5 women who quit for their mental health and what they learned

5 women who quit for their mental healthand what they learned5 women who quit for their mental healthand what they learnedIf youve ever calculated just how many hurs of your life are spent working, its enough to make you reach for a cocktail. (Psst thats 90,360 hours if you log 40 hours a week and plan to retire by 65 if youre curious.)Thats why it can be so detrimental to stay at a company - or with a manager - who continuously diminishes your self-esteem, your confidence and your ability to excel. Though some workplaces are still learning how to put employees first, otzu sich capitalize on unhealthy methods of motivation that keep their staffers fearful and full of angst. The decision to pack it all up - so to speak, anyway - and set out for smoother pastures?Its not always paved with golden bricks, especially when you state of mind isnt positive, to begin with. However, the longer you feel trapped in a gig, the less courage youll have to make the jump, no matter what you risk. In honor of Mental Health Awareness month, get inspired to leave a toxic gig, just like these five - super-successful and happier - women didWhatever it is, its totally okay.Even though her old job looked great on paper, Jessica Goldman - now a freelance graphic designer - had to admit the hard truth she welchesnt happy. Not only were her stress and anxiety levels soaring, but she lacked confidence and comfortable with her work, causing her experience stomach pains when she thought of Mondays, brainstorming meetings or merely going into the office.How she knew it welches time to quit Though she didnt have a specific a-ha moment, Goldman sought the help of a therapist because she felt as if she was in the crux of a career crisis. After all, if she had the dream job she always fantasized having, why was she so miserable? Through the guidance of an expert, she found the permission to walk away from a seemingly-perfect gig in search of something else.Or rather, somewhere else around the saatkorn time, Goldman discovered Remote Year, a program that gives digital nomads the ability to travel around the globe for a year, living and working remotely in up to 12 countries. This opportunity helped her take the plunge - she quit, found a sublet (minus some hiccups), started freelancing and flew to her first destination Croatia.What she learned Especially if youre a type-A personality, struggling with perfectionism runs in your veins. This difficult experience taught Goldman the value - and importance - of reminding yourself that everything is totally okay. And that doesnt mean its coming up roses, but rather, its okay to feel whatever youre feeling. Its totally okay to go through what I went through. Its totally okay to quit a job after a few months as long as you truly know it isnt right. Its totally okay to put yourself and your happiness first. Its totally okay to make hard decisions - like telling a boss who basically just hired you that you are leaving to tr avel. Its totally okay to have anxiety and seek help and have breakdowns - they all make us stronger and more capable to tackle anything that comes our way, she said.I didnt trust the integrity of the company.When Holly Caplan interviewed for her previous position, they bragged about putting their employees first and aiding them in personal development and success. But once she started, she realized how opposite this actually was not only was the C-level team making knee-jerk decisions, but they proved to be unstable and directionless. This created an office culture of anxiety and fear, where everyone- Caplan included- felt paralyzed, especially when they started making threats to fire or reduce salaries. She knew her future- and that of the business- was unsustainable.How she knew it was time to quit While on a call led by the vice president, Caplan received the nudge - er, shove- she needed to finally call it a wash. He revealed everyones salaries would be slashed and anyone co nsidered a non-contributor would be let go in a month. This was not a good sign, and I knew at that moment, I had to leave. They were going into panic mode, and I didnt want to go with them, she shared.What she learned Now a workplace expert and author, Caplan found this stressful experience to be a valuable source of wisdom on happiness versus money. I learned to stand by my principles and not fall into the trap of succumbing to an unhealthy situation just because I was getting paid. Staying in a dysfunctional company will do nothing but send you into a vortex of negativity and non-production, she explained. Dont go down with the ship. When you see ill-guided behavior and activities, know that there is a strong possibility that it is not coming from a good place. Take care of yourself and jump off the boat.I didnt want to be miserable until I was 60.From the outside, life was peachy for Nadine Hays Pisani. She was a successful chiropractor with a steady stream of clients, a nice ho me and car, along with a happy marriage. But what wasnt obvious was her crippling financial, business and mortgage debt that she worked a decade to pay off. Once she reached a zero balance though? It didnt make her as happy as she thought it would - especially working a blur of eight-to-ten hour days, on repeat.How she knew it was time to quit When her husband, also a chiropractor, was admitted into the hospital for a stomach ailment, they looked at each other and wondered what they were doing with their lives. Since most of their 30s were spent in an office, staring out of a window hoping for a new life, they knew they needed to make a change. I knew deep down that I would be working there until my sixties unless we made a run for it, she shared. Thats when they untangled their lives and rebuilt their lives in Costa Rica. Ten years later, theyve never looked back. It was the most reckless, ridiculous, and romantic move all wrapped it one. The risk of not doing it was too heavy. Th e thought that if I didnt go, in five years, Id look back and regret it. That the moment I was brave went to waste. Thats when you know. When there is no other choice. When that brave moment has not yet slipped away, she shared.What she learned Even though a career takes a lifetime to build, you can always start another one. Now, Pisani is an author who writes about her experience and offers advice to others who want to leave the rat race in search of something softer.I grew afraid of my bosss unpredictable mood swings.Though it was in the throes of the recession, Meghan Ely was excited to be offered a Director of Catering position, resulting in a major pay raise, making her one of the highest paid in the region. It seemed like the right move - but something wasnt sitting well for Ely, right from week one. Not wanting to be wrong about her choice to accept the offer, she pushed through as her boss had daily tantrums and unpredictable mood swings. In addition to witnessing him drink ing on the job and always having a camera monitoring their work, she stayed put- after all, she had just taken out a mortgage with her fiance and were about to pay for their wedding.How she knew it was time to quit Three weeks in, on a seemingly-normal workday, her boss arrived upset. He instructed everyone to rearrange a section of the store at the office - a huge and unnecessary undertaking. It was then and there, I realized I was dealing with an unstable boss and it was not my best interest to stay, she shared.What she learned Ultimately her decision to leave led to a part-time gig that allowed her to build up her own company, OFD Consulting, which she later founded. For Ely, having savings was the key to freedom, and something she recommends to all professionals. I aim to live lean and save as much as I can so that, when an emergency pops up like this, I can breathe, she explained. Build a life raft before you need it- even if things are so-so now, start saving and keep a polis hed resume handy at all times.Theres never a perfect time to start your business - but there is a time to leave.Leah weingarten used to work as a commercial real estate attorney, but her passion was found in event planning. Though she didnt want to admit it, she realized over the years of practicing that she should have never become an attorney in the first place, but now found herself in a position where she could only give a fraction of her time to her real passion, since her job demanded so much more.How she knew it was time to quit Once her side hustle, Color Pop Events, started to grow, she wondered what would happen if she dedicated 100 percent of her efforts. Still nervous to leave the safety net of a steady paycheck behind, she held on until a phone call sent her through the roof - and out the door. I had a particularly contentious conference call with another attorney during a lease negotiation. He was insulting, condescending, patronizing - I hung up the phone and said, Thats it. Ive got to figure out a way to go full time with my business. So I got my finances in order and left that law firm a few months later and have been a full-time entrepreneur ever since, she shared.What she learned Much like when you meet the person youll ultimately marry, are faced with difficult health news or everything around you seems to crumble - you cant always control the timing of your career. As Weinberg says, sometimes you have to listen to what the universe is telling you, especially if it keeps delivering negativity to you. Since her role as an attorney was always met with conflict, she knew leaving was the best choice - and it might be the right one for you, too.For other people who may be feeling stuck or unhappy in their current jobs, I can definitely tell you that youre not alone. And the number one thing you can do to start feeling better is to start looking into other options. Whether thats interviewing at other companies or getting your ducks in a row to go full-time with your own venture, theres nothing more empowering that starting to move forward, she adds.

Performance Appraisal Systems That Rank, Rate and Limit

Performance Appraisal Systems That Rank, Rate and LimitPerformance Appraisal Systems That Rank, Rate and LimitReaders Question I work for a large corporation that has a wertmiger zuwachs management ordnungsprinzip wherbeie only a certain percentage of people can get the highest ratings. Two years in a row, my manager (and her manager) have agreed that I should receive an Exceeds Expectations. This rating is associated with a higher raise and a higher bonus amount. Two years in a row, this rating recommendation was downgraded by those above them to Achieves Expectations. I was told this wasnt personal its just the numbers. (Susan adds In similar systems, only a certain percentage of employees can rank in each numeric rating category.) I work in a sales environment where the top salespeople automatically get the highest ratings. I also dont report directly to the VP (and I assume those who do have an easier job of getting the rating they deserve). My reviews both years were glowing. W ritten on them were my managers comments that she recommended I receive an Exceeds Expectations rating. Two years in a row, it was downgraded. I feel very badly about working for a company with this type of performance appraisal system. When I asked my manager what mora I could do to get to keep the rating they submitted for me, she told me, nothing. There is nothing more she can do either. She cant get blood from a stone. As an employee, I cannot see any benefit for a company in having a system like this. If someone does have good people, they should be able to rate them as such. If they have many good people, then all the power to them. The good people should be rated accordingly and theyve done their job as hiring managers well. Are there other companies with this type of system that you know of (this is my first experience with this)? Why do they have systems like this? How would you go on being the top performer, that you know you arewhen the rating system is so unfair? Any wor ds of wisdom would be appreciated. Human Resources Response If you read through my materials on performance appraisal and ranking systems, you know that I totally disagree with them. They are a method used by companies to contain costs and falsely limit the availability of high ratings, a practice of which I also disapprove. Philosophically, proponents of such a system, which usually includes a percentage factor that specifies the percentage of employees who may attain each rating, would argue that it makes performance raters more discerning. Only exceptional employees are highest rated and unexceptional employees fall to the bottom of the rankings. They might also say that such a system makes certain that true differentiation of performance is expected and rewarded. (As a new proponent of rating and ranking, one 30,000 employee division of a large corporation found that 96 percent of its employees had received the highest rating prior to the new system which divided level of rating by - 10 percent - exceptional, 15 percent - exceeds expectations, 60 percent - meets expectations and 15 percent - below expectations.) I dont know what more I can say. Many companies do this, to their detriment, in my opinion. All I can suggest to yousince you dont appear to be in a position to affect the performance appraisal system is that you stealth job search to find a company that lets your obviously many talents and contributions be rewarded as they deserve. Consider talking with your manager about using more specific and quantifiable examples of your contributions and efforts on the appraisal document - the piece I have often observed is missing - in a competitive employee ranking exercise. If your company has a method for soliciting employee input, you might give yours about this performance appraisal process. But,if your manager is unable to impact the final decisions, in competition with all of the other managers for their employees, there is not much more that you can do. More About Employee Performance Appraisal Performance Development ChecklistWhy Organizations Do Employee Performance Evaluation DisclaimerPlease note that the information provided, while authoritative, is not guaranteed for accuracy and legality. The site is read by a world-wide audience and ?employment lawsand regulations vary from state to state and country to country. Please seek legal assistance, or assistance from State, Federal, or International governmental resources, to make certain your legal interpretation and decisions are correct for your location. This information is for guidance, ideas, and assistance.

8 things you can learn in 10 minutes that will 10x your productivity

8 things you can learn in 10 minutes that will 10x your productivity8 things you can learn in 10 minutes that will 10x your productivityTime is free but priceless.Chances are you have multiple responsibilities and things on your plate every day, but being productive is notlage the same as being busy.Adopt some of behauptung habits in the next 10 minutes, and youll be more productive for the rest of your life.1. How to prioritizeYou cant achieve anything in life if you are not clear about exactly what you want. Having plans forces you (or at least it should) to do something.Yogi Berra once said, If you dont know where youre going, you might not get there. You have no chance of making it in life if you dont have priorities.Priorities are things you have to get done in your personal life or at work.Successful and effective people know what to do when to do it and the tools they need to help them achieve their life goals. Knowing how to prioritize affects the success of your life and bus iness.To prioritize better, identify your most important tasks (MITs), separate urgent from important ones, access the value of each task, order them by importance, and finally add the estimated time of completion anything on your must-do list.Make your to-do list short.Call it a success list, says Gary Keller, author The One Thing The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results.Gary explainsLong hours spent checking off a to-do list and ending the day with a full trash can and a clean desk are not virtuous and have nothing to do with success.Instead of a to-do list, you need a success list - a list that is purposefully created around extraordinary results.To-do lists tend to be long success lists are short. One pulls you in all directions the other aims you in a specific direction. One is a disorganized directory and the other is an organized directive. If a list isnt built around success, then thats not where it takes you. If your to-do list contains everything, then i ts probably taking you everywhere but where you really want to go.2. How to get everything out of your headDont rely heavily on your memory.It will fail you when you need it most.Instead, write things down everyday.There are hundreds of options for taking notes - everything from the good old sticky notes to applications like Evernote, Any.do, and Wunderlist.By jotting down everything that needs to get done in the week, you will have a better picture of what needs to be accomplished - and set priorities accordingly.3. How to separate urgent from important tasksWhat is urgent today may not be important tomorrow.Its your job to know what is urgent and needs immediate attention and what is important that can be put off until tomorrow.Set clear rules and boundaries so you dont end up taking on too much from others.When your tasks are separated into important and urgent, you are more likely to give attention to them and get them done as soon as possible.Dont be afraid to have someone ta ke a message, or to answer that e-mail tomorrow, so you can concentrate on your tasks.In 18 Minutes Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Things Done, Peter Bregman writes, To get the right things done, choosing what to ignore is as important as choosing where to focus.Reduce your commitments. You probably have too much on your plate. If you edit your commitments, you can reduce your workload and the amount of time you need to work.4. How to focus on one thing at a timeThe ability to focus is an undervalued skill. Mono-tasking changes everything.Singletasking forces you to sustain your focus.Your output can increase 25x if you can single-task on purpose with little or no distraction.When you have 1 clear priority at any given time, single-tasking is the best approach to get things done in less time.When you single-task you accomplish more in less time with less stress.5. How to live the 80/20 lifeIm koranvers youve heard of the Pareto principle, known also as the 80 /20 rule focus on the few things that get you the most benefit.The principle states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.Well, you probably have too much thrown at you at once every work day, and youre too busy juggling everything coming at you to take a minute and evaluate whats essential, whats urgent, what you can delegate and everything else thats a waste of your most important asset.When you force yourself to focus on essential tasks that have a large Return on Investment (ROI), you will be more productive, achieve more and simplify your life in the process.To do more in less time, track the time you spend on tasks each hour of each day for a week.How many of your activities got you closer to your goals?How many were a waste of time?How many could have been delegated?Pick the 20% of your tasks that yield 80% of the results and outsource or simply discontinue the rest.To effectively pursue less and achieve more, use the MITs ruleChoose th ree Most Important Tasks for each day, and focus completely on gettting them done within a specific time.Any more than that and you might not get them all done.Achievement is a huge motivator.Progress will keep you going when you stop pursuing more. By restricting yourself to a small number of things, you force yourself to focus only on the essential.6. How to own and defend your timeYou alone can take ownership of your time and decide how much time to spend on your thoughts, conversations, actions and even purposeful distractions that will lead to your success.You cant let other people set your agenda in life says Warren Buffett.If 80% of your results will come from 20% of your time, imagine if you got it so right, that you only needed to work that 20%.Protect your time like a valuable investment.What you do today is important, because you are exchanging a day of your lifefor it. UnknownUltra productive people focus on getting a lot done with every minute they have at their dispos al.Allocate time to your tasks at all times.Each task of the day should be attainable, realistic, and time-bound. And most importantly every task should advance your goals for the day, week or month.The time constraint will push you to focus and be more efficient.Whatever they are, get clear on them, so that you know what to focus on, and actually have something to do when you generate free timeOwning your time is not just about having more free time its about knowing what you want and using the time youre given productively to get there.Remember that if you dont prioritize your life, someone else will says Greg McKeownReclaim your time and suddenly youll have a whole bunch of extra time to work on your life goals, to relax and de-stress yourself, to spend time with family and friends, to read, to improve yourself, to work on a passion project, to exercise.Itll be one of the most important things you do.7. How to stop being a perfectionistIf you keep chasing perfection, it could tak e you longer to get your tasks done - and you will most likely be less productive than you planned.The reason being is when you activity strive for perfection you spend more time on a single task than required, causing your other responsibilities to get pushed back.This will cause you to lose time and possibly annoy your immediate boss in the process. Perfectionism is even higher when you dont account to anyone but yourself, as the fine tuning never ends.Perfection can ultimately be the enemy, and is often an illusion, especially if you keep pushing to improve something that is already good, says Larry Kim, founder and CEO of MobileMonkey.8. How to measure your inputs and resultsDont just measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you could have achieved if you used the best work principles.If you dont take time to assess results and figure out how to do more of whats working, you be wasting a lot of time on activities that have little impact on your productivity.E xamine your work constantly.Meticulously analyze your inputs and outputs.The overwhelming reality about life and living it is this we live in a world where a lot of things are taking up your most time but given you the least results and a very few things are exceptionally valuable.John Maxwell once said, You cannot overestimate the unimportance of practically everything.Time your efforts, and document how you are investing your time.Are you getting the results you expect?This might seem like a waste of time at first, but once you see how valuable performance data is for getting doing better in life youll start measuring where the week has gone.This article was originally published on Medium.