Alexandra Levits Water Cooler Wisdom Is Deep Learning the Future of AI

Alexandra Levit's Water Cooler Wisdom Is Deep Learning the Future of AI Artificial intelligence has been in the news a lot lately, specifically related to machines’ ability to deep learn, or more closely mimic the actions of a human brain. In the near future, will a computer’s algorithms be able to do the project manager’s job as well as you can? It started in 2011. Stanford professor Andrew Ng holed up at the Google X Lab at the company’s Silicon Valley headquarters and initiated a project dubbed “Google Brain.” Google Brain encompassed a connected network of 16,000 computers programmed to mimic aspects of human brain activity by looking for recurring patterns on the Internet. In a period of three days, the Brain had successfully trained itself to recognize acatbased on 10 million digital images taken fromYouTubevideos. Google Brain was an example of an artificial neural network, designed after the densely interconnected neurons of the human brain. Possessing about a million simulated neurons and a billion simulated connections, Google Brain was ten times larger than any deep neural network before it, and in the last few years, Ng has made networks that are ten times larger than the original Brain. The Google Brain and its subsequent neural networks represent what many consider to be the new frontier of artificial intelligence â€" deep learning. Deep learning trains computers to recognize patterns in data and then classify and categorize them as a human brain could do instantaneously. At present, deep learning in the form of image and speech recognition is used in applications such as Facebook’s tagging feature and the iPhone’s Siri. AI experts are already working on computational linguistics applications that will allow machines to easily decipher the variety of human languages â€" both spoken and written. Machines may elbow their way in… The maturation of deep learning along with machines’ ability to perform more complex algorithms will be a powerful combination. Within the next five years, we could see computers undertaking the following project management functions: Defining the scope of a project Aligning with other business areas Analyzing risks Developing project schedules, timelines, and budgets Assigning tasks to the appropriate resources Implementing software and other technical components Documenting project progress Assessing project outcomes For more about AI and deep learning, review the rest of the post at QuickBases Fast Track blog.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Get New Workers to Love Your Company

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Get New Workers to Love Your Company You know those cool perks you offer employees like free food? Well, guess what? Your new employees are not impressed. A new survey from BambooHR of 1,000employees who quit a jobafter six months finds that less than 1% of them say such perks would keep them from leaving. What new workers want the most and will keep them with an employer longer is on-the job-training and mentorship, the research shows. More than three-fourths (76%) of new workers agree that if theyre to get up to speed quickly and start contributing, they need on-the job training. No. 2 on their list is a buddy or mentor requested by 37% of new workers, followed by 28% who say an employee handbook is helpful. The survey also finds that 43% say that time and money are wasted on ineffective onboarding processes (most thought at least $10,000 a year is wasted), while 15% of respondents say that poor onboarding is enough to make them consider leaving a job. This research emphasizes the notion that companies cannot (read more here)

Need A Willpower Refill Check Out These Tips!

Need A Willpower Refill Check Out These Tips! Actually, if youre thinking you are running low on willpower, you may want to think again.  Because willpower isnt something you run out of or even low on.  When we use the excuse Im out of willpower, its exactly that an excuse. Just an excuse for giving in to whatever it is were being tempted to do or not do. Last night, I happened on an annual running event.  The Baker to Las Vegas    run.  In case you have no idea of what that is, heres the basics:  Its a 120 mile relay run crossing the desert from Baker, California to Las Vegas, Nevada.  It has a total vertical climb of nearly 7000  ft and has a maximum elevation  over 5,500 ft.  They run non-stop, right through the night. Thats willpower.  And those runners dont have any more of it than you do. Feeling Bummed Out? I know.  That just puts a huge onus on you and me for our choices.  No more mysteriously empty reservoir of willpower juice.  But Ros Taylor documents it very well in her new book Willpower: Discover It, Use It, And Get What You Want. Its a great read, especially if that naggy inner voice is telling you that you dont have the willpower to start or finish it. So hate me if you will, but now that you know the truth, you get to hold no one other than yourself accountable. Ms. Taylor breaks down willpower to these basics: Resisting temptation Establishing a habit Hard work to achieve desired outcomes A desire to change Self-control over what you say and do Thinking through alternative ways of behaving And not worrying about what others think or do Then, she proceeds to show a clear path to make willpower a tool you can use as often as you want or need to.  With no worry about running out.  So if youre really serious about losing the excuse of being out of willpower, check out her book. Purposeful Committed Action = Willpower Ive always had a gripe with the self-help and self-improvement gurus. They all package and re-package the same concepts. In reality, theres just one common element that provides the fuel for their advice. Taking action.  Committed, purposeful action. Think about that.  Purposeful committed action. Willpower.  It seems to me theres a lot of similarity in those two concepts. And isnt it empowering to know that taking purposeful committed action exercising willpower -is a key to most or all of our dreams and goals? Youre Fully Charged So your willpower is full.  Like your phone when it says 100% battery.  Except that your willpower isnt going to discharge, ever.  While you may not be successful in everything you attempt to do, youll always have the power to commit 100% to creating the results you want. As the Ms Career Girl motto says, Love your career, live your life.  No more excuses.

What are the True Benefits of a Shorter Work Week

What are the True Benefits of a Shorter Work Week This past summer, Google’s two founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, conducted a joint interview with Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures. In the interview, Page, Google’s CEO, covered a number of interesting topics, including his belief that society no longer needs full-time employees. He pointed out that the key elements people need to truly be happy â€" housing, security, opportunities for their children â€" are not that hard to provide, and the amount of resources that need to go into providing these is relatively small. Therefore, the idea that one needs to work frantically is unfounded. Page went on to suggest the solution of a reduced work week, possibly splitting one full-time job into multiple part-time jobs. He cited the fact that while most people like working, they would also like more spare time to spend with their families or to pursue other interests. Splitting full-time jobs into part-time jobs would not only provide more people with jobs, but provide them with more spare time as well. Who else has proposed a shorter work week? Google certainly isn’t the first to propose the idea of a shortened work week. The Swedish city of Gothenburg recently proposed a six-hour workday in the hopes that workers will feel better mentally and physically. The intended result would be fewer sick days and an increased workplace efficiency, thus creating more jobs. Similarly, Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim proposed a three-day work week, where working three 11-hour days followed by four days off would become the norm. This idea was corroborated by Richard Branson, who wrote in a blog post that people should be encouraged to work “when, where and how they like, in order to get the best results possible.” What are the benefits? The benefits of a shortened work week are fairly obvious. Who wouldn’t like more spare time, more vacation, more sleep? A well-rested workforce would ultimately lead to better productivity and increased creativity. Also, reducing the number of workdays would allow employees to cut their commuting expenses, spending less on gas and reducing traffic congestion and pollution. So where’s the downside? What are the downsides? Surprisingly, I’ve read very little on the obvious downside â€" with less hours comes less money. In an article on Mashable by Seth Fiegerman outlining the details of the Google interview, the most recent comment below the article is telling: “Left a long-term job when hours dropped below sustainable family budget. Now, as a two income household, we again face a step down with my wife’s change in jobs. Someone please show me where this ‘works’ for anyone but employers.” While we would all enjoy more time to ourselves, what employer plans on reducing employee hours without reducing pay? While Google’s CEO suggests splitting one full-time job into multiple part-time jobs, how many workers will find a part-time income sufficient? More than likely, it would send most employees scrambling to obtain a second job in order to replace the lost income. Whats the other solution? The other proposed solution to a shorter work week is longer workdays. In Carlos Slim’s proposal of a work week consisting of three 11-hour workdays, one must take into account how this would affect workers in various industries. While some who work office jobs may be able to handle a prolonged workday, what about those who work manual labor jobs such as construction, where an 11-hour workday may not be feasible? Regardless of the industry, few could maintain the same level of concentration and productivity in their work throughout an 11-hour workday as in a standard eight-hour day. While longer workdays may add up to a similar number of weekly hours, employers would most likely see a decline in productivity due to only half as many overnight breaks as in a typical five-day work week. Nearly every worker feels fatigue setting in at the end of a long day, and going home and resting allows one to return the next day feeling rejuvenated. While the allure of a four-day weekend may be strong, maintaining a five-day work week consisting of shorter days with more opportunities for rest in between will surely yield greater productivity. Conclusion: After weighing all the pros and cons, many workers will realize there are an equal number of downsides as upsides to a shortened work week. An 11-hour workday leaves little time for family or personal interests in the evenings. Essentially, all personal time would be forced into the four-day weekend, as the three-day work week would be solely dedicated to work. And don’t overlook the fact that in Carlos Slim’s proposed work week, despite the fact that employees would be working long days, they’d still only be working 33 hours a week, which would mean a lower salary for those who are paid hourly, or whose employers simply decide to pay less for less work. So could a shortened work week actually work in the U.S.? Potentially, yes. As evidence, most European countries enjoy significantly shorter hours than U.S. workers, and many still boast strong economies. However, a shortened work week would require adjustments on the part of both employees and employers. Employees would need to adjust to either lower salaries or longer workdays in a shorter week. Employers would then need to determine how to complete a week’s worth of business in a matter of days, which may prove especially challenging if other companies with whom they do business are still working a five-day work week. So are YOU ready for a shortened work week?

5 Skills You Need for A Career in Nonprofits - CareerMetis.com

5 Skills You Need for A Career in Nonprofits Are you looking for a career with a purpose?Well, have you considered the nonprofit sector?evalIf not, you should because there are many opportunities to find a meaningful career across a wide array of fields within the nonprofit sector.Nonprofit work provides purpose and meaning because the organizations tackle important issues and needs, such as hunger, access to healthcare, education, civil rights, animal welfare, environmental concerns, and democratic ideals to name a few.Historically, people often found themselves working for nonprofits somewhat by accident, it was not a conscious choice, but that has changed.In fact, over the course of the past 10 years, the number of employees has steadily risenâ€"currently, about 14.4 million people are employed by a registered 501These essential skills allow nonprofit managers and executive directors to maneuver through the challenges that arise.Those interested in mid-level positions should have experience in donor cultivation and retention , fund development, campaign management and strategic planning.However, given the fact nonprofits often have limited staffing, many paid employees must be able and willing to wear many different hats and regardless of the position, nonprofit hiring managers are looking for these five essential skills:1) CommunicationevalRegardless of the position, communication skills are essential. Communication not only occurs between colleagues but also between current and potential donors, as well as with external organizations such as foundations, governmental agencies, corporations, etc.evalPoorly-written communications will not only leave a nonprofit organization looking bad, but it may cost them much needed funding. For example, a poorly written grant will likely be rejected.In addition to being able to communicate professionally, there is another important aspect of communication that is essential for nonprofit organizationsâ€"storytelling. Successful nonprofit organizations rely on staff t o tell a story.It might be the story of a little girl who got a cleft pallet surgery or about the dog that had been dropped off at a high kills shelter’s journey to his forever home. It is the story that tugs at the heartstrings of donors and motivates them to open their wallets and give.2. OrganizationOrganizational skills is another important one for a wide variety of responsibilities, such as campaign management, event planning, stewardship, grant proposals and management, gift recording and financial reporting.When the manager of the annual fund is disorganized, donor needs and requests might be forgotten, which can result in a disgruntled donor.When the person in charge of the Capital Campaign launch party forgets donor A and donor B cannot be seated at the same table, both donors might opt to leave the event early.3) Relationship BuildingWhile there are a few nonprofits that are completely funded by foundations or grant money, the majority of nonprofits depend on donations t o meet their financial obligations and commitments. These gifts most often come about because a relationship is formed between the donor and the people in the organization.This is especially true when it comes to larger donationsâ€"over $1000 per year. These relationships are cultivated over time. In some cases, it might take years before a donor makes a significant contribution.Relationship building the most important factor in a successful capital campaign, but relationship building is not only required for the campaign and annual funds.evalIt is at the crux of community partnerships and corporate sponsorships, and many nonprofit organizations rely on both for programming and support of their overall mission.In my role as a director of development, board member and major gifts volunteer, everything hinged on developing a relationship with the people who sat on the other side of the table. It meant remembering a birthday or favorite food, or an allergy.It meant following up to see how a trip to Canada went or it meant providing the requested information. This aspect of relationship-building also requires organization.4) FlexibilityMore and more for-profit companies are looking for employees who demonstrate flexibility because it suggests they will be more able to adapt to change.In a nonprofit organization, flexibility is essential because most nonprofits have limited resources, which means their employees are forced to wear many hats. In order to successfully navigate this aspect, flexibility is a must.evalLet me give you an example. A nonprofit depends heavily on the proceeds earned from an annual phone-a-thon. The event was planned and will be run by the Director of Development. A few hours before the phone-a-thon is to begin, the director’s mother is rushed to the hospital and she can’t run the event.Although the communications director has no experience with phone-a-thons, he is asked to step up and take the lead, which he gladly does because he has previously been asked to wear other hats.Unlike corporate America where employees often get siloed, is a nonprofit organization, due to limited resources, everyone pitches in and does what is necessary.Sometimes this means learning on the spot or stepping outside of one’s comfort zone. With that, though, comes great reward. Junior employees often get exposure to more advanced skills and leadership opportunities long before their corporate counterparts.eval5) CreativitySince nonprofits face unique challenges such as limited resources, sustainability, and maintaining and growing their donor base, their employees are often forced to think outside the box to make ends meet, extend programming, get the word out about an event, etc. This ability to be creative is an asset on which nonprofits rely.Any time an employee can find a workaround that saves resources, it allows the organization to channel those saved resources to fund their mission. This not only benefits the recipients, but it also keeps organizational costs lower, which is more attractive to potential donors.However, creativity is not limited to saving limited resources; it also should be applied to donor cultivation and engagement.According to the Philanthropy Roundtable, charitable giving has increased significantly over the past 60 years, rising from $54 billion to $390 billion.Even when we account for inflation, the increase is nearly six times since the mid-1950s. But this number is slightly deceptive because the number of charitable organizations has also increased. However, it is important to note that since 2008, charitable giving has decreased, The Atlanticargues that this is likely to do with the 2008 recession.According to the 501(c) Agencies Trust, the number of nonprofit organizations has increased by 10% over the past 20 years. Therefore, there is still competition for those charitable donations.In addition to these five skills, anyone interested in a career in the nonprofit sector must al so ground all decisions and actions within an ethical framework. Nonprofit leaders are often faced with ethical dilemmas.For example, when I was the director of development for a small private elementary school, we ran an annual silent and live auction. It was a highly successful event.One year a large donor appeared with a boxâ€"something for the live auction. He was terribly excited because he knew it would go for a significant amount of money. He refused to tell me what was in the box because he wanted to draw out the moment.When I opened, I saw a football, as I pulled it out of the box, I realized the football had been signed by OJ Simpson, and we were in the middle of his murder trial. There was no way, ethically, I could consider taking the football, no matter how much money it might have raised for the school.The nonprofit sector may not be the right choice for everyone. Working in a nonprofit often means long hours with little financial reward, when compared to for-profit co rporations.There are often obstacles and barriers that can seem insurmountable at times, and nonprofit organizations are entirely dependent upon others with whom they have little to no control, such as the government, foundations, and donors to generate revenue. And it is perfectly okay if this is not high on your career list, but if you are interested, despite the hurdles, the rewards are numerous.Communication, organization, relationship building, flexibility and creativity are valuable skills for most careers, but they are especially crucial for those who wish to enter the nonprofit sector.Possessing these skills will make you a valuable asset to the organization, which means more resourcesâ€" human and financialâ€"can be directed toward achieving the mission.The kind of work ranges from providing legal aid, fighting for animal welfare, maintaining a nature conservancy, delivering afterschool activities, advocating for the elderly, supplying nutritional food to the young and old, educating youth about the dangers of opioids and so much more.This is why a career in the nonprofit sector is so rewarding and fulfilling, everything you do on a daily basis contributes to the overarching mission.

No need to succeed - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

No need to succeed - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog My main tool in coping with all the stuff going on in the Happy at Work Project right now has been to remind myself, that I dont need to suceed. Every time I start to stress a little I think This does not need to work out. It does not need to be a success. It is OK if it fails. I tried it at a workshop with a customer the other day. I had about 30 people there, and it felt like I wasnt really reaching them. They werent complaining or anything, I just felt like there was a huge distance between me and them and that I wasnt communicating as clearly as I wanted. So I did two things: 1: As above, I reminded myself, that I dont have to suceed. What a relief :o) 2: I consciusly focused my attention on what was going on. All our workshops have lots of sessions where the participants work in small groups, and I spent some time not thinking or planning ahead. I simply tried to notice what was happening tight now in as much detail as possible. From that came a sense of calm and a feeling of reconnecting with what was going on in the room at the time. The workshop was a great success. I even stuck in an exercise Id never tried before, one thats really designed to be used on one person I just modified it on the fly to work on 30 people :o) The question in my mind is whether Im honest with myself. Im telling myself that I dont need to suceed to enhance my chances of suceeding. That seems like cheating, somehow. But it works! Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Regional Manager Skills Resume Writing Tips

Regional Manager Skills Resume Writing TipsIt is important to write a regional managerial skills resume that is accurate and professional. Using the correct format when you are writing a regional manager skills resume will help you get the attention you are after and more importantly, it will help to land the job you want. The first thing that should be listed on a regional manager skills resume is a description of the person's achievements. The reason for this is that the regional manager skills resume will look a lot different than a resume for an entry level position.While it is certainly helpful to list specific qualifications in a regional manager skills resume, this is not necessary. In fact, you should avoid the use of specifics when trying to ensure that your resume looks professional. For example, instead of listing something like, 'Awards Executive Leadership', it would be more appropriate to say something like 'Skilled in Sales and Financial Operations'. This way, it will look more professional with a slightly less specific name.Another tip when writing a regional manager skills resume is to include any experiences that show that the person has a working knowledge of the field. Having worked in different industries as well as in the job field will demonstrate that the individual has knowledge of the area that they are applying for. In addition, a statement regarding the person's desire to work in the particular field is also required. This is because there may be job openings available in the area that are not advertised yet. Therefore, a statement that indicates the applicant's desire to work in the field will attract the attention of recruiters.When writing a regional manager skills resume, the use of a good heading can help to set the tone of the entire document. The heading is what will make the reader aware of the sections of the document and help them make a decision about what they are going to read about. The best approach when writing a regi onal manager skills resume heading is to begin the heading with a title that is self-explanatory and emphasizes the person's experience. This could be something like: Senior Supervisory Position, Senior Assistant Manager, or Regional Managing Director.When writing a regional manager skills resume, one of the most important things to consider is the format. It is vital that the header, headings, and body of the document adhere to a certain format. The first section of the resume will be the heading. The headings will begin with a 'Subject' and will then go on to outline the career goals of the person. This will go on to provide information on the most recent accomplishments as well as the areas where the person has worked or hopes to work.After this section, there will be a list of employment areas where the individual's previous employment includes. The next section will contain a list of employment terms that the person understands. This will go on to describe the individual's skil ls as it relates to each section of the resume.If the regional manager skills resume is to be used for a national company, it is also necessary to provide an explanation of each field of expertise that the person is working in. This is especially true if the candidate has worked in many fields of specialization. The next section should summarize the job duties that the person is most familiar with. This is also a good time to mention how many years the person has been in the field. This is critical because it gives the recruiter information on the person's skills.Using these regional manager skills resume tips will help to ensure that you have all of the information that is required for your regional manager skills resume. A professional written resume will also help to get you more interviews and higher paying jobs.