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#Strategy : 8 Lifestyle Changes to Make if you Want to Earn more Money …If you Want to Learn How to get Rich — How to Grow & Master your Money — Consider these 8 #Lifestyle Changes

December 12, 2015/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

When it comes to earning more money and growing your wealth, sometimes all it boils down to is establishing key habits and making small lifestyle changes.

“Success is a learnable skill,” emphasizes T. Harv Eker in his book “Secrets of the Millionaire Mind.” “If you want to be a great golfer, you can learn how to do it. If you want to be a great piano player, you can learn how to do it … If you want to be rich, you can learn how to do it.”

If you want to learn how to get rich — how to grow and master your money — consider these eight lifestyle changes:

Start hanging out with people you admire

Andrew Carnegie, who started with nothing before becoming the richest man in the country, credits all of his riches to one principle: the Master Mind.

The idea is that you surround yourself with talented people who share your vision because the alignment of several smart and creative minds is exponentially more powerful than just one.

Plus, we become like the people we associate with, which is why the rich tend to associate with others who are rich.

“In most cases, your net worth mirrors the level of your closest friends,” explains self-made millionaire and author Steve Siebold. “Exposure to people who are more successful than you are has the potential to expand your thinking and catapult your income. The reality is, millionaires think differently from the middle class about money, and there’s much to be gained by being in their presence.”

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Get a part-time job

If you want to earn more, a simple solution is to work more — and you’ll get a lot more out of a second job than extra income.

You’ll grow your skill set by working in a different field, put your brain to work in a different context, and expand your network. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to monetize a specific interest of yours — such as photography, music, tutoring, or coaching — or turn your passion into a side hustle.

Check out high-paying jobs you can do on the side and read about how to start a side-hustlefrom a woman who earned up to $4,000 a month on the side.

Bury your head in books

Rich people would rather be educated than entertained — if you want to be like them, cut the cable and dive into books on investing or personal finance, or pick up a successful person’s biography.

“Walk into a wealthy person’s home and one of the first things you’ll see is an extensive library of books they’ve used to educate themselves on how to become more successful,” Siebold writes.

Take billionaire Warren Buffett, for example, who estimates that 80% of his working day is dedicated to reading.

While the rich don’t necessarily put much stock in furthering wealth through formal education— many of the most successful people have little formal education — they appreciate the power of learning long after college is over.

Get used to doing uncomfortable things

If you want to build wealth, be successful, or get ahead in life, you’re going to have to get used to uncertainty or discomfort.

Rich people, in particular, find comfort in uncertainty. “Physical, psychological, and emotional comfort is the primary goal of the middle class mindset,” Siebold writes. “World class thinkers learn early on that becoming a millionaire isn’t easy and the need for comfort can be devastating. They learn to be comfortable while operating in a state of ongoing uncertainty.”

If you want to get rich, you have to be OK with being uncomfortable. If you’re not, learn how to be, Siebold advises: “The great ones know there’s a price to pay for getting rich, but if they have the mental toughness to endure temporary pain, they can reap the harvest of abundant wealth for the rest of their lives.”

Start adopting this mind-set today with one of Siebold’s suggested strategies: “Make a list of the five things you must do today that are uncomfortable but will help you build your financial fortune.”

Switch to a high-interest savings account

Chances are, the money sitting in your savings account is growing at a negligible amount. That’s because most of us use the “big banks,” which offer a measly interest rate of just 0.01%.

With that interest rate, if you let a $10,000 deposit sit in your standard savings account for one year, you’d receive a mere $1 of interest, and that’s before taxes. A $50,000 deposit would yield just $5 of interest after one year.

But if you’re using a high-interest savings account at an internet bank (a popular choice is Ally Financial), your $10,000 deposit would generate $100 of interest over one year — and $50,000 would generate $500, thanks to the 1% interest rate. Online savings accounts with higher interest rates — the highest one out there is 1.25% — would get you even more.

Granted, using a high-interest savings account isn’t going to score you a windfall or make you rich a year from now, but it’s an easy way to earn a few extra bucks from money that’s otherwise unoccupied.

If you want to make the jump from a traditional bank to an online bank to start earning back more interest, read more about high-interest savings accounts and check out Magnify Money’s list of bank options.

Wake up earlier

They say the early bird gets the worm, and there may be truth behind those words.

Early risers get a head start on everyone else by responding to emails, exercising, meditating, or reading before many of us have even hit the snooze button — and they are happier and healthier because of it.

Some of the most powerful, successful people swear by an early wake-up call — if it works for them, it could work for you.

Put your money to work

One of the most effective ways to earn more money is to invest it, and start as early as possible.

“On average, millionaires invest 20% of their household income each year. Their wealth isn’t measured by the amount they make each year, but by how they’ve saved and invested over time,” writes Ramit Sethi in his New York Times bestseller “I Will Teach You to Be Rich.”

The great part is you don’t need to be rich to invest — you just need to be diligent about setting aside a portion of your money on a consistent basis. The more you can set aside the better, but even a little bit can go a long way, thanks to compound interest.

The simplest starting point is to invest in your employer’s 401(k) plan. Next, consider contributing money toward a Roth IRA or traditional IRA, individual retirement accounts with different contribution limits and tax structures — which one you can use depends on your income and the tax implications. If you still have money left over and are hungry to continue investing, you can research low-cost index funds, which Warren Buffett recommends, and look into the online-investment platforms known as “robo-advisers.”

For more information on investing, read up on the basics before diving in.

Set goals and visualize achieving them

If you want to make more money, you have to have a clear goal and then a specific plan for how to achieve that goal. Money won’t just appear — you have to work at it.

Rich people choose to commit to attaining wealth. It takes focus, courage, knowledge, and a lot of effort, Eker emphasizes, and it’s possible if you have precise goals and a clear vision: “The number one reason most people don’t get what they want is that they don’t know what they want. Rich people are totally clear that they want wealth.”

Write down what Eker calls “play to win goals” for your annual income and net worth. Be realistic when setting a time frame to attain these goals, but at the same time, think big and don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.

Businessinsider.com | December 11, 2015 | Kathleen Elkins

Your #Career : 4 Tricks You Can Use to Get Ahead & Be Successful at #Work … Are you Waiting for the Day when a Stroke of Genius Leads to your Company’s Greatest #Success? Or, at the Very Least, a #Raise or #JobPromotion ?

December 11, 2015/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

In order to get there, you need to work on your brainstorming skills. Whether you’re known as an “ideas man” in the office or not, you have the ability to come up with solutions that will help you and your company succeed.

“The fact is, almost all of the research in this field shows that anyone with normal intelligence is capable of doing some degree of creative work,” Teresa Amabile, professor of business administration at Harvard Business School and author of The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work, toldFast Company.

In other words, anyone can bring ideas to the table, and you’ll need to in order to so you can advance your career. The number one way to do this? Figure out how to organize your ideas. Otherwise, you risk sitting in a meeting a few years down the road and hearing someone present a solution that you thought of months ago, but never acted upon. Don’t be the guy who claims “I thought of that first!” Instead, be the guy who actually does something about it.

If you have a method in place for brainstorming, it will start to come more naturally, even if it’s not your strength. You won’t have to pull out a Venn diagram or those bubble flow charts from elementary school to do it, either. (Although if words in triangles, circles, and squares are your thing, go for it.) Want to start bringing better ideas to the table, or learning how to turn those ideas into action? Start with these four tips.

1. Know your goals

Whether you’re trying to map out your future career steps or you’re trying to come up with new ideas for a marketing campaign, this first step will always be vital. Before you even think about coming up with solutions, you need to clearly identify the problem or issue at hand and focus on your objectives, says Ralph Keeny, anemeritus professor at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business and a consultant for several entities including the Department of Energy.

“When most people do brainstorming, they run all over the place and think outside the box,” he told Forbes. “I think they should think inside the box— the right-sided box.”

In other words, Keeny suggests that to be effective, you should focus on how to achieve the smaller objectives, instead of trying to throw ideas at broad problems that probably won’t work when they’re implemented.

If you’re typically good at coming up with ideas, it can be hard to know which ones are worth pursuing. In those cases, it’s vital to stay focused on the end goals. Staying objective is critical here, says Anne Raimondi, the senior vice president of operations at Zendesk. Constantly asking “What problem am I trying to solve?” is helpful so that she avoids getting stuck on one idea that won’t actually be all that helpful.

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2. Start from scratch

Though it’s sometimes frowned upon, there are moments when it can actually be a good thing to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes, the brainstorming process is one of them. To create something new, or fully improve a process or design, start from square one, not from the current model or product.

“If you improve something, then you only make it better,” says Sooshin Choi, provost at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. “If you want to make something different, you have to behave as if there is no such thing.”

There are some projects where minor tweaks will do the job. But if you’re looking to make a big impact and have the flexibility to think big, start at the beginning of a problem and work up — even if at first you feel like you’re regurgitating old ideas. You might come up with solutions that otherwise would have been too constrained in an old model.

3. Avoid snap decisions

You might not always have the luxury of multiple days to come up with a solution or think up new ideas. But know what your deadlines are, and don’t rush them when you have extra time to use.

Intelligence increases when you think less and focus on key ideas, says Guy Claxton in his book Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind. “Whenever there’s a decision that needs to be made, the first thing you ask yourself is, ‘When does this decision need to be made?’” he says. “And you don’t make it until then.”

The reason is because your mind processes new ideas in the margins — what Claxton calls the hazy, poetic, or uncontrolled. When you give your brain as much time as possible to come up with ideas, you might surprise yourself with what you come up with.

In addition to this, be patient with good ideas that will take time to bring to fruition. “When you know you have a big idea worth holding on to, don’t forget to take the time to revisit it every once in awhile,” Fast Company advises. It may take a few years to move on it, and you might need to take mini steps toward those big ideas. But if you keep it in mind, you’ll be prepared for when you are able to act.

4. Have a pen ready

And a notebook, for that matter. Keep a journal or notebook somewhere that’s always accessible — it might require keeping a few in your office and a few more at home for when inspiration strikes. “I have a seven-second rule in my home,” says Scott Adams, the creator of the Dilbert comic strip. “I have to be able to reach a working pen and notepad or I risk being distracted and forgetting.”

Adams prefers notepads and pre-21st century technology to record his ideas — he says digital notepad apps load too slowly, though he does transfer the pen-and-paper ideas to the computer later. If you’re more comfortable using apps or cloud documents, go for it. Either way, have a consistent system so you know how to track your ideas later on.

Follow Nikelle on Twitter @Nikelle_CS

CheatSheet.com | December 11, 2015 | Nikelle Murphy

#Leadership : 3 ways #SteveJobs made #Meetings Insanely #Productive — & Often Terrifying…American #Businesses Lose an Estimated $37 billion a Year Due to #Meeting Mistakes. Steve Jobs made sure #Apple wasn’t One of those Companies.

December 11, 2015/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

steve jobs

Steve Jobs in 2010

Here are three ways the iconic CEO made meetings super productive:

1. He kept meetings as small as possible.

In his book “Insanely Simple,” longtime Jobs collaborator Ken Segall detailed what it was like to work with him.

In one story, Jobs was about to start a weekly meeting with Apple’s ad agency.

Then Jobs spotted someone new.

“He stopped cold,” Segall writes. “His eyes locked on to the one thing in the room that didn’t look right. Pointing to Lorrie, he said, ‘Who are you?'”

Calmly, she explained that she was asked to the meeting because she was a part of related marketing projects.

Jobs heard her, and then politely told her to get out.

“I don’t think we need you in this meeting, Lorrie. Thanks,” he said.

He was similarly ruthless with himself. When President Barack Obama asked him to

join a small gathering of tech moguls, Jobs declined — the president invited too many people for his taste.

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2. He made sure someone was responsible for each item on the agenda.

In a 2011 feature investigating Apple’s culture, Fortune reporter Adam Lashinsky detailed a few of the formal processes that Jobs used, which led Apple to become one of the world’s most valuable companies.

At the core of Job’s mentality was the “accountability mindset” — meaning that processes were put in place so everybody knew who was responsible for what.

As Lashinsky described:

Internal Applespeak even has a name for it, the “DRI,” or directly responsible individual. Often the DRI’s name will appear on an agenda for a meeting, so everybody knows who is responsible. “Any effective meeting at Apple will have an action list,” says a former employee. “Next to each action item will be the DRI.” A common phrase heard around Apple when someone is trying to learn the right contact on a project: “Who’s the DRI on that?”

The process works. Gloria Lin moved from the iPod team at Apple to leading the product team at Flipboard — and she brought DRIs with her.

They’re hugely helpful in a start-up situation.

“In a fast-growing company with tons of activity, important things get left on the table not because people are irresponsible but just because they’re really busy,” she wrote on Quora. “When you feel like something is your baby, then you really, really care about how it’s doing.”

3. He wouldn’t let people hide behind PowerPoint.

Walter Isaacson, author of the“Steve Jobs” biography, said,“Jobs hated formal presentations, but he loved freewheeling face-to-face meetings.”

Every Wednesday afternoon, he had an agenda-less meeting with his marketing and advertising team.

Slideshows were banned because Jobs wanted his team to debate passionately and think critically, all without leaning on technology.

“I hate the way people use slide presentations instead of thinking,” Jobs told Isaacson. “People would confront a problem by creating a presentation. I wanted them to engage, to hash things out at the table, rather than show a bunch of slides. People who know what they’re talking about don’t need PowerPoint.”

This is an update of an article that previously ran, with additional contributions by Steven Benna.

Businessinsider.com | August 30, 2015 | Drake Baer

#Leadership : Is this a Major Problem for your Company? Most Americans Don’t Want to Be the #Boss — & they’re Probably Better Off

December 10, 2015/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

New research suggests that being a manager doesn’t hold wide appeal. A survey by professional staffing firm Addison Group, cited on Bloomberg, found that just one-third of American workers believe that becoming a manager can advance their careers.

Moreover, of the nearly 1,500 working Americans born between 1946 and 1995 who were surveyed, only one-quarter were interested in becoming more effective managers. Seventeen percent said they don’t enjoy managing others at all.

This research isn’t the first to find that being a manager is not a universal goal. A 2014CareerBuilder survey found that just over a third of workers said they aspire to leadership positions, while a mere 7% hope to get promoted into senior or C-level management.

In both surveys, young workers were more likely than older workers to be aiming for promotions, which makes sense given that they are early in their careers and see more opportunity for advancement.

Yet according to Bloomberg, millennials are less interested in being promoted to management roles than past generations of young people were.

So are these findings cause for alarm? A sign of laziness or apathy among the newest generation of workers?

Not exactly.

Bloomberg spoke to Steve Wolfe, executive vice president of operations at Addison Group, who said that while millennials seem generally uninterested in people management, they do want more personal responsibility.

“We’re seeing more millennials who want to be knowledge experts today, rather than in charge of other people,” Wolfe told Bloomberg.

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Meanwhile, more than half of respondents in the CareerBuilder survey said they don’t want to be a manager because they’re content with the role they have. (Respondents could choose more than one reason.)

It may be that millennials are more aware of their strengths and more likely to seek personal fulfillment from their careers than generations past. After all, some people are better suited to management roles than others, and just because you’re a high-performer doesn’t mean you’ll be effective at or enjoy managing others.

To retain employees who don’t aspire to management because they like the work they’re currently doing, organizations would be wise to expand their opportunities for advancement as individual contributors. Instead of placing employees in the position where they have to choose between managing a team and staying put, there should be an option to move into a knowledge expert role, without being responsible for other people.

It’s unlikely that companies would wind up in the situation where no one wants to be in charge — there will always be employees who love the idea of being people-managers and are genuinely good at it. Instead, it’s likely that companies would run more efficiently if everyone took on roles that played to their individual strengths.

Of course, the CareerBuilder survey also found that more than one-third of workers shy away from management positions because they don’t want to sacrifice work-life balance, which suggests that organizations may need to address problems with their cultures.

Some companies recognize this idea and have restructured their paths for development accordingly. Scott DeRue, an associate dean at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, told Bloomberg that Google and Oracle offer opportunities to grow without becoming a people-manager.

Yet many companies don’t allow employees to develop this way. In April, for example, someone wrote in to the career advice site Ask A Manager about how to decline a promotion into leadership. The post sparked nearly 100 comments, mostly from readers who sympathized with the person’s dilemma.

The conversation on AAM highlights a key problem with the structure of many modern businesses. Too often, companies encourage high-performers who aren’t fit to be managers (or don’t want to be managers) to seek out those opportunities. In doing so, they may end up undermining their organization’s progress by not allowing people to do what they do best.

Moreover, pushing high-performers into people-management effectively ignores the fact that there are many different forms of “leadership.”

Plenty of business experts have pointed out that people can lead and inspire at all levels of an organization. When you think about how you can be more effective and creative in your job, you are being a leader; when you present new ideas to the people you report to, you are also being a leader.

Unfortunately, we haven’t yet reached the point where people who can lead in those ways are praised and financially rewarded in the same way that high-level managers are.

Businessinsider.com | December 10, 2015 | Shana Lebowitz

Your #Career : 5 Big #Networking Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Career…The Reality is that most #JobOpenings are Never Advertised or Posted. In fact, 63% of Job Seekers Land New Jobs through Networking

December 10, 2015/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Networking is one of the most important things you can do to nurture your career. Whether you love getting out there and selling yourself or dread the task of making small talk, failing to network effectively will leave you spinning your wheels as far as finding a new job or advancing in your current one.

People everywhere struggle with the most basic aspects of networking. What gives us the most trouble? Roughly a third of job seekers said they had trouble picking out who they should try to network with, a 2014 Lee Hecht Harrison survey found. One quarter said they didn’t have a focused networking strategy, and roughly the same number said making initial contact with people over phone and email was their biggest stumbling block.

“The reality is that most job openings are never advertised or posted, which means tapping your network is anessential job search resource to uncover hidden opportunities. In fact, 63% of job seekers land new jobs through networking,” said Greg Simpson, Senior Vice President, Career Transition Practice Leader at Lee Hecht Harrison. “Developing a strong network and fruitful relationships takes real work. Individuals must be proactive and devote time to building and nurturing a strong career network of contacts.”

Once you get over those initial networking hurdles, more trouble awaits. From not being able to effectively exploit your networking to focusing too much on yourself, here are five of the biggest networking mistakes people make.

1. Not asking for help

No one will know that you’re searching for a job if you don’t tell them. Yet too many people seem reluctant to broadcast that they’re looking to make a career change. Forty-two percent of senior managers surveyed by OfficeTeam in 2014 said not asking for help was the biggest networking mistake they saw people make.

“People may not ask those in their networks for help because they’re embarrassed or think they can succeed on their own,” said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam, in a statement. “But whether you’re looking to land a new job or build your visibility, every connection counts.”

2. Not having a pitch

Putting together a canned “elevator speech” can feel a bit cheesy and inauthentic. But if you’re going to network, you need to be able to quickly explain to people who you are, what you do, and what you’re looking for. The key is making your pitch sound natural.

“The problem with most elevator pitches is that they get crafted on paper but not adjusted to sound like how a real person speaks,” wrote communication and behavior expert Deborah Grayson Riegel in an article for Fast Company. Riegel suggests practicing your pitch out loud and using the simplest language possible. You should also be able to tailor your pitch based on who you’re speaking to and be willing to forgo it entirely if working the information into the conversation would be awkward.

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3. Only networking online

Online networking is essential these days – 35% of employers surveyed by CareerBuilder in 2015 said they were less likely to interview people who didn’t have an online presence. But for most people, having 500+ LinkedIn connections and hundreds of Twitter or Instagram followers isn’t going to substitute for meeting people in person. Instead, you need to work to make those virtual connections pay off in the real world.

“As networking becomes synonymous with online networking … [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”][people] can neglect the importance of actually meeting up with people for coffee, making a phone call, or showing up at an event. So far online connections have not supplanted these traditional interactions,” James Jeffries, the director of career development at Bard College of Simon’s Rock, told Time magazine.

4. Only talking about work

When networking, don’t restrict yourself to shop talk. Whether you’re attending a business mixer or just happen to bump into a contact at the coffee shop, be prepared to chat about subjects other than your career. People are more likely to help and hire people they like and relate to, and letting your personality shine through will allow you to build real relationships with your contacts.

If you’re attending a networking event where you’ll be meeting people for the first time, “come up with a few questions as ice breakers,” etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore told Inc. magazine. “My typical go-to questions always revolve around food and travel, because everybody loves to eat and most everybody loves to travel.” Whether you’re just getting to know someone or reconnecting with an old colleague, remember that networking is a social activity; keep the conversation professional, but fun.

5. Not offering to help others

Networking is a two-way street, yet too many people go into it with a “What’s in it for me?” attitude. A more effective approach is to focus on what you can offer other people. If someone you meet mentions they need someone to help with their taxes, and you have an accountant you love, recommend her – you’ve made two people happy (and yourself look good) in the process. Let the intern pick your brain when he asks — you never know where he could end up being able to do you a favor. Building goodwill in this way can pay off big later when you need to tap your network for support.

“With any relationship, there is a cycle of giving and receiving,” Selena Soo, the founder of branding consultancy S2 Groupe, told Fast Company. “If you lead with taking, you won’t be successful because it will turn people off. But people who give to their social circles naturally reap benefits.”

Follow Megan on Twitter @MeganE_CS

CheatSheet.com | December 9, 2015 | Megan Elliott

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#Leadership : Companies are Now Using this Strategy to Win the War for #Talent … How can #Employers Make sure Highly Qualified #Workers Choose Your Company over Your Competition?

December 8, 2015/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Recruiting top talent is a priority for every business regardless of location or industry. According to a report released by commercial real estate services company CBRE, 67 percent of multinational companies prioritize talent acquisition and retention over cost savings.

There’s a good reason for that: Without skilled workers, companies would be lost. And at the heart of the talent conversation lies real estate. In fact 46 percent of corporations’ global real estate decisions last year were driven by talent availability.

But even if you establish your business in a place where there’s a lot of good talent, securing it can be an outright war. So, how can employers make sure highly qualified workers choose them over the competition? Here are some ways to maximize real estate as a tool in the talent war.

Turn your headquarters into a community

If your company isn’t located in a major city, then offices can sometimes be pretty generic looking, often lacking any personality. Not so for ESPN. The company’s headquarters in Bristol, CT, aren’t a run-of-the-mill office park, but a full-fledged compound. After employees eat in the onsite cafe—which includes a brick pizza oven, vintage popcorn machine, and sports references like “Field of Greens”— they can get together to shoot some hoops out back. When they need a break from technology they can chat by a pond-side gazebo or visit the expansive gym, open seven days a week.

Obviously ESPN’s state-of-the-art, 123-acre campus makes it a desirable employer, but you don’t need a similar setup to attract and keep the best talent. Instead, you can infiltrate a community that already exists — whether it’s a desirable neighborhood in a certain city or an office park (an attractive one) in a suburb. Local restaurants, entertainment options, and other amenities play a big part in determining whether workers will choose you or sign on with a rival.

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Focus on wellness

How healthy is your business? Increasingly, companies are thinking of this question not in relation to revenue, but actual employee health. CBRE calls this the “wellness” agenda, where “the physical comfort and performance of the workforce come to play a growing role in building production and management.” In other words, services that were once viewed as a luxury—like on-site gyms and spas—are becoming commonplace, and failing to build them can leave companies in the dust.

CBRE reports that close to 50 percent of workers rank amenities like gyms as an important workplace feature, while more than half consider the indoor environment. These factors affect the modern workforce’s decision about which company to choose, and how long to stick around.

General Mills, the Minneapolis, MN, consumer packaged goods manufacturer, offers its workers access to an on-site health clinic. Meanwhile, in San Francisco, Twitter provides staff with a rooftop garden for when they need some down time.

Dial up employee collaboration

A business’ ability to foster corporate connectedness is very much a product of its workspace.

That’s because certain workspaces encourage employee collaboration, which can create a more appealing company culture—something that’s sure to draw workers. When Steve Jobs was CEO of Pixar, he hired famed architectural firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson to design a campus that included a central atrium and multiple gathering areas that “promoted encounters and unplanned collaborations.” Teamwork and a positive atmosphere matter, especially when you consider many professionals spend more than 1,500 hours in an office each year.

Winning the talent war is about understanding what your target employees value in a workplace — from infrastructure to lifestyle perks — and delivering. When you can strike that balance between community and culture, workers will be lining up to sign on.

Find out more about how the right real estate can help recruit and retain great employees.

This post is sponsored by CBRE.

Businessinsider.com | December 8, 2015 | CBRE

Your #Career : Can’t Find a #Job? Here’s What to Do Next… These are 4 Ways you Can get Back on your Feet, start Getting Back into a Routine, & Get your Mind & Body Retrained for Work.

December 8, 2015/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

We’re on much better footing, economically speaking, than at any time in the past seven or eight years. The Great Recession officially ended in June of 2009, and yet, six-and-a-half years later, we’re still feeling the effects. Though unemployment is down, and the economy is humming again, there’s still one big hang-up — a lot of people remain out of work.

The long-term unemployed, and the discouraged workers among them, are the ones who have really suffered as a result of economic turbulence over the past decade. Many people saw their jobs disappear, never to return again. Some of those jobs were shipped overseas, some were automated, and some were simply made redundant by changing tastes. There are a lot of reasons for these shifts, but the bottom line is that people who have wanted to get back to work are still having trouble finding a way to do so.

Just look at the ranks of the long-term unemployed. As of September 2015, 2.1 million people were among the long-term unemployed, and the labor force participation rate was 62.4%. That’s fairly low, but there are numerous reasons for it. These are the numbers politicians are constantly citing as evidence that the economy is still on shaky ground.

For a lot of people, these numbers are irrelevant — they just want to get back to work.

Whether it’s age, a lack of skills, or larger economic shifts, there are a lot of reasons many would-be workers are finding themselves out of the labor pool. And when you’re down on your luck, and face months or years of rejection from employers, it can take a real toll.

So, for these individuals, finding a path back into the workforce is the chief objective. The problem: that path is hidden — or finding it, at least, is much more difficult than it used to be. That’s why we’ve made a short, four-step action plan to help out.

These are four ways you can get back on your feet, start getting back into a routine, and get your mind and body retrained for work. It may not be ideal, in many cases, but for some people, following these steps may do wonders. It’ll feel like a step backward, but just think of that as a way to get a running start back into the labor pool.

1. Volunteer

When you’re unemployed, you’re not getting paid. So, you may as well put your time and skills to work by helping out in your community — even if you’re still not getting paid. Volunteering will get you out of the house, help you establish a routine, and help you make additional contacts. People like to see others who are willing to help out, and if you have the time, volunteering can help secure you a ticket back to the work force.

Take a look at community bulletin boards, both virtual and physical, or think of some organizations you’d like to help out. There are hundreds out there, each with needs that you can help fill. You may even end up learning a new skill for free. Volunteering will get you back into the habit of going to work, give you a resume booster, and help you expand your contacts list.

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2. Freelance

Why not put the skills you do have to work for you — in mercenary fashion? There are tons of opportunities forfreelance work thanks to the Internet, and now, almost anyone can find a side-gig of some kind. If you can write, edit, draw, or even consult on any number of topics, there’s probably a space for you in the freelance economy.

In fact, the entire economy might be shifting more in this direction, toward mini-businesses or services offered by freelance entrepreneurs. We recently talked all about it with the CEO of Time Etc., one such company helping to facilitate that shift. Take a look around the web, and see where you might be able to find some work, and start to earn again.

3. Get active — and add it to your resume

Getting active can mean just about anything, and volunteering or freelancing counts. What employers don’t like to see is someone who has been sitting idle for a long period of time. That’s why it’s key to get active, in one way or another, and make sure that you’re putting that on your resume. If you’ve been out of work for months, or even years, it’s going to be a red flag for a hiring manager. They’ll have questions as to what, exactly, you’ve been doing with your time (even if you’ve been trying desperately to find work).

Volunteer, freelance, or explore other opportunities to put your time to good use. Then, make sure you’re making it clear on your resume that you’ve been busy — even if it’s not in a full-time or professional capacity.

4. Make job hunting your current profession

This is the most important thing: if you don’t have a job, your job is to find a job. That means when you are not taking care of family duties, volunteering, freelancing, or taking care of other responsibilities, your time is spent looking for work. Think of your job search as your full-time gig. This is what you do, until you find what you’re looking for. And be tenacious.

To get back into the workforce, you need a job. Any job. It may not be fun or ideal in any sense, but getting back to work is much better than remaining idle. And it’s the first big step toward getting back onto the careertrajectory you want.

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CheatSheet.com | December 6, 2015 | Sam Becker

#Strategy : 13 Tricks to Lead a Simpler, Happier Life … #5- “Ask yourself, Will this Matter in 1 Year, 5 Years, or 10 Years? If it Won’t, you Need to Stop #Stressing out About it. Move Forward.”

December 8, 2015/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Last year, Business Insider published a list of easy ways to simplify your life, featuring comments posted on the Quora thread, “How can I make my life simpler?”

Since then, the thread has ballooned to nearly 700 answers, with users from all over the world weighing in on how to eliminate physical and mental clutter, increase productivity, and ultimately be a happier person.

We picked out 13 recent responses that offer creative strategies for streamlining. Read on to find out what you can do to make your daily life a little bit easier.

1. Make time for “meta-work.”

Advance planning is key to simplicity because it helps prevent the panicky feeling that you’re not focusing on what’s most important.

“Organizing your to-do list or clearing out your desk don’t seem like productive things to do,”writes Haider Al-Mosawi. “I call them ‘meta-work.’ They don’t substitute for actual work (you want to do the tasks on your to-do list), but they do help cultivate mental clarity and allow you to become more productive when you are working.”

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2. Learn to prioritize.

Now that you’ve crafted that to-do list, it’s time to pare it down, says Nistha Tripathi, by eliminating any nonessential tasks.

Tripathi quotes Stephen Covey, author of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People“: “You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage — pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically, — to say ‘no’ to other things. And the way to do that is by having a bigger ‘yes’ burning inside.”

3. Abandon the idea of a “bucket list.”

Don’t see your life as a race to accomplish goals that other people have set for you.

Writes Jim Stone: “If you read an article titled ‘100 movies you must see before you die,’ don’t buy into it. If you do, you’ll either wind up watching 70 boring movies to get to 30 good ones, or you’ll feel guilty about not finishing the list. Either way, it adds to your mental burden.”

4. Be early for appointments.

“This will help you to make your time of travel a time of rest and relaxation instead of stressful,” says Olivia Skumps.

And simplifying your life is all about eliminating unnecessary stress.

If you’re having a hard time being punctual, let alone early, you can try some simple but effective tricks like overestimating how long it will take to get ready and planning for worst-case scenarios.

5. Use the 10-year test.

The fact that you turned in your project proposal 30 seconds late might seem devastating right when it happens. But a decade later, you’re unlikely to even remember it.

Here’s Nelson Wang’s tip: “Ask yourself, will this matter in one year, five years, or 10 years? If it won’t, you need to stop stressing out about it. Move forward.”

6. Don’t leave unfinished business.

“When I look around my house,” says Tanya Zyabkina, “most of the ‘junk’ is simply a material representation of a decision that has not been made or a project that has not been finished. That parcel box on the floor? Still thinking whether to return it. Stack of pictures on the desk? Need to finally frame them.

“Make that decision now. Take the action right away. Don’t let unfinished business accumulate.”

Zyabkina’s suggestion sounds similar to David Allen’s “two-minute rule“: If you get an email that can be dealt with in two minutes or less, deal with it now instead of letting it linger in your inbox.

The basic idea behind both strategies is to make decisions whenever possible instead of putting them off.

7. Automate most of your day.

“If you want to make your life more simple,” writes Mike LaVere, “automate as much of your day and routine as possible. “

LaVere cites a phenomenon known as decision fatigue, explaining that willpower is a finite resource and the more you use it, the less you have left.

That’s why you should eliminate as many choices as you can, from what you eat for breakfast to what you wear to work.

In fact, Barack Obama and Mark Zuckerberg say they wear the same outfit every day because they have to focus their energy on making other, more important decisions.

8. Learn to say “no.”

“If you don’t want to do something, just say no,” writes Amrisha Vohra. “You don’t need to keep everyone happy.”

We know: It’s not that easy. Remember that you can still be polite by saying something like,“I’m sorry I can’t right now but will let you know when and if I can.”

You can also turn the question around to the person asking. For example, if your supervisor asks you to take on more than you can manage, you can respond, “I’m happy to do X, Y, and Z; however, I would need three weeks, rather than two, to do a good job. How would you like me to prioritize them?”

9. Focus on what you can control.

So you’re running late for work because of a traffic jam ahead. Getting angry is natural — but not especially productive. You’d be better off taking a breath and using that time to mentally prep for a meeting later that day.

Writes Gary Wu:

“Your days are filled with random events that are out of your control. Getting emotionally and mentally worked up over them is a waste of energy. … You may not be able to control what happens to you, but you can control how you react. That itself can often be the deciding factor between outcomes.”

10. Craft a personal mission statement.

Rohan Sinha recommends having a “vision” for your life that you update regularly.

Think of it as an abbreviated version of the personal statement you’d submit to a grad program: What do you hope to accomplish and why is it important?

In fact, The New York Times reports, a mission statement can be a better predictor of change than a New Year’s resolution. That’s because, with a mission statement, you identify themotivation behind the changes you’re hoping to make.

11. Spend time alone.

“Start spending time with yourself,” says Abhinav Shahi. “This is the most important thing, as you and only you know what is best for you and what do you want in your life.”

Make sure you leave your phone behind so that you truly experience solitude and engage in deep introspection.

12. Do one thing you love for five minutes every day.

“When you are happy you will bother less about the complexities,” writes Mohd Arshad.

This idea is backed by scientific research, which suggests that trying deliberately to feel happy backfires — but that organizing your day to include activities you like improves well-being.

13. Practice mindfulness.

Mindfulness “teaches you to live in the present, to do whatever you are doing with utmost passion and devotion,” says Rhishita Jha.

The main idea is to unclutter your mind by zeroing in on what you’re thinking, feeling, and doing right now, as opposed to the anxieties of yesterday or tomorrow.

You can start a mindfulness practice simply by paying close attention to your breathing and noticing what you’re sensing in any given moment.

Businessinsider.com | December 7, 2015 | Shana Lebowitz

Your #Career : 33 Things you Should Never say During a #PerformanceReview …. To Help Ensure you Get What you Want & Deserve Out of your Next Review, Avoid the Following Phrases

December 7, 2015/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

If you work for someone other than yourself, you’re likely to receive an annual performance review from your boss. “When done well, reviews can greatly benefit both the employee and employer,” says Darlene Price, president of Well Said, Inc., and author of “Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results.” “Unfortunately, not everyone makes the most of these meetings.”

Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of “The Humor Advantage,” says it’s tempting and all too easy if you are on the receiving end of a review to express frustration at the process or get defensive. But you should resist the temptation, he says, “because you’ll want to demonstrate that you are truly listening to what’s being said and taking it all in without rushing to judgment,” and that you are open to receiving honest feedback, and willing to learn and grow.

“If you truly do feel the feedback is unwarranted, then a more constructive approach would be to saying something along the lines of, ‘Thank you for that. I’m not sure I completely agree with that assessment but let me take some time to mull it over and maybe we can sit down again next week once I’ve had a chance to consider it carefully,'” says Kerr.

“Save those conversations for another time when you can have a constructive conversation about what needs to change to improve the process.”

To help ensure you get what you want and deserve out of your next review, avoid the following phrases:

But that’s not in my job description,’ or, ‘But that’s not my responsibility.’

“Expressing these sentiments raises the ire of any supervisor because it makes you look like you are more concerned about shirking responsibility than you are about doing what needs to be done to help the team or organization succeed,” says Kerr. “Managers want people who will do whatever needs doing regardless of whose responsibility it is.”

‘I’m not paid to … ‘ or ‘I’m not paid enough to … ‘

Again, this makes you sound not only defensive, but as though you are shirking responsibility and merely interested in doing the bare minimum required to get by, Kerr says.

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**‘If you think I’m bad you should see … ‘**

Don’t point fingers. A performance review is rarely, if ever, the time to talk about other colleagues, especially in a critical way. Kerr says this makes you look petty and as though you are passing the blame around or making excuses.

‘I deserve a raise,’ or, ‘Can I have a raise?’ or, ‘I should be making more money.’

Every employee feels this way. “The trick is to use your performance review to prove you’ve earned an increase in pay,” Price says.

“Rather than state the obvious, which may sound demanding and petulant, be prepared to recite three to five documented achievements where you’ve saved or made the company money. Or say, ‘I’m really enjoying my job and growth opportunities within the company. What’s the expected timeline in terms of earning promotions or raises, and what do I need to do to get there?'”

‘I’m going to find another job unless … ‘

Giving your boss an ultimatum goes nowhere fast. “Plus, it sounds a little like Johnny Paycheck’s 1977 hit, ‘Take this job and shove it, I ain’t workin’ here no more,'” says Price. “Instead, speak to your boss about specific challenges you’re facing, in a professional matter-of-fact manner.” Include the quantifiable benefits that could be realized if certain resources were provided to you or obstacles removed.

‘That’s what everyone says,’ or, ‘That’s what my last boss told me, too.’

Saying something along these lines suggests that you have ignored an issue for some time or you are incapable of changing, Kerr explains. “If you’ve heard this feedback before, then consider that it’s at the very least a common perception about you and work to correct the behavior.”

‘I’m bored with my job.’

“This statement says you’re tired, jaded, or fed up with your current role and responsibilities,” Price explains. “You’re admitting, ‘I don’t want this job anymore — hire someone else.’ Is that what you really want? ” In reality, regardless of your feelings, your job is still important to the company or it wouldn’t exist. “Instead, say, ‘I believe I have even more to offer. With your approval, I recommend expanding my responsibilities to include …’ This way, you sound goal-oriented and proactive, rather than passive and uninterested.”

‘I wish you had told me sooner.’

That may very well be, but now is not the time to have that conversation, says Kerr. “Better to turn into a future-focused action by saying something like, ‘I’m glad I know this now, and I’ll definitely work on that in the future,'” he suggests.

**‘Can I give you some constructive criticism now?’**

“No!” says Kerr. “Unless that’s part of the review process in your organization, flipping comments around onto your boss will only get their back up and make you look overly defensive and unwilling to accept feedback.” It’s fine to express some thoughts and concerns — and if your boss invites you to give feedback, you should — but be careful not to offend anyone in doing so.

‘You’re wrong,’ or, ‘Are you kidding me?’

Don’t argue. You and your employer may disagree and that’s natural. Instead of becoming self-protective or defensive, just listen. “Be professional, courteous, and calm,” Price suggests. “Rather than firing back with both barrels after an unmerited accusation, say, ‘Help me understand your basis for that statement,’ or, ‘Do you have some specific examples?’ or, ‘Those comments do not reflect my memory and experience of the situation — may I describe my perspective?'”

‘I think you’re being overly critical.’

“That may very well be, but saying this makes you look like you don’t want to accept responsibility or you aren’t concerned about the smaller details,” Kerr explains. Remember, it’s important to choose your battles. If you feel you are being unfairly targeted, then focus on the issues that are most important.

‘That’s not my fault,’ or, ‘It’s John’s fault.’

Good leaders don’t point fingers, they take responsibility, says Price. “They empathize appropriately with the frustration or disappointment someone is expressing. Plus, they don’t blame people or circumstances for the misfortune.”

While no one likes to feel blame, it’s often necessary to hear it — even temporarily absorb it — while you empathize and decide how to tactfully respond. Something like: “I agree. Ideally, we needed to complete that project on time and under budget. Next time, here’s what I’ll do differently to ensure a better outcome …” is a better approach.

‘But that’s just who I am; you knew that when you hired me,’ or ‘I don’t think that’s something I can change.’

What your supervisor will hear is: “It’s your own fault, and I’m incapable of change and not interested in learning or growing.”

‘Yup, you nailed it. That’s me: employee of the year!’

“Now is not the time to use sarcasm, even if you think it will diffuse the tension,” says Kerr. “Using sarcasm will, once again, make you come across as disinterested. Similarly, it’s all right to use a little self-deprecating humor to show that you can laugh at yourself, but be careful about taking it too far, as it can make you look insecure and lacking in confidence, and there’s always the chance your boss will take you seriously.”

‘What the f—?’ or ‘That’s bulls–t!’

Not using profanity may seem like a no-brainer, yet it’s easy to let your emotions run away with you when you get defensive. “Avoid profanity as it will only make you look aggressive and overly defensive,” Kerr advises.

‘You should have … ‘ or, ‘You could have … ‘ or, ‘You ought to … ‘

There’s no quicker way to upset a boss than to suggest he or she has fallen short as a manager and is guilty of something (even if they are), Price says. “Instead, take a collaborative approach.” Try something like: “To perform at my best, I really need clearly stated expectations. In the future, may we agree to …?” Or, “Moving forward, would it be possible to …?”

‘It’s about time someone recognized the great work I’m doing.’

When receiving a glowing appraisal or positive feedback, avoid saying anything that will make you sound arrogant, Kerr says. For instance: “Tell me something I don’t know,” is something you should never say.

“Simply accept the compliment graciously and move on.”

‘I don’t care,’ or, ‘Whatever,’ or, ‘That doesn’t bother me.’

Blurting out one of these replies after your boss says: “Your 360 assessment this year shows a five point decline in effective listening skills,” or, “Your peer reviews consistently indicate a lack of teamwork,” is a terrible idea.

“Don’t let the death knell of indifference ring during your performance review,” says Price. “It’ll tank your career fast.” Instead, say: “Wow. I was unaware my coworkers felt that way, but I’m glad to know now. Do you have any specific examples you can share that would help me better understand the issue? What steps would you suggest I take to improve in this area?”

‘ … ‘ (Saying Nothing)

Saying nothing is almost as bad as saying any of the above.

“One of the worst things you can do is demonstrate indifference through your body language, facial expressions, or by simply sitting in silence,” Kerr says. “Expressing disinterest will make you come across as disengaged from your job, unconcerned about the goals of the organization, and unreceptive to accepting feedback.” At worst, it can come across as passive aggressive.

Price also believes this is a detrimental error. “An effective two-way performance review is packed with benefits: It can facilitate clear communication between you and your boss; clarify expectations; foster trust; establish goals and a career path; identify training needs; improve performance; reveal that you’re a valuable high-potential employee; and even prepare you for a promotion.” None of that happens if you remain silent, she explains.

“So, always prepare several talking points, questions, and appropriate requests or recommendations. Show your boss that your performance review is a significant event, worthy of your full attention and participation.”

Businessinsider.com | December 7, 2015 | Jacquelyn Smith

Your #Career : Need a Job? 5 Ways to Get Employed Faster …. If you’re Searching for a New Job, You’re not Alone. 71% of Workers are Workers are either Actively Looking or Interested in Finding a New Position

December 7, 2015/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

If you’re searching for a new job, you’re not alone. Seventy-one percent of workers are workers are either actively looking or interested in finding a new position, according to a survey by Jobvite. For many, the process of finding new work can be tedious at best and soul-deadening at worst.

The hunt for the perfect position can take months. One rule of thumb says that you should expect to spend at least one month of job searching for every $10,000 you earn. So, if your currently salary is $70,000 per year, you can expect to spend at least seven months hunting for work.

Few people want to wait that long to find a new job. If your current position is unbearable (you hate your boss, your company is massively dysfunctional, your commute is killing you), feeling that you’re at the mercy of the job market can be incredibly frustrating. If you’re out of work, waiting months to find a job may not even be an option. In either case, you need a new job, and you needed it yesterday.

Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to accelerate your job search. Here are five things you can do that will help you get hired faster, so that you can get your career – and your life – back on the right track.

1. Time your search right

Some seasons are more favorable for job searchers than others. Obviously, if you need work right away, you don’t have the luxury of waiting to look for a job. But if you’re itching for a change, you might want to start your search at a time of year when companies are more likely to be looking for new employees.

“The big months for hiring are January and February, and late September and October,” Scott Testa, chief operating officer of Mindbridge Software, told Monster. “Job seekers who make contact right at the start of these cycles have the best chance of being hired.”

Hiring often slows down in the summer, since many people are out of the office. If you’re thinking about looking for a new job now, consider spending the next month or two fine-tuning your resume, updating your LinkedIn profile, and building your network. Then, you can hit the ground running when hiring kicks into high gear around Labor Day.

2. Let people know you’re looking

If you’re only looking for jobs online, you’re missing out. Forty-one percent of people surveyed by staffing company Manpower reported that networking was the key to landing their latest job, as reported in Forbes. Many open positions are never posted online.

Don’t hesitate to make your job search public. Personally reach out to former co-workers and others in your network (both online and in real life) and ask for a favor that might help move your job search along.

“[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”][P]eople are much more likely to help if you give them something concrete they can do,” wrote Alison Green for U.S. News & World Report’s Ask A Manager blog. “For instance, you might ask your neighbor if she can connect you with a hiring manager at her former company, or you might ask your old manager if she’d advise you on the companies you’re considering.

3. Show employers what you’ve done

You know that “goals and objectives” statement at the top of your resume? Skip it, say experts. Your goal is obvious, after all – you want a job. Instead, use a summary statement that focuses on your past accomplishments. Show hiring managers and interviewers what you’ve done in the past and how that will make you a better employee for them.

“Even if you’re a recent college grad just joining a new industry, you’ve got a sentence or two you could put in that paragraph that might generate questions, interest and maybe even a job interview,” wrote Jon Acuff, author of Start, on Brazen Careerist.

In short, you need to brag a little (or maybe a lot). And whenever possible, it’s helpful to quantify your accomplishments. Don’t just say you recruited volunteers for a cause, say you recruited 50 volunteers and helped raise $50,000. Don’t just say that you managed a big project, say that you managed a big project and completed it two weeks early and $20,000 under budget.

4. Volunteer

Dedicating some of your time to helping others could make it much easier to find a job, according to a 2015 study published in the Journal of Career Assessment. The study looked at 265 unemployed twentysomethings and found that those who volunteered were more likely to have a job after six months than those who didn’t. Even volunteering for just an hour a week was associated with a greater chance of finding a job.

One reason that volunteering may so useful for young people looking for a job is that it demonstrates to employers that they have specific job-related skills – skills they may not be developing in college.

“Employers are no longer interested in training potential applicants who may do an outstanding job based on academic promise,” noted the study’s authors. “Volunteering activities provide opportunities for emerging adults to master specific skillsets and to demonstrate proof of competency and value.”

5. Clean up your social media

You should really know this by now, but here’s a reminder just in case you forgot: There’s a very good chance your potential employer is checking out your social media profiles. Forty-three percent of employers are researching candidates on social media, according to a CareerBuilder survey. If they don’t like what they see, it could cost you the job.

What social media behaviors turn off employers? Nearly half said they’d pass on an applicant who posted “provocative or inappropriate photographs or information.” Other social media no-no’s included:

Sharing information about drinking or using drugs
Bad-mouthing an employer or co-worker
Making racist, sexist, or other discriminatory comments
Sharing confidential information
Having an unprofessional screen name

Just as social media blunders can harm your job search, so can not having any online presence at all. A LinkedIn profile is a must at this point – 94% of recruiters used the site to find candidates, a 2014 survey by Jobvite found. Overall, 73% of recruiters said they had hired a candidate through social media.

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CheatSheet.com | 12-16-15| Megan Elliott

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