Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Geoffrey Moore Models of Disruptive Innovation

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Geoffrey Moore Models of Disruptive Innovation In Geoffrey Moore’s words, disruptive innovation occurs when something that was previously scarce and expensive becomes cheap and can be implemented on a wider scale. Current examples of disruptive innovations in various stages of widespread adoption are cloud computing (simultaneous delivery and automation of any service), smartphone (communication with anyone, anywhere), social networks (collaboration at any scale), data science (optimization of any digital system), and the Internet of Things (optimization of any physical system). Moore commented that disruptive technologies leverage basic human drives. For example, people like to help each other for free, so Air BNB started as a volunteer army. It owns no property and employs no property managers. It’s a natural community that digital gave power and a voice. Moore observed that citizen development was not yet on the list of major disruptive innovations and considered what factors would make it “go big.” He shared that social groups engage with disruptive innovations in different ways and self-segregate into five general groups that comprise the bell-curve, technology adoption lifecycle. 5 Groups of Technology Adopters Innovators These are the technology enthusiasts who love new stuff. They want to try everything first and they’re the only ones who will actually read the documentation. The trouble? They don’t have any money. Doc from Back to the Future is a classic example. Early Adopters/Visionaries These individuals recognize that an innovation could change everything. They understand the technology and support their innovative friends that make it happen. They bet big and early. Apple’s founding duo â€" Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak â€" are examples of a visionary and his innovator buddy. Early Majority/Pragmatists Pragmatists have a list of problems to solve and they don’t know whether to believe the visionaries. They want to know if their peers are “doing it yet.” This group moves as a herd, so even if a technology isn’t perfect, the market will now grow enough to improve upon it. Suddenly, we move from nobody’s doing it, nobody’s doing it, nobody’s doing it, to EVERYONE’S doing it! Late Majority/Conservatives Conservatives are nervous. They ask their trusted advisors: “Tell me the truth, is it really safe?” They feel that they don’t get as much value from technology as other people and will only proceed when the market is well-established. Laggards/Skeptics This group will never be fully convinced that disruptive technologies are the way to go, even once they’re mainstream. The Journey of Disruptive Innovation In Moore’s experience, visionaries and the early market get a lot of publicity, but that publicity doesn’t necessarily help with adoption. Usually, there is a bit of a lull, which Moore called a chasm, as the early adopters struggle to gain a competitive advantage but early majority buyers insist on waiting. As pragmatists acknowledge that an innovation can solve a business pain, a niche market emerges. Use cases pop up and word of mouth begins to spread. This is what Moore identified as the bowling pin phenomenon: one pin knocks over the rest and the market grows rapidly. In some cases, it may even result in a tornado, when everyone suddenly proclaims: “Hang on, why aren’t we doing this everywhere?” Smartphone adoption is a good example of this trajectory. Originally, smartphones were for venture capitalists and drug dealers, but once the tornado hit, people were waiting outside Apple stores by the thousands. The market exploded and the demand for the technology vastly exceeded the supply. Today, the smartphone industry has moved into the age of the customer. Supply now exceeds demand and vendors have to up their service game. For the rest of this post live from the QuickBase #EMPOWER conference, head over to the Fast Track blog.

Writing a Successful Resume For Andrew Bennett

Writing a Successful Resume For Andrew BennettThe first step in Andrew Bennett resume writing is to write your objective. You should write down exactly what you hope to achieve from your job search and outline your career goals. You should be absolutely honest when writing your objective.When your objective is completed, you will then want to turn to your resume and begin working on your cover letter. A resume covers many areas of your skills and experience. The first part of the document should include your education and any educational training that you have had. Next you should provide some examples of the work that you have done.Your information will consist of only the information that you feel is relevant to your current position. As you are completing your work sample section, you should only add information that is directly related to your current position. Be sure to use this space to provide accurate information about your skills and abilities.After you have completed this section, you should then get to the job experience section. You should include every job that you have held in the past. This will allow for you to have something to list at the end of your resume.Then you will need to get to the letter. Begin with a sample that is appropriate for your occupation. Add your full name and indicate how many people can see the letter and how many they can read. Add your date of birth and city.Finally, get to the bottom of the letter. Tell the hiring company, what your objectives are for the position. This is where you will give a little background on yourself.Your final paragraph should take care of the closing. If you have a college degree, tell the company. If you have four letters of recommendation, tell the hiring manager and if you have a work history for the past three years, tell them.Don't worry about grammar as long as your resume is well written. An effective professional resume can help you land that dream job.

From Boxes to Bricks, Women Can Break Into Male Dominated Careers

From Boxes to Bricks, Women Can Break Into Male Dominated Careers Recently, I had the good fortune of winning DHL’s Safe Driving Rodeo competition â€" a contest that assessed the driving performance of 640 of the company’s couriers from all across the country.   Being part of this six-month long evaluation re-affirmed for me just how much I love my job â€" one that I have done for more than 25 years but it also reminded me that I chose one of the male-dominated careers that tend to see many more men join than women. That led me to ask myself some basic, but important, questions: how exactly can women break into new industries where they have traditionally been in the minority? How can they get excited about jobs that are often seen as men’s work? And, whether she wants to be a sports journalist, construction worker, logistics specialist, or a courier, how can we encourage a young woman today to try something different? What Does Different Mean To You? Of course, the answers won’t be the same for every kind of job.   In my case, I love to drive; I like to accomplish something concrete every day; and I like to interact with customers.   Being a courier made sense, and I had the confidence to try it, along with support from family and friends.   I learned to make connections with my colleagues, to stand up for myself, and to let everyone understand why I love the logistics business. So, while I have not worked outside the field of logistics in over 20 years, I can provide some suggestions for women thinking about a career in industries that are predominantly male like the STEM industries. The following are four tips for moving into a career in a male-dominated field: Build a Support Network: When entering a new field, it is important to have the support of family and friends, and to get their encouragement. Also, remember that you are not alone. There are other women who have walked in your shoes before. Try to seek out a woman mentor at your company or within your industry to support and guide you. Be Confident: Yes, it can be intimating entering a male-dominated industry, but if you appear confident, colleagues will likely have more respect for you right of the bat than if you seem timid and insecure. Your knowledge speaks for itself. Stay Motivated: Motivation is key in every job, but when breaking into an underrepresented industry, it is especially important to stay inspired on rough days, which we all have. I find motivation in my customers, many of which have been on my route for decades and I have seen their children grow and go off to college. Look for Companies that Prioritize Employees: Find a company that provides you with the necessary tools and resources to succeed, and be available to answer any questions. Women and men should feel a sense of unity and feel valued within the company.   Most of us want to find the right job where we can feel good about what we do every day.  Many positions once considered just for men can deliver that job satisfaction for women as well. For most of us, feeling accomplished means delivering results.   The great thing about being a courier is that when you say you are delivering for your customers, you really are delivering (and picking up)! This guest post was authored by  Jana Heideman, DHL Express U.S. Courier

How the Swedish Way of Working Can Help Britains Productivity Crisis

How the Swedish Way of Working Can Help Britains Productivity Crisis The UK is working hard, but not smart. Despite working longer hours than ever before, Britain is in the midst of a productivity crisis. And, with the growth of the 24-hour economy and ever-increased demand from consumers, it is a crisis that shows little sign of ending any time soon. With Brexit on the horizon, it’s vital that the UK continues to find ways to compete on the global stage. And a huge part of this will be cultivating a more dynamic labor force. Of course, there’s no silver bullet for solving the productivity crisis, and I can’t pretend that we have all the answers. But I can share some answers from Quinyx’s home country of Sweden, where as a nation we are known for achieving high productivity levels. A happy workforce fit for the UK’s future At Quinyx we know that happiness is the key to unlocking productivity. Employees who enjoy their jobs are more motivated to perform to the best of their abilities, enabling them to deliver better results at a quicker rate. And in Sweden,we believe everyone has the right to enjoy their job, regardless of age, industry or location. So, if workplace happiness is the missing piece in fixing the productivity puzzle, how can UK business leaders go about boosting morale? Optimization, not maximization Swedish business leaders know that optimizing their workforce has more value than maximizing it. There’s a common expression in Sweden â€" lagom â€" which means ‘just the right amount’, and it’s often used in the context of productivity and business culture. Swedish workers are encouraged to focus on exactly what is needed and doing it well, rather than taking on extra unnecessary work. Leaving the office on time is ingrained into business culture, and working overtime is often seen as an indication of poor planning and time management. By getting the best, rather than the most, out of your workforce, it’s likely you’ll have more engaged employees who are more invested in their work, ultimately delivering better results at a quicker rate. A short break goes a long way Swedes have learned over the years that employees are much happier and more productive in the long run if they’re given some time during the day to switch off and reset. That’s why the ‘fika’ break is institutional within Swedish business practices. Fika takes place once or twice a day in Sweden â€" it’s a time where employees can drink coffee, have a snack and chat with colleagues, away from their desk. They then return to work revitalized for the rest of the day. It might seem small, but introducing short breaks throughout the day allows workers to dedicate their attention more effectively. After all, working at 90% capacity for 75% of the day is much more impactful than working at 60% all day. Flexibility is the answer In Sweden, it’s believed that work should never come before home-life priorities, which is why the country ranks best in the world forwork-life balance. Flexibility is the norm within Swedish businesses, not the exception. Although flexibility in the UK has increased in recent years â€" research conducted by Quinyx last year found an increase of 1.3 million flexible workers since 2011 â€" there’s more to be done. The same research found 73% of British workers still face issues when it comes to flexibility in their current work schedules, despite one fifth believing they would be more productive if given more flexible working opportunities. Offering flexibility to employees at work doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right tools and technologies in place, flexible working can be easy. By cutting down admin and allowing business leaders and employees to collaborate on a schedule that works for everyone, solutions like smart workforce technology can save time, reduce costs and increase happiness â€" and, ultimately, unlock productivity. About the author:Quinyxwas founded in 2005 byCEO Erik Fjellborgafter a summer spent working at McDonald’s. After witnessing how difficult it can be for managers to sort shifts manually, Erik built one of the world’s firstfully web-based Workforce Management solutions to do the heavy lifting.McDonald’s loved Erik’s solution and became Quinyx’s first customer.

Help Writing My Resume

Help Writing My ResumeIf you are about to apply for a job that requires you to write your resume then you may need help writing your resume. Resumes are a great way to create a good impression when applying for a new job. In addition, they can be used as an aid in getting the right job so long as you can write it properly.The first thing you need to do when writing your resume is to create a strong cover letter. You do not want this to sound like a sales pitch. Instead, your resume should state why you are the best candidate for the job and what qualifications you have. This makes you stand out from the others applying for the same position.After you have written your cover letter, begin to develop your resume. Keep your resume to one page or less depending on the size of the company and position you are applying for. Create one column on the first page of your resume and the next page will begin in the same manner. Make sure you don't get into too much detail here as to make your re sume look too general. Too much information can make your resume seem like a sales pitch.Now that you have your resume in place, you need help writing your resume. First of all, consider taking a course in how to write a resume. This will allow you to learn how to write a resume that is designed for the job you are applying for. This can be an invaluable skill in the future.It is also a good idea to research the company you are applying for before writing your resume. Read up on the company on the internet and look for reviews from other applicants. Most companies will give you a list of employment numbers and contact information if you inquire. These numbers will be a great way to let your employer know what you can offer them. Start your resume off by giving the company or person you are writing to some history of previous work experience. This can be something as simple as a year of employment as a waiter. If you have more than one year of experience, this will be able to come ac ross better on your resume. However, if you don't have any prior employment experience, it will look like you are new to the job market.On the other hand, if you have no past employment, this can be considered more of a blank slate. You can always work towards building up your resume. Keep a daily journal with you to record all of the jobs you have had in the past. This can go a long way in making your resume stand out from the others applying for the same position.You will also want to think about your education when creating your resume. If you have taken courses while in college or university, include this on your resume.

Surprises You Wish Youd Known Before Starting Your Medical Career (Plus One You Will Wish No One Had Mentioned) - CareerMetis.com

Surprises You Wish You’d Known Before Starting Your Medical Career (Plus One You Will Wish No One Had Mentioned) Gibbering messes, emotional strangers, extra training, and bodily fluids all await you in your future medical career. To help you prepare yourself for the shocks that await you, read on.Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.com1. People will cry on you Yup, working in the medical field means people will cry on you. Strangers will cry on you, colleges will cry on you too, and it’s not just doctors that are exposed to this treat on a daily basis. Folks cry at nurses, admin staff, hospital porters, and even janitors too if they are the only ones around.Why? Well, it’s because being ill is a very vulnerable state for most people. They don’t feel their physical or mental best. They are in pain and are undergoing scary treatments, often with no guarantees about the outcome.evalAll this fear and emotion has to come out somewhere, and more often than not it will be you that gets catharted on. So keep some tissues close to hand.2. You will cryWorking in medicine isn’t all mopping fever brows you k now. Sometimes it can get pretty stressful. Especially if you are fighting with all your might to help someone and your attempts don’t quite reach the mark.For some, this will mean that a patient goes home worse off than when they arrived. For others, it means the patient doesn’t get to go home. This is the brutal truth of the medical professional, people die sometimes. No matter what you have done in your own small way to help them.Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.comThis is sad and stressful, and it will cause you to cry. Even if you have been voted person in your class most likely to be emotionally dead inside.For you, this experience may be good, or bad or a mixture of both, but just be ready to have it, As the odds are it will rear its head at some point or another.3. You need to keep up with your certificationsSomething that can be surprising to a lot of medical professionals is that once they have ploughed all of that money, and work into getting qualified, they have to do additi onal training every so often to remain so.However, completing courses like the ACLS certification is actually a positive thing. As they keep your knowledge fresh and current, allowing you to provide the best care for your patients. Something that in the ever-developing field of medicine can only be a good thing.4. Unhygienic working environments Well, I told you that you wouldn’t want this one mentioning! Careers in the medical arena are often held in high esteem by society in general.There are two reasons for this. The first is that they are essential to the success of Society. The second is that the people that work in them have to do all sorts of icky things including dealing with other people’s poop,mucus,blood,etc.Yes, such things may be surprising, but unfortunately, it just comes with the territory. So best steel yourself now, before you start your medical career for this surprise, or should I say shock, in particular.

Break free from your template

Break free from your template 5 Flares 5 Flares Today I have some incredibly exciting news for you guys on this lovely Tuesday morning.  Im pleased to announce that I was selected to write for Untemplater.com as their Career/Productivity author.  When I was approached by Jun Loayza and Carlos Miceli about joining the all-star team at Untemplater,  my first questions were surely similar to what you are asking in your head now What the hell is Untemplater? Untemplater asks the question, Are you happy and doing what you want with your life?  The quick answer is, yes, of course I am, but sit back for a second and think harder.  Is this the life you want, or are you just following the template? Im not suggesting that everyone immediately leaves their 9-5, their 40-60 hour work weeks, or their smelly co-workers, but I do believe in continuous evaluation of happiness, and so should you.  We all have dream jobs, crazy aspirations that maybe we dont even share with our best friends, and places wed love to live.  Sure, we can spend our careers pleasing our bosses and climbing the corporate later rung by rung.    Then one day,  we will hopefully retire wealthy enough to spend time with family, travel to exotic places, and live a life of leisure. Untemplater asks, Why wait for that life?  The life you want and deserve is yours to take, and Untemplater is your guide. What does this mean for Corn On The Job? Joining Untemplater will only make COTJ a better place to hang out.  The experiences and lessons learned will follow me back to COTJ, which will then become your knowledge.  This opportunity also brings added exposure to COTJ, expanding the community WE have built together. *COTJ and its focus will remain the same, and Ill continue writing the content you crave and expect. Where should you start at Untemplater? Here are a few spots to check out when you visit Untemplater: Meet the Authors Seriously, check out the awesome cast of characters (Im towards the bottom) Untemplater Business This is the section where my sub-category, Career/Productivity will run Subscribe Even if the untemplater life isnt for you, come support me!  I wont let you down lastly Check out The Untemplater Manifesto The Untemplater Manifesto is an inspiring must read that showcases the untemplate path that six Gen Y leaders chose for themselves.  Make sure to check it out when you have 5-10 minutes!

Tips to Being More Creative at Work - Hallie Crawford

Tips to Being More Creative at Work recently wrote an article for US News about being more creative at work. The key point? Keep your creative juices flowing by regularly taking time to brainstorm new ideas. Many of us can feel like creativity is something we either have or dont have. Its an elusive talent that, if were not blessed with it, we cant have it. In some cases, of course, some people will be naturally better at being creative than others. But whether you feel that you are creative or not also depends on how you define it. Creativity is just connecting things, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs once said in an interview. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didnt really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. Thats because they were able to connect experiences theyve had and synthesize new things. This means that even less creative types can apply that principle to their work every day. What if we were able to create the conditions for greater creativity, not just in our workplace, but in our professional lives and our daily routines? While its true that some people naturally have more creative tendencies than others, there are things that we can all do to be more creative at work. Read Hallies  4 simple ways to be more creative at work by clicking here.