Saturday, 30 July 2016

Why Do Some People Learn Faster?


There are many types of intelligence, from emotional to bodily-kinesthetic, linguistics, and beyond. There are also just as many learning techniques. Anyone who turns to the internet for tips on tricks on how to learn faster will find a staggering number of views on the subject. It's trendy to want to learn more, better, and faster. It's a hot topic and the experts have a lot to say.

If you want to learn faster but are tired of the hype, take note of these two common traits among individuals who learn faster.

1. They have growth mindsets and pursue knowledge with curiosity.

Growth mindset individuals believe in possibility, including their ability to grow. Aware that they can develop and change their intelligence, these learners are less likely to shy away from challenging things. Fixed mindset individuals, on the other hand, are more likely to avoid subjects in which they struggle. They also despair when they are overlooked for promotion or receive negative feedback from bosses or co-workers. When it comes to learning, those who develop growth mindsets have a clear advantage.

Inquisitiveness serves another important role in the making of a fast learner. Their curiosity leads them to new subjects. The more they learn, the greater their appetite for novelty. Sure, a fast learner might double as a walking encyclopedia when it comes to specialized topics like the RMS Titanic, but these knowledge seekers also pursue the unique, and the brain thrives on challenge. Giving the brain new material makes it sharper and faster, and therefore more sensitive to error. The brain is truly capable of change. Fast learners become increasingly faster with practice.

2. They are more sensitive to errors and then to learn from them.

Fast learners are able to deduce meaning from abstract or obscure information through reason. For example, they can approach a convoluted argument, identify the key points, and extrapolate the essential meaning. Individuals who excel at learning use deductive reasoning to problem solve, judge positions based on evidence, and manipulate information to develop new arguments. They synthesize new material by drawing connections to other pieces of knowledge they've acquired. The ability to infer also allows these learners to guess more quickly and accurately than average learners.

Growth mindset individuals also demonstrate differences in the brain from those with fixed mindsets. Numerous studies have shown that people learn more effectively when their brains exhibit two properties. These learners have larger error-related negativity (ERN) signals, suggesting a bigger initial response to mistakes. They also show more consistent error-related positivity (Pe) signals, which indicates that they are probably paying attention to the error and, therefore, trying to learn from it.

The Value of Hard Work

Arguably the most critical quality for quick learning is the willingness to work hard. You may be the next Einstein in terms of natural ability, but your talent is of little value if you don't work diligently to improve your learning. Having some grit is one of the qualities that distinguishes amateurs from experts across all fields.

Having grit is like having a strong immune system. It prevents us from giving up when met with adversity. For example, if we make a mistake and misread the instructions on a test, having determination helps us learn from the experience. We're much less likely to make the same mistake twice if we've paid attention and adjusted our behavior accordingly. People with sticktoitiveness are definitely members of the growth mindset camp. They persevere with their inquisitions because they have allowed themselves to make mistakes.

Fixed mindset, perfectionist people of the world beware! Hard-working and investigative thinkers are out-learning you in big ways. They believe in their ability to learn and defy the fear of failure. With greater feelings of self-worth, they remain committed to their interests. Growth mindset learners approach life with more creativity and are always up for a challenge.

Monday, 11 July 2016

Required Branch Manager for Tanzania - Africa

A wholesale distribution network of FMCG & Cosmetics products requires a Branch manager at Tanzania (Africa).

 

Qulification:

ü  Min 5-7 Years' experience in Sales Management.

ü  Graduation

ü  Strong Analytical & Decision making skills.

ü  Leading and problem solving skills.

ü  English proficiency & computer acknowledgement

ü  Effective communicative skills.

 

 Salary:   USD $ 8oo per month

 

 Duties:

Ø To build relationships with new clients and enhance existing relationships.

Ø To setup meetings with client's and company's Managers.

Ø To assess local market conditions; identify current and prospective sales opportunities.

Ø To reach budgets in time with set targets and available resources.

Ø To plan, approach & work with team to develop proposals that speaks to the client's needs, concerns and objectives.

Ø To develop forecast sales targets and ensure they are met.

Ø To drive sales team and distribution every day and submit weekly progress reports with accurate data.

Ø To understand the company's goal and purpose in order to enhance the company's performance.

 

Kindly Send Your CV if you're eligible for post: vacancy@aerizogroup.com

 Consultancy charges apply once candidate has been selected*

 

http://www.aerizogroup.com/

Required Junior Accountant for Tanzania - Africa

A wholesale distribution network of FMCG & Cosmetics products requires a Junior Accountant at Tanzania (Africa).

 

Skills Required:

ü  Min 2-3 Years' experience in Accounting.

ü  Tally accounting acknowledgement.

ü  Computer Literate & Analytical skills.

ü  English proficiency & Effective communicative skills.

 

 Salary:   USD $ 5oo per month

 

 Duties:

Ø  To maintain general ledgers and manage bank reconciliations.

Ø  To handle petty cash & verify the expenses.

Ø  To prepare Vat Return & Other statutory reports.

Ø  Invoice processing and Stock Reconciliations.

Ø  Tracking of goods in transit and take follow-ups.

Ø  Coordinating with transporters, branches & suppliers.

Ø  To post entries in Tally & all other duties related to accounting.

 

Kindly Send Your CV if you're eligible for post: vacancy@aerizogroup.com

 Consultancy charges apply once candidate has been selected*

 

http://www.aerizogroup.com/

Tuesday, 5 July 2016

Stay focused when you feel like giving up


Personal motivation is the key to maintain almost all aspects of life. If we're not motivated, we're more likely to squander our time and neglect our personal and professional goals. Even the most determined people can lose steam sometimes. Keep reading for some sure-fire tips for getting back on track.

In life, there may be times when negativity seems to surround you, suffocating your dreams and destroying your hope. We receive challenges every day in the form of things not going quite as we had planned -- and that's the lesson, you can plan, but you can't really plan. When that happens, many go through their day being saturated with negativity and accepting it as a way of life. While you can't always control what happens to you, you can control how you respond to it. Seek to create a positive environment for yourself and you'll begin to become more motivated to achieve your dreams and goals. Here are 15 ways to keep in mind through hard times:

1. When your marriage, parenting, faith, etc. gets tough, it's not a sign that you're doing it wrong.  These intimate, intricate aspects of life are toughest when you're doing them right – when you're dedicating time, having the tough conversations, and making daily sacrifices.

2. On particularly hard days when you feel that you can't endure, remind yourself that your track record for getting through hard days is 100% so far.

3. Have a little faith that the universe has a plan for you, and it's all being revealed in the right time frame.  Something you will eventually learn through all your ups and downs is that there are really no wrong decisions in life, just choices that will take your life down different paths.  Sometimes you must get hurt in order to grow, or lose in order to gain.  Sometimes the lesson you need most can only be learned through a little pain.

4. Pain is inevitable.  Suffering is optional.

5. Life is not about maintaining the status quo.  Life is not about playing it safe every second.  Life is not about standing still and wallowing in self-doubt.  It's about connecting with your soul, respecting your integrity, and telling yourself that you're able.  It's about taking a few steps, regardless of how hard and small they may be, so you can move forward and evolve.

6. You must make a firm decision that you're going to move forward.  It won't always happen naturally or automatically.  Sometimes you will have to rise up and say, "I don't care how hard this is.  I don't care how disappointed I am.  I'm not going to let this get the best of me.  I'm moving on with my life."

7. No matter what's happening, you can efficiently fight the battles of today.  It's only when you add the battles of those two relentless eternities, yesterday and tomorrow, that life gets overwhelmingly complicated.  Realize that it's not the experience of today by itself that devastates you, but the regret and resentment about something that happened yesterday or the fear and dread of what tomorrow might bring.  It's necessary, therefore, to let yourself live just one day at a time – just today – just right here, right now.

8. When you stop worrying about what you can't control, you have time to change the things you can control.  And that changes everything.

9. Don't worry about mistakes and failures, worry about what you're giving up when you don't even try.

10. Making mistakes means you're actually doing something in the real world and learning from it.  Listening or reading is often just listening or reading.  It's not real learning.  Real learning comes from making mistakes.  And mistakes come from gradual implementation.

11. If you never go after it again, you'll never have it.  If you never ask again, the answer will always be No.  If you never step forward again, you're stuck right where you are.

12. In the space between "I'll try again" and "I give up" there's a lifetime.  It's the difference between the path you walk and the one you leave behind; it's the gap between who you are capable of being and who you have become; it's the legroom for the fairy tales you'll tell yourself in the future about what could have been.

13. Everyone has a little talent.  What's rare is the courage to follow it to the dark places where it leads, and beyond. 

14. Courage doesn't always roar; sometimes it's simply a whisper at the end of the day that says, "I'll try again tomorrow."

15. If you're still sitting there thinking, "Things should be different right now," take a deep breath.  That's not true and you know it.  Because if it were true, things would be different right now.  Stay present and focus on what you can create today.  And tomorrow will reveal it exactly as it should, just as yesterday already has.

All details aside, if you're reading this… Congratulations, you're alive and in a good position to give yourself another chance.  If that's not something to smile about, then I don't know what is.

Remember what you deserve and keep pushing forward.  Someday all the pieces will come together.  Unimaginably good things will transpire in your life, even if everything doesn't turn out exactly the way you had anticipated.  And you'll look back at the times that have passed, smile, and ask yourself, "How did I get through all of that?"

Thursday, 30 June 2016

Investing- Investment Strategies for First-Time Investors


If you are thinking about getting into investment, you are likely unsure of how to start and what you should be investing in. The world of investment can be very intimidating for the first-timer. In fact, it can often be confusing for those who are experienced. The following are 10 tips that will help you get started in the world of investment.

1. Set Investment Goals

Now it is time to decide what you want to get out of investing. Obviously, your ultimate goal is to make money, but everyone's needs are different. Things to consider include income, capital appreciation, and safety of capital. Also, consider your age, your personal circumstances, and your financial position.

2. Invest Early

The earlier you start investing, the better. For one thing, the sooner you start, the less money you will need every year to achieve your investing goals. Your earnings will compound over time, so don't be afraid to start investing, even if you are a college student- or better yet, in your last year of high school.

3. Make Investments Automatic

Set aside a certain amount of money to be automatically invested each month. You can set up automatic investment plans through various brokerage service firms and automated investment services like Wealthfront. By doing this, you will avoid stalling and consistently invest.

4. Look at Your Finances

Before you can begin investing, you need to look at how much money you have to invest. Be realistic about it. Make sure that you leave yourself with enough money to pay for your regular monthly bills, loan payments, etc. You don't need a lot of money to get started with investing- but there are risks. You don't want to leave yourself short of paying other important bills.

5. Learn About Investing

Once you have your finances in order, it is time to start learning about investing. Study basic terminology, so you know how to make coherent decisions. Learn about stocks, bonds, mutual funds and certificates of deposits (CD's). Don't forget about other details that include diversification, portfolio optimization and market efficiency.

6. Set up Retirement Accounts

There are many tax advantages to having retirement accounts. In some cases, initial investments are tax-deductible, such as IRA's and 401 K's. Others require you to pay taxes up front, but not when you withdraw funds during retirement; these include Roth IRA's (Individual Retirement Arrangement). Also, make sure to find out if your employer matches personal retirement contributions.

7. Be Wary of Commissions

Professionals will try to talk you into buying investments that give them high commissions. Don't do this without some serious research. Some so-called professionals are well known for selling products that pay them big commissions, but don't pay much to their buyers.

8. Diversify Your Investments

The market fluctuates constantly, and things always go up and down. To avoid losing too much money when stocks go down, make sure you have a diversified portfolio. That way, you will have some stocks that are rising, even when others are falling. Another option is to invest in overseas markets since they are notably different from the ones in the United States.

9. Study Your Portfolio

It is important that you always study your portfolio. What is right for your portfolio today may not be the best for it tomorrow. It is important to know what you have, and where you might need to make changes in the future. When the economic climate shifts, be prepared to make investment changes as well.

10. Keep Informed

It is a good idea to always study the markets. Read up on the things you have invested in, and look for resources that keep up with market trends, as well as the global economy.

Monday, 27 June 2016

10 Great Answers to Tough Interview Questions


The best way to prepare you for the interview is to know what questions may be coming and practice in advance. The following are some of the most difficult questions you will face in the course of your job interviews. Some questions may seem rather simple on the surface—such as "Tell me about yourself"—but these questions can have a variety of answers. The more open ended the question, the wider the variation in the answers. Once you have become practiced in your interviewing skills, you will find that you can use almost any question as a launching pad for a particular example or compelling story.

The following answers are provided to give you a new perspective on how to answer tough interview questions. They are not there for you to lift from the page and insert into your next interview. They are provided for you to use as the basic structure for formulating your own answers. While the specifics of each reply may not apply to you, try to follow the basic structure of the answer from the perspective of the interviewer. Answer the questions behaviourally, with specific examples that show that clear evidence of your competencies. Always provide information that shows you have the skills and experience necessary to become the very best employee for the company and that you have specifically prepared yourself to become exactly that. Interviewers want to be sold. They are waiting to be sold. Don't disappoint them!

1. Tell me about yourself.

It seems like an easy interview question. It's open ended. I can talk about whatever I want from the birth canal forward. Right?

Wrong. What the hiring manager really wants is a quick, two- to three-minute snapshot of who you are and why you're the best candidate for this position.

So as you answer this question, talk about what you've done to prepare yourself to be the very best candidate for the position. Use an example or two to back it up. Then ask if they would like more details. If they do, keep giving them example after example of your background and experience. Always point back to an example when you have the opportunity.

"Tell me about yourself" does not mean tell me everything. Just tell me what makes you the best.

2. Why should I hire you?

The easy answer is that you are the best person for the job. And don't be afraid to say so. But then back it up with what specifically differentiates you.

For example: "You should hire me because I'm the best person for the job. I realize that there are likely other candidates who also have the ability to do this job. Yet I bring an additional quality that makes me the best person for the job—my passion for excellence. I am passionately committed to producing truly world class results. For example…"

Are you the best person for the job? Show it by your passionate examples.

3. What is your long-range objective?

The key is to focus on your achievable objectives and what you are doing to reach those objectives.

For example: "Within five years, I would like to become the very best accountant your company has on staff. I want to work toward becoming the expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I'll be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities which might be presented in the long term. For example, here is what I'm presently doing to prepare myself…"

Then go on to show by your examples what you are doing to reach your goals and objectives.

4. How has your education prepared you for your career?

This is a broad question and you need to focus on the behavioral examples in your educational background which specifically align to the required competencies for the career.

An example: "My education has focused on not only the learning the fundamentals, but also on the practical application of the information learned within those classes. For example, I played a lead role in a class project where we gathered and analyzed best practice data from this industry. Let me tell you more about the results…"

Focus on behavioral examples supporting the key competencies for the career. Then ask if they would like to hear more examples.

5. Are you a team player?

Almost everyone says yes to this question. But it is not just a yes/no question. You need to provide behavioural examples to back up your answer.

A sample answer: "Yes, I'm very much a team player. In fact, I've had opportunities in my work, school and athletics to develop my skills as a team player. For example, on a recent project…"

Emphasize teamwork behavioural examples and focus on your openness to diversity of backgrounds. Talk about the strength of the team above the individual. And note that this question may be used as a lead in to questions around how you handle conflict within a team, so be prepared.

6. Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How was it resolved?

Note that if you say no, most interviewers will keep drilling deeper to find a conflict. The key is how you behaviourally reacted to conflict and what you did to resolve it.

For example: "Yes, I have had conflicts in the past. Never major ones, but there have been disagreements that needed to be resolved. I've found that when conflict occurs, it helps to fully understand the other persons perspective, so I take time to listen to their point of view, then I seek to work out a collaborative solution. For example…"

Focus your answer on the behavioural process for resolving the conflict and working collaboratively.

7. What is your greatest weakness?

Most career books tell you to select strength and present it as a weakness. Such as: "I work too much. I just work and work and work." Wrong. First of all, using strength and presenting it as a weakness is deceiving. Second, it misses the point of the question.

You should select a weakness that you have been actively working to overcome. For example: "I have had trouble in the past with planning and prioritization. However, I'm now taking steps to correct this. I just started a planner app on my mobile t better plan and prioritize…" then pull out your mobile to show how you are using the app.

Talk about a true weakness and show what you are doing to overcome it.

8. If I were to ask your professors (or your boss) to describe you, what would they say?

This is a threat of reference check question. Do not wait for the interview to know the answer. Ask any prior bosses or professors in advance. And if they're willing to provide a positive reference, ask them for a letter of recommendation.

Then you can answer the question like this:

"I believe she would say I'm a very energetic person, that I'm results oriented and one of the best people with whom she has ever worked. Actually, I know she would say that, because those are her very words. May I show you her letter of recommendation?"

So be prepared in advance with your letters of recommendation.

9. What qualities do you feel a successful manager should have?

Focus on two words: leadership and vision. Then tell of how that leadership and vision translated into your personal delivered results.

Here is a sample of how to respond: "The key quality in a successful manager should be leadership—the ability to be the visionary for the people who are working under them. The person who can set the course and direction for subordinates, keeping them focused on what is most important for delivering the highest priority results. The highest calling of a true leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their abilities. I'd like to tell you about a person whom I consider to be a true leader…"

Then give an example of someone who has touched your life and how their impact has helped in your personal development.

10. If you had to live your life over again, what one thing would you change?

Focus on a key turning point in your life or missed opportunity. Yet also tie it forward to what you are doing to still seek to make that change.

For example: "Although I'm overall very happy with where I'm at in my life, the one aspect I likely would have changed would be focusing earlier on my chosen career. I had a great internship this past year and look forward to more experience in the field. I simply wish I would have focused here earlier. For example, I learned on my recent internship…" then provide examples.

Stays focused on positive direction in your life and back it up with examples.

Tuesday, 21 June 2016

7 Ways to Work Smarter and Be More Productive


You can accomplish anything with hard work, they say. You can make your business a success, earn a promotion, and master virtually any skill… if you just work hard.

Except working your butt off is not always enough. Need proof? You can't inflate a flat car tire by blowing into it as hard as you can, the same way you can't effectively mow a lawn with a pair of household scissors. No, you need the right tools, the right strategies, for the right tasks. You need to work smarter, not harder.

Here are seven tips to help you work more efficiently and more productively without expending any additional effort—aka here's how to work smarter, not harder:

1. Walk away.

Walking away from a complex task might seem counter intuitive, but breaks can actually make you more productive. Removing yourself from the work environment immediately reduces stress and gives your brain a chance to "catch up." If you're working on a hard problem, your subconscious mind will continue working on it even if your conscious mind is trying to relax—which is why sometimes, solutions magically pop into your mind when you aren't thinking about the problem. Either way, you'll come back refreshed and in a healthier, more focused mental state for work.

2. Recognize and eliminate distractions.

This should be obvious, but the most dangerous distractions are the ones you don't even realize are distracting. Maybe you're working on a new marketing plan with a couple tabs of research open, and a third tab that's, conveniently, open to Facebook. You get a new notification, so you click out of your Word doc to check it real quick. You spend 20 seconds looking at the post you were just tagged in (or the event you were just invited to or the "like" your status just got) before you minimize it again. Twenty seconds isn't a long time, but it breaks your focus and forces you to restart your last train of thought, possibly costing you a few minutes or more. Compound that happening several times an hour and you've instantly reduced your overall productivity.

3. Ignore low2-priority items.

Low-priority items sneak up on you, artificially increasing the length of your to-do list and distracting you from more important work. Say you're working on a big project when a co-worker emails you about a quick change you need to make on your company's website. Logging on and making the change won't take much time, but it will distract you from the project and stress you out if you have to postpone it until later. The best way to fight against these low-priority items is to ignore them altogether. Go into "do not disturb" mode by working offline if you can and don't write them down on your to-do list—they aren't worth your immediate concern, so you'll get to them when you get to them. (Just don't do the same for high-priority tasks.)

4. Create routine habits.

Habits happen naturally after they're formed—they become a ritual, something you can slip into automatically, something you don't even have to think about. For example, if you have to update an editorial calendar every day, make it an unconscious habit, sparing you the necessity of remembering it in a desperate scramble. Forming habits is the hard part—a good rule of thumb is to force you to commit the action every day, with no breaks from the routine, until it comes naturally (some people say it takes 30 days, but the evidence is iffy and subjective).

5. Work in chunks.

Instead of sitting down to complete an entire project, sit down to accomplish one goal element or work for a certain number of hours. Forcing yourself to complete the entirety of a project or complex task will stress you out and make you less productive. Instead, allow yourself to work in shorter "bursts" to keep your mind fresh and reduce your anxiety. That way, you can work to the very best of your ability.

6. "Multitask" (not in the traditional sense).

No matter how busy you are, there are always "negative spaces" in your day—and these gaps are when you should "multitask." Try to fill the empty spaces with productive work: On your lunch break, watch a tutorial video or catch up on your emails. On your drive into work, listen to audio books or podcasts. During your workouts, catch up on some voice mails or watch a TED Talk. The more you learn and work in these negative spaces, the more you'll get done overall.

7. Work around your strengths and weaknesses.

You know yourself better than anybody. You have strengths and weaknesses inherent to your being, and they're going to affect how you work. Navigate around these by taking on more tasks that you're good at and staying away from ones that slow you down; don't try to do them all yourself. Delegate or work together with others to shoulder the burden of your weakest tasks or skills, and spend more time doing what you do best.