Robert Bea Master of Forensic Engineering

Robert Bea Master of Forensic Engineering Robert Bea Master of Forensic Engineering On the off chance that Robert Bea appears on your undertaking, it is anything but a decent sign. Either youre in a significant fiasco or somebody is sufficiently concerned to convey the countries first measurable architect to investigate. Mens Journal considers him the Master of Disaster. Bea is teacher emeritus at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California-Berkeley, and prime supporter of the Center for Catastrophic Risk Management, a not-for-profit association. He additionally runs his own counseling organization called Risk Assessment and Management Services. Bea has concentrated a portion of the most exceedingly terrible designing debacles in U.S. history, including the Exxon Valdez, space transport Columbia, and Deepwater Horizon. He was anxious to share his bits of knowledge and alert ASME individuals about lack of concern, bravery, rehashing botches, and doing it for the cash, all of which can bring about disastrous disappointments that frequent specialists for the remainder of their lives. Bounce, you broke down 600 significant building disappointments that happened from 1988-2005. Are there any new patterns from that point forward? The main pattern is greater and badder. There have been progressively disastrous framework disappointments: BP Deepwater Horizon, PGE San Bruno, Hurricane Sandy. This pattern ought not out of the ordinary in light of the fact that our foundation frameworks by and large are in extremely poor condition and are progressively interconnected. The disappointment of one causes the disappointment of another. We additionally have increasingly extreme tests from nature as we work in progressively serious conditions and face worldwide atmosphere changes. What is the most widely recognized denominator you find in building disappointments? Associations that lose their way by creating gross irregular characteristics among creation and protection.One of the enormous drivers for expanding creation is diminishing costs (diminishing insurance). The parity logically moves until there is a significant framework failurea fiscally determined winding to fiasco. Teacher Robert Bea. What is the one thing mechanical designers can do to limit the danger of disappointment? Configuration individuals open minded frameworks that are excusing of the errors that individuals will make.Design frameworks that have a satisfactory dependability that has been expressly characterized and the structure grew with the goal that it will approach or surpass that necessity. Structure frameworks that can be reviewed and kept up to permit the worthy dependability to be kept up during the life of the framework. The most ideal approach to do this is to create, actualize, and continue the 5Cs: Comprehension: Awareness of the perils and outcomes of disappointments. Duty: Top-down and base up to create frameworks that give satisfactory assurances to the creation. Abilities: Address execution of complex frameworks that are commanded by human and hierarchical elements. Culture: Provide frameworks that have adequate execution and unwavering quality attributes that create worthy adjusts among creation and security. Tallying: Effective, approved, quantitative approaches to quantify security, unwavering quality, creation, and insurance attributes of frameworks; you can't oversee what you can't gauge. For what reason do most mechanical architects make poor scientific designers? Numerous architects have some extraordinary gifts that qualify them for designing. For instance, a bent for science, rationale, material science, and arranging things to make different things that are valuable. Along these lines, when it comes time to create comprehension of the main drivers of disappointments and mishaps, they center around the things they comprehend, not why those things were utilized in the first place.The most powerful underlying drivers are the whys, those human and hierarchical variables that clarify why things are what they are. To maintain a strategic distance from potential issues, do you put each venture through a group investigation before propelling into it? Absolutely!You must have the secret sauce to get the privilege results.People must be chosen so their gifts and aptitudes coordinate the employments that must be performed.Once the choice procedure is accomplished, at that point the preparation procedure needs to additionally build up those abilities so the correct outcomes are accomplished, in any event, during unimaginable conditions. What kind of group preparing do you suggest? Serious and keeping preparing in three structures: typical exercises (for instance, setting down a plane), irregular exercises (setting down a plane in the mist), mind boggling exercises (setting down a plane that has lost force in the two motors on the Hudson River). Tarnish Sullenberger is an old buddy of mine, and was before he turned into our Hero of the Hudson.Sully reached me in the mid 2000s to comprehend the unwavering quality attributes in business aviation.He needed to get familiar with emergency the board and why US Air had five lethal mishaps in five years. What Sully did was not a mishap. It was completely practiced and arranged for.Sully and his associates arranged for the most noticeably terrible. The plane creators arranged for the most noticeably terrible. That is the reason the plane didn't sink quickly. It had reverse valves in the fuselage air admissions. The Airbus had been intended for a water arrival, in any event, when it shouldn't arrive on water, in light of the fact that the designers comprehended that could occur in a crisis. How would you know when a task is as protected as it can be? Hypothetically it is conceivable to build up a framework that has a probability of disappointment of exceptionally almost zero. Be that as it may, a zero probability of disappointment isn't viable given the various vulnerabilities that must be gone up against during the life of a system.Therefore, we should plan frameworks to have a non-zero probability of disappointment. In any case, the probability of disappointment should be little and furthermore adequate to the individuals who are uncovered if the framework falls flat. This brings up the issue, How safe will be sufficiently sheltered? The appropriate response ought to be created from a social procedure that connects with contributions from the uncovered open, the uncovered condition, the administration, and industry. Just when that basic inquiry has been replied in quantitative terms should engineers build up a framework to accomplish that worthy wellbeing during its life expectancy. Imprint Crawford is a free writer.Theoretically it is conceivable to build up a framework that has a probability of disappointment of extremely close to zero.Prof. Robert Bea, University of California-Berkeley

Writing a Resume For Graduate School

<h1>Writing a Resume For Graduate School</h1><p>Finding a doctoral level college can be exceptionally troublesome, however one can absolutely help by composing a resume. It is critical to get that in spite of the fact that you will go after a position, a prospective employee meeting, a postdoctoral position, or a M.D. program, the real meeting is only one piece of your vocation journey.</p><p></p><p>It is basic for some activity searchers to just make a resume and send it out to handfuls or many employments in order to find the one that will best suit their profession needs. While the underlying pursuit of employment ought to incorporate systems administration, there are as yet different stages one can take to ensure that the resume they get is a triumphant blend of quest for new employment and occupation placement.</p><p></p><p>One approach to be certain that the pursuit of employment merits the time is to comprehend what it intends to you to find a new line of work. It isn't just to get a new line of work, yet in addition to have the option to remain at work. How would you realize that you have to go to graduate school to win more cash than you right now have?</p><p></p><p>A quest for new employment is significant, yet actually except if you work in a spot where you are able to instruct and do explore, you won't almost certainly get an all day line of work. There are occupations accessible in the scholarly world, the private segment, and in industry, yet on the off chance that you can't find a new line of work in the scholarly community, at that point you most likely need to go to graduate school. Understand that you can in any case get a M.D. without going to graduate school, however that is a tragic truth that a great many people would prefer not to hear.</p><p></p><p>The subsequent stage is to figure out how to compose a resume, and afterward t he subtleties of how to get ready for the meeting. While planning for the meeting, you ought to have the option to discuss your enthusiasm for the school, the explanation you needed to go to the school, and what your desires are.</p><p></p><p>Remember that applying for graduate school is a significant piece of your vocation, so ensure you put aside sufficient opportunity to accumulate all the fundamental data. When you have done this, at that point you can deal with making an expert looking resume that shows exactly that you are so dedicated to your training. From the earliest starting point, composing a resume can assist you with excelling and push ahead with your education.</p><p></p><p>Writing a resume for graduate school will assist you with bettering comprehend what you have to do and what you should be set up for when you show up at your new doctoral level college. There are additionally numerous assets on the Internet, in books, and in gatherings that can assist you with assembling an expertly structured resume.</p>

How to Write a Thank You Note After an Interview

The most effective method to Write a Thank You Note After an Interview You did everything option to get ready for the prospective employee meeting. You inquired about your potential boss, read and re-read the set of working responsibilities and rehearsed answers to potential inquiries. Your work was compensated â€" you nailed the gathering. Presently, you're simply trusting that the call will hear in the event that you landed the position. Hang on a moment â€" did you make sure to compose a card to say thanks to the questioner? Cards to say thanks are not simply something you found out about in grade school. They're as yet a significant piece of the prospective employee meeting process. Actually, one study indicated that 22 percent of managers are less inclined to extend to an employment opportunity to interviewees who avoid the thank you step. You're accomplishing more than being thankful for the gathering. The additional progression strengthens your enthusiasm for the position â€" more than 55 percent of bosses think sending a note shows a potential recruit is not kidding about the activity. Persuaded? Here are eight hints that will assist you with composing a knockout note: 1. Send an Email and a Card It requires some investment, yet send both an email and a snail-mail card. A thank you email after a meeting will arrive at your objective rapidly, which is fundamental if the choice has a fast turnaround time. A sent note separates you from the group. Just around 20 percent of employment up-and-comers finish this progression. Utilize a conventional crease over note card with a common front. You would prefer not to be associated with being ridiculous or cutesy. 2. Careful discipline brings about promising results Consider what you need to state early and afterward compose drafts for both the email and note card. This is an ideal opportunity to commit errors and scrawl out words. Last duplicates ought to be great. The two messages will be comparative, however they shouldn't be indistinguishable. An extraordinary tip for the email: Don't type in the beneficiary's location until you're certain the email is great. That way you won't inadvertently send one that is fragmented or filled with botches. 3. Compose Right Much thanks to you messages don't need to be long, however they should be sans blunder. Edit, edit, edit â€" at that point edit once more. It may assist with reciting it so anyone can hear, as well, and if there is time, ask another person to check it. In the event that you let linguistic or spelling botches sneak past, your questioner is legitimized in questioning your capacities. Utilize this chance to show your relational abilities, particularly if the activity calls for composed contact with colleagues and customers. 4. Reference Specific Details From the Interview Notwithstanding saying thanks to your questioner, your card to say thanks ought to likewise reference the meeting. You're attempting to isolate yourself from the majority, recollect? Notice a point that surfaced during the conversation, fix any slip-ups or exclusions and stress your enthusiasm for the activity. This implies you can't compose the note early, yet you can make an example card to say thanks for after your meeting. Nail your designing and the straightforwardness while as yet expressing what is on your mind â€" simply don't send the note. 5. Keep It Short and Sweet Keep the thank you letter after the prospective employee meet-up short. Set aside some effort to consider the gathering. The notes you took will revive your memory. Ensure you notice the specific name of the position. This forestalls disarray if different employments are open at the organization. Utilize the main section to state thank you for the meeting. Express thankfulness for the person's time and consideration. This individual cut out time in a bustling day only for you. Recognize anything unique the questioner did to comfort you. In the subsequent passage, quickly feature your best minutes. Be explicit. Make yourself significant among the activity up-and-comers. Remind the questioner why you're directly for the position. Did you leave the meeting figuring you could have improved? Include another segment if a remark needs explanation or on the off chance that you precluded data, similar to where to discover your portfolio on the web. Wrap up by rehashing your enthusiasm for the position. Be proficient all through the note. You can show eagerness without spouting. 6. Get It Sent off Soon Send the email not long after the meeting, however don't surge the creative cycle. Mail the card inside 24 hours. Stalling dulls the impact and may miss the employing cutoff time. 7. Send a Note to Everyone You Interviewed With On the off chance that you met with numerous questioners, you have to compose various notes. All members merit an individual thank you for their time. Ensure you record each name and occupation title, or, even better, gather business cards. On the off chance that you overlook this progression â€" you're presumably somewhat apprehensive, all things considered â€" go to the organization's site and turn individuals upward. Don't just duplicate a similar note again and again. Customize them. Notice a comment every questioner added to the discussion. Along these lines, you make singular associations with each and every individual who is going to pass judgment on you. Likewise, if the questioners happen to share the notes, you'll look better on the off chance that they're not duplicates. 8. Handwrite Your Card In this time of PCs, it's anything but difficult to type up a note to convey â€" and that is extraordinary. Penmanship, be that as it may, is progressively close to home since it requires some investment. That is the message you need to send: The meeting was so essential to me that I set aside the effort to locate a genuine pen. In the event that your penmanship is obscured, however, type away. Regardless of whether you've concluded you don't need the activity, send a card to say thanks. You're not selling yourself for the position. You're being amenable. This establishes a decent connection, which may prove to be useful. Request that the questioner remember you for different openings. After you leave a meeting, take a couple of moments to compose a meeting thank you email and note. It won't hurt a piece, and it may be the completing touch that secures you the activity. What's your assessment of cards to say thanks? What tips have you discovered accommodating? Offer your contemplations beneath, and keeping in mind that you're here, make certain to pursue our bulletin for additional tips to get you through the meeting (and the remainder of your pursuit of employment)!

Will Technology Replace Your Job Probably! [Infographic] - Career Pivot

Will Technology Replace Your Job Probably! [Infographic] - Career Pivot Will Technology Replace Your Job? Will Technology Replace Your Job? Copyright: bill2499/123RF Stock Photo As Baby Boomers, we have seen the development of innovation in our work and every day lives. For instance: fax machines once in a while exist any longer in workplaces since they have been supplanted by email typewriters have been supplanted by PCs numerous landline phones have been supplanted by cellphones Alright, we realize that new innovation is supplanting old frameworks in light of the fact that the gear has gotten quicker, simpler to utilize, littler and increasingly compact. Yet, have you at any point pondered the chance of innovation supplanting your activity? Indeed, the real work that you perform every day for your organization? Try not to think so? All things considered, investigate this infographic entitled: The Odds of a Machine Doing Your Job [Infographic] by the group at NeoMam This infographic distinguishes abilities with a high and generally safe of computerization, the conceivable effect on current employments accessible, and likely results. Aptitudes related with a high danger of computerization: Finger Dexterity â€" fingers used to hold or control objects Manual Dexterity â€" hand or head developments to collect or hold objects Squeezed Work Space â€" little territories that expect laborers to get into little spaces Aptitudes related with an okay of computerization: Tune in to the latest scene Inventiveness â€" ready to think of bizarre, innovative and smart thoughts Expressive arts â€" the information and capacity to perform or make music, visual expressions, and so forth. Social Perceptiveness â€" mindfulness or comprehension of different perceptiveness Arrangement â€" uniting others to accommodate contrasts Influence â€" ready to convince others to alter their perspectives Helping and Caring for Others - giving passionate, physical or clinical thoughtfulness regarding others It appears machines are better at schedules and rules and individuals are better at coordinating and diagnosing. A considerable lot of the callings on the infographic are in the administration business. A large portion of us have just associated with a business that has some kind of occupation robotization. Here is a case of an occupation computerization experience I had at an air terminal eatery this past summer. On the table was mounted a tablet gadget which was your menuâ€"it took your request and, when you were finished eating, you paid for your supper there. The main cooperation you had with an individual was the point at which the food and beverages were conveyed to your table. Did you notice that some cubicle callings recorded on the infographic are potentially leaving are as well? Paralegals and Legal Assistants â€" In complex claims, numerous lawful assistantsand paralegals were expected to go over volumes of paper archives hours one after another searching for key proof required for the situation. Presently reports are made, put away and looked through all electronically utilizing calculations to upgrade the inquiry capacities. This assists with guaranteeing that every pertinent report are found in a claim and the outcomes are surveyed by few legitimate assistantsor paralegals. Bookkeepers and Auditors, Bookkeepers, Tax Preparers â€" Automated frameworks can gather, store, examine and create reports utilizing an assortment of interior and outer ongoing information for survey by leaders. Rather than a huge gathering of individuals physically entering the information and making the reports, it very well may be done rapidly and productively utilizing machines. As the infographic appears, callings that require imagination, basic reasoning and working with individuals are at okay of getting computerized. Designers, legal counselors, specialists, cops, and carrier pilots are on the whole instances of that. It is safe to say that you are in one of those callings or in a supporting calling? Take a gander at your present place of employment aptitudes. Are there any aptitudes that possibly could capitulate to work computerization? Or on the other hand do you have to take a shot at your imaginative, basic reasoning or relationship building abilities? You could very well need them later on. This post was composed by Elizabeth Rabaey, a Baby Boomer herself, is an imaginative with an adoration for subtleties. She has spent more than 20 or more years working for ecological designing and counseling organizations giving venture the executives and specialized help on numerous creative building ventures. She has applied innovative, abstract and logical aptitudes to these undertakings to enable the customer to keep up a gainful business activity and secure people, wellbeing and the earth. Associate with her on LinkedIn and Twitter. Like what you simply read? Offer it with your companions utilizing the catches above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights Look at the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

How to Up your small talk game

How to Up your small talk game by Amber Rolfe Small talk: you either love it or you hate it… OK, so most of us probably veer towards the latter. But no matter how you feel about small talk, there’s no denying that it’s an essential part of both your personal and professional life. This means that being good at it could be the key to building professional connections â€" and ultimately furthering your career.To make sure you’re making the most of your conversations, here are five ways to be better at small talk:Keep your knowledge currentWhen it comes to nailing small talk, it’s all about what you know.Not only will educating yourself on current events, news, and popular culture give you some interesting conversation starters, you’ll also be able to impress the listener with your knowledge â€" especially if you’re keeping up-to-date with something you’re particularly passionate about.Just make sure it’s recent news â€" and you keep things neutral. If in doubt, steer clear of anything overl y political, just in case.And if you’re not much of a news person? That’s fine too. Talking about what’s happening in the latest Netflix shows or a film you saw at the cinema recently is also good small talk territory.Not as highbrow? Sure. But who needs to talk about Brexit THAT OFTEN?What is networking?Stop faking itIf you have to feign an interest, you’re doing small talk wrong.OK, so not everything you hear during elevator/water cooler/networking chat is going to be ground-breaking information. But the best small talkers know how to diminish the dull in any conversation, whether it’s through asking open ended questions or simply choosing a topic you both care about.Spending more time listening than you do talking is also a great way to show you genuinely care about what the person has to say. The same goes for demonstrating positive body language, through nodding, smiling, and maintaining eye contact.And, if you pay attention carefully enough, you’ll be able to elabo rate on the areas with the most substance â€" turning what was once a throwaway comment into a real conversation.Just make sure you aren’t tempted to hijack the conversation by talking about yourself. Nobody likes someone who makes everything about them.How to: Speak confidently at workDon’t be a stranger When it comes to small talk â€" strangers don’t exist.So forget everything you’ve learnt about people you don’t know being terrible, and pretend you’re talking to an old friend; ultimately allowing you to say goodbye to any instinctual trust issues.The result? You’ll be able to avoid the seemingly (but not actually) essential niceties that only give small talk a bad name. Because reeling off a standard introduction (that you’ve probably said at least 17 times), talking about where you’re from, or anything else excessively vague, is not fun. For anyone involved.And, the faster you open up, the faster you can skip those parts that no one really cares about.N.B. when it comes to the streets, strangers do most definitely exist and you should definitely avoid them â€" for your own safety. #justsaying.Be better than the weather Sure, talking about how it’s particularly cold today, or ‘we’ve had a lot of rain recently’ is a great conversational back up; but it shouldn’t be the only thing you talk about.If you’ve met the person before (even if only briefly) try to remember facts about them or their life that you can drop into conversation. For example, you might’ve found out they have a new puppy, which gives you the perfect opportunity to ask how he’s doing.Not only is this a great way to personalise the conversation, it’ll also show you’re a good listener.But if you don’t know them at all? That’s fine too.In addition to asking open ended questions, referring to current events, and elaborating on your answers to their questions with interesting facts, you can also get conversational cues from your surroundings â€" whether it ’s a function, restaurant, or party.Keep it clean Whilst avoiding generic conversation starters is a great way to make your chat more unique â€" there are certainly some areas of conversation that don’t belong in small talk.So, as a general rule, try to keep it interesting and upbeat, without delving too deep into sensitive (and serious) topics like politics, religion, or anything else that’s likely to elicit strong opinions.And if something you strongly disagree with is brought up? Avoid the urge to argue, and calmly change the subject.You may also find that personal matters (e.g. your most recent Tinder date) are best avoided.If you’re unsure of what’s out of bounds, just read the room, and change the subject if you sense any awkward silences or dismissive body language.Lastly, keep it positive â€" particularly if you’re in a work-based setting. Although you might be itching to vent about a particularly difficult customer, colleague, or piece of work, you never know wh o might be within earshot.Hint: it could be your manager.How to: Manage conflict in the workplaceHow to: Have a positive attitude at work    Still searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs now.  Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Features Life At Work

3 Tips to Avoid Being a Job Title Commodity - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

3 Tips to Avoid Being a Job Title Commodity - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Picture this. You are at a networking event. Business cards in hand. Ready to make new contacts. How do you introduce yourself? What is your conversation starter? Like most people its probably this: My name is Im a (fill in the blank with your job title!) We often fall into the trap of identifying ourselves by our job title. In many cultures, your business card is your identity and your title generally dictates how people will address you.  Business cards are considered an extension of the individual not just a tool to help you find somebody after you have met them. Even the formalities of exchanging a business in some cultures  expresses the importance one places on a first encounter. However, while our job title is a valid representation of what we do, it actually groups us into the same category as everyone else doing the same type of job.   Your title actually ‘commodifies’ you and people don’t get excited about commodities! How can you avoid being a job title commodity and get people excited about you? Follow these 3 tips. 1.  Sell an ‘experience’ not a title   Remove your job title in your LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, About.me profiles. Sell an experience that will give people a reason to follow, connect, friend, or add you to their circles. Instead of saying you are a “psychiatrist” tell others you are “The Shrink for Entrepreneurs who want freedom, wealth, and sanity” (@PeterShallard). 2.  Make it unique Find something that you are passionate about and connect it to your job. For example, I combine personal branding strategy with cycling imagery. I always thought of cycling as separate from my work, but everyone identifies me by my energy and passion for cycling. Therefore, I decided to demonstrate this uniqueness by using a cycling image on my business card as well as the tag line: “Personal branding with a spin.” This unique card attracts people to what I do. They are intrigued by how I connect cycling with branding and want to know more. 3. Differentiate from others A great exercise you can use to uncover your differentiator is called  Same/Different. On a piece of paper, write down all the things in the “same” column that are similar between you and others doing the same type of work. In the “different” column right down what differentiates you. Finally, look at everything in the “different” column and mark all the items that are emotional attributes. These are the characteristics that provide the need and desire for people to connect with you rather than with others who have the same job or similar skill set.  Author: Peter  Sterlacci  is known as “Japan’s personal branding pioneer” and is one of only 15 Master level Certified Personal Branding Strategists in the world. He is introducing a leading global personal branding methodology to companies and careerists in Japan and adapting it for the Japanese culture. In a culture where fitting-in is the norm, his mission is to pioneer a ‘cultural shift’ by helping Japanese to stand out in a global environment. His background spans over 21 years in intercultural consulting, international outreach, and global communication coaching.

Big 40 or 50 Looming Take Heart From These Ageless Champions!

Big 40 or 50 Looming Take Heart From These Ageless Champions! Do you have a milestone birthday in the next year or two? Maybe you’re turning 40, or 50. Are you already feeling a tiny sense of panic as you look back at what you’ve done over the past decade and judging your accomplishments â€" or seeming lack thereof?   Then, you look forward and wonder how you’re going to make your mark from 41-50, or 51 â€" 60? Do you see it as the end of something (your youth!?) or the beginning of something (your ability to apply your hard-won wisdom and knowledge)? You’re not alone in these mental gymnastics. According to his new book,  WHEN, best-selling author Daniel Pink examines the science of perfect timing. He suggests that endings are more important than beginnings. When do people become marathon runners? Highest percentage is age 29. Next is age 39. Then age 49.  A “9-ender” birthday is strategic. Mice in a maze accelerate to a faster pace when they get closer to food at the end. In taste tests of new varieties of Hershey Kisses, the last one tried scored the highest ratings. Obviously, there is something to this “ending” mentality. So, as that big whatever-0 bears down on you, take heart in knowing you can take advantage of the momentum the milestone brings. After all, that’s what separates the women from the girls. Take for example, the friends who, in their 60s, decided to start an online publication â€" with no experience in the publishing industry. They just happened to be talking about their ages and how magazines didn’t acknowledge that women over 50 (heck, sometimes even over 45) don’t exist anymore. They simply have become invisible. At a time when they had more expendable income than ever, more free time, and the desire for the finer things their hard-earned money could buy, no one wanted to sell them anything but adult diapers and denture cream. With righteous indignation leading the way, they formed Women in Their Prime LLC and launched PrimeWomen.com. I for one know all about this “What am I going to do next?” mentality. After 15 years at an international architecture and interior design firm, I looked at my approaching 50th birthday and wondered if I wanted to continue my role as marketing director for the next 15+ years. The answer was a resounding no. So, with 3 months left in my 49th year, I joined my friend, PrimeWomen.com founder Dorthy Miller Shore, as the site’s Editor-In-Chief. It met my needs of using my talents (writing) and doing something I was passionate about: Helping other women â€" from both the side of the readers and the viewpoint of the contributors who have so much to share and are anxious to use THEIR talents. This role has also given me the opportunity to meet inspirational women who refuse to rest on their laurels. Over the past two years we’ve covered any number of women who made big life changes in their 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s, such as Donna Richardson, who began a fashion business called Donna’s Tiny House Boutique at 55. A former fitness and health host on ESPN, and correspondent for Today Show, CNN, BET and FOX, Donna is also creating and producing her own travel show for women.  At the age of 50, Donna climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. She led her team in the Hood To Coast Relay 200 mile run (at age 52), and the Paris Marathon (at age 54). At age 65, Judi Wineland bought AdventureWomen Travel along with her two adult daughters just over two years ago. Her company specializes in experiential travel to unusual destinations for women of all ages, helping them to get outside their comfort zones both physically and socially. Destinations include Mt. Kilimanjaro, Morocco, Peru, Bhutan and many more. The moral is that life is not a series of aging milestones at which point you should be doing this, or doing that. You don’t need to decide you’ve waited too long to take a career risk, or learn something new. You also don’t need to wait until you are 50+ to decide that living your passion takes precedence over winning the rat race.   Yes, you can do all those things whenever they feel authentic to your heart and mind. So, when that milestone birthday panic starts to rear its head, instead of thinking of it as an ending or a door closing, think of it as a springboard that gets you closer to who you want to be. This guest post was authored by  Ann R. Franks Ann Franks has over 30 years’ experience writing for Radio TV advertising, marketing and public relations. She has worked for advertising agencies where she produced commercials for everything from Quarter Pounders to Chevy pickups, and for architecture firms where she was responsible for their marketing materials, communications and proposals for hospitals, airports and corporate headquarters. As  editor in chief of PRiME, her goal is to provide readership with information, resources and inspiration to handle whatever life throws at them.