6 Soft Skills Employers Are Looking For in the Workplace

6 Soft Skills Employers Are Looking For in the Workplace6 Soft Skills Employers Are Looking For in the Workplace6 Soft Skills Employers Are Looking For in the WorkplaceSo youre on the job market and youre sure that you are a fantastic candidate for the job that you want. Why? Thats easy. You have all the skills the job requires. You have the training, the knowledge, and the abilities that the job requires.News flash. So does your competition.You may not want to hear it, but unless you have some fantastic experience under your belt, you may be one of many applicants that have very similar resumes. So how do employers find the right one for the job?Think of your favorite professional sport. Most athletes have similar physical capabilities. If they didnt they wouldnt get drafted into the professional ranks. But, once they make it to the highest level, only a few succeed. Whats the difference? On sports TV and radio talk shows, theyll refer to an athlete that has it. They cant describe i t but, the ones who succeed seem to have something that cant be quantified.Its not as mysterious as they want to make it and its just as true in the non-sports world. In the real world, the it factor is also known as soft skills. Develop your soft skills in the workplace and you have a big edge on your competition. TWEETWhat are soft skills?Think of soft skills as your personal skills. Things you do that make you a great employee outside of the technical skills that are needed for the job. They may come naturally to you or perhaps youve added some classes to your list to augment these abilities. If you havent, consider working to develop your soft skills in the workplace. Soft skills, which may seem basic to some, are difficult for employers to find, so theyre impressed by applicants who can demonstrate a strong set.There are too many soft skills to list them all, but here are some examples of soft skills that employers most appreciate.1. Strong work ethic.This one you probably didn t learn in school. Its either a part of your DNA or your parents taught it to you. These examples of soft skills are seemingly simple things like being punctual, getting things done on time, and understanding that a job might be mora than punching in and punching out. Employers struggle to find employees who make work a high priority. It doesnt mean that you have to give up your home life for the sake of work.How do you show it? Take your career seriously and do what it takes to get the job done. Sometimes that can mean doing jobs that seem beneath your experience. If you can schirm examples of a great work ethic in your resume, cover letter, or your interview, you have a great start.2. Communication skills.This is a broad category. It can mean anything from how you converse with a client to how well you get your point across in inter-office emails. The ability to communicate with clients and team members is essential. Its not just when you are trying to get a point across, either. A good employee is also a good listener. The ability to listen to others and display empathy when necessary is unfortunately hard to find.How about presenting? Having the soft skills to present to a small or large group can put you ahead of the crowd in a big way.If you have a chance to take a class on communication skills like those presented by Dale Carnegie Training, its well worth your time and money. Its one of the most crucial soft skills in any job in any industry. If you already think that it is one of your best attributes, find a way to demonstrate that on your resume and in your interview.3. Creative problem solving.The last thing an employer wants is an employee who sees a tough situation and says, Wow. I dont know what to do here. They want to know that you can think logically and come up with ways to work around problems. The more creative, the better. That kind of thinking leads to innovation and improvements within the company.On your resume, be sure to list out the s ituations where you faced adversity and created solutions to the problems. At your interview, express your enthusiasm for tackling challenges. Every job has hurdles and employers want to hire people who arent afraid of tackling those challenges.4. Time management.Do you know how to look at everything that is on your work plate and prioritize your tasks? Time management is more than just working hard and not goofing off. It means making the most of each day and getting the most important things done first. If necessary, the ability to delegate assignments to others when needed is a part of it. Its not impressive to an employer that you work 10 hours each day if you only have 8 hours of work. Learning how to manage your time to create maximum efficiency is a money saver for the company and makes you a hero in their eyes.To provide examples of skills related to time management, highlight one or two examples in your resume of difficult and time-consuming tasks and demonstrate how you fo und a way to get it done efficiently.5. Teamwork.Teamwork isnt about your part on the intramural soccer team. It means you have the ability to work with others in a professional environment. It can be harder than it seems. For those who believe that they know how to do the job and dont have faith in others to do their part, they can create tension in the office and hurt the overall efficiency. Learning to trust others, work together, give and accept ideas is a difficult skill to master, but if you can, youll be well ahead of the game.Show off your examples of soft skills in teamwork by displaying your ability to work with team members in your resume and highlighting it during your interview. Show enthusiasm for accepting coworkers ideas and maximizing your teams efficiency by using each persons strengths.6. Leadership.This could be the most important of the soft skills. Good work ethic, problem solving, time management, communication skills, and teamwork ability are all skills that can make you a great employee. Leadership skills make you a candidate to be more than that. No matter the job, most employers are looking for someone who is capable of growing beyond that job. In fact, leadership skills can really be looked at as a combination of all the other soft skills. When you put them together, you have a person who can not only work well with the team, but take the reins and make the rest of the team better.If youve been in charge of big projects in the past, bring that out in your resume and in interviews. Show that youre not someone who is just looking to punch in and punch out, but an applicant who is ready to conquer this job and grow into a future leader within the company. That makes you a very attractive investment for the hiring company.Think of your soft skills as the accessories to your training in your field. They, alone, cannot qualify you for a job, but when paired with solid credentials, they can make you a much more attractive candidate for any job. From cashier, to construction worker, to CEO, soft skills are needed in todays workforce. Learn to cultivate yours and display them for employers to see and youll keep yourself ahead of the pack.Need help with your resume? Take advantage of our free critique today

Announcing Vaults Top 150 Under 150

Announcing Vaults Top 150 Under 150Announcing Vaults Top 150 Under 150Vault is excited to release a new list highlighting the best small and midsized firms with 150 or fewer attorneys- Vaults Top 150 Under 150As a counterpart to the highly respected and widely utilized Vault Law 100, which primarily showcases the largest law firms in the country, we developed the Top 150 Under 150 as a resource for students and lateral candidates seeking an experience outside of BigLaw. Firms included on Vaults Top 150 Under 150 list provide associates with the opportunity not only to work at a top law firm, but also to take on substantial responsibility early in their careers, and maybe even to climb the rungs to partnership a little more quickly.To determine the Top 150 Under 150, we first developed a list of the best-known and most sought-after U.S. firms with fewer than 150 attorneys. Our editorial and research teams pored through Vault survey data, news stories, trade journals and other legal pu blications spoke with lawyers in the field and reviewed other published rankings. Vault editors also assessed each firm for prestige, quality of life and professional growth opportunities, and then narrowed down the results to come up with a list of 150 law firms known for providing top-notch service and delivering big results.Students and job candidates can filter the list by practice area and region to best identify firms that they are interested in.As it would be impossible, and not particularly helpful, to compare an IP boutique with 30 lawyers in Palo Alto to a full-service firm with 145 attorneys in Boston, the firms are not ranked. Rather, the Top 150 Under 150 is a recognition of leading law firms that have fewer attorneys, but no less expertise, than the global megafirms that often dominate rankings and headlines.View the entire Top 150 Under 150 list here.Follow us on Twitter VaultLaw

Caution! Dont do any of these 4 things after a job interview

Caution Dont do any of these 4 things after a job interviewCaution Dont do any of these 4 things after a job interviewIts normal to feel a rollercoaster of emotions after a job interview, but there are certain things you just shouldnt do.Dont freak outSara McCord, a freelance writer and editor, writes in The Muse that you shouldnt drive yourself crazy when you havent been contacted yet about if you got the job.After writing about how anxious she was while waiting to hear back about one, how its not always wrong to be so in tune with it, and more, she mentions a method she uses.Your personal timeline will depend on your circumstances, but if I make it to the final round for any given job, I give myself one week when Im allowed to think about it non-stop. For an entire week, I dont apply to other jobs (assuming I dont have anything else in the works), almost as a show of confidence in myself, she writes. For the skeptics who think this means Ill miss my chance elsewhere, the second par t of the one-week rule is that, after a week, I go back to job-hunting geschftlicher umgang as usual, and pick up right where I left off.Dont cross social media boundariesOnce you do this, theres no going back.Fred Whelan and Gladys Stone, formerly of Whelan Stone Executive Search, write in Monster that you shouldnt friend the interviewer on Facebook.Whelan is currently retired and Stone now works as the Principal, Digital Technology Markets at Korn Ferry.Looking for an inspiring way to start your day? Sign up forMorning MotivationIts our friendly Facebook robot that will send you a quick note every weekday morning to help you start strong. Sign up here by clicking Get StartedTrying to connect with an interviewer on Facebook crosses a boundary that should not be broached. It tells the interviewer you dont know how to draw the line between employer and employee, and you would likely have difficulty with that distinction if you were hired for the job, they write.Dont drop the ball du ring a follow-upCaroline Ceniza-Levine, co-founder of SixFigureStart, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, writes in Money that letting the quality slip after the interview is an error.How you follow up after an interview is just as important as the interview, sometimes even more important, because its the most recent impression of you. One candidate for a business development role had multiple typos in his thank you note, she writes. He was incredibly polished for the live meeting but sloppy in the follow-up, and it caused the hiring group to question his attention to detail. Dont drop the ball at the very end.Ceniza-Levine later continues, In my 20 years of recruiting, Ive seen many candidates get closed out for one job only to get called in for something else by the same company or by the same person (who now is at a different company but remembers them fondly). Keep your quality high at every interaction.Dont forget to se nd a thank youHurryKelly Marinelli, principal people strategy consultant at Solve HR, tellsU.S. News World Reporthow to handle a thank you response.Some people like to do it in writing, but with how quickly things move, I always advise an email right away the next day. By waiting a few days or a week, youve really senfgas your opportunity at that point to make a great impression.Caution Dont do any of these 4 things after a job interviewIts normal to feel a rollercoaster of emotions after a job interview, but there are certain things you just shouldnt do.Dont freak outSara McCord, a freelance writer and editor, writes in The Muse that you shouldnt drive yourself crazy when you havent been contacted yet about if you got the job.After writing about how anxious she was while waiting to hear back about one, how its not always wrong to be so in tune with it, and more, she mentions a method she uses.Your personal timeline will depend on your circumstances, but if I make it to the final r ound for any given job, I give myself one week when Im allowed to think about it non-stop. For an entire week, I dont apply to other jobs (assuming I dont have anything else in the works), almost as a show of confidence in myself, she writes. For the skeptics who think this means Ill miss my chance elsewhere, the second part of the one-week rule is that, after a week, I go back to job-hunting business as usual, and pick up right where I left off.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreDont cross social media boundariesOnce you do this, theres no going back.Fred Whelan and Gladys Stone, formerly of Whelan Stone Executive Search, write in Monster that you shouldnt friend the interviewer on Facebook.Whelan is currently retired and Stone now works as the Principal, Digital Technology Markets at Korn Ferry.Trying to connect with an interviewer on Facebook crosses a boundary that should not be broached. It tells the interviewer you dont know how to draw the line between employer and employee, and you would likely have difficulty with that distinction if you were hired for the job, they write.Dont drop the ball during a follow-upCaroline Ceniza-Levine, co-founder of SixFigureStart, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, writes in Money that letting the quality slip after the interview is an error.How you follow up after an interview is just as important as the interview, sometimes even more important, because its the most recent impression of you. One candidate for a business development role had multiple typos in his thank you note, she writes. He was incredibly polished for the live meeting but sloppy in the follow-up, and it caused the hiring group to question his attention to detail. Dont drop the ball at the very end.Ceniza-Levine later continues, In my 20 years of recruiting, Ive seen many candidates get clo sed out for one job only to get called in for something else by the same company or by the same person (who now is at a different company but remembers them fondly). Keep your quality high at every interaction.Dont forget to send a thank youHurryKelly Marinelli, principal people strategy consultant at Solve HR, tellsU.S. News World Reporthow to handle a thank you response.Some people like to do it in writing, but with how quickly things move, I always advise an email right away the next day. By waiting a few days or a week, youve really s-lost your opportunity at that point to make a great impression.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 people

What to leave off your resume

What to leave off your resumeWhat to leave off your resumeWhat to leave off your resumeEmployers and recruiters take just a few seconds to scan a resume and decide if its worth another look, or destined for the circular file.With such a small window of time to impress, every sentence counts. Stop wasting your employers attention and your own precious time by stripping your CV of these 15 points.1. Your whole life historyDo you really think someone cares you worked in a nightclub 15 years ago and whatcertificates youve received for playing in Universitys baseball team? Whenever you update your CV, strip off the deadweight from years ago to keep it as relevant as possible.2. Non-specific skills90% of jobseekers describe themselves as proactive, goal oriented or able to perform understress. behauptung phrases are too general and say nothing about you, they just take up space. Instead, be specific, and try to show your skills through achievements. Marketing is one thing, increased sales 20% through an email campaign is better.3. Obvious or redundant skillsNowadays Microsoft Word and some practice in paperwork are expected, not extra. This should take up no more than a line in a professional resume, and only if you dont have enough experience to fill the space with something better.4. LiesWhile you may stretch your accomplishments as far as you can, dont be tempted to outright lie on your resume. The most common areas for job seekers to lie are education, employment dates, job titles, and skills. You risk losing the job entirely, and your reputation will follow you for years in small industries.5. Job-hoppingMoving around too much and many short-term positions can harm your reputation in the eyes of your employer. If you have multiple short jobs, consider combining them into one section, or leaving them out entirely if the gap is not too long. The exception is freelance or consulting work, where short term contracts are expected.6. GapsA professional CV shouldnt hav e large gaps you cant explain. Medical leave, caring for family, and other absences should be explained with a few brief sentences. Deal with unemployment gaps proactively be working on certifications and freelance work whenever you can. We like geschftliches miteinander Insiders tips for explaining gaps in employment.7. Too many dutiesYour daily routine at your past workplace is not nearly as important as how well you performed then. Listing accomplishments rather than duties, with numbers and figures wherever possible, is recommended by every resume writer.8. Unrelated detailsYour resume is a marketing document dont use your figure skating knowledge to sell yourself to a finance position (unless you know the CEO loves the Winter Olympics). Its okay to leave out or reduce to one line positions and accomplishments that arent related to the job youre applying for.9. Typos and poor grammarSpellcheck and a detailed read through will be your best friends to find simple errors before yo u hit Send. Employers think sloppy grammar means a sloppy employee. Dont screw up applications by being too lazy to proofreadyour CV.10. Your photoUnless it was requested in job description, a photo is NOT included in a resume or CV in the English speaking world. Other countries have different protocols. For applications requiring a photo, a clear, smiling, headshot is the classic solution.11. Fancy entwurfYou might be tempted to splash out on a custom resume with flashy fonts and colors, but outside of the design industry (where you should design it yourself), many hiring managers just find them annoying and gimmicky. Your layout should be clear and simple to help your employer scan your accomplishments easily. Non-typographers wont care if you use Arial instead of Helvetica.12. TestimonialsTry not to turn CV writing into self-glorification. Your employer cant verify the truth of your claims, and your best references (for them) are those that will talk candidly about the good and t he bad. Testimonials waste valuable space you could fill with your accomplishments and skills let them speak for themselves.13. Wrong languageWhile making your list of jobs seem engaging and interesting can be hard (especially for janitors), using vivid, punchy, sentences to describe yourself and your skills can make your CV stand out among a pile of applications. Avoid overuse of I statements. Consider using a professional CV writing service to really polish your style.14. RequirementsYour CV is not the place to list your office culture, benefits, and salary requirements this can be touched a little in a covering letter, and mostly in the interview, at the offer stage. Unless you are coveted by headhunters (and even then) listing your requirements seems out of touch and combative.15. Your high school diplomaAs you gain experience, your high school diploma should be irrelevant to your resume as a whole. Take it off after four years, or after youve finished college whichever comes first.

10 Real Marketing Resume Examples That Got People Hired at Nike, Google or Yamaha

10 Real Marketing Resume Examples That Got People Hired at Nike, Google or Yamaha10 Real Marketing Resume Examples That Got People Hired at Nike, Google or YamahaMarketing is thriving. In a world where too many companies are fighting for the saatkorn customer,hiring a good absatzwirtschaft specialistis what makes the difference.If youre serious about working with leading global brands on their absatzwirtschaft strategies, youve come to the right place. Weve put together 10 real marketing resume examples by real people who got hired by the worlds top companies. Why not learn from those who already know the way?A marketing resume simply needs to sell itself. But how? First, you need to fill the resume with relevant information. Second,put it into an attractive shape. And these two steps need to complement each other. A great form without content is the same asgreat content without form a missed opportunity.Our real marketing resume samples will help you see the impact of the form and c ontent going hand in hand. And if you feel like you still need more guidance, check out our ultimate resume guide or download our ebook, completely free of charge. But lets show you some real stuff now Here are our 10 fruchtwein appealing real marketing resume examples1. Hummingbird Marketing Director Resume SampleIf youre applying for a senior sttte, you can get away with a wordier resume. The point is to describe your wealth of experience in a sufficiently detailed manner.Still, this resume could benefit from a clearer structure. Although its divided into several sections, its structure within these sections leaves much to be desired. Remember that nobody likes reading walls of text. When writing a resume of your own, try to use bullet points. They make your resume nice and easier to read.2. Nike Retail Brand Specialist Resume ExampleNike is a global, trend-setting brand. If you want to become one of the companys marketing specialists, you need to show that you know where youre he ading too.This marketing resume examples shows a young individual with a visual taste that matches the companys energy. You dont even need to speak Swedish to see the features that make this resume readable. Look at the balance between paragraphs and bullet points and how they convey the message in a different way.Bullet points talk about the applicants key responsibilities, each line being introduced by a powerful action verb. Short paragraphs in italics, on the other hand, contain the applicants first-person narrative of challenges and professional achievements.3. Sheraton Marketing Manager Resume ExampleThe following resume boasts an especially powerful Profile section. It includes the most important pieces of information in just four sentences. Nothing unnecessary or non-relevant.A comprehensive summary helps you prioritise information you want the hiring manager to see first. For Aisha Hakim, this meant highlighting his extensive experience and admirable linguistic skills. A sm art move that got him hired at such a multicultural company that Sheraton is.4. Google Team Leader Resume ExampleFirst, the length of this resume is fairly impressive. But hey, its no fluff - only relevant work experience. However, it might surprise you thatolder jobs are lacking a description. Why is that?If you have a long story to tell, remember to focus on the 3-4 most recent jobs you had. Its very likely that hiring managers wont be very keen on reading an extensive chronicle of your whole professional life. Also, theres simply no better way of demonstrating your achievements than with numbers. Notice how numbers appear throughout the whole resume wherever possible. If you can quantify your career, do it. Google likes it.5. Philips Marketing Management Intern Resume SampleStudents and fresh graduates often lack experience but exude passion for what they want to do. To write a good internship resume, you need to describe yourself as a motivated and enthusiastic individual. So w hats the secret of Dennis Bondarevs resume that got him hired at Philips?The lesson is- build your resume on your strengths points, not weaknesses. Focus on your soft skills, highlightyour education and show off the certificates that youve earned so far. And then just watch your experience grow with every internship you get.6. Yamaha EThe marketing resume of Juliam Prim wont tell us what he looks like, but we know he scored a cool job at Yamaha. If you want to learn more about the inclusion of your photo on your resume, heres what experts have to say.Besides the photo, what makes this one so special? See how the bullet points govern the structure of the resume and list the key responsibilities under each position. Also, notice how the visually dominant labels help the hiring managers see the chronology in the experience and education sections. A smooth journey, so to say.7. Planetromeo Social Media Officer Resume ExampleMarketing is tied closely with the companys philosophy and its objectives. And its the social media officer who is responsible for shaping the voice of the company in the online world. The introductory paragraph of Joseph Carreys resume conveys a clear message I share your values and vision, and we will work towards a common goal.Dont shy away from including details from your personal lifeif it has something to do with the position youre applying to. After all its stories we live, not dry facts.8. Hyatt-Regency Marketing Communications Manager Resume SampleSee how the clean layout and logical structure makes the resume easy to read.The bullet point is not the only tool for listing individual tasks in your Work experience section. Instead of bullet points and commas, you can come up with something more creative like vertical lines to divide your keywords.9. LOral Marketing Manager Resume ExampleBeing able to present yourself is one of the key skills the hiring managers seek. If they can see that you have a knack for the art of presentation, they ll instantly recognise your potential.Marketing is all about customers eyes. The bullet points introduce key responsibilities in short phrases and give the resume sample apowerful visual element. One may argue the icons for the job seekers hobbies are redundant, but they are sure catch the readers attention.10. Hard jupe Cafe Copywriter Resume ExampleThe position of copywriter at Hard Rock Cafe asks for something eccentric, and thats exactly what this resume stands for. Its bold and creative, uses bright colors and an unusual font type. Unless you step into the realm of Comic Sans, theres a high chance you can pick an original typeface that the hiring manager will appreciate. Use it for the headlines, but keep the body text clean by using one of the standard fonts like Verdana, Arial or Times New Roman. Also, one of the smart ways to demonstrate that you are skilled in communication is including your social media accounts. But dont forget to clean them up firstWant to see more resum e examples from people who got hired by the worlds top companies? Check out our Resume LibraryShare Your Feedback or Ideas in the Comments

The Confidential Secrets for Resume Hobbies Exposed

The Confidential Secrets for Resume Hobbies Exposed Resume Hobbies Can Be Fun for Everyone In addition, it guarantees an incredible entry in the work interview. Or maybe youre asking for work at a vinyl shop. Thus, the work interview can many times be a great time to share more about your hobbies. The business website provides you with whatever you will need to find the job. The 5-Minute Rule for Resume Hobbies Traveling can be great to grow any role where you might have to travel a whole lot, obviously. Hobbies may also paint an ruf of your nature and energy, giving you that precious edge over the remainder of the resume pile. If your hobby does not provide anything useful to the job, listing it could potentially have a negative effect on your probability of being hired. Such hobbies signify that youre somebody who has the capacity to work as part of a team. So How About Resume Hobbies? The very first thing you ought to be aware of is that a sorority resume does not ha ve to be 1 page. Managing an event isnt a childs play. There are usually three steps you have to follow to create a fantastic hobby section on your CV. If youre mixed up in a number of sports teams throughout the calendar year, look for a means to summarize the activity in a couple of words and be cautious not to overshare. The Fight Against Resume Hobbies You are able to reveal your hobby is cooking. Reading as a hobby proves that youve got a high degree of imagination. Your hobby is going to do that for you. Every hobby ought to have a crystal clear intention. Generally, hobbies dont have anything to do with this. For the large part, you only ought to list hobbies if theyre professionally relevant. Only consist of photography under hobbies if it is a personal avocation. Youve resolved to bring some intriguing hobbies to your resume. What You Can Do About Resume Hobbies Beginning in the Next 15 Minutes The huge majority of job ads do not need applicants to list person al interests on a resume, and thus dont feel as though you must. There are lots of jobs that require the worker to travel places and meet people. There are two or three interests that might help in a banking job interview. Some people believe that they will need to update their resume once during work search and submit that same resume to every one of the jobs theyre applying for. Hiring managers arent any different. Recruiters should make sure each employee will fit in with the business culture. If youre searching for an internship at a company such as Google, for instance, one previous intern says hiring managers wish to see interesting personal details on your CV. If youre searching for an internship at a company such as Google, for instance, one previous intern says hiring managers wish to see interesting personal details on your resume. Heres What I Know About Resume Hobbies Starbucks, for instance, is a business that puts a whole lot of emphasis on its brand. Researc h the business youre applying to. Every company requires a social networking manager regardless of what industry theyre in. An advertising business will love that you blog on the weekends since it understands that being a thriving blogger demands social media knowledge and the capability to produce intriguing content. Youre also predicted to comprehend the difference in English language in different English-speaking regions of the world. So besides improving your academic wisdom and experience, youve got other interests like keeping yourself active and fit. Being a high school baseball coach, as an example, may prove to an employer that youve got leadership abilities and the capacity to organize a group of men and women in order to accomplish a frequent objective. Woodworking Youre confident and you own a vision. Introducing Resume Hobbies In order to create your CV stick out from the crowd, every section should be captivating. Why you may incorporate the one resume sectio n that the majority of people dont. Below are a few common personal interests you might think about adding to your resume. Keep reading for a guide with expert suggestions for how to compose a personal interests section for your resume and what not to include together with ideal hobby examples for all kinds of jobseekers to use to produce an effective resume which will stick out from different candidates.

Imagine Your Life Without a Timeline How to Succeed on Your Own Terms

Imagine Your Life Without a Timeline How to Succeed on Your Own Terms Many people have told me that they feel behind in life because theyre failing to meet their timelines those life plans with milestones we all feel like we are supposed to achieve within defined time frames. These milestones and timelines are actually externally imposed, yet we internalize them so thoroughly that we feel like failures when were not on track with them.And so, I started wondering what life would look like without a timeline. Here are some ways to think about it, excerpted from my forthcoming book, What Game Are You Playing?.***When youre creating your game, first and foremost, ditch the timeline, whether its imposed by you or by someone else. Measuring yourself against an externally imposed timeline is the best way to let life pass you by. Also, when youve set a timeline for yourself, whenever the unexpected happens and throws you off track whether its fun and surpri se and opportunity or loss and struggle you feel like a loser because you didnt hit a milestone by a specific date. Take the pressure off by removing the timeline.This is really difficult for most people because we are taught to think in terms of timelines. Get a drivers license at 16, finish high school at 18, and finish college at 22. Then our timelines tell us by what age we should get a job and an apartment, buy a car, be in a serious relationship, get married, have kids, reach management and leadership levels at work, hit financial goals, buy a home, and do all of those other things we think were supposed to be doing.When I spoke with a colleague about this one day, she really freaked out. She said she couldnt even imagine a life game without a timeline, and she asked me what that would even look like because it was so far-fetched for her. I responded that it means you know, no matter what age you are, youll have opportunities to love and be loved in all sorts of ways by all s orts of people. (My experience is love rarely comes in the form I expect it to come in, but I have learned to embrace it nonetheless.)It means you can get married in your 20s, 30s, 40s or even your 80s. Some people get married once, some marry multiple times, and some not at all.It means you can have kids over a range of 20-30 years of your adult life or not at all. People have children through adoption, with a partner, or with the help of medical intervention. They can parent their children alone, with partners, and with extended support groups. People who have become parents at various ages and under varying circumstances have led happy lives and have great kids. The idea of an optimal age to have kids is an externally imposed one that you dont have to internalize or follow.It means that you work on financial goals every single day and that living within your means is the best way to achieve them. As such, making decisions about renting versus buying a home or building a financi al cushion arent part of a timeline but rather part of your everyday job to take care of yourself just like eating well, going to the gym, and sleeping.It means finding work that fits into the rest of your life, working hard, and contributing to your organization.It means knowing that if your work and value arent being appreciated, or that your work situation just isnt fitting with the rest of what you want to be doing in your life, you can find another situation. Hitting a management or avice-president level by a certain age is less important than contributing, being valued, and having interesting work.Our timelines are built around others expectations, so try to imagine designing your life around the things that are most important to you instead. Imagine that you focus on living life with joy and growth regardless of the timing. Imagine not feeling behind because you know you are playing your own game not someone elses.Get focused on where you want to grow and have experiences, like learning a language, or traveling to new places, or learning to code or to cultivate a vegetable garden or to dance or to laugh or to challenge yourself intellectually or at work with new assignments or to write a screenplay. These can be things that enhance your life both personally and professionally, because those two worlds actually go together in that the ways you want to grow personally also may help you grow professionally.Then, get focused on the kinds of people you want to do all of this with. Not specific names, but qualities of people those who are supportive of you, accept you for who you are, and will accompany you in your pursuit of joy and growth. Then go find more of these people and surround yourself with them.Yes, we all have to pay our bills. Get focused on what that equation looks like, too but only after youve thought about where your joy comes from, what kinds of growth you are seeking, and what kinds of relationships you want to invite into your life. F und those things first, and then think about how big your house needs to be and what brands of clothes you want to buy.Finally, dont compare yourself to others when youre trying to figure out if your life is going the way it needs to go. Youre living your life. Other people are living theirs. Comparisons arent valid because youre apples and theyre oranges. You can both be awesome and both be winning your own games at the saatkorn time.Instead, stay focused on what is right for you. Let the external pressure to measure up to others fall away. Its harder than it sounds, but remember that your life is not about playing someone elses game, so dont measure yourself by their rules and standards of success. Design, play, and win at your own game instead.Adapted fromWhat Game Are You Playing? A Framework for Redefining Success and Achieving What Matters Most, availableon September 10, 2019.Robin Moriarty, PhD, is a global business executive, speaker, author, adjunct professor, and thought l eader for businesses and nonprofit organizations. Connect with Robin at www.gutsy.world.