Q & A: What are soft skills and why all the fuss?
Q: “Al, what are soft skills and why all the fuss about them?” —(Graduate student, Emory University)
Identity Theft Tip 1
What’s in your wallet right now?
If you’re like most college students the answer is: no money!
– NEVER keep your social security card number, passwords, or account numbers in your purse or wallet.
What’s On Your Mind?
Mind your mind. Studies have indicated that negative predictions about an experience are far more likely to come true than positive predictions because negative thoughts are seven times more powerful than positive ones.
This means that to override any negative thought or expression you produce, it takes seven positive thoughts just to break even. Think about that.
When you say (or think) that something negative is going to happen and it does, did you predict the future or did you create the future?
- Topics: ArticlesCharacter DevelopmentPersonal DevelopmentProfessionalSelf-Awareness & PurposeSoft SkillsTeenYoung Adult
A Poverty of Ambition
“Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself.”
–Barack Obama, Knox College Commencement Address 2005
Even after hearing the phrase “dream big” 3,297,391 times (or more) over the course of their life, most people still don’t get it.
“Don’t rock the boat.”
“Better safe than sorry.”
“A bird in the hand beats two in the bush.”
These timeless maxims are sage advice. When taken to the extreme, however, they create a certain poverty of ambition.
What The Ancient Egyptians Said About Public Speaking
“Be skilled in speech so that you will succeed. The tongue of a man is his sword and effective speech is stronger than all fighting.” –Kheti
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers the number one skill across the board that employers are looking for is the ability to communicate effectively.
Suggested Reading:
- Topics: — Public SpeakingArticlesCharacter DevelopmentCommunication SkillsPersonal DevelopmentProfessionalSoft SkillsTeenYoung Adult
A Lesson On Mastering the Lesson
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”
—Frederick Douglass
Do you find that you struggle with the same things over and over again? If so, you haven’t mastered the lesson in the struggle.
You probably already know that in life, lessons repeat themselves until you…
- Topics: ArticlesCharacter DevelopmentGrit, Perseverance, DiligencePersonal DevelopmentProfessionalSoft SkillsTeenYoung Adult
Smart People vs. Wise People
Smart people learn from their mistakes; wise people learn from the mistakes of others. Learning from the mistakes and experiences of others will greatly accelerate your progress. It will also save you a boatload of time and money.
Suggested Reading:A Lesson on Mastering the Lesson
- Topics: ArticlesCharacter DevelopmentGrit, Perseverance, DiligencePersonal DevelopmentProfessionalSoft SkillsTeenYoung Adult
Hey! Remember to Sign Up.
Books & Posters
The Leading Soft Skills Training Program for STEM Students. Check out S3TEM.com
The 5 Soft Skills Clusters
Click here for a list of soft skills definitions, and behavioral indicators.
