What Really Affects Your Ability to Make MoneyÂ

What Really Affects Your Ability to Make Money   This quarter, our recruiting firm received upwards of 33,000 resumes from all levels of sales and marketing job seekers from around the U.S. Nearly every income bracket, education level and age is represented. I’ve spent time wondering why is Sally making 35% more than Bob, even though Bob is just as good an employee.   As a matter of fact, with the right management, Bob could outperform Sally several times over. However, what about the CEO of Bob and Sally’s company, Mary, who makes over a million a year with stock options that could assist in a more comfortable retirement. I don’t claim to have all the answers in life, but when it comes to the Bob, Sally and Mary riddle, I believe I can provide useful insight. Our recruitment team has separated fact from myth in the hopes of assisting job seekers who truly wish to earn more, but who seem to continually hit disappointing brick wall after brick wall. What it’s not: Myth 1: People who make more money want to be more successful than those who do not earn.   Reality: As a matter of fact, some of the less monetarily successful people whom I meet have great intentions and ambition, but they lack in crucial areas which we’ll discuss. So, in this case, Mary may or may not have wanted to be CEO more, but that’s not what propelled her to another level when compared with her employees, Bob and Sally. Myth 2: People who make more money are more intelligent than those who earn less throughout their career. Reality: If you factor out the huge outliers such as that 23-year-old tech genius who created the next big app that Facebook buys, natural born IQ is a big equalizer instead of a differentiator. Myth 3: People who make higher incomes got a better education in college or are successful because of their network. Reality: While network is a factor in one’s ability to succeed, it does not work like most think it does.   You can’t network your way to the top. Rather, when you are successful, optimistic and productive, you naturally attract those similar in nature.   Thus, a network comes in handy after a certain level of success is achieved and confidence is gained.   It does not work the other way around. One can attempt to manipulate their way there, but it’s very difficult (not to mention morally bankrupt) because smart, successful people are not easily manipulated so this route almost never works in the beginning and nearly 100% fails in the end. Myth 4: An oppressive or supportive boss can hold you back long-term.   Reality: If you are the type that allows others to determine their ability to achieve and earn, from the onset you are not on the right path. Myth 5: You need to start with a chosen profession known to be high-earning.   Reality: While some jobs naturally pay more than others, people who gravitate towards a specific career for the money often find themselves earning at the bottom percentage in that vertical. For instance, young people who want to go into banking for the payoff almost never find themselves obtaining true wealth.   In order to make money, a person must be productive; in order to be productive, one must be happy, as optimism has a direct impact on a person’s will power to achieve. The Big Differentiators Between… The main difference between manager Sally, Marketing Employee Bob, and CEO Mary is more emotional than anything.   One’s ability to succeed is highly contingent upon ones belief that success is possible. Here are the big differentiators: 1. Attitude: While it may not appear so on the surface, in most instances, CEO Mary will possess a “let’s go get ‘em” mentality where manager Sally rarely can conjure up that enthusiasm alone and Bob tends to see reasons why things are not possible.   This prompts the quitting response. Thus, Mary is worth money to the company because her endurance and ambition are strong enough to get Sally to sign on.   Sally can then in turn relay the tasks that need to be achieved by Bob in order for the plan to come to fruition. In a meeting, the three may be analyzing the same business prospect, but often their views are different from one another’s. For those who wish to make more money, it’s imperative to understand that your habits must change before your mind can have the ability to.   New Years Resolutions often fail because people try to manipulate their habits with their conscious mind first. 2. Coping Mechanisms: Everybody is confronted with peril in their lives.   Hurdles are all relative, too.   What seems like a major setback and reason for quitting by Bob is seen entirely different in Mary’s eyes. Really efficient executives meet hardship with hard work.   Middle managers can often handle the stress, but tight deadlines and situations frequently erode manager Sally’s ability to perform at 100%.   At this point, Bob is more in-tune to his after-work nap and the Italian delivery he is getting later in the evening. Discipline and resiliency are two immense differentiators, and I would argue that they themselves are coping mechanisms. 3. Physical Health: While this is not always true, there is a correlation between earnings potential and physical conditioning.   Companies tend to favor applicants who are fit because they are often (though not always and not exclusively) the ones who come into the meeting seeming energized, engaged and focused. Additionally, the less experienced hiring managers tend to weigh looks much more heavily than they ought to.   Therefore, the gym rats will get a smoother start to their career. In the end: It can be argued that it is more one’s heart (gained will power) than it is ones head that builds earning power.   Here’s the good news:  If you have the concentration ability, inquisitiveness, and intelligence to make it to the end of this article, you have the foundation and propensity for wealth.

Why is it Important to Include As Many Relevant Key Points As Possible?

Why is it Important to Include As Many Relevant Key Points As Possible?When writing a resume, why is it important to include as many relevant key points as possible? For example, how do you determine how many points a paper needs? Well, this is actually very simple. Simply because each paper needs to be judged on what the other paper has proven to be effective and informative.There are several ways to come up with an appropriate number of key points for a rsum. It could be simply a random guess. As a matter of fact, there are many people who use their own personal opinion and to judge whether or not they are happy with the topic that they are working on. Sometimes, the issue lies on the reader's part.To be able to judge the relevance of a rsum, you need to know what the topic is in the first place. This means having a clear definition of the topic. After all, you can't let your readers guess what it is all about. As a matter of fact, having a clear definition also means not having an y gaps in the article.If you need to add a number of key points for a rsum, there are some ways of doing this. First, you could simply begin by writing a full-fledged introduction and summary. Then, you can include the key points that you think will be of most help to your readers. However, even though you know that you will need a lot of key points, you also need to consider what a reader will want to know.In order to write a resume, why is it important to include as many relevant key points as possible? Why is it important to provide the information needed in a brief overview? Some papers are written with the idea that it will take just a few pages to get to the main point. In fact, some rsum's are written as if they were one single report.A good approach to writing a resume, why is it important to include as many relevant key points as possible? You can take the example of a simple rsum. After all, most rsum's aren't complex and some are even less than one hundred words.The diffe rence between a short and a long rsum is very simple: the short run is not as extensive. In fact, a short rsum can be considered as a one-page summary. A long rsum, on the other hand, could be a page or more. So, the answer to the question 'why is it important to include as many relevant key points as possible?'You see, when writing a resume, why is it important to include as many relevant key points as possible? It's simply because you don't want your readers to miss out on anything. If you want them to know everything that you want them to know, you are better off writing in a way that your readers can access whatever you want them to know.

What is In Your Way - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

What is In Your Way - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career “Not enough time”, “Not enough support from others”, “Lack of ideas”, topped the list for my survey question: “What is in your way of having more satisfaction from your career”. All these seem correct and expected. It would be wonderful if these external factors of time and support were resolved so you and I could flourish. But alas, the sad truth “We cannot choose our external circumstances” has already been revealed by Epictetus, a Greek philosopher 2000 years ago. I guess he actually wanted to say that sometimes we can choose but not always. So what is the big deal about it? The deal is, if I desperately want to have more satisfaction/joy/fulfillment, if it keeps me up at night, I can’t afford to console myself saying “I can’t choose my external circumstances”! I can tell, I was there only a few years ago. So here is an idea for  those who feel that “lack of ideas” could be a cause. We learned in high school algebra, if something is constant (the external factors in this case) then we need to work on the variable part (that we can change). The same philosopher gentleman above also said, “We can always choose how we respond to them.”  Our choice to respond is the variable part! You may wonder what makes Epictetus the authority who lived around 2000 years ago! He has no clue what you are I are dealing with â€" the insensitive boss, the rude co-worker, the whimsical client and not to mention the economy. Tom, a client of mine wanted to give it a try.  Instead of chasing after the performance review feedback by working extra hard he took the time to come up with his own vision (with some outside help:)). I let him think about “what is that I want to be when I grow up”-“what makes me excited internally” â€" “what lights up my heart”. Once he let go of the next promotion/recognition, his vision expanded to a much bigger scope -Being a leader, Solving deep technical challenges with a team of talented people. As he came back to the present reality, he started to see his existing team as that team of talented individuals. His approach shifted from reactive to creative, fighting defensively to collaborating openly. Later on he said it was more calming when he changed his own mindset â€" shifting his perspective. Others in his team noticed it; his manager saw the difference in the results, promotion and recognition followed. All of this happened in only a few months. Last week I asked the same question, What is in your way to a room full of hard core engineers and tech professionals. A young woman raised her hand in a very soft but thoughtful voice she uttered “I am in my way, my limiting perspective is blocking me to get more satisfaction from my career”. Deep inside I know it is only the beginning for her for a more fulfilling career and a happier life. Author: Sharmin Banu   is a development partner for high performers who wants to have more Growth, Purpose and Joy for their work and lives. On top of her coach training, a deep eastern cultural background and a 12-year of high tech corporate experience give her a unique position of learning what blocks people to move up in their career path and what helps them to excel. She is very passionate about helping professionals so they can honor their core selves and leverage those to thrive and succeed in the high paced corporate culture and have more fulfillment from their lives. Sharmin’s clientele   is mostly high-tech professionals in the mid-level in their career. Sharmin and her husband have a young daughter and lives in Kirkland WA. Sharmin loves to stay in touch with her friends and the extended family.

How Anyone Can Improve Their Credit Score

How Anyone Can Improve Their Credit Score It seems that as soon as some young adults get a stable job, they will immediately begin borrowing money. While some will handle their debt situation carefully, others will go too far. In fact, it is not unusual for individuals to begin struggling with debt by the time reach their 30s. By retirement age, they believe their credit score is beyond repair. This is a huge misconception because it is possible for every consumer from all walks of life to improve their credit score. Below, you will discover several tips that will help you do exactly that. Request Your Credit Report The first you should do is request a copy of your credit report. In the United States, consumers are provided with one free credit report annually. So, take advantage of this opportunity to access your credit history. When you receive your credit report, you will need focus on potential errors. All of the information in the credit report is utilized to determine your actual credit score. If errors are present, they will drive down your score significantly. Get those errors fixed and watch your credit score improve almost instantly. Automatic Payments If your poor credit score has something to do with your inability to make timely payments on your mortgage, utilities and other loans, you should consider automatic payments. This is a great option for individuals who have difficulty remembering their payment due dates. When you sign up for automatic payments, the amount is automatically withdrawn from your bank account prior to the due date. This is a great way to avoid late payments and keep your credit score in good standing. Some companies and financial entities will offer incentives to their customers for signing up for automatic payments. The reason for this is because it ensures they receive their money on time, preventing them from needing to seek out payment. Start Paying Off Debts No matter your situation,   it is important to get your debts paid off as quickly as possible.   Learn how to remove hard inquiries and begin taking steps to get your debts paid down. You may want to consider taking advantage of debt consolidation. This can be a great way to lump your debts together and get them paid off just a little bit easier. Either way makes sure you get those debts paid off, so they will not be a continual drag on your financial security. Speak With A Credit Counselor Managing your finances at any age can be incredibly difficult. If you know for certain that you’re having trouble, you should consider speaking with a credit counselor. This type of professional is there to help you put together a plan to ensure that you do not get into too much trouble. They’ll help you budget your finances, so you do not overspend each week or each month. Simultaneously, they’ll help you come up with a plan to dig yourself out of debt. Their assistance will prove to be well worth it in the long run.

The Reverse Chronological Format For Your Resume

The Reverse Chronological Format For Your ResumeIf you are getting out of college and are struggling to find your way in the workforce, maybe it's time for you to do a little research on Valerie, the History teacher. She was a great character in your favourite TV show, Grey's Anatomy. Because she is such a strong woman, and is a past time she can work with your current situation. Her resume can help you too.The reason why I suggest using the reverse chronology is because it can teach you about what you need to include in your resume and about how to structure your personal statement. If you use the chronological order, it will teach you that you are going to need to use the chronological order of events. How to tell which event to put in a particular position. But, this might mean that you are going to have to write your resume in a certain way. It depends on what your situation is.At first, I thought that I was done with the whole Grey's Anatomy situation after my favourite characte r died, but then I found out about her resume. I think that she might be a great character to add to your resume because she was already a strong character when she had to cope with the change in the characters around her. I think that there are so many women who can relate to her. Just think of how much more difficult it is for a woman than it is for a man to deal with their life change.In the Grey's Anatomy series, which is about the characters in a certain hospital, Valerie is a teacher at the medical school and she is dealing with the changes in the students around her. She has to write the different roles of the characters because you don't want to just put the student in one group or another.Another thing that I like to do is do what I call the unstructured draft before I start to write my personal statement. You can use this draft to get an idea of what you need to write. This is the time where you get an idea of what you need to say to give you a feeling of confidence.When y ou are first starting out and you are having a hard time figuring out how to get started on your resume. Then I recommend that you use the reverse chronological order. It can give you a sense of purpose. What if you were to write the rest of your resume chronologically, now you would have a solid outline for the rest of your life and how you want to start out.The only format that I have ever seen is the chronological, where you start from where you are in this position in the order that you are here. It can be interesting to see how people start out and then eventually you can see them move towards the end of the narrative and then they start writing their personal statement in chronological order as they know how the story is going to go.Valerie is a strong character, who when you are looking at your resume, I think it might be best to do something different, especially if you want to get into the best profession. This can be a good character to learn from and you might be surprise d how much you can apply in your own situation.

Career Secret #3 Trust your Intuition

Career Secret #3 Trust your Intuition Have you used intuition in your life and career?You can probably relate to gut feel that sense in your stomach that something is on track or off.   Intuition is the thought, feeling, or both that instructs us to act, speak, listen (or not) in certain way.   Some people describe intuition as little whispers, but do you listen to yours?If youre not where you dreamed youd be at this age and stage of your life, perhaps its time to trust your intuition:What are your own whispers telling you?Are you feeling encouraged to take a certain class or meet up with a certain contact?Has a certain vision of your career been coming to mind lately?Have you been noticing certain words and phrases are coming up over and over in your daily life?Is there something that’s been in the back of your mind?These are all ways your intuition is communicating with you.   Maybe its time to listen.Intuition led me to my career as a coach.   I was unhappy living out of suitcase as a management consultant and want ed change.   My intuition led me to Body Soul magazine and an ad in the back for the Life Purpose Institute caught my eye.   Did I know I was meant to be a career consultant?   No, but my intuition told me I needed a life purpose.Now, intuition is what I use to serve my clients.Intuition nudges me to reach out to my clients to check in with the right words of encouragement, the right ideas and contacts.   My clients respond by saying, This is exactly what I needed. and Your timing is perfect and I was just thinking about you too.Intuition is also what comes to me during my coaching sessions when I help people Soul Search, Research and Job Search.   It helps me read the situation quickly, cut to the chase and offer up relevant career options and strategies.   People tell me, you have a way of getting to the heart of the matter. They also ask me if Im psychic.   I guess I am in a way because Im listening to my intuition.Want to try it out?   Ill be co-hosting a Twitter chat on Intui tion Sunday August 9th, 2015 from 9-10a ET.   The chat is called #SpiritChat and is hosted weekly by Kumud Ajmani.Never joined Twitter or a Twitter chat?Start by going to Twitter.com and creating an account.   You dont have to use your real name if you dont want to but having a presence on social media can boost your career when used properly.Log into Twitter at 9a ET on August 9th.   Type in #Spiritchat in the Twitter search field.   Youll see a chain of tweets all including the hashtag #Spiritchat.   Youll soon see questions labeled as Q1.You can just watch and read as the chat progresses to Q2, etc. or weigh in with your own thoughts by tweeting.   Be sure to include A1 or A2 (whichever question you want to respond to) and add the hashtag #SpiritChat to the end of your tweet.Keep your tweet to 140 characters or less.   Click on others tweets and youll see actions you can take like retweet or favorite or quote tweet if you want to comment on their comment.My intuition tells me yo ull gain a lot from participating or even just peeking in on the chat.  â€œIntuition is the supra-logic that cuts out all the routine processes of thought and leaps straight from the problem to the answer.” -Robert Graves

How to Join or Create a Mastermind

How to Join or Create a Mastermind Ever since I shared my recent mastermind experience, people have asked me, “How can I find a mastermind to join or create one of my own?” If you don’t know what a mastermind is, then find out how a mastermind can boost your career. Then come back here to find out how to join one or create your own. A good mastermind group provides a supportive community where people share actionable ideas, give and get feedback, and encourage each other. While people bring their challenges to discuss with the group, it’s not a complaints session. In fact, it’s the opposite â€" instead of dragging each other down under the weight of a gripe session, the mastermind group is about helping each other take positive action and holding each other accountable. It’s also a mutual investment of time and attention. So, it’s not like a training session where the trainer does all the work while the “students” sit back and take notes. Everyone gives and gets value. How to get involved in a mastermind Join an existing mastermind The simplest way to get involved is to join an existing mastermind. However, unless you’re an entrepreneur, this is easier said than done. Most of the mastermind groups I’ve come across are of business owners who are eager to grow their businesses and therefore are happy to share ideas with others. It’s lonely at the top, and having a built-in support group like a mastermind is a gift â€" perhaps even a necessity. But if you work in a corporation or other organization, it’s just as valuable you may just have to look a little harder to find one. Here are a few ways to get started. The Success AllianceThis is a US site that has a list of mastermind groups which are US-centric. Hosts of mastermind groups pay a fee for this listing, which is at least one indication of how serious they are. Meetup.comThis online social networking portal facilitates offline group meetings in various locations around the world. They have a section for masterminds, although they seem to use the term loosely. In any case, the site does help people find and join groups that have a common interest, such as politics, books, movies, health, careers or hobbies. So even if you don’t find a ready-made mastermind group, you could use this to meet people who could be part of a mastermind you create. Ask aroundAsk people you know if they've come across such groups. Having a referral can be helpful in identifying the right group for you, and also in becoming a member of a group that’s already formed. Search onlineAnd of course, you could always do an Internet search, such as Googling “mastermind in [insert your location]” or “mastermind on [insert your area of interest]” or “how to find a mastermind near me” or something similar. Create your own mastermind If you decide to take matters into your own hands and create your own mastermind group, then you could simply invite 2-3 colleagues, friends or people you’ve met and been impressed with and get started. All you need is a handful (or less) of people who have the mindset, aspirations and experiences that would make for a successful collaboration. 3 keys to a successful mastermind When it comes to creating your own mastermind, the three keys to success are to have: The right people A shared purpose, and An agreed process Let’s take a look at each one. The right people This is the most important part. For a mastermind to work, people need to feel like they’re among peers. People they trust, respect and can learn from. People they want to help. And people who are not directly competing with each other. That’s because most of the learning and discovery comes from fellow group members. You also need to be able to create the right group dynamics. After all, interpersonal interactions are the way that value is delivered. So if you have someone who’s a jerk, it ruins the entire karma of the group and your mastermind won’t succeed. And it’s important that your group members are complementary to each other, and not identical in the way they think and approach challenges. Otherwise, you won’t get many new ideas. It’s a little like forming a book club. You start small in the beginning because it’s easier to add people than to kick someone out. And you choose people who have the same interest as you do in reading, but will bring a different perspective in the discussion about the book. A shared purpose You’ll also want to have a focus or theme for your mastermind group, which is what I mean by a shared purpose. For example, it could be that everyone is there to find ways to grow their businesses. Or navigate career challenges. Or build a second income stream alongside their full-time job. The shared purpose works hand in hand with the choice of people in the group. So if it’s to navigate career challenges, you might want to select members who are all at a similar stage of their careers, but working (or looking for work) in different industry sectors. That way, no one’s competing head-to-head and everyone can support each other. An agreed process Once you’ve got the right people coming together around a shared purpose, you’ll need a process that everyone buys into and that helps the mastermind deliver on its promise. Some of the key items when it comes to process include: When you’ll meetFor example, is it a weekly, monthly, or quarterly gathering? What time of day and for how long do you want to meet? Where you’ll meetWill you rent a private room in a conference center, rotate around people’s homes, or at a coffee shop? Or will this be a virtual meeting on a video conference call (I like to use Zoom, and there’s also Skype and other platforms), which may be more practical if you’re in different locations? Or maybe it’s a combination? How many peopleYou can start with a small group of, say, 3 people. But then it’s useful to identify the minimum and maximum group size for the mastermind group itself. There’s no one right size, but keep in mind it’s the tradeoff between having the diversity of input that comes with a larger group versus the intimacy and relationship building that comes with a smaller group. While I’ve seen groups as big as 50 succeed, I personally prefer something smaller where you can get to know each other better. And you’ll also want to decide what constitutes a quorum, which is the minimum number of people you need in order for it to make sense to go ahead with the meeting. AgendaWhile each meeting will have its own specific agenda, it’s useful to have an overall framework for how your meetings will run. For example, you could have a slot for a particular topic that people want to cover that month, and then some time for “hot seats”, where the group focuses on one member’s challenge or issue and helps brainstorm solutions. You could also invite guest speakers. Free or feeMasterminds can range from free to charging pretty high fees. For example, I’ve seen some with an entry fee of $50,000 a year! But before you fall off your chair, that one was for entrepreneurs with multi-million dollar businesses. Most of the fee-based masterminds charge far less. It all depends on the value proposition, the formality of the mastermind group, and the caliber of people. The great thing about free groups is that they’re, well, free! But that can also mean people are less committed than if they’re paying to be part of it. And as in the case of the entrepreneur group, having an entry fee can also act as a way to help people self-select whether their business or career is sufficiently advanced for the mastermind group to make sense. FacilitatorWhile a mastermind is a mutual group, it’s important to have someone in charge of the process, both during the meeting and in preparation for the meeting. The paid mastermind groups generally have someone who’s an experienced facilitator. And whatever the financial arrangements are, it makes a difference to have someone running the meeting and ensuring that all the logistics are taken care of. Conclusion Being in the right mastermind group can dramatically accelerate your progress, whether it’s in your business, your career or another aspect of your life. Whether you want to join an existing mastermind or create one of your own, it’s up to you to take the next step. It’s simplest to start out by looking for an existing mastermind group to join. Since these groups come in all shapes and sizes, it’s best to approach your search as an opportunity to test out the concept and experiment with what’s out there already. If you’ve searched but still haven’t found one that suits you, then it may be time to create one of your own. In which case, make sure you focus on the three key success factors: choose the right people identify a shared purpose, and agree on the process. And remember, it’s best to start small and build up gradually. Finding or creating a mastermind can take some effort, but it’s well worth it when you get it right. Being part of a group of people who come together regularly to help each other achieve their goals is powerful. So here’s my question to you: If you’re intrigued by the benefits of being in a mastermind, what would be the shared purpose or focus for the mastermind that would interest you most? Leave a comment to let me know.