Monday, April 19, 2010

Office jokes-Vocabulary additions

 
 

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via Really Funny Jokes by Mitesh Asher on 4/19/10

Essential vocabulary additions for the workplace:

1. BLAMESTORMING: Sitting around in a group, discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible.

2. SEAGULL MANAGER: A manager, who flies in, makes a lot of noise, craps on everything, and then leaves.

3. ASSMOSIS: The process by which some people seem to absorb success and advancement by kissing up to the boss rather than working hard

4. SALMON DAY: The experience of spending an entire day swimming upstream only to get screwed and die in the end.

5. CUBE FARM: An office filled with cubicles.

6. PRAIRIE DOGGING: When someone yells or drops something loudly in a cube farm, and people's heads pop up over the walls to see what's going on.

7. MOUSE POTATO: The on-line generation's answer to the couch potato.

8. SITCOMS: Single Income, Two Children, Oppressive Mortgage. What Yuppies get into when they have children and one of them stops working to stay home with the kids.

9. STRESS PUPPY: A person who seems to thrive on being stressed out and whiny.

10. SWIPEOUT: An ATM or credit card that has been rendered useless because magnetic strip is worn away from extensive use.

11. XEROX SUBSIDY: Euphemism for swiping free photocopies from one's workplace.

12. IRRITAINMENT: Entertainment and media spectacles that are Annoying but you find your self unable to stop watching them.

13. PERCUSSIVE MAINTENANCE: The fine art of whacking the crap out of an electronic device to get it to work again.

14. ADMINISPHERE: The rarefied organizational layers beginning just above the rank and file. Decisions that fall from the adminisphere are often profoundly inappropriate or irrelevant to the problems they were designed to solve.

15. 404: Someone who's clueless. From the World Wide Web error Message "404 Not Found," meaning that the requested site could not be located.

16. GENERICA: Features of the American landscape that are exactly the same no matter where one is, such as fast food joints, strip malls, and subdivisions.

17. OHNOSECOND: That minuscule fraction of time in which you realize that you've just made a BIG mistake.

18. WOOFS: Well-Off Older Folks.

19. CROP DUSTING: Surreptitiously passing gas while passing through a Cube Farm.

 
 

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6 Ways To Become Productive on Facebook

 
 

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via Dumb Little Man - Tips for Life by Abhijeet Mukherjee on 4/19/10


I know, I know, Facebook and productivity are words that don't belong in the same sentence. I mean in many ways, these words are antonyms, just like night and day.

Well, I'd contend that it depends on your perception of the tool. Yes, it is a social network that's supposed to be used primarily for fun and staying in touch. But, there's a lot more to Facebook than just commenting on your friend's status. It's an information heaven. And unless you know how to use it productively, it is, as some call it, a waste of time.

This article attempts to introduce you to some practical Facebook productivity tips that you should be implementing when you are on this network. No, it doesn't lessen the fun; it actually adds to it. Check them out and share your opinion in the comments.

Set aside time
Here's the first tip - set aside time everyday for Facebook (if you visit it everyday that is). It could be multiple time intervals of, let's say, 15 or 20 mins or just one stretch of an hour or two. But set aside time and stick to that schedule. Sounds silly? Well, you have no idea how much time you end up spending on Facebook each day. This is the first step towards becoming productive with this site. Know how much time you spend there!

One more thing I'd recommend is using a timer to track the time when you are on Facebook. You should do it initially for a few days at least. Later, once you get used to the fixed time thing, you might not need the timer any more.

Create friend lists
You'd agree that there's a trend of randomly adding friends on Facebook, whether you know the person or not. You see a friend request, glance at the profile for a second or two and then add the person. I do it too and that's how I've got a huge list of Facebook friends. It's bigger than I can manage. But thanks to friend lists, I can filter information easily.

Creating friend lists in Facebook is a way to keep track of close friends and give priority to their updates. Here's an article that tells you how to create a friend list in Facebook chat. It helps you selectively appear offline to a group of people. You could also create friend lists by going to "Friends" on the left column in your home page and then clicking "Create List" tab on the top.

Master the privacy settings
I'd say it is very important to be aware of the various privacy settings in Facebook and how to set them according to your preferences. It could save you a lot of time and hassle in the long run. I know people who've spent days regretting joining Facebook because of things, they didn't know could happen, happened. And most of the time, it is because they were unaware of Facebook's privacy settings.

Here's a detailed article that talks about some important privacy settings in Facebook. It's an old article but it'll give you the picture. You could also explore by going to Account->Privacy Settings and see what are the options you have there.

Remove Annoying Apps
Most of us end up adding a lot of unnecessary applications to our Facebook account. And we keep getting those updates and notifications that increase clutter in the profile and news feed. Plus, there have been security issues with some apps in the past.

Removing the apps you hardly use is recommended. It'll clean up your profile too. Although Facebook doesn't make the process obvious, you can follow this step by step guide to remove the Facebook apps you don't need.

Filter Your News Feed
Filtering Facebook's news feed lets you segment information and see what matters first. Friend lists can help you filter information related to them. You could also check out the options in the left column to quickly skim through status updates, photos, events etc.

Use an email update tool like NutShellMail
By default, Facebook delivers email updates about your account to your inbox. And if you are very active Facebook user, it could mean a huge number of emails everyday.

The best way to go about it is turning off all the email updates (except for one or two important ones) and using a tool like NutShellMail that sends consolidated account email updates. I personally use this tool and have found it very useful. Even if I don't visit Facebook on certain days, it keeps me informed. And all that in a single email.

Written on 4/19/2010 by Abhijeet Mukherjee. Abhijeet is a blogger and web publisher from India. He loves all things tech as long as it aids in productivity. He edits Guiding Tech, a blog that publishes useful guides, tutorials and tools. Check it out and subscribe to its feed if you like the site. You can also find him on Twitter. Photo Credit: magerleagues

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Thursday, April 15, 2010

A Genius Gallery

 
 

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via Dave Gorman by Dave Gorman on 4/15/10

Apparently a picture tells a thousand words. So maybe the best way of explaining your Genius idea is with a drawing.


Or maybe it's not.

Either way, send 'em in.

 
 

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7 Ways to Overcome Disappointment

 
 

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via World of Psychology by Therese J. Borchard on 4/15/10

7 Ways to Overcome Disappointment"We would never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world," wrote Helen Keller.

How I wish she were wrong. Disappointments leave us with the unpleasant task of squashing, crushing, and pinching lemons to extract any and all juice. Here, then, are a few of my techniques to turn sour into sweet, to try my best to overcome disappointment.

1. Throw Away the Evidence

Albert Einstein failed his college entrance exam. Walt Disney was fired from his first media job. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. Get it?

2. Stay in the Mud

"The lotus flower blooms most beautifully from the deepest and thickest mud," says a Buddhist proverb, just in case you thought all crap was bad.

3. Make a Pearl

Allow your disappointment to form a pearl just as an oyster does when an irritating grain of sand gets inside its shell, but grab the pearl before the sand gets in your eyes.

4. Ignore the Critics

Success is one percent talent, 99 perspiration. Take it from a writer whose eighth-grade paper was read aloud as an example of how NOT to write.

5. Grow Your Roots

Although the bamboo is the fastest-growing plant on Earth, it looks lazy at first because there is no branching … just growing lots of deep and wide roots. At the right time, though, the evergreen is capable of surging as fast as 48 inches in 24 hours. So are we … if we grow strong roots.

6. Persevere

"The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground." –Author Unknown

7. Don't Rush the Process

Only in struggling to emerge from a small hole in the cocoon does a butterfly form wings strong enough to fly. Should you try to help a butterfly by tearing open the cocoon, the poor thing won't sprout wings, or if it does, its friends will make fun of it.

Click here to read all 21 Ways to Overcome Disappointment.


 
 

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Education Should be More than Academic Basics

 
 

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via Stepcase Lifehack by Craig Harper on 4/15/10

Smart and Stupid at the Same Time

I've spoken before about human intelligence being a multi-dimensional thing and today I thought we'd take a brief look at, what I believe to be, one of the most important and valuable components of overall intelligence: Social Intelligence. Some people are very intelligent (capable, competent, efficient) when it comes to completing certain tasks but surprisingly inept (dare I say, stupid?) when it comes to others.

You know what I mean.

This Piece Goes Where?

Some people might suggest that I'm reasonably intelligent when it comes to writing, communicating and expressing my ideas but if those same people saw me trying to put together a piece of DIY furniture and understand the accompanying instruction sheet, they might (reasonably) conclude that I am, in fact, an idiot. It's probably fair to say that my mechanical intelligence is low. Actually, no, low would be a significant step up.

And if those same people saw the quizzical (confused, lost, stupid) look on my face in any movie with a plot more complex than Porky's Revenge, they'd probably realise that their initial assessment was spot on. It's fair to assume that I won't be recruited by the FBI, NASA or MENSA any time soon. Sadly, I'm often confused and asking stupid questions before the opening scene has finished.

Yep, smart comes in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes you won't realise how smart somebody is until you're stuck on an island with them and they build you a house, catch you some fish and save your life all before sunset. This might also be the same person who struggles to spell or calculate simple equations.

IQ Tests

When most of us talk about measured intelligence we are generally talking about a score someone has achieved completing, what we know as, an IQ test. While a score from an IQ test can tell us a little about a person, there's far more that it doesn't tell us. And quite often the information an IQ test doesn't provide is exactly what will make the difference between success and failure (depending on the task, of course).

We all know at least one person who, if required, could write a quick overview of quantum physics in ten minutes (in three languages) yet would struggle to walk into a social setting and engage a stranger in casual conversation. Neither would they get your joke or know when they're pissing someone off. And if they had to do something complex like change a baby's nappy(diaper) (1) they'd panic and (2) they'd have to Google it.

While there are several definitions for Social Intelligence, what I'm talking about today is our ability to interact effectively with other people in a range of settings, situations and circumstances. Following are some indicators of a person's level of social intelligence.

How do you rate yourself on the following?

  • Being an active listener.
  • Reading and responding to non-verbal cues – keeping in mind that the majority of our communication is non-verbal.
  • Being able to create connection and build rapport.
  • Reading situations and people in those situations.
  • Knowing what is and what isn't appropriate for that conversation and that moment.
  • Being able to avoid and, when necessary, resolve conflict.
  • Making others feel valued, respected and appreciated.
  • Knowing when to say nothing.
  • Knowing how to start a conversation.
  • Assessing the feelings of others and understanding a perspective other than your own.
  • Demonstrating humility.
  • Being able to hold a conversation with someone with whom you have nothing in common.
  • Being able to adapt your communication style for your audience (individual or group) in terms of language, vocabulary, volume, speed and content.
  • Being able to motivate, inspire and empower others.

The Right Person for the Right Job

Since I started my business (just after the last ice-age), I've employed somewhere in the vicinity of four hundred people. When I'm interviewing prospective staff I always rate people skills, communication and social intelligence above academic intelligence on the employability scale. Of course I want knowledgeable, qualified and technically competent staff but I'm acutely aware that those three ingredients don't automatically equal a great trainer, teacher, coach, motivator or employee. It's my experience that people with a high level of social intelligence are well suited to (the numerous) careers which involve significant face-to-face contact and social interaction.

Over the years, I've met, worked with and employed many people who have had limited technical knowledge (to begin with) and basic qualifications yet they constantly produced great results, built fantastic relationships and were always in demand because they simply had a high level of social intelligence. They were smart where and when it counted. They had excellent awareness, empathy, insight, understanding and overall people skills.

A Different Education

How great would it be if our school kids were part of an educational system which not only valued and taught the academic basics (mathematics, sciences, humanities), but also one that held the development of their social and interpersonal skills in the same esteem? If this were to happen, I believe our kids would come out of school much better prepared for the practical realities and challenges of life beyond the classroom. Imagine if they had the choice of elective subjects such as communication, conflict resolution, leadership, emotional intelligence and relationship building 101… just to name a few.

Very cool.

I might build that school.

Let me know your thoughts on this topic.

image

Craig Harper (B.Ex.Sci.) is a qualified exercise scientist, author, columnist, radio presenter, television host, motivational speaker and university lecturer. For the past 25 years he has been a leading presenter, educator, motivator and commentator in the areas of personal and professional development. You can visit Craig's blog at Motivational Speaker.FREE eBook – So… You've Decided to Get in Shape (Again) Craig's FREE eBook takes 20 – 30 minutes to read, and addresses the REAL getting-in-shape issues based on his 25 years of experience. To get Craig's FREE eBook click here, weight loss books.

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Tuesday, April 6, 2010

How To Find Your Passion

 
 

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via Dumb Little Man - Tips for Life by DLM Writers on 4/6/10

passion
Imagine a scenario where you actually loved getting up in the morning. I'm not just talking about those occasional weekends or days off where you actually have no plans (or only plans made and loved by you). I'm talking about every single day. Before you scoff at the ridiculousness of such a concept and flick on further down your reader just stop . Indulge me for a moment.

If I were a genie and could grant you anything you wanted, don't tell me you wouldn't be interested in finding a pastime (career, hobby, part-time adventure) that not only paid the bills but actually made you feel – what's that word? – good. And I'm talking gooooooood. Like so darn happy you smile at strangers on the street, walk with a little bounce in your step, constantly update Facebook with perky little notes, and basically just spend every day feeling like a kid does on Christmas.

Sounds annoying, doesn't it? Unless it's you of course.

So let's assume for starters that you still need regular income. To start with we're going to need this muse of yours (thank-you, Mr. Tim Ferriss ) to occupy only a set amount of time. Perhaps half an hour each day, with weekends off. That's doable, isn't it? Of course I'm talking about a solid 30 minutes committed to changing the way you live your life. All in one block.

The idea of introducing part-time passion like this is that it eases you in to the next step. Which is to gradually move you to a point where you are making a living from doing what you love. Where your part-time passion has replaced your full-time job. Sounds good, doesn't it? I managed to do this about 5 years ago. I was in a mid-level management position which I was kinda sick of. Ok, hated. And I was doing some part-time Personal Training before and after work. It took me a full year of being over that job to toss it in and have enough courage to try running a full-time Personal Training business. But at least I got there.

Where would you like to be a year from now? What would you love to be doing?

If you're not at all sure what your passion might be, then I'd recommend taking some time to identify your strengths. Here are 3 easy ways to get started on that:
  1. Ask your friends what they'd consider your strengths/natural skills to be.

  2. Take an online personality or strength/weakness test. This one from Dr. Martin Seligman is world-renowned. You have to register, but that's free.

  3. Invest a little time in some daily journaling. Just let the pen roll as you envisage what your perfect day, then week, then year would look like. I don't mean the down-time (although there's plenty of people who've turned a passion for travel into a solid income).
By this point you should be starting to get a little excited. Even the act of thinking about how cool it would be to actually love what you do should get the motivational juices flowing. But if you're still really not sure what you'd like to do – or perhaps you feel like there's so many things to choose from – then try this.

Find a clean piece of paper and a pen. Write down the numbers 1-10. Think back over past weeks, months, even years – which events/activities stand out as being joyous or exciting for you? If you can't think of anything, consider those events you reacted to in others with excitement, even jealousy. You might like to consider the following categories as a memory-jogger or just for ideas:

· Travel
· Creativity
· Social connection
· Helping others
· Making deals
· Re-selling goods
· Teaching

The long and short of it is that you want to highlight those times when you feel most alive. What makes you feel creative, happy, free, a sense of belonging?

Now that you have your passion in mind it's time to start making it happen. This is actually the easiest part of the process so far. Remember back to the start of this article? You've already committed to setting aside 30 minutes per day to work on your passion, so set the timer and get started. Try not to worry too much about how you can turn it into money, just focus on action. And, if you have several possible passions in mind, then choose one and start with that. Commit to it for 21 days and then decide if you'd like to keep going or start afresh.

Here's how you might fill that 30 minutes –

  • Write about your passion, what you like about it, what comes easy to you, where you'd like to improve your skills

  • Research the work of others who are effectively using your passion in their lives

  • Teach it to someone else

  • Read about it

  • Study different methods of doing it

  • Create a vision board of what your life will look like when you're doing it
Do this diligently and sooner or later you'll feel ready to take the next step: offering a discounted version of your service, applying for a freelance position, sharing your knowledge with someone who can help you get ahead. This could be the moment when that part-time passion suddenly really does seem like something that might one day replace your full time income. Soon as you make that first measly dollar from it you'll have the immediate excitement of knowing that if you can make $1, you can make $100, then $1,000. You get the idea. A year from now (or less if you're not such a scaredy-cat like I was) you just might not be imagining that lovin' the morning scenario anymore. You'll be living it.

Written on 4/6/2010 by Kat Eden. Kat is a Personal Trainer from Australia. Visit her blog Body Incredible to be inspired with the latest nutrition tips, weight loss advice, and motivational thinking. .Photo Credit: neil conway



 
 

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