Compressed Work Week

Compressed Work WeekCompressed Work WeekDid you hear a friend talking about working a compressed work week? It sounds pretty good, doesnt it? Compressing work sounds like youd be working less, but thats not the case. A compressed work week or compressed work schedule is aworking 40-hours in a non-traditional way instead of atraditional 9-5 five day work week. There are many different schedules you could negotiate for and many benefits you could experience. If youre thinking about approaching your employer about working a compressed work schedule get in the know about this unique work solution. Consider If This Schedule Is Right for You Perhaps you wont want to trade those fleeting morning and evening hours with young children for a full day off when the kids are in school. Or perhaps you have a physically or mentally intense job that would drain you if you set up a longer workday. Youd be working longer hours that youre used to and will need to stay focused for longer periods of time. Also, youll need to have childcare that can cover your unusual work hours. On the plus side, youll continue to earn a full-time income while gaining mora flexibility. Youll also limit the number of days you have to commute. Youll have fewer disruptions at work because youll have more free time to take care of doctor or dentist appointments for both you and your kids. Your work schedule will be more predictable because you wont need to take time off to take care of things as often. Can you picture your family Friday outings once per month?Itd be great to visit places and not have to stand in line and wait. Decide What Type of Compress Work Schedule Youd Like How could you compress your 35-40 hour workload into a shorter number of days? If youre coming up blank here are a few suggestions.You could work (9) 9-hour daysthen takes the tenth day off. So youll work long days Monday through Thursday, a regular day on Friday, and then take the next Friday off. Another compressed wo rk schedule is working a (4)10-hour days and take the fifth weekday off. For example, you could work Monday through Thursday 8 AM to 6 PM then get every Friday off. A common schedule seen in nursing, firefighters or other occupations that require 24-hour shift coverage is working (3) 12-hour days and having four weekdays off. Determine How This Schedule Would Improve Your Work/Life Balance Having one or more days off from work could certainly improve your work/life balance. Working parents couldvolunteer at the school more. They could catch up on household errands when the grocery store isnt crowded and there are no small children underfoot. It can provide a long weekend to catch up on work or household chores due to work travel.Many individuals swear by a compressed work week inhelping them balance work and family responsibilitieslike findingtime to exercise, meditate, or just do the things thattheyreally want to do. Have you thought about going back to school?You could use thi s day off to earn another degree, such as an executive MBA, which is often offered on a series of long weekends. Your company would benefit from your education as itd help your job performance. Or perhaps you live in an area with exceedingly long commute times, and you prefer to arrive before the worst of the morning besucherzahlen and leave after the evening rush hour fades. Your manager may be more content knowing that you wont run late or try to duck out early. A compressed work schedule would help set expectations that regardless of the state of traffic youll be in the office promptly. How to Request A Compressed Work Week Some companies offer a compressed workweek as part of their regular menu of flexible work options, alongside telecommuting, a reduced hour schedule, job sharing and flex time. Implementing it for yourself can be as simple as a visit to the human resources manager and filling out some paperwork. But even if your employer doesnt proactively offer a compresse d work week, you can make the business case for this arrangement. Document how your job duties and monthly and yearly goals could be squeezed into a shorter two-week work cycle. Explain how a longer workday might actually increase your productivity because youll have longer stretches of focused time to work. Now that you understand what a compressed work week looks like and the pros and cons of it you can decide if this is right for you.Find those friends and co-workers who were talking about their schedule and get their take on it.And who knows, maybe this schedule is just what you need to be able to sway between work and life. Updated by Elizabeth McGrory

How to Write a Bestselling Subtitle

How to Write a Bestselling SubtitleHow to Write a Bestselling SubtitleBook subtitles- like book titles- are book marketing tools. But how does a book title help market and sell a book? A books subtitle shores up the book title and helps tell the reader what to expect to get inside the book.Even if youve written a great title for your book, a subtitle can provide mora pertinent information to help draw the reader in and prompt him or zu sich to open the book, learn more, and, hopefully, buy it. Subtitles Support the Book Title Subtitles are used to clarify or expand on the title of a non-fiction book. Titles that involve unfamiliar terms, or that obliquely reference book contents with jargon or a lyrical passage generally benefit from a strong, clear subtitle. While there are exceptions,novels dont usually employ subtitles. Examples of Great Titles and Subtitles Here are some examples of booktitles and their subtitles. Note how each title is further explained by itssubtitle an d how the intended reader might be more inclined to be interested in the book as a result SEAL Team SixAt first glance, a reader seeing this on a bookstore table might mistake it for a book about aquatic mammals. The full title and subtitle,SEAL Team SixMemoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper, providesis a case in which the subtitle elaborates on the potentially unfamiliar or confusing terminology in the title.A Clearing in the Distance The book title is a lovely but not-very-explanatory line taken from the book. WithA Clearing in the Distance The Biography of Frederick Law Olmstead,the subtitle explains what the book is- an account of the life of the famed landscape architect. The Millionaire Next Door The title is intriguing, but it could be a memoir by Donald Trumps neighbor. With its subtitle,The Millionaire Next Door The Surprising Secrets of Americas Wealthy,the book has mass appeal. Who wouldnt want to know those secrets?Eat, Pray, LoveBefore she wrote this huge best-seller, Eli zabeth Gilberts wasnt a known quantity and her books title wasnt very explanatory. The audience of food-, spiritual fulfillment-, love-, and travel-longing women could more identify withEat, Pray, Love One Womans Search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia. The early readers who wanted to share that journey from their armchairs helped to jumpstart the word of mouth. The book went on to sell gazillions, was made into a movie, and even inspired its own spin-offs. As a result of the fame, the 10th Anniversary Edition doesnt include the subtitle. It doesnt need to, anymore. When a Title Doesnt Need a Subtitle While even a very book good title can benefit from the further explanation a subtitle provides, some titles need no additional explanation. Some examples of situations when books dont need a subtitle are When the author is a household name or a celebrity Readers might assume thatYes, Pleaseis a book on manners...except that famous actress, writer, and comedian Amy Poehler is pictured smack dab on the book jacketalong with her name.When an author is famous in his or her fieldThe bookJohn Adamswas written by an extremely well known and identifiable biographer, David McCullough. Theres no subtitle on the jacket the book needs no additional information because McCulloughs name is enough to sell the book to his large audience. When the book is a novelFiction books generally do not have subtitles. What Makes a Good Subtitle? Here are some hints for writing a good subtitle Dont duplicate ideas A good subtitleaddsto the information provided in the title it shouldnt repeat it. Cover space islimited maximize the power of the title and subtitle combination.Consider using keywordsKeywords are important online book marketing tools. Keywords help search engines match your book with readers and help readers discover your bookand, for that reason, keywords might be helpful in the subtitle.Explain clearly While there is leeway with the title, the subtitl e shouldnt be fanciful or jargony. Be succinct A subtitle isnt an excuse to ramble. Be as succinct as possible when expressing the idea that supports the title.

The best productivity hack Do fewer things, better

The best productivity hack Do fewer things, betterThe best productivity hack Do fewer things, betterDont count the days. Make the days count. - Muhammad AliSometimes, believing in yourself is not enough - self-empowerment can hinder rather than improve your productivity.Have you ever seen a truck stuckverzierung under a bridge? It feels both hilarious and absurd. Why hasnt the driver prevented it?We all fall into that trap - we believe that willpower will help us achieve the impossible. However, our time has limited capacity, just like a bridge. When we try to do too many things, we cant make it through.Thats why we have productivity all wrong. The idea that we can (and should) do everything is deceiving - we get stuck like a truck under a bridge.Unload your truckStart by doing whats necessary then do whats possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible. - Francis of AssisiBeing productive is not about doing mora, but enjoying the journey. Being overloaded doesnt help, whats the point of getting stuck?The first step is to clear your path - remove the truck from under the bridge.Time is not something that we have we make time. Rather than trying to raise the bridges height, you have to unload your truck. Acknowledging that you cannot add more hours to your day is critical - you have to do fewer things instead.Unfortunately, we use being busy as a badge of honor - we feel more important when we are overloaded. We end juggling as many balls as possible without realizing if they are worth our time.Being busy causes us to act mindlessly. We are running from one task to another without reflecting on why we are doing what we are doing. Busyness makes us live on autopilot.Time is not neutral - be intentional about what you choose to do.When you say yes to everything, you are saying no to what really matters. Thats the biggest issue with being busy we end doing the wrong things.What if I tell you to focus on doing fewer things?Unload your truck. The secret of being productive lies in choosing what to do - and doing it right - instead of doing more and more.Simplify your productivity mindsetIf you spend too much time thinking about a thing, youll never get it done. - Bruce LeeSometimes, whats supposed to make us more productive, adds additional load to our schedules. The do more and do everything approach to productivity is not working - its a stressful trap.Focusing on doing fewer things, but better, is the opposite - its a liberating experience. You remove more than tasks - you reduce the guilt and stress load too.When we are busy, we dont leave time to think, reflect, or enjoy. We are running from one task to another without being present. Your mind needs space. Silence helps us reflect. Emptiness attracts creativity. Distance brings perspective.Simplifying your productivity mindset requires following these three principles.1. Identify whats essentialWe are an action-driven society - we admire busy people even if they dont ac hieve anything. That you can do more doesnt mean that you have to do everything. Being mindful about what you do (and dont) is critical to eliminate unnecessary tasks.What drives your life? What really matters to you?When you remove whats non-essential, you make time for what matters.2. Prioritize quality over quantityThe urge to check things off our lists forces us to do stuff without thinking. We dont have time to do things right, but theres always time to do them twice. Lets recover the value of quality.How do you measure your own productivity?Focusing on quality is ensuring you dont waste your limited time in doing the same thing twice.3. Focus on outcomesApproaching our work by tasks is a distraction - endless to-do lists fuel more stress. Shift your attention from doing to the impact you want to create - moving the needle matters more than how busy you are.Can you turn your to-do list into an achievement list?Connecting your work with the outcome will increase your motivatio n. Its not the same going grocery shopping (a task) than preparing a meal to treat your friends (a rewarding experience).Productivity is not about doing everything, but doing what matters. Be mindful. Do fewer things, but better.Keep your load manageableYou cant let people set your agenda in life. - Warren BuffetEstablish clear priorities - what do you want to achieve? Productivity is not about doing more, but about making what matters happen.Prioritization is vital to recover control of your life - define your preferences or someone will do it for you.This productivity exercise will make your load manageable.1. Understand what mattersIf you dont have clear priorities, someone will define them for you.Reflect on the impact you want to achieve in your personal and professional life. Focus on projects rather than on tasks. Start small - build a habit first rather than on trying to change the world overnight. Keep it simple.2. Prioritize your loadMake a list of all the key things/p rojects you want (or have) to accomplish. Capture each on a gelber zettel or small piece of paper. Rank them using a 15 scale 1 being Irrelevant and 5 Most Critical.Review the initial ranking. Play around a couple of times until you feel happy. Remember you are aiming for fewer. Most people fail to focus because they believe everything is a priority. Challenge yourself.Prioritization is more than merely ranking activities from more to least important. Its about clarifying what matters and what doesnt.Unload your truck - eliminate the non-essentials.3. Strategize your journeyThat someone asks your something doesnt mean you have to do it. Learn to say no. However, that doesnt mean that you will always win - prioritization is a constant negotiation with yourself and othersEliminate unnecessary projects (Categories 12) - check out this exercise I use to coach teams get rid of unnecessary workload.Delegate projects that are not critical (Category 3)Simplify critical projects (Category 4)Allocate most of your energy and time to essential projects (Category 5)4. Monitor your loadPractice reviewing your priorities on a regular basis. Identify whats working and whats not. Every bridge has a different height - adjust your load to your tolerance and availability.Find the sweet spot - be flexible but dont change priorities all the time.5. Avoid getting stuck (tips)Learn to say no more often. Saying no is not being rude - your choices define how you live, as I wrote here.Think twice before you say yes. Most people accept requests or meeting invitations without checking their calendars first.Avoid overloading your schedule. Leave empty spaces for taking care of meaningful work.gruppierung your me-time. This doesnt mean being selfish, but saving time for what matters to you. I mark my exercise, lunch, learning, writing, and meditation time on my calendar. No one can steal the time you block first.Create pauses in between tasks. I always protect time in-between meetings . I need to reflect after one, prepare for the next, or maybe I need a (bio/coffee/reflection) break.Eliminate the noise. Get rid of any app you dont use. Turn off notifications when you are doing work that requires deep focus. If you are in a meeting, put away your phone and other distractions.Learn to have your mind where your body is. Be in the here and now. If you pay attention, you wont need to do something twice.Be mindful of your energy level. Im more focused and energetic early in the day and after 4 PM - thats when I write, design new workshops or services. During my low-energy hours, I do research and take care of less-demanding tasks like emailing, marketing, and administrative stuff.- - - Saying yes to what matters requires eliminating the unessential. Be ready for push-backs from both yourself and others.Shift your productivity approach from doing everything to doing fewer things, better. Being busy is not a badge of honor. Unload your truck before you get stuck.Achi eving what you want is more rewarding than being busy. Enjoy your journey.Upgrade your teams mindsetDownload my ebook Stretch Your kollektiv how to thrive in a changing worldget your free copy.Receive my weekly Insights for ChangemakersSign Up NowThisarticlefirst appeared on Medium.

Navy Aviation Boatswains Mate, Handling (ABH)

Navy Aviation Boatswains Mate, Handling (ABH)Navy Aviation Boatswains Mate, Handling (ABH)Aviation Boatswains Mates play a major part in launching and recovering naval aircraft quickly and safely from land or ships. It includes aircraft preparation and fueling prior to takeoff and after landing, as well asfire-fighting and salvage and rescue operations. Later in their careers, ABs can earn the advanced AB rating that supervises all of the individual specialties. Duties of the Aviation Boatswains Mate, Handling (ABH) The aviation boatswains mate that specializes in handling performs the following duties Supervises the movement, spotting, and securing of aircraft and equipment ashore and afloat.Performs crash rescue, fire fighting, crash removal, and damage control duties in connection with launching and recovery of aircraft.Maintains and performsorganizational maintenance on hydraulicand steam catapults, barricades, arrestinggear, and arresting gear engines.Operates catapult launc h and arrestingconsoles, firing panels, water brakes, blastdeflectors, and cooling panels. ABH Rating Working Environment Most of the work in this rating is performed outdoors on the deck of aircraft carriers, in all climatic conditions, in fast-paced and often potentially hazardous environments. ABs work closely with others in aviation ratings. Qualifications and Requirements ASVAB ScoreVE AR MK AS 184*Security ClearanceNone * For job-qualification purposes, the Navy requires a minimum total score from various sub-tests of the ASVAB. ABH candidates must also satisfy these requirements 20/100 uncorrected vision, correctable to 20/20.Must havenormal color perception.Must have normal hearingFrequencies 3000Hz 4000Hz 5000Hz 6000Hz. Average hearing threshold level in these four frequencies must be less than 30dB, with no level greater than 45dB in any one frequency. If hearing level exceeds these limits, the applicant is enlistment ineligible for the rating with no permitted exceptions. A-School (Job School) Information Training for ABH is on-the-job or in formal Navy schooling. Advancedtechnical and operational training is available in this rating during later stages of career development. Class A technical school is located inPensacola, Florida. ABH training is six weeks long in aviation basic theory and basic requiredskills. Instruction is group-based and involves practical application of training. Advancement opportunity and career progression are directly linked to a ratings manning level (i.e., personnel in undermanned ratings have greater promotion opportunity than those in overmanned ratings). Sea/Shore Rotation for This Rating First Sea Tour 60 monthsFirst Shore Tour 36 monthsSecond Sea Tour 60 monthsSecond Shore Tour 36 monthsThird Sea Tour 48 monthsThird Shore Tour 36 monthsFourth Sea Tour 48 monthsForth Shore Tour 36 months Sea tours and shore tours for sailors that have completed four sea tours will be 36 months at sea followed by 36 months ashore until retirement. ABH is a sea-intensive community. Manning conditions at sea may require the need to request sea tour extension or shore tour curtailments to ensure all sea duty billets are filled. Other areas in which aviation boatswains mates may specialize ABE- Launch and recovery ofaircraft on the flight deck of anaircraft carrier.ABF- Aircraft fueling and fuelsystems.

What You Dont Know About Accounts Executive Resume Could Be Costing to More Than You Think

What You Dont Know About Accounts Executive Resume Could Be Costing to More Than You Think Ideas, Formulas and Shortcuts for Accounts Executive Resume By carefully targeting resumes for certain jobs, its possible to greatly enhance your odds of getting noticed in the work industry. The absolute most important questions youll be asked deal with the location youre pursuing specifically. If you are searching for a job as an account executive, your resume must demonstrate you have the wisdom and experience essential to advise clients and manage finances. Understanding how to tailor your resume will clearly give you a benefit. Accounts payable professionals handle all the outgoing payments for a specific company or organization. Employees in the accounting field often require very good communication skills and proficiency with numbers. If you would like to develop into a good Account Executive you have to strive to construct a very good relationship with your customers. Accoun t executives need sharp communication and interpersonal abilities, in addition to self-confidence and oben liegend judgment. In the CV you should write understand your abilities, expertise and lots of normal things. No matter your degree of work practical expertise, your resume structure is essential to making your application stick out. A process engineer can create several sorts of chemical procedures utilized in fabricating and may also deal with the safety practices along with testing and monitoring any important equipment. In case you have expertise with a particular sort of software, for instance, include it in the experience section. To have the ability to find a way to place yourself above all the locally accessible individuals to do precisely the same endeavor wont be simple. Offering a traditional resume to acquire every work isnt the right approach. There are a lot of things you need to take into consideration whilst developing a successful resume to locate industr ial engineers article. There are many sorts of resumes. The Tried and True Method for Accounts Executive Resume in Step by Step Detail Most executive chefs need to have various experiences in the geschftlicher umgang to assure they can properly manage a group of culinary professionals. You have to present a track record which will allow your prospective employer to realize that you always have the option to provide what your prior businesses expect from you. You comprehend the business. Account executives act as a direct link between a business and its clientele. They are not just salespeople. They need to be talented salespeople. Last, the most prosperous account executives never abandon the sale even when they have closed the offer. If you will produce an expert advertising and marketing resumeA for an advertising executive job position, make sure you will incorporate the things which were mentioned above for you to have higher odds of being considered for an interview, or even for filling the advertising executive job position that the business is now offering. For a lucky few, you might not have even had to interview whatsoever, landing positions and promotions by your network alone. Each account executive is provided a sales quota in order for the group target of the sales department can be reached at a specified time period. You simply have to make sure you position your resume so that its aimed toward the advertising executive job title. You may be prepared to entice clients at your new possible job, but to begin with, you will need to draw the employer with a superb cover letter. An executive status in the organization entails a great deal of responsibilities. If youve got relevant sales experience from previous jobs, youre want to ensure your account executive resume highlights that experience. A targeted resume, since the name implies, is one you customize to demonstrate your qualifications for a certain position. Top Accounts Execu tive Resume Choices For example, if you have an important employment gap since your final position, you might want to use a functional resume rather than a chronological one. Resume paper may be a significant bit thicker and much more substantial when stored in hand. Any other kind of work experience might just distract the recruiter. Instead, you also need to think about your years of experience. Its potential to devise a career and additionally you also in a place to develop in advance. To start with, your career should develop into interesting for you personally. An entry cover letter could be somewhat hard to write, seeing as you arent seasoned and hence must be tactfully written. The very first thing you ought to do is to read the work post. To put it differently, there are several resumes to cope with that there isnt any way to devote much time with any except the very best. The key issue is to make certain the resume stands out among the remainder of the resumes post ed on the net.

Should I study online or on campus

Should I study online or on campus Should I study online or on campus?Posted December 19, 2013, by Jo MesserIm going to start uni next year and Im thinking of doing an online course instead of having to attend classes on campus but Im leid sure if thats the right decision. How do I know which one is right for me? Ashleigh, 18Its a totally personal choice ones elendlage better than the other. The key is to pick the type of study program that works best with your learning style, other commitments and lifestyle. One good thing is that with many unis offering online options for their courses, you know youll get the same education as an on-campus student.Here are some things to consider to help you work out which option is right for youAccessDo you have a campus that you can get to easily? Do they offer the course you want? Have you considered how far you will have to travel and are you realistic about the associated expenses and time commitment?Social interactionAnother consideration is your desire to have face-to-face interaction with other students and your lecturers. One of the great things about on-campus study is meeting new people, sharing ideas and making friends. When you study online your interactions will be limited to email, chat rooms and the virtual classroom. For some people thats enough, but not for everyone.Type of degreeThe degree you want to study may make the choice for you as not all degrees are available online. Courses that need practical resources are going to require you to be on campus or at least attend residentials or workshops. Many science, engineering and health programs have an on-campus component.FlexibilityCampus-based courses require that you attend a certain number of classes every week. Online study may require you to meet in chat rooms but generally you can undertake virtual classes whenever and wherever you want. Online offers you more flexibility so that you can work in your own time and at your own pace.How motivated are y ou?One of the hardest things about online study is that you need to be self-motivated and have the ability to work independently. You will also need to be highly organised and be able to set yourself a schedule and stick to it.Resources and facilitiesOnline study is typically cheaper than campus-based study. This is partly because you dont have to pay for facilities such as the library, recreation and dining areas. Most online courses will offer students virtual libraries and resources.So which one is better? The answer will depend on you. Whether you decide to go online or on campus, you need to choose the medium that fits you and your career goals.Still not sure? Have a read of some other articles on the topic On-campus vs off-campus study Tips for studying by distance education Also see the wide range of online courses that are available.Jo Messer is a Career Development Specialist who has many years of experience in supporting and guiding students and graduates of some of Au stralias most respected universities, as well as mature-aged clients, across all facets of their career. She is a Professional Member of CDAA and an active member of NAGCAS. Whether you have a specific question about how to achieve your career goal or something more general, Jo is available to provide you with up-to-date advice. ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health even change the world.Steve Jobs had Bill Campbell as a mentor Bill Gates had Warren Buffett and Mark Zuckerberg had Steve Jobs.

What makes a great startup employee These 9 traits

What makes a great startup employee These 9 traitsWhat makes a great startup employee These 9 traitsIt takes a certain type of personality towant to work at a startup and the crucial qualities of startup employees you decide to hire.When I was 26 years old, one of my closest friends and I decided we were going to start a company. He was still in the process of feinschliff his MBA. I had recently taken the leap from my job as a copywriter working in advertising. And every few weeks he would fly to Chicago (where I was based), or I would fly to Atlanta (where he was based), and wed trade off sleeping on each others couches while brainstorming what our first step was going to be.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreWe called itDigital Press.Over the past two years of building this company, Ive learned a thing or two about the qualities of startup employees you need to lookfor.Ill never forget the day we decided tomake our first hire.He was a freelance writer recommended to me by a friend and we were in the market to start hiring writers and editors (to replace the jobs my co-founder, Drew, and I were performing ourselves). We asked him to meet us at Soho House in Chicago, bestellunged a bottle of red wine to share, and interviewed him by the swimmingpool on the roof. He was a fiction writer with a passion for fantasy and sci-fi (not business writing, which was what we needed), and we were young and inexperienced just hoping someone would trust us enough to follow our vision.We hired him and fired him two months later.Over the next year, Digital Press grew from my co-founder and I to nearly 20 full-time employees, before going through another period of reassessing who we had on the team and why. Those first 1218 months, we were hiring 12 full-time people every single month, month after month. We made some absolutely terrific hires. We made some mistakes. But overal l we learned (and are continuing to learn) what qualities make a truly exceptional startup employee.Here are 9 that come to mind1. A great startup employee has to thrive in organized chaosThis was a phrase a mentor of mine, a startup founder himself, used to say all the time. You have to be OK with organized chaos.What that means is, you have to not expect things to always be set in stone. Obviously, the goal for the organization is to find these grooves and build processes and best practices that scale and age well. But the truth is, a startup is as fragile as a newborn baby. Some days, you wake up and realize, What were building isnt actually scalable. We need to change things now. And the best startup employees not only understand this mentality, but they help you spot issues along the way for the improvement of the whole.2. A great startup employee looks for ways to help beyond their formal job responsibilitiesWhen youre building a company from scratch, there is a never-ending l ist of things that can be done.On any given day, my To Do list ranges from in the weeds tasks like prospective client follow-ups, current client follow-ups, training new employees, putting events on the calendar, etc., all the way to trying to imagine where the business will be in 5 years and how were going to get there. And fluctuating between those two states is extremely mentally taxing.Great startup employees realize they are building their future role at the company. So they take it upon themselves to not only get their own work done, and done exceptionally well, but find other ways to check things off the companys To Do list and add exponential value.For example, our second hire was an Account Managing Editor whose responsibilities included working with clients, outlining and editing pieces, etc. But when she was hired, we had close to no processes in place. Nothing was organized. Documents floated between peoples emails. And she took it upon herself to not only perform her ow n responsibilities but help us organize every single file and document within the company.3. A great startup employee cares more about the team than their individual titleThis was something my own mentor bashed into my brain and Im thankful he did.Your title doesnt matter, hed say to me, over and over again. What matters is your quality of work. What matters is what you bring to the table. Hed go on to rant about how many people call themselves a CEO when, in reality, they zustrom a blog or a Shopify store and their only employee is a virtual assistant and hed used that as an example of how little your title means in the grand scheme of things.Great startup employees also have to understand and internalize this concept.When youre working at a startup, and youre part of building something from scratch, your title will never be able to fully encompass all the different things you do (if youre a high-performer, that is). If you try to come up with a title that is an umbrella to all the different hats you wear, your title wont make sense (both internally and externally). But without some sort of title, its also difficult (internally and externally) for there to be clarity around your individual priorities.The way I try to lead by example here is the fact that I dont refer to my title, period.I never say the phrase, Because Im the founder, thats why. I refuse to call myself a CEO (even though we have investors, a board, and over a dozen full-time employees) because I dont believe thats what matters. The only thing I care about is building the company, putting the team in a position to succeed, and continuing to move forward. Spending even an ounce of energy caring about my own title is a poor use of time and my hope is that everyone else on the team internalizes this same value-first mentality.4. A great startup employee takes chances, learns quickly, and isnt afraid to break things along thewaySomething else my mentor used to say to me was, Cole, Ill never be upse t if you make a mistake. Ill only be upset if you were too afraid to take a chance in the first place.Building a startup is hard because alfruchtwein everything you do is the first time. Youre constantly in exploration mode which means, youre probably going to be fumbling in the dark for a while.A great startup employee thrives in this sort of environment.They take it upon themselves to do some exploring on their own. They bring new ideas to the table, and point out areas for improvement. They try things because they know they can. And most of all, they understand when things need to change at a moments notice.5. A great startup employee has a sense ofurgencyBuilding on the above, one of the most important qualities in a startup (and the people the company hires) is speed.In startup land, a single day can feel like a month. A month can feel like a year. And a year can feel like an eternity. Which means, in order to continue moving forward and making progress in a meaningful directio n, every single team member has to be willing torunandsprintwith things as soon as they become a priority.There isnt time to wait a week. In many cases, tomorrow is too late.The time isnow.6. A great startup employee doesnt measure their value between the hours of 9 and5As a founder, I really work hard to honor peoples personal lives, their weekends, their evenings and their time outside of work.However, I also have a certain expectation for the people who say they want to be part of building something from the ground up. And in order to be a valuable addition to a startup, you have to be OK with the fact that your day wont always start right at 9 and end the moment the clock strikes 5. Some days will start early. Some days will go late. Some weekends, youll even want to get some work done yourself so that you dont have a crazy week ahead.But this is the tradeoff to working for a big, established company, where your role might be more cut and dry. In a startup, you typically have mo re freedom, but you also have higher expectations to live up to. In our case, were a 100% remote company, so employees have the freedom to work from home (or travel and work from an Airbnb).But with that freedom comes the expectation that you provide exponential value.7. A great startup employee doesnt see their role as a job, but as an opportunity to build acareerAs a bootstrapped startup, you have to make decisions with minimum resources. And because you have minimal resources, that means you need to hire people who actuallywantto be part of the vision.The biggest differentiator between high-performing startup employees and everyone else is the way they treat their role. Without fail, weve found that hires who treat their role as a job and nothing more are the ones who dont end up lasting. Either they become unhappy, or its just abundantly clear that they arent someone worth investing time, energy, and resources into. People forget that when you work for a company, the company inv ests alotof money into each and every employee. Tens of thousands of dollars (if not more). So if you have minimal resources, and the way you deploy those resources is what dictates success, then investing in the wrong employee can sometimes mean the difference between life and death.Great startup employees dont see their role as a job.They see it as an opportunity to improve their skills, master their craft, and become a leader in their industry in some form or capacity.8. A great startup employee doesnt encourage drama or start conflictWhen youre building a startup, you run into all sorts of things you dont expect especially when it comes to people.The unfortunate truth is that not everyone you hire is going to be the right cultural fit. Some will interview well, join the company, and then end up becoming a source of toxic energy. Others will appear shy in their interview but turn out to be absolute all stars. Often times, its difficult to know who is going to be the right fit bef ore they walk through the door and start interacting with the team directly.Whats important, though, is how long you let negativity and toxic behavior fester.Great employees, at any size company, are relentlessly positive. Plain and simple. They understand things go awry. They know not every day is going to feel great. They can ride the ups and downs of the journey, keep themselves centered, and be a positive force to the team not a negative one.As a founder, then, it becomes your responsibility to not only hold yourself to this same voreingestellt (and higher), but to also keep a close eye on how your team continues to develop and grow together. Some people wont be long-term fits. Others will only make it a few weeks before you realize youve made a mistake. Whats important is that you acknowledge these bad hires, get them out quickly, and move forward in the direction you know will be best for everyone.9. A great startup employee is willing to sacrifice short-term rewards for the l onger-term payoffBuilding something great takes time.If you want to be able to say you were in on the ground floor before the company reaches its first or second big mountain of success, then you need to realize that means building the floor, cleaning the floor, and helping lay the bricks on the building one by one by one.Early-stage startup employees are a unique and impressive group. Theyre exceedingly intra-preneurial, in the sense that while the original concept for the business might not have been their idea, they are willing to take a certain level of risk to help bring you idea to life. Its amazing to hear people say, I was the 8th employee at Uber, or, I was part of the original 20 at Facebook. In society, these early employees are praised and idolized almost just as much as the founders.If you want to be part of that group though, you have to really internalize that none of those early employees signed themselves up for a job. They believed in the vision. They wanted to be part of the building process. And they dedicated asignificantamount of time and energy into bringing that vision to life.This article first appeared on Medium.

Why nighttime showers can help us sleep better at night

Why nighttime showers can help us sleep better at nightWhy nighttime showers can help us sleep better at nightThe eternal debate is which shower time is superior. Yes, morning showers can wipe off the grime, help you start your day fresh, and can even boost creativity, but for insomniacs who need all the help they can get to reach REM and sleep better, nighttime showers are best. Science backs this up.For those of us who like winding down the day with an evening shower, we can rejoice in knowing that doctors are on our side nighttime showers are better at helping us get a good nights sleep.How nighttime showers improve your chance of sleepingNighttime showers help us sleep more quickly at night because it gets our body temperature into sleep mode. Our temperatures naturally rise during the day and fall at night to keep in sync with our circadian rhythm. Taking a thermisch shower before bedtime quickly raises and lowers your temperature, accelerating your cool-down. During the sticky hot summer months, having a way to artificially cool yourself can be key to getting a good nights sleep.Besides helping us sleep, the steamy, hot shower can also help us release some tension from the day. But when to time it? At least 90 minutes before bed, doctors say. Showering 1.5-2 hours before bed will warm your body and then also allow you to experience a more pronounced dip in body temperature, which promotes sleep,Elizabeth Culnan, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow in Behavioral Sleep Medicine, Rush University Medical Center said.You can get a similar sleep effect if you are more of a bath lover. One study found that daily bathing or a hot footbath before bedtime helped people fall asleep more quickly.Why nighttime showers can help us sleep better at nightThe eternal debate is which shower time is superior. Yes, morning showers can wipe off the grime, help you start your day fresh, and can even boost creativity, but for insomniacs who need all the help they can get to reach REM and sleep better, nighttime showers are best. Science backs this up.For those of us who like winding down the day with an evening shower, we can rejoice in knowing that doctors are on our side nighttime showers are better at helping us get a good nights sleep.How nighttime showers improve your chance of sleepingNighttime showers help us sleep more quickly at night because it gets our body temperature into sleep mode. Our temperatures naturally rise during the day and fall at night to keep in sync with our circadian rhythm. Taking a warm shower before bedtime quickly raises and lowers your temperature, accelerating your cool-down.During the sticky hot summer months, having a way to artificially cool yourself can be key to getting a good nights sleep.Besides helping us sleep, the steamy, hot shower can also help us release some tension from the day. But when to time it? At least 90 minutes before bed, doctors say.Showering 1.5-2 hours before bed will warm your body and then also allow yo u to experience a more pronounced dip in body temperature, which promotes sleep,Elizabeth Culnan, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow in Behavioral Sleep Medicine, Rush University Medical Center said.You can get a similar sleep effect if you are more of a bath lover. One study found that daily bathing or a hot footbath before bedtime helped people fall asleep more quickly.This story was originally published on August 23, 2018.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

11 Companies Offering Free Lunch

11 Companies Offering Free Lunch11 Companies Offering Free Lunch Lets be honest packing a lunch for work isnt always easy- but eating at the corner caf every day is a quick way to rack up a credit card bill. Thats just one reason why companies offering free lunches to their employees are so beloved. If youd rather skip the sack (or a mounting credit card bill), here are 11 companies youll definitely want to apply to today. Where Hiring Lehi, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and moreDetails Included among its many perks- think subsidized transit and on-site yoga- Ancentry.com also offers healthy snacks, fresh fruit, a wide range of drinks, catered lunches, and other food options, according to the companys website . Where Hiring Reno, Waltham, and moreDetails At Vistaprint, youll find everything from free lunch trucks and snacks, fitness benefits, and of course the infamous Vistabreak, the company writes on its website . Where Hiring Los Angeles, New York, San Fran cisco, Details Spotify offers both free lunches and snacks, according to its Glassdoor profile . One employee boasts in an online review that, the food options are ridiculously delicious and free. Every Friday employees get a taste of international cuisines to switch it up. Details According to Squarespaces website , at the office, we provide daily gourmet lunches, yoga sessions, and chair massages. And so many snacks. Yum Where Hiring Austin, New York, Portland, San Francisco, and moreDetails Lithium Technologies hosts free lunches as one of its perks on its Glassdoor profile , with one employee saying the meals are, great, top quality free lunches and breakfasts.Where Hiring New York, Redwood City, San Deigo, San Francisco, and moreDetails Free lunches and snacks are available to employees at Munchery, according to its Glassdoor profile . Employees concur, with one saying , Lots of snacks and catered lunches. Where Hiring Brentwood, Columbus, Denver, New York, Orla ndo, Tulsa, and moreDetails According to Chipotles website , every employee gets a free shift meal. And when theyre bedrngnis working, employees enjoy a 50 percent discount on food and soft drinks too. Where Hiring Atlanta, Chandler, Plano, and moreDetails Not only does Zos Kitchen offer its employees free lunches, according to its Glassdoor profile , but you are encouraged to sit down with your work family and discuss life, an employee writes . This allows you to establish relationships that lead to trust.Where Hiring Aurora, Austin, Dallas, Nashville, Smyrna, West Palm Beach, and moreDetails Employees report enjoying free breakfasts, lunches, and dinners at Hyatt Hotels, while some say a nominal fee- $1 to $2 per meal- is required to eat at the properties. Details ClearPath Lending provides family luncheons every Friday for our staff, the company writes on its Glassdoor profile . We also hold monthly company events to show our genuine appreciation for our employees.Whe re Hiring Durham, New York, San Jose, and moreDetails According to its Glassdoor profile , Nutanix offers employees free lunches and snacks. As one employee succinctly describes, good food and coffee and plenty of it.