How Music Can Help You Be More Productive - Focus

How Music Can Help You Be More Productive - Focus Remaining productive throughout the day is a challenge most of us face whether we’re at work, at home, or at the gym. It’s natural for our attention to wane, especially when we’re feeling tired from our day’s events. Thankfully, there are ways to regain our focus and increase productivity levels, like coffee, meditation, and, as you may already be aware, music. I can’t count how many times hearing a favorite song of mine on the radio has perked me up when I’ve been driving long distances or doing some housework. The fact that listening to music can lead to a release of dopamine in our system probably comes as a surprise to no-one, and has been backed up by research  a long time ago.   But music is also great for more mentally demanding tasks  such as writing. It  excites a variety of different areas of the brain, therefore leading to an increased attention span and, if used correctly, focus. You just need to match the right type of music with the task at hand.   Choosing the Right Music for the Task Choosing the right music may be more challenging than you think. It’s natural for us to want to listen to our favorite songs or favorite styles, but it’s important to make sure you choose music that will increase your focus on the task at hand, rather than distract you. The right music for you will depend on the kind of task you’re working on.   1. Tasks that Require a Lot of Focus For tasks that require a lot of concentration, instrumental music is the way to go.  One study found that studying with background music led to better memory results on a cognitive task than with background noise. Therefore, you might want to consider putting your earbuds in if you’re planning on studying in a coffee shop. In contrast, music with catchy lyrics may end up distracting you from your work since you’ll be tempted to sing along with them. Just  think of catchy favorites like “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond. Most of us find it difficult not to sing that unforgettable chorus. This is why instrumental music might work to your advantage. Without lyrics, you won’t be tempted to stop what you’re doing to sing along. One of my favorite instrumental artists is Ludovico Einaudi. Einaudi’s pieces  are  pleasant to listen to but also make for fantastic background music. You can hear his  popular piece “Nuvole Bianche” here. Alternatively, check out this 3-hour playlist with classical study music. If you’re more interested in listening to instrumental covers of mainstream pop music, I highly recommend  The Piano Guys. This cover duo has produced great tracks of popular songs by artists like Adele, One Direction, and One Republic. You can check out their cover of “Hello” here. 2. Tasks that Require Physical Energy If you’re trying to complete a task that requires  physical energy rather than mental focus, you won’t need to stick to instrumental music (although it might work in this setting, too). Menial tasks such as vacuuming, for instance, require very little thought, so you can blast all the Taylor Swift you want without worrying that your ability to perform well will be affected by the music.   Physical tasks call for upbeat music with a quick tempo and energizing lyrics. This kind of music will wake you up and provide you with a good beat to match your movements. A study found that cyclists who listened to upbeat music not only worked harder  but actively  made the choice to work harder because they were more motivated. If you’re a fan of guitar music and you want to explore some upbeat songs, this list of 9 Must Know Guitar Songs is a great place to find inspiration for your playlist. Train Yourself to Associate Certain Music with Being Productive Have you ever heard of Pavlov’s dogs? At the turn of the twentieth century, Ivan Pavlov found that his dogs would not only salivate when they saw food but also when they saw the person who would be feeding them. The presence of food wasn’t necessary to trigger this response in the dogs. This meant the dogs weren’t just salivating because of the smell or sight of food, but because they learned to associate food with the person who fed them. This is called “classical conditioning.” Conditioning means we can train people or animals to react in a certain way when they see or hear a stimulus. In the case of Pavlov’s dogs, the conditioned stimulus was the person the dogs associated with food. You can use the concept of conditioning to train yourself to be more productive through music, by conditioning  yourself to associate either a certain song, a certain style of music, or a certain playlist with productivity. If you consistently complete tasks while  this music is being played, you’ll automatically start  to feel more productive whenever that music is played. It will become so habitual that when you press that play button, things get done. In Sum Hopefully, these tips will increase your productivity. Next time you’re feeling unmotivated, try turning on a song or a piece of music that will complement whatever it is that you’re doing. If you need a lot of mental focus, stay  away from loud, upbeat songs that you just can’t resist singing along to. If you’re looking to become more productive with physical tasks that don’t require a lot of mental effort, energizing  lyrical songs will work well. Set a goal for yourself, flip on music that suits your needs and get working. You’ll be finished in no time. You can read more from Natalie on her blog Musical Advisors,  or get in touch with her at  [emailprotected].   Get Productive with Visual Task Management Try MeisterTask its free Try MeisterTask How Music Can Help You Be More Productive - Focus Remaining productive throughout the day is a challenge most of us face whether we’re at work, at home, or at the gym. It’s natural for our attention to wane, especially when we’re feeling tired from our day’s events. Thankfully, there are ways to regain our focus and increase productivity levels, like coffee, meditation, and, as you may already be aware, music. I can’t count how many times hearing a favorite song of mine on the radio has perked me up when I’ve been driving long distances or doing some housework. The fact that listening to music can lead to a release of dopamine in our system probably comes as a surprise to no-one, and has been backed up by research  a long time ago.   But music is also great for more mentally demanding tasks  such as writing. It  excites a variety of different areas of the brain, therefore leading to an increased attention span and, if used correctly, focus. You just need to match the right type of music with the task at hand.   Choosing the Right Music for the Task Choosing the right music may be more challenging than you think. It’s natural for us to want to listen to our favorite songs or favorite styles, but it’s important to make sure you choose music that will increase your focus on the task at hand, rather than distract you. The right music for you will depend on the kind of task you’re working on.   1. Tasks that Require a Lot of Focus For tasks that require a lot of concentration, instrumental music is the way to go.  One study found that studying with background music led to better memory results on a cognitive task than with background noise. Therefore, you might want to consider putting your earbuds in if you’re planning on studying in a coffee shop. In contrast, music with catchy lyrics may end up distracting you from your work since you’ll be tempted to sing along with them. Just  think of catchy favorites like “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond. Most of us find it difficult not to sing that unforgettable chorus. This is why instrumental music might work to your advantage. Without lyrics, you won’t be tempted to stop what you’re doing to sing along. One of my favorite instrumental artists is Ludovico Einaudi. Einaudi’s pieces  are  pleasant to listen to but also make for fantastic background music. You can hear his  popular piece “Nuvole Bianche” here. Alternatively, check out this 3-hour playlist with classical study music. If you’re more interested in listening to instrumental covers of mainstream pop music, I highly recommend  The Piano Guys. This cover duo has produced great tracks of popular songs by artists like Adele, One Direction, and One Republic. You can check out their cover of “Hello” here. 2. Tasks that Require Physical Energy If you’re trying to complete a task that requires  physical energy rather than mental focus, you won’t need to stick to instrumental music (although it might work in this setting, too). Menial tasks such as vacuuming, for instance, require very little thought, so you can blast all the Taylor Swift you want without worrying that your ability to perform well will be affected by the music.   Physical tasks call for upbeat music with a quick tempo and energizing lyrics. This kind of music will wake you up and provide you with a good beat to match your movements. A study found that cyclists who listened to upbeat music not only worked harder  but actively  made the choice to work harder because they were more motivated. If you’re a fan of guitar music and you want to explore some upbeat songs, this list of 9 Must Know Guitar Songs is a great place to find inspiration for your playlist. Train Yourself to Associate Certain Music with Being Productive Have you ever heard of Pavlov’s dogs? At the turn of the twentieth century, Ivan Pavlov found that his dogs would not only salivate when they saw food but also when they saw the person who would be feeding them. The presence of food wasn’t necessary to trigger this response in the dogs. This meant the dogs weren’t just salivating because of the smell or sight of food, but because they learned to associate food with the person who fed them. This is called “classical conditioning.” Conditioning means we can train people or animals to react in a certain way when they see or hear a stimulus. In the case of Pavlov’s dogs, the conditioned stimulus was the person the dogs associated with food. You can use the concept of conditioning to train yourself to be more productive through music, by conditioning  yourself to associate either a certain song, a certain style of music, or a certain playlist with productivity. If you consistently complete tasks while  this music is being played, you’ll automatically start  to feel more productive whenever that music is played. It will become so habitual that when you press that play button, things get done. In Sum Hopefully, these tips will increase your productivity. Next time you’re feeling unmotivated, try turning on a song or a piece of music that will complement whatever it is that you’re doing. If you need a lot of mental focus, stay  away from loud, upbeat songs that you just can’t resist singing along to. If you’re looking to become more productive with physical tasks that don’t require a lot of mental effort, energizing  lyrical songs will work well. Set a goal for yourself, flip on music that suits your needs and get working. You’ll be finished in no time. You can read more from Natalie on her blog Musical Advisors,  or get in touch with her at  [emailprotected].   Get Productive with Visual Task Management Try MeisterTask its free Try MeisterTask

A Good Man Is Hard For Find By Flannery O Connor And...

During a journey a person will come across a crisis or it will be an escape from a struggle or an external conflict. In the two short stories, â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard To Find† by Flannery O’Connor and â€Å"Women Hollering Creek† by Sandra Cisneros, the protagonists are faced with similar crisis of limitations. On the contrary, â€Å"The Swimmer† by John Cheever describes the protagonist to be someone that has no limitations, which led him to abuse his freedom. Although these three tales show differences they do show a similarity in their ignorance. These two female authors focus on the role women set into a sexist environment where they are not seen as equal upon the male figures. However, the only male protagonist, fictionalized by Cheever, is not faced with the same complications as the female characters. As these protagonist face their problems, begin to realize their fate and their place in the world. The plot of the journey is a crisis for both the main characters of â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find,† the grandmother and â€Å"Woman Hollering Creek,† Cleofilas. In contrast to â€Å"The Swimmer† Neddy Merrill that tries to escape from the trauma of his reality. The grandmother uses her lies to manipulate her grandchildren into pestering their father, her son, into going to a house she had memories of. While on the off road adventure to this house the pet they owned had a panic attack and caused the disorientation of the driver, the son, which lead to a car accident. The accident leads to the

The Filipino Culture - 1675 Words

1. Which specific people and what specific circumstances have influenced my culture? The Filipino culture has been mainly influenced by the Spanish control in the 1800’s. With the Spaniards exerting control over the Philippines, their religious customs, clothing, and food were influenced by Spanish customs. Furthermore, the U.S supporting the Philippines in WWI and WWII caused the relationship of the two to bond both cultures together. Overtime, my culture has now become a combination of Spanish, Filipino, and American Cultures. 2. What is valuable to me? In my culture, the most valuable thing to me is my family relationship. I value our relationship the most because it’s existence is something that lasts longer than anything else. Without our relationship, I wouldn’t have succeeded anywhere in life because the support and love they’ve given me has always encouraged me to keep going. Our family relationship is also what keeps my family together, happy, and joyful. 3. What has shaped my choices and decisions? The main thing that has shaped my choices and decisions is probably my family. Most of my preferences and likings emerged from what they experienced growing up. My family has also been there to give me advice about my choices in life, expecting me to make the right decision in the future. Their constant aid and consultation have influenced me in my belief and opinion on the choices I make. 4. What are my goals? My goals in life are to be rich and successful as aShow MoreRelatedFilipino Culture4006 Words   |  17 PagesPhilippine and Filipino brief history of the life and times of the Filipino people in the Philippines. The values of Filipino culture have changed through emigration and immigration, as well as religiosity and spirituality, and because of coexisting and sometimes conflicting values . Details are given outlining the global Filipino diaspora in the 21st-century and highlights its impact on the social and religious conditions of the people. An interview with a native born Filipinos young womanRead MoreA Look Into Filipino Culture896 Words   |  4 PagesA look into Filipino culture Filipino culture is a mix of east and western perspectives and is heavily rooted in Christianity. The diversity of its people coupled with their ability to adapt and tolerate new ideas has created a fusion of traditional and modern. Filipinos pride themselves in their Sociability, religious belief, and Family oriented lifestyle. Social Aspects Filipino culture focuses heavily on social interaction and although many Filipinos are aware of western social norms and areRead MoreThe Spanish And The Filipino Culture Essay1280 Words   |  6 Pagesnamed the Philippines in honor of King Philip II of Spain. A majority of the Filipino history is accounted for by the three hundred and fifty years these islands were placed in the hands of the Spanish. To this day the Spanish presence could be seen through the Filipino customs, cultural norms, and traditions. Although the Spanish left a great mark on the Filipino culture, it is among other nations that the Filipino culture was subjected to. Out of the 48 nations in Asia, the Philippines is one ofRead MoreA Brief Note On The And Filipino Culture977 Words   |  4 PagesIn order for nurses to provide equal and effective healthcare, they must be culturally competent. Nursing requires constant learning, and understanding a person’s culture can give insight to what is causing a problem, what is hindering healing or procedures, and the best way to treat each patient. Saudi Arabians live by a â€Å"guardianship† system. This system requires that the woman seeks the man’s permission before going about her daily activities, leaving the house, or leaving the country (WhitsonRead MoreRelationships And Respect : The Filipino Culture1625 Words   |  7 PagesRELATIONSHIPS AND RESPECT The Filipino culture is less group-oriented in comparison to other Asian countries. Younger Filipinos recognize individuality but still strives to conform to group norms to maintain harmony. Most Filipinos emphasize the importance of establishing lasting and trustworthy relationships prior to the actual negotiation process and agreement. Typically, Filipinos only do business with people they like and this involves getting to know some personal details (non-intrusive) fromRead MoreThe Filipino Culture And Health Care1193 Words   |  5 Pagesdiscrepancy, a gap, or an inconsistency. Within individual cultures, there are health disparities, or specific differences of a population in the existence of health outcomes, disease, health care access, and value of health care services existing across ethnic and racial groups. Disparities can stand for ineffectiveness within the system of health care and thus accounting for unnecessary costs. (Douglas and Paquiao, 2010) The Filipino culture h as numerous factors leading to insufficient access to careRead MoreThe Filipino Culture And Business Practices3384 Words   |  14 Pagesexplore the country’s complex history. Knowing the Philippines’ history will set the stage in understanding the Filipino culture, which heavily transpires through the country’s business culture. Also, collectivistic values such as putting family first, respecting authority and elders, and cherishing group harmony will be discussed. These cultural values dominate the Filipino culture and business practices. Hospitality in the Philippines is second to none. They are extremely social, welcomingRead MoreCultural Influences Of The Filipino Culture1375 Words   |  6 PagesCulture The Filipino culture has a variety of cultural influences. Most of their cultural influneces come from past colonizations of Ameirca and Spain.In spite of all the influences, the older Asian culture of the Filipinos has been kept and is clearly seen in their way of life. The Filipino culture has become very evident and has largely been appreciated in many parts of the world. Filipinos are very passionate of their music. They use a variety of materials to create sound. They also enjoyRead MoreFilipino Mental Health Culture Paper1396 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction â€Å"Culture comprises of shared beliefs values, and practices that guide a group’s members in patterned ways of thinking and acting. Culture can also be viewed as a blueprint for guiding actions that impact care, health, and well-being† (Leininger McFarland, 2006). â€Å"Culture is more than ethnicity and social norms; it includes religious, geographic, socio-economic, occupational, ability-or disability-related, and sexual orientation-related beliefs and behaviors. Each group has culturalRead MoreThe Filipino Culture And Jeepney s History1845 Words   |  8 Pages My culture in an object of choice is a Jeepney alias â€Å"King of The Road†, considered one of the most affordable and popular public transportation in the Philippines, it has become an ubiquitous symbol of the Filipino culture due to its essence and nature. Just like Paris having the Eiffel Tower, New York having the Statue Of Liberty as monumental trademarks, Philippines’ trademark i s the Jeepney. Being from the Philippines myself, Jeepneys showcases the qualities Filipino people are known for: hospitality

My Career Goal Free Essays

When I was a child and people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always had an answer. That answer changed significantly as time went on, and right now it would be IT programmer if somebody asks me again. That’s my main goal right now and I know I still have a long way ahead of me. We will write a custom essay sample on My Career Goal or any similar topic only for you Order Now But I realized that in order to achieve that long term goal I should have few small and short term goals each year and accomplish them one by one like small ladder steps toward my main goal. So I came up with this year’s goal that is getting me a new laptop and enrolling to new advance classes in my career. My first goal this year is getting a new laptop. Like I said my main goal is to be IT programmer, so of course I need a better laptop like the one I have right now and good laptop aren’t cheap. The one I like is nearly 2500 dollars. Even though I’ve been cutting all other interests like going out, shopping and been working on weekends and my day offs on my half time right now, I’m still haven’t come up with enough money for my laptop yet. So I have to look for a full time job in summer to come up with that money. Luckily, I have a friend who promised to take me in her store as a fulltime technician for the whole summer. So hopefully by the end of summer I will have enough money to afford my new laptop, or even have some money left so I won’t be completely broke after that. So after I reach my first goal then I can be able to move forward to my second one this year that is enrolling to new advanced classes for my career. Although some programmers may qualify for certain jobs with 2-year degrees or certificates, but like we all know the economy is going bad right now so employers will be more picky as they choose for applicants. So I think it would be more advantage for me if I have more advance and wider programming knowledge required for my career. So this semester I’ll try to get the best grades I can then coming next semester I’ll be able to enroll in IT programming classes such as C++, Java or may be even code writing classes. That will give me more time to learn and master those required skills for my future career. Planning for our futures is very important even if those plans may change. But I think we should stick to those plans we have in order to achieve the main goal. Set the times to achieve your goal, but you should be beginning now. So, I will keep my goal in my mind and built it up in this year. How to cite My Career Goal, Essay examples

The Elephant Man A Critical Analysis Essay Sample free essay sample

From the originative point of position of an audience. so Bernard Pomerance has succeeded in conveying out the true beauty of the imagination in the bookThe Elephant Man( Pomerance. 1979 ) . In the first topographic point. there is the strong sense of expectancy as Pomerance does non let his audience to glimpse Merrick sans mask until his visual aspect has been built up well. With this anticipation. Pomerance has nevertheless brought the audience to a no-dramatic-music. no-slow-motion landscape but a simple cut-to-cut until an up-front sight of the elephant adult male. No large trade as it has appeared to a certain consequence. But aesthetically. it was the effortless reading of beauty – petroleum yet honest to world. This is the beauty of Pomerance’s literary way. We are led through our morbid wonder at the same rate the characters in the book are. We develop aboard them. More specifically. we develop aboard Frederick Treeves. We will write a custom essay sample on The Elephant Man: A Critical Analysis Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page played with an amazing sublimity of emotion by Anthony Hopkins in its large screen version. Following to Treeves we pity Merrick. regard him. commiseration him once more. and so inquire ourselves with him. â€Å"Is he merely a spectacle to me? Am I a bad individual? † ( Pomerance. 1979 ) . Visuals are as of import to the over all quality of a book as the secret plan and word picture. The manner a book is presented is one of the cardinal elements that make it a authoritative or so. a floating-point operation. And the book’s movie version is stupefying. In sharp black and white. the movie recalls the cinematic technique of American film circa the 1930’s. Gorgeous black and white filming gives this topic the category it deserves. The scenes dissolve into one another ; there is no alert redaction. The lighting is unbroken subdued during dark scenes. balanced during daytime scenes-this is standard book-making of the epoch. A fantastic mark by John Morris helps give it a stalking beauty and lets the encephalon focal point more on sound than sight. The one aside from this signifier are the clearly Pomeranceian surrealities-pseudo-dream-sequences of commendably original imagination that break up the book and service as distinguishable mood-setters for the audienc e ( Pomerance. 1979 ) . Bernard Pomerance’s portrayal of Victorian society. in the bookThe Elephant Man. is both powerful and affecting ( Logan. 2001 ) . The book is deeply different in executing. Bernard Pomerance seems less concerned with undertaking the Victorian quandary than concentrating on the beauty in the animal subject ( Goodlad. 2003 ) . Sing Pomerance’s captivation with organic phenomena this focal point seems much more up his back street ( Himmelfarb. 1993 ) . Not to advert that the film version elicits outstanding public presentations from all the dramatis personae and succeeds in bring forthing a deeply humanist piece of film. Furthermore. the book besides embarks upon the defeats of Merrick every bit good as the remainder of theaesthetically challengedpeople’s â€Å"unique beauty† and favoritism crises.The Elephant Manis beyond doubt a superb mind’s merchandise every bit much as a defeated heart’s ideas ( Faville White. 2000 ) . It is particularly an exceptionally cherished and cosy literature. Any reader can decidedly experience a package of the John Merrick’s deepest ordeal of as he started to give grounds to his universe that is transforming from a timid â€Å"creature† to a cared for human being ( Andrews. 2007 ) . Merricks’ individuality was fragmented and sheathed in an individuality merely associatory with a mercenary society’s prejudices and physical penchant. Even if he wanted to make out to the laypeople. people would maintain him and force him to remain behind ( Faville White. 2000 ) . While the first few chapters are talking for the horrid persons in general. the latter dives deeper into a more personal degree of the literature ; it is bit by bit sketching the psyche that is no less than John Merrick himself ( Andrews. 2007 ) . Finally. the thoughts of ego and echt humanitarianism morning upon Merrick. which renders his a testament to the resilient beauty of any human being.The Elephant Mannowadayss an expose of beauty that is both precise and internally disking. This exactness of The Elephant Man’s life’s similitude of world together with the author’s distinct enunciation present a cruel world in which physically different people grow ineluctably ( Pomerance. 1979 ) . John Merrick has been associated with decreased liquors. lower efficiency and a greater chance to see awful emphasis and nonappearance in the major activities in their community. As he goes through favoritism. he sometimes speaks of holding feeling of timidness or letdown and lowered degrees of self-pride ( Davis. 1995 ) . As he senses that his individuality and animalism are non cherished. he besides lives through lowered degrees of assurance and self-respect and believe that he has are non welcome in their vicinity and at big. in the society. This mentality has brought about Merrick’s feeling of denouncement of his ain values and an ensuing loss of individualism ( Andrews. 2007 ) . The agreement of the literature’s secret plan points is composed of a scope of forces placed in such a manner that they would works a possible clang and give an explosive final payment towards the terminal. and its karyon is made up of an expounding of the battles between these obliging events. As it portrays persons within tremendous. remorseless scenery. this work of fiction topographic points really extreme religion in the installation of persons to assume good religion with unsightly. abhorrent persons as Merrick ( Pomerance. 1979 ) . John Merrick expresses his religion in ultimate felicity. which rests non on personal satisfaction. victory or even physical beauty. but to a certain extent in the subordination of the ego to something wide-ranging. Although love found in friendly relationship has some type of value. it is non the head good for which worlds should take. It must be sound relationships ( Pomerance. 1979 ) . Like what Merrick did in eventually happening his dignity. the modern Merricks today have to reserve for themselves no option to turn against the society. The more of import cogent evidence of energy is the unchanged truth profoundly entrenched in the society that aesthetically challenged people are worthier than of all time with or without the physical yardstick of the societal order. Peoples with disablements by no agencies have neer of all time taken their shoulder off from those who seek it and pour their cryings to ( Davis. 1995 ) . It is so. the affectional view of the book that brings in the greatest signifier of aestheticism any socially perceptive book could hold. The story-telling was all right but Pomerance has it better with the executing ; with the word picture of beauty from the minority’s point of position. observing that this minority sees no monsters or non-monsters in the truest aesthetic sense. To see person so beautiful. dignified. and alone. hidden behind a organic structure and face that society considers ugly. could do us recognize how the organic structure is a disintegrating heap of dust. but the psyche is a breath-taking and unambiguously formed indestructible treasure. Giving an unusual sense of aestheticism.The Elephant Manshows that the true monsters aren’t those with disfigured organic structures. but those with disfigured psyches ( Pomerance. 1979 ) .The Elephant Manis merely one of those rare books which give one penetration into the human status. at its ugliest and most beautiful. Plants Cited Andrews. R. McCants. John Merrick: A Biographical Sketch. New York: Kessinger. 2007. Davis. Lennard. Enforcing Normality: Disability. Deafness. and the Body. New York: Verso. 1995. Faville White. Bowen. Why Normal Isn’t Healthy: How to Find Heart. Meaning. Passion. and Humor on the Road Most Traveled. Center City: Hazelden. 2000. Goodlad. Lauren. Victorian Literature and the Victorian State: Fictional character and Governance in a Broad Society. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press. 2003. Himmelfarb. Gertrude. The De-moralization Of Society: From Victorian Virtues to Modern Values. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. Inc. . 1993. Logan. Thad. The Victorian Parlor: A Cultural Study. New York: Cambridge University Press. 2001. Pomerance. Bernard. The Elephant Man. New York: Grove Press. 1979.

The Ultimate 4 Step Guide to Changing Careers

The Ultimate 4 Step Guide to Changing Careers Choosing a career is a tough thing- and a lifelong process. You might pick a job early, just out of school or based on your interests as a 20-something. It would be great if that were a direct path to your retirement decades later, after years of building a fulfilling career from that initial decision. But not every career path is quite that straightforward. You might wake up after 10 years and think, â€Å"I really don’t want to be a widget coordinator anymore.† Or maybe you’ve been laid off, and realize that hmm, you weren’t all that happy in your career even before the fact. Whatever leads to that revelation, you should embrace it as an opportunity when it comes.  If you are thinking about making a career change, here are the 4 steps you can take to make it a reality: Step 1.   Figure out what do you really want to be doing.Step 2.   What does the roadmap look like?Step 3.   Updating Your ResumeStep 4.   Build (and then work) your network  I f you’re thinking about changing your career, you’re in in good company. There are very few hard stats on how many people do change careers midstream- the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t keep data on career changers, mostly because the data is so unclear  and not really tracked anywhere- but we do know that some very famous people only achieved those heights only after they pulled the trigger on a career change.Did you know that:Walt Disney was originally a newspaper editor?Actor Harrison Ford was a carpenter before his first big movie role?Uber-chef Julia Child was a bureaucrat and spy for the U.S. government during World War II, before she mastered French cuisine?Actor Steve Buscemi was a New York City firefighter?Pope Francis was a chemical technician before joining the priesthood? One thing these people all have in common (aside from amazing success) is that they each made a career decision based on the difference between what they were doing, and what they wanted to do with their lives. This isn’t to say that everyone should drop a stable, bill-paying job in order to pursue that dream of opening a puppet theater. However, if you think that changing careers is the best next step for you and your goals, then there are ways to make the jump in a smart and practical way.Step 1: What do you want to be doing?The best thing you can do up front is to start thinking about what it is you really want to do. According to a Deloitte Shift Index survey in 2010 (which tracked workplace trends), a staggering 80% of respondents lacked passion at their jobs. That’s a lot of disengaged people, or people at risk of checking out. Still, it’s not enough to feel vaguely unhappy at your current job, or on your current path. You need a plan for finding what it is you would be passionate about doing as a career.80% of respondents lacked passion at their jobsIn the following Tedx Talk, career coach Scott Dinsmore offers some advic e on how to transition that dissatisfaction or malaise into real and lasting personal change. He recommends doing some soul searching on the following questions:What are your strengths? What are you good at doing? What would you do even if no one paid you?What are your values? Are you driven by people (family, friends)? Are you most concerned with success and achievement? How do those factor into your decision, and what is your â€Å"soul† made of?What are your experiences? What do you like, or dislike? What are you good at or bad at doing? What have your experiences told you about what you want, and what experiences inspire you? You have years of experiences, as well as successes and mistakes, which form a baseline of expectations. Together, these factors can be pulled together to help you figure out what you want those successes to look like in the future, and what kinds of jobs would help you get there.Step 2: What does the roadmap look like?Changing careers is a process. At an early point in said process, you can’t really predict the outcome. But you can definitely map out your expectations, and the likely steps it will take to get there.For example, take a look at this  career change roadmap:Step 3: Update your resume.This means updating your resume and your cover letter to align with your revised career goals. Many job hunters make the easy mistake of assuming that their same old resume will do, and that hiring managers will connect the dots on skills and experience. Don’t let that be you! Take the initiative to rebuild your resume for your soon-to-be new career. On your resume, you have a bit of an added challenge, compared to another candidate who has more industry experience, so you need to craft your resume 2.0 to reflect that reality.If you have a lot of skills that will be transferable from your old career to the new job(s) for which you’re applying:Your best bet is likely a combination resume, where you craft the stan dard linear list of your jobs, but kick off the resume with a bulleted list of qualifications/skills. The bullet points in the work history section should, of course, emphasize the skills you want to play up in the qualifications summary. You might want to get your resume evaluated by  a professional resume expert  as well. (For more on how to write a great qualifications summary, visit Resume Genius.)Here’s an example:Qualifications SummaryLeadership:Leading marketing teams of 5+ people.Creativity:Designing and implementing ROI strategies aimed at streamlining marketing campaigns.Communication:Presenting marketing proposals to clients. Combination resumes can be great for covering up gaps in experiences or long lags between jobs, but keep in mind that the lack of specific dates and other details might raise a red flag with hiring managers or interviewers. Be prepared to speak to those in the interview, as well as emphasize the transferrable skills you have.If you are bas ically starting over, and want to downplay your work history:Work on drafting a functional resume, where you group your skills into headers and bullets.Here’s an example:Marketing ExperienceCreated brand-awareness social media campaigns for a national car rental company.Improved engagement and conversion rates for 3 straight years.If you’re concerned that your career change narrative won’t overcome the relative lack of experience: Write a resume that covers the standard skills and work history, but write a detailed cover letter that explains a) your passion for the industry you’re trying to break into; b) why your experience travels well into this new arena; and c) your strong motivation to start over, or find a foothold at this particular company. Your resume will still need to stand on its own, but you want to make sure the hiring manager is clear that you know your experience may not be extensive, but you have the skills and passion necessary for this job.Step 4: Build (and then work) your network.The best new resume in the world may not mean much if you can’t get it in front of the right people. Online application engines and emailed resumes have their place (and will likely do so for a long time to come), but one of the most effective ways to get noticed is also one of the oldest and lowest-tech: word of mouth. If you know someone in a company who can recommend you for an open position, it’s like getting a gold star on your resume. It may not get you an automatic job offer, but having an insider vouch for you could very well increase the odds of getting your application a closer look. Plus, seeking out people in your target industry can help you get a better handle on the industry itself, letting you ask questions and get information that might not be as readily available from internet searches.And don’t discount your existing network: you never know who knows someone else, especially in this age of LinkedI n. Don’t be afraid to put it out there that you’re looking to make connections in a new area. Use your social networks (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter) to find new connections or experts to follow. However, make sure you’re discreet about it if you’re not ready to announce your career change plans to your current employer. (Maybe don’t post a status update that says, â€Å"Hate my job, want to know more about alpaca farming. Anyone know any local animal farmers I can talk to?†)If you truly don’t have any overlap between your current network and your new industry, start with some basic research. Look for groups online related to your target job, and â€Å"listen† in on message boards or email lists for a while. This can also let you know about industry events, job openings, or networking opportunities that you might not know about otherwise.Whether your new career is on par with the carpenter-to-Han Solo transition, well, that rema ins to be seen. But if you know that you’re ready to commit to a jump (or at least commit to the idea of jumping), there’s no point in waiting until the time is right. Because you know what? That time may never come if you don’t make it happen yourself. But you can set yourself up so that there’s a time that feels comfortable for making the transition.

Implementing a Successful Tutoring Business Plan

Implementing a Successful Tutoring Business Plan So youve decided to start a tutoring business and youve already envisioned what you business will look like, who your potential clients will be, how much to charge, and where and when to schedule your tutoring sessions. Now Im ready to discuss how to handle the time in between your initial conversation with the client and the first tutoring session with your new student. Again, think Big Picture and think RESULTS. - What are your short- and long-term goals for this particular student? Why is his/her parent hiring you at this time? What results will the parent expect to see from their child? When parents send their children to public schools, they sometimes have lowered expectations because the education is free and the teachers have so many other students to work with. With tutoring, parents are shelling out hard-earned cash on a minute-by-minute basis and they want to see results. If they feel that you arent working productively with their child, you wont last long as their tutor and your reputation will suffer. Always keep that goal in mind before every session. Aim to make specific progress during each and every hour of tutoring. Facilitate an Initial Meeting. - If at all possible, Id recommend using your first session as a getting-to-know-you and goal-setting meeting with yourself, the student, and at least one of the parents.Take copious notes during this conversation. Here are some of the things you should discuss at this initial meeting:Clarify the parents expectations. Tell them a little about your lesson ideas and long-term strategies. Outline your invoicing and payment plans. Solicit tips for how best to work with the students strengths and weaknesses. Inquire about what strategies have worked in the past and also which ones havent worked. Ask if its OK to contact the students teacher for additional insight and progress reports. If it is, secure the contact information and follow-through at a later time. Ask for any materials that might be helpful for your sessions. Ensure that the session location will be quiet and conducive to studying. Let the parents know what you will require of them in order to maximize the effectiveness of your work. Clarify whether you should assign homework in addition to the homework the student will already have from regular school. Set Up the Ground Rules. - Just like in the regular classroom, students want to know where they stand with you and whats expected of them. Similar to the first day of school, discuss your rules and expectations, while letting the student know a little bit about you. Tell them how to handle their needs during the sessions, such as if they need a drink of water or to use the restroom. This is particularly important if you are tutoring in your own home, rather than the students, because the student is your guest and will likely be uncomfortable at first. Encourage the student to ask as many questions as he or she needs to. This is one of the main benefits of one-on-one tutoring, of course. Stay Focused and On Task Every Minute. - Time is money with tutoring. As you get rolling with the student, set the tone for productive meetings where every minute counts. Keep the conversation focused on the work at hand and hold the student tightly accountable for the quality of his/her work. Consider Implementing a Form of Parent-Tutor Communication. - The parents want to know what youre doing with the student each session and how it relates to the goals you set. Consider communicating with the parents on a weekly basis, perhaps through email. Alternatively, you can type up a little half-sheet form where you can write some informative notes and have the student bring it home to his/her parents after each session. The more you communicate, the more your clients will see you as on-the-ball and worth their financial investment. Set Up a Tracking and Invoicing System. - Carefully track each hour for each client. I keep a paper calendar where I daily write down my tutoring hours. I de cided to invoice on the 10th of each month. I acquired an invoice template through Microsoft Word and I send out my invoices over email. I request payment by check within 7 days of the invoice. Stay Organized and Youll Stay Productive. - Make a folder for each student where you will keep their contact information, as well as any notes about what youve already done with them, what you observe during your session, and what you plan to do in future sessions. That way, when your next session with that student approaches, youll have a shorthand for knowing where you left off and what comes next. Consider your cancellation policy. - Children are so busy today and so many families are mixed and extended and not living all under the same roof. This makes for complicated situations. Emphasize to the parents how important it is to attend each session on time and without too many cancellations or changes. I instituted a 24-hour cancellation policy where I reserve the right to charge the full hourly rate if a session is canceled on short notice. For reliable clients who rarely cancel, I might not exercise this right. For troublesome clients who always seem to have an excuse, I have th is policy in my back pocket. Use your best judgment, allow some leeway, and protect yourself and your schedule. Put Your Clients Contact Information in Your Cell Phone. - You never know when something will come up and you will need to contact a client. When youre working for yourself, you need to maintain control over your situation, your schedule, and any extenuating factors. Its your name and reputation that are on the line. Treat your tutoring business with seriousness and diligence and youll go far. If you decide that tutoring is for you, I wish you lots of luck and I hope all of these tips have been helpful to you!