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I’ll keep the intro short; our attention spans are reportedly now shorter than that found in a goldfish. In our frenzied world of technology, we’re drowning in devices, and our minds have become a game of musical chairs.

Thankfully, our brains can be trained and untrained. Just as Twitter has shrunken us into soundbites of less than 144 characters, you can stretch your mind into running a marathon. Here are six simple ways to boost your mental focus and attention.

1. Work-rest ratio.

Rest periods are integral to physical training, and they’re just as important for any mental work. You may know the Pomodoro technique, a simple strategy of working for 25 minutes and then resting. Other studies have suggested the optimal time is working for 52 minutes, and then taking a break for 17 minutes.

Both have been shown to improve focus and productivity. Everyone has their own rhythm. Experiment and find your best ratio.

Knowing that you have a window of time, and an end in sight, provides a psychological comfort and allows you to focus until the time is up.

2. Deep breathing techniques.

Paying attention to your breathing — mindfully and intentionally — comes with enormous benefits. Therapists teach breathing techniques to help sufferers of anxiety, and it is highly effective in restoring focus.

A simple technique is to take in a long breath through your nose, hold your breath until your stomach tightens (about five seconds) and then exhale. This technique, along with five others, are listed in Time Magazine.

3. Drink more water.

Even being slightly dehydrated affects your attention. A study in “The Journal of Nutrition” noted that, “When the brain detects even the smallest changes in physiology, it may begin operating at a suboptimal level to get your attention.” When people were less than 2 percent dehydrated, their ability to concentrate on cognitive tests was impaired.

The 8×8 rule (eight 8-ounce glasses) is a popular standard for the amount of water you should drink each day. It’s not only healthy overall, but is particularly beneficial for the brain and focusing.

4. Declutter your workspace.

Mess causes stress; a cluttered desk means a cluttered head. Psychologist Sherrie Bourg explains that clutter distracts and cripples our minds with excessive stimuli. Adopt the mantra, “everything has a home,” and create a designated space for your most frequently used items.

Take a few minutes now for a quick tidy-up, and give your mind some breathing room.

5. Blueberries, green tea, dark chocolate.

On almost every list of essential brain foods, you’ll find these three items. Blueberries contain a cocktail of antioxidants, and are known to boost concentration for up to five hours. Green tea contains l-theanine which stimulates brain activity and releases caffeine at a steady rate. Dark chocolate, with at least 60% cocoa, contains magnesium, which reduces stress, and stimulates the release of the feel-good chemicals endorphin and serotonin.

The next time you need a mental boost, grab some berries, make yourself some tea, and break off a piece of chocolate.

6. Headstands and inversions.

These ancient postures promote mental clarity and focus. Contrary to reports, headstands do not send more blood to the brain. Rather, the blood pressure in the neck is increased by about 20 perecnt, which opens up the blood vessels and improves the pattern of blood flow in the brain, according to studies by Dr. F. Chandra’s.

If you’ve never done a headstand, it is advisable not to attempt one alone — have a friend spot you. There are many variations, and it’s best to first practice against the wall. Here’s a great how-to video to get you started.

If there are any effective techniques you’re using, please share and comment below!

The post 6 Simple Ways To Boost Your Mental Focus And Attention  appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

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Scoring high on an IQ test does not guarantee success; attending an Ivy-league school doesn’t mean an Ivy-league life. Yet from the moment you begin education, the emphasis is on test scores and exam results.

While IQ is certainly important, putting all your chips in that basket will only mean you fall short. Companies and CEOs are now looking past the traditional cognitive IQ skills and looking more at “non-cognitive” skills. In selecting new HR personnel, The US Air Force switched from a cognitive to a non-cognitive approach and increased its success rate and saved $3 million annually. L’Oreal sales agents selected using non-cognitive criteria sold $91,370 more than other salespeople did annually.

Excellence and success are indeed multidimensional. Here are two forms of intelligence that are better predictors of success than IQ:

Social Intelligence

Otherwise known as “interpersonal” intelligence, it’s the social skills and ability to adjust your interaction styles according to the people and setting you’re engaged in.

It doesn’t mean being disingenuous or putting on a mask. In fact, it requires having more of a genuine interest in others; paying more attention to ensure they feel at ease around you. It’s the ability to perceive and intuit other’s thoughts and feelings with high accuracy, and responding appropriately.

You don’t need to be an expert in psychology or anthropology to have social intelligence, nor must you be an extrovert; you simply need to be intentional with people.

There are two keys to social intelligence: 1) considering the context 2) observing body language. When it comes to context, you don’t want to act formal in a social setting, and you don’t want to act casual in a business setting. With body language, people make judgments and draw conclusions within the first minute of meeting. First impressions will make or break a good interaction.

Here are some basic skills for every interaction:

• Smile and make eye contact
• Be assertive, ask questions and listen
• Stand slightly side on (directly in front can be perceived as confrontational).

Emotional Intelligence

Also known as “intrapersonal” intelligence emotional intelligence is having self-awareness; the ability to be introspective, observing your own thoughts, and processing your emotions. We get frustrated when our actions don’t line up with our emotions. Having this emotional awareness will allow you to align your beliefs with your behaviors, your internal desires with your external expectations.

Mindfulness practices cultivate emotional intelligence. Start with observing your inner processes and emotional response to situations. Label your emotions as they arise and question their validity. Get a notepad and write out how you feel. It will strengthen awareness.

The ancient stoics placed great value on emotional intelligence and self-awareness. Marcus Aurelius said, “If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”

You don’t have complete control over what happens in life, but you can manage your emotional response. This reduces stress and anxiety, and allows you to function at your best.

Take the focus off your IQ and begin cultivating these “non-cognitive” skills today.

The post These 2 Forms Of Intelligence Are Better Success Predictors Than A High IQ Score appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

As a writer on entrepreneurship, I’ve been grateful to interview leaders such as Mark Cuban, Barbara Corceran, and Guy Kawasaki. One entrepreneur who has always stood out is Paul Budnitz, founder and CEO of Ello, the social media platform that exploded from 90 users to processing 50,000+ new invite requests every hour. Forbes, Inc, and Business Insider dubbed Ello the anti-Facebook with its staunch user-privacy and ad-free approach.

While the success of Ello seemingly took the world by storm, those closest to Paul Budnitz were less surprised. The adage, “It takes ten years to become an overnight success” sums him up well.
He’s been described as a “creative genius” by investors; one of his earlier ventures, Kidrobot, an art-toy emporium, went from two employees to 90, and from $300,000 in sales to more than $15 million.

His next venture was into a field he knew little about — bicycle design and manufacturing. He had a vision of taking the high standard, quality, and price of professional racing bikes, and applying them to everyday city bikes. It was scoffed at by many. Budnitz told Business Insider, “I remember this executive at Shimano said to me, ‘Paul, what are people going to do, they’re going to ride a $6,000 bike to the supermarket?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, they’re already driving $75,000 cars to the supermarket.’”

Paul recently shared with Wall Street Insanity the insights and advice which has shaped his successes over the years:

Pursue what’s beautiful and meaningful.

Regardless of the work, Paul’s approach has been the same, “I’ve always wanted to simply make something beautiful that I care about.”

We’re all drawn to beauty, whether that’s in nature, music, people, or products. In a culture that champions pragmatism, esthetics is often ignored. But Paul has made a conscious effort to deliver products that not only are functional, but beautiful.

We treat what is beautiful with value, so when you provide something of beauty, you are also adding value.

Put people first.

Ello is listed as a Public Benefit Corporation, a legally binding charter that states the company is “not required to maximize shareholder value.” That’s startling, considering Ello closed out its Series-A with $5.5 million in venture capital funding. But Paul explains that the interest came because the investors bought into the vision, not just the product. And that vision was to put people first.

By taking the focus off the bottom line, they’ve been able to put their energy into maximizing the user’s experience. It’s putting people above profits, and in doing so, they’re able to gain something money can’t buy — trust.

Entrepreneurial vulnerability.

Never let success get to your head. Paul says with passion: “I show up every day at work vulnerable to the reality that my business could tank and fall apart on any day.”

Complacency is the sneaky cause of a downfall in the lives of many entrepreneurs, especially when their companies grow. A mindset of vulnerability and humility will ensure that your work and success never become stagnant. It keeps you open to learning new ideas, and motivated to keep innovating.

Finally, I asked Paul these three questions:

1. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

“People have a tendency to play to their strengths and hide their weaknesses. Genpo Roshi, who is an American Zen Master living in Utah, once said that when we bury the parts of ourselves that we don’t like, those negative aspects of our personalities eventually come back to haunt us. Our weaknesses are always there, whether we like it or not.

If that’s true, why not use both our strengths and weaknesses to our advantage? Then we’re really taking advantage of who we are as a whole, and not wasting energy trying to be (or hide) who we aren’t.

For me, that’s meant that the things I’m terrible at are kind of a hidden superpower. I’ve learned to ask for help from a beginner’s perspective, without being ashamed of that — even if I’m the one who is running the company, and I’m asking for help from an intern. Actually, my 23-year-old intern at Ello is now running Ello’s customer service department, and doing things that I could never do myself.

If I hadn’t been mature enough to admit that, I couldn’t have seen her brilliance. I’d have been too proud. That would have been a great waste — for her, for me, and for the company.

2. Your biggest failure, and lesson learned?

I don’t see anything that I do as a failure (or a success). I know that sounds cheesy, but it’s really how I operate. It’s all just another step on a road that never ends — there’s always a disaster followed by things working out fairly well, followed by another disaster. It’s a cycle. After a while, you learn to look out for the disasters when things are going well, and take heart when you’re at the bottom that those things will reverse eventually, too.

A few years ago I was running Kidrobot, now I own Budnitz Bicycles, and I am very busy with Ello. I don’t know what I’ll be doing in five years, but it will be all connected. One thing flows into another.

3. What is your definition of success?

Being willing to lose it all, if that’s what it takes.

If you aren’t open to that, you’ll never be able to take the risks necessary to make something truly amazing.

The post The Hallmarks Of Success: Interview With Paul Budnitz, Founder Of Ello appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

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If you’re a quintessential procrastinator, chances are you have a tidy house, and know how to juggle. Sure, you may have gotten something done, but those are just clever distractions to make you feel “productive.”

Procrastination is an act of self-sabotage, highjacking your desired goals. Psychologists explain that while you may not be conscious of it, there’s a level of pain that comes from taking action. And procrastination is a way of keeping you in your comfort zone, albeit a detrimental one.

If procrastination is your middle name, here are guaranteed ways to beat it and become more productive:

1. Do the most mentally challenging task first.

Your mental energy is limited, it wanes and depletes throughout the day. Studies on circadian rhythms show that you’re at your peak alertness and energy within the first few hours of waking up. That’s the prime time to take-on the work that you find most challenging and mentally strenuous.

You can also give yourself a second wind with a short power-nap in the afternoon, when your energy typically dips.

2. Impose shorter deadlines.

Ever heard of Parkinson ’s Law? It is the adage that: “a task is achieved within the amount of time available.” That means if you give yourself a month to do an assignment, you’ll take a month to get it done. However, if you find out a project is due in two days, you’ll get it done in two days.

You can leverage this law by scheduling work to be completed closer to deadlines, or making commitments with a shorter timeframe than you’d generally do.

3. Website blocking tools.

Making sure something is not only out of sight, but beyond access will keep you on track. You cannot fall into the abyss of YouTube if you cannot access it. Here are two free resources that will block access to designated sites for your chosen amount of time:

Self Control; Self Restraint.

4. The 2-minute rule.

This is adapted from David Allen’s book, Getting Things Done. David explains that we spend more time deliberating on whether or not to do a task, than the time it’d take to actually complete it. If a task can be done in around two minutes, rather than put it off until later, simply get it done.

You can adjust the rule and break your large tasks into small 2-4 minute chunks and work on them consecutively. Taking these little steps helps to overcome a major cause of procrastination — not knowing what the next step should be, and not having momentum.

5. Work-rest cycles.

DeskTime, a productivity and time-tracking company, conducted a study on employees’ computer use and efficiency. They found the most productive 10 percent worked hard for 52 minutes, then took a break for 17 minutes.

Other advocates of the “Pomodoro” technique believe the perfect formula is to work for 25 minutes straight followed by a five minute rest.
Your sweet spot may fall anywhere in between those two times. Experiment and find out what’s your most productive work-rest ratio.

6. Single-task.

The cult of multitasking has been shown to be highly detrimental. Multitasking only works in rare occasions when one task is exceptionally mundane and done entirely on autopilot. Otherwise, it is better referred to as “task-switching.” Our minds only effectively focus on one task at a time, and multitasking is just jumping from one task to another.

Procrastination can happen when you have too much on your plate. Narrow down to three important tasks, and then take on one at a time.

7. Declutter your workspace.

Mess causes stress, and stress cripples your productivity levels. The role of “professional organizer” has grown drastically in recent years as people are more inundated with mess and clutter. Lynne Gilberg, a professional organizer in L.A. says that her clients often, “Express that they are overwhelmed. They become nonfunctional and nonproductive” due to too much clutter in their lives.

Making sure your workspace is decluttered gives you psychological and mental breathing space, and allows you to focus better on work.

8. Your productivity muscle.

Productivity is also a habit, it can be cultivated and strengthened over time. Choosing a small task and committing to it for at least 21 days will reinforce your productivity muscle and have a snowball effect into other areas of your life.

Start with simple tasks. This may be making your bed first thing when you wake up, doing some stretching, or reading for 20 minutes.

The post The Procrastinator’s 8-Step Guide To Being Insanely Productive appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

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Want to know the greatest indicator of success? Psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth’s research looked at West Point Military Academy cadets to try to predict the top graduates; they went to the National Spelling Bee to identify the stars; they studied rookie teachers in tough neighborhoods to see who would survive and thrive; and in the corporate world, they looked at the qualities of the most successful salespeople. In all those different settings, one characteristic stood out as the greatest predictor of success. It wasn’t good looks, physical health, family connections, or intelligence; it was mental toughness.

Mentally tough people are gritty and resilient. They’re able to keep pressing on when everyone else has given up. We can all learn to become mentally tough. Here are six ways:

1. Reframing negatives.

Cognitive reappraisal techniques are foundational in psychotherapy and mental health. It’s the ability to approach and see negative situations from a different angle. In simple terms, it’s seeing the glass half-full, and looking for the silver lining.

Mentally tough people aren’t immune to failure and losing; they still get hurt, frustrated, and angry. But they move beyond those emotions through reframing techniques. Every negative situation has a teaching point and lesson to be learned — if you choose to look for it.

Ask yourself: “What has this experience taught me?” Or, “What can I do differently or better next time?”

2. The willpower trinity.

Mental toughness goes hand-in-hand with willpower. Our struggle with willpower comes down to a one-dimensional approach, according to Psychologist Kelly McGonigal. We rely solely on “I won’t” power — telling yourself you cannot or will not engage in a restricted activity. For example, those on a diet will say they aren’t allowed, or will not eat, dessert. But we fail to capitalize on two important other powers: “I will,” and “I want.”

“I will” power is a behavior-replacement strategy — replacing the notion that you cannot have dessert with a healthy alternative – I will have fruit or yogurt. “I want” power is to remind you of your source of motivation — I want to lose weight in order to play sport with my children.

The three “I will” powers come together to cultivate mental toughness, it will push you through the times you want to quit, or when you feel weak in your willpower.

3. You are what you eat.

Mental strength comes from healthy brains. Adopting a lifestyle of unprocessed foods without additives and preservatives will lead to a healthy body and mind. Drinking enough water feeds your brain the oxygen it needs. And getting enough sleep each night ensures you’re able to perform mentally at your peak.

Make your health a priority; take inventory of the food that you have in your home and what you snack on. You cannot be mentally tough if you are physically neglected.

4. Emotional cleansing.

Mentally tough people are able to process their emotions in a healthy and effective manner. Those who ignore, bottle up, or refuse to deal with negative emotions are setting up a time-bomb for mental breakdowns.

Emotions are powerful, but not always reasonable. Having the ability to detach from them and question their validity is a trait of a mentally tough person. Meditation and journaling are two powerful techniques for emotional processing and cleansing. Act as an observer, label the emotions that you are experiencing, listen and take action on what is valid; process and let go of what is not.

5. Process orientation.

Mental toughness is having mental endurance. It’s the old cliché of running marathons instead of sprints. Being persistent comes down to seeing your skills and intelligence as fluid and iterative, rather than fixed and immutable. The more time a mentally tough person spends on a problem, the closer they believe they are to cracking the code. Never for a minute do they believe they’re not smart enough or incapable.

It’s been referred to as the “growth mindset.” Embracing the process as a valuable learning experience will allow you to stick to a task much longer, regardless of how challenging it may be.

6. Mental workouts.

Just as going to the gym and lifting heavy weights improves your physique, intellectual challenges will boost your mental strength. Although excessive television has been shown to have detrimental effects on mental health, the bigger issue is not how much is being watched, but what is being watched.

Expose yourself to material that stretches and stimulates your mind. Read books that are more challenging than you’re used to. Watch documentaries that will bring about intellectual growth. Start working out your brain as much as your body.

The post 6 Ways To Boost Your Mental Toughness appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

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Stress has always been the enemy. Industries and workplaces lose $300 billion each year due to stress-related causes. Absenteeism, apathy, lower productivity, and workplace accidents are just some of the work-related effects.

But what if stress was actually your friend?

It sounds absurd. But the brain’s release of cortisol, which causes stress, is a survival mechanism designed to help us. In our primitive hunter-gatherer state, cortisol provided a shot of adrenaline which heightened our awareness of impending dangers. However, that shot of ‘stress’ — meant to be a momentary alarm — has turned into perpetual overdrive in today’s world.

But there is a baby in the bathwater; the good elements of stress can be separated from the bad. Here are three ways to turn stress around from working against you, to working for you:

1. Start with foundational beliefs.

The idea that your beliefs can alter reality is an ancient one, and new research continues to support it. Kelly McGonigal’s influential Ted Talk explains that, while people who said they were “experiencing a lot of stress” had a 43 percent increased risk of dying, studies showed that was only among people who believed stress was harmful to their health. Those who believed it was a necessary and natural human response altered their brain’s behavior and regulation of cortisol.

2. Change your interpretation.

If perception is a different way to look at food, interpretation is a different way to digest that food. Changing our interpretation of stress means working with the symptoms that appear, rather than working against them.

Typical physiological responses to stress include: increased breathing and heart rate; sweating, and shaky hands. These responses generally heighten and exaggerate a person’s stress levels, but they can also heighten your performance. Jeremy Jamison, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, explains that our body’s reaction to social stress is the same response to physical danger; the key difference lies in the ability to reframe these responses.

Students who struggled with public speaking were taught to reinterpret their stress responses as a positive — that the body was getting excited and marshaling resources, pumping more blood to major muscle groups, and delivering more blood to the brain.

Interpreting stress in this way allows you to rise to the challenge, rather than crumble and fall under pressure. Studies showed the extent of positive thinking went beyond just the psychological, ranging into the physical — the blood vessels of those who reframed stress responses in the positive stayed relaxed rather than constricting.

3. Building community.

McGonigal explains that stress doesn’t only cause our brains to release cortisol, but also oxytocin, otherwise known as the “love hormone.” It is released when we hug someone, in intimate relationships, and during sex. Part of its release during stress is to nudge you to connect with people, since the survival mechanism reminds us there is strength in numbers. When we reach out and connect with others when under stress, whether to receive or give support, the oxytocin helps to regenerate heart cells and make us feel better. And of course, the better we feel, the more engaged and productive we become.

Stress facilitates human connection. As the saying goes, it’s not what you know but who you know. The next time you feel stressed, or encounter someone in stress, use that as a prompt to connect with another person. Give yourself the physical benefits of oxytocin, and also expand your social and professional network.

The post 3 Ways To Turn Stress Into Success appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

CBS/The Mentalist

Successful and admired people all possess the same quality: charisma. It’s a highly prized and powerful quality of influence. In fact, dictionaries define it as “a divinely conferred gift or power.” But lest you think it’s a divine gift only available to a special few, charisma is a collection of skills that can be learned by anyone. It has nothing to do with race, gender, being an introvert or extrovert.

Here are 10 strategies for becoming a more charismatic person:

1. Talk with your hands.

People who speak with their hands are perceived as more trustworthy and appealing according to studies. One of the first areas we look at when meeting someone new is their hands. Evolutionists explain it was crucial for human survival in our “hunter-gatherer” days to make sure they were not carrying a weapon.

Using hand gestures not only puts others at ease, but also helps you communicate better. It’s called “embodied cognition,” meaning there’s a strong correlation between what your mind is trying to say, and your body movements. Hand gestures help the words come out.

2. Use their name.

It’s the sweetest sound to the ears — hearing your own name. Scientists using fMRI found that unique parts of the brain were activated when people heard their own name. Using someone’s name makes them feel significant, and the fact that you’ve actually remembered it wins respect and admiration.
When someone introduces themself, take extra care in remembering their name and then use it in the conversation.

3. Watch your posture.

Slouching is known as a “low-power pose.” It will make you feel less confident, and you’ll be perceived as reserved and unapproachable.
Changing your physical posture will change your psychology. Standing tall and taking a “high-power pose” causes your brain to release dopamine, making you feel better and be more confident.

4. Listen and ask questions.

The ancient Greeks had a saying, “We should listen twice as much as we speak because we have two ears and one mouth.” People enjoy sharing their life stories; giving someone a platform to do this by asking questions and listening instead of dominating the floor will make you the kind of person others want to be around.

5. Cut out fillers and vocalized pauses.

Vocalized pauses (“ahh,” “umm”) and fillers (“like,” “you know”) will severely cramp your communication. Charismatic people are eloquent and articulate, and that comes from ironing out your speaking skills.

Be a fly on the wall to your own conversations and note how often you use fillers and vocalized pauses. They’re often used when we’re unsure of what to say. Simply replace them with silence as you look for your next word. You’ll unclutter your speech and be a more charismatic speaker.

6. Mirroring.

Humans posses an interesting thing called “mirror-neurons.” We’re social creatures and wired for community and relationships; mirroring allows you to empathize and connect through naturally mimicking the body movements of people you engage with. It’s often unconscious — think of the last time you just crossed your arms at the same time the other person did.
Subtly mirroring the stance and body language of whoever you’re conversing with will make them more comfortable and increase rapport.

7. Compliments.

Compliments have been shown to boost people’s self-esteem by up to 34 percent. Being seen as charismatic has much to do with how you make others feel. Give someone the “warm fuzzies” next time you’re having a conversation — identify one thing that you could make a nice comment about.

8. Initiate and introduce yourself.

It’s common to see most people stand back and be hesitant at social and networking events. Charismatic people take the initiative to introduce themselves and spark a conversation. It shows confidence through being active rather than passive.

Take the first step at your next event. Set aside any fear of judgment and any self-consciousness.

9. Tell stories.

Everyone loves a good story. Charismatic people have mastered the art of telling great stories — it doesn’t take long for people to start gathering around them. One of the key elements and foundations of storytelling is to “open and close the curiosity gap.” Raise a topic that will perk the interest of others. Speak with passion, use imagery and emotions.

10. Smile.

Simple, yet highly effective. Smiling sets off the brain’s reward mechanism in the same way exercise does, or eating chocolate. And smiling is rarely un-reciprocated; it will give both you and the other person a rush of positivity. According to researchers, people who smile are perceived as trustworthy and easier to cooperate with, and of course, this will add to your charisma.

The post 10 Simple Ways To Boost Your Charisma And Confidence appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

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Creativity is often seen as an elusive gift, only available to a select few. But you don’t need to be a prodigy to be creative — everyone possesses the ability. It’s important to note that many of the world’s greatest artists had to learn and refine their skills. Creativity is indeed a skill that can be learned. Everyone has an imagination that can manifest into various creative forms. And tapping into that can make all the difference in your life and career. Albert Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

The creative process has been studied in depth, with numerous theories. One of the first and foundational models was posed by co-founder of the London School of Economics, Graham Wallas, in 1926. His four-stage model continues to shape modern theories on the creative process. Here are the four stages and how to use them to unlock your creative ideas:

1. Preparation

During the preparation stage, you are gathering knowledge and exposing yourself to a wide range of sources. It is the work of the conscious and analytical mind, when your actions are focused and intentional.

If you’re a writer, then you would read as widely as possible, across all genres. If you’re working on a marketing campaign, you would be looking at what others are doing in various industries beyond your own.

Think of it as gathering as many branches as possible to start a fire. Engage in the things that are foreign to you, and stretch yourself beyond your intellectual comfort zones.

2. Incubation

While preparation is an act of the conscious mind, incubation is governed by the unconscious mind. It requires a mental break from the conscious work in the “preparation” process.
This is the stage where you let all the ideas you’ve been exposed to meet, mingle, and marinate. It means completely disengaging, either by directing your attention and conscious mind toward something else, or taking a nap and resting your mind altogether.

Be sure to set that particular project to the side and keep your mind from attempting to wander back to it.

3. Illumination

Following the incubation stage is illumination — the lightbulb “aha” moment. This eureka experience can never be forced and comes as a result of all the information, experiences, and ideas from the preparation stage meshing together.

The brain is continually making sense of every external stimuli we’re exposed to. The synthesis of all the disparate information is what leads to illumination. Creativity comes when the brain is trying to make associations between seemingly unrelated ideas.

It is an organic and passive experience, but requires diligence in the preparation stage.

4. Verification

Once your creative idea has been birthed, it may need to be refined and strengthened. This is the process of shedding any biases we may have toward our idea. It involves sharing your work, and obtaining feedback. To be sure, this is not about questioning or validating your creative ability, any personal work is unique in its own right. Rather, it is aiding in the process of iteration, especially for ideas that you’ll push into the public realm. Private works of creativity do not require a heavy process of verification, yet it is helpful to be able to look objectively and question your ideas.

Don’t be afraid of playing devil’s advocate with your own ideas, and be vulnerable to share them with others. Getting feedback will only help you with being more creative.

The post 4 Steps To Unlocking Your Creativity appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

Open Road Films

The average person will spend 45 years of their life working. That’s a lot of time dedicated to a job. Those years can be full of joy or bitterness. Unfortunately, it seems more people hate their jobs than love them. Gallup polled 25 million employees in 189 different countries and revealed that only 13 percent of workers were happy with their jobs.

The study showed that people lacked a sense of meaning and purpose in their work. For those who felt empty and disengaged, these four keys areas were found to be lacking:

1. Intrinsic Motivation

Intrinsic motivation comes from recognizing intrinsic value — that something possesses worth independent of anything else. Your work is no longer a means to an end, but rather an end in and of itself.

Find work that gives you a sense of satisfaction, regardless of the outcome, and regardless of external factors. Ask yourself this question: “If nobody recognized my work, would I still find joy in doing it?”

An athlete must find as much joy in competing in front of nobody, as she does in front of thousands; the entrepreneur should be driven whether his idea meets success or failure. The key is finding intrinsic value and motivation in your work. It’s about enjoying the process, not just the product.

2. Extrinsic Motivation

On the other side of the coin, value and motivation need to be found beyond the work. This can be found in a sense of contribution to one’s family, friends, or community. Humans are altruistic by nature; connecting generosity to your work will create meaning.

It’s gotta be more than just the bottom line. Einstein said it well, “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” Seek out meaningful relationships. Think through who is benefiting as a result of your work. Making a difference is meaningful.

3. Personal Agency

Agency is defined as: action or intervention to produce a particular effect. Meaningful work is synonymous with having personal agency. That means being active rather than passive, being able to voice your opinion, and feeling like you’re a contributing factor to the big picture.

Even in an entry-level position, agency can be created through communication with your manager to maximize your role. Speak up whenever you are given an opportunity. Don’t be afraid of being assertive and making requests.

4. Measurable Goals

Having goals allows for growth, change, and iteration in life. We often have big long-term goals, but we forget about the small goals. Having both is essential for injecting meaning into your work. You should be able to look back on the past week, month, and year, and find joy in how you’ve progressed and evolved.

And just as important as having goals is consciously celebrating them. The brain releases dopamine during moments of celebration to reinforce and motivate your successful actions. Your goals reflect what you’re passionate about, and that’s where meaning is found.

If you’ve been feeling empty about your work, measure yourself up with these four key points. Whether you switch careers or remain where you are, they will remain essential for finding meaning in your work.

The post 4 Keys To Finding Meaning And Purpose In Your Work appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

Image via Unsplash/Ben Rosett

Mark Zuckerberg and Oprah may appear to be completely different, but under the surface they share traits that fuel their work. Entrepreneurs are indeed a different breed, with their own set of stripes, but there’s a pattern in those stripes. Here are the ten essential traits of an entrepreneur:

1. A competitive nature, against themselves.

As much as entrepreneurs enjoy beating their competition, they’re just as passionate about beating themselves. Richard Branson said, “My biggest motivation? Just to keep challenging myself.”

2. Learning from everyone.

Entrepreneurs live off ideas, and know that great ideas can come from anyone. Adopt this philosophy from Bill Nye, popularly known as the Science Guy: “Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t.”

3. Thick skin.

Frequently being told “you’re insane,” and “it’ll never work” will make you wish you had a dollar each time. Successful entrepreneurs take it like water off a duck’s back. Critics will see you walk on water and say it’s because you can’t swim; having thick skin will ensure that you’ll just keep walking.

4. Considering consequences.

It’s easy to get blindsided by instant gratification, and forget the long-term consequences. Great entrepreneurs always keep the bigger picture in mind. Warren Buffet’s legacy of success is indeed a marathon, and he gives this reminder, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.”

5. Staying foolish.

Many things that are considered normal were viewed as unrealistic at one point. Steve Job’s advice to “stay foolish” reflected his own journey of constant innovation and pushing the boundaries for what’s possible. A slight sense of ignorance is healthy and necessary in the entrepreneurial world.

6. Sweat equity.

Nothing beats blood, sweat, and tears at the end of the day. You may have the best team to delegate work to, and plenty of support from VCs, but regardless, successful entrepreneurs always find a way to get their hands dirty. There’s nothing more satisfying, or important then knowing you’ve put in 110 percent.

7. Iterating vs. “quitting.”

“Quitting” has an entirely different meaning for entrepreneurs. There are times a project will fail or an idea needs to be scrapped, but iterating means looking beyond the act of quitting and finding the lesson in the failure. It’s ok to “quit” at times, but make sure it’s a stepping stone.

8. Bigger than the bottom line.

It’s gotta be more than just the cash. Entrepreneurs are inspiring and passionate about creating value for people, but their definition of value goes beyond the bottom line. As Tony Hsieh said, “Chase the vision, not the money; the money will end up following you.”

9. Fire, aim, ready.

Rather than ready, aim, fire, entrepreneurs have it backward. They fight against the feeling of not being prepared enough, but they take action anyway. The first step is always the most difficult, and trying to get all your ducks in a row will be paralyzing.

10. Taking responsibility.

It’s easy and tempting to blame the person beside you. But even if they’re partially responsible, taking responsibility doesn’t ignore the fault; it addresses it to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Blaming is throwing a blanket on the fire, only to have it light up again. Entrepreneurs are great leaders and take responsibility, making sure the fire is completely put out.

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