self-improvement
Work
Learn To Throw A Knife
5:00AM Jason Fitzpatrick | You won’t ever actually need this skill, hopefully, but learning how to throw a knife and hit your mark definitely leaves you with a feeling of action hero accomplishment. Here’s how to do it the right way. More »
Work
6:34AM Angus Kidman | Believe it or not, you can improve your career and your life by not impersonating hospital food. Speaking at an HR conference in Queensland this week, corporate director and strategic advisor Linda Nicholls (St George, Australian Post, Healthscope, the Smith Family and a bunch of others) offered up the following strategy: work out what people would never say about your organisation. For instance, no-one ever says “This hospital food is excellent — I must get the recipe” or “Wow, that hotel mini-bar is great value!” In both cases, she noted, that implies areas that are seriously in need of improvement and which should be prioritised in any future plans.
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Find your flaws by working out what people won’t say about you
6:34AM Angus Kidman | Believe it or not, you can improve your career and your life by not impersonating hospital food. Speaking at an HR conference in Queensland this week, corporate director and strategic advisor Linda Nicholls (St George, Australian Post, Healthscope, the Smith Family and a bunch of others) offered up the following strategy: work out what people would never say about your organisation. For instance, no-one ever says “This hospital food is excellent — I must get the recipe” or “Wow, that hotel mini-bar is great value!” In both cases, she noted, that implies areas that are seriously in need of improvement and which should be prioritised in any future plans.
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Work
Focused Practice, Not Everyday Work, Improves Your Skills
8:00AM Adam Pash | Programmer and blogger Jeff Atwood highlights the distinction between everyday work and actually practicing your craft to improve your skills, quoting Googler Steve Yegge: Contrary to what you might believe, merely doing your job every day doesn’t qualify as real practice. Going to meetings isn’t practicing your people skills, and replying to mail isn’t practicing your typing. You have to set aside some time once in a while and do focused practice in order to get better at something. While Atwood’s post focuses around computer programming skills, the overall gist is applicable to any profession: In order to improve, you need to practice your craft outside of your daily comfort zone. Looking at the difference between building your skills and simply doing your everyday work, we’re curious: do you practice your craft, or do you simply work? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments. The Ultimate Code Kata [Coding Horror] More »Improve your life by treating yourself like a cat
1:56PM Sarah Stokely | If you want to increase your happiness, check out this list of 9 ways you can improve your life – by treating yourself like a cat! It was the best thing I read yesterday by a long shot – it was nice to be reminded that while we might lavish our feline friends with the best care, we sometimes neglect ourselves.
The list includes those perennial feline favourite activities like stretching, napping and bathing, as well as a call to pay attention to what you eat:
“I stopped free-feeding my cats and they lost weight, yet I kept
stuffing my own face and stayed overweight! Eat protein, eat vitamin
and mineral rich foods and the right sort of fats. Check out the
complexity of your pedigree cat food and compare to your own diet. Eat
grass. I provide cat grass for my cats and they chew on it every day
before each meal. Fibre and fresh leafy greens are essential for us every day.”
The list comes courtesy of the multi-talented Kate Conroy – the producer and presenter of environmental online radio show and podcast A Climate Affair.
Like what Kate has to say? Check out her Lifehacker interview and her Climate Affair podcast.
Treat yourself like a cat [Serenity Now] More » 
Communicate Your Weaknesses
4:00AM Tamar Weinberg | When you apply for a new job, prospective employers often inquire about your greatest weaknesses. If you’ve never prepared yourself for this question, answering it can be quite difficult. wikiHow suggests that you evaluate your performance and regularly identify your primary strengths and weaknesses. Once you’ve determined what your weak suits are, explain them clearly, but don’t stop there. Follow it with good news about how you are able to overcome your weakness and strengthen yourself. Try to have at least three weaknesses on hand in case you’re asked more than once, and always follow up with a strength. Be honest and avoid arrogance; we’re human, after all. Communicate Your Weakness [WikiHow] More »
How Do You Define Success?
8:00AM Tamar Weinberg | Are you successful? Perhaps, if you think you’re not, it’s time to evaluate your thought process. PickTheBrain says that positive thinking is the first recommendation to achieve success. Write down your goals and dreams. Then, take action. Always engage yourself in learning. Be determined and work to achieve your goals. Be analytical. Dissect your mistakes and learn from them. Don’t treat your errors as a blow that will get in the way of becoming extraordinary. Innovate: don’t blend in with everyone else. Be different. Learn to be honest, reliable, and an effective communicator. How would you define success, and how do you achieve it? Let’s hear your take in the comments. Photo by dhammza. 10 Secrets to Success [PickTheBrain] More »
Boundary-Setting Tactics for Workaholics
7:00AM Tamar Weinberg | If you’re passionate about you career like I am, you probably find it tough to pull away from your job. However, it’s advisable to step away from the computer—at least sometimes. The Four Hour Workweek blog suggests that you set some boundaries for yourself. You may want to pursue hobbies that are fun, engaging, and challenging, but also help to your mind off your work. Work on personal goals in addition to your professional goals. Go on an outing with someone who has no relationship to your career. One idea would be to set up an appointment at your local gym with a personal trainer. Set up tech boundaries for work and pleasure. If you feel that you must be constantly plugged in, use different computers that differentiate work-related tasks from leisure. Also, remember to say “no.” Activities that are not as valuable to you should be outright rejected so that you can maximize productivity and enjoy your life. 5 Boundary-Setting Tips for the Work Obsessed [Tim Ferriss] More »
Exhibit Your Winning Personality
4:00AM Tamar Weinberg | Personal development blogger Alex Shalman explains that those who have winning personalities are loved and respected. These individuals are not thinking of themselves. Instead, they have everyone’s best interests at heart. So how, then, do you achieve a personality that everyone loves? Be kind and compassionate. Believe in yourself. Exhibit integrity and optimism. Have an open mind. Do not speak negatively of others. Take responsibility for your actions. Help others where you can. Be persistent, and don’t give up. With a winning personality, you attract more friends and can enrich the lives of anyone who comes into contact with you. 10 Traits to Be Perceived as a Winner [Alex Shalman] More »
Clear Your Mind and Slow Down
2:00AM Tamar Weinberg | Is your mind wandering in fast motion? Relax. To avoid burnout, self improvement weblog Zen Habits suggest that you slow down. Right now. If you’re mind is constantly spinning with ideas, thoughts, or deadlines, you initially don’t want to expect immediate gratification. Resolve to take baby steps. Start imagining the next few days without any distractions and work obligations. Envision a day where all you were doing was dedicating the day to yourself. Eventually, turn those thoughts into reality—slowly. Spend time with yourself for an hour a day. Don’t rush to finish the food off your plate. More »
