Simplify your life with the mental model known as Occams razor

Simplify your life with the mental model known as Occams razorSimplify your life with the mental model known as Occams razorLegend has it that NASA spent a decade and millions of dollars developing a ballpoint pen that would work in zero gravity and function in extreme temperatures.The Soviets used a pencil.The story of the write stuff turns out to bea myth. Pencil tips have a habit of breaking and getting into nooks and crannies - which may be okay on Earth, but not so okay on a spacecraft where they can find their way into mission-critical equipment or end up floating into an astronauts eyeball.But the moral of the myth still holds. As Einstein put it, everything should be made as simple and as few as possible.This principle is known as Occams razor. The name, I admit, is unfortunate. It sounds like a cheap late-night horror flick starring a ghoul named Occam and his preferred weapon, the razor. But its actually a mental model named after William of Ockham, a fourteenth-century ph ilosopher.The most beweglich theories rest on the fewest number of assumptions. The most elegant solutions, in the words of the author David Murray, are those that use the least number of components to solve the greatest number of problems.Simple systems have fewer points of failure. Complicated things break mora easily. Every brilliant new idea has the potential to generate a dozen unintended, and sometimes disastrous, consequences. Every brilliant new component, system, or app that promises a breakthrough has the potential to break through and through.For the vast majority of my life, I took none of the advice Im laying out here. Ive had what can charitably be described as an obsession with the new. I was every computer companys dream customer, the stereotypical early adopter, the first in line to buy the new hardware or download the new beta operating system filled with bugs. When I startedmy blog, I stacked one plugin on top of the other to enhance the user experience.This Jenga tower collapsed at the worst possible moment. One of my articles - titledFacts Dont Change Minds. Heres What Does - went viral. It sent hundreds of thousands of viewers to a website that had previously been frequented by four people a day. The skyrocketing views put my shiny plugins to the test, and they failed spectacularly. The website crashed - right when many of these first-time viewers may have been turning into long-term readers.Change introduces new variables, and therefore complexity and uncertainty, into the mix. Before we add new variables, we must ask What benefit will we get from this? Does that benefit exceed the potential uncertainty, complexity, and expense that will result? If this new component fails, will it compromise the fundamentals and produce mission-critical consequences- such as the collapse of your website?Often, were irrationally attached to our investments. The more we invest time, effort, or money, the harder it becomes to change course or abandon it . We throw good money after bad, continue to read a terrible book because we already spent an hour, or pursue a dysfunctional relationship because its dragged on for eight months.Take out Occams razor and shave off these excesses. Negotiate the seemingly non-negotiable. Kill your darlings, as Stephen King exhorts, even if it breaks your egocentric little heart. Do it all with a smile on your face and with no trace of melancholy.Occams razor isnt like Freddy Kruegers glove. Youll survive - no, thrive - after you play roughly with your work, tear it apart, and chop it up. Cutting the immobile kitchen gave us food carts. Cutting bank loans and venture-capital funding gave us Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Cutting late fees and physical stores for movie rentals gave us Netflix. Cutting their ties to Great Britain gave the colonies the United States of America (cue the inspirational patriotic music).To cut is to make whole. To subtract is to add. To constrain is to liberate.As the ashes an d clutter settle, something beautiful will soar.Ozan Varol is a rocket scientist turned law professor and bestselling author.Click hereto download a free copy of his e-book, The Contrarian Handbook 8 Principles for Innovating Your Thinking. Along with your free e-book, youll get the Weekly Contrarian - a newsletter that challenges conventional wisdom and changes the way we look at the world (plus access to exclusive content for subscribers only).Thisarticlefirst appeared onOzanVarol.com.

Highest Paying Finance Jobs

Highest Paying Finance JobsHighest Paying Finance Jobs Finance is one of the highest-paying sectors in the US economy, and the industry draws many job seekers for precisely that reason. Financial managers , for example, are paid a median of $127,990 per year, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for financial managers is projected to rise 19 percent between 2016 and 2026, which is faster than the average for other occupations. While professions in finance often require long hours and grueling days at the office during the outset, those who stick with it are rewarded with high pay and typically shorter hours as they move up the ranks in the industry. If youre looking for a high-paying career, browse the list weve collated with the highest paying jobs in finance.It turns out that finance isnt just for people who were math whizzes in college. Many people working in the financial industry have backgrounds in liberal arts and humanities. Careers i n the finance industry require various degrees of quantitative knowledge and experience - some people in the industry will have a Ph.D. in data science, while others may rise to equally high pay grades through their ability to connect with clients, identify trends and put in long hours. Before you begin a career in the finance industry, its important to know what your ultimate career goals are in the field, and whether you will need any additional education or certifications to reach those goals down the line.Glassdoor salary range $81,000 $183,000Investment bankers have a wide range of responsibilities that touch many areas of the financial industry. In general, investment bankers raise money for their clients by issuing debt or selling equity in companies for their clients. They also advise clients on investment opportunities and strategies, as well as assist with mergers and acquisitions. Typically requiring long hours and a strong work ethic, aspiring investment bankers must be tenacious in their approach to the job.Glassdoor salary range $64,000 $164,000Equity analysts are typically employed by brokerages or financial firms to analyze the value of a companys stock and make financial predictions about a company. This type of research is accomplished through numerical and qualitative analysis of financial data, public records of companies, recent news and other information sources.Glassdoor salary range $49,000 $89,000Like equity analysts, financial analysts use quantitative and qualitative methods to study the performance of investments such as stocks, bonds and commodities in order to provide investment guidance to businesses and individuals. Financial analysts also may advise companies on their financial strategy decisions.Glassdoor salary range $67,000 $134,000Credit risk managers develop, implement and maintain policies and protocols that help to reduce the credit risk of financial institutions. Their duties include building financial models that predict credit risk exposure as well as monitoring and reporting on credit risk to the organizations they are employed by. A highly quantitative job, becoming a credit risk manager often requires an area-specific masters degree.Glassdoor salary range $113,000 $175,000The director of financial planning and analysis is typically in charge of creating and overseeing budgets, long-term financial plans, financial analyses and financial predictions for a financial organization or team. This role often requires an MBA or degree in accounting or finance, and sometimes it is required that employees in this role are certified as an accountant.Glassdoor salary range $123,000 $210,000Tax directors in finance oversee tax compliance, tax strategies and tax accounting for financial organizations. This is a lage that typically requires a bachelors degree, as well as extensive experience with accounting and taxes. Usually, tax directors report to the top management of an organization.Gla ssdoor salary range $127,000 $230,000The vice president of analytics is in charge of the collection and analysis of data within an organization. They use this data to aid with critical functions for the company such as business development, strategy, advertising and marketing. This position typically reports to the highest management of an organization.Glassdoor salary range $110,000 $315,000To be a managing director at an investment bank or in an investment banking role is one of the highest rungs on the totem pole in the field of finance you can reach. Managing directors interface often with the banks most important clients. They set strategies for profit maximization and lead teams to implement the strategies.A career in the finance industry generally requires a bachelors degree. While majoring in fields like finance, business, economics and mathematics can help you score your initial gig and perform well there, the industry is also open to those who studied different subject s, from English to history, as long as you have some sort of quantitative background. Some jobs in finance require specialized licensing, such as becoming a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). Often, an MBA or related masters degree - or even better, a Ph.D. in economics - can immediately bump up your pay prospects. While the finance industry isnt always known for relaxing hours and stress-free work environments, it is a distributions-mix whereby putting in your time as a junior employee, you can see big payoffs in terms of both salary and reduced work hours as you advance through the ranks.Are you an employer? Check out our Talent Solutions Blog .Thanks for finding us We cover everything from career advice to the latest company headlines.Were always looking for experts, executives and trends to feature on the Glassdoor blog. Interested? Contact us. And if youre looking for the latest in employer solutions and advice, we recommend our Tal ent Solutions Blog . It only takes a second see whos viewing your profile and monitor your reputation.

Here are tips on how to find the answers youre looking for

Here are tips on how to find the answers youre looking forHere are tips on how to find the answers youre looking forWhen Im searching for solutions, the last thing I want to hear isAh, but you have everything you need.Not because theyre annoying. Not because the advice is trope-y. Not because it feels unhelpful. But mainly because theyre normally totally right. And I dont want to hear it. Because it doesnt FEEL like I have what I need.Especially when what I think I need is answersAnswers to where this is all going.Answers to why it all happened.Answers to what to do next.Answers to if it will work out.Answers to if I want it to.Answers to what Im feeling.Answers to what to do now. Next.Answers to if I did it right.Answers to if Im doing it wrong.Answers to if any of this even matters.Were pretty conditioned to look elsewhere for whatever were searching for. To ask other people. How many times have you called a girlfriend and asked, What do you think I should do? Ive personally made t hat call more times than I can count searching mostly for the answer that I want to hear.The one I already know in my gut is the answer.SeeOften, we do in fact have our answers. What we need isnt someone to tell us its so. Its someone to come along and ask us the right question the question that will get us to our own answer.Soif youre looking for answers, stop searching outside of yourself. You have them. And until you realize that, look for the people who ask you the questions that lead you there.Rather than the people who tell you what you do (or dont) want to hear.And remember, theres no right or wrong. Theres answers we learn from. Answers we grow from. And answers wed never answer with again.This article originally appeared on Maxie McCoy.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 productivit yThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

The Star Spangled Banner KSA Accomplishment Revisited

The Star Spangled Banner KSA Accomplishment RevisitedThe Star Spangled Banner KSA Accomplishment RevisitedThe Star Spangled Banner KSA Accomplishment RevisitedIn keeping with our annual Independence Day tradition, we are celebrating the Fourth of July by bringing back our favorite blog about the Star Spangled Banner.On September 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key welches on a ship eight miles down the Patapsco River (near the Key Bridge today). He had been sitting out there watching the bombardment of the British on Ft. McHenry all day and through the night. By early morning, he looked out and the huge flag welches still waving in the breeze after twenty-five hours of heavy bombardment by the British. Key, who sometimes wrote religious poetry, welches inspired to pen the poem (in the graphic below) that became the National Anthem in 1931.The Commander of Ft. McHenry, Colonel Armistead knew how important Ft. McHenry was to our nation in 1812. The British had just burned Washington (includin g the White House and the Capitol Building) and were advancing toward Baltimore. The Commander felt that the Baltimoreans were discouraged and afraid for their city. He felt that they would have their spirits raised by seeing a huge, high flying flag at Fort McHenry as a symbol of defiance.The Defence of Fort McHenry, poem by Francis Scott Key, published in the Patriot on September 20, 1814.Colonel Armistead commissioned Mary Youngs Pickersgill, a local seamstress and flag maker to make two flags for Fort McHenry in 1813 a large flag and a smaller one to fly in bad weather. She was paid $500 for both flags, the large one being 30 x 42 feet, so it could be seen from a great distance. She was asked to sew a flag with 15 stars and 15 stripes, the number of states then in the Union. (My grandmother was a seamstress and flag maker with a famous flag maker in Baltimore City from 1910 until 1940. I wonder if this is the same flagmaker?)The 15-star, 15-stripe flag was authorized by the Fla g Act of January 13, 1794, adding 2 stripes and 2 Stars. The regulation went into effect on May 1, 1795. This flag was the only U.S. Flag to have more than 13 stripes. It was immortalized by Francis Scott Key during the bombardment of Fort McHenry, Sept 13, 1814. The image above is representative of the actual flag that flew over Fort McHenry on that day and which is now preserved in the Smithsonian Museum. You can notice the tilt in some of the stars just as in the original Star Spangled Banner.Personally, I am inspired by Francis Scott Keys experience, the flag, Ft. McHenry, our countrys survival, and the amazing poem that Mr. Key wrote, especially the phrase oer the land of the free, and the home of the brave.Can your spirits be raised to write a better resume by thinking about the morning that Francis Scott Key wrote the poem Defence of Ft. McHenry that became the National Anthem? Mr. Keys accomplishment would make a great KSA for Ability to WriteFrancis Scott Keys KSA Accomplis hment,Sept. 14, 1814Position Public Affairs Officer, U.S. CongressKSA Ability to Communicate in WritingAUTHORED THE STAR SPANGLED BANNERThe actual banner that flew over Fort McHenryContext As an attorney and aide-de-camp to General Smith, stationed near Upper Marlboro, MD, I found out my dear friend and elderly, Dr. Beane, who was captured by the British Army during a party at his home in Upper Marlboro. I was on a British vessel flagged for truce by the future President Jackson, on my way to pick up a captured friend in Marlborough. We got as far as the mouth of the Patuxent and then we were not permitted to return lest an intended attack on Baltimore by the British should be disclosed. We were brought up the Bay just across from Fort McHenry and there we were compelled to witness the bombardment of Fort McHenry, which the Admiral had boasted that he would carry in a few hours, and that the city must causa.Challenge We watched the flag at the Fort through the whole day with more than 500 bombs from British ships to Ft. McHenry. In the night the smaller weather flag was flying while we watched the Bomb shells in darkness not knowing that the American Military had secretly planned 4 barges, which the British did not detect. These barges attached the British militia and sent them running, some with tugs assisting. At the early dawn our eyes were surprising greeted by the proudly the 15-star flag of our country (late to be known as the Star Spangled Banner).Actions By morning, I was compelled to pen a poem that reflected my thoughts of the war and particularly of the flag, Oh say can you see by the dawns early light was my first thought.I wrote four verses that reflected topics about the day before and my vision of the flag in the morning. The first verse reviews the dawns light and the flag with broad stripes and bright stars that was still flying in the morning the second verse reviews the dread silence and how the flag was fitfully blowing the third verse reviews the havoc of war and the battles confusion and the final and fourth verse celebrates the victory and peace that preserved our nation.Results I witnessed the last enemy fire to fall on Fort McHenry and in this memory, I wrote the poem Defence of Fort McHenry has been renamed to The Star-Spangled Banner and has become a well-known American patriotic song. The poem and song were recognized for official Navy use in 1931 and became the national them by a congressional resolution on March 3, 1931 and signed by President Herbert Hoover.+++++++++This KSA was written by Kathryn Troutman, Author, Ten Steps to a Federal Job, 3rd Edition.Written in the CCAR format which results in the Best Scores by Federal Human Resources Specialists. See our free CCAR Accomplishment Builder here.Written and Published by Kathryn Troutman, The Resume Place, Inc., It is OKAY to copy this, email this and share this with friends and colleagues. Please give leistungspunkt to Kathryn Troutman, www.resume- place.com.Also, submitted by a reader an audio history of the Star Spangled Banner (about 11 min)document.createElement(audio)https//www.resume-place.com/wp-content/uploads/Star-Spangled-Banner.wma

In The Arena

In The ArenaIn The ArenaShhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Its the 4th of July and while the whole nation is sleeping, why dont we get cracking on a week full of great jobs?Check out the almost 5,000 new jobs in this weeks issue and then come back to read the words of this great AmericanIt is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood who strives valiantly who errs and comes short again and again who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.That was Teddy Roosevelt, folks, speaking at the Sorbonne in 1910. But he could have j ust as easily been speaking to you.Readers, the critics, those professional naysayers and doom-and-gloomers, will tell you No. It cant be done. Dont try. Give up. Why do you have to stand out? Give up.But dont mistake their words for truth, my friends. Dont buy into their message of settle-settle and underachievement.Because youve been blessed with talent, because youve had the fortunate happenstance to be born in this great country (or emigrate, or visit), because youre one of the leading professionals in this land, you have a higher calling this Fourth of July, Readers.You need to use the great powers youve been given, you need to find the forum where your talents will shine, you need to be in that place where your spirits soar and the work seems like victory to you.So enjoy this 4th, and then find your new arena. Ill be there with you all the way.A LISTING IS NOT A LISTING IN YOUR $100K+ JOB HUNTA job listing is a job listing, right?Nope.A job listing is only as good as the atten tion paid to it.And a recruiter pays better attention to the candidates from the best sources.Let me explain.Say youre a recruiter looking to find more VP candidates. Where would you most expect to find her?a) Business School Alumni Clubb) A Yankees-Red Sox gamec) Roller-blading on the beachWell, b) and c) would be a heck of a lot of fun, but a) is the answer youd get from recruiters.Why? A higher percentage of attendees are going to be VP-level.Similarly, where would you go to find VP-level job-seekers?a) Ladders.comb) Monsterc) CraigslistA recruiter really wants to spend his time interviewing great candidates and placing them in jobs, not scrounging around the internet. Thats why they come to Ladders.com.And that, dear Readers, is where your $25 / month goes.Were at the trade shows for you.Were burning up the phone lines coast to coast for you.Were marketing and selling and shouting to the roof of the world the praises of our fantastic 430,000 subscribers for you.Your five dozen $ 100K+-job-loving fanatics here at Ladders.com are doing it day-in and day-out, with almost 5,000 new jobs this week, and we do it all for you

What is Truly Going on with Free Resume Review

What is Truly Going on with Free Resume Review The Tried and True Method for Free Resume Review in Step by Step Detail Browsing our essay writing samples can provide you a sense whether the standard of our essays is the quality youre looking for. There are even how-to articles written about how to purchase Fiverr reviews and prevent detection. Bear in mind our reviews are completely unbiased. The one-on-one review is simply phenomenal. If you fret about the standard of your essay as well as youre worrying about whether you can locate a paper writer youll be able to trust, you have arrived at the proper location. The sole intent of a resume is to find an interview. Its crucial to be open to the Resume Writers advice, but in plus-rechnen objective enough to realize that its there opinion. If people ask a question, they more often than elend want to have an answer and preferably the response to the question they ask. Dont be afraid to employ a professional resume writer. One, we apply an extremely careful collection of our writers. There are dozens and dozens of writers to choose from and professional rates are usually low enough to permit a few revisions or even experimenting with a couple distinct writers. Our crew of professional resume writers will supply you with a sparkling resume reminding no others. The 5-Minute Rule for Free Resume Review The Careers Service has an assortment of workshops and resources accessible to assist you with job applications and interviews. Resumes help the recruiter find the proper candidates for the job, and you ought to be in a position to stick out from the rest. When you submit an application for a job well send your application to the named recruiter, who might contact you. When youre applying for jobs, youll be able to pick from any of the resumes youve uploaded. All safe, legit, and a great prospect for you to find expert resume help from a work search expert. Years of dedicated work and experience lead to creation well-organized and beneficial small geschftlicher umgang documents. Lots of people dont like their existing job or career. So, ALWAYS ensure you save a duplicate of your resume as plain text and open that plain text and make sure it still reads like it should, with no weird formatting troubles. A fundamental text editor free of charge, providing you a printable resume template. On-line ApplicationsOnline applications are somewhat more complex than simply uploading a resume and cover letter via an on-line system. Scannable resumes need specific page designs because computer scanners cant read certain products. Key Pieces of Free Resume Review By checking out all features and services a business offers, were getting sufficient info to generate a conclusion on which are the best resume services that will be able to help you get the job which you are applying for. Aside from the free resume review support, an individual can make an application for the firms professiona l resume writing service. If you see a service we havent evaluated, dont hesitate to drop us a message and were going to look it over once possible. The service of Resumarea is supplied to clients at a sensible price that matches the significance of your self-presentation. Our writers get in contact with you and learn a little about your targets and ambitions. Resume writing is the most significant step in presenting your abilities and receiving the job that you desire. If you ought to be a student thats focused on delivering quality thats high on time for her or his scholastic written task, then we at Uk Essay article writers are here in order to help you attain your dreams that are academic objectives. There are several things that you can do with the resume to make it even more appealing. Normally, there are all types of issues, flaws and folks just wind up calling a professional resume writer right before the interview to repair everything. It might not always be pract ical to do things on your own. You may find many great resume templates, but you are going to have to decide if theyre likely to help or hurt your odds of landing an interview. What You Must Know About Free Resume Review With affordable rates, but reliable and beneficial provider, it has to indeed be an exceptional support. Our services wont only demonstrate your value as an employee to prospective organizations, theyll also convince you of your very own expert worth. Various organizations are supplying assistance but they generallyre unable to give them on-time. Distinct businesses have actually various ideology and likewise, they normally have maxims.

A Look at Our Evening with NBCUniversals Cybersecurity Leaders

A Look at Our Evening with NBCUniversals Cybersecurity Leaders On May 14th, PowerToFly partnered with NBCUniversals Operations Technology Talent Acquisition Team to present their 2nd Annual Women in Tech Talent Connect event. Taking place at the iconic 30 Rockefeller Plaza, women in cybersecurity had the chance to learn from a panel of NBCUniversals women tech leaders in cybersecurity and network with their peers. Speakers from NBCUniversal includedAndrea Abell, Chief Information Security OfficerMichael Bradshaw, EVP CIO NBCUniversalJill Cusick, Director Talent Organizational DevelopmentIngrid Jones, Senior Director, Identity OperationsJessica Opet, Director PMOYasmine Abdillahi, Senior Director Risk Management and Information AssuranceMarissa Johnson, Director, Business Information Security OfficerSuzan Vulaj, Director, Talent Acquisition - Operations TechnologyNBCUniversal is hiring NBCU is considered one of the worlds leading media and entertainment companies, and proud to del ivers content that entertains, informs and shapes ur world. Some of their great benefits include a 401(k), an onsite gym, top-notch medical dental coverage, sneak peaks to movie premieres, and annual passes to the Universal Theme ParksFollow NBCUniversal on PowerToFly to learn about upcoming events and open roles. Our amazing panel of women leaders from NBCUniversal

The risk involved with always staying in the safe lane

The risk involved with always staying in the safe laneThe risk involved with always staying in the safe laneFor ur recent family road trip, my wife and I went with ur children for two days of sightseeing in nearby cities. In total, we spent around 10 hours in the car, fruchtweinly on three-lane highways and predominantly at night, with little roadside scenery to take in.This gave me, the sole driver, plenty of time to observe my road-mates.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreFor the most part, the other drivers on the road followed the standard script. Those in the right lane were the slowest, with lots of folks occupying that lane temporarily to enter or exit the road. Drivers in the center lane were the majority. They maintained a healthy, predictable speed and were largely content to keep their place in line. Then there were the left-laners. These folks were the most aggressive, clocking in at the highest speeds. They would also weave in and out of lanes in order to improve their position and arrival times.On occasion, however, we encountered someone in the left lane that failed to follow the rules. This driver would maintain right or center-lane speeds, even as other drivers closed in quickly behind them. They did not respond to the fact that they were preventing others from passing, forcing those drivers to navigate around them in order to maintain their desired speeds.After taking a few days to recover from the trip, it dawned on me that this road dynamic can serve as a useful metaphor for how we approach life in general and specifically career-related decisions.Those in the proverbial right lane of life fit into one of two categories. Some are the slow-movers. These people are content to take things slow and play it safe. They dont like to take risks and arent bothered that everyone else is passing them by. Others hang out in the right lane temporarily, as they exit or enter the road. They are dissatisfied with the status quo and jump off their current path to chart a different course.Like those to their right, folks in lifes center lane are also relatively risk-averse. True, they dont travel as slowly, but they too like the comfort of predictability and conformity. In some respects, they eschew risk even more, in that they dont have to deal with folks who are in transition. They just get in their lane and set their lives to cruise control, happily doing what others in front of them do.Those in the left lane of our metaphor are clearly the biggest risk-takers. They set their own speeds and, when blocked, find ways around them. The risks that come with their aggressive approach are the price they pay for living beinahe and free.It would be a mistake, however, to think that risk only resides in lifes left lane. In fact, each lane comes with its own risks.According to one source, while crashes in the left lane are often the most inte nse, the left lane actually has the fewest crashes. The right lane, with its continuous merging, is where the highest rate of accidents occurs.While most people may think that living safely carries the least risk, it is not always so. Many of the seemingly safe decisions we make are based on two conditionsThat nothing surrounding the current circumstances will ever change (for example, my industry, company, and job will always be there)That if so many people in front of us are doing the same thing, they must know what theyre doing.Yet, we know that this is unrealistic and untrue. It has been said many times that the only thing that is constant in life is change itself. We cannot expect future stability and success simply because our current approach has served us or others in the past.Lets look at the following common example A young professional, Sally, has been working at an established company for five years. She is offered a promising opportunity at a young, small firm. Shell be able to leave her soul-sucking job in favor of better work/life balance, more reasonable hours, a shorter commute and the ability to make a bigger impact. If all goes well and this new firm grows, she can advance to a partner role and will match her current salary in a few years.But Sally is unsure. After all, the new firm is not guaranteed to be successful the move just seems too risky. In the end, she decides to stay in her stable position. One year later, Sally loses her job in a round of downsizing. Shes left worse off than had she taken the job.When Sally made the decision to play it safe, she didnt consider the possibility that her current job situation could change for the worse. While the moving over to the new, smaller company seemed like the riskier move, Sally could have better evaluated the risk of staying put, such as red flags about the companys trajectory and bottom line.Nottaking action has costs that can be as consequential as taking risks its simply less common fo r people to calculate and pay attention to the what-ifs of our inaction. In todays marketplace, where jobs and job categories are being destroyed and invented at an accelerating rate, the riskiest move one can make is to assume that your industry or job is secure.In life theres no such thing as a sure bet. Even the most stable of conditions has its risks. In fact, sometimes playing it safe is the riskiest strategy of all. Change is the norm, not the exception. When making important decisions, we need to try and anticipate the kompetenz upheaval of all our options,including the one that appears to be the most stable.There are a variety complicatedfinancial and behavioralbarriers to risk-taking - poor planning, loss and risk aversion, the sunk-cost fallacy are but three - but in essence it boils down to the fact that we are wired to resist giving up the known in exchange for the unknown.Not only can playing it safe not always produce the safest outcome, but our attempt to safeguard against the risk of loss, the smaller and narrower our lives become and the more we eclipse our capacity to feel joy.Here are some ways to become more risk-tolerant and take proper actionAcknowledge that our natural state is risk aversion. From that vantage point, it is easier to make a mental break and take the necessary action to grow and break through.When youre about to make a decision and you feel afraid, ask yourself What is the worst-case scenario? In most cases, it wont be so bad after all.Break problems into small actions. What kind of small-to-no-investment learning or voluntary experience could give you a sense of what its like to change into a different career or join a different kind of company, such as from for-profit to not-for-profit or from corporate to startup?Then, armed with real-world data, each of those hypothetical career-changers would have more clarity and about the correct next steps.This article first appeared on SmartBrief.You might also enjoyNew neurosci ence 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

Essential Tech Tools for Your Home Office

Essential Tech Tools for Your Home OfficeEssential Tech Tools for Your Home OfficeYou finally got what you wished for. You landed enough side-gig clients to make your dream of working for yourself a full-time job, or else you negotiated with your employer to work remotely more often (or perhaps permanently). Either way, youre ready to dig in at home. But before you do, here are the tools youll need in buchen to be successful. Remember, if youre not careful, and you dont set yourself up right, youll be back to the 9-to-5 corporate grind before you know it.1. Tech for your deskWorking from home means you might be sitting in the same spot, without moving, for very long periods of time. This might lead to some unfocused hours, and perhaps some back pain. So, you need to get your desk set up for maximum productivity.Start with an awesome standing desk with the perfect built-in technology for cords, docking stations, and chargers for your computer and phone. Options like this Varidesk can help improve your posture as well asthe time you waste running back into another room to check your phone while its charging.Combine your new standing desk with atabletop charging station or a wireless charging hub with numerous ports for all of your work technology. Think about it, shouldnt you have a wireless charging station for each and every one of your important products? Dont let your cords slow you down.2. Cut the cord for phone callsTheres no reason to let your wired headphones (most likely tangled up in your backpack) slow your work day down, either. There are so many options for bluetooth phone capabilities that youll surely find one that works well for you.If youre making a lot of client phone calls, these calls might be a great time for you to stand up and move your body while discussing reports with clients or coworkers. To do this, check out your options like BOSE noise canceling, bluetooth enabled headphones, Apples AirPods, JLad Jbuds, or any of the awesome products on this list.Calls are a great time to keep your body moving and walk around. Moving helpsyour bloodas well as your creative juices flow.3. SlackSo you finally got your desk set up and youre feeling good about your home office, right? Well, now its time to get to work. In order to work effectively and efficiently, you need to ensure that your computer and your software programs are up to speed. Start with Slack. Slack is an incredible communication tool to help you stay in touch with clients, coworkers, contractors, and everyone you need to be in touch with on a normal work day. Instead of clogging up yourcolleaguesemail inboxes with quick questions, use Slack to instant message them. You can also set up individual channels for different projects within the company.The best part is you can select which people join individual channels. That way, if youre working on a project with just one or two other people, the entire company wont be bothered by your chat and communication. Slack is an incredible way to streamline efficient communication when working from home.4. Google DriveHave you ever worked on ahuge document with coworkers, but one person along the chain forgot to save your changes or track their own changes? Yes, weve all been there. Enter Google Drive.If youre working remotely, you need to keep track of files and you need to collaborate in real-time with people who you are not sitting next to. The best part about using Google Docs or Google Sheets is that you can work through a document, in real-time, with other remote workers without theneed to save any changes. All updates are saved automatically in real-time, so that when the next person opens the file, theres not even a question that theyre viewing the most recent version. A win-win for all5. Innovative lightingLighting, especially in a home office, is hugely important for staying focused and efficient at your desk. You dont want too much lighting to the point where youre squinting at your monitor . But you also dont want the atmosphere to be too dark. This could lead to some unwanted, unplanned napsFirst, access as much natural light as you can. Take a look at your space, and if theres natural light nearby, use it.Overhead lighting is key, too. Next, tryout a classic desk lamp with controllable brightness options. These tried and true desk lamps can bring everything into focus for you. You can use the flexible arm to adjust height and angle to suit the project youre working on. To avoid eyestrain, youll need the best lighting possible.Finally, finish off your office with aninnovative lumineszenzdiode table lamp to add some ambient light to your office. Withthe Hue Beyond LED Smart Table Lamp, you can control the colors to make the vibe in your office exactly what you need it to be for anywork mode that you might find yourself in.Sam Radbil is the lead writer for ABODO Apartments, an online real estate and apartments marketplace withavailable apartments in cities like Chicago , Austin, New York City, and more. ABODOs research and writing has been featured nationally in Curbed, Forbes, Realtor.com, HousingWire, and more.

Dont Kill Your Resume Operate On It!

Dont Kill Your Resume Operate On It Dont Kill Your Resume Operate On It This post by Michael at Human Race Horses makes an argument that I hear often. In these days of social media and web-based job search, can a resume really do the job? Michael thinks notAnother personal reason for wanting to kill my resume is that in looking at this little historical snapshot from so long ago slightly over two years it is is really shocking to realize that it does nothing to communicate anything at all about me that I would want to put out if I were job searching. It doesnt effectively reflect * extensive skills in social media * knowledge and expertise of Hr and how it applies to todays work environment * research skills, especially deep skills on the net * networking * blogging, writing and thought leadershipHe wonders then whether he shouldnt scrap his resume in favor of online profiles where he can better communicate these skills. But this is the part of the resume is dead argume nt that I dont understand. People say to me all the time I cant capture who I am in a resume and I always ask them the same question Why not?Is it because words are just not adequate to describe the wonder that is you? UnlikelyMore likely its because you are being limited by what you imagine a resume should be. If you step outside the box (sorry for the cliche) a little, you might see lots of ways to convey who you are and what you have to offer a company. For example, Michael could begin with a summary that outlines the skills he mentioned above, complete with links where appropriate, but then he could go on to provide evidence of these skills through action-oriented achievement stories and even by quoting testimonials from LinkedIn, or thank you letters from blog readers, or by listing training hes completed or e-books hes written, or by numerous other means to show that he is indeed a thought leader in his field.If his resume were to do all that, it would generate phone calls and interviews.As for the web profiles, it doesnt have to be either/or. I like to end my clients resumes with a section called on the web or learn more where I list their career-related web profiles and/or blogs. It can also be effective to add the statement feel free to google my name for more information to either your resume or cover letter nothing conveys more confidence than telling people to go look you up.Im not defending the resume because I make my living writing resumes after all, if resumes go away, Ill probably make my living writing web profiles instead. Im just not sure that the answer to an outdated style of resume writing is to blow up the entire concept of resumes. At least, not yet.