7 Ways to Protect Your Career Momentum As a Mom Who Works From Home

7 Ways to Protect Your Career Momentum As a Mom Who Works From Home Working moms worka lotand, contrary to popular belief, just because some work at home doesnt mean that theyve got it easy.In fact, a Welchs study suggests that working moms clock in the equivalent of two full-time jobs, working an average of 98 hours per week when family responsibilities are considered. This means that the average working mom typically begins zu sich day around 623 a.m. and doesnt call it quits until about 831 p.m.A flexible work schedule, like one that allows remote work, is important to 70 percent of working motzu sichs, according to the Pew Research Center. But just because some working mothers work from home doesnt mean that theyre notlage still churning and burning. There are pros and cons to working with the children around. Saving money on commuting and childcare costs and being physically there with the kids (even if not mentally present) are benefits, but juggling work with parenting at the same time inevitably leaves little space to fully focus on one or the other.Thats why one FGBer, EdesRozsa, took to the community board to ask other work-from-home mothers how they handle it all.How do you both work from home and take care of the kids? she asked.Her sons four months, 11 years and 15 years old. Her job is 100 percent remote, which means that she works from home. But, while at home, she also has to tend to family responsibilities. Recently, her husband and baby got sick and she soon followed suit. Meanwhile, her older sons are starting school, which means they have to attend open houses and shop for their supplies and uniforms. Her oldest son is getting his permit and she needs to help him practice driving. Shes dealing with her father, two states away, who needs care. And her in-laws are dealing with stuff, so shes dealing with their stuff, too. Her infant doesnt want to sleep in his crib, but rather only in her arms. And shes always busy running back and forth betw een school and doctors appointments.How do you get your family to respect that you are actually at work? she asks the community. How do you convince the big kids not to bug you every three minutes while theyre home on summer break, or right when they get home from school? And what do you do with a toddler or a pre-schooler? What are your best tips, ladies? Im desperateAs they always do, FGB working moms are chiming in to offer her their best advice on how they personally manage a work-life balance while working from home. Heres what they have to say.1. Isolate yourself in a home amtsstube.I had a separate room with the door and, when it welches closed, they could not come in, FGBer BostonG says. I would suggest hiring a sitter, as I was never able to work and watch my kids. So someone came to my house while I worked in our home office.2. Treat it like an office job, and set boundaries.Treat is as if you would an office job, FGBer L A White says. Make set hours and stick to it. Set f irm boundaries. If you are on a conference call, they are quiet. As for the four-month-old, daycare is the only way, unless you plan to work only while they are sleeping and that will make for a cranky mom. Having the baby home on the occasional sick day is fine, but if you hope to be productive and successful, you need to set boundaries and treat it no differently than an office job.FGBer Patty Raymond Turner recommends even putting physical boundaries up.A few of my friends have a Working, Do Not Disturb sign they place on their home office door, she says.3. Hire a sitter and/or send the kids off.From a manager perspective, if I have a remote employee with young kids, childcare is a requirement, says an anonymous FGBer. A person cannot concentrate/focus on the job they need to do if they are also taking care of a four-month-old. I had to let a remote employee go because she wasnt answering email, phone calls or IMs in a timely manner, and the work was not getting done. She also h ad four kids ages six and under in the house, who I suspect were eating into her workday.Another FGBer, EmpoweredGirl264966, agrees that a sitter situation is necessary. She explains that it took a while for her family to understand that work time for her is work time. She has a dedicated home office space, and they are to stay out of it during the day. But she also keeps her children busy or makes sure that theres someone else to care for them while she, herself, is busy.You need daycare, a sitter or the other parent 100 percent responsible for any children under five, she explains. I have been 100 percent remote for five years. I have an eight-year-old son. I start my days early so I can get work done before he gets up. I sent him to a preschool that was four hours a day and was only three minutes from my home, so drop-offs and pick-ups could be accomplished in 10 minutes. During the summer, I sign him up for camps... When dad is off... I usually dont sign him up for stuff so dad can have time with him... During the school year, he is in school most of the day, and I have him in an afterschool class once a week to give me even more child-free time.4. Prioritize work first, which requires making arrangements.Working from home is not meant to be done in lieu of daycare, says an anonymous user. I work from home full time, but my child is grown. I started working from home when he was 11. The occasional snow day is one thing but, generally when working from home, you are expected to work first. Those hours belong to your employer. Blowing off your work without taking PTO to handle your father/your kids open houses/etc. makes employers suspicious of all of us. On the other hand, if you have some sort of piecemeal/pay by the task/etc. set up, and the hours dont belong to the employer, then you need to decide where your priorities are and follow them.5. Dont try to do it all yourself.I was remote for about three years and thought I could do it all and you just cant , honestly, says FGBers Jackie Perez_111. At some point, your well-being will suffer, and then burn out begins. Its not a fun place to be in. I ended up having my cousin watch my then-one-year-old four days a week while I worked, and I then had the flexibility to be present one day with the kids and house/errands in another.6. Ask for help.Ask for help FGBers Jackie Perez_111 adds. Voice your concerns and how you want to feel and what you need from your spouse and older kids to make this a happy environment for all. Plan the month out, and then divide and conquer. Take time to prep clothes and/or meals ahead of time, so you can free up more time.7. Work odd hours, if possible.I worked from home when my kids were young one to two and a half years old, says FGBer Gail_. I used to get up around 4 to 5 am to work until they woke up, and then work during their naps and for a few hours after they went to bed around 8 pm. Luckily mine was project-based, and I didnt need to work only during scheduled work hours though.Getting up early seems to help other mothers, too.What helped me was getting up early in the morning and getting in full work clothes hair, make-up like I was going to the office, says Melissa Negron. Sometimes two uninterrupted hours equal six at the office. Check for urgent emails and ignore emails for the first hour. And no laundry, dishes, picking up. None of that. And like the other ladies said, hire someone to look after the baby.--AnnaMarie Houlis is a feminist, a freelance journalist and an adventure aficionado with an affinity for impulsive solo travel. She spends her days writing about womens empowerment from around the world. You can follow her work on her blog, HerReport.org, and follow her journeys on Instagram her_report,Twitterherreportand Facebook.

Private Facts on Combination Resume Examples Only the Pros Know About

Private Facts on Combination Resume Examples Only the Pros Know About The following is an instance of a combination resume. Even if you decide to use a combination resume template, it doesnt imply that you must stick to a rigid structure. When youre using combination resume, summary block is among the most crucial. A combination resume sample gives examples of what things to put in each individual section that the candidate can use as a guide to make certain they make the the majority of the practical combination resume format. It is possible to also incorporate a concise description of the business or the department you work for, in the event your employer is an immense multinational with various divisions. Possessing a great resume format is vital to organizing your data in a sense which will help you become noticed. Be certain that youre using recent and accurate info, including your existing phone number and email address. Irrespective of format, your resume should star t out with your name and contact information so employers can readily get in touch. Well, luckily, theres a fairly straight forward way to identify which resume format would work the very best for you. Your resumes header is a kind of handshake involving you and possible employers. No resume format is ideal, which means you might be better off picking another format in the event the disadvantages below feel like a huge deal to you. Simply take a look to learn which format you need to use. Things You Wont Like About Combination Resume Examples and Things You Will Still, there are a number of typical rules on the best way to do it. The notion of the combination resume for career changers is theyre ready to recognize their transferable abilities and organize them in an acceptable manner to supply the possible employer with a guide to the sort of worker they are so they can assess how they are going to perform in the new function. The majority of the document is going to be base d on your abilities and your employment history, so lets start from that point. As the foundation for the combination resume lies in a balance of information, it doesnt especially emphasize the work experience or education of the person, its therefore not widely advisable for students or entry-level applicants who may be more interested in the conventional student resume style or entry-level resume format. Experience is provided in a style that will show knowledge in the area of consumer support, without giving a complete work history. Its also valuable to include examples of experience youve got in customer services. In every career, there are several kinds of skills needed to be successful. The usual advice is to mention only your greatest level of education. A combination resume emphasizes relevant abilities and accomplishments at the peak of your resume. It resume is designed to help potential employers understand how your skills and professional experience relate, so y ou might consider including skills and abilities youve learned from previous employers as they relate to your next position. Ruthless Combination Resume Examples Strategies Exploited A good Sample Resume Free with a suitable format is essential as a way to catch the interest of the employer when theyre looking for prospective recruits. The Chronological Resume Examples are an essential document for folks wishing to land in with work. Resumes are an essential document in regards to applying for work or a position inside an organization. Since chronological resumes are an essential document, its vital to compose a nice and appropriate chronological resume that could assist the applicant to acquire the job theyve applied for.

The New Fuss About Accounting Resume Objectives

The New Fuss About Accounting Resume Objectives What Does Accounting Resume Objectives Mean? Qualifications and techniques on an entry level accounting resume may relate to certain skills linked to the trade, or else they may be personal characteristics and capabilities which make the work candidate desirable for hire. As soon as its almost a given that any prospective applicant will have accounting program experience, you still need to list all the relevant applications on your bookkeeping resume. In order to make the most of your accounting and finance resume, its also wise to have an MBA or some equivalent small business education also. To acquire an accounting job which you do not require excellent grades but the essential skills. Locate the HR forms youre searching for here. Well developed accounting resume will fetch you a very good job amongst the vacancies offered in the marketplace. Alas, many employers only scan resumes for a couple seconds before choosing whether to continue reading. Read below for a couple strategies for writing a finance resume. Take into consideration the simple fact that the employers might have to read even hundreds of resumes and pick only a single person and make yours a special paper. Whether youre a recent accounting graduate or youve been in the area for over a decade, crafting the ideal accountant resume objective could help make certain your resume stands out from the remainder of the stack. If you have sufficient experience and would like to demonstrate how much you have worked in a particular field, you can decide to earn a chronological resume. Its still true that you have accomplishments. In 7 minutes, you are going to know precisely how to compose a job-winning accounting resume. The Basic Facts of Accounting Resume Objectives An entry level accounting resume is the very first step in gaining employment in the area. Understanding of tax strategies and preparation are generally utilized too. Writin g an entry-level accounting resume can look like a scary task due to absence of practical expertise in hand. Crafting a strong accounting resume is not merely important, its mandatory Along with the abilities and work history sections, its also wise to place them in the resume objective. You can take advantage of particular metrics in your resume to highlight the reach of your professional experience. Your abilities and experiences have to be highlighted in your resume. You also need to figure out ways to demonstrate your analytical abilities and detail-oriented strategy. The outcome is the customers successes are theirs. Thus, in a bid to retain talent and keep competitive, companies are prepared to pay more. In the industry sector, it can signify showing clients whether or not it is a great time to open a worldwide satellite. Resumes are now designed to supply a value statementnormally a couple of small paragraphsthat illustrates a candidates finest attributes and techniq ues, and then validates them in some manner. In a couple of minutes, youll have a flawless illustration of exactly how incredible you are as a prospective hire. A proactive problem-solver and determined achiever whos searching for a chance to prove himself. Theres no greater place to view how you should write a nice and competitive resume, then by searching online. Accounting Resume Objectives - Dead or Alive? Tailoring your objective to meet the necessities of the open position is always a great notion, as giving hiring managers exactly what they would like to hear is a great way to get ahead of different applicants. Whatever certifications youve got, make sure theyre related to the work opening. The target is particularly important when youre searching for an entry level job to jump start your career in a special field. The resume above is a great instance of how to leverage that experience to find that bigger, better job you desire. State your purpose and why youre inter ested in the work position. If you are able to, utilize the business and the work positions language. When youre asking for a particular position, it is better to compose a resume that includes a resume objective on top of the very first page. If youre interested in turning in an application for an exciting city position, you prefer to inform your prospective employer that youre the appropriate candidate for the job. A premium quality sample accounting resume will contain all the key terms and phrases an employer will be searching for a number of times throughout the resume. Youre able to find only outlines of resumes or already made resumes that may serve you as a model, no matter the sort of job that you need and the field in which youre specialized. If it comes to resumes, you will discover a lot of website providing high regular examples of resumes which could serve you as model for a professionally written letter. Together with helping with your layout, resume examples are able to help you see what type of content you should put in your document. Ruthless Accounting Resume Objectives Strategies Exploited Your resume often is going to be the very first opportunity you need to leave a great impression with a possible employer. There are various pardon resources on the internet that meet the cost of Beautiful Cpa Resume Sample. Not if you would like the goodjobs with higher pay. Personalizing a resume for a certain opportunity with a particular employer is very likely to earn a positive impression on a recruiter.

5 Irrational Thoughts and Fears Before a Job Interview

5 Irrational Thoughts and Fears Before a Job vorstellungsgesprch5 Irrational Thoughts and Fears Before a Job InterviewFear of a job bewerbungsgesprch can be one of the most intensely stressful feelings in life. But you have to do it at some point to get your dream job.In the past five years, I had attended more than two dozen job interviews in my native New York City. This blog describes the irrational thoughts and fears I experienced before job interviews.I discovered quickly that having some sort of job from ages 13 (the day after I got my Working Papers) to age 40 left me poorly prepared for job interviews. I did not know how to interview because most of the jobs I had in my career were transfers from one job to the next. I honigwein someone in a business lunch, office or meeting, and they hired me after a few phone calls or emails.Times change for everyone and we all have to conquer our fears before job interviews. It is necessary to have a job interview with confidence.5. I will change all my social media pics to younger pictures of meThis thought, fear, and action took place long before my first job interview. My mind was fearing age discrimination, a problem I discovered people of all ages face, ironically. I changed all my social media pictures to younger versions believing, This way, they will not age discriminate.When I got to the job interview, they looked at me like I had ten heads. They do not recognize me from my picture on LinkedIn because the picture was 15 to 20 years-old. In a passive way, I communicated that I have a problem with my age.However, the only way to end up in the perfect job is to be true to yourself, first. Attending interviews under false pretenses has rarely been successful for anyone.Interview Fear Tip Be true to yourself from day one of job interview preparation. It will eventually pay dividends. If you have a fear of a job interview because of your social media activity, take your accounts private.4. All my interview clothes make me look fatIt is 9 pm the night before the job interview. There is nothing like pulling every stitch of clothing out of my closet, and trying it on, to make myself feel anxious before a job interview. The reality of fear is that it often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.I was in fear that something was wrong with me, and therefore the complete strangers I was to meet in my job interview would not feel uncomfortable around me. They will have no idea what my problem is and will instead take it as a sign I should be excluded as a job candidate.Interview Fear Tip It is great to prepare the night before job interviews. Try not to overthink it. You are going to meet complete strangers. You need to feel your best.3. I am going to show them I can be early for work and show up early for the job interviewIt is 8 am the morning before a job interview. I want to make a great impression by showing up extra-early. I have a 10 am interview, so I decide to get there at 930 am and proceed to sit in front of the receptionist for a half-hour. And I find out there are better ways to show my commitment to a company before the job interview. For example, showing up at the agreed-upon time for the job interview.We all used Google calendar for a reason. We live in a fast-paced busy world where we try to manage time right down to the very minutes we spend on tasks. I showed up too early for a job interview and rushed or inconvenienced around me. I threw off their interview schedule.Interview Fear Tip Do not let your fear of job interviews lead you to ignore the boundaries of employers. It is ok to show up early for workafter they hire you. Right now, it is best to be on time for the job interview. You are showing your social awareness and professionalism.2. I am going to tell them all about my amazing experiences in my careerI used to get this brilliant idea many times before job interviews. This irrational thought has since leuchtdiode to very long job interviews in which hir ing managers nearly fell asleep and I was never hired. I made this mistake a few times until I woke up one day and realized this tip.Interview Fear Tip Do not let your fear of a job interview take you off script. Stick to describing how you can help them with their needs because of your experience. Make the job interview less about, Here I am and more about There you are and heres how I can help.1. I will impress them with my knowledge of their companyThis thought popped into my head before job interviews in which I knew I was qualified. Assuming I knew more about a company than the actual people who worked there led to a very bad job interview. For example, the job interview I write about in this post took place about 3 years ago.I went to a job interview at a new company founded in New York City called Peleton, which has since seen much success. At the time, Peleton was growing quickly and already popular around New York City. As New Yorkers do, I take pride and ownership in anyth ing Made in NY. So, before the job interview, I researched the company and spoke to people who used the product. I got dressed in my best suit and was armed with a knowledge of both customers and product. This was a good idea, but my application of this knowledge went all wrong for the job interview.I got to the office in Silicon Alley, NYC and found myself being interviewed by a young company of smart people who clearly had little time to be impressed. They needed things done. In my attempts to impress, I believe I came across as a know-it-all, grotuerisch suit who talked too much. They had enough of me after about 20 minutes.Interview Fear Tip It is great to research a company and know the product. This all means very little if you cannot stop talking long enough to let the employer speak.The actual job interview and afterThis has been a list of irrational thoughts and fears before one specific job interview. Check out this blog to find out the irrational thoughts and fears I had after the job interview.

How to Get a Job Referral From a Facebook Friend

How to Get a Job Referral From a Facebook FriendHow to Get a Job Referral From a Facebook FriendNot long ago I welches a job seeker. At one pointI read statistics about employee referrals being the best way to secure a job. This inspired me to focus on networking to get a referral. As a new grad, my network happened to be small and not so diverse, but that didnt discourage me.I found that the most efficient way to reach out to my network was to engage with them on social media- and for me, the best venue for this was Facebook. I looked for friends with similar majors who had secured offers from attractive companies or who had the right connections, and I learned the following tips.1. Join groups, follow companies and keep an eye on status updatesAt the time I did not realize the value of Facebook Groups, but I found that they provided the potential to broaden my network. Many new grads join groups specific to their schools and majors such as UCLA Class of 2014, Electrical Engineering where they can share updates about career opportunities. Joining the right groups offers access to three types of resources 1. A network with a common interest 2. Information about how people are getting interviews and offers 3. People who know about opportunities and will refer others.You also can follow individual companies. Engaging with a company on social media keeps you in tune with the company culture, industry news, career opportunities and you can see if any of your friends also follow the company. Maybe they work there.Another quick and easy way to search for work is to skim your news feed for posts about job opportunities. I knew a number of people who posted statuses about positions for which their company was hiring.2. Evaluate the referrer and yourselfOnce youve identified a friend who might be able to help you, dont go in blindly. Just because someone is your friend doesnt mean you shouldnt do your homework first.Take time to check out the companys Facebook page, off icial website and your friends profile. Does the company seem like a good fit? Is your friend someone you can imagine yourself working alongside? If so, the next move it to determine if youre qualified for the position.Dont approach your friend if youre clearly unqualified. Referrers only want to refer those who are marketable and likely to get hired, so you need to present yourself as an asset.Side musiknote If the part isnt yet your friend, Robert Meyer, Simply Hireds Social Media Community Manager, suggests that Its never good to try to connect with someone without a mutual connection or an explanation to why youre friending them. Its best to have a mutual contact friend introduce you. Or you can try to interact with these people in groups on Facebook and then after becoming acquainted, request to connect.3. Use your interactions on social media to build common groundOn Facebook you can uncover lifestyle habits. Take a gander at your friends profile to get a sense of their person ality and possibly some insight into their experience with their company.Once you see a conversation-starter, go ahead and reach out. I recommend using private messages because its more personal. Be sincere about the way you approach your friend. Dont jump straight into asking for a referral unless they explicitly posted a status in which they were receptive to referring others. You want to establish a strong relationship because this person needs to be able to vouch for you.On another note, dont forget to curate your own profile to project an authentic yet professional image. Privacy settings are great for this purpose.Bonus TipsThe best policy is to treat a referrer as you would a recruiter.Recruiters like responsive candidates. The speediness of your reply can be an indicator of your enthusiasm for the job, so stay on top of your social interactions. But if your friend isnt responsive, as with recruiters, do not pester them with private messages. Courteously follow up one to two times, max, and if there is no response, it is best to move on. Also, youd never forget to thank a recruiter for their time, so remember to show your friend the same appreciation.Your referrer isnt a recruiter (unless they actually are). Unlike recruiters, your referrer knows you on a more personal level, and you have the chance to get honest feedback. Whether you end up getting the job or not, you can ask your referrer for improvement points.The relationship doesnt end after you get the job. You may or may not end up working intimately with this person. Remember when someone refers you, your performance also reflects on them.What goes around comes around. If you do get the job, you want to be a resource to others and pay back the good karma you received. Sharing is caring now that you are equipped with a job, stay aware of any openings at your company and help others the way you were helped.Read MoreHow to Take Advantage of Social Media Networks in Your Job SearchUse Your Network J ob Hunting With Social Media

Minimum Wage

Minimum WageMinimum WageThe Federal minimum wage is the minimum amount of money that an employer can pay a covered nonexempt employee for an hour worked. The Federal minimum wage provisions are contained in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Many states also have minimum wage laws. Check your state for its minimum wage requirements. You can view an up-to-datelist of the minimum wages in all of the states. The list also includes information about minimum wage hikes that are currently scheduled. Do ersatzdarsteller check with your state even though these figures are comprehensive. It is easy to make a mistake. Where an employee is subject to both the state and Federal minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher of the two minimum wages. The Federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 per hour. But, many states require employers to pay more than that - and a number of states had scheduled increases in 2014. See if you state was one of them. Various minimum wage exceptions a pply under specific circumstances to workers with disabilities, full-time students, youth under age 20 in their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment, tipped employees and student-learners. In 2014, for example,employees working onfederal service and construction contracts have a new minimum wage of $10.10 per hour. This new law took effect for all new and expiring contracts on January 1, 2015. Congress periodically raises the minimum wage, so make sure that you are paying the current and appropriate wage by checking with your state and Federal departments of labor. In 2015, the conversation about minimum wage has turned to $15.00 per hour with some states, municipalities, and locales implementing?or talking about implementing?this wage hike. You may also be interested in? ?overtime pay independent contractor How to Schedule and Pay Seasonal and Temporary Employees The Impact of the Minimum Wage Increase More Minimum Wage Resources Department of Labor Minimum Wage Website

10 fundamental truths that will change your life

10 fundamental truths that will change yur life10 fundamental truths that will change your lifeIts surprising how easy it is to lose sight of the important things in life. Busy schedules and regular routines have a tendency to put the brain on autopilot.When things arent going quite the way youd like them to, its often because youve lost focus on what really matters. But focusing on lifes fundamental truths can be difficult, especially when they remind you that youre heading in the wrong direction.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThe best things in life dont come easily, and failing to observe yourself carefully is a aya path to mediocrity. I believe that Socrates said it bestThe unexamined life isnt worth living.Socrates observation also applies to business. When Eric Schmidt was CEO of Google, he famously said, We zustrom this company on questions, not answers.Life and business run on questions, not answers. You should be asking yourself regularly if youre headed in the right direction.Many of lifes essential truths need repeating. We need reminders that help us to stay focused on them. Keep these truths funktelefon and theyre sure to give you a much-needed boost.Great success is often preceded by failureYou will never experience true success until you learn to embrace failure. Your mistakes pave the way for you to succeed by revealing when youre on the wrong path.The biggest breakthroughs typically come when youre feeling the most frustrated and the most stuck. Its this frustration that forces you to think differently, to look outside the kasten and see the solution that youve been missing.Success takes patience and the ability to maintain a good attitude even while suffering for what you believe in.Being busy does not equal being productiveLook at everyone around you. They all seem so busy - running from meeting to meeting and firing off emails. Yet ho w many of them are really producing, really succeeding at a high level?Success doesnt come from movement and activity. It comes from focus - from ensuring that your time is used efficiently and productively.You get the same number of hours in the day as everyone else. Use yours wisely. After all, youre the product of your output, not your effort. Make certain your efforts are dedicated to tasks that get results.Youre only as good as those you associate withYou should strive to surround yourself with people who inspire you, people who make you want to be better. And you probably do. But what about the people who drag you down? Why do you allow them to be a part of your life?Anyone who makes you feel worthless, anxious, or uninspired is wasting your time and, quite possibly, making you more like them. Life is too short to associate with people like this. Cut them loose.Youre living the life youve createdYou are not a victim of circumstance. No one can force you to make decisions and take actions that run contrary to your values and aspirations.The circumstances youre living in today are your own - you created them. Likewise, your future is entirely up to you. If youre feeling stuck, its probably because youre afraid to take the risks necessary to achieve your goals and live your dreams.When its time to take action, remember that its always better to be at the bottom of the ladder you want to climb than at the top of one you dont.Fear is the 1 source of regretWhen its all said and done, you will lament the chances you didnt take far more than you will your failures. Dont be afraid to take risks.I often hear people say, Whats the worst thing that can happen to you? Will it kill you? Yet, death isnt the worst thing that can happen to you.The worst thing that can happen to you is allowing yourself to die inside while youre still alive.You dont have to wait for an apology to forgiveLife goes a lot smoother once you let go of grudges and forgive even those who never said they were sorry. Grudges let negative events from your past ruin todays happiness. Hate and anger are emotional parasites that destroy your joy in life.The negative emotions that come with unternehmensverbund on to a grudge create a stress response in your body, and holding on to stress can have devastating health consequences. Researchers at Emory University have shown that holding on to stress contributes to high blood pressure and heart disease.When you forgive someone, it doesnt condone their actions it simply frees you from being their eternal victim.Live in the momentYou cant reach your full potential until you learn to live your life in the present.No amount of guilt can change the past, and no amount of anxiety can change the future. Its impossible to be happy if youre constantly somewhere else, unable to fully embrace the reality (good or bad) of this very moment.To help yourself live in the moment, you must do two thingsAccept your past. If you dont make peace with y our past, it will never leave you and, in doing so, it will create your future.Accept the uncertainty of the future. Worry has no place in the here and now. As Mark Twain once said, Worrying is like paying a debt you dont owe.Your self-worth must come from withinWhen your sense of pleasure and satisfaction are derived from comparing yourself to others, you are no longer the master of your own destiny. When you feel good about something that youve done, dont allow anyones opinions or accomplishments to take that away from you.While its impossible to turn off your reactions to what others think of you, you dont have to compare yourself to others, and you can always take peoples opinions with a grain of salt. That way, no matter what other people are thinking or doing, your self-worth comes from within. Regardless of what people think of you at any particular moment, one thing is certain - youre never as good or bad as they say you are.Life is shortNone of us are guaranteed a tomorrow . Yet, when someone dies unexpectedly it causes us to take stock of our own life whats really important, how we spend our time, and how we treat other people.Loss is a raw, visceral reminder of the frailty of life. It shouldnt be.Remind yourself every morning when you wake up that each day is a gift and youre bound to make the most of the blessing youve been given. The moment you departure acting like life is a blessing is the moment it will start acting like one.After all, a great day begins with a great mindset.Change is inevitable - embrace itOnly when you embrace change can you find the good in it. You need to have an open mind and open arms if youre going to recognize, and capitalize on, the opportunities that change creates.Youre bound to fail when you keep doing the same things you always have in the hope that ignoring change will make it go away.After all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.Life doesnt sto p for anyone. When things are going well, appreciate them and enjoy them, as they are bound to change. If you are always searching for something more, something better, that you think is going to make you happy, youll never be present enough to enjoy the great moments before theyre gone.Bringing it all togetherStaying focused and asking the hard questions can be extremely uncomfortable. But we dont learn and grow by sticking with whats comfortable.Thisarticlefirst appeared on LinkedIn.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people10 fundamental truths that will change your lifeIts surprising how easy it is to lose sight of the important things in life. Busy schedules and regular routines h ave a tendency to put the brain on autopilot.When things arent going quite the way youd like them to, its often because youve lost focus on what really matters. But focusing on lifes fundamental truths can be difficult, especially when they remind you that youre heading in the wrong direction.The best things in life dont come easily, and failing to observe yourself carefully is a sure path to mediocrity. I believe that Socrates said it bestThe unexamined life isnt worth living.Socrates observation also applies to business. When Eric Schmidt was CEO of Google, he famously said, We run this company on questions, not answers.Life and business run on questions, not answers. You should be asking yourself regularly if youre headed in the right direction.Many of lifes essential truths need repeating. We need reminders that help us to stay focused on them. Keep these truths handy and theyre sure to give you a much-needed boost.Great success is often preceded by failureYou will never experie nce true success until you learn to embrace failure. Your mistakes pave the way for you to succeed by revealing when youre on the wrong path.The biggest breakthroughs typically come when youre feeling the most frustrated and the most stuck. Its this frustration that forces you to think differently, to look outside the box and see the solution that youve been missing.Success takes patience and the ability to maintain a good attitude even while suffering for what you believe in.Being busy does not equal being productiveLook at everyone around you. They all seem so busy - running from meeting to meeting and firing off emails. Yet how many of them are really producing, really succeeding at a high level?Success doesnt come from movement and activity. It comes from focus - from ensuring that your time is used efficiently and productively.You get the same number of hours in the day as everyone else. Use yours wisely. After all, youre the product of your output, not your effort. Make cert ain your efforts are dedicated to tasks that get results.Youre only as good as those you associate withYou should strive to surround yourself with people who inspire you, people who make you want to be better. And you probably do. But what about the people who drag you down? Why do you allow them to be a part of your life?Anyone who makes you feel worthless, anxious, or uninspired is wasting your time and, quite possibly, making you more like them. Life is too short to associate with people like this. Cut them loose.Youre living the life youve createdYou are not a victim of circumstance. No one can force you to make decisions and take actions that run contrary to your values and aspirations.The circumstances youre living in today are your own - you created them. Likewise, your future is entirely up to you. If youre feeling stuck, its probably because youre afraid to take the risks necessary to achieve your goals and live your dreams.When its time to take action, remember that its a lways better to be at the bottom of the ladder you want to climb than at the top of one you dont.Fear is the 1 source of regretWhen its all said and done, you will lament the chances you didnt take far more than you will your failures. Dont be afraid to take risks.I often hear people say, Whats the worst thing that can happen to you? Will it kill you? Yet, death isnt the worst thing that can happen to you.The worst thing that can happen to you is allowing yourself to die inside while youre still alive.You dont have to wait for an apology to forgiveLife goes a lot smoother once you let go of grudges and forgive even those who never said they were sorry. Grudges let negative events from your past ruin todays happiness. Hate and anger are emotional parasites that destroy your joy in life.The negative emotions that come with holding on to a grudge create a stress response in your body, and holding on to stress can have devastating health consequences. Researchers at Emory University hav e shown that holding on to stress contributes to high blood pressure and heart disease.When you forgive someone, it doesnt condone their actions it simply frees you from being their eternal victim.Live in the momentYou cant reach your full potential until you learn to live your life in the present.No amount of guilt can change the past, and no amount of anxiety can change the future. Its impossible to be happy if youre constantly somewhere else, unable to fully embrace the reality (good or bad) of this very moment.To help yourself live in the moment, you must do two thingsAccept your past. If you dont make peace with your past, it will never leave you and, in doing so, it will create your future.Accept the uncertainty of the future. Worry has no place in the here and now. As Mark Twain once said, Worrying is like paying a debt you dont owe.Your self-worth must come from withinWhen your sense of pleasure and satisfaction are derived from comparing yourself to others, you are no longe r the master of your own destiny. When you feel good about something that youve done, dont allow anyones opinions or accomplishments to take that away from you.While its impossible to turn off your reactions to what others think of you, you dont have to compare yourself to others, and you can always take peoples opinions with a grain of salt. That way, no matter what other people are thinking or doing, your self-worth comes from within. Regardless of what people think of you at any particular moment, one thing is certain - youre never as good or bad as they say you are.Life is shortNone of us are guaranteed a tomorrow. Yet, when someone dies unexpectedly it causes us to take stock of our own life whats really important, how we spend our time, and how we treat other people.Loss is a raw, visceral reminder of the frailty of life. It shouldnt be.Remind yourself every morning when you wake up that each day is a gift and youre bound to make the most of the blessing youve been given. The moment you start acting like life is a blessing is the moment it will start acting like one.After all, a great day begins with a great mindset.Change is inevitable - embrace itOnly when you embrace change can you find the good in it. You need to have an open mind and open arms if youre going to recognize, and capitalize on, the opportunities that change creates.Youre bound to fail when you keep doing the same things you always have in the hope that ignoring change will make it go away.After all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.Life doesnt stop for anyone. When things are going well, appreciate them and enjoy them, as they are bound to change. If you are always searching for something more, something better, that you think is going to make you happy, youll never be present enough to enjoy the great moments before theyre gone.Bringing it all togetherStaying focused and asking the hard questions can be extremely uncomfortable. But we dont learn and grow by sticking with whats comfortable.Thisarticlefirst appeared on LinkedIn.