How to Think Like Successful Entrepreneurs

How to Think Like Successful Entrepreneurs How to Think Like Successful Entrepreneurs How to Think Like Successful Entrepreneurs A. Schlesinger and Charles F. Kiefer with Paul B. Brown Excerpted from Just Start: Take Action, Embrace Uncertainty, Create the Future.Copyright 2012 Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved. When people write about entrepreneurs they invariably focus on their behavior: what Howard Schultz or Michael Dell did in building their companies. If you take that approach, you probably would conclude that every single entrepreneur is unique, so there is little to be learned from studying them; you would have to be Howard Schultz to start Starbucks and Michael Dell to start Dell. Enter our friend Saras D. Sarasvathy, professor at the University of Virginias Darden School of Business. (We are huge fans of Sarasvathys work.) How Successful Entrepreneurs Think Early in her work, she made a fascinating discovery, one that ran counter to the conventional wisdom. Sarasvathy studied serial entrepreneurs, people who have started two or more companies successfully. But instead of looking at the behavior of entrepreneurs which is indeed unique Sarasvathy focused on how they think. There she found amazing similarities in how they reasoned, approached obstacles, and took advantage of opportunities. Yes, of course, there were variations. But the basic approach, as she understood it, was always the same. In the face of an unknown future, entrepreneurs act. More specifically, they: 1.Take a small, smart step forward; 2. Pause to see what they learned by doing so; and 3.Build that learning into what they do next. This process of act, learn, build, as we came to think about it, repeats until entrepreneurs are happy with the result, or they decide that they dont want to (or cant afford to) continue. Prediction Versus Creaction When we set out to see if the way serial entrepreneurs think would work for everyone, we werent looking to replace Prediction. There were two reasons we werent. Prediction works really well when the future can realistically be expected to be similar to the past, and since we are advocating smart steps, it certainly isnt smart to discard something that works well in a specific situation. Sarasvathys research shows that entrepreneurs continue to use Prediction effectively in the situations where it works well, that is, in the places where it is logical to assume that the future will be a lot like what has come before. So, we were not looking to replace Prediction. Rather, we wanted to know whether the logic entrepreneurs employ when they face the unknown we came to think of it as Creaction would work for everyone else when the future is essentially unknowable. In other words, we wanted to know if Creaction could be used to complement Prediction in everyday situations that we frequently find ourselves in (Can I convince the town to add a bicycle lane downtown? Will anyone buy what I have to sell, if I start a company? Would I be happy chucking it all to join the Peace Corps?) We found that the entrepreneurial logic works in business and potentially elsewhere. You can use this way of thinking to complement the kind of reasoning you have already been taught an additional way of thinking that can help you deal with high levels of uncertainty no matter what kind of situation you face. Three Steps to Creaction What exactly is Creaction? Well, to start, it is based on acting and creating evidence, as contrasted with thinking and analysis. Heres one way to think about that pivotal difference. A dancer dances. Substituting thinking for dancing doesnt work. If all you do is think, you end up just thinking about dancing. There is nothing to show for that thought. Thinking is often a part of creating, but without action, nothing is created. This is true for even very intellectual, cerebral fields. For a task to be considered creating, you must publish, teach, or whatever. Daydreaming by itself is not creating. How does Creaction play out in practice? How does it help us deal with uncertainty? The process has three parts, which repeat until you have reached your goal or decide you no longer want to. 1.Desire. Find or think of something you want. You dont need a lot of passion; you only need sufficient desire to get started. (I really want to start a restaurant, but I havent a clue if I will ever be able to open one.) 2. Take a smart step as quickly as you can. As you will see, a smart step has its own three-part logic as well. Act quickly with the means at hand i.e. what you know, who you know, and anything else thats available. (I know a great chef, and if I beg all my family and friends to back me, I might have enough money to open a place.) Stay within your acceptable loss. Make sure the cost of that smart step (in terms of time, money, reputation, and so on) is never more than you are willing to lose should things not work out. Bring others along to acquire more resources; spread the risk, and confirm the quality of your idea. 3. Build on what you have learned from taking that step. Every time you act, reality changes. In other words, when facing the unknown, act your way into the future that you desire; dont think your way into it. Thinking does not change reality, nor does it necessarily lead to any learning. Author Bios: Leonard A. Schlesinger is the twelfth president of Babson College, widely recognized as the worlds leading educational institution for entrepreneurship. He formerly served as vice chairman and chief operating officer of Limited Brands. Charles F. Kieffer is president of Innovation Associates and a regular advisor to global companies on leveraging the human side of their enterprises. Paul B. Brown is a long-time contributor to the New York Times and a former writer and editor for Businessweek, Financial World, Forbes and Inc.

How Employers Can Encourage Healthy Food Choices at Work

How Employers Can Encourage Healthy Food Choices at Work How Employers Can Encourage Healthy Food Choices at Work Think that your employees are interested in healthier food choices at work? They are- as long as you dont appear to be eliminating their other options. Providing nutritional food choices for employees at work is controversial among employees. But, it may assist with employee wellness even though you should never force nutritional food choices on employees. When is the last time you were offered a doughnut at a morning meeting? Healthier food and beverage choices may- just maybe- becoming more widespread in workplaces. Workplace Stories about Healthy Food Choices Several client companies provide a free lunch once a week and supply all beverages at work free of charge to employees. At one office, the vegetarian choice for the free Friday lunches is always heavily subscribed. But, when the final employees arrive for lunch, the vegetarian choices are often all that remain. And, when you look at the lunches that are consistently left-over, the meat-free options top the list. Do employees delude themselves into thinking healthy thoughts, and then, when presented with the reality at the lunch, go for the meat- usually another employees choice? In another company, as part of an effort to gauge employee interest in wellness activities, an employee team asked other employees about whether they desired more nutritious beverage choices. Pop, flavored water, coffee, and tea were their current choices. You would not believe the uproar, which even asking the question, caused. Employees were convinced that the food police were going to replace their favorite Coke, Pepsi, and Starbucks coffee with fruit juices and water. Such an uproar over a seemingly small issue surprised the team  but understand, the employee team was messing with the other employees 18 inches of personal space, that hypothetical area that surrounds each person. Employees 18 of Personal Space In this personal space, youll find what employees eat, what employees wear, and what employees are required to do, such as punch a time clock or sign in at the office when arriving at work. Nothing upsets employees more than when they believe that someone is interfering with their personal rights and space. This personal space issue is why dress codes are notoriously difficult to introduce.   The cubicle police are regarded by some employees as slayers of employee self-expression; other employees bless the day on which the pyramids of pop cans disappear. As you seek wellness options for employees, for best success, remember the significance of their 18 inches of space. Healthy Food Options in the Workplace According to a survey about healthy eating choices at work, commissioned by the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM): The poll found responsive organizations giving their diverse community of employees what they want and need- a wide array of food options, said Mark Schmit, director of research at SHRM. HR professionals walk a fine line between creating initiatives to help employees and acting like the food police. Ultimately, the proactive approach to creating both formal and informal initiatives that support health and wellness, has been shown to have positive impacts on employees lives and organizations bottom lines. More than half the employers surveyed do promote healthy food and beverage choices by: providing healthy choices for company meetings, parties, and events;providing healthier food options in office cafeterias; andadding wholesome food options to vending machines. At the same time, nearly two-thirds of HR professionals surveyed do not think it is their responsibility to regulate employee food and beverage choices. The study found that employers in the Midwest (49 percent) were more likely than organizations in the West (29 percent) to have formal or informal policies promoting healthier food and drink options at work. Larger companies and multinationals were more likely to offer these wellness choices. Given the choices made daily by Americans who prefer French fries to vegetables by a large margin, anything an employer can do to help can make a difference in employee eating choices. Did you know that salad consumption, as the main course at restaurants for lunch or dinner, has sunk by half since 1989 to 5 percent? The, now recommended, nine servings of vegetables a day for people eating 2000 calories, is nothing but a distant dream, according to Kim Severson, writing for The New York Times in Told to Eat Its Vegetables, America Orders Fries. This is shocking. But, consider the opportunity that you have for your next employee luncheon. Offer a variety of dark green, leafy lettuces with toppings that include vegetables, cheese, and meats; dressings with several low-fat choices; and crusty bakery bread  with peanut butter, jelly, and butter. You cant (and you shouldnt) try to control employee eating choices at work, but you can offer options that give everyone healthy choices. The rest is up to them.

17 creative weekend routines for a happier, more successful week

17 creative weekend routines for a happier, more successful week 17 creative weekend routines for a happier, more successful week Your weekend  routine  can often  set the tone  for your upcoming week, so it’s important to spend your time doing what  recharges you.Oprah Winfrey, for instance, has said: “I always give myself Sundays as a spiritual base of renewal - a day when I do absolutely nothing. I sit in my jammies or take a walk, and I allow myself time to BE - capital B-E - with myself.”We asked the  Thrive Global community  what they choose to do to prepare for a happier week ahead, and we’re seriously inspired to try a few of these fun, calming and downright creative weekend rituals. Pet-itation anyone?Stargaze“On the weekends, I look forward to an evening walk to observe the stars. Late in the evening, we bring along one device and use a stargazing app to locate planets, constellations, satellites and the International Space Station. The world fades away as we look to the skies, and our hassles seem less important when beholding the big picture. It’s our own form of grounding for the wee k ahead.”- Marti Ouellette, life and business coach, Phoenix, AZDeclutter your home“I love to get chores done! Working from home can make it really hard to keep a routine, but knowing that I’ve cleaned on Saturday mornings prepares me mentally for the week. It’s amazing how much clearer my head is for the week when my home is clean. Working in a cluttered home makes my whole week feel scattered!”- Michaell Johnson, blogger, Los Angeles, CAKeep calm and watch rom-coms“On the weekends, I like to keep calm and watch rom-coms. My Saturday mornings start at about 8 a.m. I wake up to a glass of water and write for a couple hours. But once that session is over, the onslaught of binging romantic comedies begins. It makes me smile, keeps things lighthearted and puts everything in a strange kind of perspective. A world with rom-coms can’t possibly be all bad.”- Kern Carter, writer and author, Toronto, CATry device-free Sundays“Weekends are gas in the tank for my week. Every dinner at our house is device-free, but we try to add to the equanimity by having a device-free Sunday. That just creates more space for naps, games and long walks. We don’t always stick to our ideals, but we give it our best every week.”- Donna Carlson, life coach, Monument, COPrep your meals“When it comes to preparing for the week ahead, I love to meal prep. Shopping, cooking and packing for the week ahead is not only a time saver, it’s also a health saver. Having meals prepared in advance that can either be eaten on the go, heated up or frozen until later in the week saves precious time and money. It also reduces the urge to grab stress fillers or meals that won’t fuel you properly. Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live in.”- Joshua Miller, author and executive coach, New York, NYTake a solo nature walk“My weekend routine that makes my weekend happier is a solo walk by the lake - usually taking photographs. As we move into the autumn season , the colors are so very beautiful.”- Karina Saakyan, journal development specialist, Lausanne, SwitzerlandPut away the to-dos“During the week, there is always something lingering that  needs  to be done. I used to spend time relaxing and then the whole time felt anxious about everything else I ‘should’ be doing. That killed any chance of feeling refreshed. Eventually I realized that recharge time, whether it’s extra time strolling in the park, in front of the TV or curled up with a good book, has to be prioritized equally as getting work tasks done, or you’ll never feel rested.”- Allison Graham, keynote speaker, author, business coach, Ontario, CanadaEnjoy an at-home happy hour“My weekend routine is all about time with the people I love most. Fridays I enjoy HHH (home happy hour) with my husband. We throw on records, open a yummy bottle of wine and sit outside on the patio with our pups to discuss our week. It’s a great opportunity to reconnect after a busy week o f brief encounters.”- Caitlin Root, strategic account executive, San Diego, CAExercise with your family“One of my best weekend routines is a Saturday morning at the gym. Our gym does a great Kids Fit club, so my husband, my 6-year-old daughter and I all go off to the gym and do our own thing. Sometimes I’ll spin, sometimes yoga, sometimes weights. Once we’ve finished our classes or workout, we come back together for a quick snack and then hit the pool for a swim and a play. By lunchtime, we’ve got a good work out in and shared some quality time together.”- Angharad Boyson, coach, Lincoln, UKQuiet the work-talk“I like to keep Sunday evening work-free, to make sure I’m really ready for Monday. I always make sure there is time out on Sunday. As soon as we’ve had Sunday dinner as a family there is no work/school talk, a complete switch off. Allowing time for us all to unwind before the week starts again on Monday and keep the weeks apart.”- Tina McDonald, youth caree r coach and leadership facilitator, UKKeep it unscheduled“On the weekends, it is important for me to have unscheduled recreation. I love live music, dancing and the great outdoors, so my weekend rituals include these at some point. My intention is to not be scheduled with these right brained activities, and the truth is these activities fuel my spirit. By allowing my unscheduled passions to happen on the weekend, I feel more creative and open as the week unfolds.”- Cathy Reinhold, business coaching, Houston, TXTry “plogging”“I recently replaced jogging with ‘plogging’ - picking up litter while I run. I thought the stopping and stooping would annoy me, but the burn in my leg muscles from lunging and squatting tells me I’m working them, which is satisfying. However modest the effect on the environment, it takes no extra time, makes me more fit and helps clean our world.”- Joshua Spodek, author, speaker, and professor of leadership, New York, NYPet-itate“Beyond qua lity time spent with friends and family on weekends, I have a Sunday evening ritual that sets the tone for my week. I meditate with my dog. It sounds silly but it is a sort of bonding experience for us; sitting in silence, no disturbances or distractions - just a moment in time to reconnect, relax from an active weekend and set intentions for the upcoming week.”- Jennifer Giamo, health and fitness expert, New York, NYTake a restorative bath“Every Sunday evening I begin my bath ritual in a way most people wouldn’t define as relaxing: I grab a Clorox wipe and clean my bathroom sink and tub. Clearing the space of empty shampoo bottles, soap slivers and rusted razor blades is the first step in relaxing for any recovering perfectionist. Once the space is prepped, I fill the bath with epsom salts, light scented candles and fire up my classical piano for relaxation station. During the bath I make a point to be mindful of my body and connect to it.”- Rebekah Storm, body confidence coach, MNCelebrate your successes“Every Sunday evening, I take some time to celebrate my successes from the week. Sometimes there is a lot to celebrate, sometimes less but there is always something. I recommend listening to a relaxing soundtrack, closing your eyes and reflecting on all the good things that have happened during the week. Ending the week on a positive note helps me to start the next week happier.”- Yasmina Hedhli, life and executive coach, London, UKWrite in a bullet journal“Every Sunday evening, I take one hour to go though the following in my bullet journal for the upcoming week: Last week’s accomplishments, my remaining to dos, upcoming priorities and important events. I also ask myself, ‘What did I learn from last week?’ This routine keeps me on track with what actually matters in my life.”- Marie Claire Bourque, MD, FRCPC psychiatrist, Calgary, CanadaConnect with the outdoors â€" and your creativity“My routine is to go one day on the weekend techn ology-free, without my iPhone or laptop. I avoid tech as much as possible working on weekends, as this is my family time. Instead, I try to incorporate something that rejuvenates and opens my mind to allow my creative energy to flow, such as a visit to the beach to take in fresh air.”- Anne Clark, business and life coach, Melbourne, AustraliaThis article was originally published on Thrive Global.

This Is How Successful People Read a Book (and Make Themselves Smarter)

This Is How Successful People Read a Book (and Make Themselves Smarter) This Is How Successful People Read a Book (and Make Themselves Smarter) I think we’ve all had that moment when we’ve flipped the last page of a book, sat back, and thought, “What the hell did I just read?” Reading and being able to use what you’ve read are completely different things. Without purpose and intention, the knowledge gained and ideas sparked easily slip away. Learning to hold onto them means understanding how our memory works. For the purposes of retention, we can think of our memory as being basically made up of three components: impression, association, and repetition. I’m going to run through how to make sure you’re using all three of these components while reading, and then look at how some of the best creative minds do it and use what they’ve learned to their advantage. Impression: Read to Be Impressed (and to Impress Others) When you’re impressed by something, there’s a much higher probability that you’ll remember it. This could mean a phrase or quote that catches you off guard or changes the way you think about a certain topic. Or, an interesting fact that you’ll want to teach someone later on. Just like a teacher is able to master a subject because they know they’ll be teaching it later on, attacking a book with the same level of purpose means you’ll be able to recall information a lot quicker. A recent study in the journal Memory Cognition showed the effect that reading with intention and purpose can have. Two groups were given the same material- one was told they’d have a test at the end, while the others were told they’d have to teach someone the material. In the end, both groups were given the same test. Surprisingly, the group that was told they’d have to teach the material (rather than be tested on it) performed much better. Having a clear question in mind or a topic you’re focusing on can make all the difference in helping you to remember and recall information. Association: Make Associations With What You Already Know Association is a peg upon which you hang a new idea, fact, or figure. When you know where the peg is located, it’s a lot easier to find what you’ve hung upon it. As you read and come across new ideas and thoughts, you’ll want to connect and associate these with familiar memories as a means of creating a bond between old and new. There are many different ways to create associations in your mind, from pairing new thoughts with familiar objects to creating acronyms. Many champion memorizers (there’s such a thing) talk about creating a memory palace- a mental map in their mind where they store information. Each memory is connected to a ‘physical’ place in their mind, so as they walk through the palace they can ‘find’ what they were looking for, just like you or I would walk through the house looking for our keys. The information ‘sticks out’ because it’s in contrast to the ‘physical’ locations in your mind. Our brain’s work much better with visuals than they do with words and abstract thoughts alone. Connecting a memory with a location or visual makes it much easier to recall. Repetition: Repeat, Revisit, and Re-engage The final factor influencing our memory, and the one that is most important for long-term memorization, is repetition. Without revisiting or re-engaging with the material that you’ve read, there’s a pretty low chance you’ll be able to remember and apply any of that knowledge in the real world. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to look through the book multiple times (although that does help). But rather, that you need to have a method for taking and organizing notes around the key parts you want to revisit later on. Which brings us to… How the Successful People Actually Read The most successful creatives don’t just read for pleasure- they read to learn. Reading with intention is the sum of all the parts that make up our memory- it means that you have a specific goal at hand (impression), that you want to connect what you’re learning to other information (association), and that it’s something you’re invested in and will come back to again and again (repetition). Let’s take a look at how this actually works in practice: Ryan Holiday: Author and Marketer Ryan Holiday’s monthly book recommendation emails are one of my favorite newsletters to receive. Ryan is so well-read on a wide variety of subjects that I was incredibly curious as to how he organizes his thoughts. Turns out Ryan uses a method he picked up from his mentor Robert Greene. Here’s the rundown: While reading, write detailed notes in the margins and then fold the bottom corner of any page you’ve written on. After a week or two, come back to the book and transcribe the notes you’re still impressed by onto notecards. Each card gets a category or theme in the top right-hand corner (or you can use color-coded cards). Organize the cards by category (or by chapter if you’re working on a book project). This way, you can move them around as you please and connect random ideas (the basis of creativity). Maria Popova: Author and Founder of Brain Pickings If you read Brain Pickings, you’ll quickly realize that Maria Popova either has a freakishly good memory or has devised an incredible way to store and organize thoughts. Turns out it’s a little bit of both. Maria relies on making her own indexes of books in order to quickly scan what’s inside and connect it to what she’s writing. Here’s how it works: While reading, highlight any passages or quotes you find interesting (making notes in the margin). In the back (or front) of the book, create an index listing each page you’ve highlighted and what category the note should be under (This could be ‘C’ for creativity, or even the title of your latest project). Austin Kleon: Artist, Author, and Poet Austin Kleon leverages the fact that our brains respond better to visual information by taking notes in a mind map fashion. Here’s how he explains it: “I’m trying to construct a 2-D memory palace on paper. By making notes in a non-linear manner, by arranging images and words in space, I can see connections that would otherwise be impossible with just words written in sequence.” Josh Kaufman: Bestselling Author of The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business While not as intricate or interesting as some of the other methods, Josh’s- named The McDowell Grid after Benchmark Revenue Management CEO Tyson McDowell- is an excellent way to connect new thoughts with your own opinions and ideas. Here’s how it works: Create a simple two-column grid. On one side, write the fact, thought, or quote you are impressed by. On the other side, write your own personal reaction and thought. That’s it! This way, when you revisit your notes later on, you’ll be able to put yourself back into the same frame of mind you were in when you originally read. Reading is one of the great joys of life. And while it’s an incredible way to unwind from the busyness of our day-to-day lives, doing it with intention allows us to increase our skills and learn from the lives of others. This article was originally published on Quora. It has been republished here with permission. Photo of person reading courtesy of petrunjela/Getty Images

5 strategies to deal with difficult colleagues

5 strategies to deal with difficult colleagues 5 strategies to deal with difficult colleagues It is hard to put difficult colleagues into a one-size-fits-all box. After all, they come in so many shapes and sizes. No workplace is without them.What about the passive-aggressive who feeds on bullying others? How about the know-it-all corporate climber who walks all over people in her 5-inch stilettos? Or the two-faced backstabber who delights in betraying confidences?Difficult colleagues create stressful environments and unpleasant working conditions. A survey by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that 65% of Americans cited work as a top source of stress. Only 37% of Americans surveyed said they were doing an excellent or very good job managing stress. In fact, work-related problems significantly outpaced other leading causes of stress such as health concerns or family responsibilities.Not all stress at work can be blamed on difficult colleagues, but our workplace is a perfect breeding ground for people who push our buttons. A gossip who might not ordinarily get on our nerves becomes toxic when we are forced to work with them on a daily basis.Unfortunately for entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders, difficult employees are not always bad employees. They may be highly skilled or very talented. They may add to the bottom line of your company, but they can also create stress for your other team members which reduces overall productivity.The way your team deals with difficult colleagues will have a major impact on their careers and their well-being. Here are 5 strategies to deal with difficult colleagues:1. Keep friends close, enemies even closerA difficult colleague may not be your enemy, but the more you know about them, the better you can understand them.I will admit that, as an FBI agent, there are people out there who considered me to be the difficult colleague. I (sometimes) regret that I left casualties in the squad room, but I also know I had reasons for taking my stance. I’m not justifying my behavior; I make this point to under score the importance of trying to understand the difficult colleague.A Buddhist practice suggests that if someone is causing you to suffer, it’s because they’re suffering as well.If someone had taken the time to ask me about my behavior, I would have pointed out that I am an overachiever. As such, I put so much pressure on myself to excel that, at times, I had no time for the pettiness of common courtesy! The stress I put on myself to run undercover operations and develop human intelligence (humint) sources caught up with me; I ended up incredibly sick for several months.TIP: Take the time to understand that your workplace antagonist is an imperfect person, just like you. You don’t have to like them but if you can understand why they act like a jerk, you might be able to prevent yourself from adding fuel to the fire.2. Know what pushes your buttonsNo one escapes childhood without a few bruises and scrapes. We all have flash points that stem from our upbringing, family life, an d relationships. Anger or frustration can be triggered when we least expect it. We react to a situation or individual rather than choose our response.Our buttons are our responsibility to uncover. It’s so much easier to blame the difficult colleague or stupid supervisor rather than admit we have our own flaws.Instead, take a look at why you react to certain people or situations in a negative way. Mental toughness is managing your emotions, thoughts, and behavior in ways that will set you up for success. You need to be brave enough to look at yourself with honesty and compassion. This might mean going back to childhood hurts to discover the patterns of thinking that are sabotaging you now.TIP: Don’t be a wimp. Get a handle on what those buttons are and who, or what, pushes them. Rather than seeing difficult colleagues as a burden, they could actually be your ticket to dramatic professional growth.3. Save the fight for what mattersAnalyze the person and situation so you can rule o ut “false triggers” that create unnecessary stress in your environment. If you can’t, you will be at the mercy of the office bullies because they will know how to manipulate you. By pushing one of your buttons, you can be made to look oversensitive, weak, or gullible.TIP: Be responsive, not reactive when someone pushes your buttons. A knee-jerk reaction is never a good choice.4. Keep a lid on angerAnger flares up when we feel that we, or another co-worker, have been unjustly treated by the difficult colleague. There are several reasons anger is not a good reaction: An unpleasant emotion Bad for your health Clouds your judgment Makes you look unprofessional Avoid anger in the workplace. If you are embroiled in a constant conflict at work, you risk being seen as unable to handle the situation like a seasoned professional. Worse yet, you may get labeled as being a difficult colleague as well.TIP: Don’t flare up in the immediate heat of a confrontation. Instead, allow yourself to observe what is happening without getting caught up in it (meditation can help you with this). If you feel you can’t control your anger, try stalling for time. Here are some suggestions:“Can I have a little more time to think this through? I’ll get back to you with an answer.”“This isn’t on today’s agenda. Can we talk about it later?”“I have a deadline. Can I get back to you on that?”Bottom line: get out of the situation as quick as you can so you can decide if this is the hill you want to die on. If not, wait until your emotions are under control and then choose your response rather than reacting with negativity.5. Face conflictConflict avoi dance is not always a great idea, either. Staying away from disagreements and conflict creates stress as well.If you’re faced with a difficult colleague, take some time out to reflect on the situation. Think about what the ideal outcome would be for you. What would you hope to accomplish from a conversation with your colleague?Talk the situation out with other co-workers to gauge their assessment of it. They might be able to offer constructive advice and observations.Don’t criticize, blame, or judge. Point out what you both agree upon at the beginning of the conversation.TIP: Things might not change between you and the difficult colleague at first, but it’s worth a try. In a corporate environment that is known for tactics and playing games, develop a reputation of someone who is direct, personal and genuine. You’ll stand out!This  article  first appeared on  LaRaeQuy.com.

Resume Numbers Game

Resume Numbers Game Resume Numbers Game John Ord, a New York IT manager, stacked the resume deck in his favor every time he applied for a job opening.On the surface, it might look like John Ord got lucky.After a relatively short job search, he was offered an opportunity to be the cloud manager for an IT services company in New York with a prestigious list of clients. Now he’s at the forefront of a hot technology discipline and working with some of the world’s leading financial companies.“This is the trend to be in, in this business,” Ord said. “This is the right place at the right time.”What’s more, Ord never really applied for the cloud manager job. Instead, he succeeded on the strength of his wider networking efforts.Ord treated his job search like it was a full-time job. He woke at 6 a.m. Monday to Friday, went to the gym, showered, ate breakfast and hit the job boards at full speed at 8 a.m. Breaking only for lunch, he’d work his network, research the job market and talk to recruiters all day long. By 5 p.m., Ord would have applied to 20 to 30 jobs.“I spent the whole day looking for jobs,” Ord said. “By doing that, I got my resume to lots and lots of recruiters.”The manual effort was helpful, but the resume, he said, was his secret weapon.Without writing a new one from scratch, Ord tailored his resume to each job application by working from a “master resume” that detailed all his skills and experience. When he found targeted jobs that met his requirements, he cut extraneous information from this master document and submitted the relevant details. This system allowed him to send targeted resumes to multiple job postings quickly.“The more kinds of resumes you can get out there … the more opportunities will come your way,” he said. “And be aware of the broad range of skills that you offer. … You get out what you put in. It is a numbers game.”That’s why he was able to land this cloud job in June, Ord said. The recruiter who brought the opportunity to his atte ntion had Ord’s resume on file from a previous job application and thought he’d be a good candidate for the cloud manager position.“I didn’t apply specifically for this job,” he said. “Once I saw what the opportunity was, I was definitely interested.”The strategy paid off. It worked so well, in fact, that Ord is still being approached by recruiters months later.

Financial Planner Job Description

Financial Planner Job Description Financial Planner Job Description Financial Planner Job Description This financial planner sample job description can assist in your creating a job application that will attract job candidates who are qualified for the job. Feel free to revise this job description to meet your specific job duties and job requirements. Financial Planner Job Responsibilities: Accomplishes job purpose by performing duties. Financial Planner Job Duties: Accomplishes organization goals by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments. Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations. Financial Planner Skills and Qualifications: Business Knowledge, Corporate Finance, Financial Planning and Strategy, Forecasting, Accounting, Developing Budgets, Analyzing Information , General Math Skills, Reporting Research Results, Managing Profitability, Electronic Payment Technology Employers: Post a job in minutes to reach candidates everywhere. Job Seekers: Search Financial Planner Jobs and apply on now. Find out more about recruiting trends inthefinance industry. Learn more abouthow to hire: Recruiting a New Hire if You Havent Hired in a While Power Interviewing Resume Search: Spotting Exceptional Talent