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Why Building Relationships May Be the Only Soft Skill You Need

In a recent survey of the millennials, asking them of their most important life goals, over eighty percent responded: getting richer. Fifty percent of those very respondents said that another major life goal for them was to become famous. Contrary to these results, Robert Waldinger, the director of a 75-year old study on adult development at Harvard, observes that the clearest message from their wide-ranging study rather concludes: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. In a nutshell, the ultimate goal of all the soft skills we need to learn should be building good relationships. Good relationships are built by truly caring about people who put their trust in you. This is possible only if we listen with open mind and open heart, have a clear awareness of ourselves, the people around us, and the world, and work by connecting to the highest future possibilities. What we see is not the Reality MIT Professor, Peter Senge teaches us: World of relationships is a world of conflicts by its very nature. Different systems with different realities are interacting and sometimes interacting in very problematic ways. It is important to be aware of the fact that we do not perceive the world we see, we see the world we perceive and our perception is a reflection of our history. It is characteristic of a living system. Unlike nonliving devices, like a camera, for example, we create our own reality. Men see this world different from women. So telling someone what is reality, is like making a demand for obedience. None of us can see actual reality because we are not a recording device. And understanding “Love is an act of allowing others to be a legitimate other” by the prominent Biologist Humberto Maturana is essential to truly caring about people. So imposing our opinions on others will only damage relationships. Understanding that you cannot change the thinking of people but can only provide them tools to do it themselves; and that you cannot control people, but can only influence them, may keep the relationships healthy. Wisdom and the Fog Tim Urban, famous blogger and TED speaker, tells us how to improve our awareness and understand the big picture that may help to build relationships and gain happiness. He says in his blog (I am paraphrasing it here): The goal of human development should be: gaining wisdom. This means being aware of the truth. The truth is a combination of what we know and what we don’t know. Awareness of knowing, and its absence, is the key to being wise. So what is in our way: The fog. A human is the combination of the Higher being (brilliant, big-thinking, and rational part of our brain) and the lower-level, Animal being. These lower-level instincts are the remnants of our animal past and still a prominent part of our brains, creating a turbulent zoo of small-minded emotions and motivations (such as fear, pettiness, jealousy, greed, instant gratification, etc. and the fog) in our heads. The battle of the Higher being against the animals—of trying to see through the fog to clarity—is the core internal human struggle. The most glaring example is the way the fog convinces us, time after time, that certain things will make us happy that in reality absolutely don’t. The only real way to improve happiness in a lasting way is to make progress in the battle against the fog. So if it were not because of the fog, is there any point for developing a reputation for being cheap, a liar, selfish, greedy, dishonest, or rigid or someone with a bad attitude or bad work ethics? Being aware of our biases, shortcomings or weaknesses and continuously trying to overcome them is a major struggle for all of us. A major key to achieving this is to develop our listening skills. Four Levels of Listening According to MIT Professor Otto Scharmer, there are four levels of listening: i- Listening from Habit: You listen only to what you already know. You reconfirm your opinions and judgments. ii- Factual Listening: Listening with an open mind. Listening to what contradicts your own opinions and judgments. iii- Empathic Listening: Listening with an open heart. Listening with feelings and seeing the situation from eyes of another. Listening with an emotional connection with another. iv- Generative Listening: Listening with a connection to emerging future possibilities. Noticing arrival of your highest future possibilities. We cannot improve our awareness unless we really listen with an open mind and open heart. Not listening with an open mind and open heart is one of the major causes of conflict or troubles in the world. A study conducted by Harvard University noted that 80% of achievements in career are determined by soft skills and only 20% by hard skills. Here it’s worth it to remind ourselves of the famous quote of Aristotle: “What is the essence of life? To serve others and do good.” Whether it is for career success, happiness or a good life, it makes all the sense to let go of short-term benefits or instant-gratification and keep improving ourselves to build good relationships. Top ten soft skill attributes for business executives Following is a list of soft skills compiled by Eastern Kentucky University. 1. Communication – oral, speaking capability, written, presenting, listening. 2. Courtesy – manners, etiquette, business etiquette, graciousness, saying please and thank you, being respectful. 3. Flexibility – adaptability, willingness to change, lifelong learner, accepting new things, adjusting, teachable. 4. Integrity – honest, ethical, having high morals and personal values, doing what’s right. 5. Interpersonal skills – being nice, personable, friendly, nurturing, empathetic, patient, sociable, having self-control, sense of humor, warmth, social skills. 6. Positive attitude – optimistic, enthusiastic, encouraging, happy, confident. 7. Professionalism – business-like, well-dressed, appearance, poised. 8. Responsibility – accountable, reliable, gets the job done, resourceful, self-disciplined, wants to do well, conscientious, common sense. 9. Teamwork – cooperative, gets along with others, agreeable, supportive, helpful, collaborative. 10. Work ethic – hard working, willing to work, loyal, takes initiative, self-motivated, on time, good attendance.

Why Building Relationships May Be the Only Soft Skill You Need

The Essential Guide to the CHFI Certification

IT professionals with certifications have an easier time finding jobs, and they often make higher salaries than those in the field without certifications. IT certifications demonstrate proficiency in particular skill areas and show that a professional is capable of doing a job in that area of the IT field. What is CHFI Certification? The Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) certification prepares tech professionals for jobs in law enforcement and with companies that have a need to investigate computer hacking within their organizations. Computer hacking and data breaches are on the rise, and many different situations present themselves that lead to a need for investigations into the circumstances that caused the hack. Disloyal employees might use their inside access for profit or to undermine the company, or other companies may conduct industrial espionage to prevent your company from increasing market share. Jobs for CHFI Certified Professionals CHFI certification can lead to jobs in law enforcement or the military, systems administration, or IT team or department management. Forensic investigators research computer systems to find information about cybercrimes and network intrusions. They might gather electronic evidence as they investigate hacking and intrusion incidents, examining hard drives, images, and other digital data. Skills involved in CHFI Certification CHFI certification teaches professionals how to conduct investigations correctly so that evidence will maintain its integrity and be useful during prosecution of cybercrimes. Professionals will also learn how to recover deleted files and access hidden information on Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. Another aspect of a forensic investigation is the recovery of lost information, which can happen because of sabotage or equipment failure. Forensic investigators also need to be able to analyze the information they find in order to understand the impact of a hack and the extent of a data breach. In some cases, the cybercrime involved isn’t a data breach but involves possession of illegal materials like pornography. CHFI skills can be used to detect the possession of pornography and collect evidence for prosecution. IT certifications Computer forensic investigators may work for a police department or other governmental agency or private company. Threat intelligence can lead to proactive steps that will prevent future breaches and hacks, although other cybersecurity certifications deal more definitively with keeping servers, networks, and computers secure from threats. As with most anti-hacking jobs, it is sometimes necessary to use the same techniques hackers use, like cracking passwords and intruding on networks, but like ethical hackers, forensic investigators use these techniques to catch hackers, not to commit cybercrimes themselves. The end result of a computer hacking forensics investigation is the acquisition of legal evidence that will lead to the prosecution of those who committed cybercrimes like hacking or theft of data. Not all cybercrimes lead to prosecution, but when evidence can be obtained, it can lead to prevention of future breaches and intrusions. PC AGE offers preparation for the CHFI and other IT certifications that can lead to careers in the tech field. Contact us for more information about our programs.

The Essential Guide to the CHFI Certification

6 Tech Certifications That Boost Your Earning Potential

According to a Network World survey, earning an IT certification led to a new job or a raise in 50 to 60 percent of instances. Other sources like Monster.com and CIO have confirmed that a salary gap exists between the certified and those that lack IT certifications as well. Here are some tech certifications that will boost your earning potential. 1. CompTIA A+ Although it is a common certification, the fact that it is vendor-neutral and shows that you know how to install, configure, protect, and troubleshoot software on a computer makes it a high-demand certification for many employers. The CompTIA A+ certification can help you command a higher salary as an IT technician or help desk support staff. 2. CompTIA Network+ This certification is similar to the previous one, but deals with entire networks rather than just individual computers. Most businesses with more than a handful of employees need a network to communicate and handle their IT needs, making network administrators and technicians an essential part of IT departments today. 3. Certified Information Systems Security Architecture Professional (CISSP) Network and server security is an exploding field within IT, and there is a severe shortage of qualified security professionals that seems like it will only get worse. CISSP certification can even help IT security professionals earn a six figure salary and is required for most upper level IT security jobs, according to Network World. 4. Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Cisco certifications were rated most valuable by Network World study participants, and this basic Cisco certification can be a stepping stone to more advanced certifications that will be even more in demand for high-paying positions. IT certifications Your earning potential can skyrocket with the right IT certification. 5. Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) The CCIE certification is listed by multiple sites as a certification that can bring higher-paying job opportunities your way and boost your salary significantly. Monster.com reports that systems engineers with a CCIE certification could earn up to 27 percent more than their uncertified counterparts. 6. Microsoft Certified IT Professional or Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Microsoft certifications are generally desirable, and these two, in particular, have been known to boost salaries and generate promotions, so they are definitely worth the time they take to prepare for. More than three-quarters of IT professionals surveyed by Network World said they thought IT certifications were valuable for increasing salaries and earning promotions. The best way to prepare for IT certifications is in the classroom, with an instructor who knows the exam and can guide you in what to study. PC AGE offers preparation courses for many of the certifications listed here, with top-notch instruction that will not only help you pass certification exams but will also give you the skills you need to progress in your IT career. Request information about PC AGE’s programs today.

6 Tech Certifications That Boost Your Earning Potential

6 Things to Expect if You’re Pursuing a Career in Systems Administration

A career in systems administration can be satisfying and rewarding for hardworking individuals capable of managing a complex workload. Systems administrators supervise the maintenance of a company’s networks and servers, software, and hardware.

6 Things to Expect if You’re Pursuing a Career in Systems Administration

Become aCertified Cybersecurity Pro in 9-12 Months!

  PC AGE’s computer training prepares you for a career path in Computer Networking as a certified Computer Support Specialist/Network Administrator with a focus on Cybersecurity. Technical Support Specialist Median Salary: $51,470 Network Administrator Median Salary: $77,810 Network Security Analyst Median Salary: $90,120 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Our NJ school offers IT courses to prepare students for CompTIA A+, [...]

Become aCertified Cybersecurity Pro in 9-12 Months!

Why Building Relationships May Be the Only Soft Skill You Need

In a recent survey of the millennials, asking them of their most important life goals, over eighty percent responded: getting richer. Fifty percent of those very respondents said that another major life goal for them was to become famous. Contrary to these results, Robert Waldinger, the director of a 75-year old study on adult development at Harvard, observes that the [...]

Why Building Relationships May Be the Only Soft Skill You Need

Happiness Part 3: What Makes a Good Life?

Lessons from the Longest Study on Happiness What keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life? If you think it is fame and money, you're not alone – but, per psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, the director of a 75-year-old study on adult development at Harvard, you're mistaken. Here are some important points from Robert Waldinger on Ted.com (link below): [...]

Happiness Part 3: What Makes a Good Life?

Happines Part 2: What is Common in Happiness, Shark and an IT Career

In his book “How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big” the famous cartoonist Scott Adams says: “The only reasonable goal in life is maximizing your total lifetime experience of something called happiness.” I like this book for its simple and practical advice. Here I am paraphrasing some points from Scott Adams’ book about happiness: • The definition [...]

Happines Part 2: What is Common in Happiness, Shark and an IT Career

Happiness Part 1: Do We Really Have Control Over Our Happiness?

Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert says our beliefs about what will make us happy are often wrong — a premise he supports with intriguing research, and explains in his accessible and unexpectedly funny book, Stumbling on Happiness. Summary You need to listen to this 21 minute lecture (link below) to understand the message but here are some important points: - What [...]

Happiness Part 1: Do We Really Have Control Over Our Happiness?

Network Administrator: Is This the Right Career Path for You?

Training to be a network administrator offers many career opportunities. Network administrators are IT experts who work to manage the networks of various organizations. Because they handle the administration of the network and supervise others who are working with the network, they are typically the highest-ranked technical staff of the organization. Other duties of a network administrator include maintaining the [...]

Network Administrator: Is This the Right Career Path for You?