5 Skills to Help You Succeed in a Sales Job

5 Skills to Help You Succeed in a Sales JobNational Salespersons Day5 Skills to Help You Succeed in a Sales JobIf youre not a salesperson, youve met a few in your lifetime. If you havent, youve been living under a rock, stuck in an elevator for many years, or youre Moammar Gadhafi.Those of us who are unfamiliar with the pressures of selling something may be the same people who find the art of selling distasteful. But in good times, good salespeople can boost a businesss fortunes, and those of everyone else who works for that business.So, today, we honor the people who bring home the bacon for our employers. Its the 11th annual National Salespersons Day, when we pay tribute to those who sell their companies products and services.The average non-salesperson may think that working in sales is easier than their own jobs, and all you have to excel at is schmoozing and befriending would-be clients. Ive never worked in sales, and I used to think that way before I worked more closely with sa les teams in previous roles over the last 15 years.Sales (getting businesses or someone to fork over their money) has a lot in common with job landseeking (getting an employer to pay for your services). In fact, salespeople and job seekers need many of these same five skillsListening to Your Audience. Salespeople need to hear their clients and potential clients address the things that keep them up at night. Job seekers need to know what challenges the employer is facing. When you know your audiences pain, you can tailor your sales pitch to show you can offer solutions.Knowing Your Product. Salespeople need to know every detail behind what their companies sell, so they can articulate what their products and services can do for a client. Job seekers need to know their own unique qualifications and value for the same reason.Flexibility. A sales pro can plan what theyre going to do for an entire day, but must be prepared in case something more urgent mucks it up, such as a prospect with a laundry list of questions, or a procurement manager who wants a conference call with you and his boss to review sales terms before they buy. Likewise, job seekers must be ready for whatever an interviewer might throw their way.Presentation Skills. Salespeople need to be comfortable giving live presentations, using presentation software such as PowerPoint, and answering tough questions. Ditto for job seekers trying to impress prospective employers (and yes, some people have even done presentations in their job interviews).Relationship Building. Its not enough to make the sale and go away. You need to follow up with a client to see how your product or service has helped them, and see if theres something else you and your company can do for them. Relationship building is key at every stage of the job hunt, from networking to interviewing, follow-up, and on-the-job success.If youre looking for a sales job, it looks like a good time to land one. The U.S. economy is rebounding, which m eans employers need people to boost revenue and help them grow.If youre not in sales and have some of these skills, you may have what it takes to work in a sales roleeven if you dont want to admit it. In some way, theres at least a little salesperson in each of us.

10 Companies Still Hiring Seasonal Summer Employees

10 Companies Still Hiring Seasonal Summer Employees10 Companies Still Hiring Seasonal Summer Employees Summer is almost upon us- despite what the weather forecaster and Mother Nature have to say. But luckily, there are many companies that are still looking for seasonal and parte-time employees. So get your resume ready- these ten companies are looking for you. What Roles Sales Associate, Sales Assistant, and moraWhere Hiring San Francisco, CA New York, NY Troy, MI Miami, FL East Hampton, NY Southampton, NY & more.What Employees Say Their commission system is amazing- it really allows you to make more money by working hard. Salary raises and promotions come often if youre making a lot of sales. - Current EmployeeWhat Roles Retail Cosmetics Sales, Retail Sales, Retail Pricing Associate, Customer Experience Support, Receiving, Receiver, and moreWhere Hiring New York, NY Daly City, CA Portland, TN Houston, TX Corte Madera, CA Springdale, OH Chesapeake, VA Baytown, TX Indianapolis, IN & more.What Employees Say Youll become an expert at multitasking and working in a fast-paced environment- skills youll need at any job. Management will push you to do your best. - Former EmployeeWhat Employees Say I loved working with brides every day and getting to be a part of their day, it was fun to dress them up in their vision. There were tons of learning experiences to be had from managers, other consultants, or the wonderful alterations ladies. Great hours, flexible working hours, pleasant coworkers. - Former EmployeeSeasonal Perks Disney is upping its hiring bonus for full- and part-time workers, the Orlando Sentinel reports . New hires may receive up to $3,000 to fill the 3,500 openings the park anticipates.For full or part-time housekeeping, a $1,250 bonus can be earned for the $10.50 per hour job, which is more than double the $500 bonus the company offered in 2017. Full- or part-time lifeguards can earn as much as $1,000 in a bonus, while bus d rivers and seasonal lifeguards can receive a $500 bonus. Culinary chefs can earn $3,000. To receive the bonus, employees must remain on board for at least 30 days following training.What Roles Food & Beverage Fine Dining Server, Club 33 Fine Dining Food & Beverage Busser, Store Operations Host, Guest Research Specialist, Linen Control Attendant, and moreWhere Hiring Anaheim, CA Kissimmee, FL Glendale, CA Hong Kong & more.What Employees Say If youre the type of person that loves people and making magic, youll love any job at this park. It is incredibly fulfilling working with these cast members and guests. The gruppe and the experiences are the best. You get some perks as well. 16 times a year, you can bring in three guests (there are blackout dates). You get small discounts on some food and merchandise. - Current EmployeeWhat Roles Pool Technician, Marketing Coordinator, Cashier, Server, Maintenance, Event Coordinator, Retail Team Member, Retail Gift Shop Cashier, and moreWhe re Hiring Vallejo, CA Eureka, MO San Antonio, TX Gurnee, IL Queensbury, NY Marietta, GA & more.What Employees Say Gained a lot of experience that have been very useful in following jobs. Great coworkers and managers. Free admission to the park was really nice. - Former EmployeeWhat Roles Cashier, Footwear Sales Associate, Specialty Retail Apparel Sales Associate, Associate Designer, and moreWhere Hiring Coraopolis PA Baltimore, MD Sunnyvale, CA Bradenton, FL White Plains, NY Tupelo, MS & more.What Employees Say Management always willing to help. Team is super friendly. Easy application and called within a few days. Willing to help you move up. Great for college students. - Current EmployeeWhat Roles Service Agent, Customer Assistance Representative, Driver, Where Hiring Colma, CA San Francisco, CA Denver, CO Wayne, PA Houston, TX Dayton, OH Pittsfield, MA & more.What Employees Say Great benefits, plenty of room to grow, and move up within the company. There are very fun e vents that you can take advantage of if you sell really well. - Current EmployeeWhat Roles Park Ranger, Biological Science Technician, Physical Science Technician, Student Trainee, and moreWhere Hiring Point Reyes Station, CA Kalaupapa, HI Gunnison, CO Washington, DC West Glacier, MT & more.What Employees Say Mission-driven work. Great culture. Dedicated employees. Interesting projects. - Current EmployeeWhat Roles Aquatics Director, North Woods Camp Director, Lifeguards, Swim Instructors, Spiritual Life Director, Ropes, General Store Clerk, and moreWhere Hiring Oakland, CA Dallas, TX Seattle, WA Naperville, IL Hillsboro, OR Newport News, VA & more.What Employees Say Flexible schedule, great environment and overall great company to work for. Great for college students. - F ormer EmployeeWhat Roles Pest Control Technician, Sales Representative, Outside Sales Rep, Branch Manager, Customer Relations Associate, Field Services Rep & more.Where Hiring Seattle, WA Memphis, TN El Monte, CA Tampa, FL Streamwood, IL Alexandria, LA Glendale, AZ & more.What Employees Say Opportunities available, quick raises, and professional environment. - Current Employee

Medical Receptionist Salary Ranges, Duties, Demand

Medical Receptionist Salary Ranges, Duties, DemandMedical Receptionist Salary Ranges, Duties, DemandIn most medical offices, the receptionist is the first staff member to interact with patients. These professionals are responsible for patient registration and many of a practices operational tasks, including collecting paperwork and scheduling appointments. Medical receptionists must be highly organized and able to work well under pressure while maintaining high levels of care, compassion and confidentiality.According to the 2019 Administrative Salary Guide, the aging U.S. population is driving increased patient loads and a rising need for healthcare tafelgeschirrs. In fact, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the healthcare sector will have added 2.4 million jobs in the 10 years leading up to 2026 - more than any other industry.This upward trend within the healthcare field has placed skilled medical receptionists in high demand, and our Salary Guide reports these positions can be challenging to staff - giving candidates the advantage when applying for this role. Read on to learn more, from medical receptionist salaries to job duties and career paths.Medical receptionist salaryAccording to the Salary Guide, the midpoint starting salary for a medical receptionist in the U.S. is $29,250, with the higher end of starting compensation reaching $42,750 or more. As with any role, medical receptionist salaries depend largely on the market, practice or office, and the degree of knowledge or experience required. Still, certain traits, such as speaking a second language or holding professional certifications - like the CMAA (Certified Medical Administrative Assistant) - can increase your pay.You can quickly find out the going rate for a medical receptionist in your city using our Salary Calculator.VISIT THE SALARY CENTERJob duties of medical receptionistsSkilled medical receptionists may find work in doctors offices, dental offices, hospitals and out patient care facilities. The typical duties of these healthcare employees vary greatly depending on the size and type of practice, but common tasks include the followingGreeting office visitors and managing patient intakeAnswering and routing incoming callsScheduling patient appointments and managing providers calendarsUpdating patient records, including personal information and insurance and billing dataFiling medical records and performing other administrative tasks, such as scanning or data entryRequired skills, education, experienceMost medical practices require a high school diploma and at least one year of relevant work experience. Additional qualifications consist of theseExcellent telephone etiquette and proficiency managing multiline phone systemsExperience with electronic medical record (EMR) systemsFamiliarity with Microsoft OfficeKnowledge of medical terminology and insurance productsCustomer service skillsThe ability to calmly handle stressful situationsBecause the medi cal receptionist role combines administrative tasks with patient interactions, soft skills are critical for success. Employers value individuals who possess the followingAn ability to multitask and keep up with the fast pace of a clinical environmentInterpersonal skills that enhance rapport with patients - such as high emotional intelligenceStrong verbal and written communication skillsOrganizational prowessProficiency in time managementA problem-solving mentality for prioritizing tasks and addressing patient issues that may ariseIn keeping with industry trends reported in our Salary Guide, there are several other characteristics that can set candidates apart and possibly provide an edge over the competitionMultilingualism - This ability is increasingly sought as the number of non-English-speaking patients seeking care continues to rise.Industry experience - While not required, experience within the healthcare field is generally preferred.Tech savvy - Employers need receptionist s who can stay current with and adapt to the latest software and technologies, such as EMRs and electronic health records (EHRs).A desire to help others - Customer service can make or break a practice. Healthcare organizations seek administrative professionals who treat patients with care and compassion.Diversity of career pathsThe career paths for administrative professionals in the healthcare industry are varied. The role may be a springboard to office or practice manager. This job requires many of the same basic skills as a medical receptionist but comes with additional responsibilities, such as overseeing budgets, making sure business goals are honigwein and managing staffing needs.Depending on their level of expertise, medical receptionists may seek additional training or education and enter other areas of the field. Future career opportunities include medical assistant, lab tech and medical coding specialist.Medical receptionists can also translate their experience to careers in other sectors. Professionals with the right combination of administrative talent and soft skills can find work as executive assistants, front desk coordinators or customer service managers for a variety of industries.Does this position sound like its perfect for your abilities and experience? Explore medical receptionist jobs in your area.

How to Prepare Your Personal Brand for a Job Search

How to Prepare Your Personal Brand for a Job Search How to Prepare Your Personal Brand for a Job Search Youve likely seen the term personal branding in blogs and articles as youve been preparing for your job search, but you may notlage be entirely certain what it means. Personal branding is how a candidate packages their skills, background, experience, and public persona in order to market themselves to potential employers.A strong personal brand image could mean landing the job of your dreams, while a poorly maintained onecould hurt your chances or even worse, get you disqualified from consideration entirely.Because finding and keeping a job is all about marketing yourself properly, its a good idea totake a minute to read up on a fewkey points regarding how toboost your personal brandClean Out Your Closet Your Social Media ClosetThe first place employers look after theyve seen your resume isyour social media presence.In fact, a recent survey from CareerBuilder found that 60 perc ent of employers research candidates on social networking sites. Thats an 8 percent increase from last years survey.Companies want to know that theyre hiring people with character and integrity, so you want to make sure that everything you post on the Internet casts a positive light on yourself.Employers also pay attention to the ways in which your social media activity reflects poorly on you. Your conduct on the Internet can have some serious negative consequences on your job search In CareerBuilders survey, 49 percent of the hiring managers who said they screen candidates on social media also said theyve found information in their research that has led them to decide not to hire a candidate.Some of the content that most commonly causes hiring managers to shy away from a candidate includes- Provocative or inappropriate photographs, videos, or information 46 percent of hiring managers said theyve not hired a candidate after finding these things on their social media accounts-Inform ation about a candidate drinking or using drugs 43 percent-Discriminatory comments related to race, religion, gender, etc. 33 percent- Candidate bad-mouthed previous company or fellow employee 31 percent- Poor communication skills 29 percentThis is not to say thatyou cant go out with your friends and have a good time when youre in the middle of a job hunt. Rather, you simply need to be cognizant of the moments you choose to document and share.Build Up Your Online PresenceThe flip side to cleaning up your online presence is that you also want toensurethe content the remains reinforces a positive and professional perception of you. You need totake control of your Internetfootprint and reshape the information that can be foundabout you.One of the first things I advise any client to do is update theirLinkedIn profile so that it is 100 percent accurate and portrays them as a qualified professional. LinkedIn is well indexed by Google, so when a recruiter searches your name online, you r LinkedIn profile is likely to be one of the first results they see. LinkedIn is also a great way to showcaseprojects youve worked on, papers youve published, andinterviews in which youve been quoted.If you like to write or have an online portfolio to show off, its a good idea to purchase your own website domain, such as JohnSmith.com. If you are unable to purchase your own domain, you can set up a sitefor free on a platform likeWordPress. Just make sure that your full name is included in the web-adresse e.g., if you use WordPress, your URL should be JohnSmith.WordPress.com. No matter which approach you take, strive to always keep it professional.Your Behavior in the Real World Is Just as Important as Your Behavior OnlineMany companies see their employees as extensions of their businesses even after hours. Again, this doesnt mean that you cant have a life. But if you want the job or if you want to keep the one you have you should be on your best behavior even outside ofthe offi ce.Do you remember many years ago when a woman drove across the country wearing a diaper and attempted to kidnap a U.S. Air Force captain? Do you remember her name? Probably not,but you may remember where she worked. After all these years, one prominentdetail most people can recall about that strange event is that the woman worked for NASA.You likely wont do anything as serious as that, but the lesson standsYour actions outside of work can affect your employer. You dont want to do anything that would jeopardize its reputation or your chances of landing a job in the future.A version of this article originally appeared onResumeSpice.Savannah Ober is a resume expert atResumeSpice.

The Ultimate Making a Good Resume Trick

The Ultimate Making a Good Resume Trick The key issue is to get a crystal clear photograph of you wearing a huge smile and expert attire. Regardless of what you add to your resume, the main thing is the fact that its all digital. Most men and women look at writing a resume as just something youve got to do to have a job. The very last thing that you want to do is receive a job which you cant do. Even if you believe you dont have plenty of experience, you truly do. Developing a great resume is a small amount of a balancing act. The very first thing you ought to do is make sure a prospective employer knows whose resume theyre taking a look at Remember how little time youve got to create an impression. Should you do any one of these things above, you will stick out and find the recruiters interest. The response is it depends. To begin with, youve got to create a great looking resume. Anyone whos searching for a job knows how important its to get a pretty damn good resume on hand. Your job (while youre attempting to find a job) is to ensure you fit what theyre searching for. Finding a work nowadays is tough especially whenever you have a good deal of competition to think about. Making a Good Resume Secrets Theres an excellent chance it wont include all the keywords set out in the work description. Even if one isnt required, its generally an excellent idea to send a quick cover letter together with your resume. As you likely know, you must avoid resume mistakes like spelling errors and lies at any cost. Unless youre a graphic designer looking for employment, theres no need to over think the plan of your one-pager. Just make sure, whichever format you select, which youre targeting it for the job that youre applying to. While the functional resume format may be an attractive solution for job seekers with minimal experience, most employers would rather have a chronological or hybrid resume format. Know the purpose of your resume Some individuals write a resume as though the intention of the document was supposed to land work. Understanding how to tailor your resume will obviously offer you an advantage. Possessing a strong resume will enable you find several great jobs. Writing a resume for employment in the art industry can be difficult. A in depth A resume should have the personal information and experience and passion. Possessing a crystal clear and professional resume is essential in the medical field. A recent college graduate may just desire a one-page resume. A resume isnt a Curriculum Vitae, its a document that contains the most relevant experience of the candidate (you) that matches the necessities of the job. If you graduated more than 10 years back, only notenzeichen considerable scholarships or honors. If youre attempting to acquire work in accounting or finance you require averystrong resume. In any case, you need to talk to your references about a particular position before they are called in order that the y will be better prepared to offer you a shining recommendation. At worst, it can earn a promising candidate seem to be an uncreative cut-and-paster. So much so, that even if youre not acceptable for the advertised position, they would have a tendency to start one for you. Theres a place to be filled. An excellent resume ought to be standard. Just because it is a word doesnt signify its the word that you wish to use.

4 Things to Convey to Candidates in the Job Interview

4 Things to Convey to Candidates in the Job InterviewThe job bewerbungsinterview is a two-way street. In the interview, professionals are trying to determine which job and company is the best for them. And, as mora positions become available, job seekers can afford to be more selective when it comes to choosing a new employer. Just as there are certain things job candidates should convey to interviewers in order to land the job, there are a number of things interviewers should convey about the organization and position in order to convince a candidate to join the company.Here are some of the most important things you need to communicate to job seekers during the interview 1. Company cultureInterviewers must convey the sense of the corporate culture from a personal perspective, apart from what corporate marketing literature states. What matters most to candidates today is having their ideas considered for value and implementation, a sense of ownership in projects they are assigned, an d the real potential for advancement based on contributions to the higher strategic objectives of the organization beyond normal duties and responsibilities. Knowledge of behauptung factors early in interview stages helps shape the tone of the interviewers response. Interviewers can frame their pitch by asking questions of candidates, such as the elements of a corporate culture that the candidate would find attractive and important how they value working with others vs. being an individual contributor and what aspects of their career objective areimportant to them in the next 5 to 10 years. The responses will vary from candidate to candidate, but the responses help shape various selling points for recruiting specific candidates. Donn LeVie Jr., Author and Speaker, Donn LeVie Jr. StrategiesInterviewers must convey the sense of the CorporateCulture in the interview DonnLeVieClick To Tweet2. Unique benefitsEspecially if youre a smaller scale company and cant compete with corporate sala ries, its important to highlight the benefits that are unique to your business. If you offer the ability to work from home, a flexible schedule, free coffee and snacks, and/or a fun company culture, be sure to highlight those things to your potential employee. You can ask your potential employee, What are you looking for in terms of scheduling? or What sort of schedule are you interested in? Chances are, especially if youre hiring Millennials, they want a fun company culture and flexible schedule. Dana Case, Director of Operations, MyCorporation.comWhyMyCorporationhighlights unique benefits during the interviewClick To Tweet3. Whats in it for themIt is extremely important for interviewers to consider the value proposition the job holds to the potential candidate. Quite simply, whats in it for him/her that is specific to the candidates current situation? The conversation needs to be tailored to the candidates needs. It could be the need for a clear career path, a detailed explanation of a training program, a better compensation plan, a vivid picture of how this person will be mentored into the new role the list goes on. Its our job, as interviewers, to uncover these needs and wishes and to honestly respond. Interviews should focus initially on the candidate and what they are looking for. My first question to a passive candidate is always, Are you actively looking to make a change or just open to hearing about opportunities? Their answer sets the tone for the whole meeting and is a good lead-in to asking, If you were to make a change, what would the ideal next position look like to you? These are very open questions that invite dialogue, help you learn what the candidate is looking for without any filters or assumptions on their end. It also shows that you value their interests and wishes for their own career, which is an excellent rapport-building tool. Anne Finn,Corporate Recruiting Manager,Eliassen GroupWhat would your ideal job position look like? Interview Question via AnneFinn23Click To Tweet4. A realistic snapshotAt ActivityDeck, we firmly believe that, while its important to show the perks and highlights of the job, its equally important to show them the real picture. Once you tell them what they will really be doing and what will be expected from them, you develop a relationship of trust and honesty with the candidate. And once you do this, the candidates reciprocate.In order to build a relationship of trust, the interviewer needs to be very clear about the roles, responsibilities, and the perks of the job. Telling them the truth will help candidates understand the position and the company, and will improve employee retention, too, as employees are prepared for the perks and challenges of the job. Ankit Seth, Co-Founder, ActivityDeckWhy you need to give a realistic snapshot of the company during the interview viaActivityDeckClick To TweetWhat do you think is the most important thing to convey to candidates during the job interview ? Let us know in the comments

How to Beat Hiring Software

How to Beat Hiring SoftwareHow to Beat Hiring SoftwareThe Problem To economize on using real people to screen job applicants resumes, some companies are turning to recruitment software, also known as screening apps, to sift through the pile. What are pseudo-requirements? Not only do writers for websites have to worry about keywords, but so do increasing numbers of job applicants, in a growing number of fields. Moreover, some resume screening algorithms even score applicants based on formatting. Then there is the matter of pseudo-requirements. That is, lengthy must have lists of ultimately unnecessary requirements that serve no other purpose than to eliminate virtually all resumes from consideration, whittling down the pile to a handful, if that. This is an approach akin to demanding an MBA as a screening device for jobs that really do notlage require one. Peter Capelli, the George W. Taylor Professor of Management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, offers a particularly egregious example of excessive pseudo-requirements in a recent magazine interview. A company looking to fill what he describes as a voreingestellt engineering position could not identify a single qualified candidate out of 25,000 applications submitted. Of course, another possibility is that, given the ease with which people now can apply for jobs online, the company indeed may have received a torrent of applications from genuinely unqualified people. Another anecdote from Capelli involves a software developer who was turned down for a job that involved using a well-known software testing tool, never mind that he had built that very same tool himself. He was turned down because he did not have prior experience with another very simple tool that someone with his expertise can learn in just a few hours. Alternatively, it might be argued that he should have answered yes to the question, given his confidence that learning the tool would be quick and easy. Equally, absurdly, Capelli notes that some companies require experienced candidates to dredge up their high school GPAs for their applications. The list goes on and on. Top Tips to Beat the Software According to Capelli, his discussions with various experts has uncovered these top tips for getting your job application past resume screening software Headers and Footers Avoid using headers or footers, since they tend to confound most resume reading software. Reflect the Job Description Adjust the content of your resume to reflect the wording of the job description in question. For example, if the job description includes CPA be sure that CPA appears on your resume. Stated slightly differently, this is an example of the importance of including the proper keywords in your resume or application. However, do not copy and paste the job description verbatim into your resume. Not only is that unlikely to work, it may backfire. Layout and Typeface Avoid unusual fonts and layouts, as well as functional formatti ng. These tend to confuse the software. Use a simple style, including listing your experience in reverse chronological order (most recent first). Buzzwords Buzzwords in Context Be sure that buzzwords are used in proper context. Advanced resume parsing software can check the context of buzzwords like Java or C. Thus, to demonstrate more in-depth knowledge and experience than someone who just took a single course in subjects such as these, discuss your knowledge and experience in detail. File Format Put your resume in text format. PDF files often get read incorrectly by the software. By contrast, resumes submitted in Microsoft sie sagen es typically are interpreted correctly. Graphics Avoid using graphics. They also pose huge problems for resume parsing software and can be interpreted as a jumble of nonsense characters. Postal Address Never forget to place your postal address on the resume, since it often is a key element in how it is filed by the software. If you fail to include it, you may have no chance to be under consideration for the position. Correct Spelling, Syntax, and Grammar Not included among Capellis suggestions, but equally important, is making sure that there are absolutely no misspellings or typos in your submission. Computers tend to be rather, if not completely, unforgiving of such errors. However, an added complication is that spell checking software often does not recognize legitimate alternate spellings of common words (e.g., traveler as a variant of traveler), and editing software often parses sentences incorrectly. Meanwhile, although lapses in writing skills often result in rejection by menschlich readers on this score alone, there nonetheless is a possibility that a human will recognize what you really mean, and forgive this error if your resume or application is otherwise compelling. Source Why Good People Cant Get Jobs by Peter Cappelli, copyright 2012, Wharton Digital Press (as summarized in Home Depot Syndrome, the Purple Squirr el, and Americas Job Hunt Rabbit Hole, by Trey Popp, The Pennsylvania Gazette, January - February 2013).

The Stoics know 4 rituals that will make you well-liked

The Stoics know 4 rituals that will make you well-likedThe Stoics know 4 rituals that will make you well-likedDo you want tohave better relationships? Well, you should definitely take some advice from the Stoics.I know, it sounds weird. Most people think of the Stoics as being emotionless - not exactly good examplesfor how to handle relationships.But thats a myth. The ancient Stoics were big on virtue, self-control and reducingnegativeemotions. And those are pretty good things if youre trying to be more likable.And their methods are backed by science. Stoicism was one of the inspirations for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which is currently the dominant method for helping people overcome psychological issues.To get some answersI spoke to Massimo Pigliucci, a professor of philosophy at the City University of New York, and author of the new book,How to Be a Stoic Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Hap piness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreSo what can we learn about being likable from the ancient Stoics? Lets get to itNot MePlain and simple stop talking about yourself so much. Focus on the other person.Heres Stoic grandmasterEpictetusIn parties of conversation, avoid a frequent and excessive mention of your own actions and dangers. For, however agreeable it may be to yourself to mention the risks you have run, it is not equally agreeable toothers to hear your adventures.Yeah, talking about yourself feels good. In fact, research shows your brain finds it more rewarding than food or money.FromBarking Up the Wrong Tree The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success Is (Mostly) WrongNeuroscientist Diana Tamir found that your brain gets more pleasure from you talking about yourself than it does fromfood or money.But you want other people to enjoy your company, right? So shut up and letthemfeel good by talking about themselves.(To learn more about the science of a successful life, check out my new bookhere.)Okay, so youre talking about yourself less. But how do the Stoics think you should handle difficult interactions - like when someone insults you?Practice Insult PacifismWhen somebody says youre dumb as a deutsche post ag,how do the Stoics think you should respond?You give me too much credit. Im alotstupider than a post.Heres Stoic hall-of-famerEpictetusagainIf anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer He was unbeleckt of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned behauptung alone.Yeah, the other person was mean. But whats the benefit of escalating things into an out-and-out fight? When people insult you, respond with self-deprecating humor.Also,there are longer term personal benefits to this. Not reacting harshly improves your self-control.And by ignoring the tone and just listening to the content of the insult, you might occasionally get some useful feedback on how to improve yourself.FromHow to Be a Stoic Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern LifeThe more you train yourself to endure insults the stronger you feel psychologically it is worth ignoring the cutting aspect of what she is saying in order to focus on what it is that she may have gotten right and that may have eluded you. There is no reason at all why insults, even when meant as such, cannot also be teaching moments for us.(To learn 6 rituals from ancient wisdom that will make you happy, clickhere.)So if someone insults you, youre just going to use self-deprecating humor. But what ifyourethe one saying something awful?How do you make sure you dont say something youll regret?Listen To The Angel On Your ShoulderWant to make sure you behave properly? Pretend someone you respect is standing behind you. Maybe its your grandma or a mentor of yours.Would you want to actlike a jerk in front of them? No.Heres MassimoSeneca feltyou shouldgo about your life thin king that there is someone looking over your shoulder. Basically, act likeyou always have to explain your actions tothis alter ego.Would you act like that in front of grandma? Then dont act like that at all.(To learn the 4 secrets to productivity from the Stoics, clickhere.)So how do you click with new people you meet? Warning this next one may feel a little weird. But its also a little heartwarmingTreat Everyone As FamilyMost of us see family as closer than friends and friends as closer than strangers. Understandable.But what if youtried to pull all three of those levels a little closer together and a little closer to you?Heres MassimoHierocles invited us to imagine a series of concentric circles with ourselves in the middle, then the next circle is our family, and then the next circle is our friends, then out of that there is our fellow citizens, and out of that our fellow countrymen, and finally all of humanity. Then he saidtomentally try to bring all of the external circles clos er to you. Meaning that you try to remind yourself that these are all human beings, that these are all people that you should actually care about just in the same way that you care about your family and your friends.Sounds nice in theory, right? But how do you actually put this into practice?You know how someguys say hello to theirmale friends with the words, Hey, brother?Well, the Stoics approve. And they think you should give it a try.Heres MassimoHieroclessaid you should go around addressing people of your same age as brothers and sisters, and people older than you as aunts and uncles. Itsa sort of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach to things. Its like you do that, you keep repeating this thing, and then gradually you actually feel like other people are your brothers and sisters, your uncles and aunts.Yeah, it might feel a little weird to call people brothers and sisters. But if you do it with a wry smile - cool like Fonzie - it can be a warm and fun way to draw yourself clo ser to othersAnd them closer to you.(To learn the 4 rituals from Stoicism that will make you mentally strong, clickhere.)Okay, weve learned a lot. Lets round it all upSum UpHere are the 4 rituals from Stoicism that will make you lovedNot meStop talking about yourself. Let me talk about me and Ill enjoy your company more. (Wow, this is more fun already.)Practice insult pacifismThis is the worst blog postIve ever written? Trust me, Ive writtenfarworse.Listen to the angel on your shoulderGrandma is watching, potty-mouth.Treat everyone as familyTreatpeople as your brothers and sisters and theyll likely reciprocate.Now is this going to turn you into Dale Carnegie overnight? No. But that wouldnt be a very Stoic expectation.They were big on practicing exercises to improve over time.Massimo paraphrased SenecaDont ask me to be perfect just ask me to be better than yesterday.If you talk less about yourself, laugh off insults, and act like grandma is watching, youll find that people will enjoy your company much more.Trust me, brother or sister.Join over 300,000 readers.Get a free weekly update via emailhere.Thisarticleoriginally appeared atBarking Up the Wrong Tree.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

Automated Guided Vehicles Do the Heavy Lifting

Automated Guided Vehicles Do the Heavy Lifting Automated Guided Vehicles Do the Heavy Lifting Human beings arent perfect, which is why we make mistakes, hurting ourselves on the job, or mishandling equipment that damages products and the bottom line.Take, for example, palletized goods, which are hustled through manufacturing plants and distribution facilities 24/7. Pallets are often dropped, lifted, and pushed across hard floors. Pallet damage often results in damaged products and unsaleable merchandise that averages about 1% of gross sales for retailers and distributors.An innovative solution to this problem is automated guided vehicles (AGV) that serve as unmanned pallet trucks and tow tractors that operate with much higher precision than human operators.Vision-Guided NavigationWhat makes AGVs so special? Sophisticated, vision-guided technology.Seegrid Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA, is a manufacturer of AGVs for the material-handling industry, including robotic pallet trucks, tow tra ctor, and walkie stackers. These vehicles are equipped with range-finding stereo cameras that record and store thousands of features along the route, allowing the AGV to remember the route by replaying the recorded features.This type of vision-based evidence-grid technology, an application of probabilistic volumetric sensing, was invented and initially developed by Dr. Hans Moravec at Carnegie Mellon University.Seegrid has built upon this technology with its AGVs, using stereo cameras to construct 360-degree maps of the environment. The images are analyzed in real time to identify features, and their locations, in three-dimensional space. Five pairs of stereo cameras operate concurrently to analyze thousands of interest points per second, with a margin of error of only one to two inches.This allows the vehicles to be deployed easily, says Mitchell Weiss, chief operating officer for Seegrid. They are walked through the path once to build the map, and then they repeat the route. Becau se of the high density of map data, they can maintain precise navigation even in changing environments.Seegrids automated guided vehicles use stereo cameras to construct 360-degree maps of the environment. Image Seegrid.comHighly Integrated SystemsFrom an engineering perspective, AGVs are highly integrated systems. They start out as a basic chassis. Because the optical equipment is so sensitive, Seegrid engineers must devise methods that allow these high-precision components to be integrated with the chassis, and also withstand harsh shock and vibration conditions.To accomplish this we have designed rugged mechanical components, which can be adjusted or adapted to the truck chassis at time of manufacture, says Weiss. Camera-to-camera and camera-to-vehicle fine-tuning is accomplished with software.The size of components is very diverse, ranging from customized miniature cameras to one-half-inch-thick steel plate to batteries that weigh 1,000 pounds. This requires a variety of manufac turing environments, including near-clean rooms with special calibration tools for the cameras, ESD-controlled environments for electronics assembly, overhead cranes and lifts for the trucks, and simulated warehouse environments (cold, dim) for testing.We have also added more time for AGV burn-in than is normal for the industry, to detect infant mortality in hydraulic system seals, bearing contamination, and other infant issues, adds Weiss. We have also improved battery monitoring to compensate for the lack of a driver, who can notice changes in vehicle performance duringa shift.Future PlansThe fruchtwein expensive part of operating a truck is the cost of the driver. This cost includes wages and benefits, accidents, injury, lost time, and errors. Also, human drivers cannot operate without breaks for instruction, food, stretching, etc. In comparison, robotic pallet trucks, priced at $85,000, operate at significantly higher duty cycles, improving capital performance.AGVs are the ultim ate electric vehicle, says Weiss. Unlike the cars we drive, they really can run 24/7, do it for up to 10 years, emit zero emissions, and tow up to 10,000 pounds. All of this comes in a package size that fits in the bed of a pickup truck.Seegrids vision-guided AGVs currently operate from point to point along planned routes. Company engineers are continually developing new methods for improving camera performance, using field data collected from hundreds of deployed systems, says Weiss.For example, the company has just developed a new walkie stacker that automatically picks, drops, stacks, and puts away loads up to 72 inches, at a maximum load capacity of 3,500 poundsideal for automatic lane building or deep lane storage at dock and staging locations.Mark Crawford is an independent writer.AGVs are the ultimate electric vehicle.Mitchell Weiss, COO, Seegrid