A Day Behind…But Still on Track!

<p>I was quite lazy last night (Wednesday) so I didn’t get my post done for the day, exercise, or make supper! I ate a bowl of <strong>Reeses Puffs cereal </strong>(estimating <strong>6 points</strong>…and no picture), put my pj’s on, and was on asleep on the couch before 9pm!! Must have needed the time off for some reason!!</p> <p>Backing up a bit, I started my day out Wednesday was a yummy bowl of oatmeal!! This is one of my favorite ways to have oatmeal, a <strong>sliced banana</strong>, <strong>oatmeal</strong>, and <strong>chocolate PB2</strong>!!! A delicious bowl of <strong>5 points</strong>!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XS91fS4uEbA-LPW15-WgyI9QvY0jwvB70oUOSH3B-T9dDx2JOAL_kkEA05sCRrKxuIn_LcNW7miGrH8H0dGEl_oIIF1d3kApbi-dCe6IH6k-5R6J1WuAtEhkvRl5Kcet9P5oMMAjerq2/s1600-h/DSC04544%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC04544" border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjR-DF8lbmPvjYDPpOvzyxC3AFUh3khV1QIuSJ3t6iEBW7_zyaB-hutzTFLnt13mr8EcdFXM6CfZQuDV-oGf7PxGLSixSfGwZO1FjdoiLUwZou3-yC2T0tVu1lh6xRwIgTt5FhLJ9btu22/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04544" width="554" /></a> </p> <p>I had my <strong>usual snack</strong> (aka “morning mush”) around 11:30….<strong>3 points</strong>!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5S6TUd5OjoZhmZwTLzgGz4ms2bjip4YxVfpi17aUgDQ8pUAn8UejzvOkgQC_8DOuLRTKe8q4oZMfYMfkfk3l12TwzFJ_zGx-8IJiuh1UQflsSniACMYowROn8AEi2J2VuwS1q36WT-iQP/s1600-h/DSC04545%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC04545" border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LCPoFbCofW4oJiVcFu_uyByzJI6Kz9ThjTnjDHZmgnLjKssprKsXW4ET3HRmFkTMxzMqAnH1DwNKVmKGyHsuC-AQBmqvF1nGyY9yP45wIZ1ulfZdW7EOg5TsZezolyU2VdSkfJ09sC_U/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04545" width="554" /></a> </p> <p>Once again, work got busy and it was past 1:30 and I still hadn’t gone for lunch. So I sliced up a<strong> gold delicious apple</strong> for <strong>1 point</strong> to get me through the report I was working on. I sure to love apples, but HATE it when the peeling stuck in your gums. OUCH!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzJ6k4TGh-aU33VYKn5TFZn6wwjyCi6LN7Geayt22hlYRVtDbvpag79aC1vEp4CYkMi6TW5pcEt18AUSnc0UXHxqWqVtTLVdlU5WZlSKS0eoflQmgHfkgxnQjcbAdQZzXpXbgpcneC2e7/s1600-h/DSC04546%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC04546" border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgnqIoUA-Q74gRfqJR7MgAjgw9ZRXHsKYF9HF4jILD65Z2vzFIyGEtwnlQujodJAW0XF1yWdqtb-xZwNolYVW5bbQOxYV1WmjX986WqDjnInPFvKjv3TmbK_kUSXvZ8FmLRRuKHWkvX2f/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04546" width="554" /></a> </p> <p>Kyle called and said he ran home quick for something for work and also let Abby out to potty. So techinally I was off the hook at actually go home over my lunch hour. So instead I went quickly across campus to Subway. I got a <strong>6 inch turkey & ham</strong> on <strong>wheat w/pickles</strong> and <strong>cucumbers</strong>! I’m estimating <strong>6 points</strong> for the sandwich. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPMv1K6yP8j-BzfcAsahyuhDKk9v0ShUg1aaa5oyxpwkLAnu0CnLXRnGgJCHY4dbxe8N7j5F9cgVfZXqhuh0t0RgV6AXlYL3bCC4UB8hwVb996ZUS-BPwd_O3KCAe3Dses0N9eO05qQLn/s1600-h/DSC04547%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC04547" border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJWROdBU9NR4RcQuFZsp8h_agguk3JmUSowyb5zoAhMbcitrD3zYSqaYhE_xVv7hHddcAuW3PpC7lR-HDsu4ipQHdU-mGJoslbw2HqEMGmQjN17RiF9FJ9AQ3XhoXBr-G4RJD1UpPtGQT/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04547" width="554" /></a>  </p> <p>I ended up running into an old friend at Subway I hadn’t seen in over a year, so it was good to catch up with him and hear about him family. Now if you noticed I photographed a sandwich AND chips, but didn’t include any points for the chips. Well it’s because they were soft! Not sure what went wrong there, but I called and they said I could bring them back and get a new bag. Which now that I think about it, I still haven’t done that!</p> <p><strong>WEDNESDAY’S STATS</strong></p> <p>POINTS = 21/22 <br />WATER = 68 oz <br />EXERCISE = none</p> <p>Ok, so now you’re up to date on Wednesday…on to Thursday!</p> <p>My morning started out quite similar today! I couldn’t wait to have the EXACT SAME breakfast this morning!! I had a <strong>sliced banana</strong>, <strong>oatmeal</strong>, and <strong>chocolate PB2 </strong>(5 points)!! Yum-O!!! (notice my messy bowl…my oatmeal almost boiled over in the microwave!)<a><img alt="DSC04549" border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuEdaCmki9v7wf5TcFbgWDQtAJ9q3zeUNjRAIs4V-PfljcCXMRc3pgfEDzeE9pzFRMKnxRKesN7L_bDuVU-UdDwMSXv9DE9HMSyptTg8ywPyWegrxAnJhHijYI4qqfkXGqYqTNjPQW_m8/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04549" width="554" /></a> </p> <p>Yesterday I ran across <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/">this blog, Young House Love</a>. I think I could spend <strong>HOURS</strong> on it looking at all their great advice, before & after’s, old posts, etc!! <strong>Love it!!</strong> Well it kind of inspired me. I would say I’m an organized person, but not near as organized as this couple. So I took a few of their tips. One I really like for both work and personal, is instead of having random note pads and sticky notes all over, use just one little note book and then cross off when it’s done/accomplished. I already have a work one and personal one started and have a few things crossed off on each one too! This is just something small, but I think I will get things done more because I <strong>LOVE</strong> to check something off my list!!</p> <p>Anyway, sorry for the side-note! Back to food!! I had my morning snack today….in the afternoon! So today it’s called “<strong>afternoon mush</strong>” (<strong>3 points</strong>). Nope, don’t like it near as much! I think I’ll stick with it in the morning! :)<a><img alt="DSC04550" border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN84iY-51Mj0Ur_aVHTkOguiOwkbeM6ml69b4o7ukBGQbkb7DcH83c4zuwpYk2Mr6PTWd78d9RZd8bEbcK8nCfsJOI6xvElpg4fMyR0madiRnh2bWKj2ydkbcPrsPlD_Q6vh3ptqJ3C1OL/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04550" width="554" /></a> </p> <p>I was on a roll “checking” things off my list in my notebook at work, I didn’t even realize it was after 3pm and I hadn’t eaten lunch yet. So I called Kyle (he had the day off today) to see if he would mind bringing me a sandwich and some veggies. He was coming to my office in the afternoon anyway to hang a few things for one of my staff members. And look what he brought me:</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="800" border="0"><tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="400"><img alt="DSC04551" border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqjiGT_zBYoAGJJMyv_74KptpRYRjbs0c4exF80VfPsPWSSIrSR1HMTOPvgbhP_biaDbxPzSDeUopnk6f5dlQRF7hyphenhyphenMVvVxNwvwdkNZDR7SmaUrOxDa1EFITJ5zkI2MF2AJnsKs2Ijdru/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04551" width="244" />A cute little container with all kinds of compartments perfect for my lunch!! I didn’t even know we had these in the cupboard!! (Maybe I need to organize my “tupperware” cabinet!!) Thanks for lunch honey…delish!! <strong>4 points</strong></td> <td valign="top" width="400"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5jOZjG-b_Jh2WvZKpXsvNLdfrYfmPI6Inka3ZoTjMfGWeepvWaHNZVMld0drgHTgrco5cK2XtDGAt-ig6BBVKR6Eb4YCnfmzE514I57N4exf9Okkrd7dqTnrlVe-4oyEJDN6ehYVuAzO/s1600-h/DSC04552%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC04552" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dfWlCfh7tLAUJLvDZUJiVvD3XSUgDa_XK80FONBrvZbbeLDCD6js3Ze_rgUsu7YVSEAJ2UNRfCzC6XNvESeHL-iMukEkwYDnhfiT2bDl4wUazmNjdfj2LJGm9Skla1ablQLTKg0Ti0j8/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04552" width="564" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p>I ate my lunch at my desk while working away the afternoon. I headed home around 6pm and Kyle was still working away around the house. He cleaned the kitchen, put up a new shower curtain, packed the Explorer (we are moving some stuff to KC for some friends this weekend!!), did some “honey-do’s” at my office, and did stuff for his work!! What a productive day he had!! Thanks Hun!! :)</p> <p>I had ZERO ideas for supper. I had lots of cut up raw veggies, left over chicken, and not much else to work with. So I ended up making my own mix! I used <strong>3oz grilled chicken breast, broccoli, 1 oz velvetta</strong>, and <strong>2 oz whole wheat pasta</strong>. Mixed it all together and <strong>MMmmm, a yummy, filling 7 point</strong> (I’m going high on the points) <strong>supper</strong>!! I love it when things come together like that!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VzPQ4kjy1MLXM4eDTNeMteLg4SRUwzNDmqS2gxgGTUUTGHX4soSX5UY_-1tZSWo7IAxjUUcjcOpPbc29Ci5Tz8PCfOI32ahblswUKPUTiCbyl2nF2dqoaCaGF4PTRefnXYpJ1R_H7NlH/s1600-h/DSC04553%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC04553" border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzbXAWNoP4B7QuSZ5mGUIgGnbCi7TSKxinWpoaPwSmCF-_XWTGaLYhWAhOLRGYDrhI-rN7v8ovLPlIYNXjp9TwRRwlrVPmmBKMWqiuQLOh5BXdu8Ta3M0Bqp20rvxCNKedpITtJ_thscp/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC04553" width="554" /></a></p> <p>I spent the rest of my night pampering my pup. Abby got her eyes cleaned (she’s part poodle, so her tears stain her fur), clipped her nails, bathed, and dried her! Now she’s all fresh and clean, ready to visit our friends in KC this weekend!!</p> <p><strong>THURSDAY’S STATS</strong></p> <p>POINTS = 19/22 <br />WATER = 72 oz <br />EXERCISE = none</p> <p>Hope everyone has a great night. Tomorrow’s Friday and that means we have a 12 mile run….eeekkk!! Hopefully it goes well!! I can do it….I can do it….I can do it!!! I also have the trip to KC to look forward to! </p> <p>Nite blogger friends…I know I’ve said this already, but it’s SO good to be back!!! :D I’ve missed you guys so much!!</p>

A Day Behind…But Still on Track!

I was quite lazy last night (Wednesday) so I didn’t get my post done for the day, exercise, or make supper! I ate a bowl of Reeses Puffs cereal (estimating 6 points…and no picture), put my pj’s on, and was on asleep on the couch before 9pm!! Must hav…

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Don't Go To Work If You're Sick -- Please!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/fs/ar5c7zh5w9kf6kvtv0fs.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/fs/ar5c7zh5w9kf6kvtv0fs.gif" /></a><br /></div>Between October and March, the following scene plays out in workplaces across the country.<br /><br />Employee 1: "I think I'm coming down with something."<br />Employee 2: "Yeah, something's been going around. Everyone's got it."<br /><br />Never mind how annoying it is that something's always going around, thereby robbing you of much-needed sympathy. Every flu season it does seem that at least one employee comes down with something and, by spring, everyone will have suffered from it. <br /><br />Did you ever wonder why no one can seem to shake that ailment? One big reason is the constant stream of under-the-weather employees reporting to work. Yes, punctual, dependable colleagues are making you sick.<br /><br />In fall and winter, expect to hear a symphony of sniffles, sneezes and groans from employees who refuse to stay home. At first you might admire their tenacity to get the job done despite their own health. Then you realize their presence might make you and everyone else feel just as bad in a few days -- suddenly they're not so admirable.<br /><br />They'll be better off without you ... really<br />Employees have several reasons to go into work even if they're sick: a limited amount of personal days, a big project to finish, unpaid sick leave or the desire not to let down co-workers. In some instances, when you weigh the pros and cons of going into work, you might decide to clock in and hope for the best. These instances are probably rarer than you think.<br /><br />Tania Hall works for 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, a service that removes unwanted items from people's homes. Although the company doesn't have an explicit policy on sick employees coming into the office, the prevailing attitude is that germs belong at home, not at the office. As bad as one sick employee is, an empty office is even worse.<br /><br />"The biggest problem is when a person comes to work sick and others in that same department catch it -- if there are only three of you in a small, though important, department and you're all away, it's a concern," she says.<br /><br />Camille McCaleb, vice president of operations and human resources at Creative Business Resources, cautions sick workers to think about their reputations when they groggily march into work, determined to get the job done.<br /><br />"[If you're] working from home while sick [and] trying to stay on top of pressing issues, [then] making phone calls, logging in to respond to e-mails or checking voice mails could be viewed as admirable," McCaleb explains. But showing up with a runny nose and puffy eyes? "A walking germ fest."<br /><br />Explore your options<br />Of course, simply staying home isn't an easy option for many workers. Physicians, construction workers and retail salespeople can't do their jobs from home, and during a busy season, their absence affects many people. <br /><br />If you find yourself in a similar situation, ask yourself if you can perform your duties without negatively impacting others. If you come in contact with a constant stream of customers, clients or patients, you're not only exposing them to illness but you're also presenting yourself as a red-nosed, coughing representative of your business -- an image your employer probably doesn't want.<br /><br />"If you're contagious, stay home," begs Mike Gugliociello, a senior account executive for The Sherry Group.<br /><br />Also, from a health standpoint, can your body afford to keep working without some down time? Sick leave is a chance to sleep and rest, not just an opportunity to lie in bed pondering how scientists got moisturizer into the tissues. If your body suffers, then your job probably suffers, and you're back to harming the business and your own career.<br /><br />Here are some tips for working during flu season:<br /><br />If you get sick, take the day off. Give your body a chance to recover so you can return to work as quickly as possible. <br /><br />Work from home if your boss and job allow it. You won't use any sick leave and you don't leave anyone else picking up your slack. <br /><br />When you can't stay home, try to limit your contact with others. No one wants to get too close to the sniffling person, even if you're not contagious. Plus, you probably aren't in the best mood and would rather not make small talk anyway. <br /><br />Make the appropriate arrangements if you will miss work. You know to call the boss, but don't forget to let your co-workers know if they're depending on you. If a colleague is expecting a project from you, send an e-mail to save a headache later on. <br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. <br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?strCrit=rawWords%3d%3bcty%3d%3bsid%3d%3bcid%3dUS%3bfre%3d30%3brad%3d%3bJN%3d%3b&lr=cbrockl&siteid=rocklcs"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong> </a>

Don't Go To Work If You're Sick -- Please!

Between October and March, the following scene plays out in workplaces across the country.Employee 1: "I think I'm coming down with something."Employee 2: "Yeah, something's been going around. Everyone's got it."Never mind how annoying it is that som…

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Are Single Workers Treated Differently?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/c6/ar5d4k16qlxv0f6qccc6.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/c6/ar5d4k16qlxv0f6qccc6.gif" /></a><br /></div>In a classic episode of the TV show "Sex and the City," Carrie Bradshaw realizes that she's spent thousands of dollars on gifts for one of her married friends. With bridal showers, wedding gifts and eventually baby showers, she has devoted much of her time and money celebrating her married friends' life choices. It dawns on Bradshaw that, conversely, no one gives single people any kudos for their decisions to stay single or not have children.<br /><br />The episode makes clear that Bradshaw, the representative for singles everywhere, has no personal rift with her married friends. Her beef is with the culture that unjustly rewards one group of people over another.<br /><br />For many single workers, that issue follows them into the workplace. <br /><br />Different rules for different people<br /><br />A recent CareerBuilder.com survey found more than 21 percent of workers who have never been married believe their companies show favoritism to married co-workers over single ones. Even more workers who have never been married (nearly 30 percent) claim their company provides more flexibility for married co-workers over single ones.<br /><br />Ken Wisnefski, president of marketing company WebiMax.com, says that you don't have to make the same rules for all workers as long as you're appreciating the circumstances of everyone.<br /><br />"All workers are different," he reminds. "If you have the means, approaching all workers as an individual can have a positive impact on your business." Because he has a moderate amount of workers compared with larger firms, he can give individual attention to his employees.<br /><br />"For instance, I understand parents with schoolchildren may need to drop them off [or] pick them up from school. I know that employees living further away are concerned with the morning and afternoon rush hour. I know that it may be easier to call a single worker with an emergency rather than one with a family," Wisnefski says. But he also understands that his writer might want to go surfing in the morning, so as long as it doesn't hurt the company, the option is available. "Understanding them and their lives outside of work makes it easier to manage them and to get more production out of them."<br /><br />Parental rights<br /><br />Some workers think preferential treatment arises not from your marital status, but rather from your parental obligations. Jennifer Wakefield, director of public relations for the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, remembers a situation that irked her when she was a bank teller in college.<br /><br />"I've not noticed a disparity between single versus married, but several years ago with a previous employer, employees with children received four hours of [personal time off] per month to attend school plays and functions," Wakefield recalls. "However, as an employee without children, I was not allocated time to see my nephew in school plays and functions."<br /><br />John Welton of Voce Communications agrees that the system is set up to accommodate workers with children, though he took a step to equal the playing field. In his office of young professionals, he's seen over half of his colleagues take maternity or paternity leaves at one time or another. They've also incorporated flexible work-from-home days into their schedules. Welton isn't bothered by the demands of his co-workers' lifestyles and realizes that everyone's situation is different.<br /><br />"Unless my cat gets sick, I don't have the same requests they do as far as motherhood, fatherhood or sick children," he explains. But he also realized that in his midsize company, every absent worker puts more stress on others, so he decided to ask for a much-needed rest.<br /><br />"I spoke with my boss, saying that after covering for over three paternity and maternity leaves over the course of almost a year, I needed one of my own," Welton explains. "I was granted leave -- we called it 'John's leave.'" He was able to turn his regular vacation time into an extended break. He came back from his break refreshed and ready to jump back in. Perhaps more importantly, Welton felt that his boss had displayed a great amount of trust and appreciation for his work. And that's something all workers, regardless of their situations, look for in an employer.<br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?strCrit=rawWords%3d%3bcty%3d%3bsid%3d%3bcid%3dUS%3bfre%3d30%3brad%3d%3bJN%3d%3b&lr=cbrockl&siteid=rocklcs"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong> </a>

Are Single Workers Treated Differently?

In a classic episode of the TV show "Sex and the City," Carrie Bradshaw realizes that she's spent thousands of dollars on gifts for one of her married friends. With bridal showers, wedding gifts and eventually baby showers, she has devoted much of he…

Read more »

Are You Tuned-In at Work?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/f1/ar5d1py610w9ggct30f1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/f1/ar5d1py610w9ggct30f1.gif" /></a><br /></div>Stand on any street in your town and you'll witness a trend that began 30 years ago with the invention of the Walkman: music lovers walking around wearing headphones.<br /><br />The freedom to listen to the music of your choice without being tethered to a stereo changed the way people listened music. Consequently it also changed the way they performed daily tasks. Teenagers stuck in the backseat of the family van on vacation weren't forced to listen to oldies, and jogs through the park now came with a motivational soundtrack.<br /><br />Today, those clunky players have evolved into credit card-sized digital music players, and you can't go two minutes without running into someone listening to their headphones. You're probably one of them.<br /><br />Workers of all fields have embraced headphones in order to inspire them and to make their days pass more easily. Each of these workers, it seems, has their own approach to incorporating music into their workday.<br /><br />Online radio<br /><br />Many of today's jobs take place in front of a computer screen in and in a room full of cubicles. Although lack of privacy means you have to keep singing aloud to a minimum, access to a computer means you have every available genre of music available to you in the form of online radio stations.<br /><br />Vincent Paciariello, an account executive at D M Public Relations, has become an Internet radio aficionado who knows the pros and cons of various stations. He likes Sirius for certain talk programs, AOL Radio for its extensive catalog of genres and Pandora Radio to discover new artists.<br /><br />"I would strongly recommend everyone listen to music at work, if possible," Paciariello says. "It really lightens up the day and makes the time go by a bit faster. And most importantly, you are entertained for a long stretch of time doing a job that may not be so entertaining."<br /><br />The science of music<br /><br />Listening to music at work can be more than just fun for some people. According to Peter Quily, adult Attention Deficit Disorder coach, music can have a physiological effect on his patients who suffer from adult ADD. According to Quily, listening to music boosts the levels of neurotransmitter dopamine, a brain chemical that can help people focus.<br /><br />Some of Quily's clients listen to music when they can't focus or when they're performing a task they find boring. People who have ADHD often have dopamine levels that are low or quickly used up, and the music is a welcome help.<br /><br />For some of his clients, music is just another distraction that they don't need. And while many workers can't imagine a day without music, plenty of people, such as Jay Levitt, prefer to leave the tunes outside of work hours.<br /><br />"I took a break from my technology career to study music production at Berklee," Levitt says. "Now, when I'm working, I can't have any music playing at all; I'll get distracted because the bass player's out of tune, and I wonder which microphone they used on the singer."<br /><br />A song for every mood<br /><br />For music lovers, however, deciding what songs to play for certain tasks can be an involved process that goes beyond simply picking any random song.<br /><br />Alex Greenwood of EventPros, a communications and events services company, is a bona fide music fan whose workday has a constant soundtrack in the background. Chances are you'll find him listening to his iPod, which has playlists for various times of day and different activities.<br /><br />"I find music to be a great motivator at work," Greenwood says. "It makes a slow day go faster and often really does help me in the creative process."<br /><br />For research, he chooses listens to jazz, such as Miles Davis and Jaco Pastorius. When he wants to tap into his creative side, he relies on what he refers to as "mature pop," which includes artists like Shawn Colvin, Colin Hay and the Police, among others. <br /><br />Ted Kendall is another music lover who relies on the right song to keep him productive. He sees music as a necessity more than a luxury. Rather than tuning out noise, he's tuning out silence.<br /><br />"I have my own market research company. Much of my work is in writing reports and analyzing data, so I am often in quiet solitude working on the computer," Kendall explains. "So if it wasn't for the music options, I would be going crazy as I crunch numbers." When he travels, he takes his headphones with him so that he can listen to music if he has to work in someone else's office -- anything to avoid concentration-breaking silence.<br /><br />Kendall attributes his reliance on artists like Pink Floyd, Manfred Mann and Genesis to his 1970s upbringing. The music, he says, is rock that doesn't distract you from doing your job. Classic jazz helps is good for unwinding and relieving stress when work gets overwhelming, so he relies on Pandora's Thelonious Monk station to ease his nerves.<br /><br />"As the day winds down and my need to concentrate lessens, sometimes I crank up the three-chord rock classics to get the blood pumping and stay awake," Kendall says. "And I know this will sound strange, but I really enjoy Chicago and Beach Boys at times like this as well."<br /><br />Listen responsibly<br /><br />If you like to listen to music at work, here are some tips to keep in mind:<br /><br />Use headphones if you share an office. If you have enough personal space to use external speakers, make sure the sound doesn't carry into other people's workspaces. <br /><br />Keep the volume low enough to hear if your phone rings or someone calls your name. <br /><br />If you use speakers, remember to pause the music when talking on the phone. <br /><br />Don't sing aloud. In all likelihood, you're a bigger fan of your voice than your co-workers are. <br /><br />Keep the dance moves to a minimum. <br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. <br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?strCrit=rawWords%3d%3bcty%3d%3bsid%3d%3bcid%3dUS%3bfre%3d30%3brad%3d%3bJN%3d%3b&lr=cbrockl&siteid=rocklcs"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong> </a>

Are You Tuned-In at Work?

Stand on any street in your town and you'll witness a trend that began 30 years ago with the invention of the Walkman: music lovers walking around wearing headphones.The freedom to listen to the music of your choice without being tethered to a stereo…

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Do You Prefer a Male or Female Boss?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/m7/ar5d0tk5x6ml52vs73m7.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/m7/ar5d0tk5x6ml52vs73m7.gif" /></a><br /></div>A famous George Carlin observation goes, "Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?"<br /><br />You can find this mind-set at work. Double standards aren't anything new to the business world, and neither is sexism, for that matter. Women have overcome many hurdles to be taken seriously in the business world and to achieve roles as leaders. The downside to this success is that echoes of past prejudice can still be heard in conference rooms today.<br /><br />A female boss who is every bit as assertive and goal-oriented as the archetypal businessman will be deemed by some employees as mean and ruthless. If she's not as aggressive as the male stereotype, she's an emotional pushover. Essentially she can't win.<br /><br />But times are changing, and the youngest generations of today's work force grew up in households with two working parents. Female bosses aren't new or distracting to workers these days. But are they more or less preferred than their male counterparts? <br /><br />A creative side<br /><br />Neil Gussman works in communications at the Philadelphia-based Chemical Heritage Foundation and has experience with male and female bosses. In his experience, he has found women more qualified for the specific roles as leaders of a communications team than men.<br /><br />"In communications, the women I know in the top jobs get there through the creative route -- being an artist or writer who is also a leader -- whereas men get there through the account exec route, bringing in the money," Gussman says. "I prefer to work for a boss who knows the work and appreciates creative talent, so I have come to prefer working for women."<br /><br />Therefore his preference for women isn't related to gender as much as it's related to answering to a competent leader. Like Gussman, Rachel of New York has also found a better creative vibe among women than men. She prefers female bosses and has a better time relating to them.<br /><br />"I have found them to be more relatable, more kind and generous and better to brainstorm with (because I feel more comfortable with them)," she says.<br /><br />The good, bad and ugly<br /><br />BJ Gallagher, author of "Everything I Need to Know I Learned From Other Women," doesn't have a gender preference for her bosses. She worked full time at the University of Southern California before becoming a full-time writer. During her time at USC, she worked under three female bosses, each with her own personality and work style.<br /><br />Her first female boss was Sharleen, a boss whom Gallagher refers to as "the very epitome of evil." What did she do to deserve such hyperbolic condemnation?<br /><br />"She ran her office like Stalinist Russia -- keeping her staff at odds with one another by planting seeds of suspicion and doubt in each of our minds, instilling a fear that others in the office had been complaining to her about us," Gallagher recalls. "She encouraged tattletales, backstabbers and gossips."<br /><br />On the flip side was Terry, Gallagher's next boss and the antithesis to Sharleen.<br /><br />"Terry was bright and talented, and she was also kind, caring, thoughtful, gracious, compassionate and a good listener," Gallagher says. Perhaps most importantly she cared about her staff and demonstrated it through her actions. But Terry was not a weakling, either. "She was also firm and had a definite vision for where our organization was going. She was no pushover. She had principles and integrity."<br /><br />Unlike the nightmarish Sharleen, Terry had the respect and trust of her employees, men and women alike.<br /><br />The third boss, Liz, was somewhere between the previous two, which meant a new set of pros and cons.<br /><br />"Liz was a good person -- she had worked for many years with the Girl Scouts of America and had that nice Girl Scout kind of energy -- perky, peppy, outgoing and friendly," Gallagher remembers. "She was a wonderful person, but a lousy boss."<br /><br />While Liz had the skills to address any issues after the fact, she lacked the foresight to prevent them from happening. Gallagher also laments, "She rarely took the time to provide coaching or feedback to her staff, as she was always running off to some meeting somewhere. She was very frustrating to work for!"<br /><br />No better or worse<br /><br />Gallagher's experience proved to her that blanket statements about anyone, female bosses included, aren't accurate.<br /><br />"Just as there are many kinds of male bosses -- the good, the bad and the downright ugly -- there are many kinds of female bosses." In Gallagher's opinion, when employees have a definitive stance on whether female bosses are better or worse than male bosses, she thinks they're being too presumptuous. <br /><br />"I think Golda Meir, the former prime minister of Israel, summed it up nicely," Gallgher says. "'Whether women are better than men I cannot say ... but I can say they are certainly no worse.'"<br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?strCrit=rawWords%3d%3bcty%3d%3bsid%3d%3bcid%3dUS%3bfre%3d30%3brad%3d%3bJN%3d%3b&lr=cbrockl&siteid=rocklcs"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong> </a>

Do You Prefer a Male or Female Boss?

A famous George Carlin observation goes, "Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?"You can find this mind-set at work. Double standards aren't anything new to the business w…

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How Hair Plays a 'Part' In Your Career

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/ql/ar5d0h97749vmggww7ql.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/ql/ar5d0h97749vmggww7ql.gif" /></a><br /></div>Although polite society says that looks aren't everything, you have to concede that they mean something. Your first impression of many people is based on appearance. Their clothes, posture, height and even their hair.<br /><br />Siblings and sociologists John and Catherine Walter have researched how a person's image is affected by his or her hair part. Whether you part your hair on the left or right side of your head -- or not at all -- influences how others perceive you and possibly even how you perceive yourself. The idea behind their theory is that your hair part alters how others interact with you, thus altering how you interact with them, and so on. <br /><br />You know a bad hairstyle can haunt you for years to come (as anyone alive in the 1980s will attest), but you probably didn't expect it to have a lasting impact on your career.<br /><br />This is the hair-part breakdown, according to the Walters:<br /><br />Men who part their hair on the left are often popular and successful. People perceive them as strong. <br /><br />Women who part their hair on the left are considered reliable and intelligent. It's a smart move for those who work in politics or business. <br /><br />Men who part their hair on the right are seen as radical and open. These men should be strong enough to overcome the stigma against men with this part. <br /><br />Women who part their hair on the right are viewed as gentle and feminine. Because it is a more traditional style, it can affect how seriously they are taken. <br /><br />People who don't part their hair, can't part their hair due to baldness or use a center part come across as trustworthy and wise. <br /><br />With that in mind, here are some examples of famous faces and characters with a variety of hair parts. Let's see if the theory holds up to their job roles.<br /><br />Who: Rod Blagojevich<br /><br />Job: Indicted Illinois governor<br /><br />Hair part: Right<br /><br />Verdict: While you wouldn't consider scandal-ridden Blagojevich an open person, you can't deny that he fits the description of a right-parter who makes people uneasy and sparks negative reaction.<br /><br />Who: Condoleezza Rice<br /><br />Job: Secretary of state under President George W. Bush<br /><br />Hair part: Right<br /><br />Verdict: Although Rice had to be cordial to the heads of state she met with, she was probably not overly concerned with coming across as nice and fulfilling a traditional feminine role. Her need to be aggressive and confident when the time came probably means she makes a better candidate for a left part.<br /><br />Who: Queen Elizabeth II<br /><br />Job: Queen of the United Kingdom<br /><br />Hair part: None<br /><br />Verdict: The Walters' theory suggests that no-parters might "lack the flair" of the other parters, but they can still come across as trustworthy and wise. If you're the queen, you probably want to be perceived as someone people are willing to follow and listen to -- making Queen Elizabeth's tendency not to part her hair a good choice -- athough you rarely see her not wearing a hat or her crown, both good choices for distracting from your hair part.<br /><br />Who: Jack Donaghy (played by Alec Baldwin) on "30 Rock" <br /><br />Job: Vice president of East Coast television and microwave oven programming for GE<br /><br />Hair part: Left<br /><br />Verdict: Donaghy is the epitome of the all-American guy whose charisma and charm help him become a beloved leader. Although he's a little eccentric, his success as a corporate big shot makes him a model left-parter.<br /><br />Who: Milton Waddams (played by Stephen Root) in "Office Space"<br /><br />Job: Collator<br /><br />Hair part: Left<br /><br />Verdict: The bumbling, lovable loser of the film "Office Space," Milton Waddams does not evoke any of the traits of a left-parter. The thick-spectacled worrywart feigns assertion, but ultimately is a pushover who exudes no strength.<br /><br />Who: Oprah Winfrey<br /><br />Job: Talk show host, radio host, business owner, avid reader<br /><br />Hair part: Versatile<br /><br />Verdict: Winfrey's hairstyles change daily, though she tends to favor no part and a right part. As a no-parter, she definitely fulfills the description of trustworthy and wise. When she declares an item one of her favorite things of the year, people storm retailers to get their hands on her recommendations. <br /><br />As a right-parter, she definitely supports the theory that these women are perceived as gentle -- after all, viewers need to feel comfortable with her. Though you'd have trouble arguing that Winfrey isn't taken seriously.<br /><br />If you find that your hair part does seem to correlate with how you're perceived, consider changing things up a little. Maybe you can impact how people perceive you. Or you can just have some fun, because they'll probably notice something about you has changed, but not exactly what. Just something to think about when you're standing in front of the mirror tomorrow morning.<br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?strCrit=rawWords%3d%3bcty%3d%3bsid%3d%3bcid%3dUS%3bfre%3d30%3brad%3d%3bJN%3d%3b&lr=cbrockl&siteid=rocklcs"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong> </a>

How Hair Plays a 'Part' In Your Career

Although polite society says that looks aren't everything, you have to concede that they mean something. Your first impression of many people is based on appearance. Their clothes, posture, height and even their hair.Siblings and sociologists John an…

Read more »

If I could bottle this up for later

You know the feeling, the feeling that nothing could make you eat something you shouldn't or eat too much or eat late at night. That super-human strength that comes from somewhere, that saves you from yourself.<br /><br />I've been binge-free for four nights in a row. I think this must be a record. Last night I was hungry around 11pm (late night), but I told myself breakfast was only seven hours away. I could last seven hours without eating. I think I read that tip in Dr. Beck's Diet Solution, or maybe someones blog. It worked.<br /><br />Writing down my food in a regular journal, adding up the calories is really helping me. Maybe it's because it's different or because I can see all the food I've eaten during the day, written in my handwriting. The calories have been between 1100 and 1500, the Points between 20 and 30. It's really working out to 1 Point equals about 50 calories, every single day.<br /><br />Whatever it is that's working for me, I wish I could save it for when I'm feeling weak. I'm trying not to over-analyze the situation as I tend to do in all areas of my life, which can ultimately ruin it when I overthink stuff. I'm trying to just let it be what it is...a good feeling.<br /><br />A big thank you to Miz Fit. I watch these <a href="http://mizfitonline.com/2009/09/21/monday-facetime-your-questions-answered-video-post/" target="blank">video</a> answers she did a couple days ago. The one about improving an area of your body that you know is going to be difficult really hit home with me. I hate ab work. In fact, I'll do anything to avoid it. Which explains why I hate my abdominal area so much.<br /><br />After watching MizFit's video, I added ab work to my routine. I've tried before but it's so hard and I hate it so much, I always give up after a day or two. I know it's really important to keep the body in balance. My back is very strong, my abs are very weak. A bad combination and could cause an injury when I lift heavy weights because my abs can't support what my back can lift. I need strong abs to support my back.<br /><br />For three days I've added ab exercises to my workout. Old fashioned sit ups on a slant board, crunches with an 8-pound weight, with a twist to the side on the up move, the prone bicycle knee to opposite elbow (killer!). A few others I found in magazines and books. My abs have been so sore each morning I can barely roll out of bed.<br /><br />Thanks MizFit! As usual, you inspired me!<br /><br />~Diana<br />162.4 <----going the right direction!

If I could bottle this up for later

You know the feeling, the feeling that nothing could make you eat something you shouldn't or eat too much or eat late at night. That super-human strength that comes from somewhere, that saves you from yourself.I've been binge-free for four nights in …

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Signs Your New Job Is Lousy

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/06/ar5d7wt6grcn5hy01p06.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/06/ar5d7wt6grcn5hy01p06.gif" /></a><br /></div>Few of us will ever win an Oscar. We will, however, receive a job offer at least once in our lives. The moment that we get the call is the closest we'll get to hearing our name announced at an awards ceremony. All the hard work, heartbreak and worry that we won't be able to pay the electric bill were worth it. In that moment we realize that our new boss likes us. He or she really likes us!<br /><br />Securing a job means you can stop sending out résumés and waiting for responses. You can take that energy and focus it on worrying about the new job. Will you be good at it? Will your co-workers like you? Can you wear jeans on Fridays?<br /><br />More often than not, your fears are allayed within the first week on the job. Aside from a few growing pains, everything goes well (and you can wear jeans when the boss is out of town). But sometimes the job that was an answer to your prayers turns out to feel more like penance.<br /><br />In the first few days, you won't necessarily know if you'll love the job, but you can often tell if you'll hate it. It isn't hard to find plenty of workers who saw ominous signs of a bad job soon after accepting it.<br /><br />Run, don't walk<br /><br />Before you even show up for Day One, you might receive all the warning you need to stay away from the new position. <br /><br />Sophie Martin went on six interviews with the company before being offered and accepting her new position -- news she happily shared with friends via e-mail.<br /><br />"Within five minutes of that e-mail going live, I got a call from a business associate telling me that I should try to get out of the new job," she recalls. "The words 'founder syndrome' and 'chew people up' came up in that call, and truer words, as they say. I lasted six months -- the last three were spent looking for a new job."<br /><br />Mistina Picciano, president of Market It Write, ran into a similar situation when she accepted a job.<br /><br />"One week before I started my first corporate job, I went to a party and mentioned that I was starting work at this company as a staff writer. A woman stared at me with huge eyes and said she had interviewed for that job two years earlier," Picciano says. "She had received an anonymous phone call at home, telling her to run away."<br /><br />The warning wasn't unfounded. <br /><br />"Sure enough, when I started work, my manager was taking me around the building, introducing me to people. At least two people smiled, shook my hand and explained that they probably wouldn't bother learning my name; people in my position typically lasted no more than two months."<br /><br />Professionalism, or a lack thereof<br /><br />Even the most laid-back employee expects a semblance of professionalism at work -- not necessarily a corporate uniform of suits and pantyhose, but common courtesy and respect from colleagues. Of all people, the boss should be setting a good example for you and your co-workers.<br /><br />"Well, the first sign that my new state university academic adviser job was a bad move was the fact that my future boss arrived 35 minutes late for our interview, breezing in after taking two of my future co-workers to lunch," recalls Carmin Wharton, founder and CEO of e-BlackWomenNetwork.com. "She never acknowledged she was late, and of course, you can't apologize for what you don't acknowledge."<br /><br />Sherri Bergman, director of marketing for St. Andrew's-Sewanee School, had to wait a little longer to get a glimpse of her boss's unprofessionalism during a previous temp job -- but it still didn't take long.<br /><br />"Within the first week of the job, the boss -- who managed a staff of probably 30-40 -- was coming into my office to tell me how glad he was that I was there because the rest of his employees were so incompetent," she says. "I didn't take that as a good sign -- not because of my colleagues' potential incompetence, but because of the unprofessionalism of any manager who would confide this sort of information to a temp." Bergman chose not to stay with the company and took a permanent position elsewhere.<br /><br />Money woes<br /><br />Everybody experiences a money shortage once or twice. That's a reason many people look for a new job in the first place. For that reason you'd like to think your employer is a reliable solution to your financial concerns. Unfortunately, that's not always the case, and it's often a sign that something worse is afoot.<br /><br />Mike Wright was a disc jockey whose friend offered him a job, which he accepted. The husband and father of a 1-year old knew quickly that he made a mistake when his first paycheck bounced. Shortly thereafter the radio station went bankrupt.<br /><br />Marketing consultant Jenny Tallis had a similar experience, only her paycheck was the problem for a different reason.<br /><br />"I was hired as a marketing director in the year 2000 and after I got settled, I asked the accounting person for the marketing budget so I could plan next year's expenses. His reply? 'There isn't one. We spent it all on your salary,'" she remembers. "He wasn't kidding."<br /><br />And the rest ...<br /><br />Given the chance to tell about warning signs that their new jobs were lousy, workers offered a bevy of stories. Here are more clues that you should be wary of a job:<br /><br />"Someone was always crying in the office."- Anonymous <br /><br />"You get yelled at for not knowing the format for a document and scolded for not paying attention to the training session. My response: 'There was no training session.'" - Anonymous <br /><br />"The computerized system consisted of three-by-five cards." - Joni Daniels, Daniels and Associates. <br /><br />"Your new boss comes in Monday morning on your first day and tells you she gave notice on Friday. [And] your predecessor left without a new job on the horizon." - Gaea L. Honeycutt, president of G.L. Honeycutt Consulting. <br /><br />"On my first day, they showed me to the reception desk and said, '...and this is your new office.'" - Mary K. LaFrance, founder of marketing agency HELP Virtual. <br /><br />"I took a job as an operator in a call center. Only to find out it was a big room full of phone sex operators!" - Christine Haynes, owner of Fezelry Jewlery Designs. <br /><br />Remember to be on the lookout for red flags in the interview, offer or salary negotiation. Hopefully any first-day snafus you experience are minor hiccups. But if they resemble the stories above, you might want to start sending out résumés again.<br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Search more than 100,000 Jobs by </span></strong><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?strCrit=rawWords%3d%3bcty%3d%3bsid%3d%3bcid%3dUS%3bfre%3d30%3brad%3d%3bJN%3d%3b&lr=cbrockl&siteid=rocklcs"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">CLICKING HERE!</span></strong> </a>

Signs Your New Job Is Lousy

Few of us will ever win an Oscar. We will, however, receive a job offer at least once in our lives. The moment that we get the call is the closest we'll get to hearing our name announced at an awards ceremony. All the hard work, heartbreak and worry …

Read more »