A Daily Checklist to Help Improve Your Self-Confidence

A Daily Checklist to Help Improve Your Self-Confidence If you’re one of the millions of people who struggle with low self-confidence each day, you already know how much of a toll it can take. Feeling bad about oneself leads to a litany of negative physical and mental health effects, including social withdrawal, anxiety, depression, eating disorders and self-neglect. While virtually all humans feel some form of low self-esteem at some point in their life, demographics play a role. Women and adolescents are more likely to exhibit low self-esteem, while race, ethnicity, sexual identity and socioeconomic factors also contribute. So, in order to be happy, healthy and successful, we know that it’s extremely important to foster feelings of positive self-love each and every day. But how do we do that? There are thousands of different ways, but one of the simplest is to implement routine micro-adjustments into your everyday life, including the following suggestions. Rather than making broad, brash life changesâ€"such as getting plastic surgery, making a massive move or quitting your job, for exampleâ€"these are easily implemented, daily rituals that will slowly but surely help you build yourself into a more confident human being. Create Your Own Self-Love Mantraâ€" Mantras are simple words or phrases repeated, either out loud or in your head, to help you reach a state of focus or calm. In moments when you’re feeling less-than, you can repeat a self-love mantra in your head to help you return your thoughts to a place of positivity. Yours can be something super-simpleâ€"I love myself or I am worthy of loveâ€"or something longer and more specific to your unique situation. Write it, read it, repeat it. Start the Day with a Confidence-Boosting Routineâ€" Your morning routine sets the tone for the entire day and has the power to kick you off in a happy, confident mindset. In the morning, make sure you build in little micro-activities to boost your self-esteem before you head out the door, like reading a few positive affirmations or taking the time for a 15-minute meditation session. Play your favorite music as you get ready and wear clothing that makes you feel amazing. Make Your Free Time About Self-Careâ€" Being a happy, healthy adult really comes down to one thingâ€"taking good care of yourself, both physically and mentally. Make sure to build in daily self-care rituals, such as burning calming candles, taking relaxing bubble baths, eating healthy meals and taking the time to check in with yourself a few times a day. This will make you feel more in-tune with your mind, body and self-confidence level so you can adjust as you go. Wear Clothes That Make You Feel Amazingâ€" There really is truth to the old cliché “when you look good, you feel good.” The transformative effect of a power suit or an evening gown is like nothing in the world, so make sure you’re spending time experimenting with fits, styles and colors so you know what translates to self-confidence for you. It also helps to shop with retailers that promote inclusiveness and body-positive clothing to surround yourself with positivity from every angle. Support Your Spiritual Sideâ€" Sometimes the harsh, hard-hitting reality of the world can wear you down and make you feel unworthy. Taking healthy breaks from the focus, demands and stress of the material world can be reparative and can lead to a more positive self-image. The key is to do this in healthy ways that lead to growth and not to find solace in destructive behaviors such as drugs or alcohol. Consider yoga, meditation and support groups to help you get in touch with your spiritual side and to help calm the mind on a deeper level. Talk to Someone Who Builds You Upâ€" It doesn’t matter if it’s your closest friend who’s happy to listen selflessly or a professional therapist who’s trained to do so, it really helps if you keep in touch with people who validate your feelings and help you explore them on a deeper level. Prioritize your communications with people who build you up and make you feel secure rather than those who may take pleasure out of chipping away at your self-confidence. Do Something Physicalâ€" There’s no better way to feel strong and self-confident than by taking a long run or bike ride. Not only will you feel the immediate effects of adrenaline and a runner’s high, but you’ll experience the long-term effects of physical health and a more positive self-image. The important thing is to focus on small, attainable activities, such as doing a daily 20-minute workout routine or taking a walk around the block, and building up from there. Avoid the Trap of Self-Optimization…â€" Don’t mix up financial success, a busy schedule, hard work or getting stuff done for self-confidence. Doing this can trick your mind into an obsession with self-optimizationâ€"putting every single second of your life towards work or self-improvement. Ultimately, this will leave you feeling stressed, burnt out and uninspired. Give yourself at least an hour a day of idle time to watch TV, browse Instagram, play video games or do nothing. …But Set (and Reach) Daily Goalsâ€" An obsession with self-optimization is not healthy, but neither is stagnancy or laziness. Be sure that you’re doing big and small things each day to reach your goals and set yourself up for success later on. Follow the SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound) goal-setting technique to ensure that you meet and exceed each one. Learn to Be Easy on Yourself  Even if you don’t realize it, your self-confidence greatly affects every action you take and every decision you make. The most important thing you can do to achieve higher levels of self-approval is this: Learn to treat yourself the way you treat others. Give yourself passes, practice empathy and be patient with every goal you set. Over time, you’ll slowly build yourself into a self-assured and poised individual.

Tips to #ConnectIRL While Working from Home

Tips to #ConnectIRL While Working from Home Most of my week is spent working from home. While typing hellos and replies is a great deal of fun, and I like having my own space for designing and writing, I also find that it can get lonely. If I don’t make it outside, I can go days without connecting with someone face-to-face (besides my husband when he gets home from his 9-5). I love my Twitter chats because they provide fabulous human-to-human learning opportunities, but I also find that I may not really speak during the day. In order to avoid this “alone” feeling which ultimately impacts my work, I’ve come up with some tactics to keep me out of the solo funk. Talk to other people. Instead of relying on an email chain to communicate with a client, at a minimum pick up the phone to make that voice connection, or arrange a Skype call or Google Hangout. If you know other people who work from home, have brainstorming lunches where you can give a new set of eyes to the details of each other’s projects. Heck, even walk the dog with a neighbor for some casual conversation. Find and outside space to work. Coworking spaces where you can interact with other business professionals with a hello or short conversation are great for at least surrounding yourself with other people. I sometimes find that simply being in a place with others’ energy makes me more productive because of the creative hum in the room. Go to the gym. It may come as a surprise, but I have more F2F social during my day at the gym than anywhere else. I have gotten to be amicable with a number of class participants. We check in on each other in the mornings, asking after family, health, and work projects, and call when someone misses a few days to make sure they’re okay. Volunteer. Maybe your kid’s school needs lunchroom volunteers or there’s a thrift store around the corner that could use help sorting donations a few hours a week. Whatever peaks your fancy, breaking up your day by giving back not only makes you feel good, but allows you to have that social connection with other like-minded individuals. Did I miss a trick  that works for you? Tweet us @MsCareerGirl with the tools you use to #ConnectIRL when you’re working solo.

10 Most Viewed Writers in Interview Questions on Quora in 2018

10 Most Viewed Writers in Interview Questions on Quora in 2018 #1 Barun MohantyBarun Mohanty ranks #1 with 36,384 views between his 8 answers on interview questions. Overall, Barun has received 8.2m answer views and roughly 417k views per monthHis most popular answer with 56.9k upvotes is “What is the best interview question ever?”While Barun ranks very high in interview questions, his real expertise actually is in Finance. He is an expert in the Stock Market and has a primary focus of helping others get started in the stock market.You can learn more by checking out Barut’s Quora Profile. #2: Sandeep Patra Sandeep Patra comes in at #2 with 7 firm answers to interview questions that have drawn in 28,543 views. Overall, Sandeep has received 1.8m answer views and roughly 51k views per monthHis best performing answer received 25.9k upvotes in response to, “What are some interesting questions asked in an interview?”Although, he is ranked 2nd on this list Sandeep holds the crown as the “Most viewed author for interviews.” With his busine ss expertise, Sandeep thrives in his knowledge of not only job interviews but an array of topics with 1.8m answer views across the board.To learn a little more take a look at Sandeep’s Quora Profile.#3: Mike PodestoMike Podesto holds up #3 having 19,202 views spanning 12 answers to interview questions. Overall, Mike is brand new to Quora and has received 250k+ answer views in total and roughly 250k views per month.Mike’s most popular answer received 18 upvotes with “What is the best answer to the interview question, ‘why do you want to work here?”It comes as no surprise that Mike ranks high on the list for interview questions. As the Founder of Find My Profession, a professionally managed job search firm, Mike is passionate about helping others in their pursuit of the perfect position.Want to learn more? Check out Mike’s Quora Profile.#4: Sheetal RaiSheetal Rai takes #4 with her 92 interview question answers bringing in 18,011 views. Overall, Sheetal has received 533k an swer views and roughly 77.3k views per month.Her top answer with 88 upvotes answering the question, “What are some interesting questions asked in an interview?”Sheetal regularly takes to her Quora account to offer insight and perspective the various things that jobseekers run into/ Her knowledge of the career and job search gives her a strong platform to offer expert advice.To learn more visit Sheetal’s Quora Profile. #5: Daniel Jason Daniel Jason ranks #5 on the list with his 17,580 views to 22 interview question answers. Overall, Daniel has received 1.3m answer views and roughly 28.8k views per month.Daniel hauled in 15k upvotes with his answer to, “If in an interview, HR asks ‘I give you Rs 100, what will you buy?’ What will be your answer?”While becoming a top writer under the Interview section of Quora, Daniel is also a Mechanical Engineer. According to his profile, Daniel has not been rejected for a single interview in 7 years.Visit Daniel’s Quora Profile to le arn more.#6: Jonathan Jones Holding down #6 is Jonathan Jones with a total of 11,291 views to his 15 interview questions answers. Overall, Jonathan has received 3.7m answer views and roughly 242.5k views per month.Jonathan’s most popular response with 23 upvotes was to the question, “What are some good interview questions to ask at the end of an interview to leave a good impression?”Well respected in the 6th slot, Jonathan, has a great eye for talent as the Head of Investment Talent Development in his current position. Jonathan takes a point of view from the other side of the coin to let jobseekers and others alike know just what hiring managers are looking for.For more information check out Jonathan’s Quora Profile.#7 Eric LyonsThe race for the 6th and 7th spots was pretty tight with Eric Lyons coming in with 11,229 views over 14 answers to interview questions. Overall, Eric has received 801.6k answer views and roughly 148.5k views per month.Drawing in the most upvotes for Eric at 13 is his answer to, “What will you say if an interviewer says ‘You have 10 minutes to impress me?”Of course, Eric makes a strong claim on the most viewed list. As a Marketing Executive for a site dedicated to connecting jobseekers with employers, Eric is a dependable candidate for your answers to tough interview questions.Learn more on Eric’s Quora Profile.#8 Ishita PareshiContinuing on our list at #8 is Ishita Pareshi with 9,351 views over 10 interview question answers. Overall Ishita has received 97.5k answer views and roughly 16.2k views per month.Her most popular answer with 62 upvotes is “What is the most disrespectful question you have ever hear in a job interview?”Ishita is a former entrepreneur who is able to draw from her experiences to deliver great answers to the many questions posted on Quora. Thriving as a writer and speaker, Ishita articulates her answers in a relatable way for the reader.To learn more visit Ishita’s Quora Profile. #9 Sri PriyaSr i Priya ranks in at #9 with her 135 answers bringing in 8,922 views. Overall, Sri has received 272.4k answer views and roughly 27.3k views per month.Her most popular answering, “What are the most common AFSB interview questions?” received 7 upvotes.Sri is another expert in the interview topic on Quora. The majority of her answers respond directly to that of technical to even mock interview questions. Sri has also studied for her MBA further developing her skills as a young professional.Visit Sri’s Quora Profile to learn more.#10 Jyoti Pawar When it comes to Quora, ‘interview questions’ is one of the most discussed topics with over 132,000 followers.Below, we will take a look at the 10 most viewed writers in Interview Questions on Quora in 2018.#1 Barun MohantyBarun Mohanty ranks #1 with 36,384 views between his 8 answers on interview questions. Overall, Barun has received 8.2m answer views and roughly 417k views per monthHis most popular answer with 56.9k upvotes is “What is the best interview question ever?”While Barun ranks very high in interview questions, his real expertise actually is in Finance. He is an expert in the Stock Market and has a primary focus of helping others get started in the stock market.You can learn more by checking out Barut’s Quora Profile. #2: Sandeep Patra Sandeep Patra comes in at #2 with 7 firm answers to interview questions that have drawn in 28,543 views. Overall, Sandeep has received 1.8m answer views and roughly 51k views per monthHis best performing answer received 25.9k upvo tes in response to, “What are some interesting questions asked in an interview?”Although, he is ranked 2nd on this list Sandeep holds the crown as the “Most viewed author for interviews.” With his business expertise, Sandeep thrives in his knowledge of not only job interviews but an array of topics with 1.8m answer views across the board.To learn a little more take a look at Sandeep’s Quora Profile.#3: Mike PodestoMike Podesto holds up #3 having 19,202 views spanning 12 answers to interview questions. Overall, Mike is brand new to Quora and has received 250k+ answer views in total and roughly 250k views per month.Mike’s most popular answer received 18 upvotes with “What is the best answer to the interview question, ‘why do you want to work here?”It comes as no surprise that Mike ranks high on the list for interview questions. As the Founder of Find My Profession, a professionally managed job search firm, Mike is passionate about helping others in their pursuit of t he perfect position.Want to learn more? Check out Mike’s Quora Profile.#4: Sheetal RaiSheetal Rai takes #4 with her 92 interview question answers bringing in 18,011 views. Overall, Sheetal has received 533k answer views and roughly 77.3k views per month.Her top answer with 88 upvotes answering the question, “What are some interesting questions asked in an interview?”Sheetal regularly takes to her Quora account to offer insight and perspective the various things that jobseekers run into/ Her knowledge of the career and job search gives her a strong platform to offer expert advice.To learn more visit Sheetal’s Quora Profile. #5: Daniel Jason Daniel Jason ranks #5 on the list with his 17,580 views to 22 interview question answers. Overall, Daniel has received 1.3m answer views and roughly 28.8k views per month.Daniel hauled in 15k upvotes with his answer to, “If in an interview, HR asks ‘I give you Rs 100, what will you buy?’ What will be your answer?”While becoming a t op writer under the Interview section of Quora, Daniel is also a Mechanical Engineer. According to his profile, Daniel has not been rejected for a single interview in 7 years.Visit Daniel’s Quora Profile to learn more.#6: Jonathan Jones Holding down #6 is Jonathan Jones with a total of 11,291 views to his 15 interview questions answers. Overall, Jonathan has received 3.7m answer views and roughly 242.5k views per month.Jonathan’s most popular response with 23 upvotes was to the question, “What are some good interview questions to ask at the end of an interview to leave a good impression?”Well respected in the 6th slot, Jonathan, has a great eye for talent as the Head of Investment Talent Development in his current position. Jonathan takes a point of view from the other side of the coin to let jobseekers and others alike know just what hiring managers are looking for.For more information check out Jonathan’s Quora Profile.#7 Eric LyonsThe race for the 6th and 7th spots was pretty tight with Eric Lyons coming in with 11,229 views over 14 answers to interview questions. Overall, Eric has received 801.6k answer views and roughly 148.5k views per month.Drawing in the most upvotes for Eric at 13 is his answer to, “What will you say if an interviewer says ‘You have 10 minutes to impress me?”Of course, Eric makes a strong claim on the most viewed list. As a Marketing Executive for a site dedicated to connecting jobseekers with employers, Eric is a dependable candidate for your answers to tough interview questions.Learn more on Eric’s Quora Profile.#8 Ishita PareshiContinuing on our list at #8 is Ishita Pareshi with 9,351 views over 10 interview question answers. Overall Ishita has received 97.5k answer views and roughly 16.2k views per month.Her most popular answer with 62 upvotes is “What is the most disrespectful question you have ever hear in a job interview?”Ishita is a former entrepreneur who is able to draw from her experiences to deliver g reat answers to the many questions posted on Quora. Thriving as a writer and speaker, Ishita articulates her answers in a relatable way for the reader.To learn more visit Ishita’s Quora Profile. #9 Sri PriyaSri Priya ranks in at #9 with her 135 answers bringing in 8,922 views. Overall, Sri has received 272.4k answer views and roughly 27.3k views per month.Her most popular answering, “What are the most common AFSB interview questions?” received 7 upvotes.Sri is another expert in the interview topic on Quora. The majority of her answers respond directly to that of technical to even mock interview questions. Sri has also studied for her MBA further developing her skills as a young professional.Visit Sri’s Quora Profile to learn more.#10 Jyoti PawarThe #10 spot goes to Jyoti Pawar having 8,153 views over 12 answers to interview questions. Overall, Jyoti has received 18.9k answer views and roughly 15.1k views per month.Jyoti’s most popular answer has 30 upvotes responding to, â €œWhat is the toughest question ever asked in any interview?”Jyoti is not shy of the hiring process being a highly skilled Career Counseling Expert helping professionals navigate the process of obtaining their best-fit position.Want to learn more? Visit Jyoti’s Quora Profile.All in all, if you are seeking advice or have questions that have been continuously popping up throughout the interview process this list of the top 10 most viewed interview question writers will put you on the right track.Rest assured that you are in the hands of experts dedicated to providing you with the best answers to the most puzzling questions.(For a complete list of possible interview questions, see the article,Common Interview Questions: 50+ Questions and Answers.)

Tips For Oakland Resume Writing Yelp

Tips For Oakland Resume Writing YelpOakland resume writing Yelp can be a tough task, especially if you are employed in an IT organization. You might have had people ask you to give your opinion on the Yelp reviews and this is when you find yourself really confused. However, there are some tricks to help you out with your job search and get yourself hired faster.The first tip to help you out with your job search is to not focus on the negative reviews that the Yelp website will offer. You are going to read through all of the reviews and if you want to get the job done, just concentrate on the positive reviews. The reviewers at Yelp are mostly middle-aged people who are already employed or have had a good experience with a company. The very best thing about Yelp is that you can change the rating any time you like; you can increase it and decrease it at your leisure.The other tip to help you out with your job search is to give your opinion on the Yelp reviews as well. When the reviewer is highly critical, make sure that you do not change your overall opinion. Instead, change the negative review into a positive one and then continue with the positive review. You can actually get the job done without changing the actual rating.If you want to give your opinion on Yelp then write what you think about the restaurant, its food, staff and the overall ambience. There is no requirement that you visit the restaurant. Write as if you were at the restaurant and wrote down all of the positives and negatives that you see. This is how you can change the Yelp review from a terrible to a great experience.The second tip is to make sure that the reviewer wants to do business with you. It is hard to believe that people would write a Yelp review about a restaurant if they did not want to serve you. If you go to a Yelp review and you find that the reviewer just want to criticize the food, make sure that you give them a different review. Be descriptive and focus on the positives and the negatives. The reviewer might actually want to serve you!The final tip is to ignore the feedback that Yelp does not want you to see. Many businesses are more concerned with trying to control the negative reviews than the positive ones. If you want to get hired quickly, make sure that you read all of the reviews before you make a decision on whether or not to hire you. The Yelp website will let you know if there are any updates that are not posted online.You can make a long list of the Yelp compliments that you see. You can use your own eyes and ears and understand what the reviewer liked about the food, the ambience and the overall service that the restaurant offered. If you want to get hired, you will want to keep all of the Yelp reviews that you read and remember to focus on the positive ones. It is better to take a chance than to be rejected because of the Yelp feedback.These are some of the tips that you can use when you are looking for a job through Yelp. The websites provide many great places to post your resume. This is why you should not focus on the negative feedback that the Yelp website will provide.

Apply For QTS Teacher Training Routes 2019

Apply For QTS Teacher Training Routes 2019 In order to work as a teacher, you will need at least one of two fundamental qualifications. You can either qualify via the QTS qualification (Qualified Teacher Status) or the QTLS qualification (Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills). Once you have achieved one or both of these, you’ll go on to complete an NQTS (Newly Qualified Teacher Status) induction year. In this blog, we will provide you with a full breakdown of how to apply for QTS, and the steps you will need to gain it.Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)Qualified Teacher Status, or QTS, is the bread and butter qualification that every teacher in the UK will need in order to:Teach in a state primary school;Teach in a state secondary school;Teach in a state or non-state special school.Teachers in independent schools are not legally required to have QTS or any other recognised teaching qualification, although most do. This means that if you want to teach at an independent school, you can assume that most of your competitors for th e role will have qualifications to fall back on; meaning it’s best to get some before applying. QTS is awarded by the Department of Education, who act on behalf of the Secretary of State. The Department of Education also awards QTS to other trained teachers, from the European Economic Area.Once you have been awarded with QTS, you will be qualified to teach in any of the institutions listed above. After commencing employment, you will be subject to regular performance maintenance checks and paid under the school teacher pay scale. You can earn your QTS by completing a period of teacher training with an established provider/ course. For example, by taking the PGCE. In this blog we will cover a number of popular training routes for teachers.Once you have completed your training period, your training provider will send your results off to the Department of Education, who will then award you with QTS. You’ll be recorded on a database of qualified teachers, and will be able to access your QTS certificate via the college website.Apply For QTS: Training RoutesThere are a number of different ways that you can attain QTS. In our book, we will cover each of these sections in great detail. For now, take a look at the brief overview of each route, and think about which one might suit you best, before you apply for QTS.School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) SCITT trainees spend the majority of their training period actually in schools. They work with pupils and experts in the field, to increase their knowledge and become better teachers. The advantage of this is that you can select from schools which are nearby. However, in order to complete the SCITT, you’ll need to teach in different schools and take shorter placements in other settings/educational venues. You should apply for SCITT via UCAS Teacher Training.School Direct (Salaried) Trainees on the School Direct route will be actually employed by the school, and you will receive the salary of an unqualified teacher whilst you train. In order to take the School Direct route, you must have been a graduate who has been working for around 3 years in any career. You’ll be recruited by schools with a specific job in mind for them to do. The route takes around 1 year to complete. School Direct (Tuition Fee) On this route, you will train within a partnership of associated schools. In order to pay for this course, it will incur a significant cost, depending on the organisation that you are applying to. However, you may be eligible for a student loan in order to pay for this, before you apply for QTS.Assessment Only Route The Assessment Only route is designed for candidates who already have a high level of experience working in schools or other educational settings, but don’t yet have QTS. Since candidates on this route already have a huge amount of experience, the Assessment Only route usually takes no longer than 1 school term to complete. You’ll need to submit a portfolio of evidence, which will then be assessed against QTS standards, before being observed whilst teaching. There are significant costs involved in taking this route, which you will need to pay in order to participate.In order to apply for QTS Assessment Only route, you will need to apply direct to course providers. In doing so, you must have the full support of the school you are currently working at, as they will need to help provide evidence of your skills and supporting documentation. As you might have gathered, you’ll need to have passed the Professional Skills Test before pursuing this route.PGCE The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is a full-time course, which normally lasts for 1 academic year. However, part-time options are available. The PGCE is an extremely popular option amongst graduates. During the course, you will attend theory-based classes at your university or college, and will also take part in at least 24 weeks of placement in schools.Teach First Teach First is a 2 year development programme, which is conducted in schools experiencing poverty or underachievement. When taking part in this programme, you will be employed as an unqualified teacher, completing your PGCE in the first year and NQT (Newly Qualified Teacher) induction in the second year. Furthermore, you’ll be given the chance to gain a masters qualification. Applications to Teach First are made via their website. Recruitment is carried out on a rolling basis. Teach First operates on a first come, first served basis, with spaces being filled once the right candidates are found. Later in this book, we’ll provide you with all of the information that you need to know on filling in the Teach First application form. Researchers in Schools (RIS) The RIS programme is designed for researchers who are in the process of, or have already completed, their doctorates. As a trainee, you will be placed in a state school, where you will achieve QTS in the first year and NQT status in the second year. There’s also an option to take a third year, which works towards the Research Leader in Education Award (RLE). In order to apply for RIS, you will need to complete the application form via their website. Later in this guide, we’ll provide you with detailed advice on how to do this.Professional Skills Test In order to apply for QTS, you will also need to pass the Professional Skills Test. This is a test which requires teachers to demonstrate that they have the skills needed to fulfil their professional responsibilities within a school; rather than demonstrating their subject knowledge. The aim of the Professional Skills Test is to ensure that all teachers are competent in literacy and numeracy.Apply for QTS: Become A Teacher Today!If you found this blog useful, then we have the perfect product for you. Our guide on How To Become a Teacher is absolutely full of tips on QTS and QTLS, plus much more! So, don’t hang around, purchase your copy today! This entry was posted in Education, Eligibility Criteria. Bookmark the permalink. Jordan Cooke Offshore Jobs: Find Your Oil, Gas or Wind Career Today!How to Write With Dyslexia â€" 5 More Steps for Writing Assignments With Dyslexia

Podcast at The Engaging Brand - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Podcast at The Engaging Brand - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Anna Farmery of The Engaging Brand does some great podcasts. Last week it was Dan Pink, next week its Seth Godin and this week its me! I skyped with Anna last week and she has posted the first part of our conversation here with a second part coming later this week. I had a great time talking to Anna about happiness at work and answering her great questions, some of which were: On your blog you give a Monday morning tip which tip would you share with the listeners as your favourite? You believe happiness breeds creativity and engagement can you explain to me why you so passionately believe in this? You talk about humanness on your blog as a manager/leader how do you make stronger personal connections without losing that respect level? Is this kind of culture one that develops or do you have to work at it? Are there cultural differences around the world can there only one definition of a happy work place? What would your 8 word legacy be? I think the podcast came out very well what do you think? Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

The Recession is Bullhonkey Nancy Brendas Story - When I Grow Up

The Recession is Bullhonkey Nancy Brendas Story - When I Grow Up This is part of  The Recession is Bullhonkey series, where I share stories of those who have gotten hired and/or started their own businesses (or sometimes both!) since 2008.  I love this one (heck, I love em all!) because it not only describes the start of a passionate company (with such a great purpose and mission), but its the story of the co-owners of MoolaHoop,  Brenda Bazan and Nancy Hayes. Theyve entitled it Taking the Leap. At MoolaHoop, we work with women who own or manage small businesses. Crowdfunding campaigns can raise funds that will help them grow their companies. Many of the women we work with came to small business ownership after other careers and are embracing the opportunities and challenges of the entrepreneurial life. They have taken the leap into entrepreneurship. In fact, we founded MoolaHoop as a result of our own “mid-life” career changes. We met at IBM 30 years ago and kept in touch through our own job changes and geographical moves within the company. Brenda left IBM after 25 years and worked for an organization that provided microloans to women in Africa and the Middle East. She also has experience as a small business owner and as a consultant to women-owned businesses. Nancy departed IBM after 20 years to serve as CEO of two different nonprofits. She then became dean of the college of business at San Francisco State University and subsequently CFO of the university. Now we are entrepreneurs. Why did we make the leap? We enjoyed our corporate careers and, importantly, our colleagues. But we each felt it time to experience more autonomy and to be able to “create our own future”, explore new opportunities and seek “life balance” And, we wanted to use our skills and experience in ways that would help others achieve their goals. We have long shared a passionate interest in the issues affecting women in business â€" first women in the workplace, then women as entrepreneurs and business owners. Women start 1,200 businesses each day, 40% of all new companies, yet receive only 4.4% of all conventional small business loans. As a result, women tend to use more personal debt than men to start their businesses (credit cards) and so their businesses start smaller and grow less rapidly. We wanted to address this problem. We tried a couple of approaches but in each one we were spending a lot of hours and helping just one business at a time. It was very rewarding to see those companies flourish, however, we felt this problem needed bigger solutions to help more women. We noted that there weren’t many options for funding that were debt and equity free (two things that put a huge burden on a small business). We speculated, could we adapt the crowdfunding model so that it could be used by women to raise funds for a project that would grow their business? And, thus MoolaHoop was born. At MoolaHoop, women entrepreneurs come to us knowing that they need money to grow their businesses and we help them define a project that will help to support that. As we mentioned, many of the women business owners we work with had previous careers and chose to “take the leap” into entrepreneurship. We find some common threads in our discussions with them about their journey. Too many of us know for years that we should make a change, but we allow the voices of doubt to prevent us from properly assessing our skills and readiness to take that step. Then we are not fully prepared when circumstances force a career change. Yet, you can make much progress planning your next steps while you are still employed. Here are a few: 1) Build your network Many people who have spent most of their career in one company do not focus on building their networks. Working for a large company with a strong internal support system may lull a person into strengthen only those relationships. If you are serious about evaluating a move, start now to broaden your professional network. Set objectives for the number of phone calls and lunch meetings per week that you will schedule with people outside your normal business network. These people can be invaluable when you leave- you will be surprised how many have a partner, neighbor, friend who can help you in your new venture. 2) Create a presence on Social Media Create an account on all the platforms and get to know them. Then pick the ones that seem most relevant to your new career choice. Start building your presence and your reputation as an “expert’ in the field by commenting on posts or even contributing yourself. 3) Establish relationships in the new area of interest Attend “meet-ups” and networking events related to your new career choice. Let people know you are thinking of getting involved in the field. Ask them to meet for coffee so you can hear their story â€" hint: people like talking about themselves! This is definitely a time to be listening to the ideas and advice of others who have forged the way. 4) Know the realities. Many people start business because they have a passion for something, but they have no idea what it is like to run a business in that field. It can be a big surprise when they learn about the details of that industry and what it is like to run a business. Ask to shadow someone (who won’t see you as a competitor) for a day. Offer to be an “intern” on weekends or evenings if you have a day job. Attend an extension class. 5) Do some Math Many small business owners are not comfortable with finance and budgeting. Yet, as a small business owner, you generally don’t have a CFO to do that for you â€" that will come later! You need to know what funders are going to want to see before giving you a loan or investing. When you are starting a business, people are investing in or loaning money to YOU. You don’t need to have a masters degree in finance, but you need to know the basics. 6) Celebrate the skills and experiences you have developed Even if you are not happy with your current career, you would be surprised at how valuable your skills and experiences can be to your next venture. Take an inventory of what you can leverage in your new venture. For example, we find that our broad experience in managing organizations allows us to bring lots of practical advice to the women entrepreneurs that we serve at MoolaHoop. 7) Quiet the negativity in your mind. It can be an intimidating thought to leave a career that has been a big investment for you. So, after you have learned all pros and cons of this new path and have assessed your readiness for the jump.be sure to give yourself a pep talk. Surveys have shown that readiness for a new business is very important. But, passion about your idea is a greater indicator of future success. So keep your eyes wide open.but follow your dreams. Above all, make a decision! You may find that you would rather stick with your current career and you can embrace it with vigor. Or, you may know it is time to take the leap. Either way, you will know that you chose the path that is right for you. Brenda Bazan, a former IBM executive, also served as the Development Director for an international Microfinance non-profit organization, where she developed educational programs and raised funds to start hundreds of womens businesses in Africa and the Middle East. Later, she worked as a consultant to women business owners in the U.S. She subsequently founded her own small business providing yoga therapy to children and adults with special needs. As co-founder of MoolaHoop, Brenda develops relationships with worldwide womens entrepreneur programs and professional development teams. MoolaHoop co-founder Nancy Hayes has more than 30 years of experience as a business leader and mentor, in for-profit, non- profit and academic organizations. Most recently, Nancy served as the Dean of the College of Business and subsequently as Vice President/CFO, Finance Administration, at San Francisco State University from 2005 to 2013. For each of the five years between 2006-2010, Nancy was named a Most Influential Woman by the San Francisco Business Times and was named to the papers Ever Influential list in 2011. She continues to be an expert media resource and commentator on strategy, leadership and global business trends and opportunities.