Book Publishing ebook (easy to pirate) vs soft copy (printed)

Book Publishing ebook (easy to pirate) vs soft copy (printed) Im continually asked if Im going to jump on the ebook bandwagon.  Its easy to distribute, the author gets more money if you sell through Amazon, and because the Kindle is so prominent (even the Kindle app on the i-devices), its so easy to tap into a huge audience of people who can purchase very, very easily (one click?). I have been on the fence about ebook publishing, for books I want to sell (not give away), for years. Heres why: document sharing websites, like scribd, make it super easy for people with questionable ethics, to share your document at no cost.  Heres an example: you can get my entire book, free, illegally, from scribd (URL here, but Im not linking to it:  scribd.com/doc/90301388/On-Linkedin). Scribd is not a bad-guy site.  Its not some offshore, shady torrent site where you can get anything, pirated, for free. Its more of a legitimate, trustworthy site, with real stuff.  Like docstoc and many other document sharing sites. But it was so easy for someone with poor judgement, or no ethics, or who perhaps feels that everything should be free, to post my book in its entirety, to scribd. And I dont see an easy way for me (or anyone) to say HEY, THIS IS PIRATED!  TAKE IT DOWN! No flag button or link. A couple of years ago, a FENG (The Financial Executives Network Group) member took my ebook and illegally emailed it to the entire FENG email list. Nice. Thousands of financial executives just got my book for free.  Did sales increase?  Nope.  Youd think financial execs would have more ethics than to let that happen.  When I asked the FENG leadership I got an apology, but the damage was done. I only knew about that because one of my JibberJobber users was on that list, and they forwarded it to me. As an author, and someone who is trying to earn money, I find the lack of integrity when it comes to stuff like this unsettling. And thats why Im not enthusiastically planning on making 101 Alternatives to a Real Job an ebook. But then, am I missing out on gobs of sales? The decision hasnt been made, but its hard to get excited about making a move that could completely wipe out any legitimate sales. Id love to know what you think. Book Publishing ebook (easy to pirate) vs soft copy (printed) Im continually asked if Im going to jump on the ebook bandwagon.  Its easy to distribute, the author gets more money if you sell through Amazon, and because the Kindle is so prominent (even the Kindle app on the i-devices), its so easy to tap into a huge audience of people who can purchase very, very easily (one click?). I have been on the fence about ebook publishing, for books I want to sell (not give away), for years. Heres why: document sharing websites, like scribd, make it super easy for people with questionable ethics, to share your document at no cost.  Heres an example: you can get my entire book, free, illegally, from scribd (URL here, but Im not linking to it:  scribd.com/doc/90301388/On-Linkedin). Scribd is not a bad-guy site.  Its not some offshore, shady torrent site where you can get anything, pirated, for free. Its more of a legitimate, trustworthy site, with real stuff.  Like docstoc and many other document sharing sites. But it was so easy for someone with poor judgement, or no ethics, or who perhaps feels that everything should be free, to post my book in its entirety, to scribd. And I dont see an easy way for me (or anyone) to say HEY, THIS IS PIRATED!  TAKE IT DOWN! No flag button or link. A couple of years ago, a FENG (The Financial Executives Network Group) member took my ebook and illegally emailed it to the entire FENG email list. Nice. Thousands of financial executives just got my book for free.  Did sales increase?  Nope.  Youd think financial execs would have more ethics than to let that happen.  When I asked the FENG leadership I got an apology, but the damage was done. I only knew about that because one of my JibberJobber users was on that list, and they forwarded it to me. As an author, and someone who is trying to earn money, I find the lack of integrity when it comes to stuff like this unsettling. And thats why Im not enthusiastically planning on making 101 Alternatives to a Real Job an ebook. But then, am I missing out on gobs of sales? The decision hasnt been made, but its hard to get excited about making a move that could completely wipe out any legitimate sales. Id love to know what you think.

Resume Writing For Older Teens

Resume Writing For Older TeensResume writing for older teens needs to be done with extra care. Though we live in a society that is always looking for younger and fresher talent, older teens are in fact a precious few. The truth is that as the years go by, the natural disposition of most teens changes. They have passed their teenage years and become adults.Writers are encouraged to stick to what they know. Resume writing for older teens does not require creativity in order to be of any use. Just make sure you have all the necessary skills and experience. Above all, stay clear of writing about things that will bring negative attention to you. Thus, avoid mentioning your most recent gig or past summer job.You should always make the most of your writing and do your best to show what you have done in a simple, yet a common sense approach. The more information you provide, the better. In general, the more detail you give in your resume, the better. This is where you can prove yourself as a n expert in your field.Avoid writing about your youth too much. Most teens would agree that most kids tend to get carried away when writing a resume. So, it is not a bad idea to write about your youth in a broader sense.When you are creating a resume, keep in mind the importance of important details. Give your youth in general and highlight your accomplishments in your specific field. Though some teenagers may be inclined to write that their experiences were related to their youth, they need to be well aware that many employers might think otherwise.Teens must be willing to show their maturity in their writing. Showing maturity means giving the boss an insight into the teenager's daily activities. Even though you want to make your resume unique, do not over do it. At the same time, avoid exaggerating your achievements.If you have shown your ability in resume writing for older teens, you have a good resume. Do not hesitate to provide it to your supervisor. His knowledge in this area will help you get a good job in your line of work.Writing resumes for older teens takes some expertise. But it is an opportunity you should not miss out on.

How to Create a Self Care Routine

How to Create a Self Care Routine Ever been  so consumed with the daily activities of your life that you forgot to take care of our number one priority SELF. What are you doing each day and each week, to ensure YOU are a priority in your life? Are you neglecting yourself? Are you practicing self care daily? Think of cooking dinner on a stove. We normally put the rice on the back burner once it has boiled, right? The rice is often one of the most key dishes of the meal (I know some of us are weight conscious and may not eat rice, but go with it). However, as we tend to the other dishes in the meal (meat, vegetables, etc.), we cannot  forget about the rice. YOU are the rice. I am going to list 3 practical steps to ensure that YOU are actively making self-care a priority each day. You will benefit and others will benefit from receiving the BEST version of you. “We must learn to perfect the art of balance and self care each day.” â€" Monica Taylor How to Create a Self Care Routine Step 1: Do not apologize for making yourself a priority. Name the one person who spends the most time with you. Did you say yourself? We must not apologize for making ourselves a priority. You have goals and passions that you must constantly tap into and fulfill. In the past, I found myself helping others live their passion while neglecting my true wants and desires. I learned to actively place myself first and not apologize for self-care. You cannot pour from an empty glass. Unknown Life situations may deplete your energy and sometimes your resources. Remember that summer camp fee for your daughter or those wonderful braces? Life situations can cost money and more importantly time. However, as we empty of ourselves to those most important to us, we must remember to refill. How can you save the world if you are drowning? Do not apologize for needing a me day or even a me hour. You have to make it a priority to care of your well-being. You cannot help your family if you are in the hospital stressed. You are worth nurturing. You are wonderfully made and require a little upkeep, self-care. Step 2: Find an activity you enjoy. Growing up, I remember a lady in my church that always talked about her weekly hair appointment. Her family was never allowed to schedule anything around this hair appointment. As a young teen, I did not understand. In my adult life, I see why it is so important to have an activity or standing appointment with yourself. We need healthy mechanisms to release the weeks stress. If not, it carries over into the next week. Find an activity you enjoy. I enjoy my inability to paint. Yes, I go painting, and I love how hard I try to be good at painting. I will not quit my day job to paint. However, it is releasing and brings me joy. Painting gives me the opportunity to purge of the weeks stress and emotional tensions. You could take a Zumba class. It is perfectly okay if you do not have the moves like J-LO. Laugh at yourself. Laughter is medicine. Do you enjoy traveling? Find deals that will allow you to travel on a budget. What are your passions? I actively pursue activities that I enjoy. I am no longer escaping my life. I am merely living it. Step 3: Make it a  habit. As with any goal, we have to make the pursuit to success a habit. If only we could work out for two days and lose twenty pounds! It is not always easy. You must secure your oxygen mask first before taking care of those around you. It is okay to say no. Obviously, I do not want you to miss your childs graduation. However, if you need a self care day and your husband can volunteer to take your daughter and/or son to the neighbors birthday party, ask for help. Be honest with those in your life. They will understand. If not, you have to be okay with not apologizing for needing me time. Even if you are not married or have any children, you may simply be exhausted from work. It is okay to miss a happy hour with friends because youd rather meet and greet with the back of your eyelids. You are a priority. Make an agreement with yourself today for how you will ensure that you place yourself first. Investing in self will always pay out great dividends.

Helping your Children Cope with Divorce

Helping your Children Cope with Divorce It is a sad fact that, according to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau, almost 50 percent of first-time marriages end in divorce and that in 66 percent of these cases children are involved. To make matters worse, couples seeking advice on how to go about minimizing the effect divorce has on their children are often confronted by confusing and sometimes contradictory advice from so called experts. Long-term effects of divorce on children It has been found that some couples remain together ‘for the sake of the children’ because they are worried about the long-tern effects a separation might have on their youngsters. Studies have shown that some 80 percent of children recover from the after effects of the event within two years and subsequently go on to become well balanced productive members of society. Depending on their age at the time of the divorce their memory of the event becomes dulled and has a much reduced influence on their daily lives. The effects on the remaining 20 percent tend to be more marked, however, and their lives continue to be plagued by social and psychological issues. Early warning signs of potential issues include eating and sleeping problems and moodiness, which manifests itself in the form of increased levels of anger, fear regression and sadness. Research indicates that well into adulthood these individuals are significantly more likely to suffer from failed relationships and mental problems. The manner in which parents behave during and after the divorce has been found to have a major impact on how well and how quickly their children adjust. In many cases, youngsters who have been exposed to high levels of marital discord for a period of time before the divorce are found to adjust in a more positive way than those who did not. This is not so surprising, as children who recognize that their parents are not getting along as well as they should are not as shocked and distressed as those who are completely unaware that anything is wrong. In the severest of cases children who have been exposed to high levels of arguing and constant bickering between their parents frequently see divorce as being a relief; a positive outcome. A detailed study carried out over a period of 25 years by Psychologist E. Mavis Hetherington and journalist John Kelly, entitled ‘For Better or For Worse: Divorce Reconsidered’ found that when comparing the lives of children whose parents stayed together with those who had divorced there was little difference. In adulthood, 25 percent of those from broken homes experienced quite serious emotional, social and psychological issues, compared with 10 percent of those where both parents stayed together. The 15 percent variation may be attributed to a number of other variable rather than the divorce itself; for example, poor parenting, which can sometimes result from a break-up. It is therefore essential that parents seek out reliable divorce lawyers; not only to guide them through the legal process, but also to help them come to terms with the effect the event has on their children. How to protect children during and after the divorce   Conflict between parents should be avoided when children are present. Kids find it hard to deal with the concept of dealing with split loyalties; they usually love each parent equally. It is especially important not to involve the kids in the arguments, for example by asking them to pass messages to one or other parent. It is important to give children a clearly defined set of rules and set limits. However, in order for them to grow into well-balanced adults it is also essential to give them love and affection. Following the divorce, when one or other parent has relocated, it can sometimes be the case that the children, depending on their age, are asked to help with the daily chores. This can be a positive step as the child or children will often respond positively to being given at least some degree of independence and responsibility. The trick is not to ask them to take on an excessive degree of responsibility, particularly when it involves supporting the parent emotionally. It should be remembered that children are children and that adults should seek the support of friends or family when dealing with such issues. Because young children are unable to properly understand what is happening they may develop the idea that their parents will get back together or that they will be abandoned. It is the job of both parents to offer reassurance that they will always be looked after and are still loved. There is no quick fix for helping children come to terms with their parents divorcing; it takes time, love effort and reassurance.

How to Manage Millennials 8 Ways to Do it Right

How to Manage Millennials 8 Ways to Do it Right Each employee has different working styles. Because of the diverse makeup of offices today, employees are often grouped with the generations they fall under to study behavioral patterns easier. Millennials, the youngest of the batch, have been notorious for being the most different kind of workers compared to the previous generations. Often, they receive criticism regarding their practices in the workplace. Older generations claim that millennials have a misplaced sense of entitlement and are difficult to work with, while some form opinions before they even get to work with them. However, stereotypes may not always be true, and in some cases, are hurtful. When it comes to managing a team, it’s best to get to know your members well. This strategy allows you to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of your co-workers, and what you can do to harness their potential. Proper employee training, guidance, and routine evaluation will allow you to take hold of the situation better. Don’t just zero in on the rumors and the negative aspects. Instead, aim to see the bigger picture. Who are the Millennials? The millennial generation, also known as Generation Y, grew up during the evolution of technology. As such, they are the last batch to experience growing up with analog devices. They were quick to learn the ins and outs of digital technology and adapted the use of these gadgets in their everyday lives. Millennials are leaders in the tech know-how in the workplace. The innovative environment they grew up in influenced the way they work and think, which they proudly exhibit in the workplace. Their different perspective can be a breath of fresh air and should not be feared. What are Millennials like in the workplace? To understand the generation who is set to make up 75% of the workforce in 2025, you must first study and acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses. What motivates and demotivates them? Knowing their key traits is crucial to your quest for managing them properly in the workplace. Millennials highly prioritize career growth and advancement. If they feel that they are stagnant in their roles or they don’t believe they can learn from the people around them, they are more likely to leave. This generation is generally enthusiastic about work and views their experiences as something that can give them meaning and purpose. Gen Y folks are also very independent, and they do not appreciate micromanagement. Having access to the right tools necessary to finish the task is enough for them to figure out a solution and do the work. Their views on diversity are very open and accepting, making them one of the most tolerant and amicable group of people you can meet. Technology is essential to this generation. Millennials are spearheading a future where everything is entirely Millennials are also always connected due to the introduction of social media and smartphones. This is what fuels them to support remote work environments and flexibility. They also value work-life balance so that they can pursue their other goals. Is managing them difficult? The short answer here is no. It’s doable and just as rewarding as managing the older generations. However, it won’t come without challenges, which stems from unfamiliarity in managing a crowd such as the millennials. Generally, the Baby Boomers and Gen Xers have similar working styles, which was probably why the adjustment was as not drastic. You may choose to see the millennials’ radical way of thinking as progress and innovation in the way people work. If you know the people you are dealing with, managing them will become easier and even enjoyable. Below are fantastic tips on how you can empower millennials in your company and help them shine. For more information, check out the complete infographic by Guthrie-Jensen. About the author:  Jomel Alos is a Content Strategist at Guthrie-Jensen Consultants. He’s obsessed with TV shows about designing like Tiny House Nation, Forged in Fire, and Ellen’s Design Challenge and eating burnt bacon.

LinkedIn Personal Branding Secrets for Executive Job Search - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

Personal Branding Secrets for Executive Job Search Check out the podcast I did with Mac Prichard (@Mac_Prichard on Twitter) on , personal branding and executive job search â€"  as part of his Find a Dream Job series. Listen to the interview on Apple Podcasts. We based the interview on a popular post of mine, Essential Checklist to Optimize For Executive Job Search, in which I outlined the things you need to concentrate on to take full advantage of this powerful social network: Build Your Profile Build and Engage Your Network Research and Market Intelligence Keep Your Personal Brand Top-of-Mind If You’re Job Hunting Undercover The podcast begins with discourse between Mac and his associates Ben Forstag and Jessica Black, as they tackle the Listener Question of the Week, before my interview with Mac begins. And youll find the full transcript of the podcast on the same page. Here are some selected excerpts from my lively discussion with Mac: Mac: has so many different options, and having a complete profile we know is important. Let’s go through some of those features. There’s some sections that aren’t used very often. What comes to mind are organizations, or honors and awards. How can using a section like that help someone? Meg: One thing we haven’t really touched on is Search Engine Optimization, which is all about using the right keywords and keyword phrases â€" and plenty of them â€" in your profile to help boost your search engine ranking with . What that means is that when people search those particular relevant keywords and phrases on , if your rankings are higher, then your profile is going to land higher in those search results, which means more people will see your profile. Using those extra sections â€" organizations, honors, awards, and others â€" gives you an opportunity to get more of those relevant keywords into your profile, so that makes you more findable. Mac: What do you say to listeners who might think, “Gosh, if I fill out every section it’s going to be very long. Employers may not be interested in that. It might seem too self-promotional.” Meg: That’s not a good way to think. If they don’t want to read the whole thing, they won’t read it all, but your profile will be there working passively for you, helping you with Search Engine Optimization. More content means more keywords and better visibility and findability. It just makes sense to fill out your profile with as much content as you can do, packing it with those relevant keywords so that is working for you passively, beyond the proactive way you need to be using the many features has to offer. Mac: Let’s talk about publishing, because once you’ve filled out the profile and you’ve thought strategically about the employers and managers you want to reach, and you’ve used the right keywords that are going to get you in front of those folks, what are your best tips about publishing, taking advantage of ’s publishing features? Meg: Yes, the Pulse Publishing Platform, which I still find many people are unaware of. It’s a very powerful tool to use and, in effect, it’s like having your own blog or blog site, but without the hassles you’ll have maintaining a blog site of your own. On Pulse, you publish articles about your areas of expertise, which helps to position your subject matter expertise and thought leadership, and gives people more information about you. That’s only going to help you. People are searching online once you become someone of interest to them. They’ll be searching your name, looking for information about you, and the more information they find, the stronger your online presence, and the more valuable it makes you appear to be as a candidate. The other thing about using Pulse and ’s other publishing opportunities â€" sharing updates, commenting on other peoples Pulse articles and updates, etc. â€" is that they keep you top-of-mind with your network, which is an important part of job search strategy. Reminding people of the value you offer and what your brand is all about, so that when leads and opportunities come their way, they’ll think of you and hopefully connect you with that opportunity. These publishing opportunities are a gentle way to stay top-of-mind, as opposed to reaching out to people one-on-one and networking with them . . . things you need to be doing too, but which introverts and others may have a difficult time doing. In the time allotted for the podcast, I didnt get the chance to cover all the ground Id hoped to. Here are 2 typical mistakes I see people making on , and 2 issues they dont always know how to deal with. Youll find links to more information about each one: 1. Leaving the default professional headline, which is your current job title. The Two Worst Profile Headline Mistakes 3 Juicy Insider Personal Branding Tips 2. No profile photo, or an unprofessional one. Deadly Mistake: No Professional Photo 3. Difficulty balancing personal branding with personal SEO (Search Engine Optimization) How to Balance Personal Branding With Personal SEO 4. Needing to keep their executive job search confidential, while still using to their full advantage. 5 Ways to Keep Your Executive Job Search Confidential on Executive Job Search and Personal Branding Help Need help with personal branding, your profile, resume and biography, and getting your executive job search on track . . . to land  a great-fit new gig? Take a look at the services I offer, how my process works and what differentiates my value-offer . . . then get in touch with me and well get the ball rolling. More About and Executive Job Search How a Robust Online Presence Helps You Land The Best Executive Jobs How Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Impacts Executive Job Search Deadly Mistake: Neglecting SEO and Keywords FAQs for Executive Job Search How to Write a Dazzling Summary 00 0

Setting Yourself Apart from the Crowd

Setting Yourself Apart from the Crowd Yesterday I re-tweeted (shared) an article from Mashable called Do You Pass the Social Media Test. Every job seeker must read this. It explains, from a recruiters viewpoint, how they evaluate candidates (beyond the resume). There have been other studies and research that shows well over 50% of recruiters and HR professionals are using social media to evaluate and even sourcecandidates. While this may not be true in all industries and all occupations, it is certainly something to watch and like playing the lottery, hey, you never know. What this article so nicely points out is the logic behind WHY recruiters are looking at more than your resume. In short, recruiters can find hundreds of equally talented candidates now. LinkedIn has made that very easy for them. The large numbers of available talentknocking on their doors also helps.The recruiters need a way to identify the right fit for the jobs they are filling and it goes much farther than just having the skills to do the job. They are looking for fit in the big scope of things. Here are ways the writer/recruiter looks at LinkedIn to select or de-select candidates: 1. Has genuine recommendations from peers, managers and colleagues2. Has the more complete profile3. Is a member of more groups pertaining to their respective field4. Has a picture5. Lists interests, hobbies and other information related to their life outside of work6. Participates and highlights their involvement in non-paid projects related to their field (open-source, community, volunteer, conference)7. Updates their status more often8. Asks and answers more questions9. Links to their employer, blog and other projects of interest10. Has the larger network Just imagine you decided you didnt need LinkedIn or only had a couple of connections. This recruiter would not have chosen your resume as the one to call in. Simple, huh? What this means is that your message across LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter needs to be consistent and professional. Your content should not be extremist or beyond PG-13. You cant not play in 2009. Some people are saying that Twitter is a fad. We dont know for sure. People didnt really think very much of LinkedIn in the early days either. Dont invest too much time or energy in any one area. Social media is an interestingblend of networking, marketing, information sharing and technology. Have fun and experiment.

Feeling Distracted Follow These Easy Productivity Tips

Feeling Distracted Follow These Easy Productivity Tips Distractions are always plentiful, no matter where you work or what you do. Sometimes distractions can get to the point where your work day has ended and you realize you hardly got anything done. This is a real problem today, especially with the technology we have available to us. If your productivity takes a significant dip, then you may have to work with executive resume writing services pretty soon to help you find a new job. But before it gets to that point, here are a few tips to help boost your productivity and eliminate distractions. Identify Distractions And Eliminate Them The first step in eliminating distractions is to identify them. You may be surprised at how much time you spend on your smartphone throughout the day. Some apps are available to help you track what you view on your phone and how much time you spend on it. The results can be astonishing sometimes. When you realize how much time you spend on social media, your LinkedIn profile or other apps, you can work to decrease it. If it means leaving your phone with a co-worker so you aren’t tempted to pick it up, then do so. Become Task-Oriented Some people work better when they have a list of tasks to get accomplished, and they can’t do anything else until each task is completed. This can help you stay focused on what you need to get done, and the list can be revised if you complete the tasks more quickly than you thought. Becoming task-oriented may take some time and effort if it’s not your current personality, but it can lead to more productive days at work. Take Occasional Breaks Sitting at your desk for several consecutive hours at a time isn’t always ideal. You’re bound to find something to distract you as you’re working, and those distractions may take up more time than you think. Instead, take a five or ten minute break every hour to simply walk around and clear your mind. Find someone to talk to in the breakroom or elsewhere to just have a friendly conversation, and maybe even work on your c-level personal branding. Breaks can help the mind refocus on the task you’re working on and be more productive as a result. Change Up Your Routine It’s easy to get into a daily routine if you have a 9-5 job. The same distractions could pop up every day, and if they are part of the routine, then they become part of what you expect to happen every day. Changing up your routine can be valuable to eliminate the usual distractions. If your routine is to check your email, social media accounts or other apps at a certain time, try disconnecting for a bit. You may find even subtle changes can help you become more productive overall. Professional Resume Services provides executive resume writing services to help people land the best jobs possible. However, we are more than just that. We also enjoy helping people work on their c-level personal branding, optimize their LinkedIn profile and more. If you’ve been feeling distracted at work lately and don’t know how to become productive again, give us a call and we may be able to help you get motivated and back on track.