Resolutions and Regrets

Most earthlings have culturally painted the ‘infant’ moments of a year with innumerable staff: fireworks, parties, overnight church services amongst many other activities. However, one that can’t duck your utmost attention is all the hype, fuss and talk about New Year resolutions. If everyone’s resolutions really came to fruition, the world would be an extremely excellent place.

Well, at least everyone is subject to change-both intentional and unintentional. In this case, intentional would be more appropriate to describe what majority usually go for when drafting and proclaiming their New Year resolutions.

Needless to say is the fact that the average achievement rate for the resolutions rarely goes beyond 5% for at least 70% of the resolution makers. Furthermore, the research suggests that most resolution makers give up on their resolutions even before Valentine’s Day. Now, basing on that, it’s absolutely relevant to examine in detail why the disparity exists and sparingly, establish possible alternatives to the whole New Year resolution ‘thing’.

May be you are just one of those creatures that has witnessed extreme failure or incompatibility with your resolutions. Like you, i experience that often. In fact by April, I almost forget what the resolutions looked like. By   mid-year, I’ll already be thinking of the next year’s resolutions. And before I catch the drift, I’m already on the verge of utter despair, confusion and at worst, recycled failures. Really! That sucks.

To prevent all these from happening again, change has to take place-intentional. And this is what me and you ought to figure out:

Every-day is an opportunity for change

Our creator never conditioned us to take on a pre-determined time when we feel the need for change. Fact that the calendar is man’s invention basically implies that any time is appropriate for change. Don’t be skeptical about that. Why hang around from February to December waiting January to kick then finally sit your ass down to draft and proclaim your new resolutions. That’s awful. Look, make resolutions anytime. Use the calendar for your birthdays. Or may be decorating your office and living room. Oh! And checking dates too.

Conflicting desires and resolutions

Losing weight happens to be one of the most common New Year Resolution for most people. Gyms have been known to record high enrollment rates in January. Occasionally, all year round you look at yourself, curse your extra fats, bitch and whine to your cunning appetite and eventually wait the beginning of the upcoming year to think about what to do about that. That’s the genesis of your problems.

Well, as you enjoy pizza, ice creams, and the immense variety of fries your kitchen or favorite restaurant offers you, remember the abrupt change in the year is not miracle for your problem. Your desires and resolutions can only be compared to the North and another North Pole. No moment in time on earth will the two ever attract one another?

Do you feel something wrong with your body, career, financial situation or any other staff, don’t hesitate to act on it; soon as you recognize it, launch your actions instantly. Conflicting desires hinder necessary action and make your resolutions an illusion.

Willpower

Summoning our will power and vowing to try harder” this time around” will rarely bring change to our lives as most of us often think. Doing things on our own, as regards the above, is just another form of wasted effort.

One thing we ought to take note of is people always do what they want to do. The Reformation theologian Thomas Cranmer held the following view:

“What the heart loves, the will chooses, and the mind justifies. The mind doesn’t direct the will. The mind is actually captive to what the will wants, and the will itself, in turn, is captive to what the heart wants.”

Your heart is therefore the ultimate decision maker. If it’s not involved, the rest is only vain attempt(s).

However, this does not imply we abandon any hope for change. No! Instead think through all the mentioned points and make necessary changes to your idea and perception of “New Year Resolutions.”

The best tip I could leave you with is ” make frequent, immediate, and unyielding changes to your willpower every time you realize a flaw that can be corrected”

‘ Happy 2015 ’

The Art of Time Management: techniques you need to know

In an effort to address the conflicting demands of time, it’s absolutely important that one develop effective strategies that will facilitate proper management of time– whether it’s studying, leisure, earning money, job-hunting amongst other time related activities. In situations where it may seem like there isn’t sufficient time to do everything you ought to, stress can build up, which consequently brings about health problems. Now, to stay on the safer side, we can adjust our routines, patterns and other related aspects to counter the problem. This may range from acquisition of such skills as setting clear goals, breaking them into steps, and monitoring and evaluating the progress towards them; to prioritizing, organizing, list making, perseverance and dealing with procrastinations. Here are the techniques you will need to become master of your own time:

 

• Create a log- Own a schedule and record all your thoughts, conversations and activities for a week or day. This will help you understand how much you can get done in the course of the day and how your time is allocated and it will clearly indicate the time you spent on productive and unproductive activities.

It can be as simple as a well kept electronic calendar and can even go to the extent of providing a honest view of where someone is investing their time and also asses if adjustments ought to be made.

• Activities and in-person communication- Assign time to activities and conversions that are crucial for your success. Incorporate appointment books and schedule appointments with yourself and create time blocks for high priority thought and activities and conversations. This entails creating a time frame for each and applying the necessary discipline to keep up with them. It’s also advisable meeting with a person physically and working through an issue or task rather than keeping most of your activities in the virtual platform.
• Keep off one size fits all system- Apply the individuality aspect and recognize that what may work for someone else may not necessarily work for you. Take great consideration of your situations, activities, background and other aspects and then device a plan that will enable you make good use of your time and bring about accomplishments. Simply put, optimize all aspects of your life on individual basis.
• Schedule time for distractions and interruptions- Create time where you’ll handle eventualities that may pull you away from what you are doing. This will then qualify as planned interruptions and one will be in good position to take control of them in line with set tasks for the day or week or the designated time.
• Each morning people wake up and choose how they will start the day. However, with respect to time management, it’s advisable that one dedicates 30 minutes every morning to plan their day. Don’t start your day unless you have the plan down. This brings us to the conclusion that the most important time of our day is time we schedule our time.
• Engage at least 50% of your time in thoughts, conversations and activities that get you desirable results which work towards meeting your goals and achieving great accomplishments.
• Before every call and task make a point to decide what outcomes you want by allocating 5 minutes to think and decide on it. Not only will this help bring close the picture of how success looks like but also slow time down. Take another 5 minutes after each call and task to determine whether the desired result was achieved. If that happens not to be the case, determine what was missing and how you can incorporate it in your next call or activity.
• When you have to absolutely get some work done, put up a sign or notice against any form of disturbance or distraction. This will help you concentrate and have the task at hand complete on time and in required manner.

Final thoughts

Remember its absolutely difficult at times attaining perfection even if you follow the above steps .This may be due to distractions and other inconveniences that will get your attention away from what really matters. However odds are good that 20% of your thoughts, conversations and activities will yield 80% of your results and that in the end, it’s not about counting the minutes of the day but rather optimizing your time across multiple activities and leading a fulfilled life.

The Art of Time Management: facts you need to know

First off, before addressing the principal issue, as relates to the above, it’s absolutely necessary for one to internalize the whole concept of management and also time. Chances are good that, upon clear understanding of the two, you will be in a better position to relate and optimize on subsequent information.

A dictionary simply defines management as the act or skill of dealing with people or situations, like time, in a successful way.

Time on the other hand is that point or period at which things occur. In other simple terms “time is when staff happens”. Two types exist- clock and real time. Clock-time comprises 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, and the math continues till you get to 365 days in a year. With clock-time, time happens to pass equally, for instance when someone turns 20, they are exactly 20 years old, no more or no less. On the other hand, real time, unlike clock time, is relative. What you are doing is the determining factor as to whether time really flies or drags. One day at the prison cells may seem like a quarter a century. And yet our 4 or 3 or 2 years at college may seem to have occurred in only several hours

Real time best suits and describes the world we exist in. Clock-time is largely irrelevant since we don’t live in or even have remotest access to clock time on most occasions. Instead we live in real time, a world where time flies when you are on top of having fun or at the peak of tasking with your main purpose in life; and really drags when you are working out taxes or in an afternoon math class.

With real time, anything you come up with you can successfully manage it. That said, this is that peak moment where you have to get done with any self sabotage or self limitations that exist around you. Quit lamenting about `insufficient time’ and ‘now not being the right time’ to turn your business idea into action or properly manage your business

The main 3 dimensional perspectives of spending time entail: Thoughts, Conversations and actions. Distractions may come about but personally, you have the authority to dictate how much you allocate to the distractions and how much you’ll spend on the above three main aspects.

Now, familiarize with the facts and prepare next to work around the techniques suitable and specifically designed to ensure you optimize on this art and maximize on time management in the next article (Part II).

Facts you MUST know about wise financial planning

A good number of us, if not all, never sat in a classroom where some gray haired overqualified lecturer or the harsh business studies teacher taught about personal financial management. We skipped classes while some never even attended or afforded formal education. But this doesn’t add up to validate why personal financial planning is still a mystery to us. The subject was and still is non-existent in the curriculum.
Unfortunately, life has presented to us the subject, practically. What do we do about it?
A recent study of the United States of America indicates 58% of its population does not have a personal retirement plan. This is just a tip of the iceberg. Add up a couple other shocking statistics out there and the truth will leave you utterly shocked.
We all need some schooling. The facts and tips below will highly assist you to get a good grasp of the subject and also prepare you to take on the challenge.

• Set up a budget
One sure way stay on top of your finances is to have a clear written down record of how much money you have coming in and the payments that you make. Periodically, this can take place monthly. You can use automated budget planners or just take note of all your transactions and figure out how much you have left over after exhausting all your necessary and other expenses.
After the first month, list down all your actual expenses sensibly and then pen down your actual budget. This should be based on your past spending history – decide how much each category will be allocated. Distinguish between projected and actual budget since fluctuations also occur.
Stay as honest as possible when setting up the budget based on how much you have while you keep track of it. Changes might happen but fortunately with your budget, it will be easy to get a clear picture of what brought the changes.

• Monitor your spending
In any case you have two options with regard to spending, critically examine all the prevailing factors and make a choice that will create a good impression on your money. Where borrowing or renting is cheaper and more affordable than buying, choose the former. Items like books, DVDs, and others can be rented as they save you space and hassle of upkeep. However, take into consideration the fact that it may be best to buy an item if you have to keep for long enough, after conducting a thorough cost analysis.
When it comes to credit cards, ladies and gentlemen treat that piece of plastic like cash. It’s not an unlimited spending device. Steer clear of running up balances you can’t pay up lest you risk spending huge sums of money on interest payments and fees.
Additionally, never spent what you don’t have. Lest it’s an emergency, only spent what you have, and not some cash you are expecting to make.
• Make smart investments
In our childhood years, we had these Disney type visions of making huge investments and raking in billions of dollars when we grow up. But soon as you graduate into adulthood you realize the financial world is much more complicated than you thought. However, taking time to study financial instruments and possibilities will equip and prepare us to be wise and tactful when it comes to investing our money even if the best one knows is when to back away.
Such offers as retirement plans offered by employers should be well used to one’s utmost satisfaction. If possible, scale up the portion of your pay check that goes into the savings scheme if your company has robust benefit plans.
Concerning stock markets, stay away from betting on small gains and losses in individual stocks every day. It’s not bad per se but it’s not an effective way to make money due to the risks involved and it’s also more like gambling, to some extent. Good investments are long term. However, make a point to check the company’s fundamentals when making choices about stocks. Take a keen look at mutual funds when buying stocks (mutual funds are bundles of stock collected together to minimize risks).
The unexpected sometimes happen and it’s advisable to take a good insurance coverage. It’s not known when a need may arise but having a good insurance can really cover up when a crisis hits. This may range from life insurance, Health insurance, Homeowners insurance, Disaster insurance amongst others.
• Set your savings goal
In the modern world, savings qualify as a necessity. If not a priority in your life, then there’s no second way about it. However small your budget is, spare a dime and let it form part of the savings. Think of how much you can manage to save per year, fast forward it to 15 years and just marvel at how much you can do with the money.
Start saving early, even while you are still in school, and then invest wisely. Additionally, create an emergency fund for unexpected or any other emergency situations that might take place, like your car breaking down, to avoid debts and other inconveniences.
Pay up debts once you are established. Start with ones with the highest interest rates as you move down in decreasing order until you have all of them paid up.
Take a financial health check
This basically entails taking stock of your overall financial status and devising mechanisms geared towards making the most of it.
Final thoughts
Solid financial planning relates to countless advantages – from living within your means to meeting your savings goals, to beating deadlines and paying up balances, to developing excellent spending habits and many other countless advantages. Ensure this makes part of your priorities and as always, stay focused on meeting the objectives.
To your good financial health

BUSINESS ETIQUETTE PART III

 

Business etiquette is closely related to one’s demeanor, attitude and character. Dealing with fellow earthlings can sometimes turn out to be one nasty experience. Even worse, those earthlings may go ahead to demonstrate the remotest of care or concern based on what just happened.

Well, that’s just infuriating. But the fact that in business, employee/customer satisfaction comes first, you just have to bury your nasty feelings and bitter replies and put on that smile and hurtles expression in order to guard your reputation and that of the business.

This part will explicate the crucial tips and whatnots that will be foremost in helping to maintain that great reputation and character as far as business etiquette is concerned.

Business phone etiquette: Soothe angry callers

How do you just handle a furious caller who won’t pause or even turn down growling? Well, the following tips will help you to make a pleased customer out of one described above.

• Bite your tongue. Imagine a situation where someone is squealing on the phone. What comes to your mind first will be,” what a fool!” But such a response will only serve to worsen an already ailing scar. Rather, stay calm and lend him/her your ears.
• Let them vent. Angry callers need to verbally emit some steam. Don’t even dare interrupt- even with what to you sounds like a solution- before they showcase their story.
• Take it down a notch. Well, instead of replicating by also raising your voice to equal the callers’ soften the situation by speaking softly. That will soothe the speaker and show him or her that you are genuinely interesting in sorting the issue out in a calm, rational way.
• Stay focused. Dedicate all your senses to the caller. Resist the urge to engage in other tasks as the caller rants. That plainly signals that you care least about him/her.
• Empathize and apologize. When the caller gets out of control, show that you understand why the person is angry.

Example: “I know this has been embarrassing for you, Mr Sam, and I’m really sorry that Ms Jane had not returned your call. Stay away from single word responses such as “Yes” or “No” which at times sound rude.

• Take one for the team. Accept responsibility for the problem even if you’re not to blame.

Example: “I should have made it clear that, although our manager will be returning to office today, she’s tied up in meetings until the afternoon.”

• Kindly ask” What would you like me to do for you Mr John.” It clearly shows you‘re there any time for help.
• Offer a fallback. Avoid ending the call with” I can’t do that.” If you can’t do what the caller asks, tell him/her what you can do.

Example: “I can’t interrupt the meeting, Mr John. But I can pass the message to call you as soon as it ends.”

 

Kitchen Faux Pas: Who Ate My Yoghurt?

Apparently, some people can put up with co-workers swearing or just some peculiar behaviors. However, it can evolve into one extremely nasty experience when one attempts to touch their yoghurt or ham sand witches. In extreme cases, somebody may have to sustain harsh verbal messages.

The most offensive thing an office worker can do is to steal colleagues food from the office fridge, says a U.S survey conducted on 2500 employees.

Majority gave a nod to the fact that fridge raiding was unacceptable workplace etiquette.

Other traits that got a mention include: bad hygiene, bad habits, drinking on the job, swearing, wasting paper, cooking smelly food in the microwave and using a BlackBerry in meetings.

 

In most workplaces, one of the greatest mysteries is what’s lurking in the office refrigerator. Now the following tips will go a long way in handling this situation:

• Post a copy of the clean fridge-policy on the refrigerator door, so no one will bring forth any excuses.
• Keep a marker and some paper stickers just beside the fridge to make it easy for people to label containers with their identies.
• Offer guidelines to safe food storage by posting some legal chart relating to that. Samples include:

I.) Don’t leave perishable food sitting at room temperature for more than two hours. (Instead of leaving office party leftovers on the counter for everyone to share, leave a not directing people to the food in the fridge)

II.) Make sure the refrigerator is set below 40 degrees, the magic number needed to slow bacteria growth.

 

Office donations: Keep it low-key when passing the hat

It’s nothing out of the blues being requested by co-workers to contribute towards birthdays and baby showers. In a survey by office team, more than 75% of respondents said employees chip in at least once a year while 15% said employees receive donation requests monthly.

It’s appropriate to keep off requesting too much too often by observing the following:

• Stay selective: Its unfair approaching a new hire and straight up requesting him/her to contribute to a baby shower for a mum to be they’ve never met. Instead extend the invite to people who are most familiar with the person receiving special attention.
• Stay reasonable: Request voluntary contributions of any amount towards purchasing the cake, or any other item. Keep off being specific about the amount.
• Keep it low-key: Personal pleas are bound to make people uncomfortable. Instead you can mail the request for anonymous contributions or just circulate a donation develop.

 

 Business letter etiquette: The art of the personal note

Most of us have encountered the” big um” situation specifically when you are about drafting some thank you or condolence note.

Angela Ensminger, co-author of On a personal note: A guide to writing Notes with Style (Hallmark) states “ The big um is when you get your first couple words out and wonder ,’what’s next?’”

During an international Association of Administrative Professionals Convention, she stated out the following steps in addressing such a scenario:

• Be precise and direct as to why you are writing the note.

Example:” Thank you for taking time to visit our offices.”

• Elaborate on step 1.

Example: “It was so valuable for our entire executive team to meet with you face to face. And your interaction with us brought forth innovative ideas that we are excited to pursue.”

• Build the relationship. This is best illustrated by the time taken to write down the note. When it comes to business relationship time taken is worth everything. Such an action demonstrates the fact that “our relationship matters”.

Meanwhile, as you put down the note, take into consideration how close your boss is to the recipient and what’s coming up next in the relationship.

Appreciation counts among one of the few affordable ways to retain and motivate everyone. The following points are noteworthy as far as putting your sentiment down on paper is concerned:

1. Whenever possible use handwritten personal note.
2. Keep off using templates and make each word illustrate what you specifically appreciate.
3. Draft an effective and right message with the following phrases from How to write it by Sandra E lamp:

• Must express my appreciation
• So grateful for your contribution
• Unequaled in effort
• Done with such expertise
• An exemplary performance
• Offer my sincere appreciation
• I was so impressed by
• Your performance is noteworthy
• Set an outstanding example for
• Demonstrate such dedication

Example:” We feel great and honored by your great contribution to our firm’s projects .We look forward to seeing you again at the next convention this coming year”

• Re-state why you are writing the note

Example:”Again, thanks for your generous contribution”

• Bring on your regards at the end. For most business notes ‘sincerely’ is the standard

To sum up everything, all these might take up more effort and the rewards are priceless. As I stated previously, appreciation motivates, builds relationships and it’s an also an affordable way to make someone feel important.

Many other genuine and relevant tips still exist: Business dining etiquette, Office decorations: Balance personal & professional image, Party etiquette: Special occasions with co-workers, to mention but a few.

Visit http://www.BusinessManagementDaily.com and get to learn more as far all these’s concerned.

I hope you had a good experience regarding everything that got a mention .Business etiquette counts, especially concerning employee demeanor and your general work-place activities. I sincerely wish you best of luck as you take on these. Feel free to share your thoughts below.

Business Etiquette Part II

It’s my hope you enjoyed the previous part and you are making or are about to make milestones as far as all these is concerned.

Well, Business etiquette happens to be far too relevant and critical not to be excluded from an in depth analysis. You probably wake up every day, joyously have breakfast and enjoy the ride to work but unfortunately your mood changes soon as you set foot in that building . It even escalates to worrying levels once you are behind that computer or machine. This is clear indication that something’s a miss.

Now, clearly examine yourself and establish whether doing the following might trigger some change.

Handshake etiquette: Setting the stage for instant rapport A good well timed handshake to pair with your smile is a sure way to stand out, irrespective of whether you are at the company picnic or industry conference. Recent research indicates that a prospective employee with the best handshake is more likely to get the job. This should extend even to those who are not job seekers. Good and Firm  handshakes go a long way in granting one instant rapport when they come across someone new.

Now, with that in mind, it’s my pleasure ladies and gentlemen to introduce to you a refresher course on the business protocol of the perfect handshake:

• Strictly keep your focus on the person you are shaking hands with. This basically translates to staring directly into the other person’s eyes during the handshake.

• Keep your grip firm and assertive but not too tight. The General Rule of Thumb: Grasp as tightly as the other person does.

• Two up-and-down pumps are adequate. The shake should last about 3 seconds.

• When meeting new people, steer clear of two handed handshakes. They are a sign of real affection

• Be ready to shake hands, regardless of your gender or the other person’s. He/She will remember that you extended your hand first.

Job etiquette: When a co-worker gets the pink slip

Here’s a situation. A close co-worker gets handed a pink slip. It drives you up the wall and you end up feeling extremely awkward. It’s even so extreme to the point you narrow down your choices for help to extremely nothing. But that’s least of thing’s you ought to do. Here’s how to deal with the situation:

• React quickly or risk appearing insensitive. If at all you still confused on what to say, simply tell him/her” I’m sorry. And I don’t know what to say”.

• Steer clear of downplaying or uttering anything inauthentic. Keep off saying such things as “This place is going down the tubes” or” I know how you feel”.

• Set up a gathering, once the initial shock has faded. Hold a small social meeting or invite others so you have time to say goodbye outside the office .Keep it focused on the person, and have in mind “some things are beyond our control”.

• Keep off morphing into a self-help book. You don’t need to have all the answers, stay simple. You necessarily don’t have to engage in much more than be an outlet.

• Stay away from office grapevine. When you hook up again with your buddy post-layoff, steer the conversation away from nasty office politics like who’s next in line getting laid off. You might be the one preventing the person from moving on. For more insight read “Coping when a close co-worker is laid off,” kayleen Schaefer, The wall Street Journal

Guest etiquette: Roll out the red carpet for visitors When VIPs check in at your place of work, what counts in your special treatment? Exhibiting friendliness and responsiveness is the key to unbeatable hospitality.Peter Post, an etiquette expert, advices the following:

• Greet VIPs by name- “There’s some magical power that exists about using someone’s name when you greet them, says Post.” I’m always surprised when people fail to do that”. By exhibiting the above, the person will most welcome. Posts suggests you extend this to even standing up.

Example: Stand up and say. “Hello, Mr John. Let me inform Frank you are here.” Go to john’s door, as opposed to calling him, open it for the VIP guest, and then close it behind him. Such nice, simple things will go along a way in making you remembered

• Deliver a heads up to the boss. Normally let your boss be aware of impending appointment five minutes before. That sets the stage. Post says “You are giving that moment to prepare him/herself.

• Shoo away distractions so you are not caught juggling when the VIP arrives. If anyone shows up at your desk with problem, be polite and kind in telling him/her to wait. Example: “I want to help you with that problem, but I know Mr Smith is about to check in and I need to give him my full attention. I’ll get back to you.”

• Make a small talk only if you observe a clear signal. “One thing that stands out in administrators is the ability to read people,” says Post. If the VIP ends up waiting a minute or two, you’ll be at task evaluating whether to strike chitchat. If he whips out a newspaper, don’t try to initiate a conversation. If he sits and smiles at you, then ask about weather. “Converse without going into controversial topics,” Post advices.

Moments spent unhappy cumulatively translate to time wasted. Enjoy what you do. Exhibit the mentioned traits and let the business world see your smile and best actions. Rewards come in many forms. Promotions might be the least to mention as far as these is concerned. If that found you unaware, it’s my sincere hope that your next action in office will turn heads and grant you positive recognition.

As always, I wish you good luck.

Stay logged.Part III coming soon.

BUSINESS ETQUETTE PART I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark (name changed) is an employee at firm x. Oftentimes, fellow co-workers are angry and frustrated with marks routine behavior. This has cultivated utmost dissatisfaction among workers with the workplace environment and, in addition to that, bad employee relationship.

Now, business protocol and profit have a close connection. The critical link between the two is what makes a firm functional and desirable. Employees like Mark and organizations alike need to adopt business protocols that will guarantee a conducive workplace environment, a fanciable business image and standardized employee demeanor. The following tips have been widely proclaimed as the foremost authority in securing the above mentioned results.

Tip 1: Cubicle etiquette

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some offices have an open plan layout. This describes a situation whereby you work in an office without doors. Perhaps this may be advantageous in terms of fostering creativity and teamwork but the flip side of it too cannot be overlooked. Now, it’s human nature to do things the way we like and perceive to be right. However, boundaries exist as to how far we can take this. As a result you need to respect everyone else’s work space. This brings us to the 8 close-quarters rules.

1. Don’t “prairie dog”. You are probably wondering what the hell that is. Well, just be hardworking enough to walk around your partition to see a neighbor. Don’t pop your head over the top. It’s awful. Matter of fact, it’s antiquated bad manners. And as you walk around the passageways, please avoid straying your eyes. Peeking into other peoples workstations and straightening up your shoulder to peep trough partitions is pathetic.
2. Pretend that work stations have walls. Don’t barge into an area that has no doors. Politely tap on the wall near the opening and say “Excuse me” to declare your arrival. Never assume it’s ok to move into someone’s work space lest he or she signals you to do so.
3. Allow co-workers to complete calls. Whenever there’s an urgency to talk to someone inside the office and he/she is probably making a call, don’t interrupt with sign language or lurk outside the cubicle .It’ll be courteous if you just drop a note on the desk or return later.
4. Grant your neighbors private time. It’s advisable to stagger lunch breaks. This will provide everyone few minutes alone at their desks.
5. Move conversations from hallways. Perhaps you are having a talk with a group or just an individual it’s absolutely great if you lead them into a conference room or some common area to carry your talk from there in order not to distract attention and concentration from co-workers.
6. Don’t chime into conversation. Whenever you hear talks taking place over the wall don’t answer, or reply to questions or statements that aren’t directed at you. Rather, ignore and concentrate at your work.
7. Keep lunch in the kitchen. When you absolutely can’t leave your desk for a meal that’s least of the acceptable and good things you can do. Choose foods devoid of strong odors and dispose off your trash in the kitchen, not your own damn basket.
8. Turn down the volume. Now, muting sound effects and other unnecessary sounds is one of things that should happen first and always the moment you are present in the office. This may range from turning off sound effects on your screen saver, setting your phone ringer low, setting your personal cell phone to silent mode and minimizing the volume of any computer alarms.

Tip 2: How to finesse awkward, embarrassing situations

One sure prime test of your business etiquette skill is whether or not to tell your CEO that he has some salad contents stuck in his/her teeth. Well, the ultimate solution to such an ugly scene turns out to be  telling him/her about it, but discretely.

Let’s examine several situations and how one is expected to address it, with respect to the business environment.

Situation 1: You come across a personal-and potentially embarrassing piece of document or other objects left behind on the photocopier or at some other common public place.

Solution: Under normal circumstances, you’d place forgotten pages or other pieces of paper in a tray beside the copier for the owners or concerned individuals to claim later. In this case, though, deliver the document in person. Not forgetting to mention that you need to save yourself the need to peruse its contents in order to save the person any worries. Stating out to the individual “ I didn’t read this when I opened the copier lid, but I could tell it was private and thought I’d drop it by” will go along way in making your good intentions clear. For more insight into this, read The Etiquette Advantage in Business by Peter Post.

Situation 2: The boss is anticipating the arrival of an important visitor and you notice his fly is open. You wonder whether you should tell him or just hope someone else does.

Solution: If you are a man, tell him. If you are a woman ask one of the guys in the office to let him know

 

 

Let me also bring to your attention the basic office etiquette no-no’s – The top annoying behaviors.

Now, showing consideration for your co-workers may come off as a merely polite gesture. However, recent studies indicate that colleagues who exhibit such traits are more deserving of promotions than annoying office mates.

The following were listed as the top annoying behaviors:

• Receiving email from someone sitting 3 feet away
• Listening to voice mail over a speakerphone
• Swearing at the computer
• Playing music a co-worker doesn’t like

Technology based annoyances such as leaving the photocopier with a jam or just gossiping topped annoyances that were ranked high.

That said; don’t dismiss the impact of annoying habits: More than a third of office workers say they’ve considered switching jobs to escape irritation. That’s incredibly grueling.

It’s my sincere hope that you’ll spend or invest (whichever sounds right) some little time evaluating and analyzing your traits and demeanor for the past period you’ve been office ,and probably re-invent yourself as the foremost authority on making references concerning good business ethics. For the soon to be office workers, you are probably lucky. Take up this opportunity to modify and work on yourself based on the above.

Good luck.

Part II coming soon. Stay logged.

 

Talking of CVs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virtually every earthborn has an itch for a good job. A good job on the other hand comes at a cost, all other unconventional means of securing jobs held constant. A well drafted curriculum vitae might just be the thin line between joblessness and your dream occupation. Recent statistics indicate that recruiters take 6.2 seconds looking at an individual’s resume. That’s equivalent of the time you take to yawn when under the influence of munchies. Hold on to that thought for a second. Well, its time you take a closer look at your resume and heartily close out on all those unprofitable terms that are doing you zero favors. Let’s start with these 8 fuzzy, perverse and outright pointless terms.

• “ Utilize and other ‘izes’ ”

Use of such words as maximize, utilize, optimize etc is a sin that can land you instantly in hell in the eyes of your would-be employer. Not only do they detract them from the flow and clarity of your resume, “izes’ completely fail to impress your recruiter. Bypass this business-speak and instead bear on simple direct communication that quantifies your achievements.

• “Experienced”

This happens to be one of those few words that have been prostituted around eventually ending up vague and meaningless. The last option you have with it apparently is to skip it, and just get specific. What have you done? What projects have you managed? What output have you produced so far? Get down to the facts and stop fidgeting with generalities.

• “Result Oriented”

The connection between this word and your would be employer presents the ultimate scenario of a love lost. Whatever meaning it once had evaporated. And seems the only way to reverse the process is to replace it with quantitative examples of results you have produced, goals you have hit consistently, deals you’ve closed and new partnerships you have developed.

• “Hard working “

The content of a well crafted resume will scream out loud for heaven’s sake what you are all about. Your experience, skills, achievements, results and many others will have the definition of hard-work well illustrated to the recruiter.

• “Microsoft office”

One of the top assumptions employers have and probably doesn’t deserve a mention on your resume is basic computer skills. Pointing out the obvious on your resume amounts to waste of ink, paper and energy. Instead, focus on the specific areas of expertise: HTML coding, SEO/SEM, project management software programs and many others.

• “I”

Focus on what you can bring to the firm and the capacity you are interested in. Air out your skills, experiences and knowledge that have borne quantitative results for your previous employer. It should occur to you that it’s more about them and less about you. Congesting your resume with ‘I’ and ‘me’ sends a message but in the wrong direction.

• “Passionate and driven”

Since employers showed their prepossession with passion, applicants have been quick to paint their resumes with this outrageous adjective. As much as it sounds good, don’t be saddened to realize it only sounds good to you. Going to the extreme of demonstrating how accounting or human resource management stiffly arouses you serves no favor or marks to your success in passing the interview. Rather, demonstrate it through educational achievement, specific career achievement, licensures and participation in professional associations.

• “Team Player”

Hiring managers have totally lost count of the times they have came across this word. Jump of this cliché and go straight ahead and show you’ve actually done it. This may include working with teams in the recent past or better yet, give out examples of strong teams you have built, supervised and motivated towards real results.

 

Take note that nearly all aspects of life work on pre-determined principles that govern and ensure their successful happening. The post may not be conclusive in its entirety but still it does take a larger share of the recipe for successful job application. Winning resumes are clear, jargon-free, flawlessly written and ruthlessly edited. Take time, work on yours and get that recruiter to notice you. More on that still coming. Stay close and logged here.

For more information on the above, visit wisebread.

 

Tested, Proved and Certified Ways to Get Rid of Belly Fat

 

 

 

Pretty dead sure in my mental network is the fact that the human being looking at this article, or reading it or probably wondering what it’s all about, must have or probably had an encounter with stubborn fat or other pieces of flesh around his entire anatomy that drove him/her up the wall anytime the thought of it flashed the mind or eyes made contact with it.

Well, the thought of being fit just feels like heaven .Add up your occasional hidden mental flicks of you basking on the beach, chiseled mid section out, Floyd Mayweather Jr passing by, grinning himself stupid and telling the stranger next to you` Yaay!!!!, now that’s the real 8pack creditor right beside you’, the feeling graduates instantly and the thought of paradise seems even more real. Unfortunately, reality sets in. You realize it’s the other you. You probably detest him/her but undisturbed and less worried he/she still sits comfortably relaxing under your skin.

I have good news for you. I can make your fantasy exist. The ugly layer of fat hanging off your hip or belly can be tamed. The sad news is majority of us have already wasted time and resources doing crunches, tight and ‘marathon’ workouts, crash dieting, slim belting and in extreme cases even popping those stray bitter and sour fat burning pills with high hopes that things will change. The honest and bitter truth is that none of those will really meet your top need- shedding belly fat. Worse, you even risk losing your vital muscle tissue, slowing down your metabolism significantly, and possibly damaging your health. Sounds bizarre. Right? Albeit you might still burn couple calories and do away with few pounds.

To bring to an end the summation of the above traumatizing experiences and others we can’t mention here, I have compiled a list of necessary and relevant techniques in relation to reducing belly fat that you should act on. Losing your belly fat needs a combination of several techniques. These techniques will burn calories, build muscle and place your body at task to pump out those “power” hormones that will drastically change how your body looks. They include:

 

• Interval cardio training

 

This term may come off as new to most of us. But before I break it down for you, take a second and think about this ` have you been struggling to lose fat or to lose weight?’

Uncountable ways at your disposal exist on how to lose weight fast. One of them includes grabbing a power saw and cutting your fleshy leg right at the pubic joint. And there you go. A whooping 20 pounds now off your total weight. Are you happy now? Of course hell NO. You just parted with what you need most in your little life here on earth.

It’s unfortunate many of us have lost patience, the urge to work hard and most importantly the art of delayed gratification especially with the recent wave of technology and all its off-sprigs. The main point of the above illustration is that many of us have fallen victim to the “lose weight fast scams and staff” and then ended up even worse than their initial self.

You don’t need all that. Do you want to reach the peak of your fitness, health, energy and vitality through a different but this time round reliable and trusted way? If yes, then let’s get it going now.

Anyhow, what’s interval cardio? These are 4-6 challenges lasting 60-90 seconds, subjecting one to   bursts of exercise within that limited time, with rest periods in between.

The intensity of subsequent challenges ought to increase relative to the longevity of rest periods. The sole goal here is to be totally recovered and ready for each challenge for instance the common 100 meters marathon run during football practice sessions.

This type of cardio work enables your body to get the majority of energy it needs from glucose (blood sugar) and from glycogen stored in the muscles and liver, and from ATP and creatine.

Your muscles, like any automobile need `fuel’ to perform. Glucose and glycogen will act like gasoline in aiding your muscle to activity.

According to Darin Steen– a WNBF Pro Bodybuilder, jogging for fat loss, fitness and health is a myth that’s wrong and undeserving of any toleration. In all the over 25 competition he’s had, he still maintains interval cardio training up to now as his best work-out technique.

Intense set of intervals make the body burn calories for 2-4 hours after the workout compared to jogging type cardio where as soon as you done exercising ,the body too gets done burning calories. Therefore the amount calories burned from intense intervals far exceeds that of jogging type cardio.

Interval cardio also strengthens your lungs and heart. They even get bigger as a result making your heart to grow more stroke volume- how much blood it pumps out each stroke. Heart and lungs are muscles .Albeit slightly designed for some special reasons, they still have to work constantly.

Now, there you have it. Go right ahead, walk this talk and see yourself confessing your success soonest devoid of any bitter regrets. For more insight and detailed descriptions of the technique visit Cardio for Fat loss.

 

• High Protein, low carb diet

The Atkins Diet, The Zone, Sugar Busters, Protein Power are just few of the notable examples of high protein, low-carbohydrate diets that have been widely promoted as effective weight-loss plans. Are you a dieter? Well, it just happens, according to these programs that 29% to 51% of your calories should emanate from proteins.

Furthermore, the American Heart Association, National Cholesterol Education Program and other societies all recommend a diet in which a smaller percentage of calories come from protein.

Proteins perform great roles in weight loss and maintenance. Not only can they preserve and build lean muscle tissue and increase the number of calories you burn during digestion, proteins also increase the amount of energy (calories) you expend each day, promoting weight loss. Additionally, they keep your blood-sugar balanced and insulin levels low whilst shedding stubborn belly fat (Diabetes care-march 2002). If you are thinking of weight loss, think of adequate amount of protein too.

It’s found in the diet in two forms:

• Animal proteinse. in the form of beef, poultry, fish, game meat, eggs cheese and many others.
• Plant-based proteinse. beans, lentils, soy products and others from non-animal sources.

Stick to about 20 to 25 grams of each per meal and probably 15 to 20 grams per snack, as a starter. Now, make proper and lengthy consultations with your nutritionist as you incorporate these proteins to your meal plan and make sure you select the best types. You can also read more about that by clicking The Power of Protein to fight Belly Fat.

 

• Insulin Regulation

Insulin is an indispensable substance whose sole role is to process sugar in the bloodstream and transport it into the cells to be used as fuel or stored as fat.

Research shows excess intake of sugar or carbohydrates typical of our modern foods like the nutrient-poor carbohydrates such as processed foods, sugary drinks (soda included), packaged low fat foods, insufficient protein and fat intake , deficient fibre consumption all scale up the levels of insulin.

Chronically high levels of insulin can also lead to a pre-diabetic condition called metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes which generously rewards its victim with weight gain. Lack of exercise, overindulging in alcohol, stress, family related history of diabetes, high blood pressure and excess body fat are also major contributors of the above menace. Don’t punch or pinch yourself for that but if you can’t control it then just act right on the solution and save yourself the pain.

 

• Abdominal Exercise

Some of the first things people catch sight of when your shirt comes off are your abs. Whether it’s a perfect well laid out six packs or a disorganized one pack, be rest assured the opinions might not be good for the ears of some. But again who doesn’t want a lean, flat, and sexy chiseled mid section that he/she can show off during pool sessions and seasons?

Good news however- there are literally 100s of different ways to work your ab muscles to satisfaction. Strong abs are extremely crucial for overall fitness, injury prevention and body aesthetics. Along with the lower back, they protect some of the most vital organs in the body while also aiding in nearly every movement.

So which abdominal exercise are the best? Well, according to fitfaq.com, hanging leg raises and Swiss ball roll-outs just make the best of ways to go about that. Not only do they provide multiple benefits when it comes to abs, they also increase functional strength and great spine stretching/lengthening. Click on the above links to see the step by step process of how to go about the exercises.

 

It’s highly recommended that you strike widest of smile, raise your fist in the air and bump it to your chest with the zeal of a radical after coming across such relieving information. The joy of it all is to see the end bringing you priceless joy through the means described here. I wish you good luck as you gear up for it.

 

To your good health

 

Feel free to leave a comment below.

 

Manage Your Stress Effectively In 10 Ways

Now, almost all earthlings will attest to the fact that stress, whether acute or chronic, has once or a couple of times happened in their treasured lives. In our fast-paced world where change is close to inevitable and new things come up every blessed second, stress is considered normal and every member of the human species ought to make a covenant with this and probably be looking more at the solutions rather than the problem itself.

Are you struggling to stay calm and relaxed? If that and more I’m scared of mentioning best describe you, then consider yourself a victim.

However, just like a good joke, I too have a reason for you to smile. Stress can be overcome. Whether family obligations, work demands, financial pressures, physical discomfort, social relationships or any other thing I haven’t mentioned are taking toll on you, you still have a reason to strike that beautiful smile. Lifestyle choices have to be made and I will list down 10 of the best you definitely need to make to counter stress.

 

1. Get rid of the sources

First off, do away with non-essential activities in your life. Clear up all the clutter and give way to activities that are worth your time, energy and resources. If dating him/her does more harm than good and all dialogues have turned out fruitless do away with the relationship.

In other cases, try out options that eliminate the burdens. If traffic jams bother you, then make a point to leave the house on time, change location of your residence or try out any other workable means.

Additionally, simply learn to say “NO”, depending on your circumstances. You can’t be everything to everyone all the time.

2. Manage your time well

Did you know can easily distress yourself by doing a simple thing as making a daily schedule? Yes you can. Don’t break your back trying to do too much of something. Instead allocate reasonable time to every activity destined to happen in the course of your day and give priority to the important ones.

Be realistic and ask yourself simple questions like ‘Do you often leave the house on time? How many hours do you spend during lunch? How about empty talk. How many hours are spent while at it? Well, if your answers don’t sound good to you, then evaluate yourself and be quick to work towards the right solution.

3. Breathing techniques

This happens to be one of the crucial aspects taught in antenatal courses to help pregnant mums deal with pain during labour. These breathing techniques have turned similarly helpful in managing stress.

Are you feeling maxed out, nervous or anxious? Then try out the following:

• Breathe in for 5 seconds.
• Hold the breath for another 5 seconds
• Breath out for 5 seconds

Solely focus on your breath and have the above done for the next 10 seconds at a slightly larger volume than the normal, relaxed breathing.

Real time anxiety levels will be brought to instant relief using this particular method.

4. Get some exercise

Exercises are known to produce certain chemical elements that act to provide relief from stress. Any time is convenient and one can explore the different options available: hitting the gym, biking, swimming, jogging, long nice brisk walks, climbing upstairs etc.

There’s also the added benefit of having toned muscles and a fitter body. You know how that sounds if you are single. Don’t overdo it though. Feel comfortably tired as you unwind staring at pleasant sceneries around you with your glass of water. Yes! Water. Don’t misquote me. I never said wine or tequila.

5. Abstain from predictably stressful situations.

Sports, games, social events or any activity that is destined to leave you with less of fun and more of a handsome load of stress should be avoided like plague. The constant factor is fun and if it’s almost as absent as gravity on the moon then decline some invitations.

Avoid stressful people too.

6. Be Content

The urge to be the best, sometimes ego-driven, may often land you to the dead end of jealousy. Competing with others, whether in accomplishment, appearance or possessions is something that can be kept at bay, not till further notice but permanently. Leave it to inanimate objects like companies.

7. Engage in some activity

Quit churning out excuses like you getting paid to do so. Bitching and whining as you refer to life with all the offensive nouns in slang you pretend not to know on Sundays and other times you present yourself before your seniors will serve no good service to your mental health. Get involved in activities that will bring you tons of bliss. You can volunteer to work in charitable organization if you feel the need to offload some ‘compassionate weight’ ,watch television, dance to your best music when no one is watching over you, play games (computer or physical) etc. These will help clear your head.

8. Manage your anger, frustration or apprehensiveness

Ladies and gentleman, this is where your life needs you most. Diseases and death are closely related and if you fear the latter more than the former then you should thank me later for coming to your rescue.

Well, insomnia, headaches, recurring colds, stomach upsets, heart problems, to mention but a few can be brought about by the above mentioned. Exercising control over them will do justice to your life and wishes. Be slow to speak and quick to listen. Asses and probe deep into something before bursting out in scary reactions. Pray and trust in God more than you trust the power of your revenge. Look at the reality from your masters’ view and stay positive. Last but not least, be civilized in your response as you remember to think before you speak.

9. Meet up with your friends

Get your crew together and met up for a drink. Or hang out with that good friend who always tickles your funny bone. (Proverbs 17:22 `a merry heart doeth good like a medicine’). Laughter is a great stress remover. Being in the company of others will you keep your mind off stress and through sharing you’ll be surprised at the mount of junk you let off your brain.

1. Seek professional help

It never hurts to wake up one day and pay the doctor or a therapist a visit. Let him be aware of your situations .Whenever you notice signs of you losing sense of wellbeing or difficulties waking up and facing another day don’t hesitate .Run.

 

Running away from problems is a sure way of running into problems. Don’t run away from stress. Face it. Letting it tear you down is a choice you have the insurmountable ability to avoid. I hope you incorporate some and if possible all the 10 ways into your occasional routines for the good of your mind, body and spirit and you will be pleased at how stress can be reduced to something reminiscent of the past like human evolution.

 

To your good health