15 Quotes to Inspire Creative Thinking

15 Quotes to Inspire Creative Thinking15 Quotes to Inspire Creative ThinkingAre you having trouble getting the ideas to flow? Find out how others have approached creative thinking with these compelling statements.Weve all been there Youre on deadline and under pressure to do your best work, but the more desperately you hunt for good ideas, the more elusive they become. To help you bust through the block, weve dug up thoughts about creativity from artists, designers, writers and other brilliant minds whove discovered the secret to luring the muse into their work. Spoiler alert If you can figure out how to balance a playful mind with the ability to buckle down and do the work once inspiration strikes, you may very well join the ranks of these creative heavyweights.If I create from the heart, nearly everything works if from the head almost nothing. Marc Chagall, artistThe creative process is a process of surrender, not control. Julia Cameron, authorThere are no formulas in creative wo rk. I do many variations, which is a question of curiosity. I arrive at many different configurations some just slight variations, others more radical of an original idea. It is a game of evolution. Paul Rand, art director and graphic designerNothing will stop you being creative so effectively as the fear of making a mistake. John Cleese, comedianDo stuff. Be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspirations shove or societys kiss on your forehead. Pay attention. Its all about paying attention. Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager. Susan Sontag, author, playwright and filmmakerCreativity is an act of defiance. Twyla Tharp, dancer, choreographer and authorWhen you are stuck, walk away from the computer and draw. It will teach you how to see. Gerard Huerta, graphic designerCreativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didnt really do it, they just saw something. Steve Jobs, Cofounder of AppleCreativity is a gift. It doesnt come through if the air is cluttered. John Lennon, musicianWe are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out. Ray Bradbury, authorCreativity comes from a conflict of ideas. Donatella Versace, fashion designerI think that as long as you still have questions, the child questions, the muse has got to be there. You throw a question up to the muse and maybe they drop something back on you. Joni Mitchell, songwriter and musicianCreativity is a wild mind and a disciplined eye. Dorothy Parker, poet, author, critic and satiristFailure is built into creativity the creative act involves this element of newness and experimentalism, then one must expect and accept the possibility of failure. Saul Bass, graphic designerInstead of searching for inspiration, how about you search out someone to inspire. Tony Kim, photographer Tags

Use This Easy Job Description Template for Your Company

Use This Easy Job Description Template for Your CompanyUse This Easy Job Description Template for Your CompanyWriting a job description can be tricky its a task to both capture the spirit and energy of your company or business while summarizing the duties of the position youre hoping to fill. A template can be a useful guide to ensure you dont let any important details slip through the cracks, and to use as a fundament for formatting. Title of Job The job title describes the rank of the position and implies the responsibilities expected of the partie who holds it. Potential candidates sometimes simply search for jobs based on what kind of work theyre looking for, so put some thought into it. Position Description Write a one-sentence description of what the position does within your organization. Example The menschlich Resources Manager guides and manages the overall provision of Human Resources services, policies, and programs fora company. The HR Director within a small to mid-sized company supplies the same or a portion of the Human Resources function within a large company. Major Areas of Responsibility Use bullet points to list the major areas covered by your job. This doesnt have to detail every minute responsibility or be completely comprehensive, but rather, should provide a deeper context for the position, building off of the description that precedes it. Example The major areas the Human Resources Manager manages can include Developing the Human resources departmentAdvising managers about issues relating to managing peopleEmployee orientation, management development, and trainingPerformance management and improvement systemsOrganization development and change managementEmployment and compliance to regulatory and governmental concernsPolicy development and documentation Primary Objectives Beyond what the person in the position actually does, list the primary goals and objectives of the position for its overall contribution to the organi zation. Example a Human Resources Manager might list items such as these Promote the safety and health of the workforce.Develop a superior workforce.Develop the Human Resources Department.Develop an employee-oriented company culture that emphasizes quality, continuous improvement, and high performance. Specific Responsibilities of the Job Take each of the items listed in the Major Areas of Responsibility and flesh out the details. Start by using the listed major area of responsibility and add the details necessary to make job expectations and products clear in each major area of responsibility. For example, an HR manager might detail a responsibility, Development of the Human Resources Department, like this Development of the Human Resources Department Oversees the implementation of Human Resources programs through Human Resources staff. Monitors administration to established standards and procedures. Identifies opportunities for improvement and resolves any discrepancies.Ov ersees and manages the work of reporting Human Resources staff. Encourages the ongoing development of the Human Resources staff.Develops and monitors an annual budget that includes Human Resources services, employee recognition, sports teams support, company philanthropic giving, and administration. Selects and supervises Human Resources consultants, attorneys, and training specialists, and coordinates company use of insurance brokers, insurance carriers, pension administrators, and other outside sources.Conducts a continuing study of all Human Resources policies, programs, and practices to keep management informed of new developments.Leads the development of department goals, objectives, and systemsto support the organizations business plan.Establishes departmental measurements that enable the HR department to support the accomplishment of the companys strategic goals. Directs the preparation and maintenance of such reports as are necessary to carry out the functions of the departm ent. Prepares periodic reports for management, as necessary or requested, to track strategic goal accomplishment.Develops and administers programs, procedures, and guidelines to help align the workforce with the strategic goals of the company.Participates in executive, management, and company staff meetings and attends other meetings and seminars as needed to accomplish the organizations and departments goals With the CEO and CFO, annually plans the companys philanthropic and charitable giving and community outreach. Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities In this section of the job description, list each essential responsibility that the job holder must be able to perform satisfactorily to do the job successfully. Note that these requirements are representative, but not all-inclusive, of the knowledge, skill, and ability required to perform this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Job Requir ements Broad knowledge and experience inAbove average skills inExcellent skills inDemonstrated ability toDemonstrated ability toDemonstrated ability toGeneral knowledge ofExperience inOther Education and Experience Degree or equivalent experienceYears of experienceSpecialized training inActive affiliationsOther requirements (certifications and so forth) Physical Demands These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions. Example While performing the responsibilities of the job, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to sit and use their hands and fingers, to handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Vision abili ties required to perform this job include close vision. Work Environment Example While performing the responsibilities of the job, these work environment characteristics are representative of the environment the job holder will encounter. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and vehicles. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. The passage of employees through the work area is average and normal. Conclusion This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job. But, this job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the posi tion. DisclaimerPlease note that the information provided, while authoritative, is not guaranteed for accuracy and legality. The site is read by a worldwide audience. Please seek legal assistance, or assistance from State, Federal, or grenzberschreitend governmental resources, to make certain your legal interpretation and decisions are correct for your location. This information is for guidance, ideas, and assistance only.

10 Skills to Transition from Engineering to Project Management

10 Skills to Transition from Engineering to Project Management 10 Skills to Transition from Engineering to Project Management 10 Skills to Transition from Engineering to Project ManagementOne of the advantages of an engineering degree is that its flexible. Theres a lot more you can do with your degree and experience than the hands-on problem solving that youre probably used to.And you dont even need to give up the STEM aspects of the job.Higher-level, more hands-off positions such as project management provide engineers with the opportunity to continue working directly on engineering projects while gaining new skills and, most importantly, offering you the chance to move up in your field.What Is Project Management?A project manager is responsible for the planning, oversight, and completion of a project, overseeing workers, the schedule, and the overall budget. They work on engineering projects, as well as software, IT, construction, and a wide variety of other large-scale projects.Th is is a vital role for any project. Without proper planning and execution, a given project could get held up by any unexpected problem, which could cause a serious hit to the projects overall efficiency or even lead to project failure.For You Artificial Intelligence Transforms Manufacturing Even though the job involves planning and oversight, a lot of problem solving is still involved in project management. A project manager is also responsible for process development, which means youll be solving the biggest problem of all How to ensure each project is completed in the most streamlined, efficient way possible. Its also the responsibility of the project manager to conduct risk assessments and develop contingency plans to make sure there is a solution to every potential problem, so that the projects dont experience any unnecessary delays or expenses.What are the skills required for project management?Project management is no easy task. In addition to great analytical skills, proje ct managers must have strong people skills. After all, itll be your job to manage and interact with a wide variety of people every day, such as the clients, bosses, engineers, and crews youll be overseeing.Terry Suffredini, PE, an engineering-focused career coach, says these are some of the most important skills to develop if you want to be a project managerEffective listeningUnderstanding and working collaboratively with different personality stylesMotivating your team membersDiplomacy and conflict resolution between competing interestsFlexibilityAvailabilityto your clients and your team members, even after modell work hoursManagement of time and resourcesUnderstanding how to budget and control costsSchedule maintenanceBeing both a strong leader of your team and crew and a strong follower of your own managers and clientsAdding these to your analytical skill will help you with more than just a project management position. These skills are transferrable across multiple disciplines, m eaning they can help you in your engineering role, make you a desirable candidate for career advancement, and help you entirely pivot your career.Engineers who have good people skills to go along with their understanding and knowledge of the technical side will always be in demand, says Suffredini.Why Get into Project Management?First, the obvious advantage Positions involving management and oversight typically come with a higher salary range. While the median salary for mechanical engineers in the United States is $124,000 according to a recent ASME survey, the median income for project managers can often be well above this amount.As a project manager, there also tend to be more career opportunities with a wider variety, which means less chance of getting bored as you progress through your career.But higher compensation often comes at a price. You might have to work longer hours, be on call at all hours, and generally bear the weight of much greater responsibility.When you make a m istake, it can impact a lot of peoples lives and careers because it impacts the business. Theres just a lot thats involved, Suffredini says.A Changing FieldThe project management career path has changed quite a bit over the past 10 years, becoming much more client-centric and focused on the big picture.It has become increasingly important to focus on giving the client a good experience. Competition is fierce and clients are looking for value for their dollars.Terry Suffredini, engineering career strategistIt has become increasingly important to focus on giving the client a good experience, Suffredini says, explaining that this has become especially true in the wake of the downturn in the oil and gas industry. Competition is fierce and clients are looking for value for their dollars.As such, its become all the more important for engineering firms to stay on schedule and on budget, while bearing the clients preferences in mind. Project managers need to be responsive and view the proje ct from the clients perspective in order to help meet the clients needs and goals as efficiently as possible.A person with excellent technical skills does not always make the best manager, and thats OK technical experts will always be needed. An engineering project cant be completed without the engineer, after all.But if youre ready for new responsibilities, want to hone your people skills, and are looking for an opportunity to grow both personally and professionally, then project management might be the right step to take you in that direction.Tim Sprinkle is an independent author.Read more from ASME.orgEnergy Storage Smooths the Duck CurveHandheld Dronut Brings Drones IndoorsUltrasound Patch Monitors Critical Components For Further Discussion