Betches cofounders on how to be manager when you werent managed

Betches cofounders on how to be manager when you werent managedBetches cofounders on how to be manager when you werent managedAleen Kuperman, Jordana Abraham, and Samantha Fishbein (aka the Betches Media cofounders) have a story that sounds like it was ripped straight from a new hit television series targeting college-aged women- but one that secretly all the guys love, too. The three entrepreneurs grew up near each other, all went to Cornell for undergrad and ended up living together senior year, which is how Betches Love This Site was born. Picture this three seniors savoring the last days of college while creating something fun during their free time. The site went viral thanks to Facebook. After the three girls turned their tassels, they headed back to their family homes, but the college grads knew they had something worth pursuing.Now, Kuperman, Fishbein, and Abraham hold the titles of CEO, COO, and Chief Content Officer, respectively. The Betches brand claims a successful conte nt website, a suite of nine podcasts, several successful Instagram accounts, an online shop, and three books written together by the co-founders. Though none of them have much experience being managed outside of a few college internships, these women manage a team of 20 full-time employees.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraThe co-founders shared their story at an event for their latest book, Whens Happy Hour? Work Hard So You Can Hardly Work. Ladders captured their advice on how to be a anfhrer (even if you barely ever had one and definitely never went to business school).Stay in control of your brandIn 2014, Betches launched Shop Betches, an online retailer that offers very on-brand products to dedicated fans. Before Shop Betches, the co-founders tried to crack into the e-commerce world by letting others handle this aspect of the business. This shop wasnt successful because the girls relied on e-commerce experts, not Betches experts, to create this branch of their business.When we saw what was being put out there it was not something we were proud to attach our names to, therefore it didnt really do very well, Abraham saidNow that Betches controls all aspects of Shop Betches, not only are they proud of the platform, but have also seen much greater success with it.Take requests for raises seriouslyThe Betches founders maintain good relationships with their employees in multiple ways, one being that they take requests for raises very seriously. The cofounders give each request equal consideration, but that doesnt mean that any request will get approved. Abraham mentioned that she appreciates when employees come with research about the industry, their position, and their past work. In contrast, bringing up reasons from your personal life, like wanting to move into a new apartment, isnt going to convince any of the cofounders that you should get a raise.Hard f acts that show how valuable you are to the companymake us want to compensate the person because theyve made a really good case for themselves, Abraham said.Being a good boss is a constant learning experienceBetches has grown from a group of three to a staff of 20 full-time employees as well as many freelancers. None of the girls were trained in school to manage employees, but Fishbein said that the real-life experiences she faces every day help her grow as a manager mora than any theoretical learning. When problems arise, Fishbein focuses on using techniques that shes tried in the past, or pivoting her approach if something didnt work previously.Its really about being mindful, trying to learn on the job and being very present with whats happening by tackling one thing at a time, Fishbein said.Learn how to deal with different personalitiesWhile the Betches leaders dont have too much experience being managed by different bosses, they know well the delights and struggles that come with having a multitude of personalities in the office.Learning how to deal with different personalities is just a fact of life, Fishbein said.And to employees, Fishbein urges you to remember that your boss is only human. Realize that this person is literally just a person and what theyre doing is not personal, its just their own st that theyre taking out on you.Stay self-aware about your strengths and shortcomingsThe only way to become and remain a good boss is to constantly be self-aware.Our employees are so, so important to the company, Kuperman said. They are the reason why it grows and why we add another podcast or another Instagram account.When an employee feels strongly about a new idea, the cofounders allow them to explore it. Self-awareness comes in handy when a boss needs to realize that just because he or she is older and more experienced, theyre not necessarily more skilled at a certain task.We acknowledge that and we try to always constantly improve our own ways and our own skills, Kuperman said. We try to encourage that in our employees as well.Network early on- even if youre afraid of itWe didnt know anyone when we were coming up, Kemper said. We were not well-connected, our parents were not well-connected.Instead of accepting the fact that they had no friends in the media industry, the CEO wishes the three of them had been a little more outgoing in their early days. Instead of being stuck together, Kemper thinks it wouldve been very beneficial to attend networking events, reached out to people and been a little bit more vulnerable.As she said, the stakes are low.Ask for help when you need itJust because the girls started with no media connections and created a huge multimedia success doesnt mean that they think they know it all.In the beginning we were immature and thought we knew everything, Kuperman said.As the brand and cofounders matured together, they realized that they dont have the answers to everything.Ask people who know more than you or h ire people who know better than you, Kuperman said. That is the most important thing.But also realize that you can figure some stuff out on your ownMost anyone who is successful will tell you not to be afraid to ask for help. While its sound advice, the three media moguls have a new twist on this classic piece of advice.There were a lot of people, especially older guys, who thought, we can help these women or these young girls and make them pay for XYZ, Kuperman said. Sometimes we believed them and paid for whatever it was and then we realized every single step of the way that actually we dont need their helpwe can figure it out on our ownthat took us a long time to figure out but it was an amazing revelation.Money-hungry people will prey on a great idea, so its important to find support that you can trust with your brand, company, and money.Stay dedicated to you missionIn addition to controlling your brand, the Betches cofounders agree that its equally important to stay true to you r mission.What were dedicated to is the mission of giving young women a place to show that theyre understood and somewhere to relate to, Fishbein said.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

Signs That Your Work-Life Balance Is Out of Balance

Signs That Yur Work-Life Balance Is Out of BalanceSigns That Your Work-Life Balance Is Out of BalanceGetting our work-life balance into better balance is a challenge for any father.Work schedules, seasons, relationships at work and home and many other factors can influence work-life balance positively or negatively.Dads can usually tell when they are not in balance anymora because things just dont feel right at home or at work. For those who run their own businesses or have jobs that consume their lives, those feelings associated with being out of balance happen much more frequently and often with greater intensity. Without time and focus to restore balance, we find ourselves experiencing symptoms of stress, dysfunction, relationship friction or just plain burnout. For those who might feel out of balance and that work has become the very dominant component of that delicate relationship between work and life, you may want to ask yourself ansicht ten key questions that will help you di agnose your work-life balance and identify strategies of coming back into a positive state of life equilibrium. Are you out of shape? If the extra hours and your poor eating and exercise habits have been taking their toll, you may be finding yourself packing a few extra pounds and getting out of breath just going up a couple of flights of stairs. Letting yourself get out of shape can impact your quality of life negatively and lead to feelings of being out of balance. You might consider some steps like Make extra time for exerciseEat sensibly when you are on the runGet your kids to exercise with you, thereby multitasking with family and fitness Are you constantly overbooked? When a friend calls to chat, do you tell him that you just dont have time? Maybe you find yourself not being able to fit in that soccer game or dance recital because your schedule is just too tight. If you are finding yourself with an unmanageable schedule and if the really important things are getting lo st in the shuffle, you should try to Use theSimplify your lifeStreamline routine tasks like shopping and meal preparation Do you focus too much on getting it just right? A big part of learning to better balance life and work is to be willing to sacrifice a few good things for a few better things. If you spend a lot of time and energy on getting a lot of little things just so, you may want to rethink that strategy. Tending to be a perfectionist can get in the way of better life balance. So if you tend to stress over the small stuff, you may want to check out Learn the ten telltale traits of a perfectionistTake an anxiety self-testFind out if you are a perfectionist Is your workspace out of control? Workspaces that were clean with papers filed and that were well designed seemed to be the norm. A lot of clutter will tend to lead to overload, burnout, and lack of balance. The old rule of taking any given report, file, or piece of paper and then TRAFing it (Trash, Refer, Act, or File) is good advice. David Allen of fame suggests putting everything in an in-basket and following a carefully laid out way of processing. If your desk, office, workplace or table needs some help, these resources would be good for your consideration. Organize your home officeManage paper clutterKeep your desk organized Do you stay at work late just to prove your worth? In todays competitive work environment, sometimes we fall into the trap of staying late (or coming in early) to impress others with our commitment and dedication. But for every positive impression you are creating with that strategy at work, you are creating a negative one at home. It is not all about the hours you spend, but how effectively you perform during the hours you have. Bosses tend to be more impressed with performance than long hours. So work a little smarter and check out these ideas for being a more productive employee. Find the best productivity tools for fathersLearn some time management tipsAssess your time management personality type Is your social life on life support? When we get out of balance, we tend to ignore friends and family before we give up on other time-consuming activities. When was the last time you spent time with friends? When was your last date with your wife or significant other? Scheduling time on your busy calendar for socializing at work, at home, at church or in another drumherum with people will help you make time for others. Making social life a priority is an important key to helping keep it all in balance. When we get disconnected from friends, co-workers, and family members, our work-life balance feels out of whack. These ideas might help you enhance your personal social network. Create more supportive friendshipsTake a social assessment quizFind creative things to do with a friend Do you find that work is your activity of choice? When you find yourself with that rare hour or two that is not programmed, do you head into work to get caught up or even work at home? If you do, it is a great sign that you are out of balance. While work is often the most consistent demand on your time because it cries the loudest, it usually can wait just a bit while you focus on other aspects of life that should be more rewarding and contribute to your own well-being and that of your closest contacts. So if the siren call of your employer or your business seems just too irresistible, check out some of these ideas for non-work activities. Create a family night traditionPlan a date night with one of your childrenPut together a Wii game tournament Is your temper is flaring more and more? Being out of balance between work and personal lives often leads to stress and anxiety which manifest themselves in angry outbursts. If you are finding the kids or your lebensgefhrte getting on your nerves more than usual or finding your fuse short with others at work or in other settings, you may be struggling with work-life balance. These resources mi ght help for avoiding the anger trap and keeping your life a bit more in harmony Learn how to express anger appropriatelyHandle stress at home betterVent occasionally in a productive way Do you have a hard time sleeping, or sleeping well? If you are finding sleep hard to come by or just not finding enough hours in a day to sleep well, you are selling yourself short and may need to evaluate your life balance. These ideas might be helpful to you in getting a better nights sleep Improve your sleep habitsTry yoga to improve your sleepLearn more about stress and sleep issues Do you have to repeatedly reintroduce yourself to your family? The wife of former Colorado governor Richard Lamm related the story of one rare evening where the Governor returned home before his childrens bedtime. His young son ran up to him, jumped into his arms and yelled, Daddy After seeing this, Mrs. Lamm commented that her son was a literal genius. He meets a man once in his life and remembers his name s he said. If you are feeling like a stranger in your own home and with your children, it is time to set aside more time for family and regain your balance. Try a few of these ideas on for size if you need a little more focus at home Keep work at workTurn off the TV and tune into your familyStay in touch with the family when you have to be on the road

All About Flexible Jobs at Cactus Communications

All About Flexible Jobs at Cactus CommunicationsAll About Flexible Jobs at Cactus CommunicationsCactus Communications is a major provider of flexible job opportunities in general, and work-from-home freelance opportunities in particular. To that end, CACTUS engages more than 1,400 independent contractors worldwide who work virtually. Content at CACTUS is supervised by a kollektiv of in-house editors, including 43 who are certified by the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences (BELS), making CACTUS one of the worlds largest employers of BELS-certified editors.We talked to CACTUS about the companys work, itsmission and history, and the expertise itprovides to clients in more than 116 countries.If youre interested in the kinds of opportunities offered by CACTUS, view and apply to open flexible positions hereTell us a bit about what Cactus Communications does.CACTUS Cactus Communications is a leading global provider of scientific and medical communication services to researchers, authors, scholarly jurnals, publishers, and corporations worldwide. ur mission is to enable growth through effective communication. In everything we do, we aim to accelerate the development of global scientific research by helping science break through the confines of geography and language.To this end, we offer world-class editing, translation, publication support, medical writing, transcription, and researcher training services to help individuals achieve their communication goals.What are some of the main responsibilities of freelancers who work with CACTUS?CACTUS Depending on their qualifications, abilities, and interest, ur freelance editors work on one or both of our editing services- the standard editing service (SES), which involves linear editing, and the premium editing service (PES), which includes structural changes to the manuscript.Our freelance translators render academic documents from Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Portuguese into English. The main responsibility of our fre elance editors and translators is to ensure that the authors meaning is clearly conveyed.What process do you use to match candidates to papers and subject matter? Are applicants matched to topics that require their area of expertise (for example, if they have a masters or PhD in a particular subject)?CACTUS Because we deal with cutting-edge research, it is important that we place each paper in the right hands. This, of course, means associating freelancers with relevant subject-area clusters. So candidates with a masters or PhD as well as a flair for language will put both to good use, while also keeping in winzigkeit with the latest research in their field of specialization.The editorial division at CACTUS includes over 20 Centers of Excellence (CoEs), one for each major subject area group. Our hiring process is customized to each CoE.The translation division at CACTUS offers academic translation from Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Portuguese into English.What types of flexibility are offered with the freelance editor and translator positions? How are schedules or hours organized?CACTUS Freelancers can set their schedules and work when it pleases them. Our system enables each editor and translator to block dates when they plan to be unavailable for assignments. Our team of process managers schedules projects accordingly. Freelancers have the option of previewing an assignment before deciding whether to accept it.What makes an ideal candidate for a freelance editor and translator role with CACTUS?CACTUS This opportunity would appeal to anyone with a flair for language and a deep interest in their own area of specialization. Our freelancers make a real difference in the field of international research and scientific/academic communication.One of the biggest hurdles between ESL researchers and their target audience is language. Our freelance editors and translators help researchers improve language and clarity and ensure that their documents comply with academic style and conventions. As we aim to help authors meet their publishing goals, we expect our editors and translators to have high quality standards and meet deadlines.Because of the nature of the work, we prefer editors with a PhD or at least a masters degree. However, some CoEs do have openings for candidates with a bachelors degree. Our job descriptions list the minimum qualifications required for each position.For our freelance translator role, we look for candidates with native-level proficiency in English and the source language. They should be enterprising and be able to consult the right resources to find the most appropriate terms.How quickly can a well-qualified editor/translator begin to receive assignments through CACTUS after youve hired them?CACTUS Many of our freelancers hit the ground running Our processfrom application to hiringusually takes no more than three business days for editing and about a week for translation. Once hired, freelancers can log into their accou nt in our online system and familiarize themselves with our requirements and conventions.The freelancer is introduced to the Manager of the CoE most appropriate to his/her expertise, and work may start almost immediately in some cases or after a week or so in CoEs with a large number of new hires. Projects may initially be sporadic, allowing time for our team to review them carefully.Reliable freelancers- those who consistently deliver good quality work on time- will soon receive a steady stream of projects.Is there anything else youd like readers to know about flexible opportunities at CACTUS?CACTUS As the name suggests, these are flexible freelance opportunities. Therefore, there isnt any need to relocate and you can choose when to work.You will be exposed to tomorrows research today, as you will help refine the work of authors who aspire to get published in scholarly peer-reviewed journals.We look forward to collaborating with youMany thanks to Cactus Communications for providing readers with in-depth answers to questions about the companys job opportunities View and apply for jobs at Cactus Communications here