Asking questions can be one of the most effective communication tools available to us because they are the foundation for strong relationships, meaningful exchanges of ideas and information, strategic plans and much more. Questions give conversations meaning and discourage miscommunications. When we do not ask questions we are operating under the assumption that we already know everything there is to know about the subject or the person, which is rarely the case. Not only does asking questions demonstrate you’re listening but they actually help you listen. When teammates, leaders, or managers have the information that they need to do their jobs best the entire workforce benefits from increased productivity and individuals are also rewarded with higher morale and less stress on the job.

Moving to automated documents, and a paperless office is good whether it is at home or a business undergoing the transformation. People are tired and overwhelmed by the amount of paper, enormous files and the multitude of envelopes. E-mail has been a great solution for cutting down on the amount of paper used, but think about if most of your paper had not come to you through the internet or other electronic means. Using scanners instead of copying machines, sending electronic faxes using a computer instead of a paper fax machine, storing files electronically rather than in filing cabinets and sharing information with friends, clients or vendors using CD are all helping the environment. Basically, you are cutting down on the clutter and getting a greater return on your hardware by moving to a paperless office.

Home heating oil costs are projected to hit record highs this year. To help save money on your heating bills this winter try the following. First, know how much energy your home currently uses. Hire a professional home energy auditor or do it yourself by comparing your utility bills with other homes in your area then start making energy saving improvements. These improvements can range from cleaning your air filters to sealing heating and cooling ducts around your home. Cleaning the air filters roughly every three months is a good idea because a dirty air filter slows the flow of air and can actually cause your system to work harder and waste energy. Having a programmable thermostat installed in your home can save money as well, set the thermostat to be a warmer during the day and to drop a couple of degrees at night. Adding insulation to the floor or attic is also a simple way of making your home more energy efficient. Lastly maintaining your heating system on a regular basis will help it run more efficiently and waste less energy.

Being a new employee at a meeting where all others present know the pretext of the discussions is difficult. It is awkward to be involved in a situation when you are unprepared or unfamiliar with the topics and definitely do not want to give the impression of being incompetent at your new position. The most important thing you can do is find out when the next meeting will be called and make every effort to learn as much as possible before it occurs. No one expects you to be up to speed on the projects from day one, but it is your responsibility to seek out your team leader and get filled in as soon as possible. Do your homework, consult with colleagues and prepare a list of your questions that a co-worker can answer ahead of time. During the meeting, don’t feel pressured to talk but mainly you should be listening and learning. If you do have questions or comments to offer to demonstrate some familiarity with the project feel free to jump in.

The first day of school is just around the corner and sending students back to school can involve purchasing a number of items. These can range from school supplies, new clothing and new technology. So, with that in mind, consumers need to be smart and know their retail rights when making purchases. Businesses are responsible for the truth behind their advertisements and if a mistake is made in the advertising of a product the business is responsible for making the corrections, and to honor the price offered until the corrections are made. Merchants should also be disclosing their refund, return and/or cancellation policies. Make sure you are aware of your rights, and good luck!

Print smarter, and go paperless when possible. These are two easy ways of helping the environment. On average the typical office worker goes through 10,000 sheets of paper a year, start making it habit to print on both sides and use the back sides of old documents for faxes or even scrap paper. Avoid color printing and set your printer to print on draft mode whenever possible. Buying recycled paper and switching to a lighter stock of paper can also be helpful. Recycle your toner and ink cartridges and buy remanufactured ones. Before you print think about if the item really needs to be printed or if it could be stored online instead. If you are still receiving unwanted junk mail, catalogs or newspapers ask to be removed from the mailing list. These are all ways your business can be helping the environment.

There’s nothing more embarrassing at work than making a silly faux pas whether in speech or in writing. Have no fear; there are some ways to recover gracefully as long as you act fast. Confess that you made a mistake. If you admit to the embarrassing moment first in a presentation or accidentally sending an e-mail to the wrong person there’s not much you can do but correct your mistake and move on. Secondly, make the most of the situation if you are the one to take advantage of voicing your concerns and apologize you could end up turning a negative situation into a positive one. Lastly, don’t take yourself too seriously. Everyone makes mistakes so try to laugh about it chances are others will too.

People are often moved to accomplish great things; all it takes is a little motivation. People do things because we want to, and sometimes because there are consequences of not doing something other times there are rewards- either way people are acting because of what they get out of it. It is no different at work or at play. At work the benefits include a good pay rate, prestige or recognition. Some people work to get those rewards and be impressive, others fall in to the category of working but taking it easy to still get paid. Figure out what your fellow workers want, and how to give it to them as long as it is in reason.

Being a little happier and doing things to make yourself happy could be the only prescription you need to help your immune system. So, take a stress break. Join a yoga class, or eat a piece of chocolate along with doing some deep breathing exercises. People with long term stress are more likely to come down with a cold than those with a calmer more positive attitude. Stay happy and healthy!

With falling water tables, and rising water bills it makes sense ecologically and economically to conserve water and here are some ways to get started.

Turn off the tap water when you are brushing your teeth.

Fix any leaky faucets.

Install a low-flow shower head to allow ample water pressure while also cutting water consumption.

Water your lawn in the morning to reduce water waste caused by evaporation.

By now, people are very aware of the dangers that come with the accessibility of the internet. However, people make mistakes and their personal information can be compromised. There are a couple of things you need to remember. The first is that you can’t assume that your security software is fully protecting you, new viruses are being developed all the time so updating software regularly is a must. Don’t access any accounts through an e-mail link, if you get an e-mail from a bank asking for you to update your financial information it is probably someone else trying to empty your account. Vary your passwords for internet accounts. Although no one wants to remember a number of different passwords, using just one allows someone who manages to get a hold of your password to access all of your accounts. Lastly, if you’re going to download free software be sure it is from a reputable site most “free” software is loaded with spyware which clogs your computer with pop up ads and can capture your key strokes, thus your personal information.

Its remarkable how many people lie on their resumes to make themselves seem like a better fit for the position they're applying for. According to the CareerBuilder.com survey, these were the most common falsehoods people admitted to using on a resume:• 38 percent of those surveyed indicated they had embellished their job responsibilities• 18 percent admitted to lying about their skill set• 12 percent indicated they had been dishonest about their start and end dates of employment• 10 percent confessed to lying about an academic degree• 7 percent said they had lied about the companies they had worked for• 5 percent disclosed that they had been untruthful about their job title

CareerBuilder.com also noted that most of these lies did not help the candidates in their job search, because companies disqualified candidates after discovering the dishonesties.

Whether speaking to one or many, the best advice for how to speak well is to speak with words that are most comfortable in your vocabulary and to follow these helpful hints.

• Ask listeners if they are following what you are trying to explain.
• Allow time for the receiver to comment or ask questions.
• Be clear about what you say, and make eye contact with the receiver.
• Vary your tone and pace.
• Don’t be too vague or complicate your speech by giving too much detail.
• Don’t ignore signs of confusion.
• Smile, be patient and speak clearly.

With the cost of gas, and people doing more work to go green with their lives, more people are turning to electric bikes as a means for transportation. Electric bikes use foot power and a motor to create machines similar to hybrid cars. The electric bike combines old fashioned bicycle pedaling with a battery powered motor that helps while going up hills. The motor depending on the model of bike can either have throttle similar to a motorcycle or will automatically kick in and adjust to how the biker is pedaling. Price of these bikes can range from a few hundred dollars to more expensive depending on the model.

Health and Fitness Make the Difference Between Living Well and Living

Quality of life is what we all want. Good health helps us achieve a high quality of life. Fitness makes us want to live it every day. It's important to stay in shape and eat healthy foods, because obesity is spreading across the U.S.A.. Even if you are in shape you still need to keep eating healthy.
A new study shows that if your friends are overweight it's likely that you can become overweight too.
So to stay in shape you need to eat healthy foods and work out. Here are some tips to help get you started living your new healthy life:

1. Move More
Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn.

2. Cut Fat
Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise

and....

3. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook There's a definitive connection between living well and healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life.

Stay healthy!
~T.O.B.

What’s for dinner?

With the summer coming to an end, and the school year beginning in just a few weeks there are a ton of things you can do in an attempt to get organized before the first day of class. Starting to go to bed early and getting notebooks, pens and pencils are at the top of the list, but what about something to make your life easier during the week once school starts. Dinner time can be very hectic when trying to juggle everyone’s schedules so try stocking your freezer with meals you prepare on the weekends for stress-free dinners on busy nights.

To be successful, a business needs a road map for success. That road map comes in the form of a solid business strategy or a strategic plan. A strategic plan helps to provide direction as well as focus for all involved in the organization. The plan outlines specific results that are to be achieved, and establishes a process that provides managers, owners, and entrepreneurs the necessary framework for developing the sound business strategy. Defining the goals, objectives, strategies and tactics of the strategic plan will help to reduce the risk of business failure and helps increase the chances of concrete success.

People perform new job searches everyday, and new positions are being posted everyday. Interviews are being held, and people are being hired. So what should you between the interview, and the decision? The answer—do not stop your job search while you wait for a response. Even if your interview for the “perfect job” went well, do not put your job hunt on hold. There are a variety of reasons you may not get the job even if you think you aced the interview, and you might stumble upon an even better opportunity. Needless to say, you don’t have anything to lose by continuing the hunt.

The four day work week has been a much talked about issue across the United States for a number of economical reasons such as saving gas and energy bills, but could a four day work week mean a reduction in workers absenteeism? People play hooky for a number of reasons, and take time to stay home from work even when they are not sick. Could another day scheduled during the week to address the needs and wants of workers give people more time to complete all the activities they want or need to so that they do not need to call in sick? It could prevent people from taking their own day off and allow them more time and flexibility to schedule doctors, dental and other appointments. Although it may not work in all industries, it is definitely a concept to think about.

Positive thinking can have a lot to do with optimizing your health. Positive thinking may help to decrease negative stress, help guard against catching a cold, reduce the risk of coronary artery disease, help your breathing, and may even help you develop better coping skills during hardships. The theory is that having a positive outlook enables you to cope better with stressful situations, which in turn can reduce harmful health effects of stress on your body.

Six Rules for Successful Leadership from Jack Welch…

1. Control your destiny or someone else will.
2. Face reality as it is, not as it was or as you wish it to be.
3. Be candid with everyone.
4. Don’t manage, lead.
5. Change before you have to.
6. If you don’t have the competitive advantage, don’t compete.

Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed with the number of projects you have at work and home? You probably already know how important time management is in your life, and that by managing your time wisely you can minimize the stress in your life. Here are a number of tips to try to get you started or help improve time management.

• Plan each day.
• Prioritize your tasks.
• Say no to nonessential tasks.
• Delegate.
• Take the time you need to do a quality job.
• Break large, time-consuming tasks into smaller tasks.
• Take a break when needed.

Women have different symptoms than men when they are having a heart attack. In addition to intense chest pain, women are more prone than men to experience extreme fatigue days or even weeks before a heart attack. Women may also experience nausea or stomach pain, jaw/neck pain, shortness of breath and dizziness, as well as heartburn like symptoms. Be mindful of these indicators, and stay healthy in all others aspects of your life.

Surrounding yourself with supportive family, friends and co-workers can have a positive effect on your mental well-being, a strong social support network can be critical to helping you through the stress of tough times. It's never too late to develop these important relationships - and your social support network can never have too many good friends that allow you a sense of belonging, increased self worth, and a feeling of security.

Some advice... There is no substitute for hard work. A good and solid work ethic gives you the knowledge, as well as admiration and credibility of your colleagues and superiors. Taking a suggestion form a superior on a task should be embraced as a challenge even it is something you hadn't necessarily envisioned yourself doing. Do not be overwhelmed, first things first. Do a good job with the task at hand without worrying or focusing on future endeavors at the expense of your current work, because everything you do is ultimately contributing to your larger enterprise. Put your ideas into action, and follow through. You can do it!

In an ideal world, one would brush his/her teeth after every meal and floss at least once a day to prevent tooth decay and damage. However, sometimes because of our hectic lifestyles we can only do the next best thing which is to find a way to loosen up the bacteria that forms on your teeth. Chewing sugarless gum after you eat and using a tooth pick can help keep your teeth in good condition when a toothbrush is not accessible.

Now that the general job seeking guidelines of what to do have been established, lets see what’s out there. A number of companies look for applicants that have excellent problem solving skills, communication (both written and oral), customer service skills, and the ability to work well with others. Another must is the ability to manage multiple tasks and be able to prioritize to meet deadlines. Self starters with the ability to work independently and under supervision who are organized and efficient are some of the top qualities employers seek in applicants.

If you have a technology background, and the skills and experience listed above, feel free to e-mail us your resume, we’d love to hear from you!

The last step in the job search process is to follow up. After your interview make sure to write a thank you to the person/people you met. This note shows your appreciation for the meeting. If you’re interested in the position and have not heard from the company in a few weeks call the hiring manager or human resources contact person regarding the status of your application and ask for a time line on the decision. In the meantime, feel free to keep searching for open positions and networking because you never know when the perfect job will open up!

From the last post on how important a resume and cover letter can be to getting your foot in the door for a new position now it is time to look at your interview skills. Landing an interview is an accomplishment in itself, and it means your potential employer sees potential in you- but the job isn’t yours yet you’ve got to ace the interview.

Plan ahead; know what you’re going to wear and exactly how to get there. Research the employer, this demonstrates your strong interest in the position and the company overall. Think about possible questions and prepare some answers. Be on time, keep positive, and ask questions. Interviews can be learning experiences regardless of the outcome. You'll have a better sense of what to do - and what not to do - the next time.