How to build willpower, self-discipline and perseverance

How to build willpower, self-discipline and perseveranceHow to build willpower, self-discipline and perseveranceOne can build willpower by eating only a millet for two weeks. One can build self-discipline by taking cold showers 10 times a day. One can build perseverance by maintaining the same workout regime (e.g. a 5-mile run) every single day.There is zillion ways to build those traits, however 99% of them are not really applicable for average mortals. Thus, lets talk about some things that can help you abfluging withlittle to nowillpower, self-discipline or perseverance.First, it will be amazingly useful, if you can shift your thinking about those traits. Normally, those traits are considered something above-human, difficult and tiresome.In reality they are simply character qualities, like any other (picture self-confidence, patience or diligence here). What is more, its much easier to develop and maintain them than to struggle through life without them. Take a closer look at belo w chartThe Slight Edge chartLack of discipline or inconsistency move you further along the downward curve, straight to failure and a life failure at that. It is enough to develop the traits in question and you will automatically switch into the upward curve and your life journey will be accelerated the longer you practice them.Yes, its tiresome to build those qualities, but only in short-term. In the only meaningful time horizon in human life decades those traits are actually much easier to live with.According to BJ Fogg, the head of Persuasive Lab on Stanford, the only reliable way to change yourself for good is to modify your habits. He even claims, that the only reliable way to create new habits is to develop them in incremental tiny steps. He called this method Tiny Habits. I highly recommend you take his free course Tiny Habits w/ Dr. BJ FoggThe course covers starting three habits, ideally for your purposes. Pick one thing you dont really like, so you will train your willpower. Pick one thing that has to be done in a disciplined way, e.g. weighing yourself, paying bills or tracking your expanses. This one will help you with self-discipline.Pick one thing that you want to do for the rest of your life, for example exercises. This habit will build your perseverance.The Tiny Habits course will teach you how to develop those three habits not by theorizing, by practice. In a week you will have nucleus of three new habits that will cultivate the three traits you want to build.The art of persistenceHere comes the silver bullet focus on perseverance and the two other qualities will follow. WhenI started turning my life aroundand building new habits I had no regard for willpower or self-discipline whatsoever. I still have them in a little esteem.By external standards I have an iron willpower and am self-disciplined like a Marine. But I dont care about this at all. I focus solely on perseverance.At the beginning I took on faiththe Slight Edge model(see the chart abov e) as a probable approximation of reality. In a couple of months I became convinced that this IS reality. Thus, I have been caring only about doing my daily disciplines.I didnt care if doing them cries for exercising willpower or not. Some of them were very easy for me (like reading a book written by a saint for 10 minutes a day), some were excruciating (like studying professional documentation for 10 minutes a day). I was interested only in the output did I do them or not? Nothing else mattered for me.I was obsessive about doing my habits every day, I builthabit streakslike crazy. Breaking a consecutive streak of my habit was unimaginable for me. When I finally broke a few it was a cause for a mild depression and self-loathing sessions??I wasdeveloping new habitsand doing it effectively. Hence, I built willpower and self-discipline as well. Remember? Habits are the only reliable way to change yourself. I changed myself, because I was interested only in persevering in doing my habit s.Perseverance is easyExactly like The Slight Edge chart says, those are simple disciplines. Making your bed gulping a glass of water as soon as you wake up reading two pages of a book cleaning your desk putting the dishes in a dishwater as soon as you finish eating. There is nothing hard nor magical in those small daily disciplines.Your discipline doesnt have to be lofty to build your perseverance. It has only to beconsistent. Do the same thing today, tomorrow and always. Thats easy. Thats simple. That doesnt involve mental effort nor much time.Even if you pick only easy habits to develop, your self-discipline and willpower will grow. Once you grasp the power of habit, you dont stop at one or three of them. You develop two or three dozens of good habits.And once you have to juggle dozens of daily habits, even tiny and easy ones, you will need to employ both willpower and self-discipline to succeed in maintaining them.The ultimate hackThe easiest way to develop any trait, by far, is to spend time with people who already possess this trait. If you want to have a strong will, great discipline or infallible perseverance, spend a lot of time with folks who already have them.We are natural social sponges. We absorb everything vocabulary, gestures, tics, habits and character traits. This is how children are learning how to live. This is one of the primary functions of our brains.You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Jim RohnThis hack allows you to build self-discipline, willpower and perseverance seemingly without your effort. You will become more like people you interact with. Period.The only way not to become like them is to be 100% mindful in their presence and torpedoing their every action and word in your mindOh, he has it easy, because he never struggled withorOh, Im not like her, because I had a difficult childhoodorWell, of course he can afford to wake up early, he has no kids, so he doesnt have to stay up late to clean the wh ole mess and prepare for the next day.If you are a master complainer, you may already habitually negate every positive influence in your life. In that case, start paying attention to your self-talk. Even if you arenotconstantly negative, its a good idea to get a grip over your self-talk, so you wont dispute the positive influence of others, but simply absorb it in accordance with the human natural social mimicry.Shift your thinking about willpower, self-discipline and perseverance. Focus on developing good habits. Takea Tiny Habits course. Spend more time with people who already possess those qualities.Thats it A crash course on developing willpower, self-discipline and perseverance for normal people.Michal Stawicki isa coachand self-published author writing about how to expand beyond your limits so you can regain control over your life (based on my personal experience).

5 Examples of Ridiculous Resume Writing

5 Examples of Ridiculous Resume WritingRidiculous Resume Writing5 Examples of Ridiculous Resume WritingResumes are such important documents. Your future livelihood may depend on the words you use to communicate your qualifications. So its only natural that job seekers are tempted to use longer, fancier, more formal words, rather than the simplest, most direct forms. But its a temptation you should resist. Too often, the result is a document that sounds ridiculously proper, and fails to achieve its goal of quickly communicating your value to the employer. Unnecessary words, fancy adjectives, vague claims with no proofthese are all symptoms of a job seeker trying too hard to be clever and brilliant, rather than clear and brief. You want the employer to think, Wow, this person seems to have the right kind of experience and background for the job, not This person is a walking thesaurus.You dont have to dumb down your resume to monosyllables. Just be aware that the bigger and more numerou s the words, the cloudier the message, and the more likely the employer will get distracted by the sizzle and miss the steak. With apologies to our non-carnivorous readers, here are some phrases pulled from actual resume samples I found on the internet that overdo the sizzle. Following each one is a version that shows how you might shift the focus back to the steak.EXAMPLE 1.Too Much Sizzle Recognized for the application of impressive research, analytical, and forecasting skills that discover untapped profits and elusive resourcesThe Steak Applied research, analysis, and forecasting skills to identify new profit centers and resources.EXAMPLE 2.Too Much Sizzle A highly experienced Operations Executive who has demonstrated the ability to lead diversified teams of professionals to new levels of success in a variety of highly competitive industries, cutting-edge markets, and fast-paced environmentsThe Steak Operations Executive with ____ years of success leading diverse teams in a varie ty of industries and markets, including ____, ____, and ____.EXAMPLE 3.Too Much Sizzle Professional engineer with a persistent nature and a progressing passion for this industryThe Steak Professional, results-focused engineer with an enduring passion for the industry.EXAMPLE 4.Too Much Sizzle Troubleshooted technical problems arousing out of the satellite product and always reached a solution Troubleshooted? Arousing? Did this guy even proofread?The Steak Diagnosed and resolved technical problems arising from the satellite product.EXAMPLE 5.Too Much Sizzle Created portfolios for perspective and existing clients, performed research research on equities and mutual funds using PDQ and Corporations shell system and handled clients accounts and questions while Another epic failure to proofread. And notethe five ands in one sentenceThe Steak Created portfolios for new and existing clients, researched equities and mutual funds, and managed client accounts and questions.Bottom line Your res ume is supposed to nudge the reader toward calling you for an interview, not toward a dictionary. Skip the flourishes and fluff. Keep your writing clear, professional, error-free... and meaty.

Dress Code Timeline The Demise of Your Professional Style

Dress Code Timeline The Demise of Your Professional StyleDress Code Timeline The Demise of Your Professional StyleA timeline outlining how executives dress code attire gets sloppy with time.Most of us begin every new job with the best intentions to dress sharp five days a week, 50 weeks a year. But alarm clocks and laundry days eventually win out, and our sekretariat clothing choices weaken. 0-3 months You lay out your outfit the night before, planning ahead depending on what the day entails. Even your most uncomfortable shoes and binding (yet sharp) pencil skirt get worn. You never loosen your tie after lunch, and your jacket is always on. Casual Fridays mean nothing to you. 3-6 months Still concerned with looking sharp, your look is still planned out and professional. But after lunch, your look tends to gets a little sloppy tie loose, jacket on the back of the chair, heels under the desk. 3-12 months Mornings are harder, and alarms more annoying.Since you have quit laying out your outfit the night before, you stand in your closet sleepy and usually end up wearing something quite similar to the day before. You cant bear those tight shoes anymore, so your favorite, slightly worn, pair is the staple. You officially wear jeans for the first time on Friday, with a sportcoat of course 1-3 years You are on style autopilot. You wear a suit when you have to, but overall your dry-cleaning bill has been cut in half since you don a polo whenever possible.You would much rather spend money on your golf or weekend wardrobe than your professional look. Even if it means looking a little dated and frumpy at the office - who cares You fully embrace casual Friday, sometimes even starting on Thursday. 3+ years You havent bought new work clothes in three years, and your assistant secretly tracks your mood based on your shirt (cause yes, she has them all memorized ). You forgot how to tie a tie, so your wife has to buy you clip-on ties for days you are required to wear one. You we ar one black sock and one blue sock on a daily basis and are campaigning for casual Monday through Fridays.

6 Signs Youre Being Taken Advantage of at Work - The Muse

6 Signs Youre Being Taken Advantage of at Work - The Muse6 Signs Youre Being Taken Advantage of at WorkOne hard truth about being successful is this You have to go above and beyond.And personally, Ive always taken this to heart. Ive worked longer hours than was expected of me, said yes to alfruchtwein every project, and spent way too much time perfecting assignments.However, Im also aware that this work ethic puts me in a difficult position- becoming a doormat for my boss or co-workers to toss anything my way. If youre unsure whether youre being taken advantage of in your current job, keep an eye out for these six signs1. People Have Stopped Asking Whether Its OK to Hand You mora WorkThe caveat with this is that from time to time, your boss is going to give you projects without getting your buy-in. This is normal and part of them being in charge of your goals and responsibilities. Whats not normal is constantly being handed extra assignments that significantly increase your workload and arent in-line with your job description.Especially if these assignments are coming from your co-workers and not your boss. If this sounds like you, read this to learn how to say no to these requests. And read this if youre looking for a professional, non-whiny way to tell your boss that you have too much on your plate. 2. No One Ever Says Thank YouYou cant expect a thank you from your manager every time you do something required of you, but if youre never recognized for the work you do? Thats not great.In an article by Muse writer Larry Alton called 5 Reasons Your Boss Doesnt Notice Youre Killing it at Work Lately, he recommends, Instead of waiting around for your manager to set a meeting, make an appointment with her- in fact, if you can, make it a weekly one. Then, use that time to go over everything youve completed (and make it impossible for your boss not to acknowledge you).And when it comes to your colleagues, check out this article.3. Youre Spending a Majority of Time Doi ng Things That Are Outside Your Job DescriptionYoure working on things that arent your responsibility, and as a result never have time to complete your own projects. This maybe hurts your reputation with your boss or requires you to stay late while everyone else waltzes out at 6 PM sharp. Its OK to want to help others, but if its taking over your calendar you may need to cut down on how much assistance you offer up (read this for how to do that). Or, if youve found yourself running non-work-related errands for your boss (when personal assistant isnt your title), it may be time to have a tough conversation with your manager about this. 4. Youre Doing the Work of Two (or More) PeopleMaybe someone quit and youre now doing two different jobs at the same time. Or, youre working your butt off while the rest of your colleagues sit idly by and slack off.Everyone has slower days and busier days, but if youre feeling like the only one whos stressed on a regular basis, its worth bringing this up to your boss. If youre unsure of how to get the conversation started, start by sending an email that says something along the lines of Id love to discuss my workload and priorities with you if you have some free time to meet this week, as Ive struggled to keep up with all the new assignments sent my way. Is there a time that works best for you?5. You Havent Been Compensated for Your EffortsIf all the signs above hit home, but youve yet to receive a raise or promotion for doing the extra work, youre almost definitely being taken advantage of. The one exception is if you know your company isnt doing well- if thats the case, Id suggest figuring out how much compensation matters to your overall happiness. If its not a huge win for you, consider talking to your boss about other benefits you might be able to get in exchange.But if thats not the case, this is when its worth negotiating for a raise or title change. And because we know this is easier said than done, we put together this w orksheet to help make it easier. 6. Youre Not Allowed to Take Breaks or Time OffSimilar to compensation, when youre working extra hard youre most certainly worthy of taking breaks here and there to recharge.But if your manager yells at you for taking a short lunch break or never lets you go on vacation for too long (or at all), thats a major red flag. Regardless of what industry youre in, a good manager (and company) recognizes the importance of taking time off. All the research backs up the fact that its better for employee productivity and the companys bottom line. Heres the hard truth If you found yourself nodding along to this entire article, youre in a tough spot. You can either try to fix the situation or you can start to think of your next move. But before you do anything drastic, take a quick look in the mirror and make sure that youre not part of the problem. That means learning to set boundaries, saying no more often, and initiating those hard conversations with your boss. Because the worst thing would be to leave this job and end up in the same situation because of your habits.

Rebuilding a Construction Resume

Rebuilding a Construction ResumeRebuilding a Construction ResumeTodd Barrick saved many failing construction projects in his 15+ years as a project superintendent. His new resume brings his turn-around ability front and center.The construction industry has been rattled by the recession. With an extensive background in fixing failing construction projects, senior project superintendent Todd Barrick has the right mix of construction-management and contracting knowledge to help companies put their projects back in the black.Barrick, however, was hobbled by a resume that covered too much ground, lacked context and failed to demonstrate his return on investment.His experience involves juggling various types of construction projects in a range of budgets and locations and managing the staff on a construction site - from day laborers to construction managers to the project-management team to the Department of Environmental Protection. Its notlage easy to describe this kind of on-the-job kn owhow in a resume thats easy to scan.Todds resume had some of the dollars and metrics, but it also had things like Able to keep sense of humor in a crisis, which is not exactly enough to differentiate him right now, said professional resume writer Andrew Pearl, who works with Ladders. He didnt have enough context - the scope and skills of the projects detailed. Working in construction is different from working for Microsoft.Todd needed to get his resume up to date with the language of decision makers, Pearl said. In construction, the project superintendent is making a lot of decisions that mitigate risk and avoid the whole job from going awry. These are not necessarily as easy to quantify as say, the project manager who can say, Project completed in X days (but) preventing a negative thing from happening is a positive skill to exploit.Which is exactly what Pearl did after Barrick worked on the detailed questionnaire provided by Ladders.Same title, but varied rolesAnother key differ ence in a construction resume is that many careers in the field comprise a variety of projects, not a smooth, linear progression from job to job. For the past 15 years, Barrick had worked as a project superintendent in different companies. While the title remained consistent, the challenges varied a great verstndigung im strafverfahren to dramatize that fact, Pearl drew out the details of each project and described how Barrick avoided costly decisions and made smart ones that ended in real business savings.Pearl used bullets sparingly to highlight the key results-centric information. The goal, Pearl said, is not to make too much of a feast of any single position.Heres an example from Barricks new resumeProject SuperintendentTook over troubled commercial project that had fallen behind schedule, encompassing 2 separate shell restaurant buildings, 2-story office/restaurant building, elevators, and majority of tenant improvements. Spearheaded completion of remaining site grading, underg round utility installations, concrete hardscaping, asphalt paving, and all landscaping.Turned around $6M commercial project, resolving all challenges left by 5 prior superintendents to successfully pass inspections and complete project.Pearl lists a job title, then provides specific context of that projects challenges, scope, specific site information and how it was resolved. He also included the cost of the project and how many other superintendents had already failed to resolve the job.Highlighting turn-around abilityWhile the resume goes back only 15 years, it alludes to other contracting experience Barrick has had without aging him in the process.When I did the free resume critique with Ladders, they wrote to me, I hope I dont offend you, but heres the truth, Barrick said. I appreciate straight-shooting, so they let me know that my resume had about 12 seconds to capture someones attention, and it wasnt cutting it. But the new resume captured me right off the bat. I read it like a hiring manager, and I was impressed.One of the first things the new resume says is Demonstrated track record of turning around failing projects.Barrick said he likes how that distinction separates him from pure construction managers, who may not have the experience to salvage a troubled project.The most important thing in this case is to show exactly what Todd has done, Pearl said. Show the size, cost, length of time, how he eliminated risk or smoothed out a process This is what will pop in the hiring managers mind.

Alarming Facts About Resume Summary Examples for Customer Service Unveiled

Alarming Facts About Resume Summary Examples for Customer Service Unveiled Life After Resume Summary Examples for Customer Service Youre going to compose a resume summary which gets far more interviews. Some people today call it an expert summary. Whilst you write your summary for your resume, attempt to think of what you want them to discuss with you, and what exactly you desire an opportunity to discuss. While it isnt obligatory to have a resume summary, it is critical to include one if you truly need the job. Thus, a job summary has to be well-written and attention-grabbing. As mentioned above, it is only a part of the whole jib description. An expert summary for your resume ought to be detailed. In other words, resume summaries are the absolute most efficient way to begin a resume. Resume summaries are a breeze to write. You may now make your own professional resume summary examples which will surely outshine the competition. You may be interested in research summary ex amples. New Ideas Into Resume Summary Examples for Customer Service Never Before Revealed Career summaries on the opposite hand subtly reveals the desire for work, while listing the finest hard and soft skill sets a candidate offers. Your GPA and course-load will provide the hiring manager a lot of the information that they will need to judge your resume. No matter whether youre on the lookout for an entry level job or larger career advancement, you most likely already understand how important your resume can be in your search to discover the ideal job. On the flip side, functional resumes are normally used by fresh graduates or those who have less experience but want to grab the work vacancy. Infographic resumes are impossible to comprehend, states MacIntyre. If you would have to relocate, then it will get a bit more complicated. Opening a resume with blocked information isnt such a good idea. Resume objectives are from time to time regarded as the old schooltype of resum e. Resume is a type of document employed by individuals that are seeking for employment. You could also see Sample Resume Objective Statements Writing a nice and professional resume summary is quite simple when you understand how to start it. Now imagine if this SAME resume had had a summary statement on top clearly outlining why youre an ideal candidate. Getting the Best Resume Summary Examples for Customer Service Be certain that your resume destroys that average with a good format. The resume summary will function as their sales pitch. Now you get a rough master list of whatever you can distributions-mix into your resume summary statement. Based on who you ask and the way youre using it, summary statements can be a whole waste of space or a whole game changer. You should also be certain to list any preceding customer service positions youve held. Everyone knows the food service sector is just one of the more tightly regulated industries on earth. Customer service take s in many of distinct jobs. An energetic and quick learner whos committed to excellent customer support. Employers dont wish to waste time reading plenty of meaningless babble. To conclude, a work summary is only holds a little section in a work description for a whole.

The Only Business Trip Packing List You Need

The Only geschftsleben Trip Packing List You Need Business travel can be fun making new professional contacts, crushing your meetings, and not feeling bad about finally cracking open the novel thats been on your reading list forever (because what else are you supposed to do while you wait for your plane to board?).But business travel is fun only if it goes smoothly. If youre fumbling the day of your trip to throw together your carry-on, or if you arrive at your destination only to find yourself frantically shopping for meeting-appropriate shirts because you somehow forgot to bring one, fun wont be on your agenda.To avoid those outcomes, consult this business trip packing list before you travel.Your All-Inclusive Business Trip Packing ListLuggageCarry-on of your choice. Your goal here is not to have to waste time or energy waiting in baggage claim, playing luggage Jenga in the truck of your taxi or rental car, or dragging around unnecessary weight. If your trip is less than a week lon g, you should have no problem fitting all your goods into a carry-on. I love a backpack for its flexibility, but you can also use a small roller bag.Personal item. Whether you use a purse, backpack, laptop bag, or briefcase, plek sohonigweinhing professional-looking that you can use to keep important items close to you during travel and to transfer meeting materials as needed. You could bring a bag as well as a briefcase, but do you really need both?ClothingTravel outfit. If youll have time to change at your destination, go for comfy athletic clothes and shoes you can work out in. Thatll keep you feeling good on the plane, and if you have energy for a run or gym session during your trip, youll be ready. If youre the kind of person is comfortably sitting for hours in jeans, you can travel in those, too. Theyre also ideal if youll have time for a mora casual night out with coworkers or clients. One to two pairs of bottoms. If youre going for a day or two, pick one if longer, feel free to pack two. Depending on the formality of your meetings and your preferences, you can choose whatever you prefer between pants, skirts, and dresses. If you are bringing two options, make sure theyre the saatkorn color so that you dont have to bring additional tops, shoes, or belts to match them. One jacket or blazer, if necessary for the level of formality of your trip.One top per day. Choose blouses or tops with darker prints, which dont show stains as easily. Also, make sure to choose fabrics that dont easily wrinkle. While your hotel room or Airbnb probably has an iron, who wants to have to use it? Underwear (including bras) and socks or hose. This is the one category I give you permission to go all out in. Bring as many pairs as you want, with one pair per day at a bare minimum theyre small and theres nothing worse than having to wear a pair of underwear youve washed in the sink and dried with a hair dryer. Shoes. Here, I give you no such permission. Aside from your travel sho es, which should be either athletic shoes or casual going-out shoes (and in either case should be inordinately comfortable), choose one pair that will work with all of the business clothes you have. Pajamas. Bring whatever you like to sleep in. Getting a good nights rest away from home is hard enough as it is give yourself your best chance by bringing whatever you usually wear. ToiletriesPersonal hygiene products. Count on using hotel shampoo, conditioner, and body wash options to save luggage space, unless youve got a specific routine and/or want to cut down on your single-use plastics use (for hotels that still have themmany are switching to bulk dispensaries, which are more environmentally-friendly). In that case, bring reusable, 3-oz.-or-less containers of whatever you use at home. Other toiletries to bring along toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant.Skin and hair care products. Do you use lotion, sunscreen, facial cleansers, or hairspray? Dont leave them behind.Vision products. Contacts, contact solution, glasses, eye dropswhatever you may need, bring along.Other toiletries. You might want to bring makeup, a razor, or shaving cream.DocumentsTravel documents. You probably have most of these on your phone if youre going paperless, make sure any boarding passes, reservations, and maps are downloaded and available offline, in case you find yourself without cell coverage. If youre traveling domestically, make sure youve got your ID. If internationally, put your passport in a safe place (and a copy of it in your carry-on), along with any other necessary paper documents.Envelope. If you need to submit hard-copy receipts for your expense report, keep them all in one place. If you dont, take a photo of each and upload it to a designated folder (or when the option is available, choose to have your receipts emailed to you). Youll thank yourself for staying on top of this later. Meeting materials. Along with soft copies of your presentations, bring a few hard copies, just in case. Bring a few business cards, too, to give to meeting or conference attendees you havent met before. TechLaptop or tablet. Try to bring just one, with its requisite chargers and accessories (mouse, case). Headphones. Preferably noise-cancelling for use on travel days.Power bank. A small one that has enough juice to charge up your tech in case you find yourself without easy access to an outlet.Phone (I doubt youd forget it, but Im aiming to be thorough here, okay) and charger.MiscellaneousSunglassesReusable water bottleTravel pillowAppropriate outer-wearHand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. Have you seen Naomi Campbells video about how she disinfects everything around her plane seat before she sits down in it? You may not need to go quite so far, but sanitizing your hands before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth during travel is a good idea airport germs are not your friend.Bathing suit, but only if you promise me youre actually going to do laps in the hotel pool. Otherw ise itll just take up space and make you sad that you werent able to use it.If you have other things that make your life easier or make you feel more comfortablemelatonin, an eye mask, aromatherapy dropsor items from your office that make you more productive and you can easily bring with you, feel free to throw those in, too. You should still have a bit of roomI leave you with my business travelers blessing may this business travel packing list prep you well for your journeys ahead, may your flights be on time and your turbulence nonexistent, and may you sign all the deals, land all the clients, and make all the impact possible.Related Articles Around the Web A Packing Checklist for Business Trips One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant a dvancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction workers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects plans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the last time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hired a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 million construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot more to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel Innovation/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that diverse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Gallupon the wertzuwachs of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance and problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help drive innovation and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income vermgen/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Educatio n and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. The next set of highest-paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), instrumentation technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an average salary of $60,000 or higher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the curren t demand for workers, theres no better time to pick up a sledgehammer (figurative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.