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Here is a selection of Posts from December 2024 that you will want to check out: I Have A Few Questions by @morganhousel They’re relevant to everyone, and apply to lots of things Mitch McConnell & the Postwar World Order Are Sunsetting by @jamesstrock Entering its ninth decade, the postwar world order is decomposing before our eyes. A to Z on Why Your Strategy or Change Initiative Will Fail by @artpetty 2 Things To Write Before You Write Your Book by @WallyBock Great Advice How Trauma Really Can Help Us Grow Into Stronger People by @LaRaeQuy Interview: @jamesstrock interviews anthropologist and polymath Wade Davis author of Beneath the Surface of Things: New and Selected Essays I Think… Simplicity is the Hardest Thing to Achieve by Rodrigo Aviles Irresistible Customer Experience: What Every Customer Wants by @KateNasser 5 Things Leaders Must Do to Protect Their Healthy Cultures From Internal And External Threats by @BrianKDodd on Leadership Step Outside Your Comfort Zone by @FSonnenberg Three of My Favorite Business Reads in 2024 by @artpetty Marc Andreessen on what makes Elon impossible to compete with via @StartupArchive_ 10 Signs Poor Communication Is Undermining Your Leadership by @gavin_adams Interview with @KenKhachigian by @jamesstrock Book: Behind Closed Doors: In the Room with Reagan and Nixon Sounds like one I need to read I Never Heard a Speaker I Couldn’t Learn From (But I Haven’t Learned From Every Speaker I Heard) by @Mark_Sanborn How Foresight and Forethought Create Fortitude by @KateNasser How to Generate Better Ideas, Master the Art of Suffering, and Design a Beautiful Life by @polina_marinova CEO Coaching: What Would Jim Do? The Invisible Coach by @toddordal Everyday I’m Side-Hustlin’: 5 Learnings from Creative Side Quests by Nick Hearne creative director at @onegreenbean The principle applies. “What people do outside of work interests me far more than what they accomplish on the clock. Side hustles bring valuable new perspectives that will influence your client work in exciting ways.” Guidance for New(er) Managers—Skip the Do-as-I-Would Approach by @artpetty “We learn more from reading on paper than on screens. 54 studies, 171k people: We process print more deeply than digital content—as long as it’s informational rather than purely narrative” – Adam Grant Study How Much Strategy, How Much Leadership? via @TheDaily_Coach Obedience and Opportunity by @KevinPaulScott 10 Unexpected Leadership Qualities I Need On My Team by @WScottCochrane How to Learn (or Teach) Something New by @DrNickMorgan Do It Your Way by @morganhousel Winston Churchill at 150 by @jamesstrock Half-American, Half-English, A Man in Full. You Expected More: What to Do When Your People Don’t Come Through by @gavin_adams See more on Twitter. * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. View the full article

In this article, I’ll share some examples of calculators that caught my attention and show you how I found them. (And how you can make one, too.) Key stats The highest traffic calculator in my research was an Indian systematic…Read more ›View the full article

While remote work offers numerous benefits, it’s not without challenges. Being away from a traditional office setting demands not only strong self-management skills but also plenty of other characteristics. If you’re considering a remote job or already working remotely, understanding the necessary remote work skills can set you on the path to success. Skills You […] The post Remote Work Skills: The Key to Thriving in a Remote Job appeared first on Digital Nomad Soul. View the full article

While remote work offers numerous benefits, it’s not without challenges. Being away from a traditional office setting demands not only strong self-management skills but also plenty of other characteristics. If you’re considering a remote job or already working remotely, understanding the necessary remote work skills can set you on the path to success. Skills You ... Read moreView the full article

TONY BLAIR wrote a book about leadership in government. However, his practical ideas on leading in the 21st century apply across the board. Leadership, both good and bad, leaves clues for us to study how other leaders have handled problems and challenges common in all leadership situations. On Leadership does just that. It is the unwise leader who thinks they know everything. Learning from others’ mistakes and successes is the best way to guard against leadership hubris. Below are a selection of Blair’s thoughts on leadership. Leaders have the courage not to go with the flow. They speak up when others stay silent. They act when others hesitate. They take the risk, not because they fail to identify it as risk but because they believe a higher purpose means the risk should be taken. The Leader sets out for the people what they need and not simply what they want. Otherwise, the Leader is just a follower. If You come across something unpleasant or cruel that has been written about you: DON’T READ IT! If it’s a horrible headline, ignore it. If it’s an awful article, don’t look at it. None of this means that you shouldn’t listen to sensible and serious criticism. You should. You can learn from it. But you won’t learn anything from the stuff that’s vomiting forth, that’s written for clicks, that delights in its nastiness, that takes pleasure in the hope it is inflicting pain. And if you let it get to you, then you have lost, and ‘they’—whoever at any given time ‘they’ may be—have won. Treat the handling of criticism not as about the receiving of a blow, but as the willingness to be knocked down by it. See refusal and defiance as victories. Because they are. When things are going really well, that’s the time to worry about what could go really wrong. Hubris, in its most egregious form, combines overbearing arrogance with malevolence. But hubris can also stem as much from ignorance as vice. The sin lies in these characteristics: thinking you know more than you do; a belief that you have the power to affect a situation that you can’t, or at least not in the way you want; an overly exuberant conviction that you can overcome the odds, however much they may be against you; a faith that by sheer force of conviction you can triumph over an embedded reality. Since leaving office, I have met a big swathe of the business community, including, for fundraising purposes, a significant number of billionaires. I have noticed, however, that in some that success has given them a sense of self-belief that makes them think they’re not only good at the thing that made them rich, but smarter than anyone on other things. The political world contains similar offenders. You win great victory or manage to ascend somehow to the top of what the nineteenth-century Conservative prime minister Benjamin Disraeli called “the greasy pole.” You conclude that you’re a genius. You figured it all out. You came through. You beat the rest. You forget that it isn’t only about ability; it is also about circumstance, the door of opportunity opening in a timely manner, the poor quality of the opposition and, of course, luck. A Leader should never bear a grudge. Grudges are wasted energy. They are pointless and mentally time-consuming. They are bad for the esteem in which others hold you and in which you hold yourself. They’re also a sure way of converting someone who dislikes you into someone who hates you. Leadership is best exercised when the senses are cold, not hot; calm, not stormy; detached from personal rancor; when the teeth are not grinding or gnashing and the eyes are seeing the whole picture, not the small corner to which they are drawn by irritation or anger. There is nothing wrong with emotion—we’re human. But emotion should not discolour. It should not warp. * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. * * * View the full article

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Joe Davis on engaging the skeptics: “Have you ever been in a room, presenting an idea for change, and someone says, ‘Oh, that will never work’? Or you’ve solicited feedback as you work through your options, and you hear the ‘No, we cannot do that’? Your instinct might be to be defensive or just ignore them, but their perspective and experience, if you can embrace it, will strengthen your position. Asking for more information about why they feel the way they do, and then listening carefully to what they say, can be the best course of action.” Source: The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone’s Gain II. Behnam Tabrizi on the challenge to breaking organizational inertia: “Besides the inertia of size and complexity, human nature is the main obstacle to change. People are conditioned to give away their own power. From being entirely dependent as infants, to partially dependent as we grow into adulthood, we are tempted to continue that pattern. We often abdicate our own thinking to the books we read and the lectures we hear; we leave the dictates of morality to religious leaders and our diet to doctors. Essentially, we’re too afraid to think for ourselves. In the workplace, we’re comfortable ceding our power to the bureaucratic hierarchy so we can settle into a predictable, stable set of routines and tasks.” Source: Going on Offense: A Leader’s Playbook for Perpetual Innovation * * * Look for these ideas every Thursday on the Leading Blog. Find more ideas on the LeadingThoughts index. * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. View the full article

This article is posted with permission from our partner MacPaw. MacPaw makes Mac + iOS apps that have been installed on over 30 million devices worldwide. Freelancers Union members receive 30 days of free unlimited access to CleanMyMacX and Setapp: https://freelancersunion.org/resources/perks/macpaw/ Have you noticed that sometimes, a simple online daily task can still be time-consuming? You might want to get it done without taking up too much time and really wish for an incredibly quick way to handle them. Now, this might prompt you to think about delegating some of your routine online freelance tasks to someone, which can still take time. But what if you had some of the best AI apps in your toolkit specifically designed for you to delegate tasks and let the app handle them? The great news is that there are plenty of options available to help with this. And that is what we’ll look at in the guide. So read on for some of the practical ways to delegate your routine freelance tasks to AI apps quickly. 5 simple online tasks and the best AI apps you can delegate them toSo, these days, it’s relatively easy to delegate our freelance daily tasks to a range of AI apps. There are so many available, so it’s just a case of using the right options. All you need to do is check the details below! Email generationWhen it comes to generating drafts of emails, the process can be time-consuming. You need to tweak and adjust each sentence and ensure everything sounds professional. The better solution for this common daily task is to use the AI app known as Ready to Send. This app is awesome for whipping up emails, and it’s super easy to change the tone to match what you need. How to generate emails using Ready to Send:Install Ready to Send.Open Gmail on the browser.Navigate to the Compose an email icon.Find the Ready to Send Icon at the bottom of the Compose box.Enter a prompt (for example, a prompt related to ‘motivating a team on their hard work.’)Select the tone of voice from the options.Ready to Send will generate the email for you. 0:00 /0:32 1× Screenshot renamingFreelance tasks such as content writing often require screenshots to provide visuals for a blog or landing page. Content writers often accumulate multiple screenshots, and if you have a need to keep everything organized, you’ll need to name those screenshots. To handle this, try an AI app called Keep it Shot. It’s the optimum AI app for renaming multiple screenshots all at once and searching through names and descriptions quickly. It’s relatively easy to use, and you can access it through the menu bar on your Mac for the screenshot renaming process. So here’s how you delegate tasks, such as renaming screenshots to it. How to use Keep it Shot to rename multiple screenshots:Install the Keep it Shot app.Highlight the file(s) you’d like to rename.Access Keep it Shot from the menu bar.Click the icon in the menu bar called Rename Selected.Keep it Shot will rename the screenshots for you. 0:00 /0:32 1× Code, writing, & learningA question for all software developers and copywriters: Have you ever needed to delegate coding or writing tasks to someone and need them completed quickly? The BoltAI app can work well for scenarios like this. With just a few prompts, you can instruct the BoltAI app to produce a script to set reminders for your workday. How to use BoltAI to produce a script to set reminders:Install and open the BoltAI app.Go to the Send a message bar at the bottom of the app.Write your prompt (for example: “‘write a code to help set reminders for my workday”).The BoltAI app will generate the script.You can then run the code on a local machine.In terms of writing, you can also delegate tasks to the BoltAI app. Similar to the code generation feature, it just requires you to enter a prompt into the bottom message bar on the app with the specific instructions you’d like it to complete. Text and math combinations to make calculationsSometimes, calculations are important as a daily task. You might need to calculate how much time you’ve dedicated to a task or plan ahead and allocate time to other tasks. To make quick calculations like these and avoid delegating this task to others, use the Soulver app. It can easily combine text and math features to make calculations. For instance, it’s possible to enter a log for the time spent on writing tasks or online work with this AI app. To do this, use the panel to enter the text that describes how much time you spent on each element of the writing tasks. How to use Soulver to make calculations using text:Install and open the Soulver app.Go to the text panel.Type the amounts you would like the app to calculate (for example: “seven lines that described the number of hours I spent on each element of the writing tasks during the week”).Soulver will interpret the written units and calculate the sum.You can view the total on the app's right panel.This AI app can help you avoid errors when making calculations. When you delegate tasks to it, you won’t need to make the manual effort to calculate or complete sums on your own. Fast translationsFor those situations when you need to transcribe educational speeches or convert conversations held in meetings to text, MurmurType is ideal. This app records the audio and transcribes it straight away. Try MurmurType’s transcription feature with a TED Talk audio related to AI — the results will be fast and accurate. How to use MurmurType to translate audio to text: Install and open the MurmurType app.Click the Record button to start recording.Click the Transcribe button to stop recording when needed.The MurmurType app will transcribe the audio, and you can paste it into Word, Google Docs, or the notes app. It’s also possible to speak in your native language and translate it to a few different languages by pressing the Transcribe and Translate to toggle and then selecting the language using the dropdown menu. Delegate online work to the best AI appsReserving time for critical tasks is important; you just don’t have time to waste with routine freelance tasks. And now, you can delegate tasks like these to AI apps, so you’ll always save time and effort in situations like this. So, where will you be able to download these AI apps? Head to Setapp and pick the ones you need! You can use them with a seven-day free trial and discover exactly how they work. Incorporate them into your daily tasks. View the full article

This article is posted with permission from our partner MacPaw. MacPaw makes Mac + iOS apps that have been installed on over 30 million devices worldwide. Freelancers Union members receive 30 days of free unlimited access to CleanMyMacX and Setapp: https://freelancersunion.org/resources/perks/macpaw/ Have you noticed that sometimes, a simple online daily task can still be time-consuming? You might want to get it done without taking up too much time and really wish for an incredibly quick way to handle them. Now, this might prompt you to think about delegating some of your routine online freelance tasks to someone, which can still take time. But what if you had some of the best AI apps in your toolkit specifically designed for you to delegate tasks and let the app handle them? The great news is that there are plenty of options available to help with this. And that is what we’ll look at in the guide. So read on for some of the practical ways to delegate your routine freelance tasks to AI apps quickly. 5 simple online tasks and the best AI apps you can delegate them toSo, these days, it’s relatively easy to delegate our freelance daily tasks to a range of AI apps. There are so many available, so it’s just a case of using the right options. All you need to do is check the details below! Email generationWhen it comes to generating drafts of emails, the process can be time-consuming. You need to tweak and adjust each sentence and ensure everything sounds professional. The better solution for this common daily task is to use the AI app known as Ready to Send. This app is awesome for whipping up emails, and it’s super easy to change the tone to match what you need. How to generate emails using Ready to Send:Install Ready to Send.Open Gmail on the browser.Navigate to the Compose an email icon.Find the Ready to Send Icon at the bottom of the Compose box.Enter a prompt (for example, a prompt related to ‘motivating a team on their hard work.’)Select the tone of voice from the options.Ready to Send will generate the email for you. 0:00 /0:32 1× Screenshot renamingFreelance tasks such as content writing often require screenshots to provide visuals for a blog or landing page. Content writers often accumulate multiple screenshots, and if you have a need to keep everything organized, you’ll need to name those screenshots. To handle this, try an AI app called Keep it Shot. It’s the optimum AI app for renaming multiple screenshots all at once and searching through names and descriptions quickly. It’s relatively easy to use, and you can access it through the menu bar on your Mac for the screenshot renaming process. So here’s how you delegate tasks, such as renaming screenshots to it. How to use Keep it Shot to rename multiple screenshots:Install the Keep it Shot app.Highlight the file(s) you’d like to rename.Access Keep it Shot from the menu bar.Click the icon in the menu bar called Rename Selected.Keep it Shot will rename the screenshots for you. 0:00 /0:32 1× Code, writing, & learningA question for all software developers and copywriters: Have you ever needed to delegate coding or writing tasks to someone and need them completed quickly? The BoltAI app can work well for scenarios like this. With just a few prompts, you can instruct the BoltAI app to produce a script to set reminders for your workday. How to use BoltAI to produce a script to set reminders:Install and open the BoltAI app.Go to the Send a message bar at the bottom of the app.Write your prompt (for example: “‘write a code to help set reminders for my workday”).The BoltAI app will generate the script.You can then run the code on a local machine.In terms of writing, you can also delegate tasks to the BoltAI app. Similar to the code generation feature, it just requires you to enter a prompt into the bottom message bar on the app with the specific instructions you’d like it to complete. Text and math combinations to make calculationsSometimes, calculations are important as a daily task. You might need to calculate how much time you’ve dedicated to a task or plan ahead and allocate time to other tasks. To make quick calculations like these and avoid delegating this task to others, use the Soulver app. It can easily combine text and math features to make calculations. For instance, it’s possible to enter a log for the time spent on writing tasks or online work with this AI app. To do this, use the panel to enter the text that describes how much time you spent on each element of the writing tasks. How to use Soulver to make calculations using text:Install and open the Soulver app.Go to the text panel.Type the amounts you would like the app to calculate (for example: “seven lines that described the number of hours I spent on each element of the writing tasks during the week”).Soulver will interpret the written units and calculate the sum.You can view the total on the app's right panel.This AI app can help you avoid errors when making calculations. When you delegate tasks to it, you won’t need to make the manual effort to calculate or complete sums on your own. Fast translationsFor those situations when you need to transcribe educational speeches or convert conversations held in meetings to text, MurmurType is ideal. This app records the audio and transcribes it straight away. Try MurmurType’s transcription feature with a TED Talk audio related to AI — the results will be fast and accurate. How to use MurmurType to translate audio to text: Install and open the MurmurType app.Click the Record button to start recording.Click the Transcribe button to stop recording when needed.The MurmurType app will transcribe the audio, and you can paste it into Word, Google Docs, or the notes app. It’s also possible to speak in your native language and translate it to a few different languages by pressing the Transcribe and Translate to toggle and then selecting the language using the dropdown menu. Delegate online work to the best AI appsReserving time for critical tasks is important; you just don’t have time to waste with routine freelance tasks. And now, you can delegate tasks like these to AI apps, so you’ll always save time and effort in situations like this. So, where will you be able to download these AI apps? Head to Setapp and pick the ones you need! You can use them with a seven-day free trial and discover exactly how they work. Incorporate them into your daily tasks. View the full article

THE WINTER months are the perfect time for a little binge-reading. While I can’t promise that any of the titles suggested are cozy reads, they will get you fired up. Personally, I would start with Productive Failure and Mindshift. Like The Illusion of Innovation by Elliott Parker, they will get you thinking in new ways and set you up for the others. Use this list to create your own winter reading plan. Here are ten suggestions to begin the new year intentionally. On Leadership: Lessons for the 21st Century by Tony Blair - (September 2024) The leadership manual Tony Blair wishes he had when he became prime minister, with personal insights and global examples that show aspiring leaders how to go from talking about change to making change. Sir Tony Blair learnt the precepts of governing the hard way: by leading a country for over ten years. In that time he came to understand that there were certain key characteristics of successful government that he wished he had known when he started. Now Sir Tony has written the manual on political leadership that he would have wanted back in 1997, sharing the insights he has gained from his personal experience and from observing other world leaders at first hand, both while he was in office and since, through his Institute’s work with political leaders and governments globally. Mindshift: Ignite Change, Inspire Action, and Innovate for a Better Tomorrow by Brian Solis - (October 2024) Every company needs leaders who can spot and seize on opportunities at a moment’s notice. Every organization needs leaders who can rally teams together around new opportunities. Those who can see important, emerging trends foresee the coming disruption and harness those forces, translate them into actionable insights and motivation to fuel their company’s march into the future rather than ignoring or running or hiding from opportunities. In Mindshift Brian Solis draws on his experience of leading initiatives that drive innovation and business transformation to deliver the empowering message that this is the time to change the world for the better. And that change starts with you. In this book, you’ll discover why legacy leadership continues to miss the mark and fail to adequately account for change and innovation, causing people to miss the winds of opportunity or threats of disruption until it’s too late. Let this inspire, not frustrate you. Productive Failure: Unlocking Deeper Learning Through the Science of Failing by Manu Kapur - (October 2024) Written by a leading global expert on human cognition, productive failure, and learning methods, Productive Failure shows you how to design the experience of failing. Research shows that repeated experiences of intriguing, constructive failure can help students (and our own children, and anyone else we lead) develop creativity and learn more deeply. When carefully curated, failure can become a signal for learning, not the noise detracting from it. The result? Learners gain a lifelong readiness to push themselves outside of their comfort zones, using setbacks as launchpads for learning and innovation. The evidence-based principles in this book are powerful, not only in formal schooling contexts, but also for anyone taking charge of and designing their own lifelong learning. Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering by Malcolm Gladwell - (October 2024) Twenty-five years after the publication of his groundbreaking first book, Malcolm Gladwell returns with a brand-new volume that reframes the lessons of The Tipping Point in a startling and revealing light. Through a series of riveting stories, Gladwell traces the rise of a new and troubling form of social engineering. He takes us to the streets of Los Angeles to meet the world’s most successful bank robbers, rediscovers a forgotten television show from the 1970s that changed the world, visits the site of a historic experiment on a tiny cul-de-sac in northern California, and offers an alternate history of two of the biggest epidemics of our day: COVID and the opioid crisis. Revenge of the Tipping Point is Gladwell’s most personal book yet. With his characteristic mix of storytelling and social science, he offers a guide to making sense of the contagions of modern world. It’s time we took tipping points seriously. The Power of Culture: An Economist Edge Book (The Economist Edge Series) by Laura Hamill - (November 2024) A revelatory new book showing how organizations need to be proactive about their culture—and how they can achieve that vital goal. Organizational culture, though, can be a tricky thing to understand and master. The Power of Culture tackles this head-on, exploring what culture is, and why it matters; how it needs to be aligned with strategy and values; and how to understand it, change it, and make it a reality. Told through real stories and examples and using the author's Intentional Culture Circle as a guide, this new book helps everyone at work to be more aware of culture and how to find opportunities to use it for growth and success. Reset: How to Change What's Not Working by Dan Heath - (January 2025) Changing how we work can feel overwhelming. Like trying to budge an enormous boulder. We’re stifled by the gravity of the way we’ve always done things. And we spend so much time fighting fires—and fighting colleagues—that we lack the energy to shift direction. But with the right strategy, we can move the boulder. In Reset, Heath explores a framework for getting unstuck and making the changes that matter. The secret is to find “leverage points”: places where a little bit of effort can yield a disproportionate return. Then, we can thoughtfully rearrange our resources to push on those points. The book investigates mysteries: Why the middle is the roughest part of a change effort. Why inefficiency can sometimes accelerate progress. Why getting “buy-in” is the wrong way to think about change. Essential: How Distributed Teams, Generative AI, and Global Shifts Are Creating a New Human-Powered Leadership by Christie Smith and Kelly Monahan - (January 2025) In an era where the foundational elements of business are being disrupted, Essential: How Distributed Teams, Generative AI, and Global Shifts are Creating a New Human-Powered Leadership emerges as a crucial guide for leaders navigating the profound changes reshaping industries and markets worldwide. Whether you're looking to redefine your leadership approach, adapt to the transformed market, or leave a lasting legacy, this book offers a compelling case for why now is the time for a leadership reinvention. Dive into this essential resource and begin your journey towards leading with greater impact and humanity in the business world of today and tomorrow. Inspire: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others by Adam Galinsky - (January 2025) Two kinds of leaders populate the world: those who inspire and those who infuriate. Which will you be? Whether you’re a leader, a member of a team, a spouse, or a parent, this engaging and rigorous exploration unpacks the science of inspiration. Through compelling stories, fascinating research, and practical tips for addressing the common dilemmas we face daily, Inspire reveals how all of us, regardless of status or circumstance, can be more inspiring more often. Social psychologist Adam Galinsky shows how inspiring leaders can fill us with a wellspring of hope and possibility as they guide us to become better versions of ourselves. In contrast, infuriating leaders disappoint and annoy, fueling seething cauldrons of rage. But both types of leaders are deeply connected—together, they represent a universal continuum that is rooted in the very architecture of the human brain. This means that inspiring leaders aren’t born—instead, we can inspire or infuriate in any given moment through our behavior, words, or presence. Employment Is Dead: How Disruptive Technologies Are Revolutionizing the Way We Work by Deborah Perry Piscione and Josh Drean - (January 2025) With disruptive technologies on the horizon, traditional employment models are becoming outdated. How will your organization adapt to the evolving landscape of work? Business is on the cusp of a profound transformation. Conventional work models are failing to adapt to the evolving needs and expectations of the modern workforce. Simultaneously, the emergence of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, coupled with web3 innovations, including the metaverse and decentralized work models, is unlocking a new realm of possibilities. It raises the question: Is the era of traditional employment over? Rethinking Work: Seismic Changes in the Where, When, and Why Rishad Tobaccowala - (February 2024) A sea change is occurring—a change so monumental that it is making us re-invent the traditional ideas of where work is done, when work is done, why work is done, and even what work itself is. We have a choice. We can either be reactive and struggle to adjust to transformational events on the fly, or we can be proactive and control the narrative—reinventing work to align with the evolving environment. Schools, banks, law firms, startups, medical offices—every sector will be affected by the current or soon-to-be-emerging trends and events that Rishad describes in this invaluable guide. Learn to thrive in a world where the who, what, why, where, when and how of work will be transformed: Who will people work for? What will organizations look like? Why will people work? Where will people work? When will people work? How will leadership change? * * * Follow us on Instagram and Twitter for additional leadership and personal development ideas.

and be entered for a chance to win $200! As 2024 comes to a close, we’re taking time to reflect on the year behind us and plan for the year ahead. At Freelancers Union, our mission is to provide you with the resources, support, and community you need to thrive as a freelancer—and we want to ensure we’re meeting your needs and advocating for you in the best way possible. That’s where you come in. Complete Our Survey We’re inviting all of our members to take our End-of-Year Survey and share your thoughts on what’s working, what’s not, and what you’d like to see from us in 2025. Your feedback is invaluable. Whether it’s about the resources we offer, the events we host, or the advocacy work we do, your input helps us shape the programs and initiatives that truly matter to freelancers like you. Here’s why your voice matters: Advocacy That Reflects Your Needs: Your feedback helps us fight for policies and protections that impact your work and livelihood.Resources Tailored to You: Want more workshops? Need guidance on taxes or healthcare? Tell us what you need so we can prioritize it.Community That Feels Like Home: Let us know how we can make our events, resources, and communications even more useful and welcoming.The survey will only take a few minutes, and every response helps us create a better Freelancers Union for all of us. You can complete the survey anonymously if you'd like, but if you provide your contact information at the end of the survey, you'll be entered to win one of five $200 value gift cards as a token of our gratitude. The deadline to complete the survey is January 31st, so don’t miss your chance to make your voice heard! Take the Survey Now Thank you for being an essential part of our community. Together, we can make 2025 a year of growth, support, and success for all freelancers. View the full article

and be entered for a chance to win $200! As 2024 comes to a close, we’re taking time to reflect on the year behind us and plan for the year ahead. At Freelancers Union, our mission is to provide you with the resources, support, and community you need to thrive as a freelancer—and we want to ensure we’re meeting your needs and advocating for you in the best way possible. That’s where you come in. Complete Our Survey We’re inviting all of our members to take our End-of-Year Survey and share your thoughts on what’s working, what’s not, and what you’d like to see from us in 2025. Your feedback is invaluable. Whether it’s about the resources we offer, the events we host, or the advocacy work we do, your input helps us shape the programs and initiatives that truly matter to freelancers like you. Here’s why your voice matters: Advocacy That Reflects Your Needs: Your feedback helps us fight for policies and protections that impact your work and livelihood.Resources Tailored to You: Want more workshops? Need guidance on taxes or healthcare? Tell us what you need so we can prioritize it.Community That Feels Like Home: Let us know how we can make our events, resources, and communications even more useful and welcoming.The survey will only take a few minutes, and every response helps us create a better Freelancers Union for all of us. You can complete the survey anonymously if you'd like, but if you provide your contact information at the end of the survey, you'll be entered to win one of five $200 value gift cards as a token of our gratitude. The deadline to complete the survey is January 31st, so don’t miss your chance to make your voice heard! Take the Survey Now Thank you for being an essential part of our community. Together, we can make 2025 a year of growth, support, and success for all freelancers. View the full article

tl;dr: RescueTime has been helping people focus and get meaningful work done for 17 years. Now, as remote work faces new challenges, so does RescueTime. We’ve launched Timesheets to help teams work smarter without the burden of surveillance, but we need your help to spread the word. Please share and support us as we push The post Remote Work Is Under Attack — But We’re Standing Our Ground appeared first on RescueTime Blog. View the full article

Have you ever heard someone joke that they added an already-completed task to their to-do list just so they can check it off? Almost all of us can relate, because we’ve been conditioned to maintain a busy mindset. The more we accomplish, the better. Except, it’s not better. Busy does not equal productive, and productive The post Busy vs. productive: A mindset shift for the new year appeared first on RescueTime Blog. View the full article

With a clear overview of project dependencies, you can make proactive decisions to reduce delays, bottlenecks, and resource conflicts. Here's how to map dependencies, which software tools to use, and best practices to prevent them from derailing your project. The post How To Do Project Dependency Mapping: 5 Steps appeared first on The Digital Project Manager. View the full article

EMPOWERMENT has turned into a buzzword that’s lost its meaning. We all know what being powerful—or, euphemistically, influential—looks like. But to be empowering—how clear is that? Worse than unclear, empowering is widely misunderstood. For forceful leaders, it’s seen as giving power away; giving power to your staff means giving up your power. It’s easy for forceful leaders to feel that granting power to others takes away from their own power or that they are somehow rendered “passive,” as one forceful leader put it. Power is simply a means to the end of getting things done. It shouldn’t matter whether it’s your power or “Other” power. You can grind grain into flour by your own hand using a mortar and pestle, which human beings learned to do at the dawn of agriculture. Or, as people discovered centuries later, you can spare yourself that manual labor and produce a lot more grain if you hitch horses or water or wind power to the mill. Three Types of Empowerment #1. Delegation. Delegation of authority is letting your people do their jobs. Delegation of authority is certainly not abdication. It’s taking an active role in arranging for some other source of power to be transmitted to the grinding stone. It is spooling out authority and then staying engaged to the degree necessary. #2. Taking counsel. Empowerment isn’t just granting power down. It’s also accepting power up. Because every leader is fallible—at risk of making costly errors of judgment—there is great merit in taking counsel from your people, selectively, of course. Perhaps your ego rebels just a bit, and you can’t help feeling that taking your team’s counsel on decisions that are yours to make is somehow a sign of weakness. Quite the contrary, within bounds, accepting power up actually extends your personal power. Done well, it fortifies your judgment—makes it stronger. #3. Picking strong players. To tap effectively into Other power, you must put strong, capable people on your team in the first place. You can only be as em-powerful as your people’s skills and energies allow. If you were deciding on a place to build a windmill, you’d settle for nothing less than a consistently windy place. Many leaders fail to put high-quality people on their team. Either they are poor judges of talent or, out of insecurity, they shy away from appointing the best people. Leaders may also fall down on the back end of staffing out of misplaced loyalty or being afraid to let go of people who’ve lost effectiveness or who turn out not to be good picks. To Empower Means Grappling—With Yourself Do you recoil at the idea of sharing power, thinking, “Never. I’d be a wimp?” Indeed, empowerment is sometimes viewed as “soft” and, therefore, something to be avoided if you want to be a strong leader and you want to be viewed that way. If that’s what you believe, you’ll never be good at empowerment. Likewise, if you fear that empowering others makes you a managerial weakling. That prejudice, that fear, stands in your way. To get it out of the way means grappling with yourself because it isn’t always easy to correct an entrenched belief or allay an unwarranted fear. Why not see your way clear to be both powerful and empowerful? It’s a struggle with yourself well worth waging. (For more on that subject, see my new book, GRAPPLING: Leaders Striving To Be Better, short stories that bring executive coaching to life.) Why not have both sources of power fully available to you, direct and indirect power. However naturally powerful you are—however well you take charge, make decisions in a timely way, set high expectations, and hold people accountable—it pays big-time to also be em-powerful. That way, you extend your power and amplify your impact. What’s more, you afford other people the opportunity for one of life’s deepest satisfactions—to use their powers fully. * * * Bob Kaplan is the author of GRAPPLING: Leaders Striving To Improve, a series of short stories that bring executive coaching to life. His unique style is both entertaining and offers a novel way of learning about leadership and self-improvement. The book is based on his decades of experience consulting CEOs and other senior leaders, including founders. He is the founder and president of his own leadership consulting firm, Kaplan DeVries. He invented a 360 survey, the Leadership Versatility Index, that earned a patent for its unique way of assessing leaders. He and his colleagues also take a unique approach to delivering feedback. They place unusually heavy emphasis on positive feedback—as a chance to boost the leader’s confidence. His last book was Fear Your Strengths: What You’re Best Could Be Your Biggest Problem. An honorary senior fellow at the Center for Creative Leadership, he has a B.A. and Ph.D. from Yale University. He lives in New York City with his wife, Becky. You can reach him at bobkaplan@kaplandevries.com * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. * * * View the full article

What you’ll find in Unito’s 15 Ways to Integrate Salesforce in Real-Time: A breakdown of the costs of developing your own integration. The challenges of using Salesforce across five functions without integrations. How integrations streamline 15 workflows in Salesforce. Get the ebook by filling out the form → Do more in Salesforce (by integrating your tools) Salesforce is understandably at the core of your sales and marketing efforts. It might be used in other functions, too, but one thing remains true: it’s rarely a one-size-fits-all tool. Whether it’s your customer support team, your developers, or your HR team, people in your organization use tools other than Salesforce to take care of their day-to-day work. Whenever that work intersects with teams who use Salesforce, someone needs to transfer data back and forth between tools constantly. Unless you use the right integration solution. But can a single integration solution really empower Salesforce admins across all their workflows? Or should they acquire (or build) piecemeal integrations for each workflow? In Unito’s 15 Ways to Integrate Salesforce in Real-Time, you’ll find 15 examples of Salesforce workflows that are completely transformed with a single integration solution like Unito. Don’t leave your teams in the lurch. Get the ebook by filling out the form → View the full article

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Nido Qubein on becoming a transformational leader: “Our team knows that the highest order of leadership is to tell the truth. Yet, that is just the beginning. You consciously and intentionally have to bring your business, social, spiritual, and family lives together; each plays a part in who you are as a leader. When you do, your life is like a beautiful song. Its harmony influences others, it can move people, and anyone looking at you will know what kind of person you really are.” Source: Extraordinary Transformation: An Entrepreneurial Blueprint for Leaders Who Seek Transformational Growth in Any Organization Proven Lessons on How a ... and Inspired the Next Generation of Leaders II. Manu Kapur on learning and teaching actionable knowledge: “Experts see different things than novices. Novices tend to see superficial features, but experts see what is essential, the deep structure and critical features. It is seeing the deep structure that leads to understanding and powerful learning. When learning something new, it is much too easy to find the path of least resistance. It is most natural to seek the easy way out. However, making learning easy does not always ease learning. If not intentionally designed to leverage failure in the initial stages, learning tends to be shallow and inflexible. But with it, learning is deep, flexible, and adaptive. Productive Failure suggests that making initial learning more difficult and challenging, where you may struggle and even fail to solve a problem or perform a task, can be beneficial learning.” Source: Productive Failure: Unlocking Deeper Learning Through the Science of Failing * * * Look for these ideas every Thursday on the Leading Blog. Find more ideas on the LeadingThoughts index. * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. View the full article

This article is posted with permission from our partner MacPaw. MacPaw makes Mac + iOS apps that have been installed on over 30 million devices worldwide. Freelancers Union members receive 30 days of free unlimited access to CleanMyMacX and Setapp: https://freelancersunion.org/resources/perks/macpaw/ You might think of the best AI writing tools as a recent invention that makes everything easier for freelance writers. And you’d be correct to some extent. It’s now easy to use them for clients who may be consistent in their expectations, and the tools can make writing easier. But, it can be challenging to incorporate such tools if you’re working for different clients. So, what if you had a solution that made the writing process easier? That’s where plenty of the best writing tips and the best AI writing tools combined can help. Why using AI writing tools is beneficial?You’ll benefit significantly, especially when you use them the right way: Time-saving advantages: Many tools have really revolutionized the writing process and can contribute to a more time-efficient way to write. They do this by automating outline processes, enabling you to enter a prompt that will return information on a topic (similar to a Google search). Content inspiration: So many AI writing tools have inspired writers with unique ideas; they can really produce inspiring ideas when you ask them to do so with the right prompts. Tip for you: One popular AI writing technique that helps avoid writer's block is to enter a prompt that instructs the AI tool to produce synonyms for phrases in a blog title or variations of the entire header to make the content captivating.Optimized output: Since SEO optimization is important for any client who wants their content to rank highly, the optimization benefits of AI writing tools can be beneficial for clients and writers who share this objective. Tip for you: One of the popular AI writing techniques, in this case, is to use a prompt that requests an AI tool to seamlessly and instantly incorporate keywords into a text. For example, when writing a landing page for a digital marketing company, writers can use AI tools to instantly incorporate a few LSI keywords related to “SEO” or “content marketing.”How to write better using AI appsSo, there are many benefits to using AI apps when writing. But how can you write better quality work with them? Create a list of working prompts for AI toolsThe first tip is that you’ll be able to use the apps effectively from the get-go. You’ll need to create specific tips that tell the AI writing tool exactly what action to take. For instance, use expert copywriter landing page prompts that ask tools to analyze a draft for E-E-A-T quality on a scale of 1 - 10. But, you can also use other specific working prompts, such as instructions for improving the quality of the draft. Try these prompts with apps such as BoltAI using the Message tool, which can be very handy for freelancers to boost productivity. Image name: boltaa-prompt-screen-improved-textAvoid writer’s block with research using AI writing toolsWhat can stand in the way of excellent content is writer’s block. Seeking inspiring ideas can often be a challenge, and while a Google search can help, you often need to weed through a range of content to get it. The tip for this is to use the right keywords to search for inspiring ideas. But here’s the thing: BoltAI can also help. It can find content ideas when you enter the right prompts, and it definitely helps get the ball rolling when you have writer's block. And when you need specific content ideas, you can make the prompt more precise to discover them. Use AI tools to self-edit your workEditing is a crucial part of writing, so that’s when Plus can come in handy to write better-quality content. So, a writing technique tip is to save time by integrating such tools with the right prompts. This might include prompts such as remove repeated text, make a text more concise, or remove filler words. Now, Plus can help you correct spelling and grammar mistakes in a passage of text. Image name: plus-tool-edits-and-text-improvementAdjust flow and sentence structure with AI writing tools“How to write better quality content?” — another tip is to be aware of the flow and sentence structure. Sticking very short sentences together in one paragraph can take away the flow of your article. And using long, rambling sentences may be confusing for readers. Ultimately, you need the right mix of sentences. Varying the sentence structure is easy with Plus. This tool can adjust and tweak a draft to ensure the flow and structure are optimized. And it does this without much manual input from you. Incorporate AI writing tools to produce templates or outlinesSometimes, getting started on a blog post can be challenging because the structure is difficult to plan for. So, another writing technique tip is to make a comprehensive outline and allocate specific word counts for each section. For instance, your introduction and conclusion may have 100 words each, and the main body may have 1,100 words, which you’ll allocate to each section. There’s an AI writing tool that can automate this process for you — the ​​Elephas app. It can offer templates to write blog posts, customer service scripts…almost anything. And to do it, you’ll again rely on prompts to generate the outline instantly. For instance, use the prompt: “You are an expert in SEO-driven content creation. Your task is to design a blog outline focused on [TOPIC].” Image name: elephas-prompt-blog-outlineAI writing apps to boost writing speed and quality? Your future self will thank you Your project completion time as a freelancer matters, but so does writing quality. It’s always handy to have the right tools on hand to achieve these goals, and that’s where AI writing apps and top writing techniques can help. Trying to discover where you can access them? These great apps are all available at Setapp. See for yourself how they work with a free trial for seven days at Setapp; boost your writing speed, quality, and efficiency with these AI writing apps. View the full article

This article is posted with permission from our partner MacPaw. MacPaw makes Mac + iOS apps that have been installed on over 30 million devices worldwide. Freelancers Union members receive 30 days of free unlimited access to CleanMyMacX and Setapp: https://freelancersunion.org/resources/perks/macpaw/ You might think of the best AI writing tools as a recent invention that makes everything easier for freelance writers. And you’d be correct to some extent. It’s now easy to use them for clients who may be consistent in their expectations, and the tools can make writing easier. But, it can be challenging to incorporate such tools if you’re working for different clients. So, what if you had a solution that made the writing process easier? That’s where plenty of the best writing tips and the best AI writing tools combined can help. Why using AI writing tools is beneficial?You’ll benefit significantly, especially when you use them the right way: Time-saving advantages: Many tools have really revolutionized the writing process and can contribute to a more time-efficient way to write. They do this by automating outline processes, enabling you to enter a prompt that will return information on a topic (similar to a Google search). Content inspiration: So many AI writing tools have inspired writers with unique ideas; they can really produce inspiring ideas when you ask them to do so with the right prompts. Tip for you: One popular AI writing technique that helps avoid writer's block is to enter a prompt that instructs the AI tool to produce synonyms for phrases in a blog title or variations of the entire header to make the content captivating.Optimized output: Since SEO optimization is important for any client who wants their content to rank highly, the optimization benefits of AI writing tools can be beneficial for clients and writers who share this objective. Tip for you: One of the popular AI writing techniques, in this case, is to use a prompt that requests an AI tool to seamlessly and instantly incorporate keywords into a text. For example, when writing a landing page for a digital marketing company, writers can use AI tools to instantly incorporate a few LSI keywords related to “SEO” or “content marketing.”How to write better using AI appsSo, there are many benefits to using AI apps when writing. But how can you write better quality work with them? Create a list of working prompts for AI toolsThe first tip is that you’ll be able to use the apps effectively from the get-go. You’ll need to create specific tips that tell the AI writing tool exactly what action to take. For instance, use expert copywriter landing page prompts that ask tools to analyze a draft for E-E-A-T quality on a scale of 1 - 10. But, you can also use other specific working prompts, such as instructions for improving the quality of the draft. Try these prompts with apps such as BoltAI using the Message tool, which can be very handy for freelancers to boost productivity. Image name: boltaa-prompt-screen-improved-textAvoid writer’s block with research using AI writing toolsWhat can stand in the way of excellent content is writer’s block. Seeking inspiring ideas can often be a challenge, and while a Google search can help, you often need to weed through a range of content to get it. The tip for this is to use the right keywords to search for inspiring ideas. But here’s the thing: BoltAI can also help. It can find content ideas when you enter the right prompts, and it definitely helps get the ball rolling when you have writer's block. And when you need specific content ideas, you can make the prompt more precise to discover them. Use AI tools to self-edit your workEditing is a crucial part of writing, so that’s when Plus can come in handy to write better-quality content. So, a writing technique tip is to save time by integrating such tools with the right prompts. This might include prompts such as remove repeated text, make a text more concise, or remove filler words. Now, Plus can help you correct spelling and grammar mistakes in a passage of text. Image name: plus-tool-edits-and-text-improvementAdjust flow and sentence structure with AI writing tools“How to write better quality content?” — another tip is to be aware of the flow and sentence structure. Sticking very short sentences together in one paragraph can take away the flow of your article. And using long, rambling sentences may be confusing for readers. Ultimately, you need the right mix of sentences. Varying the sentence structure is easy with Plus. This tool can adjust and tweak a draft to ensure the flow and structure are optimized. And it does this without much manual input from you. Incorporate AI writing tools to produce templates or outlinesSometimes, getting started on a blog post can be challenging because the structure is difficult to plan for. So, another writing technique tip is to make a comprehensive outline and allocate specific word counts for each section. For instance, your introduction and conclusion may have 100 words each, and the main body may have 1,100 words, which you’ll allocate to each section. There’s an AI writing tool that can automate this process for you — the ​​Elephas app. It can offer templates to write blog posts, customer service scripts…almost anything. And to do it, you’ll again rely on prompts to generate the outline instantly. For instance, use the prompt: “You are an expert in SEO-driven content creation. Your task is to design a blog outline focused on [TOPIC].” Image name: elephas-prompt-blog-outlineAI writing apps to boost writing speed and quality? Your future self will thank you Your project completion time as a freelancer matters, but so does writing quality. It’s always handy to have the right tools on hand to achieve these goals, and that’s where AI writing apps and top writing techniques can help. Trying to discover where you can access them? These great apps are all available at Setapp. See for yourself how they work with a free trial for seven days at Setapp; boost your writing speed, quality, and efficiency with these AI writing apps. View the full article

SEO has changed significantly over the last decade, largely because Google has continuously updated its algorithms to improve search results. These updates aim to better understand user intent, reward high-quality content, and discourage manipulative practices. From foundational changes like Panda and Penguin to more recent updates like the November and December 2024 core updates, each has shaped how websites rank and how we approach optimization. Below is a look at some of Google’s most impactful updates and what they mean for SEO today. Table of contents 2011 – Panda 2012 – Venice 2012 – Penguin 2013 – Hummingbird 2014 – HTTPS/SSL 2015 – Mobile Update 2015 – RankBrain 2018 – (Mobile) Speed Update 2018 – Medic 2019 – BERT 2021 – Page Experience Update 2021 – MUM (Multitask United Model) 2021 – Product Reviews Update 2022 – Helpful Content Update 2023 / 2024 – A mix of updates 2024 – Site Reputation Abuse Google algorithm updates: What’s next? 2011 – Panda The Panda update marked a shift in SEO by targeting low-quality content and spammy practices. It penalized sites with thin content or those created solely to manipulate rankings, such as affiliate-heavy pages. Over time, Panda became part of Google’s core algorithm, reinforcing the need for meaningful, high-quality content that provides real value to users. 2012 – Venice Google’s algorithm update Venice was a noteworthy update, as it showed that Google understood that searchers are sometimes looking for results that are local to them. After Venice, Google’s search results included pages based on the location you set, or your IP address. 2012 – Penguin The Google Penguin update focused on eliminating manipulative link-building practices. It penalized sites with spammy or paid backlinks, shifting the focus to earning genuine, high-quality links. By 2016, Penguin became part of the core algorithm, emphasizing the importance of ethical and relevant link-building strategies. 2012 – Pirate The Pirate update addressed copyright infringement by penalizing sites with repeated DMCA takedown requests. It aimed to reduce the visibility of websites sharing unauthorized content, ensuring legitimate sources were prioritized in search results. This update highlighted the importance of respecting intellectual property online. 2013 – Hummingbird The Hummingbird update improved Google’s ability to understand the meaning behind search queries. Rather than focusing on individual keywords, it considered the entire phrase to deliver more accurate results. This shift encouraged natural, conversational content and reduced the need for over-optimized keyword stuffing. It also laid the foundation for advancements in voice search and semantic search technology. 2014 – Pigeon Another bird-related Google update followed in 2014 with Google Pigeon, which focused on local SEO. The Pigeon update affected both the results pages and Google Maps. It led to more accurate localization, giving preference to results near the user’s location. It also aimed to make local results more relevant and higher quality, taking organic ranking factors into account. 2014 – HTTPS/SSL Google introduced HTTPS as a ranking signal to encourage secure web connections. Sites using HTTPS gained a slight ranking advantage, promoting better data encryption and security for users. While initially a minor factor, it signaled Google’s growing focus on user safety and set the stage for security becoming a standard expectation online. 2015 – Mobile Update Known as “Mobilegeddon,” this update prioritized mobile-friendly websites in mobile search results. As mobile usage surpassed desktop, Google aimed to ensure a better experience for users on smaller screens. While the immediate impact wasn’t drastic, it marked a clear shift toward mobile-first indexing, emphasizing the importance of mobile optimization for long-term SEO success. 2015 – RankBrain RankBrain introduced machine learning to Google’s algorithm, helping the search engine interpret unfamiliar or complex queries. It analyzed past searches to predict the most relevant results, even for terms it hadn’t encountered before. While you can’t directly optimize for RankBrain, creating clear, helpful, and user-focused content ensures your site aligns with its goal of improving search relevance. 2016 – Possum In September 2016 it was time for another local update. Google’s algorithm update ​Possum update​ applied several changes to Google’s local ranking filter to further improve local search. After Possum, local results became more varied, depending more on the physical location of the searcher and the phrasing of the query. Some businesses, not doing well in organic search, found it easier to rank locally after this update. This indicated that this update made local search more independent of the organic results. Read more: Near me searches: Is that a Possum near me? » 2018 – (Mobile) Speed Update The Speed Update made page load time a ranking factor for mobile searches, building on its previous importance for desktop. Slow-loading sites were more likely to see a drop in rankings, especially on mobile devices. This update reinforced the need for fast, seamless user experiences, encouraging site owners to prioritize performance optimization. 2018 – Medic The Medic Update was a broad core algorithm change that heavily impacted “Your Money or Your Life” (YMYL) websites, such as health, finance, and legal sites. It appeared to prioritize expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-A-T) in content, especially for topics affecting users’ well-being. While it wasn’t exclusively aimed at medical sites, it underscored the importance of credible, accurate, and user-focused information. Keep reading: Google’s Medic update » 2019 – BERT The BERT update (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) enhanced Google’s ability to understand the context of words in a search query. By analyzing words in relation to the ones around them, BERT improved how Google interpreted natural language and intent. This update particularly helped with more conversational or complex queries, making search results more accurate and relevant. For content creators, it emphasized the value of clear, natural writing that directly addresses user needs. Read on: Google BERT: A better understanding of complex queries » 2021 – Page Experience Update The Page Experience update introduced a new ranking signal combining existing factors like mobile-friendliness and HTTPS with Core Web Vitals. These metrics measured real-world user experience, focusing on loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability. While content quality remained the top priority, this update emphasized the importance of delivering a smooth and user-friendly browsing experience. Keep on reading: Page experience: a new Google ranking factor » 2021 – MUM (Multitask United Model) Announced in 2021, MUM introduced a powerful AI system capable of processing information across multiple formats and languages. It can analyze text, images, and videos to deliver more comprehensive answers to complex queries. For example, MUM can combine insights from various sources to provide layered, context-rich results. This update signaled Google’s focus on deeper understanding and more diverse content delivery in search. Read more: Google’s MUM understands what you need: 1000x more powerful than BERT » 2021 – Product Reviews Update First run in April 2021, these updates prioritized detailed, insightful product reviews over thin or generic content. Google rewarded reviews that showed expertise, included real-world usage, and helped users make informed decisions. It’s a key update for affiliate and e-commerce sites focused on providing genuine value. The update ran multiple times over the years. 2022 – Helpful Content Update The Helpful Content Update targeted low-quality, unoriginal content designed primarily to game search rankings. Instead, it rewarded “people-first” content—material that genuinely answers user questions and provides a satisfying experience. Sites with lots of unhelpful or shallow content saw declines, while those focused on creating valuable, user-centric content were prioritized. This update reinforced the importance of writing with the audience in mind, not just search engines. Keep reading: Google to launch Helpful Content Update to diversify search results » 2023 / 2024 – A mix of updates Between 2023 and 2024, Google rolled out a mix of core and spam algorithm updates to enhance search quality and combat manipulative practices. Core updates focused on refining how content is evaluated, rewarding pages that provide high-quality, relevant, and trustworthy information. At the same time, spam updates targeted tactics like keyword stuffing, spammy backlinks, and low-quality AI-generated content. These changes reinforced Google’s priorities: surfacing helpful, user-focused content while penalizing manipulative SEO strategies. 2024 – Site Reputation Abuse Google is cracking down on site reputation abuse, including parasite SEO. This tactic involves using trusted domains to host unrelated third-party content, like payday loans or casino reviews, to manipulate rankings. Sites caught violating this policy risk manual penalties, which require removing or noindexing the problematic content to recover. Legitimate uses of third-party content, such as syndicated news or user-generated material, are still allowed when properly managed. Google algorithm updates: What’s next? Google continues to refine its search algorithms with a growing focus on AI-driven search experiences. Recent advancements, such as Google AI Overviews, show a shift toward providing users with more intuitive and context-rich results. These tools combine AI to summarize complex topics, pull insights from multiple sources, and answer broader questions in a concise way. Looking ahead, we can expect updates to further enhance understanding of search intent, prioritize high-quality content, and improve how information is presented. At the same time, technical factors like site speed, mobile usability, and security will remain essential. For website owners, the key is to stay adaptable by focusing on creating helpful, accurate, and user-centered content while keeping an eye on emerging AI trends in search. Read on: Should I follow every change Google makes? » The post A brief history of Google’s algorithm updates appeared first on Yoast. View the full article

Using a template to create a work breakdown structure for your project can save you a ton of time, help you get your project up and running quicker, and reduce errors and inconsistencies. Download our free template and get started right away! The post Free Work Breakdown Structure Template [Download] appeared first on The Digital Project Manager. View the full article

With the new Yoast SEO Dashboard, you can see how your site is doing at a glance. Instead of hunting through pages, you’ll find all your key metrics in one place. It’s easy to spot which posts need attention, see where you can improve, and figure out what to tackle first so you can spend more time refining your content and less time searching for data. We know it can be challenging to improve your content when you have to dig through every post and page. That’s why we created a dashboard that instantly shows your site’s SEO Performance. It streamlines the process so you can focus on what matters: making your content shine. What you get from the Yoast SEO Dashboard: Top-level overview of your SEO: see critical insights at a glance without hunting through individual pages Filterable views of SEO and readability scores: quickly spot where you can make the most significant improvements Designed for clarity and direction, our dashboard makes it easy to check in, prioritize your next steps, and enhance your content strategy immediately. It’s straightforward, efficient, and all about helping you work smarter. How to access the Yoast SEO Dashboard: To access the Yoast SEO Dashboard, you just need to: Ensure your Yoast SEO plugin is up-to-date: In your WordPress admin area, go to “Plugins” and update Yoast SEO to the latest version Navigate to the Dashboard: Click on “Yoast SEO” in your WordPress sidebar to land on the dashboard, or click on “Dashboard” Explore your insights: Review the overview, filter your scores, and start working through your task list Ready to see how much simpler managing your SEO can be? Get Yoast SEO today and let your new dashboard guide you toward better performance. The post Get instant clarity on your SEO with the new Yoast SEO Dashboard! appeared first on Yoast. View the full article

If you don't properly prioritize the resources that are available to you and your project, you'll run into delays, unnecessary work and rework, and low productivity from the team. Here's how to get this crucial aspect of resource management right. The post Project Resource Prioritization Process: 5 Key Steps appeared first on The Digital Project Manager. View the full article

The project ramp down is more than just checking deliverables and tasks off the list. It's important to gather feedback, celebrate success, and keep the team motivated for future projects and challenges. Here's how to land the plane with a successful project ramp down. The post How To Do A Project Ramp Down: 5 Key Steps appeared first on The Digital Project Manager. View the full article

Two months ago, I joined a virtual writing workshop. Every Friday morning, a group of strangers gathered online to write furiously for 45 minutes. At first, it didn't feel like much, but over time, those sessions added up. Now, we have a body of work to show for it. It got me thinking: How often do we pause to recognize all we've achieved? Take a moment to reflect on everything you’ve done this year. Big wins, small victories, or even just showing up: chances are, you’ve done more than you give yourself credit for. Hit reply and share one thing you’re proud of from this year. I’d love to hear about it! Cheers, Vic Our Favorite Articles 💯A Third of Remote Workers Are Working Two Jobs (Newsweek)"With no rush-hour traffic or endless watercooler chats, remote workers have found extra hours in the day—and they're cashing in." ​Read on​. AI Thinks Differently Than People Do. Here’s Why That Matters. (HBR)AI runs on data and looks to the past—but it’s people who dream up better futures. ​Read more​. Top 5 Industries For Remote Jobs In 2025 (Forbes)If you can email it, crunch it, or Zoom it, you’re in the right field! ​Learn more​. Work From Home Is Here To Stay, Says Harvard's Ethan Bernstein (CNBC)Remote work was declared 'dead' countless times in 2024, yet Professor Bernstein had this to say: ​Watch​. This Week's Sponsor 🙌Too many emails? Declutter your inbox with Meco. Your home for reading newsletters. Try it for free -no card required. Try it for free ↗️ Remotive Jobs 💼Is this job for you? 👉 ​iOS Developer at nooro​ (USA) 👉 ​​​​Backend Engineer at Clerkie​ (USA) 👉 ​​​​Migrations Engineer at Discourse​ (EMEA, UK) 👉 ​Senior Backend Developer at Mimo GmbH​ (EMEA, UK) 👉 ​Senior Unreal Engine Developer at Proxify​ (CET +/- 3 HOURS) 👉 ​Senior Business Intelligence Engineer at Proxify​ (CET +/- 3 HOURS) Free Guides & Tools​Public Job Board​We curate 2,000 remote jobs so you don't have to! ​Find your remote job →​ ​Exclusive Webinar​3 Mistakes to Avoid When Looking For A Remote Startup Job (And What To Do Instead) ​Register for free →​ ​Job Search Tips​Looking for a remote job? Here are our tips to help you work remotely ​Check it out → Join the Remotive newsletter Subscribe to get our latest content by email. Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription. There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again. Email address Subscribe Powered by ConvertKit View the full article