Day 4: Finding inspiration

I had a really horrible post written in my head for tonight, it was negative and depressing and one of those "woe is me, my life sucks" posts.<br /><br />Then when I was at the gym tonight (because I couldn't get out of bed this morning), the most amazing thing happened. I got inspired all over again.<br /><br />I was perched on Sadie, climbing up her stairs, one step at a time, thinking about the agony of it all.<br /><br />The glass window to my right looked down on a group of young men in their twenties, playing basketball. All of them were very physically fit, most of them were very tall.<br /><br />There was one guy that was noticeably shorter than the rest, maybe 5' 7", with a thin build. I noticed he moved more than the rest of them. He was all over the floor. Then I saw the tall guys on his team kept passing the ball to him. He was making basket after basket, often from center court.<br /><br />He was doing this with guys all around him, much taller than him, trying to block him, yet he could throw that ball perfectly into the basket, regardless of where he stood or who was around him. The ball would drop through the hoop and not even touch the netting or the rim. This kid was amazing.<br /><br />As I was watching him I realized that even though his stature made him an unlikely basketball star, he had obviously practiced making baskets until he could do it perfectly every single time.<br /><br />I thought this kid and I had a lot in common. Even though I feel like I have it a lot harder than a lot of people when it comes to food and the desire to eat, just like this kid, I have to work harder at being healthy.<br /><br />I have to practice and hone my skills as a healthy person. It doesn't come naturally to me. Exercise was never my thing. I was a couch potato for many years. Now for the last eighteen months I've been a gym rat, working out six to seven times a week, now for an hour and half each day.<br /><br />In my past life I was a junk food junkie. Now I couldn't even tell you the last time I ate fast food. My digressions into junk food are pretty rare these days. I remember in the old days I could eat an entire cake in one sitting. Now I don't even remember the last time I had a piece of cake.<br /><br />Just like the basketball kid, I have to work harder at this. I know my love of food isn't normal. I know most people don't have an unhealthy "relationship" with food. Most people think of food as sustenance, not as comfort.<br /><br />After watching the basketball star for fifteen minutes, I realized that even though I drew the short stick on my natural ability to eat right and exercise, that I could still train myself to eat right and exercise and do it for the rest of my life. I might have to work harder at it than some people, but I could at least look like someone that was naturally healthy.<br /><br />That's when I pumped up the speed on Sadie from 5 to 8 and felt the burn (63 steps per minute, not even in the Weight Watcher activity list). Yes, I sure found my inspiration today.<br /><br /><em>Note: Fourth day in a row of perfect journaling. This from someone that hasn't journaled in months. Today I ate 33.5 Points. Sort of a lot, but I'm earning about seven activity Points a day, so it all works out.</em>

Day 4: Finding inspiration

I had a really horrible post written in my head for tonight, it was negative and depressing and one of those "woe is me, my life sucks...

Read more »

Saying No to Your Boss

When you think back to your childhood and your mom said, "We'll see," it was always better than a flat out, "No." Much like "possibly" is sufficient when you ask your boss for time off and "I'll think about it" gives you hope when you ask for a raise.<br /><br />Though all of these responses are really just a more polite version of "no," they're easier to hear than the actual word itself. While hearing "no" is hard enough, it seems that saying no is even more difficult for some people -- especially when it comes to your boss.<br /><br />"Most employees avoid saying no to their boss because they fear it will ruin their relationship, cost them their job or appear disrespectful," says Joseph Grenny, co-author of "Crucial Conversations." "With the right set of skills, it is possible to be 100 percent candid and respectful when holding this important conversation."<br /><br />The reality is, we can't say to yes to everything, so it's essential to position yourself in the best way possible if and when you have to say no at work. The trick, experts say, is not really what you say, but how you say it.<br /><br />"Many of us won't say the word because we are afraid to, especially in this economy," says Mary Byers, author of "How to Say No ... And Live to Tell About It." "It's easier to say no at work if you don't actually use the word. That way, your boss won't feel like you're being insubordinate."<br /><br />Elisabeth Manning, a human potential coach, recalls a time when she was an assistant to the president of a major company. The president wanted to make Manning her marketing manager at the same time -- and the same salary.<br /><br />Manning, who knew that she would have too much on her plate if she accepted working both jobs, told her boss that she wanted to maximize her capacity for potential at the company and accepting the offer would not be the best, most efficient use of her time.<br /><br />"I was neutral, not emotional and held my ground," Manning says. "I spoke as if it were already a done deal, without fear."<br /><br />Here are five situations where you might find yourself needing (and wanting) to say no at work and how you can do so tactfully -- and without losing your job.<br /><br />How to say no to...<br /><br />... Your boss assigning you too much work<br />It can be tough to tell your boss you have a problem with the amount of work he or she is assigning you, but it's possible if you can make your boss feel safe, Grenny says. Start with facts instead of harsh judgments or vague conclusions and let them know you care about their interests and respect them, he says.<br /><br />"Strip out any judgmental or provocative language and be specific," Grenny says. "For example, 'Last week, you gave me two large projects to finish in a very short amount of time and I had to complete these on top of my regular responsibilities. I am afraid my large workload might be affecting the quality of my work.'"<br /><br />... Outrageous demands<br />If your boss asks you to do something like run his errands or work all weekend and you can't (or don't feel like you should have to), focus on what you can do, says Dr. Susan Fletcher, a psychologist, author and speaker.<br /><br />"The next time your boss asks you to go pick up his or her dry cleaning, instead of saying no, say, 'What I can do is cover your phone calls for you while you are out of the office,'" Fletcher suggests. "Or if your boss asks you to start up a new company initiative, instead of saying no, say 'What I can do is brainstorm with you on the strategy for the initiative and help get the proper team members in place who can execute the strategy."<br /><br />... Something you honestly can't do<br />Of course, it's always good to learn new skills, but if you truly believe you aren't the best person for the job, you should say no. Byers suggests responding with something like, "Is there another department where this project might fit better, or someone we can collaborate with?"<br /><br />"If you know you don't have the necessary time, resources or knowledge for a given project, this is a good way to open dialogue about the best way to get an assignment done," she says.<br /><br />... Unrealistic deadlines<br />If you frame your response in a way that helps your boss to rethink his request, you'll be OK, says Beth Sears, president of Workplace Communication.<br /><br />Be aware of your tone of voice and try something like, "I understand your need for this assignment to be completed, but I need some help prioritizing my other work. You requested me to complete 'A' by tomorrow, 'B' by Thursday and 'C' by Friday. This last assignment 'D' would make it impossible to accomplish all of these. How would you prioritize these tasks?" Sears suggests.<br /><br />... Anything illegal, unethical or that crosses personal boundaries<br />Say no to anything that will you get into trouble if you say yes. Meaning, if something will be detrimental to your career or goes against your integrity, you should always say no.<br /><br />Jennifer Bergeron, an HR training specialist, recently said no to one of her bosses who asked her to lie to her direct manager.<br /><br />"I said, 'I'm not comfortable doing that, because the result will be [X, Y and Z]. Please don't ask me to ever lie to someone," Bergeron says. "He said, 'OK, you're right. I didn't realize all that was going on.'"<br /><br />By Rachel Zupek writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a>

Saying No to Your Boss

When you think back to your childhood and your mom said, "We'll see," it was always better than a flat out, "No." Mu...

Read more »

How Did You Get Laid Off? Real workers share their layoff stories

You got laid off and now you're unemployed -- so are 13.7 million other people.<br /><br />Several of Greg McGunagle's family and friends were among these laid off workers. He started hearing horror stories about how they were let go and began to notice a trend: Few companies are good at executing layoffs.<br /><br />"So many companies are just awful at [the actual execution of] the layoff. Businesses are trying to survive, so there are also a lot of terrible stories surrounding severance and benefits," McGunagle says. "I thought people likely [had] a very difficult story to tell. Wouldn't it be great to create a forum for people to tell their layoff story?"<br /><br />And so the idea of HowIGotLaidOff.com was born. The site joins the ranks of many other unemployment blogs as a place where people can go to cope with being jobless and share their woes with others in the same position.<br /><br />"[It] gives people a place to vent and share their story about being laid off. It also lets people know that there are others out there going through the same thing [or] in some cases, much worse," McGunagle says.<br /><br />Here are six true stories from real laid off workers, excerpted from HowIGotLaidOff.com.*<br /><br />Go back to your desk - if you get an e-mail, you're laid off<br />I worked for a large telecommunications company for about 10 years when my team, along with several hundred other employees, was called to an 'important meeting.' We were told by conference call that we were being outsourced to a telecommunications software provider. The contract being signed indicated that, if anyone was laid off within the first year, we would get our old company's severance payment. After that, we would get the new company's [payment, which was less]. In early February, an e-mail invitation to another 'important meeting' was sent out on a Sunday afternoon for a Monday morning meeting. At the meeting, a vice president read a three-page prepared statement, [which] indicated that, due to a drastic cutback in work from our client, layoffs would be necessary. We were to go back to our desks. If we received an e-mail, we were being laid off. The layoffs were effective one year and one day after the outsourcing agreement took effect, saving them hundreds of thousands of dollars in severance. - Greg<br /><br />An administrative error<br />My husband was laid off while waiting to complete his chemotherapy treatments. He had been on unpaid medical leave from his employer since March 2008. They extended his leave, by certified letter, to October 31, 2008. On October 14, 2008, his employer cut five staff members from his department by commencing layoffs. On December 1, 2008, he received a letter from his employer [that said] "Due to an administrative error, your employment is terminated effective Sept. 5th, 2008. We are sorry we did not send you a letter." - Anonymous<br /><br />Wait for a phone call<br />I was working in the PR department of a company that produced trade shows. Times were tough for the company, losing shows and attendance, etc. Everyone knew what was eventually coming. The day finally came when the big boss man called the entire company into the main lobby and made his announcement. In short, he told everyone to go back to their cubes and wait for a phone call from their respective bosses. As I was sitting in my cube ... the phone rang. I was called into my boss's office with another person from my department and was given the 'bad' news. We had a few minutes to pack up and leave. - Scott<br /><br />While on vacation...<br />I was on vacation in Florida and called my boss one day because we had a big project launching and I wanted to make sure all was cool with it. He told me that he was happy I called because the company had been sold. He didn't want me to have to come into an empty office when I got back as we had all been laid off. Nice mindset to be in when you're on vacation, right?<br /><br />It gets worse: The director wanted me to come home from my vacation early to transition my position to someone in India. I told him no, that I was taking the rest of my vacation time (an additional week) and when I came back I would help with the transition and that I would be billing them for my time as a contractor. - Ciaran<br /><br />Welcome to New York -- you're fired<br />It was a rainy spring morning last May when I officially moved into my new, overpriced shoebox-size studio apartment in New York City. My former financial firm had transferred me to the new office there. I walked into work that morning to see my ex-boss, who worked out of the main office 5,000 miles away, sitting at my desk. I knew right then -- no more paycheck. One hour later, I found myself walking home with my box of office belongings and added it to my unpacked boxes in my apartment. - Anonymous<br /><br />Placing blame<br />I worked for a nonprofit ... one of my main jobs was to help volunteers sign up and prepare for overseas trips to third-world countries. My boss planned a volunteer trip to Africa; more specifically, to a region he was from and had plans to vacation in after the official trip. This particular area had just made the news due to a recent increase of violent outbreaks. Regardless, he took a group of elderly men and women into this war zone, all because he wanted his vacation time. They never made it to their destination; the plane was rerouted to a neighboring country because it was too dangerous.<br /><br />The family members of the volunteers called the office nonstop, wondering what happened and how could they get in touch with their families. My boss neglected to set up any kind of emergency system or emergency phone number to reach anyone. Families were desperately trying to get information and my boss disappeared off the face of the planet. He came home and blamed me for not having information for the families of the volunteers. - DDaryl<br /><br />Jon Gordon, who lost his job during the dot.com crash, says that although it's hard initially, your layoff can actually lead to a bright future with the right course of action. Now a bestselling author, Gordon shares these tips to help you change your career outlook:<br /><br />1. Jettison your anger. Allow yourself to be angry, sad, bitter, upset for a few days and then let it all go. Forgive the company. Forgive your employers. Release the bitterness. Know that you can't create your future by focusing on the past.<br /><br />2. Start each day with questions. When you get up each morning, ask yourself this one question: What are the three things I need to do today that will help me find the job and create the success that I desire? Then, take action on those three things every day until you've achieved them. This is a great way to keep feeding your positive energy.<br /><br /><br />3. Take on a positive approach to the recession. Today's employment-related statistics can be hard to get out of your head when you're searching for a job. But unlike the pundits on TV who seem all too pleased to focus on the most negative numbers available, you can choose to focus on the flip side, Gordon says. Rather than fixating on 8 percent unemployment, focus on 92 percent employment.<br /><br />4. Be humble and hungry. Know that you don't have all the answers and can learn something from everyone, Gordon says. Know that there are always new ways to learn, improve and get better. Be open to advice. Be open to learning a new skill and trying a job you haven't thought of before. Also, be hungry: Seek out a mentor, take him to lunch and model his success. Think of his life as a blueprint you can follow. Continuously improve and seek out new ideas and new strategies.<br /><br />*Stories have been edited for grammar, language and length. HowIGotLaidOff.com has the right to republish posts and owns all content submitted.<br /><br />By Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a>

How Did You Get Laid Off? Real workers share their layoff stories

You got laid off and now you're unemployed -- so are 13.7 million other people. Several of Greg McGunagle's family and friends were ...

Read more »

12 Workplace Phrases You Probably Don't Know ... But Should

Getting along with people sometimes requires speaking their language, especially in the workplace. One of the ways employees try to emphasize their smartness is with specialized vocabulary.<br /><br />Due to the nature of a lot of people's work, technical language and terminology is often necessary, but buzzwords can make you sound pretentious. On the other hand, if you are working on a team full of buzzword-addicted co-workers, you'll need to fit in. Learning and properly using the latest buzzwords and TLAs (Three Letter Acronyms) can help you create high-bandwidth communication with your colleagues.<br /><br />Here are 12 of today's hottest workplace phrases:<br /><br />Boil the ocean<br />Definition: This scope is too big to do in one project. Break it up into more than one. We often hear "We're not trying to boil the ocean here. We just need to" when the client is trying to keep costs down and avoid an overly ambitious project scope.<br /><br />Drink the Kool-Aid<br />Definition: To enthusiastically perform a task or follow a leader without knowing how this may affect you or to buy the "company line" without question. In business, you may hear someone say "He drank the Kool-Aid," when they mean, "He has been thoroughly trained in the program and we have his unconditional support," or "He is on board with our strategy." In political commentary, it is used to imply that people who disagree with you have been brainwashed or are under the influence of drugs.<br /><br />Going native<br />Definition: This is what happens when a consultant stops acting like a consultant and starts thinking they are part of the client organization. If you aren't willing to go somewhere else, go ahead and apply for a permanent job. You aren't providing the same value you were in the beginning.<br /><br />Greenfield instance<br />Definition: Clean, new installation of an application without customizations, configuration or data. When a brand new application is installed, it is a "greenfield instance" until the consultants and programmers go in and start messing it up with configurations and code changes.<br /><br />Holistic<br />Definition: A big picture view or a solution that includes upstream and downstream impacts. Whatever it means, it's a great consulting word and we use it a lot.<br /><br />Paradigm<br />Definition: The perspective or view you have of a situation. For example, "When ownership of our order fulfillment project moved from Operations to Sales, it caused a paradigm shift that resulted in a whole new project strategy and approach."<br /><br />Running in parallel<br />Definition: Processing normal operating data through two systems simultaneously to compare performance and output. When a client is feeling particularly paranoid about a new system that his consultants have developed or implemented, even after exhaustive testing and training, we will sometimes recommend running the new system in parallel with the old for a short period.<br /><br />Strawman<br />Definition: First draft of a solution or proposal intended to provoke discussion. It is an object, document, person or argument that temporarily stands in for and is intended to be "knocked down" by something more substantial.<br /><br />Talking to the dog<br />Definition: Thinking it through by talking it through out loud. You'll often hear engineers and programmers say that they finally solved a problem by talking to the dog.<br /><br />Use case<br />Definition: A particular circumstance or situation in which the solution would be used. For example, when designing a system, the engineer will refer to all the use cases that have been documented to determine if his solution will be effective in each situation.<br /><br />White paper<br />Definition: An authoritative report or guide published to share technical or business information, particularly related to solving common problems. Writing white papers is a great way for consultants to get exposure in their industry and develop a reputation for expertise.<br /><br />Wireframe<br />Definition: Simple pictures that show a proposed user interface, often used by business analysts to communicate expectations to users and developers.<br /><br />By Christine Lambden and Casey Conner, authors of "Everyday Practices of Extraordinary Consultants," teach consulting and interviewing skills workshops and seminars around the world. After a combined total of more than 30 years in the consulting industry, they now bring their accumulated wisdom to business professionals in various industries. For complete bios, please visit www.ConsultantingStance.com/about.htm.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a>

12 Workplace Phrases You Probably Don't Know ... But Should

Getting along with people sometimes requires speaking their language, especially in the workplace. One of the ways employees try to emphasiz...

Read more »

Working Moms Feeling the Pressure of Parenthood and the Economy

A mother's work is never easy, and for a mother who works outside the home, things are especially tough this year. In these trying economic times, moms are finding the balancing act between family and work is more challenging than ever, according to CareerBuilder's annual survey of 469 working mothers.<br /><br />Here's what the survey found:<br /><br />· Thirty percent of working moms whose companies have experienced layoffs in the previous 12 months are working longer hours than they used to.<br /><br />· Fourteen percent of surveyed moms have taken second jobs during the last year to make ends meet.<br /><br />· Combining family needs, financial woes and busy schedules, it shouldn't come as a surprise that 34 percent of moms admit to feeling burned out these days.<br /><br />Tug-of-war<br /><br />Employees across all demographics are feeling pressure to work harder as they discover the truth behind the "do more with less" mantra. Not only are working mothers picking up the responsibilities left behind by laid off colleagues, but they also want to maintain high quality of their own work. Consequently, they're devoting more time to their jobs and less time to home and family. Therefore 43 percent of surveyed mothers say they work more than 40 hours each week. Sixteen percent of working mothers bring work home at least twice a week, and 6 percent bring home work every day.<br /><br />We all know working mothers always want to fulfill their job duties without neglecting their families. Yet, 40 percent of working mothers fear losing their jobs today more than they did a year ago. As a result of this extra time in the office, 19 percent of moms say they spend two hours or less with their children each day, and 25 percent have missed two or more significant events in their child's life in the last year.<br /><br />Time is the greatest gift<br />As much as mothers love receiving flowers and homemade crafts on Mother's Day, this year the one gift they want most is time. Despite the current economy being one of the toughest in the nation's history, nearly one-third of mothers say they would consider a pay cut to spend more time with their children.<br /><br />Fortunately, many employers are accommodating the needs of mothers who need some flexibility to balance their work-life demands. And working moms are eager to make the most of this opportunity. Fifty-five percent of working moms say they take advantage of their employers' flexible work arrangements, and a vast majority report that their career progress hasn't been hindered as a result.<br /><br />How to balance your responsibilities<br />Although there's no magic formula for raising children and having a successful career, there are steps you can take to ensure that you, your family and your job don't suffer. Here are five tips to help working moms achieve a successful work-life balance:<br /><br />1. Take care of yourself<br />Although your plate is already full, you need to secure some "me" time each week to indulge in your favorite activities. To prevent your personal time from being bumped off the list of priorities, block off the time as an appointment on your calendar.<br /><br />2. Talk to your manager<br />Communicate your needs to your manager and illustrate how your improved work/life balance will benefit the company. For example, compressed work-weeks, flexible hours (so you can arrive earlier and leave earlier) and telecommuting can help productivity and save the company money.<br /><br />3. Keep a routine<br />Divide household responsibilities (such as dinner preparation, chores and bill paying) between you and your family so that everyone is involved. If you have a partner, share responsibilities so that no one is bogged down in chores and you can enjoy quality time together.<br /><br />4. Make the most of family time<br />Transitioning from professional to mother can be hard to do when you walk through the door, but don't forget to enjoy time with your children when you're home. You might want to cross off another laundry list of to-dos when you get home, but don't let the minor tasks distract you from enjoying activities with your children.<br /><br />5. Lighten the load<br />Being a working mom might make you feel like a superhero, but you're only one woman. Learn to delegate responsibilities so that you're not on every call and in every meeting. Your staff will grow in their positions and you'll have less stress.<br /><br />Written by Mary Delaney, President of Personified, CareerBuilder's talent management and recruitment outsourcing division<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a>

Working Moms Feeling the Pressure of Parenthood and the Economy

A mother's work is never easy, and for a mother who works outside the home, things are especially tough this year. In these trying econo...

Read more »

How Toxic Behavior Leads to Sinful Behavior at Work

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/4l/ar5f2jn5zbhh4s7z1c4l.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/4l/ar5f2jn5zbhh4s7z1c4l.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div>Have you ever found that the people most guilty of unruly behavior at work are also the ones who are most oblivious to their behavior?<br /><br />Take Fred, for example. Fred represents the guy in your office who asks you to "help" him with a big presentation (aka, you do the whole thing). But when Fred is congratulated on a job well-done, he takes full credit for the work you did.<br /><br />Or, look at Susan. Susan is that co-worker who talks to you for hours on end about herself -- her family, friends, work and play -- but never does she ask about what's happening in your world.<br /><br />And we can't forget about George, who may as well come with a warning label that reads "Dangerous When Angered." One wrong word, question, criticism or opinion and he blows his lid.<br />All of these people are examples of toxic personalities,which are showing up in the workplace now more than ever, according to experts.<br /><br />"During economic downturns, the 'shadow' side of our personalities can bring out the worst in people," say Dr. Mitchell Kusy and Dr. Elizabeth Holloway, authors of "Toxic Workplace! Managing Toxic Personalities and their Systems of Power."<br /><br />Toxicity spreads like a nasty virus<br />Perhaps the worst part about noxious workplace behavior is how it affects those around you. According to a study conducted by Kusy and Holloway, 94 percent of respondents said they had worked with or were currently working with a toxic person.<br /><br />"Before you know it, you have caught the 'infection' and find yourself acting in ways that complement or replicate the very behaviors that are making you angry, frustrated and/or depressed," Kusy and Holloway say.<br /><br />Here's how to know if you're a toxic personality, and how you can save yourself from your sinful actions:<br /><br />Deadly sin: Envy<br />Did a co-worker get the promotion you'd been waiting for? Did your colleague surpass you -- again -- in sales? You should absolutely acknowledge others' achievements but don't use them as a standard by which to measure your own. Kusy and Holloway say that when you're envious of someone else, you naturally want to undermine his reputation and the way others gravitate toward him. But in the long run, you're only undoing your own reputation.<br />Salvation: Bury your envy and start focusing on building a reputation as a team player, Kusy and Holloway suggest. Figure out how you can start turning your envy into passion or positive energy.<br /><br />Deadly sin: Gluttony<br />More is not always better. Though many people are eager to climb quickly up the corporate ladder, none of that will matter if you don't care whom you plow through to get to the top. While it's definitely OK to ask for more job responsibility, it's more important to maintain a balance.<br />Salvation: One of the most critical mistakes regarding gluttony is not considering your team enough, Kusy and Holloway say.<br /><br />"You don't need to belittle and diminish someone else for your work to be noticed. Work with your team so that you are all noticed for innovation and productivity. Make sure that you are in the lead of building a positive team climate; making everyone look good on a project will make you look good as a team player."<br /><br />Deadly sin: Greed<br />Everyone is guilty of wanting more: more money, more power and more responsibility. The problem comes when you try to use your position to punish others, demand their loyalty or take all the credit for the work that others have done.<br />Salvation: It's best to focus your goals on the long term. If you concentrate only on quick, short-term gains, you'll probably do well in the moment but you won't be able to extend yourself to the next level.<br /><br />Deadly sin: Lust<br />Lust in the workplace isn't limited to office romance. You might lust after a nicer work space or even your boss's job. But, spending your time focused on what you don't have or others' work achievements rather than working to further your own is a sure-fire career killer.<br />Salvation: "What length will you go satisfy this lust?" ask Kusy and Holloway. "If it extends to deceptions, badmouthing your co-workers or undermining the productivity of the team, then your emotions are ruling your actions with disastrous results. Go to your supervisor and ask him or her to put you on a development plan that can segue you to that next new job in the organization."<br /><br />Deadly sin: Pride<br />Personal success is your M.O. -- you have no problem taking credit for a job well-done, even if it was a joint effort. You have the absolute belief that you're always right; you always want to be in control; and you think other people won't -- or can't -- do their jobs. While it's a good feeling to be right, no one is always right, Kusy and Holloway explain.<br />Salvation: First, realize that building a reputation for getting things done right is to build a team that does it right together, they say. Remember that sharing credit with everyone who deserves it makes everyone accountable. Finally, give praise where it is due and you'll be shocked how much comes back to you, Kusy and Holloway say.<br /><br />Deadly sin: Sloth<br />If you're lazy, complacent or indifferent about your job, you're on the express train to nowhere. Just because you've been successful in the past doesn't mean that success will carry you through the rest of your career. Sloth becomes toxic when there's a continued pattern that becomes counterproductive to workplace productivity.<br />Salvation: There are several steps you can take to keep your laziness in check, Kusy and Holloway say. First, take stock of yourself and determine where the source of your laziness lies. Are you bored? Do you need to be more challenged in your role? Next, make a specific plan to increase your productivity at work. Figure out how you will measure your expectations and make sure it's feasible, they say.<br /><br />Deadly sin: Wrath<br />Anger and malice benefit no one in the workplace. Harboring secret hatred or angst toward your boss, colleagues or general work environment will only create an atmosphere of negativity and abuse around you, Kusy and Holloway say.<br />Salvation: Any pessimistic feelings you have toward co-workers or work are bound to surface eventually, Kusy and Holloway say. If you're angry with your boss, figure out what is bothering you and then see if you can talk to him or her about it. If you're unhappy with your work in general, it might be time to start looking for a new position.<br /><br />Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a> </div>

How Toxic Behavior Leads to Sinful Behavior at Work

Have you ever found that the people most guilty of unruly behavior at work are also the ones who are most oblivious to their behavior? Take ...

Read more »

How Long Will It Take to Earn ...

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/3r/ar5c4bt5wm9wxfd2q93r.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/3r/ar5c4bt5wm9wxfd2q93r.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div>One of those quintessential rites of passage for first-time workers is deciding how to spend your first paycheck. Teenagers working part time might save up to buy their first cars. New college grads could indulge in a fancy dinner or finally buy furniture that doesn't require assembling.<br /><br />Another universal -- albeit less satisfactory -- experience for new workers is the realization that you worked so hard and in one big purchase, all your money can disappear. If you look at your pay stub, you'd think you could buy something without worrying about your finances, but when you factor in daily expenses and paycheck deductions, the number is quite a bit different.<br /><br />This is why your annual salary might be larger than the cost of a car, but you're not going to pay for it upfront. You could, but then you wouldn't eat or have shelter for the rest of the year.<br /><br />To put some of life's big purchases in perspective, we've done some paycheck math you might not have thought about since you were a teenager. Here are three common investments many people find themselves contemplating at one time or another: a car, a home and a college education. You can see how long it would take to pay for each of these items at various income levels if you had no other expenses to worry about.<br /><br />A few ground rules: We based our calculations on working eight hours, five days a week for 52 weeks per year. And we're ignoring taxes and interest rates because those vary depending on your location and specific deal.<br /><br />A car that costs $35,000<br />Your annual salary is: $15,000 ($7.21/hr)<br />It will take:<br />4,854 hours<br />607 workdays<br />2.3 years<br />Job with this salary: Parking lot attendants<br /><br />Your annual salary is: $35,000 ($16.83/hr)<br />It will take:<br />2,080 hours<br />260 workdays<br />1 year<br />Job with this salary: Interpreters and translators<br /><br />Your annual salary is: $60,000 ($28.85/hr)<br />It will take:<br />1,213 hours<br />152 workdays<br />7 months<br />Job with this salary: Financial analysts and advisers<br /><br />Your annual salary is: $100,000 ($48.08/hr)<br />It will take:<br />728 hours<br />91 workdays<br />4.2 months<br />Job with this salary: Optometrist<br /><br />Four years of a private college totaling $180,000<br />Your annual salary is: $15,000 ($7.21/hr)<br />It will take:<br />24,965 hours<br />3,120 workdays<br />12 years<br />Job with this salary: Amusement and recreation attendants<br /><br />Your annual salary is: $35,000 ($16.83/hr)<br />It will take:<br />10,695 hours<br />1,337 workdays<br />5.14 years<br />Job with this salary: Supervisors and managers of sales workers<br /><br />Your annual salary is: $60,000 ($28.85/hr)<br />It will take:<br />6,239 hours<br />780 workdays<br />3 years<br />Job with this salary: Logisticians<br /><br />Your annual salary is: $100,000 ($48.08/hr)<br />It will take:<br />3,744 hours<br />468 workdays<br />1.8 years<br />Job with this salary: Lawyers<br /><br />A house that costs $270,000<br />Your annual salary is: $15,000 ($7.21/hr)<br />It will take:<br />37,448 hours<br />4,680 workdays<br />18 years<br />Job with this salary: Food concession counter attendants<br /><br />Your annual salary is: $35,000 ($16.83/hr)<br />It will take:<br />16,043 hours<br />2,005 workdays<br />7.7 years<br />Job with this salary: Recreational therapist<br /><br />Your annual salary is: $60,000 ($28.85/hr)<br />It will take:<br />9,359 hours<br />1,170 workdays<br />4.5 years<br />Job with this salary: Computer systems and network administrator<br /><br />Your annual salary is: $100,000 ($48.08/hr)<br />It will take:<br />5,616 hours<br />702 workdays<br />2.7 years<br />Job with this salary: Computer and system information managers<br /><br />Jobs based on data from CBSalary.com.<br /><br />Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong></a> </div>

How Long Will It Take to Earn ...

One of those quintessential rites of passage for first-time workers is deciding how to spend your first paycheck. Teenagers working part tim...

Read more »

Mise à jour au 1er septembre 2009 des "Chiffres sociaux utiles"

<BR><br />En application du <a href="http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000020467482" target="_blank">décret n 2009-353 du 31 mars 2009</a> (JO du 1er avril 2009), le montant mensuel de l’allocation aux adultes handicapés est porté à <strong>681,63 €</strong> à compter du 1er septembre 2009 ; il était fixé à 666,96 € depuis le 1er avril 2009. <br /><br /><a title="View MDE chiffres sociaux 092009 on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/19256463/MDE-chiffres-sociaux-092009" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">MDE chiffres sociaux 092009</a> <object align="middle" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" height="500" id="doc_342350689461024" name="doc_342350689461024" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://d.scribd.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=19256463&access_key=key-2oi6m6of2nfbbgoko6rf&page=1&version=1&viewMode="> <param name="quality" value="high"> <param name="play" value="true"> <param name="loop" value="true"> <param name="scale" value="showall"> <param name="wmode" value="opaque"> <param name="devicefont" value="false"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="menu" value="true"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="salign" value=""> <embed src="http://d.scribd.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=19256463&access_key=key-2oi6m6of2nfbbgoko6rf&page=1&version=1&viewMode=" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" play="true" loop="true" scale="showall" wmode="opaque" devicefont="false" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="doc_342350689461024_object" menu="true" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" salign="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="500" width="100%"></embed> </object><br /><BR>

Mise à jour au 1er septembre 2009 des "Chiffres sociaux utiles"

En application du décret n 2009-353 du 31 mars 2009 (JO du 1er avril 2009), le montant mensuel de l’allocation aux adultes handicapés est ...

Read more »