Bryan Collins's Blog, page 86

Emotional Intelligence for the Modern Leader with Christopher Connors

Writing a book isn't often enough to earn a full-time living. Many successful non-fiction authors earn a living through public speaking and coaching. A book acts as a calling or business card. 

Christopher Connors is the author of Emotional Intelligence for the Modern Leader. He earns an income through writing and also coaching and public speaking. 

In this interview, he explains:

What it means to be emotionally intelligentWhat to do when your motivation flagsHis ideal early morning...

The Best Home Office Chair (2020): 13 Top Chairs Available Right Now

A chair is an important part of any home office.

If you increasingly feel yourself needing to take stand-and-stretch breaks or are nursing an aching back, your chair may be the culprit. 

Unfortunately, back pain is widespread, as 80% of Americans will experience back pain at some point in their lives, according to The Good Body.

Whether you have worked from home for years or recently started your remote writing career, a good chair, like a writing desk, is important if you want to w...

A Big Writing Gig: What To Do When You Lose It

This episode is all about losing that big writing gig.

A few weeks ago, my editor from Forbes rang me.

“Bryan,” he said. “We reviewed your contract and, well, we're ending your column at the end of the month.”

Now, I've spent the past two years writing for Forbes about topics like careers, leadership, creativity, and more.

Some would say losing a big writing gig like Forbes is a disaster.

But, I say otherwise.

Resources

Freelance writing jobs – My 2020 guide
Getting p...

What Is the Best Mouse for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

If you work from home or write at a desk, your hands are your tools. A mild case of carpal tunnel syndrome can easily derail your ability to get anything done. A bad case of carpal tunnel syndrome is excruciating and can involve pain shooting up and down your wrist and arm.

For this reason, a good keyboard, writing desk, and ergonomic mouse are essential purchases for home workers and writers. 

If you're searching for the best mouse for carpal tunnel, this article explains what the con...

Writing Great Leadership Books With Glenn Parker

Would you spend a career writing leadership books? And if so what would that look like?

Glenn Parker has written and published over a dozen books in this genre. He's also co-author of Positive Influence: The Leader Who Helps People Become Their Best Self with his son Michael.

This book demonstrates the various ways leaders have positively influenced the lives and careers of many successful people.

In this interview, Glenn explains:

The four primary types of leaders… and how to id...

7 Surprising Benefits of a Standing Desk (A Guide for Every Home Worker)

This article explores the benefits of a standing desk for writers, creatives, and freelancers who work from home.

Thanks to technology, we've become a society that sits… and often all day.

Going back to the internal combustible engine, the car, the big-screen television, the computer, our collection of smart devices, and the sofa, we have become more sedentary.

If sitting for long periods is the new smoking, then a standing desk is kind of like a Nicotine patch.

The workplace, wh...

How To Get Into Sports Writing and the Limits of Human Performance with Alex Hutchinson

Would you like to get into sports writing?

Canadian sports journalist Alex Hutchinson is the author of the New York Times best-selling Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance.

But he wasn't always a writer.

In his early twenties, Hutchinson competed with the Canadian Athletics Team while training as a physicist. As his running career came to an end around 2006, he transitioned into sports journalism.

The book blends Hutchinson's passion for runni...

1Password vs. LastPass (2020): Which Password Manager Is Best?

1Password and LastPass are both popular password managers.

Logging into and out of websites, services, and apps is a pain that's often complicated by hacks and data security issues. It's not good practice to use simplified passwords or a single password for these sites and services either, unless you want to get hacked.

Enter a password manager.

This is a type of software designed to track of all your logins and passwords and to manage your accounts. A good password manager will hel...

G Suite Review 2020: Is It Worth It, And What Plan Should You Buy?

I've used G Suite for several years. This 2020 G Suite review explains what to expect, if the offering is worth the price and how a G Suite account can help you manage your business.

But first consider this: Are you ready to turn your freelancing into a more professional business?

Or perhaps you want to add a suite of productivity tools so you can collaborate more easily?

In either case – or if you’re just beginning – you need the right tools for the job. These days, that means find...

Working From Home Tips and Tricks You Can Use Right Now

When people ask me about working at home they say things like Isnt it lonely? or Id never get any work done, and What working from home tips do you have?

I didnt find remote working during 2020 a huge change.

Over the years, Ive worked several jobs as a freelance writer, journalist, and copywriter from my modest house in the Irish suburbs. These days, I also run Become a Writer Today from a home office on the first floor of my house an hour outside Dublin.

Working From Home Versus the...