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Six Ways to Be a Team Player #indie #author

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Independent authors and entrepreneurs don’t have to go it alone, according to Lucy Adams. Take it away, Lucy!

Six Clever Ways to Be a Team Player as an Entrepreneur


Whether or not you like teams, they’re all around us. Of course, there are exceptions (night watchmen, for example), but the number of jobs based on teamwork grows year by year. Even if you’re an independent author, you have teammates including beta readers, critique partners, editors, book designers, marketing assistants, and most of all, READERS. You need solid communication among teammates to achieve the best results.

If you’re an excellent team player, you’ll be in demand, your opinion will be highly valued, and your ideas will be accepted.

So what are the qualities and skills that will make you a brilliant chain link? Below are the 7 most important by Lucy Adams, an outsourcer from the British essay writing service.


#1 Strive to be an Example for Others


Instead of complaining about the incompetence of others, take the matter into your own hands and become an example for the rest of the team. Don’t be afraid to take on responsibilities – hard work and passion will make you a living legend!

Besides, by showing your best qualities, you’ll raise the bar so that the teammates will have extra motivation and develop as professionals. For example, if you notice writing errors, first raise your own literacy. People appreciate, trust, and respect those who lead by example.

#2 Help Your Team

Any person, even the most powerful, endures difficult times, in both private and professional lives. Develop your communication skills to find the right approach for each member of your team.

The company’s strength is defined by both the strongest and the weakest link. Improve your skills to help the rest of your team to grow professionally and mentally. Build the corporate spirit around mutual support and unity.

Share positive emotions and energy with your employees. Morale works not only in war but also a commercial company. Avoid Debbie Downer moods even if something doesn’t go as expected. Even if you’re angry and struggle to cope at work, leave it all behind the office door. Develop your emotional intelligence.

#3 One for All, and All for One!


The most effective entrepreneurs always put this principle at the forefront. They work hard to develop themselves and their teammates. The hardest part of adopting this concept is in reining in selfish urges. Even if you’re a best-selling author, remember that you’re nothing without your team. Seek ways to help fellow authors market their books, and all will benefit.


#4 Build Favorable Relationships


Good relationships are the core of any team’s effectiveness. To determine whether the relationships in your team are favorable, conduct an anonymous poll. Include burning questions like:

· What needs to improve on the team?

· How comfortable do you feel when communicating with the team?

· What do you estimate is the current psychological climate of the team? What is one thing you could do to improve morale?

Get to know your teammates on a deeper level. Strong relationships mean spending time not only on work but also establishing backgrounds, companionship, and understanding. Share vulnerabilities with each other to develop trust. You may be smart and competent, but if you haven’t achieved trust within your team, you won’t be as effective. 


#5 Be Fair and Humble


You and your staff will make mistakes, and that’s ok – the key is to achieve harmony and bounce back quickly, which is possible only in an atmosphere of trust. So create it!

According to studies, more than 90% of great leaders are modest, and some even shy. These leaders take responsibility for mistakes, and sincerely believe that nothing would be achieved without the strength of the team. The arrogance of genius looks great in the “House” TV series but has nothing in common with business realities.

You can’t build good relationships without trust. The atmosphere of distrust and suspicion brings chaos and helplessness. The best leaders treat their employees as family members and allow trust to grow.

Be honest, reliable, and open-hearted!

#6 Listen Carefully and Accept Criticism


Ignoring your staff inevitably leads to the collapse of the company. On the contrary, if you’re a good listener, you become aware and well-informed.

Treat criticism as an opportunity to become better – this will allow you to stay open to new opportunities. Harsh reviews can sting, but sometimes offer sage advice for improving our writing. 


If you need to point out a mistake to a teammate, couch the feedback with observations of the teammates successes.

I wish you the best in your entrepreneurial endeavors!

Bio:

Lucy Adams is an essay writer and blogger. This generalist is always in touch and ready to take the most exciting ideas of yours. Feel free to suggest Lucy a few intriguing topics, let her choose one or two that she likes best, and wait a week or so to get an in-depth research on the matter!

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How to Make Your #Arguments Effective–Guest Post by Lucy Adams

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How to Make Your Arguments Effective to Convince People
(https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2013/12/03/07/57/exchange-of-ideas-222786_960_720.jpg)
Welcome to Lucy Adams from BuzzEssay, here today with a guest post.

There are a lot of different books and training on how to be successful. Many aim to achieve it through thick and thin, but very few notice that all that they need is the skill of convincing. Yes, convincing and nothing more!

Knowing how to manipulate and change opinions of others, you’ll easily reach personal goals. So if you’re dreaming of becoming a master of conviction, this article is just for you!

To begin with, let’s state that the structure of persuasion consists of three key elements – thesis, arguments, and support. Use them wisely, and you’ll be able to change the position of others towards what you say and do.

#1 Thesis

A thesis is the point of view you want to convey to the audience. Try to state it briefly, clearly, and within one sentence. For example, let’s imagine you say, “Fast food is unhealthy.” Of course, that’s not enough! Explain why you think so. People usually take little for granted, except the well-known axioms that are difficult to argue.

#2 Argumentation

Argumentation is the most complicated stage of convincing, which is carried out to change the position of the interlocutor. It’s used with respect to the social context (if you’re the boss, it’s unlikely that you’ll convince your subordinate of something as you can just put him before the fact).
There are also situations when a person simply does not have enough information to change his position. And when you disclose some additional data, he changes his view. Actually, in this case, you just give information, not using any other tricks.

Argumentation can be either theoretical (based on logical reasoning) or empirical (relying on practice or experience). So how to build your proof? The rules are quite simple:

·     First of all, you should prepare in advance. Approach to the matter seriously – write down all your arguments, and then distribute them into four groups:
o   Safety (for example, a guarantee).
o  Respect (how the person will fill after taking your point of view or buying your product).
o   Independence (the positive implications).
o   Perfection (how the person can use his potential due to the change of his/her previous point of view to yours).

At first glance, these concepts are quite abstract and in some cases even stretched, but they are actively and quite successfully used in sales when you need to convince a potential customer to buy some product or service.

·    Once you divide all your arguments into the four groups, check whether they give comprehensive answers to the following questions:
o   What problems does your statement/thesis solve?
o   Is it convenient for the opponent to take your point of view? Will it be worth much to the interlocutor?
o   Have you provided the interlocutor with enough information so that he/she can safely take your position?


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If you have clear answers to all these questions while the arguments are backed up and related to safety, respect, independenceand perfection, most likely, you’ll be able to persuade the other person.

Now let’s get back to the example. You should explain the thesis using several arguments, ideally three. These may be:

·      Substandard products are used for cooking.
·      Fast food contains many preservatives.
·      Fast food contains harmful flavor enhancers.

#3 Support

Any argument becomes much more significant if you prove it. For this purpose, you can use statistics, personal experience, reviews, references to authoritative sources, documents and so on. For example:
·      After I had lunch at a fast food restaurant, I had a stomach ache.
·      The doctor said that consuming a lot of cheeseburgers leads to gastritis.
·      According to “XXX” documentary, fast food restaurant use poor-quality raw materials.


The main requirement at this stage is that the provided information must be truthful and not contrary to the arguments.

Some oratory masters believe that the three stages of conviction should strictly follow each other, some say that this sequence is not important. Also, there is the following technique:

·      Thesis->Argument no.1 + Support no.1, Argument no.2 + Support no.2, Argument no.3 + Support no.3, summary concerning the thesis in the beginning.


(http://maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com/static/photo/1x/Dispute-Contention-Argument-Conflict-Controversy-238529.jpg)

Well, the most important is that all these strategies work! The main point is that you should rely on your personal experience and context of the particular situation when choosing between them.   

Bio:

Lucy Adams is a blogger from BuzzEssay – a website that provides research paper writing and many other writing services. She’s an aspiring author who never refuses to cover intriguing themes, regardless of their origin. Education, literature, business, psychology – whatever – if you have something exciting to suggest, Lucy will bring it to life! Contact this diligent author at lucyadams@buzzessay.com

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Eight Benefits of Reading a Book…and Book Giveaway!

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Welcome to guest author Zhuang Ping, who will share the benefits of reading books.

Want to reap those benefits instantly? Enter author Justine Dell’s loaded Kindle Fire giveaway.

Take it away, Zhuang:

Eight Benefits of Reading a Book

Being able to read is one of the most wonderful feelings. In the 21st century, the ability to read is not only a privilege but a right. Literacy and intelligence go hand in hand.

There are countless benefits of reading; here are my top eight:

1. Improved Knowledge

The more you read,the more knowledge you gain. Want to know what life was like for a young Geisha in WWII Japan? Read the fantastic book Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden.

2. Improved writing and speaking skills

Do you know that the more you read, the better you write? And that big readers express themselves better? Therefore, it’s wise to encourage your child to read from an early age. Children who start to read earlier become more proficient at writing and speaking. 

3. Mental stimulation

Reading is exercise for your brain! Reading forces you to focus while challenging your brain to process information. Several parts of the brain activate when we read, stimulating brain cells and forming new neuronal connections.

Photo courtesy of Sheknows.com 

4. Improved Memory

Both your short term and long term memory improve with reading. Your brain processes the information you read and stores it for reference when you turn the page. You will remember people, places, scenes and events, forming a visual of what you’re reading. You later access this stored information. 

5. Improved Analytical skills

Do you ever wonder “What the heck just happened?” when reading? In addition to all the above benefits, reading forces you to analyze and comprehend material. People who read become adept at drumming up ideas, sifting through chaos, and solving problems. 

6. Improved focus

Most of us can’t focus for long. SQUIRREL! We may fail to complete a task because we get bored or restless. Reading helps both adult and children to focus for more than just a few minutes. The more we read, the more our ability to focus improves. We may become so disciplined that we can focus for hours at a time. 

7. Relaxation

Have you heard of blue light? It’s what TV emits. It also suppresses melatonin, a hormone our body produces to help us fall asleep. For this reason, experts recommend avoiding TV before bedtime. What should you do instead? READ. Many people can’t fall asleep without a book. Reading can relax you, from Mom or Dad reading bedtime stories when you were young, to devouring your favorite book before bed as an adult. 

Reading can also provide stress relief. When you read, the brain repairs itself from the day’s stresses. 

8. Entertainment

No one can argue that in addition to knowledge and all the other benefits, a good book brings us entertainment. We may read to study or catch up on current affairs, but most of all we read for entertainment, evidenced by the fact that fiction sells more than non-fiction. A good novel makes us laugh and/or cry with the characters.

My favorite places to buy books are Amazon.com, Bookbyte or Bookbaby. There are many more reputable stores to choose from which offer great deals on purchases and shipping. To find the best stores and deals, go to promocode4share.com.

Thank you, Zhuang! Because of all these benefits of reading, I feel sad for friends who don’t read much.

But for those of you who LOVE reading like I do, my pub sister Justine Dell is giving away a Kindle Fire loaded with books! I’ve read her debut novel, Recaptured Dreams (review HERE) and can’t wait to check out her additional books: All-American Girl and soon-to-be-released Until Next Time.

To enter the Kindle Fire giveaway, complete the Rafflecopter form:

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Writing Addicted Characters: Guest Post by Lisa Daniels

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Today I welcome Lisa Daniels to the blog. Her guest post shares tips for writing characters who are addicted to drugs. What fun! Take it away, Lisa:

Writing Addicted Characters

One of the first pieces of advice you hear when starting to craft stories is ‘write what you know’. The obvious way to interpret this is to focus on things you’re already familiar with such as your local neighborhood, jobs you’ve held and people you’ve known. There is nothing wrong with this approach and it can lead to some inspired writing. However, if you want to include elements in your story that seem a million miles from anything you’ve ever experienced, such as a character who is an addict, you will need to adopt a broader interpretation of that advice in order to achieve authenticity.

Effective research

When it comes to writing fiction, research can mean a number of things. It can be from a textbook in a college library, a session typing things into an internet search engine, or going out into the world and walking in your character’s shoes. Researching addiction is no different. While you wouldn’t want to indulge in your character’s drug of choice, there is plenty of information out there that can help you craft an authentic character. Remember that in order to avoid clichÈ, be sure to go beyond the obvious and research all aspects of your character’s addiction: physical, psychological, social and emotional.

Online research should be able to provide general information on addictions, associated behaviors and the route your character would take if seeking help. For example, if you were writing a ‘rags to riches and back again’ story about a small town actor who makes it big in Hollywood and becomes addicted to painkillers, try finding information on some west coast treatment centers your character could potentially attend. Other options include finding social media chat rooms and blogs where people to share their stories, or searching out some psychology journals and books to get an idea of the thought processes often underlying addiction. If you want to carry out some first-hand research, be warned that approaching treatment centers directly is a delicate matter. If you’re confident in your approach, maybe you could find a doctor or nurse willing to discuss their work, but be extremely mindful of the confidentiality issues concerned and tread lightly. A better option may be to find some autobiographies of people who have overcome their addictions and adapt their experiences

One key piece of advice when researching fiction is ‘know when to stop’. You need to do sufficient research to be sure you can write with authority and authenticity, but only enough to fulfill the demands of your story. Unless you are utilizing the research for another purpose, such as a self-help book on addiction, you do not need to be an expert in all aspects; but you do need to be an expert on the world you create. When youíre done with the research, clear it all away and face that blank page or computer screen. By this stage you should have all you need to know embedded in your mind.

Write from experience

Look at a list of symptoms addicts often manifest. According to Psychology Today, these can include shame and guilt, a sense of hopelessness, and feelings of failure, as well as anxiety and depression. While you may not be an addict yourself, have you ever experienced any of these in your life? Maybe you’ve had a bout of depression; or lost money gambling one night because you just couldn’t walk away from the table; or turned to the bottle to escape a stressful period in your life? While you may not be able to truly empathize with someone whose life is blighted by addiction, maybe there is something you can recall from your own experience that can offer a little insight into the signs of addiction and an addictís mindset. A key word that often comes up when discussing addiction is ‘control’: losing it and getting it back. Think about times in your life that you’ve either felt a loss of control, or a time when you’ve taken control of something and apply it to your character’s life.

Power of imagination

Ultimately, stories are a work of fiction. They are the product of a writer creating and inhabiting the mind of their characters and fitting them into a believable world; whether that’s outer-space one thousand years from now, Victorian England or modern day inner-city Los Angeles. The key is authenticity. Before you start your story, shape a full character biography that fills in as much detail of your character’s life as possible. Include a timeline and think about their interactions with other characters (either within or outside the story). If you’re clear about the choices your character has made in their life so far, you can understand what fuels their behavior now. Addiction does not exist in a vacuum. Imposing the term ‘addict’ on a character (or person) is not the end of the story. Something drove them to their extreme behavior and maybe something can bring them back from the brink. If you know what motivates your character then you will know how to guide them through their story.

One final reminder is to avoid cliches. Countless stories have utilized ‘the addict’ in all too familiar ways. Think outside the box and create a character who no one would believe would be an alcoholic, gambler or drug abuser, or afflict your character with an unusual addiction. If youíve done your research, reached into your deepest emotions and compiled a detailed biography then you might not have lived your character’s life, but you will still be going a long way towards writing what you know.