How to quit your job and actually travel the world

How to quit your job and actually travel the worldNo matter how much you like your job, chances are youve spent some time daydreaming about what it would be like to walk into your bosss office, quit on the spot, and then put all your energy into traveling and enjoying the world. But actually doing it may not be as crazy as it sounds If the wanderlust is getting stronger than ever, then maybe you should think about how you can make this daydream happen. Lets look at some of the first steps you can take toward becoming a professional globetrotter. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Be realistic about your finances.Unfortunately, the nonstarter for many of us is that the money will ansturm out eventuallyand you really dont want that to happen while youre stranded halfway across the world. If youre thinking about making your travel goals happen, make sure you have a strong savings gameand a very specific budget for your new Bohemian lifestyle. And its never too early to start your financial prepstart cutting back on things now to help you build your travel savings account. Only set out when you have enough for your adventuresplus a hefty cushion for emergencies and easing your way back into real life once your travel adventures are over.Start hoarding vacation days.If youre serious about quitting your job sometime in the near future, start saving up your vacation days. Most companies will pay you for unused vacation time when you leave your job. And if you have vacation time that accrues throughout the year (instead of being available all at once), plan your big resignation date for a point when youll have maximum time accrued. The key here is to think long-term. When youre exploring job options, if travel is ideally in your future you should negotiate vacation time/accrual into your contract. Even if you cant get a salary bump, an extra week of vacation could be just as valuable for your future jet-setting.Find ways to m ake extra cash on everyday activities.There are a lot of loyalty programs, credit card incentive programs, and other everyday tools that give consumers money or points back when they use a card or service. If you have access to these programs (like Ebates), take advantage of them. You should also consider getting (or using) cards with strong rewards or cash-back programs for money spent on travel or hospitality. Travel sites like Hotels.com or Expedia.com also tend to have rewards programs, awarding points that can be redeemed for more travel.Live like a local.Staying in four-star hotels around the globe sounds fantastic, but for most people its not terribly realistic. If you want to maximize your travel budget, look into local options for couchsurfing or Airbnb-type programs. Howeverand I cant emphasize this enoughalways do your research to make sure youre using reputable services that have policies in distribution policy to ensure your own safety and security.If you plan financial ly, and think realistically about your means, a globetrotting existence can be the ultimate alternative to the workday grind. Once you start putting in the work of planning and researching your new life, you may find that its far more attainable than you ever thought possible

33 BFF Quotes Thatll Remind You of the Importance of Friendship

33 BFF Quotes Thatll Remind You of the Importance of Friendship As you work towards a successful career youll probably focus on your professional goals and relationships with your colleagues. As you strive to maintain a healthy work-life balance, youll most likely focus on taking care of your health by sleeping enough, eating well, and exercising regularly. While all of ansicht are important, its easy to forget about fostering our friendships. Maybe youve made a real friend at work, but you also need at lease one true friendship outside of work, too, so you can take work off your mind.Why are friendships important?Best friends will be there for you when youve had the worst day of your career and you need someone to talk to. Its important to have a best friend outside of work, and not just to dish about your coworkers. The Huffington deutsche post dhl reported on a LinkedIn study citing that 68% of people born after 1980 would sacrifice a friendship for a promotion. While workplace fr iends can make the day go by faster, they often dont last when you move onto new roles and have the added complication of workplace politics. These prozentanteils will remind you why its worth taking the time to invest in true friends. For every friendship quote, try to think of someone in your life it reminds you of.33 BFF QuotesThings are never quite as scary when you have a best friend. Bill WattersonWalking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light. Helen Keller The friend who holds your hand and says the wrong thing is made of dearer stuff than the one who stays away. Barbara Kingsolver Each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born. Anais NinWomen understand. We may share experiences, make jokes, paint pictures, and describe humiliations that mean nothing to men, but women understand. The odd thing about these deep and personal connections of women is that they often ignore barriers of age, economics, worldly experience, race, culture all the barriers that, in male or mixed society, had seemed so difficult to cross. Gloria SteinemNo person is your friend who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow. Alice WalkerWhere would you be without friends? The people to pick you up when you need lifting? We come from homes far from perfect, so you end up almost parent and sibling to your friends - your own chosen family. Theres nothing like a really loyal, dependable, good friend. Nothing. Jennifer AnistonValue your friendship. Value your relationships. Barbara BushThere are no strangers here Only friends you havent yet met. William Butler YeatsDo I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends? Abraham LincolnExperts on romance say for a happy marriage there has to be mora than a passionate love. For a lasting union, they insist, there must be a genuine liking for each other. Which, in my book, is a good definition for friendship. Marilyn MonroeFriendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you havent learned the meaning of friendship, you really havent learned anything. Muhammad AliNobody sees a flower ? really ? it is so small it takes time ? we havent time ? and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time. ? Georgia OKeeffeMy best friend is the one who brings out the best in me. Henry FordWe are friends for life. When were together the years fall away. Isnt that what matters? To have someone who can remember with you? To have someone who remembers how far youve come? ? Judy BlumeSometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when its all over. Octavia ButlerAnd like a favorite old movie, sometimes the sameness in a friend is what you like the most about her. ? Emily Giffin, Something BorrowedAnybody can sympathize with the sufferings of a friend, but it requires a very fine nature to sympathise with a friends success. Oscar WildeFriends and good manners will carry you where money wont go. Margaret WalkerSome people go to priests, others to poetry, I to my friends. Virginia WoolfOne friend with whom you have a lot in common is better than three with whom you struggle to find things to talk about. Mindy KalingEverybody understands friendship, and friendship is different than love - its a different kind of love. Friendship has more freedom, more latitude. You dont expect your friend to be as you think your friend should be you expect your friend just to love you as a friend. Carole KingActing is about communicating, reacting, and sharing - and friendship is about all of those things, too. Diego LunaFind a group of people who challenge and inspire you spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life. Amy PoehlerThe most important thing in life is your family. There are days you love them , and others you dont. But, in the end, theyre the people you always come home to. Sometimes its the family youre born into and sometimes its the one you make for yourself. ? Carrie BradshawI like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles. Nelson MandelaFor beautiful eyes, look for the good in others for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone. Audrey HepburnA friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow. William ShakespeareMost of us could write an essay about our best friends. But a quote and saying will suffice this time. What friendship quote reminds you of a true friend or a good friend? Whats your favorite friendship quote or do you have another inspirational quote loosely tied to true friendship? Share your bff quotes or write down whatever inspirational quote you have in mind on paper so youre constantly reminded--Ana Cottle studied Comparative Literature at UC Berkeley. She has lived and worked in Uruguay and Argentina and speaks both Spanish and Yiddish. She is passionate about issues facing women and has worked for several nonprofits along with writing for books, newspapers, and online journals. Currently, she serves as an Editor forPolicy Shift. Read more from Ana atmedium.com/AnaCottle/.

Job title decoder have you been uptitled

Job title decoder have you been uptitled Job title decoder have you been uptitled?Posted August 22, 2013, by Julia Watters If youre on the job hunt, one thing you may have noticed is an abundance of high-falutin job titles. But what do they actually mean? How many times have you had to refer to the role description just to get an understanding of what it actually entails? And even then it can leave you scratching your head. A friend of mine once had a job as the Director of First Impressions at a radio station. She was the first to point out that she was, in fact, the receptionist. It turns out theres a word for this. Its called uptitling, and our good friends at Collins define it as the practice of conferring grandiose job titles to employees performing relatively menial jobs. For those of you still unsure of how uptitling works, here are a few Ive come across Sandwich akrobat = Subway employee Chief happiness officer = customer service assistant Eviction technician = bouncer Visual clearance engineer = window cleaner Horticultural maintenance officer = gardener And this is where it can get really tricky. You could end up wasting your time applying and possibly even interviewing for a role which isnt what you thought it was, all because of an inflated job title and misleading description. Even if you know what youre getting yourself into, an exaggerated job title can cause you grief down the track. Just as you can be confused by your title, so can future employers when they try to understand just what your

Neuter Clinic

Neuter ClinicHow to Start a Low Cost Spay/Neuter ClinicAccording to the national organization Spay USA, the average low-cost spay/neuter clinic is able to accommodate between 30 and 50 surgeries per day. These low-cost clinics make spay/neuter services affordable and help prevent pet overpopulation in the community. Here are a few steps towards startinga low-cost spay/neuter clinic in your area. Assess Community Needs Are there quite a few low-cost spay/neuter programs in your area already? If so, the demand may not be there for an additional program (though by all means check to see if current programs are able to meet community needs). Checking with local animal shelters to find out current euthanasia satzs is another good indicator of whether pet overpopulation is a harte nuss in the area. Your clinic should be placed in a convenient area that is accessible to families who will be using the service. Decide On an Operational Model There are several different ways to operate a low-cost spay/neuter program. The first is the most obvious opening a stand-alone facility with its own staff. This can be a significant expense at the outset, though it is possible to finance through donations and grants.A second option is to use an established clinics facilities after hours or on weekendsif you can find a practice willing to share space.A third option is to run a spay/neuter subsidy program, where veterinarians willing to work with the program provide reduced cost surgeries while receiving a supplemental financial subsidy from the program (thus eliminating the programs need for a separate facility or staff). A fourth option is running a mobile service, operating out of a specially equipped van, though these vehicles can be very expensive to purchase, furnish, and insure. Some programs choose instead to offer a pet taxi service to bring animals to and from appointments at established low-cost spay/neuter clinics, either by having a dedicated van for this purpose or utilizing volunteers and their personal vehicles. Seek Funding Becoming approved for 501(c)(3) nonprofit position will allow your donors to write off their donations of funds, goods, and services. The process can be lengthy but is usually worth the effort in the long run. There are also a variety of grant programs that can provide financial support for spay/neuter clinics. PetSmart Charities is one organization that offers a variety of grants including those designed for targeted spay/neuter programs, free-roaming cat spay/neuter programs, and spay/neuter equipment programs. Donations from the community can also be found through corporate matching programs, sponsorships, and benefit events. Establish a Location andEquip the Facility If you are going to operate a stand-alone facility, you need to find a convenient location with enough room to accommodate the necessary surgical equipment and staff. Veterinarians may be willing to donate old equipment, so it always is a goo d idea to ask vets in the area if they have anything they are no longer using. Necessary items include a surgery table, lighting, surgical instruments, autoclave, gowns and gloves, surgical drapes, anesthesia equipment, cages, drugs, and a refrigerator for drug storage. It is also possible to get group discounts by affiliating with a major national organization such as the National Spay Neuter Response Team (NSNRT), a part of the Humane Alliance. Hire Staff A clinic needs at least one vet, a few technicians, and someone to work the front office (checking in patients and making appointments). Another option is to hire multiple part-time vets who just work one or two days of the schedule each week. Volunteers from the community can also be utilized for support staff. Set Fees Most low-cost clinics try to offer their services at a rate of 50 to 60 percent below the cost charged by a commercial vet clinic. The low-cost clinic must factor in what it costs to break even with regar d to supplies, salaries, and other costs of doing business. A general range of $35 to $75, depending on the type of animal and its gender, would be typical. Create an Application Owners must demonstrate their eligibility for low-cost services by detailing their financial situation and number of pets on the application form. A payment plan should also be outlined with deadlines. Advertise Your Services It shouldnt take a whole lot of advertising to find potential clients for your spay/neuter clinic. Be sure to let local rescue groups and shelters know that you have established a new clinic in their area. Local publications, websites, and television stations may also be willing to provide coverage of your new program.

How Inspirational Quotes Can Help Your Career - The Muse

How Inspirational Quotes Can Help Your Career - The MuseHow Inspirational Quotes Can Help Your CareerInspirational prozentzahls are great. Who doesnt feel more motivated after reading, If the wind doesnt serve, take to the oars, or Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it? But Ive leidiced one of two things happens after I read an inspirational quote Either I promptly forget about it, or I repeat it so often it loses all of its meaning. For example, whenever something bad happened, I used to tell myself, Its all okay in the end. If its not okay, its not the end. When I first heard this, I found comfort in remembering all the times Id experienced total disasters that eventually worked out. However, after years of thinking, Its all okay in the end, it had become an automatic, rote response that didnt mean anything.Contrastingly, when I read Be the change you want to see in the world, I thought, Thats great Im going to be the change- and promptly forgot about it. I didnt do anything differently, and there was no point.Then, I got an idea. Id zupflmmel one inspirational quote and live by that quote- for one week. After the seven days was up, Id choose a new quote. Focusing on one mantra at a time would give me focus, and Id switch often enough that theyd maintain their impact. For my first week, I went with the Latin proverb, Be a fountain, not a drain. Basically, Id enrich others lives by being happy or cheerful or helpful, rather than deplete them with pettiness, cruelty, or apathy. Mastering the balance between my selfish and selfless tendencies is always a challenge- but I found having this proverb constantly running through my mind made a difference. When a woman who works for an online professional profile site emailed me and asked if we could talk about my career path as a writer, I was tempted to say no. After all, the idea of giving up a half hour during an insanely busy time for no clear reward wasnt appealing. (Im not proud) Then I rememb ered I was supposed to be fountain-ing, so I said yes. To be completely transparent, something beneficial did come out of it The woman offered to feature me on the sites blog, which may help me score more writing gigs.The mantra worked for smaller things, too, like not complaining to my co-workers about the dirty dishes left in the sink or deciding to pick up flowers for someone I knew had been super stressed.Then, just as I was getting used to thinking about fountains versus drains, the week was up and it was time to pick a new quote. I decided to go with Wayne Gretzskys You miss 100% of the shots you dont take.This quote inspired me to do something Id been debating about for a while- ask for a raise from one of the publications to which I contribute. I definitely felt the pieces Id submitted had gotten much stronger over time and therefore merited higher compensation. However, I needed Gretzskys wisdom for that final motivation to ask. And- I didnt get the raise. Not because I did nt deserve more money, my editor said, but because there just wasnt room in the budget. However, he promised wed talk again in five or six weeks.In the spirit of taking more shots, I also applied to several internship positions that sounded amazing but that I wasnt fully qualified for and invited a professional to coffee. Ive gotten to the second rounds of the internships, and the coffee meetup was great. The woman works at a local company Im interested in, and our conversation helped me get a better feel for its values and vibe. If I decide to apply for a job there after graduation, that knowledge will definitely come in handy.Over the next weeks, I lived according to By failing to prepare, you prepare to fail (I tried to be hyper-organized), There is always room at the top, (I tried to focus on collaboration, not competition), and The most effective way to do it, is to do it (I tried to put the kibosh on procrastination). Each quote helped me zero in one specific facet of my work life- yet I noticed even after moving on from a philosophy, its effects would linger. When I have the opportunity to help someone, even though if wont help me, Im more likely to say yes because I was so happy Id helped that woman during my fountain week. I developed some great organization techniques from my preparing to fail week. Ive started responding to emails right after I read them, thanks to my just do it week.Its been a great exercise, and Im feeling plenty inspired. If you want to follow my lead, check out my most successful strategiesWrite the quote in your weekly planner, so you see it every time you look at your schedule.Stick a Post-it note of the quote on your desk or mirror, which is great for starting and ending the day with a reminder.Take a little extra time to pick quotes that really resonate with you and are broad enough to apply to various situations. These 50 career quotes are perfect for starting your challenge. Bonus Theyre pretty enough to use as your phone background (another great way to have a constant reminder of your mantra for the week).Please tweet at me if you decide to try the exercise. Id love to hear what quotes you use and the results you getPhoto of inspirational quote courtesy of Shutterstock.

How to Get Referrals in Sales

How to Get Referrals in SalesHow to Get Referrals in SalesReferrals- otherwise known as getting someone you know to give you warm leads to new prospects- are valuable for salespeople in all industries. Data from Nielsen shows that a salesperson is four times mora likely to close a sale to a referred lead as opposed to a cold lead. That means you can generate four times as many sales if you focus on getting referrals than if you spent that time cold calling. Thats a huge opportunity to increase sales (and do less cold calling). Fortunately, there are opportunities for referrals all around you. Existing Customers Your own customers are the easiest and friendliest referral source. In fact, if you treat them right, they may well go out and do some selling for you. Thats when you get those wonderful windfall calls from someones co-worker or uncle saying, I hear you sell the best widgets in town. Id like to buy 40 of them. Dont wait for your customers to do all the work for you- pick u p the phone and ask for the referral, or send them a referral request letter. Its a good idea anyway to check in with your customers a few weeks or months after the sale. You can ask them how theyre enjoying the product, find out if they have any questions, and then pop the question Who else do you know who can benefit from this product, as you have? According to Nielsen, 92 percent of consumers trust referrals from people they know. New Customers Just after youve closed a sale with someone is the best time to get referrals from them because theyre excited about their new purchase. Some salespeople are nervous about asking for referrals at this point because they just want to get out of there in case the prospect changes their mind. Unless youve used high-pressure tactics to intimidate someone into buying (dont do this) your new customer is probably thrilled and enthusiastic. Hit them up for a referral right away, while their energy and excitement is at its peak. Word-of-mouth r eferrals are the main driving factor behind 20 to 50 percent of all purchasing decisions, according to McKinsey Company. Prospects You Couldnt Close If you pitch a prospect and they turn you down, dont just bolt out the door. Get a referral or two, and youll have changed a loss into a win. You may be shaking your head and thinking, Thats crazy-talk. Why would a person who wouldnt even buy from me give me referrals? A lot of sales fall through not because the prospect dislikes you or your product, but because they just arent a good fit. In that case, its the perfect opportunity to find out if they know someone who is a good fit. Dont assume the prospect doesnt like you and your product. You have nothing to lose by asking. Seventy-seven percent of consumers are more likely to buy a new product after learning about it from a friend or family member, according to Nielsen. Everyone Else Literally, anyone you meet under any circumstances can give you a referral. After all, the av erage person knows in excess of 250 other people. Do you really think that none of those hundreds of people are a good fit for your products? Ask everyone- your dry-cleaner, your accountant, your neighbor, even the person standing behind you in the supermarket checkout. Youll be amazed at how many leads will drop into your lap as a result of a brief conversation.

Carving Out a Career in Big Data

Carving Out a Career in Big DataCarving Out a Career in Big DataEverywhere you turn nowadays it seems clearer than ever that Big Data is here to stay in the job market. At one-time career hopefuls could have been forgiven for dismissing the trending job titles as just another phase, but whether its the hot nachrichten story of the morning or career networking websites, big data is the phrase on everyones lips. Here we delve into the whats whys and how yur career can end up benefiting from knowing all there is to know about Big Data.What is Big Data?Big Data is an overly broad term used to define the types of information collected on technology users by, well, everyone. From your clicking habits, while browsing Facebook to how long you pause over a given picture on Instagram, companies are collecting information on those who utilize their services.Online retail establishments do this also, capturing keywords searched, items clicked on and shopping cart to checkout ratios, all in order to better improve the customer experience and ultimately sales. The information is then attached to your user anmeldevorgang or a cookie placed on your computer that, over time, creates a detailed picture of your entire internet and technology usage habits. This accumulative information, collected by a variety of sources, is analyzed, sold, resold and reused by retail, social media, marketing, and even political groups, all vying for the most effective way to capture the attention of their target audience.What Types of Jobs Are There For Big Data?As you can imagine, the breadth of information and the sheer quantity of bytes collected has given birth to an entire career field dedicated to dealing with Big Data. Information needs gathering from Engineers, Software Designers, and Data Mining Specialists. Once you have the info, Analysts, Data Analytics Engineers or Data Architects are typically needed to help interpret the random pieces and work them into a valuable research tool. Fin ally, with the uptick in collecting Big Data comes the corresponding public outcry for privacy and compliance concerns. Compliance and Data Privacy positions dealing exclusively with Big Data are one of the hottest and fastest growing fields as the U.S. races to catch up to countries in Europe who are already developing national policies on what can be done with Big Data gathered information and when.What Skills Are Needed?The market for big data is, well, BIG, and the number of jobs associated with the field is always growing. While this information may be helpful if youre a job seeker looking to bust into the field, its often difficult to know just where to begin when it comes to acquiring the necessary skills to score a role in the up-and-coming industry.The good news for indecisive types is there isnt one specific education path to qualifying for a job in big data. Overall, familiarity with computers and a high level of attention to detail will serve you well, but from there its a wide-open world for education, expertise or specific skill sets. That doesnt mean there arent specific skills or training necessary to some of the more technical positions within the big data world. For a near-guaranteed hire, knowledge in the following areas will certainly help give you the leg upData mining and machine learning techniquesData visualization toolsData warehousingETL (extract, translate, load)Hadoop (Hadoop is an Apache project to provide an open-source implementation of frameworks for reliable, scalable, distributed computing and data storage.)Predictive modelingStatistical modeling with tools such as R, SAS, or SPSSStructured and unstructured databasesIndustry best practices for data protectionRules and regulations regarding the protection of confidential or sensitive personal informationWhere to Acquire These SkillsWhile some of our readers may have been lucky enough to acquire a background in these areas while in college or another secondary schooling, the res t of us may need to pick certain skills up on the fly. A great place to start your learning for the field is Big Data University. This intensive course is designed to provide candidates with the fundamental skills they need to strike out on their own in a job field where knowledge is key.In addition to independent online or physical courses, many software vendors in the world of big data offer online training courses and independent certifications. Having these notches in your expertise belt can not only provide you with new skills, they can also set you apart from the crowd in a highly competitive role help make you an even more attractive prospect for big data job recruiters.Mold an Existing Analytics Job into a Big Data Analytics JobOne of the most exciting aspects of having a career in a cutting-edge field is the opportunity for advancement and improvisation. If your company or role already requires collection and analysis of data from numerous sources, why not develop a proposa l for upping the game when it comes to utilizing the information. Start by picking the desired outcome, such as increased sales, customer retention or outreach, and then crafting a plan that shows how the data you already collect can help achieve those ends with just a few tweaks. Not only will you help your companys overall performance, youll also help boost your reputation as a go-getter and innovator, opening new pathways within your position.The Big Data Bottom LineWhether its a topic on your news feed or nightly news desk fix, big data and their corresponding careers, are here to stay. Identifying the trend is a great place to start for those looking to strike out on the big data career path. If youre already in a position that utilizes this vital information, look to see how you can make a name for yourself with advanced certifications, acquiring skills or implementing new plans for your company. Finally, dont forget the peripheral or complementary fields that big data has to offer. Ethics, privacy and the responsible use of big data will continue to be a hot-button issue for employers and individuals alike. Much like the information itself, the key to getting ahead in big data is flexibility and adaptation. With these skills, you too can make your name in this up and coming career niche.