How to understand your relationship to money

How to understand your relationship to money Heres a phone call I had with the Farmer, last summer, when I was at a cello institute with my son: Me: We have bites everywhere. We are never going blackberry picking again. Farmer: I dont have bites. I dont think its blackberries. Me: They are itching. They are mosquito bites. Farmer: I think theyre  bed  bugs. Me: Country people always think  bed  bugs! Its a country thing to think  bed  bugs  are everywhere. Id know them if I saw them. Farmer: Well mosquito bites dont show up two days later. Two days later, I was up late, reading because I was too itchy to sleep, and a  bed  bug  crawled across my son. I had a panic attack. I crushed the  bug, because thats what youre supposed to do to show the exterminator. Blood spills out, and it has bite prongs on top. The other thing you do is look at the bites, which come in threes, and somehow I had not noticed that the last two days. They were in threes. I called the farmer in a panic. He is well aware that we lost everything to  bed  bugs when we lived in New York City. I tell the hotel they have  bed  bugs. They tell me no one can deal with it til morning. They give me a new room. I point out that Ill just bring the  bed  bugs  with me if I go to a new room. I see immediately that I am an expert, from the last  bed  bug  debacle, and the front desk guy knows nothing. I say, The eggs are invisible and can live without food for 18 months. He does not care. I am ruining his peaceful nightshift. I do not scream at him. I am waiting for the appropriate person to scream at. I cry at night, in  bed, with the lights on, making sure no  bugs  crawl on my sleeping son. I am going to fast forward now, okay? Im going to tell you that heres the hotel industry position on  bed  bugs: That it is not negligent if there are  bed  bugs, so they are not responsible for fixing anything that happens as a result of  bed  bugs. I see, online, that people are suing the hotel industry. I can tell this is going to be like the lawsuits to enforce my son receiving what is due to him in the public school system for autism: The lawsuit costs more than just paying for stuff myself. I tell the regional vice president that I do not expect to pay for the nights that my son and I were eaten by  bugs. He says we have to pay. He says he provided a room that was, to his knowledge, safe. It is clear, though, that the exterminator he hired to confirm that its  bed  bugs  found the  bed  bugs  in five minutes and they could do that with every room, and then we wouldnt have  bed  bugs  in hotels, but the hotel industry doesnt want to. Even the W has  bed  bugs. I see that Im on my own. I come to this quickly because something that really hurt me the last time I had  bed  bugs  was that I thought my landlord was responsible, and I spent time fighting him. I didnt spend time fighting. I put all our stuff in plastic bags to be heated up later. (You have to cook  bed  bugs. Nothing else works. There are now  bed  bug  ovens.) You cannot cook a car. I tell myself I was going to get a new one anyway. You cannot cook $200 shoes. I tell myself I can buy new ones. There were a few things I couldnt throw out, though. Like, the books I had just read that I loved and I took notes in so Id remember to tell you good stuff. But I was scared to open them. Weeks after the bugs, I was still getting bites, at home, because welts can show up three weeks after the bite. I was convinced that as soon as I opened the bag, bugs would crawl out of the books. Finally we hired a guy with a dog to sniff the house for bugs. Its the only way to know for sure if you have bugs. I called the guy who supplies dogs to Disney World. Thats right. If you stay at a Disney hotel, you can always request that a bed bug dog sniff your room before you stay in it. So the dog came, sniffed everywhere, and found nothing. Then the guy showed my kids the bugs he trains the dog with. They are in a vial. The dog has to train every day. So we let him train in our house. The guy hid the bugs under the mattress, in our guest bedroom. The dog walked into the room and found them in five seconds. It was amazing. (Career consideration: To keep the bed bugs fresh, the guy hires people to let the bugs bite them: Good money, great hours.) Before he left, I had the dog sniff the books I had carted around with me all summer to make sure I told you about them. Here they are: Secrets of the Moneylab,  by Kay-Yut Chen The author is a behavioral economist the book talks about ways HP uses behavioral economics to make more money. For example, giving employees $50 to bet on sales results produced better sales estimates that those officially released by HP. And he quantifies how much money you save by building a reputation of trust: automakers deemed the least trustworthy spend five times longer making a sale than automakers deemed very trustworthy. Truly, I learned something interesting on every page of this book. The Price of Everything, by Eduardo Porter This book tells us how prices get set. He answers questions like Whats a woman worth? (theres a shortage of women in China) or What is an early piece of technology worth? (early adopters always get a deal). Of course I was drawn into the chapter about What is the price of happiness?.  The book explains why after $75,000, more free time is probably worth more to you than more money. All the Money in the World, by Laura Vanderkam. This book talks about how the happiest people in the world spend their money. Its a much more practical book than the other two. I confess that sometimes I like theoretical because a practical book makes you realize where you really need to change how you are doing things. I like this book because Vanderkam challenges the idea of scrimping and saving and says instead, just learn how to make more money. She says dont bother saving for retirement and instead see retirement as something people used to do, but not anymore. These books really end up telling the story of bedbugs. Vanderkam really writes about security. How to use money to get security. And in hindsight, it explains why my sense of wellbeing did not depend so much on whether I have bed bugs in my life, but whether I had the resources to deal with the problem. Porter explains why I was willing to pay $700 to have a dog sniff my house for five minutes. And Secrets of the Moneylab explains why, in the face of bed bug infestations, I was so quick to get rid of my car, but I couldnt bear to throw out these three books that I loved so much.

Why Good Leaders Are Great Listeners

Why Good Leaders Are Great Listeners How often do you truly listen? Despite what you might think, it’s probably not that often. In this decade, we are so used to being force-fed bite-size chunks of information, without putting in much effort. Yet, our bodies are hard-wired to listen three times faster than anyone can even speak! So we have more than the capabilities, but it’s easier to not even bother. But not listening properly carries heavy consequences; while you’re absorbing just enough information to be able to mumble a reply and then change the topic, you come across as inattentive and a bit rude. So if you want to become more likeable and influential in both home and work life, why not try to truly listen? Pay more attention This is a difficult one to start with. Essentially, if someone is talking to you, regardless of who they are, put your phone down. You might think that you can digest everything at once because we’re all becoming so used to multi-tasking. But this type of multi-tasking is not healthy. Scrolling through Instagram, with the TV on in the background, and trying to listen to, say, your partner’s story is just like sitting at the end of multiple conveyor belts and being fed fragments of information. You are not really concentrating, or using your brain, you are just being fed. So to counter this passiveness, try to focus your entire attention upon the human that is attempting to interact with you… and truly listen. You might not notice at first, but the speaker will feel valued and appreciated, and  in turn, they will develop more respect for you. Do NOT interrupt This point speaks for itself really. But when you actually think about it, how annoying is it when someone cuts you off before you finish the story/point you’re trying to make? Really annoying is the answer, and you are left feeling like your ideas and opinions don’t matter. So why do we interrupt? Well it’s usually because when we are ‘listening’, we are actually trying to find a way to relate to the particular topic, and think of an even better  anecdote to follow up with. But how about we stop thinking about ourselves, and focus on what is currently being said? Only when that person is comfortably done with their turn should you follow up, but you should make a concerted effort to genuinely listen and absorb what this person is saying first. Plus, if you allow someone to have their say, theyll be more likely to then give you a longer turn at expressing yourself.  If you want to be heard, just like everyone does, try listening to others too. Keep your body language in check Hopefully your phone is out of sight by now, but to show even more engagement, make sure your body language is also in check. Even if you’re just listening to the same old story from your parents about the time the postman was late, sit up straight, face them and throw some eye contact their way. But not too much eye contact. If you take this advice, you’ll see your various relationships improve, as you both feel respected, appreciated, and most importantly, heard. Show acknowledgement Particularly in a working environment, you should practise repeating back the main points of what a colleague has said. Even if it’s just a drinks order, or perhaps an intricate task, getting into the routine of regurgitating the details will show that you were fully listening. Not to mention,  this is also an effective memory technique! In other situations, such as a heart to heart chat, provide acknowledgement  with sympathetic or empathetic reactions (Oh no, thats terrible). Often, people just want to speak and be heard, so give them the time of day, and you will be respected for your time and patience. Help others You know those times when you say something hilarious or really insightful, but no one actually hears you? Often, you’ll then feel too embarrassed or under pressure to repeat what you said. But what if someone, even just one person in a group, picks up on your point and acknowledges it? Be that person. Even if it’s a ‘boring’ comment, or a bad dad joke, show that you’ve heard them, or encourage the group to return to what they were trying to say, once the conversation dies down i.e. “Oh yeah, what were you going to say Charlie?” If you are the person that listens and helps others out, this will be recognised and your reputation will reflect this.

U of S Resume Writing Guide - Whats in Store For You?

U of S Resume Writing Guide - What's in Store For You?If you're searching for a U of S resume writing guide then you are not alone. Many people are facing the same problem and are struggling to produce a good resume that they can use to land their dream job.Before you can start to explore any more options, you need to understand that traditional methods of creating a resume are no longer the most effective way to get your foot in the door. Most recruiters, employers and university staff will tell you that only the best resumes come through the door. This is because it is now very difficult to find what's on the resume.There are three new computer programs that are going to change everything. They are going to be able to review every aspect of your resume. What could be easier than that?Even though Moodle is the most well known of the three programs, it is by far the most powerful. All the tips and tricks that will help you make the best choice when you are looking for a U of S resume writing guide can be found within this one program.It is not only all about your resume, though. Moodle allows you to connect directly with the people that will be reading it. You will be able to write the kind of post in which you have in mind and the system will make suggestions as to how you can make your message better.It's very easy to forget about something like an academic or college experience in your application letter. If this were the case, however, then the chances are that you wouldn't get your dream job. Not only do you need to demonstrate your skills, but also your achievements.Moodle will help you make the most of your resume and create the U of S cover letter that works best for you. Everything from your achievements to your personality will be reflected in your cover letter. At the end of the day, your personality is going to speak volumes about who you are as a person.Even if you don't have your dream job yet, you still need to send in a cover letter that will he lp you land that job. Once you have a chance to try out Moodle for yourself, you are going to see that it is the best tool that you can use to get the job you've always wanted.

5 real ways to help women avoid a mid-career stall

5 real ways to help women avoid a mid-career stall 5 real ways to help women avoid a mid-career stall It’s become clear that women in leadership at the highest levels are good for corporate America, from delivering higher shareholder value to improving philanthropic efforts. Yet little progress has been made toward creating gender diversity in the C-suite and on corporate boards. While that’s alarming, what has everyone scratching their heads is the lack of progress despite the sincere and substantial efforts of employers to address it. While many leading companies have a number of women-in-leadership initiatives in place at any given moment, those companies dont seem to be achieving the goal of consistently moving women into key decision-making and leadership roles, which have the most impact on business success. So what, or who, is to blame? There is no simple answer to solving this complex issue. However, new research from one of the largest staffing companies in the world, Randstad, and leading talent assessment company XBInsight, sheds light on where and why women may experience mid-career stall in their career journeys. Here are five impactful, data-driven initiatives that companies can put in place to move more women to higher ranks. 1. Take a lesson from “middle-child syndrome” There are striking similarities between what psychologists term “the middle-child syndrome” and what happens during the mid-career of female professionals. Consider some common sentiments among middle children: They often feel ignored or have to try a little harder to be heard, and they don’t get enough praise compared to their siblings. Could the same forces be at play when it comes to women’s career progression? Evidence supports the occurrence of a substantial stall in women’s mid-career phase. Catalyst, a leading nonprofit organization, estimates that entry-level women represent 53 percent of new hires, but at the vice president/senior executive level, the number drops nearly in half, to 26 percent. 2. Capitalize on a high interest in leadership While the ratio of women to men shrinks as they progress up the career ladder, women’s interest in being leaders actually increases as they move from entry level to middle management. A survey by McKinsey shows a significant increase in desire to move to the next level, have a leadership role, and aspire to be in top management. In fact, 83 percent of mid-level women have a strong desire to move up to a higher level in their companies. 3. Better equip female managers and directors with key executive-level skills According to Randstad’s research with assessment partner XBInsight, several top competencies are associated with high-performing executives based on thousands of benchmark data points. Among them are three core competencies or skills in which female managers and directors score significantly lower as compared to male executives: demonstrating financial acumen, exuding executive presence, and managing risk. On average, female managers and directors score in the below-average range relative to executive norms and show a 10 to 15 percentile gap in their scores for demonstrating financial acumen and exuding executive presence. The same group scores seven to 13 percentile points lower when it comes to managing risk. Leading organizations utilize ongoing talent assessments to measure and address competency gaps and to identify areas for development and training. By identifying these opportunities in a timely manner, employers can more effectively ready their female leaders for future positions. 4. Give women equal access to projects that matter In addition to development and training to address skill gaps, it is critical for women to have on-the-job opportunities and access to projects that build these skills. A research program conducted by Catalyst further supports the premise that mid-career women are not working on the right projects to allow for on-the-job experience in demonstrating financial acumen, exuding executive presence, and managing risk. In fact, the Catalyst report found that men reported their project budgets to be more than twice the budgets of women’s projects. One-third of men reported getting C-suite visibility to a very great extent while working on projects compared to only one quarter of women, and significantly more men reported that their projects involved a higher level of risk to their companies than did women. To really move the dial on gender diversity at the highest levels, opportunities afforded to high-potential women must be comparable in size, scope and relative importance to the organization as those afforded to men. 5. Move from good intentions to meaningful actions Organizations must begin to dig deeper to uncover the specific reasons why their companies aren’t successfully fostering women leaders. Randstad and XBInsight believe there is hard evidence suggesting more focus needs to be placed on women in their mid-career stages. Are they plateauing? Are they not being promoted effectively? Are they being assessed and developed to prepare them for executive posts? Are they given equal opportunities to put those skills into action with real, visible, and meaningful projects? With a powerful combination of assessments, development programs and real access to visible, meaningful projects and positions during the crucial mid-career stage, companies can truly achieve gender diversity at the highest levels and benefit from the many positive outcomes women executives can deliver.

Why You Should Start a Side Hustle

Why You Should Start a Side Hustle Side hustles are becoming more and more common as the workforce gets more competitive and the cost of living rises. Why You Should Start a Side Hustle Rising cost of living: Housing. Food. Medical care. Transportation. These are all expenses that are rising at a faster rate than income. For example, the cost of housing rose about 5% over the last few years whereas income increased by an average of 3%. Getting a side hustle could help remediate some of this disparity. Competitive workforce: In a day and age where college degrees are the norm instead of the exception, college graduates struggle to land their desired full-time jobs. Even if they get the position, job security is less assured than it used to be. A side hustle almost ensures a job and supplemental income. Learn new skills: While you probably already have a nice repertoire of hard and soft skills, there’s still more to learn. It’s also important to expand upon what you already know. Not only will you better yourself through your side hustle, but you’ll acquire skills that can be applied to your day job. Explore your passion: Side hustles are unique because you can pick and choose what you want to do, versus companies picking and choosing whether they want you. Turn a hobby into a business or discover passions that have been lying dormant. Extra income: You could make around $800 per month from your side hustle alone. That cash can be applied to necessities like rent and groceries, or you can revel in your discretionary income. Save the money now if you want it to appreciate over time. Still not convinced? Follow the flow chart in the visual below to see if you should start a side hustle. If you’re looking for ideas, Self Lender did the research to find 51 side hustle ideas that might work for you.

Grown Up Gigs Season 1 Finale QA! - When I Grow Up

Grown Up Gigs Season 1 Finale QA! - When I Grow Up Yay! Your questions are featured on Episode 18 of Grown Up Gigs! Michelle Ward Creative Career Coach whenigrowupcoach.com From You! via The Interwebs Its the Season 1 finale of my Grown-Up Gigs podcast! Canyastandit? I cant stand it. I decided to press pause on the interviews for this episode, and to answer questions from my peeps instead. Because seriously, our fears and roadblocks need to be directly addressed in order to make a grown-up living doing what we love. Youll definitely wanna listen up if youre wondering: How do I over come the second guessing and doubt when someone suggests Im CRAZY for making a career transition? How can I tell if Im just having cold feet or truly need to plan more before quitting my job? How do I know when I need to pivot or move on to my next idea? How do I find the right thing for me to be doing as as a multi-passionate person? How can I embark on a good partnership? Listen to Episode 18 of Grown-Up Gigs now for my As to these Qs by clicking here! Show Notes: I wrote about Vampire Voices and career fears here, here, and here and did a webinar about them that you can watch here Your Win Book: What It Is, Why It Rocks, and How to Make Your Own Discover what makes you comfy and confident when it comes to leaving your day job by working through my CreativeLive class, Ditch Your Day Job If youre looking for clarity on the What of your dream career, you can watch my Create Your Dream Career course for free starting at 9am Pacific on 10/31 by clicking here I wrote this post when I got just 3 sign-ups for my Clubhouse Listen to Lauren Casellis Grown Up Gigs interview here Embarking on your own career change, or thinking about it? Im offering my free, live 3 Mindset Shifts for a Successful Career Change webinar on November 6th. You can sign up in 5 seconds right here The Declaration of You, my collaboration with Jessica Swift Its Business Time, my collaboration with Tiffany Han and Erin Cassidy. Well be offering it again this spring! Tanya Geisler and I worked on a program called Golden Ticket back in 13. This podcast is sponsored by  branded.me, a platform for professionals to  build personal websites in minutes On January 7th, Ill be speaking with Desha Peacock, an Author, Speaker, Retreat Leader and LifeSTYLE Design Coach. Hit the button below to subscribe and youll be pinged when Episode 19 with Desha is available!

Sales Resume Writing Service - Getting Ahead

Sales Resume Writing Service - Getting AheadA Sale resume writing service is a convenient way to put your best foot forward in the recruiting world. In some respects it can help you meet the demand. In this highly competitive industry, having a great sales resume can get you the job over the likes of those who have got their skills and credentials from more traditional avenues. Sales resume writing service is especially useful for those with less experience in sales and for those who are seeking jobs within a particular sector.Sales professionals can be looked up on many websites. The experienced ones tend to stay in business and the newer ones will aim for employment opportunities that do not require them to work from their home. These services are ideally provided by sales recruiting agencies that provide excellent services and products for both those looking for sales careers and those who are looking for sales jobs. Services include search engine optimisation, social media and vi deo submissions, article writing, and many more. This is a huge improvement over the usual route that most recruiters take, which is to seek out candidates personally, as well as putting up a website that allows individuals to upload their CV and write a self-written cover letter.A sale resume writing service is a wonderful option for those who don't know where to start. Because the services are provided by professionals, they can take care of some of the hard work for you. If you are searching for a job within the advertising and sales industry, a good service can offer you the help you need. Other benefits include:- Professional services ensure that you get the exact feedback you need. Most recruiters are able to provide advice on what you should do to improve your profile and get ahead in the job market. In addition, they can give you advice on the best areas to target for job promotions. There are a range of service providers from which you can choose, depending on what you want to achieve from your resume writing service.- You are guaranteed of a professional service. We all know that the business world is fast changing and that professional services are essential to succeed. For example, if you want to recruit people for a certain sector, you need to have a strong reputation to attract high-level candidates. With a professional service, you can choose one that specializes in various sectors. One of the key elements of a good service is its range of services, which may include interview coaching, online training and technical marketing courses.- Prospective clients will see that your website is user friendly. The kind of advertising job you are seeking will be determined by the nature of your prospective clients. Therefore, it is important that your sales resume is simple and easy to understand, particularly when people are being interviewed for the first time. Hiring a company that provides excellent services means that your customers will see that you t ake your business seriously and that you are well prepared to handle all aspects of recruiting.You can tailor the service to suit your particular needs by choosing the products you are using, but it is important to ensure that you are not wasting money with items that are beyond your resources. While it is of course possible to use a service that provides a wide range of products, you should ensure that your service is worth paying for and that you do not compromise on quality when you are looking for a Sales resume writing service.