How to Boost Productivity Working From Home

How to Boost Productivity Working From Home It’s expected that 50% of the UK workforce will work remotely by 2020, with almost 1.5 million employees currently ditching the office for their dining table. New research reveals that London has the highest number of remote employees, with 408,000 people using the home as their main office, and 250,000 people working from home every day of the week. From the position of your chair to the music you listen to, there are several factors that affect how productively you work from home. With this in mind, our experts reveal how to create the perfect setting. Feng Shui Feng Shui is the art of placement, teaching us how to position objects in the space around us to balance energy and create harmony. It has had a huge impact on the aesthetics of interior design and plays a huge role when creating a productive workspace. To follow the art of Feng Shui, you should separate your working and living space to encourage a good ‘work and home life’ balance. Feng Shui expert, Priya Sher, shares how to position your furniture to create the most productive workspace. She said: “Avoid the sofa, as this provides a space that can energetically separate your living and working life. Position your desk so that the back of your chair has the support of a solid wall. “It’s also a good idea to avoid sitting with your back to the window or open shelves. According to Feng Shui, open shelves act as arrows in your back and a window in your back can make you feel unsupported.” Other things to consider include the amount of clutter around you. “Avoid placing work files and paperwork on the floor as it signifies a deterioration of your business/career.” “Also, avoid working from the bedroom,” Priya said, “If you have a choice of rooms, the East and South- East rooms are great for working.” Colour Color Psychologist, Angela Wright, states there are four primary psychological colors: red, blue, yellow and green. Whether you work indoors or outside, surrounding yourself with certain colors can help boost productivity. She states: “If you’re in a physically demanding job, red is a great productivity booster. Workers that require a lot of physical exertion such as tradespeople, personal trainers, and tree surgeons may respond well to red.” “Use blue for a productivity boost in if you’re an office worker, it’s brilliant for completing administrative tasks or projects that require maximum focus. Add a splash of orange if you need extra inspiration.” “For innovators and entrepreneurs, yellow will help if you have a little brain fatigue. It’s great for a productivity boost and will get your juices flowing.” “Finally, if you thrive in a calm environment, green is the color for you. It’s great for people who practice yoga or meditation.” Music to improve your mood Like listening to music whilst working? Turns out it could be making you more productive. The connection between listening to music you like at work and an improved mood is strong, says Teresa Lesiuk, Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of Miami. Her research shows that listening to that music often produces “mild, positive moods” and being in that frame of mind can be helpful when attempting to get work done. It turns out its not just classical music that stimulates productivity â€" however, we’d avoid anything too heavy. Teresa Lesiuk states that personal choice is important, especially in those who are moderately skilled in their jobs. Those who listen to music they enjoy often complete tasks more quickly because the music improved their mood. Songs which include sounds of nature can enhance cognitive functioning and improve levels of concentration. If your work requires you to be more upbeat, you could try listening to music that matches this tempo. Baroque is a good choice if you have a lot of work to get done. Keep it cool If you’ve ever worked in an office, you’ll know how difficult it is to get the temperature right and keep everybody happy. Working from home means this is one less thing to worry about â€" as you are in full control of the thermostat. Previous studies suggest that the perfect temperature to maximize productivity should be between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. However, as our bodies are all different, keeping the room at a temperature that’s comfortable for you should do the trick.

Surviving the Shark Tank An Interview with Julie Busha - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Surviving the Shark Tank An Interview with Julie Busha - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Recently, I had the privilege of connecting with Julie Busha, the founder of the popular condiment brand Slawsa.  Slawsa is a unique cross between a slaw and salsa that is all-natural, fat-free, cholesterol-free, gluten-free, low in sodium and kosher. Julie was featured on ABCs  Shark Tank, and though she didnt receive funding, was the recipient of much praise from the sharks. Following the exposure of the show, she has launched an IndieGoGo campaign to raise money for expansion, which is open until January 4th. We discussed the sacrifices she has made along the way to build her company, her experience on  Shark Tank, and Julie gives her tips for those looking to build a better career.   How do you define your personal brand? Ive historically been the behind-the-scenes, roll-up-your-sleeves, get the job done type person. Never in the spotlight and I prefer to let the results speak for themselves. In the agency world, my job was to make my clients look good in the eyes of their customers. Im one that has extremely high expectations for not only myself, but for those around me. How does it impact your company? I think in terms of running a business, I see things very black and white, cut and dry. While I like to hear all options, Im very decisive and I think that sense of purpose has helped my company grow in the most efficient way possible. What were some of the biggest sacrifices you have had to make in building your company? Obviously, the personal sacrifices (which I did not vocalize to the Sharks). Back when I was recruited to help someone else build his company, I put in the extra hours and effort in because that is what was required…hadnt had a vacation since 2006. Now that I have launched my own company, I cant imagine I do, but somehow Ive put forth more energy. Putting off starting a family is the biggest sacrifice (especially since I am now 35) but I want to be in a position where when we do start that family, I can not feel I am taking away from growing my company. I can do both, but just need to get my company to a place where I can do both. Of course, the financial risks/sacrifices are far beyond what most people will ever comprehend doing themselves. But greatness does not come without sacrifice and when you know you can build something great, giving up the perks in life is whats ultimately going to get it there. Hopefully well be able to enjoy those perks later as there is no better feelin g in the world than waking up each day eager to grow a brand. What, if anything, did you learn from being on the Shark Tank? I dont know that I really learned anything. Its obviously a great opportunity for any entrepreneur but none of the Sharks really gave me any advice on what they thought I should be doing. They didnt find faults in the company…instead they just decided to not invest and I think much of it stems from the fact that 1. They usually want to have a good understanding of the industry in which they are investing and 2. They want to be able to use their assets (Lori to get on QVC, Daymond to plug in his overseas manufacturing, Mark Robert to rely on their tech background) and honestly, I dont think they felt they could offer either. I do need to take compliments better. I have such high expectations of myself, I always feel I need to be perfect. Not getting the confidence of a Shark to offer a deal I took very personally for weeks. Where do you hope to be down the line? Obviously, Im not going to be content until I get Slawsa into every grocery store, stadium and hot dog cart in America so I realize this is just the beginning of a long journey. You always have to be looking forward so Ill be in development of the final two flavors this winter and a secondary 3-sku line in 2014. Obviously, my priority is growing awareness and trial and to keep growing household penetration. What is the ideal position for Slawsa? I think ultimately, Slawsa has the potential to have the greatest market share in the relish category. Its healthier, more versatile and more flavorful than a pickle relish. We just need to educate consumers to think about what a relish is or could be versus the traditional. Can you give 2-3 key pieces of advice to young people who are looking to take the next step in their career? First and foremost, dont let anyone tell you that you cant. People are shocked that I gained placement of Slawsa in nearly 5,000 stores within two years because its so far from what is considered possible for a start-up food manufacturer on a limited budget….but not once did I believe it couldnt be achieved. Sometimes you just have to dive in the deep end head first and make it happen. Secondly, put yourself in a position to take advantage of opportunities. Both my husband and I worked our way up in our respective industries and being fiscally responsible is what allowed me to leave an industry that I loved to take the leap of faith to become an entrepreneur and put so much financially into my company. We dont live beyond our means and while that seems strange in our borrow and spend society, thats the best way to do something great. Im a go big or go home type person. If I had to rely on a second income and just dedicate myself to Slawsa in the evenings or weekends, there would be no way wed be as far along as we are now. It requires full-time efforts and making those financial sacrifices earlier in life allows me to do so without worrying about sucking valuable marketing dollars out of the company to pay myself. The third piece of advice is to put as much away in retirement as possible at a younger age as it will pay back dividends in the future (likely when you realize the government wont be able to support you). You should never have to rely on outside support. Put yourself in a position where money is never an issue if you lose your job, launch a company or whatever it is you want to do. Thank you to Julie for taking the time to share her story with me. If you are interested in the Slawsa product, check out the website, or visit the campaign to donate to its growth. Best of luck to Julie in the new year!

My experience as an undergraduate researcher

My experience as an undergraduate researcher If youre looking for a chance to flex your intellectual muscles and immerse yourself in a challenging project, then look no further than the Warwick Undergraduate Research Support Scheme. This scheme offers a unique opportunity to dip your toe in the waters of academic research and develop a wealth of transferable skills. Whether you decide to pursue postgrad study afterwards, or leave research behind its a great way to develop your employability. Over to Caitlin Jenkins, a final year law student, who spent last summer working on her own URSS project. Theres no way I can do that Hearing the lecture shout-out about the undergraduate research scheme, my first thought was there is no way I could ever do that. However, after attending the previous years URSS poster showcase, and having become increasingly interested in a specific area of my Law degree, I decided to give it a go. My interest grew during the process of drafting my research idea, and I began to think that I may want to continue to postgraduate study before taking my exams to go the Bar. URSS seemed the perfect opportunity to test whether I could manage a research Masters, both in terms of my interest in the subject and my personal motivation. Actually, yes I can During the application process, it became very clear to me why I was applying. By assessing the skills I was hoping to develop, I was able to set clear goals of what I wanted to achieve. I wanted to improve, amongst other things, my organisational and project management skills, my self-confidence and my oral and written presentation skills. Reflecting on this at the end of my project, I have improved in all these areas. I can conduct research for my academic work in an efficient, focused manner and my self-awareness has increased, enabling me to plan my time to work to my very best. I have become able to better voice my own views in discussion groups, and have found that I actually quite like presentations! Becoming a fledgling researcher The question is, what was it about URSS that enabled me to do this? Firstly, URSS provide many very focused skills workshops to help you to get the most out of your research. We were trained on effective project management, research techniques, how to write an abstract, how to complete a poster and where our project could take us. These sessions were always conducted in groups, which created a friendly atmosphere and put me in touch with researchers from all disciplines. This is especially important in independent research, as often a researcher can feel quite isolated. Secondly, new to URSS this year were the two Research Café events â€" one in August, and one in September. Each Café gave four URSS interns the chance to present their research to a multi-disciplinary audience of fellow researchers, answering questions and obtaining feedback. This was my favourite part of URSS â€" I really enjoyed talking about my research, knowing others were there because they were interested. Looking back, this event has transformed my confidence, in that I now feel able to voice my views on a variety of different issues. Thirdly, URSS run a poster showcase every year after the internship has ended. This is a more formal event, with speakers and networking sessions to allow URSS interns to talk about their finished project. As most posters are printed through Warwick Print, I did not get to see the full-sized version until the day of the showcase. Speaking to staff and students about my work, I felt proud as my poster was exactly what I had envisaged. Defining my career goals: PhD here I come! Having completed my URSS project, I have discovered a passion for research. My aspirations to continue to postgraduate study have been affirmed, and I am now likely to apply for a PhD programme in the future, possibly leading to a career in academia. URSS has provided the scope to develop many ideas outside of my academic work, which I hope to explore through future research. I am currently in the process of drafting an article to submit to the Reinvention Journal of Undergraduate Research, and have submitted an abstract in the hope of presenting at the British Conference of Undergraduate Research in April. I have become more involved in departmental research, hoping to assist in the organisation of internal events to raise the profile of undergraduate research. Its a great way to develop transferable skills The URSS experience is second to none â€" if you are considering it, my advice would be to go for it. It is the perfect opportunity to develop some key transferable skills in a very supportive atmosphere with a wealth of opportunities on offer.  It has contributed to my personal development in so many ways; the biggest change has been the increase in confidence in my own ability, which is crucial to making the most out of my academic studies. I would like to thank URSS, in particular the co-ordinator, Nathalie Dalton-King, for the support offered throughout my project, and for making the experience so enjoyable! * Applications for the 2014 URSS scheme open today (7th Jan) so if Caitlins post has got you thinking, check out the application process

How has studying or working abroad changed your career

How has studying or working abroad changed your career Over the weekend I celebrated my friend’s bachelorette party with a fantastic group of girls.   We had great dinners, drank way too many girly cocktails and danced so much that my legs are still sore two days later! I met my friend Courtney through this group of girls about 3 years ago.   Courtney has since received a few promotions at work, which brought her from Chicago overseas to London for work.    Today Courtney is back in the US working in New York City with the same company. I’m hearing stories like this all the time lately: a girl in my book club spent 7 years teaching English in Japan. One of my readers recently left on a whim to help start a company in South America.   My fiance’s former employer regularly sends its consultants overseas for projects all over the world.   Spending part of your twenties working in other countries seems like it would be an amazing and life-changing experience that would be really hard to compete with. Studies about Gen Y often say that our generation values experiences over money. A Time Magazine article mentions Gen Y’s “search for meaning” in their work.   There’s no doubt many of us want to know that what we are doing at work is making an impact in some way. Perhaps that is why so many twentysomethings are seeking overseas jobs.   In a country whose culture often revolves around entertainment and “keeping up with the Joneses,” it can be difficult to feel like you’re making an impact or getting a new perspective while in the US. The one big thing I wish I did in college was study abroad.   At the time I wasn’t ready for it and the thought of leaving the country and my family/friends for an extended period of time seemed terrifying.   Now that I’m a few years older, I see that studying or working travel jobs is a career development experience that you can’t get through college, domestic work experience or even advanced degrees. Have you studied or worked abroad?   Would you recommend it? How did working overseas change your perspective on business, life and your career?

5 Best Ways To Find Your First Employee - CareerMetis.com

5 Best Ways To Find Your First Employee Source â€" Flickr.comThere’s no question about it: you’ve worked tremendously hard to be where you are right now. The long hours, the sacrifices you’ve had to make with family and friends â€" these have all added up in a big way. There were no shortcuts or quick fixes on your road to success, and now it’s time to take your company to the next level. One of the most pivotal steps in expanding your business is hiring your first employee. It’s not just about finding impressive qualifications either. Since it’s your first employee, they need to be compatible, your right-hand person and have an intuitiveness about what your company needs. Here are the 5 best ways you can find your first employee:eval1. Figure Out Your WeaknessesIf you grew a business from the ground up, you are definitely a jack-of-all-trades type of person. You’ve probably learned accounting, marketing, interpersonal and sales all in one fell swoop. Throughout that time, however, you’ve recognized which t raits at which you excel and others that are just making a passing grade. Perhaps you thrive at marketing, but don’t find the same energy for packaging and design. You might be a math whiz, but would rather have someone else make the sales calls. Pinpointing the things you’d like to delegate will help you fine tune the right employees to hire. Not only that, having a qualified employee help tie up loose ends will give you time to focus on making new goals for yourself.Not sure where to begin? You can write down a list of your most-to-least favorite aspects of the job. Or if you’d prefer an outside opinion, there are many aptitude tests that will help you decide what you’re best suited in doing for long term success.2. Narrow Down The Job Search EnginesPosting a job can be as easy as writing a Craigslist ad. However, if you are trying to find a like-minded person you may want to consider posting your job on sites that reflect your mission. For instance, if you’ve created a non-profit, job search engines like Idealist are dedicated to non-profits almost exclusively. evalHave a start-up in tech? There are quite a few dedicated sites like VentureFizz and others that solely focus on helping new businesses thrive.If you’re looking for someone who specializes in something specific, you may even consider tracking down a recruiter, or diving in the LinkedIn profile rabbit hole. Finding the right candidate may mean doing more than posting a job. Doing a little research to narrow down the fields of interest will weed out the unqualified candidates and get your job posting to the right people.3. What Can You Really Offer?Whether you’re still in your start-up basement or have rented out a small office space, it’s important to figure out what you can seriously offer your first employee. evalRealistically, it may take some time to offer company-wide health insurance, or even a space for them to work. Paint an accurate picture of what your potential hire is wa lking into so they don’t feel like you are giving them false promises.Is it part or full-time? Are you looking for a freelancer or are you ready to sign a full-time employee contract? There are many freelancer websites 5. Find Someone Passionate About Your CompanyIt’s a given that you love what you do. Find someone who not only is qualified and is friendly, but loves what you’ve created. When hiring a new employee, you are actively taking your company out of the “start-up” phase, and into the next stage of flourishing possibility. You want someone who is an advocate of your company and cause, so they can be motivated just as much as you are to push things forward.Getting a paycheck is nice, but being truly passionate about what you’re doing will give a driving force to keep moving, in spite of speed bumps along the way. During the interviewing process, be sure to ask company-specific questions, and take note of the people who ask meaningful questions as well.evalLook for someone who asks these kinds of questions.No pressure, but hiring your first employee can make or break future growth. You’ve shaped the company into what it is today, but it will be your employees that create the company culture, and help produce future results. With both razor sharp decisiveness and flexibility, once you delegate your duties to your trusted employee, you will have freedom to explore new possibilities and expand to higher heights.

Beliefs and Action to Win Career Transition Victories - Hire Imaging

Beliefs and Action to Win Career Transition Victories - Hire Imaging In career transition, it’s common to struggle with fears or unknowns; and to dread or procrastinate on those things that are outside your comfort zone. Picking up that phone to make cold calls. Attending a networking event. Feeling overwhelmed with research, activity tracking and follow-up. Career transition and job search is a process. If you’re wavering or grappling with the tough moments, here are some beliefs and actions that you can embrace to help generate the results you want. Beneficial beliefs. Reframe from trying to control things, to allowing things to happen. You don’t control most things anyway, so instead of trying to push things to happen or move faster, be open to what comes to you. Welcome with all your capacity, your belief that this is the right thing for you. This will attract the information, people, and opportunities that you need. Center your thoughts on acquiring a calm perseverance as you go through the process â€" the marathon versus sprint mentality. This will help you develop resiliency. Diamonds are made under intense heat, and extreme pressure! You’re going to get through the tougher times for a reason! Acknowledge and gently remind yourself that things are ever-changing in this process. Although sometimes it’s uncomfortable â€" even painful, it helps to keep the end goal in mind. Every phone call or email, every reach-out, every tweak to your communications or online presence, has the power to bring you closer to that goal. Say “bleh” on the statistics. Employment and job-market data fluctuates around many factors. Whether it’s downward or strong, it doesn’t have anything to do with your career transition. What it is about is about showing employers that you’re the right person for the job in terms of capabilities and attitude. Folks get hired in all kinds of economies because they bring measurable value to an organization and can articulate it. Advantageous action. Get a trustworthy accountability buddy. Find someone you know who can anchor you. Talk to them often, and ask them to send an email or make a phone call weekly to check in on your progress. Give them permission to ask, “Did you follow up with so-and-so? How did your informational interview meeting go?” If you’re working with a career coach, ask him or her to give you a summary of directives and action, with tips to move forward when you’re stuck. Develop a schedule to empower you with time management, discipline, and prioritization. Whether you’re employed or not, it’s important to plug into your calendar and schedule, those activities that are career-transition focused. My client, Brett, worked from home in part-time sales, attended online courses for his bachelor’s, and was in job search. He told me he just wasn’t getting much done. It seems like a small thing, but rescheduling so that he went to the gym first thing in the morning five days a week, studied in the morning, and divided his afternoons and early evening between his work and job search â€" with plenty of sleep time â€" made a difference. He was happier and more productive. Program reminders into your device-of-choice. Use whatever is comfortable for you â€" your laptop, phone, or other electronic gadgets, to establish a system to remind yourself when it’s time to send a follow-up note to someone you said you’d contact. Or mark the date on your calendar. Jibberjobber.com is a great website to use for integrative tracking of your job-search activities. Track your progress daily, weekly, and monthly. At the end of each day, take a few moments to look at what you’ve accomplished: Who did you talk to? What did you learn from them? Where does it take you next? What new information did you glean from a book or article you read that helped you get clarity or move forward? Who got to know you better and is now a champion? Did you have any new break-throughs or ah-hah moments? Be sure to reward yourself for your progress â€" anything from an evening out, to buying that pair of pants you wanted. Keep supportive people in your life, and surround yourself with positive thoughts. Supportive people are those you feel comfortable sharing your feelings with. They can be lifesavers when you need to vent. Put messages on your phone, refrigerator, wall, or mirror that inspire you. Thoughts and ideas can be empowering or disempowering. Your beliefs become your words â€" which are also empowering or disempowering. Your words then prescribe the actions you take. And you have that power to turn a deep desire into achievement! What are your thoughts about the impact of beliefs and action in career transition? I’d love to hear from you! Please comment below.

Car Resume Writing Software - Can it Help You?

Car Resume Writing Software - Can it Help You?As you start the process of updating your current resume, you may be wondering whether or not to use car resume writing software to help you. If you have never used this type of program before, you may wonder what it is and whether or not it can really help you with your resume.Your resume is probably one of the most important documents that you have to hand. It contains important information about you that is written in a way that makes it easier for potential employers to read. Without a proper, professional resume, you may find yourself in a position where you could be turning down job offers because of the way that you look in an interview.Unfortunately, creating a resume on your own is sometimes impossible. You will most likely need to hire a freelance writer to help you out. If you are looking for a way to save some money, then you may want to try using this type of program to help you out.One of the most common mistakes that many p eople make when writing resumes is the use of a first name. While this is an effective way to show that you were employed at some point, it is not necessary. Why? Because most employers know that you are not going to be showing them any of the other information about you, so it is better to use your last name instead.On top of using your last name, you should also show off your accomplishments in the work place in your title. You can even list your job titles in order from most senior to least. This will show potential employers that you took the time to create a resume that is going to show them everything about you.Once you have written the introduction, you should be able to see how long your potential employer has known you. At this point, you can decide whether or not you want to leave out some details about yourself. You can always keep what you do not like, but there is no reason why you cannot include all of the important information about yourself that you can.One of the bi ggest things that you will want to remember when using car resume writing software is to be as detailed as possible. If you have already worked for several years, you can show them how much experience you have in that field. However, if you have only been working for a few months, you should be very careful to show them only the most recent information about you. Showing too much information may cause them to assume that you are lying about your past.Overall, car resume writing software is a great option for creating a great resume. It can help you make sure that you have everything about you written down. You should make sure that you take advantage of this opportunity if you want to land the next great job.