How I had the money talk with my significant other

How I had the money talk with my significant otherHow I had the money talk with my significant otherOne of the first articles I ever wrote about money welches about how to have themoney talkwith your romantic partner. Its so, so important to talk about money with the person youre sharing your life with. It sets expectations, opens up the conversation about your financial goals, and makes sure that everyone is on the same page. It will also help you to understand each other and your relationship with money. Money impacts every area of our lives, including our romantic lives, so this is not a conversation that you should skip or delay.Ive always cared about financial stability, so it welches important to me for someone I was dating to be in a good position, as well. Thats why I knew I had to start that conversation in the beginning of my relationship with Dan. Heres how I did (and continue to do) it.I started earlyI remember the moment I first talked to Dan about money. It was probably our fourth or fifth date and we were walking towards my apartment, where I was going to make dinner for him. Dan was carrying a bouquet of flowers for me (aww). I turned to him and casually asked him if he had any credit card debt. I cant remember exactly how he reacted, but he told me that he did and he told me how much. I wasnt a financial coach yet, so I was slightly judgmental about credit card debt at the time. I didnt insult him, but I did show concern about his debt. Looking back, it wasnt very much at all Thats proven by the fact that Dan was able to pay it off in just three months after our conversation. Having this conversation early made it easier for us to communicate about money as other issues arose.I communicated my needsWhen Dan and I first started dating, we obviously went out a lot. We went out for dinner, we went to the movies, we went out to brunch, etc. At first, Dan paid for me much of the time, but once I found out how much he was earning in salary, I didnt f eel comfortable letting him cover everything (we were making similar income and it wasnt a lot). We began splitting costs from time to time, but eventually, that spending started to conflict with my budget and savings goals. I was living alone at the time and trying to pay off my student loans ahead of schedule. That didnt leave me with a ton of fun money. After a couple months of dating, I told him that we needed to slow down a bit with our fun spending and be more thoughtful about where our money was going. I didnt want too much food and drink to derail my financial goals. That wasnt a fun conversation, but Dan was understanding, and we started being a little bit pickier about when we went out and how much we spent when we did.I offered my helpDan never really felt like he knew what he was doing with money. It wasnt something he felt he had learned growing up. So I offered my untersttzungsangebot and guidance to help him pay off his credit card and start saving. I also helped him fill out his budget so he was aware of his spending guidelines. Eventually, I gave him advice for contributing to his retirement account.Once we moved in together, I took over the financial management of the household. I created a joint budget spreadsheet so that we could track our budget and spending. I added Dan as an authorized user on one of my credit cards so that we could use it for joint expenses, such as groceries. This made it easier to make sure that we were each contributing equally. We continue to use a joint credit card now that we own a home together.(I should note that I trusted Dan as an authorized user, and didnt worry that he would abuse the card. I dont recommend giving someone access to your credit card if you dont trust that they will use it responsibly and always pay it back.)I practice non-judgmentThis is mucksmuschenstill a tricky thing for me, especially in my personal life. When it comes to my clients, I never judge them or make them feel bad about their mo ney choices. When I am directly affected by someones money habits, its sometimes difficult for me to react in the same calm way. If a financial conflict comes up, I try to be careful about the language that I use. Instead of being accusatory like saying, Why did you spend so much money at that bar?, I try to be more curious by saying things like, Hey, whats this charge from the other day? I want to make sure I have the budget updated properly.I continue the conversationAs with most important topics, its crucial to continue the money conversation over time. Priorities change, income changes, expenses change. behauptung can be good things or they can be difficult things. The point is, the conversation must evolve as life evolves.Dan and my situation is much different now than it was when we first started dating. We own a home together, weve both paid off our student loans, weve combined most of our finances, Dan has more than doubled his income, Ive more than cut mine in half (for now ) by pursuing self-employment, and our expenses are higher overall. Before all these changes, we didnt have to talk very often about money, because we had plenty of it and didnt spend very much. Now, theres less money and more to spend on.We had to have a serious money talk earlier this year, because both of us were getting frustrated with each other. Dan felt like he didnt have any money of his own, and I felt like he wasnt being thoughtful about how tight our budget is. It was a very productive (though difficult) conversation, because we were able to walk away with solutions. Dan has a small amount of money going into his personal checking account each month so that he can spend it without worrying about our overall budget. He also has a little bit of money going into his private savings account so that he can buy gifts or fix up his bike. This has made Dan feel more autonomous while taking stress off of our joint budget.Now that were getting married, Dan and I are getting even mo re grown up with our financial conversations. We recently went to see a financial advisor to talk about life insurance and making sure were making smart choices for retirement. It feels good to be talking about and making these decisions together.This article first appeared on MaggieGermano.com.

How to Get Motivated at Work When Youre in a Rut - The Muse

How to Get Motivated at Work When Youre in a Rut - The MuseHow to Get Motivated at Work When Youre in a Rut Weve all faced days at the office where were just not feeling motivated. Off days happen to everyone and its tough- if not unrealistic- to constantly do your best work. There are bound to be times when you procrastinate too much, lack focus, or struggle to start important projects.You may react by getting down on yourself, wondering where your determination has gone. It can be disappointing to feel like youre not living up to your aspirations, especially when theres important work to be done- which there almost always is. Speed, efficiency, and productivity are what drive results, and when our energy doesnt match our ambition, it can be frustrating. When you lack enthusiasm, a single day at the office can feel like an uphill battle. A long-lasting motivational slump can leave you stressed out, feeling guilty that youre not doing enough to advance in your career. The effects on your well-being can be numerous You may have difficulty sleeping, find yourself getting sick, or notice a decrease in your ability to concentrate. Your mental health takes a beating from emotional exhaustion, with anxiety and pessimism overshadowing your mood.But you dont have to stay stuck in this rut. With some exploration and reflection, you can get to the bottom of whats sapping your energy and dig yourself out of it. Here are three reasons youre unmotivated along with solutions to getting back on track fast. 1. Youre Caught in the Busy TrapToday being busy is a status symbol, a sign that youre sought-after and in-demand. While your ego may enjoy the validation, existing perpetually in work mode and being available round-the-clock can lead to burnout.Operating under the illusion that staying constantly busy is helping you advance professionally can backfire, earning you the title of office pushover- or leading you to resent your job, boss, and co-workers.To disentangle yourself from the busy trap, youve got to ruthlessly prioritize and eliminate non-urgent tasks, which will allow you to invest in work thats truly important. To get over your chronic busy-worshipping, begin to unhook yourself from responsibilities that are actually someone elses work. Practice saying no more often. When you do agree to take something on, do so with a clear intention. Try saying, I choose to rather than I have to It may sound simple, but your words create your reality, and this subtle verbal shift invokes autonomy and personal choice, which stokes motivation. It feels very different to say I choose go to tonights networking event instead of I have to to go to tonights networking event.2. Youre Relying on WillpowerConvincing yourself to accomplish a task out of sheer will is difficult. When willpower fails you, focus on creating habits that make your success inevitable. Often, getting started on a big goal or complicated project is the hardest part. Once you actually get going , the whole project feels a lot less daunting. The trick to staying motivated is to create small habits that help with productivity and make you feel good about what youre accomplishing.Conquer willpower dips by lowering barriers that get in the way of your beginning a task. If you have a hard writing assignment to tackle, for example, focus on getting just the the first sentence down (even if its a stream of consciousness). But, once you write that first line, youll likely feel your anxiety melt away.You can also try developing a warm-up routine that sets off a positive chain of events to help you generate momentum. For instance, maybe you have a cue like brewing your morning coffee or checking your email that serves as a transition into work mode. Many entrepreneurs I work with like to start their day with 10 minutes of meditation. This can be an excellent way to prepare for your day and cue your mind to get in the mood for work. Instead of conjuring willpower, youll organically m ove into the professional state of mind.3. Youre Emotionally ExhaustedIf you feel like youre sleepwalking through your workday, its likely youre among the 70% of people who feel emotionally disconnected at the office. Dont underestimate your social needs when trying to pinpoint your motivational barrier. Maslows pyramid ranks belonging as the third most important aspect of our mental health, coming only after physical needs and safety. Feeling accepted and useful at work is essential to sustaining the drive to stick with your duties day after day. In fact, psychological safety has been found to be the most important trait successful teams share. Groups characterized by interpersonal trust and mutual respect are not only happier, theyre also more productive. When employees have a sense of confidence that their co-workers will not embarrass, reject, or punish them for speaking up they accomplish more and thrive in their careers. To repair your emotional exhaustion, begin deliberately structuring social opportunities into your workflow. An easy way to start is by showing up five minutes early to meetings. Use the unstructured time for light conversation. This informal small talk is not just meaningless chitchat, and it goes a long way to building stronger relationships with colleagues.If youre a manager, try reigniting your teams motivation by giving day-to-day tasks more meaning and circling back to shared goals. Empathic leadership has everything to do with lifting up other people, which can be accomplished by reinforcing how your direct reports efforts tie into to big-picture goals and the companys mission.No one among us is motivated and productive 100% of the time, but if youre feeling lethargic and blas about your work more often than not, then youve got to find a way to climb out of the slump. Reading inspiring tips and career advice is one thing, but taking action is another. Doing something to alleviate the lethargy is the real antidote to getting unstuc k and out of a work rut.

Why the 8-hour workday doesnt work

Why the 8-hour workday doesnt workWhy the 8-hour workday doesnt workThe 8-hour workday is an outdated and ineffective approach to work. If you want to be as productive as possible, you need to let go of this relic and find a new approach.The 8-hour workday was created during the industrial revolution as an effort to cut down on the number of hours of manual labor that workers were forced to endure on the factory floor. This breakthrough was a mora humane approach to work two hundred years ago, yet it possesses little relevance for us today.Like our ancestors, were expected to put in 8-hour days, working in long, continuous blocks of time, with few or no breaks. Heck, fruchtwein people even work right through their lunch hourThis antiquated approach to work isnt helping us its holding us back.The best way to structure your dayA study recently conducted by the Draugiem Group used a computer application to track employees work habits. Specifically, the application measured how much time people spent on various tasks and compared this to their productivity levels.In the process of measuring peoples activity, they stumbled upon a fascinating finding the length of the workday didnt matter much what mattered was how people structured their day. In particular, people who were religious about taking short breaks were far more productive than those who worked longer hours.The ideal work-to-break ratio was 52 minutes of work, followed by 17 minutes of rest. People who maintained this schedule had a unique level of focus in their work. For roughly an hour at a time, they were 100% dedicated to the task they needed to accomplish. They didnt check Facebook real quick or get distracted by e-mails.When they felt fatigue (again, after about an hour), they took short breaks, during which they completely separated themselves from their work. This helped them to dive back in refreshed for another productive hour of work.Your brain wants an hour on, 15 minutes offPeople who have di scovered this magic productivity ratio crush their competition because they tap into a fundamental need of the human mind the brain naturally functions in spurts of high energy (roughly an hour) followed by spurts of low energy (1520 minutes).For most of us, this natural ebb and flow of energy leaves us wavering between focused periods of high energy followed by far less productive periods, when we tire and succumb to distractions.The best way to beat exhaustion and frustrating distractions is to get intentional about your workday. Instead of working for an hour or more and then trying to battle through distractions and fatigue, when your productivity begins to dip, take this as a sign that its time for a break.Real breaks are easier to take when you know theyre going to make your day more productive. We often let fatigue win because we continue working through it (long after weve lost energy and focus), and the breaks we take arent real breaks (checking your e-mail and watching You Tube doesnt recharge you the same way as taking a walk does).Take charge of your workdayThe 8-hour workday can work for you if you break your time into strategic intervals. Once you align your natural energy with your effort, things begin to run much more smoothly. Here are four tips that will get you into that perfect rhythm.1. Break your day into hourly intervalsWe naturally plan what we need to accomplish by the end of the day, the week, or the month, but were far more effective when we focus on what we can accomplish right now.Beyond getting you into the right rhythm, planning your day around hour-long intervals simplifies daunting tasks by breaking them into manageable pieces. If you want to be a literalist, you can plan your day around 52-minute intervals if you like, but an hour works just as well.2. Respect your hourThe interval strategy only works because we use our peak energy levels to reach an extremely high level of focus for a relatively short amount of time.When you d isrespect your hour by texting, checking e-mails, or doing a quick Facebook check, you defeat the entire purpose of the approach.3. Take real restIn the study at Draugiem, they found that employees who took more frequent rests than the hourly optimum were more productive than those who didnt rest at all. Likewise, those who took deliberately relaxing breaks were better off than those who, when resting, had trouble separating themselves from their work. Getting away from your computer, your phone, and your to-do list is essential to boosting your productivity.Breaks such as walking, reading, and chatting are the most effective forms of recharging because they take you away from your work. On a busy day, it might be tempting to think of dealing with e-mails or making phone calls as breaks, but they arent, so dont give in to this line of thought.4. Dont wait until your body tells you to take a break. If you wait until you feel tired to take a break, its too late- youve already missed t he window of peak productivity. Keeping to your schedule ensures that you work when youre the most productive and that you rest during times that would otherwise be unproductive.Remember, its far more productive to rest for short periods than it is to keep on working when youre tired and distracted.Bringing it all togetherBreaking your day down into chunks of work and rest that match your natural energy levels feels good, makes your workday go faster, and boosts your productivity.Travis Bradberry is the co-author of Emotional Intelligence 2.0 and the co-founder of TalentSmart.This article originally appeared on LinkedIn.

Smart Ink Shrinks 3D-Printed Objects

Smart Ink Shrinks 3D-Printed Objects Smart Ink Shrinks 3D-Printed Objects Smart Ink Shrinks 3D-Printed Objects Shrinky Dinks are a childhood toy that transforms from a large, floppy sheet to a small, hard object. Now, a research lab at Dartmouth University in Hanover, NH, has developed a material for 3D printers that can change size or color based on surrounding stimuli.The material, which the researchers call smart ink, may one day lead to the creation of shape-shifting 3D-printed devices, for instance, changing color if high blood sugar levels are detected and then releasing an insulin capsule. The ink could also be programmed to change the shape or size of soft robots that may be involved in rescue or medical operations.Hydrogel-based smart ink downsizes a printed Arc de Triomphe. Image Chenfeng Ke, DartmouthIf we change the temperature, environment, moisture, or other stimuli, these molecules will respond or move around. The whole object moves, says Chenfeng Ke, assistant profess or for chemistry at Dartmouth. It depends on the molecule we put into the ink.For You Protecting a New World of 3D-Printed Products Filaments used in 3D printing, such as ABS and FLA plastics, are rigid. To create 3D printed objects that could change size radically, Ke needed a flexible, low- density material. Kes team developed a material made with hydrogel, which is as frothy as sea foam. The hydrogel smart ink consists of pluronic polymer mixed with smart molecules including TEOS, organosilicate, and hydrogen-bending derivatives.In experiments, Ke was able to shrink objects down to 1 percent of their original size. Conversely, he was able to increase the size of an object. Applying ultraviolet light changed the color of one 3D-printed object from sky blue to green.You need to tell the molecule to align and behave like other molecules, Ke says. Then you have to work out self-assembled structures. Once you work out that structure, you can control all molecules simultaneously.It may take some time before 3D printers abflug producing adaptable objects using smart ink. But at least the area is growing, or shrinking depending on how you look at it.We are still trying to figure out how we can make the material, Ke says.Read MoreNano Engineerings New FrontierArtificial Intelligence Transforms ManufacturingUltrasound Patch Monitors Critical Components For Further DiscussionIf we change the temperature, environment, moisture, or other stimuli, these molecules will respond or move around. The whole object movesProf. Chenfeng Ke, Dartmouth University

How to Coach Your Team Technology

How to Coach Your Team TechnologyHow to Coach Your Team TechnologyThere are many keys to effective leadership, but how you coach your team has a dramatic impact on its success.Coaching efforts wont be successful, however, unless IT managers are strategic in their approach.Managers have two basic coaching opportunities big-picture (strategic) coaching and day-to-day, tactical coaching. Big-picture coaching might include professional development, improving communication skills or collaboration techniques, and understanding creative problem-solving concepts. This type of coaching is typically mora formal and long-term.Tactical coaching refers to short-term, on-the-spot feedback, and it can occur throughout the business day. For example, you could coach a help desk associate who becomes frustrated during a phone call by immediately discussing what happened at the conclusion of the call. These coaching opportunities can be brief, direct and require little planning or formality. The key he re is to tackle areas that are critical to success only. You dont want to create an environment in which team members feel like they cant make a mistake without having another coaching session.Check out our Salary Calculator for salary ranges on over 75 IT jobs.Create a planWhen you coach your team, keep these three things in mindMake it positive. Let your team members know that coaching is a key element of professional development. Its designed to help them identify areas for improvement and grow in their careers.Create a roadmap. Work with each employee to create a plan for your work together. Include a timeline, key milestones and the desired outcome of the coaching effort.Show your commitment. Demonstrate that you are committed to the coaching process over the long term. Arrange regular meetings to discuss progress or challenges.Bring in reinforcementsWhile your heart may be in the right place, a managers voice can lose its impact over time. In a circumstance like this, bring in someone with a new perspective to supplement your coaching effort. You might ask highly respected peers of the employee to serve as mentors and a sounding board. IT pros may be more likely to see a peer as an unbiased voice, and may have less fear of being judged or reprimanded. Bringing in a peer can also make sense when dealing with someone with highly technical skills who may not feel you get them since you dont fully understand their subject matter expertise.Keep in mind that coaching only works when you have an open-minded recipient. If your employees push back, there might be something bigger at work that is causing anxiety - or even rebellion. This is a good opportunity to schedule some quality time in a private setting to let team members share their perspective and voice their concerns.Look in the mirrorFinally, remember that everyone needs a coach. If you sense your coaching is being dismissed, examine your approach and ask a well-respected peer to assess your effectiven ess. Issues to consider includeIs your coaching constructive?Do you have coaching priorities, or have you created an environment where you are constantly coaching?Are you providing an example to your team by being receptive to coaching in your own professional development, or do you come across as having it all figured out?This post has been updated to reflect more current information. Tags

New Ideas Into Eagle Scout on Resume Never Before Revealed

New Ideas Into Eagle Scout on Resume Never Before Revealed Things You Wont Like About Eagle Scout on Resume and Things You Will To begin with, you should be a National Eagle Scout Association member to obtain a scholarship. Scouts have to be at least First Class be the beginning of the Jamboree. They dont understand that each helpers hours should be counted separately, Binder says. Cascade Pacific Council scouts that are high school juniors or seniors are entitled to apply. The Number One Question You Must Ask for Eagle Scout on Resume Consider what youve accomplished previously and what its possible to offer later on. Hey Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts, there are several scholarship opportunities that are available to you. For worthy Eagle Scouts, there are lots of scholarships available that could help lift the load of paying for college. The top five most frequent types of community contributions offered by the Eagle Scouts. Soft skills are applicable to each job. All SMWW Students are given a massive discount and are encouraged to attend to use their abilities and network within the business. Match your achievements to duties and abilities shown in the work description. An individual may even control the level and duration of their vibrato. Despite the mandatory skill set that you still have to advertise yourself properly as a way to entice the interest of sports industry employers. The exact same opportunities simply did not exist for me. Developing and keeping close relations with clients as a way to fulfill their needs more effectively. All of these offer exactly the same convenience of the Go-To Card. It is very important to understand what things to include, what not to include, and the length of time the document needs to be. Any other important information about the room in question needs to be mentioned in the letter to steer clear of unnecessary problems later. As a last note, make certain you have a minumum of one person read your CV before you consider it final. Dont believe you will need to include something for all of the categories listed above. In that case, your education matters far more. Hopefully you have the idea. The notion isnt to bug him. Student life is full of surprises, and at times, you might require assistance with essay writing or maybe to compose a paper or essay from scratch. Teaching Experience in the event you already have teaching experience under your belt, be sure that you list it here. Speaking of teamwork, sometimes youve got to choose the reigns. The Fundamentals of Eagle Scout on Resume Revealed Each one has the ability to use a little help with their resume, especially if theyre interested in a vocation in a really technical place. The entire area feels like a little park you may discover at the conclusion of an alley. Find a means to add something genuinely different to your resume thats also related to the job. Everything on your resume has to be accurate bu t everything doesnt have to be on it. The Career Center is here to support you wherever youre on your career journey whether youre looking for internships, have no clue what you would like to do after graduation, or you recognize precisely what you would like to do and are figuring out next actions to get there. If your volunteer experience beyond Peace Corps is related to the position to which youre applying, it must be listed as professional experience. tafelgeschirr is a lifestyle for a Scout. College will wind up placing you in many unique situations that you must adapt to or risk not performing well. Vital Pieces of Eagle Scout on Resume Within my experience, its far more troublesome to determine somebodys dominant software than their hardware. The plan is quite similar to the present badge. If you believe its pretty cool you know the way to use standard applications, I am likely to worry you dont know a lot about computers. If you still find it tough to recognize your hardware, theres a high probability you will not drive at any hardware function. You need an outstanding LinkedIn profile as much as you desire a wonderful restaurant resume. Whenever most teen job applications do not need a resume, it is preferable to incorporate a resume with your work application. Because theres nothing that the web loves more than puncturing pomposity, theyre a fantastic target, since they are easily able to appear foolish.

Recruiting on Google+ - Spark Hire

Recruiting on Google+ - Spark HireBetween LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, its about time that Google+ joins the party in online recruitment. While its more of a social networking platform like Facebook, it still has merit in social media recruiting. Not only does it provide an outlet for networking but also drives exposure for job opportunities and company brand.Introduction to Google+On Google+, you can either build a page for yourself or your recruiting firm. Whats unique about Google+ is that it can be a platform for both your personal and professional life. You can group your contacts into different circles, i.e. friends, family, colleagues and job candidates. From there, you can determine what is shared with each of these groups.To achieve maximum Google+ recruiting potential, its best to create a page for your business or firm as well. These pages function a little differently, though the basic concept is the same. While you wont necessarily be including friends and family, unl ess youre assisting them in a professional capacity, you will be reaching out to colleagues, potential candidates and other professionals in your industry.How It WorksA Google+ page wont just help in keeping your colleagues and potential job candidates informed of your business and industry practices, it will help to spread awareness of your company brand as well. According to SmartRecruiters.com, a Google+ recruiting page can reach up to 25 million unique visitors in just the first month. To put that into context, it would take nearly three years to get that much exposure on Facebook.To attract those conducting an online job search, create your page using keywords for your industry. Also, deutsche post ag relevant content on a daily basis and again, make sure youre utilizing the effectiveness of keywords in both the content youre posting and the actual post itself. Unlike other social networking sites, Google+ depends heavily on SEO to help visitors find exactly what theyre looking for as they search. By using SEO in the development and update of your page, youre ensuring that your Google+ page will be an invaluable resource in your recruiting efforts.Google+ can be a great tool for your recruiting efforts this year. Though it wont be as vital to the online recruitment and application process as sites like Spark Hire and LinkedIn, it will help to build your company brand and attract job candidates who might not otherwise apply. And when it comes to recruitment in the digital age, you know now that you need all of the help you can getWould you use Google+ in your recruiting efforts why or why not? Share now in our comments