Career: Traits of Top Talent

Here is a good article about top talent at a job.  Some of this is common sense -- but it is worth repeating...!!

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• Try to improve process by rapidly acquiring and integrating new information
• Foster an environment of process improvement rather than blame
• Remain calm and composed under stress
• Can manage completing assignments with competing deadlines

Collaborative

“Top talent” recognizes when he is the best person for the task and when it’s critical to join others and work as a part of a team.

• Follow through on commitments
• Strong communication skills
• Don’t take negative feedback personally
• Don’t take credit for good results
• Get along well with others
• Not fearful of incorporating team members with superior expertise for a superior outcome

Adept problem solver

“Top talent” doesn’t hesitate to fix a problem.

• First to offer to help
• Come through fast and over deliver
• Offer creative, innovative solutions
• Inspire others to take action
• Consistent
• Provide a new approach to solving problems

Humility

“Top talent” knows her talents and doesn’t need to broadcast them to fellow employees or to their superior. This personality exudes confidence but not in a way that intimidates others. Their calm tone and mild manner draws people to them and makes it easy for others to come to them for help and to open up to them about challenges they face.

• Embrace others’ better ideas
• Learn from failure
• Step back to see if someone has a better point

Leadership

When faced with a problem as a team member, “top talent” intuitively knows the appropriate time to step in or step back; s/he focuses on the project’s success, not on a rigid leadership structure.

Great leaders tend to be inclusive, humble, self-directed and mission focused and inspire others to action. An employee who exhibits leadership ability is generally well respected by co-workers. They have demonstrated competence and are often known to seek feedback (both positive and negative). Top talent shows genuine concern for the well being of the group.

“Top talent” NEVER Says:

“It’s not my job”!

Read more: http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/get-known-as-top-talent-using-these-five-traits/#ixzz2vYectd7W





http://www.businessinsider.com/company-top-talent-2014-3

Honey, I Shrunk the Snow: No, It Won't Snow 30 Inches this Weekend

There have been rumors over the past two weeks that it could snow 30 inches this coming weekend in the U.S. Northeast (weekend of February 9-11, 2014). Here is what we predict:

On Saturday: there's a chance for snow showers to small accumulations.

On Sunday: it will probably snow and there could be a dusting to a few inches.  

There IS an outside chance that this develops into a bigger storm (6+ inches) -- but most likely not.  

It seems like there was a news report of a potential monster storm a YEAR AGO -- that a news outlet mentioned.  The news outlet showed the weather graphic with the scary-looking 30 inch forecast for areas around New York City, the Northeast, and as far south as Washington DC.  

People saw the graphic without reading the article (which mentioned this was news from last year based on just a possibility...)...  THIS, combined with the timing of this weekend's storm system made people think it was true!  BUT it appears like it is just a news story about last year -- that went viral...  

BUT -- you never know with Mother Nature!!  Be safe...  

Air Fares are rising... and here's what to do...

We are getting to the holiday season -- and that means holiday travel -- and, unfortunately, rising air fares.  Air fares are generally higher than they were just a few years ago, and with the demand of holiday travel, air fares seem to be rising every day!  Here is an excerpt from a good article on what to do:

By now you know to expect high fares for Christmas and Thanksgiving travel, but there are a few booking secrets you can employ to get ahead of the pack. Here’s what you can do to score to best deal on holiday flights 2013.

So How is 2013 Shaping Up?

Once again, airfare is up and by all analysis the 2013 holiday season will have higher fares than 2012.

Hotwire found that fall airfares for 2013 are up 4 to 5 percent for domestic travel. This fall, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Toronto, and Vancouver represent the best airfare deals for 2013.

Over the holidays, fares are on par with last year according to FareCompare. The site noted that prices are up just 1 percent over 2012, however 2012 prices were at an 8-year high.

Orbitz also noted a fare hike. On average, flights to the top 10 destinations over Thanksgiving are up 9.4 percent. Over the Christmas holiday flights are up 8.6 percent, and flights during New Year’s Eve are up 2.4 percent.

When to Book

If you’re thinking about Thanksgiving travel, it’s probably too late to take advantage of this year’s lowest fares.

FareCompare CEO and co-founder Rick Seaney claimed last week that you can add $5 every day you wait to book your Thanksgiving ticket. If you wait until October 31, you can expect to pay $140 more.





Read more here:
http://petergreenberg.com/2013/10/08/best-time-buy-thanksgiving-holiday-flights-2013/