My blog focuses on General Education. True education doesn’t stop after receiving a diploma or certificate. It continues on with every new experience and project. The following contributed post is entitled, Unlocking Your Full Potential: The Power of Lifelong Learning.
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In an ever-changing world, pursuing knowledge and self-improvement is no longer just a phase; it has turned into continuous learning. Lifelong learning has become a fundamental part of personal and professional success. It gives the individual the ability to stay relevant, adapt to change, and unlock their potential. Whether you are looking to advance your career, switch interests, freeze, or simply improve yourself, the importance of continuous learning cannot be overstated.
The world is always changing: advancements in technology, shifts in global markets, and new innovations are constantly reshaping industries and the skills required to thrive within them. In this dynamic environment, relying solely on past knowledge is not sufficient. Lifelong learning allows you to keep pace with these changes, enabling you to gain new skills, enhance existing ones, and stay competitive in your field or learn a new one. On top of this, continuous learning isn’t just about gaining technical knowledge; it’s also about developing soft skills such as leadership, communication, and problem-solving. These qualities can help you excel in teamwork and also improve your emotional intelligence.
The Impact of Lifelong Learning
In today’s job market, those who take the opportunity to continuously learn are the ones who succeed. Employers value employees who show initiative and are committed to self-improvement. Learning new skills demonstrates that you have a strong work ethic and are adaptable, which can lead to pay raises, promotions, or even new job opportunities. Additionally, continuous learning helps you stay ahead of the competition in an increasingly competitive job-hunting environment.
Kino College: A Valuable Resource for Your Learning Journey
If you are committed to growing your knowledge and skill set, then investing in high-quality educational resources is important. Kino College stands out as a fantastic resource for those who are looking to enrich their lives through learning, with a variety of courses designed for different interests and career paths. Kino College offers flexible learning that can help develop expertise in many different fields. By enrolling in courses at Keno College, you can gain access to a supportive and structured environment that helps you grow personally. Whether you are looking to master a specific skill and obtain certifications or just engage in intellectual curiosity, Kino College provides resources that can help you gain lifelong learning skills.
Make Lifelong Learning a Habit
The key to lifelong learning is making it something that is considered a habit. This doesn’t mean that you need to be in school forever or take on huge projects; rather, it is a commitment to take online courses, attend workshops, read more, or even engage in professional networking. Taking small but actionable steps that incorporate learning into your daily routine will help you see a gradual impact on your life and your career.
In conclusion, the power of lifelong learning cannot be denied. Whether you are looking to improve your career or personal development, lifelong learning ensures that you are prepared for anything the future may bring. Invest in your growth today, and you may be amazed by the opportunities that open up for you in the future.
Hello. Thank you for clicking on this link, and I hope you enjoy this essay. Writing a book was the genesis of my blogging and becoming a video content creator. I have published part one of my book project entitled, The Engineers: A Western New York Basketball Story. It is currently available on Amazon in eBook, hardcover, and paperback formats. Shortly I will be selling signed hardcover and paperback copies on my online store entitled Big Words Authors. You can place an order now if you want a signed copy. There is also a page discussing the book. Please consider visiting it to learn more about the project and see promotional content I’ve created surrounding the project. And now on to our feature presentation.
Recalling Jenny’s Words of Encouragement
“I’ve seen some of the financial writings you post on Facebook, Anwar, and I don’t like them!” I described the scathing words of an acquaintance I’ll anonymously call Jenny in my previous piece addressing whether wealth building is supposed to be boring. Jenny was a lawyer who I had known for years. We weren’t what I would consider close personally, but her words surprised me and were worth capturing.
I knew Jenny well enough to know why my financial writings caused her angst. At the time, my writings encouraged smart money management and planning, and some would consider it all frugal. Frugal is a word often confused with being cheap. I wrote a piece about misconceptions surrounding frugality and am linking it here. Jenny’s words inspired this piece, in addition to those of my mentor.
My Mentor’s Words After a Recent Discussion
“You should get to a point where you feel joy watching your investments grow. Saving for the sake of saving is just suffering after a while.” My anonymous mentor shared these words towards the end of one of our financial discussions. We discussed my retirement account, which was on track, and also a discretionary stock portfolio that he and his son helped me build.
By the way, if you don’t have mastery of the stock market and the time to watch the gazillion companies/positions you can buy, it’s best to leverage the knowledge and wisdom of an expert. I don’t have the expertise or time to do it myself, but I have benefited from the expertise of others.
Spending, Needs, and Wants
“You should get to a point where you feel joy watching your investments grow. Saving for the sake of saving is just suffering after a while.” My mentor’s words were powerful. There should be some enjoyment after diligently saving, controlling credit card debt, and making financial investments. This is obvious for savvy investors. However, for a person not used to spending, there is a bit of a paradigm shift there.
Does it sound strange that a person is not used to spending? It should not because some people don’t have lofty and vast wants. I’ve often pondered that some people from humble beginnings retain the thought patterns that they grew up with. Others move entirely in the other direction and spend to their heart’s content, sometimes uncontrollably. One of the key lessons in money management is knowing the difference between needs and wants. Many people today don’t know the difference between the two, nor how to defer gratification. If you are wise with your finances, you should eventually find some enjoyment, and it shouldn’t be just suffering.
What’s Next? What’s Enjoyment for You?
So what do you do after you’ve saved up a sizable emergency fund, stock portfolio, and retirement savings, which are also clicking on all cylinders? Do you go sailing around the world? Do you buy a new car? Do you start frequenting five-star restaurants? Do you start a family if you haven’t yet started one? The answer is different for everyone. I would say to be mindful of what got you there first and not depart entirely from it, especially if it wasn’t handed to you and you built it yourself from nothing.
The latter point is significant because it suggests that money management is essential. Some people are handed inheritances and never have to build anything. Some people inherit wealth and squander it. Others likewise have to make everything themselves. Management is likewise a critical component if you are building wealth yourself or if it was given to you and you need to maintain it. The take-home message is to experience some enjoyment once you’ve practiced being wise with your financial resources.
Can You Afford a $400 Expense?
“I don’t know where Anwar will go on his dollar budget!” Jenny took another verbal jab at me during an impromptu lunch years after declaring that she disapproved of my financial writings. I was surprised but not surprised when she said what she said. I didn’t get angry. Instead, I was amused.
In hindsight, financial and investment plans are like college and professional football offenses. Some offenses are designed to score points quickly in flashy ways. It looks impressive, though this strategy has disadvantages for the entire team. Other offenses are designed to methodically work the ball down the field while grinding down the clock. They’re not as flashy as the former, but they have many advantages for the offense and defense of a particular team.
My offense was the latter, designed to put various safety measures in place before indulging myself a little bit more. An important article was published in the Washington Post years ago. It was entitled, The Shocking Number of Americans Who Can’t Afford a $400 Expense. The article highlighted a bar chart breaking down various ethnic groups by income bracket. Surprisingly, roughly 20% of people making six figures or more couldn’t afford a $400 expense. That doesn’t make sense. I’ll leave you with a question. How do you, the reader, explain such a phenomenon?
Closing Thoughts
“You want to reach a point where you should enjoy watching your investments grow. Saving for the sake of saving is just suffering after a while.” I’m closing this piece with my financial team’s profound words. They are similar to Dave Ramsey’s famous slogan, “We’re going to live like no one else so that we later can live like no one else!”
I think this is a valuable message for multiple groups. For the financially responsible persons out there, know that at some point you should be able to enjoy yourself a little bit more, but again, don’t forget what got you to where you are, as you can easily slide back to where you came from. For those looking suspiciously at people who are frugal and not reckless with their finances, think about whether those people are building and trying to go somewhere in particular. Also, look at yourselves. Are you financing your lifestyle using credit cards and revolving balances? Also, will you have money for your later years?
I wanted to make these latter points and highlight those from my acquaintance Jenny’s scathing choice words for a specific reason. I have a hunch that others like her judged me over the years over my careful spending and lack of consumption. To dig myself out of a massive debt hole, I went without a car starting in 2012 up through the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition to being encouraged to be hyper-consumers, many people don’t have a long-term perspective or the ability to ask where a person is going and what they are building toward. All that matters is the here and now. Thank you for reading this. Please leave any comments or thoughts below.
The Big Words LLC
For the next phase of my writing journey, I’m starting a monthly newsletter for my writing and video content creation company, the Big Words LLC. In it, I plan to share inspirational words and pieces from this blog and my first blog, as well as select videos from my four YouTube channels. Finally, I will share updates for my book project, The Engineers: A Western New York Basketball Story. Your personal information and privacy will be protected. Click this link and register using the sign-up button at the bottom of the announcement. If there is some issue signing up using the link provided, email me at [email protected] . Best Regards.
My blog focuses on Career Discussions and General Education. Jobs are critical parts of our lives. If you are looking for your dream job, there are things you can do to ensure that you find and secure it. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Secrets to Landing Your Dream Job.
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It’s a wonderful life when you find yourself in a job that you love and don’t even consider to be work. Landing that dream job though can be a journey and you may not find that dream job from the moment you leave education. You may have to start from the bottom of the career ladder and work hard to get to that dream job.
If you’re planning to secure a dream job, then here are five secrets that might help with your path to success.
The experience and skills that are required when it comes to landing your dream job are important. That’s why it’s imperative to work on acquiring those skills and the experience in good time.
It’s worthwhile looking at what your dream job is after. Look at the skills you need and assess whether this is something you possess currently or something you need to work on. Consider your existing experience so far and look at ways in which you can build upon that in the future and as you move towards your dream career or job.
Network with those in the industry
Networking is an essential part of finding success in your career. The more you network, the more opportunities you’ll likely find land on your lap. Doors may be opened that were previously closed or not even available to you.
The more networking opportunities you can take advantage of, the better it plays into your hands when looking for success.
Set goals
Goals are something that can be incredibly helpful to implement for the benefit of landing the job of your dreams. With goals, there’s a lot more motivation in everything you do because ultimately, you’re holding yourself accountable to acquiring that success.
When setting goals, think about what you want to achieve and how realistic that is. It’s important to set goals that are realistic and not out of the remit of possibility.
Interview prep is essential
Interview prep is an important one for landing your dream job because you want to be incredibly prepared for whatever job it is you’re going for. You also want to go through the right agencies and organizations to secure the interview itself. Using a service like Origin Legal will be helpful for securing niche roles in the legal domain.
Having such a specialism within recruitment can be helpful in preparing fully for the interview itself.
Trust the process
It’s important to trust the process when it comes to landing your dream job. It might be that your expectations aren’t met as early on as you thought but if you believe in yourself and your passions, you’ll achieve that dream job eventually with hard work.
These secrets will hopefully help you to achieve your dream job in good time. Use these tips to maximize your efforts in securing a job that you love to do.
Two focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and General Education. A career in the construction sector can be very lucrative, and this sector will continue evolving over time. The following contributed post is entitled, Exciting Career Opportunities In Construction And What To Expect.
The construction industry offers a wealth of career opportunities, catering to a wide range of interests, skill sets, and professional goals. Whether you’re drawn to designing structures, managing projects, or physically building the environments we live and work in, construction provides a dynamic and rewarding career path. This article explores the variety of roles available in the sector, the skills needed to succeed, and what to expect from a career in construction.
The Scope of Careers in Construction
Construction is one of the most diverse industries, encompassing various specialties. Some of the key career paths include:
1. Skilled Trades
Skilled trades are the backbone of the construction industry. These roles include carpenters, electricians, plumbers, masons, and steelworkers. Professionals in these fields are responsible for executing specific tasks, often requiring years of hands-on experience or apprenticeships.
2. Project Management
Construction project managers oversee the planning, execution, and completion of projects. They manage budgets, timelines, and teams, ensuring that all elements come together efficiently. A strong understanding of the construction process and excellent leadership skills are essential for this role.
3. Architecture and Design
Architects and designers focus on conceptualizing and planning structures, balancing aesthetics, functionality, and safety. They collaborate with engineers and construction teams to bring their designs to life.
4. Engineering
Structural, civil, and mechanical engineers play critical roles in construction projects. They ensure that buildings are safe, durable, and meet regulatory standards. Engineers often specialize in specific types of projects, such as bridges, skyscrapers, or residential buildings.
5. Equipment Operation and Maintenance
Construction equipment operators handle machinery such as cranes, bulldozers, and excavators. Proper operation of these machines is essential for safety and efficiency on-site.
6. Safety and Compliance
Safety officers and compliance specialists are responsible for ensuring that construction sites adhere to health, safety, and environmental regulations. Their work minimizes risks and protects workers, equipment, and the surrounding environment.
Skills Needed for Success
A career in construction requires a mix of technical knowledge, physical ability, and interpersonal skills. Key competencies include:
● Technical Skills: Proficiency in specific tools, equipment, and techniques is crucial for skilled tradespeople and equipment operators. For architects and engineers, expertise in design software and building codes is essential. ● Problem-Solving: Construction projects often encounter unexpected challenges. Creative and practical problem-solving skills help professionals adapt and keep projects on track. ● Communication: Construction involves collaboration among diverse teams. Effective communication ensures everyone understands project goals, timelines, and responsibilities. ● Physical Stamina and Dexterity: Many construction jobs are physically demanding, requiring strength, coordination, and endurance. ● Attention to Detail: Precision is vital in construction to ensure safety, quality, and adherence to specifications. ● Leadership: For roles in management and supervision, the ability to lead and motivate teams is indispensable.
Working in construction can be both challenging and rewarding. Here’s what you can anticipate:
1. Dynamic Work Environments
Construction sites are dynamic and often change daily as projects progress. Depending on your role, you may work indoors, outdoors, or a mix of both. Weather conditions, site hazards, and tight deadlines can add to the complexity of the job.
2. Job Security
Construction is a cornerstone of the global economy. As populations grow and urbanization continues, the demand for construction professionals remains strong. Skilled workers, in particular, are often in high demand.
3. Career Growth Opportunities
The construction industry offers numerous paths for career advancement. For instance, skilled tradespeople can move into supervisory roles, while project managers may take on larger or more complex projects. Many companies also provide on-the-job training and support for certifications or degrees.
4. Earnings Potential
Compensation in construction varies widely depending on role, location, and experience. Skilled trades and specialized roles, such as crane operators or safety inspectors, often command competitive salaries. Management and engineering roles typically offer higher earnings, reflecting the increased responsibility.
5. Focus on Safety
Safety is a top priority in construction. Workers are equipped with protective gear such as Construction Helmets, gloves, and harnesses to minimize risks. Companies invest heavily in training and procedures to ensure workplace safety.
6. Physical and Mental Demands
Construction work can be physically taxing, requiring heavy lifting, climbing, and extended hours of standing or walking. Mental demands, such as managing stress, multitasking, and solving complex problems, are also part of the job.
In Conclusion
A career in construction is more than just building structures; it’s about creating environments that shape our daily lives. With opportunities ranging from hands-on trades to high-level management, the industry offers something for everyone. By cultivating the right skills, prioritizing safety, and embracing growth opportunities, you can build a fulfilling career in this essential field. Whether you’re starting out or considering a shift, construction promises a path rich with possibilities.
A key focus of my blog is Career Discussions and General Education. Learning a new language is a tremendous power and can have a myriad of benefits. The following contributed post is entitled, Reasons Why You Should Consider Learning a New Language.
Learning a new language is a very rewarding experience and it’s going to come with a lot of benefits. It can be daunting to think about diving into uncharted waters and learning something new especially if you haven’t done something like that in a while.
Most people had their first encounter with learning a language in school and if you have been out of that environment for a while it can be very intimidating to start learning a language again. However, it’s worth taking a look at the benefits so that you can decide whether it’s time to force yourself off of the fence of indecision.
Enhanced Cognitive Abilities
If you’re planning on learning a new language you should know that it’s going to stimulate your brain. This is going to lead to enhanced cognitive function for you. There are many studies that have shown that when you’re bilingual it helps you to solve your problems a whole lot better.
It also improves your memory and gives you greater multitasking ability. This is a mental exercise and it will keep your brain sharp. It can be used to offset age-related cognitive decline in some cases. Those are undeniably amazing benefits that you really can’t afford to throw away.
Career Opportunities
It’s a globalized world and being proficient in multiple languages is going to enhance your career prospects. Many companies have begun to favor employees who can communicate with their International clients and partners.
When you’re fluent in a second language, doors are going to swing open for you to help you with job opportunities and promotions. You may even open up the possibility of working abroad when you do this.
It’s going to set you apart from your competitors in the job market and firmly showcase your commitment to your personal and professional growth. This is always going to be impressive and make you look good to employers. You can learn Spanish online at websites that are dedicated to teaching the language remotely.
Cultural Awareness and Connection
Learning a new language is going to provide you with a deeper understanding of a different culture, traditions and perspectives as well. It’s going to allow you to connect more authentically with people from many different backgrounds. This type of cultural awareness is going to boost your empathy and your tolerance. It’s going to broaden your view of the whole world.
Whether you’re going to be traveling and making new friends or you’re simply going to be consuming media in that language, you’re going to find that you feel a deeper connection and awareness for other cultures.
Personal Growth and Confidence
When you take on a challenge and conquer it you’re going to feel good about yourself. When you approach a new language it can feel like you’re about to climb Mount Everest.
However, once you reach the top of that mountain and start speaking the language fluently, you’re going to feel a massive amount of success as waves of pride will start washing over you. This will make it all worth it.
Hello. Thank you for clicking on this link and I hope you enjoy this essay. Writing a book was the genesis of me blogging and becoming a video content creator. I am close to publishing part one of my book project entitled, The Engineers: A Western New York Basketball Story. Please consider visiting the page to learn more about the project and see promotional content I’ve created surrounding the project. And now on to our feature presentation.
I Don’t Like Your Financial Messages!
“I’ve seen some of the financial writings you post on Facebook Anwar and I don’t like them,” an acquaintance I’ll anonymously call Jenny told me at a social gathering in upstate New York. Jenny was a lawyer who I knew for years. We were in school at the same time at a highly prestigious anonymous university.
We weren’t what I would consider close but her words surprised me and were worth capturing. I knew Jenny well enough to know why my financial writings would cause her heartburn. My writings encouraged smart money management and planning which some would consider being frugal. Frugal is a word that is often confused with being cheap. I wrote an essay about that years ago which you can read at this link.
Jenny’s words surprised me because as a print and video content creator, you never know who is consuming your content until they say something. One of the podcaster Chris Williamson’s guests in fact stated that less than 10% of viewers openly interact with your content. The majority are ‘lurkers’ who watch and observe but don’t say anything. Jenny lurked and revealed her disapproval of my frugal messaging when I least expected it. Jenny will appear towards the end of this essay and will help me finish it up, so stay tuned.
My Financial Team’s Surprising Assessment
If the title of this blog post sucked you in, it was meant to. This is not clickbait though I can assure you. This piece was inspired by real life experiences like many of my writings and it is certain to touch someone. The principle of wealth building being boring is something I’d heard about several times up until now, but this particular experience made it stick in my mind and craft this essay. This happens a lot in life.
“The fact that you don’t have any major financial hiccups or issues or news to report is a good thing,” a member of the anonymous gentlemen I refer to as my financial team said. “Wealth building is supposed to be boring and unexciting,” the other member continued. “Keep doing what you are doing Dr. Dunbar. You are doing well.”
The Era of Consumption
Wealth building is supposed to be boring? I was surprised but not surprised to hear them say this. They were both two financially savvy men who were well versed in the markets and trends. They were further not the types to follow the crowd and societal trends in terms of consumption and spending. It made sense that they would make such comments and conclusions.
Their words were in direct opposition to the mass marketing we’re all bombarded with which emphasizes consumption above all else. Being a content creator compels me to spend time on social media, more than I admittedly should at times. Regardless of the platform, I see the consumption and the excesses, some of which makes you wonder how people are paying for the things they’re doing. Take a peek into the world of Instagram to see what I’m talking about. Also look up ads from companies such as Temu. That said, you see similar things in real life too, so consumption and overspending are not restricted to cyberspace.
Boring Habits
“What are you having for dinner later on?” An acquaintance from the church I attended asked me about the remainder of my day after service one Sunday.
“Oh I’m going to have some leftover beans and rice (Emiril Lagasses’s recipe),” I replied, feeling good about my cooking skills.
“That’s boring. That’s boring,” she playfully jabbed at me, but also partially being serious.
I didn’t know what to think when she said this to me. Eating leftovers was a part of my lifestyle growing up that stayed with me over the years. It made sense to me to make large quantities of a meal and then to continue to eat it in the future. It was very cost effective too and ‘stretched’ dollars out. I also understood in hindsight that this habit could be seen as boring to individuals who solely eat out and who can’t cook or both.
I later found that part of the culture of the Washington, DC metro area, particularly among the black professionals, was eating out, eating out well and not a chain restaurants (Applebee’s, TGI Fridays or Ruby Tuesday for example). Many people proudly touted themselves as ‘foodies’. Sunday brunch after church services was more holy for some people than the actual morning worship.
What might be some other boring habits? The following are potentially boring habits:
● Regularly cooking as opposed to eating out ● Eating leftovers ● Bringing your lunch to work regularly ● Budgeting and planning out expenses ● Budgeting for and wisely planning out vacations ● Sticking to your budget ● Buying based upon your needs versus your wants ● Thinking long-term and setting spending goals/limits
Retirement Savings: Another Boring Wealth Building Habit
“If you’re not saving in your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), you’re leaving money on the table.” Retirement savings is another boring wealth building habit. I did not understand my TSP when I first started my federal career. My financial team and others impressed the importance of investing in it early enough where it could be an asset to me in my later years.
There are in fact a group of people who are ‘TSP Millionaires’. These are self-made millionaires who gradually saved into their accounts and by the time they were ready to retire, they were literally millionaires. It wasn’t done in a flashy way as we often see in pop culture and on social media, but instead through methodical savings from every paycheck, budgeting and prioritization. It further involved choosing the right assets/funds within their accounts to take advantage of the Law of Compounding Interest.
As a disclaimer I received assistance on this latter aspect. If you’re able save money in a retirement account of any kind, but aren’t savvy in terms of where to invest the money, I recommend finding someone who has already successfully started and is willing to teach you. In other words you should find a trustworthy expert.
What is Wealth Building?
No. Wealth building doesn’t mean a boring life. It can actually be quite fun dodging the snares of creditors who are always on the hunt for more prey. It just means going against the grain of what we as a society are being encouraged to uncontrollably do which is to spend. When you think about wealth, think about your Net Worth which is the difference between your cash and assets and your liabilities. Debt is a very bad thing for financially minded people. They are careful about using it and seek to control the use of it at all costs. Visit the channel entitled, Savings Minus Debt on YouTube to get an outlook on debt that you’ve probably never heard before.
Proverbs 22:7 in fact says that, “The rich rule over the poor and the borrower is slave to the lender.” I have personally found that to be true as I got myself into some really deep debt trouble at one point in my life. It is a stretch that I will never forget as I never wish to go back there.
“The banks would call me a freeloader. I pay off all my credit card balances at the end of the month but I gladly use the airline miles they give me,” talk show host Bruce Williams said nightly on his broadcasts in the early 2000s, one of my favorites of all time. Bruce talked about the wise use of retail credit cards which involved paying off all of his balances every month but gladly accepting the benefits. Do you pay off all your balances or pay the debt every month?
Can You Afford A $400 Expense?
Another interesting finding as I learned about money was that many Americans can’t afford a $400 emergency expense. I think Rodney Brooks of the Washington Post wrote the initial piece about this phenomenon. If I can find it, I’ll link to it. Similar pieces have been written throughout the years though.
A surprising finding for me though was that there were quite a few members of the prestigious six figure club who couldn’t cover a $400 expense. How is this possible? Well first everyone’s situation is different but there are several explanations for six figure earners who can’t cover a $400 emergency expense. One is the afore-mentioned debt. Debt can cripple your finances even if you are a high earner.
The conclusion most come to is overspending and poor money management. Money management in itself does take work because you have to sit down, proactively do the math and stick to the budget, or spending plan you’ve devised. This is part of the conundrum though. Aren’t you supposed to be able to spend whatever you want to if you’re a high earner? What do you think?
Closing Thoughts
This essay was written with some subtle humor in case you didn’t pick up on it. I first heard about wealth building being boring from an anonymous individual on YouTube I’ll call Ra-El in a livestream discussion. He was another ‘money guy’ who was interested in this topic of wealth building. Saving and investing money versus spending it is a major point of contention between couples today for those who don’t know. I also want to acknowledge that in this summer of 2024, many people in the United States and around the world are grappling with their daily financial survival which is a separate set of considerations than retirement savings. If you’re fortunate to have resources where survival is not a concern, then this topic is something you should consider.
I further want to close this essay by stating that I am not a financial professional. I am a scientist, writer and storyteller. I am also a very effective budgeter. I am not an expert at investing. I rely on individuals who are smarter than me in those areas. I can tell you that investing correctly requires a level of financial budgeting, restraint and prioritization. But is that all there is?
My financial team further shared the basis for the follow up piece to this one with me. It was a piece of advice stating that those who have wisely saved and invested should eventually get to a point where they should enjoy seeing their investments grow. Furthermore, saving for the sake of saving is just suffering. It was a profound lesson for someone disciplined like me. Look out for that essay. Finally thank you to my folks for not raising me in a consumerist mindset and my financial team for your guidance and encouragement. Finally thank you to Jenny for inspiring me to write this essay in addition to my financial team.
The Big Words LLC Newsletter
For the next phase of my writing journey, I’m starting a monthly newsletter for my writing and video content creation company, the Big Words LLC. In it, I plan to share inspirational words, pieces from this blog and my first blog, and select videos from my four YouTube channels. Finally, I will share updates for my book project The Engineers: A Western New York Basketball Story. Your personal information and privacy will be protected. Click this link and register using the sign-up button at the bottom of the announcement. If there is some issue signing up using the link provided, you can also email me at [email protected] . Best Regards.
Two focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and General Education. The hospitality industry is a cornerstone of most world economies. Even if not formally trained in aspects of the industry, there are various skills you can learn by simply working in it. The following contributed post is entitled, What Can You Expect To Learn When Working in The Hospitality Industry.
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When you’re stuck at a crossroads in your career, and you’re unsure where you want to go in your life there are a number of options at your fingertips. Working in the hospitality industry has always been something that interests you greatly, so why not consider it as an option? You have heard a lot of positive feedback from people you know who work in this line of work and not only can you expect to earn an excellent salary in the hospitality sector, but there are also so many opportunities to learn along the way. Expanding your skills as an individual or business owner is invaluable, so here are just some of the things you can expect to learn when working in the hospitality industry.
Culinary Skills
There is undoubtedly a lot of training that goes into working in the hospitality sector, especially when you choose to go into the culinary side of things. You could look into hospitality training in your local area and hone in on your skills so that you can completely switch up your career paths. Enhancing your culinary skills and receiving the proper training will open up so many doors when it comes to advancing your career.
Communication and People Skills
The hospitality sector is all about working in a client facing environment and navigating how to handle every type of situation under the sun. Even if you simply spent a single month working in hospitality, you would hone in on your people skills and your communication would naturally improve too.
Team Work
Working as a team towards a common goal in order to get the job done is something that everyone in the hospitality sector is used to doing. You have to be a strong team player in order to compete in this industry and there are so many advantages to improving this skill for the long term too.
Organization
The hospitality sector is known for being busy and a constant challenge, so it’s extremely important to be organized and on top of your workload. You may find that working in this industry teaches you how to stay organized in every different situation.
Motivation
If you choose to begin your career in the hospitality industry, you can be sure that you’ll build upon your motivational skills every single time you turn up to work. There may be some days when it takes a tonne of motivation just to get through a shift due to various circumstances but this is a skill that will always be helpful.
As you can see, there are so many incredible opportunities available to you when you choose to work in the hospitality sector. Not only can you expect to meet a whole host of wonderful people, but there are almost certainly so many ways you can progress and improve yourself as a person too. Whether you want to become more organized, improve your teamwork or enhance your culinary skills, there are so many things you can lean when you choose to work in the hospitality sector.
Two key focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and General Education. As a professional, your education never stops but instead continues evolving. Depending upon what you’re looking to achieve, planning is critical. The following contributed post is entitled, 6 Reasons To Consider Career Planning.
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Career planning is about preparing yourself for the future job market. This is as vital as having a career itself. You should know who you want to be in the not-too-distant future, say five to ten years. Going to work every day without having a sense of direction could mean you lack a career plan, which can result in regrettable mistakes in the future. A clear career plan is a roadmap for making crucial decisions to excel and achieve financial stability. Here are some benefits of trying considering this process.
A career plan fosters self-development. It helps you stay disciplined, focused, and motivated to choose a good career path and stick to it. Developing these traits will pay off in the long run. Track your progress as you grow, and evaluate your career plan every six months to ensure it positions you to achieve your long-term professional goals.
2. Job contentment
These days, finding workers who are satisfied with their career path is hard. Unfortunately, career contentment can impact your physical and mental health and the quality of your work output. Developing a career plan that boosts your morale will help you discover your purpose and stay happy.
3. Retirement plans
Having a career plan doesn’t always mean you have to only look for your dream job. It’s more about facing the realities of the future. Many professionals understand that they can’t work for the rest of their lives. A career plan may help make investments or savings allocations toward a happy retirement. Admittedly, your journey may not start on a smooth journey; there may be setbacks here and there. However, the good news is that you can never go wrong by creating a career plan that ensures your retirement life will be easy.
4. Finding educational and learning opportunities
Your career plan can also help you discover further education and learning opportunities. Once you evaluate your career trajectory and identify things that are not working, you can take proactive steps, such as upgrading your resume. You can also determine where you need more education, which would mean getting more certifications, taking online courses, and seeking funding for higher education. Healthcare scholarship opportunities, for instance, can help remove financial barriers for those interested in the emergency medical services (EMS) field.
5. It gives you full control over your career
Several things in your career may be beyond your control, but career planning isn’t one of them. It gives you complete control over your professional life because only you can tell what’s good or bad for your career. Careers eat so much of your time. According to the HuffPost, people spend up to 13 years working and only 328 days socializing with friends. One big mistake you may not want to make is choosing a career path that gives you zero work-life balance.
You will increase your knowledge of various career prospects as you plan your career. Although everyday life has become fast-paced and competitive, a solid career plan can give clarity to help prioritize professional objectives.
“The Pal Review system blurs the lines between what real science is versus tainted science that is impacted and shaped by politics and outside interest groups with specific agendas.”
I discuss numerous science- and technology-related topics on my YouTube channel entitled, Big Discussions76 Science and Technology. I took an interest in the climate change discussion about a year and a half ago after being aggressively confronted about it one to two years ago. The YouTube algorithm coincidentally later presented me with a video from the Independent Institute where Dr. Willie Soon was a featured speaker. I have since become a fan of Dr. Soon. Listening to his talks have given me a better understanding of this climate discussion though maybe one that some may not like.
Dr. Soon discussed the concepts of ‘Peer Review’ and ‘Pal Review’ in that initial talk described above. These two concepts are interestingly at the heart of the polarizing and volatile climate discussion. Something Dr. Soon discussed is that science is headed towards more of Pal Review system which is dangerous for everyone. The Pal Review system blurs the lines between what real science is versus tainted science that is impacted and shaped by politics and outside interest groups with specific agendas. The video below is my discussion on Peer Review vs Pal Review.
The article I discussed in the broadcast published on Forbes deals with Climate Gate, an important event in this climate discussion that most of the general public knows nothing about. This is critical because most people make their life decisions such as voting based upon that they know and don’t know. This has long lasting ramifications for everyone.
The Big Words LLC Newsletter
For the next phase of my writing journey, I have started a monthly newsletter for my writing and video content creation company, the Big Words LLC. In it, I plan to share inspirational words, pieces from this blog and my first blog, and select videos from my four YouTube channels. Finally, I will share updates for my book project The Engineers: A Western New York Basketball Story. Your personal information and privacy will be protected. Click this link and register using the sign-up button at the bottom of the announcement. If there is some issue signing up using the link provided, you can also email me at [email protected] . Best Regards.
Two focuses of my blog are General Education and Technology. While many people think that technology can waste a lot of time, it can also provide tremendous value, particularly in the realm of education. The following contributed post is entitled, How Games And Apps Can Turbocharge Your Education.
We all have to make sure that we are learning something new each day. If we don’t quite manage that, then it’s absolutely fine, but we should strive to do so anyway. If we sit still for too long, we will only go backward in terms of our intellect. The brain needs to be exercised all of the time and learning new things makes us happier. The good thing is that there are plenty of ways we can educate ourselves. In this post, we are going to be talking about digital systems and games – and how they can play a huge part.
The entire planet has more than embraced the digital world in 2023, and it’s a great way of educating young people and adults alike. You can learn so much using certain pieces of software and applications. Games can even educate you along the way. Here are just a few ways games can help this out:
The Way You Engage With The Environment
Video games and other kinds of digital applications have the unique ability to create engaging environments. When you dive into a particular game, you are immersing yourself in a world of challenges and things to discover. Some traditional learning methods can be tedious, but this world that is created for you can provide you with lots of different pieces of stimulation. You stay motivated throughout and you have lots of reasons to succeed. It might be a case of using lateral thinking or simply solving intricate puzzles – but you ultimately learn things in an exciting way.
Cognitive Skills Get A Boost
Games have the ability to boost everyone’s cognitive skills. It’s not just a case of having fun and completing certain tasks in order to win, you have to do things that require brainpower along the way. Your problem-solving skills and decision-making skills come into question as well as very basic abilities. You gain the ability to remember certain things and recall them when necessary. These can then be transferred to other areas of life that can serve you in the future.
Lots Of Different Interactive Scenarios
You can be thrown into all kinds of different interactive learning scenarios whenever you play games. There are even games that have the express purpose of teaching you historical facts or important tidbits. You may even wish to play a game in which you create a nation and learn about politics in a simulated political world. These kind of immersive approaches allow you to grasp all kinds of concepts.
Progressive Learning
As time moves on throughout the game, you progress more and more and things become more difficult. You have to use your brain more and more frequently. This might be a case of learning new things but it also might be a case of applying your cognitive skills more significantly. This can then mirror real-life learning experiences and allow you to, again, transfer these skills to more important areas of your life.
