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Plan on training to run a full marathon.

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If you're running a marathon this year and you're worried about the task ahead, relax. We're here to advise you on what to do a month out, a week away, even the day of. Shoe tips? Check. Hydration strategy? It's here. Taper advice? Got it.

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Becoming a billionaire to help give water to those in need.

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The Water Project - A Charity Providing Access to Clean Water in Africa

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The Water Project is a charity that provides access to clean, safe and reliable water and sanitation solutions across sub-Saharan Africa, one village at a time.

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Read the bible from beginning to end

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Read the Bible online. A free Bible on your phone, tablet, or computer.

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Read God's Word at anytime, anywhere using the YouVersion Bible App. Share Scripture with friends, highlight passages, and create a daily habit with Bible Plans.

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Buying my very first house.

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Phillip Spears | Getty Images
Mortgage payments
Will you be able to comfortably keep up with your mortgage in the first few months after purchase? Some lenders require additional cash reserves to prove that you're able to make payments, Derus says. But even if it's not required, it's smart to know that you're set.

"What's to say that a week after closing, the company you work for goes bankrupt and you lose your job, or something like that?" Derus says. "You want to make sure that you have additional money set aside, just in case something happens."

You should include taxes and insurance payments in this category as well.
Repairs and maintenance
Chances are, your house won't be perfect on move-in day. Whether it's adding a fence or getting rid of that garish yellow paint in the living room, you'll want to have cash ready for repairs and maintenance.

Going forward, homeowners should expect to pay 10-to-20 percent of the price of the home each year, according to Derus. That covers expected costs, such as mortgage payments, insurance, utility bills and taxes, and also maintenance costs.

Plan to have a savings cushion for irregular expenses, too, such as replacing a leaky roof or installing a security system.
Emergency fund
Buying a home typically signifies that you've reached a major savings goal, so it's normal to see your accounts drain. But you should still have a separate emergency fund stocked with three to six months' worth of living expenses.

If closing on your house means emptying out your entire savings account, you might want to rethink whether you can truly afford a home right now.

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Here's how much you need to save to afford to buy a home

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Phillip Spears | Getty Images Mortgage payments Will you be able to comfortably keep up with your mortgage in the first few months after purchase? Some lenders require additional cash reserves to prove that you're able to make payments, Derus says. But even if it's not required, it's smart to know that you're set.

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Being the best employee, so I don´t get fired.

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15 Quick Tips for Excelling at Work

by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Most of us want to be good employees - and most of us want to excel at our jobs. To be a successful employee and excel at work, though, is not simply a matter of being good at what you do. Being a successful employee also involves issues such as professionalism, attitude, and teamwork - all of which is the thrust of this article.

Here's our list of the 15 best tips for how to excel in your job at work.

Learn how to perform your job well. There's a big difference between just doing your job and doing your job well - and with pride. Making the extra effort, ratcheting up your game a notch or two, and taking steps to fill any voids in your work will all help you shine in your job.

Work hard. It used to be that just showing up for work was enough to get by in some companies, but those days are long gone. Today, you not only have to show up and be at your job the full day (arriving on time and not leaving early), but also put in a full day of work. Keep personal calls, emails, texts, and the like to a minimum.

Act professionally. No matter what your job, it's important to be serious and focused on what you do - and act professionally in all situations. There's a time and place for fooling around, and it is not the workplace. Professionals follow the rules and are courteous, friendly, and tactful. Acting professionally also means dressing appropriately for your job.

Express positive attitude. You don't have to be "Cheerful Sally" - in fact, don't be or you might not be taken seriously - but having a positive and go-get'em disposition is important. People like working with - and helping - co-workers with a positive attitude. People with negative attitudes - "Debbie Downer" - drag everyone around them down.

Take initiative. You may be very good at your job - and that is important - but do you ever try to push the limits of your work? In other words, do you ever consider better ways you could do your job - or better ways your department could work - and make suggestions to your boss? Just do not confuse taking initiative with knowing it all.

Be a good team player. To be successful in most jobs today, workers must also be good team players. Review how well you work in teams, examining key issues such as communications, working relationships, team successes (and failures). For a reality check, you might consider asking a few teammates for some honest feedback. You might also want to take our free teamwork assessment, Are You a Team Player? A Quintessential Careers Quiz.

Know your boss. You don't have to be best friends with your boss; in fact, you don't even need to like your boss. You should, however, know your boss. In other words, the better you understand how your boss thinks, acts, and manages, the better you perform your job to his/her expectations and demands.

Understand your employer. Some people work at their jobs for years without really knowing or understanding their employer. Taking the time to understand the organization's mission, goals, strategies, and products/services will help you better understand your role within it - and the value of the job you provide.

Take (constructive) criticism gracefully. One of the hardest things for all of us to learn is how to handle constructive criticism - and how to use these critiques to improve our performance on the job. Yes, some bosses are truly nit-pickers, wanting everything done their way or not at all, but most bosses are simply providing feedback so you can perform your job better... so you can excel at your work.

Cultivate relationships. Having workplace friendships with some of the folks who work with or near you is usually a positive element in job satisfaction - which should result in greater motivation to perform your job to the best of your abilities. Just be sure you make friends with positive people who, like you, are focused on excelling at their work.

Take opportunities to learn new skills, jobs. The longer we work at one job, the more likely we'll get bored with it - perhaps just going through the motions - until we are no longer excelling in our jobs. One way around this problem is taking opportunities for additional educational and training when your employer offers them.

Be part of the solution. Don't be the worker everyone hates - the one who is always quick to point out the problems... while offering no solutions. Instead, when possible, strive to be a problem-solver. Problem-solvers are a valuable commodity in every workplace.

Avoid gossip. It should go without saying - but we're saying it anyway - that it's always best to turn a deaf ear to gossip and rumors. No matter how good a worker you may be, getting caught in the web of gossip will quickly downgrade your standing with your boss and employer.

Volunteer for new projects. Whether to seek a little variety with your job or to try to score some points with the boss, volunteering to take on additional work and responsibilities can lead to greater job satisfaction, better work performance, and perhaps even a new direction for your career.

Mentor new employees and younger workers. One of the greatest goods in the workplace is when an experienced worker mentors a younger, inexperienced worker. Helping the new worker learn the ropes will provide you great personal satisfaction - and will also put you in good standing with the boss.

Final Thoughts on Excelling at Work

For most of us, it's important to strive to be the best worker we can be - to excel at our jobs. It's not necessarily about impressing the bosses and obtaining a promotion (though you may desire that down the road) - it's more about having a sense of accomplishment for a job well done.Finally, remember that when you are the person that's new to the job - or learning a new task - it's always better to ask questions (even repeating the same ones until you fully understand the answer) than to proceed blindly and stumble so badly that you have no chance of recovering.While there is no such thing as job security anymore, following the tips in this article should help you become an indispensable member of the organization's team.

Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key college, career, and job-search terms by going to our Job-Seeker's Glossary of Job-Hunting Terms. Dr. Randall S. Hansen is founder of Quintessential Careers, one of the oldest and most comprehensive career development sites on the Web, as well CEO of EmpoweringSites.com. He is also founder of MyCollegeSuccessStory.com and EnhanceMyVocabulary.com. He is publisher of Quintessential Careers Press, including the Quintessential Careers electronic newsletter, QuintZine. Dr. Hansen is also a published author, with several books, chapters in books, and hundreds of articles. He's often quoted in the media and conducts empowering workshops around the country. Finally, Dr. Hansen is also an educator, having taught at the college level for more than 15 years. Visit his personal Website or reach him by email at randall(at)quintcareers.com. Check out Dr. Hansen on GooglePlus.

Enhance your career! Take advantage of all of our expert free career development advice, tools, and more in our Career Resources Toolkit for Job-Seekers.

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15 Quick Tips for Excelling at Work | LiveCareer

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15 Quick Tips for Excelling at Work by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D. Most of us want to be good employees - and most of us want to excel at our jobs. To be a successful employee and excel at work, though, is not simply a matter of being good at what you do.

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I plan on staying on top of any/all work.

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Georgie shows you some secrets to getting your homework done fast.

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Graduating HS.

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All high schools require students to complete a certain number of courses in order to graduate. If you're worried about coming up short, Credit Recovery Courses can help get you back on track so you can graduate high school on time.

At Sterling Academy, we offer 55 credit recovery courses, from core subjects to electives -- courses such as geometry, biology and psychology.

Credit recovery is an excellent option for two reasons:

1. You took a class but failed it. Even if you're a pretty good student most of the time, sometimes a particular subject is simply tougher to grasp. In a traditional classroom setting, you may not be able to get as much help as you need to stay up with the class. With a credit recovery course you are able to build on the knowledge you already have to work hard and pass the course.

2. You took a class and passed it, but only got a D. If you plan to apply to college, re-taking a course in which you earned a D can help boost your GPA. (Courses with a grade of C or higher cannot be re-taken for credit.) A boost in your GPA can equate to easier college acceptance and the option to not take remedial courses when entering college.

Customized learning.
When you enroll in an online credit recovery course, you will not have to re-study material you have already mastered. You'll start each unit with a pre-test, and if you pass you can skip that unit and move on to the next one. In this way, you can concentrate on what you still need to learn and finish the course sooner, helping make sure you can graduate on time.

And there's another advantage. As an online student, you can get as much help as you need. Whenever you have questions or you feel stuck on something, teachers are available to assist you one-on-one.
Online enrollment makes it easy to take credit recovery courses.
No matter what high school you attend, you can enroll as a part-time student at Sterling Academy to take one or more credit recovery courses. Because we are an online high school, you can study on your own schedule, from anywhere with an internet connection. That makes it easy to accommodate your regular class and after-school schedule while making up essential course credits.
Transfer your credits back to your regular high school.
Sterling Academy is accredited by AdvancED/SACS, an agency which is widely recognized by public and private high schools as well as colleges and universities. That means you should be able to easily transfer the credits you earn with us back to your regular school. However, it will be up to your high school to make the final decision about accepting credits.

Your school will look at two criteria when making that decision:

1. They will look at the course content to be sure it covers similar enough material as their course. If not, they may accept your incoming credits for a different course or reject the transfer of credits.

2. Credit transfer is especially simple when both schools use the same credit system. For instance Sterling Academy assigns one credit per full-year high school course, which is standard in Florida. If your school uses a format that is substantially different, transfer may be a bit more complicated.

You can easily address these questions ahead of time, so when you enroll in a credit recovery course at Sterling Academy you'll know for certain the credits you earn can be easily transferred and you'll be able to graduate on time.

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What can I do to make sure I graduate high school in time?

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All high schools require students to complete a certain number of courses in order to graduate. If you're worried about coming up short, Credit Recovery Courses can help get you back on track so you can graduate high school on time.

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How to get started on joining the military.

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There are two main ways to join today's volunteer Military: enlisting directly after high school or finishing college and joining as a commissioned officer. Enlistment is the most common way to join. Familiarizing yourself with the enlistment process can be helpful, as there are a few things that you'll likely go through no matter which course you choose.

Enlisted vs. Officer?

In all military branches, servicemembers are divided into two categories: enlisted or officer. Both types of servicemembers are crucial to successful missions.

Enlisted members are employed in almost every type of military career, often in hands-on roles. They make up approximately 83 percent of the overall active-duty military workforce (This figure includes noncommissioned officers (NCOs), who, despite the title, are higher-ranking enlisted personnel).

are generally employed in management roles or highly specialized fields that require more training (e.g., doctors, lawyers and chaplains). Commissioned officers account for approximately 18 percent of all active-duty servicemembers.

Doing the Research

Before you do anything else, do a little research. If you know a friend or family member who has spent time in the Military, now is the time to sit down and hear what he or she has to say. The Internet is also a good place to conduct research, but take what you read with a grain of salt. It is sometimes hard to tell which sources are official. These sites below are good starting points.

Visiting a Recruiter

Once you've done your research and have a sense of which Service branches and opportunities are right for you, it's time to talk to a recruiter. A recruiter can give you detailed information about the Service he or she represents (such as enlistment bonuses, service lifestyle and potential careers) and can answer any questions about your specific situation (for example, if you need a waiver, have dependent children or a physical condition that may or may not affect your eligibility). Recruiters serve for one specific branch; however, there are joint recruiting centers that have multiple branches and corresponding recruiters represented. While no single recruiter can answer every question off the top of his or her head, recruiters will know where to find the answers.

It's fine to bring a friend or parent to the recruiter with you for support. It's also a good idea to make a list of questions beforehand so you don't forget anything. You'll probably talk to your recruiter multiple times before making a decision, so don't worry if you do forget something.

Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS)

Once you make the decision to enlist, the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) is the place where recruits go to finish the enlistment process. There are MEPS locations all over the country. Candidates officially complete the process of joining the Military once they meet all of the requirements at the MEPS. This process may take a few days.

Potential recruits must do the following at the MEPS:

Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

The ASVAB is a multiple-choice exam that helps determine which kinds of careers an individual is best suited for. There are questions about math, language, science, mechanical and electronic knowledge and more. The test lasts about three hours and is one of the factors used to determine which military specialties you'd be good at.

Pass the Physical Examination

Your recruiter will discuss physical requirements with you beforehand. While the physical examination varies from branch to branch, it typically includes completing a medical history questionnaire, taking basic blood, urine and flexibility tests, as well as hearing and vision exams.

Meet With a MEPS Career Counselor and Determine a Career

Along with your ASVAB results, a MEPS career counselor will take Service needs, any prior experience and your wishes into account when helping you find a career.

Take the Oath of Enlistment (swearing in)

Led by a commissioned officer and always performed in front of a United States flag, the Oath of Enlistment is when you raise your right hand, repeat the oath and become a full-fledged member of the U.S. Military. During the Oath every servicemember vows to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.

What Happens After the MEPS

After finishing at the MEPS, candidates follow one of two options:

"Direct Ship" - This means that a candidate will leave for Basic Training in a matter of days versus months.

Delayed Entry Program (DEP) - This means that a recruit is committing to Basic Training at a time in the future, generally within one year. Candidates entering the DEP will be given further instruction, to be followed at a later time.

It's important to note that, depending on which option you choose, the time between being "sworn in" and Basic Training could be as short as two days or as long as a year. It also varies based on job assignment and branch of Service.

Learn more about MEPS and DEP
Basic Training (Boot Camp)

Advanced preparation is the foundation for a successful Basic Training experience. Recruits should do everything they can to make the transition from civilian life to military life as seamless as possible. Starting or increasing the intensity of an exercise regimen will get your body in shape. Reading about your chosen Service is also helpful and can help you know what to expect in the weeks ahead. This checklist can help you prepare what you'll need to bring.

Checklist: Basic Training

The first few days at Basic Training are known as orientation (also referred to as "Processing Week," "Reception" or "00 Week"). This is where new recruits adjust to their new surroundings and learn the dos and don'ts of their respective branches. Also during orientation, new recruits might:

Turn in enlistment packages (paperwork from the MEPS)

Receive dental and medical exams

Get immunizations

Receive uniforms and training gear (shorts/sweats, t-shirts, etc.)

Receive required haircuts (women can keep their hair long provided it can be worn within regulation and put up in a timely manner; it must be neatly tied back and be kept above the collar)

Create direct-deposit accounts for paychecks

Starting at orientation, the actual training begins. This varies from Service to Service and lasts between eight and 12 weeks. When recruits successfully complete Basic Training, they are prepared for all elements of service: physical, mental and emotional. As military personnel, they will go on to receive additional training, such as Advanced Individual Training or Technical Training, to develop the skills needed to do their specific jobs. Once finished, they transfer to their next duty stations. This is where members of the Services put all their training to use by carrying out their assignments, performing their jobs and serving our country.

More on Boot Camp
Advancement Opportunities for Enlisted Personnel

There are several ways an enlisted servicemember can advance up the ranks. Two possible routes are becoming a noncommissioned officer or transitioning from enlisted to commissioned officer:

Becoming a Noncommissioned Officer

Noncommissioned officers (NCOs) are higher-ranking enlisted personnel who play a crucial role in day-to-day military operations and are often referred to as the "backbone" of the Armed Forces. Serving as the liaison between commissioned officers and lower-ranking enlisted personnel, they are responsible for providing advice and guidance to officers as well as leadership and training to lower-ranking enlisted personnel. To become a noncommissioned officer a servicemember must rise up through the enlisted ranks. A servicemember can only be appointed to noncommissioned officer if he or she is promoted by a higher-ranking officer.

Transitioning from Enlisted to Officer

Some enlisted service members make the transition into officer roles. Enlisted service members with the right qualifications may be recommended by their commanding officers for OCS/OTS or ROTC (if they plan to go back to school). Most Services also have transitional programs that help service members make the leap.
Learn more about becoming a commissioned officer

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There are two main ways to join today's volunteer Military: enlisting directly after high school or finishing college and joining as a commissioned officer. Enlistment is the most common way to join. Familiarizing yourself with the enlistment process can be helpful, as there are a few things that you'll likely go through no matter which course you choose.

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1 VIDEO
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2 ARTICLES

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1 VIDEO
1 WEBSITE
2 ARTICLES