7 things the most successful people do that make them the best

7 things the fruchtwein successful people do that make them the best7 things the most successful people do that make them the bestWant to be mora successful? Actually, thats not ambitious enough - want to be the best?I do. SoI called my friendDaniel Coyle, author of the best books on getting better at anythingThe Talent CodeandThe Little Book of Talent.Dan knows that the 10,000 hour rule is nice but you need to align your effort with the way your brain was designed to learn.Hours are vital, but you can get to mastery faster - much faster - by practicing the right way.So how can you and I do that?Here are 7 steps experts use1. Be uncomfortableYou learn best when youre reaching. Flow is great. But flow is not the best way to learn.You want to be stretched to the edge of your ability. It needs to be hard. Thats how your brain grows.Heres DanWe learn when were in our discomfort zone.When youre struggling, thats when youre getting smarter. The more time you spend there, the faster you learn.Its better to spend a very, very high quality ten minutes, or even ten seconds, than it is to spend a mediocre hour.You want to practice where you are on the edge of your ability, reaching over and over again, making mistakes, failing, realizing those mistakes and reaching again.More on the best way for you to practice here.2. Stop reading. Start doing.Keep the Rule of Two-Thirds in mind. Spend only one third of your time studying.The other two-thirds of your time you want to be doing the activity. Practicing. Testing yourself.Get your nose out of that book. Avoid the classroom. Whatever it is you want to be the best at, be doing it.The closer your practice is to the real thing, the faster you learn.Heres DanOur brains evolved to learn by doing things, not by hearing about them. This is one of the reasons that, for a lot of skills, its much better to spend about two thirds of your time testing yourself on it rather than absorbing it. Theres a rule of two thirds. If you want to , say, memorize a passage, its better to spend 30 percent of your time reading it, and the other 70 percent of your time testing yourself on that knowledge.More on how to shift from reading to doinghere.3. The sweet spotYou want to be successful 60-80% of the time when training. Thats the sweet spot for improvement.When learning is too hard, we quit.When its too easy. . . well, we quit then, too.Always be upping the challenge to stay in that 60-80% zone.Heres DanYou dont want to be succeeding 40 percent of the time. Thats flailing around. You dont want to be succeeding 95 percent of the time. Thats too easy.You want to constantly be toggling, adjusting the environment so that youre succeeding 60 to 80 percent of the time.More on how to find your sweet spot for learninghere.4. Commit to the long termAsking someoneHow long are you going to be doing this? was the best predictor of how skilled that person would end up being.Merelycommittingto the long haul had huge effects.Heres DanThe question that ended up being the most predictive of skill was How long are you going to be doing this? Commitment was the difference maker. The people who combined commitment with a little bit of practice, their skills went off the charts.Commit to the long haul. Dont give up. Even works for mice.More on how long term commitment can take you to the next levelhere.5. Find arole modelWatching the best people work is one of the most powerful things you can do.Its motivating, inspiring and its how you were built to learn.Study the best to be the best.Heres DanWhen we stare at someone we want to become and we have a really clear idea of where we want to be, it unlocks a tremendous amount of energy. Were social creatures, and when we get the idea that we want to join some enchanted circle up above us, that is what really lights up motivation. Look, they did it. I can do it. It sounds very basic, but spending time staring at the best can be one of the most powerful things you do.More on fi nding the best mentor for you here.6. Naps are steroids for your brainNapping isnt for the lazy. Its one of the habits of the most successful people in any field.Sleep is essential to learning. Naps are a tool that will make you the best.Heres DanNapping is a high wertzuwachs activity. If you looked into the habits of highly successful people you would see a lot of naps, a lot of recovery. Its sort of our brains janitorial service. It helps us clean out the stuff we dont want. It also helps us work on ideas while were asleep. Top performers use sleep as a tool.More on how astronauts use sleep to increase performance here.7. Keep anotebookEminem keeps a journal. Peyton Manning keeps a journal.Top performers track their progress, set goals, reflect and learn from their mistakes.Heres DanMost people who are taking an ownership role in their talent development use this magical tool called a notebook. Keep a performance journal. If you want to get better, you need a map, and that journal is that map. You can write down what you did today, what you tried to do, where you made mistakes. Its a distributions-mix to reflect. Its a place to capture information. Its a place to be able to track your progress. Its one of the most underused yet powerful tools that I could imagine anybody using.More on how to use a notebook to be your best here.If you only remember two words from this . . .Dan says the two key words are Reach and Stare.Reach Always push yourself to the edge of your ability.Stare Look at those better than you and emulate them.Heres DanI would say, Reach. Get out on the edge of your ability. Get into your discomfort zone and reach past that. And I would say, Stare. Find somebody you want to be in two years, three years, five years, and stare at that person. See what theyre doing. See exactly what theyre doing, and steal that. Steal from them.Sum upSadly, you werent born an expert.But you can become one with practice and time. Start now. Youll be amazed at what you can achieveIll be sending out more tips from Dan in my weekly emaille.Join 45K+ readers.Get a free weekly update via emailhere.Related postsWhat 10 things should you do every day to improve your life?8 Things The Worlds Most Successful People All Have In CommonHow To Make Your Life Better By Sending Five Simple EmailsThis article originally appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree.7 things the most successful people do that make them the bestWant to be more successful? Actually, thats not ambitious enough - want to be the best?I do. SoI called my friendDaniel Coyle, author of the best books on getting better at anythingThe Talent CodeandThe Little Book of Talent.Dan knows that the 10,000-hour rule is nice but you need to align your effort with the way your brain was designed to learn.Hours are vital, but you can get to mastery faster - much faster - by practicing the right way.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreSo how can you and I do that?Here are 7 steps experts use1. Be uncomfortableYou learn best when youre reaching. Flow is great. But flow is not the best way to learn.You want to be stretched to the edge of your ability. It needs to be hard. Thats how your brain grows.Heres DanWe learn when were in our discomfort zone.When youre struggling, thats when youre getting smarter. The more time you spend there, the faster you learn.Its better to spend a very, very high quality ten minutes, or even ten seconds, than it is to spend a mediocre hour.You want to practice where you are on the edge of your ability, reaching over and over again, making mistakes, failing, realizing those mistakes and reaching again.More on the best way for you to practice here.2. Stop reading. Start doing.Keep the Rule of Two-Thirds in mind. Spend only one third of your time studying.The other two-thirds of your time you want to be doing the activity. Practicing. Testing yourself.G et your nose out of that book. Avoid the classroom. Whatever it is you want to be the best at, be doing it.The closer your practice is to the real thing, the faster you learn.Heres DanOur brains evolved to learn by doing things, not by hearing about them. This is one of the reasons that, for a lot of skills, its much better to spend about two thirds of your time testing yourself on it rather than absorbing it. Theres a rule of two thirds. If you want to, say, memorize a passage, its better to spend 30 percent of your time reading it, and the other 70 percent of your time testing yourself on that knowledge.More on how to shift from reading to doinghere.3. The sweet spotYou want to be successful 60-80% of the time when training. Thats the sweet spot for improvement.When learning is too hard, we quit.When its too easy. . . well, we quit then, too.Always be upping the challenge to stay in that 60-80% zone.Heres DanYou dont want to be succeeding 40 percent of the time. Thats flailing aro und. You dont want to be succeeding 95 percent of the time. Thats too easy.You want to constantly be toggling, adjusting the environment so that youre succeeding 60 to 80 percent of the time.More on how to find your sweet spot for learninghere.4. Commit to the long termAsking someoneHow long are you going to be doing this? was the best predictor of how skilled that person would end up being.Merelycommittingto the long haul had huge effects.Heres DanThe question that ended up being the most predictive of skill was How long are you going to be doing this? Commitment was the difference maker. The people who combined commitment with a little bit of practice, their skills went off the charts.Commit to the long haul. Dont give up. Even works for mice.More on how long term commitment can take you to the next levelhere.5. Find arole modelWatching the best people work is one of the most powerful things you can do.Its motivating, inspiring and its how you were built to learn.Study the best to be the best.Heres DanWhen we stare at someone we want to become and we have a really clear idea of where we want to be, it unlocks a tremendous amount of energy. Were social creatures, and when we get the idea that we want to join some enchanted circle up above us, that is what really lights up motivation. Look, they did it. I can do it. It sounds very basic, but spending time staring at the best can be one of the most powerful things you do.More on finding the best mentor for you here.6. Naps are steroids for your brainNapping isnt for the lazy. Its one of the habits of the most successful people in any field.Sleep is essential to learning. Naps are a tool that will make you the best.Heres DanNapping is a high performance activity. If you looked into the habits of highly successful people you would see a lot of naps, a lot of recovery. Its sort of our brains janitorial service. It helps us clean out the stuff we dont want. It also helps us work on ideas while were asleep. Top perf ormers use sleep as a tool.More on how astronauts use sleep to increase performance here.7. Keep anotebookEminem keeps a journal. Peyton Manning keeps a journal.Top performers track their progress, set goals, reflect and learn from their mistakes.Heres DanMost people who are taking an ownership role in their talent development use this magical tool called a notebook. Keep a performance journal. If you want to get better, you need a map, and that journal is that map. You can write down what you did today, what you tried to do, where you made mistakes. Its a place to reflect. Its a place to capture information. Its a place to be able to track your progress. Its one of the most underused yet powerful tools that I could imagine anybody using.More on how to use a notebook to be your best here.If you only remember two words from this . . .Dan says the two key words are Reach and Stare.Reach Always push yourself to the edge of your ability.Stare Look at those better than you and emulate th em.Heres DanI would say, Reach. Get out on the edge of your ability. Get into your discomfort zone and reach past that. And I would say, Stare. Find somebody you want to be in two years, three years, five years, and stare at that person. See what theyre doing. See exactly what theyre doing, and steal that. Steal from them.Sum upSadly, you werent born an expert.But you can become one with practice and time. Start now. Youll be amazed at what you can achieveIll be sending out more tips from Dan in my weekly email.Join 300K+ readers.Get a free weekly update via emailhere.This article originally appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree.

How You Can Best Demonstrate Respect in Your Workplace

How You Can Best Demonstrate Respect in Your WorkplaceHow You Can Best Demonstrate Respect in Your WorkplaceAsk anyone in your workplace what treatment they most want from their bosses and coworkers at work. They will likely top their list with the desire for their employer and coworkers to treat them as if they deserve to be treated with dignity and with respect. Respect is when you feel admiration and deep regard for an individual. You believe that the person is worthy of your regard and admiration because of the good qualities and capabilities that they bring to your workplace. After feeling the respect and regard, you demonstrate them by acting in ways that show you are aware of your colleagues as people who deserve respect. As such, you recognize that they have rights, opinions, wishes, experience, and competence. They have the right for you to regard them through this referential lens. Respect in Popular Music Popular songs sing about the need for respect. It is that univer sal of a need among humans. From Aretha Franklin R-E-S-P-E-C-TFind out what it means to me. to Train Everybody needs a little respectEverybody needs a little timeEverybody needs a little respectEverybody needs a little. Everybody needs a little respect. You know when you have respect. You know when you dont. You cant tough respect but you can feel it emanating from your coworkers and bosses- and you can feel it when it does not. How Employees Judge Whether They Are Respected You can hear respect in a persons tone of voice, in their nonverbal communication, and in the words, they use to address you. You can see respect in how your coworker or boss deeply listens to you and asks questions to make sure they understand your point of view. You judge respect by the way in which your organization, your bosses, and your coworkers treat you. You see it in how your organization establishes new rules and policies, how they introduce the new procedures to employees, and in how they compensa te, recognize and reward you. You see the degree of their respect in how often they ask your opinion, run work changes that affect your job by you before implementing them, and delegate meaningful assignments. But what is respect really? And, how is respect demonstrated at work? 138 Watch Now Workplace Etiquette You Should Know Tips for Demonstrating Respect You can demonstrate respect with simple, yet powerful actions. This is a list of ways in which you can demonstrate respect for others in your workplace. These ideas will also help you avoid needless, insensitive, unmeant disrespect, too. Try them your colleagues and managers will respect you more for trying. Treat people with courtesy, politeness, and kindness.Encourage coworkers to express opinions and ideas.Listen to what others have to say before expressing your viewpoint. Never speak over, butt in, or cut off another person. Listen, really listen, and stop formulating rebuttals and responses in your mind when you need to focus on listening to the other person.Use peoples ideas to change or improve work. Let employees know hat you used their idea, or, better yet, encourage the person with the idea to implement the idea. Never insult people, use name calling, disparage or put down people or their ideas.Do not nit-pick, constantly criticize over little things, belittle, judge, demean or patronize. A series of seemingly trivial actions added up over time, constitutes bullying.Be aware of your body language, the tone of voice, and your demeanor and expression in all of your interactions at work. People, who are radar machines, are hearing what youre really saying in addition to listening to your words.Improve your own ability to interact with coworkers and bosses in a way that emphasizes the knowledge you have gained from your awareness of people and your emotional intelligence. It will make you more able to offer sympathy, relate with empathy, and step into the shoes of those with whom you work. Trea t people the same no matter their race, religion, gender, size, age, or country of origin. Implement policies and procedures consistently, so people feel that they are treated fairly and equally. Treating people differently can constitute harassment or a hostile work environment.Include all coworkers in meetings, discussions, training, and events. While not every person can participate in every activity, do not marginalize, exclude or leave any one person out. Provide an equal opportunity for employees to participate in committees, task forces, or continuous improvement teams. Solicit volunteers and try to involve every volunteer. Praise much more frequently than you criticize. Encourage praise and recognition from employee to employee as well as from the supervisor.The golden rule does apply in the workplace, or, as professional speaker Leslie Charles, says frequently, You want to implement the platinum rule at work treat others as they wish to be treated. There are many other ways to demonstrate respect at work. You will want to make your job become meaningful work. Respect is a cornerstone of meaningful work. These ideas constitute a solid foundation but your imagination and thoughtful consideration will bring you many more. Implemented consistently at work, unterstellung respectful actions help ensure a respectful, considerate, professional workplace. You can be certain that a respectful workplace brings benefits for all stakeholders. Want More Information Related to Respect? ?40 Ways to Say Thank You at Work20 Ways to Tell Your Employees That You Care

Becoming an Army Horizontal Construction Engineer

Becoming an Army Horizontal Construction EngineerBecoming an Army Horizontal Construction EngineerIn the Army, military occupational specialty (MOS) 12N is horizontal construction engineer. These soldiers use bulldozers and other heavy equipment to help complete construction projects. They operate all manner of heavy machinery, including backhoes, excavators, and scrapers. In other words, horizontal construction engineers help pave the way for their fellow soldiers. Specific Duties for MOS 12N The duties of this job all relate to excavation and construction. Soldiers in MOS 12N drive bulldozers and road graders, as well as other heavy earth-moving equipment to clear and excavate. They may also use scrapers to cut and spread fill material, transport heavy construction equipment with tractor-trailers, and assist with combat engineer missions. This job is important to numerous aspects of combat and noncombat operations. Without safe roads to travel, its hard for soldiers to move aro und, especially in an unfamiliar country or region.? Training Information for Army MOS 12N Job training for horizontal construction engineers requires 10 weeks of basic combat training and nine weeks of advanced individual training. parte of this time is spent in the classroom and part in the field with on-the-job instruction. Youll report for basic training in one of four bases Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina Fort Leonard Wood in St. Robert, Missouri or Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma.Most engineers report to Fort Leonard Wood, whereas infantry report to Fort Benning. Soldiers in MOS 12N learn how to operate the different kinds of construction and rough terrain equipment theyll use in their jobs. They also learn about soil types and how to place grade stakes. For someone with a natural capacity for geology and construction, this job is likely to be a good fit. Qualifying for MOS 12N Theres no security clearance required, but to quali fy for MOS 12N, soldiers need a score of at least 90 in the General Maintenance (GM) portion of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test. The subtests for the GM line score are general science (GS), auto and shop (AS), mathematics knowledge (MK), and electronics information (EI). The strength requirement for this job is very heavy, since youll be using heavy earth-moving equipment. Normal color vision is required no colorblindness is permitted. Soldiers interested in this job should be comfortable working and balancing in high places, as well as climbing. If you suffer from vertigo at all, this job is not for you. Similar Civilian Occupations for MOS 12N The skills you learn as a horizontal construction engineer will help prepare you for a wide variety of careers after the Army. Youll likely be qualified for work with a building contractor or construction firm, or for jobs with state highway agencies or rock quarries.

How to Make Your Next Job Fair a Success - Strategies

How to Make Your Next Job Fair a Success - StrategiesHow to Make Your Next Job Fair a Success - StrategiesHow job seekers approach a job ritterlich can greatly affect the outcome. Maintaining a positive attitude and creating a professional image can help job candidates develop an aura of confidence thats not possessed by the majority of the competition. Although attending job ritterlichs is only a very small part of any job search strategy, there are few opportunities available where job seekers get to meet individual employers prior to obtaining an actual job interview. It is therefore essential that serious job candidates thoroughly prepare themselves prior to attending a job ritterlich. Do Your Research Take time to research participating companies prior to the job fair. After deciding which companies you most want to meet with, take some time to check out each of their websites to learn more about the company and the jobs they have available. Dress Professionally and Create a Favorable First Impression Since first impressions are critical when searching for a job, dressing professionally for a job fair makes perfect sense. Conservative business attire is often preferred for both men and women but business casual may be appropriate for certain jobs or professions. Attention to detail is important so be sure to wear comfortable, neat, well-polished shoes carry a professional briefcase ensure your hair is clean and well groomed your nails are neatly manicured, and go light on makeup and perfume. It is best to downplay tattoos and additional body piercings whenever possible. Dressing professionally relays the message to employers that you are a serious candidate in the job search process. Be Prepared and Develop a Plan When arriving at a job fair, its wise to first study the layout of the fair and check to see if any additional employers have been added to the list. In addition to your resume, be sure to bring several pens, a notepad, and business card s to hand out. You may also carry a cheat sheet that reminds you of important information on the companies you want to meet. One job fair strategy you might want to employ is to plan on meeting with your first choice employers first and then move on to your second and third choices. Bring Along Lots of Resumes Be sure to bring extra resumes to the fair. You may end up handing out more than one resume to participating employers, so its best to maximize your efforts by bringing an ample supply of resumes to avoid running out. Make sure your resume is well prepared and looked over by at least one other person. You may decide to bring along different versions of your resume. Targeting your resume to specific jobs and/or employers offers an opportunity to focus on specific skills and accomplishments that are required for certain jobs or professions. Resumes should always be printed on professional white, gray, or ecru resume paper and free of photos or fancy fonts. Meet and Greet Employers Since first impressions are critical in the interviewing process, be prepared to assertively introduce yourself with confidence and enthusiasm. Maintain direct eye contact, offer a firm handshake, sport a genuine smile, and show enthusiasm- since these are all attributes employers look for in potential new hires. Be prepared to give each employer you meet a 30 to 60-second elevator speech that highlights your career objectives, strengths, interests, relevant skills and the type of job you are seeking. Be prepared to answer questions such as why you want to work for this particular company or why you feel that you would be an asset to the organization. Practice and Prepare Questions for the Interviewer The best way to prepare for an interview is to practice, practice, practice. Be sure to write down any vital information on the back of the employers business card to make it easy to follow up. Be prepared to ask each employer questions including how to arrange for a s econd interview. Be Prepared to Network Career Fairs are all about networking. It has been estimated that between 50% and 75% of all jobs are found through networking. By networking with recruiters, other job fair participants, and professional associations and/or employment agencies participating in the fair, you can increase your personal connections and improve your chances of getting called back for a second interview. Dont Forget to Follow Up Following up with recruiters is one of the most important things job fair participants can do immediately after the job fair. Sending a personalized thank you note to each recruiter identifies you as a thoughtful and serious job candidate that they will want to get to know better. By restating your interests in the company and your qualifications, you will put yourself on their radar screen when they are in the process of seeking candidates to interview for future positions that open up. You may decide to enclose another copy of yo ur resume with your letter to ensure that the employer has your information available. Following up a thank you letter with a phone call can also increase your chances of being called back for an interview.

How to Write a Resume for Colleges Tips & Guide

How to Write a Resume for Colleges Tips & Guide The Tried and True Method for How to Write a Resume for Colleges in Step by Step Detail If youre applying to be a manager, having leadership abilities or poise would be quite beneficial. There are scores and scores of possible skills to think about using. You also ought to touch on the skills you possess, but you wish to chat about how youre use them. Learn about the three sorts of skills it is possible to highlight and the way youre able to incorporate them into your resume. Try to remember, youll have a cover letter to accompany your resume, where youre able to give a more in-depth account of your background info, experience, and goals. Always make koranvers that you take a look at the review my essay section of any writing service website youre contemplating using. A resume, actually, is your own bonafide advertising document. The easy-to-use on-line tool makes it quick and hassle-free to create your very own personali zed perfect resume. The Upside to How to Write a Resume for Colleges Company accomplishments count, too (just make certain to list them of the suitable way). If you are in need of a quick kick-start on developing a template first, have a look at a resume builder before choosing a professional. Bear in mind a prospective employer can request a duplicate of your transcripts, thus its important to be up front and truthful about your GPA. You want to not just catch the hiring managers eyeyou have to make sure they look over your statement and say Whew Its crucial that the service you select knows for sure theyre only selecting the very best essay writers. There are a lot of standard forms of resumes used to make an application for job openings. The issue is, each job differs and what each hiring manager is on the lookout for is different. There are a lot of stylistic points to consider during the writing process. A resume should immediately grab the interest of the individual r eviewing it. Also important to not forget is to pay attention to verb tense. As it reminds you that it might be worth putting that additional time in your application (even in the event youd rather be doing something else). Focus on how youre an advantage to the companynot the way the corporation can help you. Maybe you were lucky to land a great job in a good company that knows the way to manage its employees. If you are at present at an organization, write in present tense. If you mention the businesss name, make sure that you get it right. A simple resume template is going to be your very best bet. There are two classes of font. Open the resume template without using your Internet browser if you would like to create adjustments to the true template. Now you have your format picked out, you have to set your information in order. How to Write a Resume for Colleges - Overview Make certain if theres a watermark on the paper that its facing the proper way and no matter wha t you do, ensure it remains readable. Utilizing a writing service is the perfect means to have a well-written essay to use as a guideline to make sure the essays you write are hitting each of the important points and are at the appropriate depth necessary for your academic grade. If you wish to bring an example in a bullet, keep it to a maximum of 3 items. Note that there might be circumstances when including some of these information proves that youre a very good fit for the job. Each one needs a different strategy and what works for one wont do the job for a different. Finally, you wish to attempt to strike a balance between including experience thats both timely and relevant. There are some factors you must think about. The New Angle On How to Write a Resume for Colleges Just Released Theres a great chance it wont include all the keywords set out in the work description. Its also important to think about the sort of work you really wish to be hired to do. Most folks look at writing a resume as just something youve got to do to have a job. Choosing which to use depends upon the kind of job which you are applying for and your degree of experience. A resume is among the most crucial tools in your job hunting arsenal. Your job (while youre attempting to find a job) is to be sure you fit what theyre searching for. There are a few things that dont belong on a resume for work. Each time you put in an application for a new job, check your resume to make sure that it isnt only targeted, but in addition current.

Inspiring a Generation of Tech Champions How Gen. Z Can Become Future IT MVPs

Inspiring a Generation of Tech Champions How Gen. Z Can Become Future IT MVPs At the time of writing this, its late April and the NBA playoffs have commenced. We wont have a champion until mid-June. As a basketball fan, I find thistwo-month span feels agonizingly long. Lets just have Cleveland and Golden State start the rubber match of their championship series, which is what most fans expect and want to see.As the CEO of a philanthropic organization in the IT industry, I have a similar sinking feeling when I consider what business magazines and newspapers call the tech skills gap.Per some sources, there may be as many as half a million unfilled IT jobs in the U.S. at any given time. Layered atop this challenge are predictions by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that IT occupations may grow 12 percent by 2024. Then there are the looming retirements, which may mean the exit of hundreds of thousands of IT employees over the next several years. If so many tech-related positions go unfilled today and their numbers keep swelling can the tech employment gap ever be closed?Contemplating this vexing scenario inspires me to think about basketball again, as a pleasant distraction. One of the great joys of the NBA regular season was watching Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder play like a man possessed.Westbrook recently broke a 56-year-old record held by Hall of Famer Oscar Robertsonfor the most triple-ersatzdarstellers in a season. A triple-double double digits in points, rebounds, and assists in one game is a truly Herculean feat in basketball. Even to the games elite, the goal must seem unattainable when the season begins. While achieving this record, Westbrook averaged a triple-double across the regular-season schedule, which, again, only Robertson had done in the past.Yet the debate still rages over whether Westbrook deserves to be named the NBAs regular-season MVP. Hoops enthusiasts are making compelling arguments for other contenders, such as the Houston Rockets James Harden or the San Antonio Spurs Kawhi Leonard. Which star ultimately wins the designation will depend a lot on how we define the term most valuable player and what we expect from our MVPs.I suspect intangibles will carry more weight than technique or metrics when it comes to naming this years MVP. After all, what I enjoy most about watching Westbrook play is the intensity and passion he brings to every contest and how he has his teammates backs at every turn. Yes, his basketball skills are impressive, but his impact wouldnt be as great without these other elements. What makes him a game-changer are his basketball soft skills. Surely, Hardens and Leonards fans feel the same way.But what does basketball have to do with closing the tech skills gap?Well, Westbrook, Harden, and Leonard have yet to hit age 30. In NBA circles, theyre notlage pups, but they are the rising generation. In the U.S. economy, we have a rising generation, to o. Generation Z, the large, culturally diverse group of kids born during the mid-90s and later, is ready to launch its careers. Gen. Z-ers already constitute a quarter of the U.S. population and will represent more than 20 percent of the workforce in the next five years.How do we inspire Gen. Z-ers to choose tech careers and help us close the skills gap? We teach them how to work like MVPs.What makes an MVP technologist? When I talk to business leaders about great team members, three intangible traits always rise to the top1. Problem-SolvingProblem-solving isthe equivalent of scoring points in basketball. The best problem-solvers are the stars of the tech game. Solving problems meansdeveloping solutions that customers want and need. Sounds simple, but it takes creativity and nimble, adaptive thinking. The best tech professionals can see a problem from different angles and create a solution with a full understanding of the technology and the customer.2. Collaboration and Communicatio nThe assist in basketball is all about making your teammates better and enabling their success. In tech, collaboration and communication skills haveincreased in value as the field has moved out of dark rooms in office basements to front-and-center in nearly every enterprise. Winning solutions designed around the technology connect to the needs of people. MVP tech pros create those solutions by collaborating with teammates, listening to customers, and communicating throughout the process.3. Dynamic AnalysisRebounding is the dirty work of basketball. Rebounders dont get glory, but they get respect from teammates, coaches, and opponents. Great rebounding is about seeing a situation unfold and positioning yourself for success. Even at 64, Westbrook finished in the top 10 of all NBA players in rebounds this season because he knew how to be in the right place at the right moment. The same is true in tech, where the equivalent to rebounding is the dynamic analysis that makes a tech profess ional stand out. Dynamic analysis is a combination of persistent curiosity, predictive imagination, and relentless effort. MVP tech professionals are constantly learning and staying aware of the changing landscape.When viewed through the lens of my favorite sport, the tech skills gap looks less like a no-win situation and more like an opportunity to discover the next generation of champions.Charles Eaton leads three philanthropic endeavors for CompTIA, the worlds largest IT trade association. His first book,How to Launch Your Teens Career in Technology A Parents Guide to the T in STEM Education, is available atwww.tinstem.com.

Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen announces retirement, and you can learn a few things from how she did

Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen announces retirement, and you can learn a few things from how she didCongresswoman Ros-Lehtinen announces retirement, and you can learn a few things from how she didOn Sunday, Florida Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the first Latina to ever serve in Congress, carefully announced herbei retirement.Maybe too carefully. In her explanation to The Miami Herald, she kept it vague, calling ita personal decision based on personal considerations.Ros-Lehtinen, 64, had spent almost three decades in Congress. Thinking of her years of work in terms of seasons, she quoted Ecclesiastes from the Bible and said that we must recall that to everything there is a season, and time to every purpose under the heaven. The most difficult challenge is not to simply keep winning elections but rather the mora difficult challenge is to not let the ability to win define my seasons.Translation I could win again if I had to, but Im moving on to the summer season of my life w here I can relax withno taxpayers input.Ros-Lehtinen had to make her announcement early, for political reasons. But her vagueness about the specific reason she decided to step out of office will fuel speculation - and that shows why retirement announcements can be fraught.The classic retirement announcement spending more time with your familyLeaders in other fields can be more candid about their retirement decisions.For instance, Patrick Pichette, the former CFO of Google, welches more forthcoming with his public announcement in 2015. He deviated from the bland spend time with my family script. In what Alphabet CEO Larry Page called themost unconventional leaving notice from a most unconventional CFO, Pichettewas honest about wanting a better work-life balance so he could spend more time with his wife.Calling himself a member of the noble Fraternity of Worldwide Insecure Over-achievers, he said his seven-year tenure at Google was a whirlwind of truly amazing experiences. But as I count it now, it has also been a frenetic pace for about 1500 weeks now. Always on even when I was not supposed to be.life is wonderful, but nonetheless a series of trade offs, especially between business/professional endeavoursand family/community. And thankfully, I feel Im at a point in my life where I no longer have to have to make such tough choices anymore.By giving up a reported $5.2 million salary at age 52, Pichettes candidness sparked a conversation about work-life balance, and also served as an example as to why theproper age to retire is no longer the government-designated 65.Expect speculation when successful people retireOnce youve made your own decision to retire, you cant just relax and start daydreaming about your beach cabana.You have to plan how youre going to tell your co-workers, bosses, and the public about it.Timing matters.CNBC said that if you signal your departure too soon, its possible the firm will find your replacement and push you out before you are rea dy. You may also be passed over for interesting projects or even pay raises.The higher your position, the more yourannouncement will be scrutinized. Did she really want to spend more time with her family? Was he really so thrilledto be replaced by some outsider who was two decades younger? Whatever details you choose to sharewill invite speculation.Be specific about why this is the right timeAs a rule if you retire without a specific reason, everyone will assume you were pushed out or start speculating on the real reason youre stepping down. Imaginations will go wild.If you want to forestall the gossip and speculation, plan ahead.Unless you feel like your job would be in immediate jeopardy for revealing your intentions, you should give your employer formal notice. This will help you leave on good terms, and youre going to want that if you ever change your mind and want to return to the workforce.Announce any plans for a new ventureOr maybe youre retiring from one field to work in an other. Be clear about that too, to make the connections youll need.As Karen Dillon advised the Harvard Business Review, You cant just stop working and expect the phone to ring. Plant seeds early so that once youre in circulation, experiences and opportunities will come to you.If you want to stay relevant years down the line, youre going to need to do legwork now print out personal contact lists, send your close colleagues personal goodbye notes, tell your staff in person about your decision, gather recommendations from your superiors.Get your finances in orderOn the business side, make aya to review your finances and your human resources compensation packages to make sure retirement is an economic possibility. If youre advanced in your career, check on pensions if you have a contract, make sure youre clear on what your payout would be for retirement, if any.Mention health if its the main reason youre stepping backThe trickiest announcements for retirement or stepping down are around health reasons, which can be private and sometimes agonizing.If youre stepping back to focus on health or pregnancy, the company and your coworkers should know, if youre senior enough. Thats because a change in leadership can be highly destabilizing for teams if theres no warning or no clear, understandable reason.Leaders usually mention health reasons because it may have an impact on their companies. JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon announced he would be treated for throat cancer, and Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein did the same when he needed time off for treatment. When Yahoo CEO Marisa Mayer got pregnant with twins, she announced that as well, because it was important for people to know what would happen to the company.Another benefit to being clear about health reasons while it can be difficult to talk about personal things, the outpouring of good wishes and support from colleagues can often be highly encouraging.Life, of course, doesnt end with retirement. Figuring out how t o leverage your years of expertise to explore new passions should be the fun conundrum youll now face.

Customize this Outstanding Massage Therapist Resume Sample

Customize this Outstanding krpermassage Therapist Resume SampleCustomize this Outstanding Massage Therapist Resume SampleCreate Resume Brandi Grant100 Broadway LaneNew Parkland, CA, 91010Cell (555) 987-1234example-emailexample.comProfessional SummaryExpertly trained Massage Therapist with experience in both a spa and physiotherapeutic clinic setting. Excellent client relationship skills. Highly committed to meeting the needs of clients through proactive therapy regimens.Core QualificationsExcellent people skillsTrained in multiple techniquesCapable listenerEffective communicatorClient centered practitionerEnergetic therapistExperienceMarch 2010 to October 2012Deluxe Spa of Cityland- New Cityland, CAMassage TherapistProvided comprehensive massage therapy services at day spa attached to resort hotel.Worked with guests at hotel on an on-call basis.Developed a client list of local residents with standing appointments.Worked on a team of other spa professionals, providing a comprehensive array of services. January 2014 to PresentMagnificent Spa- New Cityland, CAMassage TherapistProvided massage therapy services to clients at high-end day spa.Responsible for assisting in promoting spa.Increased number of patrons receiving regular (weekly) massage services by 15% during time at spa.Assisted in providing training and orientation to new hires.Education2009 New Cityland Community College, New Cityland, CAAssociates Degree, Massage TherapyCustomize Resume

Formal Employee Thank You Letter Sample

Formal Employee Thank You Letter SampleFormal Employee Thank You Letter SampleHere is a sample thank you letter that an employer can write to an employee to recognize the employees good work. This is a mora formal example of an employee thank you letter sample. Formal thank you letters serve formal occasions that require recognition beyond a pat on the back or a simple thank you. For example, the company president may want to send a recognition letter to Mark for setting a company sales record. The sales director may also want to follow up the presidents letter with a formal thank you letter of his own for making such a powerful contribution to the companys success. The menschlich Resources director may want to recognize the department that turned in all open enrollment plans three days early and required no HR follow up. The marketing director can use a formal thank you letter to thank the team that earned awards in industry rated media campaigns. Keep in mind that a thank you lette r is also appropriate for coworkers, employees in different departments, managers, supervisors, and executives, as well as from the employees boss. No one will ever feel unhappy when a thank you note or a recognition letter is received. 129 Watch Now How Gratitude Makes Happier Employees How to Formally Recognize an Employee or a Team Thank you letters and other employee recognition methods are well-received when they are presented effectively to the employee or team. The best formal recognition is Timely to the event or contribution for which you are recognizing the employee or team.As specific as possible about why you are recognizing the employee or team. In addition to wanting the employee or team to feel rewarded and recognized, you are also communicating the actions or behaviors that youd like to see more of from them.Randomly presented so that employees dont begin to feel as if every time they make a contribution, a formal thank you letter will be forthcoming from the m anager. You want the employee recognition to make the employee feel good about her contribution. You dont want the letter to become an entitlement. Well-written on formal stationery. Employees treasure these letters and they keep them forever framed on their wall, pinned to their cubicle tack board, or in their memory file. The letter needs to look and feel like a big deal- because it is to the employee or team. Frequent thank you letters are an excellent addition to a leaders work toolkit. Heres a sample that you can use as a guide when you write your own employee thank you letters. Formal Thank You Letter Example (Text Version) Dear Mary,Todays presentation went very well and was well received by the department managers I was also pleased to see that the team accomplished its key goals. I want to personally thank you for informally assisting your project team to stay on track and on target to meet their goals for this most significant contribution to our profitability this yearWit hout your willingness to step up and, despite some pushback from team members, persist in keeping the team on track, the project would certainly have strayed off course. That would have been bad for our customers and business results this year.Specifically, your scheduling of meetings with a specific purpose, your use of an agenda with time allotments, your meeting minutes distributed within 24 hours, and your excellent meeting facilitation really helped the team make progress. They, with your leadership, accomplished the desired outcome- a 5 percent increase in the profitability of the product.On the creative side, taking the team on field trips to see what several non-competing companies had done on a similar project appears to have been a key success factor, too. They brought useful new knowledge into the company.Again, thank you. The project was well worth your time and investment and, on behalf of the entire management team, I want you to know that we really appreciate your eff orts.You will also receive a bonus of $5,000.00 to thank you for your contribution. Youll receive it in your next paycheck.Regards,Alison WelnerVice President of Product Management Expand