Here is the best way you can study self-discipline

Here is the best way you can study self-disciplineHere is the best way you can study self-disciplineThe best way is your way.And you dont study self-discipline, you practice it.Its like swimming, you cannot learn it. You must get into the water and try to swim. Otherwise, you will never learn it.You must start some daily disciplines and keep doing them day after day after day. Thats how one becomes self-disciplined.However, you of course, should watch what others are doing and listen to their advice.Be a student, not a follower. Dont just go do what someone says. Take interest in what someone says, then debate it, ponder it and consider it from all angles. - Jim RohnJust dont follow them blindly. Draw your own conclusions.I will give you a handful of tips that worked for me. By any external metric, Im a self-disciplined man.For example, for the last 1532 days, every single day I did my short but insanely intensive (always to failure) morning workout. I never aimed to be self-discipl ined per se. It just happened.But I welches much worse in the past, so I think I learned some self-discipline without my conscious effort on this specific trait.Change your personal philosophy about self-disciplineFor most people, self-discipline is a drudgery. Its something to abhor. Its hard.If you approach self-confidence with that attitude, its fricking hard to develop it.Self-discipline is not hard at all. The lack of self-discipline is hard. Take a look at the chart belowThe Slight Edge chart.95% of people choose the path of little to no self-discipline. They automatically choose the path to failure as well. I have some life experience. While failures are very enlightening, they are nothing pleasurable. Especially, the whole full-out life failure is not pleasurable at all.I experienced what self-discipline is, and the lack of it. I tell you, the self-disciplined life is so much better. For 33 years, I exercised self-discipline only on a whim or when my back was to the wall.Neg lect vs. disciplineTake my finances, for example. For years, it was a source of misery for me, because I didnt exercise self-control and self-discipline in managing my money. I was able to save 23% of my salary a month, and then some major unexpected event occurred and I lost it all. Buying an apartment, buying the first car, repairing the car after I hit a tree, purchasing the first house Each of those events put my balance back to zero or below.I was sick of it. Finally, I found two small disciplines that taught me to save paying myself first and tracking my every expense. This second discipline was particularly pesky. I had to buy a grocery item, take out the notepad and jot down what I bought and for how much. Every single time YikesMy savings ratio over the yearsHowever, 5 years down the road of practicing this discipline, I have the most money in the bank account Ive ever had. I can quit my job if I want and live comfortably for 10 months from my savings. I can buy a new car f or cash. I can invest $1,700 into myself by joining the mastermind. Oh, wait a minute, Ive just done it the last monthInternalize delayed gratificationIf you lack self-discipline, you let neglect slip into each area of your life. Your health suffers, your relationships suffer, your finances are in shambles, and you blame God for all this (your spirituality suffers).Lack of self-discipline, in plain terms, is stupid. Self-discipline is smart. Do you want to be stupid?The stinky thinking about self-discipline comes from ignorance. When you are not disciplined, you know only the one part of the equation immediate gratification.Delayed gratification is so much better, but you dont have the relevant experience to realize that.If you say I realize, but, you dont really realize. You need internalized experience to understand what self-discipline can bring you.Nowadays, tracking my spending is not a nuisance its something Im looking forward to. I know the disciplines reward, and its so much better than neglect.ExtrapolateIf you dont know the reward yet, and you simply have no relevant experience to get to like self-discipline, leverage what you know. Extrapolate your current situation. This is what I had done with my finances. I had no idea what abundance meant, because I had never experienced it.But I knew exactly what financial struggles meant. So, I extrapolated my current situation 40 years into the future. I assumed that my current situation would last for the next few decades.Man, this was unbearable. The most optimistic scenario told that when I would be about to reach retirement age, I couldve paid off our small apartment and have an equivalent of $20,000 as the funds for the rest of my life.The realistic scenarios were much worse. I could envision our savings wiped out multiple times by some life drama and being an old bankrupt, one of those guys who need to take a McJob to survive at retirement.ImagineIf you have a rich imagination (I dont), you can imagine instead of extrapolate. Visualize and taste the fruits of self-discipline.What could you have achieved if you work hard every day? If you exercised every day? If you studied every day? How well your life would have looked? Would that be enough for you to put yourself together today to achieve a better future?Self-discipline is NOT an optionIts not an option, of course, if you want anything worthwhile from life. I never aimed to be self-disciplined. I wanted several different outcomes in my life (more money, freedom, health, better relationships, etc.) and I knew I need relevant habits to achieve those things. My train of thought was you wont have a habit if you dont show up every day. You wont have results, if you dont have a habit.You do what you have to. If self-discipline is an option for you, it will remain an option forever. Fix your personal philosophy.Be ready to pay the priceYesterday, I ate too many cakes. They were delicious. Ill pay the price. Tomorrow, I will fast the wh ole day.Self-discipline is always about the price.There are two types of pain you will go through in life, the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. - Jim RohnAnd the relevant reward.An immediate reward for lack of discipline is a fun day at the beach. A future reward of discipline is owning the beach. - Jim RohnYou cannot have the cake and eat the cake, but this is what we all have in mind when approaching any activity. Thats why people still spend millions on research on a weight loss pill.Can you imagine what a business such a pill would make? People could have eaten all the greasy and sweet stuff, take a pill and be thin. A wet dream of a marketer.But life doesnt work that way. If you want to eat a cake, you will pay the price in your self-image or at a gym. If you want to get better grades, earn more money or have better marriage, you need to pay the price as well.HabitsMy self-discipline has its root in my habits. I guess its the same for most other people.You see, our habits make us who we are. Its their fault if we are cowards or heroes, fat or thin, wise or dumb, persistent, or we drop a towel too quickly.Its not some mystical blabber. The etymology of the korrektsays that.Sages since ancient times were saying that. And current scientific research concluded that changing ones habits is the most reliable way to change yourself and your life.Developing self-discipline via daily habits is so natural. If you have something to do every day, excuses and procrastination wont cut the mustard. You have to show up. Self-discipline stops to be an option and becomes a must.SummarySelf-discipline was necessary for me. I didnt ruminate about it. I didnt try to learn it. I exercised it every single day to get my habits done. I had to show up. There was no other way to get what I wanted.Accept that there is no other way. Ditch instant gratification. Embrace delayed gratification. Focus on doing daily habits.For every disciplined effort, there are multiple rewa rds. - Jim RohnMichal Stawicki isa coachand self-published author writing about how to expand beyond your limits so you can regain control over your life (based on my personal experience).Thisarticlefirst appeared on Medium.

Rapid growth can cause chaos. Heres how to create a strong plan for scaling your team

Rapid growth can cause chaos. Heres how to create a strong plan for scaling yur teamRapid growth can cause chaos. Heres how to create a strong plan for scaling your teamWhen starting our latest venture, my co-founders and I knew that we wanted to scale fast. But Im really grateful we all agreed to sit down and figure outhowwe were going to do that in advance.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraIf you dont plan ahead, youre going to bring on the wrong team members, upset your current customers,ruin your cash flow, and wind up in a worse position than when you started scaling.I learned that the hard way several years ago while trying to scale a supplement geschftsleben. Our business ramped up in an instant, going from 100 orders a day to 10,000 a day. And initially, that seemed like an amazing accomplishment- until it all came crashing down because our system couldnt handle that volum e. Customers werent getting their orders on time, and the product wasnt in the right packaging. It was a mess.The silver lining was that I realized foresight is crucial for growing both quicklyandsustainably. Heres how to make aya your business can handle the boom you have in mindCreate a flexible plan for scalingYou need a roadmap of where youre going before you start gassing up the car.Your map needs to include the milestones that you want to achieve at reasonable intervals Heres when we hire a project manager. Heres when we expand our marketing efforts. But it should also be flexible enough to accommodate the unknown.Youll inevitably haveups and downs- situations you never expected.At ShipChain, for example, our team has a five-year plan for scaling. Weve also pivoted several times already and had to change our focus as we started getting feedback from customers. Sometimes, a goal that was on next years list needs to get done in the next three months- and vice versa.But we always have a workable plan in place that we adjust when necessary.If you dont know the route, find someone who doesOne of the best decisions our team made early on was hiring a tech lead before hiring any developers.She sat down and worked out a plan for scaling immediately, which included everything we needed to do to hit the milestones wed laid out for ourselves. Then, she hired the right specialists to help us reach those goals.If we hadnt hired her first, we probably would have wound up hiring a Python programmer, a back end developer, and a web developer all at once, just because we didnt know the best route to take.Entrepreneurstend to have the ready, fire, aim mentality. They realize they need to do more marketing, so they think, Okay, lets go get a bunch of marketers. But that kind of haphazard approach leads to chaotic, unsustainable growth.If you dont know exactly who you need to help you scale quickly, then your first step should be hiring someone who does.Make time to find a talented team that works well togetherFinding talented individuals isnt always difficult. The tough part is finding talented individuals who can workwelltogether.If you put together a massive team of highly-trained specialists, but theres no chemistry between them, youre going to have a problem. You need people who click with each other for true collaboration and an efficient work environment- two things you absolutely need to scale effectively.To check for the click, its a good idea for a candidate to meet some team members during the interview processIt gives you a chance to see how everyone will interact and whether or not that person will be a good fit for your company culture.Skills can always be taught. A mindset is very hard to change.Set up a strong training programYou cant scale unless you train all the new faces you bring on as you grow.It often takes weeks to get people into the flow of a new company and really understand their roles and their place on the team. So, make sure you have a program in place on day one for new hires to follow. Also, try to get them involved in activities and get-togethers outside of work to cut down on the amount of time they feel new.Youll need a plan for the people doing this training, as well. If you dont have a formal HR department, then the task is going to fall to current employees. Its asking a lot of people to train someone while still keeping up with their role, so make sure you figure out ahead of time how thats going to work.Have a strategy for sprintsRunning a high-growth company comes with a never-ending checklist. Sometimes, theres simply more work than can be handled in an eight-hour day.But you have to be careful about when and how you ask people to go the extra mile.People willburn outif you push them too hard for too long. Sometimes, you just need what developers call a sprint. Lets say somethinghasto be done by Friday, and its going to take 18-hour days for the next three days to make it happen. If tha ts what you have to do, thats what you have to do. But you also want to give people equivalent time off to balance that sprint. Give them a long weekend. Let them take Monday and Tuesday off if they just busted ass for 70 hours last week.You need to be strategic about when you step on the gas or your rapid growth may end up sputtering out as people start looking for other jobs.Scaling quickly can be exhilarating, but it has to be sustainable. If you havent spent time creating a strong foundation for growth, then you arentbuilding a business- youre building a house of cards.This article first appeared on Minutes.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

How much should you should save in every state for early retirement

How much should you should save in every state for early retirementHow much should you should save in every state for early retirementWho doesnt want to retire early?Theres a new movement among financial advisors called FIRE (Financial Independence / Retire Early). The basic idea is to live below what you could theoretically afford, so that you can maximize retirement savings and exit the workforce as soon as possible. So how much money would it really take to retire as early as 55 years old? What about 45, or even 35 years old? You might not need as much money as you think to retire early, according to our new set of maps. Depending on where you live, you could retire on as little as $1.5 million if youre 35 years old.Mississippi is the best state for early retirees, but Hawaii, California and New York are prohibitively expensive.GoBankingRatescollected the information from a few different sources. The researches started by figuring out the annual cost of living expenditures for peo ple at 35, 45 and 55 years old, which came to $69,034, $73,905 and $64,972 respectively. They then adjusted the cost of living on a state-by-state basis using data from theBureau of Labor Statistics 2017 Consumer Expenditure Surveyand theMissouri Economic Research and Information Center.They divided each states annual expenditures by .04, which is the tarif at which savers would draw down their accounts each year. The result is a total savings figure, or nest egg, for each state.Granted, there are a few things to keep in mind about the data behind our maps. For one thing, our figures presume a flat 4% withdrawal each year regardless of what the market does. Theres no adjustment for inflation, and theres no flexibility to change the withdrawal from year to year. We also make the assumption that your cost of living will stay constant. If you retire at age 35, you probably have 50 or more years left. In short, theres no doubt were simplifying reality for illustration purposes.Our serie s of color-coded maps highlight a few insights about saving for retirement. $1 million isnt nearly enough to last a lifetime, as we demonstrated in aprevious article. The South is cheaper than the Northeast and the West Coast, making it particularly attractive for retirees on a fixed income looking for warmer climates. Mississippi is the most affordable state in the country for all ages of retirees, and Hawaii is the most expensive.An interesting thing happens to Upper Midwestern states for older savers. From Wisconsin stretching west to Idaho, a number of states fall below $1.6M for early retirees aged 55, but not for 45- or 35-year-olds.. This means it gets relatively easier to retire the older you get in these states, both because youll have more time to save money, but youll also need a smaller nest egg to live comfortably. Financial independence doesnt always mean retirement, which itselfisnt funfor everyone. Instead, its knowing that youre financially secure no matter what the future brings.DataTable 1.1This article first appeared on HowMuch.

A Whole New City, A Whole New Industry

A Whole New City, A Whole New IndustryA Whole New City, A Whole New IndustryWhen creative professional Shannon Owen felt the job market slow down in Phoenix, she and her fianc headed to Columbus, Ohio for mora fertile marketing grounds.Moving for a new job is never an easy prospect. Shannon Owen had a house, a daughter and a fianc - not to mention the rest of her family - in Phoenix. When she welches laid off in March from her job as a Web designer for a small interactive marketing company, she welches lucky in some respects. A former colleague offered her a temporary lage filling in for someone on maternity leave. She didnt go a week without a paycheck.But Phoenix, and the rest of Arizona, has been hit hard in this economic downturn. And her field, marketing, has been hit hard all over the country.What I found so hard about being laid off was that I had always been an accomplished professional, she said. And all of a sudden, I was a statistic. The company went through a financial shift, and middle management got laid off - that was me.The right salaryMaking it more difficult was that she wasnt getting any response to her resume for higher-level positions - what few there were. Owen was applying to positions on job boards and getting very limited response to her resume. I was only hearing about jobs that paid $50,000 I was getting a little desperate, wondering if I should be applying for lower-level jobs.After a few weeks of disappointment, her fianc heard about Ladders and suggested she give MktgLadder a try. She checked it out and noticed jobs she wasnt seeing on the other job boards, so she signed up. She discovered the custom search tool could help her create custom searches for Phoenix, for the West Coast and for a national search. It was helpful to have those alerts, she said. Once I started using those alerts, I stopped going to the other job boards. I could focus my search.While Owen was grateful her temporary position afforded income she could coun t on for a few months, she also had to make time for her otherjob finding a full-time position. It was difficult to look for a job while holding down a temporary job, Owen said. I wouldnt spend time during the day doing a job search. I wanted to focus on doing a good job for this employer. Then I would go home at night and spend two hours looking through alerts, sending resumes. I spent a lot of time tracking what I had applied for, and who had contacted me.The right locationShe wanted desperately to stay in the Phoenix area, but it was becoming clear that she was going to have to make a move in order to find the type of position she wanted. In the end, it was the national search that came through first, with a company in Columbus, Ohio.It turned out that I had talked to this company, called Blue Diesel, a few years ago, about a job. I didnt take that job, but they are a part of a company, inVentiv Health, which does interactive marketing for health care, she said. Id never done hea lth care, but I knew it could be a good field to work in.The position she applied for, as an associate creative director in the new division, was at the same level as her previous position. After a series of interviews, including a trip to Columbus, she was offered a job as a senior art director. Im hoping to progress pretty quickly, she said. I need to get up to speed on health care, all the pharmaceutical lingo.And while it is difficult to leave Phoenix behind, her fianc is also looking forward to the adventure. My fianc was understanding while I was going through this process, she said. I told him where I was applying, and we discussed the parameters. He was laid off as well, and when I got back from Columbus after the interview, it was almost a sign that it was time to make a change. Hes a sculptor hes got some ideas for what he will be able to do for work, and hell start checking things out once we get there.Owen, who was talking about her job search while she packed boxes in p reparation for her move over Fourth of July weekend, said it was a big help that her new employer would be paying for relocation. Had they not offered to pay for relocation, I wouldnt have been able to make this move. Well be in corporate housing for two months, which gives us some time to look around.And Columbus appeals to her on a number of levels. I refused to go to New York or Chicago the cost of living was too high. With Columbus, the schools are good, the cost of living is reasonable, and that helped me with making a decision.Owen says she sees a lot of opportunity in Columbus. I have print experience, I have interactive experience. Im hoping to be a VP of creative for a company where I can do print and interactive. I think it will be a good move.

This is what it feels like to work for a startup after leaving a big corporation

This is what it feels like to work for a startup after leaving a big corporationThis is what it feels like to work for a startup after leaving a big corporationMost people leave the relative security of an established organization for a startup for one reason- they want to create a bigger impact.I worked at a larger tech company for almost a decade, but I transitioned to a startup in order to have more ownership, be part of the companys growth, and watch it succeed over time.And if youre looking for a real sense of ownership, I can tell you, theres no better place to find it than a company without enough employees to field a soccer gruppe. The fewer people there are, the more your voice - and your work - matters.Not all startups are created equal, but generally speaking, most allow room for incredible responsibility. Still, its a big transition, and you may experience a bit of culture shock when you first make the switch.Heres what youll want to be ready for when you leave an estab lished company for a startup1. Be prepared to pick up the paceThings move faster at a startup. A lot of that has to do with the size, but also the relative lack of processes youll encounter in the beginning.At a large company, processes are developed as a way to help the company grow without becoming unmanageable. But at some point, they actually begin to slow down the execution. A small company with fewer people will almost always have fewer processes in place. As it grows, more will be added. But initially, youll feel a real difference in the pace of work and the progress you make.However, this doesnt mean a startup is a chaotic mess. Processes are present but only to the extent needed.If you are coming from a bigger company, youre likely used to following many processes. Dont expect those to be replicated at the startup. A new process should be added only if it makes the team more efficient.2. Understand there are tradeoffs to being at a startupOne of the challenges of working at a startup is the limitations of your resources. A fifteen-person operation has to make compromises and choose between multiple appealing options.For instance, I welches helping the sales and support team when I first joined the team at Chronicled. We received many inquiries from enterprises asking if we could help them with a variety of issues they had. But it just wasnt feasible to help everyone.There were plenty of interesting opportunities that didnt fit our company strategy, and we had to turn them down.A startup has to manage their resources effectively, and that means not everything you plan will actually come to fruition. Sometimes, you just wont have the resources to expend on a project.3. Realize its not just about a job for most people.There are plenty of passionate people working in established companies, but youll also find many who view their work simply as a job. Its something they do from nine to five and then forget about when they go home.Theres nothing necessarily wrong with that, but its not the attitude youll encounter at a startup.When I go to work each day, I see people who really care about what they do and what they deliver. Whether its the product, the marketing, or even a slide deck, they want it to be very high quality. They go out on a limb to ensure theyre delivering the best possible results.So, make sure youve researched the company well to understand if youre actually interested in their vision. If youre committed, you probably wouldnt mind working 80 hours a week if there was a need. If you arent committed, then you wouldnt even enjoy the regular hours.It doesnt make any sense to join a startup if you arent enthusiastic about the company and their goals.4. Be ready to take on more responsibilities.The phrase, Thats not my job, shouldnt be part of your vocabulary if youre working at a startup.Youll almost certainly have more responsibilities than you would at a large company. Its actually one of the most exciting parts of worki ng for an early stage startup- you arent siloed into one function.For instance, I currently have four different responsibilities as part of my product management role, simply because Im part of a smaller team with fewer employees to handle tasks. At my previous job, we would have had four different people handling each of those areas.It can seem hectic at times, but a startup will provide you with more opportunities for taking ownership of something and making it your own.5. Know your voice will be heard and will help make decisions.Theres a difference in the structure of command when you work at a company with only 20 people. Strict, top-down control doesnt really work- and its not a winning strategy, either.A startup environment offers every employee the opportunity to make their voice heard, even if they disagree with a decision.Its important that you can be honest about your opinions. But that may mean hard discussions with senior leaders, which can be a new experience. At my fo rmer company, I would never have been a part of those talks because important discussions happened at the senior leadership level.Now, I have that opportunity. Im able to speak up, sell an idea, or offer constructive criticism. But thats what being in a startup boils down to- more opportunity for ownership, for responsibility, and for growth.6. Have fun and help shape the core company culture.A startups culture is generally shaped by the founders and their backgrounds. And youll likely have a chance to be part of the core team that defines it. Of course, this differs depending on whether youre joining a company with 20, 50 or 100 employees.If the company is very young, its culture likely hasnt been fully defined yet.You can help shape the culture and values by projecting what you believe in. Imagine youve been with a company for a few years and someone new is joining the team. You may be able to say, This is how our team trains here, and you could have been the leader who set it up. This is something you will never get to do at a big company, no matter how innovative it claims to be.While there are many more considerations to joining a startup, unterstellung are the main benefits to keep in mind if youre thinking about making the transition.This article was originally published on Quora.com.

Why Almost Everything Youve Learned About Functional Resume Template Is Wrong and What You Should Know

Why Almost Everything Youve Learned About Functional Resume Template Is Wrong and What You Should Know The Most Popular Functional Resume Template You are able to examine our Functional Resume Samplesto know more if it is acceptable that you use. Job searchers have a great deal of choices when it has to do with creating their resume. Functional resumes can differ from what the majority of recruiters will review, therefore its most effective to proceed with care. Functional and conventional resumes arent the only resume types to select from. Its possible to also binnensee Teacher Resumes. Functional resumes are primarily utilized to provide a strong influence on your abilities and abilities. They are very tricky and may or may not go well with the recruiters. A Functional Resume or Skills Resume is intended to highlight your abilities and accomplishments on top of your resume instead of grouping them below the jobs or positions which youve held as in a chronological resume. If you dont have sufficient work experience, you should earn a functional resume instead of a chronological one. Indirect work experiences are able to make your prospect employer select different applicants who have undergone jobs which are directly associated with the department or position that youre applying for. If you also happen to have the relevant abilities, but dont have a great deal of work experience in that specific area or industry, the functional resume format will do the job just fine. The two sorts of resume format are extremely different. Hybrid resumes take the best characteristics for every one of the other formats. No resume format is ideal, which means you might be better off picking another format in the event the disadvantages below feel like a huge deal to you. Definitions of Functional Resume Template If you can prevent utilizing a functional resume, you ought to. Crafting a strong stay-at-home-mum resume is not simply important, its mandatory You may also use our downloadable resume templates to have you started. Utilizing a template is fast, simple, and even enjoyable. What Is So Fascinating About Functional Resume Template? Unique varieties of sample resumes can be used depending on the area youre applying to. You should select the sample which is most suitable for the post you want to submit an application for. If youd like to see resume samples for a different business, you can view all our resume samples here. This sample functional resume is only an example to demonstrate the high quality and fashion of our professional resume writing services. Functional Resume Template the Ultimate Convenience A functional resume is a great alternative for individuals who have gaps in their professional experience. Regardless of the sort of resume, you will often offer the particulars of your last 11-15 decades of work experience. Therefore, its far better to highlight your abilities and the simple fact which you have acqu ired multiple talents, as opposed to drawing attention to how youve jumped from place to position. The primary purpose of writing a functional resume is to hide the simple fact that youve got imperfect work experience, or since youre transferring industries. Everyone knows that having a nice and professional resume helps us to locate a good job. Finding a job as an ex-offender may end up being a challenge, but there are lots of ways which you can find assist. Functional resumes are perfect for individuals who dont have a great deal of work experience regarding the job they are applying for. There are lots of reasons why a functional resume might be proper for you. Though there might be gaps in your work experience, for example, work youve done can be beneficial for employersespecially when relevant to the position. If a business receives multiple resumes from various recruiting companies they often dismiss the application. Recruiters and hiring managers are aware that the fu nctional format is often utilized to attempt to deckblatt up detrimental facets in a candidates past. Read below to learn more on a functional resume, including how its unique, and when to utilize it. The lesser-known functional resume can be an excellent alternative for certain positions requiring many technical abilities or for particular candidates with plenty of potential. Alternatives would consist of listing any extra training received by the applicant. There are lots of other options.

3 Hiring Strategies That No Longer Work - Spark Hire

3 Hiring Strategies That No Longer Work - Spark HireHiring top talent has become more challenging for companies over the past several years. Gone are the days when you could post a job advertisement and immediately be flooded with resumes of experts.Today, companies must become more creative with their hiring strategies by considering what no longer works and how to improve and modernize.Posting Job AdvertisementsAs referenced on LinkedIn Talent Blog, posting a job advertisement on job boards is no longer a strong recruiting strategy. There are so many job postings on the career boards. Some of these postings are even scams, which may deter top talent from referencing job boards as frequently as they did in the past.Likewise, posting job openings to newspapers no longer works. The top talent you are looking for is more than likely elend browsing the local daily for job opportunities.Instead of job postings, make sure you have someone devoted to hunting for the talent you need. This c ould be someone in your Human Resources department or a Recruiting Professional from an external resource. Either way, it is important that your company is focused on going out in search of top talent, rather than waiting for talent to come to you.Focusing on Money to Entice Top TalentNo longer is top talent only concerned about salary, as stated on LinkedIn Talent Blog. It is highly ineffective to believe that you can post and advertise high salary in hopes that you can coerce top talent to leave a current job to work for you.Todays top talent is looking for not only great compensation, but also excellent benefits, retirement plans, flexible schedules, and strong company culture. Take a look at your company culture and determine why someone would want to work at your company. Make sure that your employer brand effectively communicates all of the tangible, as well as intangible benefits of working at your company.Only Working with Contingent RecruitersTodays recruiters are overwhelm ed with the number of job openings they are recruiting for. Many contingent recruiters are juggling 20 or more job openings at one time, knowing that some of them will not close. When recruiters are faced with this realization, they must spread their focus across many different positions at once, in hopes that some of them will close in order to receive payment. This means you run the risk of your opening playing second fiddle to others.Wouldnt you rather know that your position is receiving a recruiters full attention and focus? Consider retaining a recruiter to hunt for the talent you need. Yes, you will pay a fee up front. However, this fee demonstrates your seriousness to the recruiter. This gives your opening a better chance to receive full recruiting attention, resulting in faster and quality results.Modernizing your hiring strategies is not difficult, but it does require that you get creative with any advertisements and how you are going about finding and attracting top talen t.What are some ways you have modernized your company hiring strategy in the last several years? Please share your tips and recommendations in the comments below.namen Jakub Jirsak/Bigstock.com

AFSC 3S2X1 Education and Training Specialist

AFSC 3S2X1 Education and Training SpecialistAFSC 3S2X1 Education and Training SpecialistThese airmen oversee all the education and training programs for maintenance, operations, and support personnel across the Air Force. They prepare education services and develop curriculum and instructor activities, and in many cases administer the training courses themselves. The Air Force categorizes this job as Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) 3S2X1. Duties of Air Force Education and Training Specialists These airmen develop and evaluate education and training programs in departments across the Air Force. They develop and validate the standards by which airmen in many facets of the service are trained, and they determine whether existing courses and programs are adequate. They also collect and analyze job performance data, conduct occupational analysis surveys and compare individual knowledge and skills with job standards. Its up to them to determine the most cost-effective method to deliver Air Force training and education programs, and to choose instructional design, methods and media. In addition, these airmen recommend actions to correct any deficiencies in education and training programs, and they oversee evaluations and surveys. Theyre constantly revising programs and instruction, coordinating user feedback with career field managers and education and training providers. And ultimately, they administer education and training programs, serving as program managers for offsite and onsite training. Qualifying for AFSC 3S2X1 Education Specialist To be eligible for this job, youll need a high school diploma or its equivalent. You have to have normal color vision and depth perception and need to have a state drivers license in case you need to drive government vehicles. Like all recruits to the Air Force and other branches of the U.S. military, youll take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) tests. Education and training specialists need a score of 59 in the general (G) qualification area of the ASVAB, which is a composite score based on the Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension and Arithmetic Reasoning sub-tests of the ASVAB. There is no Department of Defense security clearance required for this job, and U.S. citizenship is bedrngnis a prerequisite. Training as an Air Force Education and Training Specialist Following basic training and Airmans Week, airmen in this job spend 38 days in technical training at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. Youll learn the basics of developing curricula in line with Air Force and Department of Defense protocols, and how to be an instructor for airmen. Civilian Equivalents to Air Force Education and Training Specialists Youll need additional training and certification to become a teacher, but this job will prepare you for some of what youll need to know. The skills you learn will help you qualify for project manager, curriculum development and training proctor jobs in the private sec tor. Youll also be well prepared if youre interested in tutoring or offering informal instruction.

How to Stop Being a Doormat at Work - The Muse

How to Stop Being a Doormat at Work - The MuseHow to Stop Being a Doormat at Work A contributing employee. A strong team player. A go-getter.Yes, theyre all positive and desirable qualities- particularly in a work setting. In fact, theyre all things that employers actively look for when combing through candidates for a position.But, we all know tzu siches a line here, and its all too easy to cross. Suddenly, you transition from being seen as helpful and supportive to being viewed as your offices nicht auslagerbar pushover. Instead of feeling like youre offering significant value, you find yourself with everyone elses busy work piled on your own desk. You want to be accommodating and cooperative, but ideally you could do that without opening up an invitation to be walked all over.I know that this can be a fine line to tow. Believe me, Ive been there. But, its manageable Here are four tips to successfully walk that tightrope between being a doer and a total doormat. 1. Know Your Own Re sponsibilitiesWhen youre on the clock, whats your main responsibility? To get your work done. Your is the keyword there. Youre in the office to take care of your tasks and responsibilities- not necessarily everybody elses.Now, theres nothing wrong with being helpful, and you never want to be the person who belligerently shouts, Thats not my job all over the office. However, you need to remember that your own work comes first- no matter how selfish that seems. You shouldnt push your own to-dos to the backburner in favor of helping someone else out. So, sit down and determine where your responsibilities end and another persons start. You likely already have a good handle on this (and have just been ignoring your own hesitations), but go ahead and ask your coach if youre confused on whether or not something is truly your piece of the puzzle. This will not only help you in prioritizing your to-do list ahead of everyone elses, but will also allow you to determine if you even have the ban dwidth to help with additional projects. 2. Speak UpYes, this is the tough part- especially if youve established a reputation in your workplace as a timid easy mark whos eager to please. But, if you truly want to change your experience, then you need to first change your behavior.How do you do this? Start small by providing your opinion in a team meeting, particularly if you think you have a suggestion for an area or responsibility where someone else in your department could really shine. It gets that load off your plate in a constructive and complementary way. And, by all means, take credit for your own work. If you put in the time and effort, you deserve some recognition. That doesnt make you anmaend or greedy- it makes you human.Finally, the most important point Learn to say no. I know that this can seem unnatural and uncomfortable if youve grown used to being a yes person. But, its a critical skill if youre going to start turning things around. As mentioned above, jotting down w hat responsibilities fall under your job description should help greatly with this. Itll make it easier to turn people down (and provide some solid, fallback justification)- at least until you have your own specific tasks crossed off your list. 3. Establish GuidelinesSometimes I think that team projects were invented as a tool to force one person to carry the entire load- particularly if youre the one most dedicated to getting the job done well. After all, unless someone tattles, your boss will likely never know if one employee took care of absolutely everything while the others kicked their feet up on their desks and relaxed.This is why its so important to set boundaries with your colleagues early on. Make it crystal clear who is responsible for what portion of the project, including specific tasks and deadlines. Beyond that? You should also emphasize what will happen if those requirements arent met. Explain that your team wont band together to sweep that co-workers laziness under the rug and take care of that duty yourselves in an effort to save face in front of your boss. Instead, youll share with your supervisor exactly why that portion of the project remains incomplete.Yes, it seems a little brutal and cutthroat. But, if you stick with your standard method of picking up that persons mess and carrying on, youre just right back where you started. And, that irresponsible team member will likely never change his or her ways. Of course, its important to have some understanding here. Things come up that are beyond peoples control- such as a sick day or a personal crisis. But, your team should operate with the understanding that each person is responsible for his or her individual piece, barring any serious complications. 4. Stand FirmWhen youre trying to change others perceptions of you, consistency is key. After all, youll only look weak and uncertain if you start with a firm refusal only to eventually be worn down and talked into handling someone elses work a nyway. Even your strongest No will always mean, Well, maybe. So, once youve set these rules for yourself, its important that you make an effort to stick with them. People will begin to respect your opinions and convictions, and your final answer will finally be seen as just that- your final answer. Theres nothing wrong with wanting to be a supportive and contributing team member. In fact, I encourage it. But, everybody soon realizes that theres a pretty big difference between being nice and way too nice. You want to be viewed as a peer and an equal- not a doormat. So, use these four quick tips, and youll finally be on a level playing field with your colleagues- rather than constantly under their feet.

Wearable Robot Helps Children Walk

Wearable Robot Helps Children Walk Wearable Robot Helps Children Walk Wearable Robot Helps Children WalkResearchers from the University of Toronto have created a wearable robot that gives wheelchair-bound children the ability to walk. The Trexo, as they call it, looks like a sleek, custom-made walker, with a few robotic joints. Those joints help children, who would otherwise never take a stride on their own, put one foot in front of the other.Founders Manmeet Maggu, Trexo Robotics CEO, and Rahul Udasi, the companys CTO, came up with the idea as students and eventually started their own business to design, manufacture and market their robot walker. Bringing the Trexo from student vision to marketable medical device has been a long process. Rahul Udasi (l) and Manmeet Maggu found that designing the Trexo was easier than bringing it to market. Image Trexo RoboticsThe two robotics engineers honigwein while studying mechatronicsat the University of Waterloo. In 2011, Maggu learned his four-month-old nephew had cerebral palsy and would likely never walk.That was a turning point, he says. We started looking into it and realized that being in a wheel chair for your entire life can have some negative consequences. Those can include blood clots, muscle degeneration, and kidney failure. We wanted to help my nephew get out of the wheelchair.A robotic device to help kids do that had already been invented. The only problem was that there were only two in Canada, and they cost $500,000. Its not really accessible to most families out there, including mine, Maggu says. So he set out to fix that.The pair decided to go back to school to develop a prototype of the kind of walker they had in mind. They both matriculated at the University of Toronto, where Udasi went for a masters degree in the robotics department while Maggu pursued an MBA. The university has many accelerators to help students create startups while in school. Maggu and Udasi were able to win grants a nd prizesfirst prize from the universitys Entrepreneurship Hatchery, first prize from the Help Edge competition, and a grant from the Ontario Brain instituteto the tune of $80,000.With ansicht funds they were able to complete their first prototype. They took it straight to India so that Maggus nephew, now eight, could give it a try.When he got in it he gave a smile, and I knew he was enjoying it. Manmeet Maggu, Trexo Robotics CEOThey started him off with an air gait where he could practice moving his legs with the robot suspended above the ground. Over several sessions he learned enough to traverse the room. The boys parents were absolutely thrilled.Want to advance your engineering career? These 12 skills will help you do it.But there was much work to be done. The actuation system on the first prototype was fairly basic, among other issues. There was a lot we had to rethink, Maggu says.First there was the issue of size. Would they have a different walker for different age groups? Wo uld it be able to adjust over time? Could they get the necessary power in a compact design? Then there was the issue of software and control, which was difficult because, as Maggu puts it simply, Different children have different difficulties.mora crucial than any of that was the issue of comfort.It cannot be stressed enough how important it is, says Maggu. Using a device for 30 minutesor an hour or twothe smallest discomfort can really amplify. You could build the most amazing technology, but if it isnt comfortable and usable, it will not work. One by one, the pair knocked out these problems. They created two sizes of the Trexo, one for three- to six-year-olds, and another for six- to twelve-year-olds. Both have telescoping legs and adjustable waist and arms supports so the walkers can grow with the children. They worked with an ergonomics expert to create removable padding shaped to meet the comfort needs of children of different sizes and with different challenges. They streamlin ed the walker to make sure it would fit any place deemed wheelchair accessible. They powered the walker with a battery and further developed the software and control system to better detect a childs intent.The result is a robot that looks like a walker for the elderly with two dangling legs between the handles. Those legs have actuators at the hips and knees (the ankles remain passive). Straps and cushions abound.Having made their walker a useable reality, they had to make it a commercial reality. The duo joined Techstars, one of many programs that help young entrepreneurs, which helped them define their business model, taught them how to build their business, and connected them with investors. That definitely helped us tremendously, Maggu says. The company was nominated for the Best New Startup award in the Canadian Innovation Awards.The Trexo has now been approved by Health Canada, and the company is getting ready to go commercial. But they need to fine-tune the software and zustr om a few more tests before they hit the market. The two are also working with the Cincinnati Childrens hospital to create a pilot study. Theyll also be trying to get the walker approved by the Federal Drug Administration.A lot of work and thought has to go into that as well, Maggu says. Building the device is easier.Michael Abrams is an independent writer.More inspiring stories from the wide world of engineeringSpeeding Up 3D Printing by a LotWaste Heat Recovery Revolutionizes Diesel Engines For Further Discussion