Breaking news! Most Americans don’t like their jobs. The results of a new Conference Board study show 55% of Americans are dissatisfied with their work, which was the lowest level ever recorded in more than 22 years of studying the issue.  Is it just me, or are these results completely NOT shocking?

It’s like the groundbreaking research the University of Waterloo conducted that showed “smoking in a car poses a potentially serious hazard to occupants — particularly children.” Sorry sweetie, daddy didn’t realize that lighting up in the minivan was bad for you. Soon they’ll discover exercise can help you lose weight (whoops, it appears a recent study confirms this).

Do you want to know what I find shocking about the job satisfaction survey? That more people don’t hate their jobs. My guess is that when people were asked if they were satisfied with their jobs they either lied to the researcher or they’ve been lying to themselves.

Most of the people I talk to are “dissatisfied,” to put it nicely, with their jobs. Why? They don’t feel like they are contributing to anything meaningful, they aren’t passionate about what they do, and they don’t feel like their best talents are being utilized — especially in today’s economy where those who still have jobs are doing the work of two or three others.

They don’t jump out of bed on Monday morning because they are just “doing time,” as one person told me. Part of the reason for this lethargy is that most people feel underutilized and don’t have the flexibility to do what they do best. They get boxed into positions and job descriptions that they can do adequately, but that usually doesn’t tap into their core strengths. “If only my boss would let me…” is a common complaint among those who feel stuck in positions that don’t capitalize on their unique strengths.

So what’s the solution? In this case there are two solutions:

1. New Job. First, you can get a new job that you love — one that pays you well financially and emotionally. A job, no, a calling that you are passionate about. Of course, with the real unemployment rate at nearly 20%, this is much harder than it sounds; but if you know what that “one thing” is that you would love to do, go get it. Do whatever it takes to get that career. If it requires going back to school, do it. If it requires a move or even a pay cut, do it. It is so easy for a decade to fly by and to wake up one morning and ask yourself, “Where did the last ten years go?” You might not be able to switch careers overnight, but you can start using the other 8 hours to get closer to your dream job.
2. Use Your Other 8 Hours. The second solution is to keep your day job, but do something in the other 8 hours that both inspires you and that you excel at. This is why creating during the other 8 hours is so much fun. You create your own job description. You are your own boss and you can focus on what it is you enjoy the most and do the best. It also explains why you find some people who never want to retire and work 60 hours a week for 50 years, but claim they’ve never worked a day in their life. If you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work.

Your day job might drain you, but if you want a shot of energy and inspiration, do something that moves you at night. If that involves researching why people wear clothes when it gets cold, you can save yourself some time thanks to the latest research out of Australia.

For a limited time, you can download several free resources (assessment, poster, audio interview, video, and more) at www.other8hours.com and learn more about my new book, The Other 8 Hours: Maximize Your Free Time to Create New Wealth & Purpose.

Here is a list of things to consider before you fire your boss:

1.    Have a Plan. When you’re unhappy with your current situation, you may be tempted several times a day to just storm off and say “I quit”. However, you need to avoid letting yourself get to this point of burnout.

    First you’ll want to do a thorough evaluation of your life and why you’re unhappy. Are you struggling because you hate this specific job and would like another one, or are you struggling because you don’t like the idea of working for someone else? The answer to this question will help you to determine your next steps.

    Next you need to decide what you’re going to do if you’re no longer working at your job. You should shoot for doing something that you enjoy that also makes money in the process. Remember that you can always start your own business. The best way to fire your boss is to become your own boss!

    Think about what you’ll do if everything doesn’t go according to plan. It’s always a good idea to have a back up plan too. It’s difficult to muster up the courage to leave the security of a job, but if you plan properly and have a back up, you should be in good shape.

2.    Develop Your Skills. Remember that you should always be working on your skills. Let’s say the job you have your eyes on requires skills that you don’t currently have. You’ll want to develop these skills while you’re still working at your other job. You don’t want to quit your job before you know that you’re fully prepared to move forward with your other plans.

3.    Test the Waters. People tend to always have a “grass is greener” mentality. This just means that you might be envious of something you don’t have, but once you do have it, it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be. Remember that you don’t want to quit your job and go full force into something else only to realize that you’re even more unhappy in the new situation. Do what you can to research and participate in your new plans to make sure that it’s the right path for you.

4.    Start Your New “Job”. The best way to test the waters is to actually start your new job. While it’s not always feasible to start a new job when you’ve already got one, you might be able to. This is especially a good idea if you want to start your own business. You can work your day job and then spend your evening developing the new business. Not many people have large amounts of available funds to launch a business and deal with the fact that most new businesses are not profitable right away. So if you’re still gathering income from your other job while you launch your new one, the transition won’t be as difficult.

5.    Don’t Burn Bridges. You might be tempted to use some choice words when you fire your boss for good. Maybe this person deserves it for treating you unfairly, but you must be polite and think about your future. What if you change your mind and want to return to your job in the future? If you leave on good terms, maybe that could be a possibility for you. Also, you never know when a former employer can be of help to you, so it’s always best to remain on their good side.

6.    Sort Out Your Finances. It’s always best to sort out your finances before you quit your job. If you’re struggling financially, it might not be the best time for you to take a risk. Your best bet would be to make sure you have at least a saving of a couple months’ worth of expenses before you embark on your journey.

Author’s Bio:

Ever wondered how great successful people achieved great success? You can find the answer in The 77 Traits of Highly Successful People. Mark Foo has brought together 48 personal development bloggers and writers to co-author the success eBook that spells out all of the success secrets of the very successful people. This eBook is available to you FREE and you can grab your free copy now at http://www.77SuccessTraits.com.

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This report and other recent studies show that online learning, distance learning, and self-learning in general, are not only more convenient, but, in fact, more effective than the classroom, for high school, college and adult learners. In the last decade, the Internet, the MP3 player, the iPhone, and other mobile devices,as well as social networking sites, language exchange communities, online learning systems, university courses online and more, have changed how we deal with knowledge. Independent programmer-entrepreneurs are constantly developing new learning applications. The language lab is already obsolete, can the college lecture hall be far behind? The walls of academia, and the costs of learning, are crumbling before our eyes and ears.

For those who are conditioned to think that learning only happens in a classroom, the world of self-learning can be a little daunting. How do we best take advantage these new opportunities.

1. Get interested

Make no mistake. Your interest in the subject is the essential driver of success. You can’t learn what you do not want to learn. Emotion is an important part of the learning process. If you are even moderately interested in a subject, give yourself  a chance. The key is to get started. If you can create some pleasurable routines, you may find that the subject grows on you. “L’appetit vient en mangeant” (the appetite comes with eating) as they say in French.

2. Expect problems and you won’t be disappointed.

Don’t expect to understand things, much less remember them, the first time you study them. Trust that things will get clearer as your brain comes to grips with new information. It is like a jig-saw puzzle or a cross-word puzzle. As you start to put the pieces together, or string the words together, the full picture becomes clearer. The brain learns all the time, but on its own schedule. Learning does not take place according to a schedule laid down by a curriculum or teacher. Some things are easier to learn than others. Some things just take longer to click in. Keep at it, and you will gradually find that things that seem difficult at first, will become second nature with time.

3. Cover the same ground from different angles.

Your brain is struggling to form patterns to cope with new input from your learning activities. Sometimes, no matter how long you focus on one subject, your brain is not going to pick it up. If you are stuck, move on. Then cover the same general information from a different source, a different book, or a podcast, or an online lecture or a video. Try to become a grazing learner, roaming the countryside, rather than a feedlot learner, just standing there in one spot, munching on the same bale of hay. The broader your base, the easier it is to learn. Just as the “rich get richer”, the more you know, the more you can learn.

4. Anytime is learning time.

Take full advantage of the Internet, iTunes, and various mobile devices, not to mention good old-fashioned books and magazines. Learn during “dead time”. Listen in your car, on the train, or while jogging. Have your learning with you while waiting in the doctor’s office, or listen while checking out at the supermarket. Anytime is learning time. Remember, you are learning through exposure, not by nailing things down. It is more like moisture accumulation in a cloud, rather than building a brick wall.

5. Be a multimedia learner.

The more varied your learning content, and the more varied the ways in which you learn, the clearer the puzzle will become. Different learning activities suit different people, at different times of the day. Vary your activities in order to keep your interest level up. Even if listening and reading work best for you, treat yourself to the odd video lecture, or get-together with other learners. This will renew your batteries.

6. Join learning communities.

The “loneliness of the distance learner” is a thing of the past. Join a learning community on the web, where members share their knowledge and experience. Search for the communities that suit your interests and learning style. You will find encouragement, advice and stimulus from fellow learners, as well as from tutors, teachers and coaches. In these communities, you can measure your progress against your own goals, or compare your experience with that of other learners. You can even teach and help others, which is a great way to learn.

Never has it been easier nor more exciting to be a learner. Let constant learning be a major part of your life-style. The rewards will be constant, personally, socially, and professionally.

Steve Kaufmann is a former Canadian diplomat, who has had his own company in the international trade of forest products for over 20 years. Steve is the founder and CEO of LingQ.com an online language learning system and Web 2.0 community. Steve speaks eleven languages, having recently learned Russian at LingQ. Steve maintains a blog on language learning,and has written a book on language learning called The Linguist, A Language Learning Odyssey.

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Have you ever thought about quitting your job and working for yourself? Maybe it’s an idle whim that you have from time to time – or perhaps a much more serious intention. Whether it’s your two-hour commute, your gossiping colleagues, the office politics, the boss, the boring work or the inflexible hours, your job just isn’t much fun. It’s definitely not your true passion.

If “quit the day job” is one of your resolutions for 2010, you’ll find lots of encouragement around the internet. I’m a fan of plenty of freelancing and self-development blogs, and many writers can’t wait to extol the virtues and pleasures of being your own boss and working for yourself.

Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy working for myself; I get to work in the comfort of my home, doing what I love. But I’m going to be brutally honest in this post and offer you six reasons to reconsider working for yourself – before you end up making a move that you might regret.

Plus, I’ll give you some tips on negating all six less-than-stellar aspects of the self-employed lifestyle…

1.    It Isn’t Stress-Free

First off, a lot of people think that working from home is going to be amazing. Surely freelancers get to sit around in their pajamas watching daytime TV?

The reality is that you’ll probably be ditching one lot of stresses for a different set. Sure, you won’t have the boss with the anger management problem any more … but you might be having a panic attack at the sight of your bank balance. You may also find yourself taking on more work, or more complex work, than you can comfortably handle.

Fix it: If you’re taking the leap into self-employment, be prepared for it to be stressful at times. Get honest with yourself: how much risk and uncertainty will you be comfortable with? How much down time do you need? You can determine exactly what you do and don’t do, so make sure you’re putting yourself in the best possible position right from the start.

2.    No-One Tells You When to Start Work

Yes, I know this doesn’t sound like much of a drawback! If you work from yourself, you can keep whatever hours you like. You don’t have to be at your desk at eight am. You don’t even have to get out of bed before noon. However…

It’s easy to end up wasting valuable time (and when you’re working for yourself, you’ll become all too aware of how time = money). If you work with clients who’ll expect to contact you by phone, or who want swift replies to emails during office hours, you might find that you’re losing out on potential gigs.

Fix it: Choose your working hours based on when you’re at your best. I’m a morning person, so I’m often at my desk at 7.30am; other freelancers work late in the evening. Be clear about which days are working days (it doesn’t necessarily have to be Monday to Friday). Try having a routine that gets you out of bed and into the day – like a brisk walk, a shower, and an energizing breakfast. If you regularly have a problem getting going, learn how to overcome procrastination.

3.    …Or When to Stop

The flip side to having no start time is that you don’t have a stop time, either. I wrote a piece about Why You’ll Never Be Finished in response to a question from a reader who said “Now I am working for myself I do find it hard to stop because who is telling me when enough is enough?”

This is a real problem for a lot of self-employed folks – and it can lead to substandard work, high stress levels and eventual burn-out. However much you love what you do for a living, you need time to rest and recharge.

Fix it: Recognise that when you work for yourself, your job and your hours of work can expand beyond all recognition. Give yourself a firm “stop” time each day (perhaps tied to your family or household’s schedule) and make sure you at least have a couple of hours of non-work time before bed. You’ll sleep more soundly for it.

4.    There’s No Guaranteed Paycheck

In a traditional job, you know exactly what you’re being paid and when. As a freelancer, you’ll find that cash flow is sporadic. This can be a particular problem if your self-employment involves a large outlay on equipment or materials of some sort.

Many freelancers either work on a succession of small jobs (with a few hundred dollars coming in from each – often not on time!) or have one huge project on the go (which could mean getting paid in large sums every few months). If you’re used to getting a paycheck every two weeks, you may end up running into serious financial problems – especially if you have a non or late paying client.

Fix it: Have an emergency fund or a buffer that covers you for late and irregular payments. When you get large sums, resist the temptation to splash out. Put unexpected bonuses, such as gifts, into a savings account. For big projects, bill in installments during the work. Get new clients to pay 50% upfront.

5.    No-One Has Your Back

In most office jobs, there’s a limit to how much you can screw up. Even if you do something so awful that you get fired, you’ll be entitled to some period of leave. And generally, it’s hard to make huge mistakes: someone will be double-checking anything vital.

When you’re self-employed, everything is your responsibility. If you forget to bill a client, it’s your problem. If you’re so poorly organized that your clients start leaving you, or if you can’t get yourself motivated to complete your work, or if you take on so much that you rush it all and do a poor job … you could ruin your reputation in the industry. You might even get sued by an angry client.

Fix it: Get professional advice where applicable (perhaps when doing your taxes or accounts). Depending on where you live, you may need to set up as a limited company – so that you can’t be held personally liable for potential financial problems. Make sure that you have the time and energy to do your best work, and be careful about managing client expectations – don’t promise what you can’t deliver.

I know I’ve struck a pessimistic note in this piece – and I’d like to end by saying that I have never regretted leaving my own day job and striking out on my own! However, personal experience has taught me that self-employment – like any worthwhile endeavor – isn’t always easy. If you’ve got experience of working for yourself, or if you’d love to quit your job, why not share your thoughts in the comments?

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With the economy being as tough as it is, and so many people struggling to find work, including many who will read this, it’s very easy to fall into a dark hole of depression and despair.  How will I find another job… when will I find another job?  How will I pay the bills, feed my kids, afford the rent? When will this economy improve… will it EVER improve? As we spend hour upon hour on Craigslist and other sites searching for jobs, sending our resumes into a black hole called the internet, these are the questions that crowd our minds.

Then, of course, there is the interview process.  Our hopes held high with that first phone call: “We were looking over your resume and really like what we see…” only to be shattered later with the second or third call (or better yet, a very impersonal email): “After going through the interview process, we have decided to go with another candidate whose skill set best fits the qualifications of the position.  We wish you the best of luck in your on-going search for employment.”

It’s almost worse than getting laid-off.  Rejection is never easy.  Uncertainty never comfortable.  Unemployment never fun.  Or is it?  Could it be?  If we looked at it from a different perspective, is it possible to find an upside in all of this?

Maybe so.

Think about your life before your first job.  What was your dream?  Not your goal nor your plans, but your dream… that far away, far-fetched idea that you spent nights discussing with your friends in college, or discussing with yourself as your mind wandered in art history class.  I wanted to write for a fashion magazine.  (And save the world.)  My girlfriend wanted to be Christiane Amanpour, traveling through the worst parts of the world exposing injustice and crimes against humanity.  I’m unemployed now… she’s a mother of two.

So… could that terrible blow to our egos when we get axed from a job we sort of hated anyway actually be a blessing, a wake-up call that it’s time to do what we want to do?  And not what we think we should be doing?

Instead of focusing our attention on all the terrible things about being unemployed, here are a few reasons why it actually isn’t so bad:

1. We can wake up in the morning and think to ourselves that ANYTHING is possible.

Gone are the days where our entire day, week, year… lives… are scheduled by the hour.  Instead of waking up at 5am – heading to the gym for a 45 minute workout, back home to shower, in the car by 7:30 and at the office by 8:45-9am depending on traffic – we can finally wake up and enjoy the silence.  We can finally wake up and enjoy the possibilities that the new day will bring to us.  Maybe I’ll do yoga, or cook a magnificent dinner for my lover, maybe I’ll start writing that book I’ve always wanted to write, or paint or sculpt or walk on the beach… or maybe, just maybe, I’ll lay in bed all day because it’s been 15 years since I’ve had the chance to do it.  The point is that we can finally decide how to spend our day because it’s no longer incrementally mapped out for us by the hour.  Better yet, we finally have the option not to decide at all, but rather to float.  We can let the day take us where it wants, rather than trying to control the hands on the clock and wishing hours away just so we can finally escape the office.

2. There’s finally time for exercise!

Gyms love to advertise with reverse psychology- which is just a diplomatic term for guilt.  “Don’t use your job as an excuse to avoid the gym… or over eat and gain weight.”  Ha!  I’m wondering if any of those fitness trainers have ever had to work a 40-60 hour week, as well as cook dinner for their kids, walk the dog, get the kids to bed and then clean up after their mess.  Unemployment, as difficult as it is, is the perfect “me” time.  Get out there and bike… or go on a hike… or join the gym.  Take a walk with your spouse for the first time in 20 years.  Start to get fit together and go home to make yourselves a delightfully healthy lunch rather than grabbing some fast food on a lunch break!  This is some much needed down time, a time to focus on you.  Get those endorphins pumping and your mood will begin to enhance as quickly as your waistline begins to decrease.

3. Volunteer

One of the best ways to feel better about yourself is by helping another who is in greater need.  Even if for only one day of your unemployment, take that time to give your time to someone else.  Feed the homeless, read a book to school children, become someone’s mentor.  Volunteering is such a fulfilling act of kindness… and the rewards are immeasurable.  We all need to be reminded sometimes that things could always be worse… and for many, they are.

4. You can finally be your own boss.

Have you ever dreamed of owning your own business?  Or maybe working from home?  It can be very liberating to finally have control of your time.  You have flexibility and a better balance between your personal and professional time.  Whether you choose to embark on an entrepreneurial journey or find yourself another job in a company, it is important to take this time of unemployment to get to know yourself, and your needs thereby becoming the boss of your own life.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you will find a job again.  You will get hired again.  This economy is cyclical, and we are due for the upswing.  In the meantime, try to fill the downtime with positivity and pro-activity.  Get to know yourself, so that when you do find a new job it will not define you, but you will define the job… and where this new venture fits into your life.

Good luck and enjoy the ride!

Melisa Verrecchia is a Guest Blogger for PickTheBrain and a freelance writer.

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If you don’t read any other book this decade on financial prosperity, you must read “The Science of Getting Rich.”  The Science of Getting Rich is a great (short) book which was written by Wallace D. Wattles back in 1910. It provides a basic roadmap teaching on how anyone can become financially free.

I will briefly share with you the major points of the book in this article.

The book starts off discussing how there are:

• Smart people that are rich, and
• Blockheads that are rich
• Intellectually brilliant people that are rich, and
• Mentally slothful people that are rich
• Big spenders that are rich, while
• Many frugal people remain in poverty

The authors point in making these observations is to note that riches are not contributable to luck, the right family, or the right neighborhood; but something else.

This article will recap the basic principles taught in “The Science of Getting Rich,” so that you can start practicing the science today, even if you’re a blockhead.

Here are the 4 major principles that the book teaches:

Principle # 1 – Visualization and Though Control

“Greatness is attained only by the thinking of great thoughts.”

The book tells you to take time daily to visualize what you want in great detail. The book states: …”do not do this as a mere dreamer or castle builder…,” but you must do it in faith knowing that your vision is going to become a reality.

The book requests that you do this whenever you have spare time throughout your day. It also asks that you be very specific and detailed in your visualizations.

My commentary: I recommend that you think about specific pre-meditated events that you want to occur in your life, and try to visualize them for at least 30 minutes a day.  You have to pre-play your future.  This will provide you with the motivation needed to accomplish your vision.  Motivation is the fuel to any destination you want to reach.

You have to see it, before you can have it.  As it is written, “without a vision, the people perish.”

Principle # 2 – Right Action

“Every day is either a success or a failure, and if every day is a success, you cannot fail to get rich.”

The book states that you should give 100 percent effort in your daily actions, and tells you to complete an honest day’s work every day. However, the book also states that you should never over work, because it’s not the number of items that you complete, but the importance of each item that matters.  If you complete enough important items you will succeed.

My commentary: Whatever your goal, be sure to give 100 percent effort towards it every day.  Complete the items that are sure to take you to your goal, postpone the busy work.

Never let a day go by without getting closer to the goals that you want to achieve!

If you have “a passion” to achieve a goal, then you have the power to achieve it.  Passion is power.

Principle # 3 – Avoid Bad News

“If you want to become rich, you must not make a study of poverty.  Things are not brought into being by thinking about their opposites.”

The book says you should diligently avoid all bad news.

My commentary: Avoid all negative media, videos, TV and movies showing poverty, doom, gloom and lack; you should also avoid conversations that include the above mentioned.  There is no reason to fill you mind with all of the negativity in the media.  Garbage in, garbage out!  You will become what you constantly give your attention to.  I recommend you give your attention to what you want to become, and to avoid that in which you do not want to become.

The book says that you should only talk of prosperity and the great possibilities when you speak.  Speaking of lack and poverty only hinder your ability to create prosperity…

Principle # 4 – Gratitude

“…faith is born of gratitude.  The grateful mind continually expects good things, and expectation becomes faith.”

Finally, the book states that you must remain in a state of gratitude at all times; for everything that you have.

My commentary: Always speak, think and feel grateful throughout your day for all of the “good” that’s in your life.  Place things in your environment which remind you to be grateful.  A grateful heart will attract great things.

These are the four principles taught in the Science of Getting Rich, memorize them, and put them into action; they will change your life.

About the author: this guest post was written by Mr. Self Development. Please support Mr. Self Development by subscribing to his blog at mrselfdevelopment.com; Mr. Self Development is a motivational author that offers a practical guide to success and wealth.

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I was in an “on-line forum” the other day when someone asked the question, “How do you increase your income?” The person asking the question was no longer working their “day-job,” and was seeking to make money in other ways.

This person was making a few dollars each week teaching kids how to play basketball, but was looking to make additional money.

The Solution

In order to increase your income, you must increase your value; “YOU” must become more valuable.

By becoming more valuable you will increase your “socially perceived value;” the value society believes you provide, for this, society will owe you a debt. What is money but a social debt, it represents the value you’ve provided thus far; what society owes you. You take that social debt (i.e. money) and then purchase whatever you desire in exchange for the debt.

Let’s Recap: You exchange your time to become valuable, which in turn allows you to purchase things that you value. Before you can purchase things that you value, you must provide others with what they value.

Your salary represents the monetary value you are able to extract from the world. If you make a $100,000 a year, that means society believes that you provide $100,000 of monetary value annually. In order to make more money, you need to increase society’s perspective on your value.

How does a basketball player provide more value?

A basketball player creates more value by becoming a better basketball player; by becoming more valuable himself. He spends his spare time practicing to become “the best” at what he does. He practices when everyone else is taking time-off. He plays with players who are better than he is; he studies and learns how to “out-shine” the competition. He spends his time sharpening his skills. By doing this, he becomes increasingly valuable, and he will make more money.

How does a comedian provide more value?

By becoming a better comedian; he or she spends their time listening to other comedians. They learn from the most successful. While others are sleeping they’re awake writing jokes that have never been heard before. They become more valuable by offering the world something that it’s never seen before. Scarcity makes valuable.

How do I provide more value?

I provide more value by listening to other self-development teachers (iron sharpens iron); I listen to at least an hour of self-development everyday. When I write, I’m writing from what I’ve learned after listening to dozens of other teachers, and hundreds of books. Every book I read makes me more valuable. I know that if my focus is narrow and constant, eventually, I will become one of the greatest self-development teachers.

Enough Value to Make a Living

In order to provide enough value to make a good living, you have to dedicate your time to becoming the best at what you do.

As a first step in becoming the best, you need to commit to “be” your personal best. Honestly ask yourself right now, “Am I giving my very best to what I’m doing, am I giving my all, am I the best version of myself?” I often ask myself these questions, and the answers are not always “positive ones;” when the answers aren’t positive, I begin to look for ways to give my all.

Walter Cronkite said, “I can’t imagine a person becoming a success who doesn’t give this game of life everything he’s got.”

You must empty yourself into your “task” in order to create real value….

Time

It takes time to provide value, when a basketball player first starts playing basketball in elementary school, he doesn’t get paid. It’s not until years later, when we has perfected his skills, and his talent is rare, that he can get paid for the entertainment value he provides.

You must utilize your “time” to make yourself increasingly valuable so that you can command a higher price tag. The more you study, the more you learn, the more time you dedicate to your passion, the more valuable you will become.

This is why you should never quit sharpening your skills, sharpen them often and daily. Eventually you will become very valuable.

That’s why you should do what you love, because you’re going to be doing it for a while before you succeed.

Finally, it’s not enough to just be valuable

I could be the greatest basketball player in the world, but if know one knows about it, what good would it be. Will I get paid for being a great basketball player? Of course not.

Once you’ve become valuable, you need to showcase that value to the world using leverage (e.g. open up a basketball camp and let everyone know about it); now you’re providing real value; and society will gladly pay to see that value. As the quote goes, set yourself on fire and people will come to see you burn! Thank you for reading.

Mr. Self Development is a guest blogger for PickTheBrain. For more information visit Mr. Self Development; just reading his blog will raise your prosperity consciousness, expand your mind, and challenge you to live the abundant life.

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There are no shortage of ‘experts’ that claim to know the secret of maximum productivity. At first someone will swear that the only way to really get things done is to multi-task: more done, less time. Then immediately someone will counter that it’s far simpler, more effective and rewarding and ultimately more ‘zen’ to do one task at a time: single-tasking.

It’s time to stop the confusion. Is one method really better than the other or does it just depend on the individual using either method?

Let’s clear things up, shall we:

Single-tasking: Do one thing at a time to be more effective

Ah, the age-old art of doing less to achieve more. This has been beaten to death for centuries. When you focus all of your efforts on just one thing, it’s assumed you will complete it to the best of your ability. While this is mostly the case, single-tasking is significantly more time consuming. If you want to create a masterpiece it will take time. So much time, in fact, that you might lose track of your other assignments.

There are even times when you’ll be trying to complete a task, and still be unable to tackle it. This, of course, leaves the task uncompleted and you having accomplished less than expected.

Despite getting only one thing done at a time as opposed to many things, the return on that one thing will no doubt be tremendous. All the work you put into the task will be reflected in how effectively you completed it. There will also be a greater sense of reward having completed something start to finish and these small victories, on a daily basis, can ultimately have a very positive mental effect.

Multi-tasking: Do more in less time.

That’s the basic idea of muti-tasking. Though personal development sites collectively hail that single-tasking is more effective (heck, even I support it), multi-tasking is still effective in getting things done. To be fair, multi-tasking has benefits that doing one thing at a time doesn’t.

As I’ve stated above, you get more done. A perfectly legitimate example is that you’re working on a project for your business and you also have a baby to take care of.  Will you just drop caring for the baby while you finish that big project? Or will you nuture your little bundle of joy at the risk of losing your job? Better yet, would you fare better to manage both simultaneously? I don’t know about you, but the last choice looks the best to me.

Though multi-tasking does have its benefits, there are times when it can get a bit overwhelming. Taking on a lot of difficult projects at once is definitely not a good idea. By doing this, you spread yourself too thin and the law of diminishing returns begins to kick in.

Which Method is Better?

Both methods clearly have their respective pitfalls, but which method comes out on top? Single-tasking allows you to zero in on a task and get it done sufficiently, but multi-tasking gives you a wider range in which to get your tasks done at the expense of depth of understanding.

The answer then, lies not in the general, but the specific – as with most things in life. Different tasks, assigned by different people with different expectations, must be looked at on a case-by- case basis. There is no blanket answer as no two situations nor two people are alike.

Why Not Do Both?

Is there are rule that explicitly states that, “Thou shalt not single-task and multi-task at the same time?” Neither method is better than the other because they are both useful in getting things done. You don’t have to multi-task two big things in order to get them done quicker, because it’s possible that you’ll fail at completing both of them. Spending your valuable time single-tasking small problems can lead to overestimating them.

The solution is to multi-task the small things and single-task the big things. However, what if there are two large tasks to do? Should you still multi-task? The short answer is yes. Break up both tasks into smaller tasks and do them simultaneously. The long answer is that it depends on the task and which one you think requires more attention than the other. Some things aren’t easy to chop into chunks and can only be single-tasked, whereas some things can only be multi-tasked.

Multi-task or Single-task? The choice is yours

Not everyone can multi-task. It’s not a matter of brain capacity or time management skills. Some of us just feel that it’s more convenient to do a single task until it’s done. In addition, not everyone is comfortable with single-tasking. Some people just have to do something else in order to periodically take their mind off of the task at hand; they can’t sit still and focus on one thing at time.

But it doesn’t matter what I say. Nor does it matter what any other personal development blogger might tell you. No one way is “the” way to go. Both methods are very person specific, knowing what type of person you are will dictate your choices. The important point is to honestly evaluate your strengths, weaknesses and work habits, and approach each task conscious of these traits. Then experiment with different combinations to suit your needs.

Which do YOU think is better? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

John Anyasor is a guest blogger for PickTheBrain who writes for the HiLife2B: Blog on Personal Improvement for a Good Life. He gives advice on personal development, life lessons, college life tips, and more.

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A Productivity Filled Day

Image courtesy of Rosswell86

It has been 7 years since my graduation day and I still remember the excitement; I was relieved that the ”exam phase” of my life was over; I looked with enthusiam towards my first job. Little did I know that the “working world” would require an extraodinary effort and loads of other skills!

My journey on the career ladder would have been smoother, had I known a few important lessons. While there are many ”on the job” lessons, some things in life must be experienced, to be truly understood. What follows are 8 such career lessons, I wish they’d handed out to me along with my diploma.

1. Your career is not your life. Many of us rely heavily on our careers for satisfaction in our lives. We get immersed in the day-to-day rush of our work and discover that we no longer have the time, energy or inspiration.
For some people (my former self included), it’s as if our jobs are part of our bodies, and if we don’t see ourselves as successful in them, we feel almost physically unhealthy. As a result, we question ourselves when things aren’t going in the direction we hoped. Consciously separating your self from your career allows for a greater perspective on both.

2. Be indispensible (at least one area)
There are certain things that you can do, or that you can learn to do, that can make you extraordinarily valuable to yourself and to others. Identify your special areas of uniqueness and then to commit yourself to becoming very, very good in those areas.
Take stock of your unique talents and abilities on a regular basis. What is it that you do especially well? What are you good at? What do you do easily and well that is difficult for other people? Identifying what separates you from thoses around you, and concentrating on those skills will make your unique skill set invaluable and hard to replace.

3. Don’t grow stale in your career. We live in a world where technology is evolving rapidly. This has a direct consequence on your career. Stay up to speed on the latest happenings in your field. Read various articles and books to keep your mind sharp. Attend seminars at your present job if offered. Seek out mentors who can advise or educate you. Don’t become comfortable with the status quo or complacent about things you are already good at – you can always be better, so taket he time to find out how.

4. Guard your time like a hawk. At work, we often find ourselves bombarded with ‘urgent’ requests. All of these urgent requests can disrupt the thinking processes. Sometimes it may take twice as long to get something done, simply because of the interruption. Learn to say No (with good reason!) and prioritize your tasks.

5. Polish your people skills. You may do your job well, even so well that no one can complain. But you never seem to get ahead. Sound familiar?
People issues can be one of the main reasons people leave jobs. It can also be a cause for dissatisfaction and reduced productivity. Bottom line: you need people skills to move up.

6. Communicate effectively. No matter what career path you choose to follow, you have to have good written and oral communication skills to get ahead in your career.
Make a real effort to listen to everything that’s being said to you. Observe and learn from others who make it seem effortless.

7. Keep your cool. We sometimes forget that we are in a professional environment and tend to curse and behave like a teenager. Whatever happens, don’t explode or throw your arms up in resignation. Keep your mind clear at the worst of times and you’ll be able to handle anything. There’s nothing more respectable than being calm under fire. So take a deep breath, or a walk around the block, and find away to diffuse your frustration before you address whatever the problem is.

8. Shield your reputation. The people you hang out with will add value or break your good name. Also, if you spend time with people who gossip and tear others down, you are likely to catch it too.
So, identify ways to develop and maintain a professional image that is positive and genuine. Surround yourself with positive people who seek to grow and improve.
Looking back at your career, what has been most responsible for your success? Any lessons you would like to add to this graduation day handout?

Shamelle is a Guest Blogger for PickTheBrain and the founder of The Enhance Life, a blog offering real life wisdom, for modern life growth.

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How many times have you sat in rage-inducing, morning rush hour traffic, cursing your boss for making you come in early to finish that report, when clearly you would have already had the report finished if you’d only been allowed to write it from home instead of sitting in this car!?

How many times, distracted by your coworker, whose high-pitched laugh while regaling her BFF on the phone about a ‘hysterical’ new Facebook post, have you cringed thinking to yourself, if only I were working from home I wouldn’t have these distractions!

How many times in a week do you find yourself thinking, if only I could work from home I would be so much more productive!

Well, according to last months’ Time Magazine – The Future of Work issue, more and more employees and employers are opting for new and innovative ways to redefine the workplace, the most common of which, is changing it – more specifically from your office to your home. And while I hear upon writing this, a chorus of working stiffs belting out Hallelujah!, before you jump into your new way of life (conference call in your pajamas, anyone?!) – a life free of stress, bureaucracy, and office politics – I caution you to remember the old adage: Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

While without question, if done correctly, working from home will yield more productivity, less wasted time, and generally improve your quality of life, if done incorrectly you will see the exact opposite happen to the point where your job itself, may be threatened. And with the exuberance of being ‘free’ there is the risk that you will throw yourself into your new situation, without proper preparation. Simple upfront planning will ensure your success and increase your satisfaction factor.

1. Discipline: This is the single hardest part of working from home. Looks easy from your crowded cubicle, but simply not true. First you must honestly ask yourself what kind of person you are: Are you the type of person that works better in a structured environment? Or do you thrive with this type responsibility? Remember once you’re working at home there’s no rush hour and no pesky coworker to blame: your performance will be judged solely on you. If you are going to work from home, understand you’ll have to be ruling yourself with a stiffer fist. The general rule of thumb that I’ve found works is: If you wouldn’t do it at your old office (i.e. take 5 calls from Francine about her blind date last night) don’t do at your new office. I have found that the transition from office to home office is made significantly easier if you start working from home on a part time basis, and then gradually make the transition to full time from home.

2. Scheduling: One of the most important and overlooked aspects of working from home is creating a schedule. Just because you’re not required to be somewhere at 9 and can’t leave until 5, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a firm schedule. It is absolutely necessary to write out a weekly schedule for yourself – and stick to it. Working from home can come with many distractions – i.e. all of a sudden that bookshelf you’ve avoided for weeks needs to be dusted right now – and if you aren’t strict about your working hours they will quickly escape you. One of the other pratfalls is that when working from home there is no limit to how much you can be doing – theoretically you could be working 24 hours a day. So it is important to make clear guidelines about where your time will be spent everyday.

3. Create the appropriate space: When working from home, one of the big challenges is keeping your ‘home’ life from your ‘work’ life, otherwise with time both worlds will blur into one, leaving you feeling like you’re always working and never living. If your space allows it, designate one room to be used specifically and ONLY for your office – while it would be more comfortable to sit on your couch writing that report (like I am right now…horrible, horrible, horrible!) it is important to have a concrete spatial divide. If you don’t have the space available, craft out a corner which again is reserved for ‘work’ time only.

4. Separating work from home: Building on creating different spaces, your entire work practice should be separated from your living practice. Though at first it might seem sooo productive to be doing your laundry while taking a conference call, it’s actually not, and most probably both tasks will suffer as a result. Use the time you have allotted to work, to work, conversely use the time you’ve allotted for personal chores, for personal chores. It is also a good idea to get out of your house on designated breaks, i.e. lunch, afternoon break. Go for a walk around the block or eat your lunch outside. Being trapped in your house day and night has many negative long term effects, both personally and professionally.

5. Staying Connected: Just because you’ve said Hasta La Vista to your office, doesn’t mean you should say the same to your colleagues. One of the bigger risks of working from home is becoming isolated and out of the loop. Make the effort to reach out to colleagues you have a good rapport with – suggest a group happy hour drink/coffee once a month. Most jobs and careers still benefit from making connections and having in person relationships. Meeting up once a month will keep you abreast of relevant insider information that will invariably help you in the long run.

Got any working-from-home advice or stories that can help? Please feel free to comment below! (Only if you’re on a break!!)

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