Why You Shouldnt Overdo it at The Holiday Party - The Muse

Why You Shouldnt Overdo it at The Holiday Party - The MuseWhy You Shouldnt Overdo it at The Holiday Party Its all anyone can talk about these days the impending company holiday festivitt. Conversations abound and run the gamut what the dress code is, how long the open bar will last, wholl go out afterward, whether so-and-so will bring a date, and- of course- who will get stupid-drunk. This, as you probably already know, is a label you want to avoid. But its still all too common to look at your companys annual office party as an opportunity to get welchested. Yes, a holiday party is supposed to be fun. Its a much-deserved opportunity to kick back and relax with the people you work hard with every day. Its a thank-you from your bosses, and the very nature of it spells good time for all. But its also a chance to connect with the people who have taken over your inbox and spend some non-work time with the higher-ups- something thatll be pretty hard to do if youre plastered.Last year, at m y companys holiday party, I came dangerously close to drinking too much punch and waking up the next morning not only with a pounding headache, but an awful pit in my stomach, wondering what inappropriate things I might have said- and to whom. Fortunately, before it was too late, I put the punch down and alternated it with cups of seltzer, pacing myself for the hours of celebrating ahead. And Im happy to say that I did the party right. So, take it from me Before you don your most festive attire and start lining up shots at the bar, think about five opportunities you can kiss goodbye if you have one too many.1. Escaping the Reputation of Being That Guy or GirlYou knew this was coming- so might as well get it out of the way first. Nobody wants to be known as the drunk idiot who couldnt hold his or her liquor. Sure, your over-tequilaed brain might think that getting up on the bar and inviting your co-workers to do shots off of your bare stomach makes you the life of the party, but real ly, its a move that will label you the drunkest one of all. Dont be that person. If its got to be someone, its in your best interest to let another member of the team take it on.2. Getting to Know the Higher-upsDepending on the size of your company, you may or may not get an opportunity to get a one-on-one with a member of the senior management team, but that doesnt mean you shouldnt make an effort to finagle your way into a group conversation at least. When you do manage to insert yourself into a circle of higher-ups (and youre not a complete mess), youll be at an advantage to introduce (or re-introduce) yourself, give your spiel about what you do (and how awesome you are), and then change the topic to something non-work related in an effort to make a real connection.3. Making New Work FriendsThe company holiday party is a terrific way to get to know co-workers you mostly make small talk with day in and day out. Even if youre a regular at the monthly happy hours, theres a good chan ce that far more of your colleagues will be in attendance at the holiday party. And hey, you could end up with a new friend by nights end, or even a mentor. Having a trusted confidant is huge and can make the daily grind that much more bearable. (Oh, but, a word of caution here Getting trashed and, consequently, too cozy with your co-workers may make you look creepy and probably wont result in the kind of bonding you were seeking.)4. Having FunYouve been there, Ive been there Get too drunk, and youre no longer having a good time. Youre just a sloppy mess who cant stand up straight and has a spinning head and an inevitable feeling of dread to look forward to in the morning. And, OK, even if in your drunken state of euphoria you believed you (and everyone around you) was having a blast, remember you were probably just fodder for gossip about that drunk guy/girl over there. Worse though is the next morning when you have no memory of what happened the night before. How much fun is that? 5. Letting People Get to Know Your Best SelfYour co-workers know you give a mean presentation. Your group speaking skills are enviable around the office, and your GIFs on company-wide emails are the best. Maybe a handful even know how you like your coffee or that you keep a little jar of sea salt on your desk. But most of what they see of you is work-related. The company holiday party is your chance to show off your best you- and for you to get to know their best them. How will you ever know if you and Jocelyn from the creative department both share a love of snowboarding if youre deckenfries vomiting in the bathroom? Consider the party as a way to not only show off your fun-loving self outside the boardroom, but also as a way to see your colleagues in the same, unfamiliar light. In the long run, it could actually make you like your job more.Obviously, you should enjoy yourself and kick back with a cocktail or two. But, know your limits, and remember the importance of pacing when it s an open-bar situation. Yes, theres a lot of bad stuff that can happen if you overdo it, but theres also all that good stuff youll never know if youre out of control.

Microsoft .NET Framework Best Practices

Microsoft .NET Framework Best PracticesMicrosoft .NET Framework Best PracticesThere are countless ways for developing applications using the Microsoft .NET framework. Here are four best practices cherry-picked by a developer with many years of experience creating applications built on .NET.With a flexible development platform like the Microsoft .NET framework, there are a few key areas where youll want to apply best practices. I tapped Rion Williams, a longtime .NET developer, to help explain these areas. They includeCoding practices and conventionsDesign and architecturePerformanceSecurity1. Coding Practices and ConventionsFollowing best practices when writing code in the Microsoft .NET framework allows you to create consistency and facilitate refactoring and maintenance. You also can avoid errors and exceptions.Consider naming conventions. They may not affect performance, but they can often directly affect the readability of your code. Using variables with meaningful names can help you infer what is going on.For examplevar carsPassed = 0is a clearer thanvar c = 0Every developer working with the Microsoft .NET framework has his or her own conventions. But there are some commonly accepted standards around naming, code layout, appearance and the like. The following resources can clue you in to these standardsTop 7 Coding Standards and Guideline Documents for C/.NET DevelopersC Coding Standards for .NET (PDF)Microsoft All-In-One .NET Code Framework2. Design and ArchitectureThe biggest reason to incorporate best practices in the konzept and architecture of apps you create in the Microsoft .NET framework is to avoid errors and costly rewrites.There are hundreds of patterns out there to help govern the design of your application. Youve probably heard of design patterns with names like MVC, Gang of Four, MVVM, Repository, Unit-of-Work and Singleton, for example. All of these are widely used and each serves a different purpose. They can be used on their own or in conj unction with other patterns if your application calls for it.Another common concept within the Microsoft .NET framework is N-Tier, or N-Layer, design. The most common of these for smaller applications is three-tier architecture. If youre using a three-tier architecture for the first time or want to brush up, check out these resourcesThree-Tier Web Application DevelopmentA Simple 3-Tier Layers Application in ASP.NETMVC N-Tier EMR SampleAn N-Tier Architecture Sample With ASP.NET MVC3, WCF and Entity FrameworkThe following additional resources can help you delve even deeper into different Microsoft .NET framework design and architecture patterns.NET Design PatternsDiscover the Design Patterns Youre Already Using in the .NET FrameworkASP.NET Patterns Every Developer Should KnowMicrosofts Patterns and Practices Site3. PerformanceLooking for some instant gratification? Pay close attention to Rions suggestions for improving performance.One of the best ways to identify possible areas of imp rovement is to use an analyzer to take a look at your code (or the Web Requests that are made from your application). Check out these analyzers for the Microsoft .NET frameworkReSharper, says Rion, is the single greatest tool available in the .NET development world. It provides code suggestions for improvements as you develop your applications. The tool also offers code quality analysis, error elimination and code testing. ReSharper is available for purchase, but you can download a 30-day free trial before you buy.EQATEC Profiler is a free tool that identifies areas for improvement and areas of weakness within your code.Another tool Rion raves about is the Web Developer Checklist, which he describes as an excellent resource for improving web application performance.4. SecuritySome of the major concerns relating to security within applications built on the Microsoft .NET framework are SQL Injection and XSS (Cross Site Scripting) Injection. These attacks could cripple your data or web application if you arent properly protected, Rion says. By default, .NET implements its own measures to help prevent this from happening. But there are additional precautions you should take.One example, Rion says, is the use of SQL Parameters as opposed to simply concatenating strings when building SQL queries.If you are calling your Stored Procedure or query through ASP.NET and are simply concatenating the values of something like a TextBox with your SQL call that calls your query, that could make your code susceptible to SQL Injection.You should always populate any values that are pulled from your application as SQL Parameters to ensure proper encoding. You never want to give users an opportunity to write their own SQL code (or inject it) into one of your queries, Rion cautions.If Stored Procedures are an option within your Microsoft .NET framework application, consider using them. Stored Procedures are safer than using direct SQL code because they have this same functionality a lready integrated into them.Here are some additional resources to learn mora about Stored ProceduresDo Stored Procedures Prevent SQL Injection?How to Prevent SQL Injection in Stored ProceduresDoes Stored Procedures Help Eliminate SQL Injection?Armed with the Microsoft .NET framework best practices and resources mentioned above, you can develop more consistent, better performing and more secure applications.Find out starting salaries for .NET developers in your areaDOWNLOAD THE SALARY GUIDEThis post has been updated to reflect more current information.

Intelligence The No. 1 Predictor of Career Success

Intelligence The No. 1 Predictor of Career SuccessIntelligence The No. 1 Predictor of Career SuccessHave you ever spent time talking to a coworker who got their position from their parent having a country club friend? Maybe you secretly roll your eyes at that other professional buddy who managed to score their internship based on an Ivy League or prep school connection. Dont even get us started on the my parent/sibling/uncles third brother in law works there method that some people use to tout their work achievements.Sure, networking and knowing the right people can certainly give you a helping hand when it comes to scoring a job. It turns out, however, that it takes mora than the right name or familial roll of the dice when it comes to moving up the company ladder. Questioning the old adage its not what you know, its who you know, research conducted by Professor Yoav Ganzach of Tel Aviv Universitys Recanati School of Management suggests that intelligence really is the most important factor when it comes to success. Ganzach writes that when intelligence and socio-economic background are pitted directly against one another, intelligence is a more accurate predictor of future career success. Here we delve further into Ganzachs research and anecdotal evidence that suggests intelligence is actually the number one predictor of career success. How is Intelligence Measured?Weve probably all seen our fair share of links on your favorite social media platform that invites you to test your IQ or, better yet, that popular game show sitcom that challenges whether youre actually smarter than an eight-year-old. Were not ones to put a damper on your entertainment parade, but as you might suspect, these amusing time wasters arent actually any indication of scientifically accepted intelligence measurement. Traditionally, intelligence is measured by way of an Intelligence Quotient or IQ test. IQ tests are standardized forms that ask the user to solve a variety of logic, word, sp atial and mathematics puzzles, outputting a standard score based on the percentage of right versus wrong answers. This is all fine and dandy, except when you consider that there are a variety of accepted IQ tests that can each generate wildly different scores depending on a test takers particular aptitude. Increasingly, researches are also identifying ways to track and quantify emotional intelligence as a key indicator of a rolles overall smartypants ranking. Theories focusing on the importance of emotional intelligence identify the ability of a person to recognize and control their emotions in stressful or everyday scenarios as a critical element to overall human intelligence. The U.S. Armed Services has used various methods for identifying emotional intelligence levels when it comes to officer and recruitment drives. In short, while the IQ score of a given candidate may be an important figure for social bragging rights, it certainly isnt the only area in which a person can demonst rate overall aptitude. Modern research believes that there are four types of human intelligence, all of which play an important role in success both in the home and in your career.IQ and Career SuccessSo now that weve delved into the various ways that IQ and, more broadly, intelligence is measured, its time to lay out the correlation with career achievement. In Ganzachs study, the subjects statistics clearly demonstrated that what you knew had a vastly larger impact on what you achieved during your career than who you know before you ever started out. Sure, those with well-connected families may have landed the highest paying entry-level positions, but the smartest performers quickly outpaced those who happened into their job by genetic lottery luck.The reason for the results is easily applicable to the real world makes sense test. Employees who perform better are more likely to be offered a raise or a promotion. When youre on the job its what youre capable of in the given position that is a predictor of how much youll achieve.A recent Forbes articles on the topic of IQ and career success lays the results out well IQ tests are used as an indicator of logical reasoning ability and technical intelligence. A high IQ is often a prerequisite for rising to the top ranks of business today.While we dont vote for skipping the next networking event or forgoing the opportunity to ask a friend or a relative if they have any connections, it turns out that any plus factors a person may have in the well-connected category quickly level the playing field if you are in the mental know

The State of Tech Hiring in Detroit

The State of Tech Hiring in DetroitThe State of Tech Hiring in DetroitTHE STATE OF TECH HIRING IN DETROITQ3 and Q4 2019TOP SKILLS IN IMMEDIATE DEMAND1. Cloud security2. Cybersecurity3. Cloud architecture Cloud computing*4. Mobile development5. Web development/designOF TECHNOLOGY LEADERS SURVEYED 68% plan to expand their teams.24% plan to fill only vacant positions.86% say its challenging to find IT talent in their area.95% are confident in their companys prospects for growth.96% will bring on project-based IT employees. Below are the top reasonsConsultants are part of our hiring strategy 52%When theres a sudden vacancy 50%For especially busy times 42%When a skill does not exist internally 38%For unplanned, time-sensitive projects 33%Multiple responses allowed.TOP BUSINESS CONCERNS1. Maintaining security of IT systems2. Cloud projects/initiatives3. Investing in new technologies

Nanosatellite Studies Space Bacteria

Nanosatellite Studies Space Bacteria Nanosatellite Studies Space Bacteria Nanosatellite Studies Space BacteriaElon Musks launch of a Tesla toward Mars was considered a stroke of public relations genius, but smart researchers pointed out the car could contaminate the planet with Earthly bacteria.A NASA satellite may be able to shed some light on how big a danger bacterial contamination could be.The EcAMSat nanosatellite was launched late last year to study bacterial behavior in space and the effectiveness of antibiotics. The 23-pound satellite will run experiments that involve growing and then starving E. coli bacteria, applying different concentrations of antibiotic agents, and determining the lowest level of antibiotic that could deter the growth of bacteria. The study should also provide guidance on medical treatment for astronauts.For You Read the latest stories on technology and society. NASAs EcAMSat nanosatellite will check the effectiveness of antibiotics in spa ce. ruf EcAMSatThe EcAMSat is the size of a shoebox and mixes new components with legacy parts seen in older nanosatellites such as the 2006 GeneSat and PharmaSat, launched in 2009. The space agency says the redesign is a blueprint for a new generation of nanosatellites, which will feature more payload capacity, greater power, and improved instruments, avionics, and propulsion. The nanosatellite is capable of autonomous operation and can store 152 hours of data.Like older nanosatellites, EcAMSat has solar panels and uses magnets for orientation.NASA is outsourcing the interpretation of data from the nanosatellite to students at Santa Clara University. For enthusiasts who want to boast having communicated with outer space, the nanosatellite has started transmitting encoded dataunrelated to the testsin packets smaller than Twitter posts that HAM radio operators can decode.Read the latest issue of Mechanical Engineering.Read MoreEnergy Storage Smooths the Duck CurveSystem Helps Self-dr iving Cars See in FogCreative Approach to Engineering Improves Grades For Further Discussion

Where to Find Resume Sample Format

Where to Find Resume Sample Format Few errors or mistakes in your resume can decrease your opportunity to find the job which you are searching for. Before you commence writing your resume, it is necessary to speak about mistakes you ought to avoid. Understanding how to tailor your resume will obviously offer you an advantage. Our creative templates make it possible for you to stick out from the crowd. Resume Sample Format Fundamentals Explained Whats more, you will present yourself in an acceptable format, in order for your CV gets simple to comprehend by senior staff. Utilizing VisualCVs CV editor you can readily switch from 1 template to another, which means you can easily use the ideal template for the job every single time you apply. Employing a resume template is now an acceptable and smart practice for numerous reasons.Part of creating an effective resume is choose the best format to inform your private story. To assist you choose whats appropriate for you, lets loo k at the advantages and disadvantages of each resume format. The Basics of Resume Sample Format That You Can Benefit From Beginning Today The discipline of information technology grows more important daily. In reality, you could always create a compelling and strong resume that may brandish all of your relevant skills and experience for you to ultimately get the job that you would like. You also ought to speak about past experience. If work experience isnt your key highlight or whether youve got an inconsistent work history, its best advisable to start your resume with your qualifications. A Secret Weapon for Resume Sample Format You are able to use our resume building software to produce your own from scratch. An excellent place to find CV examples is to visit your favourite universitys web page and discover the faculty page for your department. Resume formats be certain that your best achievements are right there on the top, prepared to be noticed. Your academic achievemen ts, if essential for the application can likewise be stated. The Foolproof Resume Sample Format Strategy The training programs and conferences you have attended are also vital to be set in a fresher resume. Whenever you are asking for work, its mandatory that you submit a resume. As with other creative resumes, it isnt meant for the majority of employers, so you might want to get a traditionally formatted resume on hand to complement it. The employer is most likely searching for not only a skilled candidate, but in addition a confident one. When applying for employment in a big business you may find they use specialized software to help weed out candidates. In an Internship Resume, an individual must pen down all of the training and abilities which were given to the candidate. Research about the technical skills necessary for the work position that youre applying for. You should also think of the position, company and industry that youre pursuing. Get the Scoop on Resume Sample Format Before Youre Too Late LinkedIn is a favorite business-related social media website. Together with mentioning the work type, if you are going to give a tiny description of your work in the cv then itll be best too. Aside from the above mentioned, in the event youre changing cities its advisable but not mandatory to arrange for a neighborhood number of your intended city. Your contact information is fundamentally the very first thing your prospective employer will see because its in the topmost portion of your resume. When youre asking for a job which relies on the strengths of the person, you want a resume template that you could inject a little more personality into to make it pop. If your application wants a cover letter then you may use the cover letter template.

5 Tips On Remote Management From Time Inc. VP Of Mobile Apps And API Engineering

5 Tips On Remote Management From Time Inc. VP Of Mobile Apps And API Engineering Robert Duffy is the VP of mobile application and API engineering atTime Inc.and formerly the manager of strategic initiatives at Amazon. He currently leads a distributed team of product engineers spread across the globe with hubs in New York, Seattle, and Bangalore. Duffy shared with PowerToFly how he bridges the time zone gap, what apps he cant live without, and why he believes a clear phone call is the salt of any distributed team.In your opinion, what are the biggest benefits of a distributed team?The access that you have to talent. Creating a distributed team, a distributed workflow, a team that works well in a distributed fashion, means you can do more things in a distributed way. You can very quickly onboard people from different locations. Also things like traveling to conferences, or working from home, or taking two days at the end of vacation to work remotely becomes easier. People traveling aro und isnt as disruptive. They will work from a plane, hotel, wherever, because the system is already set up.What are some of the biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?The hardest thing is finding meeting times that work for everyone. A meeting could take 48 hours to get scheduled because of timezone differences. Now we have standing time slots where there is meeting time blocked off. So if something comes up and you need to schedule a meeting about it, you reserve a time available in that slot. The meeting time is essentially set before the meeting agenda. People can plan around it, especially whoever is staying up late or getting up early. It makes life much easier.Tell us about how you build your team. What do you look for when hiring developers, especially ones that work remotely?One of the biggest challenges of working with a remote team is communication. Fundamental things like poor phone communication can be such a massive blocker to peoples productivity in a distrib uted team. We look for great communication skills, especially when were hiring remote. We look for the ability to listen to and take feedback. Obviously we look for technical skills. You have to have the core level of technical skills, and then we look for good use of tools and good understanding of how to work in a distributed way.How has working with PowerToFly impacted your hiring?With PowerToFly, weve had access to an exceptional talent pool. The caliber of talent that PowerToFly has presented to us is just outstanding. I dont think Ive ever been involved with a company that was so quick to ramp up on our requirements, and then start sending over candidates that were exceptionally well qualified and exceptionally talented for those positions.What are your strategies for keeping everyone in sync? What tools do you use?One of the things the teams benefit from is a daily video standup (scrum), so I invest a lot in making sure that happens. We make a lot of use of online video confe rence. Were looking at getting fixed TV stations with cameras on top of them that people can gather around at our different locations. We are heavily invested in Slack??its a great communication channel for us. It helps us keep the chatter going. We also invest in teleconferencing equipment, making sure that people can hear each other. From a product perspective, JIRA works really well because you can see tickets changing. Github is super useful. The pull requests and code reviews we do through there are an indispensable tool in working with distributed engineers.You think about mobile all day, what are your favorite mobile apps for work?From an operations perspective, email, Slack and PagerDuty are my primary tools. And then from a distributed team perspective, usingMicrosoft Lynk on my phone is good for teleconferencing, and then obviously the phone itself is huge. A good clear phone call is the salt of any distributed team. Its surprising how much time I have invested in making s ure that phone calls are clear and that peoples voices can be heard. At some point when I was first setting up the Seattle office and people in New York were having trouble hearing me, I went out and invested in five different bluetooth headsets. The regular Apple headset??the one with the earbuds and microphone??is surprisingly good at call quality. FaceTime is also a good video conference tool for those one-on-ones.Do you have any tips for maximizing productivity?When your day starts early talking to India, your day can get blocked off pretty quickly. Figuring out the rhythm of the day and planning those activities that require quiet time to yourself email, brainstorming, writing is really important. Its interesting though, Monday and Friday are two very different beasts. Friday everyone just disappears. Friday afternoon I focus on local team activities and making sure the local team culture is good. We have an end of the week wrappy hour. We have a group demo on Friday mornings w here everyone dials in and shows off what theyve done for the previous week. Thats a really good bonding activity for people. Its the beginning of the day for some and the end of the day for others, but it helps with the feeling of being part of the team and knowing what other people are doing.What management advice has been the most helpful to you in your career so far?The best advice I was given was make sure one-on-ones happen. Everyone has a crazy schedule and everyone has a lot going on. Especially in a team thats distributed, calendaring becomes somewhat chaotic. Its an easy temptation to feel like youve already caught up with someone and lose or cancel the one-on-one. Protect your one-on-ones with people and make sure they always happen. Those are times where you learn about your staff, you learn about morale, you inspire them, you help them with their goals, you help unblock them, you get to know whats working and whats not working on an individual basis. Also those are your key touch points for coaching your employees and helping them develop themselves.

3 Reasons You Work Too Much and How to Stop- The Muse

3 Reasons You Work Too Much and How to Stop- The Muse3 Reasons You Work Too Much and How to Stop- The MuseDo me a favor and read these questionsDo you frequently opt to work through lunch, declining opportunities to eat with friends? Do you have no idea when you will find the time to do everything that is asked of you (even though you work way more than 40 hours per week)?Do you get a feeling of anxiety in your gut every time your boss swings by to give you anotlageher assignment?Any (or all) of these sound like you? Congratulations, you win And by win, I mean you officially work too much.Now, heres the good news If you struggle with work-life balance, it means youre smart, competent, and valued at your company. Indeed, its the curse of being good at your job that youre getting more work thrown at you that you can handle. This happens to the best of them- in fact, it happens most often to the best. From my experience, there are three primary reasons why people overwork. Heres an expl anation (and a solution) for each one. 1. SurvivalThis motivation centers on a fear of loss loss of a job, loss of a promotion, loss of status or reputation, loss of dignity. You may feel like youre just trying to keep your head above water and believe that the extra hours are the best way to make sure your company never lets you go. So, what if it comes at the expense of your relationships and sanity- at least youll have your job, right?How to Overcome ItThe first question to ask yourself is whether or not this feeling is being driven by something occurring at your company (think layoffs, budget cuts, new management). Or, alternatively, if everything is pretty much status quo, but you feel nervous all the time anyhow. If its the former, youre right to step your game up at work. However, time outside of the office is also important, because youre going to want to update your resume and reach out to your network in case your job isnt as secure as youd hope. (Caveat If the threat is s imply a cutthroat workplace culture, question if its something you enjoy, or if youd be happier at a company where your co-workers werent waiting to snatch your accounts.)But what if youre in the second category? Theres no imminent threat, but you feel nervous anyhow. First, accept that some level of preparing for anything to happen is a good thing, because it motivates you to keep your eyes open and your skills fresh. But then, remember that continuing to fear that no one will think youre good enough unless you work 80 hours a week is probably adding a lot of stress to your life, and not leaving you very much time for friends, family, and sleep. So, try this experiment Next week, try to go home an hour earlier each day. Not only that, but spend that hour exercising, calling a friend, or doing something just for you. After the week is over, see if you still have your job, status, and your dignity. Ill bet you do- and that you were a lot more pleasant to work with to boot.2. Personal GainAs you probably guessed, this motivation centers on money. You have your eye on the financial prize, and if working crazy hours is what it takes to pad your bank account, youre in. You dont have time to eat out, shop, or make it to the gym but hey, you can afford all of the above.How to Overcome ItThere is nothing wrong with getting a piece of the action, but working around the clock just for financial gain can lead to burnout. To increase your salary without increasing your workload, there are two things you can do. The first is to ask for a raise- not a promotion with more responsibility, but a raise. Put together some talking points on why you deserve one based on your skills, your experience, what youve accomplished recently, and the competitive marketplace. You might get shut down, but if you dont, then you will have increased your personal gain without adding more hours to your workdayThe second thing you can do is get really specific about what your financial goals are. Maybe youre saving up for your wedding, to move to a bigger place, or to go on a trip. Those goal lines can get you through the months of working overtime or doing your side gig all weekend. Just remember that when you meet your goal, youre allowed to pull back. Alternatively, if its just to have money, take a moment and examine not just whats coming in, but whats going out. Yes, youve heard this advice before- but thats because it works. Packing lunch versus buying lunch, eating in instead of out, examining how much you spend on clothes, gifts, gym memberships- whatever it is, see where cutting down on expenses can translate to you being able to work less (or even take a lower-paying job).3. PassionIf this is your core motivation, youre one of the lucky ones. Youve found what you love to do and are doing it every day (OK, and night). Your enthusiasm for your job causes you to get lost in your work such that you lose track of time- and sleep. But who needs sleep anyhow? Answer You d o. How to Overcome ItFar be it from me to tell you to do less of what you love, but I can share that increasing balance in your life increases passion as well. Seriously, youll get some much-needed distance to make sure youre coming to your work with a fresh- and rested- perspective.So, branch out a little by experimenting with activities outside of work. For example, you may find that you have a huge passion for developing confidence in kids by coaching an athletic team. Or, you may find meaningful work in volunteering at a homeless shelter. Hey, you may even find a passion for rest and renewal by reading and sleeping more Struggling to find the time to do anything after hours? Muse Master Coach Melody Wilding suggests, schedule your day creatively by using enjoyable personal or social activities to sandwich your to-do list. For example, make plans to attend an art class or meet a friend after work to put a hard stop on the time you leave the office.By introducing variety into your life, youll use different parts of your brain and body, which will in turn make you more passionate and productive at work.Dont get me wrong, hard work makes the world go round. But when youre at your desk at 8 PM on a Wednesday, you should know why youre there, and that its where you want to be.Photo of woman working late courtesy of Shutterstock.

Easy Ways to Innovate in Business

Easy Ways to Innovate in BusinessEasy Ways to Innovate in BusinessWe all know how essential innovation is to business success. There are ways in which leaders encourage innovation. If Apple Corp. had notlage innovated, we would not have iPhones. If Microsoft had stopped innovating when they released DOS, we never would have seen Windows operating systems. If manufacturers had stopped innovating, we would all be driving Model Ts and calling each other on candlestick phones that need operator assistance there would be no television to watch and you wouldnt be reading this because the Internet would never have been created. Why neuerung Is Essential in Business So, if innovation is so important, why do so many companies spend all their time making tiny process improvements and watching their competitors steal their customers with innovative new products and services? Clearly, the problem is not that business owners and managers dont see the need for innovation. Many just dont know h ow to encourage innovation. Sometimes, that starts with developing effective work relationships. However, fruchtwein companies actively discourage innovation not on purpose, perhaps, but nonetheless it happens. Lets look at two small companies. One is an example of how to discourage innovation. The other is an example of how to encourage innovation. How to Discourage Innovation in Business Carol runs a small family business. She is very good. She knows what she is doing and is able to tell everyone else specifically what to do too. Unfortunately, Carols business has been going downhill. She has had to lower her prices, which reduces her profits. She keeps losing business to her competitors who come up with better products and cheaper ways to do things. Several long-time employees have left and it takes a lot of time and effort to train the new people in the right way to do things. She needs to learn how to reduce employee turnover. How can that happen? Carol is smart and works h ard. She pays her people well. She tries different things. People are happy in the office, but they dont talk amongst themselves much they just all stick to their own jobs and try to do them right. Carol believes in MBWA (Management By Walking Around). You see her walking all around the office watching what people are doing and when they do something wrong she steps in and shows them how to do it right. Often people call Carol to their workstation to ask how to do something new. They all remember how Carol reprimanded Jeff when he tried something new. She didnt even have time to listen to his explanation of why. She has to have a more adaptable management style. Carols approach works well when you are training toddlers or teaching math in grade school. It would also work on the battlefield. But it will not produce the innovation Carols company needs to survive and prosper. Carol is overlooking the greatest asset of her company, its employees. Each of them has unique experiences, edu cation, and background. They have different perspectives, different problem-solving skills, and techniques. There may not be a single one of them who is as smart as Carol, who knows the business as well as she does, or who is as good at innovating as Carol. But, as smart as Carol is, she is not smarter than everybody. How to Encourage Innovation in Business Valerie has her hands full. Her little company has been growing so quickly its hard to keep up. There are a lot of new employees who need to be trained in how the company does things. Without this training, her company would lose some of its product quality. Fortunately, Anna showed a real gift for explaining things and she handles most of the training these days. Valerie remembers the old days when it was just a handful of them. They would sit around an old picnic table out in the shop and have lunch together and talk about kids, movies - and the business. Lots of happy chatter and some crazy ideas came out of those lunches. Everyone seemed to enjoy it except Devon, the new guy. He was always the last one to show up and the first to leave. He would talk occasionally, but not often. Valerie smiles now when she thinks about how he has developed. Devon wasnt much of a big thinker like the rest of them, but when they came up with an idea, Devon was the one who could take it from a rough sketch to a finished product. Valeries day is frequently interrupted by phone calls from her team. This morning Eva called to let her know that the new packaging technique had failed - for the fourth time. Valerie suggested she talk with Alicia who had seen a similar problem yesterday in her efforts to streamline the IT operations. There was also the call from the head of sales who wanted Valerie to address the meeting they were having next month for several clients to discuss the industry and future needs. And her operations manager wants to talk about theSWOT analysisthey are doing in his department next week. TheRD group posted a note on the company intranet asking for volunteers to test a new product prototype. The company softball team posted this seasons schedule on the intranet as well. HR is recruiting volunteers to tutor students at the nearby elementary school in reading. Why Innovation in Business Works Its easy to see why Carols company is in trouble. There is no innovation because Carol unintentionally stifles it. She is so focused on doing things right that she does not give people the freedom to make mistakes by trying new things. Although she tries to think of new things herself, she has limited ability in that area and she doesnt let anyone else try. She micro-manages her employees and treats them like children. Pretty soon, they stop trying to improve things, or they just leave. Valeries company is doing great. Why? She has created acompany culturethat encourages innovation. Steps to Encourage Innovation in Business Try these steps for encouraging innovation. Encourage communi cation. Everyone can get together, at lunch, on the softball field, etc. and talk. This cross-functional conversation spurs the einbildungskraft of each person and lets them learn from the skills of the others. Allow failure. Eva is now on the fifth attempt to solve the packaging problem because the first four failed. How many times did Edison fail before he found the right filament for the electric light bulb? Find patterns. Alicias solution to the IT problem may be what Eva needs to solve the packaging problem. Look for similarities that can lead to discovery. Know your market. There is no point in developing an innovative way to make better buggy whips. Find out what your clients and your industry need and find innovative solutions to those problems. Use a SWOT analysis of your competitors, your own company, and your industry to highlight opportunities for innovation. Use everyones best skills. Devon wasnt the best innovator, but having him focus on engineering allowed other peop le in other areas to spend the time to be more creative. RD recruits their testers from across the company to get many different perspectives. Your company (or department, group, or team) has a lot of smart people. Encourage them to be imaginative, give them permission to make mistakes, and give them time to just sit and think. Build a culture that is flat and works across organizational lines easily. There are ways to be happy at work, so build the individuals into a team that enjoys being together at work. Do these things and you will get the innovation you need to succeed.

Five Flexible Job Ideas for Working Parents

Five Flexible Job Ideas for Working ParentsFive Flexible Job Ideas for Working ParentsFor many working parents like myself, flexibility rivals salary as the core quality we look for when it comes to job fit. Whenthe kids go back to school it frees up about seven hours of the day for work. The hardpart is that this block of time often gets interrupted by something kid-related, such as forgotten lunches, sick days, lice infestations and so on. Whatever the fiasco de jour, Ive staffed it, and Im sure some of you have, too. The unexpected demands that surface athome refines working parents savvy when it comes to prioritizing, troubleshooting, and creative problem-solving. Its not the only way to hone these skills, but on my craziest days its heartening to remind myself that these will be byproducts of my efforts. The good thing is, there area variety of flexible jobs out there that enable you to fully participate in the professional world and to be hands-on in your kids lives. But in ord er to meet the needs of both realities, you need a good plan. If you take a job that allows you to work from home, make sure you figure outa care plan for your kids. Dont try take on both. It wont work. Your kids think you are theirs when you are at home. They dont want to share your attention, and you cant have your colleagues or clients hearing your kids while you are on the phone. If you are going to telecommute, set yourself up for success by making sure you are properly staffed from day one. According to Simply Hired data, nearly 87,000 U.S. jobs accommodate work-from-home arrangements. This represents 1.85 percent of all open positions. These are some great flexible jobs abverkauf JobsAverage Salary $45,000 + bonusesThere are a wide range of sales jobs waiting for pros like you. It will take your best communication and organization skills to keep you customers up-to-date and in the loop. Some jobs may require local or out of town travel. Search Sales jobsCustomer ServiceAverag e Salary $37,000Be that service-oriented pro who can answer customers questions and clear the air. If you love working with people (from your own personal office), and you have a great phone presence, this could be the perfect role for you. Search Customer Service jobsAnimal CaretakerAverage Salary $23,000Give cuddly critters a boast while their pet parents are at work. In this role you get the chance to cash in on your love of animals. Take neighborhood pets for walks, give them treats and play with them. Add a bit of fun to their day and to yours. Additionally, most kids love animals and can serve as interns when it comes to play time.Search Animal Caregiver jobsDietitiansAverage Salary $56,0000 There are a variety of ways you can use your food expertise to create meaningful and flexible employment for yourself. Dietitians are always in demand as food writers, educators and counsellors. This position allows you to be creative in how you approach the job market.Search Dietitian job sTravel AgentsAverage Salary $35,000Help individual travelers and tour groups create amazing adventures. This exciting role gives you the chance to work closely with clients and to build relationship with vendors in the travel industry. Many positions offer travel benefits and discounts.Search Travel Agent jobsWith the right job, a good plan and a little creativity, working parents really can find the right balance for themselves and their families.On June 22, 2017, this article welches updated from its original form.