According to Ingredients of Outliers, the first ingredient of the best leaders and high achievers is humility. While we should always practice humility, today is the day to hone in on that skill. Be Humble Day, on February 22nd every year, is a time to not boast, brag or let ego get in the way. It is a day to focus on others’ accomplishments and pat people on the back for their successes. It's a day to get right alongside your employees and remind yourself what it's like to do their job. It's a day to pick up a piece of litter, or strike up a conversation with the server and ask them how their … [Read more...]
February Causes to Celebrate
February While February is known for Valentine's Day, don't forget the other days and weeks that make this a great month to celebrate. Study up and remember United States history by celebrating African American History Month and President's Day. Be positive, kind and humble; and focus more on your health and the health of those around you. So give some chocolates or flowers to your loved ones and get to know these great causes. Celebrate the Month: African American History Month - Celebrate the contributions that African Americans have made to American history in their … [Read more...]
Why a Sense of Humor Matters
From Chapter 7, "Tolerating Risk: Being a Doer, Not a Dreamer" in Ingredients of Outliers Sense of Humor/ Humility Another essential quality the successful entrepreneur must have is a sense of humor. Things will go wrong, often at the most unexpected and inopportune times. The customer who came to my hot dog stand and announced to all within earshot that I was the doctor who’d treated him in the emergency department a week earlier is a case in point. An embarrassing moment? You bet it was! But I still laugh every time I think about it. A sense of humor is what keeps an entrepreneur … [Read more...]
The Art of Constructive Criticism
What does the word "criticism" trigger for you? For many of us, we think of uncomfortable jabbing comments that either throw us into an immediate state of defense or send us running for the hills. If the idea makes you cringe, you will learn below that constructive criticism is a beneficial tool in the workplace and in our personal relationships. The ability to give and receive criticism is critical for anyone who is looking to continually learn and grow. As a professional in the workplace, your projects will be under heavy scrutiny when dollar signs are involved. The executive or worker … [Read more...]
Are Outliers Likable? What can be Learned from the Trending 13 Habits
We posted an article titled 13 Habits of Exceptionally Likeable People on the Outlier Series Facebook page and author John Shufeldt posted it as well. We came across the article in Entrepreneur.com and a version of it was first published in TalentSmart.com. So it seems, that not only has this article made its way into trending content, but post engagement from our fans on both pages- (in clicks, likes, and shares) showed it's a topic you as outliers are interested in. We took a closer look at the article, to see if the ideas matched with the 16 characteristics of exceptional leaders in … [Read more...]
How to Rock an Internship
You’ve worked hard to land an internship, but your efforts shouldn’t stop once you receive that long-awaited offer! An internship is like a long-term interview between you and your employer. It’s an opportunity for you to get to know the company, learn the business, and showcase your talent! If navigated correctly, an internship will provide you with either a job offer at the end of it, or provide valuable leads that will open doors for future career opportunities. We’ve gathered a few tips from Career Contessa and Bonjour Blue to help you put your best foot forward as you enter your new … [Read more...]