7 tiny habits that will keep you moving in the right direction

7 tiny habits that will keep you moving in the right direction7 tiny habits that will keep you moving in the right directionPeople tend to forget the small stuff.They notice when big things happen - big life changes, big events, big promotions, big strides forward.And then completely miss the value all the tiny, positive habits provide on a day-to-day basis.Your life is not built out of homeruns.Your life is built on smallsteps.Here are 7 tiny things I do every day that are absolutely crucial to my development as a person.And I can tell you from experience that when I dont do them, things start to fall apart.1. Morning meditationI cannot stress this enough. (Get it stress.)Some people say I dont like to meditate or I just cant get into it.Look. There is extreme value in learning how to sit in silence for a few moments.Call it whatever you want.Personally I like to meditate after my morning shower so Im a bit more awake.You can sit for 510 minutes in silence and just listen - listen to the sounds around you, the heater, the whir of the fan, the besucherzahlen outside your window - and in this process, you will learn how to hear your true self.You will learn the difference between inward and outward landseeking, between always reaching for more and realizing that everything you need is right where you already are.This shift in being is monumental.Do it every day, and youll fundamentally change the way you operate in the real world.and then, if you stop doing it, watch how quickly that foundation starts to crumble.2. Eat a healthy breakfastIt doesnt matter if I have to wake up at 3 am for a 5 am flight, or if I have a 6 am meeting, or if Im camping in the woods and I have to wake up with the sunset to go hike for 15 miles, I always, every day, without fail, make time for a healthy breakfast.This meal is the foundation of your day.This is what sets the right things in motion.This is also another opportunity to get your head straight and in the zone for all that you have to set out to do today.Eat breakfast.(And if you dont have the time, then you have a much larger issue you need to address.)3. Make time to breatheI own my own company. Its called Digital Press.It doesnt take a brain surgeon to recognize the speed at which this industry operates. Im literally glued to my phone and/or laptop from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep.Which means, in order for me to maintain a sense of clarity, I have to force myself to step away.Once every 90 minutes or so, I get up and walk outside.I look up at the clouds.I take a few deep breaths.I do a check in to see where Im at (am I frustrated with a project? Am I thinking about something else? Am I feeling excited about something?) and then I decide where I should move to next.By the time I walk back inside, I know exactly what Im going to work on for the next 90 minutes. Lather, rinse, repeat.Some days, I only get to do this once.Some days, not at all.But setting it as a habit has helped m e see tasks differently, time differently, and to remember to stay aware while I work to maintain a sense of inner calm.Trust me, the people that do this well are the ones who do so much, you wonder how they ever sleep.Ill let you in on a little secret. They do sleep. They also rest a lot.And thats why theyre so successful.4. Get back into your bodyEntrepreneur or Corporate Cubicle Worker, we all sit and stare at screens all day, every day.And trust me, Im a huge supporter of technology.If you want to maintain balance and flow in your life, you HAVE to find a way to get back into your body. Youre in your head all day. Numbers. Excel sheets. Proposals. Emails. Social media - DING DING DING DING DING - going off non stop.At some point you need to step away and bring things back to a place of feeling.Go to the gym.Do some yoga.Go for a run.Bike around the city.Whatever.But make time to get back into your body.5. Have a hobbyHobbies are something I couldnt imagine living without.It co uld be anything from drawing little stick figures in a notebook, to making music, or painting, or writing poems, or building rocking chairs, or knitting sweaters, or whatever.There is so much value in having something that you make for yourself.Theres also something to be said for your hobbies to encourage you to take chances, explore, play, and be creative.I think collecting baseball cards or something can work too (after all, I was an avid Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh card player back in my day), as long as its something where you can remember, no matter how old you get, that you still have an imagination.Hobbies should help you reconnect with your inner child.6. Keep a journal of ideasIm stealing this from James Altucher.I think everyone should have a notebook, where they write down thoughts during the day, ideas that come to mind, lists of things they want to do, etc.It will inspire you - or make you realize how much you say you want to do and never actually do - which hopefully pisse s you off enough to take action.Buy a journal and put it in your bag or backpack.Write down interesting things.Dont just ignore your ideas.Make them tangible and youll see what happens.7. ReadOne of the best things you can do for yourself is read.Not that garbage on Buzzfeed.Buy books. Read books.Read during your morning commute (unless youre driving, then audio books).Read at night before you go to bed instead of lounging in front of another Netflix show (I know theyre addicting but are they really helping you grow?).Read, read, read.Read about things you want to know more about.Read good fiction.Read good nonfiction.Read about things you dont know about.Read about things you dont agree with so you can be more educated.Read what other people recommend (books come into your life for a reason).Read and you will see good things come.Youll find your conversations carry more depth. Youll find you can add more value to situations. Youll find yourself hungry to learn more, faster, all the time.If its any motivation, I hated reading growing up. Hated it. I maybe read 5 books in total before I graduated high school.But as soon as I got into the writing department in college and I realized how well-read my peers were, I felt like an idiot and did a 180. I read everything I could get my hands on - and still do.Read.This article was originally published on Medium.com.

Job Interview Tips for Retirees Returning to Work

Job Interview Tips for Retirees Returning to WorkJob Interview Tips for Retirees Returning to Work30There is a elendiceable trend of retirees returning to work. Some are looking for part-time, consulting, or other flexible work options, while some are choosing to jump right back into a full-time position. The reasons vary from financial need to boredom, with several stops in between. Sound familiar?If you can relate to this scenario, chances are great that youve got experience and longevity in your industry and youve researched resume tips for retirees and seasoned professionals. All this work has resulted in being invited to interview for a job that sounds like a great fit.Here are some interview tips for coming out of retirementSet aside your frustrations.Understand that mora job history means more experiences- both positive and negative. If youve been job searching for a while, or your last work experience was less than positive, you might be frustrated and dismayed in your job se arch. While these are natural and understandable feelings to have, its vitally important that you stay positive while job searching and interviewing with employers.Dont let your age be an issue- for youSimply put- if you dont want age to be an issue, dont let it be at the forefront of your mind. Others will pick up on it if it is. Instead, focus your job interview answers on your qualifications and what you can offer a company. Explain why your wealth of knowledge is an asset.Dont let your age be an issue- for themIts important to let the interviewer know that you are not set in your ways. Give specific examples of current technologies, training, and methods that you are comfortable with. Communicate your willingness to explore new ideas and learn from others in the company- regardless of their age.Make sure your appearance is current.You might not think about things like getting a new pair of glasses, wearing new shoes, or carrying a new bag, but these items, for better or worse, a re a part of your professional image. The more fully you commit to your professional makeover, the more confident and refreshed you will feel, and employers will pick up on that.Being mindful of these issues will go a long way in helping to convey the true asset that you can be for an employer.Readers, what are some areas of concern for retirees returning to work? What areas would you like more advice on? Let us know so we can bring you more great career advice

Your Company Culture Doesnt Have to Be Perfect -- Just Authentic

Your Company Culture Doesnt Have to Be Perfect -- Just AuthenticYour Company Culture Doesnt Have to Be Perfect Just AuthenticJust over half of the companies surveyed in the 2014 Employer Branding Global Trends Survey stated that they had a clear employer branding strategy. With employer branding positively linked to employee retention and lower cost of hire, its surprising that more companies arent making an effort to articulate and implement a clear employer branding strategy. After all, many candidates have come to expect information about a companys culture as they apply and bewerbungsgesprch for jobs.Wendy Nolin, business and career coach at Change Agent Careers, advises her clients to clarify what they are looking for in a company culture before they apply so they know what to look out for when reviewing information, not to mention what questions to ask in the interview. People will get their information anywhere they can, she said, but they are mostly limited to whats on the c orporate site, plus LinkedIn, published articles and review sites.For large global companies with career websites, established employer branding programs and rankings on best place to work lists, this is less of a problem. But a lot of people dont want to get lost in the shuffle at big companies, said Nolin. People who want to work at smaller companies where they can really stand out often have a hard time finding information.erde Winston, principal at Interract Consulting, advises candidates to have conversations with current and former employees to verify and expand upon marketplace perceptions. The things they want to know are What type of people are successful here? What is the work/life balance like?How hard is it to get promoted? Is it as cutthroat as I heard? Is it as collaborative as I heard? Is it as competitive as I heard? Is it as intense as I heard?This real-world information is important, Nolin said, because theres a good amount of skepticism. People know that informati on published on a companys website is window covering.Authenticity is more than a buzzword in branding. Its a necessity. Anyone with experience knows the perfect environment doesnt exist, said Nolin. Balancing a positive employer brand with the reality of everyday workplace challenges can be tricky for some companies to convey on a careers page.While people on the outside may be more cynical, employees may not be aware of the deliberate efforts behind employer branding. According to Winston, Employees often look at branding statements about the experience of working here and compare it to their real life experiences. A disconnect between messaging and experience can create cynicism among employees that will eventually trickle down to candidates.As the marketplace becomes more competitive, employer differentiation also becomes more important. Winston takes the long view that interest in employer branding ebbs and flows with the job market in that industry.Right now theres a shortage of software engineers and programmers, said Winston. Its not surprising to find that the larger tech companies are very interested in employer branding.How well does your company compare to your competitors, and who is doing it well? In the coming months well provide more specific and actionable advice for evaluating the health of your employer brand.Read part one of this ongoing series on employer branding.