Active Listening Skills – 4 Tips to Practice

by
active-listening-skills

Developing active listening skills is essential to improving your communication skills. How often do you find yourself zoning out or thinking about what to say next during a conversation, instead of listening? If you are anything like me, then the answer is probably everyday, even if it’s just for a few seconds. ...  read more

Soft Skills List – 28 Skills to Working Smart

by

I originally published this soft skills list in June 2011.  I am honored to discover that more than 500,000 of you have since read my soft skills list and found it helpful.

There are 28 soft skills essential to your career success.  I wished I knew about many of these earlier in my career.   I want to share them so I can empower you to work smart and achieve more.  I look forward to your comments. ...  read more

Remembering Paul Walker

by
Paul Walker

Paul Walker was a down-to-earth, fun-loving guy who also happened to be a famous actor.   I was shocked to find out he was killed yesterday in a car accident at the age of 40.  Since I have met Paul Walker, I wanted to dedicate this post to remembering him and reminding us that life is short.  We need to seize the present and live life to the fullest while we can. ...  read more

Don’t be a Perfectionist

by

“What’s your biggest weakness?”  This is a question often asked in an interview.  One of the most common answers given is “I am a perfectionist.”  You may think yourself clever when you provide that answer, as it’s often thought of as a good, subtle way to talk about another strength of yours in the guise of a weakness.  Comments that follow may include “I work too hard, and may obsess about details…” ...  read more

Finding a Job After College – 4 Tips

by
Question: I’m a 23-year-old somewhat recent graduate (2009) from U.C. Berkeley, majored in Cognitive Science. I have spent the last two years working in various jobs, but I wouldn’t say I have started a career yet. The longest I have had a job was for eight months, immediately after I graduated. This position was a food service position at a fairly famous Oakland restaurant called ‘Bakesale Betty’. Since leaving ‘BSB’, I have backpacked through Central and South America for three months, worked in a high tech manufacturing facility for two months, obtained an EMT certification, and worked as an EMT for two months.

I explain my lack of career focus partially in not knowing entirely what I want to do, and partially in a reluctance to committing, or even thinking too hard about a career. In essence, I felt personally underdeveloped, and that a full-time career would stifle opportunities for that expansion. Over the last couple years, I have seen and experienced many things I had been curious about, and have matured. I feel a strong urge, now, to focus and leverage my abilities toward building something meaningful and lasting, and developing a career. I want to contribute to something important and be acknowledged for it, as an adult. ...  read more