Pick up your pace
People who walk faster than others are seen as important and energetic, studies show. So put a little spunk in your step and walk with purpose. You never know who may be watching.
Year: 2010
Speakers to grads: Go forth and fail
Last year brought a batch of good commencement addresses, often on how failure can lead to success. For example, J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, told Harvard grads that seven years after her own graduation, she had “failed on an epic scale.” She said, “It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all—in which case, you fail by default.”
For openers …
Start letters off right by addressing the recipient with a friendly gender-neutral “Greetings,” if you don’t have a name.
Can you be a boss & a friend?
Question: “I’m not sure how to handle my new supervisory position. Before being promoted, I was friends with my former co-workers, so I’m finding it difficult to tell them what to do. I love being a supervisor, but it’s hard to be as tough as my superiors want me to be. In a perfect world, I would like to be both a boss and a friend. However, I’m beginning to realize that to get things done, I need to be less of a friend and more of a boss. I know I have to demonstrate leadership, but I’m afraid this will turn me into an unlikeable person. After all, does anyone really like their boss?” — Nice Guy
Why you need weekly status reports
Doing weekly status reports for your boss is a good idea for four reasons: It forces you to think about what you accomplished; allows you to toot your horn regularly; helps during your performance appraisal; and provides fodder for your résumé.
Parting words
When a conversation naturally lulls, take advantage and say, “It’s been my pleasure talking with you. I hope our paths cross again soon.” Before leaving, be certain to thank the host.
Top picks for building a web site
As the most popular blogging software, WordPress has matured to become a bona fide solution for businesses that need a blog or even a web site with updatable content. It’s free, capable of search engine optimization and easy to update. Here are five other blogging software options:
Build your image
Exude a strong professional image by having a one-line sentence that tells who you are and what you do, rather than watering down your role, by saying, “I support…” or “I work at…” Practice the line and get comfortable with it.
Excel 2007 Pivot Tables: Something old, something new
For some more accomplished Excel® users, Office 2007 was a shock when it came to Pivot tables.
Americans get back to exercising
In the past seven days, how many days did you exercise for 30 or more minutes? More Americans are exercising, according to a recent Gallup poll. That’s good news, for all aspects of our health.