5 Ways to Learn Stuff That Actually Matters in the Real World

5 Ways to Learn Stuff That Actually Matters in the Real World5 Ways to Learn Stuff That Actually Matters in the Real WorldSome people dont read a single book after they complete their formal education. In his wealth attraction seminar, Dan Kennedy said that 80% of the books purchased on Amazon are not for personal consumption, but as gifts.But when we stop learning, we stop growing.Ive said before, I dont think that business school teaches you everything you need to know about running a business. And a formal education doesnt necessarily teach you much about how to navigate the real world. I was looking at my bookshelf this morning and realized that in the belastung few years, Ive read mora books than I did in the entirety of school.With constant information, resources, and knowledge at our fingertips, we have the ability to give ourselves our own version of an education. As Seth Godin has said in several podcast interviews, Anyone listening to this has more resources than the King o f France did 200 years ago.So where do we begin?1. ReadOf all the expenditures Ive made in my life, books have had by far the most tangible return on investment.Theyve played a pivotal role in my seven-year journey from blog to book deal.I can trace back how I developed my habit of writing 1,000 words a day to a specific text The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor. This is just one of the many benefits Ive derived from my books.Theyve served as an ongoing source of inspiration for my own work. If you want to be a prolific writer, become a voracious reader.Every book you read adds to the foundation of your informal education. And if you dont have time for a whole book, try reading news or industry articles online- it works just as well.2. Take an Online CourseOne of my friends didnt know a thing about writing code. He had an app that he wanted to build, but couldnt afford to hire anyone. So, he took a course on OneMonth, and by the end of the month, he had taught himself Python.As so mebody who actually got an MBA, when Im asked about whether people should consider one, I always tell them to check out Seth Godins AltMBA first. Its expensive for an online course, but less expensive than business school and probably has a more significant ROI. Heres what else you can doVisit one of these 62 web sites that will make you smarter.Find the best online courses for what you want to learn, or check out these options hand-picked by career experts.Theres no shortage of worthwhile opportunities to learn from the internet. 3. Build or Make SomethingWhile consumption causes us to learn, creation gives us the opportunity for a practical application of whatever weve learned. The internet rewards creators far more than it rewards consumers. I will probably gain more out of writing this than you will from reading it. Build something, make something, and give people a reason to find you interesting- it doesnt even matter what you create.4. ConnectThe internet has given us access t o the thoughts and ideas of some of societys greatest minds- use itSubscribe to newsletters like Peter Diamandis Abundance insider, Kevin Roses journal, and many others.Follow your heroes and role models on social media. Youll learn what books they read, what news they think is important, and much more.As Benjamin P. Hardy said, surround yourself with people who hold you to a higher standard- even if you dont know them personally.5. Listen and WatchListen to podcasts. Watch TED talks. Between iTunes and YouTube, you have a fountain of knowledge that could last you a lifetime. Theres probably a podcast, video, lecture, or channel for virtually any subject you might be interested in, so go out and find it.School might be where your formal education ends, but it shouldnt be the place where learning does. Make a commitment to lifelong learning, and youll give yourself an informal education that kicks the crap out of your formal one.This article was originally published on Medium. It has been republished here with permission.

Resigning From a Job for Personal Reasons

Resigning From a Job for Personal ReasonsResigning From a Job for Personal ReasonsWhen you need to resign from a job for personal reasons, it can be difficult to know how to tell your employer, and how much information to share. Surprisingly, you dont necessarily need to provide details to your employer. For example, you can simply state that you are leaving for personal reasons or family reasons. In other cases, you may want to give a reason. For example, if you are leaving because of a family illness or you aregoing to be a stay-at-home parent, you might share this. To help you navigate the process, heres some advice on how to resign, how to tell your anfhrer, and how to stay on good terms with the company after you leave. How Much to Share It can be hard to know how much to share with your employer about why you are leaving. If you are at all uneasy about sharing your reasons, simply say that you are leaving for personal reasons. This will demonstrate to your boss that you are not leaving because you are unhappy with the company. If you think you might reapply for a job at the company once your personal issues are resolved, you might provide a bit more detail. For example, if you are resigning because you are going to be a stay-at-home parent for a couple of years, you might explain this to your boss. If you are actually resigning because you are unhappy with your job, do not go into detail about this. You want to maintain a good relationship with the company (and your supervisor) so you can use them as a reference. In this case, you can use the vague language that you are leaving for personal reasons. The Resignation Process When resigning for personal reasons, you always want to talk to your boss first, in person. You can decide whether or not you want to provide him or her with personal details as to why you are leaving. After speaking to your boss, follow up with a resignation letter to your boss as well as a human resources representative. You c an choose how much to share with human resources about why you are leaving but explain that you are leaving for personal reasons, and include details on when you will be leaving. If feasible, offer to help during the transition. Just remember in both letters not to get overly-wordy, you want tokeep the letter brief. If youre unsure how to write your letter, its okay to use a sample resignation letter. Be Positive Its key that you be positive when discussing the company, and your job. Theres nothing to gain by being negative, and everything to lose. Down the road, your employer might have to serve as a reference for you or you may want a letter of recommendation from him or her. Also, you dont want what you say about your employer to jeopardize future job opportunities if word gets out that youre negative. Even if you hate your job, hate the company, or the pay is terrible, you shouldnt mention any of that in your letter or your conversation with your boss. Other Ways to Resig n from aJob While the best way to resign is to tell your employer in person and then follow up with an official resignation letter, sometimes personal issues come up quickly and youre forced to resign in haste. When there are extenuating circumstances, you might need to resign on the phone or send an email message. However, these are not professional ways to handle a resignation. Only use these methods in emergency situations. Ideally, you should give your employer at least two weeks notice when you resign. This is the accepted professional and courteous behavior in the workplace. However, in some circumstances, youll have to give less notice but only do so if its an emergency. You always want to give people as much time as possible to adjust to you leaving.

Seven things all fabulous listeners do differently

Seven things all fabulous listeners do differentlySeven things all fabulous listeners do differentlyListening is a bit like intelligence s of probing questions are What happened next? and Why did he say that? The key is to make certain that your questions really do add to your understanding of the speakers words, rather than deflecting the conversation to a different topic.4. Practice reflective listeningPsychologist Carl Rogers used the term reflective listening to describe the listening strategy of paraphrasing the meaning of whats being said in order to make certain youve interpreted the speakers words correctly.By doing this, you give the speaker the opportunity to clarify what she meant to say. When you practice reflective listening, dont simply repeat the speakers words to her. Use your own words to show that youve absorbed the information.5. Use positive body languageBecoming cognizant of your gestures, expressions, and tone of voice (and making certain theyre positive) will d raw people to you like ants to a picnic.Using an enthusiastic tone, uncrossing your arms, maintaining eye contact, and leaning towards the speaker are all forms of positive body language employed by great listeners. Positive body language can make all the difference in a conversation.6. Dont pass judgmentIf you want to be a good listener, you must be open-minded. Being open-minded makes you approachable and interesting to others. No one wants to have a conversation with someone who has already formed an opinion and is not willing to listen. Having an open mind is crucial in the workplace, where approachability means access to new ideas and help.To eliminate preconceived notions and judgment, you need to see the world through other peoples eyes. This doesnt require that you believe what they believe or condone their behavior it simply means that you quit passing judgment long enough to truly understand what they are saying.7. Keep your mouth shutIf youre not checking for understandin g or asking a probing question, you shouldnt be talking. Not only does thinking about what youre going to say next take your attention away from the speaker, hijacking the conversation shows that you think you have something more important to say.This means that you shouldnt jump in with solutions to the speakers problems. Its human nature to want to help people, especially when its someone you care about, but what a lot of us dont realize is that when we jump in with advice or a solution, were shutting the other part down.Its essentially a more socially acceptable way of saying, Okay, Ive got it. You can stop now The effect is the same.Bringing it all togetherLife is busy, and it seems to whirl by faster every day. We all try to do a million things at once, and sometimes it works out. But active, effective listening isnt something you can do on the fly. It requires a conscious effort.Travis Bradberry is the coauthor of Emotional Intelligence 2.0 and the cofounder of TalentSmart.Thi s article originally appeared onLinkedIn.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

Scottish company BrewDog begins offering pawternity leave to U.S. employees who adopt a pet

Scottish company BrewDog begins offering pawternity leave to U.S. employees who adopt a petScottish company BrewDog begins offering pawternity leave to U.S. employees who adopt a petLooks like having a furry friend around is not just fun - its good for you, it might be a plus at work, and you could even get paid for it. A Scottish brewery, opening its first US office, is trying to bring puppy leave - playfully nicknamed paw-ternity leave - to the States.Employees over at Scottish craft beer brewer BrewDog, which is opening its first US location, now have the option to take a week off to play with and train a new dog in the comfort of their own homes, while still collecting their paychecks, the company said in a bewertung and video touting its pro-puppy agenda.The company is bringing Puppy Parental Leave - an idea from the UK - to all of its international locations, including the US headquarters opening on 42 acres of land just outside of Columbus, Ohio. The new brewery will boast a new, 100-barrel brewery, office spaces, a restaurant and taproom - and will welcome dogs to its bar.BrewDog, a Scottish company known for its marketing stunts and high growth, has been a champion of mans best friend in the workplace for a while. The founders late dog, Bracken, was called commander in chief and when he wasnt stealing the brewers lunches, chewing CAMRAs sandals or snoozing on malt sacks, Bracken liked nothing better than to pop into one of the BrewDog bars to give the staff a high five, meet some of his fans and do a spot of bar snack quality control.The BrewDog founders gave Bracken something of a corporate mythology, tracing his high productivity and influence at work. Our secret weapon in tough business deals, Bracken could turn on the puppy dog eyes and win any negotiation. Below that lovable chocolate coat was a lean, mean analytical business machine. Warren Buffet often consulted him for advice.BrewdogThe BrewDog founders paid tribute to Bracken when they an nounced their new policy. Ever since Bracken, the original Brew Dog, first watched James and Martin mash in batch number one of Punk IPA back in 2007 dogs have been central to our way of life. Puppy Parental Leave will support nervy canines and their owners alike in those all-important first few days of the greatest relationship a person can have (except children), the company said.So it makes sense that along with beer production, the critters remain at the heart of its company culture. After Bracken passed, the company adopted Simcoe, a hop pup. Employees are already allowed to bring their dogs to the office, and the companys bars are open to the furry creatures.Outside of BrewDog, however, pet leave is rare.BrewdogPets improve the physical and mental health of workersIt is undeniable that American workers work long hours and arealways looking for emotional support, including from work spouses.Naturally, we rely on pets for additional companionship.As of 2015-2016, some 79.7 milli on American homes had pets, with the majority of 54% owning dogs and 43% with cats. Once you include other animals, from horses to freshwater fish and reptiles, roughly 65% of American homes own pets, according to the American Pet Products Association.Not surprisingly, studies have shown that pets have a positive impact on mental health.Its common for pet owners to think of their animals as members of their family, and pets may even benefit the heart, according to a study by Karen Allen of the State University of New York at Buffalo. Allen found that there is evidence for the pet effect that leads to lower blood pressure and higher resilience to heart attacks among pet owners. Pets can also help children with autism and benefit the mental states of people struggling with chemical brain imbalances, studies have shown.Pets are also a positive influence on productivity at work, as many dog-friendly employers have found out. (There are fewer cat-friendly employers, perhaps because cats tend to sit on keyboards, which prevents humans from being as productive.) People reported being less stressed at work when their dogs were present, as opposed to non-pet owners who said their stress levels rose at work without an animal nearby, said a study by Virginia Commonwealth University.Pet accommodations are still rareEven with all the benefits of pet ownership, however, not many US workplaces make accommodations for people to incorporate pets into their lives.While the death of a pet can be as devastating as losing a human friend, for instance, few employers offer bereavement leave for a dog or cats death. One of the few that does is Mars Inc., which does offer one day or mora off, flexible hours or freedom to work from home after a pets death, the company told The Wall Street Journal.Will BrewDogs policy start a US trend of pet-friendly policies in the workplace? It may be an uphill climb, but given how much pet ownership contributes to the physical and mental health of em ployees, it couldnt hurt.

Acknowledge Your Accounting and Finance Staff

Acknowledge Your Accounting and Finance StaffAcknowledge Your Accounting and Finance StaffManagers know the importance of employee recognition in maintaining the morale, productivity and continuity of staff. It is a critical component of staff management. When your gruppe understands that their work is valued and appreciated, they are motivated to perform at higher levels.What are some of the best ways to acknowledge your team members? The People Puzzle Building and Retaining a Talented Accounting and Finance Team from Robert Half and the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) offers five strategies - both common sense and creative.1. Increase compensationResearch for The People Puzzle shows most accounting professionals prefer to be recognized for stellar performance with a salary increase. Higher compensation is a clear statement of value from the company. It also is the primary factor in employee retention.Monitor salary levels using industry resources such as the 2018 Robert Half Sa lary Guide to help plan for these increases. If offering a raise isnt possible for your firm right now, consider a onetime naturalrabatt to recognize exemplary work on a particular project. 2. Help them ascend the ladderPromotion to a more senior position can be an exciting reward, if the option is there and the employee is ready for their next career challenge. If not, single out the employee to be groomed for a leadership role, or connect them with other valuable professional development opportunities.3. Tell everyoneDont underestimate the positive impact of well-placed public kudos. Recognizing your highest-performing accounting and finance professionals - at a corporate event, department meeting or in an all-company email, for example - will make them feel highly valued.4. Offer them timeSometimes the best reward is the gift of time. In The People Puzzle, the ability to work flexible hours was cited as one of the top three nonmonetary contributors to job satisfaction. For CPAs at small companies, it was the No. 1 factor.Consider giving staff a few extra vacation days or allow them to telecommute a day or two each week. You also can let team members off of work early on occasion, particularly following busy periods and major projects. All of the above can help your team achieve better work-life balance.5. Get creativeBesides money and time, there are many ways to let your employees know how much you appreciate their work. Many are easy to do and wont break the bank, but are still meaningful.For instance, you might send a top-performing employee a handwritten letter of appreciation, send a car to drive them to work for a day, or give them a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant. There are endless possibilities, big and small, for showing your most valued team members the business would not be the same without them.Looking for additional insights on employee recognition a nd staff management?DOWNLOAD THE PEOPLE PUZZLE

How to Choose Resume Cover Letter

How to Choose Resume Cover Letter To accomplish the wanted job is definitely not an easy activity. Also, write down the work fleck youre aiming for. For this reason, you can dress for success and place your very best foot forward. Dont be discouraged, youre guaranteed to locate a job with a small work and a small skill.If youre trying to find work, its vital to be sure your job application stands out over the rest, especially if youre just out of college and attempting to start your career on the appropriate track. A good-looking job application can surely help you get that. Locating a job may be a tedious procedure, especially whenever youre on the hunt for a remote one. You are able to take a job which may not be perfect for the interim. The main purpose of your resume must be to impress the reader with the particular qualifications and experiences that cause you to fit to get hired for a desired punkt. Resume cover letters should discuss how youre able to assist the emp loyer, not about why you will need the job. The letter ought to be greeted and addressed to the correct person. Your cover letter is geared toward promoting you for each position so that its modified for each and every position not like your resume thats regular. Youre able to print your letter by means of a laser printer and ought to also utilize 24-lb. Using a completely free sample edit is also an excellent way to discover who can best edit your important document, and you would like to be aware of the specific deadline for having your document returned to you. Employing a template will allow you to create a quick resume. Resumes and cover letters ought to be well-written, easy, and creative. Resume cover letters are extremely important as they enable you to interact with the prospective employer. Resume cover letter needs to be written in a professional method. Cover Letters for resumes should lead the reader to assess your resume. Furthermore, your letter for resume should have professional appearance and it ought to be informative. In fact, some candidates dont even dare receive their resumes read as their cover letters just dont look impressive enough. Make certain your letter is related to your applied position. Make certain that the letter will appear professional. Be sure your letter appears simple to read. Make sure it is neat. Should you need inspiration, here are a few examples of wonderful opening lines to utilize in your cover letter. Nobody else will read your letter how you do. Top Resume Cover Letter Secrets Following your interview is finished, you should make certain your letter was delivered within the subsequent 24 hours. You should make sure your resume cover letter is specialized to the job which youre applying for. A cover letter consists of the overview of the credentials of an expected job seeker. It is the primary tool to attract the recruiters attention. Suggestions to compose the winning resume cover letter will certainly help you in the job hunt. The aim of your resume is to secure you the interview. You need a couple of sentences to find the job finished. A cover letter also has to be in a position to discuss how well you know the organization youre applying for. Aside from the typical organizational abilities, my cover letter stated how much energy I must provide the position and the business. The Cover letter shouldnt be in excess of a single page long and addressed to a specific person and title. In the present employment world, it has become as important as the resume. If you would like to receive a job in a well-known company, do your very best to fulfill their standards and to present yourself accordingly. It is possible to fill in internet applications for jobs. Two business days as soon as you have handed your resume in, call the organization back to stress how interested youre in the job. Quickly reference what it is that youre looking for, the organization or kind of company, the job that youre applying for, and your best, related skill or experience as it is related to the position.

5 Tips for Recruiting and Retaining the Best Physicians - Spark Hire

5 Tips for Recruiting and Retaining the Best Physicians - Spark HireIn order to provide the best patient experience possible, a hospital must focus on their physician recruiting strategiesand how they are ensuring that these healthcare providers willwant to stick around for the long-run. However, a competitive job market makes this a challenge. This puts the burden on recruiters and HR professionals to take a proactive approach to recruitingand keeping doctors within a hospital system. Here are some tips for recruitingthe best providers possiblePut strong leadership in place Just like any other organization, a hospital depends on strong leadership in order to set a positive tone and create a cohesive work environment. If you want to keep the best doctors at your hospital, make sure the leadership gruppe in place is a good one.Let providers address the issues that matter to them If there are flaws in the system, doctors need to be able to speak up and have these issues addressed. Whet her they need more resources or have an idea about how they could serve patients more effectively, taking suggestions seriously is an important part of keeping your medical staff engaged.Make sure administrators and physicians are connected Some hospitals have the tendency to separate physicians from administrators, which causes a problematic disconnect within the hospital. Make it a point to encourage people from both departments to mingle and get to know one another. You can promote this during off-site social events, or by simply asking administrators to be proactive about getting to know the medical care team within the hospital.Provide feedback Many hospitals struggle with providing valuable feedback to doctors. Just like any other employee, a physician needs feedback in order to improve. Dont be afraid to offer regular performance reviews. This benefits the doctor as well as the patients.Offer claims reduction training Physicians often feel stressed about the possibility of ge tting sued. One way to alleviate this concern is by providing thorough claims reduction training. This allows them to feel confident in their ability to handle all aspects of their job (from handhabung insurance to dealing with paperwork) without fear of negative repercussions.Additionally, another wayto keep the best physicians around interested in working for your facility, is to make sure that your hospital embraces the emerging new technology that makes it easier for them to do their job. Using outdated, clunky systems or old methods simply because thats how weve always done it causes frustration for your physiciansand could lead to dissatisfaction amongpatients.Image dolgachov/BigStock.com