Tuesday, December 31, 2019

You Can Like Your Job and Still Get Sunday Scaries -The Muse

You Can Like Your Job and Still Get Sunday Scaries -The MuseYou Can Like Your Job and Still Get Sunday Scaries When it comes to my career, I consider myself lucky. I like my job, and I like the work Im doing and the people I do it with. Im not saying this to brag, but rather because almost every Sunday at around 5 PM I get a pit in my stomach. Not necessarily a I need to get out or Maybe Im delusional and actually hate my job kind of pit (heres how to tell if your pit is that kind), but one thats too real to ignore.For the longest time, I wondered what was wrong with me. Even more so, I felt guilty- I truly enjoy my job, so why did I feel this way every week? When I talked to someone about it, he replied with Of course its normal to get the Sunday Scaries.But I like my job, I tried to explain.Yes, but that doesnt mean its not daunting to face the next day. Its unknown- you have no idea what to expect, so thats going to be scary, he said.That really stuck with me. And it made sense No matter how great work can be, youre never koranvers how great it will be. You may get bad feedback. You may make a mistake. You may spill coffee on your pants, have a horrible commute, and show up late to an important meeting. Of course, theres a flip side to this. You could have a great day in which nothing goes wrong and everything you wanted to go right does. But anything can happen and not knowing which way its going to go isnt a nice feeling.Science backs this up An article in Shape Magazine states that most of us arent mentally prepared to get back to the grind after just two days. Sometimes we dont spend enough time properly rejuvenating, and other times were prone to worrying- canceling out any positive effects our weekend mayve had on our mood. Another article by NBC News quotes Andrea Petersen, author of On Edge A Journey Through Anxiety and emphasizes that Sunday Scaries are about anticipation Work is one of our major stressorsAnxiety, to define it, is the anticipation o f pain. If youre talking about anxiety in the workplace, it could be the anticipation that youre not going to be able to accomplish everything that week, or that youre gonna mess up somehow. Theres also another side to the of course its normal to get the Sunday Scaries coin thats worth mentioning. Trying to compare spending time with loved ones or going on a relaxing getaway with getting promoted or being congratulated for a big accomplishment at work is like comparing apples and oranges. Both can bring you satisfaction and joy, but theyre going to be different kinds of feelings. Its presumptuous (and frankly unproductive) to assume that your job will and should feel exactly like your weekends do.The first point is You shouldnt feel guilty when Sunday winds down. Feeling anxious about going to work on Sunday evening doesnt make you a confused person who hasnt found the right career. It just means youre a human being.And the second point is to make sure to make good use of your weeke nds- if you need rest and rejuvanation, do your best to actually get it On top of that, make sure you start a Friday afternoon routine at the office that sets you up for a little predicitabilty on Monday morning. Whether that means you write down your to-do list for the following week (or at least the first thing you need to do on Monday morning), or scheduling something that you know will go well, such as a coffee break with a work friend, do it You cant plan every minute out, but you can put a few things into place thatll make that transition back into the office a bit easier.

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Survey Assistants save managers 8+ hours a week, on average

Survey Assistants save managers 8+ hours a week, on averageSurvey Assistants save managers 8+ hours a week, on averageHave you ever realized just howmuch time your right-hand employee saves you at work?New research from staffing firm OfficeTeam, released ahead of Administrative Professionals Day on April 25, shows that administrative assistants save their senior managers 101 minutes daily on average, or more than 8 hours weekly. Seventy-five percent of managers said these employees currently have more on their plate than five years prior.An independent research firm surveyed more than 600 senior managers at companies with 20 or more employees in the United States and Canada, on behalf of OfficeTeam,according to the press release.Here are some points that stood out.All managers realize their assistant plays a critical roleWhile the research found that 100% of the supervisors surveyed think that their assistant is important to their success, 64% agreed that administrative employees cur rently have a more promising career-growth track than five years ago.Brandi Britton, a district president for OfficeTeam, commented on the research in a statementMost executives would be hard-pressed to get through a day without the help of their assistant Administrative professionals go out of their way to make things easier and more efficient for those around them. Theres no question they deserve to be recognized for their daily contributions.The research included examples of ways assistants have reportedly gone above and beyond at work, includingChased a delivery van to retrieve a missing packageHelped review resumes, deutsche bundespost jobs and organize interviewsWorked with the HR team to set candidate compensation packages and send offer lettersTrained fellow employees on technology toolsGave birthday cards and flowers to each team memberWith all of this in mind, there are also specific things bosses can do to manage their assistants wellDont make them feel like theyre doing a thankless jobDiane Gottsman, author, modern manners and etiquette expert, and owner of The Protocol School of Texas, writes in The Muse that as a manager, you should show your gratitude.A great assistant eases your workload and makes you look good, so be generous with praise when its due. A staff meeting or office event is a great place to publicly show your appreciation, but also never overlook an opportunity to show your gratitude with a simple, verbal great job. You can also treat him or her to the occasional cappuccino or pair of movie tickets. A good employer knows that happy employees make their bosses lives much easier she writes.Be sure to listen to themYou might want to make sure you dont get distracted by your phone while youre at it because it makes employees trust you less. So dont make the mistake of cutting off your assistant every time they try to tell you something important - it might just snowball into a larger problem.Gottsman also suggests that you let them k now what you need and are receptive to their feedback as well.Dont micromanage themGive them chances to shine on their own.Breathing down your assistants neck might just discourage them from doing more than the bare minimum - it couldjust push them away. Since research has found that the top source of employees office stress is unclear goals, make yourexpectations are abundantly clear instead.

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Law Schools May Be Getting a Trump Bump

Law Schools May Be Getting a Trump BumpLaw Schools May Be Getting a Trump BumpTrump bump. Its fun to say. Its fun to type. Thats probably why people have been using the phrase to describe everything from the bullish markets to the inclusion of one of Trumps lawyers firms in Vaults latest Top 100. But it seems that the decade-long slump in law school admissions may be coming to an end thanks to a Trump bump. (And no, its not just because Tiffany Trump just started classes at Georgetown Law).According to LSAC, the organization that administers the LSAT, mora than 27,000 people took the entrance exam in June, a nearly 20% increase from June 2016. Its the largest year-over-year increase since the 1980s and the largest total number of takers since 2010, in the depths of the recession. While there are a number of factors that may help explain this large increase (a slight shift in the testing calendar, the removal of a cap on exam attempts), the bump is especially impressive in light of se veral law schools indicating that theyll now accept GRE scores in place of LSAT scores. Which led many to speculate that the increase in LSAT takers may be related the new presidential administration. LSAC president Kelleye Testy said last month, I think people are starting to understand again the necessity for the rule of law. Our current political climate has demonstrated that.And while several media outlets were asking if this was a Trump bump, one LSAT prep company decided to find out. Blueprint LSAT Preparation surveyed more than 500 of their 2017 LSAT students and asked them, Why do you want to become a lawyer? Of six possible choices, 24% of respondents ranked the current political climate/ Trump administration as the most important factor in their decision. And in response to a separate question, more than 52% of respondents said the Trump presidency was at least moderately influential to their decision to apply to law school. The survey also found that recent events such as the Charlottesville protests were at least moderately influential to the decision of what type of law to study to more than 52% of respondents.So it looks like the big spike in LSAT takers may be stemming from the fabled Trump bump. Fortunately, law schools seem to be responding, with professors retooling their con law syllabi to address Trump-specific issues.You can view the full survey results here.Follow me on TwitterVaultLawand follow Vault on InstagramVaultCareersandFacebook

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

A complete guide to the Enhancv platform menu functions

A complete guide to the Enhancv platform menu functionsA complete guide to the platform menu functionsIn part one of our guide, we looked at the sign up options and account settings on the platform. But once you setsTo help you succeed in crafting a superhuman resume, our platform offers you Tips and Examples throughout the process of writing. They appear in a bar on the lefts, Terms, Privacy, Blog and Logout buttons there.9) Adding a new resume into your accountCreating multiple resumes is available to Pro users ONLY.After you log in, at the top right, you can see the + New Resume button. Click on it and a new resume will appear. If youd like to go back to the previous resume, click on the View All Resumes button (top left corner). Then you can click through your resumes, change their titles, duplicate, download or delete them. From there, you can also create a unique link to your resume in order to share it or Ask for Feedback.10) Customer SupportIf you need further assistance, u se the button in the bottom right corner. There, you can find frequently asked questions and answers or contact our friendly support team.That is all for today. In the next guide, we will focus on all sections on our platform, how to re-use them and other hacks and tricks to help you create a top notch resume. Now pull up your sleeves and start crafting. We hope you enjoy the processThats itPart Two of our guide finishes here. I hope I provided enough details to make sure you never get lost while creating your resume. In the next post, we will focus on each section and how to use them to showcase both your personality and experience. Let me know if you have more questions

Thursday, December 12, 2019

How to Knock Your First Job Interview Out of the Park

How to Knock Your First Job Interview Out of the ParkHow to Knock Your First Job Interview Out of the ParkWithin the first few seconds of meeting someone, an opinion is immediately formed that can last forever. This encounter often sets the tone for the relationship that follows. So how can you make your first impression a positive one?Here are some tips to help you knock your first job interview out of the parkTake pride in your presencePhysical appearance is the first thing people observe before an introduction. Always dress appropriately for the occasion, whether its a casual lunch or a formal geschftlicher umgang meeting. A go-to suggestion is to maintain a clean and crisp appearance for most job interviews because you cant go wrong think business casual. This look can be trendy and professional and will position you in a positive light. Being mindful of your appearance will give you more confidence to help make a great first impression.Showcase your positive attitudeFor people who get nervous when interacting with others, it is essential to sustain a calm attitude and optimistic outlook. Go into the meeting with an open mind and learn something new. Contribute to the conversation and maintain engagement. Showing attentiveness is often contagious, as the person you meet catches on and reciprocates.Be conscious of your body languageBody language is a crucial element in daily human interaction. From the way you walk to a meeting, to the hand gestures used while you speak body language is just as important as the words you say. Start by standing tall, making appropriate eye contact and giving a firm handshake. Demonstrate open body postures by keeping your head up and relaxing your shoulders. Crossed arms and legs make you appear closed off and unapproachable, so be mindful of how you might appear to others.Be yourselfBeing true to yourself is the best way to be presentable to others. Be comfortable with your personality. If nervousness kicks in, take a few deep breaths and remember to be calm and confident. A composed demeanor will put anyone at ease, sealing the deal on an excellent relationship as you move forward.Making an everlasting first impression is simply about being at peace with who you are and being ready to meet others. Try some of these above tips at your next meeting, networking darbietung or job interview.

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Listing Education on Resume Can Be Fun for Everyone

Listing Education on Resume Can Be Fun for Everyone Its a fact that some employers wont be interested in you as you lack the work openings educational requirement, but you will see different employers that welcome your experience, skills and expertise. Employers wish to realize that you have continued education, if applicable. Some employers may be on the watch for a specific age group to do a pspeciesicular job, even if it is not the fruchtwein ethical thing to do. Most employers are incredibly picky in the fest of the selection of workers for a work opening. Resumes are critical tools in just about any work hunt only since they represent the exact first thing an employer sees regarding a prospective worker. Recruiters resume most familiar by it. The recruiter may think that you will unable to deliver your work well. There are a few professions like finance or healthcare where specific certifications or degrees are necessary to getting the job. Perhaps, you might also list the courses that you took if youre interested in industry jobs. For placement on your resume, take into consideration where youre in your career and that which you wish to emphasize. High school education isnt listed on your resume once youve attended college. The War Against Listing Education on Resume There are a lot of methods to arrange information on your resume, but the normal reverse-chronological resume is the most frequently used resume style and certainly the most suitable course of action. In the event you dont have sufficient work experience to fill a comprehensive page. Mentioning an extensive collection of hobbies and individual interests on resume might be an issue as the man or woman may come out to be very distributive. There are a lot of explanations for why you may be intending to stop your job. You went back to school and took a lot of courses that are related to the tech market. If you dont have a great deal of work experience to demonstrate your abili ties and capabilities at work, it can be important to list any appropriate college coursework, even when you didnt graduate with a degree. Needless to say, you need your resume to appear neat. Make certain that you choose courses that are related to the job for which youre applying. Actually, there are particular jobs where its important to set an art section at or close to the top of the restart. Please remember youll require a companion cover letter to seal the offer. All letters to workers have to be dealt with together with the appropriate titles of their recipients. You are going to have far better probability of convincing an employer that youre a strong candidate if you create a personal connection with a hiring manager. After Your own resignation was accepted you want to make certain you inform your employer regarding the present state of the projects youre handling so which you might proceed accordingly. Conflicts When youre asking for work at a new company, take a w hile to consider whether including the membership is helpful for your job prospects. Further, you could even discover that youre anticipated to supply a similar quantity of notice to any employee that you terminate. The secret to effectively styling resume education sections is to ensure the most crucial information is simplest to notice. Therefore, its best that you start by producing a list of hobbies on resume you will list. It will probably refer to more examples of letters that are alike over the web And prepare one thats well suited for your requirements. The correct format has to be there together with the model of writing. Its possible to use a on-line search engine to come across completely free on-line presentations of skills. Colleges have a look at the comprehensive application package. Adding to your education is excellent. Listing Education on Resume at a Glance The pictures measurement element of the best way to do resume was pixels. There are a lot of resu me strategies to master which will help you land the job that you desire. Dont forget that your resume is your very first field of protection on the topic of landing your very best job. Adding your majors and minors on your resume may look to be a simple task, but having proper formatting to make sure that it looks both skilled and easy on the eyes can be challenging. The Benefits of Listing Education on Resume Only listing education on resumes will allow it to be feasible that you be in the trend of the modern growth of society. The absolute most important point to keep in mind while you document your education is honesty. If education has become the most prominent portion of your experience, put it towards the top. A school education is likely to teach you everything connected with production and film industry generally. Most importantly, be strategic about anything you place in your education section. You should tailor the education section of your resume to satisfy your circumstances, including whether you continue to be a student, how much work experience that you have, and the number of academic achievements youve got. At the simplest level, a very clear education section demonstrates that youve got a fantastic background and the simple knowledge to be successful. If youre a seasoned professional, set your professional work history section prior to your education.

Monday, December 2, 2019

6 Things I Learned About Job Satisfaction From Interviewing More Than 500 People

6 Things I Learned About Job Satisfaction From Interviewing More Than 500 People As full-time videographer for career exploration startupPathSource, Justin Thach has had the unique opportunity to talk with all kinds of people about their career paths, from doctors, lawyers, and CEOs to professional baseball players, animal breeders, and video game designers. Through these conversations, Thach has gleaned six crucial insights about what makesa successful and genuinely fulfilling career.1. Be CourageousAfter conducting interviews with more than500 professionals, Thach estimates thatmore than 50 percentchanged the direction of their career path at some point.Thach himself never created a video until after graduating from college. Initially, he planned to enter the teaching profession. This led to him working at a community college, where he welches given the opportunity to shoot and edit his first v ideo. His newfound passion quickly blossomed into a viable career path.If you discover a new interest or an unexpected opportunity later in life, be open to pursuing it. Its never too late.2. Dont Just Work for the MoneyThe average person spends more thanone-thirdof their life working, so its imperative that you spend your time doing something that means more to you than just a paycheck.A six-figure salary might seem like it should be at least one major driver of career satisfaction, but in the long run, it really isnt.According to the Harvard Business Reviews list of thetop five career regrets, the biggest regret people report is I wish I hadnt taken the job for the money.3.You Have Many, Many OptionsDid you know that you could make a living as a professionalbeekeeper? Or as ahot air balloon pilot? You are likely only aware of a tiny fraction ofthe hundreds of careers that might be the perfect fit for you.As a professional interviewer, Thach has seen the myriad opportunities that a re available to people of all skill levels and educational backgrounds. For instance, maybe you dreamed of one day becoming a doctor until you realized that you couldnt afford the time and money such a goal requires. Whatyou may not have realized is that there are multipleopportunities in the medical profession aside from being a doctor that offer you the chance to help others. You could instead becomea nurse practitioner,a physicians assistant, or ahospital administrator.Start investigating the vast world of career possibilities. Pretty soon, youll find the job thats perfect for you.4.Consider Being Your Own BossThroughout his career, Thach has observed that the individuals who aremost enthusiastic about their work arethose who started their own geschftsleben or were working to bring their own ideas to life. Venturing out on your own can seem risky, but according to the U.S. Census Bureau,400,000 new businesses are born each year in the U.S.In the end, seeing your own vision bear fruit can be an incredibly rewarding experience.5. The Internet Is Your FriendThere are many resources available that are just a mouse click away. Thach himself learned many of his video production skills through tutorials onLynda.com,YouTube,andCreative COW.Some sites even provide courses that offer degrees or certificates upon completion. For instance, if you want to pursue a career in marketing, but lack formal marketing education,UC Berkeley Extensionoffers online certificate-earning courses like Introduction to Marketing, Creating An Advertising Campaign, and Implementing a Brand Vision, all of which could help you break into the field.6. Follow Your Dream. Seriously.In every single interview, Thach asks, What do you wish you had known when you were first starting out in your career that you know now?By far, the most popular piece of advice he hears is to follow your dream. While this advice may seem clich, that might be because it is simply the best way to achieve true job sat isfaction and success.However, if your appetite for risk-taking is low, thats okay, too Not everyone is able to take financial risks such as starting their own business or chasing their dreams of Broadway stardom. Many people dip their toes in the water by freelancing in their spare time. Others have found lucrative outlets for their creativity on sites like Etsy or eBay. In reality,there are many ways to test the waters.Whatever your dream, someone has probably already made it a reality for themselves. Now its your turn.-Rubina is marketing manager atPathSource, a career exploration company that aims to transform lives by connecting people to their ideal career paths. She enjoys hiking, traveling, and all things food-related (including cooking it, eating it, and watching reality shows that revolve around it).*Brandon is a senior at the University of Minnesota, where he studies strategic communication and Spanish. Following a string of odd jobs, including waiting tables at not one, buttwoIndian restaurants, he now finds himself interning forPathSourceas their social media and marketing intern.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Six Part Series - SES ECQ Leadership Competencies - ECQ 1 Leading Change

Six Part Series - SES ECQ Leadership Competencies - ECQ 1 Leading ChangeSix Part Series - SES ECQ Leadership Competencies - ECQ 1 Leading ChangeSix Part Series SES ECQ Leadership Competencies ECQ 1 Leading ChangeWith the recent publication of the Second Edition of The New SES Application (December 2015), I am starting a new series to explain the Senior Executive Service (SES) Executive Core Qualification (ECQ) statements. This series is focused on the leadership competencies required of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to be certified to obtain a SES position. Leading Change is part 1 of 6 in this series The SES ECQ Leadership Competencies. At the conclusion, you will have the tools you need to help you focus your stories on the leadership competencies includingtips for story development. By Diane Hudson, Co-Author, The New SES ApplicationECQ 1 Leading ChangeThe Executive Core Qualification (ECQ) statements are broken down into five categoriesLeading Change Leading People Results Driven Business Acumen Building CoalitionsEach ECQ category has leadership competencies that are required to be addressed within each ECQ essay. Each ECQ typically has two stories and the associated leadership competencies can be woven through both stories.Leading Change has six leadership competences that need to be clearly addressedCreativity and Innovation Develops new insights into situations questions conventionalapproaches encourages new ideas and innovations designs and implements new or cutting-edgeprograms/processes.External Awareness Understands and keeps up-to-date on local, national, and internationalpolicies and trends that affect the organization and shape stakeholders views is aware of theorganizations impact on the external environment.Flexibility Is open to change and new information rapidly adapts to new information,changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.Resilience Deals effectively with pressure remains optimistic and persistent, even underadvers ity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.Strategic Thinking Formulates objectives and priorities, and implements plans consistent withlong-term interests of the organization in a global environment. Capitalizes on opportunitiesmanages risks.Vision Takes a long-term view and builds a shared vision with others acts as a catalyst fororganizational change. Influences others to translate vision into action.Leading Change needs to focus on organizational or performance management change, rather than process change. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) ECQ scoring grid states This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change to meet organizational goals, both within and outside the organization. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment. Candidates need to emphasize the Strategic Thinking and Vision competencies of this ECQ. Rather than simply describing loosely connected ac tivities and actions taken to implement a program or initiative, candidates must clearly describe how those actions were part of an intentional, strategic, and systematic effort to lead and implement a change effort.When developing actions for Leading Change, think about your vision for how the organization will operate after the change. Describe the challenges you encountered and how you remained flexible and resilient in your efforts to lead others to embrace the new change. Include information about the level of people you communicated with and your interactions with external stakeholders, your development of or application of policies, and how the work you accomplished has national / wide-ranging impact.In the results paragraph, describe the situation or condition of the before the change, and after the change. Comparisons work well when describing the change element of the story. And, be sure to tie the results to the challenge so that the story has a logical beginning, middle , and end.Ask yourself these questionsWhat will change from what to what?How did the results affect organizational performance?What other organizations were affected by the change?What was your role in leading the change?Remember, the executive leadership stories need to be written in first-person narrative and focused on your accomplishments rather than the accomplishments of others. Use I statements in the stories instead of We statements.If you need additional assistance, check out our newly updated book (December 2015),The New SES Application, or visit ourServicespage for a quote. Diane can also deliver hands-on training in ECQ writing at your agency. Writing the Traditional ECQs and the Five-Page Senior Executive Service ResumeRoughly 50% of SES executives will qualify to retire within the next three years. Uncle Sam will need strong and motivated executives to take the retirees place and lead the governments civilian workforce. These coveted high-level positions pay up to $17 9,000 per year. Begin your journey of entering into government leadership with this resourceful book.Learn All the Nuances of Writing a Leadership Application Package That Will Get You QualifiedWhy struggle on your own to write your Senior Executive Service application? Use a clear step-by-step method that was refined over 10 years in author Kathryn Troutmans 2-day SES workshops, and proven to work hundreds of times in the classroom.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

How Burning Man teaches you how to be successful

How Burning Man teaches you how to be successfulHow Burning Man teaches you how to be successfulBurning Man is that time of year where 70,000 people head to Black jupe City, a self-made, temporary-city that is created in the Black Rock Desert (affectionately known as The Playa) in Nevada. The Burning Man foundation describes their yearly darbietung as not a festival, but a catalyst for creative culture and a network of dreamers and doers (though youd be hard-pressed to find many other descriptions without the festival reference.) Its incredibly popular with billionaires and successful executives.And not only should you go, but you should also expense it for what it teaches you about how to be mora successful in life and work.Burning Man and radical self-relianceWhile the city is largely self-governed, co-founder Larry Harvey wrote10 guiding principles back in 2004, when Burning Man was already 18 years old Radical inclusion, gifting, de-commodification, radical self-reliance, radical self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, participation, immediacy.Veteran Burners are quick to remind others that these are not commandments, but the principles give insight into the philosophies which make Burning Man so successful. In these days of delegation, we could do with a little mora radical self-reliance in the office and not just on the playa.These days were surrounded by articles telling us to stop doing so much and delegating so little. Theres clearly value in delegation, and everyone from HBR to Tim Ferris has told us this much is true.But when Harvard University surveyed over 3,000 executives to better understand what differentiated leaders at innovative companies, they found that the companies that were most innovative had leaders who saw it as their direct responsibility to be a part of creative work?- ?They dont delegate it, they do it themselves.Here are the five discovery skills that innovative leaders dont delegate to others (an d why you should expense your trip to Burning Man)AssociatingThink of ideas as new (and novel) combinations. The more we expose ourselves to, the more connections our brains can make. As famed management consultant Tom Peters said, Hang out with weird, and thou shalt become more weird Hang out with dull, and thou shalt become more dull.Questioning Entrepreneur and executive Gareth Kay argues that problem-solving is purely a reactive way to think about what many of us do. Instead, the job is actually looking for, and articulating, the best problem to solve. Innovative leaders are most likely to challenge assumptions, asking Why? Why not? and What if?ObservingTake a clue from anthropologists and spend a day talking to customers instead of having your research team setup focus groups. Exceptional geschftlicher umgang ideas are realized by dissecting common phenomena.ExperimentingAll of the innovative leaders engaged in some form of active experimentation, whether it was intellectual ex ploration, physical tinkering, or engagement in new surroundings. Leaders who lived internationally prior to becoming CEOs had roughly 7% higher market performance on average.NetworkingWhile executives are most likely to delegate conference attendance and other networking events, innovative entrepreneurs make concerted efforts to meet different kinds of people with radically different perspectives.How Burning Man teaches you how to be successfulBurning Man is that time of year where 70,000 people head to Black Rock City, a self-made, temporary-city that is created in the Black Rock Desert (affectionately known as The Playa) in Nevada. The Burning Man foundation describes their yearly event as not a festival, but a catalyst for creative culture and a network of dreamers and doers (though youd be hard-pressed to find many other descriptions without the festival reference.) Its incredibly popular with billionaires and successful executives.And not only should you go, but you should als o expense it for what it teaches you about how to be more successful in life and work.FollowLadders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard coveringHappiness,Productivity,Job Satisfaction,Neuroscience, andmoreBurning Man and radical self-relianceWhile the city is largely self-governed, co-founder Larry Harvey wrote10 guiding principles back in 2004, when Burning Man was already 18 years old Radical inclusion, gifting, de-commodification, radical self-reliance, radical self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, participation, immediacy.Veteran Burners are quick to remind others that these are not commandments, but the principles give insight into the philosophies which make Burning Man so successful. In these days of delegation, we could do with a little more radical self-reliance in the office and not just on the playa.These days were surrounded by articles telling us to stop doing so much and delegating so little. Theres clearly value in del egation, and everyone from HBR to Tim Ferris has told us this much is true.But when Harvard University surveyed over 3,000 executives to better understand what differentiated leaders at innovative companies, they found that the companies that were most innovative had leaders who saw it as their direct responsibility to be a part of creative work?- ?They dont delegate it, they do it themselves.Here are the five discovery skills that innovative leaders dont delegate to others (and why you should expense your trip to Burning Man)AssociatingThink of ideas as new (and novel) combinations. The more we expose ourselves to, the more connections our brains can make. As famed management consultant Tom Peters said, Hang out with weird, and thou shalt become more weird Hang out with dull, and thou shalt become more dull.Questioning Entrepreneur and executive Gareth Kay argues that problem-solving is purely a reactive way to think about what many of us do. Instead, the job is actually looking fo r, and articulating, the best problem to solve. Innovative leaders are most likely to challenge assumptions, asking Why? Why not? and What if?ObservingTake a clue from anthropologists and spend a day talking to customers instead of having your research team setup focus groups. Exceptional business ideas are realized by dissecting common phenomena.ExperimentingAll of the innovative leaders engaged in some form of active experimentation, whether it was intellectual exploration, physical tinkering, or engagement in new surroundings. Leaders who lived internationally prior to becoming CEOs had roughly 7% higher market performance on average.NetworkingWhile executives are most likely to delegate conference attendance and other networking events, innovative entrepreneurs make concerted efforts to meet different kinds of people with radically different perspectives.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Oldest Rotary Snow Plow to be Named ASME Landmark

Oldest Rotary Snow Plow to be Named ASME Landmark Oldest Rotary Snow Plow to be Named ASME Landmark Oldest Rotary Snow Plow to be Named ASME Landmark The Northern Pacific Rotary Snow Plow No. 2, which was built in 1887 by Cooke Locomotive & Machine Works, will be named an ASME Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark in a ceremony next month.The Northern Pacific Rotary Snow Plow No. 2, which was instrumental in keeping freight and passenger rail systems in operation in the harshest of winters, will be cited for historic significance at a special event in Duluth, Minn., next month.The currently retired No. 2, featuring a rotary blade that removed snow in the same fashion as the typical home snow blower, will be named a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark in a recognition ceremony to be held Apr. 16 at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, where the plow is on permanent display. The No. 2 is the oldest rotary snow plow in existence.The Northern Pacific Rotary Snow Plow No. 2 was buil t in 1887 by Cooke Locomotive Machine Works of Patterson, N.J. Cooke advanced earlier designs to develop a novel rotational wheel mechanism that could revolve in both directions to throw snow right and left. The unit was pushed by three or four steam locomotives, moving at a speed of 4 to 6 miles per hour.Rotary plows proved much more effective against heavy snowfalls than wedge plows and manual labor, says ASME in a bronze plaque to be presented to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum. It used a bi-directional rotating wheel with blades that cut into snow and passed it into an impeller.No amount of snow was too challenging for the No. 2. It was originally pressed into service to clear deep snow drifts in the Cascade Mountains region. The No. 2 was later sent east to the plow railroads in Minnesota and North Dakota, where it worked until the World War II years.The Lake Superior Railroad Museum purchased the No. 2 from the Steam Preservation Society, Cadillac, Mich., for $3,750 in Febr uary 1975. The museum invested another $10,000 for preparation, loading and transportation.Herman Viegas, an ASME Fellow and member of ASMEs History and Heritage Committee, will join with officials of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum at the April 16 designation ceremony.The Northern Pacific Rotary Snow Plow No. 2 joins a roster of more than 250 other ASME engineering landmarks throughout the world - each representing a progressive step in the evolution of mechanical engineering. For more information on the ASME History and Heritage Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmarks Program, visit www.asme.org/about-asme/engineering-history/landmarks.