Several new and older works of Lonac - muralist, painter, and illustrator from Zagreb, Croatia. Stay up to date with his work by following him on Instagram and Facebook.
Enjoy past street art features and follow us on Twitter.
posted by tu recepcja
crssSeveral new and older works of Lonac - muralist, painter, and illustrator from Zagreb, Croatia. Stay up to date with his work by following him on Instagram and Facebook.
Enjoy past street art features and follow us on Twitter.
posted by tu recepcja
It takes some courage to venture into the employment world and start building a career or maybe a business. Your education will certainly help, as well as your previous experience. However, to truly shine, you will need a guide to show you the way. Sheryl Sandberg[1] says that women who have mentors are more accomplished and have more confidence in the workplace. The same could probably be said for men, too.
Mentorship is important because starting out can be overwhelming and scary. But finding the right mentor doesn’t come so easily. It is not an answer to the yes or no question or luck. Finding a mentor needs hard work, ambition and persistence. Here’s how you can put that to task and find yourself a great mentor.
Before you go looking, sit down and think hard about what you want and need from your mentor. Ask yourself whether you want help with a current project or someone for the long-run who knows the insides and outs of your field.
Perhaps you are starting a clothing line and you want to put your company and brand on the map. Asking a fellow company can be a nice idea but not the best one. What works for them might not be applicable to your brand, market, and what if your finances can't support that plan? Checking in with a similar brand but from a different branch could be better. Because of the similarities, they will understand you, you will feel closer to them, and some great ideas might be born out of that collaboration.
With that said, prior to seeking help, know what your end game is. Having some kind of a starting point could lead you in the right direction. Once that is set up, everything else will come into place naturally.
Approaching someone and saying, "Hey, will you be my mentor?" is not the way to go. This is not a store where you can walk in and ask if they have those jeans in size 12. Acquiring a mentor takes work. Instead of going from person to person asking, why don't you show them what you can do? Demonstrate your potential. Show them your previous projects, or, if you've been following their work, why not show them how you would have done it. Your mentor will want to know what you are capable of. Just saying it is not convincing enough.
Your mentor will not be just any random stranger. It will, and should, be someone you are familiar with. This might mean someone you are working with or an acquaintance. Heck, it might be a person outside of work, or outside of your career field. It can be your neighbour, for all you know. But if that is not the case, if no one on your contact list fits the description, you need to go out and find them. Polish your networking skills and learn how to win someone over.[2]
The relationship you are about to start should be a two-way street. Don't be selfish and expect not to give anything in return. Actually, by showcasing that you can be beneficial to the potential mentor only increases your chancing of getting one. Not a single person will be willing to work for nothing. Use your skills to help on something they are working on, support them, share your thoughts and opinions. This way they will know that they can count on you and that you are not here just to use their knowledge without giving back.
Careers can be tough to make, but holding your ground and keeping your ambition should get you through the rough patch. Just think of those you admire — they had to start somewhere, too. Accept that you will have bad moments, but don't let that drag you down. Stand firmly on your feet, keep your head high and have tenacity — just like those mentors. After all, isn't that what made them?
| [1] | ^ | Time: Sheryl Sandberg Explains Why Young Women Should Mentor Each Other |
| [2] | ^ | Inc.: How to Network Like You Really Mean It |
The post How to Find a Mentor That Help Fast-Track Your Career Success appeared first on Lifehack.
Stepping into the world of business can be exciting at first, but it’s only a matter of time before you realize that not everything will go according to plan. Regardless of industry, all businesses will have to contend with unexpected challenges. Customers complaining, sales dropping, employee productivity going down – it’s an endless struggle that will push entrepreneurs well beyond their limits.
Amidst all the chaos, what’s important is that your business never loses its identity. If you remain true to a single value statement,[1] everyone – including employees, customers, and competitors – will give your brand the respect and recognition it deserves.
A value statement, also referred to as “mission statement”, describes an organization’s core beliefs. It often gives potential customers an idea on what to expect, which in turn may impact their purchase decision. Within the organization, value statements are declared to provide motivation and guidance to the staff.
Below are the four most important parts of an effective vision statement:
• The problem – What is the specific problem your company is trying to solve?
• The solution – What services or products can you offer to solve this problem?
• The audience – Who will benefit mainly from your proposed solution?
• The commitment – Lastly, what are the core beliefs that make you different from your competitors?
Time after time, industry leaders come up with powerful value statements that boost the popularity and authority of their brand.[2] For example, social media giant Twitter has a simple yet inspiring statement:
“To give everyone the power to create and share ideas and information instantly, without barriers.”
L.L. Bean’s statement, on the other hand, revolves around providing value to customers and the importance of business ethics:[3]
“Sell good merchandise at a reasonable profit, treat your customers like human beings, and they will always come back for more.”
Other than businesses, entrepreneurs must have their own personal brand identities that can guide their future ideas into fruition and mold the way they function as business leaders.[4] Of course, powerful value statement messages also work wonders for PR. For example, Bill Gates and his wife Melinda highlights this statement in Gates Foundation:[5]
“…And so we are dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals around the world. From the education of students in Chicago, to the health of a young mother in Nigeria, we are catalysts of human promise everywhere”.
For some companies who overlook the importance of a value statement, it’s just a string of words that hang on the wall. But for others, it’s a method of empowerment for many reasons:
By getting your priorities straight from the get-go, future decisions can be based on which option benefits your core values the most. In other words, a value statement creates a template for future decision-making, allowing you to save time and focus more on developing strategies.
The amount of money made is often used as the measure of success in an endeavor. But if every decision you make aligns with your value statement, then every outcome can be just as rewarding – knowing that it brought you closer to fulfilling your company’s purpose.
The low employee engagement rate is a lingering issue in workplaces worldwide. According to statistics, only 29% of the U.S. workforce are fully engaged and committed to their organization.[6] This is mainly because paychecks become their sole motivators in companies that lack a concrete value statement. But if they know they’re contributing to a bigger cause, then not only will they work harder, they’ll also feel more connected with the company culture.
Surveys reveal that 34% of consumers will spread the word about a brand that is fair, honest, or pursues ethical actions.[7] 48% says that a company’s ethics is determined by employee treatment. By creating a value statement that resonates with both your employees and your target audience, you will surely win their trust and loyalty.[8]
If you can get employees working towards a common goal and customers believing in your cause, then success will surely follow. Here are some additional tips on creating a value statement:
If you’re in the early stages of a startup, then there’s still plenty of time to gather everyone’s input and identify a vision that everyone is willing to share. Try asking every member to explain why they think the company exists. As a rule of thumb, prioritize a private meeting with board-level members before consulting everyone else.
In the brainstorming process, try to focus on basic questions that help get to know your brand. For example, what is the story behind the company’s founding team? What do you want the company to look like in 5-10 years? Answering these questions will help you learn what has worked out for your brand so far.
In the world of blogging, a core message is often condensed into one editorial mission statement, which can be created using three simple steps: addressing the audience, specifying the deliverables, and describing the desired outcome. For example:
“This article helps business leaders and entrepreneurs (the audience) with practical and actionable advice (the deliverables) on developing a powerful value statement to elevate their business (the outcome).”
A value statement isn’t something you can easily change in the future. That said, try to come up with several drafts at first and let everyone vote for the best one. Make sure it’s succinct, attention-grabbing, and memorable.
Finally, try to include your value statement in all touchpoints – including your company websites, product packaging, and various forms of branded content that are readily available to potential customers. Employees are typically made aware of your statement during the onboarding process and every day through in-office posters, ID tags, and company computer wallpapers.
| [1] | ^ | Impact: 31 Value Proposition Examples You Wish You Had |
| [2] | ^ | Fortune: 7 core values statements that inspire |
| [3] | ^ | i Contact: 10 Ways You Can Offer Value to Your Customers |
| [4] | ^ | InfoClutch: Entrepreneurs Need Self-Branding And Here’s Why |
| [5] | ^ | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: All Lives Have Equal Values |
| [6] | ^ | Dale Carnegie Training: Engaged Employees Infographic |
| [7] | ^ | Cause: 10 Stats About Social Enterprise That Will No Doubt Raise Your Eyebrows |
| [8] | ^ | Optinmonster: 4 Tips to Create a Winning Value Proposition |
The post Writing a Great Value Statement Can Bring In Tons of Money for Your Business appeared first on Lifehack.
Being at a job interview is never an easy task; you can’t help feeling just a little bit nervous, especially if you feel really passionate about the job and you want everything to go perfectly. Feeling that pressure may lead you to make mistakes you aren’t even aware you’re making, and you don’t leave the good first impression you wanted to.
Then, you don’t get the job, and you feel so disappointed – you were convinced you had all the necessary qualifications and skills. So, what went wrong?
You were bragging too much. You wanted to show that you are the perfect fit for the job, so you went a little overboard – and it backfired.
You didn’t ask any questions. Going to a job interview, you expect to be asked a lot of questions. A job interview should also enable you, as a potential employee, to ask everything you want to know about the position.
Making up answers to questions you don’t know. This is always a bad idea – the interviewers will see right through you.
Answering with “yes” or “no.” You were too nervous, so you just said “yes” or “no.” It is always good to elaborate your answers to show you really understood the question.
You don’t get a second chance on a job interview – there is no second first impression, and that is why you need to work on your interview skills. And yes, you can practice how to be good at it – interviewing is a learned skill.
Show Your Confidence by Your Body Language in the First 4 Minutes
According to research,[1] interviewers only need 4 minutes to decide whether they will hire you. So, it is crucial to exude confidence from the moment the interview starts.
You need to show you are confident immediately, not by talking too much about yourself, but with your body language. That means you should smile, make eye contact, and sit with your back straight. By all means, avoid playing with your pen, looking down or touching your hair and face constantly.
For example, when an interviewer is talking to you, or asking questions, lean in to show you are interested about what they are talking about.
Good Answers Are Always about Giving Specific Examples
Answering interviewers’ questions with general answers, such as “I am good at solving crisis situations,” would make it harder for them to understand whether you are a good fit or not. It’s always good practice to draw on your personal work experience and give examples of specific situations.
When an interviewer asks, “How would you solve a crisis situation?” start by saying “When I was working for X company, we had a similar situation,” and proceed to explain how you dealt with it.
Avoid Negative Expressions Whenever You Speak
If you use expressions such as “I didn’t,” “I haven’t,” or “I can’t,” that negative connotation will stay in interviewers’ minds. You should always try to use positive language, even if you haven’t come across something in your work experience. Instead of saying “I have never been in charge of such a task,” say “I have done similar tasks that I believe would help me in dealing successfully with that task.”
Ask Specific Questions to Show Your Interest in the Position
Not asking any questions means you are missing out on an opportunity to find out valuable information, and to make sure that is the right job for you. If you don’t ask any questions, it might signal that you are not that interested in the job.
When asking questions, try to be specific, such as “What are some short-term and long-term goals for my position?”
Be Familiar with What Is Written on Your Resume
Many of us write our resume at some point, and then just add new work experiences without revising it completely. It would be really embarrassing if an interviewer asked you about something from your resume, and you don’t know how to answer. Look closely at your resume before the interview and make sure you know all the facts.
Also, interviewers might not have copies of your resume, so make sure you have a few extra copies with you, and make sure all your things are well organized. You don’t want to waste valuable time going through your things looking for something. You risk looking unprofessional and it would be highly unlikely they would hire you if you are unorganized.
Your work experience can help you a great deal on job interviews, but these are some of the other skills you can practice that will help you get the job.
| [1] | ^ | Human Resource Management Review: The Employment Interview: A Review of Recent Research and Recommendations for Future Research |
The post 5 Tips That Help Me Nail Every Interview – From Someone Who Always Failed in Interviews Before appeared first on Lifehack.
