Some people get poached before even thinking about their next move. Others spend months looking for jobs with no luck. Some people score one promotion after the other and easily transition between industries. Others feel pigeonholed in their current roles.

When it comes to getting the job, there are many factors at play. Focus on the ones you can control by adopting the habits of the most employable people.

From knowing how to sell themselves to continuously getting out of their comfort zone, here is what A-players continuously do to stand out.

We will have to learn to develop ourselves. We will have to place ourselves where we can make the greatest contribution. And we will have to stay mentally alert and engaged during a 50-year working life, which means knowing when and how to change the work we do, wrote modern management pioneer Peter Drucker in Managing Oneself.

Druckers words still ring true: Highly employable people are intentional about their careers. They show up as managers regardless of their roles and responsibilities: This means being able to understand where their contributions will be most impactful for their organization and team, as well as managing their own workload and moving forward initiatives they are responsible for.

These top performers know when to involve others in their decision-making process sometimes consulting other stakeholders or asking for approval is critical whereas other times it reflects negatively on ones ability to take initiative and use sound judgment. They also anticipate challenges and provide potential solutions before being told what to do.

People who invest in personal development often turn to work as their outlet to implement positive change, says Samantha Kris, an international speaker, success coach & best-selling author.

This desire for growth and positive impact translates into exponential career opportunities. Simply put, its good for business and its a win-win.

Highly employable people are continuously looking for ways to get out of their comfort zone, whether by asking for more responsibilities or developing their skills outside of work. They know that when they start feeling stagnant in their lives its time to seek new challenges, and they dont tolerate complacency.

Seeking growth means understanding there is always room to improve. The most valuable people in the workplace are the ones who continuously seek to understand how they can best be of service and where there are opportunities to improve, says Kris.

Highly employable people are not scared of constructive feedback they ask for it because they know its crucial to their evolution. They use mistakes and failures as springboards for learning, and they also look to understand their successes in order to amplify them.

Know what you bring to the table. You have to value your experience and expertise if you want an employer to. Never stop increasing your value a person and be sure to pull that through in the workplace. Constantly remind yourself why youre an asset and make it your mission to show that through your actions, says Kris.

Valuable workers invest in building self-belief and confidence. They know that even the most successful people in the world have moments of doubt, so they dont focus on trying to eliminate doubt. Instead, they strive to rise above it.

Sought-after employees understand the power of personal branding and persuasion. They are not afraid to ask for what they want or highlight their accomplishments because they believe in what they have to offer.

Whether or not its a sales position, you need to be able to influence people everyday. Enhancing your ability to sell your companys service, your vision, your team and/or your boss on the idea of promoting you and anything in between will go a long way, says Kris.

Valuable people aim to provide value. They are team players who dont perceive relationships in terms of what they can get, but how they can support. This creates positive momentum and promotes the trust-building needed to advance in their own careers.

Not everyone is a born leader and thats okay but those who are willing to help others succeed are instrumental to team and company success, says Kris.

In the business world, things often have to be quantifiable. But highly employable people never underestimate the power of their gut feeling its an extra edge.

While intuition alone is not enough to be employable, I think its one of the most underrated traits in the workplace. Whether something feels totally off or spot on, vocalize what your intuition is telling you, if only to spark worthwhile conversation and solidify team direction, says Kris.

Top performers dont waste their energy on placing blame. They look at their role in a conflict or situation and aim to move forward productively.

Highly employable people avoid drama at all costs.The people who bring the most value to the workplace are the ones who take ownership, address miscommunication when it occurs and never let pettiness impact performance, says Kris.

The most employable people are able to assess all the factors at play in a given situation and gather insight from observing and listening. They are then able to use this understanding to take the right action or make intentional suggestions.

Im a huge proponent for speaking up and being heard but effective listening is a lost art. Theres much to learn by observing a room, leaning into the energy and letting the information marinate before making a decision, says Kris.

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Highly employable people do these 9 things on a regular basis - Ladders

Jason Aldean has had more highs than most artists, with a long line of chart-topping singles, several sold-out tours, and a trophy case full of awards. But he's also had a few lows in his life, including a highly-publicized divorce, after tabloids reported a flirtatious encounter with his current wife, Brittany Aldean, while still married, and the devastating Las Vegas performance, while gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire at the Route 91 Harvest Festival while Aldean was performing.

The Georgia native knows he can do little to control how the media shares his stories, but he admits his frustration at the way he is sometimes portrayed, especially when it has nothing to do with his music.

I feel like a lot of times when headlines arent really what you want them to be it kind of overshadows what you are doing, Aldean admitted to Billboard. Its frustrating when it kind of takes the focus off what you are doing, but I feel like at this point in life and career, were back on track. . . It seems like for the first time in a long time everything is kind of back in place and were able to really focus on the music.

Aldean's ninth studio album, 9, was released on Friday, Nov. 22. It's a far cry from where Aldean thought he might be after his eponymous freshman record came out in 2005.

Its wild, Aldean acknowledged. I remember hoping the first record would do well enough that theyd let me go make a second one. Honestly the second album [Relentless] really didnt do as well as my first one initially so that was a little scary.

Aldean certainly has nothing to fear now. The "We Back" singer soon hit his stride, and has never looked back since then.

I remember going back in to cut my third album [Wide Open] and going, Man, this album could be a game changer one way or the other. It could really propel us and do something or if doesnt do well we might be in trouble here. So that third album was really a hinge that everything kind of hung on and Shes Country, Big Green Tractor and The Truth came off that record and really kind of took everything to another level.

Aldean's 9 album also includes "Champagne Town," "I Don't Drink Anymore," "Tattoos and Tequila" and more. Order the record by visiting Aldean's website.

Photo Credit: Getty / Jason Koerner

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Jason Aldean Admits Frustration When Headlines on His Personal Life Overshadow His Career Successes - PopCulture.com

caption Find the right business model for you. source 10000 Hours/Getty Images

Theres plenty of advice out there for aspiring entrepreneurs on how to determine a business model lessons on finding product-market fit, building a financial plan, and setting pricing that will net a profit, for example.

And thats all important, of course. But whats often missing from those conversations is advice on how to determine a model that doesnt just work it works for you.

Take it from these five founders. When they started thinking about how to launch their companies, they didnt necessarily want to do things the traditional way. In fact, in many ways, that was their motivation for becoming an entrepreneur. Here are their stories and advice on how they approached their business models to do things differently and how thats led to more success and happiness than they could have imagined.

Gelare Danaie, president of dexd

As a senior leader at one of the largest design companies in the world, Gelare Danaie had a firsthand look into how the projects she worked on shaped the future of cities, transportation, and public infrastructures. She also witnessed how the company took on as many clients as possible to boost profits, and how that made the architects and planners involved feel overwhelmed.

They need to work on different tasks and projects at the same time, and the reality is the business model of consulting business has no luxury for design thinking and co-creation,' she said. The outcome is projects that miss one crucial ingredient: innovation.

So when she launched her own design firm, she was determined to do things differently. For starters, she hired people from many different disciplines in addition to architects and interior designers, she added connectivity experts, strategists, wayfinders, and human behavior researchers to the mix.

Instead of each working fast and furiously on their own tasks, the team approaches new projects with design workshops where every party can contribute. It is a lot of fun and the outcome is always different and it is always exciting to see how we can help make more meaningful places by challenging the status quo of how things are done in a traditional consulting firm, she said. We believe the design industry of tomorrow needs creativity at its heart and not the shareholder profit.

Amelia Kruse, leadership coach

When Amelia Kruse started thinking about launching her coaching practice, she knew it was it for her that this work was going to be the core of the rest of her career. So when she thought about her business model, she didnt just think about what would work for her now she wanted a model that was sustainable for the long haul.

I was thinking less about building a traditional business model and more about building the foundations of a life for myself, she said. I thought a great deal about what my values were, what drove me as a coach and a person, and what meaning and purpose a coaching practice held for me.

While she thought about the logistics and budget of launching the business, those came after she had the more philosophical foundation in place.

Once I could see what I wanted my business to look like, the types of people I wanted to work with, the kind of coach I aspired to be, the other more traditional business model aspects followed seamlessly and simply, she said. A great perk of this is that as you evolve as an entrepreneur, you can also evolve aspects of your model since the foundation of your business is unshakeable.

Marta Subko, founder of subko&co

subko&co, a boutique digital marketing agency, is actually Marta Subkos second company. But its origins were heavily influenced by her first venture, an ecommerce startup that failed due to cofounder disagreements and left Marta in debt.

After this learning experience, it was clear to me that my next business would have the following criteria: quickly generate money to pay off debts; be able to run without any funding; allow me to have total ownership and responsibility for the projects, she said. On top of these things, I needed something that would lift me up after feeling incredibly burnt out.

The answer was a marketing agency that initially specialized in the French market. After studying in Paris, Marta said, I understood the culture and people of France and working in French was a huge motivator for me. Plus, she saw a clear opportunity: There were no other Francophonic agencies where she lived.

Marketing agencies arent new business models, and Marta admitted that compared to startups they might be considered less glamorous and underrated. In reality, though, its been the perfect move after startup life.

Working with an existing business model is perfectly fine as long as you stay deeply curious and innovative, and you find a niche market that personally drives you and differentiates you from others, she said.

Elana Reinholtz, founder and CEO of Bird + Stone

When Elana Reinholtz founded Bird + Stone, a direct-to-consumer jewelry brand, she knew that a key part of her business model would be giving part of the proceeds to nonprofits. She didnt just want to create beautiful things, she emphasized; she wanted to start a movement.

We are building a community of changemakers people who buy bracelets but also volunteer, take action in their communities, and vote and engage with their legislators.

But this approach wasnt always met with positivity. Early on, when she was seeking funding, she got lukewarm feedback, with one investor telling her that merging philanthropy and commerce could never work. She eventually ended up bootstrapping in order to build the company her way. If I had listened to him, she said, we wouldnt be where we are today -having donated over $100,000 to our impact partners across causes like womens health, girls education, and fighting climate change.

Her advice to others? Stick with your gut and dont let detractors convince you otherwise, she said.

Especially when youre a first-time founder, people will be full of tips for you, but as she put it: If theyre not an operator or they havent been in your shoes ignore them.

Kristiana Tarnuzzer, founder of The Cause Bar

Kristiana Tarnuzzer has been a philanthropist at heart from a very young age. As a result, over the years, her personal network has reached out to her for suggestions on how they, too, can incorporate ways of giving back throughout the year.

These questions were the genesis of her business model for The Cause Bar, an online destination that offers simple, applicable ways to lead a more cause-focused life.

I identified a real need and opportunity to unleash the good in those that wanted to be of service more often, but were seeking clarity and motivation on how to do so, she said.

Now, as shes launching the next level of her business, which helps aspiring philanthropists create high-impact, personalized giving plans, shes approaching it in very much the same way.

There is always and likely will always be the pressing concerns of How can I do more? How can I move the needle more?' she said. Instead of getting frustrated or overwhelmed by these questions, I like to embrace them and use them as the opportunity for evolvement.

Dreamers // Doers mission is to increase the number of successful ventures launched by women. It consists of Collective, a high-impact community reaching over 25,000 women globally, and Onyx, a highly curated private members collective for value-driven female founders, trailblazers, and change-makers.

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5 successful entrepreneurs share exactly how they were able to come up with a business model that was right for them - Business Insider

Being an entrepreneur can sometimes mean walking alone on a long-winded path. The path may be full of roadblocks that you must handle on your own. In these circumstances, one falls back on oneself for strength and courage. Self-reliance, the belief in ones own abilities is the source of power in such hard times.

There are numerous examples of women like Oprah Winfrey, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and many more, who started out alone and built empires.

Here are some quotes by women on how self-reliance got them through tough times and helped them build successful careers and businesses.

Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life youre proud to live. - Anne Sweeney, co-chair of Disney Media Networks

I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.- Estee Lauder, Founder, Estee Lauder Cosmetics.

There is no better personal development tool than running your own business. Ali Brown, Entrepreneur and Business Coach

When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid. Audre Lorde, Writer and Civil Rights Activist

Making the decision to not follow a system, or someone elses rules has allowed me to really dig into what my own strengths and gifts are without spending time feeling jaded or wasteful. Ishita Gupta, Founder, Fear.less Magazine

There is no royal flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it, for if I have accomplished anything in life it is because I have been willing to work hard. Madam CJ Walker, Americas first female entrepreneur millionaire

Running my own business is empowering. I get to set my own hours, call the shots, and contribute to my family. - Amanda Cookson, Be My Guest

Don't compromise yourself. You're all you've got. - Janis Joplin, Singer-songwriter

(Edited by Rekha Balakrishnan)

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10 inspiring quotes by women on how self-reliance can help you succeed in life - YourStory

By 2004, Scott Kriens was already a Silicon Valley veteran and success story.

He started his career working for a once-penniless tech company that took off and was acquired by Cisco Systems for $4 billion in 1996. Next, he joined Juniper Networks as the company's CEO. Today, Juniper is worth over $4 billion and currently employs more than 10,000 employees worldwide!

However, despite his monetary achievements, as Scott began reaching mid-life, he felt like something was missing. Money and business success was greatbut was it everything?

Scott Kriens

Little did he know that this simple question would eventually lead Scott to create the 1440 Foundation, and later the 1440 Multiversity, both of which would guide countless people to find a deeper meaning within their own lives.

It also shaped Scott into an even stronger business leader with invaluable wisdom for aspiring and veteran entrepreneurs alike.

Meditation, Mindfulness and Purpose

By the early 2000s, Scott had already been working in Silicon Valley for nearly two decades. He loved what he did and accomplished, but he still felt like there had to be more to life.

What was his real purpose?

"I saw myself chasing after widgets and dollars," Scott says. "I looked around at what I was doing and said, 'Well, that doesn't really matter.'"

These feelings only escalated once his father passed away. "I sat with him right after he had passed," Scott remembers. "I was just sitting there with him, and I had this question come up, 'What matters between now and the time my time comes?'

Confronted with mortality and desire to find purpose, Scott began searching for those answers. He'd heard how meditation had assisted others in finding these answers, so he decided to try it out himself. The practice quickly clicked with him.

"Meditation came to me as a tool or an invitation in response to that question [of purpose]," he remembers. "It began as a search for the answer, and I've just been with it ever since."

Since taking on a regular meditation practice, Scott's views on life have changed immensely. Business leadership is still a crucial part of his life, but he's also sought to incorporate other pieces that added extra meaning to the totality of his existence.

As for whether he's answered that big question about purpose?

"I'm not sure I'll ever know the answer, or if there even is one," he says "But, I'm pretty sure that the place to look is inside of yourself. It's about finding a deeper connectionand not just searching elsewhere to find it.

Say It and Mean It

It isn't what you do. It's the way that you do it. Scott Kriens

In 1996, Scott joined Juniper Networks as their new CEO. Fast forward less than a decade and the tech company was worth about $2 billion, had over 3,000 employees, and was spread out over 60 countries.

Needless to say, Scott had plenty to manage. Despite past accomplishments, he was conflicted about what strategies were best for leading such a diverseand massiveworldwide team. After all, he was only one man.

This was also around the time that Scott discovered meditation. His new practice offered him previously untapped space to reflect upon his new role and better analyze how to lead his company effectively.

Soon, he began contemplating how to influence his people best, even though it was impossible to connect with thousands of employees personally. "I found that what really matters is leadership development," remembers Scott. "I can't always be at the point of impact, so I have to best train the people who are."

To Scott, leadership training wasn't all about showing others how to do the job itself wellit was also about being true to the company's core values. And, as CEO, Scott had to set the example.

"You have to model," says Scott. Companies can throw any positive, uplifting words or visions on the wall. But, if the leaders aren't actively living those values, there's no way the rest of the team will.

If they do, however, those values will trickle down and inspire the entirety of the company. It'll also offer a new level of trust and authenticity, as it shows that everyone is equally expected to commit to their organization's mission.

In short, great leaders must do more than give orders and assume they'll be followed because of some hierarchy. With any luck, the team might coast by doing the bare minimum, but where's the incentive to exceed?

"Here's something that Roosevelt said a long time ago," says Scott. "'Nobody cares what you think until they know who you are.' That's because if I don't trust the person and I'm not seeing who a person is in front of me, then I'm not going to embrace whatever they tell me."

Inspiration in the Redwoods

Scott knows he's fortunate in a multitude of ways. And because of this good fortune, he also believes it's his responsibility to give back.

In 2011, Scott and his wife Joanie started the 1440 Foundation. The philanthropic nonprofit's overarching goal was to assist leaders in building compassionate, authentic relationships with their communities through grants, outreach, and more.

The 1440 Foundation quickly grew. Within a few years, it became apparent that they needed a space that was bigger than the Kriens' home office. That's when Scott and Joanie heard about a cluster of abandoned buildings at a nearby defunct Bible college outside of Santa Cruz, California.

Once they saw the property nestled beneath the centuries-old redwoods, it felt right. The buildings were no doubt a mess, but that was part of its appeal. "I love building things," says Scott. So, he instead saw this "mess" as an empty canvas with incredible potential.

Inspired by the setting and energy surrounding the space, the once rather modest concept rapidly evolved. "We followed it more than we led it," says Scott. "It was all about creation." And what they created was a 75-acre campus complete with restaurants, classrooms, a hotel, and more.

It was also built with sincere intention. "The premise when building this place was for every square foot to potentially be a spot where something important or memorable could happen for one person," Scott says. "As a result, every square foot needs to be treated as if it were the most important square foot in this whole place."

Now containing much more than just a nonprofit, they named this space the 1440 Multiversity.

The Kriens' goal is for the Multiversity to become a destination for individualsespecially those in businessto connect both with themselves, as well as find value in honest, open conversations. These conversations may stem opportunities for growth, trust, innovation, and bulletproof personal and professional relationships.

In addition, Scott says, "it's a place where energy, discovery, and creativity flourish. It's about stimulating energy in people. That energy produces discoveries. When you amass those discoveries, you find creativity.

When we're energized, we can look at things in new and different ways."

So, what could you discover with newfound energy?

Listen to my entire conversation with Scott Kriens on the donothing podcast.

You'll learn more about how he found early success in Silicon Valley, what he discovered about himself while meditating, his favorite leadership lessons, and so much more.

Also, Id love to connect with you on Twitter and LinkedIn, as well as have you keep up with my company imageOne. Learn about my mission to show business leaders how mindfulness can transform you and your business in my book donothing. Visit http://www.donothingbook.com for more information.

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This CEO of a Billion-Dollar Tech Company Built a Retreat Center Where Leaders Can Unplug, Grow, and Look Within - Forbes

To move the cancer diagnostic tool he invented from concept to development -- that is, from R to D-- Tom Grogan, MD needed capital. Not just millions of dollars, but tens of millions.

At stake: making cancer treatable and curable. Tom had invented a medical device that accomplished this while reducing the risk of misdiagnosis and vastly speeding up the laborious by-hand diagnostic process. Before Grogan's invention, patients would often have to wait days or even weeks for a prognosis and misdiagnoses were far too frequent.

With drawings, a few slides and a short presentation, Tom and his fundraising partner presented to thirty-five venture capital firms around the country. In an eighteen-month span, they received thirty-five rejections. Typical rejections went something like this:

"This is a naive proposal from an unwitting academic."

"It's a long-term project taking five to ten years to profitability. . . yet we have computer deals that give three to five times return on investment in two to three years."

"We've run the idea by several groups of practicing physicians, and they don't see the need."

Although Grogan likens the process of pitching to and getting rejected by VCs to proposing marriage thirty-five times with thirty-five rejections, he says the rejections played a key role in his ultimate success: in 2008 his startup, Ventana Medical Systems, was acquired by Roche for $3.4 billion, becoming Roche Tissue Diagnostics. Today, the diagnostic tool Grogan invented, the Ventana BenchMark System, is in its third generation and is used for 20 million patients per year in more than 100 countries. Grogan writes about this in his new book, Chasing the Invisible: A Doctor's Quest to Abolish the Last Unseen Cancer Cell.

Above all, he says, the rejections taught him a number of key lessons about pitching to VCs, lessons he was able to incorporate and use as he continued his quest. Here are Grogan's insights for all those on the bumpy road to raising capital:

1) Explain the value of solutions with real-life applications over pie-in-the-sky ideas

Sometimes investors just need to be brought back to the ground. Somewhere around VC meeting number thirty, Grogan gave his pitch to an investor who shrugged him off by saying that he had just started a company whose founder, a Nobel Laureate, was taking them into the scientific stratosphere. And that far from rocket science, Grogan's idea was too practical. Too earthbound. Grogan responded that Nobel versus practical brought to mind James Clerk Maxwell -- the father of modern physics -- whose mathematics explained the propagation of light. It was a Nobel-worthy idea, but would have had no practical use without Thomas Edison's more practical invention of the lightbulb. Given the everyday utility and economic value of Edison's bulb, wouldn't a VC bet on Edison over Maxwell? With this comment, the investor found the spark he was looking for. He ultimately became one of Ventana's early backers.

2) Go beyond the elevator pitch to unleash investors' curiosity

Just as it's important to have a well-honed, polished twelve-minute elevator speech, you also need to find a way to engage with potential investor's senses and unleash their curiosity. When Grogan met one investor who saw his device's medical promise, he invited him into the lab to sit with him at the microscope. They talked about patients whose care the device had altered and the lives it had saved. A mother of four misdiagnosed and mistreated for breast cancer. A ten-year old boy falsely diagnosed as having a lymphoma in the tonsil but in fact had infectious mononucleosis. And many more... Seeing the biopsies for himself and understanding the implications, this investor ultimately became Grogan's first backer. The key was demonstrating the transformative power of the invention.

True, not every VC you pitch to will be curious, but watch for the light in their eyes -- then grab it by engaging them with information they can see, touch and relate to.

3) Don't quit until you've gotten a substantive, fact-based rejection

Although amply skeptical, the rejections Grogan received were not substantive. Grogan's device sought to automate and vastly speed up cancer diagnoses that were being done by hand. The VCs rejecting him did not fully understand or take into account the medical realities underpinning the need for automation. They were also unaware of the often-unspoken uncertainty of diagnosis his fellow physicians were reluctant to discuss. They were unfamiliar with the chemistry behind Grogan's device. But a rejection means nothing if it's not founded on substance. Don't ever quit, Grogan says, until you have a rejection that is substantiated by facts and technology or science.

The experience of learning from rejection also set Grogan up for success when the next major funding challenge appeared on the horizon after initial funds were secured: holding an IPO to raise the hundreds of millions it would take to produce a medical device worthy of FDA approval and a global business.

The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

Originally posted here:
What This Founder of a Multi-Billion Dollar Startup Learned from 35 VC Rejections - Inc.

Jury deliberations have begun in the fraud trial of five men, including three former senior executives of the Ontario Provincial Police Association, a lawyer and prominent businessman.

After a 12-week trial, Superior Court Justice Kenneth Campbell concluded his three-and-a-half-day charge to the jury just after 4 p.m. Monday. The central issue in the case is the purchase, by the accused, of a travel agency in 2014 that they all say was done on behalf of the unions 10,000 members. Prosecutors alleged the purchase was orchestrated, and concealed, for personal gain.

The RCMP laid fraud charges against James Christie, the president and CEO of the OPPA, Karl Walsh, the associations chief administration officer, and vice-president Martin Bain in March 2015. Former Toronto police officer-turned-lawyer Andy McKay, and businessman Francis Chantiam were also charged and are allegedly parties to the offence.

In April 2014, the five men together planned to buy a travel company called Leximco, counting on the OPPAs captive market which included corporate travel, event planning and leisure travel. The agency was rechristened and marketed as First Response Travel Group to OPPA members and other first responders.

But prosecutors Robert Hubbard and David Friesen argued the transaction was fraudulent because the three OPPA executives used their own money to finance the purchase, subsidized, in part, with a $30,000 kickback from an OPPA contract with McKays consulting firm.

It is simply unbelievable that Mr. Walsh, Mr. Christie and Mr. Bain would use $68,000 of their personal funds to make an investment on behalf of the OPPA, the Crown attorneys wrote in a summary of evidence provided to the court.

Personal funds are used to make personal investments. The OPPA is not a charity. It has lots of money. It has thousands of members who all pay dues. It has millions of dollars of investments. It has big surpluses. The OPPA did not need a $68,000 handout.

The trio also worked to keep the purchase hidden from other board members, as demonstrated by their switching to personal email accounts when discussing the purchase, the prosecution argued. They also asked jurors to consider why there was no documentation, or trust agreement, showing Bain, Christie and Walsh were holding their shares on behalf of the OPPA.

But defence lawyers for the accused men echoed their clients testimony. There was no alleged fraud. They committed no crimes, nor did any act dishonestly. While the purchase of a travel agency was admittedly unorthodox, it was entirely designed to ultimately benefit the membership, they argued.

Bain, Christie and Walsh were intensely loyal to the OPPA, worked tirelessly for the organization and were doing as theyd done in the past: trying to secure benefits for members. The three were expected to go out and develop business opportunities to bring to the rest of the board and they had a record of success doing so, the lawyers argued.

The three one-time police officers decided to defer disclosure about the agency purchase to the board because they wanted to ensure it was running smoothly, the jury heard repeatedly. Their ownership was only temporarily confidential so the board wouldnt hear about it prematurely, the defence argued.

The defence lawyers all argued about the good character of their clients who had spent their lives in policing and who did countless good works for the OPPA. Committing an alleged fraud was not in Christies DNA, said his lawyer, Julianna Greenspan.

The other OPPA board members who initially complained each had their own reasons for wanting the three executives removed, the jury heard.

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Undoubtedly, after so much critical attention has been focused on their communications, the men recognize that their unorthodox plan could have been better documented and executed, David Humphrey, McKays lawyer, told jurors during his closing address.

Prosecutors asked jurors to disregard a lot of the good character evidence they heard, saying what Bain, Christie and Walsh did was clearly acting out of character.

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Jury begins deliberations in fraud trial of former OPP union executives - Toronto Star

Seniors from both college and high school will be setting out to look for jobs soon. However, the education system doesnt typically leave students ready to face the working world.

Landing a job in spring would be the ideal outcome, but graduates may not really be sure how to get employed. The critical aspect of landing a job, regardless of whether you're leaving high school or college, is being prepared. You should have a firm grasp of what kind of a job you're looking for and find out what the requirements for that position are.

To help, 13 experts from Forbes Human Resources Council share their insight into what high school and college grads should be doing to land a job in spring, and why those elements are of such importance.

Members offer their best advice for high school and college seniors who are preparing for their first jobs.

1. Network And Practice Interviewing

Graduating can be an exciting and stressful time for seniors. It can be easy to forget the basics of job searching -- networking and interviews. Remember to keep your contacts as you collaborate on projects or work with teachers for possible future letters of recommendation or job referrals. Also, practice interviewing with friends or teachers to help you be prepared for when the time comes. - Kelly Loudermilk, BuildHR, Inc.

2. Know What You're Passionate About

Really putting thought into what they are passionate about is important in identifying the right job or career. College and high school counselors can assist with personality profiles, but talking with friends and family about what you are good at and drawn to will also help. My advice: try things! Dont wait until you are sure. Take chances and try various options. - Diane Strohfus, Betterworks.com

3. Learn To Expand Your Personal Boundaries

The ability to set appropriate boundaries rises as a key marker of psychological well-being because we're constantly being pulled in multiple directions. The challenge for young people is that moving into work life requires shifting personal boundaries to include the needs/demands of colleagues and team. This is a key factor for success. - Leeno Karumanchery, PhD, MESH/Diversity

4. Do Your Leg Work

Research a few companies youre interested in and contact their HR to see if they have short-term intern programs or job shadow days. Get your foot in the door by showing eagerness to take a paid or unpaid opportunity to work in your field of interest. Potential employers are impressed by candidates that are proactive and enthusiastic. The experience will also help build your resume. - Regina Romeo, CPS HR Consulting

5. Identify Company Values You Can Get Behind

Job vacancies are at an all-time low and the fight for top talent is on! You will have a plethora of employment options. Start now to identify five to 10 companies that enact values that resonate with you. Do you value trust, hard work, efficiency? Find companies that value the same and their management philosophy will be well-aligned with your needs. Share this during the interview process to impress. - Christine Wzorek, White Label Advisors

6. Find A Mentor And Create A Plan

It can be difficult figuring out your next steps in this exciting time of your life. Its important to set yourself up for success by preparing in advance. Network as early as possible and start planting the seed in your areas of interest with those you meet. Find a mentor already in the workforce, and create a plan for yourself with actionable steps to reach your goal by graduation. - Charles Ashworth, Copper

7. Identify What Makes You Unique

Help employers understand why you stand out from the crowd by focusing on accomplishments or attributes that make you unique and of which you are exceptionally proud. Be willing to take risks and put yourself out there. If employers aren't connecting with who you are, those are not employers with whom you want to align yourself. You have a right to find an employer who values you! - Sherrie Suski, Tricon American Homes

8. Build Your Professional Brand

It is important that college seniors be aware of how to brand themselves in a professional manner and be aware of how they act and speak to their new environment. This may mean a social media audit, the way we dress to an interview, the way we conduct ourselves at a networking event. Branding is also about how I speak and what I speak. All the lingo of school should be left in school. - Tasniem Titus, Dentsply Sirona

9. Globalize Your Thoughts And Actions

Today's workforce is global and multicultural. High school and college seniors can get a head start by participating in global projects and study-abroad opportunities or simply seeking a mentor globally. By demonstrating global thoughts and actions, the seniors can create a clear differentiation and announce their readiness to be successful leaders of the future. - Vineet Gambhir, Summit Partners

10. Clean Up Your Social Media Accounts

Recent graduates, go clean out your social media closet! You can bet that employers are looking at this, and if your social media looks like that of half the young people I know, its in dire need of an overhaul. Hide the accounts you dont want people to see, delete embarrassing photos, get rid of any radical commentary and generally look like someone an adult wouldnt mind employing. - Tracy Cote, Genesys

11. Make Your Resume Real-World Ready

It's critical that employers can envision candidates as successful employees. Students with relevant internship experiences stand out for me. Employers can understand that you needed income, but if all you've got on your resume is bartending and babysitting, it's harder for them to understand how you'll contribute in their environment. - Joyce Maroney, Kronos Incorporated

12. Close Your Skills Gap

Whether it's high school or college, students should prepare themselves for graduation by either volunteering or taking internships during holidays and vacation periods to bridge the gap between formal education and workplace needs. Students who demonstrate the skills and outcomes for which employers are looking will certainly stand out once they are ready to enter the workforce in any season. - Dr. Timothy J. Giardino, Cantata Health & Meta Healthcare IT Solutions

13. Improve Your Communication

Use every opportunity to practice your communication skills. About 70% of what we do in business relates to written and oral communication. Speak up in class every opportunity you have. Seek out chances to give oral presentations in front of peers. With experience, your skills will only improve so the key is seizing every opportunity you have to become a better communicator. - Heide Abelli, Skillsoft

See the rest here:
Getting Ready To Join The Workforce: 13 Tips For High School And College Seniors - Forbes

Senator from New Jersey

Codify Roe v. Wade? Yes

Require judicial nominees to support Roe as settled law? Yes

Repeal the Hyde Amendment? Yes

Would you sign a budget that included the Hyde Amendment? Unsure

Require private insurers to cover abortion? Yes

Require private insurers to cover contraception? Yes

Repeal the Helms Amendment? Yes

Repeal the global gag rule? Yes

Repeal the domestic gag rule? Yes

Ban state TRAP laws? Yes

Require preclearance for state abortion laws? Yes

Make misoprostol and mifepristone available over the counter? Yes

Make hormonal birth control available over the counter? Yes

Ban abstinence-only sex ed? Yes

Preserve Planned Parenthood funding? Yes

Consider a running mate who opposes abortion rights? No

No answer.

As president, Ill create a White House Office of Reproductive Freedom, charged with coordinating and affirmatively advancing abortion rights and access to reproductive health care across my administration. In addition, I will fight to pass comprehensive sex education legislation based on the Real Education for Healthy Youth Act thats inclusive of all youth and provides information on a range of topics, including preventing S.T.I.s. I would also fight to pass the MOMMIES Act into law, which would ensure that all pregnant women have full Medicaid coverage, extend Medicaid coverage for postpartum women up to a full year after giving birth, and increase access to doula care.

I have released an entire plan to advance reproductive rights through executive action that includes:

Creating a White House Office of Reproductive Freedom;

Ending the domestic gag rule and expanding and modernizing the Title X family planning program;

Guaranteeing access to employer-covered contraceptive care;

Undoing Trumps refusal rules that allow people to be denied the health care they need;

Restoring evidence-based guidelines for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program; and,

Ending the global gag rule and restoring funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

First and foremost, this question underscores just how important it is that we ensure not only that we put a Democrat in the White House, but also flip the Senate and hold the House in 2020. I will continue to stand with the more than seven in 10 Americans who support Roe v. Wade and push Republicans in Congress, whether theyre in the majority or not, to pass legislation that will codify Roe and protect womens reproductive rights from what would be an extreme finding by the Court.

Abortion is health care and decisions regarding someones health care should be made between that person and their doctor.

I believe that abortion is health care.

Yes. And as a man, its even more incumbent upon me to use my voice and my platform to help reframe this debate. Women should not have to face this fight alone. Men need to take responsibility too. We need to listen, to speak out, and to take action not because women are our mothers, sisters, wives or friends because women are people. And all people deserve to control their own bodies.

Reproductive freedom and the right to access safe, legal abortion care is core to our values and a central tenet of who we are as a party. These far-right attacks on womens rights must be understood as an attack on all of our rights. But we also need to understand who these attacks on reproductive freedom are designed to control, dehumanize and criminalize.

Read more:
How the 2020 Democrats Responded to an Abortion Survey - The New York Times

Associate Professor James Bartlett, Ph.D., is examining the steps community colleges are taking to prepare the workforce in a recently published American Council on Education report entitled Preparing the Workforce in Todays Community Colleges: Issues and Implications for Higher Education Leaders,.

Co-authored by Bartlett, the report examines how community colleges are helping to reduce the skills gap through credit-based, non-credit and technical education programs while offering four strategies for enhancing the workforce development mission of community colleges.

With this brief, I hope that we have more community colleges looking at local labor market demands and that theres more alignment with labor market demand for careers that have family sustainable wages, Bartlett, director of the Charlotte adult and community college doctoral cohort, said.

The report closely analyzes the courses of study selected by community college students and compares that data with projected growth in those fields.

The data shows that community colleges are producing enough students in certain areas, such as health sciences, to closely align with labor market needs. However, when it comes to fields like information technology, human services, and hospitality and tourism, which show high projected growth rates through 2026, community colleges are not graduating enough students with the skills necessary to meet demand.

While there are areas where we do have some alignment, theres still room for improvement and we have other areas where there are some large gaps, Bartlett said.

The report argues there is also room for improvement in the transfer process for students who earn an Associate of Applied Science degree and then plan to matriculate to a four-year institution. According to the report, the Associate of Applied Science degree is the fastest growing degree in the North Carolina Community College System, but students who earn this degree often lose credits in the transfer process and graduate within four years at lower rates.

The Associate of Applied Science degree is the fastest growing; however despite the success, theres no common articulation agreement for those degrees, which is a huge concern, Bartlett said.

The report also examines how community colleges can improve outcomes through various practices, including offering apprenticeships and credit for prior learning gained through things like military service.

Were actually seeing a growth, especially in North Carolina, in the use of apprenticeships. They naturally align with labor market demand because theres such a strong connection with employers, Bartlett said.

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Associate Professor James Bartlett Examines Role of Community Colleges in Reducing the Skills Gap in New Report - NC State College of Education