If you want to be a better listener, do this

If you want to be a better listener, do thisIf you want to be a better listener, do thisThe species of listening begins with learning to keep quiet. When we feel heard in a conversation, we feel closer to the person on the other side of the table. But in our rush to be a part of the conversation, we may departure to cut off people with our brilliant contribution, eager to finish the other persons sentence.If you have a bad habit of rushing ahead and interrupting the flow of a conversation, consider the advice of psychologist Richard Carlson.Before you respond in a conversation, he advised in his book, Dont Sweat the Small Stuf and Its All Small Stuff, totake a breath. Not an enormous, loud, obvious breath that screams out I am trying a new technique for better listening he wrote, according to Psychology Today. No, just a normal, simple, ordinary breath. Thats it. The whole technique, right there.Try breathing before you speakDo not suck the breath into your lungs a simple breath-lo ng inhale and exhale is all you may need to give a conversation the space it needs so that both speakers feel heard.This may sound like simple advice, but psychologist Kenneth E. Miller, who uses this advice in his own practice with therapy clients, finds that it can be enormously useful.The small bit of silence allows them to explore a bit more, to formulate their thoughts, to reflect further on what they are thinking or feeling, Miller writes. In our everyday lives, most of us are not used to having this moment of space to relax and think about what we really want to say, what we arefeeling, and what we might - or might not - want to share.Instead of thinking about what you want to say, this breath-long space gives a speaker the chance to listen to what the other person is saying and not saying. You can pay more attention to body language and tone. This literal breather may even be enough time to let us know that we should nod and stay silent with the emotions involved. Maybe it would be best to let our partner finish that thought, maybe we should not be so quick to share our own story about a vacation when a colleague is just starting to share theirs.After you master the art of the conversation-breather, then you can level up to asking thoughtful questions about what is being said. You can learn to ask questions that gently challenge assumptions, or prod the speaker into a moment of insight. One analysis of 3,492 people in a management program found that the best listeners knew how to build upon what was already said with these questions. Good listeners do not just mmm-hmm, they make concrete suggestions. Thats how a one-way lecture becomes a two-way dialogue. But first, you must learn to let the other person get their words out.

How to Achieve Your Goals, from Marie Forleo - The Muse

How to Achieve Your Goals, from Marie Forleo - The MuseHow to Achieve Your Goals, from Marie ForleoIdentifying your hopes, dreams, and goals seems like one of the hardest challenges in life. But what might be even harder is identifying those things, and then feeling like you arent getting there fast enough. Its a common frustration among professionals- and there has never been a great solution to this problem. Until now.Life coach Marie Forleo breaks down the forces that are really behind reaching your goals. The best part? Her advice is so simple you could fit it into a single tweet.Photo of woman reaching for balloon courtesy of Shutterstock.

What mistakes in your 20s do you not want anyone to make

What mistakes in your 20s do you not want anyone to makeWhat mistakes in your 20s do you not want anyone to makeI turned 30 last year.As I spend time looking back on my 20s, I dont have many regrets.I built the business of my dreams, developed a strong body, have an amazing social circle, a beautiful girlfriend, and Im proud of the person Ive become.But just because I dont have many regrets doesnt mean I dont have any regrets.Even with the successes Ive experienced, there are still a few things that I regret about my 20s Here they are.(P.S. Ive written a similar response you might enjoy where I detail the 25 things I Wish that Id Learned Before 25)1. bedrngnis traveling moreThis might sound cliche, but your 20s are the best time of your life to travel and see the world.I traveled the U.S. pretty extensively, but I never left the country outside of a few runs down to Mexico.In hindsight, I wish that Id pulled a Tim Ferriss and disappeared to Thailand or Colombia for a few years while I built my business.I will definitely go on some epic trips over the coming years but theres something magical about being a solo 20-something with nothing but a laptop and a suitcase.And I missed out on that experience.Do yourself a favor and travel.Go see the world.Volunteer your way across Europe. Backpack across South America. Go build a lifestyle business from Southeast Asia while you still can (and while its still so damn cheap).It doesnt matter where you go, just GO2. Staying in the wrong relationshipsI dont regret any of the relationships I had in my 20s.They all taught me valuable lessons and helped me become the man I am today.But I do regret wasting my time by staying in stagnant and downright toxic relationships.I wasted years of my life with women who I knew were not a good fit for me and my life.It wasnt that they were schwimmbad people, but we simply werent the right match.At the time I was too scared and naive to pull the plug and move on.I was operating from a scarc ity mindset and worried that Id never find another woman like them.I was wrong.I actually wish I had avoided seriously dating all together for the first 75% of my 20s.Unless you are absolutely head over heels in love with someone and you and everyone else around you believes in the potential of the relationship, Id recommend avoiding seriously dating in your early 20s.Chances are it will only lead to regret and wasted time.Instead, try to have as many experiences as possible.Casually date lots of people (not just hookups here) to see what types of men/women you enjoy spending time with and which ones drive you absolutely crazy.Take it slow and fall in love with yourself before you fall in love with someone else.Youll be better off for it.3. Not taking care of my physical healthAlthough I remedied this one in my mid/late 20s but I wish I had done this sooner.Your physical health is one of the only things that is a constant in your life and it has a HUGE impact on other areas of your life.I regret taking it for granted and wasting so much time drinking and partying when I was in my early 20s.Lift weights, drink protein shakes, and sprint your happy ass off in your 20s and you wont regret it.Avoid drinking to excess and using hard drugs. Sleep 9 hours a night. Drink plenty of water. And watch what you eat.You will look, feel, and perform like an absolute champion.Thats really it A few honorable mentions that my clients regret (but I never personally experienced) areNot saving more money in your 20sGetting married to the wrong womanGetting hooked on substances like cigarettes or drugsNot working hard enough on the things that matter.Letting your family dictate what you doGetting in debt to go to college for a degree you will never useHope this helps Go out there and rock your 20s.They are a magical decade and if you play your cards right, they will set you up for an incredible life.This article originally appeared on Quora.

7 apps to help you perform better at work

7 apps to help you perform better at work7 apps to help you perform better at workYour smartphone isnt just a distraction at work - utilize unterstellung 7 web-based and mobile apps to help you perform more efficientlyThere never seems to be enough time during the workday In todays technology-oriented, fast-paced society (with an even more competitive job market) professionals are expected to juggle multiple tasks daily like projects, business campaigns, meetings and pitching ideas to supervisors all while staying connected and active on email, mobile devices and social media.However, technology is also our friend the right mobile apps and web tools can drastically simplify your life in this tech-driven workforce. With relevant apps, youll leid only get your work done faster and more easily, but the end result will be even better. (And, youll seem like quite the innovator and problem-solver among your team, teaching others how to work smarter, not harder, too)So if youre constant ly seeking new ways to do more in less time, there are multitudes of online resources to help you become more productive. Here is a list of effective productivity apps that you can use at work.1. Boomerang Contacting people via email can be tricky its easy for one message to get lost among the dozens of spam messages and newsletters most professionals receive daily. This problem worsens when youre unable to send a message at the appropriate time, when you think the receiver is available to read and respond. But sometimes there isnt enough time in the day to compose and send an email at a reasonable hourBut the Gmail app, Boomerang, solves this problem for you by allowing users to schedule emails for later. You can send, view and act on emails on your most convenient time so your colleague can see your email pop up at 9 a.m., even though you sent it at 9 p.m. in front of the TV. By clicking the Send Later button, you can choose between sending the message at a set interval or at a specific date and time. The app also gives you the ability to postpone messages you have received in your inbox.2. Doodle Doodle is a free, online calendar well-suited for companies. It helps you coordinate meetings among several busy individuals, making scheduling virtually effortless. With Doodle, you can create surveys which indicate the days and times people are available to meet. Even if your colleagues arent on a unified calendar scheduling app, Doodle will email those you invited, polling their availability as well.3. Pocket Looking for an app to capture and store content, articles and information from the web? Pocket is your new best friend. You can save any links, news and files into your device using this app and read it later when youre free. Even without internet connection, you can totenstill view your saved items.4. Resumesplanet There are tons of proposal drafts piled on your desk and you still have no time to finish all of it. The expert business writer and editor a t Resumesplanet can help They can assist you in constructing strategic plans, and even ensure that every document is flawlessly written. 5. Phlo Phlo is known for its all-in-one search feature which speeds up the process of web browsing. It comes with a large database of search engines, and users can easily add or remove their preferred search browsers. This time-saving application is responsive and lightning-fast in delivering results.6. Focus Booster Harness your focus and get more done at work by using Focus Booster, an app that is designed based on the principles of the Pomodoro technique. This basically involves doing a particular task in a 25-minute time frame, with a five-minute break between each. Taking regular breaks will keep your focus sharp. This type of management system allows you to practice expanding your attention span without going overboard.7. Evernote Evernote is a must-have item in your productivity toolbox. This multipurpose app allows you to write notes and t o-do lists that sync across all devices. It is loaded with incredibly useful organization, formatting and sharing options. Also, obtaining business cards has never been easier with Evernotes scanning feature.If youre constantly feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number tasks looming over your head each workday, try one of these apps you think will simplify your to-do list. The apps listed above to are specifically designed to help you accomplish more work in less time and, consequently, avoid getting left behind on your deadlines.You can work more efficiently when you have the proper technology at your disposal and know how to use it.

Finding Magna Cum Laude Resume

Finding Magna Cum Laude Resume While you might be pleased with your achievements, you ought not list out too many. Its unlikely youre have an honors section specializing in school achievements. The titles are known as Latin honors due to the fact that they retain their original Latin forms. Choosing Good Magna Cum Laude Resume A simple resume template is going to be your very best bet. Seriously, all you have to do is take another look at the examples in the preceding section, and decide on the format you find to your liking. Bear in mind, looking good on paper is simply the initial step. Just take a look at some of these suggestions. The Bizarre Secret of Magna Cum Laude Resume Keywords are only one part of customizing your resume to a certain job. Older experience might also be shown in the Summary of Experience paragraph too. There are tons of hard skills for banking, and you want to list not just the ones which youve mastered, but every one of the keywords about th e particular role youre applying for that guy or machine may be on the lookout for. It may appear obvious, but getting the correct job title is essential. Whether youre looking for your very first job or seeking to earn a career change, the method starts with your resume. Never quit pushing yourself. The Basics of Magna Cum Laude Resume The distinction is the most common in america, but occasionally appears in different nations also. In addition, dont discount experience you think isnt related to your chosen field. If youve got several years of experience, its reasonable to only consist of information from the previous 10 to 15 decades. It must be simple to scan your employment history. So How About Magna Cum Laude Resume? Recipients are determined at the close of the spring semester and following receipt of all grades. Students do not need to be in the Honors College to obtain these scholarships. Especially, in the event you graduated with honors. Its sometimes used wh ile the summa honor is reserved just for students with perfect academic records. The Truth About Magna Cum Laude Resume Doing well in school and graduating with distinction isnt worth as much as experience or superior recommendations a couple of years later on, but it might help you stick out in the crowded job market, especially when youre a new graduate. Work hard to receive an internship in the functional region of your choice, even when you have to volunteer and work for free during the summertime or the coming school year. It encourages students to see classes beyond their concentration for a means to an end, the end being the greatest possible grade, instead of a chance for intellectual exploration. Most grad programs require some kind of private statement, which is where youll receive the very best opportunity to inform the school why your experiences and interests make you the ideal candidate for the program. Many professional educators think that it isnt that important in most programs. There is a feeling of competition to get these distinctions alongside an undergraduate level. In some instances, students also have to be nominated by professors or fellow students. Interested students should speak to the DUS. What You Should Do to Find Out About Magna Cum Laude Resume Before Youre Left Behind The proportional length of each work description is important. Bullet size needs to be suitable for the type size. This is most certainly the main quality of an entry level resume. Use various font sizes and features to boost important components. Life, Death, and Magna Cum Laude Resume You select the date and time. At the exact same time, it gives a means to highlight your accomplishments. The perfect distributions-mix to explain why you need to visit grad school is in your private statement. If youre a November or March graduate, you take part in the subsequent Mays ceremony, following your degree was awarded. State your objective with respect to how youd like to donate to the success of the organization. The trick to writing a thriving objective is focus. Make your objective statement tell what you have to give. Able to offer superior presentation to a huge group. Magna Cum Laude Resume Secrets That No One Else Knows About If possible, fill employment gaps with different experiences like education or freelance work. Many times, employers have a lot of core skills they want candidates to demonstrate. Form advertising tips for issue certain topics, generate new customers and utilize unique skills for each scheme. Rather, its an industrial business involved with the marketing of educational products.

Why Millennials Who Want to Improve Professionally Should Take Dance Lessons

Why Millennials Who Want to Improve Professionally Should Take Dance Lessons It ispredicted that millennials will make up 75 percent of the U.S. workforce by 2025, and thats good news for everyone. Well-educated, passionate, and forward-thinking, millennials bringa new kind of spirit into the workplace. However, they may find themselves at odds with their boomer and Gen. X coworkers.Believe it or not, millennials can dramatically increase their professional success by applying principles from the dance world to their business lives, which is why I advise people to take dance lessons if they want to advance in their careersAside from the obvious fitness-related benefits, ballroom dance lessons can enhance millennials communication dynamics. In the dance world, millennials can learn how to better relate to others and how to succeed in the workplace (and life) through profound connection and teamwork.Still not traktement on dance as a professional develo pment opportunity? Here are four tips from the dance floor that will help millennialsget into the rhythm of career success1. Let GoMany millennials seek control over everything their finances, their careers, their social lives, etc. Unfortunately, this need for control can limit a persons abilityto work in a team.Partner dancing helps people let go of the need for constant control. When the ego is removed from the present moment, creativity, innovation, teamwork, and true freedom result.2. Adjust to New StepsMillennials have had access to an unprecedented numberof educational opportunities. Knowledgeis power, but the abundance of education can also invite the danger of complacency that comes with feeling like you know all there is to know.Intelligence comprises many aspects, including perspective (i.e., how we evaluate information based on our past experiences) and perception (i.e., how we apply this information going forward). Learning new dance routines challenges you to recogniz e new patterns, and in business, growth often comes from learning to connect the dotsin new, innovative ways.3. Express Yourself Through ChoreographyGrowing up in social-media saturated times, millennials often rely heavily on visual techniques to communicate. Unfortunately, this new way of communicating can make cross-generational understanding difficult.Choreography can teach people how to establish emotional connections even across seemingly large gaps in understanding. Choreography helps dancers ensure their movements are all geared toward effectively connecting with an audience a principle that professionals, especially those in the world of marketing, could really use.4. Ask for ScoresMillennials like toreceive frequent feedback, and theyre very good at using this feedback to improve their performance. When millennialsenter the workforce, they are often surprised and disappointed to learn that feedback rarely occurs outside of cursory annual performance reviews.On the flip si de, many managers falsely believe that millennials cannot take criticism. They thinkthis generation received too much positive feedback in its youth.In the dance world, you receivecriticism from your coaches and judges. This criticism is always aimed at helping you improve your techniques and routines. Scoring, a type of feedback, is built into almost all practices and competitions. The majority of dancers are mora engaged and motivated as a result of this abundance of feedback.Millennials should speak up and request more frequent feedback from coworkers and managers. Contrary to popular belief, millennials would rather have (productively) critical feedback than no feedback at allValeh Nazemoff is the best-selling author of The Four Intelligence of the Business Mind and The Dance of the Business Mind,executive vice president and co-owner of the high-level data management and business performance consulting services firmAcolyst, and a leadership coach.

From Fire to Water

From Fire to Water From Fire to Water From Fire to WaterEven with the recent crash in prices, oil production from unconventional formations, such as shale or tight sandstone, has transformed the industry.Since 2008, when U.S. crude oil production was 1,830 mio barrels (lower than any year since 1947), the country has become the largest petroleum producer in the world, with production in the 12 months through October 2015 at an amazing 3,412 million barrels.The combination of horizontal triole and hydraulic fracturing gets the credit for fruchtwein of that increase.But the so-called fracking revolution has had a downside, which is not well known to the general public the increasing cost of water for oilfield operations. According to data from the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission and the Ground Water Protection Council, while the drilling of an average well requires about 250,000 gallons of fresh water, the hydraulic fracturing of a well is much more water-intensive, averaging about 2.5 million gallons water per well.Much of this hydraulic fracturing activity happens in regions with acute water shortages. Some 48 percent of U.S. wells are located in extreme water stress areas, where more than 80 percent available ground and surface water is already allocated for such uses as agriculture, power generation, and human consumption. Several oil-producing states expect added stress on limited water supplies from future population increase.The Eagle Ford formation in south Texas is considered ground zero for fracking-related water issues. There are thousands of wells in the Eagle Ford region, and they consume water at a rate about double the national average. Compounding the problem is that 98 percent of the wells there are in areas with at least medium water stress, and 28 percent are in extreme stress areas.It makes sense that there would be a scramble for water in south Texas, but surprisingly, water is also a bottleneck in the Bakken, despite its location i n the wet and cold climate of North Dakota.There, the challenges are attributed to a lack of access points, limited storage depots, and permitting restrictions. In oil and gas production regions as diverse as the Marcellus in Pennsylvania and the Monterey in California, water issues are a big concern.behauptung water challenges are starting to significantly affect the bottom lines of oil producers, particularly in the current low-price environment. Treatment and reuse of flowback and produced water is a promising option, but is associated with high water treatment costs. Freshwater supply for fracking has rapidly become a multitausend milliarden dollar business with several leading oilfield services companies getting in the game. Freshwater procurement can cost up to 3 cents per gallon in some areas. The real wallet drainer, however, is transportation which can cost as much as 12 cents per gallon. Total water costs can therefore reach as much as 15 cents per gallon, which works out to $6 per barrel of water or as much as $2 per barrel of oil produced.It isnt just the direct cost to oil producers. Trucks are the workhorse of water transportation and trucking distances can be huge. Trucks bring along the expected problems of traffic, road damage, noise, and accidents, which make for unhappy communities.While obtaining water is a headache for drillers, they also have at their disposal the means for providing their own water. A technology known as atmospheric water harvesting can wring moisture from humid air at a surprisingly rapid rate. And though the technology has a reputation for being energy-intensive, oil production sites often have on hand fuel that they cant useand indeed, simply burn (flare) off.By harnessing natural gas that is now often just flared off, oil producers could eliminate a large fraction of their water needs.WASTE AND OPPORTUNITYFlaring is a big problem in its own right. While oil spills and refinery explosions get widespread media coverage , flaring often manages to stay below the media radar, despite having severe negative consequences in terms of pollution and constituting an enormous waste of energy.custompagebreakThe extent of the problem can be seen from satellite images of the Earths night side flared gas creates bright gashes in sparsely settled areas from Northern Africa to North Dakota. About 140 billion cubic meters of natural gas was flared worldwide in 2012, which is the latest year for which figures are available. That is 4 percent of global production or 20 percent of gas consumption in the United States. By any yardstick this is an enormous waste of energy, and would be valued at over $50 billion at todays natural gas prices. Flaring also accounts for more than 1 percent of global carbon emissions.The U.S. has seen a rapid increase in the amount of gas being flared, and now the country is the fifth largest flarer in the world, behind Russia, Nigeria, Iran, and Iraq.Some 40 percent of the flaring in the U.S. occurs in North Dakota, where it is estimated that a third of the gas produced is flared, since the Bakken is primarily an oil play with gas having a marginal value. Certain Bakken producers flare more than three-quarters of the gas produced. In Texas, the second-place flaring state, development of the Eagle Ford Shale increased flaring by 400 percent from 2009 to 2012. Eagle Ford now accounts for 54 percent of the flaring in Texas despite having only 3 percent of the states wells.One reason that both the Bakken and the Eagle Ford fields produce so much wasted gas is the wide employment there of hydraulic fracturing. After fracturing and completing a new oil well, there is an initial burst of natural gas, like the gas that fizzes out when you pop a soda can. Most oil wells in these regions do not have the infrastructure in place to utilize or capture this gas, and flaring remains the only practical solution to dispose it off.Flared gas-powered vapor einsaugung cycle for atmosph eric water harvesting The water condenser draws moisture from the air a secondary liquid absorbs the evaporated refrigerant a gas-powered boiler heats the solution to release the refrigerant as high-pressure vapor.Other factors promote flaring as an option. Texas producers, for instance, do not pay royalties or taxes on flared gas, and there are no restrictions on flaring in North Dakota in the first year, when most of the flaring actually happens. Recent rules in North Dakota require producers to have gas capture plans for new fields, but it is doubtful that regulations alone will reduce flaring, since more than half of flaring in North Dakota is from wells already connected to gas-gathering infrastructure.Flaring is a big missed opportunity for producers. The biggest reason for producers to sell oil and burn gas is that gas has a much lower value than oil. But there are innovations that utilize flared gas to create value.WRINGING WATER FROM AIRFlared gas has been used for onsite e lectricity generation however, this requires sufficient onsite demand or access to the grid. Extraction of natural gas liquids (NGLs) from the gas stream is another option that is practiced in some places. Reinjection of gas to the reservoir provides another alternative to flaring, but increases the cost of the project. More recent efforts have studied the use of flared gas to treat the flowback water that follows fracking.While the emergence of such technologies is encouraging, the solutions involve expensive infrastructure which often reduces the economic advantage of flared gas utilization projects.Water, on the other hand, is a bottleneck to oil extraction and is increasingly more valuable than electricity or NGLs. And it turns out that there is a means to use flared gas to create water right at the production site.The solution is called atmospheric water harvesting, or AWH. The idea is to tap the enormous freshwater reservoir in humid air by condensing moisture on chilled surfa ces using a refrigeration cycle, similar to what happens in an air conditioner or a dehumidifier. This can be done even in places that receive very little rainfall.Much like a refrigerator, however, the AWH process is very energy-intensive. Indeed, the cost of energy has been the verstndigung im strafverfahren breaker for industrial-scale AWH. Over the last decade, for instance, several electric-powered AWH units have been developed that are capable of harvesting hundreds of gallons of water per day. But the cost of the harvested water is more than 20 cents per gallon, which makes such harvesters impractical for industrial scale operation.But electricity isnt the only way to power refrigeration cycles. In places where electricity is unreliable or prohibitively expensive, propane or kerosene-powered refrigerators are available. Similarly, a large-scale AWH system can be run using gas (or some other energy source, such as sunlight or wind).In a natural gas-powered vapor absorption ref rigerator, cooling is generated by evaporating a suitable refrigerant in a bundle of tubes called an evaporator. The evaporated refrigerant is then absorbed by a secondary liquid. The refrigerant-saturated solution is then heated in the vapor generator to release the refrigerant as high-pressure vapor. This vapor condenses in the air-cooled condenser, and the cycle continues.Natural gas from the wellhead that might otherwise be flared off can be fed to a boiler (after treatment in a gas conditioning module). The steam generated in the boiler can then be used to release the refrigerant in the vapor generator of the refrigeration cycle.custompagebreakVapor absorption-powered AWH has advantages over other refrigeration options, such as vapor compression and desiccant dehumidification. Calculations indicate that cooling via vapor absorption yields more water than competing technologies, because of the higher cooling capacity generated per unit of gas burnt. An important advantage is tha t, at the wellhead, the gas is essentially free.The amount of water that can be expected to be harvested depends on flaring rates and the ambient weather. The average flaring rate per well in the Eagle Ford is 9,600 cubic meters per day for the Bakken, it is 5,500 cubic meters per day. Employing that gas to run AWH units instead of simply flaring it could yield as much as 30,000 gallons of fresh water per day from a single well in the Eagle Ford. From the Bakken, that figure is 18,000 gallons. Such harvest rates are possible from the gas that gushes out of a newly fracked well. Gas production declines in the weeks and months after a new well comes online. The decline rates vary a lot and are not well reported, which makes it challenging to predict the water production over time. In all, about 2 billion and 4 billion gallons water (about 10 percent and 66 percent of total water consumption) can be harvested annually from all the gas flared in the Eagle Ford and Bakken respectively.Wh at can that water be used for? While many oilfield operations require water, the two most important ones are drilling and hydraulic fracturing. At more than 50 locations in the Bakken (which flare more than 34,000 cubic meters per day), the water required to drill a new well can be provided onsite using flared gas in just three days. The water required to frack a new well can be met in three weeks. Those numbers suggest that with proper planning, AWH can supply a significant fraction of the water required to develop additional wells at existing sites. All told, 22,000 wells can be drilled or 2,200 wells can be fracked from the water produced annually by using flared gas in North Dakota and Texas.THE FIRE TO FIGHT FLARINGThe benefits of onsite water harvesting go beyond reduced water costs. For each well that is fracked with AWH water, 450 truck roundtrips are eliminated. My research estimates that using harvested water can eliminate 7 million truck roundtrips annually in Texas and N orth Dakota. There are many other soft benefits in the form of goodwill generated in local rural communities due to reduced traffic, pollution, and accidents.Despite the strong case for flared gas-based AWH, there are still challenges to be overcome before this technology can be deployed. For instance, in order to make the technology economically viable, the AWH system has to be made compact to the point that it can be mounted on a semi-trailer. Portability is critical, since flaring is a temporary situation and the equipment needs to be relocated where it is needed.The systems that are the most cumbersome are the water condenser and the air-cooled heat exchanger, both of which are bulky configurations of metal tubes and plates. Researchers are working to increase the performance of the condensers by coating the condenser tubes with water-shedding superhydrophobic materials, which drain the condensed water and can increase the thermal performance by a factor of ten.Similarly, there are multiple RD efforts targeted at developing compact, lightweight air-cooled condensers. Notably, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy has a specific program on this effort. The good news is that large-scale refrigeration systems of the required tonnage are already available. Ongoing RD efforts across the nation will provide solutions that make this technology more viable than it is today.Looking beyond the United States, AWH can benefit oil producing regions such as the Middle East and portions of Africa which flare large volumes of gas, face perpetual water crises, and have year-round high humidity. The technology can also be positioned as an alternative to desalination in humid places with high flaring rates, but which lack brackish water sources that could be treated.In an era when natural gas prices have remained stubbornly low, employing this technology in parched countries could be a means to provide a new market for natural gas.Keep burning gas, but to create water sounds like a business-as-usual message to an industry that is traditionally slow to change. It remains to be seen if industry has the fire to fight flaring with water.Vaibhav Bahadur is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.Total water costs for a fracked well can reach 15 cents per gallon, which works out to as much as $2 per barrel of oil produced.

What to Do When You Dont Feel Ready for a Challenging Project

What to Do When You Dont Feel Ready for a Challenging ProjectWhat to Do When You Dont Feel Ready for a Challenging ProjectYour anfhrer is finally letting you take the lead on a new project. But instead of feeling excited, you feel- in a word- panicked These arent the nerves that accompany stepping out of your comfort zone, though you feel like you dont have the proper qualifications, and youre genuinely concerned about your ability to execute.Your first instinct may be to decline, perhaps suggesting a colleague who seems better suited or clarifying that, while this project doesnt seem like a fit, youd still like to be considered for new opportunities in the future.But before you tell your boss no, take the time to gather more information. Use the three questions below to determine if you are, in fact, the right person for the job.1. Why Me?Okay, clearly Im not suggesting you literally turn to your supervisor, and ask, Why me? But the very first thing you must find out is why you were chosen for the project. If it was arbitrary- la Were slammed right now, and everyone needs to take on something extra- then it wont seem like pushing back for you to suggest a different new task that more closely aligns with your abilities.However, its just as likely that your supervisor meant to assign you to this project (thats his or her job, after all). And knowing that specific reason can provide a roadmap for your successful involvement.For example, imagine youre tasked with leading a hiring process for a new team member, despite the fact that you have no experience in HR. While you may think you couldnt do as good a job as someone with a background in personnel, your boss may have chosen you specifically because he wants someone who can quiz the applicants on technical specs that you know better than anyone else.Finding out why were chosen will help you identify the skill set your supervisor expects you to employ on the project. Moreover, knowing the decision was intentiona l can give you the extra boost of confidence you need to take on something new.2. Am I Part of a Team?Still worried you dont have all of the tools necessary to execute? Well, maybe you dont need all of the expertise. Im not proposing that your involvement with a project depend on how heavily you can lean on your teammates. However, you need to know the people with whom youre working and what their strengths are, because it may be that your skills will complement each other and allow you to successfully tackle the project together.For example, Ive been a part of several website redesigns, despite the fact I cant code. At first glance, that seems hard to believe- isnt hypertext markup language a requisite to restructure a website? Not in my case- each time, the company already had someone who managed the website technically, but it needed someone to visualize a new look that would be more user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing. So, Ive submitted redesigns in Word outlines, PowerPoin t slides, and Photoshop JPEGs- any format that made sense to the team member in charge of implementation.I could have simply declined the project because of my lack of technical skills, but by looking for how my experience dovetailed with that of my teammate, we were able to do a great job on something that neither one of us would have been able to do alone. Remember, your ability (or lack thereof) in one area may have little to do with your capacity to advance the project as a whole.3.Whats the Timeline?Before you decide whether or not you can take on this tough new project, consider the timing. If you need to brush up on certain skills and learn others, it will make a sizable difference whether youll have time to attend a training or if youre supposed to be up and running before the end of the week. A task that is due yesterday wont allow for you to consult many resources beyond Google. On the other hand, if its a project that will be executed over the next quarter, or if its the first in a series of the new initiatives, you will have time to fill in the gaps.If this is the case, be honest with your boss about the expertise you feel you are missing, and come prepared with a game plan for how you can acquire it. Tell your supervisor that stage 1 of the project (as opposed to Before I start.. which indicates that youre not ready) is reviewing best practices, consulting with experts, or anything else that will help you attain the most successful outcome. When time allows, an approach that includes you acquiring new skills or expertise will be particularly appealing because it means that youll prepared to hit the ground running with similar tasks in future.It makes sense that you would want to avoid setting yourself up for failure. But that doesnt mean you should assume you arent qualified for new and challenging projects. Before you make a decision either way, gather enough information to see how you might contribute to a successful outcome. And then, remember Youre probably ready for more than you even realize. Photo of clouds and ladders courtesy of Shutterstock.

How Employee Referral Programs Work

How Employee Referral Programs WorkHow Employee Referral Programs WorkAre you job hunting and wondering what employee referral programs are, and if they can help you in your job search? Employee referral programs are formal programs employers have instituted to encourage employees to refer candidates for jobs at the company. Referral programs benefit both the employer and current employees. In some cases, a bonus can be earned if a referred candidate is hired. When youre searching for a new job, a referral from someone who already works at a company can get your resume a closer look, and may even get you an interview. So, while youre searching, look around to see if you have any contacts at the companies where youd like to apply. If you do, then maybe your contact can help you get a job referral and get a benefit from the company in return for his or her effort. Benefits for Employers A referral program is a way to help ensure the company is recruiting top talent for available po sitions. The assumption is that current employees are uniquely qualified to identify the best candidates since they know the organizations mission andcompany culture.Employees may have friends or colleagues they know to be talented and who would fit into that culture. Benefits for Job Applicants For job seekers, a referral is a way to get your application priority consideration. When companies receive many applications for every available position, a referral can help yours stand out from the crowd of candidates. Its always a good idea tocheck LinkedInto see who you might know who can refer you for a job. If youre a college graduate, alsocheck with the alumni or career office for a list of alumni who may be able to assist. How Employee Referral Programs Work Employers with effective programs promote the option regularly to employees and provide an easy mechanism, like a paper or online referral system, for staff to forward referrals. Providing employees with a summary of sel ling points for working with the organization and educating employees about effective ways they can reach out to prospects are important ingredients for viable programs. Employee referral programs which have some mechanism for employees at all levels to make referrals are often the most effective.Some organizations conduct some specific targeting towards employees believed to have contacts from prior employers who are competitors or who have a reputation for developing high impact talent. Employee Referral Incentives Programs often have financial incentives for employees who make viable referrals like prizes, time off, free travel, and cash rewards.Sometimes small rewards are provided for any referred candidate who ends up getting an interview. In other cases, rewards are contingent upon referred candidates being hired and remaining with the organization for a specified period of time. Heres information onemployee referral bonuses. Non-financial incentives such as formal recogni tion of employees who make referrals through corporate communications can also be effective. Recognition of contributing employees by supervisors can also be an incentive. Friend-of-the-Firm Referrals Programs Some employers have expanded their referral programs beyond employees only and have added mechanisms for non-employee friends of the firm to recommend candidates for vacancies. Companies set criteria for who qualifies as a friend. Common categories of friends include ex-employees who have left in good standing, suppliers, clients, consultants, college interns, family members of staff, high-quality candidates who have declined offers, and members of advisory boards or boards of directors. Most organizations establish guidelines for referrals. For example, most companies stipulate that recommendations should be supported by tangible evidence of an individuals past performance. Firms make it clear that they are looking for top performers. They may provide materials to educate employees on the best way to approach and screen potential referrals. Some firms will put incentives in place including cash or prizes if referred individuals are hired and stay with the organization for a specified period of time. Potential Benefits for Employers As with employee referral programs, a major potential benefit of a friends program is the opportunity for an employer to source high performing individuals who are not looking at job advertisementsor otherwise actively seeking new jobs. Also, by relying on friends rather than strictly employees, employers open themselves up to a much larger hiring pool. An additional benefit is that friends of the firm are not on the payroll, so the time spent looking for potential hires is free for the company (beyond any cash or prize incentives).