Resume Guide for an Operations Manager

Resume Guide for an Operations ManagerResume Guide for an Operations ManagerTo sell yourself in ops, your resume cant just say what you did it needs to say how you did it.Dont ignore the process, said Kristen Jacoway, a certified professional resume writer who works with Ladders.A successful resume for an operations executive cant simply say what you accomplished it must explain how you did it what was the process, she said.Most resumes I see are missing either the action or the result when theyre talking about past jobs, Jacoway said. Some people will say they saved the company $100,000. Thats great, but how did you get there? What was the project, and what did you do to create that savings?Demonstrate valueDemonstrating your competence and even your level of excellence is absolutely the right thing to do, but it might not be enough in an economy like this, said Tim Noble, the managing principal for The Avery Point Group, Inc, a search firm in Alpharetta, Ga., that also specializ es in efficiency expertise.In an employers market, companies get selective about hiring. They know they can be choosey, Noble said, and they have to be more careful committing to the expense of filling an empty job slot.Demonstrating youre good at your job an A player who got laid off, not a C player someone got rid of is only half the battle. You have to be able to show on your resume and in your interview where you acted creatively to save money or time, solved a problem, or showed the persistence to continue improving a process even after having seen some results.Speak the right languageOperations executives are typically faithful to one process or discipline (like Six Sigma or Information Technology Infrastructure Library), and they speak that one language, Jacoway said. The HR managers and recruiters who write the job listings probably describe it the same way. Unless your resume follows the same discipline and employs the same terms and language, the recruiters and Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software that sorts resumes will probably remove your resume from consideration.When you read the job postings, you have to look at the keywords that the company is using, then go back and customize that resume with those keywords, she said. Apply them to your experience, put them in your keywords section, and weave them into the text of the resume. You have to be sure the description is accurate, but which words you use make a big difference.Summarize your core competenciesJacoway usually leaves the first section of the resume a list of the candidates core competencies for last.It helps me get to know the person a little better, but you also have to be sure there is evidence in the statement describing the job duties that supports that core competency. You dont just put it up there because someone is looking for it. Theyll read farther down and you have to show why its a real competency.

What to Consider Before Applying to Music College

What to Consider Before Applying to Music CollegeWhat to Consider Before Applying to Music CollegeFinding a good music degree program can be a challenge. Since careers in music are ultra-competitive, it can be tricky to know which programs offer glorified business school degrees and which will actually prepare you for the career you want. Before you apply to a music school, do a little research to find the right fit. Here are a few things to consider. The Schools Reputation and What You Will Learn Look for a degree to which the bulk of the courses are music related. In other words, look for courses on legal issues in the music industry rather than a general course about business legal issues. While picking up some basic business fundamentals may be useful, you want to get into the nitty-gritty of what makes the music world tick. What kind of accreditation does the school have, and what kind of financial assistance does it offer? Any reputable school will be able to tell you how m any students receive financial aid. If that percentage is high, then it may indicate the cost of tuition is unreasonably high. Who Is Teaching the Courses The best people to teach you about the music industry are the people who have been a part of it. Check out the profiles of the faculty members and find out their involvement in the music industry. If most of your potential professors seem to have business experience but no actual music business experience, you may elend get the knowledge you need. Professors who have been there and done that and still have connections to the music industry will be better positioned to help you locate a job after graduation. Internship Opportunities Even with a music-related degree, when you start hunting for a job, any potential employer is going to want to see that you have some experience. Getting good internships is maybe the best selling point for getting a music-related degree, so a school that cant deliver some work experience is not worth your time. Pay especially close attention to this if the school you are considering is not located in a city with a music industry presence. Find out what they do to make sure their students get hands-on work. Job Placement Assistance A music industry related degree is no guarantee that youll be a shoo-in for a job in music when you graduate. Many jobs in the music industry still get filled by word of mouth, and the best way to get a job in music is to know someone who knows someone. In that case, you want to make sure the school you are choosing knows a lot of someones who will be interested in employing graduates of the program. Check and see if the school has a good record of placing students in music-related employment after graduation. A good way to judge a music industry degree program is to find out how things turned out for previous graduates. Are they working in music? Are there are any big name success stories? Are the alumni active in helping graduating student s find their first job? If the admissions office isnt offering any such tales of glory, do a little homework. If the school has an alumni association, go through them to track down some past grads and find out how and if their education has helped them in their careers.

2 eye-opening experiences that trigger immediate clarity and behavior change

2 eye-opening experiences that trigger immediate clarity and behavior change2 eye-opening experiences that trigger immediate clarity and behavior changeIn the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, 1776, David McCullough tells the story of John Greenwood, a sixteen-year-old boy who in May of 1775 heard news of Lexington and Concord. The American Revolutionary War welches underway and Greenwood resolved to walk the 150 miles by himself to Boston with little more than the clothes on his back.Stopping at wayside taverns, hed play songs on his fife for soldiers who would ask him wzu siche he welches going. In Greenwoods words I told them I welches going to fight for my country.Once he got to Cambridge, he learned of the battle raging at Bunker Hill. Immediately, we was seized-upon by a gruesome scene. While walking down the road leading to the battle, wagons passed him by carrying piles of dead bodies and severely wounded men.Greenwood was terrified and wished he hadnt enlisted. I could positivel y feel my hair stand on end, he said. But then something happened that forever changed him. He saw a lone soldier walking down the road. In his own wordsA Negro man, wounded in the back of his neck, passed me and, his collar being open and he not having anything on except his shirt and trousers, I saw the wound quite plainly and the blood running down his back. I asked him if it hurt him much, and he did not landseem to mind it. He said no, that he was only to get a plaster put on it and meant to return. You cannot conceive what encouragement this immediately gave me. I began to feel brave and like a soldier from that moment, and fear never troubled me afterward during the whole war.Triggering Event 1 Seeing Someone Else Operate Without FearGreenwood was changed in an instant. He saw a man seemingly unaffected by what should have been an excruciatingly painful wound.He saw a man who had passed a personal point of no return. A lone soldier who was so absorbed by a situation and a cau se that he didnt notice his own pain.Greenwood realized in that moment his extreme self-consciousness, which was holding him back. In seeing someone else operate from a higher mental plane, Greenwood was immediately brought-up to that plane himself.Courage, commitment, and confidence replaced fear. He stopped worrying about himself. He stopped noticing every sensation in his body. Instead, his mind was captured by the moment and importance of what was happening around him. In his own words, he never was troubled by fear again throughout the remainder of the war.If youre having a hard time being focused, or if youre plagued by fear to do what you believe you should be doing, then you need exposure to battle. You need to see someone who has passed their point of no return. You need to see someone who no longer cares about temporary discomfort.How do you get such exposure?You have a few options.When it comes to Greenwood, he had to walk 150 miles on foot to get to the place of battle. You may need to walk the equivalent of 150 miles on foot to actually see whats going on at the frontlines of whatever battle youre attempting to fight.Who is at the frontlines?Who are the battle heroes in your field or cause?How can you get closer exposure to these people?How can you see them at work?How can you tap into their mindset and mentality?You may need to work or sacrifice for a few months or years to get such exposure. Yet, this preparation period will soften the soil of your heart and mind, allowing you to be completely open and receptive when the moment comes.In the book, The Compound Effect, Darren Hardy describes having such an experience. He had invested in a mentorship with a man named, Paul J. Meyer. In Hardys wordsWhenever I thought I was really doing things, really playing at a high level, Id get around Paul he was my reality check. What he did before lunch was mind-boggling to me After spending a couple of hours with Paul, hearing about all his plans and ventures and activities, my head would spin. Just trying to make sense of all he had going on exhausted me. After time with Paul, Id want to go take a nap But my association with him raised my game. His walking pace was my running pace. It expanded my ideas about how big I could play and how ambitious I could be. You have to get around people like thatOnce youve been properly exposed to whats possible, theres no going back. As Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. has said, A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.You absolutely can create these transformational experiences. But youll need to proactively to put yourself in the heat of battle. You cant have such experiences on the sidelines. You must make yourself vulnerable, even with doubts and fears streaming through your system.You must pay the price to see what you need to see. And when you do, youll be changed. Youll stop worrying about what other people think. Youll stop worrying about your own reputat ion. Youll stop worrying about the pain or fear youll face.Another way such an experience can be triggered is within the walls of your own mind. Albert Einstein has said, Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.You can imagine yourself being that person who has no fear. You can imagine yourself being that lone soldier unaffected by something that would cripple fruchtwein others.You can lead with your actions and watch as your emotions follows suit. As Harvard psychologist, Jerome Bruner, has said, Youre more likely to act yourself into feeling, than feeling yourself into action.Speak with power.Speak with conviction.Write down in the most powerful language you can muster who you are, and who you intend to be. Write it down and watch it happen.Act with conviction.Yes, act as if. Play the part and watch as it becomes the part. There is no identity within you that is devoid of context and role. You are always acting a part and playing a role. For most people, this whole acting business is unconscious and unchosen. For most people, the role they play is attributed as their innate personality.But imagination is far more important than knowledge. When it comes to a chosen identity, air on the side of imagination. Knowledge will keep you stuck. It will keep you attempting to be objective about something that you can never be objective about.Decide who youll be. Act in power. And do pay whatever price you can to have the transformational experiences, that like Greenwood, will expand you beyond any point of return.Triggering Event 2 Have Someone You Love Tell It To You StraightIts really nice for the ego to get constant praise and affirmation. However, having people around you who hold you to a continually higher standard is powerful for your long-term development.Henry B. Eyring, a former business professor at Stanford and also a religious leader, tells the story of getting straight As one semester. He was taking several challenges physics classes and was excited to share his success with his mother, yet was humbled by her response. Thats what we expect of you, she told him. Reflecting on that experience several decades later, Eyring stated, Sometimes the greatest kindness we could receive would be to have someone expect more from us than we do, because they see more clearly our divine heritage.According to loads of research in psychology, its very important to be surrounded by people and leaders who hold you to a high standard and expectation. According to The Pygmalion Effect, we as people rise or fall to the expectations of those around us.Receiving praise and affirmation is indeed important. But rarely will the affirmation trigger within you a powerful conviction that you can do better. Instead, what you need is someone to hold you to a higher standard than you hold yourself.You need someone who you know loves you to tell you that you could do better. Thats one of the reasons I decided to marry my wife. Other girls would tell me how great I was, and that didnt inspire me to be better. For some reason, I never felt like I could impress my wife. I always felt like I had to earn her approval and respect. That created a challenge that led me to becoming more than I thought I was.Even still, after nearly 6 years of being married, Lauren will make comments that light a fire under me. Despite being physically fit, she recently told me I was starting to get a Dad-Bod. Although I entirely disagree, Im now even more motivated to get into the best shape of my life. I want to prove to her that I can be more fit than I was when we were in our early 20s.Getting critical feedback and being around nay-sayers is two completely different things. You need to know that the feedback youre getting is honest. You need to know that the person who is talking to you cares about your bes t interest. You need to know that they want you to be successful and expect more of you than youre currently expecting of yourself.Recently, I submitted two book proposals to my publisher for the next two books Im going to write. I was humbled continuously as my agent would send back drafts and tell me, What are you doing? Youre so much better than this.While writing Willpower Doesnt Work, I had hired Ryan Holiday to help me develop the book and he would continually say things similar. You can do so much better than this, hed tell me.You need people around you who hold you to a higher standard.You need people to tell you when youre not performing at the level you could be.You need hard feedback that will cause you to truly reflect and dig deeper into yourself than youve been willing to dig in a long time.You then need to go to a quiet place and ask yourself some hard questions. You probably need to meditate and or pray. You need to redevelop a sense of resolve and commitment to play at a higher level.You then need to do the hard work of pushing past your emotional blocks. You need to rise above your current sense of who you believe you are. You need to exceed even the expectations of those who believe you can do better. You need to show up at a level no one else is willing to go.This is how you get to the next level, and the next.You get humbled by people who know you could do better.You then rise up to their expectations and exceed them. Because ultimately, you need to hold yourself to higher standards than anyone else is willing to hold you. But in order to get to that level, you need to be told straight that you could do much better. You need to be humble and willing to receive that feedback. You then need to prove them wrong and show them that youre so much more than even they think you can be.I love that my wife recently called me out. Im more committed that ever to get into the best shape of my life.I love that my agent recently called me out. It led me to produce the best writing Ive ever done in my life. Im on the brink of writing two books that will fundamentally change the trajectory of my career. I couldnt have done that if I had an agent who had low expectations for me and just wanted a quick-win. No. She pushed me further than I was willing to push myself. She reminded me of the vision I have for myself, and told me to get up and play a bigger game.ConclusionWho is holding you to a higher standard?How often are you getting honest and real feedback?Who are your mentors?Who are your friends?How regularly are you have these 2 type of triggering experiences?Ready to Upgrade?Ive created a cheat sheet for putting yourself into a PEAK-STATE, immediately. You follow this daily, your life will change very quickly.Get the cheat sheet hereThis article was originally posted on Medium.com.

This habit makes Sunday less stressful, Monday more productive

This habit makes Sunday less stressful, Monday more productiveThis habit makes Sunday less stressful, Monday more productivePeople who dont make progress toward their goals all share 1 thing in commonThey never sit down and reflect on what isnt working.Instead, unproductive (and often times stressed-out and unhappy) people stay caught in a vicious cycle of always looking to the future. They want to know when things are going to change, when they are going to get a promotion, when they will be able to take the leap from their 9-5, when their side hustle will become profitable.All of ansicht when statements aim are forward facing - and thats the problem.Successful people spend just as much time reflecting on the past, as they do aiming toward the future.Individuals who actually achieve their goals make time to audit themselves.They look back on the past week, month, quarter, even year, looking for ways they could have performed better. They look for times they were distracted. They qu estion how many days they let themselves down. And then, fruchtwein of all, they ask themselves what they could do differently moving forward to solve for those bad habits.The unfortunate truth is most people never do this.Every Sunday, I take 15-30 minutes and look back over the past weekSometimes, this reflecting exercise takes place in my journal. Sometimes, I use the big whiteboard in my living room. And sometimes, I just sit in silence and think.I look back over the past week and examine every hour of every day. Where was I the most productive? How come?Where was I the least productive? What caused that?When did I get down on myself and give up on something prematurely? What happened there?How come I didnt finish some of the projects I said I wanted to finish? Was I too busy with other things? How did I get too busy? Why did I say Yes to those other opportunities if I knew it would make me too busy for the things I truly wanted to work on?I examine everything - and then I come up with a game plan for how I want to tackle the week to follow.If youre not constantly auditing yourself, your habits, your schedule, and the way you approach your own life, you will never be in control of where youre headed.This is where so many people go wrong.They push, and push, and push, looking toward the future to give them something they want - instead of sitting down, reflecting, and addressing the bad habits or decisions that keep them stagnant.What ends up happening, then, is these people remain in a reactionary state toward life. They sit on the couch and wait for something to happen to them, instead of looking for all the little opportunities they could have made a different decision. And the reason why people struggle to do this is because its hard, its revealing, its vulnerable, and it means taking accountability for your own failures.People would rather blame luck, fate, and the rest of the world for their shortcomings.If you want to make your Sunday less stressfu l, and your Monday more productive, take fifteen minutes to reflect on the past week.Look at the 7 days prior.Ask yourself, Where did I fail myself? Where could I have made better decisions, that would have gotten me closer to where it is I say I want to be?Then, imagine yourself in a similar situation next week, and establish what different choice youre going to make, now.If you went to too many social events last week, decide right now that when someone invites you out this week - no matter what it is - youre going to say, No thanks. Im busy. And decide, right now, what youre going to spend your time doing instead.This simple reflection habit will fundamentally change the direction of your life.It will put you in a better mental state on Sunday.And it will set you up for success on Monday.Thisarticlefrom Medium originally appeared on Inc. Magazine.This habit makes Sunday less stressful, Monday more productivePeople who dont make progress toward their goals all share 1 thing in c ommonThey never sit down and reflect on what isnt working.Instead, unproductive (and often times stressed-out and unhappy) people stay caught in a vicious cycle of always looking to the future. They want to know when things are going to change, when they are going to get a promotion, when they will be able to take the leap from their 9-5, when their side hustle will become profitable.All of these when statements aim are forward facing - and thats the problem.Successful people spend just as much time reflecting on the past, as they do aiming toward the future.Individuals who actually achieve their goals make time to audit themselves.They look back on the past week, month, quarter, even year, looking for ways they could have performed better. They look for times they were distracted. They question how many days they let themselves down. And then, most of all, they ask themselves what they could do differently moving forward to solve for those bad habits.The unfortunate truth is most people never do this.Every Sunday, I take 15-30 minutes and look back over the past weekSometimes, this reflecting exercise takes place in my journal. Sometimes, I use the big whiteboard in my living room. And sometimes, I just sit in silence and think.I look back over the past week and examine every hour of every day. Where was I the most productive? How come?Where was I the least productive? What caused that?When did I get down on myself and give up on something prematurely? What happened there?How come I didnt finish some of the projects I said I wanted to finish? Was I too busy with other things? How did I get too busy? Why did I say Yes to those other opportunities if I knew it would make me too busy for the things I truly wanted to work on?I examine everything - and then I come up with a game plan for how I want to tackle the week to follow.If youre not constantly auditing yourself, your habits, your schedule, and the way you approach your own life, you will never be in contr ol of where youre headed.This is where so many people go wrong.They push, and push, and push, looking toward the future to give them something they want - instead of sitting down, reflecting, and addressing the bad habits or decisions that keep them stagnant.What ends up happening, then, is these people remain in a reactionary state toward life. They sit on the couch and wait for something to happen to them, instead of looking for all the little opportunities they could have made a different decision. And the reason why people struggle to do this is because its hard, its revealing, its vulnerable, and it means taking accountability for your own failures.People would rather blame luck, fate, and the rest of the world for their shortcomings.If you want to make your Sunday less stressful, and your Monday more productive, take fifteen minutes to reflect on the past week.Look at the 7 days prior.Ask yourself, Where did I fail myself? Where could I have made better decisions, that would have gotten me closer to where it is I say I want to be?Then, imagine yourself in a similar situation next week, and establish what different choice youre going to make, now.If you went to too many social events last week, decide right now that when someone invites you out this week - no matter what it is - youre going to say, No thanks. Im busy. And decide, right now, what youre going to spend your time doing instead.This simple reflection habit will fundamentally change the direction of your life.It will put you in a better mental state on Sunday.And it will set you up for success on Monday.Thisarticlefrom Medium originally appeared on Inc. Magazine.

Survey Many are doing side hustles during work hours

Survey Many are doing side hustles during work hoursSurvey Many are doing side hustles during work hoursThe days of working just one job are gone. Now, more than 7.6 million Americans are juggling multiple jobs, a number thats the highest it has been in 20 years.CreditLoan recently surveyed over 950 side hustlers to find out why. What they found welches that in our pursuit of money and happiness, we are blurring boundaries between when one job ends and another begins.Survey Renting out your home is the most lucrative side hustleThe primary motivator to working a side hustle when you are already working one full-time job is what you would expect - more money. Having more spending money, increasing savings and paying off debt were the top reasons for creating a side hustle. They show us that too many of us are not feeling financially supported by our primary jobs.If you are contemplating a side hustle solely to supplement your income, consider renting out your home. Selling or renting property was the most profitable side hustle in the survey, earning workers an average of $500 a month.Ride-sharing ($350), becoming a fitness instructor ($200), and consulting work ($200) were the other top lucrative side hustles. In fact, if you want the most money in the littlest time, brush up on your IT skills. Computer repair earned workers an average of $20 per hour.More than 1 in 5 do side hustles while atworkWhen you are working a side hustle, you are sacrificing the time you could be spent sleeping, hanging out with your family - or doing your actual job that pays your rent. While 18% of lucky participants said that their side hustle required no sacrifice on their part, more than one in five admitted that it required them to do work while they were on the clock at their main job.But when we are truly passionate about our side hustles, we will carve out the time for it, even at the expense of our mental health and social life.When you are constantly working, somethings go tta give, and its usually your relationship with your family and your mind. The top sacrifices side hustlers said they needed to make to maintain their gigs were recreation, family time, and sleep. These findings should give us pause. It may seem productive to work two jobs at once, but after a certain amount of logged hours, our visions swim and our productivity stalls.People who worked more than 11 hours a day increased their risk of experiencing a major depressive mode, the research found. And this hard work does not even pay off in our jobs. One five-year study found that if youwork more than 65 hours a week, your performance and productivity sharply falls.The gig economy can tempt you with its promises of flexibility and get-rich-quick schemes, but just make sure you know the time and energy sacrifice you are signing up for before you embark on one.

Shocking Details About Resume with Objective Uncovered

Shocking Details About Resume with Objective Uncovered The Dirty Facts on Resume with Objective An objective can be a really effective method to present yourselfyou just will need to make certain youre writing a very good one that deserves to take that space. Theres a long field of career objective examples that can be put in on entry level resumes. The point is extremely simple. In any case, you should speak to your references about a particular position before they are called in order that they will be better prepared to provide you a shining recommendation. Characteristics of Resume with Objective If you decide to go with a paragraph narrative, then your creative writing skills want to be strong. For a person who is just beginning in advanced academics or in the expert world, he must have a career objective which is normally employed for freshers. You might not know where to start in regards to writing a resume objective. An objective is a brief statement that clarifie s your goals concerning the sort of employment desired and the way in which your skills make you a nice fit. If you should have an objective, make certain its the perfect one. Dont forget, your objective ought to be work-centered, not self-centered. My aim is to find the job. The absolute most efficient objective is one which is tailored to the job youre applying for. A resume builder can be very valuable for anybody who is feeling confused by the continue process. A resume builder is comparable to toilet paper. The peak of your resume is prime real estate, and that means you dont squander it by utilizing vague filler material. Some jobs require a specific quantity of travel on a normal basis. The Most Popular Resume with Objective Its necessary to comprehend the form of resumes preferred by the establishment that you desire to work for. Resumes may be used for a number of reasons, but most often theyre utilized to secure new employment. Sample resume objectives should be utilized as references, dependent on which you can make your own resumes. Either one might be used to make date or practical resumes. Introducing Resume with Objective The info within the goal statement may want to get customized based on your industry too. You might even wish to consider eliminating any introductory statement. You must have five objective statements. Whether an objective statement is used, 1 thing to remember is to state it in regard to advantage to the employer. Whenever you wish to emphasize that youre ambitious, that you understand what you want in a career, or you have the skills for the particular job, you could benefit from a resume objective. When youre asking for work, your very first purpose is to let employers know your abilities and talents align with the demands of their open position. To begin with, consider the job description to see whether it indicates the kind of skills the dienst is seeking. Each and every applicant whos searching for a work wish to make an expert job application for their interview. Our resume builder is the quickest approach to create a resume that can help you get your fantasy job. A work description tells the particulars of the job and whats expected of the employee whos given the specific post. The previous thing you want to do is certainly receive a job which you arent do. When an employer is searching for someone with five decades of experience, be certain to mention you have five or more decades of experience. Let it be a reflection of the possible benefits you are able to bring to a specific job. Entry-level objectives can be particularly hard to write since you likely dont have loads of work experience, but you do want to solidify that you know the sort of career youre searching for. As stated previously have to pick skills that have some relevance to the job which youre applying for. Resume with Objective Help Focus on how youre an advantage to the companynot the way the firm c an help you. Simply comply with the directions and ideas, and youll learn precisely how to capture the attention of hiring managers. Be certain your resume is small but considering all the info provided. For some of them you will require help, while others youre able to write all on your own. As soon as its essential for your resume to incorporate a very clear career goal, you dont need to convey it through an Objective section. Make certain its tailored to not merely the position, but the business too. Sales position where my abilities and experience can effectively be utilized to raise sales revenue. 1 advantage for employers to internet resumes is the substantial cost saving in comparison to traditional hiring methods. If you have a specific language ability that might be relevant to an employer, you may include an abilities or languages section with that info. Writing an objective statement at the peak of your resume will remind your reader of your targets and abilities, even when you havent proven them on the work yet. If your Objective says youre searching for a full-time job and youre asking for a part-time internship, you will probably be disqualified immediately. That means you should define a new objective for each work application.

Healthy Workplace Eating Right - Spark Hire

Healthy Workplace Eating Right - Spark HireIn this second installment in the Healthy Workplace Seriesan initiative to promote healthy habits for employers and employeeswe are tackling healthy eating. Its estimated that a persons weight is determined 80% by diet (10% each by genetics and activity level). With this in mind, eating right is the best thing you can do for yourself to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle Plus, healthy employees help a companys bottom line. Here are a few tips for employers trying to promote employee wohlbefinden and healthy habits with nutritious food.Makeover your Vending MachinesYou knew this one was coming, right? Break room vending machines are notorious for their unhealthy choices. Dont force employees who are eating right to choose between the same two sad choices (baked chips and sunflower seeds) Try swapping out some of those candy bars and chips (do you really need both Nacho Cheese AND Cool Ranch Doritos?) for healthier alternatives like trail mix, cereal bars, dried fruit, nuts, and pretzels. If you really want to promote eating right and employee wellness, consider getting a healthy vending machine, or a refrigerated vending machine that could dispense fresh fruit, yogurt, and juice drinks. And dont forget to offer low-calorie drinks in the soda machineDesignate a Healthy Food DayMany workplaces have small food events or potlucks from time to time (if you dont, this is a great way to get started). Designate one of those food days to be a healthy food potluck. Have everyone bring in their favorite healthy dish to share, and remember to exchange recipes at the end of the day. Also consider the healthy habit of incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your regular food events. Instead of asking for a volunteer to bring cookies, encourage someone to bring a fresh fruit tray to promote eating right.Also be sure to offer healthy snacks during meetings and other food events at work. Everyone just crashes from the sugar h igh after that donut anyway. That doesnt help employee wellness or participation at your 10 am meeting.Spread the WordSet aside space on your break room bulletin board for sharing healthy recipes and posting ideas for developing healthy habits. If the idea has a little trouble getting off the ground, HR managers can take the initiative and post some good articles. Also consider setting aside space in your company newsletter for employee wellness information and healthy recipes. Ask different employees to contribute recipes and tips so that everyone has a greater stake in the conversation.How do you promote healthy habits and employee wellness in your workplace? Share your best tips below, or send me a tweet ithinkther4iamb healthyworkplaceIMAGE Courtesy of Flickr by jonlclark

Why even leaders get by with a little help from their friends

Why even leaders get by with a little help from their friendsWhy even leaders get by with a little help from their friendsI think of myself as strong.I see myself as someone who can manage a lot of stress. Who can get a tremendous amount accomplished in a day. Who can work long hours and pull through in clutch moments. Who doesnt give up in the face of problems, but works tirelessly until they are solved.I am a leader and most leaders I know feel the same way. We have to - our companies, our employees, our clients, our families - they all rely on us to pull through in the clutch. And we do. Sometimes, in our skillful mastery of pressure, complexity, and accomplishment, we can feel super-human.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraBut then, on my way to dinner in New York with old friends from high school, my bicycle hit a pothole and stopped abruptly while I flew over the handlebars and slammed head-first into a parked car.Dazed, bloody, lying on the street, I couldnt think. Some people nearby came to ask if I was OK, but I didnt know. They asked if I needed water, but I didnt know. When I eventually staggered to me feet, they asked if I needed to sit, but I didnt know.Looking back on that moment, heres what I did know with absolute certainty I am very, very human.As a leader who advocates vulnerability as a strength, I am surprised to realize that I have, somehow, bought into the notion that I need to be super-human and that any weakness diminishes my leadership.In fact, I see clearly now that it is precisely the opposite. Not acknowledging our weaknesses is counter-productive for two simple reasonsOne, its unsustainable. Life inevitably catches up to us and then, eventually, we must face the inescapable reality that we are human, with weaknesses, flaws, and faults.Two, its poor leadership. Leadership is about connection. People will only follow you, work har d for you, create and risk and sacrifice for you, if they feel connected to you. So heres my question Will anyone ever be able to truly connect with you, really trust you, honestly give you their all, if you only reveal to them the parts of you that you think will impress them? How long do you think you can keep that up? How long before they become disillusioned?In other words, hiding our weaknesses in an attempt to be strong leaders makes us weak leaders. Our vulnerabilities make us most vulnerable when we pretend they dont exist.Heres whats important to remember our struggles do not define us any more than our successes do. You are not weak you have weaknesses. There is a difference.And from this distributionspolitik of humanness, that can hold both strengths and weaknesses, we can do the most leaderly thing there is Ask for help.When I eventually got up and stumbled to dinner, I was greeted by concern and support. My friend Toby got her car, threw my bike in the back and drove me to the emergency room. Pam, Susie, Nicky, and Vicky all came to sit with me at the hospital late into the night.I was lucky not to be alone that night, and that was thanks to my humanness, not despite it.And needing help - asking for help - is an essential part of being a leader. While Ive always known this, Ive also always secretly felt that its a leaders job to help others, not to need help.But thats a myth. The reality is that leaders who dont need help have no one to lead. People feel good when they help. They are inspired when they are needed. They dont think less of the people they help, they feel more connected.I am not superhuman. Nor are you. And thats not only OK- its better.This article originally appeared on Heleo.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 mistake s you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

5 Ways to Ruin Your Job Search before 9 a.m.

5 Ways to Ruin Your Job Search before 9 a.m.5 Ways to Ruin Your Job Search before 9 a.m.6Ever wake up in the morning only to feel like you want to roll right over and go back to sleep until tomorrow? Everyone has days when they feel like they want a do-over- even when its only 600 a.m. But there might be negative ways in which youre contributing to these feelings that youre completely unaware of- and it might be sabotaging your job efforts as well. Here are five ways you could be ruining your job search before 9 a.m.Over-scheduling yourself.In todays world, everyone is super busy. Youre trying to get kids out the door and onto the school bus before applying for 25 jobs- all before 900 a.m. The problem is that your to-do list could actually be hindering you, not helping you. If you spend your morning thinking of everything that you have to do, chances are youll do nothing. Instead, spend time in the morning getting emotionally (and physically) ready for the day by relaxing your mind a nd clearing it of any unnecessary thoughts. If you can get in a workout, your body will be at peace, too, and youll be ready for whatever the day may bring.Not getting dressed.Sure, your flannel PJs and fluffy slippers are your clothes du jour when youre job hunting. But by not changing your clothes, you run the risk of becoming even mora unproductive- and sloppy. Its a better idea to change into comfortable- and more professional- clothes before you start the day. Even yoga pants are fine when paired with a proper shirt. Changing your clothes will help you change your mindset and make your job search that much more streamlined- and successful.Refusing to get out of bed.Youre supposed to be up and out of bed by 630. But you keep hitting your snooze button for five extra minutes- six more times. When you purposely delay your day, you can create extra stress having to rush around getting things done. That stress can continue for the rest of your day, causing you to feel extra (and unn ecessary) pressure that can ruin the rest of your day. So the next time your alarm clock rings, do what it wants you to do and get out of bed.Adopting an all-or-nothing attitude.There are some mornings when everything goes wrong. Your kid didnt do his homework, the dog threw up in the kitchen, and your spouse misplaced the car keys. Its tempting to think that the rest of your day is going to be as miserable as your morning. Turn the tables (on yourself) and find the positives in the middle of the messes. By learning to change your mindset when things go wrong, youll be able to survive them better and have a great workday in spite of a bumpy start to the day. This learned skill will also help you when you are in the middle of a tough job interview.Not taking care of yourself.Youre running late, so you plan to hit the drive-thru for your breakfast. Or maybe you didnt have time to iron your power pants before your final job interview with a prospective boss, so you wind up throwing a p air of wrinkled jeans on instead. When you dont take time to take care of yourself, you are sending a bad homilie to both a vermgen boss and yourself. Essentially youre saying that youre not valuing yourself- and no one else should, either. By treating yourself with love and respect (by eating a proper breakfast, taking the time you need to get ready in the morning, scoring a quick run before you go to the office), youre making an investment not only in yourself and your family, but in your career as well.There are so many ways in which people can self-sabotage their days, and in turn, their careers as well. By being aware of some of the pitfalls, you can steer clear and be successful in your job search- and your life.Readers, whats your morning routine like? Do you think it has the potential to ruin your job search? Sound off in the comments below

View the ASME Energy Forum on Hydrokinetics Now

View the ASME Energy Forum on Hydrokinetics Now View the ASME Energy Forum on Hydrokinetics Now If you missed the first ASME Energy Forum webinar, Tapping the Power of Flowing Water, when it took place earlier this month, no need to worry. A recording of that webinar on the topic of hydrokinetics is now available online, free of charge. To take a deep dive into demo projects underway in New York Harbor and the Gulf Stream, register today to access the webinar and presentations, at the forum website.The ASME Energy Forum, is a new yearlong multi-media series that explores the technical aspects and workings of a broad range of emerging energy sources and related technologies. The series which will encompass feature articles, webinars, on-demand webcasts, podcasts, surveys, congressional briefings, and online discussion groups and communities will provide you with expert perspectives on how these energy sources and technologies work, the technical issues and challenges, and the econom ic implications for businesses.The March installment of the ASME Energy Forum will focus on the subject of concentrated solar power, and feature two articles by Mark Crawford Greater Efficiencies Bring Solar to Prominence on ASME.org and Catching the Sun in Mechanical Engineering magazine. In his ASME.org article, Crawford takes a look at todays CSP systems that use mirrors and sophisticated tracking systems to reflect and concentrate sunlight, which is converted to heat to generate electricity. The article also reviews the four primary technologies in this field. In Catching the Sun, Crawford surveys the field to explain where the breakthroughs are coming from and where more work needs to be done. The ASME Energy Forum will also include a webinar on the topic of CSP, to take place on March 28.For more information on the ASME Energy Forum, visit the forum website.