5 Ways to Raise Retention with Workplace Atmosphere

5 Ways to Raise Retention with Workplace Atmosphere HR and recruiting departments know the value of retaining an employee vs. finding a new one. However, many companies focus more on improving their recruiting measures than they do on keeping the employees they already have. Unfortunately, there are many problems in the workplace that can contribute to employee turnover. Up to 80 percent of workplace accidents are attributed to stress, as are work-related doctor’s visits. Also, there’s a huge problem with stress leading to mental illness and more physical problems. Declining physical health and absenteeism lead to lower productivity and disengagement. Stress is associated with 50 percent of people choosing to quit their jobs voluntarily, which costs companies up to 20 percent of that employee’s salary. As a direct result of this negative workplace culture, employees are willing to take a pay cut for a more comfortable job. In fact, 42 percent of respondents to an Entrepreneur study said they would take a more comfortable job, even if it paid up to 10 percent less than what they originally made. If you’re looking to improve retention rates in your organization, the solution is probably to look inward, not outward. A better workplace culture can raise retention rates and reduce employee turnover. Here are some things you can do. 1. Make your office more comfortable Is your office a place where employees want to spend their time? Are your chairs and desks ergonomic? Does your cubicle-style setup create a feeling of isolation and inhibit creativity? Does the refrigerator in the break room need to be replaced? Does that HVAC unit work properly? Are the lights too bright or too dim? Much of your employees’ comfort can be handled by simply correcting some basic design principles. It’s hard for an employee to feel emotionally comfortable in an office where they’re physically uncomfortable. 2. Add flexibility Flexible working arrangements are all the rage nowadays. A report entitled Employee Job Satisfaction and Engagement from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) revealed that 55 percent of people rate flexibility in their working arrangements as very important for job satisfaction. Don’t be a stickler on an employee’s exact schedule. If someone needs two hours off in the morning so they can go to their child’s school program, allow them to make up that time later. According to the SHRM report, 38 percent of people say they stick with their jobs solely because of greater flexibility at work. 3. Create a judgment-free zone Employees should be held responsible for their actions, but they shouldn’t feel like they’re incompetent because they made a mistake. You can lighten the mood in the office so that it promotes teamwork, and isn’t designed to single out individuals. A big part of this is accepting feedback and consistently working towards a brighter future within your organization. Recognize that an employee’s mistake may not be entirely their fault. Learn from the incident and improve your culture accordingly. 4. Promote Group Learning Progression in the workforce is only achieved with hands-on learning, and employees tend to respond better to learning opportunities in group settings. Co-workers can strive for both individual and company-wide goals as a team, learning valuable lessons about their strong points and team capabilities. Help employees see that their successes are often rooted on the wings of others. Implement training on the power of teamwork, and facilitate growth opportunities when possible. This helps employees see the big picture, which often leads to greater job satisfaction. 5. Develop equality Unfortunately, equality isn’t always a given in the workplace. There are countless opportunities for discrimination, by executives and employees. Nothing will make an employee feel less comfortable than a feeling of disrespect or mistreatment at work. Recruiters should always be concerned about discrimination based on age, race, sex, and other factors. It’s important to institute a strict non-discrimination policy, and enforce those rules. Promotions shouldn’t be withheld because of a cultural difference, and employees should always encourage others. Professionalism, respect, and support will create a culture people want to work in. About the author:  Larry Alton is an independent business consultant specializing in social media trends, business, and entrepreneurship. Follow him on  Twitter  and  LinkedIn.

What Do You Do When The Money Runs Out

What Do You Do When The Money Runs Out It’s almost inevitable that at some point, you’ll experience some form of financial disaster, whether it’s because of injury, an unexpected bill or because of unanticipated unemployment. Misfortunes happen. Stocks rise and fall, and sometimes people get hurt in the process. The key to dealing with financial setbacks is to always have a keen eye on the future. Take the example of Alisa Bowman, the author of Project Happily Ever After. She was approached by an agent who said that the book had enormous potential and that Bowman should do everything she could to publicize it. Thinking that she would make a fortune, Bowman began spending lots of money on advertising her book on the internet and in magazines, all the while believing that she would eventually make the money back. However, the money never came, and Bowman sank further and further into debt and depression. She says that she felt like the biggest loser on the planet. The problem with this attitude, however, is that it doesn’t actually solve the problem. Bowman’s book remained unsold, and the debts continued to mount. The only way to bounce back from financial adversity is to actually get out into the world and start fighting for your future. But what does that mean in practice? Change Your Attitude When it comes to personal finances, many people have that feeling of hitting “rock bottom.” But it’s worth remembering that no matter what’s happening in our bank accounts, that feeling is something we generate ourselves. Brad Klontz is a research professor at Kansas University. He says that these feeling are an opportunity for us to reframe our attitudes and challenge ourselves to grow. Often, he says, it means putting our so-called financial disaster into perspective, recognizing that there’s more to life than numbers in a bank account and that there are always things we can do. Image Source Klotz says that the best part of a financial crisis is learning what you did wrong and not doing it again. The people who succeed are those who identify where they went wrong and what they can do to improve. If you’re struggling to do this, look around your community for counseling and professional help. Don’t Make Things Worse According to Peggy Palms, an experienced attorney and real estate broker, it’s key not to make things worse. If you’re out of work because of an injury, don’t just pretend it never happened. Seek out experienced personal injury lawyers who can actually do something about it. Palms says that people tend to go into a strange mode where they think that no help is available and that they have to take on all medical costs themselves. Palms also says that people should ignore anybody who claims that they can get rid of their debts with a new loan. Most of the time, she says, these are just scams. The problem is that the majority of credit counseling companies (including nonprofits) are backed by credit card companies themselves. This means that they have an incentive to sell you loans, even if these will do little to help your financial situation. Palms recommends that people go to religious or member service provided by a financial institution to get advice instead. Main image credit.  

I need a job, now! University of Manchester Careers Blog

I need a job, now! University of Manchester Careers Blog Your graduate friends all seem to be posting on Facebook about amazing new careers and colleagues. Your student mates are back at uni scoffing free Welcome Week pizza. How about you, have you been looking for a job but getting nowhere, or maybe youve been procrastinating getting started? How are you feeling? Scared, worried, daunted, dejected, broke? Make today the day you make a fresh start and make a plan! If you havent started Its never too late, but youll feel better in the long-run if you start as soon as you can, so switch off Bargain Hunt and A Place in the Sun and make plans. Dont know what you want to do? Make a start with some of the exercises in the careers toolkit in the I dont know what I want to do part of our website. Remember you can have an appointment if you need to talk about it, and we offer telephone and Skype appointments to recent Uni of Manchester graduates whove moved away from Manchester. Know what you want to do but dont know where to start? Check out the advice on our Which Career pages, they give you the most important starting points for most major careers together with useful links. If you need to find (more) places to apply CareersLink is our own vacancy system. If you havent logged in since graduation you might need to reset your password and/or change your contact email address. The find a graduate job section of our website covers vacancies, online job boards, agencies, networking, graduate internships, have you considered them all? If youve been applying for jobs but not having any luck Take a step back and consider if youre targeting the right roles and applying in the right way. If youre not getting shortlisted first consider if youve been applying for jobs you a. really want and b. are qualified for. If you dont really want to work in sales but are applying because you think you should chances are your lack of enthusiasm is coming across in your application. Its probably time to have a careers appointment to talk about where you should be focusing your efforts. If you want to job but are unable to meet the criteria in the person specification you might be aiming at the wrong level of job or need to look for some short term experience first to boost your applications. There are many tips for ways to get experience relevant to specific careers in the which career pages. If you need help book an appointment. If you think you are applying for the right jobs but not getting shortlisted consider getting advice on your applications. Check out the guidelines on our website. If youre in Manchester come in to get a draft looked at, if youve moved away email us a draft for feedback. If youre getting interviews but not being selected, have you asked for interview feedback? If you have and they made suggestions for improvement have you addressed them? Consider a careers appointment to talk about interviews and how you can improve for next time. If you were told that you were only just outperformed by someone else keep going! If youre doing all the right things its just a matter of luck and hopefully something will come up soon. So stuck youve no idea what to do? Call us for a chat! Well see what we can do to help you there and then and book you for an appointment if necessary. Were here to help, dont suffer in silence. All Graduate Graduate jobs I don't know what to do Undergraduate Applications and interviews career planning Getting started job hunting

Top 10 Accounting Interview Questions (With Answers) - Career Sidekick

Top 10 Accounting Interview Questions (With Answers) - Career Sidekick Top 10 Accounting Interview Questions (With Answers) Interview Questions and Answers / https://www.edenscott.com/blog There are 10 common questions you need to be ready for in an accounting interview.Employers ask many of the same accounting interview questions whether its a Big Four accounting firm or an accountant job interview at a tech company, healthcare company, etc.So here are the top 10 accountant interview questions to be ready for,with tips and examples of how to answer them.10 Must-Know Accountant Interview Questions1. What were you responsible for in your last job?In any accounting job interview, you will face questions about what you did in your previous position. Employers are looking for similarities/overlap between past work and what youd be doing in this job.So make sure you study the job description, know what their job involves, and then prepare to highlight these similarities in your interview answer!Dont just list everything you did in that last job! Pick the tasks that will be relevant/helpful to you in this next job. Show that your past work pre pared you to succeed in their position.Thats what employers are looking for when they ask you this interview question.And its okay if your last accounting job doesnt overlap perfectly with this next role; just do your best to highlight the similarities and demonstrate that youd be successful in their role!When employers ask interview questions like this, theyre trying to figure out if you have the skills and experience necessary to come in and succeed in their job. They dont want to hire someone who will fail. So focus on proving youll do well in their job.You may also hear variations like, Walk me through your recent role. What did you do? So be ready.2. How would you record this transaction? (and similar technical accounting interview questions)A good portion of your accountant job interview will focus on technical and situational questions like the one above.Even in an initial phone interview, youre likely to hear a few basic technical questions to judge your ability as an accoun tant.A company doesnt want to bring you on-site to meet five people in a full day of interviewing if you dont have the basic technical chops they need, so theyre going to ask.)So to prepare for technical accounting interview questions, heres what I recommend:Make sure you review your past work, and also what you learned during your academic career.Sometimes employers can ask very academic questions that can catch you off-guard if youve been working as an accountant for many years already.I see this a lot when helping software developers interview, too. They learn to do things a certain way in their jobs, and forget about the academic side of what they learned in terms of computer science, etc. Then in their next interview, they struggle. So brush up on this type of knowledge!3. Tell me about yourselfEmployers ask, what can you tell me about yourself? in almost every interview, and it usually comes right at the beginning, so you need a great answer.Here are four key steps to answerin g:First, employers want to know about your background as a professional when they ask this, not personal details. So stick to your professional career story.Start with how you got into the field of accounting, and when you began. If you just graduated with your accounting degree, you can start with why you chose this major.Next, take them through a few key accomplishments youve achieved in your career (or academic career). If youve made some career moves and job changes, explain those key moves and why you made them.And then finally, explain your current situation. Why are you job hunting now? What are you looking to do next? (Or if youre a recent graduate, how are you looking to begin your career?)For example, you could end your answer by saying, So now that Ive been a supervisor for two years, Im looking to advance to the manager level and continue leading teams. When a friend forwarded me this job description, it seemed like a great fit, so I knew I should apply.4. Why did you ch oose Accounting as a career?Employers are always going to want to know your reasons for choosing this career in an interview.Why? Well, if you dont seem to enjoy your career or have any reasons why it interests you, then theyre going to worry about your ability to stay motivated, work hard, work through difficult days/weeks, etc.So be ready to explain how/why you chose accounting as a career, and maybe one or two things you enjoy about it (this could be technical challenges, working with numbers, working as part of a team, etc.)5. Why are you applying to this position?After employers ask why you chose this career, theyre going to want to know why you are applying to their specific job.They want to see that youre targeting specific things in your job hunt and not just desperately applying everywhere. Employers ALWAYS want someone whos looking for theright fit, not just any job thatll hire them.If you dont take this approach, it could be a big reason why youre not finding a job.If you seem to just want any job you can get, employers will be worried that youll take their job, but leave as soon as you find something better. They dont want to spend weeks training you just to have you leave in six months, so they arent going to hire you unless you can show youve done your research and know why their job and company interest you.6. What type of work environment do you prefer?Employers ask, what type of work environment do you prefer? to determine if youll enjoy their workplace.They dont want to hire someone who prefers working alone if their office is very collaborative and social.So be ready to explain what type of work environment you like best in any accounting interview. And research their company first so you dont put your foot in your mouth and say something that costs you the job!You can search the company on YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn and elsewhere online to try to get a sense of their company culture.7. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?This isnt a trick question like so many people think, but there are a couple of things to make sure you include in your answer.First, you want to sound like youve thought about this question. Saying, I really dont know is a horrible response. You need to give them an answer that shows youve thought about this question, because that will make you seem more career-oriented and motivated.Next, you want to sound slightly ambitious, but not too ambitious. For example, dont say that youd be happy staying in the same job for the next five years (even if its true).But at the same time, if youre interviewing for a Staff Accountant position, dont say that you really want to lead people and that you want to move out of hands-on accounting work as quickly as possible.If you say this, theyll have concerns about whether you really want to do this job youve applied for (and you wont get hired).So when you explain where you see yourself in five years, show that you have ambitions and goals, but also demonstrate tha t youre interested in the specific job youve applied for, too.8. Whats your greatest professional achievement so far?If the interviewer asks, whats your greatest achievement? dont be timid. Its okay to brag and talk about something youre really proud of. Show some excitement/emotion.Pick something from your professional career. Or if youre looking for your first job with no experience, then pick something from your academic career (like a presentation you gave, an accounting project you completed, an internship you worked in, etc.)Explain what you accomplished and why youre proud of this. Bonus points if you can pick an accomplishment thats related to the work youll be doing for them in this job! (For example, if youre going to be managing accounting projects for clients in this job, sharing something related to client work in the past will go over well as an answer to this question).9. Tell me about a time when you failedEmployers may also ask you to talk about past failures/mistak es in an accounting job interview.If they ask for a time when you failed, walk them through a scenario where you didnt achieve the outcome you wanted, and most importantly the lesson you learned from it and how youve improved since then!Dont ever badmouth or blame others. When the interviewer asks about past failures, they really want to hear you taking responsibility and learning from a situation.To organize your answer, I recommend the STAR method: Situation. Task. Action. Result. (This is a good way to break down your answer for any behavioral questions youre asked).So describe the general situation. Then describe the task at hand, or the goal you needed to accomplish. Then the action you took.And finally, the outcome. Why did this fail? And what did you learn from it?If you want to put your interview answer over the top, finish up by describing a more recent situation where you used the lessons learned to get a different outcome!For example, after describing the past failure, y ou could say, I was in the same situation very recently, and I used the lesson learned to take a better approach. I did a better job delegating tasks and we finished two days ahead of schedule. The project was a success and the client was thrilled.10. What do you need to improve as an accountant?When employers ask, what areas need improvement? theyre looking for an honest, thoughtful answer. But dont say something vital to the job! Thats true when answering, whats your greatest weakness? too.Pick a real area youre working on improving, but make sure its not essential for the job youve applied for.As an example, if youre a Staff Accountant, you could say, I havent held a formal leadership position yet, but Im working on improving my leadership skills. I want to become better at communicating, leading projects and meetings, and delegating tasks.Then, end your answer by showing youre taking initiative to improve this weakness. How do you plan on improving in this area? What are you alr eady doing to accomplish this? Show initiative.Practice These 10 Questions Before Your InterviewIf you get confident answering the 10 interview questions for accountants above, youll get more job offers and make a better impression in your interviews.Make sure you practice your answers to each question before the interview, though. Nothing comes out perfect the first time so reading through this once and then moving on wont get you hired.Practicing will help you sound more confident and help you identify the areas you struggle to talk about BEFORE the interview, so you can fix them. This is how to ensure your interviews go well identify weaknesses and practice them before the big moment.How to practice your interview answers:To practice, I recommend bookmarking/saving this list of questions and recording a few test answers with your smartphone voice recorder app. Every phone should have one.Then play it back to see how you sound, and keep practicing each accounting interview questi on until youre happy with your answers.You dont need to memorize your answers word-for-word, though. In fact, I recommend you dont. Youll just sound like a robot if you memorize everything, and employers hate that.Instead, practice hitting the key points you want to talk about with each question. Think of the 3-4 key points that youd like to talk about for a topic, and then make sure you can navigate your answer from start to finish while hitting those key points (and being concise/brief).Heres a recent LinkedIn post I shared with exactly how I recommend practicing any interview questions:Once you can do that for each accounting interview question above, youre ready for the interview!

Using NSA Records for Writing a Resume

Using NSA Records for Writing a ResumeWriting a resume is one of the most daunting tasks one has to do. You would be glad to learn that there are ways to help you improve your resume and one of these ways is by taking a look at the NSA records. The National Security Agency is a government organization, which was created in 1978 to provide crucial services like electronic surveillance. Since then, it has also gone through a transformation.With this changed scenario, many people around the world have been using the NSA's services. When you write a resume, it would be wise to include this little-known fact in the cover letter, but as yet, people still don't do so. With the advancement of technology, we can now get access to these files.If you go through the document of one of your past employers, chances are you would find a few documents that would contain the employment history of the person whose cover letter you are going to be using. Some employers would also try to conceal their r ecords to ensure that they do not make any kind of documentation. You might wonder how one can be confident about his/her resume that contains documents from the NSA.Basically, the information that one gets from the NSA files can help him/her in his/her hiring. One of the key things that one would have to remember while writing a resume is to keep the scope of information limited. One will have to remember to avoid mentioning the place where he/she has worked. Besides, the cover letter should not mention the employer's name as well.There are other things that one can take into consideration while looking at the documents of the NSA. As far as the resume is concerned, one will have to ensure that it is not too lengthy and does not contain too much technical information. At times, they might not have read about the actual capabilities of an employee.At times, people might be given a time period in which they need to report to work. In this case, one can certainly keep his/her cover le tter short and to the point. Once the cover letter is complete, the applicant should go through it closely to check whether it contains all the required information.It is of paramount importance that a resume should not contain information like field office visits or other duties that may have been given to you. Remember, if you have been chosen to take up some project of a governmental organization, chances are there that you would need to submit an application. In such cases, you should look at the contents of the application in order to ensure that you will not be inconvenienced in any way.There are different kinds of resumes. Each of them would be tailor-made for a specific job. By taking a look at the documents related to NSA, you will be able to decide on which resume would best suit your needs.

What We Can Learn From Tyra Banks Career

What We Can Learn From Tyra Banks Career My daughters and I used to watch Tyra Banks’ TV show “America’s Next Top Model” together. And for the record, we also watched the mixed martial arts equivalent show “The Ultimate Fighter”. We’re equal opportunity viewers. Meeting Tyra Banks Those who know us will know that we are hardly the family to travel in “supermodel” and “famous TV star” circles. So it was a surprise to meet Tyra Banks at a Harvard Business School reunion event last year in Boston. In case you’re wondering, she is smart and articulate. And as gorgeous as she appears on TV, she looks even better in person. It hardly seems possible, but it’s true. Since then, I’ve been even more intrigued by her career and impressed by the way she has built a successful business empire. Then, I came across this recent article by Zen Terrelonge in RealBusiness, and realized we can all learn from Tyra Banks’ experiences. Here are six takeaways that we can apply to our own careers. It’s not just about your assets We are all born with different assets and develop still others over time. But having those assets is not enough. There are plenty of beautiful men and women who are not models, and many great basketball players who never play professionally. “A lot of people look at the modeling industry and say ‘oh, those girls are born that way and become supermodels’. But there’s a heck of a lot of models that looked way better than me… Supermodels are made, not born.” Tyra Banks While it’s crucial to know what your assets are, that’s not enough. What matters is what you do with them. Be strategic When it comes to what you do with your assets career-wise, it’s about being strategic; being conscious and thoughtful in taking what you have and making it work for you. “It really is about a strategy and looking at the white space and saying okay, what’s not there? How can I penetrate? How can I stand out?” Tyra Banks The best way to do that is to look for places where your uniqueness and difference can be a positive. Instead of rushing to the place that everyone else is going, look for the underserved niches. A great example of being strategic was early on in Tyra’s career when she went from being a runway model to being a swimsuit and lingerie model. “I was a very skinny high fashion runway model when my body started to change and, instead of dieting and working out like crazy, I ate burgers and pizza and said okay, who likes ass?' ” She then went on to make the cover of Sports Illustrated’s famous swimsuit edition, and become a Victoria’s Secret model. Interestingly, that’s when her career really took off. In your case, what are your assets and strong points, and how can you map that against the “white space” or gaps within your organization? Or with your clients? Build your personal brand Part of being strategic is working on your personal brand â€" what you become known for, what you stand for. It would be easy to think, “of course Tyra Banks has a brand â€" she had the modeling agencies creating a brand with and around her”. But that’s about the brand of the products she was modeling for. It’s not what personal brand means in this context. Personal brand is about the strengths that give you your competitive advantage and distinctiveness relative to everyone else. It includes elements like your ethos and work ethic, your creativity and resourcefulness. From my observation, Tyra Banks’ personal brand includes being a risk taker, a fearless innovator, highly exacting about excellence, and confident to stand up for who she is and what she wants. An important aspect of personal branding is about making it visible to others. If you know what your brand is but no one else does, you don’t really have a brand. In that sense, it’s impressive how Tyra Banks put herself out there, leveraged her brand and kept it on point through so many different iterations of her career, from modeling to acting to talk shows to her own cosmetics line. And she’s not done yet! To what extent are your key stakeholders aware of your personal brand? And how could you keep extending your personal brand to that next stage you aspire to? Be determined yet adapt Just like Tyra, you and I will continue to run into obstacles along the way. Tyra sums up her approach to obstacles in the following way: “I always had it in me to fight and find a way.” Tyra Banks My translation of “fight” and “find a way” is that it’s key to be determined and to adapt when the going gets tough. Determination is about the “why”, or our purpose. Alongside determination is the ability to adapt the “what” and the “how” as the situation changes. For example, you could be determined to become a banker, but then discover that you are better at analyzing financial institutions than putting together deals for them. You come to realize that your “why” is really about carving a career in finance, and that the “what” and “how” can shift. In that scenario, a great adapting move could be to become a strategy consultant or research analyst focusing on banks. What’s your bigger “why” and how does your determination (“to fight”) and ability to adapt (“and find a way”) serve it? Be confident Tyra is a strong proponent of cultivating confidence and self-esteem, and encourages others to do the same. Much of this comes from her personal experiences and struggles as a child. When she was 11, she grew 3 inches taller and lost 30 pounds in 3 months, and her classmates taunted her for looking different. This made her feel insecure and alone, and led her to think that being different was bad. Thankfully, she had mentors and role models who helped her overcome this adversity by believing in herself, which contributed strongly to her subsequent success. Confidence is a fundamental mindset that we need if we are to feel comfortable to take calculated risk and spot opportunities, and then reach out and grab hold of them. In what ways are you cultivating your confidence, and spending time with those who help you believe in yourself? Invest in yourself When you’re confident, you’re more likely to invest in yourself and create a virtuous cycle. When Tyra was starting her cosmetics business, she decided to make an investment in herself by attending Harvard Business School’s Owner/President Management program. This carried a significant financial investment, and also an investment of time when she could have been doing something else. I’m sure she looked at many options and made a thoughtful choice about what would best help her achieve her aspirations. Ironically, this one is often the hardest step for most of us to take. We look at the financial costs, and the opportunity cost of our time. So often, we say “no” to ourselves. That’s why I’m so impressed by Tyra’s investment during her prime earning years (which she is still in, by the way). Yet in the end, investing in yourself is almost certain to deliver rewards because what you learn and develop will travel with you no matter where you go. After all, you are your most portable asset. Looking ahead in your own career, what kind of investments do you need to be making, or at least considering, to help you succeed at the next level? Go forth and make the most of your assets Whatever your set of assets and strong suits, I look forward to hearing how you go forth and make the most of them. And while you’re doing that, remember to be strategic, build your personal brand, be determined yet adapt when you need to, be confident, and keep investing in yourself. I’d love to hear which of these lessons are most compelling to you. Leave a comment and let me know.

Watch My Recent Today Show Segment (Life is More Than Career)

Watch My Recent Today Show Segment (Life is More Than Career) I had such a great time on The Today Show it was wonderful to tell my son Mercers story and inspire others to make the small changes that make a big difference.  In case you missed it: WATCH MY TODAY SHOW APPEARANCE HERE.  The experience reminded me of how life is more than just career.  Its why I make sure in my coaching practice to cover a full spectrum of eight elements when I help clients define their ideals.  Making a great living doesnt just cover the skills you have or the experiences on your resume, its about the lifestyle you need to be happy and healthy.  Its about making the contribution that only your unique set of interests, talents and values can provide to the world.It is because I managed my career to fit my life that I was able to be there for Mercer when he really needed me. You too can have a career that enables the lifestyle you want.  You dont need to be rich to do what you want to do.  You just have to start now by making conscious choices to do what you know is right for you, even when others dont understand.  It might be hard or scary to follow your heart but its the difference between those who do what they really want in this world and those who wish they had.I learned this important lesson when I interviewed Deepak Chopra.  A conscious, albeit unpopular choice made him the successful and influential author and speaker he is today.  Listen to  my podcast with more of Deepaks story why you dont need to win the lottery to do what you want.Now that I have Mercer, I see everyday how theres more to life than work.  Many of you may not know that I enjoy singing and even performed in my own Off-Broadyway cabaret show called Follow Your Dreams.  Recently, I got back on stage and gave a performance in the Florida Keys.  It took courage but after the first few notes, I remembered how much more the fun outweighed the fear.Dont worry Ill still be giving career advice.  In fact, my how to interview video is my top rated video on my Yo uTube channel with over two million hits.  My singing video has just a few less. ?? I just wanted to remind you that making a great and sustainable living is more about getting paid to be you than it is about selling your soul for a paycheck.You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition.  What youll discover will be wonderful.  What youll discover is yourself. Alan AldaAlways follow your dreams!