How to beat procrastination (backed by science)

How to beat procrastination (backed by science)How to beat procrastination (backed by science)Procrastination has been around since the start of modern civilization.Historical figures like Herodotus, Leonardo Da Vinci, Pablo Picasso, Benjamin Franklin, Eleanor Roosevelt, and hundreds of others havetalked abouthow procrastination is the enemy of results.One of my favorite quotes about procrastination is from Abraham LincolnYou cannotlage escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading ittoday.The funny thing about procrastination is that we all know that its harmful. Who actually likes to procrastinate? No one enjoys doing that. Me neither.And yet, procrastination welches the story of my life. When I was in college, every semester, this would happenIn the beginning of each semester, I was the coolest mofo on the planet. Relaxing, going out, enjoying myself. Big time.I experienced no stress whatsoever. However, about a week before my exams, I would freak out.Dude, why didnt you begin earlier?I would tell myself.And what would follow is an ugly sight of me, with a bunch of Red Bull cans, locked up in my room - freaking out while I was studying.And research shows exactly that When you procrastinate, you might feel better in the short-term, but you will suffer in the long-term.It doesnt really matter why you procrastinate. Some love the pressure of deadlines. Some are afraid to fail so they put it off until the very last moment.One thing that all procrastinators have in common is that procrastination has a price.This highly cited study, published in the American Psychological Society journal, by Dianne Tice and Roy Baumeister discusses the cost of procrastination. It is related toDepressionIrrational beliefsLow self-esteemAnxietyStressProcrastination is not innocent behavior. Its a sign of poor self-regulation.Researcherseven compare procrastination to alcohol and drug abuse.Its some serious shit. And Ive experienced that for many years.The years after I got out o f college were also a struggle in terms of starting and finishing work. Procrastination is a habit that just sneaks into your ordnungsprinzip.Its not something you can shake easily. Every time I had a business idea or wanted to start something, it went like thisEvery time I had an idea or a goal, I would start, but along the way, things would go wrong. I went from start to total chaos.Distractions, other ideas, other opportunities, failure, negative self-talk, etc, would get in the way.And the results are always the same You never get anything done.Beating procrastinationTo me, the key finding from the study by Dianne Tice and Roy Baumeister is thisThe present evidence suggests that procrastinators enjoy themselves rather than working at assigned tasks, until the rising pressure of imminent deadlines forces them to get to work. In this view, procrastination may derive from a lack of self-regulation and hence a dependency on externally imposed forces to motivatework.Self-regulation, self-control, willpower, are all things that we overestimate. We thinkYeah sure, I will write a novel in 3 weeks.In our minds, were all geniuses and mentally strong. But when the work comes, we cop out.If youre a procrastinator, you cant help but delay work. And thats true for the small and big tasks.Sure, everybody fears to step outside of their comfort zone - thats why we call themcomfortzones. It takes courage to make a bold move.But it sure doesnt take any courage to complete small tasks like paying bills, printing out something for your boss, doing taxes, etc.The truth is Procrastination has nothing to do with what youre trying to do - small or big, it can wait until later. It can always wait, right?For me, completing tasks, went like thisThere comes a moment between the start and end of a task- I call it the slope of procrastination- when you give intoonedistraction. And thats exactly the moment you give up being productive.You start working on a task, youre excited, youre f ocused, but then, after some time, you think Lets read the news for a second.It always starts withjustone thing.Then, you think I might as well watch one episode of Game Of Thrones. Then, a video on YouTube- and thenanotherone. Then, a little bit of Instagram browsing. And so forth.It always ends with a bangThis is the last time Im wasting my timeYeah, right.Willpower doesnt work SystemsdoWhat you really need is a system for doing work. A lot of people shy away from routines, systems and frameworks because they want to have freedom.Im sorry to disappoint you Freedom is your enemy.The fact is that, if you want to get things done, you need rules.What are some things that research proved to be effective?Self-imposed deadlines.Accountability systems (commitment with friends, or a coach).Working/studying in intervals.Exercising 30 minutes a day.A healthy diet.Eliminating distractions.And most importantly Internal motivation.If you combine the right productivitytactics, you have a product ivitysystem.The deadlines create urgency, accountability will create responsibility, working in intervals improves your focus, exercising will give you more energy, so does a healthy diet, and eliminating distractions will take away the temptations.But theres no system that can help you if you dont have an inner drive. People overcomplicate that concept, but its simpleWhy do you do what you do?If you dont know. Make something up.If you know why youre doing something, even the most annoying tasks become bearable. It will become a part of the bigger picture.So, instead of diving into work, take a step back, think about why you do what you do, and then rely on a system supports that. Not rocket science. Justscience.Thisarticleoriginally appeared onDariusForoux.com.

50 Toughest Interview Questions to Ask or to Answer

50 Toughest Interview Questions to Ask or to Answer50 Toughest Interview Questions to Ask or to Answer50 Toughest Interview Questions to Ask or to Answer Putzier and David Baker As former outplacement counselors, we created these questions for our clients to practice in advance of their interviewing candidatesas part of their interview preparation.These questions should be asked andanswered both positively and in job-related terms. This is the first rule of a solid interview process. Try asking yourself some of these interview questions and see how your answers would resonate with you That will provide you some context to better hiring.1.Tell me about yourself.2.Why do you want to work here?3.What are your strengths?4.What are your weaknesses?5.What do you know about us?6.Why should I hire you?7.Why did you (or why do you want to) leave your current employer?8.If you could turn back time and live your life over, what would you do differently?9.Describe the ideal work environment for you.10.Tell me about the worst boss you ever had.11.If you could change one thing about your last (current) job, what would it be?12.How do you think your coworkers would describe you, both good and bad?13.How do you think your bosses would describe you, both good and bad?14.In prior performance reviews, what were your opportunities for improvement?15.What are your greatest accomplishments so far?16.Describe yourself in three words.17.Are you interested in managing or leading others? Why or why not?18.How do you define success?19.Besides money, what do you value or need most if you are to have job satisfaction?20.Have you ever been fired (laid off, outplaced, etc.)? Explain the circumstances.21.If you gave your last boss a performance review, what would he or she need to change?22.Do you prefer to work alone or with others? Why?23.Describe a difficult situation or task that you had to deal with, and how you did so.24.How do you feel about travel or relocation?25.Is there anything th at would physically or mentally prevent you from performing this job?26.What other organizations are you pursuing, or are pursuing you?27.Do you consider yourself to be creative? If so, give some examples.28.How would you describe your personality?29.How much are you expecting to earn in this job?30.How do you feel about incentives, which are heavily tied to performance?31.How do you feel about psychological tests?32.How do you feel about drug tests?33.What are your goals for five years and ten years out?34.Do you prefer a job with clearly defined tasks, or one that is more self-directed?35.Do you prefer to work for a man or a woman? Why?36.How do you feel about working in a diverse workplace (with minorities, for example)?37.If you could change three things about yourself, what would they be?38.Do you consider yourself to be a traditionalist? Why or why not?39.What motivates you?40.Do you think that people are basically lazy and need to be pushed to perform?41.Have you ever had to fire someone? Explain why and how you did it.42.If you could be in your own business, what business would it be?43.Do you consider yourself to be more of a people person or a taskmaster?44.What qualities do you think are necessary to be a leader?45.How long do you anticipate being in this job, or with our organization?46.Do you believe that success depends more on what you know than on whom you know?47.How do you perform under stress?48.Do you keep current in your field? How?49. Do you have any role models? If so, who are they, and why are they role models?50.What more would you like to know about the job, or about this organization?Ready To Hire? Do This NextNow that youve got the questions, you need to find the candidates who have the answers you want to hear. Could you use some help with that? Join for free today. As a member, youll receive interview advice, hiring tips, special offers, industry trends, and much more. Let help you prepare an interview strategy that makes sense fo r your business so you can make a strong hire the first time around.Excerpted from The Everything HR Kit A Complete Guide to Attracting, Retaining, and Motivating High-Performance Employees by John Putzier and David Baker. Copyright 2010 John Putzier and David Baker. Published by AMACOM Books, a division of American Management Association, New York, NY. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Deadlines Approaching for More than 40 ASME Awards

Deadlines Approaching for More than 40 ASME Awards Deadlines Approaching for More than 40 ASME Awards Deadlines Approaching for More than 40 ASME Awards