10 ways to increase your productivity right now

10 ways to increase yur productivity right now10 ways to increase your productivity right nowAs someone diagnosed with ADD who, without medication, has been able to accomplish some truly focus-dependent projects (like writing a 250-page book, for example), here are 10 ways I have found to increase productivityFollow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more1. Prepare before you getstartedProductivity doesnt just happen in the moment.It happens long before you even sit down and get to work. The more you prepare ahead of time, and get clear on exactly what it is you want, need, or should do, the easier and faster you will move once you start.The reason why so many people struggle with being productive is because they skip this step, and when they sit down, they expect to start flying even though they havent even decided where it is they want to fly to.2. Turn off all distractionsIt doesnt take a genius to realize that every time your phone buzzes, your e-mail pops up on your screen, your schreibstube door opens, your train of thought is ruined.We like to believe we can both participate in a group chat via text and write our best-selling novel, but the truth is, we cant - and to think we can is wishful and naive.Your best work comes insilence.Its why people retreat and take vacations away from the busyness of life - to distance themselves from distraction.3. Make your expectations flexibleThe hardest part about productivity is that we want it to exist on a static playing field.We want there to be one formal definition for being productive and we want that definition to mean we got from point A to point B. But, depending on what youre working on, sometimes you have to take the scenic route.Sometimes the most productive thing you could possibly do right now is to brainstorm a million random ideas, play with a few of them, watch them fail before your eyes, and then come to a more refined conclusion of what it is youre actually trying to build or get done. In many cases, people would see this as an afternoon failure. But on the contrary, it is necessary in order to better understand whatever it is youre doing.Dont fight yourself when that happens.4. Measure, measure,measureIf you cant measure it, dont do it.This is something my own mentors have gone to great lengths to teach me, and rightfully so. If you cant measure it, you dont know how to improve it - or worse, you spend too much time on the scenic road and you never actually reach a point of conclusion. Measurement doesnt always have to do with time, or money, or something tangible.Sometimes, the best way to measure is to simply look back at old pieces of work and see how and where youve improved stylistically. But be conscious of measurement, so that you can tweak as you go along and see where you can become more efficient.5. Share what youre working on - for feedbackFor the longest time, I never wanted to share or talk about anything I was working on.I thought it was bad luck or would take me out of my flow. And Ill admit, there are those moments when your ideas are best left to ruminate in your own head, but you should not be hesitant to share what youre working on. Feedback is extremely important, and a lot of time can be saved by a single conversation where someone points out, very clearly, something that isnt working.It might not be easy to hear in the moment, but you will be thankful for it later.6. Practice InpublicWhen we talk about productivity, we often think of ways to seclude ourselves in our bedroom or office, alone, in the dark, with only the light of our laptop to keep us illuminated.But sometimes that approach actually ends up netting a poor return on your time investment because you arent getting outside feedback. Find ways to practice in public.Use the digital tools we have access to, like social media, to release test versions of whatever it is youre worki ng on Whether thats a book, an album, a startup, a comedy sketch, anything.Practicing in public gives you feedback, and feedback speeds up the learning and development process.7. CaffeineNeed we really explain the productivity benefits of a black coffee with an extra shot of espresso?8. MusicTo some, this would be a distraction, but I have always found light instrumental music in the background (Beethoven and Mozart, especially)to be quite the productivity booster.As long as it isnt filled with catchy melodies that take you out of the task at hand, music can be like that whirring fan in the background that acts as a subtle cue to your subconscious to stay on the task at hand.9. TakeBreaksAgain, being productive does not necessarily mean sitting still for eight straight hours.You might be able to swing that for a day or two, but you are not a robot. You will burn out. Productivity is all about flow. Its about knowing your limits and being conscious of how to move within your own cons traints.Maybe you need to take 10-minute breaks after every 50 minutes of focusGreat. Do that.Or maybe you can work for four hours no problem, but then you need to take the afternoon before diving into another four-hour work session at night.Great. Do that.Do what works for you, and you only.This isnt about being productive based on someone elses habits or way of doing things.This is about knowing yourself, and using your habits to your advantage.10. Create aroutineIt is said the best musicians, athletes, innovators, etc., follow a daily routine that trains their subconscious to know when it is time to work and when it is time to relax.There is absolutely something to be said for always practicing at the same time, or always going to the gym at the same time, or always writing at the same time, every day. You train yourself to know, as soon as that hour strikes, to fall into that mode of focus required to do your best work.Trying to be productive when one day you are working in the morning, the next day youre working at night, the next day youre working in the middle of the day, it gets exhausting. Routine is extremely helpful, and inherently removes the distraction of adjustment to something new.Consistency is what youre after.This article originally appeared on Inc Magazine.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

The Man Behind the Vacuum Cleaner

The Man Behind the Vacuum Cleaner The Man Behind the Vacuum Cleaner The Man Behind the Vacuum Cleaner When Dyson customer and homeowner Caryn Solomon of Lagrangeville, NY, tested the DC Series Dyson vacuum cleaner for the first time, she marveled at its ability to steer around tables and chairs. I knew right away that I had to own one of those vacuum cleaners, she says.What soldSolomon on the machine is The Ball, Dysons solution to the restricted forward and backward movement of the conventional upright vacuum cleaner. Instead of four fixed wheels, the Dyson rides on a glass-reinforced polypropylene ball, enabling easier steering and improved maneuverability. Dysons Ball technology, few would argue, is one of the most innovative product designs to enter the consumer marketplace in the last few years.Behind the Dyson vacuum cleaner is a man and company that place engineering and neuschpfung front and center in the corporate mission. To British-born James Dyson, innovation is the end p roduct of thinking, testing, experimenting, researching and good old-fashioned hard work and perseverance. In designing the suction capability of the DC Series vacuum cleaner, Dyson developed a total of 5,127 patents over five years, before arriving at the Root Cyclone technology that spins dirt out of the air rather than relying on bags and filters to trap debris.bild courtesy of Dyson.Innovation LabAt Dyson headquarters in Wiltshire, UK, 600 engineers are busy each day developing new ideas and technology. The engineers disassemble and reassemble the vacuum cleaners and other Dyson products, test components, and carry out other tasks in a search for continuous improvement. In addition to vacuum cleaners, the company makes washing machines, fans, heaters, and hand dryers. The AB01 hand dryer is another technology innovation, featuring a digital motor that produces a high-speed sheet of cool air that dries hands in twelve seconds, while using less energy than conventional warm-air s ystems.To spur innovation, Dyson groups his engineers together in one space, mingling product designers and technical specialists, creating a workspace that fosters communication and the free flow of concepts and ideas. James Dyson has infused risk-taking in the DNA of the company, believing that risk is an essential building block for innovation and invention. To compete, countries must take risks, Dyson said recently. Without taking risks, you dont generate long-term wealth.Another innovation is the Dyson fan.Industrial ArtsJames Dyson was born in 1947 in Cromer, Norfolk, UK. In 1966, he enrolled in the esteemed Royal College of Art in London, where Dyson initially studied architecture and interior design before moving into engineering. He developed several products and systems for the maritime industry while at the Royal College of Art, including a high-speed landing craft and a boat-launching device. Later, Dyson developed an innovation of the wheelbarrow, featuring a large pneu matic ball enabling maneuverability in mud and wet sand.To Dyson, engineering is all about invention. Through his four years of education and training at the Royal College of Art and into professional practice, he displayed a keen passion for mastering how things work and how certain things can work better. An innate schwierigkeit solver, Dyson developed the basic concept for the Root Cyclone technology in his vacuum cleaners on a visit to a saw mill. There, he observed the large cyclone atop the roof of the mill spinning sawdust out of the air and collecting it in a chamber, and he began to think about adapting the process to vacuum cleaners. The DC Series vacuum cleaners feature three stages of cyclonic separation and powerful centrifugal forces and air velocity to capture the smallest particles of dust.Shared Mission with ASMEWhile growing a successful global company and amassing a $1-billion personal fortune, James Dyson has become a tireless advocate for technology-based econo mic development. He believes governments have an important role to play in inspiring innovation, and in the U.S., he has called for government-supported investments in technology projects, particularly in infrastructure and energy.Dyson also believes there is a shortage of engineers necessary to boost economic growth. If we are to have an economy which features a greater amount of technocratic horsepower, then the supply of young people who set their sights on becoming engineers needs to be increased, he said.To make a difference in this area, Dyson in 2002 established the James Dyson Foundation, which aims to inspire young people to study engineering and enter the workforce as engineers. Although the focus of the foundation is on supporting education in Great Britain, the institution has broadened its reach internationally and is becoming active in the U.S. In July 2011, the foundation hosted a design workshop for middle school students at the Sir Miles Davis Academy in Chicago, IL ,site of the companys U.S. headquarters. In the program, engineering mentors demonstrated the processes involved in 3-D printing and robotics design, and introduced Dysons Engineering Box, a training tool that challenges young people to dismantle and reassemble mechanical devices.Like ASME, James Dyson is committed to education outreach instilling the seeds of creativity and ingenuity in young minds to grow the next generation of engineers and innovators. Today, a household vacuum cleaner that performs unlike any othertomorrow, who knows?To compete, countries must take risks. Without taking risks, you dont generate long-term wealth.James Dyson

How to Conduct a Phone Interview With Sample Questions

How to Conduct a Phone einstellungsgesprch With Sample QuestionsHow to Conduct a Phone vorstellungsgesprch With Sample QuestionsWhat Is a Phone Interview? In a phone bewerbungsinterview, an employer interviews potential employees who appear qualified for the advertised job after the resume and deckblatt letter are reviewed. The meetings, by phone, are conducted by one person, usually the hiring manager or a Human Resources staff member, who ask the same basic questions of each candidate they call. While you are asking each candidate the same basic questions to give you a basis for comparison of the skills of each person during your phone interview, your candidates responses may lead you to ask additional different follow-on questions. This is fine as long as you ask the same list basic of questions to avoid any possibility of unconscious bias or any possibility of discrimination. The phone screen allows the employer to determine if the candidates qualifications, experience, workplac e preferences, cultural fit, andsalary needsare congruent with the position and the organization. The phone screen saves managerial time (and in organizations that use a hiring team to interview prospective employees- staff time) and eliminates unlikely candidates. While developing customized phone screen questions for each position you are attempting to fill is the recommended approach, use these phone interview best practices to guide you. Phone Interview Best Practices During a phone screen, your goal is to eliminate your least qualified candidates to save onsite staff time and money. Additionally, you are hoping that your most qualified, mission compatible prospects rise to the top. During a phone screen, you are also looking for hints that the candidates needs are congruent with the offerings provided by your organization. You want to ask enough questions during the phone interview to determine if the person is a viable candidate. Remember, you have already screened many re sumes and applications to come up with your short list of applicants eligible for a phone screen. The applicants that you will phone interview should be your best prospects at this point in your recruitment process. If a candidate welches sorted into your maybe resume stack, the candidate is unlikely to surpass the prospects you definitely identified as your top candidates. Dont waste your time- or theirs- in a phone interview unless they were in your top tier. Are you interested to know what you should be able to expect from the candidate during the phone interview? See these recommended phone screen interview questions. Sample Questions for an Effective Phone Interview Candidates Name ______________________________________________ Todays Date ______________ Resume Attached YES ___ NO ___ Position Title/Location _____________________________________________ Initial Phone Interview Questions for the Specific Position To start out your list of specific phone interview questio ns, you will want to develop a question that will assess the experience of the candidate in the position you are recruiting. Sample Candidate Question How many years of inventory management experience do you have?List the Candidates Response ExpandThen, you need to develop a question that will assess the experience of the candidate that is specific to your needs. Sample Candidate QuestionTell me about your experience with an inventory of over half a million parts.List the Candidates Response ExpandYou will next want to develop another question that will assess the experience of the candidate that is specific to your needs. Sample Candidate QuestionTell me about your experience with computerized inventory control systems.List the Candidates Response ExpandFinally, develop a question that will assess your candidates educational hintergrund and training. Sample Candidate QuestionDescribe your educational background and experience.List the Candidates Response ExpandNext, inquire about t he candidates salary expectations. Sample Candidate QuestionNot to limit you or commit you to a certain dollar figure, but whats the minimum salary youd consider right now to accept another position?List the Candidates Response Expand Ask About Facts Relevant to Your Companys Background Checking Are you willing to agree to takea drug test, and have a criminal background check,references checks, educational background checks, and others as appropriate for this position? YES __________ NO ___________ Learn About Past Company and Job in the Phone Interview If the candidates responses to the above interview questions satisfy the phone interviewer, depending on the position, these are additional relevant questions to ask. Sample Candidate QuestionWhat size was the organization where you last worked in terms of revenue and employees?List the Candidates Response ExpandSample Candidate QuestionWhat were the organizations primary products and markets?List the Candidates Response Expan dSample Candidate QuestionIf the person had reporting staff, how many people reported to you directly what were their titles?List the Candidates Response ExpandSample Candidate QuestionIf the candidate is not currently working, ask why and when did you leave your most recent position?List the Candidates Response ExpandSample Candidate QuestionHow have you spent your time since you left your most recent position?List the Candidates Response ExpandEnding the Phone Interview If the candidates responses to these questions satisfy the phone interviewer, proceed to schedule an onsite interview. If not, tell the candidate that you have other candidates who appear from the phone interview to have credentials and experience that more closely match the expectations of the position. End the phone interview politely and professionally with a thank you for taking the time to apply for the job.