Every week, I curate the best links on how to find work that you love, be excellent at what you do, and unlock any door that stands in your way. Here’s your list for today!
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
FIND WORK YOU LOVE
Got a job interview coming up? Feeling unsure about what to say? How to act? What to wear? What time to show up? Here’s everything you ever wanted to know about acing an interview.
Applying for a creative job — say, in the design industry? Make your presentation come alive with these brilliant tips from the iconic design firm, IDEO.
Some people have elevated “job hunting” into an art form. Here are the eight secrets of the world’s best job hunters. (#5 is my personal favorite. So true!)
BE YOUR OWN BOSS
Got blogger’s block? Queen of the Internet Gala Darling is here to share 50 ways to unlock creativity (and get those words flowing!)
Got a to-do list that stretches from here to the moon? Here’s a thoughtful article by award-winning journalist Brigid Schulte on how she deals with feeling overloaded.
In this incredibly concise nine-sentence piece, author + entrepreneur Seth Godin writes about the bottomless pit of pleasing strangers.
NEAT TOOLS + INVENTIONS
At Story Corps, their mission is simple: to inspire people to record each other’s stories. (I love that!) Here’s their list of the greatest questions of all time to ask friends, family and even clients…so you can start to capture their stories, too.
80% of Americans in their 30s and 40s say that a “personal robot servant” is the futuristic invention they’d love to own, most. What about you? How do you see the future?
Walking home alone down a dark city street? Meeting up with someone from the Internet for a blind date? A brilliant app called Kitestring automatically checks in to make sure you’re OK — and that you’ve made it home safe.
LIFE LESSONS
Struggling to finish a big project? Maybe you don’t need more “motivation” — but rather, a dose of compassion.
Having a hard day? Listen to Brother David Steindl Rast’s amazing TED talk on happiness + gratitude.
We’ve all heard that “failure” is necessary for growth. But Joshua Foer says that failing isn’t enough: you’ve got to study how you fail. (P.S. Read his book, Moonwalking with Einstein. It’s great!)
GET OUT OF THE HOUSE
If you find yourself near Oslo, Norway, check out the Nobel Peace Center’s new photo exhibit: Hungry Planet. Can you find the family that uses 175 teabags in a week? Where does the family that puts muskox and walrus on the dinner table live?
Can’t swing a trip to Oslo? Go visit the Gates Foundation Visitor’s Center in Seattle. Find out how the Foundation is tackling some of the world’s toughest challenges, from malaria to malnutrition. Interactive and SO inspiring!
Whew! After all those exhibits, you’ll probably be parched. If it’s a pub-crawl you’re after, check out this one in Osaka, Japan — home of some of the world’s best craft beers.
Find great work. Do great work. And have a great weekend!
—Ellen
Images: Magnus Klackenstam and Claptone.