Only 1% of Americans do this essential daily habit

Only 1% of Americans do this essential daily habitOnly 1% of Americans do this essential daily habitOnly 3%of Americans have written goals.Only one percent of Americans rewrite their goals on a daily basis.Giving yourself even five minutes per day to orient your life in the direction of your goals is the difference between success and average.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraIf you dont give yourself time, every single day, to orient your life in the direction you want to go, then you will default to former habits and patterns.Life gets busy.Life is stressful.Its easy to forget what you really want.Its easy to disconnect from your purpose and priorities.Its easy to fall into autopilot and go through the motions.Its easy to watch several weeks or months go by and realize you havent made much progress on your goals.Its easy to let the little fundamentals slip.Its easy to default to consumption rather than organizing your life and environment for creation.Its easy to focus on the constraints of your circumstances rather than the power of your capabilities.Distraction fuels the need for more distraction.Addiction is an endless vacuum.Indecision and inaction lead to a loss of confidence, motivation, and hope.Success Is a ChoiceChoosing to be successful isnt a moral decision.You can be a good person or a bad person and be focused on your goals.You can be a good person and choose to be average.Its really your choice, the life you will live.Its your choice if youre going to be happy.Its your choice if youre going to be healthy.Its your choice if youre going to be financially successful.The decisions you make right now are a direct reflection of the person you will be in one, three, five, ten, and 20 years from now.When you look at yourself in the mirror, youre looking at your former selves choices, actions, and habits.Staying the CourseIt is fundamentally impossibl e to stay on a straight course without continually checking in to see how youre doing.If youre not reviewing your goals on a daily basis, then I can guarantee that your behavior and performance is sub-optimal.Without clarity of direction and purpose, behavior and motivation become erratic.Without orienting yourself, first thing in the morning, with who you are and what youre about, you will be going through the motions.Youll be disconnected from your purpose.Youll be disconnected in your relationships.Youll lack motivation and conviction.Youll allow low-level influences, activities, and actions to creep into your life.On an occasional basis when triggered by something random in the environment, youllrememberyour goals and dreams.Youll feel a quick rush of excitement and enthusiasm to get back on track.You may even engage in some powerful behaviors - like send positive and helpful messages to key relationships, go to the gym, write in your journal, or take action toward a goal.But u nless you establish a lifestyle of reviewing, remembering, and engaging with your goals and purpose daily, you will make mindestens progress.In order to make extreme progress, you need momentum.In order to get momentum, you need to be consistent.Not just consistent, but you need to continually be getting better.In order to get better, you need goals that youre actively pushing toward. For example, many people go to the gym but have no goals. They are simply moving their body and not getting better.In the bookTurning Pro, Steven Pressfield said, Addictions embody repetition without progress.Doing something over and over may be how you develop a habit. But habits dont guarantee success.Habits, if unchecked, actually create apathy, boredom, and a lack of engagement. Habits can lead to mindlessness.Consistency, not habits, is what youre after. You want to consistently show up and push through your current level.You want to get yourself focused and clear on what you want to achieve. You then need to fuel that focus by taking powerful and bold actions, daily, toward your goals.As you take action toward your goals, your identity will change. Youll quickly begin to see yourself as the person you intend to become.Your personality will change.Your expectations will change.Your confidence will change.Your subconscious will change.Your results will change.Your environment will change.Youll be able to produce results, easily, that once took enormous effort.Your new normal will be beyond what your former selves dreams were.Your standards for yourself and your flexibility and empathy toward others will improve.Your appreciation for life will deepen. Your ability to feel and love will grow.Your reasons for living will change. Youll stop focusing on what you can get and simply try to be as helpful as you possibly can.Youll shift from consuming to creating.Youll stop focusing on your present circumstances and focus on the leverage you have to create new circumstances for yourse lf and others.Youll change your life more for the sake of others than for yourself. Youll hold yourself to a higher standard so you can perform better work.Youll eat better because you cant put regular fuel in a Ferrari.Your goals will become bigger and longer-term.Confidence can be measured by how far out your goals are.Most people are living day-to-day because they dont have the confidence to see and believe in a bigger future.Confidence can be earned, but it must be earned every single day.You can create confidence with the choices you make and you can lose confidence with the choices you make.Your confidence reflects your self-trust.The more you trust yourself, the more willing you will be to do things that are beyond your current capability.The less you trust yourself, the less willing you will be to make decisions and commitments.ConclusionWhen was the last time you wrote your goals?Did you write them down this morning?Did you set yourself up last night for success, or were yo u numb in distractions?Do you really love yourself?Do you care about yourself?If so, then why wouldnt you become successful?Why wouldnt you create a better life for yourself?Why wouldnt you get clear on who you are, what you stand for, and what you want?Why wouldnt you crystallize that clarity and create the confidence to actually create a better future and life for yourself?Why wouldnt you upgrade your standards and let go of the low-level influences and choices holding you back?Make the DecisionThis is one choice that will influence all others.Make the decision to start your day by writing your goals down.Then do your best throughout the day to align your daily behaviors with your future dreams.As you take daily steps toward your goals, your confidence will increase. As your confidence increases, your belief that you will succeed will grow.Your identity will change.Your environment will change.Your brain will change.You will change.You will succeed.This article first appeared on M edium.

Resume Mistakes Grammar and Spell-Check Tools Dont Catch

Resume Mistakes Grammar and Spell-Check Tools Dont CatchResume Mistakes Grammar and Spell-Check Tools Dont CatchMany job seekers worry so much about the broader structure of their resumes that they fail to notice smaller spelling and grammar errors. Structure is important, of course, and you can, and should, use a reputable resume builder to get it right. But seemingly minor blunders, like a misspelled positiv or misplaced comma, can have as big an impact on your chances of job search success.Unfortunately, you cant always rely on grammar and spell-check tools to catch slip-ups- there are a number of resume mistakes that online screeners might not pick up. Below are seven such errors that you need to look out for.1. Missing commasIts fairly common for resume writers to forget to include a comma after an introductory clause (in a sentence like Launched during a particularly prosperous time for marketing, the company specializes in brand management) or between coordinate adjectives (in a phrase like write compelling, original content). Doing so can make a sentence clumsy and tricky to read, and yet grammar checkers often miss these blunders. To get a feel for where commas should be added, read sentences aloud and listen for natural pauses in speech.2. Faulty parallelismWhen a sentence consists of various components in a series, each component must parallel the grammatical structure of the other components. When this isnt the case, faulty parallelism occurs. In a sentence like The job entailed not only overseeing major projects and updating the company report, but also budgets, the last phrase (but also budgets) should take the saatkorn ing form as the first two (i.e., it should read but also managing budgets). Breaking a sentence up into its constituents and then comparing them to each other makes it easier to spot these sorts of resume mistakes.3. Tense inconsistenciesIn a resume, the past tense should be used to describe previous experiences, and the present te nse should be used when talking about current roles and activities. Either way, consistency is key. Grammar and spell-check tools might catch verb tense inconsistencies within a single sentence (like in the phrase analyzed statistics and conduct assessments), but theyre unlikely to detect unwarranted shifts across sentences and bullets. Irregularities imply attention to detail isnt a priority for you, so scan your resume for tense errors before submitting it.4. Unnecessary capitalizationThis is an odd mistake to make, and yet its a surprisingly common one. Theres a tendency among writers to randomly capitalize common nouns in the middle of sentences, presumably in an attempt to draw attention to particular words. In a sentence like the following, for instance, theres no need to capitalize company or financial institutions The San Francisco-based Company offers its services to hospitals, hotels and Financial Institutions. Again, making careless errors like this calls your diligence i nto question.5. Dangling and squinting modifiersA modifier is a word or phrase that serves to qualify another word group, noun, adjective, verb, or adverb. When a modifier is dangling or squinting, its either illogically placed, so it qualifies the wrong word or phrase, or its ambiguously placed, so its not clear which word or phrase its meant to modify. An example is this sentence Having grown by 38 percent, the campaign boosted the brands facebook inc following significantly (its the brands Facebook following, not the campaign, that grew by 38 percent). Because such resume mistakes are fairly subtle, grammar-check tools dont always detect them, and yet theyll likely confuse hiring managers and lower your chances of landing an interview.6. Run-on sentences and comma splicesA run-on sentence is one in which two or more independent clauses are erroneously connected (without a coordinating conjunction) in the case of comma splicing, clauses are incorrectly joined using only a comma (f or example, The campaign ran for six months, it welches a huge success). This happens in resume writing when a job seeker tries to communicate an assortment of ideas- a range of accomplishments, for example- but fails to separate statements into distinct sentences or bullet points using the right punctuation. Such constructions tend to suggest a lack of thought clarity, and recruiters might find them distracting. A solution? When it doubt, separate points out.7.Misuse of homophonesHomophones, or words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings, can lead to some fairly awkward writing slip-ups. While most up-to-date grammar and spell-check tools will probably catch your use of youre instead of your or to instead of too, there are several more complex cases when either option could be correct (but, of course, only one carries the intended meaning). For instance, online checkers might not flag pour over when pore over was meant, or complementary when complimentary wa s the target word. Needless to say, you need a discerning human eye to detect such mistakes.Since 2005, LiveCareer has been helping job seekers create resumes and cover letters via its freeresume builderandcover letter buildertools. Also available are collections of free, professionally writtenresume templatesandresume samples, all of which are organized by industry and job title

Is your dream job what you want Ask yourself this question

Is your dream job what you want Ask yourself this questionIs your dream job what you want Ask yourself this questionAsk most people what their dream job is, and theyll tell you the opposite of whatever theyre doing right now.If theyre working in a cubicle, theyd rather be travel-blogging their way around the world.If theyre driving for Uber, theyd rather be writing Grammy-award-winning hit singles.If theyre slaving away at an advertising agency, theyd rather be making strides toward becoming the next great entrepreneur.Heres the thing about dream jobs though99% of the time, theyre unrealistic.I dont mean unrealistic in the saatkorn way your parents probably used the word, telling you something is impossible.I mean unrealistic in the most basic sense.Your dream job is unrealistic for you, because you dont actually love the work itself.You just love the IDEA of the endresultIts very easy for someone to say, I would so much rather be a famous musician, a multi-millionaire tech entrepren eur, a world-traveling chef, an Instagram influencer.Thats because the end result is so easy to imagine. Were surrounded by it every single day?- ?on magazine covers, in viral social media posts, on television, even in the conversations we have with our friends and family members.Everyone loves the IDEA of the end result. And so they spend their lives telling themselves that same narrative, over and over again, criticizing their 95 job while simultaneously daydreaming about the life they could be living.The irony, however, is that nobody ever achieves that end goal by being in love withitAsk anyone who has achieved something great in their lives about their journey, and they wont tell you about the rewards at the end.Theyll tell you about the day to day habits that went into it. Theyll talk about the work itself, the mindset, the motivation to improve and master their craft, the exploration process.The end rewards? Those are just byproducts.They are not the underlying purpose.When p eople imagine their dream job, they dont realize they are in love with the end result more than they are the work that goes intoitWhich means, in order to find out what your dream job really is, you cant ask yourself what end reward you want.That question is elusive, and often times leads you astray.Instead, you need to ask what activities you enjoy doing on a daily basis.How can you expect to become a famous musician if you dont enjoy practicing the guitar?How can you expect to become a super successful entrepreneur if you cant find the joy in early morning meetings, traveling, and a high-stress lifestyle?How can you expect to become a best-selling author if you despise sitting by yourself and writing?You cant.Finding your dream job is all about reverse-engineering what activities you enjoy doing on a daily basis, that will allow a desirable end result to manifest on itsownMost people never understand this concept.Instead, they spend their entire lives wishing they were living a li fe that, in all honesty, they really dont want. Thats not how they prefer to spend their time?- ?because if it was, theyd find a way to do it.What you need to ask yourself is, in a perfect world, how would you spend your morning?What activities would you do?And in the afternoon, how would you like to spend those hours?What activities would you do?How would you like to spend your dinner? With whom? Where?How about your evenings?Once you lay out all the different activities youd like to do on a daily basis, compound those activities over five, ten, or twenty years, and imagine what might manifest as a result?You are the product of what you spend your timedoingYou cant say, I want to be this insert end reward and then not enjoy spending time on a daily basis practicing and working toward that end reward.So, if you want to figure out what your real dream job is, ask yourself what you would enjoy doing on a daily basis.Then compound the result of that activity over X number of years.That s where youre headed.And if you dont like where youre headed, change what youre doingright now.This article originally appeared on Inc. Magazine and then Thrive.com.Is your dream job what you want Ask yourself this questionAsk most people what their dream job is, and theyll tell you the opposite of whatever theyre doing right now.If theyre working in a cubicle, theyd rather be travel-blogging their way around the world.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreIf theyre driving for Uber, theyd rather be writing Grammy-award-winning hit singles.If theyre slaving away at an advertising agency, theyd rather be making strides toward becoming the next great entrepreneur.Heres the thing about dream jobs though99% of the time, theyre unrealistic.I dont mean unrealistic in the same way your parents probably used the word, telling you something is impossible.I mean unrealistic in the most basic s ense.Your dream job is unrealistic for you, because you dont actually love the work itself.You just love the IDEA of the endresultIts very easy for someone to say, I would so much rather be a famous musician, a multi-millionaire tech entrepreneur, a world-traveling chef, an Instagram influencer.Thats because the end result is so easy to imagine. Were surrounded by it every single day?- ?on magazine covers, in viral social media posts, on television, even in the conversations we have with our friends and family members.Everyone loves the IDEA of the end result. And so they spend their lives telling themselves that same narrative, over and over again, criticizing their 95 job while simultaneously daydreaming about the life they could be living.The irony, however, is that nobody ever achieves that end goal by being in love withitAsk anyone who has achieved something great in their lives about their journey, and they wont tell you about the rewards at the end.Theyll tell you about the d ay to day habits that went into it. Theyll talk about the work itself, the mindset, the motivation to improve and master their craft, the exploration process.The end rewards? Those are just byproducts.They are not the underlying purpose.When people imagine their dream job, they dont realize they are in love with the end result more than they are the work that goes intoitWhich means, in order to find out what your dream job really is, you cant ask yourself what end reward you want.That question is elusive, and often times leads you astray.Instead, you need to ask what activities you enjoy doing on a daily basis.How can you expect to become a famous musician if you dont enjoy practicing the guitar?How can you expect to become a super successful entrepreneur if you cant find the joy in early morning meetings, traveling, and a high-stress lifestyle?How can you expect to become a best-selling author if you despise sitting by yourself and writing?You cant.Finding your dream job is all abo ut reverse-engineering what activities you enjoy doing on a daily basis, that will allow a desirable end result to manifest on itsownMost people never understand this concept.Instead, they spend their entire lives wishing they were living a life that, in all honesty, they really dont want. Thats not how they prefer to spend their time?- ?because if it was, theyd find a way to do it.What you need to ask yourself is, in a perfect world, how would you spend your morning?What activities would you do?And in the afternoon, how would you like to spend those hours?What activities would you do?How would you like to spend your dinner? With whom? Where?How about your evenings?Once you lay out all the different activities youd like to do on a daily basis, compound those activities over five, ten, or twenty years, and imagine what might manifest as a result?You are the product of what you spend your timedoingYou cant say, I want to be this insert end reward and then not enjoy spending time on a daily basis practicing and working toward that end reward.So, if you want to figure out what your real dream job is, ask yourself what you would enjoy doing on a daily basis.Then compound the result of that activity over X number of years.Thats where youre headed.And if you dont like where youre headed, change what youre doingright now.This article originally appeared on Inc. Magazine.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 productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

How to Handle a Coworker Conflict - The Muse

How to Handle a Coworker Conflict - The MuseHow to Handle a Coworker Conflict Connecting with colleagues can be one of the more challenging (and yet, rarely talked about) hurdles of the modern workplace. While there will be some co-workers you vibe with immediately, there will be others you just wont feel in sync with. And if its someone you work with once a quarter, no big deal. But if its someone you have to deal with on a weekly- or daily- basis, getting comfy with your colleagues becomes way more important.And herein lies the challenge. If youre not grooving with someone immediately, theres probably a reason why. As with any relationship, some people just dont hit it off, but when you have to work with someone, life gets a whole lot easier when you can find some common ground. Heres how to start.1. Stop TryingAs soon as you sense someone isnt quite digging you, the natural instinct is to try to make that person like you. Bad idea. I dont know how, but we humans can usually tell w hen someone is trying too hard, and thats almost always a turnoff. I dont have any scientific evidence, but I can tell you from experience that every time Ive actively tried to get on someones good side, its never gone well.Instead, do your best to just forget you have any issues with your colleague at all. Treat him or her just as you would anyone else. Dont try to make jokes, skip the small talk, and get to business. I promise, the sooner you stop trying so hard to win your colleague over, the sooner youll win him or her over.2. Stop TalkingI dont know about you, but I have the unfortunate nervous habit of talking too much when Im nervous or anxious. This is the last thing you want to do if youre trying to form an alliance with an icy colleague. If someone isnt all that into you, your constant chatting wont endear you to him or her. Instead, opt to listen more than you speak, and let your colleague do the talking. Shell appreciate the opportunity to speak her mind and respect the fact youre not constantly trying to get a word in. As the saying goes, silence is golden. Give your colleague a gunst der stunde to do all the talking, and before long youll find shell be asking you what you think.3. Ask for HelpSo, weve established that trying to impress when were not feeling a connection with someone else rarely works- and often just sets us back even further.What does seem to work, however, is a dose of humility. Just about everyone appreciates being asked to share their expertise, and that includes your steely colleague. Choose an area in which he excels, and find ways to ask for his help. If hes an Excel pro, ask him for tips on pivot tables. If its Bob from accounting, ask him to explain depreciation. You get the idea. Keep it simple and quick- you dont want to burden your colleague, just give him the chance to show off a bit. Despite what many a cartoon may have said in my youth, theres no secret potion to make everyone like you. No matter how charming and aw esome your friends and mother think you are, eventually youll run into someone who just doesnt dig you. And guess what? Thats totally OK. But, there are things you can do to make life a bit less awkward. Keep these tips in mind, and youll soften the tension with your colleague. And with a little luck and all that charm of yours, you might convert that foe into a friend in the office. Photo of ice woman courtesy of Shutterstock.

Expanded U.S. News Part-time Rankings

Expanded U.S. News Part-time RankingsExpanded U.S. News Part-time RankingsTo add to its ranking the countrys full-time undergraduate, MBA and law school programs, U.S. News & World Report recently announced that it plans to flesh out the newest category of their rankings part-time JD and MBA programs. While a schools part-time program was considered in the overall evaluation of a graduate school prior to the 2009 rankings (the first year the PT rankings appeared), ansicht PT programs will now be ranked separately using a new, more advanced system. According to Bob Morse, U.S. News director of data research, the magazine decided to make the part-time rankings more robust using new, separate survey tools because of the interest in part-time programs, as well as the high number of part-time school reviews already collected. Using a peer review survey, faculty and members of the administration will rate part-time programs on a scale from one to five. Ninety-nine part-time law programs will be evaluated based on these peer reviews, as well as additional criteria that may include entering students LSAT scores and undergraduate GPAs, the programs acceptance rate, academic offerings and student activities. Part-time programs at 314 MBA schools will be ranked solely on these surveys. (For 2009, part-time programs were previously ranked by asking graduate school officials to select their pick of the top programs. Law school officials were asked to choose their top 15, while business schools were asked for their top 10.)While U.S. News rankings of academic programs can be helpful to students during the admissions process, research by the ABA and LSAC has shown that these lists often take a schools attention away from academics and instead cause them to focus their time and financial resources on improving their rank. For example, the George Washington University Law School reacted to its drop in the rankings (from 20th to 28th) by accepting fewer part-time students as a way to increase their acceptance rate. We have yet to see how other schools will react to the fuller part-time rankings, though they probably wont be happy.-Posted by Rebecca Zissou

The Professional Resume Writing Diaries

The Professional Resume Writing Diaries Key Pieces of Professional Resume Writing If thats the case, a professional rewrite is essential. You may have a foundational resume that compellingly articulates the most essential info, states Heifetz, but you need to alter it for each opportunity. The full procedure is collaborative. How to Choose Professional Resume Writing For you, it is necessary that before you begin your resume writing you are in possession of a very clear comprehension of what it is you are searching for in your job search. If youve got minimal work experience, you will need to highlight various characteristics of your job responsibilities to appeal to every individual hiring manager. Without a transparent target, an expert writer cant cause you to shine. Finding the ideal writer for your precise situation is the most crucial component when seeking professional resume assistance, and price is just one of many significant considerations. In fact, many business es are eager to take risks on employees which have the basic abilities and attitude to do the job. Therefore, before you submit your resume, get it tailored based on the essence of the job and the organization youre applying in. Whenever you would like to apply for work, then you have to get a resume ready. The job, the business, and the institution proved not the appropriate fit for me. The Definitive Strategy for Professional Resume Writing CV Writing Services UK have seen a massive increase in demand over the past few years. Professional Resume Writer is someone who will make your resume for the role of getting notices by the employers. Resume Introduction Earlier resumes werent thought to be very essential since they are today. Writing a professional resume or Curriculum Vitae may be an issue for a lot of people. Professional Resume Writing Fundamentals Explained Be certain that your resume is related to the demands of the position youre applying for. Writing about p ersonal objectives and aspirations ought to be kept to a minimum and is frequently unnecessary. Obviously, not everything is going to be a skill directly utilised in the position youre applying for. Whether you are thinking about how to best present your background to win a promotion with your present firm, or youre a recent graduate attempting to secure the suitable position with the most suitable firm to begin your career, or youre frustrated by low reaction to your current resume, a professionally prepared resume is extremely important. From researching the organization and scouring job posting youll uncover company-specific info and requirements you ought to include. There are plenty of jobs vacancies in the marketplace and you must send your resume while applying, despite the area. Playing up the incorrect experience can force you to seem amateur. ur services are readily available to aid clients NATIONWIDE. Resumes might be organized in various ways. They need to be spe ctacular enough to get the attention of the recruiters. They can be used for a variety of reasons, but most often they are used to secure new employment. Resumes a well-written resume is a potent marketing and advertising tool which is able to make your career. Top Professional Resume Writing Choices There are a 1000 methods to compose a resume. With many individuals competing for desirable entry-level work in the marijuana business, professional resume writing gives you an advantage over your normal candidate, even if this candidate has more actual experience than you do. Obviously you wouldnt wish to violate the privacy of any particular person competing for the identical kind of job. Once your resume is finished, Ill send you a completely free in-depth study on the best regions to send your resume to find the interviews you desire. Professional resume writing is among the things we do best for our clients. Resume writing may be an incredibly daunting processbut it does not need to be Resume writing is an intimidating undertaking for everyone. Writing your resume professionally for job application might be a challenging endeavor for anybody. An expert web site thats simple to use will be immensely beneficial. Looking for resume samples in your field of expertise may also offer you a sense of the amount of pages that are normally expected in your area. You can find a lot of free resume samples on the web to acquire a notion of what an attractively formatted resume looks like. If, nevertheless, your sample is denied, you are going to receive constructive feedback about your sample that will help you understand and make the changes required to reattempt. For example, a hiring manager for a construction company might be more interested in how much you are able to lift, how reliable youre, and whether it is possible for you to learn new skills quickly. Whether you choose to purchase software or use a free, web-based application, you will acqui re amazing outcomes. A good resume distribution service is forecast to provide resumes in a wide selection of fashions and they ought to work on resumes for various fields. Many resumes dont sell simply because theyre poorly focused. There are lots of resources you may use to assist you compose a resume, but if you dont wish to start from scratch, resumes builders are a great choice. By all means utilize the internet system format so as to make the most of the sites job matching capabilities but be sure to attach a replica of your personalize resume to the system. Moreover, you may read our long and in depth guide about ways to design an aesthetically pleasing resume. If you dont need to compose your resume yourself and you need assistance from a genuine individual, you may use a resume writing service.

LendingClub Data Job Spotlight

LendingClub Data Job Spotlight Meet the members of LendingClubs data team, who leverage the power of data and develop insights to help LendingClub enhance their product and services for their borrowers and investors.Want to join their team?Click here to see all available opportunities at LendingClub, and dont forget to press Follow to receive custom job matches, event invitations and mora One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction workers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects plans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image .pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the brde time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hired a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 million construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot more to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel Innovation/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that diverse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Gallupon the performance of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives leuchtdiode to better business performance and problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positio ns in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help drive innovation and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income Potential/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. The next set of highest-paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), instrumentation technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and indust rial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an average salary of $60,000 or higher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no better time to pick up a sledgehammer (figurative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.

6 things you should never wear on an airplane

6 things you should never wear on an airplane6 things you should never wear on an airplanePlanning your super-cute airplane outfit to kick off your vacation on a fashionable note? Make koranvers to keep these no-nos in mind because there are certain things you never want to wear on an airplane.1. Super-tight SocksSave any extremely tight socks for outings on the ground. Clothing that cuts off your circulation can lead to blood clots in the air. A good way to tell if your socks are too tight for plane-wear is to see whether they leave marks on your legs. If yes, those are too tight (ow). The exception to this rule is compression socks, which are made to be extra tight to increase your circulation instead of preventing it.2. JumpsuitsOkay, friends, lets get real. Airplane bathrooms are tiny and to do your business while wearing a jumpsuit or romper, it all has to come off. Do yourself (and the rest of the bathroom line) a favor and stick to two-piece outfits.3. High heelsWere proponent s of wearing high heels to the airport for the sole reason that it saves room in your suitcase in cases of overflowing luggage. But when youre actually on the airplane, its time to switch back to some flats. Not only do your feet swell when youre in the air, but in the teeny-tiny case where there needs to be emergency action taken during your flight, you want to be steady and grounded.4. Skimpy outfitsWere less worried about you offending the grandma seated next to you than you freezing your scantily-clad butt off during your flight. It gets cold on airplanes, so even if youre heading to a warm-weather destination, make sure to bring light layers for the plane ride.5. ContactsTravel days are a great opportunity to wear your glasses. Your eyes will thank you. The pressure and dry air in the airplanes cabin dont make for a great contact-wearing experience. Plus, if youre going to nod in and out of naptime, you probably dont want your contacts in anyways. Give those peepers a break6. S trong perfumeBe kind to your air travel neighbors and dont wear strong scents on an airplane. Its a pressurized tube in the sky - theres really not a lot of air flow. So if youre rocking a generous spray of perfume, everyone will smell it. And besides sensitive noses, some people have fragrance allergies that could lead to breathing problems. Stick with plain ol deodorant for the flight, please.Thispostwas originally published onSwirled.comin the Thrive section, which covers valuable career and personal finance content for Millennials.

Here are the 10 best books that Ive read in 2018

Here are the 10 best books that Ive read in 2018Here are the 10 best books that Ive read in 2018How many books does a person read in a lifetime? I did the arithmetic one night over beers with a friend.close dialogAdvertisementclose dialog/* effects for .bx-campaign-1012257 *//* custom css .bx-campaign-1012257 */.bx-custom.bx-campaign-1012257.bx-type-agilityzone .bx-close z-index 2-ms-keyframes bx-anim-1012257-spin from -ms-transform rotate(0deg) to -ms-transform rotate(360deg) -moz-keyframes bx-anim-1012257-spin from -moz-transform rotate(0deg) to -moz-transform rotate(360deg) -webkit-keyframes bx-anim-1012257-spin from -webkit-transform rotate(0deg) to -webkit-transform rotate(360deg) keyframes bx-anim-1012257-spin from transform rotate(0deg) to transform rotate(360deg) bx-close-inside- 1012257 top 0 right 0 /* rendered styles .bx-campaign-1012257 */.bxc.bx-campaign-1012257.bx-active-step-1 .bx-creative *first-child padding 0width auto.bxc.bx-campaign-1012257.bx-active-step-1 .bx-creative background-color transparent.bxc.bx-campaign-1012257.bx-active-step-1 .bx-close stroke whitebackground-color blackborder-style solidborder-color whiteborder-width 1pxbox-shadow 0px 0px 0px 3px black.bxc.bx-campaign-1012257 .bx-group-1012257-3RBnJGC position absolutetop 50%left 50%transform translate(-50%, -50%)z-index -1.bxc.bx-campaign-1012257 .bx-element-1012257-wryzWV5 width 55px.bxc.bx-campaign-1012257 .bx-element-1012257-wryzWV5 *first-child animation-name bx-anim-1012257-spinanimation-duration 800msanimation-iteration-count infiniteanimation-timing-function linear.bxc.bx-campaign-1012257 .bx-group-1012257-lyDBLV9 width 900pxheight 550px.bxc.bx-campaign-1012257 .bx-group-1012257-me4p1bl padding 10px.bxc.bx-campaign-1012257 .bx-element-1012257-ZdLO37u width auto.bxc.bx -campaign-1012257 .bx-element-1012257-ZdLO37u *first-child padding 2px 4pxfont-size 10pxcolor rgb(255, 255, 255)text-transform uppercasebackground-color rgb(0, 0, 0)background-color rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.34)First, we established that averages are useless. Some statistics say that people read 12 books per year on average. There are always a few people who read more than 100 books a year. So that number is inflated.Based on ur experiences, fruchtwein people we know only read a book thats popular. For example, this years book welches 12 Rules For Life by Jordan Peterson. Most people read books because everybody has read this bookAnd then they might pick up one or two other books in a year. They probably wont even finish them. But lets be optimistic about people and assume most folks read 5 books a year. Over a 50-year career, thats only 250 books.But lets say youre different. You realize that reading is the single most important thing for your personal development. And you set a goal to read 2 books a week. And over your career, you fail to achieve it. Its a lofty goal, after all.But you still manage to finish 80 books a year. Thats 4,000 books Whats the difference between 4,000 and 250? Well, a sh-tload of wisdom, my friend. And like you and I both know, when you apply wisdom, your life will be better. Whats the lesson here?Read as your life depends on it. Why? Because it does. Here are the best books Ive read this year.1. Incerto by Nassim Nicholas TalebTechnically, this is a series that consists of five books. Before this year, I had never read Taleb. Several of my friends are big fans of his work. And when his latest book in the series, Skin In The Game, came out this year, I felt compelled to read it.In his latest book, he writes about how most decision makers have notlagehing to lose when things go wrong. Having skin in the game will change everything. After all, its easy to make a decision or give advice when you have nothing to lose.I love his message and style . Taleb is someone who doesnt care what certain people think of him. And hes not afraid to make bold statements. Hes not only a good writer but the contents of his books are also excellent.After I read Skin In The Game, I decided to read all his books. That took me about a month and Im glad I did. If you havent read any of his books, check out which one appeals to you the most. You can read them in any order you want.2. Laws Of Human Nature by Robert GreeneI got into personal development because of The 48 Laws Of Power. And with his latest book, Robert Greene, shows that living a successful life is not only about power and status.How well we are at dealing with people is one of the most important predictors of career success. Since everything we do relies on others, we must get better at understanding others.And whats the best way to do that? By understanding yourself. And thats what Laws Of Human Nature helps you with. Great book for improving your self-knowledge.3. Stay Hungry by Sebastian ManiscalcoI love stand-up comedy, but I had never heard of Sebastian until recently. When I saw his Netflix comedy special and read about his story, he instantly became one of my favorite comedians.Hes not only funny, but hes also humble, down to earth, and a hard worker. For 20 years, hes been working at his craft. For the first 7 years, he also worked at the Four Seasons hotel. Now, hes selling out arenas.In Stay Hungry, he shares his life story in a funny way. So if you want to quit your career after only a year, please read Sebastians story.4. The Snowball by Alice SchroederEven though I think some parts of this book were a little bit of information overload, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Buffetts life. Contrary to what you might think, this book is not only about investing.The Snowball goes deep on different topics like Buffetts relationships with the most important people in his life, the way he views the world, and how he conducts business. Every professional c an learn from his life story. And Alice Schroeder did a great job telling it.5. The Mastery Of Love by Don Miguel RuizThis book changed my perspective on love. As the relationship between my girlfriend and I became more serious this year, we both wanted to improve this area.Subconsciously, we often keep score in our relationships. We have an internal scoreboard for everything, from how often one called/texted the other, who says I love you more, or cares more about certain things than the other.In The Mastery Of Love, Ruiz writes a lot about unconditional love. He believes that love is a never-ending resource. So you dont need to keep score if you can always give. Plus, if you already have love, you dont need anything in return. My experience is that this strategy works best if you both change your perspective.When only one person in a relationship adopts this perspective, it might work for a while, but you often fall back to your old behavior. So if you decide to read it, ask your partner to do the same.6. 12 Rules For Life by Jordan B. PetersonAs you can tell, I read books from all types of philosophies. The last book is spiritual, and 12 Rules For Life is very practical and hard-hitting.Like almost everyone who is interested in personal development, I read Jordan Petersons popular book this year. I share many of his beliefs. And like he says, theres nothing new about taking responsibility for your life.However, it is NEW to give people tough love - which is exactly what this book does. Read it - regardless of your views. It will make you a more stable and reliable person.7. Philosophy As a Way of Life by Pierre HadotHadot was one of the best historians of philosophy in recent history. Ive been reading philosophy since I was 16 and somehow believed that writing ABOUT philosophy is not the same thing.But Hadot proves that writing about philosophy is just as, or even better, as the real thing. I read Philosophy As a Way of Life this year and it made me under stand the concepts of Socrates, Plato, Stoicism, Epicureans, and Cynicism a lot better.What I learned is that philosophers are all searching for the same thing To satisfy their thirst for knowledge. Philosophy comes from the Greek word philosophia, which translates to love of wisdom. And if you love wisdom, youll love this book.8. Elon Musk by Ashlee VanceIm not a fan of Elon Musk. People in personal development are always surprised by that. I dont know why, but I cant idolize assholes - no matter how successful they are.However, my opinion on Musk did change after reading this book. He might be a weird guy, but he also has a crazy work ethic and ability to focus like no one else on this planet.Can you learn from outliers? Sure. But this book is mostly for entertainment. I personally know no one who wants to be like Musk. I sure as hell dont. But I can still learn from the man.9. The Complete Divan of Hafez by HafezMost people are familiar with the other Persian poet, Rumi. But Haf ez is the one whos more read in his native country. I used to be a lot into poetry but stopped reading it for many years until I received this book as a gift from my girlfriend.Sometimes I open the book and read a poem or three. Hafez is spiritual and sometimes I have no clue what hes talking about. But it makes you think. And thats a good feeling.10. Seeking Wisdom by Peter BevelinThis is probably the best summary Ive read on practical and scientific thinking. Bevelin is an excellent writer and he captures the wisdom from Charlie Munger in a perfect way.The book respects the reader and doesnt show off. Its a book that I already referred to several times after reading it. And together with the Jordan Peterson and Pierre Hadot books, I plan to re-read these books going forward.Just like the title of Bevelins book, to me, life is about seeking wisdom. Its the only pursuit that we can perform as long as our brain works. You can get physically impaired, lose your money, friends, status, but you can never lose your thirst for knowledge.In fact, writing this article made me thirsty. Its time to devour another book.This article first appeared on DariusForoux.com

Lose the frump factor, win the job

Lose the frump factor, win the jobLose the frump factor, win the jobThe right look can increase your confidence, show your personal style and make a lasting first impression.In a perfect world, we would all be judged on our inner beauty and the most qualified candidate would always get the gig. Unfortunately style, charisma, connections and the proverbial cool factor all play an influential role when considering job candidates. If you havent thought about your look since the 80s (or even within several years), chances are your go-to-interview look could use an update. You dont want to dress too young for your age, but who doesnt want to appear 10 years younger?Its true you spend hours revamping your resume, researching the company and practicing your selling points, but if your outward appearance does elend reflect your energy and enthusiasm about the position, chances are someone elses will. The right outfit can increase your confidence and make a lasting first impression.The word f ashion can be intimidating, but what you are really trying to do is update your personal style, not look like a runway model. If you like classic cuts and play-it-safe solids, then stick to what you are comfortable with just focus on finding a modern cut and a flawless fit. Have a penchant for flair? Try wearing interesting shapes and statement accessories.Below are my simple rules to ensure that whatever your personal style, your professional look is modern and memorable (in the good way)Women and Men1) Clothes have an expiration date. Secretary blouses, pleated pants, mid-calf anything - if these items listed are in your work wardrobe rotation, chances are they werent a recent purchase. Unless it is a custom-made Armani suit, several years wear and tear alone are reason enough to lay clothes to rest. Take this chance to rid your professional wardrobe of anything mora than five years old, except for a couple investment pieces that were made to last you a lifetime. This will ensure that you are rid of dated shapes and any fabrics that might not appear fresh.2) Fit is a factor. If it is too tight or too big you will not only feel uncomfortable but look it as well. Common problem areas are snug jacket arms that pull across the back, blouses that ripple across the chest, and pants that are too tight in the middle or sag in the seat. Rid your closet of those pieces you hope to fit back into one day and those baggier pieces that you have been meaning to take to the tailor. When shopping for redistribution policyment items, it is normal for most women to fall in between sizes. Rule of thumb Size up and find an impeccable tailor to fit it to your body.Women1) Choose shapes that flatter your body. This tip seems obvious, but unfortunately we have been programmed to reach for certain silhouettes when it comes to dressing for a formal interview - pencil skirt and button down, check. The truth is these two cuts dont look great on most women. Pencil skirts are unforgivi ng if you have even the slightest of hips, and button-downs are notorious for bulging open in all the wrong places. Instead, if you are curvy, opt for A-line skirts and dresses that provide a slimming effect on the lower body and scoop-necked shells that lay smooth under jackets. If you are petite, try a fitted sheath that falls just above the knee. It will highlight your feminine figure while elongating your legs.2) Hose are a thing of the past.Yes, you can start celebrating Hosiery, at least any that is visible, is no longer a requirement for women in the workplace. They should be avoided altogether, except for women who want to smooth their legs. In that case, they should be very sheer and match your natural skin color. (No tan, please) On the other hand, opaque tights are acceptable and encouraged during the winter months, when boots are the only suitable shoe option. They also look chic when worn with patent leather pumps. But unless you want to look like Rainbow Brite, stick t o black tights, even when wearing neutral colors.3) Shoes and bags are your style outlet. It is a myth that an interview requires a basic black shoe and masculine briefcase. In fact, when keeping your clothes simple and chic, your shoes and bag are a great way to add sophistication and style. Have fun with oxford-inspired booties patent-leather pumps peep-toed Mary Janes and tastefully colored totes and animal-skin satchels (faux if you prefer) The only rules are no white shoes and no strappy sandals, ever.4) Wear a dress.While a skirt or pantsuit is always appropriate, so is a great dress and jacket. From simple sheaths to A-line styles, a dress is the most flattering silhouette a woman can wear. Stick to solid wovens, tweeds and delicate pinstripes. If you are more fashion-forward, try a cocoon shape, 60s shift or a 50s-style dress with a fuller skirt and wide belt. Bonus A dress takes the guesswork out of the what-blouse-to-wear dilemma.5) Wear navy, black and gray - together. N avy, black and gray should be the three staple colors of your professional wardrobe, with a few brightly colored accent pieces. These colors look great with everything and even better when worn together. Try a black tweed suit with a navy silk blouse for a sophisticated look. Wear a black fitted blazer with a navy shift dress and black patent belt for a fashion statement. Try a charcoal-gray chiffon dress with a navy cropped jacket if you prefer ultra-feminine pieces.6) Add some flair.The right belt or earring can make your otherwise boring and predictable outfit impressive and memorable. Wear a wide belt in patent leather or a skinny gold belt to accentuate your waist. Try delicate gold hoops instead of stuffy pearls to modernize your basic jewelry. Wear a necklace in gray beads or any soft color to highlight your neckline and create an air of sophistication.7) Experiment with fabrics. Rayon and polyester are not executive-worthy textiles. Fill your closet with lightweight tweeds, linen blends, silks blends and even boucle. Texture in a suit or dress can add a personal touch and keeps your look seasonal. In the winter opt for a tweed jacket over a black wool sheath, black opaque tights and patent-leather sling-backs. In the summer, a linen pencil skirt, crisp white blouse and neutral pointed-toe pumps look elegant and fresh.8) Purchase a versatile go-to. There is no need to purchase a whole wardrobe just to update your look. The key is working with a couple investment pieces to create a versatile, modern look. Invest in a black sheath that flatters your body type, a navy A-line skirt and a black tailored jacket with slimming bracelet sleeves. The black sheath will work with the jacket, alone with a statement belt, or with a crisp button-down or soft blouse layered underneath. The navy skirt can be paired with a printed blouse and jacket, crisp white shirt or a camisole and belted cardigan. Shop for solid basics in flattering silhouettes and make them work for you. In other words - wear them all the timeMen1) Pleated pants add bulge.If you think your pleated-front pants are slimming your spare tire, you are unfortunately mistaken. The excess fabric is only adding bulk to your midsection and causing you to look heavier than you are. Opt for a flat-front suit pant, and voila ten pounds thinner.2) Put your best shirt forward. Your dress shirt is not a place to get creative. Save your style statement for a sharp-looking tie and a sophisticated watch. Avoid white contrast-collar shirts gingham prints fussy cufflinks and, most importantly, short sleeves. Dress shirts in solids or small stripes in white, blue, ecru and gray are the most versatile investments.3) Wear a power tie.This term is not limited to solid red. Look for ties in blues, yellows, black and mauve, as they are the most versatile. Dont be afraid of a small design or wide stripe just make sure it is easy on the eyes and not political.4) Give them a try - slim-fit suits.Slim fit is a word that has been misconstrued. All that a slim-fit style suit refers to is streamlined tailoring. They cut the bulky (sometimes saggy) fabric out of the upper leg and the middle of a coat, and the lapels tend to be narrower. This causes the suit pants to hang more nicely through the leg, and you avoid a boxy-cut coat. Slim-fit suits are not just for the younger crowd, either all the major suiting retailers are designing slim styles.5) Love your tailor. And listen to his advice. He has seen more than his fair share of suits in his day, so take heed. Fit is the most important factor when it comes to a suit. An expensive suit that doesnt fit might as well be from the Goodwill bin. The same goes for a less expensive suit if exquisitely tailored, no one will be the wiser. Confused about pant cuffs? The modern rule is a two-inch cuff or no cuff at all.6) Your shoes, belt and briefcase matter.These key accessories should not be the oldest things in your closet. For an updated brief case, opt for an over-the-shoulder messenger-style in a rich leather. Wingtips are the go-to shoes if you want to look sharp for a more relaxed look, try a penny loafer. Wear a belt with detail, whether in classic black skin or with a structured buckle. Your shoes, belt and briefcase dont all have to be cut from the same leather choose leathers that complement each other but have a slight variation in colors to avoid looking too matchy-matchy.7) You look better in navy.It is natural to lean toward investing in a black suit, but navy is proven to be a more universally flattering color. A dark-blue suit in a solid or delicate pinstripe is less harsh on most skin tones. Hate navy? Your second-best choice is charcoal.8) Two-button coats slim you. Trade your classic three-button for a leaner-looking two-button suit coat. They make you look slimmer through the stomach compared to the three-button style, which can cause rumples and rolls when buttoned.9) Wear complementary colors. Your sui t, dress shirt and tie must all be in a palette of colors that work with each other. A navy suit worn with a gray shirt and yellow tie is not complementary. Some palettes to refer to when choosing your interview attiregray, steel blue, mauve and whiteblack, red, yellow, white and powder bluenavy, French blue, lavender and ecru10) Pay attention to details. Avoid argyle socks and political tie clips. Tie clips should be solid metal with small design details, while socks are best in blue or black solids. Pocket squares in classic white are also a nice touch for a formal look.