Day in the Life of an Executive With CFO Responsibilities

Day in the Life of an Executive With CFO ResponsibilitiesDay in the Life of an Executive With CFO ResponsibilitiesWhat does a day in the life of a chief financial officer look like at a midsize company? We followed one who was placed two years ago by Robert Half Finance Accounting at a midsize distributor-manufacturer in Raleigh, N.C. We got the inside scoop on this top executives CFO responsibilities and how he keeps the financial wheels turning.Early rise and shine Before the CFO responsibilities kick in, morning starts early, sometime between 5 and 530 a.m., depending on whether hes able to squeeze in a workout. Then comes a quick shave, shower and breakfast.By the time Im dressed, Ive already checked and replied to a handful of emailles, the financial executive says. Before I go into the office, I like to clean up my email as well as I can. If youre actively managing emails or calls throughout the day, its easy to get caught up in that and notlage get all that you wanted to get done.830 a.m. Less-than-a-mile commute Before relocating to North Carolina in 2014, he had an hour-and-a-half commute by bus to New York City. The hustle and bustle of the city meant being at the bus stop by 7 a.m. It was crowded, loud and bumpy, but he did it for more than four years.Now his commute is less than a mile, which helps with work-life balance. I still wake up around the saatkorn time, but its much more relaxing now.The CFO parks in his companys attached parking garage and takes the elevator up three floors.I can always count on the controller or CEO coming to see me in the first half hour Im in the office - sometimes in the first 10 minutes, he said. They see it all, and it helps me to do my job, so touching base first thing is good for all of us.Projects leading up to lunchtimeBecause the company is owned by a private equity firm, he spends a dedicated amount of time each week preparing financials for a meeting every Friday. Hes also in charge of the month-end close, so depending on which calendar day it is, hes busy preparing monthly financials and doing bank reconciliations.The executive is also responsible for audits, finance contracts and running point on all activity involving human resources and information technology.But he does take time for lunch, choosing from a handful of lunch spots within a two-mile radius of his office. On fruchtwein days, you can find one or multiple team members at the same restaurant, sometimes together for geschftlicher umgang meetings and sometimes separate.Afternoon Key initiatives Back in the office, new cubicles line the walls in preparation for anticipated new hires and growth. Last year, the company reached $58 million in revenue, and this year it is projected to earn $70 million.I remember when I first started, we were working out of a table at Panera Bread, and it was just us (he and the CEO), he said. We just hired a quality manager, so there are now 13 of us. Weve come a long way.Another major focus for the business is building its own packaging facility - the first in the companys history. Right now, the officers rely on outsourced production centers, which is a costly model that can often lead to delayed shipments or a compromise in process and procedure. Just last month, they had a machine breakdown at one of the centers they use, and last year they had another center lose its organic classification, which meant the loss and rerouting of their products.This is the business we bought, and our job is to transform it into a better model, the CFO said. So a big focus of mine is our new location. On my desk right now is a financing contract thats been red-lined by our lawyers. My job is to go back through and respond to the advice were being given.After 5 The last one to leave Though the New York City skyline is in the rearview of this financial executives career, he still likes the late nights at his North Carolina office. The work carries him into the early evening.Managing ca sh thats whats keeping the wheels going here, he said. Theres a lot on the borrowing and spending and managing receipts and disbursements. Its a balancing act with our cash flow.He catches up on the emails and voicemails he tries not to get tied up in during the day. Then its a two-minute drive up the road and around the corner to his home.He usually gets home around 7 p.m. - in time for dinner with his wife. After that, you can find him watching the latest Netflix series he just finished his favorite show, Mad Men. He plays some golf, although by his own admission not very well. And on the weekends he and his wife enjoy going out and exploring their new hometown.This CFO has done a lot since he earned his bachelors degree in 1986, followed by his masters of business administration. His CFO career path includes more than 20 years as a controller, finance manager and financial planning/reporting manager. The experience that fills his toolbox ranges from general accounting and cost accounting to budgeting and planning, management reporting, and IT application management.Whats one thing he misses about his big city job in New York? Well, its not much, but there is one thing Giants season tickets and tailgating before the games.And his role as chief financial officer? What does he like most about hisaccounting career choiceandhis life as a CFO?I like the diversity of the functions and tasks and the responsibilities, he says. You get to get your hands in a lot of different things, from the tax perspective to financial analysis, ledger review and analysis - a lot of different aspects. Subscribe to our newsletterWhen you subscribe to the Robert Half newsletter, youll get articles and resources to help you build a successful career in accounting and finance - all sent directly to your inbox. Click the button below to sign up todaySUBSCRIBE NOW

1A2X1 - Aircraft Loadmaster - Air Force Enlisted Job

1A2X1 - Aircraft Loadmaster - Air Force Enlisted Job1A2X1 - Aircraft Loadmaster - Air Force Enlisted JobThe Air Force Job Specialty - Load Master - accomplishes loading and off loading aircraft functions and performs pre-flight and post-flight preparations of aircraft and aircraft systems. This job specialty computes weight and balance and other mission specific qualification duties. The Air Force Load Master provides for safety and comfort of passengers and troops, and security of cargo, mail, and baggage during flight and conducts cargo and personnel airdrops.Duties and Responsibilities of the Air Force Load Master The Job Specialty 1A2X1 reviews aircraft weight and balance records and cargo manifest. They also determine quantity of cargo and passengers or troops to be loaded and proper placement in aircraft and computes load, cargo distribution, weight and balance, and determines the amount of weight to be placed in each compartment or at each station. The Load Master considers fa ctors such as fuel load, aircraft structural limits, and emergency equipment required. Here is a list of more of the duties and responsibilities Accomplishes initial pre-flight of aircraft according to flight manualsPre-flights specific aircraft systems such as restraint rail and airdrop equipment.Operates radios, pre-flights aerospace ground equipment, and applies external power to the aircraft.Performs in-flight and special mission specific duties as required.Supervises aircraft loading and off loading.Uses equipment such as 25K, 40K, and 60K loaders forklifts and winches.Ensures cargo and passengers are loaded according to load distribution plan. Directs application of restraint devices such as restraint rails, straps, chains, and nets to prevent shifting during flight.Checks cargo, passengers, and troops against manifests. Comfort, Meals, and Emergencies The Load Master also is involved in general care of the crew and passengers from nutrition to general comfort and emergenc y procedures on long flights / missions. Many of the duties are the following Ensures availability of fleet service equipment such as blankets and pillows.Signs for and stows in-flight meals.Briefs passengers and troops on use of seat belts, facilities, and border clearance requirements. Dispenses meals and refreshments.Demonstrates use of emergency equipment such as oxygen masks and life vests, and ensures access to escape hatches.Monitors cargo and passengers in-flight and assists passengers as required.Conducts cargo and personnel airdrops according to directives.Attaches extraction parachutes to cargo and platforms. Inspects cargo and platforms, extraction systems and connects static lines.Checks tie downs, parachutes, containers, suspension systems, and extraction systems to ensure proper cargo extraction or release.Operates aircraft personnel airdrop system and supervises paratroopers exiting the aircraft. See related article. Specialty Qualifications of the Load Master Knowle dge. General and Specific Knowledge is mandatory of the types, capacities, and configuration of transport aircraft, arithmetic, emergency equipment and in-flight emergency procedures, personal equipment and oxygen use, communications, and current flying directives. Also the Load Master is responsible for interpreting diagrams, loading charts, and technical publications, border agency clearance dispensing and preserving food aboard aircraft, and cargo restraint techniques. Education. For entry into this specialty, completion of high school with courses in mathematics or general science is desirable. Training. Completion of the Aircraft Loadmaster course is mandatory for award of AFSC 1A231. Experience. The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated (Note See Explanation of Air Force Specialty Codes). 1A251. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 1A231. Also, knowledge of types, capacities, and configuration of transport aircraft weight and balance factors, ari thmetic cargo restraint techniques emergency equipment and in-flight emergency procedures using personal equipment and oxygen, communications current flying directives interpreting diagrams, loading charts, and applicable technical publications border agency clearance requirements and forms principles of dispensing and preserving food aboard aircraft einzelschritt of cargo loading equipment and cargo and personnel airdrop techniques and equipment. 1A271. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 1A251. Also, experience in types, capacities, and configuration of transport aircraft airdrop techniques weight and balance factors arithmetic emergency equipment and in-flight emergency procedures personal equipment and oxygen use communications current flying directives interpreting diagrams, loading charts, and applicable technical publications border agency clearance requirements and forms principles of dispensing and preserving food aboard aircraft and cargo restraint techniques. 1A291. Q ualification in and possession of AFSC 1A271. Also, experience in directing functions such as loading military cargo aircraft and establishing procedures for maintaining related records. Strength Req K Physical Profile 111121 K (Vision uncorrected 20/400-20/400 correctable to 20/20-20/20) Citizenship Yes Required Aptitude Score G-55 (Changes to G-57 after 1 Jul 04). Technical Training Enlisted Aircrew Undergraduate Course, Lackland AFB, TX, 2 weeks, 3 daysCombat Survival Training Course, Fairchild AFB, WA, 17 daysWater Survival-Parachuting Course, Pensacola NAS, FL, 4 dayBasic Loadmaster Course (see note 1), Altus AFB, OK, 5 weeksBasic Loadmaster Course (see note 1), Little Rock AFB, AR, 5 weeks Note 1 Will attend one course, not both. Note This career field requires initial training at the Enlisted Aircrew Undergraduate Course. Detailed Career and Training Information for This Job Additional Training Career Field Information. Assignment Possibilities Charleston AFB, SC - C17Davi s Mothan AFB, AZ - HC130PDover AFB, DE - C5Dyess AFB, TX - C130Eglin AFB, FL - MC130PEmendorf AFB, AK - AC130Hurlburt AFB, FL - AC130Kadena AB, OK - MC130PLittle Rock AFB, AR - C130McCord AFB, WA - C17Mildenhall RAF, England - MC130PMoody AFB, GE - HC130PPope AFB, NC - C130Ramstein AB, GE - C130Travis AFB, CA - C5Yokota AB, Japan - C-130

Tips for Writing Handwritten Cover Letters

Tips for Writing Handwritten Cover LettersTips for Writing Handwritten Cover LettersYou might think that handwritten cover letters are a thing of the past, but thats not always the case. 99% of the time employers want typed letters, but every once in a while they ask for a written letter. These examples of real-life job postings ask for exactly that For immediate consideration, please fax a handwritten cover letter and resume.Submit resume and handwritten cover letter.Please submit a resume with a handwritten cover letter. As our required documentation is very detailed, your handwriting is very important to us.Please email or fax a handwritten cover letter and typed resume with Attn Hiring Manager. You might be asked to submit one because the job involves writing and your handwriting needs to be legible. Its also a way to check out your spelling and grammar. Tips for Writing Handwritten Cover Letters As you can see from the last example if an employer is asking for something hand written its important that your penmanship is perfect. Handwriting can seem like a schwefelyperit art in a time when almost everything is done on a computer, so take the time to get it right. What You Need You can write the cover letter on computer paper, that way it will match your resume and will be easy to scan if thats how you are going to send it. You could also opt for a higher quality stock paper to make a really good impression. Use black or blue ink and a quality pen. You may need access to a scanner and a fax machine. Practice Your Penmanship If your handwriting isnt neat, practice writing by copying another document. Remember what you learned in elementary school, and practice a few times until your writing is clear and legible. Printing your letter is fine, especially if your cursive isnt very readable. Compose Your Letter Keep your letter short and focused on why you are the best candidate for the job. Relate your experience to the employers requirements. Th e first paragraph of your letter should explain why you are writing, the second explains why you are qualified for the job, and the third thanks to the employer for considering you for the job. To be sure its perfect, compose your letter on your computer, spell check, and grammar check it, then print it and copy it. Format the Letter Be sure to format your cover letter as you would a typed letter including your contact information and the contact information for the employer. Write a Rough Draft Write a rough draft of your letter so you can see how the spacing, paragraphs, and format look on the page. Proofread Your Letter The employer is evaluating mora than your penmanship. They are going to be reading your letter for content and style, as well. Reread your letter one more time to make sure it flows before you write the final version. Write the Final Version Write the final version of your cover letter using a good quality pen. Leave room for your signature. Sig n the Letter Sign your letter with your full name (first name, last name) and make sure your signature is legible, not a scribble. Even if you print your letter, your signature should be written in cursive. Scan the Letter With a handwritten letter, you are going to need to scan it to apply online or via email. If you have an iPadyou may be able to usean app to scan your document.If you dont have a scanner or an iPad, check with office supply and shipping stores like FedEx Office Stores, UPS Stores, Staples, etc. You should be able to scan it for a nominal fee. You can save the scanned document as a portable document format file on a flash drive or email it to yourself. Mail, Fax, Email or Upload with Your Resume to Apply Employer requirements vary, so follow the instructions in the job posting to apply. Know how to correctly mail a resume and cover letter. If youre emailing your application, make sure to attach your applications materials to an email message. If you dont h ave a fax machine, you can use an internet fax service to send.

Video Advanced Manufacturing The Impact of 3D Printing in Engineering

Video Advanced Manufacturing The Impact of 3D Printing in Engineering Video Advanced Manufacturing The Impact of 3D Printing in Engineering Video Advanced Manufacturing The Impact of 3D Printing in Engineering CurriculumExploring the role Additive Manufacturing plays in the 21st century, and its relevance to early career engineers and engineering students as they look forward to entering the workforce Jay Beversdorf, Application Engineer, Stratasys, Inc. moderates a five-part discussion with a panel of experts.The panelist have in-depth knowledge and experience in the manufacturing industry Dr. Farzad Rayegani, Ph.D., P. Eng., FEC., Associate Dean, Professor Director, Centre of Advanced Manufacturing and Design Technologies James Janeteas, President CEO, Cimetrix Solutions, Inc. Timothy Simpson, Professor, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Penn State University and William Predebon, Mechanical Engineering Department Chair, and Engineering Mechanics Professor at Michigan Tech.Pa rt 4 Manufacturing experts discuss how the learning experience for students will be enhanced through the hands on implementation of additive manufacturing during the introductory stages of their education. The copyright of this program is owned by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Shocking Info About Resume Objective Statements Exposed

Shocking Info About Resume Objective Statements Exposed Another similar profession to think about is truck driver. To be prosperous in the profession, its a must that youre able to communicate effectively with clients and clients, and more to the point, hold the ability of persuasion. Remember the people that you will be competing with for the jobs you desire. Though a basic serving job is fairly simple to find, servers who need to work in nicer restaurants will need in order to demonstrate their abilities and experience. The Debate Over Resume Objective Statements In specific events, youll do the job for a bigger firm, particularly in the start of your career journey. Beyond that timeframe, you dont will need to include details unless the positions relate to your existing career. Therefore, if youre actively searching for employment, its probably worth signing up for the completely free month. You do not need to incorporate every job that youve held, especially when you have many years of expertise or have worked in unrelated fields. Following are a few important tips to create your career objective better and more technical. Resume is a sort of document employed by individuals that are seeking for employment. The 5-Minute Rule for Resume Objective Statements Based on your degree of experience and the jobs youre applying for, what you decide to concentrate on in your resume summary can fluctuate. Below youll find the most frequent skills necessary to fulfill an office manager position. The piece you truly need the hiring manager reading is your latest work experience (and be sure you tailored that info to fit the work description). Its goal is NOT to secure you a job. All you should know to earn a stunning resume job description. Even in the event youve never held an official job, its still true that you have life experience thats applicable to the work search. Various jobs require various skills. Your latest job needs to be written firs t and the jobs youve done beforegreifhand follows. Learning how to do a resume when dont have any work experience is a lot easier if you are able to demonstrate some seasonal or short-term work experience. The very best job target, clearly, is the well-defined one. In any event, you will need to appraise your experience during the internship. For those who have previously had significant expertise in the specialty of sales and wish to venture to a greater level in the profession, you should step up your game. A functional resume is a superb tool but you have to get a good comprehension of its purpose for you and your advertising strategy. Functional format should only be used whenever youre changing the fields, and youre quite certain about the skills-oriented format will display your skills to your benefit. Each resume format can be helpful, based on your individual circumstances. An objective in a resume is the sole various section a recruiter finds as a surprise and do esnt know before hand what to anticipate. Try to remember that your resume is the very first step to a possible job so its important in order for it to be perfect in every manner. An objective statement lets your possible employer know what what youre searching for in work, as well as what you may give the organization. Being a recently graduated student, you want to compose an impressive objective statement to grab the eye of the recruiters and receive the job prospect. However tempting it may be to stretch the truth, lying on your resume is always a poor idea. Finding out how to compose a resume properly to earn a strong first impression is whats going to provide you the opportunity to earn a second impression during an interview. In this way, its tailored to the job that youre applying for. Your work history shows potential employers what type of employee you are going to be. In case you have any part-time work, that will go a ways towards a wonderful experience section. One very significant part the work experience section is finding the best method to list your contributions to the corporation. There are lots of ways its possible to present the info about each job. If thats the case, platzset the experience section above education in the lineup, as you may want to emphasize and elaborate on such a job. Ideas, Formulas and Shortcuts for Resume Objective Statements Target your statements directly for the position you want and the requirements of the firm. You shouldnt be casual whilst writing the objective as the remainder of the resume, whether good or bad is completely chose the opening statement of your resume and this is your objective. Instead you may use the statements targeting the work position. Every job must add to the rise and profit of an organization. Knowing the simple fact there are a whole lot of resources and references that can be gathered from the web, an applicant can now easily search for assorted sample materials that are effective and can bring positive impacts to his application. For drafting an impressive application, its important that you know the things that ought to be included in your CV. Unclear information be certain that the information that you provide is very clear and accurate. When youve reviewed resumes in your field, peruse resumes across fields to learn how to vary using action verbs and receive a feel for what makes a highly effective accomplishment statement.

The Most Forgotten Fact Regarding Keys to Resume Writing Uncovered

The Most Forgotten Fact Regarding Keys to Resume Writing Uncovered Life, Death and Keys to Resume Writing Even if you choose to modify your work objective later, it is extremely imperative that you choose a temporary objective for the time being. Frequently, a quick scan of the resume is the sole preliminary consideration that you will get. Federal jobs often need you to have experience in a particular kind of work for some period of time. Are you bored of your present job or being unemployed. Keys to Resume Writing - What Is It? Focus on these sections to understand whether you meet the requirements for the position. When there are several proofreading programs and tools it is possible to use, its also useful to ask trusted friends or colleagues to assess your resume. Its possible for you to seek the advice of CV Writing services to create the effective resume. Professional Resume writing services will allow you to find the ideal format and the method. Keys to Resume Wr iting Secrets Keywords from your industry and the work description itself are important to getting your resume to the perfect individual. Language skills are sometimes a good selling point on your resume. If youre asking for a job which has unique requirements, you might need another edition of your resume to totally demonstrate your qualifications. You are also able to get a feeling of the internal language used within a specific industry or company. Choosing Good Keys to Resume Writing You should clearly state what kind of a job that you want, and know what sorts of skills and experiences are necessary to succeed in that job. You need to understand what skills to include. In the event the skills arent fit for the applying job, then it might influence your position. Make sure that you add in the industry particular skills you have. Whats Actually Happening with Keys to Resume Writing Maybe you have a couple ideas about how to streamline your operation or an excellent id ea for a social networking campaign. If your work involves social media, you can incorporate the links to other social networking accounts including Twitter, Instagram, and so on. You might want to review the content on your resume to make certain it is optimized for the varieties of jobs that you are searching for currently. Sometimes just a little help is all you want to find the perfect resume for you. Keys to Resume Writing - What Is It? Dont put each and everything It isnt necessary to incorporate all of your work experience and techniques. Show up to work punctually and while youre on the job, work diligently to find each task completed punctually. Which format you select will depend, in part, on the kind of work youve performed and whether you will continue in the very same field. Its also important to think about the sort of work you really are interested in being hired to do.

The one habit that can transform your world forever

The one habit that can transform your world foreverThe one habit that can transform your world foreverWhat is the one habit that can transform your world forever?The habit of tracking.No, I dont mean stripping down to a loincloth and sniffing animal tracks.I mean tracking and monitoring yourself.Peter F. Drucker the famous business consultant and entrepreneur has a famous saying thatWhat gets measured gets managed.And to put it bluntly, 99% of the population goes through life without ever measuring their performance or happiness.Let me give you an example to illustrate how valuable this habit can be.One of my employees has a girlfriend who used to suffer from depression and anxiety.She would go through dark depressive geschehens seemingly out of nowhere.Being an analytical thinker, the employee in question purchased a small notebook and started keeping it in his back pocket.Anytime his girlfriend had a depressive episode or anxiety attack, he made a note of the circumstances surround ing it.After about 3 weeks, he noticed 3 trends.The episodes happened after consuming processed or fried foods, particularly dairy, red meat, and gluten.The episodes happened after nights of sleep deprivationThe episodes happened after long work shifts with negative co workers.After he noticed these patterns, he decided to help his girlfriend make a change.They began eating an 80% vegetarian diet with little to no processed foodsThey invested in an incredible mattress and high quality sleep gearHis girlfriend quit her job and took a short sabbatical before finding more meaningful work.The result?Her depression and anxiety have completely gone.He told me that, even when she gets upset, her response is simply, I ate something that put me in a bad mood, just give me 15 minutes to do some yoga and get over it.Thats a HUGE change.And it happened because he purchased a $0.96 notebook and paid attention to patterns.How can you apply this to your own life?Here are a few ideas to get you sta rted.1. Track your productivity vs. various habitsOur success, whether we like it or not, will largely be determined by our ability to get massive amounts of work done in the fastest and most effective way possible.The only aufgabe is that most people are completely unaware of how their habits affect their productivity.For example, I found in my own life that when I sleep 89 hours a night Im about 30% more productive than I am on nights where I only sleep 67 hours.One of the best ways that you can improve your life is to track your productivity against different variables.For exampleSpend 2 weeks sleeping 8 hours a night and 2 weeks sleeping only 6 and compare your output for those weeks.Experiment with different morning routines to find the most effective way to prime your day.Try using the Pomodoro method (work 50 minutes take 15 minute breaks) for 2 weeks and compare your productivity to the previous weeksTry out different planning methods and see which one helps you be the most effective.The more you can isolate and compare the affect of different habits in your life, the better your life will be.If you are willing to track and refine your habits against your goals, I promise your success will skyrocket.2. Track your spendingThis is a hard one.Most people are broke.And they arent doing anything about it.The first of the month rolls around and they wonder to themselves, Where did all of my money go?Before you ever try to create a budget, you should track your spending so that you know exactly where your money is going and why.From here, you have the power to say Wow I spent $140 on lattes this month? Im going to invest in a milk frother and make them from home and put the $110 I save into my savings account.What gets measured gets managed.If you want to manage your finances, start by measuring them.3. Track your eating and exercise patterns vs. your health goalsHeres the thing about health and fitness Its incredibly personal.I know some people who (literall y) eat only meat and they feel AMAZING.I know other people who will have terrible stomach pains and indigestion from only a few bites of chicken.Health isnt a one size fits all game.You need to figure out what works for You and the only way to do that is, you guessed it, TRACKING.I recommend that you track 4 things.Your exercise/activity habitsYour dietYour subjective energy levels each dayYour weight/body fatIf you will track these things every day for 30 days and then run experiments to determine which foods make you feel great and which ones make you feel like crap, youll be able to intelligently alter your diet for optimal performance.The same thing applies to your workouts.Some people get energized by hard workouts and some people become so exhausted that they cant get anything done for a weekBy tracking your workouts vs. energy levels you can identify which activities help improve your energy and body composition and which ones exhaust you and lead to fatigue.4. Track your rel ationship satisfaction vs. your romantic habitsAnother way you can implement tracking into your life is to track your Romance Habits against your relationship satisfaction.I know this might sound excessive (and honestly, it is) but it works.If your relationship sucks, it can be hard to properly identify whats causing problems and leading to conflict.By tracking your romance habits (e.g. how many dates you went on, how much time you spend together and what you do, how often you say I love you or praise your partner, and how often you have sex) youll be able to identify the things you need to do to make your relationship work.I know this might seem overly analytical and sociopathic, but I promise it will work.5. Track your happiness vs. major variablesAt the end of the day, we all want to be happy.Its one of the major goals of the human existence.But the problem is that very few people KNOW what makes them happy.They think they know But they dont.Years ago, I thought more money, more sex, and more status were the keys to happiness.However Despite earning multiple six figures, dating and sleeping with dozens of beautiful women, and becoming well known in my industry, I was depressed and anxious all the time.I realized, with time, that what actually makes me happy is spending time with friends that I love, getting out into nature, having authentic connection with a woman I love, and doing work that matters.I didnt know what I didnt know and I was depressed because of it.In your own life, track the different variables you believe influence your happiness.Work your ass off for a month and make lots of money, see how happy you feel.Take it easy and spend lots of time in the woods for a month, see how happy you feel.Test, test, test, until you find YOUR happiness formula.And then go and live it everyday.I hope this provided some value to you today.Stay Grounded,AndrewThis post first appeared on Quora.

Tips to Shoot Video Like a Professional Videographer

Tips to Shoot Video Like a Professional VideographerTips to Shoot Video Like a Professional VideographerWhether you aspire to become a media videographer or just want to know how to shoot professional-looking videos, you need more than good equipment. Mastering several basic video tips will ease the frustration many videographersexperience. Before long, the voreingestellt tricks will become so routine that youll be able to concentrate on creativity and not just the basics. Shoot Steady Video A tripod is an easy answer to producing steady video, but avoid becoming dependent on it. You can shoot steady video without lugging around a lot of gear. Get your body in position so that every breath you take doesnt lead to unwanted camera motion. Use the ground, a wall, or another object to brace the camera and get interesting visual perspectives. By ditching the tripod, you can move around a scene without being anchored in one spot. Produce Creative Shots Producing interesting videos involves learning creative shooting techniques. You dont want your videos to look as though they came from a surveillance camera. A beginner tends to shoot everything from the corner of a room or away from the action. By putting yourself in the middle of whats happening, you will get images that arent possible from a distance. Experiment with different angles by shooting above and below your subjects. Practice Widescreen Videos Videos are trending toward widescreen formats, such as a 16x9 ratio. Think of how you can make this extra visual space work for you. You can capture much more content in a single shot, but remember that widescreen video doesnt mean shooting all wide shots. Television is still an intimate medium. Close-ups of faces will convey more emotion than a group shot of a crowd. Avoid Unnecessary Zooms and Pans Picking up a camcorder for the first time has just about everyone wanting to hit the zoom button on every shot while panning across the horizon. The resu lt can leave viewers seasick. If youre recording an action scene, let the motion thats happening naturally dominate your video. Stop yourself from adding random zooms and pans, which distract from the action. Make sure theres a reason you are zooming or panning. At a sports event, professional videographers follow the action by following the ball. Thats the motivation behind tilting the camera up when a baseball player hits a fly ball or panning during a double play. Get Good Results When Shooting Outdoors Youd think outdoor videography would be simple because the sun provides the lighting, but to get the best outdoor results, you have to watch the position of the sun closely. Shoot with the sun at your back. If youre recording people, they may complain about looking directly into the sunlight, but tell them that the shots youll get will be much better than if you were shooting into the sun. That would put their faces in silhouette. Prepare for Indoor Video Shooting Ignoring lighting when shooting indoors can make your videos look dark. Thats why indoor video shoots require additional preparation. Adding lights is ideal. If thats not possible, check out the available lighting sources. If youre shooting video of people, get as much light in their faces. But dont be fooled by overhead lights. While they may be bright, they only light the tops of peoples heads, leaving their facial features shadowy. Position Lights for the Look You Want Using television lights will give your videos a crisper look. But good lighting involves more than blasting your subject with as much wattage as you can find. Knowing where to position lights makes all the difference in getting a natural effect versus making people look as though theyre about to undergo surgery. Besides a standard 3-light setup- one directly on the subject, plus a backlight and a fill light- experiment to get dramatic effects. Turn out all the lights in a room and use only your equipment to highlight w hat you want. Compose Creative Interviews At some point, youll want to shoot video of a person talking into the camera. It could be a sit-down news bewerbungsgesprch or just a conversation with a person on the street. Plan the interview shoot to deliver professional results. Consider the background. If youre talking to someone about traffic in their neighborhood, show cars in the distance. If youre interviewing a father about the day his child was born, put him in a cozy setting, like near a fireplace. Then decide how tight you want to shoot the interview. There is the standard head-and-shoulders look, but you may want to interview a farmer on his tractor with much of the tractor in the shot. A highly emotional interview should be shot tight so that you can see into the persons eyes. Remember to Capture Good Sound While capturing compelling video, dont forget that good audio is a must. Otherwise, your video may turn out useless. The two most common mistakes are to forget to record audio and to fail to monitor the sound youre getting. Forgetting to record audio means a childs birthday party is silent. You may be able to see the other children singing and laughing, but without hearing it, the video is ruined. Monitoring the sound helps you avoid recording unwanted audio. That can happen when you interview someone and dont notice that you are standing near a loud air conditioner. When you watch the video later, all you hear is the hum of the A/C unit, which drowns out what the person was saying. Add a Green Screen to Produce Special Effects Using a chromakey green screen gives you a world of options. These are the same tools TV stations use to present the weather. A meteorologist stands in front of a green screen, which allows the weather maps to be superimposed behind him. You can shoot a person remembering her high school graduation while video of the graduation plays behind her. Its an easy way to combine two video sources into one shot.

How to Make Your New Co-workers Like You - The Muse

How to Make Your New Co-workers Like You - The MuseHow to Make Your New Co-workers Like You Starting a new job can feel a lot like your first day of high school. Sure, you have those mora adult concerns of wanting to prove your worth and demonstrate that youll be able to excel in that new position. But, more often than not, your biggest worry is this Will everybody like you? Will you make fast friends in the office, or will you be tempted to eat your lunch alone while locked in a bathroom stall?Fortunately, theres something you can do to make the right impression and quickly secure your spot as the most beloved co-worker on your team- and, it all starts with asking one (or all) of these four questions during your first week on the job. 1. Can You Tell Me a Little Bit About Your Role?In order to successfully communicate and collaborate with other employees at your company, you need to have a solid grasp on what exactly it is that they do. While job titles can give you a surface-level glimpse into the different tasks theyre responsible for, those really only tell you so much. For that reason, its always helpful to explicitly ask your colleagues what sorts of things they do on a daily basis.The benefits of this question are two-fold. First, youll get a much more comprehensive understanding of specific peoples job duties- which will be a benefit as you continue to get your feet under you at that company. Youll know who to approach with certain questions or requests, rather than wandering aimlessly. Secondly, this sort of question demonstrates your genuine interest in your colleagues. It shows that you dont want to work in a vacuum and operate with general assumptions about what other people are doing for eight hours a day- you really want to know them, so that you can work together that much more effectively. 2. Mind If I Sit Here?There are plenty of workplaces out there that are warm and welcoming- meaning youll likely end up with seemingly endless lunch invitatio ns during your first week. But, if that doesnt happen? Theres no need to wait for everybody else to extend an invite. Instead, take a deep breath, put yourself out there, and ask to sit with a group of your new co-workers during lunch.Being the one to take the first step makes you appear that much more friendly and approachable- not to mention confident. Once you find a place to sit, follow that up with some questions about what your colleagues like to do when theyre not at the office. Its a great opportunity to discover any common interests, while also reaffirming the fact that you want to get to know them as people- and not just team members. 3. How Can My Position Best Help You?This question is a big one. And, its almost guaranteed to inspire ridiculous, cartoon heart-eyes in all of your new colleagues.You understand the core duties of your new position- the job description was able to fill you in on that much. But, now its smart to go a step beyond that and find out how your rol e can bring the most value to the other people on your team.From your co-workers to your boss, finding out how you can be an asset to them and make their lives just a little bit easier- right from the get-go- is a surefire way to prove that you want to work in the interest of the team, and not just yourself.Of course, you dont want to extend too far outside of whats expected of your position. However, if there are simple things you can be doing to better work with your team members, knowing those within your first week is helpful. 4. Can I Help You With Anything?Your first week at a new job can feel a little strange. Most of the time, its filled with plenty of paperwork, the occasional meeting, and failed attempts at finding your way from the bathroom to your desk- without leaving a helpful trail of paperclips.But, since youre really only getting up to speed, theres typically some downtime. You dont have a ton of real work on your plate during that week- and, as an added bonus, almo st nobody knows your email address yet.This makes it the perfect time to ask your colleagues if theres anything that you can help them with. Not only is it a great way to make a positive impression on your team members, but its also an excellent strategy to gain some hands-on experience- and a better understanding of how everything works in the process.The first week in a new role is usually enough to bring you back to all of those first-day-of-school insecurities- particularly when youre concerned about whether or not your colleagues will like you.Fortunately, you can take matters into your own hands. Ask these four questions when youre just getting started in your new position, and your co-workers wont just like you- theyll respect and admire you too.