Why you need to have both creativity and structure in your life

Why you need to have both creativity and structure in your lifeWhy you need to have both creativity and structure in your lifeYoure either the ADD creative who cant sit still for five minutes at a time, but wildly brilliant.OrYoure the OCD task manager who lives for sticky notes, spiral-bound planners, and excel spreadsheets.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreBut the truth is, you need both.If you are the manic creative with no sense of structure, you might have the most amazing ideas in the world but you will be incapable of bringing them to life.On the flip side, you might be extremely organized and diligent, but unless you are willing to let yourself explore outside your comfort zone and get a little creative, you will never be able to create something valuable on your own.Before we look at how both can work together, lets look at how the two exist separately.CreativityPros Inno vation, creation, flow.Cons Inconsistent, difficult to understand, intangible.If you dont know my stance on the creative process already, I recommend you read some of my other articles to understand more of what I mean by the terms I use.There is something about the process and flow of ideas that I cant get enough of.I dont landsee chaos - I see unlimited possibilities.If youre a natural creative, you have a trait that lots of people struggle to find because it is so complex. And if you do have a creative mind, you will know exactly what I mean when I talk about how difficult it is to control.These bursts of creativity are exactly that - bursts.When I am in my flow, I feel like nothing in the world can stop me. But the moment I fall out of my flow, I crumble.There is no more beauty, no more unlimited possibilities - because my flow is gone.This is where structure can actually help bring back that state of flow, and make the creative process a little bit less ethereal.StructurePro s Consistent, easy to understand, tangible.Cons Lack of spontaneity, repetitive, boring.I would first like to point out that structure should not be seen as something that suppresses creativity, but is rather a practice that motivates the mind to exercise the creative process.When I wake up in the morning, I approach my tasks with structure in mind.I know that 15 minutes will be dedicated to meditation, 20 minutes to hygiene, and 30 minutes to eating. The structure of this morning routine might be boring, but the act of each task in itself has the potential to be, on some level, creative.The point of structure is to give yourself the permission to make time for something you want to do.Once you begin that thing in itself, you are free to go about it however youd like.Structure is what creates the opportunity.Creativity is what makes the opportunity unfold.There will always be a constant push-pull between creativity and structure, but the reality is that both are needed in reservieru ng for the other to thrive.The key is to find a balance by making time and then adapting to how you feel.If something doesnt feel right, then play around with it until it does. If something feels good but not great, find a better way to do it.Keeping yourself within the realm of either being creative or structured will only remove you from the resources the other side has to offer.You have to have both.This article originally appeared on Inc Magazine.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong peopleWhy you need to have both creativity and structure in your lifeYoure either the ADD creative who cant sit still for five minutes at a time, but wildly brilliant.OrYoure the OCD task manager who liv es for sticky notes, spiral-bound planners, and excel spreadsheets.But the truth is, you need both.If you are the manic creative with no sense of structure, you might have the most amazing ideas in the world but you will be incapable of bringing them to life.On the flip side, you might be extremely organized and diligent, but unless you are willing to let yourself explore outside your comfort zone and get a little creative, you will never be able to create something valuable on your own.Before we look at how both can work together, lets look at how the two exist separately.CreativityPros Innovation, creation, flow.Cons Inconsistent, difficult to understand, intangible.If you dont know my stance on the creative process already, I recommend you read some of my other articles to understand more of what I mean by the terms I use.There is something about the process and flow of ideas that I cant get enough of.I dont see chaos - I see unlimited possibilities.If youre a natural creative, you have a trait that lots of people struggle to find because it is so complex. And if you do have a creative mind, you will know exactly what I mean when I talk about how difficult it is to control.These bursts of creativity are exactly that - bursts.When I am in my flow, I feel like nothing in the world can stop me. But the moment I fall out of my flow, I crumble.There is no more beauty, no more unlimited possibilities - because my flow is gone.This is where structure can actually help bring back that state of flow, and make the creative process a little bit less ethereal.StructurePros Consistent, easy to understand, tangible.Cons Lack of spontaneity, repetitive, boring.I would first like to point out that structure should not be seen as something that suppresses creativity, but is rather a practice that motivates the mind to exercise the creative process.When I wake up in the morning, I approach my tasks with structure in mind.I know that 15 minutes will be dedicated to meditat ion, 20 minutes to hygiene, and 30 minutes to eating. The structure of this morning routine might be boring, but the act of each task in itself has the potential to be, on some level, creative.The point of structure is to give yourself the permission to make time for something you want to do.Once you begin that thing in itself, you are free to go about it however youd like.Structure is what creates the opportunity.Creativity is what makes the opportunity unfold.There will always be a constant push-pull between creativity and structure, but the reality is that both are needed in order for the other to thrive.The key is to find a balance by making time and then adapting to how you feel.If something doesnt feel right, then play around with it until it does. If something feels good but not great, find a better way to do it.Keeping yourself within the realm of either being creative or structured will only remove you from the resources the other side has to offer.You have to have both.Thi s article originally appeared on Inc Magazine

How To Write a Resume For Working Abroad

How To Write a Resume For Working AbroadHow To Write a Resume For Working AbroadDo you want to work abroad? Then maybe you were already thinking about how to adjust your resume so it meets your dream countrys criteria. This is important because aresume that would get you a job in the US might easily land you in trash straight away in France. Well, not necessarily, but lets not try to run before we can walk. Heres some practical stuff to know before you apply for an grenzberschreitend job.Country-specific vs. Company-specific resumeFirst of all, you should ask yourself whether this job ort requires you to send over a country-specific or a company-specific resume. Thismeans you have to distinguish between an international company/organization in a foreign country and a local company/organization based in that foreign country. Because theres no point in writing a country-specific resume if the company is American (say youre applying for a job at IBM in South Korea).Large multinational c orporations usually have their own resume standards that are set according to the country of origin. Much depends on the work environment. If the majority of employees are internationals, or expats, its more than likely you dont have to bother with a country-specific resume. On the other hand, if youre applying for a job in a localcompany/organization, you will have to adjust your resume to that countrys resume standards.But its not always as easy as that. Research the company and the position carefully before writing a resume because the company itself might be international, but if its a local branch that operatesseparately from the headquarters, youd better make your resume country-specific. Tricky, we know.International resume vs. Domestic resumeSecond thing you have to be aware of is that regardless of what kind of company it is, resume for a job abroad is always different than a domestic resume.In international resume, you have to put more emphasis on your personalitythan when youre applying for a domestic job. Because even more than your knowledge and skills, the recruiter is interested in your adaptability to the international environment. Youre asking how to do it?Put a short career objective or a summary on your resume. Say what you think youre excellent at and why youre passionate about your profession.If you are a fresh graduate and you dont have much experience to show, be more specific when describing your education. Tell about interesting projects you were part of, clubs or societies you were a member of or your greatest academic achievements.Mention your international experience, for instance, Erasmus, exchange programs, international internships. If you dont have any of that, emphasize your passion for traveling.Focus on traits that would make you a good candidate to work in an international environment.How to write a country-specific resumeTo put it simply, a resume, curriculum vitae or CV is a summary of your education, skills and previous w ork experience everywhere in the world. However, some countries may have their specifics when it comes to writing style, formatting or info provided in a resume.We have collected for you some useful info about what resume specificsare there in different countriesThe United StatesIn the US, most job applicants send resumes, because an American CV is a longer, sometimes around 10 pages long, document only used for the purpose of academic, medical or research jobs.A standard US resume is usually one page long.Personal information such as age, nationality or marital status on a resume or cover letter is considered unprofessional.Unless its relevant to the position youre applying to, you dont need to list any hobbies or personal interests.You shouldnt bother with putting a photo on your resume. This is to prevent bias and discrimination. Of course, acting or modeling jobs are exceptions.In the United States, you should basically take yourself as a product and your resume as your advertis ement.You should emphasize your qualifications, achievements and relevant experience in a bold and sharp manner. Remember that the competition is tough so your resume is your opportunity to shine. Do use a lot of power words that show passion, commitment and action, such as efficient, determined, skilled, achieved, responsible etc.CanadaWhen applying for a job in Canada, it is very important to have a resume formatted in a Canadian style. Before applying, make aya you are aware of some minor differences between the English-speaking and French-speaking areas in Canada. Here are some universell tipsKeep your resume short two pages are maximum. If you are a fresh graduate without much experience it is recommended to keep it to one page only.Contact information (email and a cell phone number) should go at the top of your resume. Also,in Canada it is quite common to include links to your social media accounts on your resume. Your LinkedIn profile should be enough.Below the contact info, write a short career objective.Use short and dynamic sentences full of power words and verbs implying action. Emphasize your qualities and value to the company.In the work experience section state any kind of work you have done even internships andvolunteer work count.Your resume must be well organized. Canadians are perfectionists so make sure your formatting and style are perfect. Use bullet points and headings.In the work experience and education sections keep the sentences indefinite,dont write in first person.EUROPEIn Europe, you call resume a Curriculum Vitaeor a CV. In most European countries a CV is 1-2 pages long. In Europe there are still countries where there it is accepted, even welcome, to include photos on a CV, though itsslowly becoming outdated.The United KingdomA British CV is usually one page long only.In the UK, it is quite usual to state also your secondary education on your CV even if you have a college degree. This is because A Levels and O Levels tests prove the level of proficiency in specific subjects. Being a foreigner, you can but dont have to state it.Write aCV in full sentences, not just bullet points. For example In this job position, I welches managing social media and was responsible for creating and managing adverts on Facebook and Twitter.Leave the photo and your date of birth out of your resume.Its common to provide at least two references with the contact details at the end of your CV.FranceFrench CV should be short and concise unless youve got years of experience or published plenty of articles/publications.It is okay to include a photo on a French resume but it should be a professional headshot.It is common to add a short description of your skills and/or short-term career goals at the beginning of your resume.In the education section, you should only state the highest diplomas you have obtained. Of course, this is only if the previous education is not particularly relevant in terms of certain skills or knowledge.With re gards to language skills, it is advised to give details (fluency level).GermanyGermans call a CV Lebenslauf which could be translated as the course of life.Germans are very strict when it comes to job applications. If the CV isnt easy to read and navigate, it will most likely be thrown out.Put your professional passport-style photograph in the top right corner of your CV.A German Lebenslauf is very factual, hence, it should contain only factual data. No embellished sentences or elaborate statements.There should be no gaps in your CV. Even if you didnt work for a period of time, state why and what it was you were doing.It is common to enclose copies of supporting documents with your Lebenslauf.Generally, finding a job in Germany if you dont speak German is a tough one. There are exceptions of course, but at least a basic level of German would help you a great deal.ASIAJapanTypically, you do include a photo on a Japanese resume. It has to be a professional photo and the smarter you lo ok, the better.Your resume should be written in Japanese.Japanese resume contains very detailed personal information such as gender, date of birth, nationality and address.Being a foreigner, its best to have some acquaintances in the company youre applying for. Japanese tend to be quite suspicious when it comes to foreigners.SingaporeEven thoughSingaporeis a former British colony, the term resume is used instead of CV.Detailed personal info and contact details should be stated at the beginning of your resume. A photo is a great asset.Singaporean resume should be reasonably conservative keep it neat and factual.Put a short career objective before the education and work experience section.You should put two references with contact details at the end of your resume.IndiaAn Indian CV never includes a photo and info such as place of birth, race or religion.Keep it relevant. Indians do not really care about your hobbies, interests or minor successes.In India itsmore common to use a funct ional format instead of reversed chronological format. You would typically put a summary of your skills and expertise at the beginning. You should also list your most important career achievements.It is quite common to put an executive summary at the beginning of your resume where you state all the most relevant info about you in a nutshell.UNITED ARAB EMIRATESIt is quite common to have a really long CV in UAE typically up to four pages long. Hiring managers are very thorough in scrutinizing the applicants so make sure your CV is detailed.There arent any anti-discrimination laws in UAE. Hence, including a photo is a must. Employers want to see how you look like and will consider your CV more trustworthy if it includes a photo.Write very detailed personal information and contact details. In UAE, recruiters want to know everythingFeel free to exaggerate and embellish. We dont advise you to lie, but a UAE CV should be action-packed and a bit dramatic. Emphasizeyou take the job very se riously.Make sure your CV stands out from the crowd. Everything about United Arab Emirates is fancy and stylish. So should be your CV.AUSTRALIAAustralian resume is a bit different from a European or American style resume so when applying for a job in this country, make sure youll adjust yours to Australian standards. Australian resume is generally very clear and concise, written in a reversed chronological format with bullet points and around two pages long.Its recommended to include a mission statement or your career objective at the beginning. Two or three sentences will do.You should not have any gaps in your resume. In case theres a gap in between your previous employments, state what you were doing in the meantime.Less is more. Keep the design simple no fancy fonts or colors. Regarding the content, avoid revealing too much about yourself.Make your resume achievement oriented dont just state your work experience but make sure you highlight your special abilities and your notab le achievements.If you havent had much previous experience, focus on your extracurricular activities and things you did beyond your given responsibilities.Clearly state in what way the company can benefit from hiring you. Highlight your strong points and value you would bring to the workplace.List some of your most interesting hobbies and interests at the end. Try to bring as much of your personality to the resume as it gets.Never include an age, race or religion info in your resume. And no photos

Finalists Selected for ASMEs Three ISHOWs

Finalists Selected for ASMEs Three ISHOWs Finalists Selected for ASMEs Three ISHOWs Finalists Selected for ASMEs Three ISHOWsThirty visionary entrepreneurs from across the globe have been selected as the finalists for the three ASME Innovation Showcases (ISHOWs) that the Society will hold this spring. Ten finalists will compete at each of the 2016 ISHOW events the ISHOW India in Bengaluru, India, on April 28 the ISHOW Kenya in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 26 and the ISHOWUSA in Washington, D.C., on June 16.This is the second year that the competitions have focused on hardware-led social innovations that improve the quality of life in communities throughout the world. The ISHOW program offers these global innovators the opportunity to win a share of $500,000 in prizes and receive an extensive konzeption and engineering review of their products by a panel of industry experts. One of the finalists in the ISHOW India competition, Geethanjali Radhakrishnan, has entered the Portable Hand-Held De rmascope, a multi-wavelength dermascope that can detect and continuously monitor various skin diseases non-invasively in low resource and rural communities. The device has considerable potential in helping reduce the occurrence of various non-fatal skin diseases, which are the most common non-communicable disease in India, affecting approximately 12 percent of the population. The Bempu Bracelet, a baby bracelet that detects and alerts in the event of neonatal hypothermia, is one of the entries in the 2016 ISHOW India competition.A second finalist, Gini Morgan, is the creator of The Bempu Bracelet, a simple baby bracelet that detects and alerts in the event of neonatal hypothermia, thereby ensuring improved thermal care, detection of infection, and the prevention of hypoglycemia, poor weight gain, and newborn fatalities. The bracelet, which has many unique features, was designed to fit low birth weight babies, preterm babies, and normal weight babies.Eight other innovators will al so take parte in the 2016 ISHOW India. The finalists and the social innovations they will present at the competition are Madhav Aggarwal, Navyo, a smart glove that uses vibrations to guide visually impaired people as they navigate through turns Arpit Dhupar, inC by Project Carbon, a device that can be coupled to the exhaust manifold of a diesel engine to reduce the amount of soot generated by more than 60 percent Buddha Burman, The 4SL Box, a system that enables the creation of digital classrooms anywhere, without the need for electricity, Internet or buildings Manohar Sambandam, GRoboMac, farm equipment that mechanizes such farming chores as seeding, transplanting, weeding, harvesting and the application of fertilizers and pesticides Bala Bhaskar, The Nano Science Lab, a portable, cost-effective and mobile laboratory that science teachers can carry with them into classrooms Mathias Koepke, SOLBox, a new metering solution that permits bi-directional, peer-to-peer low-voltage DC el ectricity trading between households and local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) Satish KS, Siri - Smart Irrigation Controller, a low-cost smart irrigation controller farmers in developing communities can use to improve crop yields and save power, money and time through precise irrigation Bola Somade, The Helix Stove, a next-generation clean-burning cookstove that incorporates several important technology and design innovations to allow for cost-effective manufacturability. Lawrence Ojok is one of the 10 finalists competing in the 2016 ISHOW in Kenya. Ojoks invention, The Green jupe Drill, is an intermediate machine for small-scale miners that incorporates a bicycle-powered wheel and a DC motor. The 10 finalists selected for the ISHOW in Kenya next month include Lawrence Ojok, creator of The Green Rock Drill, and Joel Kariuki, the inventor of The Sisal Decorticator. The Green Rock Drill is an intermediate machine, which is designed to use a bicycle-powered wheel and a DC motor, is intended for small-scale miners who want to avoid using both inefficient primitive mining methods and costly advanced mining methods. The Sisal Decorticator is a device that addresses the challenge faced by small-scale sisal farmers in much of Kenya and Africa by removing the cortex of the sisal leaf from the sisal fiber, which is the valuable part of the plant for farmers.The following eight finalists will also compete at the 2016 ISHOW in Kenya Chuma Asuzu, Flowbyte, a device that correctly calculates the amount of fuel dispensed, alerting buyers to possible meter tampering and providing better value to buyers of petroleum products Grace Njoora, Kokoboda, a combination four-wheeled cart and motorcycle that provides a number of freight transportation advantages compared to regular motorcycles, hand carts and small trucks, such as improved speed, safety, and affordability Taita Ngetich, Smart Mobile Farming, a line of simple, modern greenhouses with sensor technology t o regulate water supply and monitor temperature, humidity, and soil moisture Tom Vanneste, Kukua Weather Station, a low-cost, internet-connected, solar-powered weather station that provides real-time weather data online Grit Systems, The Grit m, a web-enabled multisource smart meter that helps users in under-electrified communities make informed decisions about how best to consume and produce electricity Edmand Aijuka, Kamata, a remotely monitored system that protects electricity sources from attempted power theft and tampering and Patrick Kiruki, Banza Toilet, an effective and inexpensive in-home sanitation unit that provides families with a safe, accessible alternative to public latrines. The AguaPallet, which is entered in the 2016 ISHOWUSA event, is a hollow, plastic pallet that can be used for delivering aid packages and water in emergency situations.Keri Waters, inventor of Calliope, and Shaun Craill, the creator of AguaPallet, are among the finalists facing off at the 2 016 ISHOWUSA. Waters entry, Calliope, is a connected device that provides homeowners with real-time, detailed information about their water use, notifications of leaks or other water waste, and remote water shutoff via an app. Craills AguaPallet is a hollow, plastic pallet that can be used for delivering aid packages and water in emergency situations. Once the aid is delivered, the pallet can be converted into a hand cart by adding a handle and a pair of wheels. Re-using the pallet increases logistical efficiency and maximizes return on investment for aid distribution networks.The other eight finalists who were selected to compete at the 2016 ISHOWUSA are Tim Prestero, Otter Warmer, a durable, washable warming bassinet for premature and low birthweight newborns Gordon McCambridge , Node, a low-cost, GSM/GPRS enabled, Arduino based, rugged universal data monitoring unit for collecting real time field data Jason Kass, The Crapper, an affordable, waterless composting toilet that uses a n established, open-source toilet technology to safely treat human waste Erin Ross, Stove Trace, a cloud-based remote monitoring system for improved cookstove operation in rural households Jessica Menold, Amparo, a prosthetic socket comprised primarily of thermoplastic material that enables the user to reshape their socket as necessary William Jeffries, Heat Seek, web-connected temperature sensors that monitor low-income apartments for heating code violations Adam Dixon, Hydrosac, a flexible patented hydroponic/aquaponic irrigation system featuring an inflated support chamber and an integrated aerator for improved water aeration Kayla Matheus, Moti, an Internet of Things (IOT) device that integrates insights from behavioral science, social robotics and human-centered design to help people adopt healthy habits to improve their lives and Nick Quintong, PayGo Energy Smart Meter Technology (SMT), a system that provides customers in developing countries with affordable access to modern fuels and cooking appliances, thereby reducing their reliance on such dirty fuels as charcoal and kerosene.For more information on the ISHOWs in India, Kenya and the United States, visit https//thisishardware.org.