It's a simple question, and you've probably answered it hundreds of times. "What do you do?" If you're like most people, you probably get the answer dead wrong.

Since the whole point of this article is to help you make the most of your time and career, I won't waste words here. All three of these techniques work well, but you should pick the one that best fits your personality and personal situation:

While you have been earning a living here on Earth, Jill Tarter has spent her professional years looking for signs of intelligent life everywhere else. She was the longtime director of the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program.

"A superior leader is a person who can bring ordinary people together to achieve extraordinary results." I learned this a few dozen years ago at Wharton, from an entrepreneur who had enjoyed tremendous success. He was right.