How to Switch from Accounting to Finance - Your Career Intel

How to Switch from Accounting to Finance - Your Career IntelHow to Make the Switch from Accounting to FinanceIs the grass really greener in finance? As a Senior Executive Search Consultant, Ive worked with many accounting professionals who are interested in transitioning to finance because they binnensee the role as mora strategic and business forward.The primary difference between these two fields is that those who work in finance plan and direct financial transactions, while accountants focus on recording and reporting on those transactions.Heres the good news you can certainly make the transition. In fact, Ive helped many candidates over the years successfully make this transition and I promise it wont be as tough as you think, even if you do elend currently hold an MBA. Based on my own work with candidates and advice from industry hiring managers, these are my top three tips for making the transitionMove internally, if possible.Before applying to a finance position outside your c urrent company, see if you can move internally first. You have a better shot at getting a role in your own company than at a new company. Even though youll need to learn a new skill set, theres still significant value in the knowledge you hold about how your company works and that could give you the edge over an external candidate. Even if there arent currently any roles open, promote yourself to Finance leadership and express interest in learning the finance side of the business by cross-training or taking on a special side project. Companies value professional development for high performing employees. You may be surprised at just how supportive your company can be.Get public accounting experience.A background in public accounting is valued by most hiring managers and can be helpful when transitioning to finance. Many of my clients love hiring public accountants for a number of reasons. First, clients know that you have a great work ethic and are an efficient go-getter. Second, th ey love that you have experience working for different companies across multiple sectors. Sometimes, not always, you might have to take a step back in title, but if you are passionate about finance then a small step back will be worth it in the long run.You dont necessarily need an MBA.A lot of candidates believe they need to get an MBA to make the transition from accounting to finance. After discussing it with my clients and colleagues, they agree that it really isnt necessary. The skills you need to be successful in finance forecasting, financial analysis, and budgeting, for example can be learned on the job. Youre already an expert at interpreting financial statements, so you have a solid foundation that you can easily build upon.If youre interested in making the move from accounting to finance, theres no reason why you cant make it happen. If you are considering this move, theres no time like the present. So get out thereHave you made the transition from accounting to finance? Share your experiences in the comments below.

Learn To Tackle Your Long-Term Goals Today

Learn To Tackle Your Long-Term Goals Today Learn To Tackle Your Long-Term Goals TodayThere are lots of reasons why people struggle with achieving their career goals. Often it is due to a lack of clarity, direction and focus. When we look at the big picture of what needs to be done to get from point A (where you are now) to point Z (the end result), we can become overwhelmed and paralyzed about where to begin. Good goal setting clearly defines the beginning, middle and end with clear actions by breaking goals down into smaller achievable actions, we can landsee what needs to be done. The difficult question, of course, what is your long-term goal?Once you have identified your long-term goal, you must then look at tackling your short-term goals. This will bring greater clarity, direction and focus that will drive you to succeed. By breaking up your long-term goal into active steps that can be completed, you help yourself progress without feeling overwhelmed. Want to learn a language? In stead of focusing on the steep learning curve and the years of practice that it requires, focus on practicing five new phrases each day for at least thirty minutes. Then with each consecutive day, these minutes will add to hours, which will add to days and then to months. Everything becomes clearer as a result and your focus is strengthened as you abflug to identify the actions that you need to support you along the way.My clients create a yearly plan, quarterly plans, monthly plans and weekly plans that strategize their goals. The yearly plan identifies long-term goals. The quarterly plan breaks these long-term goals into shorter 3-month periods. The monthly and weekly plans break these goals down further into hyper concise actionable steps.For example, many students who attend law school have no idea what type of law they want to pursue after graduation. Often, they understand that law school is a financially stable career path, but they do not have specific passions for a specifi c law sector. Your first goal then becomes to identify the types of law that interest you. Your first set of actions need to be around research and exploration around law career interests. You can start by researching types of law careers online. Next you can take the Strong Interest Inventory. The Strong Interest Inventory is a career interest inventory used in career counseling to help people gain insight and clarity around career interests.Heres a brief example planLong Term GoalsEstablish a career in lawQuarterly GoalsCareer ExplorationJob SearchResumeExperienceMonthly ActionsResearch and explore types of law careers online.Take the Strong Interest Inventory to identify career interests.Identify and create a list of firms or organizations that employ lawyers specializing in your area of interest.Network. Dont limit yourself to only lawyers. Talk to people about your interests and pursuits who may also have connections or information about jobs that you may be a good fit.Clean up resume to reflect your experience, skills and pursuits of interest. Hire a resume writer.Create list of hiring decision makers in organizations from list. Apply to organizations identified in list.Work on gaining experience through internships or other activities related to your field of interestNow that you have created a strategic plan around your goals, your questions will start to be answered as you begin to view your future through a new perspective with greater clarity. Without a doubt, goals seem less overwhelming when they are broken down into clear, visible steps. So take those first baby steps. Dont fret about the long journey ahead. As the old adage goes, you got to learn to walk before you run.

How to Choose Writing Oncology Nurse Resume

How to Choose Writing Oncology Nurse Resume Nursing is frequently a springboard to numerous different positions. Nursing today is much more than simply working at the bedside. To find out more on what it requires to be an Oncology Nurse, have a look at our complete Oncology Nurse Job Description. The Oncology Nurse resume template here is a useful tool for getting the job that you desire. The oncology nurse might be responsible for following the medical oncologists prescriptions, ensuring the proper drug blechbchse is administered to the appropriate patient via the appropriate route. Since the arrival of advanced cancer therapy, mid-sized to large hospital campuses frequently have an oncology team to control patient diagnoses and treatment plans. Nurses who are employed in oncology has to be very detail-oriented because the medication administration can be quite complicated. Whispered Writing Oncology Nurse Resume Secrets Additionally there are many set of themes readily available on the web. There are various types of cancer that could influence an individual and each individual patient wants a different kind of care program. For management, it can be valuable to have a specialist design and fashion mainly because it is going to provide a great perception to any long-term employers. Being a real nurse used to be related to the white starched dress uniform and cap. Writing Oncology Nurse Resume - Overview Some employers might accept candidates that are qualified for licensure but still havent got their license. Graduates might be qualified to develop into advanced practice nurses, research supporters or educators also. When it will be far better make a 4-year bachelors degree in nursing, aspiring nurses may decide to begin their career with a 3-year diploma program or 2-year associate level. Nurses have to reveal a complete commitment to their continuous expert education so as to retain their license. Writing Oncology Nurse Resume at a Gla nce The discomfort will just brde a couple of hours. If youre supposed to have a medication on a set schedule during the day, you might want to set the alarm clock so that youre able to wake up, take the medication, and return to sleep. Its fine to sleep and allow the hours pass. Being a real nurse doesnt appear to have the exact same fantastic feeling that it used to. The Little-Known Secrets to Writing Oncology Nurse Resume Our love keeps growing and blossom. You decide the type of nurse youre likely to be and what qualities you would like to represent regardless of what others do. The recipe of succeeding in any work hunt would be to continue to keep your continue easy and effortless. It is to keep your resume simple and straight forward.

Is Your Resume Doing All It Can (Nope!)

Is Your Resume Doing All It Can (Nope)Is Your Resume Doing All It Can (Nope)Your resume is a tool, and like any device, you want to know that youre using it in a way that makes the most impact. But, how can you tell if your resume is doing all it can? Theres one easy test Did you get the interview that you really wanted?If not, theres probably more your resume can do for you. A resume cant get you the job, but it can get you an invitation to peek into the door of the job if its optimized, that is.The Power of Your ResumeA very real misconception that exists in the minds of many job seekers is that a resume is meant to be biographical, or worse, encyclopedic. But it takes a lot more than just regurgitating names and dates to make an impression in todays job market. Writing a professional resume means selling yourself, and no matter how dirty the thought of sales makes you feel, thats the world we live in. So, next time youre considering applying for a job, look at your resume with fr esh eyes and ask yourself these questionsWould I Hire Me? Its as important to be personable as it is to be skilled, after all, no one wants to hire the most talented jerk in the room. Instead of coming off as a lot of swagger wrapped in a degree (or not), tune your resume to make yourself seem approachable and experienced. Youll win a heck of a lot more friends that way and when you make it to the short list, you wont be cut for appearing intolerable.Is My Resume Tailored to the Job I Want? Instead of sending out a bunch of resumes willy-nilly, carefully choose the companies and job titles you want to be considered for and take your time to craft a resume that fits that specific job title at that specific place. Use your resume to show how you can solve the problems that employer faces instead of throwing it to the wind and hoping it catches air.Does My Cover Letter Highlight My Resume? Professional resume writers the world over know that your titelbild letter is as vital, if not mo re so, than your resume itself. Instead of just repeating whats on your resume, use your cover letter to point out specific experience useful to the company you hope to work for you can, and should, flesh out the story of your resume in your cover letter for an added punch.Before you send off one more resume, make sure its doing all it can for you. The time you spend building the right resume is time invested in your future, not time wasted on another job you might not land.

How to Self-Onboard to Maximize Success

How to Self-Onboard to Maximize SuccessHow to Self-Onboard to Maximize Success In todays transient job market, its not uncommon for people, especially ones just beginning their career, to want to switch jobs. In 2016, employee turnover was as high as 50 percent for employees 24 and under. Job switchers have an incentive to leave one job for another, as they increased their wages by an average of 5.2 percent according to Q1 2017 data from the ADP Workforce Vitality Report . Changing jobs frequently puts pressure on HR to onboard new employees successfully and efficiently. Though HR professionals are certainly invested in crafting onboarding into the best experience for you, there are also clear ways you can self-onboard to distinguish yourself when entering a new job. Self-onboarding, or taking initiative from the outset of entering a new company and a new position, can help you make an immediate difference and create a lasting impression that will serve you well into the future. It starts with the interview and continues months after beginning the job. Heres how to proactively take charge of your success.Self-onboarding can really begin in the interview process . Your resume is already vetted and youve already talked to a member of HR, so now your potential future boss and gruppe are interviewing you to see if youre a culture fit, and confirm whether you can successfully perform the job requirements. You can be proactive before each interview by coming with in-depth, intelligent questions showing you know about and are genuinely interested in the company. For example, you can ask, Congratulations on receiving new funding How do you plan to use the money? or I saw that you won a big award recently. How did your team come up with the concept? Make an effort to meet everyone on the team, even requesting an opportunity to meet those you havent interviewed with before a decision is made. If thats not a possibility, or you gauge that such a request would be too forward, reaching out via email is a good alternative. Email everyone on the team to express your excitement about the possibility of meeting them and working with them in the future. Such proactivity may seem unnerving, but it could set you apart as a top candidate . Whats more, when you do land the position, youll be that much more prepared to hit the ground running. What can you do to ensure your team members feel they hired the right person? Provide value right away. Fulfill your assignments in a timely manner, deliver accurate work and give more than expected. Find ways to rally around a shared imagination of the company with your coworkers and help solve problems. Ask your team lead what the main vision and goal is of the specific team and the company, write it down on a sticky note next to your computer and refer to that note to make sure your work leads to that goal. Delivering meaningful work from the start will set you apart and establish a positive reputation . Self-onboarding is deciding to immediately engage in your team, your work and your company, rather than coasting the first few weeks on the job. And those who deliberately engage are much more productive and add much more value, according to O.C. Tanner Institute research .After HR has delivered its onboarding orientation, and you have taken care of the typical orientation essentials, continue your self-onboarding by organizing your own two- to three-week contextual tour of the company. This self-curated tour means creating a schedule to meet the people outside of your team that will impact or receive your work. You will also want to build in a few minutes to get to know other influencers in your organization to help you better understand context and how work is done. Moving past your team circle is critical to putting you in a position to do your best work from the start and distinguishing yourself at any organization, regardless of your job title or level of exper ience. Make it easy for people to meet with you by asking them out for coffee, a quick lunch or even a quick dive into a meeting room for a 15-minute discussion. Use this time to put names to faces, learn the nuances of the business and put your job into a big-picture perspective. Taking the extra time and effort to self-onboard, from the very outset of the interview process, is a powerful way to take personal control of your success. Regardless of how informative, helpful and detailed your formal onboarding experience is, or perhaps how poorly organized it is, you can ensure your own success from day one by taking proactive steps to add value and make a difference others notice and appreciate.Gary Beckstrand is a vice president at O.C. Tanner , the worlds leading employee recognition and engagement company. There, he helps oversee the O.C. Tanner Institute , a global forum that researches and shares insights to help organizations inspire and appreciate great work. He has consulted with numerous Fortune 100 companies to assess recognition cultures, develop strategic solutions and measure results.

Easiest Part-Time Jobs to Boost Your Income

Easiest Part-Time Jobs to Boost Your IncomeEasiest Part-Time Jobs to Boost Your IncomeAre you looking for an easy part-time job? Whether you want a second job thats easier than your first one, are in school and want to earn some extra money while still having time for your studies, a weekend job, or simply want to boost your income with a part-time job that isnt too stressful, there are many vorkaufsrechts available. Before you start reviewing jobs, remember that easy depends on how good a fit the job is. What might be the easiest job ever for you, could be challenging for someone without your expertise. Whats easy for someone else could be a job that you would never want to do. For example, if youre a people person who loves to talk to anyone and everyone, being a product brand ambassador could be a great fit. If youre an introvert who would rather work quietly on your own, there are other options that would most likely be a better fit for you. Keep that in mind when youre reviewin g job options and considering which jobs you could do without working too hard. Review tips for lining up a job that fits your needs and your availability. 25 Easy Part-Time Jobs Heres a list of part-time jobs that can be easy for job seekers to get and notlage too hard to do while providing a way to boost your earnings. 1. Appointment Setter If you have good communication skills, appointment setting could be the job for you. Youll be setting up appointments for salepeople, either in-person or on the phone. You may need to call prospective customers, or you could be following up on leads generated by the company. 2. Brand Ambassador If youre a friendly people person with enthusiasm, the ability to stand on your feet, and the availability to work flexible hours, including weekends, brand ambassadors communicate, give away samples, and share product benefits with prospective customers. 3. Classroom or Library Monitor Whether its in a classroom, library, gym, or on a bu s, a monitor is responsible for keeping order and maintaining discipline. The job requirements include strong communication skills, and the ability to work with children. 4. Customer Service If you like helping people, troubleshooting problems and solving issues, a job in customer service is worth considering. There are many different roles available, and many customer service jobs involve online work so you can work from home. The schedule is flexible, so you may be able to easily work around your day job or school schedule. 5. Data Entry Data entry is another job that can be done either online or on-site. Youll need to be able to font quickly and accurately. For some jobs, youll need specialized skills like a knowledge of legal or medical terminology. Do be aware that there are many online data entry scams, so take care to avoid them. 6. Delivery Driver Do you have a reliable car? Do you like driving? Jobs delivering food, flowers, packages, and anything else that is d elivered directly to a customers front door are plentiful. Some of these jobs come with great perks, like free or discounted food, auto insurance discounts, roadside assistance, and a flexible schedule. 7. Fitness Instructor Do you spend a lot of time at the gym? Becoming a fitness instructor is a way to get paid for sharing your healthy lifestyle. Depending on your skill set, you could provide individual instruction as a personal trainer or teach group classes. 8. Food/Product Demonstrations Are you a foodie? Do you love to cook? Many grocery stores, product manufacturers, and specialty retailers hire part-time workers to demonstrate recipes and product tastings. If youve got kitchen skills, consider using them to earn some extra money. 9. Freelance Work Freelancing is a way to use the skills you have already developed to boost your earnings. There are many employers who dont want to commit to adding an employee to the payroll, and freelance job opportunities are plenti ful. You can work as much- or as little- as you want. If youre not sure what you could do, browse the job postings on Upworkor Outsourcelyto get some ideas. 10. Guest Services Representative Hotels, clubs, museums, visitor centers, event spaces, childrens activity venues, and other organizations need guest services associates to help things run smoothly. You could be taking reservations, planning a party, giving a tour, or hosting an event. The hours are flexible, and you can work on an event-basis or a regular schedule. 11. Hotel Concierge If you have the scoop on the best places to dine and things to do in your community, a part-time job as a concierge at a gasthof or resort will enable you to share your advice with guests. Staffing a concierge desk is a good easy job option for someone with people skills. 12. House Sitter/Caretaker One of the best things about being a house sitter or a caretaker is that you dont actually have to do anything other than make sure the pr operty you are watching is safe and secure. You may need to arrange repairs if theres a problem, and perhaps do some routine maintenance. When youre working for the right client, its not much different than hanging out at home. 13. Market Research/Survey Caller One of the easiest types of phone calling jobs is conducting surveys or market research. You dont have to try to sell anything. Rather, youre asking questions or collecting information for your employer. 14. Merchandiser Many greeting card, flower, newspaper, and other specialty items in grocery stores, department stores, and pharmacies are stocked by outside vendors. Those vendors hire part-time merchandisers to replenish displays, order stock and set up promotions. The hours are part-time and flexible, and, if you can lift boxes, this is an easy job to do. 15. Newspaper Delivery Yes, daily newspapers still do get delivered. If you have early morning availability and a reliable car, delivering your local newspape r can earn you some extra money. Phone books are (really) still delivered, as well. 16. Online Sales There are people who make a decentliving selling on eBay. There are others who use it as a way to supplement their income by selling online. If youre crafty, Etsy is an option for selling your wares. Does your closet need a clean out? Sites like Poshmark make it very easy to sell your extra stuff. 17. Parking Attendant The easiest parking job is a booth attendant, where you dispense or take tickets and collect fees. If youre a car buff, valet parking might be the job for you. Depending on where you work, you may have the opportunity to park some very special vehicles. Youll need a valid drivers license for most positions. 18. Pet Sitter Are you an animal lover? If youve got room in your home for a guest or two, you can earn money taking care of dogs, cats, and other pets while their owners are away. Thats the easiest way to do it, but pet sitters who come to the owners ho me are also in demand. Check out apps like Wag and Roverfor easy ways to get started. 19. Retail When you think about what makes a job easy, also think about what makes a job fun. Working for a huge mainstream retailer might not be your idea of a great job, but there are small local companies that could be an option. Think bookstore if youre a book lover, pet store if youre a pet lover, liquor store if youre a wine connoisseur, or hardware store if youre handy. Here are some of thebest hourly retail jobs. 20. Rideshare Driver Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies are pitched as one of the best ways to earn easy money. You can sign up online to get hired, you may be able to get paid instantly, and you can set your own schedule. Do keep in mind that youll need a four-door reliable vehicle, drivers license, and insurance to get started. 21. Restaurant Host Working as a waiter or waitress is a common second job, but a host or hostess job can be easier. If youre outgoing and friendly, can manage the guest flow if the restaurant doesnt take reservations, and can juggle phone calls while youre doing other tasks, this is an option to consider. 22. Salon/Spa Front Desk/Reception Are you able to multitask? Are your interpersonal skills top-notch? Front desk positions involve greeting clients, managing a schedule, and answering the phone. You may also handle product sales and give tours to new or prospective clients. 23. Social Media Helper Some of us cant get too far away from our social accounts. If youre one of those people who spends too much time on social, you can put it to good use and get paid for using your social media skills. Businesses, large and small, need help promoting their companies and engaging with customers. 24. Test Proctor As with most of these jobs, youll need flexibility in your schedule. Some exams are offered on evenings and weekends, while others are online. Test proctors check identification, monitor the testing en vironment, report irregularities, and complete testing paperwork. 25. Tutor If youre a college student or teacher, tutoring jobs in your area of expertise are a way to make extra money without a long-term commitment. For most jobs, youll need an academic background in the subject matter you wish to tutor. Youll also need patience and excellent communication skills. How to Find an Easy Part-Time Job How to get hired, depends on the type of job for which youre applying. Craigslist is always a good source of part-time job listings. FlexJobs is an option for remote work. The top job sites are always an option for finding jobs to apply for. Use the advanced search options to qualify your search by type of job (part-time), job title, and location. Do you have a favorite store, coffee shop, gym, or salon where youre a regular? Check to see if they are hiring. Customers can make the best employees, and youll have an in with the hiring manager. If youre interested in working from hom e, there are part-time jobs available in many different sectors. Tell your friends, family, and neighbors that youre looking for a part-time job that isnt stressful or too hard because you have other commitments that you need to focus on, and you dont want a demanding position at this point in your career. Networking does work, and its among the top ways people get hired.

8 subtle signs youre settling for comfort instead of embracing the unknown

8 subtle signs youre settling for comfort instead of embracing the unknown8 subtle signs youre settling for comfort instead of embracing the unknownDoes it ever feel like youre waiting?Waiting for something to happen. Waiting for the fog to clear, so you can see what lies ahead. Waiting for the moment the pieces come together, culminating in the perfection you spent your entire life waiting for.If youre still waiting, heres news youre wasting your time.Waiting is dangerous. It gives the false illusion that if youre patient enough, time will reward you with everything you hoped for. It causes you to sit there and let things fall into place rather than doing something yourself.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreBut the greatest danger about waiting is that one day, youll look back and realize that you spent all that precious time sitting there, waiting.We were elend meant to stay in one place. We were meant to go. To reach one place, admire the view, and then go to another place. And so on.Has the dust finally settled for you? Have you been looking at the saatkorn view for a while now? If so, its time to brush off the dust and keep going.Here are 8 subtle signs that youve stayed in the comfort zone for too long1. You dont remember the last time you felt the burnA marathon runner once said, If youre not feeling the burn in your lungs, youre not pushing yourself hard enough.When people are new to exercising, they typically shy away from this feeling. They dont know whether its safe, or that they can even push themselves to that level. Instead, they end up slightly fatigued, satisfied that they even put in the effort.The burn is a great analogy just about everywhere in life. When you work on something, do you end up a little tired, or does it feel like your mind has been stretched full with ideas? When you evaluate the relationships in your life, are some people a round because itsconvenient, or because they genuinely add to your quality of life?Those burn moments bring discomfort and pain, but they also bring growth and strength. If youre not feeling the burn, youre not pushing the limits of your progress.2. You have mastered all the components of your lifeSo youre an expert at everything you do now. From making coffee in the morning to getting work done at the office, youve got it all covered. Youre so good at everything you do, its almost as if you can do it with your eyes closed.At first glance, this sounds like a great thing. Your life runs like a tight ship, with every piece moving in clockwork fashion. You have everything you need. Yet why do you still feel a deep running sense of discontentment?Its because you may have mastered everything in your life, but you also know theres still so much that you have no knowledge about. When you know how to do something perfectly, theres no challenge left. And when theres no challenge, theres no s ense of reward.3. You can predict what will happen to you in the futureIts true that no one can absolutely predict what the future will bring. Theres no foretelling of an impending disaster, a windfall gain, or when someone will cross your path and lead you down a road you had never imagined.However, you can probably predict what your routine will look like tomorrow, and the day after, and so on. Theres nothing on a daily basis that surprises you. All elements of uncertainty have been vanquished.Now, a routine is good in some ways. A routine increases yourwork productivityand keeps stress levels down. But being able to predict with near certainty what will happen to you also means theres no room for spontaneity.When theres little room for spontaneity, theres little room to encounter new opportunities. The most life-altering moments come from situations that are out of the ordinary, such as traveling somewhere new or learning a skill. If youre looking for those pivotal moments, you n eed to be prepared to change up your routine once in a while.4. Instead of making things happen, you let things happen to youTo what extent are you in control of your life? While you dont have control over what happens to you, you do have control over how you act. You can either make a decision or do nothing at all.But if you dont make decisions, you release the reins on what happens next. Eventually, someone else will come along and make those decisions for you. When that happens, you might not like what others choose for you.Think back to the last few changes that have happened to your life. It could be anything a financial investment, moving somewhere, or enrolling in a course. How many of those changes were initiated by you?Were you the one that said, Im going to do that, and this is how Im going to achieve it? Or was it someone else who brought it up and you went along because you had no idea what else to do? When you let things happen instead of making things happen, you lose sight of who you are and who you can become.5. Failure isnt in your vocabularyFailure is commonly seen as a source of embarrassment. In fact, some people pride themselves on never failing. But what they dont realize is that never failing has its downsides.People who dont fail dont know the value of humility, so theylack sympathyand understanding of others. They go on looking at the world from a top-down perspective. After a while, looking down at others becomes a very limited viewpoint.Its important to realize that every success comes with a mountain of failures beneath it. Failure forces you to learn what works and what doesnt work, which helps you grow as a person. If youve never failed, it means you never reached high enough.6. You have answers, but you dont have questionsNo one knows everything. In fact, look at the experts in any given field. Every day, theyre still figuring out the answers while discovering new things in the process.So if you think you know everything there is to know, youre wrong. Not only are you wrong, but your mindset is wrong. Chances are, if you think you know enough, it means that you dont know nearly enough.Pay attention to your thought process when you encounter an obstacle. Do you shirk away, or does your mind start to turn? Responding with I dont know is really an excuse. A better approach is to ask, How does this work? That small mindset switch makes all the difference betweenbeing complacentand being proactive.Leading with questions rather than answers keeps you curious about the world. It forces you to reach out of your comfort zone and explore. After all, the universe is filled with infinite unknowns waiting to be discovered.7. You avoid any and all conflictsLets be honest who enjoys starting conflicts? Unless something is really, really bothering someone, most people would prefer to go on with their usual routine. Life is hard enough without unnecessary hiccups.And in the vast majority of cases, that decision would be the right one. Conflicts, and by extension, changes of any sort cause serious abrasion between people. But when theres a decision being made that impacts months, years, or even decades of your life, its time to speak up.For instance, I know someone who has been in the same relationship for over 10 years, which sounds great on the surface. Together, they own a car and a home, and theyve been engaged for years. Yet she expresses uncertainty and is never quite ready to discuss the future. As you might guess, these decisions were initiated by her fianc and she went along with it simply because it was easier than going against the grain.The deeper you settle into something, the harder it becomes to get out. Creating a smaller conflict to avoid long-term pain is better than prolonging an undesirable situation to avoid conflict.8. If your world was turned upside down tomorrow, you have no idea how you would copeIts easy to coast by and let things be when someone else takes care of things in your life. Maybe youve been at the same company under the same boss for over a decade. Maybe your spouse makes all the major decisions. Or, a family member manages all your finances.So you slowly sink into that steaming, warm bath of comfort and close your eyes. But what happens if the plug gets pulled? Would you have anything of your own? Or would you be helpless?Relying on one thing, and one thing only, is risky. That one thing could be one source of income from a company, or one person to provide the support you need. Your entire world teeters on it like a crutch. Without it, everything comes crashing down.To prevent this, financial investors practice diversification to reduce exposure to any particular asset. You too can do the same. Multiply yourrevenue streams. Expand the people you know. Widen your knowledge. When you diversify, you feel less of an impact from any potential disaster.Ultimately, the greatest comfort lies in knowing that youve survived the discomfort and come o ut a stronger person.This article first appeared on Jump Start Your Dream Life.