Roger Wolfson, Foolish Notions and Life’s Foibles

The great writer Roger Wolfson gave a speech last year abut how writing is very much in the details and playing on the foibles and nuances of people’s lives. In showcasing the absurdity of some beliefs which we have, Roger have an example from the world of soccer, about the seemingly ‘dangerous’ 2-0 scoreline, pointing of course to the fact that being 2 goals up is a good thing which we try to paint as bad, something which he tries to incorporate into his comedy writing.

Is Roger right in his thoughts about this analogy? Well There have been some who have disputed whether or not this is just a cliche which is put forward by football pundits, or whether in fact the 2-0 scoreline is as dangerous as many think it is. Let’s take a look then at exactly why this is viewed as a dangerous scoreline.

Nearly There

The first thing to mention is that this is not considered a dangerous scoreline after 80 minutes, at that stage it is expected that the winning team will go on to be victorious. Earlier in the game however it can be a tricky scoreline and much of that is down to opposition managers. A manager of a team losing 2-0 will look to motivate and inspire their players by telling them that all they need is a goal to get themselves back in the game. A single goal reduces the deficit down to 1 goal, which gives them belief.

Power of a Goal

Goals do not mean the same thing when they are scored, for example a goal scored to put a team 4 goals up instead of 3, is worth less, mentally speaking, than the goal to move from 2-0 to 2-1. At 2 goals up a team can feel pretty comfortable, and quite far ahead, especially as they are yet to concede a goal. If however they then concede a single goal, it shortens that gap and puts players into panic mode, knowing that if they lose another goal that their 3 points are very quickly going to turn into 1.

Drawing

If a team does come back from two nil down, they are going to be in a much more positive and a much more optimistic frame of mind than the team who had it all, then let it slip. We have to remember that the key behind why this scoreline is dangerous is mentality, and that is why if the losing team brings things back and sets the scoreline at 2-2, there is a very strong chance that they will then go on to win the whole game.

Relaxation

Another dangerous aspect of this scoreline is that players may very well relax somewhat and take their foot off the gas when they are two nil up, which of course is something which could play into the hands of the opposition. An early two goal lead has shown many times that the players slow down a touch and that is what lets the opposition back into the game.

It may look a good scoreline, but in football it is considered one of the most dangerous, perfectly representing the point which Roger was making about the fears that people have about risk, and how they play on details to mitigate it, when in reality everything is alright.

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Jared Seyl – How to Map Out Your Career

Jared Seyl is a man who I have come to respect greatly and a man who has inspired me a great deal. I first met Jared when I was working as an intern for a Denver-based insurance company which was dedicated to farmers insurance, Jared was actually in his last couple of months with the company before he was heading off to pastures new to work in financial advising. Prior to meeting Jared I never really had a plan for my career and in truth the thought of one felt rather mundane. Jared used to speak to me about how he had achieved all that he wanted to in his career and this really resonated with me, so much so that I began to map out my own career, in order to achieve what I wanted to.

Specific Goals

When considering what it is that you wish to achieve from your career you must be specific, it isn’t enough to simply say ‘I want wealth’ or ‘I want power’ or even ‘ I want happiness’. If you set vague and broad stroke goals for yourself in this way then it will become difficult for you to focus on what it is that you are actually looking to achieve. Drill down into your desires, if you want power then think about what kind of power, what position do you want and with what kind of company? If it is happiness then what does that look like? Kids? Partner? Living conditions? The specifics are the most important part of mapping out your career.

Obstacles

We cannot plan for every obstacle that is in our way but we can certainly spend some time thinking about them and how we may find our way over the obvious obstacles which exist. Let’s say for instance that you want to become a CEO of your firm, you need to think about who is in that position now and why, then start thinking about what you need to change about yourself and your performance in order to put yourself in contention for that position. These are the obstacles to overcome and once you are aware of them, and you highlight how to get past them, that is when you can put yourself on the right track.

Plausibility

Don’t think about the probabilities of you being able to achieve your dreams because if you start thinking that they are improbable then you will be defeated before you start. Whether or not you achieve your dreams in the end is completely irrelevant, this stage of the process is about understanding what those dreams are, and working out what the path looks like to go and get them. If you fail then so be it but don’t fail before you even start, that goes against everything that you are trying to do.

Map those dreams out, work hard and stay focused, you will get there in the end.

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3 Traits Every Good Accountant Has

Being resilient in the face of work is one of many Traits Every Good Accountant Has

Whether you are just starting your career in accountancy or you have been an accountant for a long time, there are always ways to improve your work and give your clients the best experience ever. Even the best accountants can become complacent and with ever improving technology, accounting is becoming a different world than compared to 20 years ago. Being an accountant isn’t just about calculations and clients want people they can trust. Below are three of the main traits every good accountant has.

Communication

This is by far one of the most important skills needed to be an account. With so much competition out there in accountancy nowadays, clients are looking for accountants that stand out, who they can relate to, and who can go the extra mile. As an accountant, you need to give clients complex information in a way that they understand. Being able to understand your client and communicate effectively with them will improve your relationship and ensure the client knows exactly what is happening with their finances. Being able to talk to your client may help you understand them and therefore tailor your advice to them accordingly. Getting to know a client can mean regular business and a better service.

Resilience

Accounting can be a very time consuming and fast-paced job, working to deadlines, and perhaps working with clients you may not always get on with. There may be times where you have deadlines you don’t know how you will complete and this can be very stressful. Being able to do your job despite all of these pressures is what makes a good accountant. Being resilient means starting from the bottom of the career ladder and working your way up no matter what your career throws at you – if you stay positive you’ll find yourself where you want to be and you will attract clients with your can-do attitude.

Adaptive

Technology is ever changing therefore so is the way accounting works. A good accountant must always keep up-to-date with the relevant training of new programs and ways of working in order to keep up with clients. There are many ways you can improve your accountancy knowledge and whether you attend work training sessions or you want to improve your knowledge vastly, then a masters degree in accounting could be what you’re looking for. An online masters degree in accounting means you can carry on working alongside gaining a masters. This will show both clients and employers that you are willing to learn and you are adaptable to the way accountancy is changing, as you will gain the most up-to-date knowledge and skills.

Learning new skills and getting a masters is a great way of showing clients and employers that you are up to speed with relevant training and that you are serious about your role as an accountant. There are many other traits that a good accountant may also have but these are a good building block in improving yourself and your career positively.

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Great Career Choices For Numerical Minds

We all have our special abilities and character traits that set us apart from the rest, some of us are excellent at working with our hands, some of us have artistic minds, others are able to grasp the English language with ease and some have a natural ability in dealing with numbers. If you fall in to the latter category and you find math, calculus and algebra easy then you should be looking into a career that allows your numerical mind to flourish.

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Working in the World of finance is usually the best place for the number-crunchers of the World but there are also several other professions which can utilize your numerical ability. There are significantly less people who enjoy math over the likes of Science or Geography for example and that means that sometimes there is less competition for roles, providing you are willing to gain a strong education off the back of your abilities. Today we are going to take a look at some of the best career choices available to anyone who enjoys dealing with figures.

Trader

Traders of all types are required to have a high proficiency in numeracy and regardless of whether you wish to go into capital asset exchange and trading, currency dealing or working on the stock market you will be able to flex your numerical muscles and earn well. Traders need to have a firm understanding of not only math but also the global economy, financial markets and the causes that affect them and be able to see which way prices may go based on their analysis of highly complex data.

Tax Accountant

Although perhaps not the most popular of careers, a tax accountant is vitally important in the World of business. Taxation laws are at times very detailed and complex and almost every company in the World relies upon tax accounts for their knowledge of the law and their ability to crunch numbers to ensure that they are not under or over-paying taxes. In order to become a tax accountant you will need to study accountancy at college and preferable earn a Master’s in taxation or auditing. To practice taxation you will need government accreditation which you can gain through passing your level 1,2 and 3 exams.

Teacher

If you simply love math then becoming a teacher in this field would be a great idea. The reason for this is that math has a terrible reputation for being bring and many students do not work too hard on their mathematical ability which can hold them back in life. As a math professor your job is slightly different to those who teacher English or History as you not only need to impart mathematical knowledge but you need to overcome the stigma and making math fun. Math plays a vital role on so many careers and industries and if you have what it takes to demonstrate to students the importance of math and gain their concentration then you can help to inspire a generation of youngsters who buck the trend and learn to love math.

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How to Become an Artist

Not everyone has what it takes to become a top artist like Andy Warhol, Tracy Emin or Damien Hirst, many artists struggle to even get their work into galleries or displays like the Chicago-based Jonathan Bunge. The World of art has changed dramatically over the last 50 years as more and more people have learned the skills require to create great art.

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The other problem with art is that it has become far too subjective and many feel disillusioned with the way in which the art industry have gone. Eye-watering sums and the art that art is created solely for other artists has left many not caring about art is the same way that they used to and as a result, being an artist as a profession has become far more difficult. If art is a true passion of yours and you find that you are good at it the here are some steps which you can follow to make it your career.

Contacts, Contacts, Contacts

As with many industries, if you want to get ahead in the world of art then it is not only about how strong or creative and artist you are, but also about which contacts you can make. Making friends in high places in the industry will help you to get your work seen far sooner, this could be anything from making friends with gallery owners to already-successful artists. You need to be bold when looking for contacts, cold call people, go to gallery openings and schmooze and actively support current artists. The World of social media allows you to connect easily with artists, get in touch, get inspired, show off your work and hopefully have it exhibited.

Join a Scene

Some of the greatest artists the World has ever seen were part of a wave of artists who lived in a particular area, Paris, San Francisco, more recently Berlin and now places like Mexico City are becoming hives of activity for the artist-type. Being a part of one of these art scene not only surrounds you with inspiration of artists but also enhances your chances of being noticed for you work.

Go Solo

Nobody sells their first piece for millions of dollars and it is worth starting out selling small amounts of work on the internet whilst you are trying to make a name for yourself. You can easily set up shops online with the likes of Amazon and eBay and begin to small small prints or sculptures. The beauty of sites like these is that with a simple click of a button you will have access to millions of pairs of eyes. The biggest constraint for budding artists is finances and many unfortunately ditch their dreams and go and get a job to pay the bills. While you are starting out, using the internet to keep th each flowing is a great way to give yourself a platform for success in the art world.

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Which Jobs Suit The Motivators Among Us

Making a career choice is never easy, there is a great deal of pressure that comes with it too, especially if you’re planning on steering your education towards your future career, the last thing that you want to do is have to change path halfway through.  It is therefore important that you consider how you can best match the skills and characteristics that you have to a potential career. If you are a creative thinker then you could look at a career in design or engineering, if you have a caring attitude then perhaps a career working with children or sick people may be the perfect fit for you. Today we are going to take a look at what career choices you have in front of you if you are the motivational type, someone who can inspire others to achieve great things.

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Pastor

If you are a person of faith then a great way to utilize your motivational skills is to become a pastor. There are some incredibly influential people out there who work as pastors for their own churches or for churches of others who, on a weekly basis, inspire people with the teachings of the gospel and encourage people to improve their lives. One such pastor who does this with aplomb is TB Joshua, the passionate and energetic head of the Synagogue of All Nations. Joshua’s sermons have become extremely popular both in his church and on the internet and he is a great person to follow if you want to improve you motivational skills.

Sales Manager

There are several management roles that require you to be motivational in how you conduct themselves but few require the levels of motivation that you need to be the leader of a sales team. All areas of sales are fiercely competitive and the team that is doing the selling need to be at the top of their game to achieve results, as sales team manager it will be your responsibility to get them up for the challenge. You will need to coach, inspire and fire up your team for the day ahead and keep them motivated as they try to hit targets.

Teaching

If you want a truly rewarding career where you have the opportunity to motivate and shape minds then teaching is the profession for you. As a teacher you will be called daily to not only impart knowledge to your students but also to motivate them in their educational goals. The beauty of teaching is that you will have a class of very different individuals with very different talents and your challenge is to work out how best you can motivate each and every individual in the classroom. Teaching is a daily challenge that will test all areas of your ability from your motivational skills, your leadership skills and your levels of patience. If you want the ultimate rewarding career where you can motivate the minds of others on a daily basis then look no further than a career in teaching.

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Highest Earning Career Choices For You

If you were to honestly give an answer to the question ‘what are the most important things when choosing a career?’ You would most probably say: doing something you love, having power and making lots of money. Many people claim that money can’t buy happiness but the reality is that very few rich people are miserable and if you can get a career that pays well then you’ll be a lot closer to happiness than those living on the bread line.

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It’s important that you choose early on what kind of career it is that you want so that you can steer your education in that direction. If you want to become a neurosurgeon like Dr. Joseph Yazdi for example then you’re going to need to have extremely high grades from early on in your education. Let’s take a look then at some of the highest earning jobs out there for you to dream about.

Chief Executive Officer

CEOs constantly occupy the list of the World’s richest people, they command respect, they have power over many people and huge companies and they make an eye watering amount of money. To become a CEO you need to get an MBA at college and gain as much experience as possible in the world of business. Once you find a job in your chosen industry you need to be a forward thinking, responsible and creative member of the team and make friends in high places. You will have to work your way up through the company before being offered the chance of CEO, a dream job.

Medical Profession

The medical profession is where salaries are huge and you will have the opportunity every single day to improve or save the lives of others, personally and financially rewarding. In order to get into medicine you are going to have to work very hard and ensure that your grades are impeccable. Once you have graduated from college you will go on to med school where once again you’ll have to perform to a high standard. After completing your education you’ll have to show talent in your chosen role to progress through the various salary levels and then you will start to see the real money rolling in. Here are some of the highest earning medical professionals.

– Oncologist

– Dentist

– Surgeon

– Urologist

Lawyer

Lawyers can make a vast amount of money depending on their success and if you have a passion for argument, persuasion and the truth then you could be in for a large salary as a lawyer. You will have to go to law school after your education and pass the bar before you can start in the industry and then you will be a low level lawyer for some time. Keeping your nose clean and win big cases at the law firm however and you will soon be boosted up the ranks. If you are good enough you could also start your own law firm where you can decide what your fees will be.

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Biomedical engineering: is it for you?

Is Biomedical engineering for you?
Photo by CC user ucdaviscoe on Flickr

While some professions have stagnated or declined in recent decades, there is no slowdown in the demand for biomedical engineers.

Professionals such as Akash Monpara know this all too well, as he and his colleagues enjoy above average pay, meaningful work, and bright prospects for the future.

Is biomedical engineering for you? This article will explore this field in detail, from the work they do to academic requirements and income prospects.

What is biomedical engineering?

Biomedical engineering occupies the space between engineering and medicine. Professionals in this field take common engineering principles and apply them to solve problems in health care and biology-centered professions.

Where do biomedical engineers work?

There are many different work environments where you will find biomedical engineers. While you will find most in hospitals and in biomedical research facilities, they can also be found in manufacturing plants (e.g. where prostheses are assembled), government departments, universities, and working as freelance consultants.

How much do they make?

Given their status as subject matter experts in an industry that is experiencing medium to long-term growth, biomedical engineers command a healthy salary.

The median earnings for this field was $86,220 in 2015, meaning that half of all engineers earned more than this figure and half earned less.

The top 10% of engineers in this field took home $139,520 that year, which indicates a great deal of long-term upside in this profession.

Which courses will I be taking?

When you go to college to become a biomedical engineer, there are a specific series of courses that you will need if you want to have success in this field.

Be sure to seek out schools that offer a specifically tailored degree in biomedical engineering, as many employers seek out candidates with this exact academic credential when they have an opening.

If you are still in high school, focus on science (biology, chemistry, physics) and mathematics prior to applying to colleges with biomedical engineering programs.

When beginning your undergraduate career, you will take courses in organic and biochemistry, mechanics, molecular biology, electronic circuits, and genetics as part of your mandatory core courses.

If you are taking your Masters, expect to take on topic areas such as biomedical instrumentation, neuroengineering, or nanotechnology when you are in pursuit of your thesis.

Will biomedical engineers be in demand in the future?

There are a pair of factors that are driving the demand in the biomedical field: the continued aging of the population, and the movement of high technology into medicine.

As boomers age, this population cohort is clamoring for solutions to the reductions in mobility that they are suffering.

At the same time, the Big Data revolution and work on decoding the human genome has made it profitable for technology companies to move into the healthcare sector.

With loads of actionable data that wasn’t there five years ago, there is an opening for biomedical engineers to offer their expertise. The stats bear this out, as it is expected that there will be a 23% increase in the number of jobs over the net decade.

This rate of growth is much faster than other professions, making this a great field for ambitious, scientifically-minded individuals.

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How to get a job in the legal profession

Learning How to get a job in the legal profession will get your career off the start you want and need
Photo by CC user 60588258@N00 on Flickr

While the legal profession offers some of the best-paying jobs out there, the education required to allow applicants to even compete for these positions is rather expensive.

For most, it is necessary to take out sizable student loans in order to pay for their law degree, leaving them with a considerable debt load.

As such, there is an urgency to get a job in the legal profession that every law school graduate feels, especially in today’s job market.

Below, we will share a few tips that will help these soon-to-be law graduates get a position in the legal profession as quickly as possible.

1) Consult law-centered recruitment agencies

The first thing that you should do when you are learning how to get a job in the legal profession is to get in touch with recruitment agencies that are focused on this sector of the economy.

When you work with a specialist law recruitment agency, they are able to take the education that you have acquired over the years and match it up with a firm that is looking for someone with the abilities that you possess.

The versatility of the internet these days makes working with these companies a no-brainer, so make this the first thing you do when you are looking for your first legal gig.

2) Be open to relocating for an available position

The labor market varies greatly from one part of the country to the other, so it may be worth your while to consider relocating outside of your home region.

Furthermore, there are many excellent opportunities available overseas, so don’t discount the possibility of becoming an expat in order to give your legal career the start you are looking for.

If the state of job listings in your area is too depressing to think about, figure out which parts of your home country or the world have thriving economies, and aggressively seek out an opportunity there.

3) Always be networking

This bit of advice is applicable to most fields, but it is especially true in the highly social legal world. If you make the effort to get to know as many people as you can in your local legal community, it is inevitable that you will make good friends with more than a few of them.

Even if these people aren’t decision makers, they will be able to recommend you to their superiors when they hear about a job opening within their firms.

When it comes to hiring people, referrals are often trusted above other indicators, as people making the referrals put their personal reputation on the line when it comes to recommending qualified candidates for an open position.

By being an affable, competent person at social gatherings, you will be doing 80% of the work required in order to be viewed as a good fit for any position.

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