How to develop mastery at any skill A simple list of inter-connected ideas

How to develop mastery at any skill A simple list of inter-connected ideasHow to develop mastery at any skill A simple list of inter-connected ideasWhen youve developed mastery of something, you own that thing. Youve learned the rules inside-out and now you have the ability, as an artist, to create your own rules.You have the ability to create a new game.Dan Sullivan, the founder of Strategic Coach, calls people with this level of mastery, Game Changers, because they dont just play a game, they change the game.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and morePeople with this level of mastery dont compete with others, they make others compete with them. They are light-years ahead of the crowd and are setting the context of the future that others will either consciously or unconsciously follow.Becoming a game changer is something that very few people aspire to. Most people are relatively comfort able being good at what they do or paying the bills.For a select few people, though, there is elend only a desire to succeed and do well but to create and to fail. To stretch the possibilities of learning so far that they enter what some would call a no mans land.Going to places where no one else has thought to go.Stretching their imagination so far that they can only share their ideas with a very tight inner circle. As Peter Diamandis said, The day before something is a breakthrough, its a crazy idea.Once you reach a certain level of mastery, and if you have the creative spirit to change the game and world entirely?- ?then you play in the realm of crazy ideas.Here is a brief run-down of key steps in the development of this level of mastery. This list is far from exhaustive but will be useful to you if you intend to leave the world of competition behind and go to places only your imagination can take you.Study only those whose work truly inspires and touches the deepest level of you r soul.Ignore alfruchtwein everyone around you, particularly those who are competing for the bottom of the barrel.Of this fact, Tim Ferriss stated in 4HWW?- ?Its lonely at the top. 99% of the world is convinced they are incapable of achieving great things, so they aim for the mediocre middle-ground. The level of competition is thus fiercest for realistic goals, paradoxically making them the most time- and energy-consuming. It is easier to raise $10,000,000 than it is $1,000,000. It is easier to pick up the one perfect 10 in the bar than the five 8s. If you are insecure, guess what? The rest of the world is too. Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself. You are better than you think.Study the craft of those who are truly craftsmen?- ?who are brilliant and nuanced at what they do. Peel back the layers until you begin to see how the sausage is made?- ?why did they make the decisions they made in what they were doing? Why that ordering of decisions?Begin creating o r performing at the level you intend to reach?- ?dont start as a beginner.Before you ever reach a goal, already have the next mountain or two in mind.Never arrive where you plan to go.The moment you arrive is the moment youve lost your edge. As Steph Curry recently admitted, the Warriors have to rediscover their edge.You can only have an edge or ic on your shoulder when you have something to prove?- ?to yourself.You already know you could destroy the competition if you wanted to, but you want to test your own internal limits.The only way to have this level of the edge is to be attempting something so big it somewhat scares but also excites you.You cant have the edge if youre not pursuing a fundamentally bigger and different future.The moment you attach yourself to the success or failure of your past, then youve lost the edge.The moment you stop being emotionally committed and intellectually stimulated by a future possibility, youve lost your edge.The moment you stop approaching with courage a new future, and instead, seek to avoid losing your current position?- ?youve lost your edge.The moment you become satisfied with what youve accomplished, youve lost your edge.Interesting, Michael Jordan never lost his edge. In every possession?- ?whether practice or a game?- ?he always imagined the score to be 0 to 0. Even if his team was winning by 50 points. Most players, when theyre either winning or losing by a landslide begin to mentally check-out.Imagination is fundamental to having a creative and competitive edge. When youre pursuing something that you know has never been done before?- ?at least by yourself, but also probably not by anyone else?- ?you can have a level of humility and excitement that spurs innovation.When you think about where you plan to be in 12 months from now?- ?how imaginative is it?How exciting is the future youre striving to make?When youre playing at the razors edge, you have a small margin for error and distraction. Are your goals big and e xciting enough to keep you from being distracted by stuff that doesnt really matter?When you have goals that are so exciting that you no longer have time or interest in distractions like social media, then you know youre onto something.When you have achievements or benchmarks youre sprinting toward that require you to be at a powerful mental and emotional place?- ?where youre just throwing out creative output at a level youve never done before?- ?then youre on the right track.Nothing great has ever come out of someone trying to maintain their current position or status.All of the best innovation and evolution comes from a small group of people who are attempting stuff that is only real in their imagination?- ?yet deeply connected in the soul and heart.Napoleon Hill said, Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.In order to experience wildbret levels of mastery, you need to have practices or performances that test your ability and focus. For example, at a cert ain level, most people get caught into a routine where they start going through the motions. When you begin going through the motions at anything, youve lost the edge. Once the edge is gone, all creative innovation goes out the door. As a result, you need to push yourself always to expand your current perspectives and abilities. You do this through focused, difficult, and time-bound performances. An example could be an NBA player practicing for a full week with only their left hand. This would push their brain and creative abilities.Have clear-cut goals that are focused on numbers and events. The clearer your benchmarks, the easier it is for your brain and mind to see it. Crystallize what youre trying to accomplish and make it on the outer edges of possible. Your goals should be beyond anything youve ever done, yet still within the realm of believability. No one else has to believe you can do it but yourself. Then you focus on output.Beyond measurable and numeric goals, you need to have an emotional EXPERIENCE youre striving to create as well. This is where you become emotionally committed to your future. What would it feel like 1 year from now to have what you plan to accomplish?People who are distracted do not know what they really want. They arent being pulled forward by a beautiful and exciting future. Instead, they are maintaining their own status quo, and have either lost their edge or have never found it.Pivoting is one of the most beautiful ways to recreate your edge. Sometimes bigger isnt the answer, but rather, different. Often, for example, a company thinks they simply need to grow. This isnt always the answer. Instead of growing, evolution and change is likely the better solution. Change what youre doing. Change what youre pursuing. Change why youre pursuing it. Play a different and better game, rather than merely a bigger game.If you want to achieve mastery, you need to be both intrinsically and extrinsically motivated.You need to regularly perfor m and attempt stuff youve never done.You can never plateau or begin going through the motions.You always need to be sharpening your edge?- ?and playing just beyond that edge where creativity, faith, uncertainty, risk, and excitement exist.You need to have a future so big, exciting, and different that you simply dont have time to be distracted.You need priorities so clear that youre always laser-focused on what matters most, while most people are caught in the think of thin things.You need to build a life and environment to facilitate optimal performance, expansion, and creativity in your core priorities and relationships.Ready to upgrade?Ive created a cheat sheet for putting yourself into a PEAK-STATE, immediately. You follow this daily, your life will change very quickly.Get the cheat sheet hereThis article first appeared on Medium.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

December 2017 Jobs Report Summary

December 2017 Jobs Report SummaryDecember 2017 Jobs Report SummaryEmployers added 148,000 jobs in December, marking the 87th consecutive month of job gains, the longest streak on record.All told, payrolls increased by nearly 2.1 million in 2017. Its the seventh straight year job growth has topped 2 million.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the sectors that created the most new jobs in December wereConstruction - 30,000 jobs addedLeikoranvers and hospitality - 29,000 jobs addedEducation and health services - 28,000 jobs addedManufacturing - 25,000 jobs addedProfessional and business services - 19,000 jobs addedDecember 2017 unemployment tarifThe December 2017 unemployment rate was 4.1 percent, unchanged for the third straight month and a 17-year low. At the beginning of the year, the unemployment rate stood at 4.8 percent.The unemployment rate for college-degreed workers who are 25 or older - those in greatest demand by employers - was also unchanged in Decembe r, at 2.1 percent. It has fallen from 2.5 percent in January.What employers need to knowSimply put, now is a good time to hire. Many economists believe that recently passed federal tax cuts will lead to even more hiring by U.S. businesses. This would increase competition for the skilled, experienced workers who are already in frustratingly low supply.New data confirm that companies continue to struggle to locate the talent they need to maintain or expand their operations. Nearly two-thirds of CFOs surveyed by said its challenging to find skilled workers for current job openings. In fact, there were 6 million open jobs in October, according to the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary from the BLS. Job openings have been at or near record high levels since June 2017.Get ahead of the competition and start, or accelerate, your recruiting efforts now, especially if you have fresh hiring budget for 2018.What job seekers need to knowIf one of your New Years resolutions is to find a new job, be sure to put your best foot forward when searching. Spend some time updating your resume so it reflects your most recent achievements and an updated list of your skills and experience. Adjust the wording of your resume for each opening you target, pulling phrases and keywords from the job posting so hiring managers can see you have the qualifications they want.Even though employers are having a hard time hiring for open roles, many remain extremely selective when evaluating potential hires. Theyre holding out for the perfect candidate. A strong resume is the best way to show them youre the person theyre looking for.Check out our library of blog posts on how to write a resume for everything you need to know about putting one together.

4 Ways to Deal With an Office Crush

4 Ways to Deal With an Office Crush4 Ways to Deal With an Office CrushYou already know the risks of dating someone in the office.Will getting involved with this person give either one of us an unfair advantage or disadvantage at work?How will ur relationship be perceived by our boss and co-workers?If we start dating and then have a difficult breakup, how will it affect our ability to work together?But, when youve got a crush on someone at work, those worries can easily fall by the wayside. You see this person every day, in his or her element, doing exceptional work- pretty soon, that rational voice in your head gets quieter and quieter and the emotions become impossible to ignore.What should you do (besides, you know, check the dating policies in your employee handbook)?If youre finding yourself contemplating a workplace romance youre not sure you should pursue, here are four things to keep in mind. 1. Remember That Feeling Doesnt Always Mean ActingIts okay to like someone- anyone, a nywhere, any place. But liking someone doesnt necessarily mean that you need to act on those feelings.Put simply You can enjoy a feeling, without ever having to act on it. Use your judgement to decide, This is a time to feel, and this is a time to act. 2. Remember That You- Not Your Feelings- Are in ControlYour feelings do not control you. You are in charge. If it feels like your emotions are taking over, that means that youve allowed intense feelings to build up for too long, like steam in a tea kettle. The good news? Once you release those emotions safely, they wont rule you anymore.There are so many ways to release pent-up emotions. Screaming into a pillow. Thwacking a pillow with a knotted-up towel. Painting, writing, or singing loudly while vocalizing your feelings out loud. The more physical, the better.3. Remember That You Dont Have to Feel Guilty (in Fact, its Dangerous if You Do)I like my co-worker- but I shouldntI know I shouldnt be attracted to my boss, but I am- I feel t errible for feeling this way.Guilty thoughts like these are like throwing gasoline on a fire. Theyre dangerous, because youre far more likely to do unhealthy and inappropriate things when youre already feeling guilty.Guilt distorts our ability to think clearly, leading to thoughts like What the heck, Ive already made a mess of everything by falling in love with my married boss (even though no one knows), so I might as well pursue this. But remember, again You are in charge. Not your thoughts. Not your feelings. 4. Remember That You Are Allowed to Enjoy the ExcitementHaving a workplace crush can be fun, exciting- and even productiveYou might find yourself dressing more sharply, speaking up in meetings more readily, contributing to projects in a bigger way- all because you like the way that special someones face lights up when youve done a great job.Once you clear guilt out of the way, you can delight in the thrill and the sparks.And with those happy sparks in your heart, you can shif t into a positive frame of mind- one that will allow you to calmly consider the pros and cons of starting a relationship with your co-worker.When its time.If its right.Photo of hearts courtesy of Shutterstock.