Know When to Say "NO"

The ability to say ‘no’ doesn't come easy to most of us. So here is some help. We get some real life situations where saying ‘no’ is inevitable.

“No, I’m not fit for this work”This is a result of making the most of whatever resources one has in hand. Says Monica Sharma, who works with a real estate company, "I am a finance professional. But I was pushed into marketing. It was ridiculous, as I wasn't skilled for the job."

Way out: Reason out with your boss or management, and explain why you are 'not the right person for this'. As Priya Kumar, CEO and Chief Facilitator, International Center for Training Systems, points out, "In a situation like this, honesty plays a key role. You could say 'I don't think I would do justice to this work as I am not skilled for it'. Or, 'I believe that someone else can do a much better job on this.' You can also say that 'Handling project A isn't one of my biggest strengths. But if you insist, I will do it. However, I may not be able to deliver the best on this'."

“No, I don’t want to go out with you”Some friends, who pile on, can be a real pain. Not only do they invade your personal space, but also make you do things that you wouldn't want to. As Pratik Mukherjee, a marketing manager with a reputed media company says, "I have got stuck watching a movie, or having dinner, that I hated, just because my friend wanted to. But sometimes refusing overbearing friends becomes really difficult."

Way out: Pushy friends, who drag you to socialise, leave you with very few options. Says Pratik, "When I absolutely don't want to meet 'that' somebody, I come up with an excuse, because that is the only way out." But what happens after the excuses run dry? "Well, then I subject them to the movie or dinner that I have in mind," laughs Pratik. Standing your own does help driving the point home to such bossy buddies, he adds.

“No, I can’t always get it right”For ten jobs that you take on, in most probability, eight will be successful and two open to errors. As Nitin Prasad (name changed), working as an account manager with a reputed advertisement agency, says, "I was on a spree of cracking deals with my clients. When one of my deals didn't work out, the management didn't want to hear that the deal had failed."

Way out: When on the success route, don't forget about failures. This doesn't mean that you are courting a crash; it only indicates that deals may take a reverse turn. Keep your superiors posted on your progress, and ask for strategies or plans of action in case of roadblocks. Let them know that, "I am committed to my project. But, at the same time, I would appreciate your feedback to increase my chances of success." It is easier to handle or prevent failure when more minds are on the job, suggests Priya Kumar.

“No, I don’t want unwanted guests”
Dodging unwanted guests is a task. Sagnik Basu, an IT professional, agrees, "A particular work colleague would land up at my home, uninvited. I hated this, but I would be left with no options, but to entertain him."

Way out: In situations like these, excuses cease to exist. So one has to either grit their teeth and accept, or pucker up the courage to refuse unwanted company. "When I couldn't tolerate it anymore, I would head out of home each time he dropped in. Finally, his visits came to a stop," offers Sagnik.

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Posted in: general tips

Top 10 Business Etiquette Tips

Good manners can be one of your most important assets. Just in case your career fate is in the hands of someone who is a stickler for proper manners, it might be wise to read and practice the following 10 business etiquette tips:

 

Know how to introduce your spouse

Do not say, "This is my wife, Mary." Say instead, "This is Mary, my wife." Why? When you put the description before the name, it implies that your spouse belongs to you, which is demeaning. The description after the name suggests an independent person who just happens to be married to you.

Do not become the office clown
A few people do this out of nervousness. Some do it merely to be liked, as it achieved that end in the past. But gaining a reputation as the office jokester can be detrimental to your long term career. The reasoning is simple: Coworkers are less likely to take you and your ideas seriously. If this advice contradicts your naturally jovial personality, here is an option. Maintain a low-key office persona during working hours and a lighter, less business-like persona after hours.

Do not get intoxicated at business-related functions
This is one of the biggest out-of-office blunders. Using profanity in the office is the only other blunder that tops this. For the record: If you care about your career and the way you are perceived by others, never -- repeat, never -- do either.

Do not give your boss a gift
Unless you have a personal relationship with your boss, do not give him or her a gift for holidays or birthdays. It is inappropriate, can be seen as apple-polishing, and puts the employer in an awkward situation. In general, try to downplay exchanging personal gifts in your office. An option is to create an office fund for purchasing birthday flowers or taking the employee to lunch.

Do not correct your boss in public
If a mistake was made, explain it in private. An exception: If you are in a meeting and your boss makes a major error in his or her statements, you can speak up gently with something like: The last figure I got was $2 million, not $4 million, Jim.

Rise and shake hands during business introductions
In a business situation, when anyone enters the room and is being introduced, stand and shake hands. Contrary to popular belief, it does not matter who puts their hand out first. Another sidebar: Before a staff meeting starts, wait in the conference room for the person who called the meeting to arrive; remain standing until they enter and let them take the best seat.

Avoid sexual harassment
Play it safe and err on the side of caution. Some men still feel obligated to tell a female colleague or client how nice she looks since she changed her hairstyle or how attractive an outfit looks on her. However, such comments denigrate your business relationship. Save such compliments for personal friends.

Mind your mealtime manners
When calling to extend a breakfast or lunch invitation, you should clearly and immediately establish yourself as the host. When it's time to pay the bill, the rule is simple -- the host pays. The host should give the guest a choice of dates (e.g., How about next week? Monday or Wednesday?), a choice of restaurants, and a choice of times (Would you prefer 12:30 or 1:00?). Never discuss business until after your guest has had the chance to order.

Know when to use someone's first name
The general rule is that you always defer to authority by using an honorific (Mr., Ms., Mrs., or Dr.) until you are given permission to use a first name. It is always inappropriate to call prospective clients by their first name until they give you permission to do so. Additionally, even if you are on a first-name basis with your boss, always introduce your boss to someone as Mr., Ms., Mrs., etc., and include their title (e.g., This is Mr. John Doe, vice president of Operations). At that point, your boss can tell the person to call them by their first name, if so desired.

Never use profanity in any business situationsThis one is normally considered the biggest breach of business etiquette, especially when it is aimed at people. There are few things that so touch us with instinctive revulsion as the use of profanity. Remember: Having good manners costs nothing, but it buys everything. 

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Posted in: general tips

Self Esteem Tips

Self-esteem is very important for your physical, psychological, and spiritual health. Enhancing your self-esteem is another passage to personal growth and change. Life begins to take on greater beauty as we open up and appreciate ourselves. As we value and love ourselves, we gain an acceptance of others. Self-esteem is something we can change and when we do, everything in our life changes.
Self-esteem is simply the value we place on ourselves. If we link it to success, money, belongings and friends then we miss the mark. Out of true self-esteem, we create results. We become healthier, happier and make a more significant contribution in life.

What is Self Esteem?
Self esteem is the opinion you have of yourself. It is based on your attitude to the following:

Your value as a person The job you do Your achievements How you think others see you Your purpose in life Your place in the world Your potential for success Your strengths and weaknesses Your social status and how you relate to others Your independence or ability to stand on your own feet

What is Low Self Esteem?Low self esteem results from you having a poor self image caused by your attitude to one or more of the above. Example: you do not value the job you do highly or you feel you have no purpose in your life.
What is High Self Esteem?
High self esteem is the opposite! It is a very important aspect of your life. If you have a high level you will be confident, happy and sure of yourself. You would be highly motivated and have the right attitude to succeed.
Self esteem is therefore crucial to you and is a cornerstone of a positive attitude towards living.
Self confidence tipsEverybody needs a confidence boost sometimes, so here are a few tips
1) Feel Good when you Want
When you need to boost your self confidence or self esteem, find 3 things that make you feel good. These could be memories of good times, a piece of music, a holiday souvenir, or a person's face - use photos if it helps. Practise thinking about them and bringing them to mind.
Developing self confidence that lasts - because of the way emotions 'attach' themselves to memories, you will quickly train yourself to feel good when you want - a great help.
2) Beat Self Consciousness
Self consciousness is the No.1 enemy of self confidence. Learn how to keep your attention off yourself. You can do this easily by following these steps
a) If you notice you have become self-conscious, (you can usually tell because you start to feel anxious), choose something 'everyday' you can see and study it in detail. For example: examine a door, look at the different textures and shades of colour, wonder about who made it and how and so on. The important thing is that you're learning how to keep your attention off yourself.
b) If you feel self-conscious in a social situation, it's usually because you don't have enough to do! Focus on what your purpose in the situation is. Whether you're there to:
find out if you like the other people in the situation make others feel comfortable find out some information make business contacts and so on


It's easy to feel self-conscious if you have nothing to do, and much more difficult if your attention is occupied by a task. Think how comfortable you have been with others when you're all working toward a common goal.
The common goal of socialising could be making friends, it could be the exchange of mutually beneficial information, it could be whatever you want it to be!
3) Don't Take Undue Criticism - Even From Yourself !
Challenge your own assumptions. Here's a few to get you started:
a) Confident-looking people have bad moments too.
b) Just because you feel under-confident, doesn't mean other people can tell.
c) If you're saying things to yourself like "You're no good at anything" then rest assured, you're wrong. Everyone can compose a sentence, get successfully to the store, eat without choking. Don't let yourself make sweeping statements about yourself - in the long run it is this sort of thing that can really damage your self image.
Building self esteem is not just about thinking good of yourself, it's about not thinking bad for no reason!
d) Just because you have felt bad about yourself in the past doesn't mean you're always going to feel that way. I have seen hundreds of people surprise themselves once they have learned how to build self confidence in a way that it stays built!
e) Learn how to develop your self confidence by following the tips from this site and notice the small differences as they happen. Persevere and don't expect everything at once. Beating low self esteem is a wonderful thing, and it's much easier than you'd imagine.

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Posted in: general tips

Your Features according to the month in which u are born

JANUARY:Stubborn and hard-hearted
Ambitious and serious.
Loves to teach and be taught.
Always looking at people's flaws and weaknesses.
Likes to criticize.
Hardworking and productive.
Smart, neat and organized.
Sensitive and has deep thoughts.
Knows how to make others happy.
Quiet unless excited or tensed.
Rather reserved.
Highly attentive.
Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds.
Romantic but has difficulties expressing love.
Loves children.
Loyal.
Has great social abilities yet easily jealous.
Very Stubborn and money cautious.
Always her self.
Sexy/ hot/ cute/ everything.____________ _________ _________ ________
FEBRUARY :
Abstract thoughts.
Loves reality and abstract.
Intelligent and clever.
Changing personality.
Attractive.
Temperamental.
Quiet, shy and humble.
Honest and loyal.
Determined to reach goals.
Loves freedom.
Rebellious when restricted.
Loves aggressiveness.
Too sensitive and easily hurt.
Gets angry really easily but does not show it.
Dislike unnecessary things.
Loves making friends but rarely shows it.
Daring and stubborn.
Ambitious.
Realizing dreams and hopes.
Sharp.
Loves entertainment and leisure.
Romantic on the inside not outside.
Superstitious and ludicrous.
Spendthrift.
Tries to learn to show emotions.


MARCH:
Attractive personality.
Sexy.
Affectionate.
Shy and reserved.
Secretive.
Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic.
Loves peace and serenity.
Sensitive to others.
Loves to serve others.
Easily angered.
Trustworthy.
Appreciative and returns kindness.
Observant and assesses others.
Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize.
Loves traveling.
Loves attention.
Hasty decisions in choosing partners.
Loves home decors.
Musically talented.
Loves special things.
Moody.
____________ _________ _________ ___
APRIL:
Active and dynamic.
Decisive and haste but tends to regret.
Attractive and affectionate to oneself.
Strong mentality.
Loves attention.
Diplomatic.
Consoling, friendly and solves people's problems.
Brave and fearless.
Adventurous.
Loving and caring.
Suave and generous.
Emotional.
Aggressive.
Hasty.
Good memory.
Moving
Motivates oneself and others.
Sickness usually of the head and chest.
Sexy in a way that only their lover can see.
____________ _________ _________ ___
MAY:
Stubborn and hard-hearted.
Strong-willed and highly motivated.
Sharp thoughts.
Easily angered.
Attracts others and loves attention.
Deep feelings.
Sexy.
Beautiful physically and mentally.
Firm Standpoint.
Needs no motivation.
Easily consoled.
Systematic (left brain).
Loves to dream.
Strong clairvoyance.
Understanding.
Sickness usually in the ear and neck.
Good imagination.
Good physical.
Weak breathing.
Loves literature and the arts.
Loves traveling.
Dislike being at home.
Restless.
Having more than one child.
Hardworking.
High spirited.
Spendthrift.
____________ _________ _________ ___
JUNE:Thinks far with vision.
Easily influenced by kindness.
Polite and soft-spoken.
Having lots of ideas.
Sensitive.
Active mind.
Hesitating, tends to delay.
Choosy and always wants the best.
Temperamental.
Funny and humorous.
Loves to joke.
Good debating skills.
Talkative.
Daydreamer.
Friendly.
Knows how to make friends.
Abiding.
Able to show character.
Easily hurt.
Prone to getting colds.
Loves to dress up.
Easily bored.
Fussy.
Seldom shows emotions.
Takes time to recover when hurt.
Brand conscious.
Executive.
Stubborn.

JULY:
Fun to be with.
Secretive.
Difficult to fathom and to be understood.
Quiet unless excited or tensed.
Takes pride in oneself.
Has reputation.
Easily consoled.
Honest.
Concerned about people's feelings.
Tactful.
Friendly.
Approachable.
Emotional temperamental and unpredictable.
Short Tempered.
Moody and easily hurt.
Witty and sparkly.
Not revengeful.
Forgiving but never forgets.
Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things.
Guides others physically and mentally.
Sensitive and forms impressions carefully.
Caring and loving.
Treats others equally.
Strong sense of sympathy.
Wary and sharp.
Judges people through observations.
Hardworking.
No difficulties in studying.
Loves to be alone.
Always broods about the past and the old friends.
Likes to be quiet.
Home Body.
Waits for friends.
Never looks for friends.
Not aggressive unless provoked.
Prone to having stomach and dieting problems.
Loves to be loved.
Easily hurt but takes long to recover.
____________ _________ _________ ___
AUGUST:
Loves to joke.
Attractive.
Suave and caring.
Brave and fearless.
Firm and has leadership qualities.
Knows how to console others.
Too generous but egotistic.
Takes high pride of oneself.
Thirsty for praises.
Extraordinary spirit.
Easily angered.
Angry when provoked.
Easily jealous.
Observant.
Careful and cautious.
Thinks quickly.
Independent thoughts.
Loves to lead .
Loves to dream.
Talented in the arts, music and defense.
Sensitive but not petty.
Poor resistance against illnesses.
Learns to relax.
Hasty and trusty.
Romantic.
Loving and caring.
Loves to make friends .
____________ _________ _________ ___
SEPTEMBER:
Suave and compromising.
Careful, cautious and organized.
Likes to point out people's mistakes.
Likes to criticize.
Stubborn.
Quiet but able to talk well.
Calm and cool.
Kind and sympathetic.
Concerned and detailed.
Loyal but not always honest.
Does work well.
Very confident.
Sensitive.
Thinking generous.
Good memory.
Clever and knowledgeable.
Loves to look for information.
Must control oneself when criticizing.
Able to motivate oneself.
Understanding.
Fun to be around.
Secretive.
Loves sports, leisure and traveling.
Hardly shows emotions.
Tends to bottle up feelings.
Very choosy, especially in relationships.
Systematic.
____________ _________ _________ ___

OCTOBER:
Loves to chat.
Loves those who loves them.
Loves to takes things at the center.
Inner and physical beauty.
Loyal and true in Love.
Gets angry often.
Treats friends importantly.
Always making friends.
Easily hurt but recovers easily.
Daydreamer.
Opinionated.
Does not care of what others think.
Emotional.
Decisive.
Strong clairvoyance.
Loves to travel, the arts and literature.
Touchy and easily jealous.
Concerned.
Loves outdoors.
Just and fair.
Spendthrift.
Easily influenced.
Easily loses confidence.
Loves children.

____________ _________ _______
NOVEMBER:
Has a lot of ideas.
Difficult to fathom.
Thinks forward.
Unique and brilliant.
Extraordinary ideas.
Sharp thinking.
Fine and strong clairvoyance.
Can become good doctors.
Dynamic in personality.
Secretive.
Inquisitive.
Knows how to dig secrets.
Always thinking.
Less talkative but amiable.
Brave and generous.
Patient.
Stubborn and hard-hearted.
If there is a will, there is a way.
Determined.
Never give up.
Hardly becomes angry unless provoked.
Loves to be alone.
Thinks differently from others.
Sharp-minded.
Motivates oneself.
Does not appreciates praises.
High-spirited.
Well-built and tough.
Deep love and emotions.
Romantic.
Uncertain in relationships.
Hardworking.
High abilities.
Trustworthy.
Honest and keeps secrets.
Not able to control emotions.
Unpredictable
____________ _________ ____
DECEMBER:
Loyal and generous.
Sexy.
Patriotic.
Active in games and interactions.
Impatient and hasty.
Ambitious.
Influential in organizations.
Fun to be with.
Loves to socialize.
Loves to Party.
Loves praises.
Loves attention.
Loves to be loved.
Honest and trustworthy.
Not pretending.
Short tempered.
Changing personality.
Not egoistic.
Take high pride in oneself.
Hates restrictions.
Loves to joke.
Good sense of humor.

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Posted in: general tips

Special Power of Vowels

Did you know that the number of vowels that you have in the name spelling could determine your success ?

A university in the U.S.A. has issued a statement in this regard. Since 1789, there have been 54 presidential elections in U.S.A. In 40 of these, the leading candidates have had names that differ in the number of vowels. In these 40 elections, the candidate with more vowels in his name has won 28 times out of 40 i.e. 70% of the time.

Does this mean that vowels possess the powers to make someone a winner?

Yes, vowels have special spiritual powers in them.

In numerology, Vowels are believed to possess special powers. Have you ever noticed why every mantra in Hindu mythology begins with an ‘Aum’? There is a numerological reason behind this too. Before the readers start thinking numerology as a western science, I would like to inform them that numerology is purely Indian and based on our Vedas and Upanishads. Even Count Leo Hamon, popular as Cheiro, learnt it from a brahmin at Mumbai when he came to India in 1800s.

Our rishis and munis were well-familiar with the science of numerology. They knew very well how the destiny could be improved by the power of phonetics.
Aum contains two vowels and only one consonant. This makes this word extremely powerful. It is full of positive energy and is creative and spiritual. It is for this reason that I, as a numerologist, prefer adding vowels in a name spelling while correcting it. In past few months I had corrected the name spellings as: Kuldip Mathur to Kuldiip Mathur, Aseem Bajpai to Aseeim Bajpai, Rahul Seth to Raahul Seith, Sandeep Notani to Sandiip Notanii, Akshat Bhargava to Aakshat Bhargawa, Shailendra Singh to Shaelendrra Singh, Chhaya Mehrotra to Chhaaya Mehrotra and Prayas International to Prrayaas International.

The readers will notice that I have normally added vowels into the names. I prefer to add vowels for two reasons. Firstly, they add a positive energy to the name sp

elling. Secondly, they do not have much affect on the pronunciation. Over here it is noteworthy that the first three vowels are considered more powerful. This means ‘a’, ‘e’ and ‘i’ are more powerful in comparison to ‘o’ and ‘u’.

In numerology, when a name contains more vowels than the consonants it becomes extremely positive and vibrates positively with its ruling numbers. Such names are considered very lucky. These names indicate an extrovert personality which is capable of influencing anyone with its striking first appearance.

‘Pooja’ and ‘Puja’ might sound similar but from numerological viewpoint the former is considered better because it contains three vowels and two consonants. The name ‘pooja’ contains more powerful vowels ‘a’ and ‘o’, whereas the name ‘puja’ contains one powerful vowel ‘a’ and one weaker vowel ‘u’. 

In numerology, ‘a’ is governed by number 1 – ‘e’ by number 5 – ‘i’ by number 9 – ‘o’ by number 6 and ‘u’ by number 3. Number 1,3,5,7 and 9 contain the positive energy whereas number 6 contains both positive and negative energy. As a result, ‘o’ is the least powerful among the five vowels. 

So how many vowels you have in your name ? Calculate them and you might be able to calculate your success percentile !

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Posted in: general tips

What is important in Life?

Long ago I heard a joke - A drunk beggar came to a man and asked "Sir can you spare some change?"
The Man "Why do you beg?"
The beggar "To buy myself a drink"
The man "Why do you drink?"
The beggar "to give me courage to beg"

If you think about it most of the things the materialistic modern men do is not much different, only a tad more complex. 
For example, I asked an educated NRI
"Why do you need a SUV?"
He- "mainly to go to my work, of course"
I - "Why do you need to work?"
He - "to make money of course" (and gave me a look, as if I am asking the most obvious things)
I- "and why do you need money"
He-" come on man, I have to pay for my car and...."


Think about what is the purpose of many of our activities you would be surprised, how we create our own problems and then try to solve it, and that in turn creates more problems, and we try to solve them, and we get caught in a purposeless vicious circle of activities. I am sure you can come up with hundred such example in your own life.

An engineer knows what happens when you run an Air-conditioner to cool a room with the Heat-exchanger also inside the room, the room only gets hotter and hotter. Similarly for all your activities , remember where the important things should come in and waste should go, otherwise your mind (and life) would only accumulate what you wanted to avoid in the first place.

Try to cut the useless activities, save that time for excercise, gardening, meditation and teaching your children and the unfortunate children in the neighborhood.

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Posted in: general tips

Alphabets for success

Read it carefully & Enjoy !
A--Accept
Accept others for who they are and for the choices they've made even if you have difficulty understanding their beliefs, motives, or actions.
******
B--Break Away
Break away from everything that stands in the way of what you hope to accomplish with your life.
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C--Create
Create a family of friends whom you can share your hopes, dreams, sorrows, and happiness with.
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D--Decide
Decide that you'll be successful and happy come what may, and good things will find you. The roadblocks are only minor obstacles along the way.
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E--Explore
Explore and experiment. The world has much to offer, and you have much to give. And every time you try something new, you'll learn more about yourself.
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F--Forgive
Forgive and forget. Grudges only weigh you down and inspire unhappiness and grief. Soar above it, and remember that everyone makes mistakes.
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G--Grow
Leave the childhood monsters behind. They can no longer hurt you or stand in your way.
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H--Hope
Hope for the best and never forget that anything is possible as long as you remain dedicated to the task.
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I--Ignore
Ignore the negative voice inside your head. Focus instead on your goals and remember your accomplishments. Your past success is only a small inkling of what the future holds.
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J--Journey
Journey to new worlds, new possibilities, by remaining open-minded. Try to learn something new every day, and you'll grow.
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K--Know
Know that no matter how bad things seem, they'll always get better. The warmth of spring always follows the harshest winter.
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L--Love
Let love fill your heart instead of hate. When hate is in your heart, there's room for nothing else, but when love is in your heart, there's room for endless happiness.
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M--Manage
Manage your time and your expenses wisely, and you'll suffer less stress and worry. Then you'll be able to focus on the important things in life.


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N--Notice
Never ignore the poor, infirm, helpless, weak, or suffering. Offer your assistance when possible, and always your kindness and understanding.
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O--Open
Open your eyes and take in all the beauty around you. Even during the worst of times, there's still much to be thankful for.
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P--Play
Never forget to have fun along the way. Success means nothing without happiness.
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Q--Question
Ask many questions, because you're here to learn.
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R--Relax
Refuse to let worry and stress rule your life, and remember that things always have a way of working out in the end.
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S--Share
Share your talent, skills, knowledge, and time with others. Everything that you invest in others will return to you many times over.
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T--Try
Even when your dreams seem impossible to reach, try anyway. You'll be amazed by what you can accomplish.
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U--Use
Use your gifts to your best ability. Talent that's wasted has no value. Talent that's used will bring unexpected rewards.
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V--Value
Value the friends and family members who've supported and encouraged you, and be there for them as well.
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W--Work
Work hard every day to be the best person you can be, but never feel guilty if you fall short of your goals. Every sunrise offers a second chance.
X--X-Ray
Look deep inside the hearts of those around you and you'll see the goodness and beauty within.
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Y--Yield
Yield to commitment. If you stay on track and remain dedicated, you'll find success at the end of the road.
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Z--Zoom
Zoom to a happy place when bad memories or sorrow rears its ugly head. Let nothing interfere with your goals. Instead, focus on your abilities, your dreams, and a brighter tomorrow.

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Posted in: general tips

15 Tips to help you succeed at whatever you wish

Ask for what you want. 
How does the world know what to give you unless you put it out there? Ask for what you want and need. Let the world know what you want from it and look for it in return.

Be the person you want to be. 
It's call modeling. If you act like it, people will believe it. Assume the role you want others to see you in. Sell it from the inside out.

Believe in yourself. 
If you don't, no one will. People will follow; you just need to lead them. Forget worrying; concentrate on making things happen. Action and momentum are infectious.

Make a plan. 
No one goes anywhere without a destination. Know your destination, and plot your journey. Take whatever pleasures you need on the way, but know that you are moving forward and will arrive at your destination.

Nervous = excited. 
Realize that being nervous is the same as being excited. Instead of dreading it, welcome the surge of positive energy. Own it, and use it. It's infectious in a good way!

Thinking about your failure brings your failure. 
Concentrate on your success and watch it happen. Your mind will move in whatever direction you point it in. Make sure it's pointed toward where you want to go and not where you don't!

Feel whatever way you choose.You control your feelings. You allow yourself to be upset, annoyed or frustrated. Only you control your feelings and no one else. Take back the power you give others and choose to feel strong, clear-minded and in control.

Communicate.Listening and being understood are the keys to communication. People want to talk about themselves and they want to hear interesting things about you. No one wants to hear a sermon or hear a rant about your latest victory or great audition. Listen, observe and speak about mutually interesting subjects. Otherwise, you're a bore.

Freak out.Bad audition, interview or meeting? Take ten minutes to beat yourself up. Blame yourself, be annoyed and frustrated. Then, learn your lesson and move on. Now that all your anger is gone, put your energy into the lessons learned and move forward once again.

Speak your mind, NOW. People swallow their feelings and anger, they postpone what they really want to say, thinking, "I'll just wait till a good time." DON'T! Handle the situation now, before the situation changes. Have a problem? Be a diplomat and talk about it. Handling a minor situation now will prevent it from becoming a festering chasm of misunderstanding and resentment later.

Dive in. 
Someone make you feel inadequate? A situation makes you feel uneasy? In a room with a big shot and feeling small? Don't overcompensate, navigate or fake your way through it, because you can't. Dive in and address the problem. Address your feelings and say, "I've got to be honest, I'm a big fan and I'm feeling a little intimidated right now." As soon as you own up to your feelings and the playing field is understood, you're both able to move ahead. Everyone wants to deal with someone who's truthful and honest, and not afraid to address their own insecurities.

Exploit yourself. 
Find out what makes you different and exploit it. Each of you has a quality that makes you unique. Instead of trying to be what others are, exploit your uniqueness. It's the one "ace" you have that no one else possesses.

Don't accept the unacceptable.Train people to treat you as you want to be treated. Being late is not acceptable, not returning calls is not acceptable and them not doing their job is not acceptable. Don't accept these behaviors from people.

Walk a mile in someone else's shoes.Be someone else. Changing perspective is an amazing tip to see the world from another point of view. Assume a character and role and act it out for one day, then go out in the world as if it's all new to you. You'll be amazed at the new perspective you gain.

Say thank you. Send an email from Hallmark, a card or a simple phone call. Don't underestimate the value of someone feeling appreciated and recognized for their efforts. It leaves a lasting impression when someone thanks you for meeting or helping them.

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7 Ways to make a Great First Impression

When you have an important event to attend there are 7 great ways to make sure you perform at your very best. These tips are relevant for social events and business meetings. Discover how to communicate with confidence while making great conversation.

1.Decide what you want to say before the event. Review it in your mind to make sure it sounds okay. Keep rehearsing it until you can say it with conviction and confidence.

2.Consider your potential listeners. Who will you be talking to and which topics of conversation will be welcome? You need to make sure your message matches your audience.

3.Be yourself. The worst mistake is to pretend you are something you are not. People will see through you and distrust everything you say. Even if you communicate clearly and with confidence.

4.Never expect things to work out perfectly. Be ready to deal with problems by deciding in advance what you will do. What will you do if people ignore your input? Now is the time to decide and not later on in the heat of the moment.

5.Be flexible in your approach. Different people need to be treated differently. Pay very close attention to how people respond to what you say and keep adjusting your approach until you have a good rapport with your listener.

6.Make the other person the focus of your attention and let him lead the conversation in the early stages. Let that person steer the conversation onto topics that are of interest to him.

7.Anticipate what could go wrong. Then do what you can to make sure those scenarios do not occur. Adequate planning is the key to performing at your best in the moment.

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Facts of Life : Must Read

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. When you say, "I love you ," mean it.

FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.

SIX! . Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much.
NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson !
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct
it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.

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Secrets To Choosing Champagne

Champagne, or sparkling wine as it is known outside of France, certainly conjures up romantic images. Champagne has a reputation for being the beverage to serve at most special occasions. And rightfully so. At it's finest, Champagne is delicate, crisp and clean. A good bottle flirts with the perfect qualities of the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, or other grapes from which it was made.

Champagne should be served cold. Most experts suggest 45 degrees Fahrenheit as proper serving temperature. Bottles may be stored on their sides or upright. It is best not to store Champagne in an area where the temperature fluctuates greatly. Incidentally, a great tip for rapidly chilling a bottle is to fill an ice bucket around the bottle with equal amounts of crushed ice and ice water. Always keep the champagne on ice, not in the freezer, between servings.

Color and sweetness are characteristics of champagne that one sees on every bottle. Champagne is not always made from white grapes, hence the different colors. Rose, for example, is created by adding red, still wine to the cuvee. The same effect in rose can be acheived by utilizing the color of the red wine skins. Red Meunier or Pinot Noir grapes are used to make a sultry and delectable Blanc de Noirs Champagne.

                                     

Next time you check out the label on a Champagne bottle, you'll see references to it's sweetness. Brut, as a classification, is probably the most dry. Perhaps you enjoy a dry Champagne, but want a touch of sweetness. Your best bet is a classification known as "extra brut."Interestingly enough, should you see a classification that reads "extra dry", it represents medium dryness. You like your Champagne sweet? Make sure the label reads "sec", or " demi-sec." The latter being quite sweet, and is frequently served as a dessert wine.

As far as price is concerned, French Champagnes are going to be the highest priced. If you are reluctant to spend the "big bucks" on French Cahmpagne, their are some very good alternatives. In recent times, some legendary French Champagne makers have started making an American variety in California. Mumms, for example, has a wonderful Cuvee Napa made in California. Very tasty and reasonably priced! Also, try some Spanish "Cavas",they are very inexpensive and quite good

O.K., hopefully this information will be helpful the next time you're asked to pick the Champagne for a special occasion. The truth of the matter is, let your taste be your guide. Hey, I'm sure you've got good taste, you're reading this article!

About the author:Michael Hutchins is a noted speaker and author on subjects related to entertaining at home

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Don't Waste Your Hard Earned Money Going Out To Eat

Imagine it's Friday night and your husband just calls to tell you he's invited friends to go out to eat... what should you do? Should you go out and spend about Rs.1000 or more for a fancy meal that you really can't afford or should you offer to cook? You should offer to cook!

Why waste your hard earned money on going out to eat, when you can easily prepare the same meals, right from the comfort of your own home? It's so easy you'll wish you'd thought of it sooner!

The Internet offers thousands of resources for free recipes and copycat recipes are so abundant you're sure to find the exact one that you are looking for.

Below are recipes that you can preapre and serve a wonderful dinner to your family and friends. And they all will go on praising you......

Navratan Korma

Ingredients:

Boiled vegetables (9 varieties-potatoes, carrots, green peas, french beans, cauliflower, capsicum, cabbage,bottle gourd, cluster beans)

3 cups Grated paneer 150 grams
Tomatoes 3
Grated onions 2
Ginger paste 1-1/2 tsp.
Garlic paste 1-1/2 tsp.
Salt to taste
Turmeric Powder 1 tsp.
Red chilli powder 1-1/2 tsp.
Coriander powder 1 tsp.
Garam Masala Powder 2 tsp.
Cream 2 tbsp.
Vegetable oil 6 tbsp.
Ghee 1 tbsp.
Milk / water 1 cup
Dry fruits (cashew nuts, raisins) 1/4 cup
Coriander leaves for decoration

Method:
1. Boil tomatoes till tender. Allow them to cool. Then peel off the tomato skin to make puree. Readymade tomato puree can also be used.
2. Take 1 tbsp ghee and slightly fry the dry fruits for about 1 min on medium heat.
3. Heat oil in a pan. Fry onions and ginger-garlic paste till golden brown.
4. Add salt, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala and fry for 2-3 minutes.
5. Next add tomato puree and dry fruits. Stir well and cook the mixture for 4 minutes. Ensure that the mixture doesn't stick to bottom of pan.
6. Add milk (use water alternatively). Bring it to boil. Reduce the heat and cook until the gravy becomes thick.
7. Add paneer to the gravy and stir well.
8. Finally add all the vegetables to the above gravy and cook for 5-7 minutes.
Serve hot. Decorate with cream and chopped coriander leaves. 

 

 

Shahi Paneer

Ingredients:
Paneer 200 grams
Medium onions 2
Ginger an inch
Garlic 3-4 pieces
Green chillies 2
White pepper powder 1/2 tsp.
Red chilli powder 1 tsp.
Turmeric Powder 3/4 tsp.
Garam Masala Powder 1 tsp.
Cream 3-4 tbsp.
Dry fruits (cashew nuts, raisins, makhane) 1/4 cup
Milk 1/2 cup
Vegetable oil 8-10 tbsp.
Salt to taste

Method:
1. Heat oil in a pan/kadhai.
2. Cut paneer into small cubes. Fry over medium heat until light brown. Turn pieces while frying. Be very careful as it splatters.
3. Keep the paneer pieces aside.
4. Saute the dry fruits in a tbsp. of oil.
5. Grind onion, ginger, garlic, green chilli in a blender and make a fine paste.
6. Fry the mixture in the remaining oil until golden brown and oil starts separating.
7. Add salt, red chilli powder, white pepper, turmeric powder, garam masala. Saute for 1-2 minutes.
8. Add milk to make the gravy. Bring the gravy to boil. Reduce the heat and cook until the gravy becomes thick.
9. Put a portion of the dry fruits in the gravy while it is being cooked. This adds flavour to the dish. Keep the rest of dry fruits for decorating.
10. Finally add paneer pieces and 1 tbsp cream. Heat for 5 minutes.
Shahi paneer is ready to serve. Decorate with cream and dry fruits. Coriander leaves are optional. 

Dal Makhni

 

Ingredients:
Black grams 1 cup
Bengal grams 1/2 cup
Kidney beans 1/4 cup
Ginger 1 inch
Green chilli 2-3
Butter 4 tbsp.
Cream 2 tbsp.
Finely chopped tomatoes 3
Finely chopped onions 2
Garlic 7-8 pieces
Cumin seeds 1 tsp.
Asafoetida 1 pinch
Red chilli powder 2 tsp.
Salt to taste

Method:
1. Thoroughly wash black grams, bengal grams and kidney beans. Then soak it in water (2 glasses) for about 7-8 hours .
2. Add ginger and garlic to the above. Pressure cook for about 10 minutes (3-4 whistles). Then reduce the heat to 'medium' and cook for about 15 minutes. Remove ginger-garlic from the cooked grams and make a paste.
3. Heat 2 tbsp. of butter in a pan.
4. Fry asafoetida and cumin seeds in it. Add thinly sliced green chilli. Heat till it gets slight brown in color.
5. Add ginger-garlic paste and finely chopped onions. Fry until golden brown.
6. Add chilli powder, finely chopped tomatoes and salt. Cook until the mixture thickens into pulpy sauce (about 3 mins).
7. Then add cooked grams and kidney beans to the mixture. Heat for 4-5 minutes. You can add a little water if you find it too thick.
8. Add the remaining butter and cook for 2 minutes.

Dal Makhni is ready to serve. Decorate with cream.

Now serve these vegetables with Vegetable Biryani and Stuffed Naan and enjoy.

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Posted in: general tips

Food Allergies:causes,sympotoms and diagonose

Which Foods Cause Allergies?

 The most common foods that cause allergies are:
Milk
Eggs
Wheat
Soy
Peanuts
Tree nuts
Shellfish
Fish.

Whether a person will have food allergies is partly influenced by heredity. So if one of your parents has a particular food allergy, you're about twice as likely to have one as someone whose parents don't have any food allergies.

The good news about food allergies is that kids and teens with certain food allergies, such as allergies to eggs, have a good chance of outgrowing them as adults. But some people never outgrow their food allergies.

People often confuse food allergies with food intolerance (like lactose intolerance or MSG intolerance) because they can cause similar symptoms. But food intolerance doesn't involve the immune system, and when a person has a food intolerance, he or she can usually eat small amounts of the particular food without having any symptoms. Although food intolerances can be unpleasant, they are rarely dangerous.

What Happens in the Body
Food allergies happen when a person's immune system mistakenly believes that something the person ate is harmful to the body. In an attempt to protect the body, the immune system produces IgE antibodies to that food. Antibodies are special proteins the body makes that work to recognize a specific substance if the body starts seeing that substance as harmful or foreign. IgE antibodies then cause mast cells (which are allergy cells in the body) to release chemicals into the bloodstream, one of which is histamine (pronounced: hiss-tuh-meen) . The histamine then acts on a person's eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin, or gastrointestinal tract and causes the symptoms of the allergic reaction.

Once antibodies are made against a certain food, they will instantly recognize if that food is eaten and enters the digestive tract. So the next time that same food is eaten, IgE antibodies against it are activated, stimulating mast cells and causing histamine to be released into the bloodstream again. This creates the symptoms of the allergic reaction. In severe food allergies, reactions can occur even if that food is simply touched or if particles of it are breathed in through the nose.

Some of the first signs that a person may be having an allergic reaction to a food include:a runny nose
an itchy skin rash
tingling in the tongue, lips, or throat
Other symptoms of food allergies include:
swelling in the throat or other parts of the body
abdominal pain
eczema
dizziness
diarrhea or vomiting (throwing up)
wheezing

Some people notice these symptoms immediately while others don't notice them for up to several hours after eating a particular food. Everyone's different.

When Food Allergies Are Severe
For people with a severe food allergy, eating a food or food component that they're allergic to can be life threatening. A life-threatening allergic reaction can make someone unable to breathe, cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure, and decrease blood flow in the body, especially to the brain, heart, and lungs. This is called anaphylaxis (pronounced an-uh-fuh-lak- sis) - and allergies that lead to anaphylaxis are called anaphylactic allergies.

Severe food allergies - to nuts and peanuts, in particular - sometimes cause anaphylaxis.
People who have anaphylactic food allergies might also have seizures or become unconscious as blood flow to the brain decreases. Symptoms of anaphylaxis can happen quickly, and without medical treatment can cause death.

Immediate emergency treatment, including medications (such as epinephrine) that increase the heart rate and blood pressure, is needed to control any kind of severe allergic reaction. If you (or anyone else you know) have a severe food allergy and accidentally touch or eat that food and start to have a reaction, you should call 911 or immediately go to the nearest emergency department.

How Are Food Allergies Diagnosed?If you think that you might be allergic to a certain food, don't decide for yourself to eliminate that food from your diet. Go to your doctor and have it checked out. Your doctor will make a diagnosis and recommend the best course of action for you.

Doctors use three basic methods to diagnose whether a person has a food allergy:

Skin test. This test involves placing liquid extracts of different foods on a person's forearm or back and pricking the skin a tiny bit so the food being tested enters the body. If a reddish, raised spot forms, this indicates an allergic reaction. If your doctor wants you to take a skin test, you may need to stop taking anti-allergy medications (such as over-the-counter antihistamines) 2 to 3 days before the skin test because they can interfere with the results. Cold medications and some antidepressants may also affect skin testing.

Elimination diet. With this method, suspicious foods are removed temporarily from your regular diet. Then (under the direction of your doctor) they are slowly reintroduced one at a time.
Blood test. In this test, a sample of blood is drawn and sent to a lab where it is mixed with some of the suspected allergen and checked for IgE antibodies. If antibodies to the food are found, you have an allergy.
If the results of these tests are still unclear, a type of test called a food challenge may be needed for final diagnosis (this test is done only in certain cases). During this test, a person might be given gradually increasing amounts of certain foods to eat while being watched for symptoms by the doctor. This test should only be performed in a doctor's office or hospital that has access to immediate medical care and medications. Allergy specialists usually avoid giving this test to people who have had a severe reaction to certain foods in the past.

Dealing With Food Allergies
The only real way to treat a food allergy is to avoid the food in question. That means more than just not eating the food itself, though. For some foods, this means not even touching them or being around people who are eating them. It also means not eating any foods that may contain the food - or have any parts of the food in them - as ingredients.

If you've found out that you have a food allergy, your doctor or allergist or a registered dietitian can help you plan a healthy diet that includes the nutrients your body needs.

If you have food allergies of any kind, you'll become an expert in reading food labels.

As of January 2006, manufacturers of foods sold in the United States must list on their labels whether a food contains any of the eight most common food allergens (milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, and soy) in any form. So the label should say whether that "hydrolyzed vegetable protein" in your food comes from peanuts, for example.

When you eat at restaurants, you'll need to let the waitstaff know about your food allergy. You'll also need to ask if items on the menu contain the food to which you're allergic.

If you're looking for meal ideas at home, check out the Resources tab for websites that offer recipes that eliminate many common allergy-causing ingredients.

If you have severe food allergies or severe allergic reactions of any kind, your doctor will probably recommend that you keep a medical alert ID card in your wallet or wear a medical alert bracelet that will clearly state your allergies in case of an emergency.

People with severe allergies should also carry an epinephrine kit with them at all times. An epinephrine kit is a single dose of epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) in a device that looks like a pen. It can be self-injected as a shot if the person comes into contact with something to which he or she is known to be severely allergic. Any teen with known severe allergic reactions, especially those that could lead to anaphylaxis, should keep one of these kits at home and one at school. Your doctor or allergist can talk to you about whether you need this prescription- only kit - and, if you do, how to use it properly.



Reviewed by: Barbara P. Homeier, MD
Date reviewed: January 2006
Originally reviewed by: William J. Geimeier, MD

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Posted in: general tips

General knowledge Questions on Mythology/Religion

Ques:-Which holy book describes the Ten Commandents of Omnipresent God?
Ans:- Bible

Ques:-Name the place where the crucifixation of Jesus took place?
Ans:- Golgotha

Ques:-Muslims glorify God in Masjids by saying, "Allah Hu Akbar". What does it mean?
Ans:- God is the highest.

Ques:-In which garden was jesus praying when he was arrested by the group of soldiers?
Ans:- Garden of Gathsameni.

Ques:-Which Holy Book states that " the soul could not be cut into pieces, burnt by fire or withered by wind"?
Ans:- Holy book of Geeta.

Ques:-In which book did Lord Buddha give his first sermon?
Ans:- Varanasi
Ques:-Who is the founder of ISKCON and the greatest exponent of Krishna Consciousness in the western world?
Ans:- Swami Prabhupada
Ques:-What is the meaning of ' demigod' ?
Ans:- Half God
Ques:-What is the name of first child of Adam and Eve?
Ans:- Coin
Ques:- Who tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge?
Ans:- Snake

Ques:-What is 'Sin'?
Ans:- Doing things forbidden by Omnipresent God.
Ques:-Who is the most popular religious leader of Tibet?
Ans:- Dalai Lama
Ques:-What are the three modes of material nature according to Bhagvad Gita?
Ans:- Ignorance, Passion, Goodness.
Ques:-Who is known as the mighty Lord of Death, according to Hindu mythology?
Ans:- Lord Yamraj
Ques:- "Gayatri Mantra" is one of the most prominent prayers of Hindus. Who is worshipped in this prayer?
Ans:- Sun God

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Posted in: general tips

21 Ways to Improve Your Online Resume

Today's job market requires a highly effective resume to capture the employer's attention. Based on the national survey I conducted of 600 Hiring Managers, here are 21 ways to help you improve your online resume.

Content! Keywords!
Since most employers sort resumes electronically, keywords and specifics that demonstrate your abilities, your accomplishments, and your past experiences are crucial to getting their attention.

Market Yourself Well
Begin with a summary of qualifications section that encapsulates your most marketable skills and experience into four to six sentences.

Demonstrate ResultsEmployers like proof that you can do the job. Note the action performed and conclude with the achieved result, noting how your employer benefited. Use numbers and percentages to show how money or time was saved. Example: Coordinated the annual conference, adding new speakers and innovative programs, which resulted in a 17% increase in attendance and an 18% increase in revenues.

Be Brief and Concise
One page, short and to the point works best. Be a skillful editor, deleting the portions which are not relevant or least helpful to your securing a particular position. Emphasize your most recent experience, the last five to seven years. Cover in detail the major job duties performed.

Be Targeted
Focus every resume to the job title being applied for. It's much more effective to create a different resume for each job title (i.e., one resume for Trainer, another for Program Director) and incorporate only the information pertinent to doing that job.

Visually Appealing
The formatting of an online resume must be kept readable, sharp and professional. Make sure sentences are concise and that there is adequate white space between points. Eliminate italics, bold formatting, and fancy fonts. Stick to Times Roman or Arial fonts; use 12 - 14 point size. Use bullets to emphasize important points.

Be Clear
No vague generalities. Say exactly what you mean, using the smallest number of words to make the point.

Be Accurate
State your skills, qualifications, and experience as positively as possible without exaggerating or misstating the truth. If your job responsibilities are not adequately described by your job title, indicate your abilities with appropriate terms (i.e. Events Coordinator, instead of Staff Coordinator) . List job titles, employers, and dates/years of employment.

Use Action Verbs
Start each sentence with a descriptive action verb - such as established, managed, organized. They add power to your sentences. And, never use "I" on the resume, only short impact sentences. Example: Designed the company's new marketing flyer.

Be Complete
Spell out names of schools, cities, abbreviations, and titles completely, since employers may not recognize abbreviations or acronyms.

Make Points Quickly
Complete sentences are not necessary in resume writing; it is better to use simple descriptive statements to make a point. Be sure any technical terms are understandable to non-technical personnel.

Justify Experience
In all your sentences, use past tense words since they imply that you "have done it" before. This reassures employers you can do it for them.

Be Perfect
The resume you send out must be flawless. No mistakes or typos, especially in emails. Typos are HR manager's chief complaint and they insist they won't hire offenders.

Proofread Carefully
Don't trust computer spell checkers. Read every word out loud to be sure it is correct.

Make it Readable
A crammed, cramped resume often goes unread. Make deletions wherever necessary to achieve a readable product. Use white space; bullets to highlight key points; and eliminate redundancies.

Avoid Graphics
Complex designs are distracting to the reader. Lines, boxes, shadings, fancy borders or clipart should be avoided as they cause major errors when sent electronically.

Don't Include Personal Statistics
It is no longer considered professional or wise to include information about marital status, gender, height, weight, health, or to insert a picture on your resume.

No Tag Lines
Employers know you'll provide references if they request them, therefore it is not necessary to put "References upon request" at the end of your resume.

Don't Advertise Negative Information
The resume is the wrong place to advertise that you were laid off, fired, or had an extended illness. Never state why you left a position; simply list the dates of employment. Don't mention what salary you want to receive. 

Be Current
Update information every six months. Keep a current resume on this website with email alert turned on to learn of promotions or new opportunities whenever you hear about them.

Final Test
Does your resume get results? Does your resume clearly and quickly communicate to employers that you can do the job? Do your strengths come across? Does everything support the job you are targeting? Should anything be removed? Are employers calling? If not, rework, get professional help or check out several resume books to help you improve yours.

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Posted in: Careers , general tips , Resume Tips

Internet Tips and Secrets

Getting on the internet is the most important thing that you will ever do. Get on the internet - now. Your livelihood, your happiness and your future is at stake. Staying away from the internet is the social equivalent of committing suicide.

What is so great about the internet?

Put simply, it's communication. The internet gives everyone on this planet the capability of communicating with anyone else (assuming they are on the internet also) at any time about anything that they want.Perhaps the most basic human characteristic is communication. Humans are always chattering about something, whether it be written, spoken, drawn, painted, hand-signaled or coded in electronic waves. We have a basic, fundamental need to talk to someone, anyone. And when we're not talking, we want to be listening.

Just as important, the internet allows, uniquely in history, the ability to communicate virtually instantly and almost completely uncensored. Never before (and probably never again, if some people have their way) have you had the opportunity for open communications that you have now.

Take advantage of the internet like you've never taken advantage of anything before in your life. There are more opportunities here than you can imagine. There is money to be made, friends to be found, product to purchase and places to explore. Quite literally, there is something for everyone.

There is danger also, but if you are careful you will be fine. Load up your virus checking, install a firewall, watch out for scams, and protect your children and you should be fine.

So what are you waiting for? Get going, make a fortune and have fun. And email me with your success stories ... I'd love to know the cool things you've done on the web.

Sometimes people seem to make a choice between making their site pretty for search engines or making it useful for people. I am always fascinated when I hear this discussion. In fact, it is interesting to hear someone say "I'm removing my Webring because will get annoyed" or "I'm deleting my links page because god, uh, won't like it", or "search engines don't use meta tags, so I took them all out". These comments all ignore the basic datum about the internet. It's about PEOPLE! The internet is not about some silly, stupid little robots, or some faceless idiotic rules enforced by their creators. The internet is about communication.

Yes, search engines are a part of that communication, as it is one (and only ONE) want of getting people to your site. But there are an infinite number of other ways to get people to your site, from viral marketing to Webrings to link exchanges to contests to newsgroups to whatever else you can think of.
But if your site does not cater to PEOPLE, it will fail. Period.

Yes, it's a good idea to make sure your site is known to the engines and known well. But that is NOT the purpose of the site. The purpose of the site is to communicate. Pure and simple.

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