Productivity lessons from a man who wrote 400 porn novels

Productivity lessons from a man who wrote 400 porn novelsProductivity lessons from a man who wrote 400 porn novelsDramatic career pivots arent usually prompted by mail-order porn novels. But Andrew Offutt isnt an ordinary person.After noticing the poor quality of writing in a book he ordered in the 1960s, Offutt hurled it across the room and announced to his wife that he could do better.She asked, why dont you? Thus began his switch from insurance salesperson to pornographer.His son, Chris Offutt, recently published a book about the experience of growing up with a father who wrote porn and the aftermath of his death. My Father, the Pornographer, shows Chris own prowess as a writer while painting a vivid portrait of his father, the man who raised the quality of American pornography.While he is known as a science-fiction writer, pornography welches Offutts passion both in his work and personal life. Offutts work may not be high literature, yet it is undeniable that his sheer output, de dication, and creativity are alfruchtwein unrivaled. In his lifetime, he wrote 420 novels, including Bondage Babe.Even today, there are at least 30that remain unpublished.What interests me most is not his subject but rather his phenomenal productivity as a writer and what the lessons we can draw from this. My Father, the Pornographer, is a rare example of an intimate portrait of a writer and reveals interesting insights into his creative process.The ProcessOffutts writing process involved what Cal Newport calls deep work - extended periods of intense focus. The ability to focus on one task is a universal factor among the most creative, productive people I know and Offutt took it to an extreme level.Offutts writing process was old school? - ?no facegram or twitchat distractions here. Rather, he would begin by brainstorming a few ideas before launching into the first chapter. Next, Offutt created an outline of the rest of the book which he followed meticulously. In each sitting, he produced 20to 40 pages of longhand writing. After the initial draft, he transcribed it on to his typewriter, editing along the way.Writing 20to 40 pages in a single sitting is a phenomenal feat? - ?thats up to 10,000 words in normal handwriting and probably mora for Offutts tiny scrawl. In comparison, it usually takes me a day to write a smaller, say 2,000 words, article on Farnam Street Blog.By writing an outline before commencing, he was able to diminish the lengthy editing rigmarole that consumers many authors time. His personal record was 94 pages in a single day? - ?nearly 24,000 words. This depth of focus and organized process are doubtless responsible for his prolific output.(As a side note, since improving my ability to focus, my output has 5Xed).AnonymityOffutt wrote his pornographic novels under 17 different names, mostly as John Cleve. He claimed that Cleve was his alter ego, and the other 16 were merely his pseudonyms, not Offutts.Living in a conservative community, th is anonymity gave Offutt total freedom. He could express himself as he wished, without the work being linked to his quiet rural family life. The alter ego, Cleve, had his own wardrobe, signature, and stationary. At conventions, Offutt would change into Cleves attire and speak to his loyal fanbase as him.I can hear you wondering how anonymity helps people produce more. Let me tell you. When Farnam Street was anonymous, getting things done was easy. No one wanted my time or attention. Now I get hundreds of requests a day for everything from speeches to advisory board opportunities.EnvironmentMore than many of us believe our behavior is influenced by our environment, which is perhaps why many writers go to great lengths to find the perfect place to work. For Offutt, secrecy was a necessary element. He worked in a second-floor amtsstube which the whole family was forbidden to enter.This seclusion made him happy. A year before his death, hedescribed himself as the happiest man alive. He enjoyed being alone in his study with only his writing to focus on. Chris recalls that his fathers best friend how Eric Stanton, a fetish artist whom he collaborated with for 25 years. Yet they had met just once? - ?illustrative of the extent to which Offutt valued his solitude.Inspiration and ImmersionIn a short autobiographical note in one book he wroteOffutt researches with gusto, both in and out of books, having?- ?briefly and painfully, he says?- ?worn chainmail and helm and wielded sword.Upon clearing out his fathers study, Chris found decades worth of pornographic material of every description ? - ?magazines, cards, antique erotic art, postcards and hundreds of books.Offutt had immersed himself in his work with obsessive dedication. Inspiration came naturally as a result of this intense involvement and environment. Offutt lived and breathed pornography. Remaining surrounded by it in his studio for 10to 12 hours a day, he could have rapid ideas.This is an inescapable element of his productivity. An enormous output requires enormous dedication. There are no shortcuts in this respect. If you want to be great at something you have to be a fanatic.PortfoliosWhilst many writers sit around awaiting inspiration, Offutt worked in a methodical, disciplined manner. To maintain his output, he developed a unique portfolio production technique.Offutt would create portfolios of material to be used in books.These ranged from sentences to entire scenes. By keeping them in organized folders divided by topic and theme, he could quickly assemble a book in a month, minimum. His catalogs would include pages of synonyms (such as 150 words for pain) and descriptions of body parts or sexual acts.Chris recalls his father sitting in front of the television at night with a clipboard, inventing descriptions of landscapes, weather and visual details based on what he saw. Chris describes this ordnungsprinzip as reminiscent of a factory assembly line, where parts are put together to form a car.VelocityParkinsons law states that tasks expand to fit the time allocated to them. The implications are clear. People usually become far more productive when their time is constrained.In Offutts case, working under extreme pressure played a large role in his speed. The family relied on his work for economic support as his book contracts did not involve advances. The faster he wrote, the more money they had. With four children, a mortgage and orthodontist bills, switching from insurance to pornography made speed essential. It was a brave choice to pivot from a respectable, secure job to a controversial, fickle creative career.What separated Offutt from many other people who make that change is the methodical way he worked. He was, as he described himself, an artist but he worked like a machine. Indeed, many of his 17 pseudonyms were simply a means of working for multiple publishers, without them knowing he wrote for their competition.SupportOffutts wife, Jodie, was an enth usiastic supporter of his work. She assisted him in many ways, notably by typing out his final drafts.Chris recalls that she would sometimes begin typing up a book, even before it was even finished. And when the pair attended conventions and Offutt dressed as his alter ego, Cleve, Jodie would change her attire to match his. Chris describes this in the bookMy parents cultivated a special con wardrobe Mom wore short skirts and low-cut blouses that zipped up the front with no bra, high boots, and tight belts. John Cleve wore a long djellaba with nothing underneath, while mom wore a floor-length polyester gown. To complement Dads leather-and-denim leisure suit, Mom had a leather miniskirt. My parents were a compelling pair, and I was awestruck by the figures they cut.A supportive partner is a common component of the lives of many productive people. By outsourcing simpler tasks to Jodie, Offutt had more time to focus on the creative elements of his work.A lot of people are unable to look at a man like Offutt and learn from him. They instantly turn off any openness to learning from his method of production when they hear he wrote porn novels. Yet, we dont have to read his books to learn from his process and methodical approach. Whether avoiding distractions, being conscious of our environments and how they impact us, or developing an portfolio system we can all learn from the King of Porn.This article originally appeared on Medium.

Youre losing out on a lot of money by not doing these 11 things

Youre losing out on a lot of money by leid doing these 11 thingsYoure losing out on a lot of money by notlage doing these 11 thingsWhen it comes to money, most of us want to spend less and save more. There are easy, everyday ways to do both, but there are also a lot of things we may not even be thinking of that could help us get more cash back in our accounts. From not starting a side hustle to not taking time off from work to not signing up for a new credit card, youre losing out ona lotof money by not doing these 11 things.1. Negotiating your salaryIf youre not negotiating your salary, you could beleaving up to $1.5 million on the tableover the course of your lifetime. All it takes is asking for $5,000 more before accepting that job offer in order to boost the amount youll make year over year throughout the rest of your career.2. Investing moneyIf youre not investing, youre automatically losing out on thousands of dollars. For instance, if you invested just $10 per month over the c ourse of 25 years with a 10 percent rate of return, youd end up with $12,333 before taxes and inflation. If you just simply saved that $10 per month over the same period of time, youd only have $3,000. By not investing that $10 per month, youre losing out onat least$9,000.3. Saving for retirement a 401(k)If you have access to anemployer-sponsored retirement account like a 401(k)and youre not contributing, youre losing out on a lot of money. For starters, the money you contribute to a 401(k) is taken from your paycheck prior to taxes, which means you save more and pay less in taxes. Then, theres the fact that money in a 401(k) is being invested, so it has the opportunity to grow over time. Lastly, your employer may match your contributions, meaning you could be saving ersatzdarsteller the amount for retirement. If youre not saving in a 401(k), youre losing out on hundreds or thousands of dollars.4. Buying a homeBuying a homeis a big purchase, so if youre thinking youre saving money b y not buying a home and paying a mortgage or taxes, then, technically, youre right. However, youre also losing every penny that you pay in rent. When you own a home, you get some money back during income tax season. For example, if you pay $500 in property taxes per month for your home, thats $3,000 per year that you can claim on your income taxes. If you pay $500 in rent per month, thats $3,000 per year that youll never see again.5. Using your vacation/sick daysAs they say, Time is money, and if youre not taking time off from work, youre literally losing money. According to a report fromProject Time Off,52 percent of American employees didnt use all of their vacation days in 2017. The report found that those unused days equal about $62.2 billion in lost benefits, or about $561 per person.6. Starting a side hustleSide hustlesare all the rage right now, and its no wonder. According to aBankrate.com study, the average side hustler makes $686 per month or $8,232 per year. Thats a prett y penny that you might be losing out on.7. Cutting the cable cordCable is expensive AF. Between the bundles and agreements that cause the price to almost double after two years, it really adds up over time. If youre not cutting the cord, it could be costing you hundreds of dollars per year. For example, in 2017 I paid about $183 per month for TV, phone and internet. In January 2018, I decided to cut the cord and switch to streaming services only. Now, I pay about $103 per month for Hulu, Netflix and internet (I got rid of the house phone, which I never even plugged in). By cutting the cord, Im saving about $960 per year on TV and internet.8. Signing up for a credit card with points or milesUsing a credit cardis a great way to build and boost your credit. Its also a great way to earn points, miles or cash back on all of your purchases. According toExperian, millennials carry an average of $4,315 on their credit cards. If that money welches charged to a card with points, miles or cash back perks, then the average millennial could have potentially earned one mile, point or cent on each of those dollars.9. Paying more than the monthly minimum on your debtIf youre a millennial with an average credit card debt of $4,315, and youre only paying the minimum required payment per month, you could be losing out on a lot of money. When you only pay the minimum each month, you end up spending a hr in interest. For instance, if you have $4,315 on a credit card, your minimum monthly payment is $60 and your interest rate is 16 percent, it will take you almost 21 years to pay it off and youll end up paying $10,142 in interest. Instead, if you were to pay $392 per month, it would only take you 12 months to pay it off and youd only pay $382 in interest.10. Refinancing your student loansLets say you have $32,731 in student loan debt (the average in 2017, according to the Federal Reserve). If youre paying an interest rate of 10 percent on that money with 15 years left to pay it off , youd end up paying $30,580 in interest over the life of the loan. By refinancing, you could lower your interest rate and the repayment time for the loan. Lets say you refinanced and got a new interest rate of 8 percent with 10 years to pay it off, youd only pay $14,923 in interest over the life of the loan, ultimately saving $15,657. Refinance yourstudent loansif you can.11. Boosting your credit scoreYour credit scoredetermines the interest rate you can get on loans and lines of credit, like a credit card. The higher the score, the lower the interest rate, which can save you a lot of money in interest. For instance, if your credit score is 500, you may have a higher credit card interest rate of 16 percent. If you have a $1,000 balance on a credit card and pay the minimum of $20 per month, youd pay $439 in interest. If your credit score is higher at 800, you may be eligible for an interest rate of just 14 percent on a credit card. If you have that same $1,000 balanceand pay the min imum of $20 per month, youd pay $355 in interest.Overall, there are a ton of ways to save money every year if you know where to look. By not doing these 11 things, you could be leaving thousands, if not millions, of dollars on the table in your lifetime. So take a look at your financial situation and search for ways that you can save. It might be easier than you think.Thispostwas originally published onSwirled.comin the Thrive section, which covers valuable career and personal finance content for Millennials.

The State of Tech Hiring in Portland

The State of Tech Hiring in PortlandThe State of Tech Hiring in PortlandTHE STATE OF TECH HIRING IN PORTLANDQ3 and Q4 2019TOP SKILLS IN IMMEDIATE DEMAND1. Cloud security2. Cloud computing3. Cybersecurity ERP implementation Network administration*4. geschftsleben intelligence5. Database managementOF TECHNOLOGY LEADERS SURVEYED 71% plan to expand their teams.24% plan to fill only vacant positions.94% say its challenging to find IT talent in their area.99% are confident in their companys prospects for growth98% will bring on project-based IT employees. Below are the top reasonsWhen theres a sudden vacancy 58%Consultants are part of our hiring strategy 56%For especially busy times 46%When a skill does not exist internally 38%For unplanned, time-sensitive projects 27%Multiple responses allowed.TOP BUSINESS CONCERNS1. Maintaining security of IT systems2. Cloud projects/initiatives3. Innovation or helping grow the business

Stressing over the perfect Valentines Day plan Try this fun online quiz

Stressing over the perfect Valentines Day plan Try this fun online quizStressing over the perfect Valentines Day plan Try this fun online quizValentines Day is supposed to be one of the most romantic holidays of the year. But oftentimes, it can get bogged down by those pesky details - where are you going, and what are you doing? The pressure is on to come up with that ideal Valentines Day date, and all the stress can put a real damper on whats supposed to be a perfect, romantic evening.That tension becomes even more stifling in a city with so many options. Do you want to see a movie, or go to a play? Is a museum visit the right mood, or a carriage ride? And most importantly, out of the bajillions of restaurants in your area, which one sets the ideal tone for your special someone?But never fear - the Internet is here to save the day OpenTable has launched a new online tool called Matchmaker that helps you find a restaurant for your big night out, so you can focus on flowers and choc olates. Just answer a few questions, and your Valentines Day is basically planned for you.How it worksWhen you launch OpenTables Matchmaker, the first screen includes a cuddly couple with a heart dangling above. But dont be fooled - the tool isnt just for lovebirds. Press get started and choose from three totally different options Its a date, Im bringing the family and celebrating with friends.Next, Matchmaker gets into the practicalities. Are you looking for a cheaper option, or going all out? Do you want Italian, American, Japanese, French, vegetarian, seafood, Mexican or a steakhouse? Whats your vibe - quiet and cozy, formal and fancy, casual and low key or something else? For each category with a myriad of options, you can choose more than one and see what the matchmaker picks for you.Then, its time to schedule a date. Are you celebrating on Valentines Day proper? Or that weekend? It is a long weekend, after all, which means more time off to be romantic. Maybe you even want to make two reservationsEither way, once youve decided on all your parameters, its time to meet your match. Say hello to the restaurant of your Valentines Day dreams Or not. When I first tried the tool, I happened to get a restaurant Ive been to several times, thats not among my favorites. Upon other tries, I was assigned to places that were far from my apartment, that seemed like a hassle to get to on such a busy evening.But hey At least the choice is no longer in your hands. If you have the best dinner of your life and get lucky after, thank Mr. Matchmaker. And if the dinners a disaster, you can blame the robot - it wont mind.Plus, at the end of the day, what really matters is the company you keep. So even if the meal isnt right up your alley, hopefully, the person you share it with will be. And thats definitely something worth celebrating.

Seize Unique Hiring Opportunities During The Holidays

Seize Unique Hiring Opportunities During The HolidaysSeize Unique Hiring Opportunities During The HolidaysTis the season to lean in and engage top talent Getting ready to rest your chin in your hand and count the hours until you can productively hire in the New Year? Dont start things off with a backlog of positions that need to be filled.Just as you still have open positions, candidates looking for their next opportunity still need to move forward in their job searches. Many do not want or cannot afford to lose six weeks during the holiday season. Talented professionals are always interested in exploring great companies and competitive opportunities. They are coached to take advantage of all the chances to network during the holidays. You can be a parte of that effortConsider the following tips for finding your best-fit candidates before the ball dropsLean forward when others are leaning backJob seekers may worry that recruiters and hiring managers will be scarce during the holidays , and their concerns are justified. Be available during this time for networking conversations and interviews, and take advantage of the less crowded playground. This behavior also reinforces a strong workplace brand, as you show how you value connecting with interested candidates. Capture these opportunities to engage talent while visions of sugarplums distract your competition.Cultivate your talent poolEven though you are ready to close the deal with new prospects, the decision to hire usually takes a village. If members of your hiring team are not as available to make hiring decisions, you can still woo talent. Just as it is with figgy pudding, a little goes a long way. Be responsive when candidates inquire about the status of positions, even when you do not have a detailed update.Offer to speak with professionals interested in your company whether or not their ideal job is on the table. Create an open position on your career site that invites these candidates to generate a profi le. Vet the incoming materials, and reach out to learn mora about these candidates. Though certain job requisitions might be on hold until January, you have the benefit of predicting the future. Use the holidays to develop relationships with your January hires.Consider the candidates perspectiveRemember that as many offices dim their lights and people take vacations, your interested candidates may have an easier time getting away from their desks to come speak with you. Their workload may be lighter, and in that case, they have less stress to manage when excusing themselves from their current employer. Take the opportunity to meet with them during this time.The holidays do not have to be a loss in your hiring efforts. Keep your momentum going and ring in the New Year with new candidate relationships and ready-hire talentRead Related ArticlesHow To Avoid The Pitfalls of A Cumbersome Hiring ProcessYour Message or Theirs?Take Control of Your Employer BrandHow to Leave a Positive Impres sion With Rejected Candidates

Who Else Wants to Learn About Bilingual Resume?

Who Else Wants to Learn About Bilingual Resume? The Battle Over Bilingual Resume and How to Win It You need to have five objective statements. Even knowing only two or three words of a foreign language can be useful. If youre elend certain how to phrase your skills, or in case you would like examples of objective statements, check out some job websites for ideas. When youre ready to compare two languages, Lichtman states, you learn there are other possible methods of doing things, including structuring a sentence or expressing tense. What Everybody Dislikes About Bilingual Resume and Why Neatly avoids the problem of whether youre trying to find a 20-year term, or a stepping stone. The very first thing which you want to do is go back and examine the job that youre applying for and determine your intended audience. You know the one which gets one particular project, hogs it for months and after that flips out at any suggestion to earn a shift. You dont know where the next op portunity may be waiting. Its possible to only become bilingual if you start when youre a kid. Even when you should get away with it at the interview stage, youd be expected to have the ability to speak the language when you initiate the job. Anther reason is that every language is learnt and used in various circumstances, to find its equivalent out of context demands a lot of concentration and can take a little time to visit your brain. Knowing more than 1 language can provide you a huge boost professionally, and in the present economy, thats something everyone is able to use. What is Actually Going on with Bilingual Resume Besides, do your best not to include irrelevant positions if you currently have many years of professional bilingual job experience behind your back. How to describe administrative experience to receive any job you desire. When you are searching for a new job, it can help to have a couple tricks up your sleeve. Whether youre searching for your very firs t job or your next one, you will need a resume that shows employers that youre a skilled professional. Pick your very best abilities which mirror the prerequisites of the work ad. The aim of a resume headline is to sum up your abilities and experience into a brief phrase that will stick out and show the possible employer exactly what youve got to offer you. Bellow, youll locate the resume sample and also some ideas and advice for the work interview. Even when you arent actively searching for employment, your resume is a significant bit of your digital portfolio. Your level will decide on the value of your skill with the organization. The capability to speak different foreign languages will always be regarded as a strong point no matter the particular needs of the work position. By including relevant abilities and a driven attitude its possible to draw the recruiters interest. Although the language is the exact same, the variation may be helpful for the hiring manager to unde rstand. In addition, the organization can provide you with the top quality German CV that can help you win potential employers favor. The majority of the work involves disability problems. Other essential areas in your work experience will likewise be explored to highlight your credentials and make a stand-out resume. You might not land every job which you apply for but a well written resume can enable you to discover the occupation thats a tailored fit for you. Lies Youve Been Told About Bilingual Resume If youre cutting and pasting text, make sure that the font is consistent. If you consider sample resumes online, you will observe dozens of unique formats and resume templates. The great thing about the templates is that you may use them for free, whether youve written best curriculum vitae before or you would like to do so for the very first time. Readme file to make it simple to comprehend how to address the Resume. The Bilingual Resume Pitfall In case you have any i nterest in my skills, please dont be afraid to contact me. Maybe youve employed your listening skills to comprehend how youre able to employ your understanding and experience to enhance the operation of others on your team totenstill attempting to learn the ropes. If you wish to display your organization skills, obtaining a tightly structured resume certainly helps. You will have to be somewhat organised and have excellent time management abilities. If you speak more than 1 language, you might well save a life by means of your communication abilities. With a growing number of marriages between people from various nations, it is extremely common to have a couple of languages spoken within a relationship or house. You dont need to submit your resume in a lot of languages you speak. So if you prefer to understand yourself better, learning another language may be the key If you wish to wow the hiring managers, the subsequent bilingual customer service representative resume sam ple is a significant place to begin. Bilingual individuals have a distinct advantage in the present diverse job marketplace. While being bilingual is not normally required for administrative assistants, it might be a great bonus for businesses that work with international customers. Our jobs provide the opportunity to give a service to the general public, people already receiving Social Security benefits and people seeking benefits for the very first moment. Communication is critical in healthcare. Becoming bilingual isnt almost communicating literal info to patients. Employees answer broad array of questions from the general public by interviewing the individual, investigating the situation and resolving the issue. Some of your promotion skills will inevitably appear in the resume itself. Key Pieces of Bilingual Resume Surely, its challenging to discover a truly workable writing strategy that guarantees your successful approval, and when you have completed a bilingual re sume search already, you may have arrived at the exact conclusion. You must keep your resume short and sweet, but still consist of enough excellent information to generate an impression. If you submit your application online, its also advisable to have a chance to attach your resume. You need to have a particular languages section which gives more thorough info on your ability. The Basics of Bilingual Resume There are various levels of language proficiency. Your language skills are just a little portion of your resume, therefore its critical that also you recognize how to compose a resume by every section. Especially whenever youre asking for work that demands fluency in a specific language. Mixing languages is an indication of fake bilingualism and is utilized to show off Mixing languages is often employed by bilinguals when they speak to one another.

Unify Index Finds Large Number of Employees Would Choose Flex Work Over Pay Raise

Unify Index Finds Large Number of Employees Would Choose Flex Work Over Pay Raise Unify, a leading communications software and services firm, has published a new index in its New Way to Work volume that revealed that more than 43 percent of employees surveyed would prefer flex work over a pay raise. The findings pointed to the rise of legal actions or Right to Request laws around the world that are giving employees the right to request flex work. This trend, and an improved job market have led to the development of what Unify dubs the Flex Work Imperative. This imperative is the combination of employee demand, an improving job market, and numerous laws that are shifting flex work from being a job perk to an employees right. Employees are serious about flex work, said Bill Hurley, Chief Marketing Officer at Unify. In addition to nearly half of all employees preferring flex work over a pay raise, ne arly one third said they would change employers if offered flexible work elsewhere. It is time to get on mainboardbusiness leaders who ignore the Flex Work Imperative could find themselves suffering the loss of their best employees.In the full report, Unify provides best practices for how businesses can successfully implement flex work. It emphasizes how many employees would be satisfied with a few days per week working from home or the ability to work in the office for part of the day, and then finish at home. Additionally, businesses can establish and document a virtual team code of conduct that outlines the things employees must do in order to make flex work successful.