Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Global Productivity Drought When Will It End

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Global Productivity Drought When Will It End According to Bret Swanson and Michael Mandel, author of the new white paperThe Coming Productivity Boom, the next waves of the information revolutionâ€"where we connect the physical world and infuse it with intelligenceâ€"are beginning to emerge. And these waves will result in far greater productivity than we’ve seen in many industries so far. Much has been made of the proliferation of sophisticated IT into the business world. However, this trend carries an important caveat. Digital industries, which account for around 25 percent of U.S. private-sector employment and 30 percent of private-sector GDP, make 70 percent of all private-sector investments in information technology. The physical industries, which are 75 percent of private-sector employment and 70 percent of private-sector GDP, make just 30 percent of the investments in information technology. In Digital versus Physical Industries, Digital Comes Out Ahead In order to understand these numbers, we must first acknowledge the difference between digital industries and physical industries. Swanson and Mandel defined digital industries as those private-sector industries where the main output of the industry can be easily provided in digital form and can be readily delivered anywhere in the world via the Internet. This category includes entertainment, publishing, telecom, search, social media, finance and insurance, professional and technical services, and administrative and support services, many of which are IT-based. Physical industries, on the other hand, are those private-sector industries whose outputs are provided mainly in physical form. This category includes construction, mining, healthcare, most of manufacturing, retailing, food services, education, transportation, and hotels. In any case, Swanson and Mandel cited this “information gap” in the physical industries as a key source of recent economic stagnation,productivity drag, and the fact that many workers have not personally benefited from technological advances. The manufacturing industry is a prime example of this gap, with many organizationsfailing to invest in ITat all over the last 15 years. Although some companies have employed limited automation for the purpose of immediate efficiency, they have not taken advantage of the full power of creative IT by implementing new and scalable business models, processes, and platforms. And their productivity has stagnated as a result. Although many physical industries have yet to reap the full benefits of digital transformation, Swanson and Mandel posited that this is changing. “The diffusion of information technology into the physical industries is poised to revive the economy, create jobs, and boost incomes,” they wrote. “Far from nearing its end, the Information Age may give us its most powerful and widespread economic benefits in the years ahead. Aided by improved public policy focused on innovation, we project a significant acceleration of productivity across a wide array of industries, leading to more broad-based economic growth.” For the rest of the post, check out the QuickBase Fast Track blog.

Poor Review Four Ideas to Get Back on Track Marla Gottschalk

Poor Review Four Ideas to Get Back on Track Marla Gottschalk Experiencing a poor performance review can be an unnerving experience but you can find a way to move forward. Try to control your negative feelings and concentrate on a plan for the future. Give yourself some time to mourn the event, but then make the commitment to look ahead. Get a complete view of your performance Gaining a well-rounded view of who you are as a performer is the first step and information is power. If your organization doesnt use a 360 degree appraisal format, obtain additional information on your own. If you have a peer you can trust, ask for their honest perception on how you are doing and access your invisible resume. (For those who have a role similar to yours, also inquire about the strategies they utilize to attack the tasks you find challenging). Also consider gathering feedback from those who depend on you on a daily basis, as they can also offer a unique vantage point concerning your performance.   Are you meeting their expectations? Find out. (You can read more about that here). Put your own plan in motion Dont be a passive bystander if you feel that your job may be in trouble.   Set up a follow-up session with your supervisor to discuss specific performance improvement strategies. Be your own training and development advocate and do your homework on programs that might help your performance. Bring along any information you have collected to the session. If you have a good candidate, discuss an individual who could serve as your mentor going forward. (Read more about mentoring here). Set up a feedback system that works While meeting with your supervisor discuss regular performance feedback. We know that feedback which occurs once a year is simply inadequate. But, you can’t always put the blame on your supervisor. If you need more feedback, ask for it. Negotiate with your supervisor to receive enough feedback for your needs and design a feedback plan which is mutually acceptable. Build more feedback into your work life (some pointers here) and set up a “personal feedback program” which gathers performance information from various sources on a regular basis. Stay relevant Become knowledgeable as to how organizational goals might impact your job in the future. For example, learn about planned changes in service or product lines and how your role might support those endeavors.   Stay on track and obtain company   information that will not only help you stay on track personally, but make a positive organizational impact as well. We all hit plateaus in our careers but what we make of those obstacles is what really defines our work lives. Dr. Marla Gottschalk is a Workplace Psychologist. Find her on Twitter and Linkedin.

Studying Abroad Going to Grad School Across the Pond

Studying Abroad Going to Grad School Across the Pond Have you ever thought of studying abroad?   I studied abroad for a semester in college in Madrid, Spain and it was the best time of my life.   I have enjoyed reading about Megans studying abroad   at Across the Pond and I asked her to share what she has learned and  the  differences  she  found while studying in another country.   Thanks Megan!  Hey Classy Career Girls! I am Megan, from Across The Pond. Nice to meet you. I am a born and bread southern California girl living in England Doing postgraduate work with my husband for a year. Specifically, I am getting my MSc in :::deep breath::: cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging ::and exhale::: My husband is getting his LLM (Masters) in human rights law. And with our powers combined. we will take over the world. Or get a lot of puppies. just kidding. Kind of. Deciding to pack up our lives and move to another country was not the easiest decision. Especially for a homebody like myself. It took a year of researching, applying, filling out paperwork, financial decision making, and eventually, we landed in England. And then i realized I had to WALK from our house to the University (a 20 minute walk) and I cried. I know what youre thinking. Why didnt i just pack up my stuff and head back to California? Well friends, let me tell you. I am not a quitter. and my husband would not letting me get on a plane back home.. whatever. However, after being 6 months into our journey abroad, and must admit, It is the best decision we have ever made. And I highly recommend anyone and everyone make time to spend a year in another country. I get to study with people from all over the world. And I get to do my research under some of the most brilliant minds. So this post doesnt get too long, I have compiled a list of the things I have learned and the differences I have found studying and researching in another country. 1. public transportation is not my friend. 2. I am not emotionally stable enough to handle 4 months of cold, dark, weather. 3. British students are much smarter then me 4. Education is dirt cheap, even for an international student. (an incentive for my husband and I to study abroad) 5. cost of living can be even cheaper depending on where you live (we have a three bedroom house for the cost of a box on the side of the road in so-cal) 6. Food in the states is the best. hands down. 7. Our dollar is weak. 8. Flowers are much prettier here. 9. I appreciate the sun so much more 10. I have officially learned how to use my legs. 11. I now know how to use EEG,MEG, and fMRI machines. 12. Blogging saved my life 13. Skype is essential 14. travel,travel,travel. Inter-European travel is CHEAP. take advantage 15. Learn to accept and appreciate cultural differences. 16. Cider is good. 17. The University Campus is glorious. You can not beat European Architecture. 18. choose a university that is internationally renowned and recognized 19. You do not need more then one winter coat. 20. learn to layerLast, work hard, study hard, but dont forget to LIVE. Take vacations. take breaks. and immerse yourself in the culture. If you want to learn more about our life here, my research, or the daily randoms come visit me across the pond. ??

How To Deal With Aches And Pains When Youre Busy

How To Deal With Aches And Pains When You’re Busy Busy business women know that pains can creep up at any time, but you have to do what you can to keep working through them. If you let pain get in the way you could lose money, lose a contract, or lose days of work/research. That’s why it is important to know how to avoid aches and pains, and how to quickly deal with them when they do creep up on you. Your pains could come on from working too hard, working out too hard after work, or any other number of injuries or causes. One important thing to do is to keep a first aid kit in your desk and in your vehicle at all times, that contains things like hot/cold pads for pain relief, Ibuprofen or another painkiller/fever reducer, and some ace bandages. Here are some other things you want to have or do for quick pain relief.  Use The Right Pain Relief  One of the most important steps in pain relief is to know what will help the pain you’re in. If your carpal tunnel is acting up too much from typing putting on a wrist brace may help more than popping some pills. However, if you’ve overdone it and a migraine is coming on, you will want to go to the pills first and see if you can stave it off. For some pains, internal relief will be better, and for others, you’ll want external relief. It also helps to know what’s causing your pain and dealing with the cause first. Practice Good Posture  One cause of pain for many busy business women is bad posture. If you’re sitting hunched over a desk eight hours a day youre bound to get plenty of neck and back pain. Before you start living on a cocktail of painkillers, consider working on your posture. Start doing yoga on a daily basis. Visit a chiropractor on a regular schedule. Also, invest in a more ergonomic chair and/or desk, meant to help with bettering your posture.  Get Up And Move  Staying more active can help you deal with pain, and sometimes even avoid it all together. Yoga is a great workout for people wanting to get more balanced and get better posture, but it also keeps you stretched out so you get less pain. If you sit a lot for work, take some time to get up and get moving every hour or so. It will help get the blood flowing again and get rid of the aches from sitting so much. Do some stretches as well. This can help loosen tight muscles. Pain doesn’t have to be a normal part of your workday. Do what you can to avoid it and you’ll find yourself happier and more productive.

Writing a Peace Corps Resume - Creating a Successful Resume

Writing a Peace Corps Resume - Creating a Successful ResumeWriting a Peace Corps resumes is just as important as writing one for a current volunteer. They will be given the same type of information. However, in order to create a successful resume the same goals and requirements will apply.It's important to have a separate section dedicated to volunteer work. The volunteer section should include all volunteer related information, such as names, occupations, and supervisor. It's also a good idea to include the purpose of the resume in this section.The next section should focus on career goals. If you are seeking volunteer work and not stationed overseas, then your career goals should include job openings abroad. You should list your past jobs, their locations, and anything else that may be of interest to your potential employer.Career goals are a good place to start when it comes to creating a resume. In order to create a successful resume you need to have something specific in mind. C areer goals are more difficult to incorporate into a regular resume but are a very powerful tool when it comes to filling out a peace corps resume. It's important to include these details in order to demonstrate your desire to get employment abroad.Education level is another very important part of your resume. If you are going to be stationed overseas, you need to know how to function within the community. In order to do this you must have a college degree. Some people are able to obtain this easily without having to attend college but if you plan on doing this then it's important to include this detail. Just as it's important to have education you must have an education level.Writing a Peace Corps resumes should include any field work experience. While some resumes will have a job description included with it you must also make a note of any field work experience that you have done while trying to gain employment. This can be very helpful when it comes to hiring new volunteers or t hose looking to go back to school.Finally, college loans can be a concern for most people. However, they shouldn't be completely ignored. When applying for a Peace Corps job you must be honest about your credit and debt status.Your resumes doesn't have to be complex in order to be effective. You just need to know what to put in it. Use the basic information provided in the sample resumes to create your own resume.

Summary Sunday Job Search Hot Topics

Summary Sunday Job Search Hot Topics Get up to speed on the subtleties of job search! If you havent had to look for a job in awhile or this is your first search post grad, these articles cover hot topics you should master!   Each week I share hundreds of articles across social media written by talented, in-the-know experts! I share the best of the best here on Sunday. I highly recommend you follow the authors of these articles so you can have your finger on the pulse of all things job search and career related! From general job search help to networking- how you communicate your value to future employers is the most important thing you can work on. These articles should help you do that! JOB SEARCH 5 Ways Employers Prefer to Hire by Bob McIntosh | Recruiter.com Practical and applicable information to improve how you conduct your job search! NETWORKING 3 Steps to a Perfect Informational Interview by Lily Zhang | The Muse This lays out the steps you need to take  (and sample questions you can ask) to conduct an informational interview (though I prefer to call it an informational meeting). COMMUNICATION Email Best Practices: How to Make a Great First Impression with Employers by Simply Hired | YouTern You will be communicating with potential employers a lot during your job search. Do not overlook how important this is. You can turn off someone quite easily. Follow these guidelines to avoid costly mistakes! Job Seeker Must Have â€" An Email Signature Block by Donna Svei | Avid Careerist What, you dont have an email signature for your personal email? You are missing one of the best opportunities to promote yourself! Read this immediately! 6 Ways To Create Infographics That Get Results by Donna Moritz | Socially Sorted If you want to learn more about infographics, this post is for you! Written for businesses, it absolutely applies to job seekers that are serious about marketing themselves. Consider using an infographic to highlight your career achievements! Post it to Pinterest, embed it in your LinkedIn summary and share it during networking meetings! SOCIAL MEDIA Avoid These 3 Self-Sabotaging Social Media Mistakes by Meg Guiseppi | Executive Career Brand More recruiters use social media to evaluate candidates EVERY DAY! Follow this advice to prevent early elimination!

Business - New school - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Business - New school - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog David Heinemeier Hansson is one of the hottest names in IT right now. Hes been developing something called Ruby on Rails, which is a tool for developing web applications. Now Denmark has become too small for David, and hes left for Chicago, better to work with his compatriots at 37signals, one of the most admired software shops right now. The evening before he left, he gave a presentation in Copenhagen to a small crowd of techies, bloggers, business people and others. I was there and I was blown away by this guy. Not only is he a good developer, he also has an amazing sense for how a business can also be designed. And hes 26 years old. Interestingly, his software design principles are the same as his business design principles, making his philosophy consistent and credible. Here are the main points I took away from his presentation: Solve the next problem Whether youre working on software or building a business, this means that you should tackle the issues that matter right now. Dont solve the problems you think will appear in 6 months they probably wont, you see. Solve the next problem, and then the next. In six months time, you will have plenty of stuff to work on, but it wont be what you thought six months ago. Solve your own problems When you work on something that you yourself need, youre much more efficient. Rather than working on something that some remote client will use, attack issues that are important to you. Do as little as possible or slightly less The complexity of any system does not grow proportianl to the size of the system it grows exponentially. Making a system twice as large makes it waaay more that twise as complex. Therefore, make your system as simple as possible, or maybe even a little simpler. And if I may be allowed to brag for a moment here: This is exactly how we work on the Happy At Work Project. Here are a few of our maxims, that I might add: Try stuff Rather than analyzing a given choice to death, make a quick decision and try it out. If it doesnt work, try something else. Relax Itll all work out. Dont beat yourself up and dont work too hard. Take plenty of breaks and do lots of different stuff to stimulate your mind. The best of luck to David in Chicago Im sure hell do famously. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related