Don't let your schedule run you Divide your day into blocks and share your schedule with co-workers to increase productivity and avoid unnecessary meetings, writes John Hall. Getting control of your schedule gives you time to think about deeper questions, such as strategy or your career. Forbes (7/30)
Making the Connection
How to put the brakes on a rushed presentation Deliberate pauses, changing pace for emphasis and repeating key points can help you overcome a tendency to speak too quickly, writes Christina Hennessy. Timing your presentation can help you practice and even figure out material to cut, she writes. Throughline (7/31)
Millennials will lead the boom in the gig economy, which is expected to grow to 42 million people by 2020, according to a report from Deloitte. The way the work is done is changing, says Erica Volini of Deloitte, and HR should focus on talent mobility and training. Yahoo (8/4)
Your Next Challenge
How to deflect ageism in an interview Dispel concerns about your age in an interview by talking more about your interest in the position than your years of experience, writes executive coach Rebecca Zucker. Present your expertise as a solution the company needs, as well as your success in working with people of all ages. Harvard Business Review online (tiered subscription model) (8/2)Use a resume, interview to tout soft skills Highlight soft skills such as the ability to collaborate in the profile section of your resume and talk during interviews about how you have solved problems in the past, writes career coach Hallie Crawford. Also consider creating a "brag book" filled with professional recommendations and documentation of successful projects, she suggests. U.S. News & World Report (8/1)
Balancing Yourself
Caring for "inner self" is vital during transitions Clinical social worker Robert Goble, who works in a hospice setting, has learned the importance of being in touch with "the inner self" during life transitions, from changing careers to rearranging furniture. "Without appropriate forethought, however, even these transitions, which seem small and unimportant in the grand scheme of life, can leave us floating and losing tune with our inner need for structure," he writes. The New Social Worker online (8/3)
Zapata on Bastille Day (Thierry Chesnot/Getty Images)
Franky Zapata built his personal jet-powered hoverboard in 2016 and made a historic journey this week when the inventor flew the hoverboard across the English Channel. To complete the 21-mile crossing, Zapata had to refuel roughly 10 minutes into the 20-minute flight. Quartz (tiered subscription model) (8/4),CNN (8/4)
Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing.
