Posted on by Max Herrera

A Few Thoughts on Procrastination

Procrastination is the act of delaying or postponing tasks, often leading to feelings of guilt and anxiety. It often stems from fear of failure, perfectionism, or a lack of motivation. For instance, a student might delay starting their project because they’re worried it won’t meet their own high standards, which can create a cycle of anxiety and avoidance. This tendency not only affects productivity but can also erode self-esteem and increase stress levels.

To overcome procrastination, one effective strategy is to break tasks into smaller, manageable parts. For example, instead of tackling a whole research paper at once, a student could focus on writing one paragraph or even just conducting some preliminary research. Setting specific, achievable goals can make a daunting task feel less overwhelming. Additionally, using techniques like the Pomodoro Technique—working for 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute break—can help maintain focus and reduce the temptation to procrastinate.

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Posted on by Max Herrera

Setting Accessible Goals

Setting accessible goals is a mandatory requirement to achieve our dreams, victories, and even to emotionally satisfy and promote social development. Undoubtedly, we have to focus our efforts and energy in order to fuel our projects and turn them into a successful reality. In practice, however, we should avoid dispersing our energy through several dreams at once. Instead, what we have to do is to choose one or two dreams and focus all our energy and resources solely on them. Obviously, this simple advice is dictated by common sense, but it is also a fact which is often completely overlooked, leading to a great waste of dynamical, physical, mental and economic energy.

accessible goals

Another important tip is to understand that some dreams can come true immediately while others do not. Setting and following accessible goals determine, firstly, that the happiest people are precisely those which set achievable goals. A small goal is conquered in less time and produces a little happiness. As time goes by, many small goals form a great result that produces an enormous happiness.

In summary:

  1. To achieve a goal, first we have find in ourselves the will to achieve that goal.
  2. Goals must be accessible and realistic.
  3. A goal is realistic and accessible and when we have the possibility to conquer it.
  4. A goal is unaccessible when it is beyond our actual capabilities.
  5. The best way to conquer a goal is to divide it into small steps of increasing difficulty.
  6. People who divide their goals into small steps move forward faster than those that set goals which prove to be too high.
  7. If a person set unaccessible goals, he will probably fail, and will start doubting himself, giving up about such project and perhaps he will not try again.
  8. Every person needs to set goals which allow him to move forward, learn, grow and succeed.

Think about these simple facts before setting and redefining your goals 🙂 Also, visualize your goals.

Posted on by Max Herrera

7 key aspects to produce high-quality content

If your work is related to or focused on production of content-rich material, such as articles, books, movies, web sites, educative software applications, and so on, please pay special attention to the following key aspects to guarantee the high quality of your deliverable:

  1. Fragmentation: Fragmentation is a current problem in knowledge. It occurs because knowledge is separated in isolated parts, sometimes with very strict boundaries, and the audience of your work might end up grasping only little parts of the knowledge base embedded in your work, missing the crucial interconnections between concepts and ideas, and also missing the interdisciplinary content. Fragmentation in knowledge can significantly hinder the effectiveness of content delivery. For instance, consider a blog post about climate change that discusses only the scientific data without incorporating social, economic, or political perspectives. Readers might grasp the statistics but miss critical insights on how climate change affects vulnerable communities or the policies needed for mitigation. By connecting these disparate threads, you not only enrich the content but also foster a holistic understanding, encouraging readers to engage more deeply with the material. This interconnected approach can spark curiosity and motivate them to explore further, leading to a more informed and active audience. To combat fragmentation, it’s essential to present knowledge in a cohesive manner that highlights relationships between concepts. Utilize techniques such as storytelling, analogies, or visual aids that clarify complex ideas and demonstrate their relevance to everyday life. For example, a piece on technology’s impact on education could weave in personal narratives from teachers and students, illustrating how tools like online platforms enhance learning experiences. By creating a narrative that bridges various disciplines (like psychology, sociology, and technology) you not only make the content more relatable but also empower your audience to see the bigger picture, thereby nurturing their intrinsic motivation to learn and explore further. Sometimes, your audience might not receive your message at all. Your aim should raising your audience self-motivation (rather than being externally motivated.) Self-motivation is at the core of creativity, responsability, and lasting and true change. Your audience must have a genuine interest for your work and the knowledge it includes. For achieving this, structure your work properly: guide your audience through a well-defined structure, which integrates your audience with the reality, starting from the most basic concepts, notions and ideas, and gradually rising the level of interconnection among them.
  2. Communicational Approach: This comprises aspects such as the pedagogical philosophy of your production, your reader or user’s motivation, and the employment of graphics or multimedia resources according with the pedagogical philosophy and the topics developed. The question you should answer here is: Are you using the best approach and resources for communicating your ideas? The communicational approach plays a pivotal role in how effectively your ideas resonate with your audience. For instance, if your content targets a younger demographic, incorporating interactive multimedia elements (like quizzes, polls, or short videos) can enhance engagement and cater to their learning preferences. This strategy aligns with active learning principles, encouraging readers to not just consume information but actively participate in the learning process. A blog post about mental health awareness could benefit from infographics that illustrate statistics and personal stories, making the topic more relatable and memorable. By considering the pedagogical philosophy behind your content, you can tailor your approach to foster genuine connections with your audience. Moreover, understanding your readers’ motivations can further refine your communicational strategy. For example, if your audience is primarily driven by a desire to improve their professional skills, providing practical tips, case studies, and real-world applications will resonate more effectively than theoretical discussions. Additionally, leveraging varied resources, such as podcasts for auditory learners or downloadable templates for kinesthetic learners, can cater to diverse preferences. When crafting a piece on productivity hacks, including short audio clips of expert interviews or downloadable worksheets can significantly enhance the reader’s experience. A well-thought-out communicational approach not only delivers information but also inspires action, making your content more impactful and memorable.
  3. Language, Grammar and Style: This aspect covers all the things related to grammar, ortography, definitions, localization and format. Language, Grammar, and Style are foundational elements that can make or break the quality of your content. Proper grammar and spelling not only reflect professionalism but also enhance clarity, allowing your audience to engage with your message without distractions. A well-edited article that uses correct terminology and punctuation will come across as credible and trustworthy, while a piece riddled with errors may lead readers to question the validity of the information presented. Furthermore, consistent formatting, such as uniform headings, bullet points, and font choices, helps guide readers through the content, making it easier for them to digest complex ideas. Localization is another crucial component that can significantly impact the effectiveness of your communication. Tailoring your language to fit the cultural context and preferences of your target audience can enhance relatability and comprehension. Using regional idioms or expressions can foster a sense of connection, while avoiding jargon or overly technical language ensures accessibility. If you’re writing about technology for a global audience, consider providing glossary sections or explanations for terms that may not be universally understood. Paying close attention to language, grammar, and style not only elevates the quality of your content but also ensures that your message resonates with and is accessible to your intended readers.
  4. Aesthetics: It includes all the details related with the application’s aesthetics, the way content is organized and displayed, and the user interface (if any.) Nowadays, aesthetics of content -rich productions is very, very important. Aesthetics play a crucial role in how content is perceived and consumed by users. A visually appealing design not only captures attention but also enhances the overall user experience. For example, an educational app that presents information through a clean layout, harmonious color schemes, and engaging visuals can significantly improve user retention and interaction. Consider an online learning platform that uses bright, inviting colors along with intuitive navigation; this setup helps users feel more comfortable and motivated to explore various courses. Conversely, cluttered designs or poor visual choices can easily overwhelm users, leading them to disengage and seek out more aesthetically pleasing alternatives. Moreover, the organization and display of content directly influence how effectively information is communicated. Using consistent headings, subheadings, and visual hierarchies helps guide users through the material, making it easier for them to locate and understand key points. Prioritizing aesthetics not only makes your content more inviting but also enhances usability, ensuring that your audience can easily navigate and absorb the information presented.
  5. Evaluation: It refers to the mechanisms employed by you and your reviewers in order to verify the results. Your work doesn’t end when you submit or publish your material. On the contrary, posterior reviewing and evaluation of your work is an important step, a needed feedback for corrections, improvements and future work. Evaluation is a critical aspect of any creative endeavor, as it ensures that the quality of the work meets established standards and effectively communicates the intended message. This process involves systematic review mechanisms, where both the creator and external reviewers assess various elements of the content, including accuracy, coherence, and relevance. Engaging in thorough evaluations allows for identifying areas that may require clarification or enhancement, thereby reinforcing the credibility and effectiveness of the final product. It’s essential to view feedback as a constructive tool rather than a critique, fostering an environment where continuous improvement is prioritized. Evaluation serves as a foundation for future projects and iterations. By analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of previous work, creators can make informed decisions about their approach in subsequent endeavors. This iterative process not only promotes growth and development but also helps in refining skills and understanding audience preferences. Additionally, establishing a culture of feedback among peers and stakeholders can lead to collaborative learning experiences, enriching the overall quality of the work produced. Ongoing evaluation is not merely a final step: it’s an integral part of the creative lifecycle that drives innovation and excellence.
  6. Internal Aspects: It comprises all the functions invisible for the user, related to security, legal issues, data backup, fault-tolerance, among other internal aspects. Internal aspects are the backbone of any application or content creation process, ensuring that everything functions smoothly behind the scenes. Security, for instance, is paramount in protecting user data and maintaining trust. This involves implementing robust encryption methods, secure authentication protocols, and regular security audits to safeguard against potential breaches. Legal considerations also play a significant role, as compliance with regulations such as GDPR or copyright laws is essential to avoid penalties and foster responsible content sharing. These internal mechanisms, while often invisible to users, are critical in shaping their overall experience and confidence in the platform. In addition to security and legal issues, other internal aspects such as data backup and fault tolerance are vital for maintaining operational integrity. Regular data backups ensure that valuable content is preserved and can be restored in case of unforeseen events, such as system failures or data corruption. Fault tolerance mechanisms, on the other hand, are designed to keep the application running smoothly even in the face of errors or crashes. This includes redundant systems and failover strategies that allow for seamless transitions should a problem arise.
  7. Content: Last, but not least, the content. It’s related to the information presented by your work, and also the goals of the project. Focus on relevant content, be careful of too verbose layouts, and use pertinent, state-of-the-art knowledge references. Content is the heart of any project, serving as the primary medium through which ideas, information, and narratives are conveyed. It’s essential to ensure that the content aligns with the overall goals of the project while resonating with the target audience. Striking the right balance between informative and engaging material is crucial: content should be relevant and purposeful, avoiding unnecessary verbosity that can dilute the message. A clear focus on the subject matter not only enhances readability but also encourages the audience to connect with the material on a deeper level. To produce high-quality content, it’s important to prioritize clarity and conciseness. Start by outlining the key messages or objectives you want to communicate, ensuring each section serves a specific purpose related to those goals. Additionally, adopting a tone that suits the audience (whether formal, conversational, or technical) can enhance engagement and understanding. It’s also beneficial to incorporate state-of-the-art knowledge references, ensuring that your content is grounded in credible research and contemporary insights, which can bolster its authority and relevance. Furthermore, the iterative nature of content creation should not be overlooked. Regularly reviewing and updating content in response to new information or shifting audience needs can significantly enhance its value. Seeking feedback from peers or industry experts can provide invaluable perspectives, allowing you to refine your work further.

Keeping an eye on these aspects will allow your work to be more solid and safe from fragmentation.

Posted on by Max Herrera

Innovation: A Path to Personal Growth

Herman Melville said: “It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation“. I totally agree. Let’s try. Let’s pursue innovation and originality. Most of time, our inner fears lie in failure… the fear to fail. In itself, fear is not that bad. It reminds us of dangers and the possibility of losses, and motivates us to think our actions carefully. But fear should be controlled. Fear should not paralyze us. I’ll try that idea in which I believe. I believe in myself, in my ideas, and thereby, I’ll pursue my goals, my projects. The process of trying is, already, our first reward. Let’s enjoy it.

At the core of innovation lies the courage to challenge the status quo, to question established norms, and to push the boundaries of what is deemed possible. It is a mindset that embraces experimentation, embraces risk-taking, and embraces the unknown, recognizing that true progress is often born out of stepping beyond the confines of familiarity. When individuals embrace innovation in their lives, they open themselves up to a world of endless possibilities, where creativity flourishes and new horizons beckon.

One of the greatest obstacles to innovation is the fear of failure. Our inner fears often manifest as doubts and hesitations, whispering cautionary tales of potential setbacks and disappointments. However, it is essential to understand that failure is not the end but rather a stepping stone on the path to success. Embracing failure as a natural part of the innovation process allows individuals to learn, adapt, and grow, gaining valuable insights that pave the way for future breakthroughs.

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Posted on by Max Herrera

A Simple Guide to Completing Your Academic Degree

Achieving an academic degree is a significant milestone that opens doors to a world of opportunities and personal growth. The journey towards completing a degree is filled with challenges, triumphs, and valuable lessons that shape your academic and professional future. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the importance of attaining a university degree, strategies to overcome challenges, staying motivated, learning to learn effectively, writing a thesis or pursuing an internship, prioritizing relaxation and well-being, and embracing the transformative experience of university studies.

A Simple Guide to Completing Your Academic Degree

Importance of Achieving an Academic Degree
Earning an academic degree is a transformative experience that equips you with knowledge, skills, and credentials essential for career advancement and personal development. A degree not only enhances your job prospects and earning potential but also fosters critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and lifelong learning habits. By completing a university degree, you demonstrate dedication, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence, setting a solid foundation for future success in your chosen field.

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Posted on by Max Herrera

Visualizing your Goals

A goal is a very specific result that we want to achieve in a precise, future time. It’s an experience not yet lived, although firmly wished. Let’s recall from our first post about goals, that an objective or goal is a personal or perhaps organizational desired end point in development. It is usually endeavored to be reached in finite time by setting deadlines. Albeit goals, dreams and expectations are related concepts, there are important differences that will be discussed further on. As it often occurs with dreams, there are virtually no limits on the number of goals we may set, since goals represent, in essence, states or things that we wish to achieve in the future. Unlike dreams, though, goals require that we define them precisely, and we have to work for them in the present time, right now. Thereby, goals are nearer, within reach.

visualizing goals

Goals and Expectations

We should not confuse goals and expectations. Goals are the concrete and positive result of a fulfilled wish, and they provide satisfaction and success. On its side, expectations are focused on the behavior that we expect from other people. Setting a goal also means directing all our efforts towards achieving the goal, combining several tasks in order to attain it. However, to have an expectation reduces to delegating our wishes to the lucky concurrence of external factors.

Therefore, setting goals helps us to empower strategies, to create effectivity and to dominate the process of achieving whatever thing we wish. Besides, our goals create new opportunities, and improve our capacity for overcoming obstacles and conquering unexpected hurdles. As we move forward and reach the little goals that we had set, we also have the feeling of walking our paths faster, with a boosted self-confidence and a diminishing desire to return to the past. By the way, when we feel little or no desire to return to the past, we can be sure that we have improved as human beings.

Goals and Dreams

As aforesaid, a difference between goals and dreams lies in the time required for reaching them. Goals are closer. Besides, motivation also establishes a notorious difference between goals and dreams. We have more immediate and realistic motivations for reaching goals. On the contrary, dreams’ motivation is typically diffuse, sometimes very unclear.

However, dreams are the ultimate fuel of life, no matter how fuzzy they may be. As life moves on, we will feel the dream, approach the dream, dream the dream… we will be continuously reshaping the dream. Dreams are, after all, made of a very malleable matter. In life, we walk towards the sun, and our sun is composed of just dreams. Every step toward such sun kills a doubt. And each of such steps is a goal.

Organizing our Goals

We have to prepare a few lists for visualizing our goals and, in general, our action and thinking paths. When we write down our goals in a list, we are defining and outlining a plan to reach the goals. We are committing ourselves to fulfilling them based on practical aspects. On the contrary, the list of dreams contains relatively remote possibilities, excepting perhaps the first or second dream. In order to reach the first dream of the list, we have to conquer a chain of goals. In short, goals are the intermediate steps required for achieving the ultimate objective of your life.

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Posted on by Max Herrera

A Shining Job Interview: How to Succeed

Typically, the first prerequisite for a shining job interview is a well-redacted and organized Résumé. A shining Résumé can move you to the first places of a list comprising perhaps hundreds of prospects. Therefore, your Résumé should list your best germane abilities for the job you are applying to… those abilities that would guarantee a star performance in the job. Remember that you are the ultimate responsible for highlighting your attributes to constitute a valid option to integrate the new team that the company is forming. In order to determine which of your abilities are the most suited for the job…

you have to research your potential employer beforehand

…that will give you a very important lead. Get as much information as you can about the business, and also about the potential interviewers (you should research their style and attitude… that’s very important). If you know someone who has previously taken an interview in that company, talk with them about their experiences in the interview. Try to extract pure information, i.e., don’t let them to influence you (specially about the job being impossible or, on the contrary, being too easy).

1. First Approach

Remember that you have to dress with a professional look, according to the nature of the job. You are a professional… thereby each and every aspect of you must communicate that fact. Now, during the interview, take into account that Interviewers will ask questions related to their company, for example, why would you like to work for us? They may ask you about your opinion on the company’s products or history. Typically, this information is available on the company’s website, and by knowing it you demonstrate a genuine interest for the job.

2. Virtues and Limitations

Talk about your virtues, but not excessively. In this regards apply balance and good sense. Answer this question presenting your virtues in the context of the requirements of the job you’re applying to, with a clear and concise language. However, other almost granted question they will do is about your defects, thereby you must also be prepared to answer that. Furthermore, the interviewer may ask about your abilities and limitations: prepare an answer beforehand in order to allow you to present your defects as a new opportunity for keep improving.

3. Expect the Unexpected

You have to be ready for anything… a group interview, a forum about some specific problem of the company, a written exam, and so on. Carry any material you think you may need: think of the interview as your first day of work.

Job Interview
Confidence

When entering to the interview, greet to your interviewer with a smile. Visual contact must also be direct and firm (but not exceedingly). Remember that, no matter the circumstances, you have to act formally instead of dared or zany (refer to your interviewer using his title… Dr., Mr., Engineer, etc.), unless they demand you to treat them informally (but that’s relatively rare; read point 6. Be on the alert). Listen to your interviewer very carefully. Sometimes the applicants are so focused in the things they want to say that forget what they are really being asked about. No answer is good if it does not truly answer the matter asked about.

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Posted on by Max Herrera

A Shining Résumé

Typically, the first prerequisite for a sound job application is a well-redacted and organized Résumé (a document closely related to the Curriculum Vitae, but the latter focuses more on education, publications, and other accomplishments). A shining résumé can move you to the first places of a list comprising perhaps hundreds of prospects. Therefore, your résumé should list your germane abilities according to the job you are applying to… remark those abilities that would guarantee a star performance in the job. Remember that you are the ultimate responsible for highlighting your attributes to constitute a valid option to integrate the new team that the company is forming. However, a good résumé is not a guarantee of success, but it indeed is our presentation letter, and it may be the deciding factor in the employer’s final decission. Often the résumé is processed by the employers in order to select a group of applicants for interviewing them. Thereby, our résumé has to grab the employer’s attention positively. Our résumé has to be professionally elaborated, and reflect clearly, concisely and attractively the information about our academic and professional achievements. A résumé is our marketing letter… and our first goal has to be that the recruiters or prospective employers can’t put down our résumé.

Shining Résumé

Let’s see how recruiters or prospective employers will not put down our résumé.

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Posted on by Max Herrera

On Good Sense

Even to cut a flower requires good sense. Good sense, prudence, sound practical judgment. There is nothing in the world which deprives us of enjoying this quality. Good sense allows us to be excellent managers, professionals, friends, husbands/wives, and especially, it opens the doorway to the most precious gift of human beings: self-confidence. Self-confidence is one of those virtues we frequently don’t know how to handle, or that simply we mistreat.

Good sense is the primary and the conditio sine qua non of a better and longer life. Thanks to it we are able to avoid wars, conflicts, hunger, and getting into troubles in general. It is only a matter of just applying it. The converse, i.e. a bad sense of life balance, turns us into fragile souls, easy preys for evil, envy, and lies. A lack of good sense provides a fake sensation of power… power which indeed is only a cheap mask for selfishness. A lack of good sense separates us from our family, our friends and from the entire world. Moreover, that fake power may lead to an hyperactivity which ultimately will burn us.

 

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Posted on by Max Herrera

The 7 Attributes of Leadership

The 7 Attributes of Leadership
The 7 Attributes of Leadership

When I have to hire someone for any position in my company, I always pay close attention to the below discussed 7 attributes of leadership, because I always strive to hire people with leadership traits (even when the job is not a key managerial position.) I always want the best people, no matter the size, complexity or responsibility of the job. I know that, as time goes by, groups of workers with leadership traits perform and coordinate a lot better than simple people. And the today new assistant may hopefully become a very important director in a few years.

Furthermore, I prefer the democratic (also referred to as participative) leadership style: in this case, the leader offers guidance to the group, but also participates in the group, and promotes feedback from other members. Note that this style is not inconsistent with the view of everyone in a group acting as a leader! The democratic style is also suitable for the modern dynamic environments because it allows dealing with fast-changing circumstances. Other styles, such as authoritarian or delegative leaderships, are very harmful and obsolete.

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