Why rituals have a purpose and how to benefit from them

Why rituals have a purpose and how to benefit from themWhy rituals have a purpose and how to benefit from themPeople who perform at the highest levels put themselves through extreme rituals. Just look at the three-time Olympic gold ice skating duo Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. The two use a ritual hug to sync up their breathing before they skate together. In front of a packed crowd, under huge pressure, they completely focus on a ritual that helps them perform their best.This type of ritualistic behavior extends to all kinds of athletes and performers. Baseball players, for example, are notorious for using strange and intense rituals to get themselves in the zone.All of these rituals are developed as part of a quest for expertise.The type of expertise is irrelevant. You probably arent going in front of Olympic judges or 95 mph fastballs anytime soon, but you can still see the benefit of rituals and use them to vastly improve your performance.Intense rituals distinguish amateurs from p rofessionalsTo become an expert at anything, you have to build a wissen and stick with it. And as people become better at an activity, their routines tend to become mora extreme.The better an athlete or a performer gets, the less room there is for error. Theyre looking for something that will give them an edge- even a tiny one.For instance, the jazz musician Pat Metheny has been playing for decades. Hes won 18 Grammys already. And after every show, he still writes out a lengthy diary entry detailing what went well, what didnt, and what he can do better next time.Or take the South African golfer Bobby Locke, a notoriously slow player. Opponents would complain strenuously about his sluggish pace of play, but he never let it bother him. They probably didnt realize hed spent his entire morning preparing to play that way. From the moment he woke up on the day of a tournament, he would perform every task in agonizingly slow motion. Everything from brushing his teeth to putting on his shoe s was slowed to a crawl.Experts do whatever it takes to get the slightest edge, even if it seems bizarre or brings criticism.Rituals evolve as people strive for greater performancePeople dont necessarily want to come up with a strange or extreme ritual. They do it because they realize they need something to boost their performance.Their quest for improvement leads them to experiment with something new, change an old routine, or create a new regimen thats more extreme.As people change, grow, and get better at their job, they continue to tweak and experiment with their rituals. Thats why many of these rituals are so specific to the individuals using them.I even noticed this myself. When I first started giving presentations, I would spend hours preparing. Id be in the conference room an hour early, practicing my points and making sure my voice didnt crack. As a beginner, I concentrated on fundamental skills. Am I prepared? Is my presentation clear? Is my voice in good shape this mornin g?But as my technical knowledge has increased, my rituals have changed. I dont spend as much time questioning whether or not I know the material. Now, I spend time thinking about how engaging and compelling I am as a speaker. I often listen to stand-up comedy on the way to important presentations because comedians have to be engaging in the toughest of situations. It mentally prepares me for what I have to do an hour later.It becomes a constant process of trying different things, keeping what works, and getting rid of what doesnt.Increasingly intense rituals jumpstart your brainTry doing everything in slow motion one morning, and see how long you last.Our brains are great at funneling information in a certain way, getting us into habits and routines that make life easier. The energy needed to get your brain out of its normal thinking and routines is astounding.But breaking out of your lines of thinking is how you come up with new and creative ideas. Its how you push yourself to give that extra effort.Personally, Im always thinking about how to perform better and get in the best state of mind. That could entail going for a run, getting somewhere half an hour early to prepare, or even taking a cold shower in the morning. I do those things because Im trying to leave my day-to-day thinking behind. Im trying to jar my brain into a different state.Extreme rituals are really about pushing yourself into a different mental state - one that will improve your performance for the task at hand. The more extreme the ritual, the better chance you have of getting into the proper mental state you need to excel.This post first appeared on Quora.

Biography of Leslie Scott - Inventor of Jenga

Biography of Leslie Scott - Inventor of JengaBiography of Leslie Scott - Inventor of JengaIf you love the game of Jenga, you will enjoy learning about the remarkable womanwho invented the game. Biography of Leslie Scott. Scott successfully navigated the male-dominatedtoy business to launch Jenga at the London Toy Fair. However, she would later sign her rights away before annual sales for Jenga soared into the millions. A decision made while still a new entrepreneur and something Scott regrets as Jenga remains the second best-selling game in the world. Her Early Years and Family Life Leslie Scott was born in Africa in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and grew up in Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Ghana. Scott was educated in Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Oxford. She is fluent in Swahili. Although she now lives primarily in Oxford, England, she still considers Africa her home and maintains a separate home in Laikipia, Kenya. Scott is married and has two children. Timeline of Leslie Scotts Accomplish ments 1983 Scott successfully launched Jenga at the London Toy Fair. 1984 Sara Finch, Arabella Kiszley, and Leslie Scott launch SWIPE. 1985 Scott and Finch design The Great wildwestfilm Railway Game, published by Gibson Games. 1986 Jenga was relaunched at the Toronto Toy Fair. Then chairman of Hasbro, Alan Hassenfeld, declared, We just have to have it. According to an Oxford Times article, Demolishing the Jenga Myth, ...success across the Atlantic was to be soured by a deal she signed assigning the worldwide rights of Jenga to the Canadian-based brother of an Oxford friend. 1986-1991 Scott and Finch design and publish a wide variety of games as Finch Scott. 1991 Oxford Games Ltd is founded (co-founded by Leslie Scott.) 1986-1998 Scott and Finch designed and published games for the Oxford Games Collection, for Past Times and for many other clients. 1998 Oxford Games Ltd licensed the entire Oxford Games Collection to The Lagoon Games Company to produce and market. Source Oxford Game s Ltd Games Invented by Leslie Scott Scott is one of the few professional game designers in the world, and her long list of games include Anagram, Bookworm, Cloister Games, Auction, Jammie Dodg ems, Ex Libris, Flummoxed, Garden Maze, Inns and Taverns, Inspiration, Ludus Romanus, Old Money, Playing Shakespeare, Retro, Tabula, The Great Game of Commette, Rune Stone, Sailors Know, The Bodleian Game, The Celtic Game, The Game of the Raj, The Great Western Railway Game, The Hieroglyphs Game, The Islip Game, Tudor Joust. She also invented the game Jenga. About Jenga Scott is best-known as the creator of Jenga. The games name is based on a Swahili verb meaning to build. Jenga is the second best-selling game in the world. Jenga consists of 54 identical, rectangular blocks that are first stacked in layers of three blocks to build a tower. Players then take turns removing blocks from anywhere under the top layer. The block is then placed on the top layer. The game continues until the tower (or any portion thereof) falls. The last player who successfully moved a block before the tower fell is the winner.

5 Signs You Belong in a Different Job

5 Signs You Belong in a Different Job5 Signs You Belong in a Different JobIts called work for a reason. Its usually not easy, and its not always enjoyable.That said, you dont have to dread going to work every day. There is hope for a brighter future.If you are miserable at work, it will be difficult to find true success and happiness in any part of your life.Consider the idea that you can enjoy your jobMost days should end with a feeling that you are in the right place and with a sense of accomplishment.Maybe your biggest passion in life does not align with your employment options.You love woodworking but you have a Masters in Marketing. Thats ok.If your career isnt your passion, it should at least provide what you needto build the life you want. You deserve better.Somewhere along the way you had passion and drive. If youre not feeling that excitement at your current job, its time to ask yourself why.Here are 5 signs pointing to a new directionDo any of these signs look or sound fami liar to you?1. The snooze button is your new best friendDo you find that you hit the snooze button more often than you check your emaille? When did you lose the pep in your step to get up for work? Was it ever there in the first place?Most of us enjoy a few extra minutes of sleep, especially on Monday morning. But if this has become your norm, it might be the first sign that change is needed.2. The stress of your job ismaking you sickThe research is out there. Stress suppresses the immune system, which makes it easier for you to get sick. It becomes harder for you to fight off infections.Are you in a toxic working environment? Do you have unreasonable expectations coming from your boss? Are you working too hard for too little?When these stressors pile up, you can become overwhelmed and unable to function at your best. What is knocking you down at work? Is there room for change, or is it time to make a move?3. The management style is one of ridicule rather than encouragementYou put y our best foot forward every day and give 100% to your job. Youre going in early and staying late. Still, the numbers are down and the team is not doing well overall.Your dedication meets threats and attacks rather than constructive criticism and encouragement. You dont have clear guidelines to follow for improvement. You feel defeated and hopeless.This style of management is hard to undo, there are better options for you.4. You feel like youre fighting an uphill battleYou are an agent of change. You crave growth and constant improvement. Bad news, the motto at the office is if it aint broke, dont fix it.You know it can be better, but your suggestions get shot down, ignored, or flat out criticized. If youve done your best to communicate your ideas to no avail, then dont feel guilty for wanting to move on. There are companies that will appreciate your drive and ingenuity.5. The company is operating in a state of chaosEvery day is filled with confusion and inefficiency. The team lacks focus and direction. Your job feels impossible. Everyone is scurrying to pick up the pieces from the last round of miscommunication.The mission fades and morale becomes nonexistent. Can you fix it? Can you untangle all the mixed up lines of communication? Probably not.Good news, there is something better for you out there. You just have to want it and then take the steps to find it.Heres the bottom lineSometimes a few slight adjustments on your part will get you back to enjoying your job. Other times youre met with dysfunction beyond your control that will have you running for the door.Which is it for you?If its the latter, then use this opportunity to start the process of finding the job that brings you back to center.

How to Start a Business in Maryland and Why You Shold

How to Start a Business in Maryland and Why You SholdHow to Start a Business in Maryland and Why You SholdMaryland is a great place for women entrepreneurs to set up shop. The state ranks second in the nation for having the highest percentage of women-owned firms- about 39.5 percent of all Maryland businesses. Maryland ranks eighth in the nation for the percentage of women-owned firms with paid employees as well- 20.5 percent. The state can also boast afew other exciting entrepreneur-friendlystatisticsas well Its eighthin the percentage of Asian-owned firms as a share of all firms at 7.9 percent, and its fifthin the percentage of Asian-owned firms with paidemployees at 11.9 percent.Its 13th in the percentage of Hispanic-owned firms as a share of all firms at 7 percent, and 11th in the percentage of Hispanic-owned firms with paidemployees at 3.5 percent. Marylands Big on Venture Capital Deals Maryland ranked eighth among all states in the number of venture capital deals, and 15th in the dollar value of those deals. That translates to a total of 87 venture capital deals made in Maryland resulting in over $363 million in investment funding. Dont Give Up on Baltimore Despite sensationalized news stories in the media depicting the community struggles Baltimore has endured,the city has been ranked the second hottest startup city in the U.S. by Entrepreneur magazine. Popular Mechanics has ranked Baltimore the fifth Best Startup City in America, and the Businesswoman Power City Index says its the top-ranked city based on the number of women-owned businesses and the gender wage gap. There is more to Baltimore than what you see on the nightly news Getting Started If youre planning to start a business in Maryland, youll have to first register your business name. Youll must then register to pay taxes and obtain any necessary licenses and permits depending on the structure of your business and whether you intend to have employees. Business Licensing InformationL icenses for many types of business can be obtained from your local Clerk of the Circuit Court. A license is generally required if youreoperating a restaurant, if youre in retail sales, for laundry businesses, vending machine businesses and storage warehouses. But dont automatically assume that you dont need one just because your business doesnt fall into any of ansicht categories. Check with the Maryland court system to be sure. .Obtain a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)An EIN functions something like a Social Security number for businesses. Unless youre planning to operate as a sole proprietor, youll need one to file your businesss taxes, and youll probably need one to open a business bank account and other financial accounts as well. Tax Registration Information The states Comptroller website details tax information for Maryland business owners. You can complete Marylands Combined Registration Application for taxes online to determine what taxes your business mightbe a ssessed.Planning and Zoning Permits To obtain information on local zoning and building requirements, contact the planning and zoning department in the county in which your business will be located. You can find your local planning and zoning departments contact information in the states archives. Corporations and Partnerships You can find information and forms for forming a corporation, nonprofit organization, and/or a partnership on Marylands Department of Taxation and Assessments website. Information is included about articles of incorporation, how to close a corporation, and accessing trade name registration forms. Marylands Small Business Administration Center The Small Business Administration Center serving most of Maryland is Maryland District OfficeCity Crescent Building, 6th Floor10 South Howard StreetBaltimore, Maryland 21201Phone (410) 962-6195 Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties are serviced by the SBAs Washington, D.C. District Office. For all other locations, rea ch out to the SBA in Baltimore for guidance, assistance and even loan information to get your business off the ground.

Important Solutions for Customer Service Representative Resume Sample

Important Solutions for Customer Service Representative Resume Sample Take into consideration your own work experience, and where you are able to quantify it. What many resume forget is the way essential soft skills are in the area of consumer services. Always match your skills to the requirements of the job youre applying for. After that, do not incorporate an expert experience if it isnt pertinent to your present job which youre applying for. Employers will be searching for customer service representatives with broad social abilities and industry certain specializations. Also, they want to see the impact your work for had. Also, they want to see the impact your work has had. A hiring manager trying to find a Customer Service Representative is trying to find a well-spoken individual with a strong understanding of the company mission, and superior communication abilities. Retail is an industry with a broad ton of representative of opportunities, which produces a focused resu me even more important. Enormous experience with up-selling merchandise and solutions. Take advantage of chances to up-sell companys products and solutions. Customer Service Representative Resume Sample the Ultimate Convenience To compose the objection section of a customer service resume, you want to discover the big tasks to be done at work. The many sections are well ready to catch the employers interest. The objective section is an excellent distributionspolitik to get started winning the core of your prospective employer. By listening effectively to locate the source of issues, and communicating in a very clear and friendly way, the Customer Service Representative can fix the matter and offer a positive customer experience. Reviewing customer feedback may offer you a different sense of your present customer service abilities than that which you will get internally from management or colleagues. A sample will be able to help you decide what type of content you should incl ude, in addition to how to format your resume. For the reason, its important to have a top quality cv or resume that stand out from the others. When you have produced a csr position description, look at our customer service representative interview questions. Your customer service resume absolutely free samples skills objectives is among the most important parts of your job application. The Basics of Customer Service Representative Resume Sample Even if youre an expert professional, it is leise possible to refer to samples which could help you update your resume. Your sample will be a lot stronger in the event you quantify or add numbers to it. Using resume samples can be exceedingly helpful. Resume templates may also be very helpful. Item Awareness A customer service employee should be entirely conscious of all elements of the merchandise theyre selling or promoting. The trick is to demonstrate your very best side on the resume. If you want to work in retail specificall y, weve also made a thorough guide on the best way to compose a retail resume. Bellow, youll locate the resume sample and also some suggestions and advice for the work interview. If you learned new abilities, the reader wishes to understand how you applied them to the advantage of the organisation. If you are searching for top essay writing companies, try out the mentioned above. There are numerous essay writing services that think theyre the very best, and therefore dont be cheated and check the legitimate list of the very best.

What You Dont Know About Resume Writing for Lecturer Post Could Be Costing to More Than You Think

What You Dont Know About Resume Writing for Lecturer deutsche post dhl Could Be Costing to More Than You Think Our writers always create unique content that is absolutely free from all grammatical error. Adding references and credits from your prior work experiences is recommended Its possible to continue to keep the sections pertinent to you and edit the rest of the sections. You will realize the format comprising various resume sections. What you exclude is at least as critical as what you include. You may choose the template for the position you prefer to apply. When searching for a Resume Format to adequately present the relevant qualities that universities will be searching for, you may wish to be certain your qualifications shine through. Up in Arms About Resume Writing for Lecturer Post? Youre able to easily depend on us to find essay help as we have a tendency to assist and guide the students with the assistance of our professional experts. Knowing the Audience Re search the institution you wish to teach at. As a consequence, such students search for the best essay help to be certain that their project is going to be produced at the maximal level in accord with all academic standards. The Number One Question You Must Ask for Resume Writing for Lecturer Post Order top-notch essay at the moment and certified specialists will do their very best to supply you with higher quality at fair price. Therefore, for your convenience, you have a superb chance to monitor the advancement of the assigned writer and make sure an essay will be ready in a timely method. Then the very best approach is place a request I want to acquire essay papers written. These days, job hunting gets increasingly tough. There are a lot of basic forms of resumes used to make an application for job openings. There are a few things that dont belong on a resume for work. Each type of job demands explicit abilities, qualifications and expertise. Sometimes you try to do y our best and even then youre not able to score well in your home tasks. You dont need to start from scratch. Moreover there are many collection of layouts readily available on the internet. There are many different resume templates designed for numerous jobs. The Hidden Truth on Resume Writing for Lecturer Post In a globalized world, its inevitable that schools accept an increasing number of students coming from assorted nations and cultural backgrounds. There are plenty of spots erreichbar where you may get at no cost. For instance, some of them just have zero opportunity to deal with dozens of assignments that keep bombarding from every side. In case you have any questions, you can get in touch with our friendly support team night and day and get immediate assistance. When applying for a position for a lecturer, pick a suitable resume format for the particular lecturer position youre seeking. The teacher resumes are straightforward and simple to comprehend. It can like wise be put to use as a cover letter for Lecturer. A college lecturer cover letter is a remarkable method to present your abilities and how well you fit the work role.

Taking a hot bath at this temperature will improve your sleep

Taking a hot bath at this temperature will improve your sleepTaking a hot bath at this temperature will improve your sleepFor a significantly better nights sleep, biomedical engineers at the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University ofTexas at Austin have found that you should take a hot bath (104-109 degrees Fahrenheit) anywhere from one to two hours before bed. This can also speed up falling asleep by an average of 10 minutes.To come to this conclusion, researchers at several universities analyzed thousands of studies that linked the act of bathing or showering with hot or cold water with better sleep.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreBody temperature has long been understood to be part of the regulation of the sleep/wake cycle. Warm baths and showers increase blood circulation from the bodys core to its hands and feet, removing body heat and lowering body temperature. Th is helps the circadian process along, resulting in falling asleep more quickly but also sleeping better.A previous Japanese study found that you may prefer a bath, regardless people who spent two weeks taking daily baths reported improved skin conditions, and decreased stress, fatigue, and pain.

10 ways to make speaking in meetings less scary

10 ways to make speaking in meetings less scary10 ways to make speaking in meetings less scaryIt can be hard to feelconfidentsitting at the meeting table. And, unfortunately, research shows its even tougher for women, who often underestimate their opinions.Whether you are a recent graduate, have years of professional experience, or are a natural introvert, lets put a stop to this lack of confidence and find ways to gain the courage to speak up and be bold. Here are 10 ways to find your voice in meetings, make sure you speak up, and sound strong doing it.1. Speak first.Before the meeting, take the time to prepare your thoughts. When the time comes to discuss the topic, be the first to speak. Doing so gives you the opportunity to create the discussion instead of delaying your insights, or hearing someone else offer the same ideas you had.2. Speak confidently.Yes, even if you are shy. Find the courage to participate, even if your contribution is small. Besides, if youve prepared in adva nce, youll be ready to articulate yourself concisely.3. Practice your delivery.Part of making yourself heard is speaking smoothly. Weve all been guilty of relying on space-fillers like kinda, um, and you know? Qualifiers like these detract from the professional image we seek to convey. It might sound silly, but try to practice what youll say out loud before attending your next meeting.4. Agree with good ideas.Even if you dont have anything new to add, affirm others ideas. Doing so shows youve been paying attention, and your colleague will appreciate the kudos and support.5. Ask questions.This is one of the easiest ways to speak up in a meeting. Show you are engaged and involved by asking questions that will spur the discussion or clarify an idea.6. Take notes.This is especially important in longer meetings or meetings that are introducing a new concept. Jot down notes and be prepared to readdress them when the discussion opens.7. Raise your hand.Yes, its old school, but if you find you can never get a word in edgewise, reverting to this simple method should get the facilitators attention.8. State it clearly.To further emphasize your point, consider starting your thoughts with phrases such as I strongly suggest or I recommend.9. Believe in yourself.Your opinions and ideas or no less valid than anyone else at the table. Be fearless in owning your beliefs and dont allow self-doubt to cloud your convictions.10. Dont censor yourself.Find the courage to voice yourrealopinion. Youll be seen as the valuable professional with expert opinions that you are.In a fast-changing work environment, businesses need everyones best thinking to achieve the best outcomes. Take ownership of your opinions and find the courage to assert your ideas. Youll be glad you did - and it wont go unnoticed by your supervisor and coworkers.Tiffany Couch is the CEO and founder ofAcuity Forensics, a forensic accounting and fraud investigation firm that helps unravel complex financial crimes.This article originally appeared onFairygodboss. As the largest career community for women, Fairygodboss provides millions of women with career connections, community advice, and hard-to-find intel about how companies treat women.

Micro Jobs and How to Make Money Doing Them

Micro Jobs and How to Make Money Doing ThemMicro Jobs and How to Make Money Doing ThemA micro job is, as the word implies, a very small paid task. A better word for micro jobs might actually be gigs because the word jobs might imply employment, and no micro jobs are for employees but only for independent contractors. Defining Micro Jobs The basic concept of a micro jobs, receiving a small fee for a small task, runs across many possible types of micro jobs. These might include zugreifbar tasks These small tasks, or microtasks, can be done entirely online, requiring no real-world interaction. Buyers of these services advertise on micro job websites to find someone willing to do the task. Amazons Mechanical Turk is one of the most popular sites offering this type of micro job. Real-world tasks Similar to online tasks in that buyers of service advertise online for workers, the task is not completed online but in person. Websites promoting these types of micro jobs are basically a mar ketplace for odd jobs. Taskrabbit is one of the more popular real-work task sites. However, Taskrabbit and others like it usually offer online tasks as well. Crowdsourcing projects Using an online crowdsourcing platform, companies hire workers to do one small part of a larger project. Workers generally log on to a companys website and choose from available tasks. Clickworker is a company that makes use crowdsourcing for a variety of tasks. Website usability testing Remote usability testers review websites and mobile apps for a set fee (usually around $10), typically using a screen or voice recorder. Online services marketplace In these micro jobs, workers offer small services (usually for a set fee) and buyers browse the marketplace to find people offering the services they need. The website takes a fee from the the buyer, seller or both. Reward programs Some micro jobs may not offer payment in money but in points or something else. The tasks in these often involve marketing produc ts to the worker. Surveys Completing surveys as a work-at-home job has been around for a while and is, perhaps, the original micro job. How Micro Jobs Are Done Many micro jobs, particularly those of crowdsourced data entry projects, are done completely online from a computer. However, some micro jobs may be done in both in the real world and online and could require a cell phone. For example, a company may want you to go to a store and photograph a schirm of a product or conduct a price check and submit the information online via your cell phone. How Micro Jobs Pay Generally, these jobs pay very small sums, but they should require very little time. Jobs may pay anywhere from 1 cent to $50, and the idea is that the labor required should be in proportion with fee offered. That said, in order to make money, you have to work fast and take on as many tasks as you can. Since these are done on a contract (and not employee) basis, there is no guarantee that these micro jobs pay mini mum wage. Most companies pay cash (usually through a PayPal account) but some pay in something other than cash, i.e. gift cards, reward points, services, bitcoins. Often the pay is calculated in US dollars but can be converted into a different currency when paid into a PayPal account. Related Definitions Crowdsourcing Similar to and sometimes used synonymouslywith micro labor, crowdsourcing often employs volunteer labor.Task Site Online forums that connect buyers and sellers of small services.Microlabor Similar to and sometimes used synonymously with crowdsourcing, micro labor is paid, though usually small amounts.Bid sites Sites like Elance, where workers bid on projects, are examples of bid sites the difference between them and micro labor is the pay scale and the complexity of the projects. Independent contractor Micro laborers are independent contractors but at the lowest end of the pay scale.BPO Business process outsourcing.Data Entry Some data entry companies employ micro labor by breaking up large data entry projects into disparate tasks done by a range of people.Outsourcing Using micro labor is a different type of outsourcing than offshoring or homeshoring.