invested and have skin in the game. It cant be transactional. Its cant be this fo r that. It must be about something a lot deeper. When it is, youll have far more integrity in the work you do. Youll express greater appreciation. Youll consistently do the right thing, even if that right thing is difficult and uncomfortable.Dont seek transactional relationships. Only seek long-term TRANSFORMATIONAL relationships.9. Set 10x goals and face your fearsLook at your current goals.Why is that your metric for success?Why is that your target?What would happen if, in all seriousness, you 10Xd that target?What if rather than earning $3,000/month, you pursued $30,000/month?Is that even possible?Of course its possible. Theres several people doing it.The only difference between them and you is their education, relationships, and strategy.When you set a 10X goal, youre required to think very differently about your daily behaviors. Youre required to be more serious in all aspects of your life. Youre required to eliminate limiting thinking and consumptive distractions.Setting a 10X goal will be one of the best things youve ever done for yourself. This goal should be created while you are in a peak state. You get into a peak state by doing something powerful, whether that be exercising, learning, or being in a unique environment, such as a foreign country. You can even get into a peak state by being around certain types of people, the ones who inspire you to be the best version of yourself.Only you know what gets you into a peak and passionate state. So, do whatever it is that gets you there, and then write down your goals. Declare what youre going to do. Then write that goal down and visualize its achievement every single day until it becomes your reality.When you think about this goal, dont deviate from the natural flow of ideas that follow.You cant 10X your results by engaging in the saatkorn thinking and behaviors youre currently performing. Consequently, while thinking about your goal, youll also get ideas about what you need to do, realistically, to achi eve that goal.Chances are, you dont know what you dont know. So youll need to start really educating yourself about how you could conceivably achieve your goal.Youll need to get bolder about the work youre doing. Youll need to create more, and fail more. Over and over, in fact. Quantity is often the fastest path to quality.Not only that, but when you think about your 10X goal, youll probably have ideas that scare you. When you do work that scares you, you cross a boundary that most people never cross. Scary work is often highly profitable and valuable work.10. Get really really good at marketingMarketing is nothing more than applied psychology.Its about connecting with people, persuading them, and helping them.Many people think marketing is a nasty or immoral thing.Many artists dont learn marketing because they dont want to sell out. They want their work to be pure.Academics are not better. Their work is not accessible to the common man.Marketing is nothing more than making your wor k easier and better to find and use.People arent magically going to appear and buy your stuff.People arent going to magically appear and read your stuff.Even right now How did you land on this page? Look at the title of this article. I could have just as easily called it, Advice for becoming successful.But would you have clicked on that article?Probably not.But you clicked on this one.Why did you click on this one?How did you get this far down?Think about the experience.Marketing is the HOW to whatever it is you do.The reason most people arent successful is because they either fear or avoid marketing. For the same reason, most people are bad teachers. Theyre more focused on content than the delivery and design of that content.But the delivery - the HOW - is just as important IF NOT MORE IMPORTANT than WHAT youre doing or WHY youre doing it.You could have the cure for cancer. But if you dont market it well, youll never get your cure out there.You could have the worlds most importan t message, or greatest story, but no one will see it if you dont promote and package it intelligently.11. Dont focus on time and effort, focus on results insteadFounder of the exclusive entrepreneurial coaching platform, Strategic Coach, Dan Sullivan distinguishes between those who are in the Time-and-Effort Economy with those who are in the Results Economy.If youre in the time and effort economy, you are focused on being busy. You actually believe the amount of time and energy you put into something merits praise. Conversely, when you are in the results economy, you are only focused on achieving a specific result.The bottom line is what matters, and thus, it becomes very important to find the most effective way to get there. This is a key difference between entrepreneurs and employees. As Sullivan saysEntrepreneurs have crossed the risk line from the Time-and-Effort Economy to the Results Economy. For them, theres no guaranteed income, no one writing them a paycheck every two weeks . They live by their ability to generate opportunity by creating value for their clientele. Sometimes, they - and you - will put in a lot of time and effort and get no result. Other times, they dont put in much time and effort and get a big result. The focus for entrepreneurs always has to be on results or theres no revenue coming in. If you work for an entrepreneur, guess what This is true for you, too. Though you probably have a guaranteed income, its important to understand that the business you work in exists inside The Results Economy, even if youre sheltered somewhat from seeing that. I say this not to make you feel insecure, but to show you how to succeed in this environment by maximizing your results while minimizing the time and effort it takes to get them.Most people dont think in terms of results because their security is in a paycheck. However, when you shift your focus from how little you can do to how much you can do, you change how you work.You start learning ways t o accomplish more faster. You take on greater responsibility. You change your environment. And you also realize just how important sleep and rest are to achieving the highest possible results. Hence, you begin to take more and more time off and rest.When you dedicate 80 percent of your energy to rest and self-improvement, then you have a lot of fodder and a very sharp saw to use during the time youre actually working.Youre thinking 10X bigger than everyone else. Youre operating under short timelines and high pressure. You can tax yourself to extremes while you work because you spend lots and lots of time resting and preparing.12. Shift your environments regularlyThe environments you work in should reflect the work youre doing.Doing several types of work in the same environment is ineffective. But people do it all the time. They sit in the same seat and mentally shift from one task to another.A far better approach is to BATCH your activities and to do those activities in a relevant e nvironment.For example, when I write a blog post, I work in a quiet library where I have no distractions. Because my environment facilitates quality writing, and because I knew Id be writing that day, I write a lot. Its easier to write 25 blog posts in one sitting than to try writing one post at a time.Ari Meisel, author and entrepreneur, batches his activities and alternates his environments to match the work hes doing. On days he is recording podcasts, he goes to a senderaum and records about 5 podcast episodes in a single session.On other days, he spends his whole day in meetings or on calls. He does this work at his friends apartment because its a much more engaging environment.He also does a lot of writing, and does that at the SOHO HOUSE in New York City, because its a quiet environment with poor internet connection. The lack of connection stops him from surfing the web and even using his phone, because he has bad reception.13. Define wealth and success for yourselfSuccess and wealth are not all about money.There are a lot of people who have money and have little capital in the other key areas of their lives.Money, obviously, is very important. It solves a lot of problems. Its speeds processes.But money is a tool. Its a means to an end. For those engaging in work they truly believe in, money is simply a tool for doing more work.14. Know and operate from your deepest whyWhat is your WHY for what youre doing or pursuing?How could you possibly know your why?More importantly, how could you know your REAL WHY?Its actually quite simple.But it takes some radical honestly.Theres an exercise Ill walk you through to get to your WHY. And more importantly, once you know your deepest WHY for what youre doing, you should operate FROM THAT STATE, not from your lower and base-level reasons.When trying to understand why you do something, its better to ask What questions then Why questions, because Why questions tend to put people on the defensive.Heres a solid question y ou could ask yourself to understand your WHY.What about ______________ is important to you?Lets say you want to start a business, or get a new cellphone, or go to the gym It could be big or small.But put that thing in there.What about going to the gym is important to you?Then, you just write the first thing that comes to your mind because I like feeling good.Then you take your answer, and put it in the same question What about ______________ is important to you?So, given the previous answer What about feeling good is important to you?A simple way to structure this exercise is shown in the images just below. So, you want to try to go 7-layers deep. Once you get to layers 5, 6, and 7, youre going to have to be really honest with yourself.Usually, you can answer layers 14 with your head. However, if youre being really honest with yourself, and I mean REALLY HONEST, youll need to come from your heart to answer layers 57.Its at the deepest levels that youll discover your TRUE WHY for wha t youre doing. Even if that something is as simple as getting a new cellphone or going to the gym.But you want to remind yourself of your DEEPEST WHY when youre doing something. And you want to operate from THAT LEVEL, because at your deepest level, youll be operating from your heart, not your head. Thus, your performance will be much deeper, more authentic, and powerful.The stakes will be higher.Suddenly, youre not just going to the gym to feel good, but because you have a higher calling to perform and need to be as healthy as possible to make it happen (or whatever your deepest WHY is).Your DEEPEST why will almost always expose something very personal about you, and about your fundamental beliefs about life.You want to be aware of these things, and how/why they drive you to do what youre doing.If you truly go through this exercise in a genuine way, you should get some mental and emotional breakthroughs.You should discover something about yourself, and why you are the way you are, and why youre pursuing the specific things you are.Know your why.Then act from the DEEPEST and most powerful WHY you have.Youll be far more brilliant at what you do.15. Have a firm stand, it becomes your brandIn order to be successful, you must believe in something.You must have a stand.All successful people and brands have a clear WHY. As Simon Sinek explains in his book, Start With Why, people dont buy what you sell, they buy why you sell it.Apple is a great example. In all of their marketing, they dont explain the technicalities of their products, they define and share their core values. They believe technology should be both easy to use and cool.If you want to be compelling and interesting, you must truly believe in something. You must have a clear stand. That stand becomes your brand. It becomes your trademark. It becomes how you distinguish yourself from others.When you have a clear stand and brand, you stand out. You are no longer neutral. You believe in something, and are fi ghting to make a specific change.As a result, people will either love you or hate you. Thats what you want. Lukewarm means you have nothing to say. Lukewarm means youre trying to appeal to everyone.The riches are in the niches. Your niche is your audience. They are a small group of people who agree with the stand youre trying to make. They are your evangelists.If you try to appeal to everyone, your message, marketing, and products will be terrible. You wont be clear on your why, and neither will anyone else. Thus, youll be average like everyone else and your work wont stand out.Only people with firm stands get really really good at marketing. They care enough about their message to get it out there. They realize that the HOW is just as important as the WHAT and WHY.ConclusionAre you doing these 15 things?How aggressively are you doing them?Do you want to become a multi-millionaire?Are you ready to think and act bigger?Youve got this.Thisarticleoriginally appeared on Medium.