What you do is not why you do it  Finding your purpose at work

What you do is elend why you do it Finding your purpose at workWhat you do is not why you do it Finding your purpose at workSimon Sinekis a bestselling author and leadership expert whose TED Talk, How Great Leaders Inspire Action, has been viewed over 40 mio times, making it one of themost popular TED Talks of all time. He recently joinedJordan HarbingeronThe Jordan Harbinger Showto discuss how the power of why can transform the way we work, set goals, and live our lives.JordanIts always nice and cushy to say, I love delivering great content to people that helps them improve their lives. Thats my shows mission, but thats not the feeling I have when Im creating this stuff.SimonThats not your Why - thats just what you do. Thats what the show is. If adding more intonation to your voice when describing what you do doesnt turn it into a cause - What we want to do is bring great content - then no, its still what you do. Purpose and cause are why you make sacrifices for this, and its why your friends, your colleagues, and your audience love you. Your show is simply one of the things youre doing that brings your cause to life. What happens if you dont have a show? Do you not have a Why anymore? Of course you do.Take me for example - my Why is to inspire people to do the things that inspire them, so that together, each of us can change our world for the better. Now, I can do that in a million ways - I can write a book, I can give a talk, I can give advice to someone. Thats who I am as a friend, as a brother, as a son. Thats who I am, and my opportunity is to find creative ways to inject life into it.The problem is, too many people define their value based on their job. I could simply say, I like writing books, and I want to write books that people want to read. But what if I stopped writing books? Retirees have this problem. They literally lose their whole identity, because they spent 30 years building themselves up to do this one thing, tobethis one thing. But we are worth more than the work that we do. The work that we do is supposed to reflect who we are and what our worth is.JordanWhen my other show ended abruptly, I went through a few days of asking myself, Have I lost this part of who I am? Have I lost the Why? I had the retiree problem. But youre right, I didnt really lose my Why - I just didnt have my thumb on it. I welches conflating the Why with the method of delivery.SimonYou never lost your Why. I would argue that you never had a sense of it. You werent able to put it into words before, and you confused the passion you had for what you did for the reason why you started doing it in the first place.JordanExactly, and I feel likethat happens a lot with creative people, like if you suddenly find that you cant sing anymore, or you cant dance anymore, or you cant act in the same way that you used to. You hear about this with athletes, too, even an athlete that retires. They feel lost because its like, Well, am I still a basketball player? I dont play for the NBA anymore - I play in my backyard with my kids.SimonThis is fairly frequent when individual athletes set themselves on the path to become the greatest in their sport. Once they achieve the goal that theyve set their whole life in motion to achieve, their immediate reaction is actually depression. Andre Agassi became the greatest tennis player of all time, and his immediate reaction was depression. Michael Phelps became the most medaled Olympian in history, and the reaction shortly after was depression. Theyve spent their whole life trying to achieve this one thing, and when they get there, they realize, What comes next?Theyve spent their whole life trying to achieve this one thing, and when they get there, they realize, What comes next? You landsee this in business all the time I want to be a millionaire. Okay, you made your first million. Well, Im not that happy - but maybe if I make two million Okay, you madetwomillion. I still dont have that feel ing. Maybe Ill makefivemillion We confuse the thing that brought us joy in the first place it was all the hard work that gave us this incredible sense of accomplishment.In other words, it was never the promotion - its the journey to get that promotion. And this is what Why does - it gives you a sense of the whole thing, rather than just the individual milestones.JordanI predict that youre going to see a lot of people after the Olympics going, I got a gold medal, and now I dont know what to do with myself.SimonThere was a study where they asked elite athletes, Would you be willing to die within five years if you could be guaranteed your goal? Over half of them said yes. They thought that the gold was more important than living.JordanYeah, thats called Goldmans dilemma.SimonLets just think about that for a moment, and then take a step back and think of them as exaggerated versions of us.JordanJust like any human condition, we all have a little bit of that in us. Theres probably so me measure of the population that would say, If I could just get my company to this level, or if I could be at the top of this corporate ladder, then I would give up ten years of my life. And what we dont realize is that a lot of people are making this trade - we just dont do it consciously. We might not be thinking, Im going to die in five years, but if youre working 100-hour weeks, and you have no family and no life SimonYou can take it further than that. Despite the fact that we have better medicine than weve ever had, weve seen a profound increase of stress-related disorders and diseases over the past decades. People are dying from ansicht things - which include some cancers, diabetes, and heart disease - and theyre attributed to increases of stress. The primary source of stress in our lives is work, which means that the organizations - or at least, the leadership environments that are being fostered - are literally killing people. And because it doesnt happen overnight, yo u dont see the deleterious effects compounding. Its like, eating a Big Mac does nothing, eating two Big Macs does nothing - but do that every day, and youll die young. Our jobs are literally killing us.JordanHow do I know if my level of ambition is healthy or deleterious?Theres no such thing as winning business.SimonWhen you hear about one of your colleagues getting a promotion, are you angry or happy for them? Do you publicly say, Congratulations, then close the door and be like, Oh, that is so unfair? It happens all the time, getting angry at someone for getting the promotion that you deserve. I can guarantee you that all of us have been given promotions that probably were better deserved by somebody else.Gratitude, being grateful for every promotion or recognition that we get, is probably a good place to start.And understand that theres no winning - we apply finite constructions to what is basically an infinite game. Theres no such thing as winning business. There is only ahead and behind, and sometimes were ahead, and sometimes were behind. And amazingly, the best way to stay ahead is allowing others to help us, and being willing to help others.And theres no such thing as winning life you can be the most powerful person in the world with more money than anybody else, and when you die, you just die, and you leave it all behind. You didnt win life - it just continues without you. And the same is true in business - how many companies do we miss? Does anybody miss Circuit City? They went bankrupt, and we went on with our lives. Like, who actually cares?This conversation has been edited and condensed. To listen to the full version,click here.This article first appeared on Heleo.

The power of habit book review

The power of habit book reviewThe power of habit book reviewI think that overallThe Power of Habit welches a so-so book when it comes to the concept of changing ones habits. There are many better positions about this and free content of much higher quality.But.Charles Duhigg made an enormous service to the society as a whole by popularizing the concept of habits in the consciousness of the general public.The Power of Habit was the first ever book about habits that broke into the mainstream.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreBecause of this book, others could follow with more books about habits and changing an individuals behavior for good. My mentor,Steve Scott, wrote the whole series of books about habits, a few dozen of them Gretchen Rubin wrote a brilliant transformative book,Better than Before.Brendon Burchard published his book about top performers habits. James Clear and Leo Babauta developed thriving blogs (hundreds of thousands subscribers) around the concept of habits.None of the above would be possible without the breakthroughThe Power of Habitmade into the mass culture.It definitely has downsides, but this book also did its job to the T and then some.Three Main Pitfalls ofThe Power of HabitNarrow Definition of HabitsThis book narrowed down a human habit to a habit loop that is stored in the brain. ur habits are so much moreIts like saying that human speech is a series of neural impulses firing in the brain. Our speech is a means of communication, a gate to higher and abstract concepts, a way to organize huge projects that one person canelend handle, a fabric of human relationships, a way to articulate our emotions to each other and so on, and so on.Yes, the structure of a habit is stored in the basal ganglia in the form of a habit loop. Nope, its not all.Its just the beginning.The top definition spit out by Google says that a habit isa settled or r egular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.My favorite example is my writing habit. Since 23rd of September, 2013 every single day I have been writing several hundred words. I have the 100% success ratio.Every. Single. Day.No automatic trigger ignites this activity. The activity itself is not automatic. I write in various different forms (blog posts, Quora answers, income reports, articles, nonfiction books, a novel, fiction short stories and more), in two different languages (my native Polish and English), in different places (at home, on trains during my daily commute and even at work) and at a different times of the day (in my writing log you can find every single hour of the day).You cannot fit my writing habit into a narrow definition of a habit loop.Its an Endpoint, Not a RewardThe habit loop itself is not precisely described inThe Power of Habit.This pitfall is actually the fault of scientists perspective skewed by the research they conducted on anima ls.In their brain research, they were experimenting on laboratory rats. They trained them to find a way to a piece of chocolate in the labyrinth. After some time, the animals were habitually finding the way to the treat. The taste of chocolate was closing the loop and completing the habit in their brain. If they didnt find the chocolate, they were confused because the loop in their brains was still active.Well, we are not rats, life is not a labyrinth, and chocolate is evil (surely for me, with my sweet tooth).However, my experience suggests that you dont need a reward at the end of the loop, you just need a clearendpoint.While I wait for a suburban train, I meditate for a few minutes. The cue for my meditation habit is arriving on the train platform, the routine is my meditation, and the reward (you see how inappropriate the name is in this context? Lets call itan endpointfrom now on) is the arrival of the train.The way to the office by subway takes me almost exactly ten minutes. O n the way to work, I read a book written by a saint. On the way back home, I practice speed reading. The cues are finding a place in a subway train. The endpoints are arrivals to the destinations.Parts II and IIIThe top reviewofThe Power of Habiton Amazon says thatThe author describes the power of weak ties of social networks, and claims that it helps us understand the rise of social movements - which it clearly does. But in his explanation, networks are rebranded as the habit of peer pressure. Networks - as well as peer pressure, or culture - can be powerful forces for change, undoubtedly. But networks are not habits - as per his own definition. Different phenomena are conflated into the concept of habits, and in doing so the concept loses elegance and consistency.I tend to agree. Those parts diluted the books message.On the other hand, I think they were necessary to popularize the book, and I consider the impact ofThe Power of Habitinto mass audience its main advantage and mis sion. If not for those parts,The Power of Habitwouldnt have got the attention of corporations and organizations. It would have been just another self-help book calling people to change their lives.Parts II and III demonstrated that there is a business in habits. Good companies thrive because of good systems, and those systems are based on individuals habits.What is more, Charles unwittingly tackled the truth that only recently broke into the knowledge of scientists researching change in human behavior changing habits individually is a losing proposition. Its like hitting the nails with your hand instead of a hammer. It can be done, but the results are so much worse, and the price is so much higher.The default way to change your habits should be in a group setup. When you involve even a single other human being, your chances for success skyrocket.So perhaps those parts of the book werent as aligned to the main message, but they were both necessary and accurate.ProsPhilosophyAs a resu lt of all the above cons,The Power of Habitis not the book I would ever recommend to someone who wants to change their habits. However, its wonderful if you want more knowledge, especially about the state of science about the human brain and habits. The whole book, and multiple stories instanced in it, makes also a compelling case for the utmost importance of habits in our lives.I can recommend this book with all peace of mind to anyone who thinks that habits are not important, tedious, not interesting, boring, insignificant or limiting.This is the best book on Earth to preach about habits.And I discovered in my coaching practice that when you are convinced about the importance of good habits when you make this conviction a part of your personal philosophy, its much easier to actually change your habits and your everyday life.Habit LoopI dont believe the concept of a habit loop will ever be explained better in the form of written content. Charles made it comprehensive, detailed, ill ustrated with vivid stories and packed with scientific research.If you want to learn about the ins and outs of a habit loop, the first part ofThe Power of Habitis a go-to place. Period.Social AspectCharles based his book on scientific research but, in this case, he was ahead of his time.The Power of Habitwas published in 2012. BJ Fogg, the head of Persuasive Lab on Stanford University, admitted only at the end of 2015 that he overlooked the importance of social interactions in bringing the change in individuals habits.Social support can make or break your resolve to change. Charles didnt articulate it in those words, but the impact of habits of crews, teams and crowds on businesses, organizations and societies painted a very clear correlation. I applaud him for that.SummaryI thinkThe Power of Habitis-a so-so book if you want to transform your life-a great book if you want to deepen your knowledge about habits and scientific landscape of behavioral research-the best book in the world for anyone that needs convincing about the importance of habits-the breakthrough book that brought habits into the mainstream culture.This article first appeared on Expandbeyondyourself.com .You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

5 Tips to Be a More Confident Job Seeker

5 Tips to Be a More Confident Job Seeker5 Tips to Be a More Confident Job SeekerIf theres one common thread that sticks with you through the entirety of your job search, its probably this nerves.A dry mouth, sweaty palms, and shaky knees- theyre likely as much job hund staples as your resume and your titelblatt letter. Whether youre waiting anxiously to head into that big interview or compulsively refreshing your inbox for any news about that open position, those butterflies in your stomach are ever-present when youre looking for a new gig.Rest assured, nerves are normal. But, if you can help it, you want to keep those butterflies at bay and present yourself as poised and polished to potential employers- rather than panicked.Think its impossible? The good news is, its not.Here are five key tips to be a more confident job seeker (whether you actually feel that way or not)1. Know what you want.Confidence in your job search starts well before you ever shake hands with a hiring manager. In fact, developing that self-assuredness begins before you even submit your first application.Before you even so much as quantify your resume bullets, take some time to nail down exactly what youre looking for in your next career move. Do you want more flexibility? To move into a leadership position? A total career change? What types of things do you want to be responsible for? What are you looking for in regards to company culture?By zoning in on exactly what you want, youll be far more confident as you peruse open positions- youll know exactly when youve found something that fits the bill. Remember, as much as that employer is looking for a good fit, you need to find the right fit for yourself as well.2. Understand your qualifications.Nothing gives you a bigger confidence boost than knowing exactly what you bring to the table. With that in mind, sit down and list out your key skills and qualities that any employer would see value in.Of course, youll need to tailor your individual applications and resumes depending on specific jobs and what they require. However, thinking through your core competencies and developing your own personal value proposition will remind you of the fact that youre a qualified and competent job seeker.Thats just the confidence-boosting foundation you want to lay when youre getting started on your hunt for a new role.3. Enlist help.Sometimes, despite your very best efforts, its tough to muster up that confidence within yourself. In those moments, getting some help from others can build you back up again.For example, have a close friend read through your resume and cover letter before you submit it. If he says it looks great, youll feel a little more self-assured. If he finds something that needs fixing, that helps you too, as you can make the tweak and then know that youre turning in your very best materials.So, in those moments when youre feeling low, dont hesitate to lean on your network. You dont need to job search in a vacuum4. F ocus on preparation.Even if you put all of the above tips to work, nothing will undermine your job search confidence faster than flying by the seat of your pants. When youre already nervous, needing to wing it is a surefire way to take a nosedive.Before you participate in a phone screening or an interview, make sure youve researched the company (and your interviewer) and have a solid grasp on what that job entails. Prepare some questions you want to ask so you can end the conversation by proving that youre highly engaged in the hiring process.Getting your ducks in a row will take a little more time. But, youd rather be over-prepared than under-prepared- and, quite frankly, its a step you cant afford to skip.5. Imagine worst-case scenarios.At first glance, this tip might seem disheartening. However, when were in the thick of a job search, its easy for us to blow things out of proportion. Bombing an interview or getting a dreaded rejection letter will surely lead to an Independence Da y-style catastrophe.When you feel yourself beginning to get extra anxious, ask yourself this question Whats the worst that can happen?In most cases, the worst-case scenario is that you wont land the job- and, while thats a blow to your ego, it really means that youre no worse off than you were before. Step back and give yourself some perspective every now and then. Things arent as do or die as they might seem, and recognizing that will give you some added self-assuredness as you continue to tackle your job hunt.You want to be a poised and positive job seeker. But, unfortunately, thats often easier said than done. Put these five tips to work, and youre sure to approach those applications and interviews with an extra dose of confidence. Good luckKnow someone looking for a job? Refer a friend to with this link- youll get a month free tafelgeschirr and theyll get 30% off