Answer These 3 Questions to Identify Your Strengths

Answer These 3 Questions to Identify Your Strengths Answer These 3 Questions to Identify Your Strengths Article by Emma JohnsonGrowing up, I always seemed to have my foot in my mouth. An astute observer or judge, if you will of human nature, I had little filter and blurted out exactly what I thought in social situations, classrooms, or at the dinner table. This lead tosome awkward and painful life lessons. As I got older, however, I learned to keep my mouth shut more often and cultivated a filter but bedrngnis entirely.My natural inclination to scrutinize and share that scrutiny has become my greatest asset in both my professional and personal lives. I have been a journalist and writer all of my life, and my career took a dramatic upward swing when I started blogging and podcasting, sharing my opinions and observations about relationships, family, money, and gender. Seemingly by magic, giving the world my observations has attracted likeminded people who share my point of view. L ife is far less lonely than it was when I was a loudmouthed, opinionated kid.How do you identify your greatest assets and deepest reserves of strength? Ask yourself these questions1. What Was the Hardest Time of Your Life? What Tools Did You Use to Get Through It?Whether it was the death of a loved one a career, financial, or academic setback a health crisis a romantic breakup or an addiction,identify the emotional tools, social habits, or intellectual assets you tapped into to get past that life event.2. What Were Your Greatest Successes?These might be easily identified accomplishments such as earning a degree or promotion, reaching a health or fitness goal, or building a geschftsleben. What did you do that others around you did not? What did you do that was different from your previous behavior? What habit or attribute served as your own tipping point toward success?3. What Gives You the Most Joy?Your own personal achievements might not be evident to others. Perhaps you cared for a terminally ill loved one or have a special connection with your children. Maybe its gathering friends for lively evenings of conversation or organizing people in your community for a greater good. In your own personal contentment lies a genius that should not be dismissed.I often refer to the closing passage of the seminal book on writing, The Elements of Style, written by William Strunk Jr. in 1918 and later updated by author E.B. White. This passage can be applied not onlyto writing but also to life Your whole duty as a writer is to please and satisfy yourself, and the true writer always plays to an audience of one.When you feel good, White assures us, you are doing your best work. Satisfy that inner voice that personal joy and you find your own deepest strength.What Others Have to Say About Finding Their StrengthsJeremy Arnold,cofounder of Launch, a friend-based dating appWhen I began working in the corporate world, I internalized the idea that an infinite appetite for long h ours and messy projects was the surest way to the top. A decade of experience and two burnouts later, Ive realized that my real strength is vulnerability. By being open and raw and human, I can give the people working with me the necessary space to be real, which results in unleashing more creativity and producing better work than any carrot-and-stick motivation ever could.Zaida Khaze, owner of WiggletotWhen I was 19, I sustained a traumatic brain injury in a drunk-driving accident. Neurologists were pessimistic about my future, but I surpassed their every prediction and went on to live a life similar to that of my peers. That strength showed me I am capable of seeing through many more obstacles, always following my own path. Since then, I have gotten married, fought through the medical and education systems to find answers that led to eliminating my daughters autism diagnosis, and launched a successful business.Rob Harper, cofounder of Costa Rican Vacations travel agencyI began tra veling internationally at a very young age through my familys involvement with Rotary and Sister Cities, which took us to Germany, Belgium, and Costa Rica on official civic-sponsored exchange programs. We also hosted dozens of students and families from around the globe, all of whom exposed me to new cultures and languages before I even graduated high school and helped me hone my ability to understand and easily communicate with people very different from me. This strength is invaluable in both my personal life and my profession, as my company has employees representing 15 countries and serves clients from around the globe.Versions of this article originally appeared in the January 2017 issue of SUCCESS Magazine and on SUCCESS.com.Emma Johnson is a New York City-based freelance business journalist. She blogs at Wealthy Single Mommy.

These are the 4 steps to a healthy mentor-mentee relationship

These are the 4 steps to a healthy ratgeber-mentee relationshipThese are the 4 steps to a healthy mentor-mentee relationshipEvery working professional dreams of having a mentor in their field who believes in them.At their best, mentors are the senior advisors you can call on in times of crisis, the ones who guide you when you stray. Theyre thesuccessful Big Names with the clout to pluck you out of obscurity and introduce you to all the right people.Its a beneficial relationship for both the junior partner binnenseeking guidance and the senior one dispensing wisdom. Mentors get the pride and joy of helping a future star succeed, mentees get the much-needed confidence and network to succeed.But these relationships can deteriorate quickly when the mentor-mentee relationship is seen as a transaction where mentorship goes in, and success magically comes out. Usually, these relationships fail when one side doesnt see that having a mentor is a two-way street.Heres what mentors and mentees n eed to do to prevent their partnership from suring.1) Set time-management expectations from the beginningMentees need to realize that their mentors times is valuable. Mentees should not schedule a meeting at the last minute. There should be no late-night Hail Mary texts demanding career advice on whether or not they should take the job. These excessive communications do not reflect well on you, the mentee. It makes it seem as if you dont respect your mentors time.As the senior partner in this relationship, mentors should platzset the example and delineate time parameters from the beginning. Say what times and days you can be available to be contacted. Be firm that if your mentee cannot make a time, they must give at least 24-hours notice.2) Clarify what you need and what you can giveAsking for a mentor is not sending a vague, generic request to pick a successful persons brain. The foundation to a good mentee-mentor relationship begins with both sides being clear about what they want and what they can bring to the table.Harvard Business Review outlines what a mentee should know about what they want before seeking out a mentor. Do you need a coach to work through performance-related issues, a sponsor who can champion your promotion, or a connector with access to the relationships you need to do your job well? Knowing what you want is critical to not wasting yours or your mentors time.For mentors, its important to set and manage expectations from the beginning about what you can offer your mentee advice on negotiating a contract, a connection to that important person, or ongoing feedback on projects. When a mentee is being vague about goals, a good mentor will kindly ask him or her to be specific about how they can help, so that the mentor can redirect them to the right person.That means no meet-ups for career advice coffee until everyone is on the same page about what this meeting will entail.3) Facilitate the good energyMentorship should be energizing for both sides. But not everyone has the spirit to be a mentor. Not everyone has the maturity to be a mentee. Before you embark on a mentor-mentee relationship, its good to choose your dance partner wisely.For mentees, that means not being a vampire draining the life fromthemby asking many questions or sending excessive communications, according to Harvard Business Review.For mentors, that means facilitating your mentees growth and not immediately shutting down your mentees ideas. Consider the off-the-wall, ambitious idea of your mentee. Theyre entrusting you with their hopes and fears. Good mentors encourage their mentees energy. They acknowledge that their mentees success will look different from their own.4) Acknowledge the work that goes inAbove all, being a good mentor or mentee means acknowledging the work thats going into making this relationship work. For mentees, it means thanking your mentor for their advice in words and through actions.For mentors, it means going the extra mile to help bring out the best in someone. In a world where our careers are long and winding, roles can be reversed and the mentor can one day become the mentee.As journalist Ann Friedman explains this two-way street, You should always be kissing down and sideways, to the people who are going to be working alongside you and coming up behind you. Im really aware of my impending irrelevance, Friedman told the Longform podcast. I want there to be some journalist who remembers when I got on the phone with her in 2013 and helped her negotiate for her first salary and throws me a bone. I think about that moment a lot.

Smiling Your Way to the Top

Smiling Your Way to the Top Smiling Your Way to the Top The Duchenne SmileThe Duchenne smile is what you could call a real smile. When we are flashing a genuine smile, our facial muscles are involved all the way up to our eyes. This smile lasts longer, and actually produces a change in brain activity, resulting in a better mood. You might have recognized the name Duchenne as it relates to his work in the discovery of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Yeah, real science here people.Smiling and StressThese changes in mood exhibited by people who frequently smile also affect health. According to Rodger Dooley, marketing pro and Forbes contributor, Smilers exhibitedlower heart rate levels after completing a stressful taskcompared to subjects who assumed a neutral expression.Duchenne smilers actually have lower stress numbers than the social smilers. According to Rebecca Maxon of Fairleigh Dickinson UniversityWorkplace stress costs U.S. employers an estimated $200 billion per year in absente eism, lower productivity, staff turnover, workers compensation, medical insurance and other stress-related expenses. Considering this, stress management may be business most important challenge of the 21st Century.The ending may be a little dramatic, but it does stand to reason that smiling can potentially do wonders for your professional career. Work is full of stressors, and smiling is a proven stress reducer. In fact, Sarah Pressman of the University of Kansas saidThe next time you are stuck in traffic or are experiencing some other type of stress, you might try tohold your face in a smilefor a moment. Not only will it help you grin and bear it psychologically, but it might actually help your heart health as wellFake It Till You Make ItMost of us worked in some kind of food service or retail job during our college years. Smiles were a part of the uniform. It is a pretty common phenomenon for stressed out, hung over college students to show up to work in a horrible mood and leave with a fresh and positive outlook. Its because we were forced to smile at customersIt turns out that even a disingenuous smile can make a positive difference in mood and stress reduction. On the other hand, frowns are tied to the opposite effects. So ,why not smile? Dooley said, The smile doesnt have to be based on real emotion faking it works.When Youre Smilin, the Whole World Smiles with YouWho could argue with such wise words from Mr. Louis Armstrong? Those arent just lyrics research shows that the emotions that facial expressions convey are actually contagious. According to a Spark People article, Studies show that something as simple as seeing a friend smile can activate the muscles in your face to make that same expression, without you even being aware that you are doing it.When the people around you are happier, they carry less stress, theyre mora productive and they just plain like you more. These all sound like the traits of someone you might want to keep around the office. Smiling has been known to convey traits like confidence, stability and conscientiousness- again, traits that employers and co-workers respect and gravitate to. Donning a smile in the office can reduce stress, create a positive environment through emotional contagion and even have positive effects on health. As cheesy as it sounds, smiles are free, so try it out.

Best Career Blogs to Read for Your Success in 2015

Best Career Blogs to Read for Your Success in 2015Best Career Blogs to Read for Your Success in 2015Internet is full of priceless informations. You just need to know where to look for them. Weve done some research for you, so you can read the best career blogs for your success in 2015. Here you goThe Undercover RecruiterexploreDo you want to find out, why they havent hired you the last time you applied for a job? The Undercover Recruiter may answer all of your questions. This popular UK based blog shows you the biggest mistakes people do, when applying for a job and you will find here tons of career advice.The Daily MuseexploreThe Daily Muse offers job opportunities along with professional advice. This website helps you find a dream job and to be successful at it. Even if youre not sure what your passion is, this may be the way to find out.Freelance FolderexploreThis community of freelancers, entrepreneurs, work-at-home geschftliches miteinander owners and web-workers brings you arti cles full of informationyou need to succeed.Penelope TrunkexplorePenelope Trunk has been through very successful career and she is sharing her tips and tricks for you. As she said My own career path has had twists and turns, which I document on this blog. Dont hesitate and read articles wrote by this wise woman.Brazen CareeristexploreBrazen Careerist is one of the best blogs on our list. In fact ita company blog of Brazeen Careerist which powers real-time and online events. They publish on a daily basis, so you will find fresh news every day.Guardian CareersexploreGreat blog primarily for graduate job seekers. Definitely check out their weekly live QAs, put your questions to a panel of experts and receive immediate answers. Make sure you bookmark this blogDo you like this story? Share it with your friends.Share Your Feedback or Ideas in the Comments

The First Step You Should Take when Organizing Your Job Search Is to:: the Ultimate Convenience!

The First Step You Should Take when Organizing Your Job Search Is to the Ultimate Convenience The Chronicles of the First Step You Should Take when Organizing Your Job Search Is to As soon as you know where you stand, you can make a decision as to what areas you have to improve, or when you will need to specify a new system and begin from scratch. You should have a job-search system, whether you work or unemployed. The very first step is assessing how your present system is operating. Not positive if your present system is your best choice at running an efficient practice. Whether youre a first-time manager or a seasoned manager taking over a new team, your very first day provides a great chance to generate a positive impression and get departureed building credibility with your new team members. As youre unemployed at this time, you may as well enjoy your time off a little. Ensuring somewhere to dwell in a new city ought to be the very first action to do after deciding to move. To receive a better idea about whether a particular career may be a fantastic fit for you, start looking into what the day-to-day of each job appears like. Youre likely to be working on your topic for quite a while, so choose one which you find interesting and engaging or that motivates you to have a position. However scary moving across the country may appear, its certainly doable with appropriate assistance and right mindset. If moving across the country demands some downsizing then begin de-cluttering ruthlessly so as to save yourself the trouble of moving unnecessary things which will wind up being forgotten in a garage or hidden storage area. Individuals can get upset at whats happening at work, or perhaps they see somebody who isnt working as hard as someone else. Unique individuals have various ways of keeping tabs on their records. Figure out just what you require the shelves for, and customizing them will be much simpler and more efficient. There are many disti nct things to keep an eye on when job searching. There are so they, that you can easily become overwhelmed and confused. Its extremely important to be certain youre keeping an eye on all the different details as you cooperate. Its critical to be organized. however, it is also essential that you get going on your search. Though search is a strong tool, and theres a training course in The Dojo taking you through trying to find files, its still true that you wish to get a fundamental organizational structure so you dont need to rely solely on search. Keep in mind that work search is incremental, 1 step at one time. The more seriously you take your whole search, the larger the likelihood you will have of locating a terrific executive position. You may want to use file folders in various colors for each document type. Your very first step must be to remove some of your property. You will discover how many pages linked to the specific domain are included in the Google Index. Its actually simpler to assign tags to each bit of information you store, as you can so easily hunt for tags later. You may have to change jobs. Salary trends is a tool that allow you to find the trends in compensation for particular jobs in various locations. You must understand that its going to take a while to locate another job. Writing your first resume may appear like a daunting undertaking. It is crucial to understand what you need from a work beforehand. With persistence and patience, you will gradually land the job that you desire.

IT career fact sheet

IT career fact sheet IT career fact sheetPosted June 11, 2014, by Andrea RiddellIT ResourcesSystems analyst sample resumeSystems analyst sample cover letterCareer Insider StoriesBrett Raven - RedBalloon Chief Technology OfficerInterested in becoming a?Management ConsultantMarketing OfficerProject ManagerSystems AdministratorHelp Desk OfficerPopular Career Searchesbasic it coursesfast track career in itit certification courses in demand melbournegov funded IT courses brisbanegovernment funded IT courses onlineIT CoursesBachelor of Cyber SecurityEnquire Online Enquire OnlineGraduate Diploma of Data ScienceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Applied Information TechnologyEnquire Online Enquire OnlineAssociate Degree of Applied Information TechnologyEnquire Online Enquire OnlineAndrea RiddellRelated ArticlesBrowse moreITWOMENNine reasons to get a job in ITNow has never been a better time to make the jump into the world of coding, hard drives and USB ports. The IT industry is calling .DesignDigital Media10 jobs that the netz createdThe internet may have made some occupations redundant but did you know it has created more jobs than it has made obsolete? This week Julia looks at some of the new roles that have been spun in the world wide web.Future trendsThe Revolution of Artificial Intelligence What is artificial intelligence? Whats the future of AI? Which countries are ahead in the AI race? What impacts does AI have on your industry? We answer all your questions in one handy infographic