The two-hour rule taking time to think

The two-hour rule taking time to thinkThe two-hour rule taking time to thinkAlbertEinsteinwas 16 years oldwhen he firstflirtedwith the idea of specialrelativity.He was adaydreamer.Thepioneeringtheorythatled him toestablishthe foundation of modern physics was actuallyenvisionedin one of his many famousthought experiments.He wondered, specifically,what would happen if hewereto ride a moving light waveata constant speed, say,likea surfer.Given that they would be traveling at the same speed in such an instance, he went on to predict that the light wave would appear frozen to him.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreHe didnt know it then,butthat simple thought would lead to the downfall of some of the most impressive work done in physics over the past few centuries.It changed everything.The funnythingis that stories ofsuch brilliant insightsspurringout of deep thought arent unique.Through out history,luminariesranging fromCharles Darwin toFriedrich Nietzsche have attributed much of theirgeniusto the many hours they spent yperit in theirmind.Darwin had athinking paththat hewould walk down toruminate, andNietzscheis said to have strolled around innature for hoursand hours on endtomake sense of his ideas.Behaviorsthat have beenchastisedtoday as being unproductive bya culturethatmostlyfetishizesmeasurable outputslike hours worked and reports producedseemto actually be some of the mostproductive.It begs an interestingquestion.Is it just acoincidence?If not, what gives?TheLeverage ofReflective ThinkingFiona Kerr is ascience communicator and a member of the faculty at the University ofAdelaide,and she gives us insight into how and why this kind of reflective thinking works.Daydreaming(as with reflection)allows the mind to wander,she explains.The outcome isconsistently more productivewhendealing with complex problemsor coming up with creative solutions and ideas.She isnt alo ne in her interpretation of the research.For example,in the field of education, there has been a lot ofwork done on the idea ofreflective thinkingsince the 1980s, and its something that is now seen as acritical component of being an effective teacher.At their core,ahealthy amount ofdaydreaming and reflection enablememory consolidation,andthey allow non-linear connections to form,which both help our ability to break down and target issues and look at themthrougha new lens.The daily mind-wandering that occurs here and there for most of us helps with this, buta deeper and morepurposefuleffort can yield a disproportionately greater reward.Introducingthe Two-HourRuleOnce a week,usually on Thursdays,Iblock out a two-hour period of my day just to think.Inthe evening,Iremove all possibledistractions, especially electronicslike my phoneand my laptop, andI basicallylock myself in aroom to question my work and my lifestyle with a pen and a notebook.Two hours is a long time, and some of it will feel unproductive and notall of itwill be structured, butI have a few general things that I almost always start off with to set me in motion.Herearea few questionsIreflectonAmI excited to be doing whatImdoingoram I inaimlessmotion?Are thetrade-offs between work and my relationshipswell-balanced?How can Ispeed up the processfromwhere I am to where I want to go?Whatbig opportunities am I not pursuingthat I potentially could?Whatsa small thing that will produce a disproportionate impact?Whatcouldprobabilistically go wrong in the next 6 months of my life?I can quite honestly say that this is thehighest return activity in my life.Itforces me tobalance the short-term with the long-term.I catch problems before they become problems, andIve stumbled onto efficiencies andideasthat I wouldnt have come across otherwise.Interestingly enough,much of the valuedoesnt come out of the routine questions,butfrom the time I have left after I run out of things to think about. Its when I let my mind wand er.Im not one for easy one-size-fits-all solutions, butthis is an idea that I think can serve a lot of people well.Weallthink, of course, but not all of us do so deliberately and without distractions and guilt.There is immense value in leavingtime for that.The TakeawayEinstein wouldnt be Einstein without histhought experiments,just likeDarwin and Nietzsche would both likely have struggled with their creativity and productivity if not for their walks.Although that in itself is a small sample size and doesnt necessarily mean its a magic bullet, theresearch also seems to support thebenefits of reflective thinking and the odd daydream.Two hours may seem like a long time to just think, and maybe something shorter works better for you,butleaving asideat least an hour or so is aworthyinvestment.It lets your mind play, andifyouask good questions, itll sharpen it,too.That tends to compound over time.Itcan beeasytoneglectsomething as simple andstraightforwardas the idea of just taking time to thinkas wasteful.After all,most of us are lost in our own thoughts more often than not,butthereis amassive difference between a random 10 minutes of distraction and a dedicated block ofrumination.And lets be honest,no matter how busy we think we are,most of us easily waste that on trivial things that add nothing to our lives.If the average person can spend two hours a day on social media,a few hours a week to organize your life isnt a big ask.Its a small price to pay for a consistentreward.Who knows?You may even find it to be life-changing.This article first appeared on Design Luck.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will ersatzdarsteller your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

How to Ask for a Raise

How to Ask for a RaiseHow to Ask for a RaiseHave you found yurself adding up how much you contribute at work and wondering whether youre underpaid? Perhaps now is a good time to find out how to ask for a raise. You may deserve a salary increase or a job promotion.A Robert Half survey suggests you wouldnt be alone. More than half (52 percent) of the CFOs interviewed for the survey said the number of requests for promotions or raises has increased from two years ago.We know asking for more money and following through with it can be intimidating. But asking for a raise is normal in the workplace, and this could be an opportune time to ask. In todays job market, employers are finding employee retention strategies to be more important than ever.So, how to ask for a raise at work? Here are five ways to boost yur confidence, make the request and find success.1. Benchmark your salaryTake the time to learn the average salaries for your standort and similar roles. Consult the Robert Half Salar y Guides to determine the going rates for your job, then localize the numbers to your area using our Salary Calculator. If your compensation is below par, you can use this information as leverage for requesting an increase. While youre looking at the numbers, you might want to consider whether your company is in the position to offer you a bump in pay. Has it landed a deal recently or realized an upswing in revenue? Or has it just undergone budget cuts or layoffs? If thats the case, rather than compensation, you might build a case for increased responsibility, which could help you later when the company is on firmer financial ground.2. Quantify your achievementsYou know youve been doing a good job, but when youre figuring out how to ask for a raise, you should start by building your case and documenting the bottom-line benefits youve brought to the company.Lets say you work in an accounting department. Yo u used Excel to create those excellent month-end reports and introduced accounts payable alerts. But what does that mean to your employer? Instead of pointing to your actions by saying, I used Excel to update our month-end closing procedure, make clear their precise benefits, such as I cut 20 hours from our month-end closing by implementing new features in Excel. Or think in terms of quantifiable time and cost savings, as this example provides I reduced our payroll processing time by 12 hours per week by automating our reports.Perhaps, you work as an administrative assistant, and you took the initiative to create and manage a Facebook page for your company. The specific added value? I helped us create an online presence without having to hire a social media specialist, and now we have 1,000 followers.If youre a UX designer who wanted to ask for a raise, youd want to share impressive metrics, too. This worksIve improved our bottom line by designing a user interface that raised our we bsite conversion rate by 200 percent. 3. Prepare for a discussionWhen was the last time you read over your job description? If its been a while, take another look and make sure youre fulfilling all of your duties. If youre going above and beyond, make notenzeichen of your accomplishments so you can mention them to your employer. Walk into your meeting ready to talk about the projects youve played a role in and how youve worked outside of your job description. But be prepared to listen to any feedback you get, too, because many managers will see your active interest as a positive sign, which might translate to a future pay raise.Something else to prepare If your boss doesnt have the authority to grant you a raise and has to get approval by someone else, you can help by writing a letter asking for a raise with the key points about why you think youve earned it.4. Practice your approachRole-play with a friend or family member. Practice answering questions about the standard salary figu res youve researched, the hours and dollars youve saved the company, maybe even how youve helped improve productivity in the workplace. In a pinch, a mirror can offer honest feedback on your body language, posture and eye contact. Make sure your confidence shows. If you dont believe you deserve a raise, why should your boss?Were not saying this is easy, of course. According to Robert Halfs Confidence Matters study, many professionals find the idea of asking for more money fills them with dread 36 percent said theyd rather clean the house, 14 percent said theyd rather look for a new job, and 5 percent would prefer getting a root canal5. Have a fallback positionMaybe youve taken all the right steps before you walked in to ask for a raise, but your boss still turns you down. Dont be afraid to ask for a reason or even what it would take to get a raise in the future. If your manager isnt ready to consider a raise, ask what specific actions would be needed to merit one, and set a review d ate. If tight budgets are the issue, ask about a one-time bonus or employee benefits that can increase your job satisfaction - such as more vacation time, an increased annual bonus or spot bonus, flexible scheduling, professional development, a new title or an equity stake in the company.Position yourself for a future raise by taking the initiative, discussing your long-term goals with your boss, expanding your skillset, and networking with others to raise your visibility in the company. The next time you have a performance review or a big win, you can ask again.Just remember to be respectful and professional when you ask for a raise. And stay confident. You may not get what you ask for. But if you know how to ask for a raise and go in prepared, your request will very likely get careful consideration.Robert Half has been helping job seekers find great career opportunities since 1948. Let us help you find the right job for you.GET HELP FINDING WORK

Computer Support Specialist - Job Description

Computer Support Specialist - Job DescriptionComputer Support Specialist - Job DescriptionA computer hilfe specialist assists anwenders who are having problems with software, computers, or peripherals such as printers or scanners. Some- called computer user support specialists- assist companies customers, while others- known as computer network support specialists- provide in-house support to an organizations information technology (IT) staff. Same Job, Different Title These are some of the job titles that computer support specialists may also go by, although their duties are identical. When searching for job openings, also use these keywords Technical or Tech Support Specialist, Help Desk Technician, IT Specialist, Network Technician, Network Specialist, IT Consultant. Quick Facts Computer user support specialists earn amedian annual salaryof $50,210 and computer network support specialists earn $62,340 (2017).Of the 835,300 computer support professionals, 636,600 are comput er user support specialists and 198,800 are computer network support specialists (2016).A variety of industries employ these technology workers. Some work for IT consulting firmsthat providetechnical supportto many different companies on a contractual basis.Technical support specialists sometimes work from home, but others travel to clients offices. Most jobs in this field arefull-time, but workers are not always scheduled during typical daytime hours. Computer users need support 24/7, and therefore support specialists must work during evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.Thejob outlookfor this occupation is excellent. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts job growth that will be faster than the average for all occupations between 2016 and 2026. Job opportunities will be very favorable in the healthcare and computer systems konzept industry. There are also expected to be openings with IT consulting firms, as small companies turn to them for tech support. A Day in a Co mputer Support Specialists Life These are some typical job duties taken from online ads for computer support positions found on Indeed.com Support common business and productivity softwareAssist callers with requests for information technology services, repair or support requests, complaints, and inquiries and direct to appropriate IT personnel via computer tracking systemDocument user calls issue resolution, and related processes and proceduresAnswer questions or resolve computer problems for clients in person, via telephone, or from aremote locationRecommend changes or updates in programming, documentation, and training to address system deficiencies and user needs Develop and assist in maintaining required technical documentation Educational Requirements, Soft Skills, and Advancement Opportunities All employers require that those they hire have computer expertise but many are flexible regarding how they acquired that knowledge. While some will only hire computer support spec ialists who have a bachelors degree, that is not usually the case. Some employers prefer job candidates who have an associate degree in computer science, but many others will hire workers who have just taken some computer classes. In addition to their technical skills, a computer support specialist must have particularsoft skills. These are personal qualities individuals were either born with or acquired through life experience. Excellentactive listening skills are a must. Without them, he or she wont be able to understand peoples needs. Verbal communication skillsallow a computer support specialist to convey information to those he or she is trying to help. Also required are superior critical thinking and problem-solvingabilities. After spending time helping customers or in-house users, some customer support specialists are promoted into positions where they help improve the design and efficiency of future products. Those who work for software and hardware companies often advance v ery quickly. Some people who begin in this position later become software developers and network and computer systems administrators. What will employers expect from you? What will compel aprospectiveemployer to hire you? Here are some requirements from actual job announcements onIndeed.com Ability to learn and articulate technical information and convey to non-technical peopleExcellent attention to detail and multi-tasking abilityBe professional with clients and staffPassion for assisting others and problem-solvingAble to translate technical concepts into laymans termsCapable to work independently and multitasking Is this occupation a good fit for you? It is imperative to consider yourinterests,personality type, andwork-related valueswhen choosing a career.Aself-assessmentwill let you learn about your traits. Think about becoming a computer support specialistf you have the following ones Interests(Holland Code) RCI (Realistic, Conventional, Investigative)Personality Type(MB TI PersonalityTypes)ENFJ, INFJ, ENFP, INFPWork-Related Values Relationships, Working Conditions,Achievement Related Occupations DescriptionMedian Annual Wage (2017)Minimum Required Education/TrainingSoftware Quality Assurance EngineerIdentify problems with software$88,510Bachelors DegreeNetwork AdministratorManages an entities computer networks$81,100Bachelors degree in computer network and system administration or computer scienceWeb DeveloperCreates websites$67,990Bachelors degree in a computer-related field (preferred) or certification and experience Sources Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,Occupational Outlook Handbook Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor,O*NETOnline(visited December 22, 2018).