Job Board Fast Thoughts Month 2 (should you continue to fast)

Job Board Fast Thoughts Month 2 (should you continue to fast) This has inspired others to call for the same fast, or a job board detox check this out: Job Board Detox Challenge [VIDEO] In July I suggested you take a fast, or a break, from job boards, because supposely they are inneffective. One other company loved the idea and they will propose a job board fast in August, and even give you daily things to do instead of spending time on job boards.  When I see those posts Ill share the link with you. One of the problems with a fast is that job boards can be good sources of leads.  Heres a question Patrick posted on my original post calling for a FAST from job boards: I think this is a great ideascary, but a great idea. I myself have been drowning in job boards for months with no success whatsoever. My questions though are where am I supposed to find positions that interest me? And why are companies even posting on job boards if they clearly pay no attention to the respondents? I admit I did feel like a complete fast might have been going overboard, however, it was only 30 days, and not having job boards is not the end of the world.  Also, I thought that people would be too tempted, if they did find a good lead, to apply online and thats what I really wanted the fast to be about.  Let me take Patricks questions one at a time: Where am I supposed to find positions that interest me? Job boards are excellent for this.  You can learn a lot from job postings, including whats happening in an industry, or a company, or a division within a company. However, you can learn that stuff from other places.  If you focused solely on Information Interviews during the month, you might get a lot more information about positions, company news, industry trends, and more, than you could get by connecting the dots from job postings. Aside from Informational Interviews, get that information from networking groups. Whether you are networking with other unemployed people (a GREAT source of information!) or employed people, going to networking groups should be a significant part of your strategy. And of course, dont discount tools like Google, LinkedIn, Spoke, news websites, social tools (Facebook), etc. to get this type of information. Did I mention Informational Interviews?  Yes, I did, and Ill do it again.  Informational Interviews! Why are companies even posting on job boards if they clearly pay no attention to the respondents? I dont know because its easy?  Because they are lazy?  Because if their boss asks them how they are finding new candidates, saying they are posting online is low-hanging fruit? It has been a part of how companies look for talent for so long, I think they will continue to do it, and job boards will continue to be a multi-billion dollar industry.  And, it does work companies find talent through postings, and talent (you) can find openings through job boards. It does, and can work. But according to surveys, it is not even close to effective. Im guessing the higher position you are looking for, the less likely youll find it posted online. The reason for the job board fast, especially for my readers (who tend to be more professional, executive, sophisticated, and ready to do something different to get better results), is to focus on more high value, high return activities, rather than pushing the ineffective easy button all day long, and getting more and more discouraged. Job Board Fast Thoughts Month 2 (should you continue to fast) This has inspired others to call for the same fast, or a job board detox check this out: Job Board Detox Challenge [VIDEO] In July I suggested you take a fast, or a break, from job boards, because supposely they are inneffective. One other company loved the idea and they will propose a job board fast in August, and even give you daily things to do instead of spending time on job boards.  When I see those posts Ill share the link with you. One of the problems with a fast is that job boards can be good sources of leads.  Heres a question Patrick posted on my original post calling for a FAST from job boards: I think this is a great ideascary, but a great idea. I myself have been drowning in job boards for months with no success whatsoever. My questions though are where am I supposed to find positions that interest me? And why are companies even posting on job boards if they clearly pay no attention to the respondents? I admit I did feel like a complete fast might have been going overboard, however, it was only 30 days, and not having job boards is not the end of the world.  Also, I thought that people would be too tempted, if they did find a good lead, to apply online and thats what I really wanted the fast to be about.  Let me take Patricks questions one at a time: Where am I supposed to find positions that interest me? Job boards are excellent for this.  You can learn a lot from job postings, including whats happening in an industry, or a company, or a division within a company. However, you can learn that stuff from other places.  If you focused solely on Information Interviews during the month, you might get a lot more information about positions, company news, industry trends, and more, than you could get by connecting the dots from job postings. Aside from Informational Interviews, get that information from networking groups. Whether you are networking with other unemployed people (a GREAT source of information!) or employed people, going to networking groups should be a significant part of your strategy. And of course, dont discount tools like Google, LinkedIn, Spoke, news websites, social tools (Facebook), etc. to get this type of information. Did I mention Informational Interviews?  Yes, I did, and Ill do it again.  Informational Interviews! Why are companies even posting on job boards if they clearly pay no attention to the respondents? I dont know because its easy?  Because they are lazy?  Because if their boss asks them how they are finding new candidates, saying they are posting online is low-hanging fruit? It has been a part of how companies look for talent for so long, I think they will continue to do it, and job boards will continue to be a multi-billion dollar industry.  And, it does work companies find talent through postings, and talent (you) can find openings through job boards. It does, and can work. But according to surveys, it is not even close to effective. Im guessing the higher position you are looking for, the less likely youll find it posted online. The reason for the job board fast, especially for my readers (who tend to be more professional, executive, sophisticated, and ready to do something different to get better results), is to focus on more high value, high return activities, rather than pushing the ineffective easy button all day long, and getting more and more discouraged. Job Board Fast Thoughts Month 2 (should you continue to fast) This has inspired others to call for the same fast, or a job board detox check this out: Job Board Detox Challenge [VIDEO] In July I suggested you take a fast, or a break, from job boards, because supposely they are inneffective. One other company loved the idea and they will propose a job board fast in August, and even give you daily things to do instead of spending time on job boards.  When I see those posts Ill share the link with you. One of the problems with a fast is that job boards can be good sources of leads.  Heres a question Patrick posted on my original post calling for a FAST from job boards: I think this is a great ideascary, but a great idea. I myself have been drowning in job boards for months with no success whatsoever. My questions though are where am I supposed to find positions that interest me? And why are companies even posting on job boards if they clearly pay no attention to the respondents? I admit I did feel like a complete fast might have been going overboard, however, it was only 30 days, and not having job boards is not the end of the world.  Also, I thought that people would be too tempted, if they did find a good lead, to apply online and thats what I really wanted the fast to be about.  Let me take Patricks questions one at a time: Where am I supposed to find positions that interest me? Job boards are excellent for this.  You can learn a lot from job postings, including whats happening in an industry, or a company, or a division within a company. However, you can learn that stuff from other places.  If you focused solely on Information Interviews during the month, you might get a lot more information about positions, company news, industry trends, and more, than you could get by connecting the dots from job postings. Aside from Informational Interviews, get that information from networking groups. Whether you are networking with other unemployed people (a GREAT source of information!) or employed people, going to networking groups should be a significant part of your strategy. And of course, dont discount tools like Google, LinkedIn, Spoke, news websites, social tools (Facebook), etc. to get this type of information. Did I mention Informational Interviews?  Yes, I did, and Ill do it again.  Informational Interviews! Why are companies even posting on job boards if they clearly pay no attention to the respondents? I dont know because its easy?  Because they are lazy?  Because if their boss asks them how they are finding new candidates, saying they are posting online is low-hanging fruit? It has been a part of how companies look for talent for so long, I think they will continue to do it, and job boards will continue to be a multi-billion dollar industry.  And, it does work companies find talent through postings, and talent (you) can find openings through job boards. It does, and can work. But according to surveys, it is not even close to effective. Im guessing the higher position you are looking for, the less likely youll find it posted online. The reason for the job board fast, especially for my readers (who tend to be more professional, executive, sophisticated, and ready to do something different to get better results), is to focus on more high value, high return activities, rather than pushing the ineffective easy button all day long, and getting more and more discouraged. Job Board Fast Thoughts Month 2 (should you continue to fast) This has inspired others to call for the same fast, or a job board detox check this out: Job Board Detox Challenge [VIDEO] In July I suggested you take a fast, or a break, from job boards, because supposely they are inneffective. One other company loved the idea and they will propose a job board fast in August, and even give you daily things to do instead of spending time on job boards.  When I see those posts Ill share the link with you. One of the problems with a fast is that job boards can be good sources of leads.  Heres a question Patrick posted on my original post calling for a FAST from job boards: I think this is a great ideascary, but a great idea. I myself have been drowning in job boards for months with no success whatsoever. My questions though are where am I supposed to find positions that interest me? And why are companies even posting on job boards if they clearly pay no attention to the respondents? I admit I did feel like a complete fast might have been going overboard, however, it was only 30 days, and not having job boards is not the end of the world.  Also, I thought that people would be too tempted, if they did find a good lead, to apply online and thats what I really wanted the fast to be about.  Let me take Patricks questions one at a time: Where am I supposed to find positions that interest me? Job boards are excellent for this.  You can learn a lot from job postings, including whats happening in an industry, or a company, or a division within a company. However, you can learn that stuff from other places.  If you focused solely on Information Interviews during the month, you might get a lot more information about positions, company news, industry trends, and more, than you could get by connecting the dots from job postings. Aside from Informational Interviews, get that information from networking groups. Whether you are networking with other unemployed people (a GREAT source of information!) or employed people, going to networking groups should be a significant part of your strategy. And of course, dont discount tools like Google, LinkedIn, Spoke, news websites, social tools (Facebook), etc. to get this type of information. Did I mention Informational Interviews?  Yes, I did, and Ill do it again.  Informational Interviews! Why are companies even posting on job boards if they clearly pay no attention to the respondents? I dont know because its easy?  Because they are lazy?  Because if their boss asks them how they are finding new candidates, saying they are posting online is low-hanging fruit? It has been a part of how companies look for talent for so long, I think they will continue to do it, and job boards will continue to be a multi-billion dollar industry.  And, it does work companies find talent through postings, and talent (you) can find openings through job boards. It does, and can work. But according to surveys, it is not even close to effective. Im guessing the higher position you are looking for, the less likely youll find it posted online. The reason for the job board fast, especially for my readers (who tend to be more professional, executive, sophisticated, and ready to do something different to get better results), is to focus on more high value, high return activities, rather than pushing the ineffective easy button all day long, and getting more and more discouraged.

Resume Writing Tip Tips For a Better Job

Resume Writing Tip Tips For a Better Job'What is the best resume writing tip?' You ask.These tips can help you write your resume more quickly and easily and as a result be more efficient. They are simple yet effective.Always choose a writing style that makes you look more professional and presentable. Do not worry about how to format your resume if you do not know how to write one. The important thing is that it looks clean and professional, and that is what is most important. Choose a font that is easy to read.Learn from other people's mistakes. Find someone who has already written a resume, and ask for tips on how to write yours.Do not write anything until you have fully understood it. Your understanding of the information should be based on the advice of experts. You should go into it only after you have chosen a format and researched the best resume writing tip tips.Keep in mind that what you write should be professional and fresh. Do not use outdated information, to get a better job. Such techniques will only make you look out of date and desperate.One of the most important resume writing tip tips is to review your personal information before writing it. Determine what information is vital, and make sure it is accurate. Make sure that your personal history includes all necessary information. This will increase your chances of getting the job.To have a great career, find a good resume writing tip, and write one yourself. This can help you set your resume apart from others and get you the job of your dreams.

How Can You Start A Business Without Destroying Your Marriage

How Can You Start A Business Without Destroying Your Marriage Starting a business is exciting. It brings with it the possibility of greater financial independence, fulfilling work, and even location independent income. However, there’s no doubt that starting a business is challenging. From securing funding to taxes to marketing to employing other people, there’s enough to think about. Your business can leave you with almost no free time. This can have knock on effects on your marriage. The long hours, stress and financial instability of starting a business can cause fights, tension, and even a breakdown in your marriage. However, don’t lose heart, and don’t give up your dream of starting a business. It is possible to be a successful entrepreneur while being in a happy marriage too. Try these tips to start a business without destroying your marriage. Talk To Your Partner Although the decision to go into business is ultimately yours, it does affect your partner as well, so taking time to talk about it is vital. Whether you’re about to start a business, or are already working for yourself, sit down and talk things out with your partner. Tell them about your motivations, your hopes and dreams, and your eventual goals. Let them know about the resources you need and the challenges you’re facing. If possible, show them how a successful business will benefit your whole family. Give them time and space to talk about their concerns and ask you questions. Listen to their input â€" they might have some good ideas. Keep Office Hours When you run your own business, it’s tempting to bring work home with you. This is even more of an issue if your business is home-based. Starting a business is hard work, so it’s understandable that you want to spend as much time as possible working on it. Unfortunately this can also leave your partner feeling ignored. Feeling like an afterthought is enough to leave anyone upset and can have a detrimental effect on your marriage. One way to prevent your partner feeling this way is to keep regular office hours. Decide on hours that work best for you. A traditional 9 â€" 5 with weekends off is a good place to start. You can add a couple of hours on weekdays if you need extra time. Just make sure that when you switch off for the night or weekend, you really switch off. Make Time For Quality Time A business takes up a lot of time, especially at first. That’s why setting aside quality time together matters. If the only attention your partner gets is interrupted by checking your email or taking business calls, your marriage will suffer. Make regular time to just be with your partner, with no interruptions. That means taking a little time together every day, even if it’s just 20 minutes in the evening. It’s also a good idea to set aside a regular weekly date time, perhaps a Friday night or Sunday afternoon, and stick to it. Value What You Each Bring To The Table A new business has a way of taking up a lot of mental space. That’s natural â€" your business is more likely to succeed if you approach it with passion and drive. Be wary though. Enthusiasm can quickly spill over into making your business the center of your life, and making your partner feel like your shared life revolves around your business. Whether your spouse is currently working or not, take the time to value what they bring to the table. Whether they’re keeping a roof over your head, looking after the kids, taking charge of shopping or cooking, or giving you emotional support, acknowledge it. Set Boundaries Around Your Time Keeping your marriage healthy while you run a business isn’t just about your partner â€" it’s very much about give and take. That means setting boundaries around your time and making sure you have the time you need to dedicate to your venture. If you work for yourself, especially if you work from home, well-meaning people often assume that means your time is flexible. If your partner expects you to always pick up the kids, do the laundry or grab the groceries because you work at home or can be flexible, you’ll soon get frustrated. Stop arguments before they start by setting boundaries around your time. Be clear with your partner when you are free to do chores or run errands â€" and when you are not. Maintain Your Life Outside Of Business Business will take over a lot of your life at the start. That’s part of the process and it would be unrealistic to expect everything to stay the same. However, it will help your marriage stay strong if you still have a life and a relationship outside of your business. That means making time for each other, and having conversations that don’t revolve around business. Watch your favorite shows together, keep up with friends, or enjoy shared hobbies. Your new business is an important part of your life, but so is your marriage, so make sure that gets some care and attention too. Running a business is exciting. You’ll grow as a person, learn new skills, and gain new confidence in your field. You can have all that and still have a happy, healthy marriage. It’s all about finding a balance and being honest with your partner, so that your business becomes part of your shared life, not an obstacle for it.

Ready, Fire, Aim May not Optimize Outcomes - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Ready, Fire, Aim… May not Optimize Outcomes - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career What would you do if your doctor told you that your appendix needs to come out. Without ever seeing you or talking to you. You’d probably think they are nuts and you’d seek a second opinion, right? We WANT our doctors to Diagnose then Prescribe. The same is true in business and in life. As we develop in  our careers we want to be known for making good decisions. Which means making  informed decisions. Decisions that we can stand behind and people can trust our instincts to know we have carefully considered the options. We don’t want to be known for getting ready… then firing … then aiming. So, how do we make informed decisions? First we seek to get Ready. We need to understand the situation and the implications of the  decision that needs to be made. Which may also include not making a decision or delegating a decision. Knowing when a decision needs to be made and who needs to make it is a skill that needs to be developed. Then we need to take Aim. There are a few ways to make informed decisions that I like to use to help insure we are aiming in the right direction: Stack Ranking, Lenses and SBO. Stack Ranking This is a tried and true method that has been around for a long time. It can be as simple as putting all the options on piece of paper or whiteboard and assigning an A-B-C classification to them. Or it can be more inclusive for specific timelines, deliverables and task owners. Lenses Everyone sees the world through their own eyes and their own lenses. Your peer advisory groups are your lenses. Seek them out to think through and help evaluate your thought processes and to do What-If scenarios.  They are your sanity checks and your alternate Point of View (POV). In a sense they are your  Second Opinion. SBO Where SBO means Step Back Optimism. This is something I made up a few years ago when I was facing some tough decisions. I was trying to think of  an optimistic way to evaluate the options. I came up with the idea to take a step back… to take myself out of the situation… at least  mentally. Then to evaluate the options from an optimistic POV.  I was able to use SBO to sanity check myself and it worked. I offer it as a tool for you to make more informed decisions. Finally we need to make the decision. We need to push the button or pull the trigger to Fire. What about on the spot decisions that MUST be made? The steps are still the same. Gather as much evidence as you can and seek to make an informed (not emotional) decision. Diagnose then Prescribe Decision making is a skill and an art. Ask Questions. Consider Options. Consult your Peer Advisory Groups.  Then pick a target, make Ready, Aim, then  Fire. The goal is to help you make better decisions. So that you can stand out in your career.

Resume Examples - Making a Resume That Works

Resume Examples - Making a Resume That WorksWhen it comes to preparing your high school resume, there are many different methods you can use. Some resume examples focus on being in the exact word count of a standard resume; others are keyword-rich. You can even choose from the many different resume examples available online.Of course, when deciding which high school resume examples to use, you'll want to consider your own situation. If you already have a high school diploma or are working towards getting one, then you know what kind of information will be important. However, if you are still in high school and need to get your resume in order, then you'll need to know what needs to be included and how to best present it. You'll also need to know what kinds of resume examples will work for you.In this article, we'll discuss some of the more common resume examples - ones that are often recommended by professional resume examples. As always, if you're unsure about what kind of resume to use, or what you should include, contact a professional resume writer. Don't worry, they are not difficult to find - they are typically located online and are well worth the investment. Don't be afraid to ask for help! High school students need to learn the basics of writing a resume and they may not be comfortable doing so by themselves.One easy example is the common practice of including your full name at the top of the resume. It's good to have this information on hand, as employers can look up your data if necessary. On top of your name, include your entire high school diploma number. Your file may come with other details, such as your class year, grades, test scores, or other documents that you may want to include.You'll also want to consider putting your high school diploma on the top of the page. This is a simple way to help improve your chances of getting called for an interview. A cursory glance will show that most employers like to see their resumes as a whole, with all o f the information listed. This will give them a better chance of finding and interviewing you if you don't know how to write your resume.You may notice that many of the most common resume examples emphasize the number of letters and numbers used in your high school transcript. In fact, many high school students believe that the number of letters is more important than the letter grades themselves. As a result, they write their resumes using only the letter grades. While it is important to include these letter grades, it is best to focus on the overall grade you earned, rather than the letters pertain to each grade.English composition is another format that is commonly used. The application usually asks you to summarize some form of your high school writings. In this case, it would be wise to include examples of how your English composition compares to what you have written in other classes.There are many more examples of high school resume examples on the internet. Browse through th em, and don't be afraid to ask questions. In fact, you may be surprised to find out that there are some high school students who actually do it for a living!

Why you should use Twitter to keep up with academic research - Debut

Why you should use Twitter to keep up with academic research - Debut This post was written by an external contributor.  Freya Marshall Payne relays why Twitter can be a great tool for keeping up with academia.   Why would you care about the latest academic research, especially if you’re a student who doesn’t plan on becoming an academic or if you’ve already embarked on another career? Because academic research isn’t something far removed from the real world. It will overlap with your work and your personal interests, sometimes more directly and sometimes less so. At the end of the day, research is about asking questions and producing new knowledge. Youre constantly developing and challenging the ideas you’re working with all of the time. For example, if you’re in publishing it’s useful to stay on top of new perspectives and changing trends within literary criticism. Even if your career doesn’t have involved academia, therell be things that will help your professional development. For instance, I recently delivered a paper at a conference on fascism, psychoanalysis and surrealism. Surprisingly, the audience wasnt just made up of academics. I met a police social worker who felt that understanding the roots of fascism would help them in their work as well as satisfying their curiosity. In short, keeping up with academia can spark innovative ideas for you and allow for knowledge-exchange and networking between industries. So, how can Twitter help me? Taking part in academia if you aren’t an academic has traditionally been tough: beyond the specialist language, pay walls making accessing journal articles harder, conferences usually having a registration fee and academic books costing a small fortune. Enter Twitter. This social media platform really makes academic ideas accessible because it lends itself so well to interaction and conversation. In fact, academics really seem to love Twitter. It’s a quick way to keep an eye on what’s going on in a field and join in discussions! #AcademicTwitter has a whole host of great hashtags you can use to take part in day-to-day discussion or even follow along with far-away conferences. I’m a massive history nerd and recently missed a conference I wanted to go to. However, by keeping an eye on the Twitter hashtag I felt like I definitely got the gist of it, joined in a few virtual discussions and even found some days later that videos of some papers had been uploaded. You can follow relevant people and keep up with their research, publications, blogs and thoughts. Theres also some bonus content on there, like TV reccomendations or cute snaps of their dogs. People tend to be incredibly helpful and kind, especially when you have an interest, but don’t have institutional accesses for journals etc. I’ve had very kind people send me PDF’s of articles and even their own reading lists! It really is a great environment to ask for help, advice and ideas. How do I make this happen? Here are some of my top tips for anyone looking to make the most of academic Twitter: Great hashtags to follow and use are: #AcademicTwitter, #AcademicChatter  and #AcWri #PhDchat and #ECRchat is where you’ll find tweets mostly from people starting out their careers in academia, and these hashtags are also lovely places to find advice and join in exciting conversations One of terms you’ll be looking for is “open access” content, which you can read without an institutional log-in. Hashtags include #OpenAccess, #OA, #OpenKnowledge and #OpenScience Follow journals like History Workshop Journal (@HistoryWO). They really care about accessible and “open access” academia, and you’ll find it’s not just for #Twitterstorians: there are plenty of topical articles using history to shed light on today. Read this piece on family historians for a feel of what this journal does. It’s basically just really cool Look out for blogs coming out of universities â€" like the London School of Economics’ LSE impact blog  (@LSEImpactBlog) which specifically wants to make academic research into policy, society and business relevant to the wider world. A recent great example was this blog on what the #TenYearChallenge teaches us about public perception of data Connect with Debut on  Facebook,  Twitter,  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

Do you go with the flow - Hire Imaging

Do you go with the flow - Hire Imaging Honestly, is it that hard to relax, shift gears and roll with the punches? Umm. Yeah; sometimes it is. And a job search or career issue can yield quite a few blows. Sometimes you feel down for the count. If you’re feeling rigid against life’s hits, here are some ways to loosen up and move with grace when you’re not in your comfort zone. Why is it so hard? I’m not sure about you, but I take great comfort in familiarity; so do many of my clients, according to what they tell me. This can be good. Routines and thinking in habitual ways saves time and energy; and is often efficient. But we sometimes get caught in what one expert in psychological flexibility calls “psychological stuckness.” And that’s not good, because it can stop you from moving forward in other, more productive or impactful ways. My client Jean had trouble getting unstuck when it came to embracing social media. In today’s world, this doesn’t serve the job seeker well. Mark almost turned down an offer (which was by the way, a perfect fit) because it was 25 miles farther than he had on his “wish list” for target companies. Loosen your hold Sometimes inflexibility stems from the fear of failing, being hurt or not being in control. The latter was very familiar to my client Julianna, a 40ish project manager and married mom of two. “I’m a Type-A-Perfectionist,” she told me. “I admit that sometimes I won’t do something because it might not be perfect.” Julianna’s epiphany came this winter when friends asked her to go cross-country skiing. She strongly resisted, thinking she’d fall, be cold and be bored out in the winter woods. Her friends didn’t let her off the hook. “Jul, it’s an hour or so of your life, for heaven’s sake!” So, she went. And had a great time! She said she hadn’t laughed that hard in a long time. She also felt great about the exercise benefits. “That ah-hah moment made me realize that flexibility is important,” Julianna told me. “I try to work it into other parts of my life. And when my husband, Patrick recently lost his job, my new attitude made a big difference in how I r esponded and supported him.” Julianna had connected flexibility to being much about acceptance. Release it I’ve heard story after story from clients where their inflexibility â€" or someone else’s â€" caused problems in getting things done or moving forward. What I found most interesting, was that it also did a number on the unbendable individual’s self-esteem. One of my long-time clients, Sherri, was sent reeling recently. A nose-to-the-grindstone woman who had worked hard to get to a Senior Vice President role she loved. She had done “all the right stuff” â€" or so she thought. Got an MBA and other credentials. Worked long hours. Volunteered for extra committees. Hired a nanny to help with her two children. So, when she lost her job, victim to a major acquisition and restructuring, she was angry. Then, she allowed herself to let go. There were no bad guys here. She did nothing wrong. “They took over and didn’t need all of us. It really was just business.” In fact, Sherri gained major traction in letting go. “Now, when things aren’t going the way I hoped they would, I don’t stress like I used to. I go to a quiet place and meditate. Or at least breathe deeply, close my eyes, and give it up.” Sherri decided to try real estate. And ironically, her new attitude enhanced her job security with the new employer. They remarked that they liked her flexibility. They had noticed she handled uncertainty well. And that was a good thing. She soon learned why. “You had better be flexible in real estate, or find another job,” she told me. “A client may or may not show up. Interest rates fluctuate. You have no control. I plan my day in pencil with several erasers by my side,” she joked.   I thought it very cool that she transferred this new found talent for letting go, to helping her clients. “I tell them that when we sign the contract, we can do a little happy dance. We save the big dance for after the closing!” Try to stretch I believe that although we probably can’t force our personalities to change overnight, we can train ourselves to be more accepting and accommodating. If you want to loosen up, one of the best ways is to put yourself in a situation where you have to be flexible.   Back to that psychological stuckness. A new challenge, though painful to take on, can help unlock your mental flexibility. Have you noticed that those people who are generally very rigid, have body language to match? Tensed up. Breathing shallow. Short choppy movements when under stress. One of the exercises I find helpful to clients is to help change their perspective about something by imagining themselves to be someone they think is physically flexible. Top picks have been Madonna and Derek Hough, the dance pro on Dancing with the Stars. I ask them to show me how that person walks and what gestures they use. Then I’ll ask them, “How would that person deal with the ___ issue that is challenging you?” Clients often laugh at this point. But they loosen up! The act of forcing themselves to physically act as a different person helps them reframe their problems and come up with new solutions. Yes, balance Being more open-minded and flexible is not synonymous with ignoring your values or morals; it’s not being a pushover. But it does mean training yourself to engage with life as it comes. Living in the moment rather than focusing on wishful do-overs of the past or fear of the future. The good news is, that anyone can learn this at any age. My husband and I recently moved from the north woods to the metro area. I was honestly terrified of driving here. Always someone on my tail or aggressively weaving in and out. Streets seemed like mazes. After just three weeks of putting myself out there, it’s a piece of cake. I’m in the hood. I get it. The ability to change is just another muscle. One that needs regular exercise! Photo: jemasmith

Why Executives Earn Every Penny Theyre Paid

Why Executives Earn Every Penny Theyre Paid Why Executives Earn Every Penny Theyre Paid It’s pretty easy to sit back in your cubicle and envy the executives in your office. From your point of view, it looks as if they get paid the big bucks without really doing much work! The truth, however, is that executives actually earn every penny they are paid. What Does the Average Executive Make? That’s a question many people ponder. How much does the average executive in a company make a year? That’s a bit of a tricky question to actually answer. Most executives get a base compensation salary, but then they also get bonuses, stock options, and other perks that equal their overall pay. At the biggest companies in the country, executive pay means big bucks. Take Stephen Schwarzman of Blackstone for example. The company’s CEO made $702,440,573 in 2008. But that wasn’t all in base compensation. About $700 million of the $702 million was from stock options earned after Schwarzman took the company public the year before. Let’s look at another example. Michael Jeffries, the chief executive at Abercrombie Fitch, made more than $60 million in stock options alone in 2008. In addition, he was given a bonus of $6 million an enticement to remain as the company’s chairman and CEO. Add in his $1.5 million salary, $1.3 in personal airplane usage, and $382,687 for his 401(k) and Mr. Jeffries came out pretty sweet for the year. How to Become an Executive It’s clear that executives get the big paychecks. So how do you go from your corner cubicle to the office with a view? Here are some tips to help you rise to the top. ?           Define your career. If you want to become an executive, you have to know what you want to be when you grow up. This takes some serious time and attention to your career. Decide where you want to focus your efforts and then work hard to build a career. ?           Don’t worry about making friends. Of course, you don’t want to make enemies, but you can’t worry about the people who don’t like you. It’s more important to be respected than liked, so make sure you are being true and trustworthy and the friends will follow. ?           Become a great team player. When you play on a team, you don’t always have to be the starting player. You’ll want to be on a team where you are the star in one area. The key to success in a team environment is to surround yourself with good people. Smart people around you will help you get to the top faster. ?           Be yourself. You need to be yourself at all times. There’s no need to develop a work personality different from your home personality. You are who you are and you need to be true to that. It’s easier to get people to follow you if they know you are who you say you are at all times. Becoming a powerful executive is hard work, but well worth it. After all, a $700 million paycheck would surely make up for years of dedication and hard work. ++++ Todays post was a guest post from Cathy Pierce. Thanks, Cathy!