Why Manufacturing Matters

Why Manufacturing Matters Why Manufacturing Matters Why Manufacturing MattersServices make up nearly two-thirds of the U.S. economy. Manufacturing accounts for only 12%. For many decades, economists looking at this disparity argued that manufacturing played a minor role in the modern economy, and that $1 billion generated by warehousing, transportation, and retailing produced the same economic benefits as $1 billion in production. They were wrong.Over the past decade, more and more economists have confirmed that manufacturing is indeed different from services. It is essential to innovation, and tightly linked to ur nations economic health and national security. First, while manufacturing might be a small component of the U.S. economy, its output still came to $1.9 trillion in 2012, and by itself would have made the worlds tenth largest economy. The U.S. manufacturing sector was larger than the total economies of India, Canada, Mexico, or South Korea.The U.S. was the worlds leading pr oducer of manufactured goods from 1895 through 2009. Although some experts estimate that Chinese output surpassed that of the U.S. in 2012, the U.S. remains the worlds largest advanced technology producer. Manufactured goods constituted 86% of all U.S. exports in 2010.Facts about manufacturing in the United StatesAccording to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, every dollar spent in manufacturing generates $1.48 in economic activity, more than any other major economic sector. Also, improvements in productivity have leveraged the productive power of the American worker, enabling more manufacturing output per person. It is true that manufacturing employment has declined significantly since the start of the century, but the sector still employs 12 million workers, just under 9% of total U.S. employment.It also supports nonmanufacturing jobs up and down the supply chain, from mining to warehousing, as well as engineering, financial, and legal services. Manufacturing is also necessary to su pport national and homeland security. According to the Department of Defense, for instance, in its 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review Report, In the mid-to-long term, it is imperative that we have a robust industrial base with sufficient manufacturing capability and capacity to preserve ur technological edge and provide for the reset and recapitalization of our force.These arguments about the importance of manufacturing are important and well known. But what has changed the minds of many economists over the past decade is that manufacturing plays an essential role in innovation. While manufacturing is only 12% of the U.S. economy, it accounts for two-thirds of all private spending on RD. While it provides only 9% of U.S. jobs, it employs one out of three engineers. Fully 60% of royalties from licensing intellectual property go to manufacturing firms.Manufacturing is the engine that drives U.S. innovation. It transforms laboratory research into new products and production processes that generate profits and make the world a better place. It creates new and vital industries, ranging from computers and wireless to biotechnology and solar power. As engineers and manufacturers develop new technologies, they build the capabilities to extend and innovate in new fields. Those innovations give manufacturers the performance or cost edge they need to compete in a crowded international marketplace.This is where U.S. manufacturing runs into problems. We are leid talking solely about the production of low-tech products by low-wage workers, which has moved overseas during the past decade. U.S. manufacturing innovation is also lagging behind such high-wage nations as Germany and Japan. We increasingly import more advanced technology than we export. Global competitors continue to press our small and mid-sized firms.Perhaps most troubling, we are losing the ability as a nation to take innovative prototypes and benchtop or laboratory processes and scale them to commercial productio n. We have seen many American innovations leave our shores to be produced overseas in countries that have built up their capabilities for cost-effective volume production. As they scale up manufacturing, they build the production know-how that will enable them to remain in the lead.Most engineers are familiar with some products that have moved overseas, such as flat panel displays. But I want to recall an older product, one we rarely see anymore, because it teaches an essential lesson about technology and provides a reason for optimism.I want to talk about the VCR, because it highlights the fact that technologies have limited lifespans. Even though we lost out on VCR production, few people purchase VCRs today. That market is gone. The same will one day be true of flat panel displays. My guess is that one day, in the not-too-distant future, we will replace flat panels with flexible displays that we can hang on a wall or fold into our pocket. These products will require entirely new p roduction facilities and supply chains. So here is an opportunity for America to recapture not only a new product line, but a supply chain that makes those products possible.U.S. researchers are leading the pack in the development and use of next generation flexible electronics. If we have learned our lessons from the offshoring of consumer electronics, we should do everything in our power to scale that world-class research into production here in the U.S.The U.S. is well positioned to do just that. Our labor costs are competitive with many high-end manufacturing nations, such as Germany and Japan. Reports by Boston Consulting Group, PWC, and AlixPartners all show that rapidly rising wages will erode even Chinas cost advantage within a few years. Given Chinas disadvantages in transportation, timeliness, and intellectual property protection, the U.S. is well positioned to compete head-to-head with China.Yet, in the end, wages are only a small part of the story. After all, labor rarel y accounts for more than a small percentage of total production cost. And the U.S. has so many advantages of its own. The most important involve Americas culture of innovation. The U.S. is certainly one of the worlds most innovative economies. It has a consistent record of inventing disruptive technologies that radically reconfigure or even eliminate existing supply chains.This advantage grows as the pace of innovation speeds up. We are seeing new products and capabilities deployed at breathtaking speeds. The companies that scale the latest technologies the fastest will become the market leaders and reap most of the profit. This is the same strategy that Apple followed so successfully with successive generations of both the i-pad and the iPhone. Each new version raised the bar for its competitors.Rapid deployment of innovative products is the most effective way to defend a market. Indeed, the best defense is a good offense. Firms that scale and deploy innovations rapidly will remain market leaders. Knockoffs that are one or two years behind the curve look dated. Once again, the American culture of innovation rises to this challenge like no other.What the U.S. must do now is close the gap between innovation and commercial scale-up and production. It already leads the world in creating disruptive technologies. It is rapidly moving toward energy independence. The imposing wage gap that once separated it from other nations is closing. Now, it must widen the gap in innovation implementation.Some American companies have begun reshoring manufacturing operations located in other nations. I think that trend will grow stronger. I also see a growing consensus for taking steps to ensure that the innovations invented in America get made in America. No one is talking about an industrial policy or picking winners and losers. Instead, they want to make it easier for domestic manufacturers and academia to work together to solve the practical problems of turning new and innovat ive technologies into commercial products and processes.This is vital to our future, because manufacturing, and especially advanced manufacturing, is not just another sector of the economy. It is a cornerstone of a culture of innovation that makes the U.S. a world leader, and a land where dreams can truly be realized.Thomas Kurfess, an ASME Fellow, is a professor of mechanical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. Before that he was assistant director for advanced manufacturing at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.Join industry experts at ASMEs Advanced Manufacturing Impact Forum to see how advanced manufacturing will affect the U.S. and global markets - and what this means for you and your business. For Further DiscussionFirms that scale and deploy innovations rapidly will remain market leaders.

Learn About Being a School Cafeteria Worker

Learn About Being a School Cafeteria WorkerLearn About Being a School Cafeteria WorkerWhen Adam Sandler sang these lyrics and Chris Farley danced around, they paid a tongue-in-cheek tribute to school cafeteria workers Woke up in the morning,Put on my new plastic glove.Served some reheated salisbury steak,With a little slice of love.Got no clue what the chicken pot pie is made of,Just know everythings doing fine,Down here in Lunchlady Land. The popsong Lunchlady Land appeared on Sandlers first comedy album Theyre All Gonna Laugh at You in 1993, but it was the dancing Farley dressed up as a stereotypical cafeteria worker on Saturday Night Live in 1994 that brought the song to the masses. It resonated with people because every American remembers the school cafeteria workers and the food they served. Cafeteria workers serve breakfast and lunch to school children during the school year and sometimes during the summer when federal programs fund meals for children in economically disadvanta ged families. It is a good job for people who want to interact with children but do not have the desire to teach. Selection Process School cafeteria workers are hired through the normal government hiring process. Jobs are posted to each school districts website. Candidates complete application forms, and finalists participate in the interview process. The position does not require any experience and rarely requires more than a high school diploma. The selection process is not rigorous. However, background checks are often conducted on finalists because they have access to children. Education A high school diploma is sometimes required for school cafeteria worker jobs, but often, that is not even required. New hires must be old enough to work and are hardly ever young enough to be typical-age high school students. Even though a 16-year-old can work, one is highly unlikely to be employed in a school cafeteria. Such a student would have to drop out of school and then return to a school rahmen to work. Consequently, cafeteria workers are at least 18 years old. Experience Experience is not needed for cafeteria worker jobs. Previous employment in the restaurant industry is helpful but not necessary. On-the-job training is sufficient to prepare a new hire for the jobs daily tasks. Job Duties School cafeteria workers are just one of the many groups of people that contribute to childrens educations. They work alongside teachers, coaches, counselors, librarians and other school personnel to help children get the most out of their school years. Nutritionists,dieticians and other appropriately trained staffplanmenus for school childrens meals. These menus must meet rigorous nutrition standards. Cafeteria managers make surecafeteria workers have the food and supplies they need to serve all the items on the menus. Cafeteria workers frequently check their inventory of food and supplies so they can alert their managers when they notice that they might not have what they need. Doing this requires moving heavy boxes and equipment. Cafeteria workers wear protective clothing such as plastic gloves and hairnets. Not only is it gross to find a hair in the gravy, but it is also unsanitary. As cafeteria workers prepare food, they must be diligent about food safety. In younger children, foodborne illnesses can be fatal. Cafeteria workers avoid cross-contaminating food. For example, they change their gloves between umgang raw meat or poultry and handling vegetables. They ensure kitchen equipment, food preparation spaces and dining rooms are routinely cleaned. Cafeteria workers often perform cashier duties. They take the childrens payments for breakfasts and lunches and make changes as appropriate. They must be aware of which children receive government-subsidized free or reduced-price meals. Cafeteria workers keep this information confidential to keep other children from having ammunition to taunt, tease or bully those children who receive those g overnment benefits. Earnings Cafeteria workers are paid anywhere from $9 to $16 per hour. If they work a full-time schedule, they likely receive a better than average benefits package. Part-time workers may receive benefits as well, but some benefits may be prorated on the basis of how many hours per week they work.

Closing Skills

Closing SkillsClosing Skills

Morning Motivation Tips to Help You Get Out of Bed

Morning Motivation Tips to Help You Get Out of BedMorning Motivation Tips to Help You Get Out of BedNot everyone is a morning person. Even if you do consider yourself a morning person, there are certainly days when youd rather stay in bed when you really need to get going. If youre a night owl, it can be even harder to getyour day started. Its leidlage feasible for everyone, of course, but there are jobs that offer a perfect schedule for night owls who simply cant do days. Morning Motivation Tips to Get Your Day Off to the Right Start For those who have to get up in the morning to go work, get the kids off to school, or to do whatever else is on the agenda, there are other options. Its not alwaysnecessary to look forward to your mornings, but you can atleastget your day off to a better start. Making a few adjustments can make your mornings far less unpleasant, and for some people, a couple of key changes can make mornings their favorite part of the day. 1. Get Enough Sleep Is it really hard for you to wake up and get out of bed? If you find mornings unpleasant, the main reason may bethat you are not getting enough sleep to start with. According to the National Sleep Foundation, most people need between 6 - 9 hours of sleep every night. If you are especially behind on sleep, you might need to adjust the times you rise and go to bed to get more sleep. There are a some different ways you can try to get more sleep Try waking up at the same time every day (including weekends) to help stabilize your circadian rhythm.Get sunlight on your skin and eyes (avoid looking directly at the Sun of course) in the morning, which helps your body create the right hormones at the right time for wakefulness and sleep.Make it a point to slow down your evenings much earlier, including finishing your evening meal at least four hours before bedtime.Take away screens (the blue light from your TV and phone impair your ability to get sleep) at least 30 minutes from when you want to go to bed. If you have trouble falling asleep, consider using sleep aid supplements, such as melatonin.Avoid strenuous exercise within four hours of bedtime, as this can disrupt sleep hormone production.Many people also find white noise from a phone app or a fan soothing and relaxing as they try to fall asleep. 2. Create Routines It is not just your morning bung that matters when helping yourself towake up in the morning. What you do in the evenings before retiring to bed is just as important. For example, if you make it a routine to pick up clutterandcleanmessaround your house before going to bed, you will wake up to a clean living space. This does wonders for helping you tofeel refreshed and empowered in the morning. In the morning, if you enjoy easing into your day with a good book and a hot beverage, make it a routine. Create a breakfast nook and keep a good book on the table waiting for you each morning. 3. Open the Blinds Humans have circadian rhythms in fact, most of us call our natural response to light and dark our internal body clock. So, the sooner you can open your blinds/curtains around the house, the better your body will feel in the morning. Depending on your housing and climate, you might consider spending a little time outside. Put some plants outside your door and plan to water them each morning. Enjoy your coffee outside. Adopting these activities as morning rituals can focus your energy and motivate you to get moving. 4. Listen to Music If you set an alarm for yourself, there is rarely a sound availablethat feels enjoyable to wake to in the morning. Once you are up, put on some pleasant music that you enjoy. 5. Engage Your Senses Do you enjoy good smells? Buy some fragrant candles or use essential oils around the house. Engaging your sense of smell will energize you in the morning. If you enjoy hot showers, plan to take one most mornings, even if only to enjoy the feeling of warm water on your skin. You might try finishing with a cold shower t o enliven you and boost your metabolism. If youre a foodie, plan your breakfasts ahead of time and cook yourself a nice meal. Fix yourself your favorite flavor of coffee or tea. The more senses that you can engage in a positive way,the betteryouwillfeel about your mornings. 6. Exercise For many, the idea of morning exercise is an unhappy prospect, but it doesnt have to be. Doing yoga or brisk walks can be enough to get your metabolism going properly. If you enjoy exercise, consider taking morning jogs, or getting up a little earlier to hit the gym. You might feel sore and tired at first, but if you keep at it, you will gradually feel more rested after your sleep and more excited to begin your day. 7. Plan Your Day Slowing down, taking a breath, and remembering what is most meaningful to you can help keep you centered and awake to what the day ahead may bring. Set aside 15 minutes to plan out your day with a notebook. Some people like to use paper calendars while others prefer to use To do lists. If you prefer using digital tools over pen and paper, there is an app for almost any kind of day planning that you can imagine. Regardless of how you do it, taking stock of what you need to accomplish in the day will help youtoremain proactive and less reactive to the days surprises. Its much easier to have a productive day when youre organized and have planned what you need to accomplish. When You Need More Help Difficult mornings can be a symptom of something deeper. Its possible that not every painful part of your morning can be solved by one of the solutions above. If you find mornings especially challenging, talk to your doctor about some tests to identify whether you are suffering from a treatable condition,forwhichtreatment could dramatically improve how you feel in the morning.Medicating yourself to sleep. Talk to your doctor if you find that you are unable to fall asleep or sleep soundly at night. There are a number of non-addictive sleep prescription medi cations that your doctor might feel are a good fit for your situation.

The Little-Known Secrets to Resume Reference Template

The Little-Known Secrets to Resume Reference Template Ruthless Resume Reference Template Strategies Exploited It ought to be visually compelling without being over the top if youre applying to a conventional company. There are many free creative resume vorlages its possible to use, enabling you to focus your energy on everything else you should do. You want recent references from those who may not only vouch for your character but the caliber of work you do. You want recent references from folks who may not only vouch for your character, but the caliber of work you do. Then you probably might end up not including some substantial locations and including others that are not that needed. DO guarantee that the remainder of your resume is completely machine readable. While all resumes must offer information in your work and education experience, along with your abilities and achievements, there are various approaches to present this info. All our resumes are a breeze to edit and theyre also able to be customized to your liking.Its the question that you probably on the lookout for. At the close of the day, everyone requires some schrift of a tool which they can use for reference. Read the five tips below to help you whenever you are attempting to discover a new job. If you wish to get a nice job, you require a good resume. How to Choose Resume Reference Template Job aspirants have to be conscious of a resume template rather than a programs vitae template. Making your resume is important. Producing your resume is essential. The layouts are created in a manner they make the resume stand out. The web templates are made in such a manner they make the resume get noticed. All our resume templates are in Microsoft Word, thats the simplest program to use. Several of the templates on this website are our own design. Get the Scoop on Resume Reference Template Before Youre Too Late You would rather not incorporate an email address with a typo or a telephone number thats missing a digit. Other Reference Letter Templates There are different templates on the internet that you are able to utilize to compose your reference letter. Always think about the reader requirements. Include your telephone number and email address. If you are requested to deliver a reference letter use our absolutely free letter of reference template below to help you begin. For instance, you might want to modify the font size or style. Remember your references ought to be on a single parcel of paper. A normal cover letter template will steer you to include all the essential contact info, the employers contact info, and direct you paragraph by paragraph to include all the needed elements of a very good cover letter. If it is possible, select references that are in a position to talk specifically about your qualifications for the job for which youre applying. Most often youll need to be in a position to provide three strong references to an employer when app lying for work. Even people really like to have their own reference list whilst visiting different customers. Possessing a list of references prepared to hand to a possible employer is one particular approach to demonstrate that you think ahead and are prepared. Title of the reference list with business name, business address and company contact information is going to be given at the surface of the list. Make certain you get the info youre looking for. Make sure to double check the information to make certain its correct. Better still, it highlights all the vital info and isnt hard to skim.

Up in Arms About Resume Writing for Lecturer?

Up in Arms About Resume Writing for Lecturer? The Chronicles of Resume Writing for Lecturer Resume is quite a few job applicants. Teaching jobs usually need specific degrees and certifications, so be certain to highlight your education. Resume objectives are something which you have to get right. You might need to also alter the focus of your description of every one of your previous positions. Learn about the three kinds of skills its possible to highlight and the way you are able to incorporate them into your resume. If so, your resume can nevertheless be quantified, and provide the hiring manager a concrete idea of the reach of your abilities and abilities. Your resume writer might be able to steer you toward job openings before the remaining portion of the pack. The professionally written resume is required to acquire a better job. Resume writing for women that are stay at home moms and are seeking to re-enter the workforce may be tricky thing. The writing services m ake sure that you find it possible to catch the eye of the recruiters so that you receive the interview call for your fantasy job. The Most Popular Resume Writing for Lecturer To confirm that you appoint the best professional resume writer youre able to afford use the next facts. Therefore, for your convenience, you have a superb chance to monitor the development of the assigned writer and make sure an essay will be ready in a timely method. Writers that are looking for writing resumes. Utilizing professional resume writing services can offer you an enormous advantage in the beginning stages of the screening practice. Professional Resume Services provides not just the ideal executive resume writing services, but could also assist with your LinkedIn profile development. To prosper in nearly every line, nowadays people need top-notch communication abilities. Keep in mind, your resume is an immediate marketing and advertising sales-letter. Up in Arms About Resume Writing for Lecturer? If you are searching for a resume writing company, then all you will need is to search the world wide web. While the resume writer should earn a living, their prices ought to be such you can afford the services rendered. At any writing service its the endeavor to give you the best of the services and also supply the resumes that are as per the newest market trends. At the moment job market is extremely competitive with the arrival of internet its in reality general to witness numerous resumes for the very same post. So once you should face an interview for a lecturers post, make certain that you mention the methods that you want to adopt to be able to test the students. So far as the students are involved, writing a research paper is among the toughest and frustrating undertaking in their opinion. A lecturer is somebody whos predicted to be rather versatile. An excellent lecturer is a person who teaches well and also have good procedures of assessing whether the s tudents have been in a position to grasp anything that has been taught. What You Dont Know About Resume Writing for Lecturer As stated above, its imperative you demonstrate how you differentiated instruction for several intelligences. With just a little initiative, students may close the gap between their education and the skills they will need to be successful. You didnt choose to be a teacher as you wished to turn into rich, you did it since you have passion for education. A lecturer especially needs to have brilliant communication skills as if he or she doesnt speak in a suitable manner then the students are never likely to comprehend whats being said to them.

5 Reasons Why We Like 5 Reasons Why Analyses

5 Reasons Why We Like 5 Reasons Why Analyses 5 Reasons Why We Like 5 Reasons Why Analyses Whether you are a writer or a reader, finding out why such lists and specifically numbered lists, e.g., The Top 5., are so appealing and effective should be very instructive, interesting and enlightening.So, why do we love lists and why, in particular, five-item lists?The Ten Commandments Two Lists of FiveEver since Moses two sets of five rules, weve paid special attention to lists. Lists of rules, lists of reasons, lists of types and categories, lists of admonitions and mistakes, lists of ingredients, lists of ways of doing things- the list of these lists is endless and unlimited, just like ur fondness for lists that are shorter, rather than longer.Again, perhaps because of the influence of the Bible, twelve in a list (e.g., 12 Steps, Santas 12 reindeer, the 12 Days of Christmas and the names of the 12 jurors in jury trials) seems to be ur preferred maximum (except in various other religious scriptures in which the 84-fold path to enlightenment, the 92 virtues or other such unwieldy lists get transmitted down the ages and through the catechisms of those religions faithful).The Stunning Dominance of 5The popularity of such numbered lists is truly staggering. Googling 5 ways to in quotes, for more restricted and specific results, I got 89,400,000 results. Thats a lot, but then there are also all of the five ways to Google listings- thats abedrngnisher 28,500,000 returns, for a total close to 120,000,000 and for just one digit 5., a.k.a. five.Heres how other numbers in the parade of N ways to (and N reasons why, in parentheses) fared in a Google search. Notice the prominent peaks at 5, 10 and 15- a pattern that is not only easily explained, but, as will be suggested below, explained in a way that accounts for the precise number of Mosaic commandments and the popularity of 5 and multiples of 5the 1/one way to 84,350,000 (22,839,000)2/two ways to 115,800,000 (13,940,000)3/th ree ways to 73,400,000 (18,570,000)4/four ways to 29,350,000 (7,480,000)5/five ways to 117,900,000 (39,600,000) (note the spike here)6/six ways to 24,340,000 (9,890,000) (note the plunge here)7/seven ways to 35,370,000 (14,280,000)8/eight ways to 33,600,000 (2,470,000)9/ways to 11,050,000 (2,058,000)10/ten ways to 125,000,000 (22,000,000) (note the spike here)11/eleven ways to 5,841,000 (1,833,000) (note the plunge here)12/twelve ways to 6,113,000 (1,355,000)13/thirteen ways to 3,558,000 (5,150,000)14/fourteen ways to 3,552,000 (368,800)15/fifteen ways to 8,602,000 (1,286,000) (note the spike here)16/sixteen ways to 1,450,000 (279,600) (note the plunge here)100/one hundred ways to 18,866,000 (2,129,000) inserted here for comparison with smaller digits.Note that, in my investigations above, 5 is the champ, with a combined total of 162,900,000, just ahead of the Mosaic 10, which tallied 147,000,000. Both 5 and 10 handily whupped all the others, in addition to scoring more than three t imes the tally for the main reason why and ten times the real reason why (for which I must confess a fondness).Why Lists?So, why this fascination with numbered lists- and, in particular, why lists of five? Responding to the first, more general question, here are five (yes, five) reasons for the popularity of such lists1. Appearance of simplification A list of Ten Rules for Effective Management seems to simplify the complex task of managing an enterprise. A list of cell-phone accessories simplifies ordering them. A list of Ten Commandments simplified the task of keeping desert tribes in line. Lists simplify sorting types and tasks.2. Appearance of exhaustiveness and exclusiveness If the items in the list do not actually exhaust and cover all of the types, categories, reasons, causes, etc., they can be made to appear to by identifying them as the top or the main ones. That makes our mental universe seem tidy. Exhaustively and, in addition, exclusively identifying listed factors, categ ories, etc., facilitates one-at-a-time, independent control of each.An ideal list will always have these two characteristics- the set of items in it will be both exhaustive, i.e., complete, with no important items omitted, and exclusive, i.e., with no overlap or interdependence of the individual items.For the purposes of control and management, the more exhaustive and exclusive the list, the better. A list of coin toss outcomes, e.g., heads or tails is such an exhaustive (no possibilities other than heads or tails) and exclusive (cant be both heads and tails) classification and has both of these characteristics, which define what is called a partition.Lists lacking one or both of these characteristics can still be useful, but will be much less so in connection with control or prediction, e.g., a partial or overlapping client list of top job requirements (an example of overlapping listed requirements being attention to detail, precision, accuracy, effective data organization). This i s a point further explored in 4, below.3. Appearance of manageability of information Short lists facilitate management of our memorization and memories of the items in them, of our presentation of the subject in a list format, and of their prioritization.Best for this purpose are mnemonic lists, e.g., the ABCD rule the dermatologists use for recognizing youve got a potentially lethal melanoma on your back (asymmetry, border that is irregular, color variation and diameter exceeding 6 millimeters). 4. Appearance of control A list item is frequently a control tool. From both a logical point of view and for the purpose of professional (self-) control, the following is a bad list of The (Top) Five Ways to Impress Your Boss be well groomed, keep your shoes polished, make a good impression, study Latin and display personal pride. It is badly flawed because, clearly, if it is a list of the (top) five ways, it omits many other equally or more important factors, e.g., always be punctual, show initiative.It also contains interdependent factors (being well groomed, displaying personal pride and having polished shoes), a problem that confuses the control issue through partial redundancies of effort. Make a good impression is useless as an item in a list of factors that will impress a babo, because it offers no guidance whatsoever as to how to control or do precisely that, and, worse, is presented as a subtype of itself, i.e., make a good impression as one way of making a good impression.Finally, study Latin may impress a Vatican recruiter, but probably no other (prospective) boss and therefore will not consistently be a job-outcome control factor (potentially backfiring if you work at a Greek restaurant). A top reason should not apply for only a minority of the target audience.5. Appearance of comprehensibility Lists make us feel that we understand and that we can communicate that understanding easily. Menus, which, after all, are merely lists, perfectly illustrate this fe ature of lists. All of the N Ways to Do Y, N Reasons for Z article titles that pop up in Google searches function the same way as the cover page of any restaurant menu, except that the former are designed to serve professional and personal objectives, rather than food. But for the objective of comprehensibility, the lists cant be too long. One reason I no longer pay attention to elementary particle physics is that the list of particles and their subtypes got too long (twelve types of elementary fermions. viz., six quarks and six leptons six bosons, fourteen hypothetical fermions and bosons, and a plethora of hadrons, baryons and mesons- altogether, far too many to remember, much less understand.Why 5?As for the second question- why are lists of five items the most common?- the list of reasons for this, of course, also has five items.The main overarching reason is that we are primates with pentadactyl extremities- five fingers on each hand and five toes on each foot, themselves branc hes off the pentagonal starfish-like overall symmetry of our bodies (one head, two arms, two legs- total five). So, counting based on 5 is natural, and as irresistible as base 10 arithmetic, i.e., our 10-finger-based powers-of-ten calculation method, e.g., 10, 100, 1000.Presumably, pigs, which are highly intelligent, would, in virtue of having tetradactyl appendages, i.e., 4 toes per foot, use base-8 math and follow The Eight Commandments (although in George Orwells pig-ruled Animal Farm the original list comprised exactly seven commandments).With that main reason understood, the specific five reasons why human writers and readers like 5 Reasons Why articles become obvious. These five reasons are that we have a(n)thumbindex fingermiddle fingerring fingerpinky fingerIf you, despite the compelling evidence and cogent argumentation Ive presented, are inclined to disagree with this 5-item analysis, allow me just one question.What other explanation could you possibly consider giving a hi gh-5?

Ten uncomfortable deeds that will pay off forever

Ten uncomfortable deeds that will pay off foreverTen uncomfortable deeds that will pay off foreverT.S. Eliot was clearly onto something when he asked, If you arent in over your head, how do you know how tall you are? The very act of stepping outside of your comfort zone is critical to your success and well-being.Our brains are wired such that its difficult to take action until we feel at least some stress and discomfort. In fact, performance peaks when were well out of our comfort zone. If youre too comfortable your performance suffers from inaction, and if you move too far outside of your comfort zone you melt down from stress.Peak performance and discomfort go hand in hand. Stepping outside of your comfort zone makes you better, and it doesnt have to be something as extreme as climbing Mount Everest. Its the everyday challenges that push your boundaries the most, none of which require a flight to Nepal. Step out of your comfort zone and embrace these challenges.Get up earlyUnless y oure a morning person, getting up earlier than usual can take youwayout of your comfort zone. However, if you get up well before you have to start getting ready for work, its worth it. It gives you an opportunity to collect your thoughts and mentally prepare yourself for the day ahead, rather than just dashing from one activity to another. It also gives you the opportunity to eat a good breakfast and exercise, both of which have well-known health benefits.Accomplish an impossible goalFew things compare to the exhilaration of accomplishing something that you didnt think you were capable of. These achievements fall so far outside of your comfort zone that they seem impossible. Maybe its running a marathon or giving a keynote speech at a convention. These accomplishments are worth every bit of suffering you endure to achieve them because once you finally do it, you feel invincible and carry that triumph with you forever.MeditateIts easy to get stuck in your comfort zone when youre so b usy that you dont slow down enough to really think about what youre doing and why youre doing it. Meditation is a great way to break this cycle and also happens to be very good for your brain. Harvard neuroscientist Sara Lazar found that meditation creates important physical changes in your brain. It increases brain density in areas responsible for self-control, focus, problem-solving, flexibility, and resilience. Best of all, these changes are lasting.Focus on one thing at a timeFocusing completely on a single task is a big risk- the risk of failing at something to which youve given your all. Thats why its so uncomfortable. The alternative- multitasking- is a real productivity killer. Research conducted at Stanford confirms that multitasking is less productive than doing a single thing at a time. The researchers found that people who are regularly bombarded with several streams of electronic information cannot pay attention, recall information, or switch from one job to another as well as those who complete one task at a time. When you try to do two things at once, your brain lacks the capacity to perform both tasks successfully. When you spread yourself too thin and chase after every bright, shiny thing that catches your eye, youre missing out on an important opportunity for personal growth.VolunteerIt would be great if everyone volunteered for purely altruistic reasons, but we all have demands on our time and have to set priorities. The problem is that after a long workday, volunteering can get pushed down somewhere below watching epic fail videos on YouTube. Volunteering is a powerful experience that feels good and expands your network at the same time. Have you ever met anyone who made volunteering a priority and wasnt changed for the better by the experience? Neither have I.Practice public speakingYouve likely heard that the majority of people fear public speaking more than death. In fact, 74 percent of Americans have glossophobia (the fancy word for a f ear of public speaking). So, yes, its a challenge. Its also worth it. Whether youre addressing five people around a table or an audience of five thousand, becoming a better public speaker can be a huge boon to your career.Talk to someone you dont knowUnless youre an extreme extrovert- or a politician- talking to new people probably makes you at least somewhat uncomfortable. Do it anyway. Social interaction is good for your mood (even when you dont like it), expands your network, exposes you to new ideas, and boosts your self-confidence.Bite your tongueSure, it can feelsogood to unload on somebody and let them know what you really think, but that good feeling is temporary. What happens the next day, the next week, or the next year? Its human nature to want to prove that youre right, but its rarely effective. In conflict, unchecked emotion makes you dig your heels in and fight the kind of battle that can leave you and the relationship severely damaged. When you read and respond to you r emotions, youre able to choose your battles wisely and only stand your ground when the time is right. The vast majority of the time, that means biting your tongue.Say noResearch conducted at the University of California, Berkeley showed that the more difficulty that you have saying no, the more likely you are to experience stress, burnout, and even depression. Saying no is indeed a major challenge for many people.Nois a powerful word that you should not be afraid to wield. When its time to say no, avoid phrases such asI dont think I canorIm not certain. Saying no to a new commitment honors your existing commitments and gives you the opportunity to successfully fulfill them. When you learn to say no, you free yourself from unnecessary constraints and free up your time and energy for the important things in life.Quit putting things offChange is hard. Self-improvement is hard. Scrounging up the guts to go for what you want is hard, and so is the work to make it happen. When things ar e hard, its always easier to decide to tackle them tomorrow. The problem is that tomorrow never comes. Saying youll do it tomorrow is just an excuse, and it means that either you dont really want to do it or that you want the results without the hard work that comes along with it.Bringing it all togetherStaying in your comfort zone means stagnation. Just as an oyster only makes a pearl when its irritated by a grain of sand, no one has ever accomplished anything remarkable when comfortable.Travis Bradberryis the award-winning co-author ofEmotional Intelligence 2.0,and the cofounder ofTalentSmart.This column originally appeared at LinkedIn.Have you found success stepping outside your comfort zone? Tell us about it on The Climb.

I stopped saying sorry at work and heres what happened

I stopped saying sorry at work and heres what happenedI stopped saying sorry at work - and heres what happenedAs a kid, I always thought that if I apologized for an action, even one that wasnt my fault, it would somehow diffuse the situation and make everyone happier. It became such a force of habit that I hardly noticed when I said it.Someone bumped in to me on the street spilling my ice cream? Im sorry, I wasnt looking. A classmate got in trouble for losing a book? Im so sorry that happened. Why I was taking on the responsibility of making everyone happier did not really dawn on me until much later.This apology addiction continued well into adulthood as I spent the early part of my careerapologizing. As a lawyer in private practice, I was beholden to mora senior attorneys, who were beholden to clients. Apologies galore Then, when I went the non-profit route in consumer protection, there were apologies mixed in to daily conversations, with my supervisors, our constituents, and pre tty much everyone under the sun. Somehow, I believed that a situation could not possibly be rectified until I apologized for it. What an unbearable burdenYears later, when Istarted my own business, this need to be liked even by people who were directly paying for my services became a serious issue. In my first year of practice, an old college friend hired me to help her find anew job. When I was discussing my fees, I told her my rates but apologized immediately and said she could pay what she wanted considering our friendship. What? Why would I do that, Elana? I should and will pay you your rate.Record scratch. I realized how I was devaluing my work and myself by apologizing for asking to be compensated properly. How could I possibly help other women feel confident in their own abilities if I didnt feel confident in mine?This perspective shift helped immensely as I began to counsel professional women through career transitions. Most acutely, I landsee it when clients struggle to neg otiate offers orrequest promotions. The fear of being perceived as aggressive or too threatening runs deep and, unfortunately, counter to professional growth. The desire for approval, mixed with a dose ofimposter syndrome, prevents many women from going after what they want and demanding their rightful due.When people ask about my services now, I no longer pause before stating my rates. If someone cant afford them and I feel I have something to offer, then accommodations can be made. But, I dont and wont apologize for wanting to be paid.Take a random day and count how many times the phrase Im sorry exits your lips, particularly in the workplace. I bet you will be shocked. Then, consider whether an apology was warranted in each of those circumstances or whether it was simply a reactive way of mitigatingconflict or unnecessarily absorbing the blame. Yes, it might feel awkward at first and yes, you might need to change your approach and your vocabulary tomore appropriately address the situation. You may also start noticing that your world is filled with chronic apologizers. Be unapologetic about telling others to stop the unnecessary apologizing.This post originally appeared onFairygodbossand has been reprinted with permission.