NDAs to Protect Your Intellectual Property

NDAs to Protect Your Intellectual PropertyNDAs to Protect Your Intellectual PropertyOne of the most valuable assets many companies possess is their intellectual property. Companies must take appropriate steps to protect the value of this asset just as they would with any physical asset. However, intellectual property still must be utilized, even at the risk of exposing original ideas or concepts. Much like a distribution company would not keep its trucks in the garage to prevent them from being involved in an accident on the highway, a startup company cant keep its ideas locked away from business partners who can make it a success. The distribution company protects its asset (trucks) with vehicle insurance so they can use them without exposing the company to financial ruin. The startup company can protect its intellectual property in several ways, including a nondisclosure agreement. What It Is A nondisclosure agreement (NDA), sometimes called a confidentiality agreement, allows a company to share its intellectual property with others whose input it needs without unduly jeopardizing that information. For example, if you have a new product or feature in development but you need to consult an expert for advice on how to proceed, an appropriate NDA can ensure that the expert doesnt pfote the details of your new product to a competitor. A nondisclosure agreement is a legal contract between you and the other party. You agree to disclose certain information to them for a specific purpose. They agree to not disclose that information to anyone else. Johns Hopkins University, for example, uses NDAs to preserve unfiled patent rights, trade secrets, business plans, and other confidential and proprietary information, and requires them of their researchers. Why An NDA? You use a nondisclosure agreement when you have information you need to give to someone, but you dont want them to pass that information to anyone else. This might occur because You have developed a p rototype of a new widget. Before you decide whether to produce it, you need to get a cost estimate from a fabrication shop.You have developed a new business model that you want to present to venture capitalists for funding, but you dont want them to take the idea and develop it on their own.You want to respond to a confidential request for proposal from the government but no one in your organization can write the proposal. You need to hire an outsider but dont want him disclosing to your competitors what he learns. You are trying to sell your company and the buyer wants details on your operations. You want to prevent them from canceling the deal as soon as they learn all your secrets and using them themselves. What an NDA Looks Like Many companies have their non-disclosure agreements posted on the internet for one reason or another. For example, Archaeopteryx Software Inc. posted one of its NDAs. This gives a general idea of what one might look like, but details obviously will b e different depending on industry and the specifics of the intellectual property being protected. As with any legal document, you should consult with a trained professional. Do not rely on forms you take off the internet and edit unless you are qualified to do so.

Job search strategy 101 Effective job search strategies

Job search strategy 101 Effective job search strategiesJob search strategy 101 Effective job search strategiesThe old might-as-well-apply-because-you-never-know approach doesnt work. A successful job search follows a strategy bedrngnis blind optimism.On more than a few occasions over the years, Ive heard people who masquerade as career coaches and employment experts telling people that job hunting is a numbers game.It isnt.In a way, its a lot like the Lotto myth People believe their odds of winning decrease as more people play.They dont.The odds of picking the winning number are absolutely independent of the number of people who play. What decreases are your odds of being the only winner. Thats basic statistics.The job search, on the other hand, is about strategy, not statistics.There is no question that a recession and weak employment market have an impact on hiring. Thats absolutely true. But a dramatic increase in the number of competitors in the marketplace does not suddenly mak e it a numbers game. If that were true, the misguided people who send thousands of resumes would be the ones getting the jobs. Or even the interviews.But they arent.Your success in the job market is not a function of how many resumes you send but rather how much time and effort you spend understanding the needs of a potential employer and tailoring your experience to demonstrate your potential.This takes time. More time than most job hunters are willing to spend.Why your job search should be gradedIve always believed that if resumes were somehow graded and ranked for their relevance, people would put a lot more thought into them. They would also probably invest time, money and energy on Kaplan-like courses in hopes that a higher score would land them a better job.But thats not what happens.Instead, many people spend as little time as possible on the resume, send them out and wait for a response. Sadly, they view it as a black- and-white prostelle E ither they get an interview or the y dont.But there is a world of difference between just missing the cut and never coming close. The thing is, most people have no idea where they fall on that continuum.Its only when people discover where they fall in this range that they can take the necessary steps to correct the issues. That requires an outside perspective it is too easy for people to connect the dots in their own heads without realizing that potential employers arent making the same connection.For example, I remember a client named Tim who told me his biggest challenge was the fact that he had applied for a job that was tailor-made for him. He was frustrated because he couldnt get the company to call him back.After reading the job description, I reviewed Tims cover letter and resume. My first thought wasI wouldnt have called you, either. I dont see the connection.But I didnt say that. Instead, we spent the next few hours going through all the primary requirements. In each case, I asked him to share experiences a nd accomplishments that would give people a reason to believe he could excel in that area. Through this process, it began to make sense why the position was a great next step for him. Armed with this new information, we customized his cover letter and resume and re-contacted the company.The hiring manager called him within 10 minutes of receiving his revised paperwork. Incidentally, this was the same person who hadnt returned Tims calls over the previous three weeks. Thats the power of a more strategic approach.Refine more send lessHad Tim continued to use his original approach, it wouldnt have mattered if he managed to contact every person on the planet. He wasnt going to get an interview until employers clearly saw the connection between their needs and his abilities. When people dont see the connection, they dont call. Unfortunately, there are countless job hunters in the market who dont realize they arent doing an effective job of absatzwirtschaft themselves and continue to make the same mistakes. For them, the job hunt will be a long, frustrating process.In short, if you arent getting calls, there is an excellent chance you need to overhaul your strategy. Sending out more resumes isnt going to solve the problem. Instead, contacting fewer companies with a more focused, compelling message will be more effective than canvassing the world an ineffective presentation. You can count on it.

A Career as a Professional Dancer

A Career as a Professional DancerA Career as a Professional DancerA dancer is aperforming artistwho uses movement to convey stories and ideas. He or she usually has expertise in a particular type of dance including jazz, ballet, modern dance, ballroom or tap, but some excel in more than one of these areas. Dancers perform on stage, in movies, on television, in music videos, at theme parks, and on cruise ships. Quick Facts About Dancers They earned amedian wageof $14.31 per hour in 2014.16,000 people worked as dancers in 2012.Dance companies employed about 30% of them.Employment is expected togrow as fast as the averagefor all occupations through 2024. How to Get Your Start If youve never taken a dance lesson, you may have come upon this article a little late. Many, but not all, professional dancers began theirtraining when they were children.Regardless of when you began training, you must spend a great deal of time taking classes and practicing.You can look into summer or aft er school dance programs or pre-professional programs with dance companies.A college degree isnt a must- only 14% of dancers have a bachelors degree- but some people earn bachelors degrees from theater or fine arts programs. Since many dancers also sing and act, honing these skills can prove to be worthwhile. What Soft Skills Do You Need to Succeed in This Career? Active Listening You must be able to give your full attention to choreographers and directors.Active Learning You need the ability to easily spielblttchen up new dance routines.Creativity Artistic ability will allow you to convey ideas through your movements.Interpersonal Skills As a dancer, you will often have to work as part of a team including other dancers, choreographers, and other performers. You must be able to interact with them successfully. The Downside of Being a Dancer Be prepared to spend a lot of time on the road if you are part of a dance company.Brace yourself for rejections.Get ready to work for ma ny hours if you go on tour with a dance company. You will spend your days rehearsing and your nights performing.Have a backup plan. Due to career-ending injuries, dancers often have to stop performing while still in their thirties. Many become choreographers or dance instructors. Common Misconceptions You will get to have fun all the time Dancers work very hard, and while they may enjoy what they do, this is a job, and its about much more than having fun.You will be discovered It is unlikely that a famous producer will see you dancing in your studio (or on Youtube) and say I want this young woman or man to be in my show. To get hired, you will have to go on a lot of auditions.You will make a lot of money The median wage for this career is relatively low.You will become famous Most dancers do not achieve fame. Many work in theme parks and on cruise ships. All you need is talent While its true that dancers need talent to succeed, they also spend a great deal of time learning compl icated routines and rehearsing.You will do nothing but dance Dancers who work in theme parks or on cruise ships sometimes do additional jobs off stage. You should not be surprised if you have to interact with guests, serve drinks or wait on tables. What Will Employers Expect From You? The following requirements come from actual job announcements Able to perform multiple high-energy shows each dayPractice regularly and prepare for auditions and weekly rehearsalsWorks as part of a team to increase productivity while providing excellent guest serviceHas to generate excitement and youthful energyCan pick up choreography quickly Is This Occupation a Good Fit for You? Holland Code ARS (Artistic, Realistic, Social)MBTI PersonalityTypes INTP, ESTP, ESFP, ISFP Related Occupations TitleDescriptionMedian Hourly Wage (2014)Required Education/TrainingActorPortrays characters on stage, in movies, in commercials, and on television shows$19.82Formal training from acting classes or compl etion of a dramatic arts program at a collegeChoreographerCreates or interprets dances$21.28Experience as a dancer with subsequent training in choreographySingerInterprets music and words using his or her voice$24.16No educational requirements for pop music singers but opera singers usually earn a bachelors degreeMusicianPlays an instrument for a live audience or in a studio$24.16Pop musicians arent typically required to get a college degree, but classical musicians often earn one. SourcesBureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor,Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 (visited October 7, 2015).Employment and Training Administration, US Department of Labor,O*NET Online(visited October 7, 2015).