It is not unusual nowadays to find four different generations of workforce toiling away in the maze of cubicles or in the long tables of the open office. Millennials, Gen X-ers, Baby Boomers and Traditionalists work side by side, with each group having distinct work habits, motivators and preferences. The 50 year average age gap among employees show the change in work patterns in recent years brought about by recent financial crises, making it more prudent for baby boomers to keep on working beyond retirement age.

The differences between generations are distinct and unique as the people who represent them. Milennials want a work-life balance and job-hop. Baby boomers are loyal. Gen X are entrepreneurs and are results-oriented. Traditionalists have great work ethics. This can be both a boon and a bane for managers who need to balance the generations out in order to get the most out of their workforce.

Here are 5 strategies to help everyone get along at work:

1. Educate your team and management

Train your teams and managers on the differences of generations and work styles. It’s not enough that managers learn how to deal with different generations, each employee also needs to learn how to deal with the co-workers they work with.

There are many professional seminars on dealing with different generations available today. Most companies offer such programs in-house, recognizing the value of training employees on such topics.

2. Create multigenerational teams

When new projects come up, group your teams in accordance to skill and not age, and mix it up with each new task. Everyone has something to contribute and though the work styles and experiences may be different, with a shared goal and a shared sense of responsibility, people learn to work together better. It is too easy to build a team based on age group. However, this is not maximizing and balancing the talent of your workforce.

It is also beneficial to get an idea from each team member on who do they think should be part of their team for various tasks or to achieve specific goals. Such information is useful when you are creating teams in the future.

3. Establish a Mentoring Program

Establish a formal mentoring program in your office. Pick people who want to share what they know and people who want to learn or who need a little coaching. Mentoring can go both ways, especially with multigenerational employees. A traditionalist can share his experience with a millennial. The millennial in turn can share his knowledge of technology with those not comfortable with using it. This mentoring can be done even outside the office, in a more informal setting that will suit both parties. Mentoring aims to develop the employees career-wise and personally.

4. Celebrate little victories

Celebrate team victories, no matter how small and whether work-related or not, by hosting gatherings: Lunch together as a team, grab a drink or two after work, perhaps schedule bowling or some activity that everyone in the group can participate in. People who are closer in age will normally get together for lunch or quick snack in the office. Rarely do they invite people who are not in their generation. Managers or team leaders need to take initiative on getting the team together informally. People are more relaxed and open to new things outside the office.

5. Invest in Team Building

Schedule team building exercises for your division. Team building is an effective tool in building a cohesive unit. Shared tasks and goals, establishing trust and support from your co-workers goes a long way in bridging multigenerational gaps. Team building also emphasizes differences and individual contributions of the group in achieving specific targets. It can also address personal issues between team members.

Team building is needed when there are conflicts in the office, different generations working together, and when there are many new faces in the team.

Featured photo credit: office office/anurag agnihotri via flickr.com

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I’m not really the knitting type, but I have lots of friends who are. This video shows how quickly you can create a substantial scarf!

After watching this video, you’ll be able to save a bit of cash and create your own neck-warming device for the winter months. It’s so easy that anyone, even those without awesome kitting skills, should be able to grasp the technique.

Once you’ve watched, let me know if you’re going to try to create an “infinity scarf” of your own, and if the video made it easy to do so!

Featured photo credit: Scarf/Kim Werker via flickr.com

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Social media marketing has become a popular strategy for businesses of all shapes and sizes, and despite many advocating the strategy as “free advertising,” it’s actually one of the hardest marketing tactics to crack.

The truth of the matter is that social media marketing is much more than “build it, and they will come.” To help you with social media success in 2015, here are 10 tools proven to help boost traffic:

1. BuzzSumo

First things first; you need to know what to post about, right? BuzzSumo helps you to find out what your audience really want (not what you think they want).

Launched in 2014, BuzzSumo has become one of the top-rated social media tools in less than a year.

Simply enter your industry/topic phrase, and BuzzSumo will list the most popular existing articles, infographics and videos by the number of social media shares they have.

2. PageModo

PageModo is a Facebook application designed to help you create cover photos, custom tabs and contests – a must-have for those new to Facebook or those with no knowledge of design.

We’re all aware that visual imagery and content on social media is crucial for success (if you didn’t – you do now!), so this tool is really useful. Whether you’re looking for a professional feel or looking to have some fun, PageModo has it covered.

3. Snip.ly

Snip.ly is more than just a URL-shortening tool. Snip.ly allows you to create a CTA (call to action) on every link that you share via social media (or anywhere). This is a great tool for generating traffic to your site by simply sharing other people’s articles!

For every page you share, you can create a customized button with your CTA text and link. It’s extremely easy to use and provides good analytics, so you can clearly identify which campaigns work well and which ones need some improvement.

4. AddThis

Are you familiar with social media sharing buttons? They’re visible on almost every article and blog post these days, allowing readers to quickly share interesting content with their friends and followers without leaving the page. That’s what AddThis does, and it does it well.

5. Sprout Social

Sprout Social is a social media management tool, which allows you to schedule and publish posts to all your social media channels from one place. Draft, schedule, queue and post messages to Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn.

What’s more, Sprout Social will analyze your followers’ engagement patterns and determine the optimal times to post your content.

6. Socedo

Wish you could qualify leads on Twitter? You can with Socedo – a platform for sales teams that helps them generate relevant leads based on social media data.

Just enter keywords, hashtags or any other search criteria, and Socedo will return a prospect list. It even helps you automatically favourite tweets, follow prospects and send direct messages to start a conversation.

7. SocialToaster

SocialToaster is making great strides in combining gamification for sharing brand-related content with super fans to drive reach and engagement – think of it as a post-modern fan club.

Existing customers visiting your company’s website, Facebook page, or even physical location can become an official social advocate via a simple sign-up form. Then they connect their Twitter, Facebook etc. social media accounts. Points are awarded for sign-up and connection of accounts – which add up to prizes.

8. TweetDeck

This FREE and easy-to-use Twitter management tool allows you to oversee all aspects of your multiple twitter accounts in one interface. Run live feeds targeting specific phrases or hashtag, and schedule tweets to go out at scheduled times.

You can even retweet and reply to tweets from your TweetDeck.

9. Share As Image

Images on social media get more shares than text posts, but you don’t have to be an expert in Photoshop to create good visuals for your social media posts. Share As Image is a text photo overlay tool that even the least-creative person in your team could use.

This is dead-simple to use, and it is effective if you’re in a bit of a rush to get some timely content published.

10. Picreel

Okay, so this isn’t really a social media tool, but it works in conjunction with your social media campaign.

Let’s say your social media campaign has been successful, and you’ve gained a boost in incoming traffic. But just because people visit your website doesn’t mean they actually convert. In fact, according to Bounce Exchange, 96% of all website visitors will never return.

This is why it’s important to optimize your website with tools such as Picreel, which helps you capture visitors when they’re leaving with customizable exit offers and transforming those exits into conversions. Picreel allows you to custom the designs of your offers to fit in with your existing branding and is simple to use (no need for code!).

So there you have it, 10 social media marketing tools to help boost traffic to your site. Which one is your favorite? Comment below to let me know about a great tool I might have missed!

Featured photo credit: phone via localm2.com

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We understand the concept of first impressions: it’s when our brains make a split-second conclusion based on little evidence.

What if I told you however, that there is far more to that process than you might have imagined?

This video throws light behind the curtain. Our brain has two speeds: fast and slow. Oftentimes it will come to a quick, yet often incorrect, conclusion about a given problem or situation.

After watching this short clip, you’ll have a far better understanding about how your mind processes information, and will be better prepared to deal with your “first impressions” in the future.

Featured photo credit: Brain Tricks via youtube.com

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Have you ever wondered why authors are often depicted writing in busy coffee shops instead of in the quiet of their own home? Or why artists like to paint outdoors where the breeze and the sound of mother nature seemingly infiltrates their creative zone? Well, according to a paper published by the Journal of Consumer Research, the ideal work environment entails a little bit of background noise.

In the study, a team at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign lead by Ravi Mehta separated their volunteers into four groups and asked each to complete a Remote Associates Test, which often used to test creative thinking. Each group was asked to work in differing levels of volume: 50 decibels, 70 decibels, 85 decibels and complete silence. Researchers found that the participants that had been working in an environment with 70 decibels of background noise performed significantly better than their counterparts. The author of the study states that: “getting into a relatively noisy environment may trigger the brain to think abstractly, and thus generate creative ideas.”

To ensure you get the most out of your time spent working, here are five background noise resources you can use to boost your creativity and productivity!

1. Coffitivity

Inspired by the idea that background noise can boost productivity, Justin Kaulzer created Coffitivity – an online site that is also available as app. If you find the ambience of a coffee shop or the bustle of a college library a comforting, familiar, productivity booster then turn on some of Coffitivity’s looping soundtracks.

2. Raining FM

If you want to keep your background noise as simple as possible then why not listen to the most calming noise available: rain. Whether you prefer the beats of light drizzle against a window pane, or a full thunder storm gets your creative juices flowing, you can choose your perfect, rainy weather with Raining.fm.

3. 99U Music

Catalogued using different themes, these playlists provide new music for those of you who are tired of your Spotify or iTunes playlists. Simply pick a genre that’s bound to get you going and get your work done in no time.

4. Ambient-Mixer

If you’re favourite background noise is traditional white noise, then you may want to try Ambient Mixer out. Not only can you listen to various loops of white noise, you can also combine them with other tracks, adjust volumes and even share your productivity boosting mixes with others.

5. Noisli

Speaking of mixing your own sounds, our last background noise provider Noisli allows you to mix the sounds of the outdoors, coffee shops, the sea, storms and many more noisy locations to help you focus on your work!

Featured photo credit: gratisography via gratisography.com

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There’s no denying that the ability to take photos on your smartphone has changed the world. Smartphone photography is easy, fun, quick and sharable, but still lacks the patience and grit of using a traditional camera.

For years, companies have been attempting to create lenses that lend the user the same feel and proficiency as a camera, while maintaining the small, unobtrusive, convenient nature of the smart phone. Smartphone photography lens company Moment may have officially combined the two perfectly. Meet the Moment Case:

Although the case itself may look simplistic, it is an intricate mount for both the wide-angle and telephoto Moment lenses which were released in 2014. What makes this case different from any of it’s predecessors is that it offers half-press focus locking and full-press shutter release functions like a real camera.

The case then communicates with your phone using Bluetooth LE.

Moment launched their Kickstarter on January 27, 2015, and have already received numerous backers. Those who contribute have a choice of either a black and white or entirely black case for $49, while those who only want lenses can purchase one for $125, or both for $199.

The company’s founder, Marc Barros, says that the Moment Case took five months to develop and that it was the most challenging design project he’s worked on so far. Currently, the case is only compatible with the iPhone 6, however the company hopes to expand their models if this first campaign is successful.

Comment below and let us know what you think of Moment’s new product!

Images: Moment Case | Kickstarter

Featured photo credit: Moment Case via kickstarter.com

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Depression may occur due to an improper and unhealthy diet in many people, according to latest research. In recent years, scientist conducted a variety of studies on the potential relationship between depression and improper diets. They found that nutrition has an increased effect on the human body, as well as emotional states related to depression.

Naturally Combatting the Cause of Depression

According to recent studies, diets high in fats and sugars may be a factor that causes depression in many people. These types of diets contribute to emotional and biological changes in our minds and bodies.

When we eat poorly, our bodies become deprived of essential nutrients. The human body recognizes, reacts, and regards nutrient deficiencies as a potential disease. In turn, the body releases proteins known as cytokines to try to protect the body and fight off the perceived intruder.

This natural and vital protection process is similar to how the body’s immune system works when trying to heal a physical wound that may cause inflammation. The brain receives signals when inflammation is detected.

Chronic and extended health problems can easily turn into depression because of the negative thoughts people get when triggered by an illness. Physicians refer to this as sickness behavior, which is surprisingly similar to depression, where people are unwilling to be productive, eat well, or get out of bed.

For example, The Washington Post covered a story that included Jodi Corbett, a 47-year-old battling depression for more than twenty years. Jodi initiated an experimental diet that she believes took her off antidepressants. Jodi said she stopped eating food products containing gluten. Gluten is a protein composite found in rye, barley, wheat, and related grains. It took only one month for Jodi to rid herself of her lifelong depression and lose several pounds.

“It was like a veil lifted and I could see life more clearly. It changed everything.”

She added more about her success.

“This was such a simple solution. I could have saved myself a lot of money and a lot of misery if someone had asked about my diet 15 years ago. My life could have been different.”

Jodi Corbett’s example is just the tip of the iceberg many researchers are exploring when it comes to food’s impact on the mind. For years, scientists focused on the mind being the essential cause of depression; however, new research has uncovered the possibility that a healthy diet can play an instrumental part in relieving depression in most people.

Diets That Make a Difference

Big Think reported the findings of a study comparing a western diet that contains more sugars and fat, to the Mediterranean diet predominantly comprised of vegetables, oils, and nuts.

“Those who lived almost exclusively on the traditional Mediterranean diet were about half as likely to develop depression over the period as those eating more unhealthy food; even when you control for things like education and economic status.”

Michael Berk is a professor of psychiatry at the Deakin University School of Medicine in Australia. He offered an explanation to The Washington Post on how diets affect our mental health.

“Traditional diets, the kinds of foods your grandmother would have recognized, have been associated with a lower risk of mental health issues. There’s lots of hype about the Mediterranean diet [fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, nuts, fish] but the traditional Norwegian diet [fish, shellfish, game, root vegetables, dairy products, whole-wheat bread] and the traditional Japanese diet [fish, tofu, rice] appear to be just as protective.”

University of California in Los Angeles, clinical psychologist George Slavich has studied depression for years. When discussing causes of depression, Dr. Slavich sees the body having more precedence over the mind.

He says, “I don’t even talk about it as a psychiatric condition anymore. It does involve psychology, but it also involves equal parts of biology and physical health.”

Today, treating depression with healthier diets is becoming more common. For instance, the U.S. Department of Defense initiated a trial program that delivers nutrient rich foods to soldiers diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD, claiming eating a healthy diet has proven to be as effective as preventative mental health counseling in preventing depression.

Not everyone is completely onboard in citing the body over the mind when it comes to depression. As with most healthcare professional, Dr. Berk supports an integrative approach to treating mental illness, including added traditional treatments, exercise, as well as experimenting with diet modifications. With respect to depression, Dr. Berk offers more.

“For a mood disorder like depression, there are hundreds if not thousands of risk pathways that all contribute to the disorder. Targeting one factor doesn’t target all the factors that cause someone to develop depression. That’s why you need to develop an integrated package of care as the norm.”

Most people agree that healthy and nutritional diets should be included in an eclectic and holistic approach to treating depression.

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Life in Japan can be challenging, but also absolutely amazing and wonderful. Having spent two years in the country of the rising sun as a kid I still remember quite a lot of things that kept me thrilled and amazed. Here are ten things about the Japanese lifestyle that you should know before moving in or traveling to this wonderful country!

1. Christmas is a lover’s holiday

Christmas is not a traditional holiday in Japan. Though, in recent decades it became popular to decorate everything with lights and buy fur trees, do not expect a traditional evening meal with a turkey in a family setting. Think of Christmas in Japan more like of Valentines day in the US. On December, the 24th you are expected to ask out your date to a fancy place, think of a unique date idea or some other couple activity and yes, prepare a gift, but a romantic one. In Japan, gifts are rarely exchanged among family members and friends unless that was pre-arranged earlier.

Another peculiar Christmas tradition in Japan is going festive at KFC! It emerged after a surprisingly successful ad campaign in 1974, where a group of foreigners were desperate to find a turkey for Christmas and ended up celebrating at KFC. There’s always a huge queue in front of any KFC at Christmas as everyone are eager to grab a 40$ special meal of chicken, wine, cake and champagne. The tradition is so popular in Tokyo, that you need to pre-order your Christmas-special chicken meal and book a table in advance!

2. Keep your trash with you

One of the first things you notice in Japan – trash cans are impossible to find at public places! Yet, there’s not litter on the streets either and by no means you should become the one who leaves it! So, what are you expected to do with your bento pack or a melon soda can? Put it in your bag and carry it home like all the Japanese people do. Alternatively, veteran expats pointed out there are public trash cans available at McDonald’s and konbini (convenience) stores.

When living in Japan, you will learn a lot about handling trash. As the islands are tiny and densely-populated, it was crucial for the Japanese to focus on recycling and minimizing their impact on the nature around. That’s why one of the first things you receive when moving in your apartment is a gomi guide – an immensely detailed instruction on all-things-trash, from sorting it the right way to days when certain types of waste are collected. Caveat: if you missed throwing the appropriate type of trash on the right day, you will have to wait for another week till you can get rid of it!

3. Driving experience is different

First of all, you need to get used to the fact that your steering wheel is now on the right side of the car and you are obliged to drive on the left side of the road. Also, all the speed limits are listed in kilometers, not in miles. Make sure you can convert them correctly before stepping on that gas pedal. Traffic lights are horizontal and double stacked, so it takes some time to figure out which one is working for you now. While most Japanese drivers are really accurate and attentive, there’s another road hazard – careless cyclists who often pop out unexpectedly on intersections and sometimes ride on the opposite side of the road.

Remember, you are not allowed to drive in Japan with a US-only license. You should either have an International Driving Permit that can be retrieved from American Automobile Association (AAA) or the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) back in US. However, those are valid only for short-term stays in Japan (less than 90 days). If you plan to settle in Japan for longer, you should either get driver’s license of the international standard or switch overseas driving license to Japanese ones.

Don’t get upset if the whole thing looks difficult to you, Japan has impeccable train service that will get you to any place at no time.

4. Bowing isn’t as easy as you think

You do know that the Japanese bow at practically any occasion from a greetings to apologizes. Learning to do it the naturally graceful way for a foreigner may be really tricky. Here are three main types of bows:

• eshaku – leaning about 15-degrees in an informal setting and as a greeting.
• keirei – 30-degree bow to show a higher level of respect say to your boss or other people who are higher than you on social scale
• saikeirei – 45-degree bow reserved for major occasions like meeting the emperor or say when you’ve screwed up really big (think destroying someone car).

5. Always carry an umbrella in summer

The rainy season (tsuyu or baiyu) takes place in most parts of Japan from early June till late July and a month earlier at Okinawa. Whereas it does not rain straight for two months in a row, the weather becomes really unexpected. You can leave the house while the sun shines bright to realize it’s raining cat and dogs in a mere hour when you are about to leave the shop. Unless you’d like to spend ¥100 each time it starts raining (or get soaking wet), do carry an umbrella all the time.

Also, do not forget it’s impolite to enter any store or other venue with your dripping umbrella. There are special boxes installed outside where you should place it. They are never stolen, yet if you don’t have a particularly distinctive parasol, it might be accidentally taken by someone else. Surprisingly, you can find it the next day at the same box as that someone returned it for you.

6. Policemen are really friendly and concerned (sometimes even too much)

Japan traditionally tops the list of the safest countries in the world with extremely low crime and murder rates. Hardly anyone actually locks the doors at home and if you lost your phone or wallet at the train station, there are 99.99% chances you’ll get it back the next day with the same amount of cash. Therefore, Japanese police is busy sorting out other issues the citizens have. Say, if you got lost in Tokyo, a policemen will surely guide you back to your home or the nearest metro stations. You can chit chat with them and joke all the way back home. Also, these folks can call you a cab and lend you money if you had a rough drinking night and missed the last train.

However, as Karin Muller pointed out in her book “Japanland: A Year In Search of Wa” sometimes the local police friendly concerns can become too much. The local officers were really concerned about her nightly running habits, numerously talking her out of jogging around the beach after dark for no specific safety reason. But that’s kind of a cute motherly-like concern, right?

7. There’s no need to double-check anything

There are zero chances you will receive the wrong amount of change from a cashier. Not a single chance the item you ordered would be fake or lack any accessories that were sold with it. Japan has no tolerance for scamming or dishonesty. Not only it is highly shameful to trick anyone, but also rather costly with huge fines and legal consequences for those who’ve attempted and got caught.

Also, bargaining isn’t a thing in Japan. All the prices are fixed even at street markets. Do not ask for a discount unless it’s already listed on the product.

8. Night clubs are not for dancing

It is just as odd as it sounds – you are not allowed to dance at a vast majority of night/dance clubs around Japan. Basically, any night venue in Japan has a “Please, no dancing sign” and if you get rebellious after a few shots and still decide to get low on the dance floor, you can get kicked out. According to a law adopted back in 1948 (and never changed since then), clubs with a floor space less than 66 sq/m  (710 sq ft) cannot obtain the proper license and allow customers to dance. A later law adopted in 1984 bans dancing after midnight. Real estate prices in Japan are whooping. Finding and renting a place over 66 sq/m gets extremely expensive and hard to find. Add extra fees for obtaining “dancing license” from the government and we get an absolutely broke club owner who will need to work for decades before he starts earning at least something from the venue.

If you plan to have a night out dancing till dawn, look for clubs based outside the city or in industrial areas like ageHa based in Shin-Kiba (port district) in Tokyo. Free shuttle buses run from/to various parts of town, plus the venue’s open till late with an array of professional dancers to round out the onstage entertainment. However, there’s been a slow shift in the society and the “no dancing” law could be modified by Tokyo’s 2020 Olympics.

9. There are special sleepers to attend the bathroom

First of all, when entering the house you are supposed to take of your shoes and either put on the sleepers proposed by the owners or walk barefoot around cozy tatami floor. Also, there’s a set of special sleepers reserved for walking in the bathroom only. Usually they are left next to the door or right in front of the entrance. You are supposed to wear them only while using the toilet and it’s extremely embarrassing to forget changing them back after you’ve finished all your business there. Also, it’s polite to put them back just the same way they were standing, so that the next person could easily slip into them.

You’ll find the same “bathroom sleepers” in numerous restaurants and venues around Japan. Make sure you do not end up walking in them back to your table. Also, you are required to take your shoes and leave them aside before entering a fitting room at the shop. All of them have special clean podiums where you should stand barefoot.

10. Laundry is usually done every day

Basically, each Japanese family does the laundry every day. By 7 am you can see an array of crispy clean clothes drying outside. Usually, it is considered inappropriate to wear any clothing item twice without washing it first. That’s a crucial point to consider if you plan to share your living space with a Japanese person.

Featured photo credit: Moyan Brenn via flickr.com

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What is the first thing you do when you have a problem? Find solutions?

The first thing you have to do to resolve any problem is not to find solutions. It’s to ask yourself important questions.

Similar to a mathematical problem you had to solve in elementary school, there is always a question at the end of each problem. If there isn’t a specific question at the end of each problem, you won’t know what to solve.

Below are 10 steps you can follow to systematically solve any problem you have. At the end of each step, you’ll find suggested questions that help you solve your problem.

1. Assess if your problem needs to be solved.

Why find solutions to a problem when your problem doesn’t need to be solved in the first place?

Your mind loves to create problems for you to solve. It’s mentally stimulating. But sometimes, if you take a step back and assess your problem, you may find that your problem may not be something you need to solve.

For example, my friend told me that drinking coke is his vice. But his vice isn’t necessary something that needs to be solved. If the benefits he receives from drinking coke outweigh the benefits of not drinking it, why does he need to change his habit? Even if he tries to change, it’s highly likely he would fail because of the benefit he receives from drinking coke.

So whenever you face a new problem, first ask yourself why you want to solve the problem. Assess the cost and benefits of solving and not solving the problem and determine if the problem is still a problem you need to solve.

Suggested Questions:

• Why do you want to solve this problem?
• What are the benefits and costs of solving or not solving this problem?
• Is the benefit of solving this problem more than the benefit of not solving this problem?
• Is the cost of solving this problem more than the cost of not solving this problem?

2. Identify the underlying problem clearly.

Every time you have a problem, go deeper and ask yourself if there is a deeper underlying problem. What you define as the problem may just be a symptom.

For example, you have a constant headache. Taking medicine will only resolve this problem short-term. It will only help you ease your pain for now. Your headache may just be  a symptom of the problem.

The real problem could be a lack of sleep and dehydration. And if you go deeper and understand why you allow yourself so little sleep, you may find that the bigger problem you have is poor time management or work stress.

Identifying the underlying problem helps you get to the root of the issue. Solving it helps you remove all the small, recurring symptoms that it creates.

If your problem isn’t clearly defined, then there is no point in finding solutions to it. Because you will end up solving the wrong problem or a problem that is of little value to you.

Suggested Questions:

• What is the underlying problem here?
• Is the problem you have defined a symptom instead?
• What could be causing your current problem now?

3. Define specific and measurable objectives.

Now that you have defined your problems clearly, you can start to develop a strategic plan to tackle your problem.

But before you think of solutions, think of the objectives you are trying to achieve first. Because your problem will never be resolved if you do not have specific and measurable objectives to tell you that your problem has been resolved.

For example, you have identified that your problem is not having enough money to support yourself.

Finding more ways to earn money is good but without a clear objective you can’t check at any point in time if you have resolved your problem or not.

However, if you have determined your objective is to earn $5,000 each month in order to solve a financial problem, you will know that you are beginning to solve your problem when you do earn $5,000 in a month.

Moreover, it’s easier to come up with strategies and test their effectiveness when you have specific and measurable objectives defined.

Suggested Questions:

• What are your objectives?
• What are you trying to achieve by resolving this problem?
• Are your objectives specific and measurable?
• Does your objectives let you know your progress at any point in time?
• Does your objectives help you determine if you have solved your problem or not?

4. Come up with as many solutions as you can.

The key to this step is to not filter any ideas you have.

No matter how crazy or how impossible your ideas may sound at first, write them down. Think about the constraints later (discussed in next step.) For now, just let your mind think freely and come up with as many solutions as possible.

For example, if you want to spend 2 hours more each week with your family, think of all the things you are willing to give up for your family. It could be spending less time watching TV, cutting down your commute time or spending less time at work. Even if they don’t seem possible at first, don’t dismiss them yet.

If you are lost, look for other people who have the same problem as you and understand how they have solved their problem. Their experience will give you great insights into how to solve your problem.

Suggested Questions:

• What can you do to reach your objectives?
• What do you think is impossible to do but could help you achieve your objectives?
• How can you achieve your objectives if you aren’t limited by any constraints?
• Who has the same problem as you?
• How did they solve their problem?

5. Determine your constraints and refine your solutions.

Now that you have come up with solutions, it’s time to determine your constraints. Your constraints could be time, deadlines, money, resources or even fears that are blocking you from reaching your objectives.

Using the same example above, you have identified that to have more time for your family the solution is to spend less time at work. However, you feel that it’s not possible to knock off work time because you have so many things to do.

Determine if your constraints are true or just assumptions. Can you eliminate your constraints? Perhaps some of your work doesn’t need to be completed urgently.

Even if your constraints are true and you can’t eliminate them, use them to help you come up with better solutions. Combine your constraints with your initial solution and ask yourself a better question.

So for the example above, ask yourself questions such as:

• How do I knock off work time while completing the work I need to produce? (Maybe I can trade tasks with my colleagues and do the work that I can do more efficiently.)
• How can I do my work faster and produce the same outcome? (Maybe I can improve my personal workflow or change the existing way of doing things.)

Suggested Questions:

• What constraints do you have that prevent you from solving your problem?
• Is your constraint true or just an assumption?
• Can you eliminate the constraints you have?
• What questions can you ask yourself to come up with a better solution?
• How can you do things differently but yet produce the same results?

6. Pick the best solution.

Having many solutions is good, but it’s important to pick one solution and focus on it.

To pick the best solution, go through your list of solutions and identify the solution that will give you the most results but takes the least time, effort and resources.

Why should you do this?

Implementing the solution that produce the most results will be fine if your solution works out. But what if it doesn’t? You need to think about what you will lose if your solution fails completely. Is it something you can live with?

Choose a solution which you can implement quickly and test if it works or not.

However, bear in mind, don’t pick the solution that is quick to implement but doesn’t produce the result you want. Always think of the results a solution can potentially provide, then implement the solution.

Suggested Questions:

• How well can this solution solve your problem and meet your objectives?
• How much time, effort and resources do you need to implement this solution?
• Which solutions give you the most results but takes the least time, effort and resources?
• If this solution fails, can you live with it?
• Will this solution provide the results you desire?

7. Break the solution down into small action steps.

If you don’t make your solution actionable and easy for you to do, you won’t do it.

Let’s say you have a messy home and your solution is to clean it up. But cleaning it up seems like a lot of work. So what do you do?

You break it into smaller tasks that you can do within 5 – 30 minutes. For example:

• Put the books on the table back into the cupboard.
• Empty the trash.

Instead of tackling your problem or implementing your solution fully, chunk it down to bite size so that you can do a bit each day without overwhelming yourself.

Suggested Questions:

• What do you need to do to implement this solution?
• How can you break the solution down into small action steps?
• What can you do within 5 to 30 minutes?
• Are the action steps manageable or still too overwhelming?
• How can you break your action steps even further?

8. Ask for help.

You don’t have to solve your problem alone. But you also don’t want to turn your problem into other people’s problem.

After you break down your solution into small actionable steps, it’ll be easier for you to ask others for help, and others are more likely to help you because you will have made it simple for them to help you.

Go through your list of action steps, pick tasks that you think others can do better and faster than you. And simply ask others for help. It doesn’t have to be restricted to friends and family. You can hire a virtual assistant online or someone professional to help you implement your strategy.

Apart from helping you with action steps, you can also ask or hire someone to be your accountability partner. For example, hiring a trainer to help you lose weight.

You will report your progress to that person every week and tell him or her what you are going to do next week. Having someone holding you accountable will keep you on track.

Suggested Questions:

• What action steps are easy enough that others are willing to help you?
• What action steps can others do better and faster than you?
• Who will be suitable to help you with these tasks?
• Do you need someone professional to help you with some of the action steps?
• Who can you seek or hire to be your accountability partner?

9. Prioritize, schedule and follow up.

For the remaining action steps, prioritize them according to importance. Similar to step #6, pick the action steps that take the less time and effort to do but give you the most results.

You want to start off with some easy tasks to get your momentum going and let them build up your confidence.

Pick a few action steps that you think you can complete in a week and schedule them. Then, find a time each week to schedule your next action steps for the week.

For those action steps that you have outsourced to others in step #8, you also need to schedule a time to follow up with the other party and check their progress.

This step is crucial because it minimizes procrastination. If you don’t put your action steps on your calendar, you most likely won’t do it.

Suggested Questions:

• What are three to five action steps that you can complete this week?
• When would you be doing these action steps?
• What actions do you need to take next week?
• When would you be following up on the action steps that you have outsourced?
• Have you scheduled these action steps on your calendar?

10. Take action and go back to the previous steps if necessary.

After you have scheduled your action steps, take action accordingly. If you are stuck, go back to any of the previous steps and revise your strategy.

Don’t be afraid to start all over again. You have already gained knowledge and experience in solving the problem from this process.

Even if you are not stuck, it’s good to take a step back and see if you are solving the correct problem, using the most effective strategies and making progress.

Also, check if you have already resolved the problem with the objectives you established in step #3. If you have resolved your problem, there’s no need to carry out the other miscellaneous action steps. Just celebrate what you have achieved so far and congratulate yourself for a job well done.

Suggested Questions:

• Are the actions that you have taken producing any results?
• Are you feeling stuck or not seeing any progress?
• Which step do you need to go back to and revise your strategy?
• Have your objectives in step #3 been met?
• If so, do you still need to carry out the other miscellaneous action steps?

Featured photo credit: Worried!/Alon via flickr.com

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