How to Deal With Co-workers Who Dont Get Along - The Muse

How to Deal With Co-workers Who Dont Get Along - The MuseHow to Deal With Co-workers Who Dont Get Along Ideally, you get along with your colleagues. You might not become best friends, but you like them enough that you can work well together and dont mind being around each other. But as we know, lifes rarely ideal. And sometimes people just dont like each other. While dreading the presence of a horrible co-worker is bad enough, whats just as bad (and sometimes worse) is when two of them hate each other and youre stuck in the middle.The most important piece of advice I can give you when this happens is this Stay out of it. Resist the temptation to get involved in their interpersonal issues. Its rarely productive. If Janes telling you how much she hates Paul, and you sit there nodding in agreement- or worse, add in why you hate Paul, too- youre just fueling the fire and increasing the levels of toxicity.Itll quickly become the only thing you and Jane ever talk about (how fun and cozy). Plus, if she ever decides to call Paul out, you risk her telling him that you feel the same way. And just like that, the pettiness of middle school has come back to haunt you. Instead of inserting yourself, try one of these three suggestions.1. Change the TopicYou could decide to completely stop talking to Jane and Paul other than when youre in meetings together or emailing about work. It might feel awkward, but its a fairly effective, low-confrontation way to stay free of the drama. But what if you like Jane and Paul? What if you want to remain friendly with them?In this case, when one of them starts talking badly about the other, distract them and steer them toward another conversation topic. Sure, its a bit of a cop-out, but youd be surprised how effective it can be in deterring them from venting to you further. For examplePaul Ugh. Did you hear the dumb thing Jane said in all hands today?You Mustve missed it. But look at this video of my cat knocking things off the table. I cant stop laughing every time I look at it. OrYou Hmm, no. However, I did hear the news that theyre considering giving us bonuses this year What do you think the likelihood is thatll actually happen?Hopefully, Paul takes the bait and lets you lead him into a different conversation. And, perhaps, hell notice the pattern of you changing the topic every time he brings up Jane and hell stop bringing up Jane. 2. Ask Them to Leave You Out of ItSure, changing the subject works. But Im a big fan of clear, direct communication. What better way to make it obvious to someone what you want and need in life than to tell them? If Jane bad-mouths Paul, you have every right to state that you want to remain neutral- again, this isnt your battle to fight. Pull her aside and be direct in shutting the conversation downHey Jane. Im sorry youve been having a hard time with Paul. It must be difficult to be at work with him every day. But itd be best for me and our friendship if you didnt talk to me about it. Id rather not get pulled into the middle. You can ask someone not to do something while still being polite and empathetic. This doesnt make you an asshole. It means youre standing in your power and doing whats best for you. If this ends up making them dislike or distrust you (which is, unfortunately, a possibility), at least youre out of range of getting in trouble with the higher-ups when their fighting comes to a head. If you want to help her make the situation better- and she seems open to feedback or advice- you can tack on the followingIf you think the tension between you two is impacting your happiness here, then I really encourage you to reach out to insert anthroponym of boss or HR representative or try suggestion for diffusing the tension.3. Seek Help From Your Boss or HRLets get one thing straight It is not your responsibility to fix this issue. Dont try to be a mediator. Thats typically a recipe for disaster. If the situation doesnt seem to be getting better, and especial ly if its affecting your work or theirs, it might be time for you to remove yourself completely for now and to defer to those who are (hopefully) better equipped to address it. You might be afraid of coming off as a tattletale or gossip, but its absolutely possible to handle this in a neutral, professional way. Try saying something like this in your next one-on-one with your bossIve noticed that there seem to be some major tensions between Paul and Jane. Im not sure whats going on there. I dont want to cause a fuss, but wanted to bring it to your attention, as I think its beginning to impact what their fighting is impacting. You dont have to say much mora than that, though you may also want to mention that you want to remain anonymous. (This should be a given, but you dont want to make that assumption and risk being outed.) Your boss or HR rep can take it from there and figure out how to move forward. The bottom line is, if it gets really bad, step away completely and ask for help. A feud between co-workers is never fun. Whether you like both of them, one of them, or none of them, the most important thing to remember is to not get involved. Because then it becomes your problem, too. (And, hey- if youre the Paul or Jane in this situation, take a step back and think about how you might be affecting others in the office. Just saying.)

Lead for Sustained Success

Lead for Sustained SuccessLead for Sustained Success5 ideas to help you lead for the long term.The real test of leadership is not in the moment, but in the long term. Of course, the decisions you make at any moment can positively or negatively affect the long-term health of the business.Have you ever seen a leader swoop in and be the hero of the moment only to guide the organization to long-term failure? What good is that?As the worldwide economy continues to improve, there will be a host of leaders who will be determined to show that they are getting great results right now. You might even be one of them. Im encouraging you to do your best to focus on long-term success as well as the next quarterly report. Here are five ideas on leading for sustained success1. Carefully Select Your Role ModelsIts been my experience that people tend to reflect the leaders they fruchtwein admire. If they admire someone who is always sarcastic and cynical, then they tend to become more sarcastic and cy nical. If they admire a leader who is always down-to-earth and friendly, they tend to be that way. Be very careful about the leaders you choose to be your role models.My father-in-law, Reverend Arnold Bizer, is a living legend.Im serious. He was the senior minister of Salem Church in Alhambra, Illinois for 34 years. Alhambra has a population of 700 people. Every time my family and I go back to Alhambra with him, people line up to shake his hand. He retired 18 years ago. To me, he and his wife, Luetta, are absolutely fantastic examples of leading for sustained success. Their impact on that community continues to this day.They are remarkably consistent with everyone they meet. Their personalities never waver. They treat everyone with respect. Ive seen them in countless situations, and they continually amaze me. I never saw them in action at Salem Church because they retired three years before I met my wife, Barb. But I have heard from dozens of people who were impacted by their leader ship, and the way their parishioners describe them matches up exactly with what I have seen from them in their retirement.Who is someone you know that has provided leadership for sustained success? What do you admire about that person? How can you use something that they do to become an even more effective leader today?2. Be ConsistentThe most important factor in building a strong brand is consistency. The same can be said for being a leader who sustains success over the long term. I dont mean you cant ever try new ideas. neuschpfung is part of regenerating success. However, being consistent with your values and your behaviors is how people can come to trust you. Ive seen gruff leaders and loud leaders and gentle leaders and quiet leaders all become very successful. What I have not seen is people who changed their personalities every day be effective in sustaining success over the long term.Ive identified three disastrous leadership styles. They areThe Mood Ring Leader - their deci sions and behaviors are based on their mood that day.The Chameleon - says or does whatever they think the boss of the moment wants.The Polite Dictator - tells employees what they want to hear, and then does whatever they had already decided to do before meeting with their employees.The one thing these three types of leaders have in common is they are all very inconsistent. If you want to lead for sustained success, write down the values and beliefs you are going to stick to no matter who is in the room or what mood you are in or what your results were last quarter. People need to know that they can count on you. If you change every day, they wont know who you are and what you stand for.3. Pause, Think, ActNeil Diamond had a song out a few years ago called, Slow It Down. Here are some of the lyricsPick it up. Hurry up son. Eat on the run if you wanna get done.Greed, speed, where does it lead you?Wanna succeed? You thinking you need to?But are you really sure?Its a lot to endure, bu t I got me a cure.Slow it down Slow it down, yea.Slow it down.Take your time and youll find your time has a meaning.Easy now.Catch those sounds of your heartbeat before its leaving.The funny thing about that song is the first time I heard it I was eating a hamburger while driving down the highway. Maybe thats why it stuck in my head.There is a constant world-wide drumbeat that says, The world is moving faster than ever before. You have to make faster decisions in order to survive. It makes it sound like were on a rat race with steroids. Dont believe it. To be a great leader, you have to have the courage to slow down and make really good decisions. Once you believe in your decision, move into action. Dont feel compelled to meet someone elses stopwatch.4. Ask Yourself The Big Question of BusinessThe big question of business is, Will this decision be good for our business today and in the future?Notice the question doesnt say, Will this decision be good for my career? I think over the last decade we saw enough examples of people who made decisions that were good for their careers, at least in the short term, and bad for their businesses, at least in the long term.Jim Collins wrote an iconic book called Good to Great. I liked the book very much, but I disagreed with his emphasis on humility. At least, I felt he needed to clarify better what that word means. If humility means always putting the good of the organization ahead of your own personal good, then I agree. Humility in that sense is critically important to being a leader for sustained success.On the other hand, if humility means putting yourself down and always saying that it was other people who produced the results and that you were just plain lucky, then I think it is the wrong word to use in describing a successful leader over the long term. You should believe in your worth and acknowledge that you do bring value to the organization that helps it to succeed today and tomorrow. Just dont put whats good f or you ahead of whats best for the organization.5. Remember What Got You HereNot every company on the planet has had poor results through the recession. Some have continued to achieve remarkable results and deliver incredible performances. The challenge for leaders of every long-term successful company is to continually remind the employees and suppliers of what got them there.Leaders who sustain success have great memories and are great historians. They know the values and decisions that guided their organization for many years, and they continually remind the current group of employees of those values.Dont lead for todays headlines. Lead in a way that 52 years after you arrived, your impact is leise being felt every day.

7 Steps to Take Before You Quit Your Job - The Muse

7 Steps to Take Before You Quit Your Job - The Muse7 Steps to Take Before You Quit Your JobHow do you know when its really time to quit your job? Sure, hating Monday mornings could be a warning that youre not happy at work- but that doesnt necessarily mean youre ready to get up and leave right now. Now, if you hate going to work so much that you dread Sunday mornings, thats a different story.If youre deciding whether or not to stick it out, watch this video by Howcast to see if you exhibit some of the telltale signs of being so over your job that you need to start looking for something else. (Think it is time to leave? Browse some of ansicht open positions.)Photo of exit sign courtesy of Shutterstock.

General Orders of a Sentry, USMC Version

General Orders of a Sentry, USMC VersionGeneral Orders of a Sentry, USMC VersionOne of the first things you will learn in the United States Military is how to stand duty. You will also be required to recite verbatim the General Orders of a Sentry. It is a vital but most basic function of the military. The General Orders of a Sentry is a list of rules a military member must know verbatim and practice while standing duty (or watch). All guard posts have rules to follow, and the Eleven General Orders are detailed but universal to all military members. You will have to learn these General Orders when you arrive at Basic Training, so get a head start before you arrive for Day 1 of Boot Camp. The Eleven General Orders of a Sentry as required in Marine Corps Boot Camp (and after, when performing sentry duty) are listed below with a short description It is slightly different than the Navy Version(mostly because ranks and titles differ between the Navy and USMC), and even more different than the Army Version. Take charge of this post and all government property in view. When on duty as a guard or sentry, you are in charge of your area and have the authority to stop and question any rank who seeks to reisepass your area.Walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.Stay observant with keen attention to details. It is easy to get complacent after many hours on duty - especially if you have not had many people to deal with. But your ability to pay attention to your surroundings will save your life and others. Report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.You will have a written log to keep track of all events that occurred while on watch. Record everything, but report anyone not following the rules.To repeat all calls from postsmore distant from the guardhouse than my own.Pass the word to your fellow members of the guard either by radio, land line, signal, or vocal. Quit my post only when properly relieved.Do not leave your post, until someone has arrived to take your place.To receive, obey, and pass on to the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Officer, Officer of the Day, Officers, and Non-Commissioned Officers of the guard only.Make sure you pass down all details of the watch and any special orders given during your duty day to the person who relieves you. Talk to no one except in the line of duty. It is all business when on duty.No cellphones, texting, or other business but protecting and guarding your area is what you do.Give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.Anytime a major disruption or danger occurs, sound the alarm and call for back up.To call the Corporal of the Guard in any case not covered by instructions.When not sure of a situation, ask your superiors to confirm. Salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.Standard military courtesy applies as senior members and color guard pass. Be especially watchful at night and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post, and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.Stay vigilant Make sure everyone who enters the area you protect are authorized. If you are standing watch (duty) for the first time, as long as you know these eleven basic orders, you will be able to perform the task without issue. The last thing you want is anArticle 113 of the UCMJ. Take the General Orders seriously. There will be times you will be challenged by higher-ranking members in the military, but the General Orders of the Sentry give you the authority over any member not following the rules and regulations of that post. The one thing you want to avoid is complacency as there is a saying, Complacency Kills. Stay alert, vigilant, and do your duty to keep the post you are guarding secure. The terms standing watch, guard duty, standing duty, guarding my post are all synonymous with sentry duty.

Brief Article Teaches You the Ins and Outs of Baby Sitter Resume and What You Should Do Today

Brief Article Teaches You the Ins and Outs of Baby Sitter Resume and What You Should Do Today Ruthless Baby Sitter Resume Strategies Exploited With some important data in the appropriate order, everyone can create one. You might not develop into an expert overnight, but the info can definitely assist you not just in answering interview questions but in addition in updating your stored knowledge about your career. All that info can help fortify your resume so you stand out to families seeking to hire. To shorten the interview procedure, make sure your resume already has complete information. All About Baby Sitter Resume Responsibility is extremely important for parents. Resume Constructor The work application building procedure is incredibly quick. You dont require an education. The Importance of Baby Sitter Resume Several platforms and designs to select from, Job application Now-Resume builder is easily the most efficient place to make work earning resumes. Your skill s et will decide on the age range youre capable of babysitting. You are going to want the best music down load software for android to receive your music files downloaded. Consequently, its important to talk about the work related expertise at length. Families seeking a nanny are seeking a person who will develop into an immediate extension of their household. Re-read the babysitting job post to determine what a family is searching for and match whatever work experience youve dependent on the ad. If its possible to perform the work well then the families will continue asking for you. Locate the job suitable to you and get started applying with your fresh and updated Babysitter resume and polish your odds of finding the job. Everyone was in the identical situation when they were searching for their very first job After you understand what youre searching for, it is the right time to find ready. Facts, Fiction and Baby Sitter Resume Wherbeie youre able to in a place to transfer all type of files whenever you may. An individual should manage formatting and examine the spellings of the resume too. Moreover, its possible to also download multiple music documents at saatkorn period thats missing from many of apps. Dont use unnecessary formatting. Start with picking out the security or sign template you will want. At this point you have the plan template, you might use it again and again. Once downloaded, the template is easily custom-made with Excel, which grants you the capacity to create a distinctive photography publication every moment. It is not hard to follow, and you may get started instantly. Applicants for babysitting positions sometimes make the error of including irrelevant sides of their prior experience on their resume. It is the favorite choice of first job for the teenage girls in the US. Flexible scheduling availability to incorporate all days evenings and a few weekends. You may also see Animator Resumes. Sample Babysitter Resume Objectives An objective needs to be listed toward the peak of your resume. Resumes give potential employers a means to learn about applicants quickly and readily, and theyre your very first step toward new job opportunities. Rumors, Deception and Baby Sitter Resume List your prior work experience inside this part of your babysitter resume. Concentrate on the needs of a babysitter and the way you best fit them. Your resume should quickly persuade the possible employer that youre an excellent candidate for the nanny job and the most suitable person to care for their children. In addition, it gives an instance of a babysitter resume that may act as a template when making your resume for the job. With our on-line babysitting solutions, you can get a neighborhood babysitter for your family members, anywhere in Canada. The ages of babysitters can vary from 11-19 decades. The nanny needs to be encouraged to take a couple of minutes for herself during nap time or any time her charge is in a preschool class for a couple of hours. Any nanny will inform you theres a major difference between their job and babysitting. Families appreciate learning about an expected nannys talents outside child-care, and might hope you will expose their children to some of your distinctive passions and knowledge. You must find methods to keep the children entertained. Bear in mind that a number of families may expect you to supply extra documentation beyond your resume. Parents and guardians will be considering this type of information. The key to be a thriving babysitter is to maintain the children safeguarded and entertained in ways that should be other than watching TV or movies. The target of your resume is to make it simpler for parents to hire you. Taking care of a kid is an incredibly difficult undertaking and is not readily entrusted to someone. An individual who would like to apply as a babysitter must have certain characteristics that will make it possible for her or him to care for the children.

The Key to Successful Writing a Resume when You Have a Work Gap

The Key to Successful Writing a Resume when You Have a Work Gap Find out more about the company before you interview so that you can provide insight on how your previous experience may benefit their company. You know whether youll be working with things youve already done before and relying on your prior work experience or whenever you will need to emphasize transferable skills. There are all sorts of reasons why folks take time away from work, and several of them are good explanations. It is essential to show youve got relevant work experience. Explaining gaps in employment can be hard. Still, theres a need to explain frequent gaps, and gaps that last for over a month or two. Now, your resume doesnt need to be the sole place to speak about the employment gap. The Writing a Resume when You Have a Work Gap Game If youve accomplished things in work role, its wasteful not to utilize it to your benefit to impress an employer. You may have experience related to your job target , irrespective of whether you were paid. You have to sound to be an in-demand job candidate If youre explaining a present gap in employment, you should sound just like youre being selective and that youre focused on making certain you get the best fit for the very long term, as opposed to just accepting the very first job you encounter. Dont be too proud to undertake a job which you feel is beneath you. You might need to create the life you would like with a mid-career crisis. Dont be afraid to call, however, even in case you have been off work for a time period. Soon, youll be counting lost time in years, and it is going to be too late. If you are in possession of a patchy employment history with different periods of unemployment, you may choose to opt for a skill-based CV, which lets you describe the activities you undertook during your gap year without stressing too much in regards to the sequence of events.

Lawyers Are Heroes of the Trump Resistance

Lawyers Are Heroes of the Trump ResistanceLawyers Are Heroes of the Trump ResistanceJust hours after President Trump signed his immigration executive order barring entry to nationals of seven majority-Muslim countries, lawyers got to work to fight the ban. Attorneys from the National Immigration Law Center, the ACLU, and law students from Yales Worker and Immigration Law Center worked all Friday night putting togetherbei a complaint seeking to free two Iraqi men detained at JFK airport and any other travelers so detained because of the travel ban. The complaint was filed early Saturday morning in federal court in Brooklyn, argued that day by an ACLU lawyer, and by Saturday evening the court had enjoined the government from removing any individuals affected by the ban.This quick legal response to the travel ban was repeated all over the country. Lawyers from large firms, immigration groups, and civil rights organizations filed similar petitions in Virginia, Georgia, California, and Wa shington, and met with similar success in the courts. Throughout the weekend and into this week, lawyers of all stripes have worked 24 hours a day at international arrivals terminals at JFK, Newark, Dulles, LAX, OHare, and other airports to represent travelers affected by the executive order. They have created makeshift legal offices in airport cafes and public spaces, stringing together laptops and printers and organizing shifts by Facebook, email, Twitter, and Google Docs. Even the governments top lawyer became part of the legal response to the executive order when acting attorney general Sally Yates announced that Justice Department lawyers would not defend Trumps order against legal challenges. The president quickly fired Yates and replaced her with a U.S. Attorney who agreed to rescind Yates order.Immigration is just one front for the legal fight against Trumps unorthodox presidency. Last week the ethics watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) sued President Trump for violating the foreign emoluments clause of the Constitution by failing to divest from his many businesses. The once-obscure clause bars the president from accepting any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kindwhatever from foreign governments. The ethics lawyers assert that Trump is receiving cash and favors from foreign governments through guests and events at his hotels, leases in his buildings, and valuable real estate deals abroad.Today brought the news that the city of San Francisco has sued Trump over his executive order withholding federal funds from so-called sanctuary cities. Several of the largest US cities- including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver, Boston, and Washington, DC- have enacted some form of protection to undocumented immigrants. The lawsuit, filed by San Franciscos city attorney alleges that the order violates the 10th Amendment, which reserves powers not granted to the federal government to the states.These su its are likely just the tip of the iceberg. The president is signing executive orders without running through the modell channels, with little of the legal oversight that normally goes into lawmaking. The orders that he has made so far have been easy to attack legally, and some draft orders that have been leaked are on even shakier legal ground. Trump either doesnt understand or doesnt care what he can legally and constitutionally do, and he is acting about as quickly on as many fronts as possible. There will be more and more legal challenges and the independent judiciary will start to overrule the White House orders with more frequency.The ACLU has collected more than $70 million in online donations since election day, about five times as much as the group has collected in online donations in the past three years combined. With Republicans controlling both houses of Congress and the Democrats in disarray and lacking any spine, the two pincers (opposing Trump) have to be litigation and citizen action, ACLU Director Anthony Romero said over the weekend.Often hated and the butt of many a joke, lawyers are becoming the heroes of the resistance to the Trump presidency. That alone may be proof of a parole that has been oft-repeated since the election This is not normal.Follow Vault Law on TwitterVaultLawand follow Vault on InstagramVaultCareersandFacebook

11 surprising habits of truly powerful people

11 surprising habits of truly powerful people11 surprising habits of truly powerful peoplePower gets a bad rap, but only because people pursue it for the wrong reasons. When power is pursued for the right reasons, it can be a tremendous force for good.Niccolo Machiavelli spread the belief that people can only become powerful by exploiting the worst aspects of human nature.One of these teachings was, A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests. Machiavelli was essentially saying that youre an idiot if you keep your promises or stick to your values when youd benefit more by breaking them.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreNot only did we hear it from Machiavelli, but also from plenty of voices in our own time, such as Robert Greene, who said, The key to power is the ability to judge who is best able to further your interests in all situat ions. Its no wonder so many people think that the only way to get power is to be a jerk.Fortunately, Machiavelli and Greene had something in common They were both wrong. Recent research from UC Berkeley shows that when it comes to power, nice guys finish first. The researchers found that the most powerful people (according to ratings from their peers) were those who were the most considerate and outgoing. They also found that those who were the most Machiavellian- using things like gossip and manipulation to gain power- were quickly identified and isolated and ended up with no power at all.Studies like these are rehabilitating powers bad rap. Power isnt inherently evil, and it isnt inherently bad to seek power. Without power, you cant accomplish anything, good or evil. Even those who want elendhing more than to make the world a better place, cant do so without exerting the influence of personal power. Its the abuse of power and the underhanded things people do to achieve it that cau se problems.People who earn and use power wisely have a profound impact on everyone they encounter. Yet, they achieve this power only because they exert so much influence inside, on themselves. We see only their outside we see them innovate, speak their mind, and propel themselves forward toward bigger and better things. Yet, were missing the best part. The confidence and wherewithal that make their influence possible are earned.And while what people are influenced by changes with the season, the unique habits of powerful people remain constant. Their focused pursuit of excellence is driven by eleven habits, which you can emulate and absorb until your power and influence expandThey dont wait for a title to leadIts important not to confuse power with authority. The right title can give you authority, but it cant give you power. On the other hand, you dont need a title to be powerful. You can lead without being a boss and you can have a powerful influence upon your workplace and commu nity without a title.Theyre graciously disruptivePowerful people are never satisfied with the status quo. Theyre the ones who constantly ask, What if? and Why not? Theyre not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom, and they dont disrupt things for the sake of being disruptive they do so to make things better.They think for themselvesPowerful people arent buffeted by the latest trend or by public opinion. They form their opinions carefully, based on the facts. Theyre more than willing to change their mind when the facts kooperation it, but they arent influenced by what other peoplethink, only by what theyknow.They focus only on what really mattersPowerful people arent distracted by trivialities. Theyre able to cut through the static and clutter, focus on what matters and point it out to everyone else. They speak only when they have something important to say, and they never bore people with idle banter.They master conflictPeople tend to err on one of two extremes when it comes to co nflict some are passive and avoid conflict altogether, while others seek out conflict aggressively, thinking that this will make them powerful. People who master conflict know how to approach it directly and assertively, yet constructively. Truly powerful people do not react emotionally and defensively to dissenting opinions- they welcome them. Theyre humble enough to know that they dont know everything and that someone else might see something they missed. And if that person is right, they embrace the idea wholeheartedly, because they care more about the end result than being right.They inspire conversationWhen powerful people speak, their words spread like ripples in a pond. Influencers inspireeveryonearound them to explore new ideas and to think differently about their work.They know their strengths and weaknessesPeople who get seduced by power and, therefore, start abusing it are often blind to their own weaknesses. To become truly powerful, you have to see yourself as you reall y are and to position yourself to use your strengths for the greater good. That means taking a clear-eyed look at your strengths and your weaknesses and owning them both completely.They grow and leverage their networksThose who grow power the Machiavellian way dont bother with people who arent useful to them. People see this coming a mile away, and it doesnt win any friends.Truly powerful people know how to make lasting connections. Not only do they know a lot of people, they get to know their connections connections. More importantly, they add value to everyone in their network. They share advice and know how, and they make connections between people who should get to know each other.They ask for help when they need itIts easy to mistakenly assume that powerful people never ask for help from anybody. Asking for help when you dont know the answer or cant do it all by yourself is not a sign of weakness its a sign of strength. It sends the message that youre not so insecure as to put your ego above the mission.It takes a tremendous amount of confidence and humility to admit that you need assistance, and asking for assistance is critical, because theres nothing worse than trucking down the wrong path when youre too embarrassed or proud to admit that you dont know what youre doing.They believePowerful people always expect the bestThey believe in their own power to achieve their dreams, and they believe that others share that same power. They believe that nothing is out of reach and that belief inspires those around them to stretch for their own goals. They firmly believe that one person can change the world.They do itnowWay back in 1894, Orison Swett Marden made an important point Dont wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seek common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities. Strong men make them. If you put off growing your power until the right opportunity comes along, its never going to happen. Powerful people know that developing power is a lot like lifting weights or running a 5K. The only way to strengthen those muscles is by using them, so stop making excuses and just start. You know what you believe in, you know who you are, and you know what you want to become, so act like it. Yes, it will be uncomfortable at times, and yes, some people will tell you youre doing it wrong, but the only way to achieve power and use it for good is to get out there and do it.Bringing It All TogetherBoris Yeltsin once said, You can make a throne of bayonets, but you cant sit on it for very long. Forget everything youve heard about power, because, in the end, the nice guys really do win. Whether you call it power or influence, its okay to want it and its okay to have it. You just have to pursue it and use it with integrity.Have you seen people abuse power? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below, as I learn just as much from you as you do from me.This article first appeared on Linkedin.You might also enjoyNew neurosc ience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Heres How You Can Write a Compelling Business Feasibility Study

Heres How You Can Write a Compelling Business Feasibility StudyHeres How You Can Write a Compelling Business Feasibility StudyIf you think you have a great idea for a new product, such as a homemade cherry jam handed down to you by your grandmother, it may be time to bring your idea or product to market. You may have even received so many compliments that you feel it could be a genuine business opportunity, which is great, but youll probably need to do some research to see if the idea will actually bring in any real profits. Whats a Feasibility Study? A business feasibility study is a process that tests your ideas viability. It helps you to get a handle on whether your idea will fly or if its likely to flop. Feasibility studies can also serve as a basis for creating a ?small business plan and a marketing plan, both of which youll also need going forward. A typical feasibility study titelbilds six areas, starting with a description of your business, the market, technology youll ne ed to use, financial and organizational details, and a conclusion of how youll move forward. Before starting the report, you can do some basic research to see if your idea has enough going for it to take the time to compile the report. These 10 steps and considerations can get you started on answering that question and working through your own study. Assess Potential Customer Demand Ifyoure thinking of selling your cherry jam in your area, start your research by visiting grocers and surveying their shelves. Do theyhave a paltry display with very few jam products? Thiscould mean that theresno demand for your product. Next, go to the Internet. Do a keyword search for your product if you plan to sell it online. If it looks like a lot of people are doing a brisk business selling cherry jam or a similar product, theres a good chance that demand exists for what you intend to sell. Assess the Competition Find out who youre up against. Lets say youd like to sell your jam at the loca l farmers market. Stop by the market at least twice, once on the busiest day and once on the slowest day. See how many- if any- vendors are selling jam, and sample their products. You should be able to judge fairly easily if your product is oben liegend or unique to those that youll be competing against. If you plan to sell your jam online, see if theres a leading brand that dominates the market and already has a devoted customer base, then sample it. Starting Your Feasibility Study Now youre ready to get started on your study, and that begins with understanding it in mora detail. A feasibility study typically includes six sections or components a description of your business, a market feasibility study, a technical feasibility study, a financial feasibility study, an organizational feasibility study, and your conclusions. Begin gathering necessary the information youll need to address all these issues. What do you need to accomplish to make your business work? What are some pot ential problems you might encounter? Devise some marketing strategies. Commit all this to writing- youll refer back to it a time or two or 10. Writing a Market Feasibility Study Prepare the market components of your feasibility study first, including a description of the industry, the current market, the anticipated future market potential, and industry trends, the level of your competition, sales projections, potential customers and clients, and other revenue-generating resources. Your challenge is to keep all this as brief as possible. Eliminate wishful thinking in your assessment of the current market and your competition and be conservative with your sales projections. Writing a Technical Feasibility Study The technical feasibility study focuses on the technical and logistical factorsthat must be in place so your business canproduce, store, and deliver its products or services to the public. A technical feasibility study includes details like the kinds of materials, labo r, technology, and transportation youll need, as well as where your business will be located. Remember, a loan officer or investor will be reading this, and yours is probably not the first feasibility study hes ever encountered. Hes experienced, you have his attention, and youre taking his time. He expects your study to be polished and professional. So give a comprehensive accounting of what you expect to need to get your business off the ground, including technology, materials, labor costs, and transportation and shipping costs in clear, concise order. Writing a Financial Feasibility Study The information included in your technical feasibility study must be supported by your financial feasibility study. Your technical feasibility study should flow seamlessly and directly into this component. Heres where youll address estimated startup capital. Identify and list your sources of capital, and the explain estimated potential returns on investments. Dont overlook an explanation of h ow an investor can expect to be paid for his support of your business. Your financial feasibility study should be comprehensive down to the most minute detail. Dont assume that your reader already knows or anticipates hearing this information. Make sure your projected capital is adequate to cover the technical and logistical factors youve already outlined. Writing an Organizational Feasibility Study This covers the important details of your businesss organizational structureand will help you make your feasibility study and your business plan more attractive to potential investors and clients. An organizational feasibility study defines the legal structure of your businessand offers pertinent professional background information about the founders, the partners, and other principals involved in the venture if any. It can be helpful to include a code of ethics here, along with your businesss principles and practices. Address issues of employee training and accountability, as well a s anti-discrimination and other labor policies. Feasibility Study Conclusions Heres where yousummarize and draw the conclusions you want your potential investors and customers to understand. You dont want to introduce statements here that have not been supported by the data and other information youve already presented. Your previous study components must support your conclusions clearly and without question. Use this section to enforce items youve already mentioned and to make sure previous points are crystal clear. Stick to facts. Avoid comments and phrases like, I think, or I believe. Other words to avoid include hope, anticipate, and opinion. Your reader wants facts, not speculation. Presenting Your Completed Feasibility Study This last but perhaps most important step involves assembling your feasibility study into a professional-looking package, as you might be presenting this report to several different parties. While contents key, the presentation is equally important because you want to engage people from the start or they wont pay attention to the details. Make sure your cover letter is personalized and has impact. Design a cover sheet and assemble a table of contents. Gather everything in a neat, professional binder or portfolio. Should You Hire an Expert Consultant? If you dont have thetime to complete a feasibility study, it might make sense to hire a consultant to manage and conduct it for you. Ask colleagues for referrals and thoroughly research consultants with expertise in your chosen product or service area. Learn what their fees are. If you decide to hire someone, be clear that you want his report to be as objective and honest as possible. Otherwise, roll up your shirtsleeves and get to work. Youcanwrite a useful and worthwhile feasibility study if you take your timeand educate yourself a little first.