New CA Law May Force Employees to Use Up Paid Time Off Benefits

New CA Law May Force Employees to Use Up Paid Time Off BenefitsNew CA Law May Force Employees to Use Up Paid Time Off BenefitsAll employees look forward to taking a vacation once in a while, especially when they have accrued paid time off to use. Paid time off, or PTO, is also a major factor for employees accepting job offers from companies. The more generous the PTO, the more attractive a company can look to candidates who value work-life balance. Even though paid time off is currently not mandatory for employers to offer to their workers, most understand the importance of time off for a healthier and happier workforce. New employment law in California is shaking things up in terms of how employers can offer paid time off, and it could force employees to take time off even if they want to save PTO up. The Healthy Workplace, Healthy Families Act The Healthy Workplace, Healthy Families Act is a new paid leave law in the state of California that all employers must follow. The new law requires that all employers with at least one employee permit their employees to accrue sick leave at a defined rate of one hour per every 30 hours worked. Because of this new law, part-time and temporary workers are now covered. The states law took effect on January 1, 2015, but employees were not able to begin accruing sick time until July 1, 2015. The new law allows companies to cap accrual of sick leave at six daysbut does not require them to do so. The law also allows employees the chance to cap their use of sick days at three per year of employment but does not require it. Per the new law, employees can use sick time for the care, treatment, preventative care or diagnosis of a health condition for themselves or a family member. Family member is defined in the law as a parent, in-law, child, spouse, sibling, grandchild, grandparent, or registered domestic partner. Who is entitled to sick leave? Due to the new law, it is quite possible that many companies will need to re write their policies regarding sick leave and paid time off. Most companies only offer paid sick leave to full-time employees or ones who work a set number of hours per week. The new law requires companies to provide sick leave to employees who work 30 days or more in a year. This means that full-time, part-time, temporary, contract, seasonal and per-diem employees would be covered by the sick leave law if they meet the hourly requirements. Excessive Absenteeism Discipline Plenty of companies discipline their employees for excessive absenteeism. Others require employees to find replacements if they wish to use their sick time. This requirement will no longer be permitted under the new law. The law also makes it illegal for companies to suspend, discharge, or demote any employee for using their accrued sick leave. Notifying Employees of Policy Changes Since the new law will undoubtedly cause companies to change their policies for sick leave and paid time off, employees will need to be notified of any changes within seven days. The notice must be in writing. If a companys current policies mirror the requirements of the new law and nothing needs to be changed, written notice must still be sent to employees regarding the requirements of the new law in California. Issues with Seasonal Employees Issues are going to arise when it comes to the new law and seasonal employees. The new law states that if an employee leaves a company for any reason, and returns to work there within a year, all of their previously accrued sick time must be given back to them. The requirement becomes null and void if the employer allows the employee to cash out their accrued sick time at the end of their seasonal employment. If the employee only works 60 days, leaves and is rehired within one year, he or she will not begin accruing sick time until having worked another 30 days to meet the 90-day probationary period requirement. The bottom line here is that employers operating i n the state of California now have to offer sick leave to all employees who work at least 30 days in a year. Employees must use this paid time off throughout the year to ensure they dont miss out.

Report This is how mentors choose their protégés

Report This is how mentors choose their protgsReport This is how mentors choose their protgsFor years, companies have tried to control their implicit biases while selecting candidates. When we look at the pipeline problems in major industries, at least some of the lack of diversity is thanks to human error - hiring managers and recruiters prefer job seekers who remind them of themselves. And in some ways, that makes sense of curse, we connect mora with people who enjoy the saatkorn hobbies, went to the same college, or share other commonalities with us.Where it gets dicey, though, is that often times those in leadership positions are white men from affluent backgrounds who went to upper echelon schools. And so when they look to see a reflection of themselves in a future employee, they exclude a huge swathe of the population who do not share biological and socioeconomic traits with them.And it turns out that those implicit biases dont end with our hiring practices - they take hold w hen we assess current employees as well.Anyone whos been lucky enough to have a mentor knows how important it can be to have that support base. Plus, theres always the feeling that somehow were special because we were the chosen ones. But it turns out that the reason most of our mentors picked us out of the pack had little to do with our individuality. In fact, quite the opposite.New research from the New York-based think tank Center for Talent Innovation has found that 71% of sponsors say their main protg is the same race or gender as they are. This mini-me syndrome means that men gravitate toward men and women toward women. White mentors will be more inclined to choose white mentees, and altogether, the phenomenon means that more of the same kind of people will likely continue to thrive in any given company.That lack of diversity isnt good for anyone, including the mentors themselves. A mere 17% of sponsors believe their mainprotgs have a valuable management style that diverges fr om the one they use, which means that mentors everywhere are missing out on more singular perspectives that could contribute to their own professional success.This research comes at a time when advocates for workplace gender equality have been concerned about the cooling effect the MeToo movement is having on men mentoring women. The national survey that CTI analyzed took place in January 2018, soon after MeToo made headlines, and indicates that there was very little mentorship going on between men and women without even considering mens recent fears to work alongside their more junior female colleagues.Another surprising discovery from CTIs research is that only 27% of sponsors advocate for their mentees promotions. Though the simple process of learning from a more senior person in the field proves invaluable for many employees, a lot of mentees are also banking on their mentors putting in a good word so they can climb the corporate ladder as well.All of this may be a lot to proces s right now, and it could be a good time to step back and reflect. For the mentors out there, an honest self-analysis of why you chose the mentee you did can go a long way in exercising self-awareness and helping to inform decisions moving forward.And for the mentees, it may be worth coming up with a strategy to ask your sponsor for words of support when that next big promotion comes open. Then, itll be time to pay it forward to the next junior-level employee who could use some guidance. Maybe, when its your turn, youll be smart enough to choose someone who doesnt remind you of yourself at all.

How to Use Content to Build Your Personal Brand

How to Use Content to Build Your Personal Brand How to Use Content to Build Your Personal Brand We often talk a lot about content in the marketing world. Broadly defined, content means creating and sharing relevant information. Itcan range from business-related articles and blog posts to videos and podcasts. Content can paint a picture of acompany, explain what itsells, create engagement, and do so much more.Many companies also use content to build their brands. Engaging content can give potential customers great insights into what acompany offers, what it cares about,and what itstands for.Content, however, is not just the domain ofcompanies. You, as an individual job seeker or professional, can use content to build your own personal brand as well.Who Are You?In order to figure out what kind of content you should create/shareand the approach you should take, you first need to figure out who you are. What do you stand for? What is your katechese going to be? What do you want peopl e to know about you? What areas of expertise can you bring to the table?For me, Im a people connector. Im a marketer. I connect the best and brightest candidates with the best and brightest managers for my company. I market our company as a best-in-class employer of choice to external candidates whomay be looking to make a move to a new, more exciting opportunity. Ive built my own personal brand around being knowledgeable in my craft andknowledgeable in the craft I recruit for. Marketing is a huge passion of mine, and I spend my free time researching trends reading educational books, articles, and blog posts andwriting articles such as the one youre currently reading. I love sharing the knowledge I learn.Build Your BrandOnce youve established who you are and what your message is, its time to start building yourpersonal brand.Get involved with social media by joining sites likeTwitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, andSnapchat. Join conversationson these platformsand get conversatio ns going.What are you an expert in? If youre a product manager building websites and apps, for example, then you should follow various groups related to the subject on Twitter and LinkedIn.Start sharing your expertise by writing posts on LinkedIn or blog sites likeMedium, and share those posts with your followers on Twitter and Facebook. The more knowledge-based value you bring to the table, the more people will take notice of and follow you. Push out your content on a schedule that works for you, whether that be on a daily basis or on a weekly basis. Just make koranvers it is consistent.Engage With the CommunityNow that you have developed your personal brand and have gathered afollowing, be sure to follow people back. Read their blogs, articles, and posts, and be sure to share your insights on their content. Share other peoples contentviayour social media channels. This will further add to your value by showing people you are engaged in the space you are passionate about.With Twitt er, its a good idea to set up an automated direct message (via Crowdfire or the like) that is sent to people who follow you. The message should thank them and point them to your website/blog, as well as let them know you will follow them back.At the end of the day, building a strong personal brand meansbeing a brand ambassador for yourself and sharing the knowledge you have learned alongyour career journey. Producing and sharing content is a great way to do just that.John Indiveri is a senior corporate recruiter with 10 years of experience in the talent acquisition industry.

How to know you need a mental health day (and how to spend it)

How to know you need a mental health day (and how to spend it)How to know you need a mental health day (and how to spend it)If youre a full-time employee with benefits, then you most likely have the ability to take sick days - you know, for your physical health. No one on your team bats an eye when you email to tell them youve come down with a nasty stomach bug or a head-pounding cold, but what about when it comes to yourmental health? You may not have considered taking a sick day for your mental health, but we highly recommend it.You dont need to suffer from a psychological condition to take a mental health day. Sometimes you just need one for your sanity. If youre finding yourself perpetually distracted, facing a creative block or just feeling burnt out, a day just foryoucould be exactly what the doctor ordered.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraHere are some signs that you coul d use a mental health day1. Youre dreading going into workUnless this sort of thing is happening on the regular (in which case you should considerlooking for a new job), having the occasional I-really-cant-do-this-work-thing day is normal. Whatever the reason is that youre not thrilled about showing up to the office, asinglemental health day could be what you need to recharge your batteries and get back on track.2. Your mindset is stunting your productivitySome days, you wake up and you justknowthat you dont have it in you to get your work done. Taking a day for yourself could amp back up your mental capacity and productivity.3. You have a (rare) awful nights sleep and you just cant focusSleep issoimportant - we cant stress that enough. While regular sleep deprivation is a bigger issue, the rare night when you get no shuteye can make you feel like you have nothing to give the world. You have two options in this situation tobe the heroand show up to work even though you know you won t function well, or call a spade a spade and take the day to catch up. We suggest the latter, considering that even one night ofsleep deprivationcan significantlydecreaseyour cognitive function.4. You legitimately need a day to get your shit togetherWhether you just suffered a fairly traumatic experience (like a messy breakup or the death of a pet) or youre just behind on your taxes, taking a day to get your shit together is absolutely valid. Life is messy, and sometimes your personal life requires the same attention as your office life. Take a day, and give yourself a break.How To Make The Most Of Your DayThere really is no perfect way to spend your mental health day, since your circumstances are unique to you. That said, be intuitive and spend your day doing things that will ease your stress and make you happy.Some pointers? Make sure your day is productive - we know, watching Netflix in your pitch-black bedroom surrounded by blankets sounds amazing, but your brain benefits from stimulation. Take a walk around your neighborhood, clean your place or, if you need to get your shit together, spend the day doing just that.And as we said, dont forget to do something that calms your nerves and brings you a sense of joy. Read for an hour, take a long bath or blast your favorite playlist.Regardless of why youre taking a mental health day, make the most of it so that youre back on your feet when its over. If one day simply isnt enough, consider a longer vacation. And, if that wont do the trick, it might be time to jump ship from your company or talk to your anfhrer about your situation.The bottom line take care of yourself. Your health - physical and mental - is a priority. Plus, your mind deserves a break from time to time.This article first appeared on Swirled.

The Tried and True Method for Resume Work in Step by Step Detail

The Tried and True Method for Resume Work in Step by Step Detail Each resume format can be helpful, based on your individual circumstances. Reason being that you are able to use one particular template and save many versions of a resume suitable thats suitable to different consultancy firms. The multi-professional template can be used n amount of times and simply has to be edited before generating the last print. The work application work history template is merely another format of the aforementioned template, but with a twist. The very first key is to realize how resumes are organized. You are going to learn how to best format your resume and the strategic advice that you will need to stand out as a terrific candidate at every stage of your career. 1 template is sufficient to print CV documents for all your interviews with numerous businesses. Having options confuses us, especially when it has to do with resumes. Resume Work - What Is It? Usually, you only ought to demo nstrate the most recent 10 to 15 decades of your career history and just incorporate the experience pertinent to the positions to which youre applying. You manage the problems that hurdle your way quickly after a number of months on the street. There is surely a time and a location for a resume overhaul. You may want to skip the chronological format if youve worked in relatively similar positions for your whole career or held the exact same job for quite a long duration of time. The Key to Successful Resume Work Finally, keep in mind that you always have the option to consist of extra qualifications in your cover letter that wasnt covered in your resume. There are several rich on-line resources stuffed with higher high quality templates made by professionals who understand how to create a resume, or cover letter etc in the ideal format to seize whole attention. It is simple to read, and theyre able to get the key phrases and qualifications EASILY when theyre reading hundreds of applications. Use the cover letter to spell out why youve got zero employment history. When excess jobs or focus isnt an issue, you might decide on an alternate presentation for a collection of short-term jobs. The issue is, no hiring manager likes to observe a lengthy collection of short-term jobs. Look over the information and determine whether its related to the work opening and whether the hiring manager is going to be impressed with that. For instance, youre searching for executive secretary job openings. A Startling Fact about Resume Work Uncovered Next work out how much experience youve had across the many positions within the exact same industry. If youre contemplating a big career change, you might need to return to school for mora extensive training. Your work history shows potential employers what type of employee youre going to be. When it is obvious, a hiring manager is able to quickly identify your qualifications and link them to the position you are apply ing for. Be sure to eliminate the brackets as youre replacing text. Click the next link to find out more about using career notes on your professional resume. Following that, acknowledge youve held several jobs in a quick period and deal with each with a line of explanation. You wouldnt, as an example, want to CAPITALIZE, ITALICIZE, AND UNDERLINE parts of text. Employers and recruiters are going to be able to rapidly understand your career progression. They know they can find your name at the top of the page, so you dont need to make it so obvious for them. Resumes are morphing into a mixture of digital identity and the standard overview of work experience and abilities. Vital Pieces of Resume Work If dont have any former work experiences, you will have to compose a persuasive cover letter. You do not have to go into great detail what you did. Many people think that they must incorporate all their work history onto their resume, regardless of what their work history in cludes. If youve got an exact sparse work history, you might want to concentrate on the next section instead. The role and importance of your employment history section will be contingent on the sort of the resume you decide to write. The work experience part of your resumethe part in which you describe your previous jobsis the most important part of your whole job application. When reading the work description included in the ad, search for keywords associated with your responsibilities. So once you write you will offer a reference you seem to not understand the way the game is played. One very significant part the work experience section is finding the ideal way to list your contributions to the business. There are lots of free and low-cost training opportunities readily available online and in person. Again, though the info might appear repetitive, go right ahead and attach the resume. The info in your resume should paint an image of the sort of employee you are and sh ow employers what youre capable of accomplishing. Things You Should Know About Resume Work Additionally, your cover letter is the ideal place to elaborate on how your experience fits. Your work history section isnt where to list the explanations for why you didnt work from 2001-2007. You ought to have some simple info and a couple dates. Tip If youre opting for a career change, your work history section is not as important. In any event, the aim is to continue to keep your resume lean yet meaningful. The range of duties will be contingent on the quantity of space youve got. The important thing is to emphasize your accomplishments and supply evidence of your possible price. Your resume needs to make them obvious. Resume Work for Dummies When you make an application for work in person, you could possibly be requested to complete a paper application. At times you may leave your present job by choice and at times you dont have an option but in the current fast-paced economy it is better to be ready for a work search at any moment. If you get a legitimate reason behind the short-term jobs, make sure the reason is clear. Repeat the very first step for each extra job youve held. Sooner or later youll have to own up. Even in case you have a whole lot of internship experience, it probably doesnt all must be on your resume. Consider your own work experience, and where you are able to quantify it. Its tricky to consider mundane day-to-day experiences as skill building, but theyre. What to Expect From Resume Work? Resume plays an important function in determining your future prospects with a consulting company. Employers will expect to get resumes from several applicants for whom the 10 to 15 year guideline doesnt apply. When you have Customer Support as your job title, you are more inclined to find customer support positions.

How to Keep Candidates Engaged After Extending a Job Offer

How to Keep Candidates Engaged After Extending a Job OfferThe current length of the hiring process is frustrating for employers and hiring professionals alike. Due to low unemployment and scarce talent pools, its taking longer to fill vacancies. In fact, a 2018 survey by CareerBuilder revealed 23 percent of employers have seen their time-to-hire increase by three or more weeks.When you finally find the perfect candidate, it takes a huge weight off your shoulders. Theres just one problem extending an offer doesnt mean the hiring process is over. The CareerBuilder survey showed that 51 percent of job seekers continue to look for a job after theyve received an offer.Its time to focus on an aspect of the candidate experience that is often ignored what happens after the job offer. By finding ways to continue to nurture your relationship with candidates, you increase your odds of their acceptance.Here are three ways to keep candidates engaged after offering them a jobCreate a post-offer pa ckageOnce a job offer is extended, its appropriate to give the candidate room to think. Slamming their inbox with have you decided? emails scares talent off. But theres still an opportunity to offer valuable information about your company.Even the fruchtwein effective hiring process cant delve into all the details of an organization and its team. And given the high-stress environment of job interviews and other screening steps, many candidates cant fully digest all the details. This is where a post-offer package comes into play.A few days after extending the offer, send the candidate resources like company culture videos or introductory video messages from leaders. The candidate can peruse the information whenever its convenient for them. Encourage them to reach out if new questions pop up. If you cant provide answers, pass along the contact information of someone who can. As a more complete picture of the organization forms in their mind, it increases the odds theyll make a hard st op on their job search, accepting your offer.Remind candidates about important aspects of your company by sending them a post-offer package. talentacquisitionClick To TweetIntroduce current employeesJob seekers are always looking for networking opportunities. While you wait for a candidate to decide, offer to arrange meetings with current employees. For candidates, this creates a gelegenheit to grow their professional network, no matter their final decision. For your team, it increases the odds the candidate will say yes. Meeting with current employees during the hiring process creates opportunities for relationships to form. Candidates can imagine what it would be like to interact with these team members and how their happiness will be impacted in the workplace daily. However, these meetings need to be casual and not forced. After extending an offer, make a short list of employees who have shared interests with the candidate. Focus on educational background, hobbies, job history, a nd personality. Ideally, both the employee and the candidate will enjoy the meeting and easily discuss both professional and personal topics.Approach employees on the list to see who has time to have a short meeting with the candidate. Once you have a volunteer, have the employee be the one to invite the candidate to meet. While you can ask the employee for feedback after the meeting, make it clear they are not spying on the candidate. This will ensure the atmosphere of the conversation is relaxed and natural.Provide constructive feedbackFor candidates, the hiring process is their chance to gauge how theyd be treated as an employee. In fact, the previously mentioned CareerBuilder report revealed 68 percent of job seekers believe candidate experience is a big indicator of the employee experience. Any way you show candidates they will be valued has a positive impact on their employment decision.Career development is one factor that is very important to candidates. They want to know th e organization will support their continued learning. By providing constructive feedback during the hiring process, candidates see you care about their development, even if they dont end up with your company.Identify ways to give feedback after every step of the hiring process. For example, after the video interview, send an email that outlines what stood out about the candidate. Be specific. Show how their responses indicate theyll be successful in the role. Also, include suggestions on how candidates can better present themselves in the future. If there is a particularly impressive resume point they didnt talk about, explain why you wouldve liked to hear about it.68% of job seekers think their treatment in the hiring process reflects how theyd be treated as an employee (CareerBuilder).Click To TweetYour part in the hiring process isnt over just because youve made a job offer. Showing candidates you are still communicative and supportive through day one enriches the candidate exper ience.

How to Start a Doggy Day Care Business

How to Start a Doggy Day Care BusinessHow to Start a Doggy Day Care BusinessThe popularity of doggy daycare businesses has skyrocketed. By following a few simple steps, you can successfully start your own doggy daycare. Canine Experience If you are interested in opening a doggy daycare business, you should be knowledgeable in the areas of animal behavior, canine CPR, and canine first aid. Prior study in an animal-related field or experience as a veterinary technician, pet sitter, dog walker, or animal shelter volunteer is desirable. If you do not have prior experience, try to find an animal rescue group or vet clinic where you can volunteer. Business Considerations Before opening your doggy daycare, you must deal with various business and legal considerations. Consult your accountant regarding the advantages and disadvantages of forming your business as a sole proprietorship, limited liability company, or other entity. You also shouldbe in touch with your local government wit h regard to any permits or zoning considerations for your intended business location. If you are opening a small daycare operation, you may be the sole employee, but most doggy daycares have a few full- or part-time employees. Be sure to hire people with experience or certifications in animal careers. They also shouldbecome certified in pet CPR and first aidas a part of their training. Additional items to consider include obtaining an insurance policy, drafting release forms to prevent legal repercussions if dogs are injured while at daycare, and establishing a contingency plan with a nearby veterinarian for befhigung emergencies. Fantastic Facilities The trend in todays doggy day care industry is toward cage-free facilities, where dogs are kept in groups for the majority of the day. Most daycaresseparate the dogs by size during play time. It also iscommon for puppies to be separated from adult dogs. Kennel areas should be available for feeding the dogs separately, or for a sche duled break time from the pack environment. The facility should offer play areas, rest areas, outdoor areas, and kennels for potential overnight boarding. Splash pools are becoming a common feature. Water needs to be freely available to the dogs so that they can stay hydrated while they play. Air conditioning is an expected feature. Many facilities are now wired for live streaming webcams so that owners can log in and check on their dogs throughout the day. This is a highly sought after feature and should be heavily promoted in your advertising materials if you are able to offer it. Above all, provide a clean and safe environment for the dogs and for the peopletaking care of them. Cost Effective Advertisement Create a personalized web page or take advantage of advertising opportunities with local newspapers, magazines, and websites. You also can apply large logo magnets to the sides of your vehicle, and leave flyers and business cards at pet supply shops, veterinary clinics, sup ermarkets, and geschftszimmer complexes. Advertising in large office complexes is a particularly good idea, as many potentially interested office workers- people who by nature are gone from their pets all day long- may see your information. Define Your Services A doggy daycare business generally opens for drop-off service at about 7 a.m. and remains open until about 7 p.m. for pickups, Monday through Friday. Some offer weekend daycare service as well, though weekend hours usually begin mid-morning and require a pickup in the late afternoon. A few daycares even offer a shuttle that will pick up or drop off a pet for an additional fee. Some doggy daycares offer overnight or weekend boarding services, or at least have an emergency option for boarding if an owner is unable to pick up a dog as scheduled. Some daycare facilities also offer bathing, grooming, or obedience training services, in addition to pet supplies or pet food for sale. Most daycares require your dogs to be fully up to date on vaccinations such as rabies, distemper, parvo, and bordetella. A copy of current vaccination records is kept in a dogs file. Also, most daycares do not accept adult dogs that have not been spayed or neutered. Price Your Services The best way to figure out a pricing structure is to call around town and see what the competition is charging for similar services. Generally, doggy daycares charge between $18 and $32 per dog, per day. The cost varies widely based on where in the country a daycare is located and the specific services offered. You also mayconsider offering different rates for daily and monthly membership plans. For families that board multiple dogs, consider offering a discounted rate for each additional pet. Full- and half-day pricing also shouldbe an option. Consider Interviews for New Clients When accepting a new dog to the group, it is advisable to make sure the dog is socialized and can interact positively with other dogs. Many facilities conduct an interview with pet and owner. During this time, the pet owner should complete a contact sheet that includes an address, phone number, email address, and emergency contact numbers. The sheet also shouldinclude dog breed, color, date of birth, health history (allergies, previous injuries), veterinarians name, and clinic contact information.

How traveling helps entrepreneurs get good ideas

How traveling helps entrepreneurs get good ideasHow traveling helps entrepreneurs get good ideasEntrepreneurs often cite travel as a key ingredient for success in an increasingly globalized tech world. And its true- all businesspeople can benefit from getting outside of their comfort zones.When I was a kid, my family lived in three different countries- Ghana, Gambia, and Botswana. I returned to Ghana for college before moving to the U.S. Growing up abroad forced me to frequently make new friends, adapt to unexpected power outages, and navigate unfamiliar cultures.While moving around a lot came with many challenges, there were even bigger benefits, both for my personal development and, later, for the development of my software company. Specifically, my early experiences prepared me to handle the constantly shifting tech world.You dont have to move to new countries to establish adaptability. Its more about going out of yur way to meet new people and welcome foreign experiences.Heres wh y all tech entrepreneurs can benefit from experiencing some momentary discomfort in order to open up their mindsWhen unforeseen business challenges arise, I roll with the punches.Company leaders face unexpected challenges nearly every day. Sometimes you lose a major customer you were counting on to meet your goals. If you dont have a Plan B or Plan C, youll be completely caught off guard, so its important that youre flexible and remain calm under pressure.In some countries Ive lived in, for example, you couldnt take for granted the fact that there would always be power or water. Often there was power rationing, or youd randomly lose water for several days. Youd just deal with it.Weathering the obstacles of daily living in various countries continues to aid me in running a successful tech company.A few years ago, for example, our software platform went down due to some issues with our hosting provider. Without warning, we suddenly had thousands of unhappy customers. Our customers did nt know the backstory with our hosting provider they just knew they couldnt access our service. Keeping my cool in this situation was crucial to making sure we didnt lose too many customers from this glitch.Growing up in unpredictable cultures better prepared me for this situation, and for the many ones like it that inevitably come with being a tech entrepreneur. In fact there is a military acronym (VUCA Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) that describes this sort of environment. In the business environment we live in today, leaders need to learn to operate in a world that is constantly in flux.Forging new friendships as a kid has helped me build relationships with a global team.Several times during my formative years, I was plucked from my life as I knew it and dropped into an entirely foreign environment. The first few days were always horrible because I didnt know anybody and felt completely isolated.But the initial difficulties were well worth it. I was forced to ad apt, make new friends, learn new social rules and- ultimately- come to welcome the novel.Later on, I applied the receptivity I cultivated growing up to building my companys team. When you look beyond your immediate surroundings, you might realize your perfect programmer lives in Alaska. Maybe 20 years ago, this wouldnt have been possible, but now with tools like Slack and Skype, you dont have to always be in the same place as your team. You can always organize retreats where you all get to know each other on a more personal level.When you try to source talent outside of your comfort zone, youll find skilled employees you never expected.Regardless of where you are, its important to remember that everyone is different. Remaining open and receptive to different types of people is key to building a stellar team.Travel inspires me to think outside of the box.Although Im no longer moving around, I totenstill travel often. When I do, I like to experience new cultures the way local people d o. If I go to Mexico, for example, I skip the sanitized tourist version. Rather than visit a chain restaurant or a beach filled with Californians on Spring Break, I go out of my way to experience the local food and the local culture.When you immerse yourself in different cultural experiences, opportunities for personal development abound. But travel can also help you grow as a business-person.For example, Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz got the idea for Red Bull when he traveled to Thailand and tried a similar local drink. He modified the ingredients slightly to suit Western tastes, and founded Red Bull in partnership with the Thai company, Krating Daeng. If Mateschitz had never gone to Thailand, the worlds leading energy drink would not exist. Because he opened himself up to different cultures, he reaped major rewards. Red Bull has the highest market share of any energy drink, and sells roughly 6 billion cans a year.But you dont necessarily have to leave your continent to think outside the box. Even in your own city, you can see things in a new light simply by shaking up your routine. You can take a different street home from work, or try a new restaurant or cuisine. In doing so, youll probably learn something about yourself or other people you didnt know before.I was lucky in that my childhood experiences encouraged me to become open-minded from an early age. But even if youve lived in the same place your whole life, its possible- and important- to court the novel whenever possible. If you want to succeed as a business leader, its crucial to cultivate a broad outlook.Peter Swaniker is theFounder and CEO at XimbleThis article was originally published on Quora.com.

A life lesson learned the hard way and what it taught me

A life lesson learned the hard way and what it taught meA life lesson learned the hard way and what it taught meThere I was, sliding down the side of Mount St. Helens in a t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops. One of my friends had already slipped past me in the snow. I tackled my second friend to stop him and tell him something very important.We were lost.Extreme situations like this generally dont happen by accident. Decisions are made beforehand that determine a specific outcome. We call those decisions preparation - or a lack thereof.While we all managed to make it down the mountain alive that day, I learned some pretty harsh lessons about preparation along the way.Many people think theres no glory in preparationWe often dont prepare properly because no one gives us credit for it. Were only evaluated on the outcome.Sometimes, people dont even want to hear about yur preparation, because it takes away the allure of the flawless, charismatic performer. No one wants to know about the gru nt work that takes place behind the scenes.When my friends and I decided to climb Mount St. Helens, I didnt take the preparation seriously.Im a runner, and Ive always been fit in comparison to my friends and colleagues. So, while other people in my group prepared extensively for the experience, I decided to just show up.In a t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops.Right away, there were signs I had not prepared as well as I should have. I noticed that the other hikers looked like theyd been on a shopping spree at REI. They had all kinds of gear I didnt, including ice tools and crampons. We were making the trek in June, and the heat and humidity were pretty intense at the cousine of the mountain.It had never occurred to me that there would be ice at the top.But Id traveled 2,000 miles to climb this mountain. I wasnt going to leave without the glory of making it to the top in my limited gear. Ultimately, that need for glory was part of my downfall.Lack of preparation serves as an excuse for f ailingSome people will announce theyre just winging it when they begin a project or a task. They do that because it sets expectations very low. If they fail, well, they were just winging it. If they succeed, then theyve exceeded expectations.I did end up succeeding. Despite my only equipment being a soccer ball I brought along in my backpack, I did make it to the summit along with two of my friends.At one point, I was trudging through snow while wearing my day-at-the-beach outfit. But I persevered and made it to the top.Success, right?I used to have this mentality about preparation, but I view it a little differently today.Preparation pays off, especially as you take bigger risks.If I had done research before climbing the mountain, I would have found out theres a very specific technique for getting down.The other hikers at the summit had brought along rolled up tarps. They unrolled them, sat down, and used them as sleds to travel down the mountain.We didnt have any tarps.Which bring s me to why I was sliding down the mountain in shorts, worrying about frostbite on my rear end. At some point in that long, cold slide, I began to get the sense that we werent going in the right direction. I managed to stop one of my friends, even as the other went flying past.By then, the sun was going down - and we had nothing to make it through the night. I knew we had to get off the mountain as soon as possible and get help for our friend who had slid out of view.For the first time in my life, I felt truly frightened about the situation I was in. That terror only lasted for about half an hour - until we got our bearings - but it was intense.I had taken a big risk without preparing, and it backfired.Experts know the value of preparationSome people spend a lot of time showing you how much energy and work theyre putting into preparation.But experts and professionals tend to operate behind closed doors. They work backwards, clearly defining the outcome they want, and then figurin g out exactly how much preparation they need to achieve it.I didnt work backwards for my Mount St. Helens trip. I simply decided whatever Id already done would be enough. It wasnt.Thats why when we finally got down the mountain, I was bleeding from both my legs and one arm. I couldnt even feel it because I was so cold. Our third friend had been picked up by the Rangers after finding a different route - one that included nearly falling down a ravine.As you might imagine, something clicked for me after that experience. I gained a new level of appreciation for what goes on behind the scenes. Now, I havent stopped taking risky and memorable trips with my friends. In fact, the risk has increased year after year.I just prepare for them better.Praveen Tipirneni is president and CEO ofMorphic Therapeutic Inc.Thiscolumnfirst appeared atQuora.