Operations Specialist (OS) in US Navy

Operations Specialist (OS) in US NavyOperations Specialist (OS) in US NavyOperation Specialists (OS) function as plotters, radio-telephone and Command and Control sound-powered telephone talkers and maintain Combat Information Center (CIC) displays of strategic and tactical information. They operate surveillance and altitude radars Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), and associated equipment. They also serve as They also serve as Air Traffic Controllers for helicopters and fixed-wing supersonic jet aircraft. OS Sailors serve as watch supervisors and section leaders interpret and evaluate presentations and tactical situations and make recommendations to supervisors during watch conditions. They apply a thorough knowledge of doctrine and procedures applicable to CIC operations contained in U. S. Navy Instructions and Allied or U.S. Navy Publications and procedures necessary for radar navigation contained in Naval Oceanographic Office publications. OSs provide to the command technical i nformation and assistance related to Anti-Surface Warfare, Anti-Air Warfare, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Amphibious Warfare, Mine Warfare, Naval Gunfire Support, and search and rescue operations, and other matters pertaining to the Operations Specialists area. The duties performed by Operations Specialists include plot a ships position, heading, and speedoperate common marine electronic navigation instruments including radar systemsprovide target plotting data to the combat information center based on information received from target tracking devices. Working Environment Operations Specialists usually work in a clean, air-conditioned electronic equipment space or computer room, and frequently perform their work as part of a team, but may work on individual projects. Their work is mostly mental analysis and problem-solving. USN OSs are stationed primarily aboard USN deploying ships, FTS OSs are stationed aboard Naval Reserve Force (NRF) ships that deploy or conduct local operations. Upon completion of the course, OSs will be able to plot a ships position, heading, and speed operate common marine electronic navigation instruments including radar systems, and provide target plotting data to the combat information center based on information received from target tracking devices. Since Navy programs and courses are revised at times, the information contained on this rating card is subject to change. A-School (Job School) Information Virginia Beach, VA 61 calendar days ASVAB Score Requirement VE MK CS 157 or AR 2MK GS 210Security Clearance Requirement Secret Other Requirements Must have normal color perceptionMust have normal hearingMust have no speech impedimentMust be a U.S. Citizen Advancement opportunity and career progression are directly linked to a ratings manning level (i.e., personnel in undermanned ratings have greater promotion opportunity than those in overmanned ratings). Sea/Shore Rotation for This Rating First Sea Tour 54 monthsFirst Shor e Tour 36 monthsSecond Sea Tour 48 monthsSecond Shore Tour36 monthsThird Sea Tour 48 monthsThird Shore Tour 36 monthsFourth Sea Tour 36 monthsForth Shore Tour 36 months Sea tours and shore tours for sailors that have completed four sea tours will be 36 months at sea followed by 36 months ashore until retirement.

Customize this Outstanding Payroll Resume 6 Sample

Customize this Outstanding Payroll Resume 6 SampleCustomize this Outstanding Payroll Resume 6 SampleSample Payroll Systems Administrator ResumeCreate Resume OBJECTIVE To obtain a long-term position in payroll, financial, and human resources management where I may utilize my strong knowledge in payroll ordnungsprinzips, leadership skills, superb organizational skills and strong ability to learn new systems and procedures.EXPERIENCEJune 2008 Present Payroll Systems AdministratorUnified Grocers, Commerce, CATemp position. Handling all system related responsibilities including, creating and running special reports via Crystal 9.0. Maintaining employee PTO accruals and balances. Balancing, reconciling all payroll tax liabilities. Process all payroll tax deposits. Upgrading Kronos 5.0 to 6.0. Integrating non-exempt employees from newly acquired Seattle location onto the Kronos system. Setting up pay and work rules and perform required system testing. Various other projects as assigned.De c 2007 June 2008Various temporary assignments.Oct 2005 Dec 2007 Payroll ManagerEarl Scheib, Inc., Sherman Oaks, CAHired into a newly created position to guide the payroll staff through a system conversion and to organize and streamline the operations of the payroll/HR department. Responsible for training the payroll and HR staff to become effective users of PeopleSoft. Handle the maintenance and integrity of PeopleSoft including troubleshooting and testing system updates. Successful in the implementation of Kronos electronic time keeping system, which included the set up and testing of the system to prepare for the completion of a fully automated payroll process. Created training manuals. Coordinated and conducted training classes. Supervise a staff of three clerks. Prepare reports, process account reconciliations and prepare journal entries. Prepare weekly, monthly and quarterly tax deposits. Prepare 941s and W-2s. Prepare 401k deposits and reports. Process semi-monthly payroll f or the corporate staff and division managers. Responsible for handling unemployment claims, various questionnaires and all correspondence with state agencies to ensure full compliance with HR and Payroll policies. Acted as liaison for Teamsters Union. Oversee total payroll for 1000+ employees in a multi state environment. Full knowledge of FLSA, various tax and labor laws. Member of the American Payroll Association.Feb 2005 Sept 05 Payroll/Benefits CoordinatorKennedy-Western University, Agoura Hills, CAResponsible for processing bi-weekly payroll for approx. 150 employees. Processed monthly bonuses and commissions. Process payroll, bonus, and vacation/sick accruals. Reconcile GL entries. Administer 401k plan including organizing open enrollments and reporting bi-weekly deposits. Set up new hires. Process terminations and all payroll adjustments. Process garnishments, workers comp reports, government surveys and file various required US Labor forms and taxes. Coordinate Benefits, in cluding benefits orientation, reconciling insurance billing, send Cobra letters and answer any employee insurance concerns. Software used is ADP, TC1 (time clock) Excel, Solomon, and Outlook.Aug 2003 Feb 2005 Payroll Associate Macerich Company, Santa Monica, CAProcess bi-weekly multi-state payroll for approximately 2600 employees using ADP payroll system. Update, collect and import hours on E-time electronic time keeping system. Verify hours and PTO information. Process new hires, terminations, and all employee data changes. Process employee verifications and garnishments. Process government surveys including quarterly statistical reporting and EDD requests. Process workers compensation reports. Process 401K distributions, rollovers and hardship requests. Organize and process quarterly open enrollment for 401K. Perform various special projects as assigned. Create various data reports using Reportsmith.Sept. 2002 Dec. 2002 Payroll AccountantFirst Federal Bank Of California, Santa Monica, CAProcess semi-monthly payroll for approximately 500 employees using ADP and Reportsmith. Make all necessary changes to employee records. Generate manual checks as needed. Process the payroll-funding journal after each payroll and other journal entries as needed. Used Excel/Access to process journal entries, track attendance, and maintain employee database. Handled other payroll related issues as they occurred.May 1994 May 2002 Payroll/Benefits CoordinatorNiles Township High Schools, Skokie, ILReceive, organize and process payroll for approximately 1000 employees using in-house software. Administer all employee benefits. Printing and distributing liability checks. Maintain number of days worked for substitute teachers to be reported to the state pension agency. Maintain payroll, tax and benefit deduction controls such as, insurance, pension, annuity 403b, union dues, etc. Prepare all retiree pay outs including monthly payroll and all government surveys. Maintain court order s, wage garnishments, and tax deposits. Keep accurate payroll controls and balancing procedures. Resolve personal payroll problems as they occur (i.e. checking on pay rates, hours reported, amounts deducted, tax withholding, etc.) Set up contracts in system for new employees, re-issue schwefelyperit or stolen checks. Maintain and post on a bi-weekly basis attendance records for all staff. Prepared annual W-2s. Played key role in the implementation and conversion of Pentamation software. Represented the support staff union as a steward and contract negotiator. Attended several union training classes. Acted as grievance counselor for the districts support staff members. Handled and balanced monthly office petty cash. Perform various other payroll and bookkeeping functions as necessary.September 1988 May 1994 Accounting/Payroll clerk Wells Lamont, Niles, ILPayables for all freight bills. Matching accounts payable checks to corresponding invoices and distribution. In February of 1989 p romoted to accounts payable clerk. Sorted daily mail, matched invoices to purchase orders and receiving reports. Determined when invoices were due to be paid and then entered into the computer for payment. Keep records of the entire daily input. Monthly accruals. January 1991 promoted to plant and warehouse payroll clerk. Processed via ADP. Made corrections to payroll input when needed. Type manual checks when needed. Balance and report taxes. Balance general ledger accounts. Input most payroll data. Post to the general ledger and did journal entries and maintained all records of employee earnings and deductions.References upon request.Customize Resume

Your Resume File Name Matters How to Name Your Resume

Your Resume File Name Matters How to Name Your Resume Your Resume File Name Matters How to Name Your Resume

How To Write Teaching Experience on a resume - Free Resume Builder

How To Write Teaching Experience on a resume - Free Resume BuilderHow To Write Teaching Experience on a resume - Free Resume BuilderWhile writing a resume for teacher one of the most crucial part is adding work experience. This is the main part of the resume and hence should be written carefully. Here are some good bullet point you can add in work experience which will enhance a teacher resumeBuild My Resume NowEnsured that all students understand the curriculum, and supported weak students who required extra guidance, resulting in writing and reading comprehension test scores increasing 20% year on year.Implemented a personalised education plan for students with unique needs to increase individual growth.Crafted a unique program with the school library to foster an interest in History and Social Studies education.Created a reward system to manage classroom behavior, resulting in a marked decrease in detentions.Awarded Best Teacher of the Year for the XYZ School.Increased standardize d test scores in Math (40%) and Science (33%) by implementing unique creative coursework into the curriculum as an Elementary School Teacher.

The Upside to Fast Food Resume

The Upside to Fast Food Resume You learned the way to deal with complaints and issues in a professional method. In the majority of instances, a resume objective is merely a couple of sentences long. Resume objectives can be somewhat controversial. An objective is a brief statement that clarifies your goals concerning the form of employment desired and the way in which your skills make you a nice fit. The Hidden Truth About Fast Food Resume Youre wondering in case you should have a statement at the summit of your resume to bestattungs the hiring managers interest. A resume objective that could apply to anybody or any job isnt valuable. If you dont want to use a resume objective, you can merely use a heading below your name that indicates the kind of job that you want to apply for. In truth, it is probably the very first job a student usually lands on. Ok, I Think I Understand Fast Food Resume, Now Tell Me About Fast Food Resume Planning and making good decisions as you construct your plan of attack really can boost your work search. Possessing a flexible schedule is crucial. As a result, while your resume objective should incorporate information on the career that you would like, you also wish to spell out why you are the perfect candidate for the job. A in depth education section is the meat of a university student resume, so make certain you dont brush over it. The Ultimate Fast Food Resume Trick Excellent use of economy is one method to entice an employer and find that interview. Include examples of ways in which you could add value or even enhance the firm. The fast food business is always prepared to hire. To the remainder of the world its business as usual. In various ways, an objective replaces a lot of the detail you would place in your professional experience section. In addition, there are valuable experiences acquired via the job, something which you could use in different occupations. A resume objective can explain why your e qualified for the job, even if its the case that you do not own a lot of related experience. In the majority of places, you will get training at work. What Everybody Dislikes About Fast Food Resume and Why You might also have a peek at some useful resume keywords to further increase your resume. Lists, as a rule of thumb, are also simpler to write. You may also Simple Resume Template. When it is in your range and they ask you about it youre able to share with them that it is inside your range. Detecting a listing for an open dishwashing lokalitt is usually simple, but securing such a position isnt always so straightforward. Theres a long field of career objective examples that can be put in on entry level resumes. The quicker you begin building your resume, the faster you are able to land work. Life, Death, and Fast Food Resume The capability to move at a quick, steady pace, without distraction, is crucial. Your resume objective tells how you perfectly fit the work des cription and the way the job will help you in achieving your own personal objectives. Your resumes career objective should state that youre searching to join a stable business in a position that would supply you with the chance to expand your expertise and improve your abilities. The ideal objective for your resume depends upon your experience, goals, aspirations, and the job which youre trying for. Its not too hard if you know the fundamentals and you have a great sense of your surrounding. My goal is to find the job. The absolute most efficient objective is one which is tailored to the job youre applying for. Specialized Food Service Resume Samples If you simply need to see general food service resume examples and suggestions, continue reading Writing the ideal food service resume objective or summary can be difficult. Its not essential to include your education info, but if youve got a current food handler certificate, be certain to mention it. Some jobs require a certain quantity of travel on a normal basis. The Appeal of Fast Food Resume Focus on how you wish to grow within the provider. Rather than mentioning the way you can help your organization succeed, state directly that it is possible to help XYZ Company to succeed. The industry is just one of the most prosperous industries across the usa and around the planet, and perhaps the sort of business not likely affected with recessions. The fast-food business is totally free from recession worldwide.

Read What Gurus are Saying About Resume Writing Vacancy

Read What Gurus are Saying About Resume Writing Vacancy The Good, the Bad and Resume Writing Vacancy Check out ways to enhance yur odds of getting hired Getting to the peak of the resume pile is easy if youve got a properly crafted resume. There are a few things that dont belong on a resume for work. Therefore, if youre searching for a new job, it is very important that your resume stands from the crowd to guarantee you a spot on the shortlist. Reading content backwardsawkward and time-consuming though it can beis an excellent way to catch minor mistakes which you might otherwise miss. Its also important to think about the type of work you genuinely are interested in being hired to do. There isnt any reason for someones resume to go over two pages, except in rare conditions. Nothing differs in the event of deciding upon the resume writing service. The Dirty Facts on Resume Writing Vacancy Dont Copy Job Description When youre asking for a work role, its a fantastic concept to optimize your resume document for the work description, mainly in sections include your abilities and experiences. A work applicant will be highly conscious of the importance of a perfectly crafted resume. Whichever the case, youve got to submit a resume as a component of your work application. Your resume structure will also enable you to incorporate some achievements. The Argument About Resume Writing Vacancy It is much more challenging to pinpoint what it has gained. If you dont feel as if you have enough time to write essays by yourself, we will give you a hand, any instance of the day, seven days weekly. There are a lot of basic kinds of resumes used to make an application for job openings. The Importance of Resume Writing Vacancy There may be a chance like the firm want to recruit internally but as a norm place the advertisement. When using our resume or cover letter solutions, know that you will receive an incredible resume written by experts knowledgeable about your industry. For instance, if a candidate will submit an application for work where the expected daily salary will is more than $500, hell definitely take an opportunity of selecting the expert services of well reputed and costly resume service. By keeping the above mentioned demand in view, plenty of inexpensive resumes andonline resume writing services are offered for the ease of candidates, but its not easy for all of the jobless candidates to bear the excessive professional resume writing rates. All USAJOBS vacancy announcement needs to be read and interpreted before application. Most relevant pursuits and marketing training. Center company leadership training regime. Use the thorough sales manager job description to aid you. Evidently, there are several online resume writing services available at internet which also claim to present all these features to the customers. 1 page services utilized for resume ECQ instead, very similar to a Resume resume. If you may see the resumes of different clients at the web site that have used this online resume service for their resume formation, you shouldnt choose that service. angeschlossen for effective own particular conditions and appropriate experience. You are going to be surrounded by writing professionals throughout the plan of order placement, and the moment you opt to purchase essay and pick an allocated writer, things will get even more exciting. There is a familiar myth that experienced and skilled candidates usually locate the proper job much easier in comparison with the fresh candidates who only completed their studies. In fact, they know well that what type of information should be written in the resume so that they could justify that information in the interview. The majority of the resumes writing services dont provide the chance of direct contact by making use of their writers.

Dissecting the Job Posting

Dissecting the Job PostingDissecting the Job PostingHow long do you spend analyzing a job posting to determine if you are qualified and interested in the job and company? Probably not long enough.According to a study by the job-posting site TheLadders called Shedding Light on the Job Search, 44 percent of job seekers said they spend between one and five minutes reviewing a job posting, and 19 percent said they spent between five and ten minutes reviewing a post. In reality, the eye-tracking study, which analyzed how job seekers read and evaluate job listings, found the time spent looking at a job posting only averaged 49.2 to 76.7 seconds.See 8 Things That Are More Productive Than Staring at a Job Board.Most job postings are broken into several sections a general overview of the company and the role a key responsibilities section, listing job duties a qualifications section, which includes educational requirements, certifications, years of experience and other skills. Heres how to th oroughly evaluate a job description before you decide to apply.Move past the job title. Job titles can be misleading. Skim through the entire job posting and pay attention to the years of experience the position requires. Years of experience usually equate to the level of position. One to three years is usually considered entry level, four to nine years is midlevel and over 10 years usually indicates a senior-level position. This should also help you determine if you are underqualified or overqualified. Applying for a job you are overqualified for is just as bad as applying for a job you are underqualified for. Also notenzeichen if the description asks for industry- or job-specific experience or whether relevant experience is acceptable.Review the general overview or summary section. Within this section, usually listed at the top of the posting, you can learn about the company and get basic information about the role. This helps you determine if its the type of job and company you m ight be interested in working for. Read every job responsibility. Review each job responsibility and highlight the things you have already done and want to continue doing. You should have experience with at least half of the listed responsibilities, and highlighting the list helps you assess how well you match. If you do determine this is a job you are interested in applying for, you will have to come back to this section later. See How to Follow Up on a Job Application Without Being Annoying.Review the requirements section. You will see educational requirements, general skills and experience in this section, which usually falls at the bottom of the job posting. Some requirements will be critical or nonnegotiable to the employer, some may be flexible, but you wont know the answer unless you speak with the hiring manager. Identify the requirements you are missing and write a reason why your other skills or experience compensate for those you lack. You may choose to use these answers in your titelbild letter to overcome your missing qualifications. If you are lucky enough to get an interview, you will need to provide these answers during your interview.Read between the lines. You may notice some job descriptions sound very generic. The lack of specific requirements shouldnt hurt your chances of hitting the mark. A business analyst job description might require that the candidate possess excellent communication skills. What this really means is that the job will require you to compile your research and analysis into a written summary. Rather than generically listing communication skills on your resume, use the words report writing or written analysis in your summary and in a bullet point under your work experience. The bullet point should be an actual example of a time you produced a written summary, for example Conducted industry research and wrote executive summary used to present analysis to senior leadership. Led to entry into new consumer market worth potent ially $5 mio in revenue. Read about the company and understand what they do. Once you decide the job is interesting, investigate the companys products or services, know who their customers are and read testimonials. You want to do your due diligence on the company before you apply by asking your network about the company, looking for articles written about the company and checking Glassdoor for employee reviews. Accentuate the rare skills. Many applicants will be tossing their hat into the ring for the same jobs you are interested in. You want to meet the requirements plus add information that will knock the employers socks off, or at least, get them to notice you. Is there a technology skill listed as optional that you possess? Be sure to include these sorts of things on your resume and call attention to them in your cover letter by explaining why the skills will be valuable to your future employer. See 8 Tacky Job Search Faux Pas.Include your findings in your resume and cover lett er. Researching the company and understanding the role will help you customize your resume and cover letter. Your resume must prove you have the specific experience and skills requested. It is important to revise your resume to match the responsibilities you highlighted in the responsibilities section of the job posting. You want your resume to include as many of the job responsibilities as possible, without exaggerating or lying. Your cover letter will connect the dots and show the reader not only that you are qualified, but you are well-versed on the company as well.

Dont Believe These 8 Job Search Myths

Dont Believe These 8 Job Search MythsDont Believe These 8 Job Search MythsIf you are tired of the job search rat race, then stop doing what you are doing. While you are at it, dismiss all the assumptions youve made about how jobs get filled. People hire people, not rsums. Lets debunk your beliefs and myths associated with job searchingMYTH You will find your next job by applying online. You may believe that if you apply to enough jobs, youll eventually beat the odds and land one. While applying to jobs may make you feel productive, a recentCareerXroads survey shows thatonly 15 percent of positions were filled through job boards.Most jobs are either filled internally or through referrals. When you spend all your time and energy scoping out jobs and applying, youre hurting your chances.So what else should you be doing? Try a combination of things. Successful job seekers use a variety of tactics, such as contacting industry-specific recruiting agencies or third-party recruiters, meeting one-on-one with past colleagues, attending professional association meetings, volunteering and meeting new people every day. If this sounds daunting or almost impossible, remember More than 70 percent of people land jobs through networking. MYTH You should expect to hear a response soon after you apply.After you have taken time to research a company, modify yourrsumand go through the application process, youassume youll hear something. The reality is you may not hear back from the company. Expect this to be the norm and take proactive steps. Plan to follow up with someone in menschengerecht resources after you have submitted your application. Ask what the time frame is for filling the job, and then ask if your application was received. Always end every conversation by asking when you should follow up next and with whom. The really eager job seekers will make that call the same day the application is submitted. The less assertive job seekers wait about a week. MYTH Your cover letter willalwaysbe read in full.You cant make someone read your cover letter. In reality, some people will never read a cover letter, and others wont look at yourrsumuntil after reading your cover letter. And there are varying preferences in between. The bottom line is that you should always include a customized cover letter that explains specifically why you are interested in and qualified for the job and shares something about the company to show you are a fit. If you dont take the time to do this, then why should the company take time to review your qualifications for the job?MYTH You should network with human resources.One of the many roles human resources serves is to fill open job requisitions. Often, there are numerous requisitions in the pipeline, and the No. 1 priority is to fill these jobs. Requesting to network with human resources is not in your best interest nor in the best interest of the busy human resources professional. He or she probably doesnt know about future opening s or department-level plans. And and even if he or she did, the advice you get would be to wait until you see something posted.Invest your time reaching out to peer-level employees inside a company. Learn how these employees landed the job, what the company culture is like and the skills and responsibilities required in the job. MYTH The best time to network is after the job has been posted.You see the perfect job posted and believe youre a match. With great excitement, you reach out to someone inside the company only to get ignored or brushed off. Youre doing the right thing, so why isnt it working? Youre too late to the party. That job has probably been circulating inside the company for weeks. The person you are contacting may even be in the running for the job.The best time to network is in advance of job opportunities being posted. In fact, networking after a job has been posted really isnt networking its tracking down a job. Thats not badin fact, its recommended butits not tru ly networking. Startidentifying companies you would like to work for, and begin networking before jobs are posted. MYTH You will be granted an vorstellungsgesprch for every job you apply to.If youve purposely submitted a vague or generalrsumwith the hope that a recruiter will call for more details, thinkagain. Most of the time, you will not receive a call. Recruiters, human resources staff and the hiring manager only call you if you are a good match for the job. If your application andrsumdont show how you are a perfect match for the job, the recruiter has very little interest in speaking with you. MYTH Your references are contacted before or during the interview process.Every company has a different policy regarding reference checking. Seldom will your references get checked whilersums are being reviewed or during the interview process. It costs time and money to verify references, and if there are multiple candidates applying and interviewing,this can be a costly investment.On the other hand, a quick Internet search can often reveal information, so some recruiters may be checking you out online. Carefully select the people you want to serve as references, and prepare them to provide the most relevant and important details about you. MYTH Yourrsumis the most important job search tool.It is important to have a well-writtenrsum. However, how many hours do you spend updating, modifying, tweaking andadapting it? Too many. The numerous hours you spend hiding behind a computer screen means you arent spending time on the phone reaching out to people or attending one-on-one networking meetings.Invest your time wisely. How many people will actually take the time to thoroughly review yourrsumand ask you questions about each job you held? Much ofthe detail you obsess over is irrelevant to hiring professionals or will be overlooked in haste.Hannah Morganwrites and speaks on career topics and job search trends on her blogCareer Sherpa. She co-authored Social Networking fo r Business Success, and has developed and delivered programs to help job seekers understand how to look for work better.

Mentally strong How to become with secrets from neuroscience

Mentally strong How to become with secrets from neuroscienceMentally strong How to become with secrets from neuroscienceEver get to the point where your brain is just pooped? The ol grey matter is waving the white flag. Youre exhausted. You cant go on. Youve got no mora mental energyWell, sorry, but thats just notlage true.In fact, you know its not true. When the deadline is in 5 hours, you can work for five hours straight. But when the deadline is next week, suddenly you cant work for 20 minutes before your eyes are glazing over. What gives?Oddly enough, we can find an answer in cutting edge research coming out of Would you believe me if I said professional sports? Seriously.A sprinter breaks a record. The commentators are saying how that competitor gave it his or her all Really? Did the sprinter use every bit of energy they had? Then why didnt they die? Im serious.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreWhy didnt their heart stop beating because it had no energy? Why didnt their brain stop functioning from lack of calories? Why didnt their thighs muscles snap?But youve never seen an athlete just die from exhaustion, have you? Why not? Something flipped the tired switch before their heart, brain or muscles gave out. Long before.And that thing is your governor. No, were not talking about politics. Were talking Central Governor Theory. Something in your brain that regulates energy use in your body - and your mind.At the end of a grueling event have you ever seen an athlete kick it into high gear? They were wiped, but suddenly the finish line is visible and the afterburners kick in. If they were really out of gas, how could they kick it up a notch in the final moments?Because they werent out of gas. Their governor told them they were tired. But with the end in sight, wily old G stopped holding them back.From Endure Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of philanthropisch PerformanceBut when I asked Noakes for the single most convincing piece of evidence in favor of his theory, he said, without hesitation, the end spurt. How could the runners at Comrades, after pushing themselves through 56 miles of hell, summon a finishing sprint to beat the 12-hour limit? Conventional physiology suggests that you get progressively more fatigued over the course of a run, as muscle fibers fail and fuel stores are emptied. But then, when the end is in sight, you speed up. Clearly your muscles were capable of going faster in the preceding miles so why didnt they?Your brain doesnt want your gas tank to ever get anywhere close to zero. It doesnt want you to blow ligaments or tear muscles. And it also knows that its quite the energy hog itself, with your neurons burning as many as 20% of your daily calories.So its a miser. The governor errs on the side of being conservative. And your body and your mind feel tired long before youve gotten anywhere near empt y.But can we trick that governor into easing up a bit so we can increase our mental stamina? Sure we can. The answer lies at the intersection of sports science and neuroscience. And its not nearly as difficult as you think.Lets get to it 1) Cheer upWant to be mentally tougher? Want the challenges ahead to seem easier? Try this esoteric technique called smiling.From Endure Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance known as the facial feedback hypothesis, an idea that can be traced back to Charles Darwin just as emotions trigger a physical response, that physical response can amplify or perhaps even create the corresponding emotion. Related experiments have extended this finding to clusters of related mental states smiling, for instance, makes you happier, but it also enhances feelings of safety and- intriguingly- cognitive ease, a concept intimately tied to effort.You get exhausted and you grimace. But when you grimace you make yourself tired. The feedback loo p works both ways. So smile. You can trick your governor into thinking things are easy.Across the board, feeling good increases endurance. Optimism increases grit. Looking at cute animals reduces stress. And thats not only true in the lab What do people with the highest levels of mental and physical endurance say? When I interviewed Army Ranger Joe Asher he said this was the attitude that got him through his incredibly difficult trainingIf I can laugh once a day, every day Im in Ranger School, Ill make it through.Navy SEAL Platoon Commander James Waters told me the saatkorn thingYouve got to have fun and be able to laugh laugh at yourself and laugh at what youre doing. My best friend and I laughed our way through BUD/S.If you want to be able to endure, be positive. Smile. Laugh. It helps people keep going during the toughest moments in life, including combat and severe illness.From Resilience The Science of Mastering Lifes Greatest ChallengesSubstantial evidence exists for the effec tiveness of humor as a coping mechanism. Studies involving combat veterans (Hendin Haas, 1984), cancer patients (Carver, 1993), and surgical patients (Culver et al., 2002) have found that when humor is used to reduce the threatening nature of stressful situations, it is associated with resilience and the capacity to tolerate stress (Martin, 2003).(To learn more about the science of a successful life, check out my bestselling book here.)Now if that was all it took, high school cheerleaders would win all the Nobel Prizes in physics and go on to be Navy SEALs. So what else does it take to build mental endurance?2) Train your brainYour brain is a muscle. Its cliche, I know. But even when we want to get mentally stronger we sure dont put that metaphor into action.If you wanted bigger biceps, youd increase the weight at the gym. And if you want more brain stamina, you need to systematically increase how long you make it work.From Endure Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Hum an Performance long years of training help the mind adapt to resist mental fatigue, just as the body adapts to resist physical fatigue.You might say, work gets boring. But thats not you talking thats your governor. Its sneaky, making you feel bored or tired so you never get anywhere close to your capacity - or your potential.Every time youre doing some serious brain work, try and go a little longer without a break.From Endure Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human PerformanceBeing boring is an important characteristic for inducing mental fatigue and, therefore, a brain training effect, he replied. Just do a longer session of one test at a time.Georgetown professor and author of the bestseller Deep Work, Cal Newport, recommends the exact same thing. Doing a little more each day is a simple method for increasing your brains stamina.(To learn the seven-step morning ritual that will make you happy all day, click here.)Dont stop reading now - dont give in to your governo r. Just one more left 3) Perception beats realityIf it was all about how much gas you have in the tank, then your energy levels would always determine your performance. And you know thats not the case.Ever work longer and harder because theres a looming deadline? Ever suddenly feel tired because you look at the clock and realize youve been at it for hours? So its not about how depleted you actually are - its about how exhausted you think you are.Researchers call this perceived exertion. Your brain relies on cues from your body and environment to determine when you should feel exhausted - and when the governor should kick in.Researchers at Canterbury Christ Church University in Britain gave cyclists konserves of caffeine before a series of time trials - but they didnt tell them exactly how much. The subjects that believed they had been given a moderate dose rode 1.3 percent faster. If they thought they had taken a high dose they were 3.1 percent faster. And those who thought they got the placebo rode 1.4 percent slower. But guess what?They had all been given the placebo. Their performance differences were completely due to their beliefs, not how much energy they really had. So we need to trick that governor.What makes you feel like youve been working hard? Do you eye the clock and say, Jeez, Ive been at this for hours? Do you look at the work youve completed and say, Whoa. Thats a lot?Reduce how much effort your governor perceives and youll reduce how tired you feel. And whats the best way to do that? Make any mental effort into a game.Work challenges you, frustrates you and takes hours. And you get tired. Video games challenge you, frustrate you and can take hours. And theyre addicting. Its all about perception.When you see things as a game, you dont perceive effort the same way. And so you keep going.Whats one of the things people who live through disaster scenarios have in common? They make survival a game.Happiness expert Shawn Achor said the best way to deal with stress is to see problems as challenges, not threats.Kids do better in school when its treated like a game.And Navy SEALJames Waters said the same thing about getting through his trainingMany people dont recognize that what theyre doing at BUD/S is assessing your ability to handle a difficult circumstance and keep going. Its a game. If you want to be a Navy SEAL, youve got to play that game. Youve got to have fun with it and youve got to keep your eye on the bigger picture.So how do you make things into a game? Challenge yourself. Set a goal. Get feedback. Score yourself. And try to do better. Can I accomplish this faster than I did last time? Can I cut this from 5 pages to 4 and still get my point across?(To learn more about how to increase mental toughness - from Navy SEALs and Olympians, click here.)Okay, weve learned a lot. Lets round it all up and find out why everyones favorite mental stamina booster - caffeine - is proof that these tips can help Sum UpThis is ho w to become mentally strongCheer up Smile. Be optimistic. Laugh. They improve endurance and grit. (Side effects may include happiness and enjoying life.)Train your brain Push that mental muscle and it will grow. Work a little longer each time and youll be able to work a lot longer over time.Perceptions beats reality Reduce the signals that make you think things are tiring and they wont be as tiring. Make it a game instead of a chore.Caffeine gives you more energy, right? Wrong. Caffeine doesnt give you more of anything.Adenosine is a chemical in your body that tells your brain youre tired. And caffeine blocks adenosine. The tired message never reaches the governor, and so the governor doesnt hit the brakes. Caffeine works via that same principle we talked about above - it reduces perception of effort.And that, dearie, is what keeps coffee-guzzling bloggers blogging.From Endure Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance caffeines ability to shut down receptors in the brain that detect the presence of adenosine, a neuromodulator molecule associated with mental fatigue. Warding off mental fatigue, in turn, keeps your sense of effort lower, allowing you to exert yourself harder and longer.So you dont need more energy. You need to act like a giant caffeine molecule and hide cues in your environment that remind you how tired you should be.Throw in a few laughs and smiles. Build your endurance over time by extending your bouts of work a little each time. And, most of all, keep the Central Governor Theory in mind. You can always do more than you think.Remember how The Little Engine That Could kept going? Well, that tiny train didnt read as much science as you do, so youre one step ahead of him. She said, I think I can.You know you can.This article first appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree.