Career choices can feel so complicated because we're multi-faceted. We want challenging, impactful work and deep relationships. We want to feel rich but also sleep, exercise and eat well. We want to experience mastery. These different priorities pull us in many directions. We're even told we can do it all, but we can't. Each of us has only 24 hours a day.

Career choices are hard

Start with the end in mind. As suggested in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, "Begin with the end in mind." What do you want to look back on at the end of your life? The question reveals how a deeper meaning comes from service and how little money matters. But not everyone can live the day-to-day life required for these deathbed accomplishments.

How to prioritise

Instead of starting with the end in mind, we can imagine our desired day-to-day lives now and in five or ten years. <ul><li>Do you travel a lot for work?</li><li>Do you have a flexible schedule?</li><li>Are you known in professional circles or neighbourhood communities?</li><li>Are you at peak health?</li></ul> Impose constraints on the work that you do based on the life you want to live.

Imagine your desire future life

Suppose you know what role work should play in your life, then consider what specific work and in which areas you should do it. Find the intersection of what you're good at, what you love, what the world needs, and what you can get paid for. If you don't know what you love, perhaps you can only find out if you try it on to see if it fits.

What to actually do for work

The future is fundamentally different than it appears. We can't know what we'll like and what not before trying it first. We can find out what we like in two ways: <ul><li>Talk to people. Reach out to people in whatever sector and role you're curious about and ask what it's like.</li><li>Do stuff. Try on the work that you're curious about for a short while.</li></ul>

Experiment to find answers

Career choices are grueling yet sanguine, as you’re scouring opportunities, turning the coin up and down and sideways, calling up friends, or prudently crafting cold emails to potential future…

Stashed ideas

Mental Models for Choosing Your Next Job

At the beginning of every year, everyone makes resolutions, but it all dies down by early March.  Resolutions have been proven to not work. One reason for this is that they are decided upon by looking at other people's expectations. Resolutions look good on the surface but they are built on what you think you should be doing instead of what you really want to do.

Derailed resolutions

Many resolutions fail because they are not the right ones. This happens because they're based on societal ideals, not yours. They're not specific enough and not supported by a measurable plan. To achieve success, your goals should be reachable and connected to what you value. Be honest with yourself about the reasons behind your desire for change. This will make it easier to commit for the long term.

Get clear on what you want most

After an especially tough year, it's natural to think restarting in the New Year will solve all our problems. This makes it more likely that we'll try to go all-in, causing us to sabotage our efforts. For example, wanting to eat perfectly healthy in the new year and training every day. A smarter approach is to plan ahead. For example, if you want to exercise more, commit to only three days.

Don't mislead yourself with your goal-setting

We enjoy the allure of wanting to excel at something new. However, change is hard, and feeling overconfident does not help. You may find yourself unprepared or ill-equipped to face the reality of the situation. Instead, try to be realistic. Acknowledge that delayed gratification is tough and push yourself when you're tired. Be okay with trying your best.

Don't aim for perfection

Resolutions don't really cause us to change our habits. Instead, it causes us to focus on a specific result rather than addressing the underlying thinking that leads to unhealthy habits. Before starting a new goal, take the time to reflect on the big picture. The changes you make should align with your values.

Do a perspective check

New mindsets to approach New Year's resolutions

A freelancer applying for a full-time position may find it challenging to press a variety of experiences into an application designed for applicants with a history of full-time positions. Freelancers could approach the application process from an angle that frames their experiences so that it is easy to understand to those unfamiliar with freelance work.

Freelancer applying for a full-time position

Getting through the first round of the hiring process often means adapting your resume to match the job description. Freelancers may have multiple jobs within a two-year period where the roles are similar to one "title. <ul><li>A freelancer could describe the title's responsibility for a full-time job description that asks for 'two to three years of relevant experience."</li><li>Where one has to put the company's name, instead of listing 50+ projects, consider placing a label that describes your situation, e.g. Freelance position, clients include x.y.z. etc.</li><li>Or include a summary of attributes.</li></ul>

Rework your resume and vocabulary

It may not be suitable to list the thirty projects you've worked on in the last six months, but you can single out one or two success stories that capture the main shape of your freelance work. Ensure to use something unique that will leave them with a memorable scenario.

Single out a success story

You may need to fit your experiences into the box of a full-time job application process. Don't hide the nature of your work. Own it. It brings a unique set of strengths that other employees may not have. Highlight that you've worked under different leadership styles, that you had to manage yourself, you have drive and know how to work your expertise.

Highlight your strengths as a freelancer

How to apply to full-time jobs with a freelance resume

I invented a new word!

There’s no menu: You get what you deserve.

Hear about the new restaurant called Karma?

... and says, “Give me a whiskey and … cola.”“Why the big pause?” asks the bartender. The bear shrugged. “I’m not sure; I was born with them.”

A bear walks into a bar 

He just needed a little space.

Did you hear about the claustrophobic astronaut?

Because they make up everything.

Why don’t scientists trust atoms?

Throw him in the mainstream.

How do you drown a hipster?

... “Doc, help me. I’m addicted to Twitter!”The doctor replies, “Sorry, I don’t follow you …”

A man tells his doctor...

Because you should never drink and derive.

Why don’t Calculus majors throw house parties?

A cat has claws at the end of paws; A comma is a pause at the end of a clause.

What’s the difference between a cat and a comma?

Make me one with everything.

What did the Buddhist say to the hot dog vendor?

Between you and me, something smells.

What did the left eye say to the right eye?

What do you call a fake noodle?

What did the 0 say to the 8?

What do you call a magic dog?

Why can’t you hear a pterodactyl go to the bathroom?

What did the pirate say when he turned 80?

What is an astronaut’s favorite part on a computer?

He drank the coffee before it was cool.

Why did the hipster burn his mouth?

He kept leaving little messages around the house.

Once my dog ate all the Scrabble tiles

She looked at me surprised.

I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high.

What’s Forest Gump’s password?

Why did the Oreo go to the dentist?

Any dog, because buildings can’t jump.

What breed of dog can jump higher than buildings?

They don’t meet the koalafications.

Why aren’t koalas actual bears?

In case she needed to draw blood.

Why did the nurse need a red pen at work?

How do you throw a space party?

It needed help figuring out its problems.

Why did the math textbook visit the guidance counselor?

Stop looking! I’m changing!

What did one traffic light say to the other?

Because it has a million degrees!

Why doesn’t the sun go to college?

Because they are easy to see through.

Why are ghosts such bad liars?

For when you need a fast funny joke, here are some short jokes to get anyone giggling.

Short Jokes Anyone Can Remember

In a corporate setting, every meeting can be a competition for resources, recognition or rewards. 
If a senior interrupts you, it would not be counted against you, but it is a peer who has interrupted you to dominate and boost their own presence, it can negatively impact your status.

Responding To Interruptions: Check Your Status

<ul><li>Understand why your peer has interrupted you, and it has a different agenda, like changing the topic or to get you to stop, you can make direct eye contact with the interrupter and speak up.</li><li>You can say you need to finish your point on this important topic so that everyone is informed.</li><li>If the objective of the interruption was to criticize you, you can say that any feedback is welcome after you have shared your perspective.</li><li>If a senior has interrupted you during the meeting, wait for it to end and go for a one-on-one to clear the matter.</li></ul>

Handling The Interruption: Listen And Respond

In case of serial interruptions, it can be difficult to keep your composure, but do not get rattled. If a peer is interrupting you continuously, try to focus on your message and resume talking after taking a deep breath.If things start to become awkward, reach out to the person after the meeting and clarify yourself, and let it be known to them how their interrupting you made you feel. Seek feedback if required.

Handling Interruption: Maintain Your Composure

<ul><li>Work cultures often encourage healthy debates and disagreements, so it is important to be aware of your company's existing culture.</li><li>Do not get hung up on something normal for others.</li><li>Before you interrupt, simply asking if you can interrupt what the other person is saying, can work wonders.</li></ul>

How To Interrupt Without Being Disrespectful

<ul><li>How we interrupt matters and using the word ‘but’ is often the problem. Our brains only take a fraction of a second to process the meaning of a word and be offended by a wrongly perceived one.</li><li>Use the word ‘and’ or say that you would like to add something to what is being said, to sound collaborative and not frame the other's statement as invalid.</li></ul>

The Way We Should Interrupt

Stand up for yourself when your status is being challenged.

Career

How to Manage Interruptions in Meetings

Some people try to use meetings to achieve things that meetings won't work for. That can turn an intelligent group into a dull and mean monster.
Types of meetings to avoid:
<ul>
<li>Daily standups or status updates.</li>
<li>Anything without an agenda.</li>
<li>A meeting with too many people.</li>
<li>Brainstorming from scratch.</li>
</ul>
It's not that all meetings are bad, just that there are better tools to accomplish the job.

Meetings have an intended purpose

A bot can replace the daily standup meeting to quickly find out want everyone on your team is doing. The bot asks all the questions that usually come up during standup, compiles them into a report and posts everything in a public channel.
You don't have to build a bot. A daily email thread or a quick post in your team chat app can let everyone know what you're up to.

Daily standups or status updates

A meeting where people can't stick to an agenda should not take place.
Meetings should be an exception, not the rule. If you can't explain in an agenda what the meeting is for, you shouldn't have one. If everything on the agenda is dealt with, you should end the meeting, even if there is time left.

Meetings without an agenda

Five people can have a productive meeting, but 300 people can't.
Jeff Bezos uses the two-pizza rule to decide if he will attend a meeting: He will only attend if two pizzas can feed the whole group. The basic idea is that one should consider where to draw the line for your team. If the meeting is not productive, cut back on the number of people you invite.

Meetings with too many people

Meetings can be very effective for building on ideas but not for working from scratch.
People should come prepared to brainstorming sessions to bounce ideas around, but it is only helpful if everyone brings a few ideas or pitches. Otherwise, people sit in awkward silence.

Brainstorming from scratch

To consider if a regular meeting should happen, drop them and see what happens.
A team can have a meeting every second week and still feel like they get enough face-time. While it is easy to default to a weekly meeting, we should ask ourselves if it is necessary.

Reconsidering regular meetings

4 things you shouldn't use meetings for

A growing company is in essence a team of individuals of varying skills who come from different cultures, creating a unique company culture by working together.
This beehive of individuals shapes the assumptions, beliefs and values of the organization, apart from the surface-level elements like branding, company benefits, hierarchy and the various HR policies.

The People Make The Company

Various people working together in an organization form groups that develop unique thought patterns and behaviour.
Internal interaction in many such groups can be collaborative, task-oriented or just a broad focus on the primary goal.

Group Thought Patterns

As new people join the organization, the company culture further evolves, leading to new challenges related to scalability, communication, decision-making and the various work-flow patterns.
As the internal integration clashes with the various external factors, the innovative and fast-moving qualities often turn into frozen, bureaucratic systems.

Jammed: Shifting Company Cultures

Culture is an ever-evolving, emergent occurrence. Leaders often take employees of off-site gatherings, read a book, or try to rewrite the company’s values and vision. 
It will only be an eye-wash if it does not impact the employee's daily experience at work or if the leaders are not adaptive to employees needs.

How Leaders Shape Company Culture

Thinking of company culture as traffic, the leader needs to intentionally guide and shape the environment in which the culture evolves.
Example: Just talking about a flexible working environment isn’t enough if the lower-level employees are not given the discretion or choice.

Company Culture Is Like Traffic

A deeper understanding of how organizations change can help leaders adapt to the future.

The Cultural Life Cycle of Organizations

Remote working needs to be deconstructed and distilled based on ‘first principles’ of what problem is getting solved, and how best a project or task can be handled by the entire team in an entirely new setting. 
Instead of resorting to old habits (like making a phone call to colleagues for simple things) or insisting on doing stuff only for the sake of it, one needs to completely rethink about work interactions, methods and values.

Remote Work: Doing The New

Remote work requires thoughtfulness, precision and planning. Things cannot be done ad hoc in office corridors and lobbies anymore. 
Many colleagues share different time zones and cannot participate in a synchronous exchange of information.

The Paradigm Shift In Work

<ul>
<li>In a remote setting, you have to critically think and plan ahead, and communicate a query with complete information and context. </li>
<li>You can refer to previous solutions to the problem in order to save the time of others, who might try the same thing.</li>
<li>While answering a query, you have to be well-researched, contextual, and thorough, even going to the extent of providing references and documentation to support the suggested solution.</li>
</ul>

Questions And Answers

Communication, especially the asynchronous, written variety, is the main pillar of remote working. 
Communication tools like Slack are to be used smartly to be really effective, and not to be turned into dumping grounds of information that is hardly visible to all remote workers. When needed, one can use real-time communication to touch base with everyone, enabling connectedness and a sense of belonging, without being imposing.

The Right Tools For Effective Communication

<ul>
<li>Not everything that was done in the office is effective or even advisable in a remote setting where everyone is at home juggling work and personal stuff.</li>
<li>We need to understand the various subtleties and the many touchpoints of working closely with a remote team, and understand that it is not one-size-fits-all. </li>
<li>We need to adapt and fine-tune our interactions to facilitate a thriving relationship with our peers and bosses.</li>
</ul>

Remote Work: Adapt And Thrive

Shifting to a remote mindset - Increment: Remote

A sense of connection and belonging are sentiments that are helpful for building “affective trust” – a form of trust based on emotional bond and interpersonal relatedness.It varies from the “cognitive trust” – which springs from reliability and competence. Both are influential to performance, but affective trust tends to be more salient for a team at the beginning of a relationship, according to studies.

Personal Connection

<ul><li>Loneliness was reported as the biggest downside for 21% of remote employees, and one of the reasons that makes them more likely to quit. </li><li>Most remote managers say they’d be more inclined to stay if they had more friends at work.</li><li>Individuals who have 15 minutes to socialize with colleagues have a 20% increase in performance over their peers who don't. </li><li>Positive social relationships are correlated with better life expectancy.</li></ul>

Statistics On Remote Workers

If your icebreaker questions are intriguing, cheeky, humorous – the answers you receive will be, too. Many remote teams will kick off their weekly meeting with an icebreaker question or insert it during their morning stand-up meeting. Even more popular is asking a series of icebreaker questions during the onboarding process when hiring someone.

Dynamic Icebreakers

With affective trust being so important to foster at the beginning of a relationship, onboarding new hires well becomes even more critical for virtual team building.You can partner newcomers with experienced employees and have a formal onboarding process at the company, or at least a partially in-person one, with expenses covered by the company.

Over-Emphasize Onboarding

Many remote companies offer buddy systems for onboarding. This is also a way for people to have fun and get closer, as well as to increase job satisfaction and commitment.This can take the form of assigning an official “mentor” or a random employee, with whom they have periodic one-on-one meetings to get acclimated to the company.

Build a Buddy System

<ul><li>Try regularly scheduling chats over video. Those work particularly well when paired with activities like coffee breaks, online gaming or topical discussion. </li><li>Create a dedicated non-work chat channel. This re-creates the “watercooler chat” you would have in an in-person office and it often becomes the primary mode of communication for online workers.</li><li>Invest in company retreats and make space for people to socialize on them.</li></ul>

Foster Connection

Virtual team building is tough. Here are 7 ways you can build social connection in a remote team, even from afar. I'll be shocked if you're shocked: Building social connection in a remote team is the hardest part of managing a remote team.

How to build social connection in a remote team

After a project ends, team members often reflect on what worked, and what did not, something known as post-mortem documentation. 
What is often overlooked is a pre-mortem exercise where a team uses visualization and second-level thinking to imagine the various scenarios which could lead to failure and then work backwards, using prospective hindsight.

Prospective Hindsight

<ul>
<li>Optimism Bias is when we are sure about the success of a certain project or venture and do not take into account the scenarios of failure. </li>
<li>Temporal Discounting is a cognitive error where we make decisions taking into account the present condition, and not bothering about any future consequences.</li>
</ul>

Optimism Bias And Temporal Discounting

Just one ‘Pre-Mortem’ meeting at the beginning of the project can uncover many blind spots, recalibrating the mindset of all the team members.
Anticipating the future also fosters honest and open communication, and quells any fear.

Having A Pre-Mortem Meeting

<ol>
<li>Review: Discuss goals and explain the various roles and responsibilities to each of the team members.</li>
<li>Set-Up: Anticipate a scenario where the project is over and was a disaster.</li>
<li>Brainstorm: Each team member notes the reasons it could have failed, which is easier to imagine now that the failure has been established.</li>
<li>Share And Discuss: Everyone shares and discusses, getting into the details of the failure.</li>
<li>Improve The Plan: Now that the prospective hindsight has been utilized, one can review and improve the plan using the new information.</li>
</ol>

Bite-sized knowledge
to upgrade
your career

Emerson
@emerson_yo

Mental Models for Choosing Your Next Job

New mindsets to approach New Year's resolutions

How to apply to full-time jobs with a freelance resume

Short Jokes Anyone Can Remember

How to Manage Interruptions in Meetings

Bite-sized knowledgeto upgradeyour career

Emerson @emerson_yo

Mental Models for Choosing Your Next Job

New mindsets to approach New Year's resolutions

How to apply to full-time jobs with a freelance resume

Short Jokes Anyone Can Remember

How to Manage Interruptions in Meetings

Bite-sized knowledge
to upgrade
your career

Emerson
@emerson_yo