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Silicon Valley’s “Restless Mind Syndrome”

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No people, it is not a disease it is quite similar to what you would describe as the symptoms for the restless leg syndrome:
“Motor restlessness, expressed as activity that relieves the urge to move”, just replace the word “motor” with “Mind”.

Over generations the work culture has been changing and evolving, the new trend for the 21st century is the growth of small business and innovative technology research and development. The possibilities of diversification in different technological and medical sector have increased immensely and it no longer a great charm (for many if not most) to be in one field of interest or career for long. The tilt and trend is towards entrepreneurship and that too, not one venture or two, an entrepreneur today aims at starting out 2-3 start-ups and more in his/her lifetime – this is also the mind set of the new workforce in their 20s, restless and ready to take on the world, after all they have the inspirational Generation X entrepreneurs as mentors and role-models.

Quite apt concluding remarks at the proceedings of a SBA (Small Business Association) conference titled Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century:

Entrepreneurs will drive economic growth in the 21st century. Given the contributions of small businesses to the U.S. economy, it is important that policymakers recognize and support them. Sound data and methodology are needed to accurately understand and model our dynamic economic marketplace.

Quoting the dynamic SAP exec., Shai Agassi, as he moves on to new global ventures, “In the valley, you can’t just do one thing.”

This is the trend of the 21st century at work and this is the Silicon Valley at present.

The Future Trends in Silicon Valley
In the annual “To 10 Trends” event by the Silicon Valley bisuness leaders, the article Silicon Valley business leaders gaze into crystal ball, quotes:

“Most of the predictions were far from bold, however. Schoendorf, for example, predicted much more to come in the world of online video, saying that “five years from now, we’ll be talking about YouTubes and eBays that haven’t been created yet. There will be four or five mega-billion (dollar) plays in the video space.” He also predicted the rise of radical approaches to treating brain disease.”

Role of Immigrant Entrepreneurs
The urge to venture out in various enterprises is also being accelerated in the Silicon Valley by the large immigrant community, who are the emerging entrepreneurs of the world. According to an analysis of engineering and technology companies founded from 1995 to 2005 in Silicon Valley, CA and Research Triangle Park, NC. (Information Source: http://www.wral.com/business/local_tech_wire/opinion/story/1129922/ ):

  • Over half (52.4%) of Silicon Valley startups had one or more immigrants as a key founder, compared with the California average of 38.8%.
  • A comparison with Saxenian’s 1999 findings shows that the percentage of firms with Indian or Chinese founders had increased from 24% to 28%. Indian immigrants outpaced their Chinese counterparts as founders of engineering and technology companies in Silicon Valley. Saxenian reported that 17% of Silicon Valley startups from 1980-1998 had a Chinese founder and 7% had an Indian founder. We found that from 1995 to 2005, Indians were key founders of 15.5% of all Silicon Valley startups, and immigrants from China and Taiwan were key founders in 12.8%.
  • In Research Triangle Park, 18.7% of startups had an immigrant as a key founder, compared with the North Carolina average of 13.9%. Indians constitute the largest immigrant founding group, with 25% of startups, followed by immigrants from Germany and the U.K., each with 15%.
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Generation Millennial Female @ Work

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Generation Millennial (those born in the period 1976-2000, also often cited in other studies as those born between 1980-2002) females are stronger and more confident than the generation X working females as they step into the workforce this century. As would be expected of any new generation to be smarter and more efficient than the previous one!

This new generation in the workforce would be the one of risk-takers and also those who enjoy working for what they believe in and they are the ones who are not in a job only for the money. A larger percentage of this generation has grown up in affluence as never before experienced by the previous generations. They have more direction and more access to information than ever before. All these factors influence their career direction.

  • But what are their expectations as they step fresh in the job market?
  • Are they willing to build a life around their career or more interested in having a career around their lives?
  • Will life-work balance issues be of lesser importance to them as compared to the present working career woman (a generation Xer or of baby boomer generation)?

Perhaps the perception of the work place for the new generation male or female is that of a “get-it-all” environment. They have had less interference at home and their schedules as compared to previous generations, they are more fearless than ever before, but would that mean that retaining them would be a problem for most employers? Will they be aggressive enough to struggle through the corporate ladder or would they be the take-it-easy generation at work?

According to a survey published in the Lifetime News Release, some very interesting statistics came to light on the Gen Y female work aspirations:

Gen Y Women Want and Will Work Hard for Promotion, but They Don’t Want It to Take Long

  • 69% of women surveyed said that they are willing to sacrifice to reach the top of their field.
  • Gen Y women have no qualms about leaving a job for something better or different. 67% said that they expect to stay in their current job for five years or less (18% less than one year, 26% one-two years, 23% three-five years).
  • Half expect to be promoted in two years or less. Ultimate Career Goals Focus on Control and Flexibility.
  • When asked their ultimate career goals, Gen Y’s two most stated goals were starting their own businesses and being considered one of the top people in their field. (30% and 29% respectively). Another 23% said that achieving flexibility with respect to where and when they work was the top goal.
  • Young women already in the workforce more than five years were much more apt to want to start their own businesses (34% vs. 22%).
  • Entrepreneurship is also a bigger goal for African-American women – 43% defined their ultimate goal as starting their own business vs. 25% of Caucasians and 27% of Latinas.

Since they are now in the workforce or the new graduate force every year from now ready to do so, we shall soon see the new trends at workplace. The work culture has to change and evolve to help them adjust and also to retain this new workforce. Call it the Generation Y, Generation Next or Generation Millennial, they are the ones who will make a tremendous impact in shaping the 21st century as it is now and as it will be in future.

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3 Tips to Sustain a Long Interview

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With some of the interviews running over multiple hours and sessions sustenance is a major issue as well. How can you be enthusiastic, attentive and energetic after 3 hours of one-on-one interviewing and 2 hours of group interviewing and more to come?
The mind and body work together in tandem, if one is overworked and exhausted it affects the other.
Here are some tips to help you get through that long important day:

  • The Mind
    To feed your mind for a energetic day spend a few minutes (preferably 15 minutes to half-an-hour) in the morning of the interview on meditation or simple deep breathing and focusing on positive thoughts – you are helping yourself clear your thoughts and bring oxygen to your brain. An immediate effect would be a collected thought process, stress-release and instant peace!
    Also give a few minutes to stretch to let go off the body tension. Stretch before the interview and stretch during breaks.
    Focus on the positive. Focus on your strengths. An affirmation and just a feel-good meditation can do wonders to your self-worth – try it a couple of hours before the interview – and you can take on the storm with ease!
  • Physical Balance- Eating before the Interview
    Do not eat a heavy lunch or breakfast before the interview. It can make you sleepy and sluggish. The perfect balance would be a good balanced meal containing light carbs, salad, fruits and yogurt.
    Keep in your bag a banana or a protein / snack bar and a pack or juice and water. To keep your sugar leveled and keep you pumped up, you must eat at regular intervals. A few minutes or half an hour break that you get inbetween the interviews is good time to snack. A rumbling tummy can be awfully embarrassing and even though your body might not be giving you such an indication, it is better to act before it does!
    Also don’t have any garlic or other eatables which might make your breath smelly.
  • Keeping it together
    There are documents, portfolio papers, resume, your bag/purse etc. that you are carrying with you. Be organizzed and prepared beforehand and know how you can keep them in place together so you are fumbling at your organization and management. Practice a day before the interview on which sessions require which presentations and organize accordingly. Keeping it altogether and under control is essential to be calm when the goign gets rough and tough.

Also remember that after the series of interviews you are going through not all goes well at every step – If you feel you have said or done something during the interview which you would rather had not, just let it go. Thinking about it will only let you down and shake your confidence.

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Healthy Neighborhood Connection Helps a Working Mother

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In great cities men are brought together by the desire of gain. They are not in a state of co-operation, but of isolation, as to the making of fortunes; and for all the rest they are careless of neighbors. Christianity teaches us to love our neighbor as ourselves; modern society acknowledges no neighbor.

– Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) British politician and author.

If you live in a close knit neighborhood where you know most of your neighbors – nothing better, but getting less plausible in the two income family where there is hardly enough time to get through your own house chores, when do you find the time to venture out?

The importance of having good relations with neighbors cannot be over emphasized and it becomes more so of a support group for a working mother in her day-to-day life.

See how a good neighborhood relationship can help a working mother in times of need:

  • In case of urgent need, be it to drop your kid at a known place for a few hours to run a quick errand or for a medical visit, the neighbor is your closest and most reliable access at such times. Relatives and friends might now be in close proximity when you might need their help. It helps to know your neighbors, in time of urgent help they might be your best resource.
  • And why only in times of need, a healthy neighborhood is one where most of them know each other. Just stroll outside with kids or pets and connecting with each other increases your circle. An effective networking process and healthy activity for you and the kids to be out there instead on the TV or the computer games.

Make an Effort to Know Them
Exchanging greetings in the morning while picking up the paper or watering your garden, a warm smile and a wave of hand are the first steps towards generating a friendly relationship.
Take time during the weekend or an evening on a weekday to initiate conversation or better still inviting your neighbors over for tea or a BBQ.

Tips:

  • Know your friendly neighbors’ home phone number and cell phone number – these must be in your phone list.
  • Know their work hours and their availability routine and reciprocate by letting them know yours.

And also remember that
Hedges between keep friendships green

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Top 5 Reasons why you want to Work Part-Time

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As a working mother, what would you prefer when considering getting back in the job market — full-time employment or working part-time? It is no dispute that working part-time brings many advantages to a working mother’s life -work balance act. Here are the top 5 reasons why women prefer working part-time when re-entering the workforce:

  1. More energy and less stressed in the evening after a 5-6 hours work day. Evenings are not just the time spent on getting ready for the next work day, but more to be lived in the moment.
  2. Less money spent on general daycare expenses and after school programs for kids
  3. More time to enjoy with kids and in helping them with their homework or just finding time to interact with them
  4. More “me-time”, even before picking up kids from school, you may find time for that half-hour pedicure / manicure or a quick shopping trip without the kids in tow!
  5. A satisfying feeling of self-accomplishment and outlet to creativity through work as compared to being a full-time stay-at-home mother

If not one the above, what is your reason to work part-time?

An interesting article on San Jose Mercury Newspaper quotes the US Census Bureau Current population survey, 2001-2005; on how many women would want to work part time, why and where.

Women who want to work part-time:

Yes: 65.4 percent
No: 34.5 percent

Of the women working part-time, here’s why:
Couldn’t find full-time job: 19.42 percent
Wanted part-time work: 40.97 percent
Took what they could find: 18.77 percent
Other: 20.84 percent
Among the top part-time occupations, percent of occupation that uses part-time workers:
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance: 37 percent
Food preparation and serving: 33 percent
Sales: 22 percent
Personal Care and service: 20 percent
Education, training and library: 19 percent
Legal: 16 percent
Transportation and material moving: 15 percent
Office and material moving: 15 percent
Office and administrative support: 14 percent
Health care practitioners and technicians: 14 percent
Health care support: 13 percent

 

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What do the Bosses Hate most about Employees

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Now since we have classified the boss in the previous post and talking about our boss-woes is in routine, let’s see what goes on the other side of the fence.

Why are you not making MY job easier?
Your boss wants to see that you get your job done so that he does not have to be after you to get it done. Are you sending in your weekly status report regularly, are you keeping him/her appraised of the project or is your boss running after you to get the information? Managers have already too much on their plate (as if you don’t!) and they want you to run full steam to get your work done so that they do not have to be on your neck all the time during the project or when nearing completion.

Internet and Phone – Excessive Communication – Why is your network always “On”
Bosses hate chatterboxes – of course they would be because you are being paid to work at work and your boss is there to monitor exactly that and of course your competency. They hate it when you are on the internet too long or on the cell phone taking in fresh air outside or chatting with a colleague. Increasingly over the last couple of years, many private companies and government organizations are taking a tough stand on limiting the employee time on internet and blocking access to certain websites during work hours.

Dozing off at the Meeting
And especially when your boss is on the roll! No dispute that most of the meetings are sleep inducer, but whatever you do don’t get caught dozing off by your boss. The boss wants feedback on the meetings and what he has been ranting on, which could only come when the employees are paying attention in the first place!

Why are you on-leave too often?
“When I can’t dream of taking a few days off till the project deadline why is my employee on extended or frequent leave?” Though for some bosses this is not a big deal but they want to be notified well ahead in advance of any long-term leave planned. And don’t take a day off every other week.

Why are you not there when I am here?
Most bosses love employees who are there at their desk when they arrive and are there to wave goodbyes at the end of the day but that does not mean that relentless surfing and just ‘hanging around’ to fill up the time impresses the boss.

What do you do when your manager wants you to work long hours even though your tasks can be completed within the usual 8-9 hours? Please comment below.

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Why do we Love to Hate our Bosses?

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In my previous post (titled: The Female Boss – Is she Different from her Male Counterpart?) I talked about not judging a boss at all, but of course we do deal with one day in and day out, so addressing ‘boss classification’ is justifiable. And after all we do need to crib about something or someone over drinks with friends or conversation at the water-cooler, so why not the boss?
Do you relate with some of the boss-classifications here?

“How did he/she get this job?” Boss
Employees hate it when they have to work under a boss who projects no vision of competency. Employees seek direction and motivation from their managers, with an incompetent and non-authoritative boss, the direction towards a mission or goal is lost.

The Micromanager
Why can’t the managers give more leeway to the employees and a scope to show their talent? Micromanagement is the primary cause of stalled creativity in employees (do you agree?); work becomes a heavy load under a micromanager. It is always a struggle to how to move on to another division or job or better still how to get your boss to move on to another group!

The Bully
How would you feel like when the first thought you have about your work in the morning is an encounter with a bully? Employees hate bosses who are all about intimidating those under them and undermining their capabilities. The sadistic bosses are perhaps the top reason for employee job departure.

“The Door” Boss
Why is the boss always behind shut doors, Ok we understand you do not want to disturb us if you are on calls all day but we also need to “see” you work! Why can’t he/she be accessible when I need to walk in and talk about my code or a project issue?

So of course, when you are around such bosses, why would you not love to hate them? And after all it gives us so much to talk about and to vent our feelings when we talk about our work with our spouse and friends!

What do you love about your boss?
Since this is a website promoting positive thoughts, the focus should be on what we like about our bosses, sometimes we have to really think hard about what is good about them (!!) but they too deserve appreciation now and then! Think about it!

Stay tuned for What do the Bosses Hate most about Employees

Careerbright – Career Article and Information for Professionals and Working Women
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The Female Boss – Is she Different from her Male Counterpart?

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On Communication

Men talk to give information or report. Women talk to collect information or gain rapport.
Men focus on facts, reason and logic. Women focus on feelings, senses and meaning.
Men thrive on competing and achieving. Women thrive on harmony and relating
(Source: http://www.itstime.com/mar2005.htm)

Female Bosses Bring Home Work more as Compared to Male Counterparts

One of the most striking results is that women and men bosses differ in regard to coping strategies. In cases of conflict and unfair treatment, women take their problems home with them and develop psychosomatic symptoms to a greater extent than their male colleagues. Women managers also found it more difficult to tune out their work during their leisure time in comparison with their male counterparts.

(Source: http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/medizin_gesundheit/bericht-10702.html )

No matter where or how you take the debate to, the main point is that there is not much use comparing a female boss or a male boss solely on gender.
Is your boss a good motivator, does he/she help you in providing you a comfortable and satisfying work environment?
Does your boss exhibit accountability and leadership qualities?
Regardless of gender, do you consider your boss a a person worthy for his/her position and someone to look-up to?
Don’t judge a book by its cover; don’t judge a boss by gender. Just don’t judge at all, do your best at your work irrespective of how difficult or easy your boss is and you shall find yourself in a more satisfying job!

According to a boss-survey on Happy Worker website:
Male vs. Female Bosses
He-Managers are favored over She-Bosses:
- 37% prefer having a male boss
- 19% prefer having a female boss
- 43% say it wouldn’t make a difference either way
However, there’s also signs that the glass ceiling continues to crack… younger workers are almost evenly divided; for workers aged 18 and 34, 31% say they prefer a male boss, and 29% say they prefer a female boss.

Do Females Prefer or Dislike a Female Boss?
Quoting from an article excerpt:

According to the Gender Issues in the Workplace Survey by career publisher Vault Inc. (2006), women prefer to work for men rather than for other women.
When asked if they would prefer a male or female boss, more women, 28%, picked a male boss rather than a female boss (9%), while the majority of both the men and women surveyed had no preference.
More men would rather work for men than women as well; 26% of men chose a male boss and 8% picked a female boss.
Women in the workplace don’t just prefer male bosses over female bosses; they also feel more comfortable with male co-workers. Again, although the majority of men and women had no gender preference, the next choice for women was men, as 24% prefer male co-workers and only 11% prefer working with other women.
Men’s choices were more evenly split, with 17% choosing male co-workers and 16% choosing female co-workers.One of many important findings from Vault’s Gender Issues Survey is that most women, 77%, agree that it is still difficult for women to get ahead in the workplace.

Conversely, only 43% of men feel that it is still difficult for women to advance at the office. A majority of women, 56%, feel that at one time or another they have been disadvantaged in the workplace because of their gender, while 25% of men feel the same way.

What do you feel about the difference in working styles of a female and a male boss?
Please add your comments.

Some other related articles of interest:
Gender preferences in the corner office – Work & Power survey respondents say why they like male, female bosses

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