Why you should vary your motivation tactics with time to get stuff done

Why you should vary your motivation tactics with time to get stuff done Productivity is a good thing. I think we can all agree on that. Achieving productivity is a whole other devil though. Without the right motivation tactics, even people with the best intentions can fall off the wagon. No matter how far you go with getting fitter, working on an essay or doing revision, it always feels like youre miles out from where you want to be, even if youre really inches away.  Youll never get to where you need to go like that. Its lucky then that a new paper in the Journal of Consumer Psychology has shed some light on how you can summon the will to keep up the momentum of a complex project from day-to-day. When and how to change the focus of your motivation tactics Professors Olya Bullard and Rajesh V. Manchanda of the University of Winnipeg experimented with different ways of framing goals for their undergrads. What they found was that when it came to motivation tactics, timing was everything. Promotion-focused goals In their report, they write that early on in their projects, “individuals represent goals as promotion-focused. In other words, you focus on what youre going to achieve or gain. This works because you have nothing of your own work to compare your progress to. So, every time you move towards your goal, you feel good about yourself because its further from where you started. Prevention-focused goals As you start to wear into the task, however, the little novelty starts to wear off. And thats when you need to switch it up. Bullard and Manchandas study says individuals represent goals as prevention-focused”. Basically, when you get to a certain point close to the end, lets say where you can visualise the end of the task. At that time, you respond better to the threat of losing your current progress than you do to being inches away from your goal. Imagine climbing a mountain reaching the top would be cool, but it would be way worse to plummet to a rocky oblivion before you do. A essay deadline works in pretty much the same fashion. TL;DR Theres a tipping point in all your work where what you stand to lose is more of motivator than what you can gain. Remember this when youre trying to motivate yourself over the long term. Once youve grasped that, you can apply it to your usual motivation tactics. Carry on with your biscuit for every 200 words written regime, but dont forget to sanction yourself with an extra hour of reading for every illicitly-watched YouTube video. Sounds weird, but trust us, theres science to back it up. Connect with Debut on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for more careers insights.

Why You Need Your Opposites To Help You Succeed

Why You Need Your Opposites To Help You Succeed When you first start out in business, you’ll often do so alone. And that’s often the best way to get started. It’s just you and your ideas and you’re excited to make waves with what you’re doing. However, before long, you’re going to realize that you can’t do everything alone. As you start to grow, you will find that you need to bring in some support. But as you do this, if you’re new to hiring, you may find that you start to look for people that you either like, or that you’re similar too. Because that’s the thing with looking for staff, you’ll often have a personal interest in the process. But what you need to do is the complete opposite of what you think you should. If you’re creative, you won’t always need more creatives around you. Instead you’ll want to find people that are strategic, and vice versa. And here’s why… You Can’t Do It All First of all, you have to realize that you just can’t do it all. You’ll think that you can, or you’ll want to (particularly if you’re a type A), but you just can’t. Not if you want to grow. You need to make sure that you’re focusing on the things that you can do, and then bring in others to take on other areas. You Need To Play To Your Strengths As you start to realize that you just can’t do it all, then you need to focus on the things that you can do. If you’re great with marketing or sales or networking, then do that. If you love strategy and finance, do that. You need to focus on your own strengths, and this has to be something quite narrow, because at the same time, you need to push the business forward. It’s Better To Let The Experts Lead The Way So, when you’re focusing on your own stuff, you then need to bring in experts to take on the stuff that you’re not so great at. And these are your opposites. Whether that’s strategic technology consulting or financial experts, you bring them in and let them influence what you’re doing with their skills and experience. On the flip side, if you’re strategic, then you can hire in the creatives to do their thing. You Need To Absorb Fresh Ideas One thing to really note is that if you’re working on everything yourself or with like-minded people, you’re really limited. So, by working with your opposites, you get to bring in some really different and exciting ideas. And yes, they’re going to be fresh. It Pays To Surround Yourself With Smarter People And finally, you need to make sure that you’re always working with people that are smarter than you are. Don’t just hire interns or people that you can educate, because they’re not always going to bring anything to the table. Instead, when you hire people smarter than you, they are going to really add value. And this is how you’re going to really push things forward.

How to Keep the Drive Alive in an Executive Job Search

How to Keep the Drive Alive in an Executive Job Search Executive job searches are much different today than they were several years ago. You have so many different aspects to think about and it can be difficult to keep them all straight. Of course, starting by working with the top resume writing services can help set your foundation, but you also have to think about your LinkedIn profile, other social networking profiles and even attending networking events. It’s not uncommon for people to get burned out on the job search process after a few weeks and lose motivation as a result. Here are some effective ways to keep your spirits high and your drive alive when your job search isn’t going exactly how you had hoped. Interact With Support Groups You likely won’t have to look very long or hard to find job search support groups. The people who comprise these groups are in similar situations as you, so you won’t have to feel awkward talking about strategies or feelings. You may get valuable tips from people on how to write resumes that get you hired and you can also share some techniques that have worked for you in the past. The idea behind participating in these groups is to help you understand you’re not alone in your job searching efforts and to remain persistent. Try Different Job Searching Strategies If you’ve been using the same job searching strategy for a few weeks, consider changing it up. Your executive resume writer may suggest attending networking events if you haven’t yet, or maybe even visiting potential employers in person to drop off your resume rather than mailing or emailing it. Getting out of a routine that’s not creating positive results can revive some of the energy you may have lost throughout the process. Volunteer For More Experience Volunteering while you’re unemployed has several benefits. For one, it gets your mind off of your job search for a while. You also have opportunities to network with other volunteers, even though you may not volunteer specifically for that reason. Volunteering also gives you an opportunity to add to your resume. Your executive resume writer will always suggest including volunteer experience on your resume, especially when it’s during a time you’re unemployed, since it shows potential employers you are always active. Take Breaks And Keep Your Goals In Front of You Sometimes it can get to the point where you need to forget about your job search for a day or two and refocus on your goals. You can only try to write resumes that get you hired so much before eventually burning out. Clearing your mind occasionally is essential when you’ve lost some motivation. Starting fresh the next day can work wonders for your mentality and attitude toward your job search. Professional Resume Services is one of the top resume writing services because we stick with our clients throughout their job search. We understand there are many different aspects of a job search and they are all equally important. If you’re at a point where you’re stuck in your job searching efforts and need some advice, feel free to give us a call at any time.

Everything You Need to Know About Writing a Resume

Everything You Need to Know About Writing a ResumeIf you are just starting your career, you may be wondering about all of the things you need to know about writing a resume. It can seem to be an overwhelming task, but if you have any idea about how resumes work and how they should be presented, it will be easy for you to get started. With a little practice, you should be able to find your dream job within a few days.The first thing you need to do is create a basic outline for the resume that includes everything you want to include. Make sure that the information you include is clear and concise. The resume can be written in different styles, but you want to make sure that each section of the resume fits neatly within the rest of the document. A well-written resume will help your chances of being selected for an interview.Once you have this basic format in mind, take some time to think about the information you want to include. Think about how your skills could help your potential emp loyer. If you are a great writer, there is no reason that you shouldn't have one in mind as you write your resume.Do not forget to include these important parts of your resume: education, work experience, and education level. These parts can help a recruiter or hiring manager to know what they are looking for in the position you are applying for. You will also want to include contact information such as your e-mail address and telephone number. If you have any special skills, you should also list them here as well.Before you start writing your resume, review your sample resume to see if it includes all of the information you need. That way, you will know exactly what to write. When you are done with your sample resume, reread it. You might want to make a few changes if needed. For example, if you are not sure about the part that lists your educational information, rewrite the resume to include it.Once you have a sample resume, copy and paste it onto a word processor. Review it sever al times. Then, take a few minutes to proofread it.Having these things in mind will help you achieve your dream job faster and easier. And having a resume that is very professional and professionally done will help you in getting the interview that you deserve. Keep these things in mind and you should be well on your way to success.

How Fast Can I Get a Small Business Credit Card

How Fast Can I Get a Small Business Credit Card Q: I just started a new business. How long do I have to wait before I can get a small business credit card? A: You don’t have to wait until your business has been established for a specific period of time before you apply for a small business credit card. Most card issuers will base their decision on your personal credit scores, along with financial information you provide on your application, so as long as you have good personal credit scores and meet other requirements (such as income) you should qualify. In fact, now may be the perfect time to get a small business credit card. Separating your business and personal finances from the outset offers a number of advantages. For one thing, you’ll find bookkeeping easier, helping you avoid tax-time headaches that can arise when you mingle accounts. Plus, if you have incorporated your business, keeping accounts separate will help protect the integrity of the corporate structure. And credit cards offered to small business owners often come with rich rewards and generous sign up bonuses. Using a business credit card provides another valuable benefit. It can help you weather bumps in cash flow while protecting your credit. Most business credit cards don’t report activity to owners’ personal credit reports unless they default. (This chart explains how the major issuers report business cards to personal credit.) That means if one month you need to charge a large amount to stock up on inventory, for example, your personal credit scores are immune from a high balance that can hurt your scores. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t carefully watch what you spend on one of these cards, though. You’ll no doubt sign a personal guarantee when you apply, so if your business folds before you pay off the balance, you can’t just walk away from the debt. In addition, most issuers share account data with business credit reporting agencies, which means large balances or late payments can hurt your business credit scores. On the other hand, using one of these cards responsibly will help build strong business credit scores, which will serve you well down the road should you seek additional financing. If you recently left your job and you have no income to speak of, however, you may have a hard time qualifying. (Keep in mind, though, that issuers may allow you to include other income available to you, such as your spouse’s income.) Applying before you quit your day job often makes sense. Also, business credit cards are not covered by the CARD Act, the federal law that protects consumers from costly gotchas like interest rate hikes at any time and for any reason, or shifting due dates. But many card issuers have extended some or most of these protections to their small business cardholders as well. (You might want to read that cardholder agreement and save a copy to make sure you understand the terms. It is your loan contract, after all.) Overall, though, the pros of getting a small business card when you start your business will usually outweigh the cons. There’s no need to wait. Gerri Detweiler is Head of Market Education for Nav, which helps small business owners monitor and build strong personal and business credit, and create financially healthy companies. She is the coauthor of Finance Your Own Business with attorney Garrett Sutton. She’s been answering credit questions for more than twenty years. Email yours to her at creditquestions@Nav.com. Read next: MONEY’s Picks for the Best Credit Cards 2015-2016

How To Deal With Multiple Jobs At The Same Employer On Your Resume - Work It Daily

How To Deal With Multiple Jobs At The Same Employer On Your Resume - Work It Daily Resume writing comes with many questions like what to include, how much to include, and how far back to go when it comes to detailing work experience. It can get particularly complicated when you’ve worked with the same employer and held several positions with them. Related: How To Quantify Your Accomplishments On A Resume How do you layout all the information on the resume so that it’s succinct, yet tells a story that will impress the potential employer? Some employers may see your long-term employment as dedication, but to other employers, it may raise red flags on whether you can adjust to a new job and if you’ve made progress in your career by staying with one employer. To add to the complication, you also have to think about how to format the content on your resume so that it’s Applicant Tracking System (ATS)-friendly. Poor formatting means the ATS may skip over an entire section of information on your resume. For more on the ATS, read: “5 Tips To Improving Your Applicant Tracking System Ranking.” To help ease the resume writing process in situations where you have held several jobs with one employer, follow these tips: 1. Only list one period of employment with each employer. The ATS looks for a certain pattern of information to tell it where one section of your work experience begins and where it ends. It usually looks for dates on the resume to locate job titles and employers, so you should avoid listing more than one period of employment with each employer if you don’t want to confuse the ATS. There are several ways in which you can format your information: Company Name, List Your Job Titles (start with the most recent first) (Date of Employment) â€" It’ll read like XYZ Company, Office Manager / Executive Assistant / Administrative Assistant (2012 â€" Present). Make note to also put a space before and after each “/.” The ATS may not know to search for keywords in combination of a “/.” Company name, Present Job Title (Date of Employment) â€" It’ll read like XYZ Company, Office Manager (2012 â€" Present). Include information on other positions held under the heading along with the rest of the content you highlight for the work period. For example, Earlier positions include….then include highlights from the positions. There’s no need to break down the period of employment for each of the prior positions. 2. Highlight your promotions. When you’ve been with an employer long, potential employers fear you may have fallen too comfortable with them and your skills and progression for advancement has remained stagnant. To alleviate these negative perceptions, draw attention to any changes you’ve made in positions held. It can be a move you made to work in a different department or highlighting your successes and promotions on the job. For example, using a bullet point, indicate: Promoted within 9 months for exceptional client relations skills that resulted in the win of pharma client’s global marketing business. 3. Prioritize your information. When you have several jobs under one employer grouped together on the resume, it’s important to prioritize the information you have under it. While describing your roles and responsibilities and highlighting achievements and success, think about the order of importance and relevance. You want to lead with what’s most impressive to the potential employer first. Utilizing these tips, you’ll have a resume that demonstrates to potential employers that you’re a candidate with great potential â€" you’re not only dedicated, but you can also perform and achieve outstanding results. This post was originally published at an earlier date. Related Posts How To Customize Your Resume 3 Tips For Flaunting Your Value On Your Resume How To Make Dates On A Resume Work For You About the author Don Goodman’s firm was rated as the #1 Resume Writing Service in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Don is a triple-certified, nationally recognized Expert Resume Writer, Career Management Coach and Job Search Strategist who has helped thousands of people secure their next job. Check out his Resume Writing Service. Get a Free Resume Evaluation or call him at 800.909.0109 for more information. Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert. You can learn more about expert posts here. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!

How The Gender Wage Gap May Improve If Employers Arent Allowed To Ask

How The Gender Wage Gap May Improve If Employers Arent Allowed To Ask How much of the gender wage gap is caused by differences between the way that men and women negotiate their salaries? If its a big factor in unequal pay, is there anything that can be done? Tackling the gender pay gap isNew York City public advocate Letitia James goal when when she proposed a bill belastung week that would bar employers from asking job applicants about their salary histories.James stated goal is to reduce the gender pay gap.She introduced the measure on Wednesday by saying, Requesting a prospective employees salary history perpetuates inequitable wages for women and prolongs the cycle of wage discrimination.This follows a successful effort earlier this monthby the state legislature in Massachusetts, which adopted a similar equal pay law. These political and policy battles are being waged at a time when many people are starting to talk about the gender pay gap. In the past year, we have binnenseen t he U.S. soccer teams high-profile legal battle for equal pay, Hollywood celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence and Patricia Arquette taking up the issue and the White House creatingthe Equal Pay Pledge signed by the likes of Accenture, Airbnb, Amazon, American Airlines, Cisco, GapInc., Jet.com, LOreal USA, PepsiCo, Pinterest, Rebecca Minkoff, Salesforce, Slack, Spotify, and more.Equal pay and the gender wage gapare not just issues that appeal to our basic sense of fairness, but in a country where over 40% of American households with children have a female breadwinner, what women earn is also of great practical, day-to-day economic importance to families and the broader society.Moreover, women are paying close attention to the issue in their own workplaces 62% of over 1,600 women who said they experience gender inequality work when surveyed by Fairygodbossalso said that unequal pay is an issue for them. This inequality impacts womens job satisfaction and reduces the likelihood they will stay at their current employers, making equal pay a business and talent-retention issue.But will barring salary histories really reduce the gender pay gap? Those who worry about their incomebecause they have the disadvantage of a lower-than-fair salary history, should see some relief.Beyond that, its hard to knowmany factors create the gender pay gapin the first place.For instance, evenif employers in New York City are no longer allowed to ask prospective job applicants about their salary history, negotiation and negotiation skills will still be something women have to face and conquer.Thereis some evidence that women negotiate differently than men and that women tend to negotiate less often for their own salaries when compared to men. While many chalk this up to a lack of confidence, other academic research suggests that this may be rational behavior because women may actually be penalized for being perceived as aggressive.However,context and individual nuances matter quite a lot, as some women have demonstrated superior negotiating results when it comes to advocating for others (as opposed to themselves) andsome have a particular professional style or mind-set that makes them more successful at negotiation.In the end, it seems there is little conclusive evidence that gender is a dispositive factor in how successfully one negotiates.Though barring salary history questions is a good step in the right direction, theres still work to be done by companies, advocates and women in the workforce to eliminatethe gender pay gap.Fairygodboss is committed to improving the workplace and lives of women.Join us by reviewing your employer