How to Decide If You Should Turn Your Hobby into Your Lifes Work

How to Decide If You Should Turn Your Hobby into Your Lifes WorkHow to Decide If You Should Turn Your Hobby into Your Lifes WorkHow to Decide If You Should Turn Your Hobby into Your Lifes WorkThinking about ditching your 9-to-5 to pursue your passion full time? Take this advice into account first. TWEETI work at a hotel management company, but my true passion is painting. I feel most alive when I create my art, but I am reluctant to pursue it full time for fear of financial instability. I have family responsibilities, and cant afford to be a starving artist Anna, age 40I work in a stable government job, but what I want most is to launch a non-profit that would help underfunded orphanages in third world countries. Julie, age 27I work for a consulting company. I have this idea for a product that would revolutionize the way we buy things online. My responsibilities at work are keeping me from devoting my time and focus to mapping it out, and my fear of failure paralyzes me. Help Stev e, age 29As an executive coach, every now and again I get a call from someone who is trying to figure out what they want to be when they grow up. Some are excited, some terrified, and all want me to guide them through a decision keep a day job, or pursue a passion full-time.As coaches, we are trained to come from the place of possibility. You can be anything you tischset your mind to Reach for the stars Jump and the invisible net will catch youThat said, I have witnessed circumstances where the net failed, the stars were out of reach, and logistics created very real limitations. While I do want for my clients to honor their values, my belief is that a grounded approach to entrepreneur advice serves them best in the long run. I do bedrngnis wish to dash their dreams, but to set them up for success and happiness on whatever path they choose.So without further delay, here is my coach-in-a-box guide with entrepreneur advice for the readers who would like help deciphering whether to turn their hobby into a full-time gig.Does your hobby or passion reflect one of your deep-seated values?As Elvis Presley put it, Values are like fingerprints. Nobodys are the same, but you leave em all over everything you do.Here is another way to think about it getting your needs met brings you satisfaction, while living a values-oriented life makes you fulfilled and allows you to be the best version of yourself. You might value adventure, mastery, creativity, or contributing. There are good values inventories online that can help you if you struggle to name yours (I found this one with a simple Google search.)Quest Name your top values. Is your hobby is aligned with one of them?Here is a story to illustrate this point Eric is in his 30s, a husband and a father to an adorable 9-month-old daughter. Eric is also a CPA most days, he likes his job as an assistant controller at a medical device company.If you ever met Eric, you would know immediately that he is passionate about the environm ent. Eric loves nature he spends his weekends hiking, camping, and planning the next family road trip. He published a book about the best hiking trails of New Mexico when he was 20. His family makes low-impact, resource-conscious choices about their daily lives. Stewardship and adventure are two of Erics values, and his hobby is a reflection of those values.Should Eric quit his job as a CPA, sell his house, buy an RV, and take a life-long road trip? Lets look at the next question to sort it out.Will monetizing your passion compromise what you love about it?Unless youre independently wealthy (in which case, congratulations) you will need a way of making money. Hope is not a strategy, so winning the lottery to finance your next move is probably not a viable option. Let us assume that you will make a living working in your area of interest. Will it destroy what you love about your hobby?I am not just talking about the stress and the pressure that will come from needing to monetize what was primarily a source of fun. You may need to compromise the kind of art that you make, show up earlier than you would like, and do the selling. Does the thought of that drain you?Quest Think through the dynamics of getting paid to do what you are passionate about. Will it compromise what you love most about it?Time for a reality check.Can you commit to connecting with three people and picking their brain about entrepreneur advice, including what it is like to make a living in the field that calls to you?I invite you to play an investigative game. Its time to separate truth from fiction when it comes to your area of interest, and in buchen to play you will need some allies. The good news is, you know a lot of people, and those people also know a lot of people. Six degrees of separation are about to help you.Quest Through your extended network, connect with three individuals who are currently pursing your area of interest as a full time job.Reach out, ask them for a phone call or o ffer to buy them a coffee, and put on your detective hat. How did they get where they are today? What advice do they have for someone in your situation? What is the favorite part of their day? What do they dislike about their job? What is the inside reality of their work that an outsider would never get to landsee? If they had to do this over, what would they do differently?You may find that people are surprisingly open about their experience, willing to share their passion, and generous with entrepreneur advice. These conversations have the potential to light new pathways and open doors, so jump in and see what shows up.What would you be giving up in pursuing your hobby full-time?In the words of Laura Berman Fortgang, a career coach and the author of Now What? fear, doubts, and lack of training are nothing compared to the stopping power that we attribute to money. Often, what ultimately kills the willingness to try something new is not the lack of money, but rather its abundance (W ill I be able to keep my lifestyle?)Here is the next puzzle piece, and you probably wont like it. I want for you to face the money and lifestyle question head on. An opponent in the dark is at least three times as scary, so let us turn some lights on.Quest Make a list of things you would have to give up. It wont be just money, although money is probably a part of it. Write down what you would have to have less of, more of, stop doing, or give up in order to focus on your interest. When you are done, consider the list, and ask yourself if you still want it to be in the forefront of your life.Example timeJames, a paintball aficionado in his spare time, considered getting a competitive sponsorship to focus on the sport completely. Upon further reflection, he realized that he would have a significant travel commitment for out-of-town games and championships, which would make him an absentee father to his 4-year-old twins, something he could not live with.Lara, on the other hand, was so passionate about photography that she felt she could live with the loss of a reliable paycheck from her job. She went on to become a full-time photographer, and opened her own studio 3 years ago.Is your desire to explore a passion, a path or an analogy?Here is another great question from Fortgangs work, one I have not seen anywhere else.Quest Consider whether this is an actual path you were meant to follow, or an analogy for something in your life that you must transform.Here is an exampleAllison was a young professional working at a big-name consulting company. She loved what she did, and in the beginning the 100-hour weeks did not bother her, but as the pace became unsustainable, she considered quitting and becoming a joga instructor. As Allison reflected on her next steps and considered the path vs. analogy question, she realized that her desire to teach yoga was really about wanting more peace in her life something that her marriage, difficult in the best of times, did not affo rd her. Her next steps were perhaps even more difficult than simply changing jobs, but she appreciated the clarity that the reflection brought.If you sense that the desire you feel is an analogy, you could first try to reflect on your current situation and see if you can change it to better align with your values.The ultimate question is are you willing to make the sacrifices it would take to do this as your livelihood?You might discover that you are clear on the path and ready to take on the challenges to turn your hobby into a career. You might find that you would rather stay where you are.A useful thing to remember is that maintaining status quo and pulling the plug to dedicate yourself to your passion 100% are not your only options. You can consider taking a leave of absence, negotiating a flexible work schedule whereby you can dedicate one full day a week to your interests, telecommuting, or using your stockpiled paid time off to have a stretch of time to focus on your hobby fu ll-time as a test run.Whatever you decide, this thought process and entrepreneur advice has a lot to offer. If you wake up every morning and yearn to dedicate yourself to your passion, you owe it to yourself to at least consider it.Ready to find your dream job? Hire a TopResume writer today

Work at Home Call Center Jobs in Arkansas

Work at Home Call Center Jobs in ArkansasWork at Home Call Center Jobs in ArkansasIf you live in Arkansas and want to work from home, consider these call center jobsthat can be done from a remote location.Companies often have specific states they focus on when recruiting for work-from-home jobs. Few home call center companies hire nationwide. These virtual call center companies hire for work at home jobs in Arkansas Accolade Support Call Center Services This BPO hires contractors as home-basedtechnical stab und sttze agentsand customer service reps to service its clients. Pay is a per-minute rate that goes as high as $10/hour. Alorica The company employs work-at-home customer service agents who are paid on a per minute or per call basis with the guarantee of being paid minimum wage in their state. American Express The AxcessHome program of this financial services company employs home-based call center agents with experience in reservation systems for its corporate travel divisi on. Bilingual agents needed. Apple At-Home Advisors This remote customer contact center program from Apple employs both college students and non-students for full- and part-time positions. Apple provides a computer and phone. ARO This companys home-based employees work in customer service, abverkauf and business telemarketing as well as insurance auditors and LPNs and RNs doingtelehealthwork. See morework-at-home insurance jobsandsales jobs from home. Aspire Lifestyles This company specializes in delivering virtual assistant or concierge services as well as call center agents for brands VIP customers. Fluency in English is required. Fluency in French, German, Spanish or Italian is a plus. LiveOps This company hires agents, includinglicensed insurance agents, for a variety of call center jobs for its clients includingoutbound sales, bilingual customer service (Spanish and French) and financial services. Agents are paid at a rate that is based on minutes oftalk timeplus sales incentives in some cases. Agents must become certified to work for individual clients. This certification is not paid. Support.com The company provides remote technical support to clients, via home-based tech supportchatandcall center agents. Its remote services technicians answer inbound calls and its solutions center supervisors support and supervise the remote services technicians. SYKES Home Powered by Alpine Access Home-based agents, who are employees, not contractors, receive inbound customer service and sales calls for a variety of thisBPOs clients. They are paid for training and receive$9/hour after successful training. Applicants who are offered a position must pay $45 for a background check. The hiring process for these call center jobs is online and by phone. Bilingual skills a plus languages include Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Ver-A-Fast Independent contractor,work-at-home call center agents use a predictive dialer system to make verification calls for the co mpanys clients, which are primarily from the newspaper industry. Working Solutions Work-at-home call center agents, who are independent contractors, handle a variety of calls including technical support, sales, travel and ticketing, and customer service. There are also some work-at-home data entry and editing jobs. There may be more companies on this list of call center companies that hire agents from Arkansas, and these worldwide work-at-home jobs, though not necessarily call center jobs, hire just about everywhere.

How to Job Search Over the Holidays

How to Job Search Over the HolidaysHow to Job Search Over the Holidays1People often think job searching should be put on hold between Thanksgiving and the New Year. However, the holiday season is a great time to continue and advance your job search. Here are five tips to job search over the holidays.With employers looking ahead to the coming year and the pick up in operations after the holidays, companies continue to advertise, interview, and hire throughout the holiday season. However, job hunting during this time of year is a little different and can leave many wondering how to job search during the holiday season.Send Holiday Cards A great way to re-connect or keep your name at the forefront is to send an old-fashioned, handwritten holiday card. Include a personal note thanking the employer for the interview or opportunity. Dont forget to send holiday cards to others in your network or those who have helped you grow your circle. A simple thank you can turn into new opportunities.N etwork at Holiday Parties Of course you are at the party to enjoy friends, family, and holiday traditions, but holiday parties are an excellent distribution policy to create new connections or re-establish old ones. Dont be overly pushy or make it obvious, but use the opportunity to re-connect in a relaxed setting.Throw a Party Yourself No holiday parties to attend? No worries Throwing a party yourself will create networking opportunities for yourself and others during the holiday season. Include a +1 (or 2 or 3) policy to open up connections for you and other party-goers.Be Patient and Flexible It is, after all, the holiday season. Create an environment that is dedicated to your job prospects, but also be respectful of others obligations and traditions during the holiday season. If an interview has to be re-scheduled, be flexible, and if calls arent returned quickly, be patient.Update Documents The holiday season can feel a little sluggish, but with the new year just around the cor ner, what better time than the present to update your cover letter, resume, and any other documents. It is also a great time to re-organize all of your documents and track any open applications or inquiries you may have put to the side.The holiday season is a great time to relax and enjoy friends and family. However, you dont have to give up on your job search just because of the holidays. The holiday season is a great time to re-connect and re-establish connections, as well as create potential new opportunities. Good luck with your job search during the holidaysReaders, what tips do you have for job searching during the holidays? Do you have any suggestions for what NOT to do when job searching during the holidays? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below

A statue of a fierce young girl is reminding companies to hire more women on Wall Street

A statue of a fierce young girl is reminding companies to hire more women on Wall StreetA statue of a fierce young girl is reminding companies to hire more women on Wall StreetIf you walk by the iconic statue of the charging bull in New York Citys Wall Street on International Womens Day, youll see that the bull now has an small, fierce opponent.It comes courtesy of State Street Global Advisors, a $2.5 trillion asset manager. As part of a campaign to push financial companies to increase gender diversity, State Street commissioned a 50-inch bronze statue of a young girl with zu sichbei hands on her hips as she defiantly stands up to the bull in front of her.Usually the bull is a popular tourist landmark, but today, throngs of media, curious tourists and New Yorkers on their lunch break were leaving it alone to get a look at the statue of the girl in its path.Reviews for the new statue are positiveLindsay Childress with her daughterMarie, a woman who asked to remain anonymous, said she didnt tell her boss she welches using her lunch break to go out and see the bull.Women, particularly with this administration, are feeling really marginalized, so I think its making quite a statement, she said. Lindsay Childress said she brought her young daughter to see the bronze statue because its empowering and she wanted her daughter to experience it for when she was older.Writer Andrew Lloyd-Jones only complaint was the slight shame of the crowds being too big to get a shot the bull and the girl in one photo.Emily Fisher, a local real estate broker, thought the addition was a welcome change.Theres a lot of emphasis in our society in the United States on constant progress and movement, and not so much sustainability. When I look at the bull, it makes me think about that, she said, noting that the tradition of rubbing the bulls testicles for luck was gross.She was more inspired by the bronze statue of the girl.I thought the statue was nicea brave defiant smart girl. Maybe shell figure out how to make money on Wall Street or maybe shes facing down the bull.Thats the kind of reaction the sculptor of the piece, Kristen Visbal, was hoping for. VisbaltoldThe Wall Street Journal she wanted to create art that every woman could relate to The bull is symbolic of every issue coming down the pike, that they can stand firm and hold their ground and deal with it.Why the Wall Street Bull needs someone to stand up to itAround 25% of the companies in the Russell 3000 Index, which is an index of the nations largest companies, have no women on their boards, according to State Street.Physical art is not the only creative tool artists and thinkers have been using to send a message about gender parity in the workforce. 100percentmen is a Tumblr that curates screenshots of corporate boards, bios and panels to visually indict all organizations that only include men.A key contributor to effective independent board leadership is diversity of thought, which requires directors with different skills, backgrounds and expertise, State Street president Ron OHanley said in a statement on the campaign to raise awareness of why female leadership is so important.How long will the statue stay up?A city permit will let the statue stay up for at least a week as State Street negotiates for it to stay longer. And theres precedent for that happening The Wall Street bull itself was a 1989 guerilla stunt by Arturo Di Modica that was removed and later reinstalled after public support.But for now, the statue of the bold young girl is making a statement.Know the power of women in leadership. SHE makes a difference, the plaque under the young girls feet reads.

Hearsay, Deception and Working Resume Example

Hearsay, Deception and Working Resume Example The essential elements of a resume differ based on your industry and the job which youre applying for. What you have to do is tweak your resume dependent on the job which you are applying for. Typically you dont need to list more than four jobs unless older ones are very related to the position youre applying to. Perhaps while looking for examples you noticed poor samples throughout the internet. Look up the personennames of any significant tools which you dont recognize in a work description and attempt to work out what they do. After all, many men and women read blogs not just in search of particular information, but in addition for lessons and mentorship on a person-to-person level. Include any relevant personal link you wish to share, as an example, your portfolio or blog site. New Step by Step Roadmap for Working Resume Example My objective is to ensure that you are feeling confident when submitting your resume. Therefore , our aim is to provide you the very best tools you have to succeed. One of his goals is to demonstrate that hes a specialist in all sorts of mail room duties. The aim of your resume is to secure you the interview. For example, you could attempt to send out a particular number of sales each week. The third kind is the combinational kind of resume which as the name implies, borrows features from both of the other kinds. Its fast and simple to use. Starting from the example its possible to create your own resume easily. Salespeople that have a dominant experience of long-cycle sales are inclined to be patient and process oriented. Employers understand that youre young and looking to enhance your experience, so give them as much as you can that shows you are going to be an important employee. You also ought to chat about past experience. Experience will be crucial for management slots. Second, it shows hiring managers which you did at least a small research into what they want to find and that youre not simply mass applying all around the place with the very same generic resume. Whether youre recently laid off or are seeking to modify fields, set a security net by filling out an application for unemployment benefits or short-term work to keep you afloat. Distinct kinds of work in the food service industry require resumes with several of the exact skills. New Questions About Working Resume Example As crazy as it sounds, youre anticipated to likewise include the reason behind your leaving the organization. However tempting it may be to stretch the truth, lying on your resume is always a poor idea. Theres no such thing for a scarcity of resume making software to pick from. There are four versions of your resume youll want to consider about having ready, based on the business you select or the fashion in which you apply. The Advantages of Working Resume Example Just take the skills which you have, and show how they translate into success where y ou opt to apply them. As an educator, you understand that knowledge is the secret to success. You never understand what experiences will connect with other individuals. Describe any relevant experiences you are able to. See the Key regions of expertise subsection and the way it consists of a lot of keywords. Otherwise, you might choose to create References seen on request. To begin, review information on different components of a resume and whats included in each element. Notice how the example resumes are extremely specific when it has to do with technical skills. Learning how to do a resume when dont have any work experience is far easier if its possible to demonstrate some seasonal or short-term work experience. In addition, you need a great deal of creativity to address complex issues. The grade of the work that you do. During the day, hosts are often preoccupied with a selection of problems in and beyond the farm. Most employers are in reality on the lookout for a reason NOT to interview you. Regardless of the fact that you might lack work experience, your other experience might just be what the recruiters want to know whether youre the one that theyre looking for. Your latest job was getting a PhD, which can be a little bit of a mysterious process to numerous people. What Does Working Resume Example Mean? Many also consist of supervisory and management experience together with the adherence to codes and the capability to troubleshoot technical difficulties. Job seekers deserve to come across decent content quickly. The sphere of information technology gets more important each day. Utilize your judgment, and as always, you always ought to prepare many resumes for several varieties of companies. Both cover letter and resume should concentrate on the demands and demands of the firm. Additionally, a thriving cover service ought to be around half a page and totally free of grammatical and spelling errors. Example you want more help, using our resume builder can help you earn sure that all vital parts of information are present. Even in case you dont enjoy the template, envision it using a different font. Getting in a position to organize and prioritize the work will help save you a good deal of time and most of all, it gives you the ability to acquire trust and buy-in. On the flip side, perhaps you have little in the manner of paid job experience but a number of volunteer work on your CV. Any job or experience that can help you answer that question ought to go on your resume. Some things include time.

The Upside to When Writing an International Resume How Do You Write United States

The Upside to When Writing an International Resume How Do You Write United States when Writing an International Resume How Do You Write United States Explained Whereas if youre asking for work in the usa or the United Kingdom then you dont need to paste any sought of the photograph with your CV because according to the laws in the usa and UK seeing the photographs before the interview creates discrimination and its deemed illegal. Never fake your accent in the front of the interviewer because it is going to embarrass you at the conclusion of the day. Your written style might be less formal than the norm for countries utilizing British English standards, for example. If youre a recent graduate you are able to include your GPA, but only if its high and only if its pertinent to the job. Below youll find basic guidelines for sections that may be included in a federal resume. Scholarship resumes arent a compulsory portion of the application procedure, therefore it feels like extra unnecessary work. A Startling Fact about when Writing an International Resume How Do You Write United States Uncovered A CV for a current Ph.D. graduate will probably be about 3-5 pages. Detecting a job isnt simple, and thats why our Student Job Search can assist you in finding work outside your house country. Real estate jobs are about closings. An internet search can help you to discover programs to in which to participate. when Writing an International Resume How Do You Write United States - What Is It? If you are searching for work in britain, a CV will be an essential portion of your job search practice. Just like a resume, you might need unique versions of a CV for different kinds of positions. Your CV has to be instantly understandable and the individual reading it ought to be able to discover the suitable information efficiently. A lengthier form CV is significantly different than a resume, therefore its important to determine which one that you want.

The One Thing to Do for Freelance Writer Resume

The One Thing to Do for Freelance Writer Resume The Fundamentals of Freelance Writer Resume That You Will be Able to Learn From Starting Right Away Simply following some basic methods and making certain adjustments could be sufficient to make your titelblatt letter much superior than before. If you would like to get writing assignments at this time, one method to do so is to compose letters of introduction and send them to at the very least a dozen small regional businesses. Among the toughest things about cover letters is they need to be catchy, informative, and short at the exact same moment. Utilize your resume as a tailored showcase of what you could do for that particular company may help take you the remainder of the way. Ok, I Think I Understand Freelance Writer Resume, Now Tell Me About Freelance Writer Resume Instead, lets discuss why it doesnt work and wont ever get the job done. In fact, some candidates do not even bother to obtain their resumes read as their cover letters just dont look impressive enough. The writer will work together with you on drafts and revisions until youve got a last document youre confident in. The writer will work together with you on however many rounds of revisions are needed to get to a last draft. The Upside to Freelance Writer Resume You should also guarantee that you would always work to exceed your customers expectations for each and every project which you will receive. As a consequence, you have to check at your resume from an employers perspective. If youre applying to a similar job, you are going to want to read the work description carefully to acquire a sense if this sort of flexibility a part of the offer. The process does not need to be an intimidating one, though. The Debate Over Freelance Writer Resume So when the hiring company hasnt provided a salary for work, we look at salary data from related businesses and locations to develop a fair estimate for what it is possible to count on. The pr oducers and writers are interesting along with new technology associated with the business. You need to be able to have a notion of what types of jobs require what sorts of resumes. Hiring websites and recruiters will need to see your resume, and that means you have to have one. The Fundamentals of Freelance Writer Resume Revealed If people dont know about your writing skills, you will be unable to find enough work to generate a living. You must also be useful at multitasking as youre going to be asked to juggle numerous projects at one time with each of them having varied topics. Be cautious not to take on so much that you are unable to complete in time. No crew precisely what the manner of your day, pedestrians should be returned to. Getting samples is most likely the most significant thing for a new freelance writer. When it has to do with hiring a ghost writer, you must be incredibly strategic about who you decide to pen your piece. The editor youve gotten comfortable working with, may wind up being reassigned. For example, if you are asking for a self-employed writer job then you need to not just have adequate understanding of the English language, but you need to likewise be able to apply it and writing a good resume is one particular approach to demonstrate your prospective employers or clients that youre good in writing. Together with your site and blog, your social networking profiles will help you produce a solid and consistent internet presence, making you easy to locate and providing you the opportunity to showcase your services and techniques. Some writers avoid putting a photo of themselves on their website. Picking the right resume writer can make all of the difference to your job search and should you use my criteria, youll have the ability to look past the persuasive sales copy to see precisely what youll be receiving. Freelancing provides the perfect respite, if youre one of many who is running the success-race in Freelance resume writing. My very first LinkedIn profile for a freelancer included my experience for a barista once I was in college. Sometimes writers offer you graphic design services together with freelance writing. A search engine optimisation writers job is truly tough but it pays you well, particularly if you are experienced. So SEO writing can be a wonderful career choice for you whether youre blessed with amazing writing abilities. Some can believe I do not fully understand article marketing, and theyre likely correct. absatzwirtschaft is necessary for any business. The Honest to Goodness Truth on Freelance Writer Resume Resume writers know that potential employers might just look briefly at a resume. Between the both of them you will likely hit all the most effective possible samples to need to begin in your freelance career. There are a lot of mags around the nation and the world where you are able to do very well as an independent writer with adolescent readers. Quite si mply, youre self-employed, meaning you will need to sell yourself to editors, book publishers, or corporations, based on the kind of work you seek. Type of Freelance Writer Resume Your job hunting exercise should begin by creating a proper resume or CV as it is known as in come countries outside the united states. Whenever most professional writers are talented, they might not have the experience necessary to finish the project you demand. Work ethic isnt something which develops from entitlement. One of the absolute most important fundamentals of creating a career in production is building experience. The Number One Question You Must Ask for Freelance Writer Resume The majority of the moment, clients are really going to appreciate that youre decreasing the workload for them and putting all appropriate data in the email in their opinion. If youre a student or fresh graduate, you most likely do not have sufficient details to fill more than two pages anyways. This information is really specific to freelance resumes. All the information that is provided should be true and factual and shouldnt be made up.

The power of rituals How to build meaningful habits

The power of zeremoniells How to build meaningful habitsThe power of rituals How to build meaningful habitsYou are what you repeatedly do.?- AristotleOur future is notlage shaped by big decisions or events, but by our daily habits. What you repeatedly do - your choices - defines who you become.Rituals give us a sense of control. Im not talking about religious ceremonies, esoteric chanting or obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Rather, the mora practical and down-to-earth kind of ritual that makes us feel in charge.Think about a job interview, a presentation in front of a large audience, or a first date. When facing uncertain situations, rituals help us focus, deal with anxiety, or feel mora confident.Rituals increase our performance by turning small, everyday acts into more significant ones. They add meaning and joy to our lives.The Power ofRitualsChange requires more than a functional approach - no method will work if your heart is not into it. Rituals are symbolic enactments - we engage our emotions and move into action.We turn to rituals when we are facing a situation where the outcome is important, uncertain or beyond our control, as Bronislaw Malinowski suggests.The anthropologist discovered that Trobrianders practiced magical rituals when fishing in the open sea - they wanted to ensure safety. But didnt exercise any ceremony when fishing in the inner lagoon, where they were no sharks.We usually associate rituals with maintaining the status quo. In religion, for example, ceremonies create a sense of belonging and continuity. Repetition drives familiarity.Though the nature of rituals is highly emotional, research shows they are more rational than we think.We see in every culture - and throughout history - that people who perform rituals report feeling better, says behavioral scientist Michael Norton.Rituals performed after a loss help us alleviate grief, and rituals performed before high-pressure tasks reduce anxiety and increase confidence.Studiesby Mi chael I. Norton, Francesca Gino, and colleagues prove the multiple benefits of using rituals even among those who dont believe in the efficacy of rituals.Participants had to write about either the death of a loved one or the end of a relationship. Those who performed a ritual after suffering a loss reported feeling bothmore in controlandless aggrieved.Surprisingly, the majority of the mentioned rituals were neither religious nor communal. Rather, they were personal, private, and occasionally angry. One woman wrote about gathering all the pictures of her and her ex-boyfriend, taking them to the park where they met, and tearing them up. She made a point of saying even the ones where I looked good, which I loved. - Norton shares.Additional research suggests that practicing rituals mitigates grief caused by not only life-changing losses but also from more mundane ones (like losing the lottery).The power of rituals goes even further - they can shape our self-perception.Seeing Is Believ ingWhen you compete every week, when you play under pressure daily, you find your rituals to be 100 percent focused on what youre doing. - RafaelNadalStudies show that superstitious rituals are effective too - we dont become luckier, but they boost our self-confidence.People who received a lucky golf ball or someone told them Ill cross my fingers for you performed much better compared to others who didnt receive that stimuli. Superstitious rituals enhance peoples perceived abilities - they motivate greater effort and improved subsequent performance.Sports psychologists know that pre-performance routines improve focus, execution, and confidence.Rafael Nadal, one of the best tennis players in history, isfull of quirks, rituals, and tics. While they may look like superstitious or obsessive-compulsive behavior, he insists they help him focus on his game. Before every serve, Nadal repeats the same sequence - butt scratch, shoulder, shoulder, nose, ear, nose, ear, right hand in pocket .As anthropologist Barbara Myerhoff put it, Not only is seeing believing, doing is believing.Tony Robbins believes that movement not only energizes us but changes our state of mind too. He gets himself in the zone before taking the stage - Robbins is known for bouncing on a trampoline to get his body awake and alive. The motivational speaker uses rituals to boost his energy so he can keep up with his vast audience.Rituals kill procrastination - they reduce anxiety andhelp us launchour projects.As Francesca Gino, the author ofSidetracked,explains,If you engage in a ritual prior to a potentially high anxiety task, like singing in public or solving difficult math problems, you end up being calmer by the time you approach the task, and more confident.Daily rituals build a positive mindset and drive us it into action.Rituals Create Emotional ConnectionHabits are something that we do without thinking.We all brush our teeth daily without thinking. Thats the benefit of habits, once we rep eatedly do something, we get used to it - the behavior becomes automated. Rituals, on the contrary, are more meaningful - theyincrease mindfulness.According to sociologist Robert Wuthnow, rituals are anyactions or events that have symbolic meaning beyond their instrumental value.Youd probably watched the folding of an American flag on a movie. This ritual is not about easy storage or showmanship - each of the 13 folds has asymbolic meaning. The first fold of the flag is a symbol of life. The second fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life. The third fold is made in honor of the veteran departing rank. And so on.A ritual is like a celebration - it involves our emotions and full attention.Rituals are ultra-specific step-by-step instructions that are easily repeatable and help you get a specific outcome.A ritualis something done to prepare for actiona habitis something done repeatedly for the purpose of performing the action itself.Automated versus mindful actsHabits develop without us knowing it - after various repetitions, our brain switches to automatic mode. Rituals, on the other hand, are done with deliberate intention and focus. A ritual requires intent and engagement.Maya Angelou rented a hotel room and removed all possible distractions such as photographs, books or TV. She started working every day at 7 AM sharp. Armed with a bottle of sherry, a deck of cards, legal pads, a thesaurus, and the Bible, she spent hours writing in this carefully designed environment.Singular versus multiple focusedA habit usually involves one specific action that you do over and over again. Flossing your teeth is a habit. Or drinking water once you wake up. Rituals involve different elements and activities - they include multiple habits.Mark Twain got into his study early in the morning and remained there until 5 PM. He always skipped lunch, and no one dared to interrupt him - they would blow a waldhorn if theyve ever needed him. After dinner, he would read that d ays work to his family.Action-oriented versus system-orientedA habit is an action that you started at some point, and now continue doing without thinking - its action-oriented. A ritual is a sequence of activities - its performed in a particular place and according to set progredienzion.A ritual must have a clearbeginning, middle, and end.Take rites of passage as an example. They have three clear phases separation, transition, and incorporation.In the first stage, the initiates areseparatedfrom their old identities. The second stage is full of ambiguity - they are transitioning from their old identities, but have not yet acquired a new one. In the final stage, the initiates are symbolicallyincorporatedin the new community.Rituals are habits that have become sacred because these carry a deep meaning to those involved.How to build more meaningful habits1. Rituals increase appreciationRituals turn the ordinary into something meaningful.Toasting before we drink is a common ritual. It doesnt affect the quality of what we drink, but it makes it taste better. Rituals create a more positive mindset but also increase our attention - we learn to appreciatethe whole experience.Ever feel that you arent stopping to enjoy the small things in your life? Build a ritual that can bring together what you enjoy and love with what you have to do.Rituals increase awareness and appreciation in our daily lives - we stopliving on autopilot.2. Rituals transform themundaneIts necessary to create a special space and practice to protect what matters to us. Whether its taking a bath, reading a book, practicing meditation or just winding down listening to music, our personal time is precious.Benjamin Franklin took time to reflect twice every day. Warren Buffett spends80% of his day readingbecause it builds up his knowledge like compound interest. Sheryl Sandberg feels guilty for leaving the Facebook office when theres light out, but she promised herself shedalways be home by 6 PMto hav e dinner with her children.Frustrated for never having the right moment to do what you want? Design a ritual that will help you protect the space, time, and energy to take care of yourself.Rituals turn ordinary experiences into sacred ones.3. Rituals help celebrate lifeWe are usually so busy that we miss noticing the good things in our lives. Rituals provide an emotional and rewarding way to celebrate good news - no matter how small or big.Camino Information Servicesbuys an Angry Bird desk plush toy for every new hire - people pick one to fit their personality.Taboolahas a sales bell they ring every time they close a new contract. The6pxgruppe has gamified its workflow to encourage completing tasks and create enjoyable conversation - they add a word to a hashtag after completing a significant task. Everyone keeps building from there.Do you feel like you do not appreciate progress? Create a ritual to remind yourself to celebrate small victories.Rituals are not obsessive behavior, but a way of celebrating life.4. Rituals build a stronger communityWe cannot change the world alone. Collective rituals are as important as individual ones.Thehuman megaphoneused by Occupy Wall Street protesters was more than an ingenious solution to NYC restrictions to electric ones. It became a ritual for participants to publicly live their values of do-it-yourself sufficiency and collectivity.Frustrated with people not collaborating? Design a ritual to reinforce the emotional connection between your team - rituals are much more effective than words.Rituals bring people together around a shared experience.5. Rituals help us jump intoactionA good ritual creates an emotional connection with our tasks. Work doesnt feel like work, but something more interesting.Stephen King writes every day of the year no matter his birthday or holidays. No surprise, he is one of the most prolific authors ever. Ernest Heming followed a strict writing regimen done by noon, drunk by three. He wrote fur iously and kept count of how many words he achieved every day. Joan Didion holds her books close to her heart literally. When shes about to finish one, shell sleep beside it in the same room.Tired of experimenting with productivity hacks? Build your own ritual. Create an experience that is true to who you are and will create excitement.Rituals are anything but passive they move you into action.Rituals are personal find and design an experience that fits your emotions and needs, not someone elses.Rituals help you enjoy the journey and provide a sense of purpose to your life. They offer a sense of renewal a time-out from your everyday routine.Rituals are evolving daily practices. What works today, might not be so effective tomorrow. A ritual is not the destination, but the journey.Gustavo Razzettiis a change instigator whohelps people andorganizations create positive change. Author, Consultant, and Speaker on team development and cultural transformation.Thisarticlefirst appeared onMed ium.

The Small Talk Question That Doesnt Feel Fake - The Muse

The Small Talk Question That Doesnt Feel Fake - The MuseThe Small Talk Question That Doesnt Feel Fake For someone who likes to talk to people as much as I do, Im not necessarily the best at engaging in small talk. Usually I get nervous, which eventually evolves into panic, and Ill comment on things like just how blue my water looks or how good of a deal I got on a recent pair of socks. But a few years ago, a friend of mine told me a story about one of her students. Without knowing it, this kid asked her one of the fruchtwein profound questions she ever had to answer.How are you doing- and why? Without the added caveat at the end, the question is a complete throwaway, especially when youre talking to someone you dont know too well- a la the networking conversation. But two words tacked on to the end- and why- make all the difference. And while you might want to dismiss this as something adorable that an elementary school student said off the cuff, asking someone to elaborate on why th eyre feeling a certain way is a surprisingly good way to turn small talk into a quality conversation. In fact, I couldnt help but wonder if it applied to real-world conversations among adults. So, I recently decided to give it a shot. For a week, I added the and why when I said hello to people around the office. For the most part, they laughed and asked me where on Earth I had come up with that kind of question. But not surprisingly, after they said that, it led to mora meaningful conversations than we wouldve had otherwise. As a bonus, some people looked at me as they walked away and said, Wow, that was a surprisingly pleasant way to start my morning.It became pretty obvious to me why this resonated with my colleagues as much as it did. Adding that little wrinkle to whats otherwise a boring way to start a conversation is an effective way to show someone that youre 100% invested in their response. Not only is this an effective way to start a conversation, but it can also lead to som e really interesting fodder that can help you turn an awkward or even empty chat into a meaningful discussion about something important. (And for even more questions thatll help you start a convo, check out these 48 questions to ask.)I know this might sound awkward- and truth be told, it was very uncomfortable for me to do this for a week. So, of course, use your judgment and feel free to skip this with anyone who you dont think will react well. But in most cases, it led to a few co-workers opening up to me and sharing something- work-related or even personal- that they otherwise wouldnt. That didnt just make that one interaction more productive, but it also gave me something to say later on in the day or week when we ran into each other again. Hows that presentation coming?Is your dog feeling better?Good luck at your softball game tonightAnd thats pretty awesome. Because I dont need to tell you that the better you and your co-workers get along, the easier your job will be.What are some of the most common questions that you think have room for a curveball like this? Let me know on Twitter.