What is your dream job? (how to switch jobs for a day)

Daily writing prompt
What’s your dream job?
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My dream job is a job that I’ve had before, which is to interview people and learn about what they do for work. I think it’s an eye-opener to learn what people do. A person’s job is never as simple as you think. Spending a short time in their shoes gives you a better appreciation of other people’s work when you see it through their eyes. It’s like that behind-the-scenes moment of a movie.

First, I interviewed people about what they do. What is a typical day? What do they read? Who do they talk with? Surprisingly, most people think the interviewer will be bored from listening to them talk about a typical workday. But when you ask questions like, “What is this machine used for? Why do you enter information in this way? What do you do to protect yourself from injury?” They are excited about explaining how calculations are done, and how equipment works, etc. You open their eyes to a new perspective on what they thought was an ordinary task. Now they see their own job through the eyes of an outsider.

Second, I get to spend time at their job, whether it is an office or an atypical job site. It may seem boring, but not everyone gets to go to a construction site, the staff areas of a hotel, or a manufacturing plant, just to name a few places. You feel like you’re an actor trying to fit into a scene where you feel out of place. If you usually work in an office, like I do, you become hyper-aware of the hazards around you when you’re working out of an office. The worker you’re interviewing isn’t afraid of heights (falling), fearful of the dark (in a mine) or wary of moving machinery (in a warehouse). 

These places and situations are a chance to put on a different hat and be another person for a day. But when you watch a movie that features workers for the jobs that you interviewed, you find yourself saying, hey, that’s not how they actually do it! So fake! You’re not at the job site observing anymore. Now you want to walk into the movie set and change the incorrect ways of doing things, the unrealistic portrayals of jobs.

These interviews are certainly interesting experiences. Definitely one of the best jobs in the world is discovering what other people do. You are constantly learning, never bored, and increase your appreciation of what other people accomplish.

What’s your dream job?

3 Ways to Connect with People and Communicate Online

Daily writing prompt
In what ways do you communicate online?
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Why communicate online? You may think it’s less personal than interacting with people face to face. True, you don’t get the same sense of what a person is like when you aren’t in the same room as them. But it has become one of the best ways to connect with people around the world. 

As someone who works remotely, I’ve made friends in other cities, and found work opportunities that wouldn’t have been possible without the communication technology that we have. Technology has also allowed us to instantaneously send and receive information, and make human connections that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.

To celebrate how online communication has improved my life, I’d like to share some ways I communicate online.

Interactions with coworkers with apps and video

Remote work has made it possible to run a business online. Meetings are run on Zoom, WebEx, and Google Meet. This is the next best way to connect, other than with in-person meetings. It’s possible to run an entire team that lives in different cities and time zones.

You can also share work tasks and collaborate using various apps such as ClickUp, Slack, Telegram, and Asana. Yes, some of those apps are difficult to use and sometimes confusing, but it also makes tracking project milestones and deadlines for several people in one place easier.

Online chat groups in online communities

Meeting in person is one of the best ways to connect, but it isn’t practical to coordinate a meeting of like-minded people whenever you need the advice of people with experiences and backgrounds similar to yours.

Groups on Facebook, Discord, and Slack, for example, allow people in the same profession or with similar interests to discuss topics. In these groups, people from different cities and time zones can post their advice or opinions about topics such as how to handle a difficult work situation, how to write a resume, how to deal with relatives, or where to buy a product for your pet. It’s like reaching out to a human encyclopedia of knowledge.

Voice, video, image, and chat messages with friends and family

Long-distance calls are expensive. Sending postcards and letters take days, if not weeks. The best way to communicate with friends and family in other cities and countries in a cost-effective and quick way is online. 

You can make group video calls or audio calls using apps. As long as you have internet, you don’t need to worry about long-distance costs. You can send text, photos, and voice messages instantly. While having dinner, you can send a photo of your meal to share your moment with your family, even if they are in another state or province. 

It’s like your friends, family, and coworkers all live in your neighborhood. The world is more interconnected and a much smaller place because of online communication.

Key Takeaways

Online communication has greatly improved, to the point that we can create and maintain connections with people who live far away from us. Technology allows us to be part of a larger community that supports each other. Online communication also offers many more ways for us to keep in touch with family and friends who live far away.

What do you think about online communication?

Where to reduce clutter in your life? 3 Tips for a More Stress-Free Life

Daily writing prompt
Where can you reduce clutter in your life?
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Trash is treasure – you’ve heard that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. So how do you decide what to remove and what to keep? We can reduce clutter in every aspect and place of our lives, from objects that get in the way to thoughts and people that take up unnecessary space.

For certain, if you reduced the clutter in your life, you would have a more stress-free life. So here are three tips on how to get started on removing some of that weight from your day-to-day living.

Tip 1: Define your clutter and gain some space

Some people like a messy workspace because it boosts creative thinking. Or they keep objects because of the memories attached to them. Having a past and inspiration is a good thing. Or you might be the opposite and your desk is always organized and you’ll never find crumbs on your kitchen table. All your clothes and shoes are organized by color. Keeping pristine is also a good thing.

If you can find the things you need, like your house keys, or the TV remote, or that matching sock, you’re organized in your own way. As long as your life is not a hazard to your health, like that big stack of boxes in the hallway that might topple anytime and injure you. Or photos that evoke painful memories and affect your mental health. In that case, maybe it’s time to let things go.

No matter how you keep yourself organized, one rule to try is this: if you haven’t used that item before its expiry date, it’s time to toss it. This rule applies to old clothes and anything in your attic. If you haven’t used it in five years or you didn’t remember you had it, maybe it’s time to clear it out.

Reducing clutter is hard, but it can also be rewarding as you gain space in your home, and you feel lighter because you’ve gotten rid of memories that weigh you down.

Tip 2: Remove clutter that restricts growth

Clutter can restrict your growth. You can trap yourself in your past. Just because you dressed a certain way for years doesn’t mean you have to have the same look or style tomorrow. Changing things up can refresh your life, especially if you’re feeling like you’re spinning in a rut. Time to rearrange furniture, get rid of extra belongings, and create a new phase in your existence.

It’s time to rid yourself of the clutter in your brain: toxic thoughts like imposter syndrome. Whose thoughts are living rent-free in your head? A co-worker who keeps saying you’ll never get the promotion? A relative who keeps asking you when you’ll accomplish something in your life?

Remove the mental clutter by setting small goals. If there’s a big project looming in your life, start with something small, like setting up the files for the project. It’s a small achievement, but you’re one step further ahead than yesterday. Complete big projects by finishing smaller tasks a bit at a time and the big project won’t be so impossible. It’s one way to slowly remove the mental clutter caused by negative thoughts.

Tip 3: Remove toxic people

People can be clutter too. Toxic coworkers or a toxic boss won’t help with your career. Make an escape plan. Sometimes you just need to quit right away, other times your financial situation requires you to be patient while you search for another job.

Spend less time with toxic family members. Reconsider toxic friendships. Crabs in a bucket will pull at each other and keep each other down. Escape may not be easy. Make new friends, and build a new network to offset the toxic one. These new connections can also help to find a new job, lift you up by being there for you, or give you advice on how to change your life.

Key Takeaways

You can reduce the clutter in your life in several ways. By reducing clutter in your home or workspace, you’ll reorganize and refresh your surroundings. By assessing your mental load and your relationships, and reducing negativity, you’ll open doors to improved relationships and connections, and positive thinking.

What do you do to reduce the clutter in your life?

What I’d give you if I won the lottery

Bloganuary writing prompt
What would you do if you won the lottery?
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What would you do if you won the lottery? Would you spend it all or would you give it all away? For sure, I wouldn’t do what most expect and here’s why.

I discovered some interesting statistics about lottery wins of significant amounts. There is a myth that most people go broke after going on a spending spree and purchasing whatever their heart desires. The truth is, these types of dramatic stories make for catchy news. The reality is a bit different.

For example, you’ll find a statistic like this in USA Today: “Nearly one-third of lottery winners eventually go bankrupt within three to five years, which is more likely than the average American.” Stories about rags to riches and back to rags are like a tale warning us to stay away from excessive spending and unwise long-term planning. There is also conflicting research.

Studies have contradicted such dramatic myths. Researchers found that “all else being equal, money is associated with greater life satisfaction and well-being. Of course, money on its own may not bring happiness.” The studies found that winners did not throw away their wealth on “extravagant purchases.”

So before you win, ask yourself, “What’s your plan?” Do you want your life to change for the better after you win a huge sum? 

Will there be a moment when the clock strikes midnight and your fortune disappears? If so, then indulge in all manner of extravagance! Buy mansions, buy luxury vehicles, like the $18 million lottery winner who spent all his winnings in ten years and returned to his old job. Your fortune will disappear quickly enough.

If not, spend wisely, learn about investing, and enjoy a whole new level of lifestyle. The research found that more money can mean a better life if you live within your new means. Certainly, if you don’t have to worry about everyday expenses anymore, life can be incrementally more fun and relaxing!

You might have watched the movie It Can Happen to You, which is based on the true story of a police officer who promised half his lottery ticket winnings to a waitress as a tip because he didn’t have enough change. In the movie, the characters became millionaires who had the time of their lives spending their winnings on making complete strangers happy.

For certain, if I hit the jackpot, I would do the same and buy things for people – paying it forward – as the expression goes.

If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would you do with all the extra cash?

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5 Leadership Tips for Self Improvement

Daily writing prompt
What makes a good leader?
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It’s easy to be a bad leader, but it’s more challenging to be a good one. You don’t need formal training to be a good leader, just some practical experience and the critical understanding that you should treat others how you want to be treated. And if you want to be the best leader you can, you’ll always be learning about self improvement. Here are some tips on what makes a good leader to get you started.

Here’s what a good leader does well:

1 Leads by example

A good leader is very hands on. How else can you thoroughly understand the challenges that your team is facing, or how long it takes to complete a task if you haven’t worked on it yourself? Also, if the leader wants their team to work hard, the leader must work hard. The leader leads by example. 

Even if the task is something you cannot do on your own, by working side by side with your team, you will see who gets the job done most efficiently, who leads others, and who is always eager to learn. Now you know the strengths and weaknesses of your team by working with them.

2 Asks questions and does not make demands

A good leader has an open mind. Instead of telling the team to finish the work by Friday, ask if they can complete it by Friday. This question gives them the opportunity to raise concerns and bring awareness to possible roadblocks.

If a mistake is made, a good leader doesn’t make assumptions or immediately blame someone. A good leader points out the mistake and explains what needs to be fixed. They’ll ask what happened to find out what could have caused the error. The first suspect may not be the cause. Then, the leader works with the team to figure out a way to prevent the mistake from happening again.


3 Adjusts their leadership style

A good leader understands that one leadership style does not fit all. Some people need more support than others, especially if they are new to the job. This is not the same as micromanaging. The leader may need to show a new employee once how to do a task, and expect that person to be more independent the second time. 

Some team members are more social and prefer more team interaction. And some are less social and like to be left alone to complete their tasks. The team leader must find a way for the team to work together while respecting everyone’s working preferences.

4 Checks in with the team individually

A good leader regularly checks in with each team member individually. The leader provides feedback on the team member’s performance and asks how they support the team member in their professional growth. What courses would this person like to take?

They also see each person as an individual. By taking the time to talk with each person one-on-one, they will have a better idea about how to support that team member. That person may need time off to take their kids to appointments so they will need a more flexible schedule, for example. 

5 Is never the smartest person in the room

It can be tough on the ego if you aren’t the smartest person in the room. However, a leader should never be the smartest person in the room. 

A leader can depend on a strong team with various areas of expertise to collaborate to get a job done. A leader can still be effective if they are always learning from their team or finding opportunities to learn together. A person who is always learning is always growing. 

A person who knows that there is something they don’t know will always be humble and open-minded.

These are all the traits of a good leader.