What to do when the company drinking culture is ruining your health

What to do when the company drinking culture is ruining your healthWhat to do when the company drinking culture is ruining your healthThough not the first to illustrate the free-flowing attitude toward boozing in amtsstubes, Mad Men arguably made the most impact in showing just how much alcohol can be utilized in workplace settings. Many decades later, and much of networking remains centered around happy hours and scotch sippings, where clinking glasses is often better respected than shaking hands. As mora startups throw their bright ideas into emerging markets, encouraging a more relaxed approach to working - beer taps in amtsstube kitchens, bar carts that circulate at 5 p.m. and wine nights with colleagues are the norm.Like most vices, consuming alcohol in moderation is a healthy approach, but if the attitude toward drinking in your office has you feeling less than stellar, you might struggle with how to fit in with your corporate culture. Especially if your manager or the CEO of your company is a heavy drinker, shying away from another round within their sight may make you worry about your ability to excel in your position. After all, work/life balance doesnt just reference to spending quality time with your family and friends, but also navigating the teeter-tot between working hard and practicing self-care.Here, a guide to navigating this tricky, boozy situation and keeping both your career and your health intactHow alcohol impacts your work performanceThough its easy to see the so-called positives to having another (and another) round with your boss, as they slur and sing your praises, what about the pitfalls of liquor? Its fun going down, but when you overdo it on the shots and the nights out bumping elbows with clients and fellow colleagues, you may cause damage to your career, according to workplace expert Amy Cooper Hakim, Ph.D.Drinking too much alcohol impacts concentration, decision making, weight, sleep, mood and overall productivity, she explains. It can lead to impulsive behavior that is inappropriate - or even dangerous - in the work setting. It can negatively impact the way that the brain, heart, and liver function. And, it can lead to depression and other mental health issues.While some of these conditions are extreme and develop over years, if you notice yourself nodding off during meetings, constantly popping Advil to ward off a hangover, or coming in later and later into the office because youre exhausted, your body may be giving you desperate signals that its dehydrated and needs a break. Taking one though? Tougher than it should be, depending on the attitude of your colleagues who may pressure you into half-off margaritas or make you feel left out of the crew if you pass. Luckily, these tactics prove successful for many professionals.Order a drink, but sip itThe next time youre at a dinner with your manager, co-workers or clients and its time to order alcohol, dont hop on a soapbox about how youre cutting back, wh ich can feel a tad judgmental or off-putting. Instead, Hakim suggests you go with the flow and order a drink that you can sip instead of shoot. This may be a glass of red wine or a cocktail (sans ice), whatever makes you feel the most comfortable. The goal here is to participate in the networking or relationship-building feast, but without attempting to keep up with everyone drink for drink. When the waiter comes around, do your best to excuse yourself to the restroom or engage in a conversation with someone else, so he skips over you for a refill.Order a virgin drink that looks like boozeAfter finally landing a deal you worked for months to secure, your whole team might want to waste away the relief at your local watering hole. You dont want to miss out on the celebration, but youre also challenging yourself to go a week without drinking? What do you do? Hakim says to kick it back to your pre-drinking-age days and go with a virgin drink. This gives the illusion that youre downing a gin and tonic or a rum and coke, without actually consuming the calories or the alcohol. When youre ordering, ask the bartender if hell continuously refill yours with water (or Pepsi - whatever youre having) but keep it in the same style cup as the alcoholic beverages. This might require a bit more planning ahead, by arriving early and having a quiet chat, Hakim warns, but will be well worth it to avoid binge boozing.Propose a dry month to the teamAs every professional knows, having the right people in your corner and working toward the same goal paves the way to success and growth. Why not apply the same principles to creating a killer presentation or closing a deal to making it your mission to health-a-fy your office? While Hakim says theres nothing wrong with simply saying no to a night out, when you encourage others to join you on a 30-day alcohol-free challenge, you might incite change within your office. Or at the very least, shift the attention toward other ways to connect, instead of splitting pitchers.

Amazon patents a robot to stalk you at the airport

Amazon patents a robot to stalk you at the airportAmazon patents a robot to stalk you at the airportThe low battery warning on our phones is an invitation to powerlessness that all of us have experienced. Its worse when youre in a public place and cant seem to find an available outlet to charge your electronic devices, panic rising by the second.Amazon wants to change this scramble to find an outlet by bringing the outlet to you. And the outlet will be housed in a robot that would be built to look friendly - presumably so that you dont elendice that its stalking travelers.This week, a U.S. patent filed by Amazon in 2015 was published for a power-charging robot that will come to your aid when youre at the airport in need of an electrical outlet.The robot that knows where you areHeres how it works You will make a wireless request (perhaps with your brde precious few moments of juice).The robot will find you in a crowd using sensor data.Through a cloud-based application, the robot can even find you automatically when your power hits below 10%. Nothing, of course is free, so the robot will ask you to watch an ad, complete a survey, or pay some money.Then the robot provides sweet, precious electricity to your phone or iPad or laptop.The robot would be designed for public use in airports, hotels, and shopping malls- all locations where losing battery power can be particularly inconvenient. Of course, a device like this would be perfect for business travelers, who have become accustomed to carrying heavy external batteries or even bulky power strips.According to the illustrative examples provided in the patent, what the robotic device will look like is subject to change. Some figures show it with a humanlike body that can store sticks of gum for purchase others show it with a conical shape powered on wheels.A way to avoid asking humans for helpThe patents description outlines why a power-charging robot is needed. It can be quite inconvenient to a user when one of the se devices runs out of battery power. This is especially true if the user does not have an available charging adapter for the device, the patent reads. Users may find themselves asking friends, or even strangers, to borrow a charging adapter.Having to depend on the kindness of strangers? The horror.In all seriousness though, not having to be tethered to a physical outlet would make charging our devices more convenient for all travelers. There is clearly an unmet market that an army of mobile-charging robots for your personal use can fill.However, a patent doesnt guarantee that the robot will become a reality for consumers to use. Until you have an Amazon robot at your beck and call, consider bringing a portable battery charger with you, so you dont have to depend on an outlet. Or you can even bring along a power strip to the airport, so you can share the energy wealth with all your battery-deprived travelers.

The identity trap Being less wrong over time

The identity trap Being less wrong over timeThe identity trap Being less wrong over timeDoctor Manhattan. Ozymandias. Silk Spectre. The Comedian. Rorschach.You may recognize them as names of characters in the famous comic book series Watchmen, but theyre mora than that. Theyre representations of different moral systems - or more broadly, identity systems - that people use to understand the world around them.Each character landsees reality in a certain way, and they make decisions accordingly. Other people with different worldviews to theirs either criticize or compliment them, and the series is an observation of this interplay.Doctor Manhattan, for example, is a demi-god, and to him, the day to day matters of humans, quite often, seem beyond relevance. Trivial, even.Ozymandias is sharp and strategic. He views humanity through a lens that zones out of subjective interpretations, preferring numbers and impact. Many see him as the villain because he is okay sacrificing millions of liv es. But of course doing so saves many millions more, which he values highly.Silk Spectre and The Comedian play big roles in driving the story and shaping the actions of other characters, but as representations of ideology, they are a little simpler Theyre a ying and a yang of optimism and pessimism.This brings us to Rorschach, who is perhaps the most interesting of them all. He is also the character that many see as the hero of the series - he represents what a number of people today consider the ideal way of interacting with the world namely, he is someone with strong, certain values and he sticks by those values no matter what.Im bedrngnis here to give a philosophy lesson and nor do I have any strong opinion of which one of these moral systems is better than the rest. But I do want to dig a little deeper into the appeal of Rorschach, because his representation, I think, people often apply beyond just the moral domain and that frequently leads to a poor interaction with the world. Rorschach is consistent and committed. But is that really such a good thing?The trap of a systematic identityHuman beings are unreliable narrators who mistakenly think they are painting an image of self that corresponds to the reality they interact with.We implicitly assume that our identities are static, and from there, we lead ourselves towards the only logical conclusion the need for a systematic framework that anchors who we are so we can maintain this consistency.We use the mask of specific values to draw perimeters - defining good and bad, right and wrong - and we then live our lives within them, just like Rorschach did at the end of Watchmen when he chose to die rather than compromise on his worldview.In some ways, there really isnt a clear path away from doing this. We all follow this pattern to one degree or another. The difference, however, is that some people can recognize the fact that having and maintaining a systematic identity is an illusion, one that leads to frequ ent missteps, and as a result, they can then correct course before it occurs.What we call an identity is mostly a product of memory, and memory - as both science and history have consistently shown - is incredibly hazy and questionable. Its not a map that accurately reflects the territory.Think about the difference between how you viewed a big auffhrung in your past, with all its facts and feelings, versus how you view that same event now with different thinking patterns dominating your mind. Now consider how that may change again in 10 to 20 to 30 years.This gap between the reality (that our identities are in constant flux ) and the mistaken fantasy (that rigidly confines them within the bounds of a particular systematic framework) causes us to make decisions that are neither in our own self-interest nor that of those around us.Whatever your actual, objective identity is - if such a thing even exists - is always a step ahead of the frameworks you design to capture it, and this attempt at capturing drags with it a past that may no longer be relevant.The world around you exists independently of the opinions of right and wrong that you enforce on it. Rorschach may have done something heroic and touching by showing courage as he refused to compromise on his principles, but if we step back a bit, this lack of compromise actually lead the world in a direction that he, himself, was fighting to avoid.Always being consistent makes you inconsistent with the reality around you.Learning to dance with chaosValues and frameworks are best utilized when they are referenced as orienting generalizations - roughly right - rather than hard, fast truths.One thing that a systematic identity overlooks is the feedback loop that exists between self (you and your identity) and other (the rest of the world).In an increasingly chaotic reality, one that is becoming more and more difficult for us to comprehend, the solution isnt to enforce more static interpretations on it its to de al with it how it is asking to be dealt with - in a fluid way. If the world is constantly changing, we have to change with it.Humans are the only animal that can plan to the extent they can, with all their lists, calendars, tools, frameworks, systems, and technologies. We use this planning to add order where there is none. But just because we can plan doesnt mean that we should plan.If there is anything that the 21st century is going to demand, its the ability to tighten that feedback loop between self and other so new information is openly evaluated and so that errors and mistakes are viewed beyond the confines of a biased, subjective identity defined by these same plans and frameworks. In other words, we have to learn to dance with chaos.We can still respect our identity systems and our values, but we also have to develop the capacity to step outside of them when circumstances demand.Commitment to a cause and consistency in action are both important and valuable until they sudden ly arent. Being less wrong is about knowing when this change occurs so that you can adjust your frame of reference.Its a scary thing, dancing with chaos, because it goes against our instinct to do away with anything that resembles a threat, which is most often associated with things that are uncertain. So, instead, we create illusions of false certainty to feel at ease, not realizing that the real threat is still in front of us.There are a dozen or so moving interactions that occur to create your conception of what is going on around you and what you need to do to act optimally, and these interactions arent always kind to a dated model that refuses to be left behind when it becomes incoherent.Uncertainty, chaos, and complexity are always best dealt with in the moment because you cant predict where they will lead before youre near them.In an ideal world, rather than heroically sticking to what he knew, Rorschach, instead, would have had the courage to look beyond his own ego and the self-importance it had attached to a worldview that no longer worked.The takeawayWhen we really break this down, the ability to correct mistakes and to be less wrong over time comes down to one thing the capacity to embrace and understand the contradictions that arise in the world when they do.When you believe one thing and reality tells you another, to self-correct, you have to first see the contradiction that has shown up. Similarly, when your identity is tied to one system and the world breaks it down, its this same contradiction that needs to be embraced before you can reconcile the pieces.It doesnt necessarily mean that the prior belief or the prior system is suddenly wrong in every situation. It just means that it has reached its boundaries. It still works in certain places (and you should use it there) but there is something else - something contradictory - that covers for where it falls short, and this something also has a truth that needs to be treasured.Walt Whitmans fam ous poem Song of Myself is written in the voice of a narrator who is more than a self - a transcendent self, one that is not only singular but also plural. Its most famous expression?Do I contradict myself?Very well then I contradict myself,(I am large, I contain multitudes.)The world around us is inconsistent, and whether or not we want them to be, so our identities. The way to fight this chaos isnt by forcing it to conform to a pre-existing solution its to live in a fluid and malleable way.We are who we think we are, but we are also so much more than that. Its on us not to dull this potential by rejecting whatever this more is.Want to think and live smarter? Zat Rana publishes a free weekly newsletter for 30,000+ readers atDesign Luck.

How to Successfully Interview at Sprout Social

How to Successfully Interview at Sprout SocialHow to Successfully Interview at Sprout Social 5 Ways to Prove That Youre the Best Candidate for the Job Changing jobs can be an extremely stressful decision, and while the uncertainty around the process cant be entirely avoided, preparing for the various steps along the way is key to making the transition as smooth as possible. Of course, one of the most important, and stressful, parts is the bewerbungsgesprch. At Sprout Social , we have learned what makes a candidate most successful in the interview process and we are excited to share those insights so you can best prepare for landing a role here . Now lets get down to it, what makes someone stand out? Below are a few tips and tricks to make the most of your interview opportunity at Sprout. Thats right, we are giving you the answers to the test.Start a free 30-day trial so you can become familiar with the features and the value of the software. Regardless of whether you are interviewing for a sales, engineering or another position, dont forget you are also interviewing for a Sprout job. Our team is going to ask you about our product. Show us that you did your research and that you believe in the work we do.Ask who you will be speaking with on your interview day and take time to review their LinkedIn profiles and any other background you can find. Keep note of commonalities to bring up previous company, mutual friends, or shared hobbies. You can also use this insight to inform questions you will ask and points of interest you bring up.Use the Job Description as a ChecklistEverything we want in an ideal candidate can be found in the job description for that role, which is located on our Careers Page . Prior to the interview, study it and think of an anecdote that can check each box mentioned. Dress nicely, but be comfortable . We want to know that you have the natural instinct on how to be professional in a work setting. Be confident and strong, but find ways to show your humility and hunger to learn. Admit candidly if you dont know or understand something and always ask clarifying questions.Sprout Social structures interviews in a way that simulates conversations and presents challenges a team member would encounter every day. By creating an interview environment that is similar to the daily experience of working at Sprout, we aim to give candidates the feeling that they are already part of the team. With that in mind, dont shy away from the conversational and engaging part of the interview. Use this time to truly immerse yourself in the situation and respond as if you would when actually working here. Also, dont forget to ask honest questions that you sincerely would like the answer to.Personalize the thank you emails to your interviewers. Include a fun fact or something that caught your ear during the session, work or non-work related. Follow up emails show employers that you are professional, kind and thoughtful. When they are personalized, it demonstrates that you listened and absorbed their words. If you dont receive an offer, dont sweat it. There was likely someone else who fit the role more accurately. If you made it to an in-person interview, you are a great candidate. Take the feedback from the team and reflect on it. Stay in touch with your recruiter and reconnect down the line. Perhaps you have acquired skills or had new experiences that would make you the absolute ideal candidate for Sprout. We admire persistence it means that you dont just want a new job, but you want to specifically work at Sprout Social.Now you have the answers to the test Take them to heart when preparing and you are sure to have a meaningful, positive, and hopefully successful interview at Sprout Social.Molly Jones is a Talent Operations Lead at Sprout Social.

The Ugly Side of Free Download Resume Templates

The Ugly Side of Free Download Resume Templates Where to Find Free Download Resume Templates A resume builder permits you to display the structure of you resume in a friendly format, so as to select the best sections of the resume that you would like to publish. Most fill in the blank templates concentrate on duties and obligations. There are a great deal of format of producing a superb CV however right here is the very best CV Format 2018. The CV template demonstrates how to format your studienordnung Vitae and lets you know what sort of information needs to be included. A History of Free Download Resume Templates Refuted Hiring for your specific role isnt their principal job. Job searching can be exceedingly tough and resume writing is among the tasks that must be done when looking for employment. You may even be in a position to obtain a resume template made for the particular job that you are trying to get. Job specific trends of resumes allow health professionals to l ist all their credentials in 1 area on the resume. Hiring managers and recruiters skim resumes to determine if they would like to interview you and interviewers skim to choose what to speak with you about. Imagine you have two resumes facing you. Infographic resumes become mora and more common. Thus, its important to design your resume so you provide managers the most crucial information they are searching for, which, coincidentally, is also the most significant information that you would like to present about yourself. If youre searching for an easy but gorgeous design thats guaranteed to appeal to any hiring manager than you are in right location. The work market is one particular area, which wont dry all year long. Youre facing a huge prospect. Most Noticeable Free Download Resume Templates If youre more experienced, you can also find templates with a style that concentrates on your skills in addition to experience to generate an impression on your prospective employer. You are going to have number of styles and formatting features to have fun with. Make sure as youre listing experiences to get started with the latest experience and work back from that point. Your professional experience is a fundamental portion of your resume. Where to Find Free Download Resume Templates Assume, youve got multi year home loan or house advance. Unless youre an expert graphic designer, your resume does leid have to look like it was made by a group of creatives. The superfluous group of resumes are presently in the service of your company. The key in selecting the right resume template is scouring through your many alternatives to come across the one which will make a long-lasting impression on the possible employer. Its important to not forget you have under 10 seconds. Its highly important to stay informed about times, especially when it regards your resume As you select your preferred template and sign up or utilize it freely, you might get your hands on the picture-perfect resume in only a matter of a few momemts. Get the Scoop on Free Download Resume Templates Before Youre Too Late While resume templates might be effortless to follow along with the template presented may not be best suited for your specific employment background. You are able to download the resume template free of charge and can readily edit the template using Microsoft word. Avoid, if youre able to, common resume templates. All templates arent created equal. The curriculum is a template that you are able to download for free Free simple resume template to help you to get the job. Cost-free printable resume template with creative and easy design. There are lots of sites offering free resume template with no watermarks or logos inside them. There are in fact plenty of templates you could select from. The freebie includes a PSD file and all the layers are named and grouped perfectly and simple to customize to fulfill your needs. Shorter or Longer The se cond thing that you ought to consider is should you need to use a shorter template or a lengthier template. Keep in mind that as soon as you have finished personalizing your cv template, you continue to be not prepared to submit the application yet. Life After Free Download Resume Templates The usage of a template will help to minimize a number of the extraneous tasks connected with creating a resume and allows the writer to concentrate on the content. Templates come from an assortment of sources like the ones which are available to you in Microsoft definitiv, and free or paid examples out there for download from a multitude of websites. The majority of the templates are offered by named, resume writing specialists and thus the quality is extremely good. Modifying a Microsoft Word resume template is straightforward and makes the work search process a great deal simpler.

Types of Resume: the Ultimate Convenience!

Types of Resume the Ultimate Convenience Types of Resume and Types of Resume - The Perfect Combination Using Microsoft word to create a resume can be extremely straightforward but at the exact time just a little bit sophisticated if you dont find out how to begin it. To get the best targeted results, you need to do efficient resume search. A simple online search is going to result in a gigantic quantity of information about ways to compose a resume, how to design and style a resume, the best way to make an impression on businesses. At the peak of the resume is a list of someones skills and qualifications. You are able to use any of the above mentioned formats based on your need, but just be certain that the format you choose ought to promote your skills in the best way. Rather than having a work history section on top of your resume, you may have an expert experience or accomplishments section that lists various skills you have developed through the years. Any appropriate e xperience from the telecom industry is going to be a bonus. The Basic Facts of Types of Resume The majority of the writing has to be industry-specific and job youre applying for. Then clearly state why it is you are seeking the position. If you are looking for work. Resume writing services might be the thing you must locate a job that youve got applied for. There are three major types of resume formats. There are many kinds of formats offered but each ought to be used for individual jobs. The format should focus much on the experience in that specific area and minimize different issues which have a tendency to be personal. Hence its important to select a suitable format for an IT professional CV. Drafting a difficult resume can be an intimidating task. Application procedure is much enjoy a learning procedure. A. Functional resumes have often been called problem solving resumes in they enable you to organize your resume by functional skills rather than purely chronologi cal purchase. Extensive understanding of documentation is one for instance, that is quite much required and its crucial to project accordingly. Your email address needs to be professional. If youd like to learn more on the topic of professional resumes and cover letters, check out the website. If you dont locate a template that is particular to your job requirement, you can decide on the template that is made for a job very similar to the one that youre interested in. The ready-made templates are made to create the candidates job easy in addition to for assisting them and the recruiters into writing the resumes in a suitable format. The Chronicles of Types of Resume Including a profile is helpful for nearly every applicant. Importance Of A Proper Resume Template Your resume is the first thing which the HR of the business will get when you make an application for work. Allow it to be straightforward to navigate and find totally different elements of your social websites Exa mple Of 3 kinds Of Resume. Then, the free Example Of 3 sorts Of Resume will ask you to supply a fast summary of your abilities and talents.

How to Create a Winning Product - The Muse

How to Create a Winning Product - The MuseHow to Create a Winning Product Good ideas dont just happen. Theyre not sitting around waiting for you to come along and pluck them from obscurity. In reality, the process of bringing an idea to life takes serious dedication and hard work.At the medical technology company Stryker, for example, every product undergoes a period of research and development, followed by a concept phase where the engineering kollektiv sees if they can actually develop the product. Then comes proof of concept, where they test whether the idea is a viable product. Lastly, theres engineering, where theyre not only building the product, but fabricating the tools needed to develop it, a process that can take over a year.So what sparks an idea for a groundbreaking product or invention? And once youve had the idea, how do you maintain the grit and commitment to take it through to finished product?To find out, we spoke with Stryker Chief Engineer, Anish Paul, and Senior E ngineering Manager, Kristi Brunner, about what it takes to think up a winning idea and bring a product to market.Know Your CustomerThere are a number of catalysts for why a product gets created. Sometimes theres an obvious need in the market other times its an idea born out of research and development.We have a lot of ideas, but we like to focus on the customer, says Brunner. We have a process we call customer-centered design (CCD), and thats what we do to frame these design problems that were trying to solve. With CCD, youre building your products around a customers needs and their unique issues. In Strykers case, that means developing solutions for healthcare workers.Its very important for engineers to understand the market intimately, Paul adds. In his 15 years with Stryker, Paul has gotten to know his target customer through clinical observations, job shadowing, and even visiting with those customers and finding out firsthand what they need in order to do their job better.That k nowledge helped Paul and his colleague Paul Radgens develop the M-Series stretcher.A lot of what we do is to care for the caregiver so they can care for the patient, Paul explains. The big thing with patient handling is youve got, you know, a 100-pound nurse that has to manage a 700-pound patient at times. If you think of that, thats a pretty daunting task.Paul and Radgens realized that an electric powered stretcher would make it safer for healthcare providers to transport patients. And thats the ultimate goal, Paul says- making the lives of these caregivers better.Build Your A-TeamBuilding a product isnt a solo endeavor. A 13-year Stryker veteran, Brunner manages a team of 16 engineers, but there are also 50 cross-functional team members working on any given project.It can also take a great deal of time While Brunner has worked on several products during her tenure with the company, it took seven years to develop Power-Load.Launched in 2012, Power-Load is a cot fastener in an ambul ance that better secures the stretcher to the back of the vehicle so that it can withstand a crash. And with Power-Load, emergency workers no longer have to lift the stretcher into the ambulance the device does it for them, putting less stress on an EMTs back and eliminating potential drops.It was Brunners experience building innovative teams that helped guide this project through all its ups and downs. Its crucial to have a great team when you are working on a project that could take multiple years to complete, she explains, adding, You need to be able to leverage a teams strengths. Technical expertise varies based on the challenge we are facing, but generally I look for someone that has passion for our customers, is a self-motivator, and is accountable.For his part, Paul has found that co-location of team members ultimately leads to organic collaboration and communication, and it also helps with building strong relationships and empathy among co-workers.Last but definitely not lea st, Brunner says, I look at the team dynamic as a whole. Team collaboration is a must, and each player has a part in this.Be AdaptableWhen youre developing new products, what seemed like a great idea one day might be obsolete or redundant the next, and your focus could change. And that means youll have to stare down disappointment at some point.Change is an everyday thing, Paul says, and you have to accept the fact that what you worked on yesterday is probably not as relevant today. Its hard for a lot of people that have more of an operational mindset where its very structured, and they want task A to follow task B.If youre leading a team like Paul, you have to instill a mindset that new product development is about charting a new course and that they need to approach it as if they were pioneers.mora importantly, you need to be OK with failing.You need to fail often and early to get it right, Brunner says. You have to be OK with getting it wrong and making mistakes because youre goi ng to learn from those mistakes.When youre inventing something, you dont know what you dont know, and the path forward isnt very predictable in the beginning. Engineers are always going back to the drawing board and refining their work, constantly iterating the smallest details.You need to be resilient, Brunner adds. You need to be comfortable with the unknown and flexible to try something different but still focused on the best solution for the problem.See It ThroughBringing a product to life is never easy. One of the hardest parts of our job is that you have an idea in your head, and in order to make the world believe that idea, you have to have tremendous perseverance and tenacity, says Paul.You can scream and shout and flail your arms around, but no one sees the idea the way you see the idea, he adds. You dont just need to convince investors you believe in something- though that helps. You have to make the world believe it.The reality is that it will take years of hard work to b ring a product to market. But if you have the wherewithal and the passion to see an idea through, it can be an immensely rewarding experience for you and the consumers who enjoy your products.Its so motivating to see and know that something you worked on has made someones life better, Brunner says. I feel so fortunate to be able to have a role in saving someones life as my day job.

Top Job Search Tips For 2016

Top Job Search Tips For 2016Top Job Search Tips For 2016Executive job search need elend be a lengthy, convoluted path. In fact, you can achieve the shortest distance between point A and point B by making a straight line directly to the company and the hiring decision maker you need. Following are three strategies to optimize your job search for maximum results in minimum time.1. Shift your mindset from job search to company search.Job searching is a finite activity. Only a limited number of jobs will be advertised. If you apply for one (or two, or ten) and dont hear a response, those opportunities are over. If you interview and are not selected, that also is likely the end of the road.However, a company search uncovers practically infinite options. Build a list of ideal employers, perhaps based on distance from your home, company size, industry or corporate culture. Next, find out whats going on in those organizations. Google News can provide you with extensive, up-to-date insight on whether the company is launching a new product, opening a new division or achieving an industry honor. All these scenarios indicate the company is in growth mode, and organizations that are growing are the ones that need to top your list.2. Offer your value proposition, not just your resume.The best way to use what you uncover in Google News is to factor specific information into your approach to the company. Instead of sending your resume, which 99.9% of your competition is doing, craft a targeted value proposition letter that succinctly states you know what the organization is working on right now and your particular brand of expertise may constitute a solid match.The letter you write is not a place for fluff. Delete all fillers about being a dynamic executive, with extensive leadership success. Put some teeth into this prove your value by presenting quantifiable examples of your achievements, and make sure those accomplishments are on par with the level of impact your ideal comp any would likely be looking for.3. Approach the decision maker directly.Yes, this last step is easier said than done. However, devote some time to identifying and reaching several of the right decision makers, instead of the saatkorn amount of time to blasting your resume far and wide across the Internet, where it will likely reach either resume scanning software or basically nobody.Options abound online. To find out a persons name, Google the likely job title and the company, like this query for example, VP, Marketing IBM. You can conduct a similar search on LinkedIn. Invest in LinkedIn InMail in order to contact the person. GooglePlus and Twitter can be treasure troves, because these are the social media outlets where people place entire professional biographies about themselves, which are often rich with contact information.Every public library in every major city has a free database of business information and executive decision makers you can likely access that from your home computer.Searching for companies as opposed to jobs, offering your value proposition instead of your resume, and approaching the decision maker directly are all strategies when, put together, will sharply increase the likelihood that you land the ideal role you want much faster than your competition.

8 steps to take now to prepare for your next job

8 steps to take now to prepare for your next job8 steps to take now to prepare for your next jobFall is the perfect time to do some professional polishing up even if youre not ready to start looking for your next job just yet.But hey with hiring up and job satisfaction among millennials looking pretty bleak, now might be a good time to keep an eye out for greener pastures.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreTake these 8 steps nowto make sure youve got everything in buchen for whenever you do decide to make your next career move.1. Clarify your goals and audienceBefore you sit down to write your resume or polish up your online presence, pause and consider these two fundamentals of strategic communication what are your goals and who is your audience?Are you angling for a promotion? A raise? A new job? A total career shift altogether? Keep your eye on the prize throughout the next 7 steps.If youre feeling pulled in a million different directions (hello, fellow multi-passionate people I see you) or are feeling ambivalent about which path to start down, do some deep reflection with a self-assessment tool likethe Levo Thinking Talents Apporthe Bossed Up LifeTracker.Once youre grounded in your goals, consider your audience. Who are the stakeholders? The gatekeepers? The people you need to persuade to get to where you want to go? What do they love and what do they loathe? Keep reminding yourself what its like in their shoes and youll be irresistible to those youre wanting to woo.2. jupe your resumeNow that youre clear on your goals and audience, its time to take a crack at the all-important resume. Make sure your resume focuses on your fruchtwein relevant experiences, achievements, and skills as they relate to your goal.More is not always better. Keep it concise, clear, and focused on showcasing how perfect you would be for your dream position.Other superfluous exp eriences and skills might just be taking up space and adding to the clutter and chaos. Content matters, to be sure, but so does style. So keep things simple, embrace a healthy amount of whitespace, and take the time todesign a resume that helps you stand out.If youre navigating a career transition, consider ditching the traditional chronological format and opting fora skills-based resume instead, which can help showcase your transferable skills when making the leap.3. Write an objective meinungWith your goal and audience in mind, write a simple 1-to-2 sentence objective statement about who you are and what youre looking for. Even if you dont have space to include this in your resume, youll find this little paragraph comes in SUPER handy when writing future outreach emails, cover letters, and more. Think of this as your personal headline and tagline that spells outWho you areMid-level project manager with extensive digital communications skillsAnd what youre looking forseeks a fast-p aced gruppe environment with the opportunity to make creative contributions and take on strategic communications project management.This single sentence (or two) should leave a complete stranger understanding the basics of who you are, what youre good at, and what the must-haves are in the next opportunity youll take.4. Snap a new headshotIn todays digital job market, a shiny new headshot can have a bigger impact than you might think. And no, this isnt just relevant to Instagram models and life coaches.One of the biggest benefits youll experience from a polished, professional headshot is the increased visibility on social media. Facebook and LinkedIns algorithms LOVE sharing your new profile pic its baked into the algorithm and means that youre likely to get a flurry of attention when you update your photo there. Take advantage of that likelihood by updating your social media accounts with your new headshots around critical moments in your career.I recommend enlisting the help of a professional photographer to make your headshots session worthwhile, but that doesnt mean you need to break the bank.Watch my interview with my very own headshots photographerto gain insider tips and learn how professional portraits can boost your personal brand.5. Prep your online presenceNow that youve got a new set of snazzy headshots and wrote out your objective statement, its time to put them out into the world.For message continuity, add the same headshot and snippet of your objective statement to all your social media platforms. Go through and do a cleanse to make sure nothing youve posted would completely turn off prospective employers (or at the very least, lock up those privacy settings like woa). If you can, start sharing any recent projects or work achievements youre proud of as a subtle way to start showcasing your skills, too.If you want to keep your job search on the down low (because youre still collecting that paycheck from your soon-to-be former employer), I total ly get it Just leave out the part of your objective statement that lists what youre looking for next.Social media is a powerful tool for your professional brand.Use it.6. Learn to tell your storyAs you start to get out there and talk with other industry movers and shakers about your next moves, youre going to want to be comfortable sharing who you are and what youre looking for without putting people to sleep.Seriously, do not imitate a walking, reading resume. No one actually wants to hear you talk them through your chronological career path. Snooze.Instead, tell an actual story that explains who you are and what you value.7. Network likeaboss with 11 meetingsOnce youve practiced telling your personal story, put it work with effective networking meetings. Im a big believer inthis formula for 1-on-1 meetings that dont waste time.Focus on building relationships with mutual benefit, so prepare to share your story and hear from others about their motivations and current needs. Come wit h a clear ask in mind, but also be radically generous with whatever resources you have to spare.8. Start your search the smart wayWhen it comes time to officially start the search, make the most of those authentic relationships youve been building by explicitly asking folks to keep their ears to the ground for you and let you know what opportunities they hear about.Ask for feedback about how you might position yourself as an asset to the organizations youd love to work for. Ask for what skill-building courses, conferences, ortrainings, might leave you in a stronger position, too.Be persistent and seek out communities of accountability, courage, and support to keep you going through the slog of the often painfully slow search process.When you get your polished professional assets in place, are continuously growing your community, and position yourself as a strong candidate in the job market, its just a matter of time before you find your match.This article originally appeared on Boss edUp.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