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Your #Career : 4 Ways To Get More Meaning And Value From Your Career Starting Today…The Ingredient that’s Absent from So many Thousands of People’s Careers is ‘Meaning’ – the Feeling & Heartfelt Sense that what They are Doing has a Strong Purpose, a Positive Impact in the World, & Offers Something to People that Will Make a Difference, & have Lasting Value.

July 18, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

I hear from scores of professionals each week with every complaint you can imagine about their jobs, work-life challenges, and their unfulfilling careers. Surprisingly, there is one ingredient these careers are missing that causes the most long-term pain and concern (excluding toxicity, abuse and mistreatment).

The ingredient that’s absent from so many thousands of people’s careers is meaning – the feeling and heartfelt sense that what they are doing has a strong purpose, a positive impact in the world, and offers something to people that will make a difference, and have lasting value.

Most professionals believe that they have to chuck their entire careers and start over, in order to find more meaning in their work. They often fantasize about doing something creative or altruistic (like start a non-profit, join the Peace Corps, work on a communal farm, write a book, start a bed and breakfast, or move to another country entirely) to bring more meaning into their work. But they are often mistaken. You don’t have to uproot your entire life and career to create more meaning and value. You can do it literally starting today, wherever you are.

In fact, I’d go so far as to say if you are thinking of running as far away as possible from your current career, to something radically different in order to create more meaning, you should stop in your tracks and do some powerful inner and outer work before you take the next step.

Here are four critical steps to creating more meaning in your work right now:

Dimensionalize “meaning” for you

Each and every one of us is different in terms of what we care about. What matters to us deeply, and what brings us a sense of being valuable and helpful in the world, is shaped by many influences, including:

– your childhood

– your ancestry

– your cultural training

– the people you care for and respect

– the problems in the world that hurt your heart

– the traumas you’ve experienced and the triumphs in your life

– your special and amazing talents and gifts that come easily to you

– the way in which you operate in the world

– your personality (including extroversion or introversion, positive mindset, action style, etc.)

… and much more.

You can’t create more meaning in your life and work if you don’t understand yourself intimately or know what matters to you personally, at a very deep level.

I’m always surprised when professionals can’t identify what matters to them, or what they’re great at. Often, this lack of self-awareness points to a significant internal block– that they were somehow suppressed in childhood, and/or punished for thinking for themselves. Overly-protective, critical or narcissist parents are highly threatened by children who try to act and think independently. And it can go very badly for the child or young adult who wants to strike out on his/her own.

If you’re blocked internally and can’t get to the heart of what you care about and what makes you you, then the way you were raised might have had a strong hand in your inability to understand yourself and what matters to you most. (Read more on how being raised by a narcissist alters our ability to think for ourselves).

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Don’t wait for meaning to fall in your lap – seize it

Step 2 in this process involves expanding your own accountability. It’s critical to realize that whatever you want in life won’t just fall in your lap – you have to go out and proactively get it. That takes clarity, confidence, courage and connection, and those four elements don’t just happen to us. We have to take the time to build our internal strength, and expand our repertoire of external behaviors in a way that will allow us to create and attract what we want.

So, to build more meaning in your work today, first identify the shortest avenue to doing more meaningful work, in your current situation. Ask to join a new task force at work, start a new project, volunteer to be part of a team that is doing something you care about, research a new direction for the organization that you could oversee. It’s easier than you think. Talk to your manager about what you’d like to get involved with, and get his/her support to pursue a new direction within your role that would excite you and offer something of value to the organization.

If you believe that’s not possible within your role, then start interviewing outside and networking expansively. Identify clearly what you’re looking to be a part of, and talk to anyone and everyone you can find who might be helpful. Get more clarity on exactly what you could be doing differently that would feel meaningful and purposeful to you, and start doing it.

As an example, I’m a trained coach and marriage and family therapist, and I’ve always had a therapeutic lens to my work. But this year, I decided to add a new healing dimension to my coaching, and am making strides to do that. It’s truly not hard, once you realize what you want, and muster the courage to go out and find new ways to bring more meaning into your daily life.

Ask for higher-level help – find mentors and sponsors at a higher level of thinking and operating

What keeps the majority of unhappy professionals stuck for years is that they’re trying to solve their problem on the level of consciousness that created it, and that’s impossible. You have to ask for help, but the “right” kind of help. We hear constantly about the need and value of finding mentors and sponsors to support us, and this is not an empty cliché. It’s vitally important that you get help from people who are demonstrating a higher level of thinking and behavior than you’re currently accessing.

To find powerful mentors, don’t ask a stranger. Put yourself directly into the circle (either in person or online) where these people are interacting and connecting, and make yourself valuable to them there. Don’t reach out with your hand out – but connect from the heart, and find authentic, generous ways in which you can support their work and demonstrate your value to them. (Here’s more on how to find a wonderful mentor who will open amazing doors for you.)

Finally, stop procrastinating and making excuses, and start doing and being

In the past four years, I’ve witnessed a phenomenon that blows my mind around fatal procrastination. Here’s one example – I run online career courses and when they’re promoted, there are deadlines for people to enroll. Each time I promote a course, a good percentage enroll within the last 5-10 minutes of the deadline. Five minutes. And still others write me days after the deadline, apologizing for their delay (with all sorts of excuses), asking me to extend the deadline. Then half of those people don’t end up pulling the trigger.

Procrastination is a fatal behavior, because you’re continually killing off important opportunities to grow and become who you want to be. Yes, it’s scary and intimidating to make change and stretch. That’s the human condition. But only when you can act in the face of your fears and insecurity can you ever build a life and career that is full of meaning for you. Why? Because pursuing what is meaningful to you is a heart- and spirit-centered endeavor, and when our hearts and spirits are involved, there’s a lot at risk and we’re frightened of blowing it. But those who have built great meaning in their life found a way to push through the deep fears and resistance, and pulled themselves out of their comfort zones. They finally did something bold. But bold doesn’t have to mean throwing your entire life and career out. Bold can be one small but significant step.

In the end, if you continue to resist becoming more accountable — and taking concrete action — to create more meaning in your life, then you’ll persist in pushing away any chance of having it.

Forbes.com | July 18, 2016 | Kathy Caprino

#Leadership : Determine Your Life’s Purpose in 10 Minutes. What’s yours? ….. Are we Spending our ‘Time’ Doing What we were Really Put on this Earth to Do?

July 18, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

There are activities in life that no matter how much time you spend on them, or how intensely you focus on them, they give you energy. These are the activities that you need to invest time in, for they provide the path to fulfilling your purpose in life.

What’s my purpose in life? It’s an easy question to ponder and lose time contemplating. We’ve all been guilty of dwelling on it at some point. Those who know their purpose and go after it with conviction, they seem so “lucky,” while the rest of us are lost in a world of gray, moving from day to day wondering if what we do really matters, if we’re spending our time doing what we were really put on this earth to do.

But the search for our purpose isn’t some impossible philosophical exercise. Nor is it something that you need to spend your whole life searching for and struggling to determine. Because you already know the answer, and you’ve actually known it your entire life. It’s right in front of your nose. Or perhaps more accurately, it’s within your nose, through your lungs and at the core of your central nervous system.

The answer is the same for everyone yet different at the same time. The answer is: Energy.

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But not just any energy.

As human beings, we have been given countless and miraculous gifts. God, the universe, the universal mind – whatever you want to call it based on whatever you believe — gave us the spectacular gift of life. And not just any life. A unique life. A life that, while connected to everyone else, is uniquely ours.

And after the gift of life – which is certainly our greatest gift – the second greatest gift is the gift of Energy.

I’m not talking about the superficial (and lowercase) energy you get from coffee or going for a run, or after receiving a compliment or recognition.

I’m talking about the Energy at the core of your being, the Energy you were given before birth, and the Energy that makes you unique. The Energy that you’re either working with in life or against. The Energy that you either obey – because you know that your purpose in life is going with its flow — or the Energy you don’t recognize, leading to a life of enduring pain.

The Energy that was given to you as your day-in and day-out guide to fulfilling your purpose in life.

You see, the simplest way to know if you’re fulfilling your purpose in life is to ask yourself “How painful are my days? How hard and taxing is my work?” If your answer to these questions is anything on the medium to high scale, you’re not living your purpose.

You were designed to fulfill a certain purpose. It’s not something you create in your life. This purpose existed before you were born. To fulfill this purpose, you need to follow what your Energy is telling you. How do you know if you’re not paying attention?

When people go with the flow of their Energy, life seems almost too easy, too effortless. When you’re going against the flow of your Energy, everything seems needlessly difficult.

There are activities in life that no matter how much time you spend on them, or how intensely you focus on them, they give you energy. These are the activities that you need to invest time in, for they provide the path to fulfilling your purpose in life.

Then there are other activities in life – and this makes up the majority of activities, or all those outside of your unique abilities — that no matter what, drain you of energy. Regardless of how much you try to optimize your efforts, plan for their success or train to improve in them, these activities just suck the life out of you. There is nothing that can be done to make these activities align with your Energy, and thus you’re not fulfilling your purpose in life while engaged in them.

As human beings, it’s so easy for us to ignore our strengths because we don’t see them as strengths. Our strengths can feel deceptively insignificant, like everyone in the world possesses them. But they don’t. In fact, your most effortless activities will be the most impressive to others. And this has always been the universe’s plan.

If you’re operating within your strengths – or in alignment with your Energy — your activities will feel effortless. In the beginning it will feel like you’re not doing anything special, but stop connecting your level of pain with your level of impact. Instead, do what comes naturally to you, and allow your results to be your feedback.

When you’re invested in your strengths, abiding by your Energy, and avoiding those things that are so obviously not you, the results will blow beyond anything you’ve experienced before. It’s not going to happen overnight. Results in the physical world lag the immediate results we can experience in the spiritual and mental world, but it will happen. After all, our physical reality is nothing but a reflection of our former thinking, a reflection of our former alignment to our own unique Energy.

We’ve been brought-up to believe that you should push yourself out of your comfort zone. That you need to endure pain, suffering and back-breaking work to achieve success and fulfillment. And while massive sacrifice, a steadfast commitment toward your compelling future and significant time spent working within your unique ability are essential to achieving success, the point is that it doesn’t have to be painful.

Does this mean you shouldn’t work hard? Does this mean that you shouldn’t train to constantly get better? Does this mean that the achievement that you seek will come immediately? No, definitely not.

It simply means that the work you do should resonate with your Energy. Your activities should give you back more energy than you put in. You should feel exhausted at the end of the day, but not from pain and stress, but rather because the Energy in your core is overheating and needs to be recharged overnight to allow you to attack the next day with even more gusto.

Here’s three steps to finding your purpose in life.

Write down what activities (or activity) in life gives you more energy than you put in.

These are the activities where you can completely max out and use up your physical energy, and by doing so, you create more energy, making you simply want to do more. These activities “feel right,” and even though you work intensely on them, it feels effortless. The tough times, no matter how tough, are worthwhile. It’s never a matter of “if” these activities will produce the right results, but “when.” These activities follow the following principal:

Mental and spiritual energy out > physical energy in

I recommend conducting this exercise with other people close to you and who support your betterment. As stated above, it can be very difficult for people to identify their own strengths and unique abilities.

For me, that which gives me the greatest energy is speaking, inspiring, writing and teaching on the topics of human connection, high performance and life optimization. When I do this, I’m on fire, meaning I’m a better leader, a better husband, a better friend and everything in my life seems to have intense clarity. For this reason, I’ve learned that my purpose in life – what my Energy is guiding me to do — is to proactively drive others to become better versions of themselves.

Write down the activities in life that drain you of energy.

Be honest with yourself.

We have been ingrained to think we should be good at certain things. Leaders should be great managers, but this is not necessarily true. We’re taught to think, “If I don’t excel at operations, I’ll never be able to build a great company.” False. “As a CEO I should be the company’s best sales person.” Who said that?

The point it that there is no should. There is simply what vibes with you and what doesn’t. There are your unique abilities, and then there’s everything else. Stop pretending that you like certain activities when you hate them. Stop putting your weaknesses ahead of your strengths. Have the courage to be ok with not liking everything and not being good at everything. Only when you do this is true greatness – your true purpose in life — possible.

Obey your Energy.

Or more specifically, immediately start to figure out how to do more of No. 1 and less of No. 2. And once you’re Energy-aligned, give it everything you’ve got.

Just because you’re Energy-aligned and fulfilling your purpose in life, it doesn’t mean that everything will be perfect. It doesn’t mean that you’ll be great or even really good at what you do. But it does mean that you’ll feel good and that things will feel right. And with a commitment and a trust that the Energy inside you isn’t all for naught, but rather is a guide for you to fulfill your full potential, you’ll eventually create what you were meant to create. You’ll make the magic you are supposed to make. You’ll be, and become great.

Because your purpose in life is a never-ending journey. Those who recognize their Energy and are guided by it will always know their purpose and will be able to get back on track when an errant drifting-off occurs. Your purpose in life is not to do one thing, but rather, to be you.

You’re a human being, not a human doing, and your purpose is to be the human your Energy guides you to be every single day.

Entrepreneur.com | July 15, 2016 | Sean Kelly

#Leadership : How To Improve Your Decision Making Skills…In Order for the Brain to Make Decisions, it Often Relies on Short Cuts.

July 17, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Sometimes we may not have all the necessary information available, other times we only use a limited amount of information offered. This means we regularly make decisions based on just a few facts or what first comes to mind based on our previous experience and knowledge. These strategies are known as heuristics and can be useful for speed and agility, but can also lead to all sorts of errors. It is therefore, useful to be aware of this.

To empower everyone this way will lead to all employees making better decisions quickly and effectively. And think how much life at work will be improved.

If you know that you, like everyone else, is susceptible to cognitive heuristics you can take this into account when making important decisions and seek more information than you think you needed in the first place. It sounds obvious, but is not always acted upon.

Think of an everyday business scenario. You’re confident in your ability to interview people and select the right candidate for the job. You spend time with your new employee, explaining the ethos of the company and what needs to be done. In fact, you pride yourself on your ability to delegate.

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As far as you are concerned you have laid the foundations for success, so why is their ability to make a decision so hard, even on relatively minor things? In fact, it’s driving you to distraction because people are just not thinking for themselves and making a responsible judgment.

Very little is done without a decision being made, so it’s vital that everyone in your team is able to make decisions quickly and skilfully. If you or your people hesitate for too long, money can be lost and morale can plummet. And in our fast-changing world this is more important today than ever before.

Every employee must not only be capable, but also feel confident and clear in making decisions quickly within the guidelines of basic company policy. Of course, the bigger problems will need to be presented to the next level of management. But for everyday challenges the agility of each person’s judgements is vital for a company to run smoothly.

There will be times however, that a decision proves to be difficult and more time is needed. Time for seeking informed opinions from others is sensible, because a poor decision is of no benefit to anyone.

So how do we help our people to develop better decision making skills?

Being aware of how the brain has a preference for short cuts is a useful start. But it is also important that everyone who works for your company understands the bigger picture, the reasons you are selling your particular products or services, where the business wants to be in 6 months, 1 year and 5 years time. When everyone is aware of the ‘grand plan’ they will know where they fit in the great scheme and how they can contribute. This kind of clarity leads to sensible decisions being made.

This can be extended to where the business fits in society and how it benefits others. When we have a balanced outlook on life we are empowered to calmly work things out from experience.

Calm leads to the fourth enabler for decision making. When we work on the first three suggestions printed here, we are more likely to be stress free. If we become chronically stressed, cortisol the stress hormone interferes with our memory, motivation and ability to think clearly. It makes sense therefore, to put these foundations in place so as to remain calm, efficient and even healthy.

To recap, the four suggestions offered are:

Be aware of cognitive heuristics – ask more questions and gather more data than you originally thought you needed.
Make sure everyone in the business is aware of the bigger picture and how they can contribute well.
Look further out to society in general and where the business benefits others. This knowledge and experience will empower improved decision making.
These first three tips will help you stay calm and not succumb to disenabling stressors.

To empower everyone this way will lead to all employees making better decisions quickly and effectively. And think how much life at work will be improved.

Forbes.com | July 17, 2016 | Lynda Shaw

Your #Career : What I Learned When I Got Laid Off In A City I’d Just Moved…To This Texas Transplant’s Position was Cut just as She was Settling into her New York job, But it Actually Opened up her Options.

July 17, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

When I moved to New York city to take a job as a creative director in 2014, I was ecstatic. After purging at least 70% of my belongings, I happily traded shoe-melting Dallas summers for eyelash-freezing New York winters.

It was the first time I’d lived anywhere outside of Texas, so adjusting to my new home and the unsettling lack of Tex-Mex took longer than expected. Then, just about the time I started to feel settled into my new city, I got laid off. Here’s what it taught me.

GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH UNEMPLOYMENT

The first two weeks of unemployment were the worst. I hadn’t had time to build a New York–based professional network anywhere near the size of the one I’d had in Dallas. Despite that, I still managed to get enough support to update my portfolio, survive a nasty fight with depression and anxiety, and land a freelance gig as a creative director.

I hadn’t had time to build a New York–based professional network anywhere near the size of the one I’d had in Dallas.

Some of my ad-industry buddies insist that freelancing in New York is the only way to go. There are tons of opportunities, and you can make a ton of money doing it if you can stomach inconsistent gigs (which I cannot) and if you love networking (which I do not): I need to know exactly how much my next check is going to be and when I’m going to get it. And the thought of saying things like, “Lemme shoot you my contact info so we can have a convo about those opps!” to multiple cocktail-holding industry strangers makes me want to run screaming into a busy intersection.

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Luckily, the contract I took was a solid one-month commitment that, thanks to following my favorite four-word rule, turned into two months and, eventually, a full-time offer. The freelance opportunity helped me with so much more than paying rent. I made amazing new connections, got a fresh (and desperately needed) boost of self-esteem, and had the chance I needed to decide what I really wanted to be doing and where I wanted to do it.

Feeling like this particular full-time job just wasn’t right for me, I declined the offer. But with my newfound confidence I decided to try to find that perfect fit—and, like most things in life, it played out a bit differently than I’d imagined it would.

LOCATION, VOCATION, LOCATION

It’s always easier to find a new job when you have one. Negotiating for a better salary, title, and benefits doesn’t work nearly as well when you’re making $0, your title is “unemployed,” and the only benefit you have is being able to send emails from your phone in bed all day. During my new agency contract, I had the luxury of investigating alternative options, knowing the freelance gig could turn into a full-time gig if I wanted it.

Because I wasn’t afraid of unemployment anymore, I had the confidence to ask tough questions that I knew might make people uncomfortable (calling out bad reviews from former employees, for example). I countered existing job descriptions with the ones I actually wanted. I developed proposals around the salary band I thought I deserved based on market research and help from recruiter friends, and used facts and figures to push for it.

I began turning interviewers into interviewees, asking them questions about their company’s vision of the future, and determining whether I wanted to be part of it. I focused less on getting in with the big-name agencies and more on finding a spot that felt like the best fit for me.

“NEW YORK I LOVE YOU, BUT YOU’RE BRINGING ME DOWN”

Back when I only visited New York for business trips, I saw the city as a magical wonderland of art, theater, and intense connections. But as a resident, I saw it as a crowded, angry place that taught me to keep my head down, walk fast, and stay guarded. On the one hand, that was disappointing. On the other, it piqued my curiosity about places I’d previously dismissed.

Being scared is always better than being stuck.

A native Texan, I spent my formative years in Dallas devouring queso, chugging sweet tea, and enjoying the fact that 90% of my family lived within an hour radius of me. As a 15-month Brooklyn resident, I’d captured hundreds of short stories inspired by people on my subway commute, discovered the value of weatherproof boots, and tapped into an energy unlike any I’d experienced before.

Now I had a chance to try something completely different. New sights. New stories. New people. And the way that thought got my heart pumping was enough to counteract the dread of packing and moving once again.

Eventually, I got a call from an interested Seattle-based recruiter. Had I received it prior to my New York adventure, I likely would’ve turned down the opportunity. But because I already knew the excitement a cross-country move could offer, I was open to the idea.

I found what turned out to be the perfect fit: an agency I’d never heard of in a city I never thought I’d live in. Through two months of deep, honest conversations with everyone from the recruiter to the CEO, I’d found a place where I felt I could make a difference.

Was I terrified about packing up and moving across the country yet again? Absolutely. Would I want it any other way? No way. Being scared is always better than being stuck.

FastCompany.com | KATE KEMP, MONSTER | 07.13.16

Your #Career : Pro Tips for Getting into a Great MBA Program from a Consultant Who Charges Thousands of Dollars for Advice…Remember that EVERYTHING Counts — Every Interaction or Lack of Interaction with your Target Schools will be Considered. Be Sure to Manage your Entire Process with Professionalism.

July 16, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

It’s less than two months to go until the round-one deadline at the country’s top MBA program. Harvard Business School (HBS) has the earliest application deadline with round-one applications for Fall 2017 entry due on September 7.

Business Insider caught up with Stacy Blackman, the CEO of aleading MBA-admissions advisoryfirm, to get some advice on how applicants can get into the program of their dreams.

With the GMAT, application, essays, references, and interviews, it can be a pretty daunting process.

Here Blackman reveals her top tips for MBA applicants on how to stay ahead:

Research all types of programs.

Business schools are changing leadership, revamping programs and reinventing themselves. International programs are blooming and there is an option for everyone. Do your research to determine what is best for you. Applicants should visit campuses and speak with faculty, current students and former students to determine if a particular school is the right place for them.

Consider taking the GRE.

More and more schools are accepting this in lieu of the GMAT, and since GRE scores are not currently reported out, schools may be more likely to take a risk on a low GRE score.

Choose your references wisely.

Just because you passed JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon in the lobby once, doesn’t mean he is qualified to write your rec.JPMorgan Chase shareholder letter

Choose a recommender for the MBA applications who knows you well and is supportive of your application, as opposed to a prestigious “name” who has little insight into your personality and skills.

Many applicants treat recommendations as a “drop-off-and-forget” part of an application or ask the wrong person to participate. An applicant should select a person who knows them personally and then share his or her essays and other information, to help them best support the applicant in a recommendation.

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Use fresh eyes.

Engage the help of a “reviewer” to review the B-school application. Even when not working with a consultant, a friend or a colleague can provide a fresh perspective on an application. Leave time to incorporate their feedback.

Having too many people review and comment on an application, however, is a mistake. Applicants should pick a few trusted advisers and work with them, or their essay could be become a watered-down “essay by committee” and show less about them as an individual.

Show leadership.

Choose to highlight stories that demonstrate leadership and impact, as opposed to simple involvement. Stories can come from work or any number of experiences outside of work.

Be real.

Don’t hide failures and mistakes. Provide an explanation and lessons learned, using these experiences to demonstrate resilience, growth, and self-awareness. Failing to address obvious weaknesses, such as low test scores or a blemish on your academic record, is a mistake many applicants make.

No one is perfect, and admissions officers often are interested in what an applicant learned from a mistake. If an applicant does not proactively explain, admissions officers will come to their own conclusions.

Discuss the why.

Discuss the WHY behind your stories, not just the WHAT. Why you did certain things or made certain choices is much more interesting and will help the admissions committee get to know the real you.

Practice out loud.

Prepare thoroughly for the in-person admissions interview, including practicing out loud.

Anticipate questions, and practice. Many elite business schools are also introducing the online video essay, where applicants have 60 seconds to answer a question via video.

Be professional from beginning to end.

Remember that EVERYTHING counts — every interaction or lack of interaction with your target schools will be considered. Be sure to manage your entire process with professionalism.

Specialize.

Don’t wear too many hats. Admissions officers sometimes wonder how applicants have time to develop a PowerPoint presentation in between the oil painting, tutoring, skiing, sky diving, Farsi speaking, flower arranging, foreign-film watching, blogging, environment saving, meal delivering, judo-ing, and overseas traveling he or she “supposedly” engages in every week.

MBA programs want a well-rounded class made up of specialists – emphasize a couple important aspects of your background rather than trying to be master of everything. Good admissions officers can spot a fake a mile off. It’s important that an applicant show his or her true self.

Businessinsider.com | July 16, 2016 |

Tina Wadhwa

#Leadership : Team Building; 5 Understandable Reasons Why Your Co-workers Are on Your Nerves…We, in General, Tend to Attribute our Actions as the Cause for other Events or Reactions Happening. Often This is Not the Case.

July 15, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

While we all have good days and bad days, some people seem to be more difficult on a regular basis than others.

Sometimes this seems to just be who they are from a personality point of view. They have a rather negative mindset. They’re grumpy. They don’t smile much and just have a dark cloud that follows them around. Then there are others, who recently seem more touchy and easily offended than they usually are. Their moodiness can be confusing to others and offensive as well.

As a psychologist, I tend to notice how many people attribute others’ behavior and reactions (or even general life events) to their own actions. That is, we, in general, tend to attribute our actions as the cause for other events or reactions happening. Often this is not the case.

Instead, frame your response in the sense of “It seems…” or “I’ve noticed…,” which makes your comment a bit softer. Then ask a question that communicates your concern for them, such as “Are you okay?”

In fact, there is fairly good research showing that people tend to over attribute their influence on the world around them and even their own lives. By the way, this is the basis of superstitions – developing a habit of wearing the same shirt, jeans and sitting in the same place that you did when your team won a big game, hoping it will bring luck, and they’ll win again.

While I’m usually an advocate for individuals taking a look at their own behavior and accepting responsibility for their actions, in this case, I actually believe it’s best to put ourselves and our actions at the back of the line with regards to the potential reasons why our co-workers may seem prickly and easily offended.

Here are some alternative reasons to explore why your colleague may seem rather testy and annoyed.

1. They may not feel well.
Often people become surlier when they don’t feel well physically. This can come from lack of sleep, a medical issue they’re dealing with or chronic pain. It may be that they have started to struggle with migraines, lower back pain or some other issue. Many employees don’t talk about how they feel physically; and so, those of us around them don’t really know that they don’t feel well.

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2. They may have issues going on in their personal life.

When we are dealing with stressful issues in our life, the emotional resources demanded to deal with these issues is significant, and we get worn out. Again, many people won’t share their personal issues; especially, if they are not asked about them. So there may be something going on in the background of your colleague’s life that you don’t know about.

This could include relationship difficulties, struggles with their children or adolescents, financial pressures or extended family issues. When we feel pressed in our personal life, many of us become more annoyed at work in response to what would otherwise be a normal demand.

3. They may feel anxious or fearful.
Irritability, a mild form of being angry or upset, can be a cover for other underlying thoughts and emotions. In our culture, many people have been taught – either directly or indirectly — that it’s not appropriate to express negative feelings. Therefore, they try to keep those feelings inside. Two of these common feelings is anxiety and fear. Our culture has shaped most of us to believe that it’s not acceptable to be anxious or fearful. Therefore, we tend to suppress our feelings, and the anxiety is expressed through being prickly and grouchy in response to other people.

4. They may be frustrated.
Sometimes people become crabby when they’re frustrated either with their life, their job or some specific issue going on at work. Frustrated is an interesting word because it is used in two different ways in our culture.

In many settings, when someone is frustrated, it is a nice way of saying they are a little bit angry. The other meaning of frustrated is to feel blocked – like you can’t reach the goal you are trying to achieve. Frustration can lead us to negatively react to any situation, regardless of whether it’s directly related to the issue about which we are frustrated. That is, we react in a quick-tempered manner to a situation that’s not directly related to what we are frustrated about.

5. They may not feel valued.
When employees don’t feel valued, either by their supervisor, management or their colleagues, a common response is for them to become increasingly irritable, moody and easily offended. One type of frustration is when we believe our colleagues should value what we do and contribute, but we don’t seem to hear much positive feedback.

In our work with the 5 Languages of Appreciation, we help individuals identify their primary language of appreciation; that is, the way in which they prefer to receive appreciation. Interestingly, we also found that employees are most easily offended when a message is sent – unintentionally — via their primary language that hurts them in some way.

For example, people who value verbal praise are also quite sensitive to any critique or criticism. And those who value quality time are easily offended when they feel left out.

How should you respond?
While it is helpful to know possible reasons for the surliness of your colleagues, the question remains: What should I do?

A helpful response may be: I’ve noticed that you seem somewhat more easily annoyed recently. Are you okay? Is there anything going on that would be helpful for me to know about?

Conversely, it is not helpful to be accusatory or speak in a factual tone of voice, saying something like: You have been incredibly grouchy lately. What’s up with that?

Instead, frame your response in the sense of “It seems…” or “I’ve noticed…,” which makes your comment a bit softer. Then ask a question that communicates your concern for them, such as “Are you okay?”

Be forewarned, you may or may not get a positive response – especially immediately. Try not to react in a defensive or antagonistic way. In fact, what often happens is a colleague will come back to you later and explain what’s going on after they have thought about your inquiry and concern for them.

Entrepreneur.com | July 15, 2016 | Paul White, Psychologist, Speaker, Trainer

Your #Career : 9 Business Ideas Under $1,000 You Can Run From Anywhere…Technology Exists to make Remote Working Convenient, so If you Want the Digital-Nomad Lifestyle & Don’t have a Lot of Startup Cash, here are 9 Low-Cost Business Ideas you Can Start from Anywhere.

July 14, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Looking to start a business and refuse to be tied down to an office? Turns out you can start a company from the comfort of your own home — or better yet, from an exotic far-flung beach — for under $1,000.

How is that possible you might ask? Technology. Maria Dykstra, co-founder of TreDigital, a digital growth agency based in Washington D.C., has built her company around technology and allows her employees to work remotely.

“A lot of how we work is online,” she says. “We use Google Docs, a lot. File sharing, video sharing, conferencing, emailing.”

Being comfortable with technology is incredibly important to making a digital business successful, as well as letting customers know that you are traveling.

And despite what most people think, travel can be relatively inexpensive. According to Nomad List, a website that ranks cities for digital nomad friendliness and cost, you can travel and live in some of the best cities for digital nomads at relatively low cost. For example, Bangkok for $1,079 a month, Prague for $899 and Budapest for $1,010.

Technology exists to make remote working convenient, so if you want the digital-nomad lifestyle and don’t have a lot of startup cash, here are 9 low-cost business ideas you can start from anywhere.

1. WEBSITE DESIGNER

To be a web designer, you just need a laptop, a hard drive and WiFi. It’s no secret that having a well-put together website is a crucial element for running a successful company, which means that being a web designer is a skill you can cash in on from anywhere.

“Your website is your first impression,” Michael White, president and owner of White Media, says.

Don’t freak out if you don’t have all the coding skills required. White says that creativity is more important. Coding and SEO knowledge can be acquired through classes, self-taught study or mentorship, so if you have an eye for art and design, this business is possible for you.

“This industry comes down to how creative someone can be,” White says.

A web design company has low startup costs, according to the founder of the web development business Lounge Lizard, Ken Braun, who founded his company with only $50 a month by buying a small text link ad to promote his services on other websites.

“That $50 a month investment netted clients around the world and turned Lounge Lizard into a seven-figure company within 10 months,” Braun says.

Both Lounge Lizard and White Media focus on unique designs and customer service to differentiate them from other companies. The key to standing out in this competitive market is to find a style that shows personality and attention-to-detail for each customer. And stay away from cookie-cutter templates.

“Focus on the quality of work. It’s all about customer service and custom designs,” White advises.

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2. ACCOUNTANT

Believe it or not, you aren’t the only one who doesn’t want to spend long hours in an office or at meetings. If you like numbers, but aren’t into putting a suit and tie on every morning, think about being an online accountant. All you need is a laptop, accounting certfication and a phone.

“Entrepreneurs don’t want to be tasked with driving to hour long in-person meetings to take care of the mundane tasks that go hand-in-hand with running a business anymore,” says Ian Crosby, cofounder and CEO of Bench, an online bookkeeping company.

Crosby notes that to be a successful online company, customer service through communication is incredibly important.

“What we’ve found is that tech-friendly entrepreneurs aren’t looking for [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][in-depth conversations] anymore,” Crosby says. “They’re looking for fast, convenient and delightful communication. None of which can be achieved in an hour-long meeting in a tube-lit office space.”

3. MATCHMAKING SERVICE

We aren’t just talking about talking about Tinder or eHarmony. A matchmaking service can be any form of technology that matches businesses or individuals with the services they require. This business can be run from anywhere, because it can all be done online.

One way to run a successful matchmaking business is to make expertise available to companies when they need it fast like Zintro, a website that matches companies to experts for projects, phone consults and job offers to its customers.

Zintro’s cofounder Enrique Levin says that the way the business works is that customers will submit a project, and then experts will reply with a summary of their qualifications and a bid as to why they would be the best candidate for the job. This makes it easy for users to hire an expert without having to go to many places.

The best part? Zintro is run entirely online. Levin says most of his interactions with customers are through the phone or email.

4. TECH SUPPORT

Not everyone is tech savvy, which means that technical support companies are a great way to make some money. This may require time spent in the field, showing up at businesses or homes to help troubleshoot issues, but you can still run this company from anywhere.

Daniel Gagnon, president and cofounder of TekHattan Holdings, a company that specializes in IT support in New York City, capitalized on that concept three years ago. Gagnon and cofounder, Alexander Hernandez, were working as a senior manager and IT Technician (respectively) for CityMD while doing IT support on the side.

However, their side business grew following customer referrals, so they quit their jobs at CityMD, and TekHattan was born.

“I had to make the decision to leave my day job in hopes of making the American dream,” Gagnon said. “It paid off.”

He emphasized that communication and customer service are two of the most important aspects of an online company.

“We’re on call 24/7/365 for all of our clients. If one of our clients has an IT emergency at two in the morning on a Saturday, we need to go out and make sure they are taken care of. And we do this with pride, every time.”

5. EDITORIAL SERVICES

Do you find typos in emails annoying? Think that misspellings in a newsletter are unprofessional? You’re not the only one. If you are well versed in grammar and love to read and write, online editorial services might be a good option for you.

There are several ways to approach this business — you could create software that auto edits content, you can edit the content yourself or you can do as Wordy, an online editorial service, does and act as a go-between for those who need content to be edited and freelance editors you hire.

What you can charge depends on the amount of material and difficulty in editing; however Anders Schepelerr, the CEO and founder of Wordy, says not to make your primary focus about pricing.

“Trust is so important for proofreading and copy-editing, so we believe in establishing long relationships,” he states.

6. DIGITAL MARKETING AND PR

If you have a background in marketing and publicity, consider taking those skills online.

While TreDigital has its headquarters in Seattle, CEO Dykstra often runs her company from Russia, where she has family. She also has team members all over the United States and across the world.

“But we operate as a team,” she says.

Dykstra notes that you can actually be more productive while traveling, like she experiences, due to the lack of local meetings that interrupt her greater focus on growing the business.

Another thing to be aware of as digital nomad is the importance of maintaining strong relationships with clients, says Andrea Holland, chief executive and founder of DialedPR, a PR consultancy focused on B2C startups.

“It’s extremely important to make sure your client feels secure in the fact that you are not physically there,” she emphasizes, “Make sure you over communicate while traveling.”

7. TRAVEL EXPERT

If you’re going to be traveling anyways, why not help others do the same for profit?

Matthew Kepnes embraced this idea, starting Nomadic Matt, a travel website that chronicles his extensive travels while offering helpful travel information such as cheap accommodation and airfare, information for solo and couples travelers and travel guide books (authored by Kepnes) — and more.

Kepnes writes helpful (and free) information on his travel blog and newsletters and monetizes his work through book sales, offering online classes for blogging and photography and through partnerships with businesses related to airline travel and accommodation.

However, to create a business that requires a lot of traveling to exotic locations, “you need to be very disciplined,” says Kepnes. It’s not partying all the time.

“The best way to travel and be an entrepreneur is to create a solid schedule,” he advises.

Kepnes, who has been to over 80 countries and territories, says he’s helped 16 million people with travel plans through his website while working remotely and building up his business through discipline.

8. LIFE COACH/CONSULTANT

If you love helping people and have expertise in valuable areas such as business relations or communications, being a life coach or consultant could be a good fit for you.

Life coach Erica McCurdy has combined her passion for helping people and for travel. McCurdy created her life coaching and strategy company McCurdy Life Coach while also being a proud digital nomad.

“I have returned emails to clients — then jumped into the Mediterranean,” she says.

Not surprising, technology is key to being a digital nomad, but McCurdy notes that it can sometimes dominate your life and diminish what makes your brand special.

“In my line of work, people are hiring me, not my technology, so I find it critical to find ways to be myself and not have technology make me begin to feel like everyone else,” she explains.

The key to making working remotely work is to remember you’re not on vacation even though you may be in a beautiful locale halfway across the world, says Christian Martin, CEO of ProfitFox, a program that teaches sales to coaches and consultants.

“It’s tempting to spend all day exploring and forget about your responsibilities,” he says. “Block out time for work.”

9. CONTENT CURATOR

For companies that need newsletters written, emails drafted, general content for a website — or even podcasts — you can provide that material from a gorgeous location abroad.

Vernon Foster II, CEO and founder of Pod Parrott, a podcast production company, was hopeful that he would make it in the podcast business. Foster tried getting into podcast himself, but after one of his shows lasted only two months, he decided he would be more successful freelancing his podcast skills.

Pod Parrott’s services include coaching, equipment setup, sponsorship consulting and more, and Foster was able to provide these services to clients around the world while living in Antigua, Guatemala and backpacking through Costa Rica.

He admits there have been challenges. “Something as simple as having a solid internet connection becomes more important than food.” Also, time zone differences can interfere when trying to connect with customers.

Ultimately Foster says the key to success is to create a business that fits your lifestyle.

But it’s not just about wanting to have the digital nomad lifestyle that will lead to success, cautions Julie Ewald, CEO for Impressa Solutions.

“Digital nomads should be motivated, have proven themselves capable of working independently and be ready to learn.”

Entrepreneur.com | July 2016 | Grace Reader

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Your #Career : 5 Kinds Of Freelance Work Worth Quitting Your Job For…Right Now, over 53 Million Americans are Earning Money from Freelance Gigs. By 2020, Half of All Jobs will be Remote, & a Good Chunk of Those Will be Freelance Positions.

July 14, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

These mind-boggling numbers point to a single, inevitable truth: work, as we know it, will never be the same. I have no idea what the work economy will look like by 2050, but that’s exactly why it’s so exciting to think about.

A combination of rising rent costs and diminishing benefits has led to record numbers of millennials leaving the traditional workforce for the freelance or “gig” economy.

It also just happens to be the best time to be a freelancer. With a toolbox of productivity and communication apps, tech-savvy young entrepreneurs are entering a golden age of freelancing, a period that is redefining work.

—–Right now, over 53 million Americans are earning money from freelance gigs, and 87% of students with first or second-class degrees in the UK see freelancing as a highly attractive career option. By 2020, half of all jobs will be remote, and a good chunk of those will be freelance positions. We’re already seeing billion-dollar startups with a 100% remote workforce, and that trend is only going to continue.

Interested in leaving your 9-to-5 and striking out on your own? Here are 5 kinds of freelance work that are in high demand:

1. Copywriting and Editing

Twenty years ago, anyone who wanted to pursue a career as a writer needed lots of passion, tons of drive, and a true appreciation for words. Those skills are still important, but now there’s an even bigger motivation: making a good living.

While a freelance lifestyle lacks the consistency of a 9-to-5, some quality freelance writers make up for it by charging well over $100 per hour. More experienced freelancers make a killing, sometimes getting paid as high as $1 per word for blog posts. What happened? Google’s algorithms. The search engine favors fresh content written by skilled writers.

And as online branding becomes more reliant on strong, human writing, consumers begin to expect it. In recent years, there’s been a350% surge in demand for content writers. With so many companies unable to hire full-time writers, freelancers step in to fill the void.

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2. Subject and Test Tutoring

Everyone knows that American public school teachers are underpaid. Tutors, on the other hand, are very highly paid.

The top tutor in the world is paid $1,250 per hour. That’s more than most people make in an entire 40-hour work week. But even regular tutors can make a good living—anywhere from $65–$100 per hour. The tutoring lifestyle also offers tons of freedom and flexibility. You make your own hours and you build a genuine relationship of trust with your tutee. These are exactly the kind of perks that millennials, and so many others, value.

3. Development and Design

We all know that developers make a good living. But what about freelance developers?

Unsurprisingly, demand for freelance developers and designers has exploded in recent years, thanks to the surge of mobile-first products and services that show no signs of letting up. This translates to a strong yearly payout for freelance developers. Even Java devs, some of the most common types of programmers, make nearly $100,000 per year.

While freelance devs don’t get the full-time perks and benefits their Silicon Valley peers do, they make up for it with remote work and no non-competes.

4. Freelance Life Coaching

Believe it or not, millennial life coaches are on the rise. While many may find that strange (how can someone who hasn’t lived even half their life give life advice?) the numbers don’t lie.

One of the biggest markets for millennial life coaches is, of course, other millennials. With so many suffering through the aftereffects of the recession, a young and motivational coach who can empathize may be just what they need to get their life together.

Even more interesting is the trend of older professionals hiring younger, millennial life coaches as sources of motivation. And as with every other freelance gig on this shortlist, in-demand life coaches make more than $100k per year.

5. Freelance Animators

In our mobile-first world, even regular 10-second spots and animated banner ads require little touches of digital animation (an eye-popping font here, a cartoon explosion there).

Enter the countless freelance animators who used to have a hard time making more than $30,000 per year at full-time gigs. This is one of the few jobs where you get paid by the second for work you produce. How much per second? Depends on the quality—but rates can range anywhere from $300–$2,000 dollar per second.

Of course, a lot of work goes into that one second. But that also means that landing one or two good clients, even for just a short commercial, can pay your rent in no time.

With the freedom and high compensation several types of freelance work offer, it’s no surprise millennials are turning away from office jobs and embracing remote work.

—–Right now, over 53 million Americans are earning money from freelance gigs, and 87% of students with first or second-class degrees in the UK see freelancing as a highly attractive career option. By 2020, half of all jobs will be remote, and a good chunk of those will be freelance positions. We’re already seeing billion-dollar startups with a 100% remote workforce, and that trend is only going to continue.

Forbes.com | July 11, 2016 | Under 30 Network CONTRIBUTOR

Your #Career : Job Search, Throw Me A Line – I’m Drowning! ….. You Must Establish your Brand & Envision a Target. If you are Persistent & Completely Engaged, You will be Successful. Also Understand that a Proactive, Self-Managed Job Search is Not an Overnight Process.

July 12, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Work your network – secure referrals through people you know and target companies and key decision makers that will refer you to opportunities in the “unpublished” job market.

Excerpt from the book “RESUME DNA – Succeeding In Spite Of Yourself” by John Singer

I recently coached a client who had gone through our program and possessed all of the necessary tools to start his job search. He was a self-proclaimed procrastinator, and in one of our coaching sessions, he started to break down emotionally. He admitted that he was not applying himself in his job search. He had been unemployed for three months; the wolves were at the door, and he felt paralyzed. He spent his entire day robotically applying for positions online (a “reactive” job search) and was admittedly exhausted from what he metaphorically referred to as “treading water in the middle of the ocean.”

I asked him if I could join him for a moment in the big blue sea. His expression shifted to a confused look (much like yours at this moment), and I told him that I wanted to be right there by his side. How’s the water? Is the sun shining? (Don’t worry—this is not a “Footprints in the Sand” analogy.) He started to play along, and he asked me if I had brought sunscreen. I told him that there might be more than just choppy waters on our horizon. I bothered to look in all directions and spotted a small sandy island about two kilometers away. Why don’t we use the same energy and determination that we are expending to keep our heads above water to instead swim toward our target?

You must establish your brand and envision a target. If you are persistent and completely engaged, you will be successful. Also understand that a proactive, self-managed job search is not an overnight process. Work your network – secure referrals through people you know and target companies and key decision makers that will refer you to opportunities in the “unpublished” job market.

Only you can make this happen. To quote Robert Frost, “The best way out is always through.”

Excerpt from the book “RESUME DNA – Succeeding In Spite Of Yourself” by John Singer

Available on Amazon

FSC Career Blog | July 12, 2016

Your #Career : How to Build a Business When You Can’t Quit Your Job…What If you could Build a Business without Quitting your Job? It’s Possible with the Right Approach.

July 12, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Most of us get the urge to become an entrepreneur at one point or another. We may be called to create something from scratch, or lead a team of people or just earn money without having to answer to a boss. Whatever the motivation, the urge strikes us, but only a fraction of usever take that all-important next step of actually building a business.

Why don’t more of us take that step? For starters, most of us already have jobs, and we can’t quit them smoothly or conveniently, so we just continue working them without pursuing our dreams. But what if you could build a business without quitting your job? It’s possible with the right approach.

Why not quit?

First, let’s take a look at why you’re not quitting your job in the first place. There are some valid reasons, but the reality is, you may not need your job as much as you think you do.

You need the money.

Money is tight during the early stages of entrepreneurship no matter how good your idea is. However, if you can secure enough venture capital or a good line of credit, you can scrape by without needing a supplementary job.

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You’re afraid of plateauing in your career.

You may worry that if you quit, you may be unable to return to the workforce in the future. This is somewhat illogical in most cases. Talk to a boss or supervisor you trust, and get their opinion on a potential return if your business doesn’t pan out.

You’re unsure about your idea.

If you don’t have a good idea yet, you probably shouldn’t leave your job. While this is a valid reason, why not spend more time developing your idea?

You’re afraid of the risks.

You may want to keep your job as a safety net, but safety nets don’t always lead to a better overall performance.

If you’ve considered any of these reasons to hold onto your job, and you’re still convinced you can’t quit, follow these strategies to start a business successfully while still maintaining your daily responsibilities.

Be realistic.

First, be realistic about what you can and cannot do while still maintaining your job. You can work on your ideas, build some infrastructure and maybe even manage your business during the early stages, but you can’t feasibly manage this forever. There are only so many hours in the day, and you’ll need to make a commitment to one side or the other eventually.

Focus on the idea.

While you’re still working, focus on developing your business idea as much as possible. That is to say, keep your work conceptual during the early stages. This is the best time to flesh out the gritty details of your idea. Evaluate it for flaws, and fine-tune your idea to perfection. You won’t be under the gun with deadlines, and you won’t be strapped for cash, so make the most of this time by writing up the best possiblebusiness plan you can.

Gain connections.

Unless you’re working in isolation, this is a great time to build connections you can use for your business later on (assuming you won’t be violating any non-compete agreements). Get to know as many people as possible. You never know when or where you’ll meet a potential partner, vendor, client or employee. The wider your range of professional contacts is, the more options you’ll have when it comes time to growing your business. This will also save you valuable time when you need to be managing your business instead of networking.

Start with baby steps.

Don’t try to do everything with your business while you’re still working full-time, and don’t try to rush the process. Instead, take baby steps, when you can, to slowly advance your idea forward. Test the waters. Experiment. If you get in too deep, you’ll lose control over the situation, and your business will end up outpacing you.

Tread carefully.

You may think of yourself as quite capable, and maybe you are, but there’s still a hard limit to how much work you can do before your work starts to decline in quality. If you spend too much time on your business, your professional work will suffer, and you may end up losing the career you tried so hard to protect. Spend too much time on your career, and your business won’t have a chance. Keep yourself in balance.

If you follow these strategies, you can build a business while still maintaining your day job in the early stages. Just remember, there’s no perfect time to start a business, so be sure you understand your own motivations before opting to delay getting started. Oftentimes, the best thing to do is throw yourself into something, and make adjustments along the way; otherwise, you may never start at all.

Entrepreneur.com | July 7, 2016 | Larry Alton