Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom How to Easily Customize Your Resume

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom How to Easily Customize Your Resume In an era in which you can send off 100 resumes in just a few minutes, I’m always getting the question, “Do I have to customize my resume to each job application?” Sorry folks, but the answer is yes. Here are three ways to customize your resume each and every time. Hiring managers get so many resumes that they will easily discard the resumes that don’t meet their specifications exactly. Fortunately, though, you don’t have to reinvent the resume wheel every time you apply for a new position. Follow these simple tips for a perfectly targeted resume. #1: Match the language in the job description Pluck out the keywords in the job description such as “initiative,” “teamwork,” and “creativity,” and intersperse these throughout a new version of your resume. The hiring organization’s applicant tracking system will zero in on your resume because it contains the words and phrases the system was instructed to look for. For the other two essential tips, head over to the FlexJobs blog.

5 Steps to Better Handling Colleagues Who Deny Reality

5 Steps to Better Handling Colleagues Who Deny Reality Up means down and down means up  â€" We’ve all had colleagues who make it a practice of denying what we know is real. It happens in politics, science, business and anywhere: people whose beliefs are a million miles away from reality. Bad enough that they distort truths, but they also thwart our ability to get things done. Unfortunately, we often jump into arguments and toss out facts in an attempt to overwhelm them â€" after all, their own perspective isn’t even based on what’s real. But that’s the worst thing to do. To leave your colleague unconvinced, start arguing â€" and good luck. Confirmation Bias Research in cognitive neuroscience and behavioral economics  shows  that arguing rarely changes anyone’s mind when it comes to a charged issue. Even if a colleague’s assertion is so divorced from fact it makes your jaw drop, you will not make a dent in their iron-clad belief system. We suffer from a vexing misjudgment â€"  confirmation biasâ€"  that makes us seek and interpret information to conforms with our beliefs, not change them. We are emotionally invested in continuing to believe what we believe. The Backfire Effect When confronted with facts that refute our own worldview, we tend to dig in. Instead of considering the other side, we defend ourselves, holding even stronger to our beliefs. This phenomenon â€" the  backfire effect  â€"  happens when we are presented with an argument designed to make us feel bad about our self-worth or perspective on the world. It’s perceived as an injury, which causes us to forge an even stronger attachment to our beliefs, incorrect as they may be. A Dialogue-Based Strategy A far more effective to approaching colleagues who insist on denying reality is with dialogue. Five critical factors have been proven out by research: emotions, goals, rapport, information, and positive reinforcement; or EGRIP. Address them, and you can steer people away from their false beliefs. EGRIP applies in any context, but it’s especially useful at work. Follow these guardrails, framed around a common workplace scenario, to best handle colleagues who choose to deny facts: Carla is a team leader gearing the team up for a marketing campaign launch. Her target: one month from start, which the team knows is completely unrealistic. Since the initial planning meeting, development of the app being marketed has been delayed; the product may not even be ready to test by then. Rather than adjust the breakneck schedule, Carla insists the product team will “catch up” and that it’s better to stick with a plan than change it. When questioned in team meetings, she defaults to an “I’m the leader” stance â€" which makes her even harder to argue with. It’s up to Robert, on the team, to reason with Carla and salvage the situation. E  â€"  Connect with  emotions Emotions are behind many a denial of clear facts and a counterargument in the face of reason. Instead, avoid triggering gut reactions by first working to understand the colleague’s emotions and figure out their emotional blocks. In Carla’s case,s he’s tethered her own sense of self-worth to a stubborn insistence that she’s right. She’s secretly concerned with appearing weak to team members and believes that shifting the schedule would show a lack of clarity. Carla was promoted to a leadership role recently, and hasn’t received any emotional leadership training. G  â€"  Establish shared  goals Robert has come to understand Carla’s position.   She’s insecure in her new role as a leader and concerned with team members undermining her directives. He works on establishing shared goals, which is key for effective knowledge sharing in professional environments. He speaks with Carla about how they both share two objectives.   First that she succeeds as a leader for the long term, which helps the team succeed.   And second that the marketing campaign be successful. R  â€"  Build  rapport Robert listens carefully to Carla’s concerns and rephrases them in his own words. This form of empathetic listening, in which people listen in order not to counter but to echo emotions, builds trust and eases tensions. Robert relates how hard it must be to be new in the driver’s seat and want to make sure the team is not only loyal but respects Carla’s decisions and considers her a strong leader. I  â€"  Provide  information At this point, Robert starts providing new information without touching on the actual pain point. He discusses how research suggests that the strongest leaders are also able to take new evidence and smoothly change course. Once example of this is what happened at Ford Motor Company with Alan Mullally, who frequently shifted strategies to best tackle the issues at hand. He mentions the  Pro-Truth Pledge, a public commitment to integrity that has been proven invaluable for strong leaders in all levels of the organization, as it makes them more credible and trustworthy. Had Robert approached Carla with this information to start, she might have just reacted in self-defense. But it’s now part of a broader conversation based on the rapport and shared goals they have built.   And Carla is interested, calm and receptive. P  â€"  Provide  positive reinforcement Robert asks Carla how she could convey these characteristics to those on the team who may not accept her leadership, and also better tackle the challenge of marketing a product with a delayed launch. He directs the conversation towards how it would show more strength if she course-corrected based on the new schedule, enabling the team to have time to complete their own tasks. She agrees â€" and Robert praises the move as the sign of a strong leader. The marketing launch is rescheduled to accommodate the production delays, the endeavor succeeds, team morale rises, Carla is seen as an effective leader,  and  it’s a feather in Carla’s cap. This simplified version of a common situation at work shows the progression of steps involved in using dialogue, not argument, to better reason with an unreasonable position. Steering someone away from false beliefs is a matter of considering rather than confronting. You may be surprised how effectively you can undo the stalemate. This guest post was authored by Gleb Tsipursky Dr. Gleb Tsipursky is a cognitive neuroscientist and expert on behavioral economics and decision making. As CEO of Disaster Avoidance Experts, he has consulted and coached hundreds of clients worldwide. His academic career includes 7 years as a professor at Ohio State Univ.   He’s appeared in Fast Company, CBS News, CNBC, Inc., and elsewhere. He authored the bestselling The Truth-Seeker’s Handbook. His new book is Never  Go  With  Your  Gut: How Pioneering Leaders Make the Best Decisions and Avoid Business Disasters.  Learn more at  disasteravoidanceexperts.com, and on Twitter at  @gleb_tsipursky.

5 Ways To Refresh Your Personal Brand In 2015 - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

5 Ways To Refresh Your Personal Brand In 2015 - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career 1515Are you ready to make 2015 the best year for your career? If so, it might be time to refresh your personal brand. Refreshing your personal brand will make you feel more confident about your career, discover new opportunities, and get noticed by employers. By refreshing your resume or updating your online portfolio, you can make small changes to your personal brand that will make a big impact on your career. Here are five ways to refresh your personal brand in 2015: 1. Create a new professional relationship. Relationships play an essential role in your personal brand because they can help you discover new ideas and identify your strengths. Make it a goal to connect with at least one new professional and find a mentor. These connections can provide you with the guidance you need to create a stronger personal brand this year. 2. Give your website a  face-lift. Your online presence says a lot about your personal brand. It allows you to build credibility as a professional and create a voice for yourself within your industry. Additionally, employers want to hire candidates who are actively building a name for themselves online. Invest some time (and even money) in refreshing your professional website. If you haven’t already, try purchasing your domain and give your website a professional layout. As you update your website, it’s also important to create new blog content and add new samples from your portfolio. These changes can make a big impact on your personal brand. 3. Update your appearance. Your appearance determines how people perceive you. If you aren’t feeling your best, make 2015 the year that you invest time into your body, appearance, mind, and health. You don’t have to make any drastic changes, but think about some ways you can make yourself feel better about your job search and the impression you make on employers. For example, if you feel like your wardrobe is outdated, consider adding a new blazer or statement piece to your closet. If you’re hoping to refresh your look, consider trying a new hair style. It’s also important to make sure you’re exercising regularly, making healthy eating choices, and getting enough sleep. These changes can make you feel better about yourself inside and out. 4. Order new business cards. Are you still using the business cards you created in college? Or do you only have the business cards your last employer gave you? Maybe it’s time to create a new design. If you aren’t design savvy, reach out to a friend or freelance graphic designer who could design you a new logo at a low cost. Websites such as Etsy and Fiverr provide a marketplace for finding designers. This way, you can create a customized logo that best displays your personal brand. 5. Create a social media strategy. Social media is more important than ever for job seekers. If you aren’t actively using LinkedIn or Twitter to build your personal brand, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to get noticed by industry professionals. When creating a social media strategy, there are a few things you need to consider. First, determine how much time you have to devote to social media. If you find yourself pressed for time, it’s a good idea to choose the best platform for your profession. Next, it’s important to create a schedule for sharing industry-related content. This allows you to focus your social media efforts on platforms that will get you noticed by employers. What are some ways you’ll refresh your personal brand in 2015?

Want to Pursue a Law Career

Want to Pursue a Law Career The best time to plant a tree was two years ago; the second best time is now! As with any other career choices, pursuing a career in law is never too old. The decision to go to a law school is a big choice to make, irrespective of your age count. It’s a huge monetary as well as time commitment, but worth all the hardships if you’re truly passionate concerning the same. It should be noted that the average age of students in their first year at law school is somewhere around 24, but what if you’re older than that? What if you want to shift your career path and decide on going back to law school to attain a degree? Without a hint of doubt, there are various disadvantages associated with this choice. It can be a radical change for the older students, especially for those who are completely detached from academics. In addition to this, concerns such the saturated marketplace, rising competition and an evolving legal industry make you wonder furthermore. But before jumping to a conclusion, it is imperative for you to assess both sides of the coin and then decide on your next career direction. With a motive of helping you with exactly that we have formulated a list of possible advantages and disadvantages of going back to law school at a later age: Possible Disadvantages: Time Constraint: Commitment to time plays a huge factor when you’re deciding to go back to law school at a later stage in life. Older students often have a far wider pool of responsibilities to cater, from aging parents to commitment towards ones children. It prevents them from spending or rather fulfilling the time commitment that is required for studying and attending classroom lectures. Career Longevity: Even after passing your law school, older students tend to have fewer working years ahead of them. Law firms often prefer to hire employees who are willing to ink a long-term commitment to their firm. Possible Advantages: Life and Work Experience Counts: Older students bring with themselves years of life and past working experience, which plays as a major advantage for them. Older students tend to have far wider skillsets, communication abilities, and maturity in handling different situations. Maturity: Various research and studies have showed that employers value old workers owing to their maturity level, reliability, honesty and commitment towards work. Older employees know what they want to get through their career, which comes in handy for both law school admission processes and post-graduate job hunts. Students now have distinct opportunity to prepare for their law examination through LSAT Prep Courses, which enable them to manage time effectively and efficiently. Along with the above factors, there lies various other Pros and Cons on both side of the table as well. It is imperative on your part to weigh them both and decide your future goal. Don’t write off your willingness to go back to law school just because of your age, consider the possibilities and give it a serious thought.

Finding the Best Resume Writing Services That Redo Your CV and Linked In

Finding the Best Resume Writing Services That Redo Your CV and Linked InIf you are searching for the best resume writing services that redo your resume and linked in, you may be surprised to see how many companies offer such services. This is because the economy has taken a huge downturn in job opportunities. As a result, many people have lost their jobs, and people that do have jobs, are working with very few hours.Many professionals find that it is best to get help from professional resume writers. This is because these individuals are experienced and educated in writing resumes. These are the best people to use if you want to give your CV a facelift. However, these services can become very expensive, so be sure to compare prices before you decide which one to use.When you go online to look for the best resume and linked in services, make sure that you are looking for someone who is able to provide you with professionally written resume after professionally written resume. The best services will also offer creative CV writing. This means that they can help you create an effective CV, and they can also guide you through the process of creating a CV from scratch.On the other hand, if you are going to hire someone to rewrite your major resumes, then you should try to look for a company that specializes in it. This will allow you to pay less for a professional service. However, this does not mean that you should put your CV in a public folder and not send it to any potential employers that you know will read it.Just because you hire a writer to rewrite your resume and linked in, does not mean that they can write another resume for you. In fact, you should take a close look at their previous work before you hire them to rewrite your CV. This way, you can be sure that the person you are hiring will be able to write a successful CV.It is also important to note that when you are working with professionals to rewrite your CV, that you make sure that you are dealing wi th someone who has experience in this particular business model. You should also make sure that they have knowledge of resume writing and CV writing. The best services will know the ins and outs of this field. They should also have good relationships with professionals who are also in the field.Another thing that you should be aware of is that if you hire someone to rewrite your CV for you, you should know that they will be handling your financial issues. Remember that there are a lot of individuals who are doing this type of work. As a result, you should ask someone who has experience with financial matters to rewrite your CV.Remember that if you are having problems with your resume or CV, and you want to know who to turn to when you want a professional resume and linked in, you should hire someone who specializes in this particular field. Also, if you are needing assistance in creating a good CV, you should also look for someone who knows about writing resumes and CV's. This will make your life easier when you are trying to look for a professional resume and linked in writer.

28 Verbs for Educators - Sterling Career Concepts

28 Verbs for Educators 28 Verbs for Educators This month’s collection of verbs focuses on educators, including teachers, professors, lecturers, teaching assistants, and tutors. If your job is in the academic field, some of the following verbs may apply to you. 1. Advocate 2. Apply 3. Assess 4. Communicate 5. Demonstrate 6. Develop 7. Educate 8. Encourage 9. Energize 10. Evaluate 11. Facilitate 12. Innovate 13. Instruct 14. Introduce 15. Lecture 16. Listen 17. Participate 18. Prepare 19. Review 20. Standardize 21. Structure 22. Summarize 23. Support 24. Teach 25. Test 26. Train 27. Translate 28. Verbalize Academic resumes or CVs can have slightly to dramatically different formats than a traditional resume depending on your status and the level of educational institution. If you are unsure about resume format, please contact us. We will review your current resume and offer helpful tips or give you a quote for rewriting your documents.

8 Key Habits for Achieving Career Success

8 Key Habits for Achieving Career Success This is a natural time of year to reflect back on where we've been and look at where we want to go. To help you do that, I asked a small, select group of people to share their key success habits and how that's helped them in their careers. The people I selected are ones who are very senior, have had great careers, and are having great careers. They are professionally successful based on any measurement. People like Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever; Michael Crow, President of Arizona State University; Craig Weatherup, former CEO of Pepsi-Cola, and another handful of select other people just like this. In addition, what's really important is I also chose them because they are all great people. They're just good human beings. The reason I did that is because I want to make sure we remember that good guys to do not finish last. In fact, I'm a strong believer that being a great person helps you to have a great career and helps you to be a great leader. Their key success habits are all below. These stand on their own and speak for themselves. What I want to do here is share with you some of the things that I took away from this. Four Categories of Success Habits First, looking at these key success habits I discovered that they really fall into four categories. In fact, most of the success habits fall into more than one of these categories. Being Grounded The first category is about helping yourself stay grounded, as in being self aware and grounded, two feet on the ground. This success habit usually took the form of a “daily grounding. For example, Craig Weatherup has three things he does every morning, which he says makes him a better person and more complete leader. Paul Polman has five steps that he takes every day. In my experience, being grounded is key at all points of your career. It’s at the root of staying true to your own values and living a rewarding life. It’s also at the heart of building and keeping your self-confidence. The more you take care of yourself, the better you can be. Focusing on What Matters the Most The second category is focusing your time and attention on what matters the most. It's also about keeping your plate clear so that you have the capacity to focus on those things. It's also about making sure that when you focus on something you drill all the way down, you look at the details as well as the big picture and you make sure you get it done. This category can be tricky, especially for those of us who are easily distracted by new ideas and opportunities. Staying focused is critical to making sure you get the important things done instead of being so busy that you neglect to produce the crucial results. And Joie Gregor’s success habit is also a great reminder that how you focus is important too. You need to still have an eye on the bigger picture even as you drill down on the problem at hand. Otherwise, you could be working away on a solution without realizing that the world around you has changed and a different approach is needed. Openness and Reflection The third category is about openness and reflection. This is summed up by words like curiosity, being open to new ideas, being willing to challenge your thinking. It's also about populating your mind with new and different pieces of information. It's about reading veraciously about areas that are outside of your specialty so that you can get insights into, an understanding of, and empathy with the rest of society. That can help you to be much more successful. It's also about setting aside enough time to think, reflect and be strategic. When I’m choosing partners and team members, I’ve found it pays huge dividends to find people who are open to new ways of thinking, doing and being. Of course, they need to have a moral compass and to have their own opinions. But they are not slaves to tradition and not tied to “the way we’ve always done things”. I find that this is at the root of innovation and creativity, and in this century we need more of both. Respect for People Then the fourth category is respect for people. This is all about how you communicate with people, how you treat people, and being a positive force when you're with others. Are you acknowledging others and recognizing them for their contributions? To what extent are you “other” focused rather than “self” focused? Are you treating people the way they want to be treated, and in a way that will bring out the very best in each of them? So often, we get busy and stressed in our lives. And that’s when it feels like we don’t have time to be respectful of others. To say “please” and “thank you” as we were taught back in kindergarten. To consider how others are feeling and the pressures they may be under. Yet, that’s precisely the time when it’s crucial to take a step back and create the time to do those things. It takes just seconds, but it has an outsized positive effect on others… and therefore, on the results your team can produce. The opposite is also true: when we don’t take the time to show respect for people, it’s the beginning of our downfall. Three Observations In reflecting on these success habits and the people who created and use them, three observations occur to me. It comes down to three core areas First, that these success habits all revolve around three core areas that we all need to have mastery of in order to be successful: how you work on your self, how you work on the business, and how you work with people. These are foundational aspects of being a great leader who delivers great outcomes. Taken together, they underpin our ability to perform in our careers more broadly, as well as these success habits specifically. It’s about putting it into practice The second observation I would make is that these successful people put their success habits to use on a regular basis. They habitualize them. I guess that's why it's called a habit, right? Indeed, it’s important to put things into practise. It's like the adage “use it or lose it”. Successful people are the ones who are in the “use it” group. It's all about taking action. It’s got to be personal Then, the third observation is that each of them were choosing habits linked to who they are and who they want to be. Each person’s success habit is very much tied to their own specific situations. The personal aspect is what makes a habit engaging, energizing and “sticky”. And that makes it so much easier to keep going over long periods of time. What does this mean for you? Recognize that there's no single “right” key success habit that works equally well for everyone. You have to come up with your key success habit that works for you. I urge you to make it one that helps you to lean into your strengths and remind yourself of who you are at your best. And one that helps you to be that best self more of the time. If you can take some of the key success habits below and adopt them, adapt them and make them work for you, then great. Definitely go for it. The most important thing is that you take action. Identify your key success habit, whether you’ve been using it already and want to lean into it more, or you want to create a new one for the new year. Either way, please let me know: What is your key success habit? Share it in the comments below. The Success Habits of 8 Top Executives and Leaders Philippe Blondiaux Global CFO, Chanel Curiosity is what I would define as my best success habit. Curiosity is what has made me accept and even seek a priori difficult professional challenges, intriguing overseas assignments, engage in challenging discussions and ultimately take difficult decisions. Curiosity implies a certain degree of humility, of vulnerability, of respect as it basically means searching for the unknown, being open to new ideas, solutions, cultures, religions. The main problem with curiosity is that this is not necessarily a quality you can acquire over time. This is therefore the main behavioral trait I search for when I interview a candidate, at any level of the organization. Michael Crow President of Arizona State University Best success habit read everything you can outside of your area of interest to gain insight, empathy and connective systems level understanding about society. I have practiced this since I was in college and now it has proven to be the most important thing I have done. It makes a difference in terms of gaining understanding about why things are the way they are and how to adjust. Phil Francis Former Chairman and CEO, PetSmart It is my intent to go to bed each night with my electronic in box EMPTY. That means I deal somehow with everything, promptly. I might now and then print something and do a follow up for 10 days later, so I do not decide on everything in the moment. I think the difference maker might be that I never slow down someone else. One implication is that I use no capacity on “little stuff”. Time and capacity is available for the things which make the most difference. I am not vulnerable to the tyranny of the new and immediate, which might be meaningless. Joie Gregor Former Managing Director, Warburg Pincus I would say “focus.” I am very detailed oriented but able to look “up and around.” I stay on a project or problem solving exercise until it is wrapped up but at the same time I am looking at what’s around the corner. My former partners would tell you that I am able to anticipate impending storm clouds while driving a project and/or opportunity to closure. Generally, it takes incredible focus and energy to stay ahead of the game. Steve Loranger Former Chairman, President and CEO, ITT Corporation Your question makes me think of a number of habits that we all develop over the years that work for us the subject of a long conversation I am sure. As I reflect on one particular habit, I credit part of my business success by being focused and persistent in trying to get things done. The biggest risk we all face in business is that the age old adage, “the urgent displaces the important”, is quite true, and most people go about their jobs spending far too much time responding to events, rather than proactively driving the outcome you wish. So my habit, in this case, was that I had a process to constantly remind me what was important, what I was trying to do and what risks I was taking. My logic was that every executive, upon retirement or removal has an ‘epitaph’ the short version of what they did well and what they did not do. My strategy was to predetermine ‘my epitaph’, and take it seriously in the course of daily actions. Periodically, I wrote down on a small piece of paper the answers to three questions: What are the three most important strategic objectives I need to get done? (i.e., what am I really trying to do here?) What risks am I taking? (Serving as a sound source of paranoia and awareness about the difficulty, so I could ensure I did not get fired for overlooking some big issues.) How does the organization and people fit into the plan? (Did I have the right people in the right place, with the right incentives and processes to execute properly?) It wasn’t a long list, but it represented a grounding for me as I went about my daily work. I updated the piece of paper every once in a while and I kept the piece of paper on top of my desk for thirty years as a constant reminder that no matter how the day was unfolding, that I was supposed to be working on a few important things, and that it was my obligation to ensure that I was working on the things on my piece of paper, and not what all the people who came into my office with a problem or idea that determined my time. I figured that if I got a few high quality meaningful strategic objectives accomplished PER YEAR, and I properly worked the people side of the equation, and understood and dealt with risk in the process, I would feel proud of my career results. Remember that an executive’s performance is all about schedule management, and spending time on the important things. It all worked extremely well. Interestingly, I never shared the piece of paper with anyone, never told anyone that I religiously followed it, and no one ever asked me about it. But it was always there, on top of my desk and I always read it to myself every morning before I started the day. It worked as a compass for me in the execution of my job. In addition, as a reminder of HOW I was supposed to behave as a leader, in about 1985 I read some list, which sounded good to me at the time, so I typed it out on an IBM electric typewriter, and taped it inside my top desk drawer. It’s pretty torn up, having been taped and re-taped to a couple dozen desks, but likewise, I read it often and it always helped me think about my behavior as a leader, in doing what was important. The last word, which is torn off was “LEAD”, but I knew what it meant! I am sure I could share with you many other habits that worked for me, but in reflection, this one, along with a positive attitude, no fear of failure, tremendous self-confidence, and introspection, worked well for me. Paul Polman CEO, Unilever My best success habit is this: Remind myself everyday that it's my first day. This avoids complacency or celebrating the past. Remind myself that it's about helping others. It's not about me. Invest in others and they will invest in you. Stay humble. Respect and dignity for all. Never forget where you came from. Count your blessings. Markos Tambakeras Chairman, Xylem; former CEO, Kennametal I am hard pressed to come up with one habit that helped me be successful. And habits are different from strategies, behaviors, learnings, etc. If I were to have to choose one habit specifically, then it was taking one Monday off every month when I would shut my office door, did not take any calls or reviewed any mail or anything else. All I did was, sit by myself to reflect and think about the major challenges, decisions or important topics whether they be strategy, people, technology or anything of major importance. That's it: a whole day without interruptions all alone, thinking, reading and reviewing relevant materials. Craig Weatherup Former CEO, Pepsi-Cola Company An easy question for me to answer, as this habit stands out above all others in my work and in my life. My early morning “grounding” habit began in my mid-thirties. I had just gotten my first really significant leadership position and I had a very large organization. As I struggled with how I could lead and manage this huge group every day, and keep myself on track personally, I started my simple habit. Each morning, no matter if I was at home or traveling, I would “ground” myself with three activities: A 30 to 45-minute run (even if it was 4:00 AM in the winter in Pittsburg) or some other workout, A 10-minute spiritual focus reading my Day by Day/Daily Word thoughts of the day, and As someone committed to trying to be a true Servant Leader, I would consciously plan/prepare to insure I very personally acknowledged/respected the individual human dignity of two people (and hopefully many more) that day â€" a fork lift driver/an accountant/a regional VP/etc. As to how that habit helped in my career and life? I could list many, many ways. I think most importantly it helped me be and appear to my organization as a complete human being; someone they could relate to, someone who cared about them. It also helped me stay calm (or at least calmer) as I dealt with the many challenges/crises of the day. As a husband and as a father it without a doubt helped me maintain a positive and holistic approach to insure I had the right focus in my personal life and my career.