Why productiveness is the key to happiness

Penguins don't care how long it takes them to catch their daily fish quota. Year after year, they go through the same routine, hardly improving anything. Their survival is entirely based on the expectation of zero change.

From the 32 million estimated living penguins, none gives a damn about productivity. They don't save for the future and often remain unaware of the existence of predators until it is too late to do anything about it.

Contrary to what is portrayed in cartoons and children books, penguins are neither creative nor funny. This is proven by the fact that tourists going to the Stewart Islands in New Zealand rarely devote more than a couple of hours to watch penguins.

“I had never realized that penguins were so passive,” Japanese tourists frequently comment. “They just stand there for hours and do nothing.”

Practically without exception, tourists return home with the conviction that being a penguin is not really that much fun.

Luckily, most humans come to a similar conclusion by the time we grow up. Hanging around, squandering our life away, is not a viable option for those who aspire to happiness.

Only purposeful action and continued achievement fulfil our psychological need to feel in control of our future.

Irrespective of the field involved, productiveness is the key to happiness.

As long as the process remains result-oriented, it matters little whether you choose to devote yourself to growing your own company, writing music, searching for an effective treatment of cancer, or raising your kids to become great human beings.

Our rational nature takes pleasure in every achievement along the way. No matter how small our victories, we all love to tell our friends about them.

1. AT WORK: when you figure out a way to complete a task quicker than anyone expected.
2. AT HOME: when you manage to fix an old appliance that was considered beyond repair.
3. IN SPORTS: when you succeed at running faster and score additional points.
4. AT INVESTING: when you see the value of your assets go up and feel your strategy vindicated.

During the last fifteen years, "lean thinking" has been the foremost management doctrine for increasing business productivity.

Its four essential tenets constitute a restatement of the ancient Taoist principle of harmonious action:

1. A call for simplicity and evenness in all processes.
2. Abhorrence of waste and emphasis on long-term sustainability.
3. A focus on human creativity as the ultimate economic resource.
4. The view of life as a flow of actions that can be continuously improved.

While management theorists continue to study how to apply lean thinking to commercial operations, the real challenge lies in learning how to use it to improve our individual productiveness and happiness.

There is a good reason behind the passivity of penguins. Although they know how to catch fish, they don't realize that, one day, they are going to die. None of us can hide behind that sort of ignorance.

In the last decade, the number of work-hours needed to manufacture a car has been halved, but as individuals, we have not become twice as productive and happy.

Understanding the link between productiveness and happiness is only the first step. What remains is to draw the map that shows us the path to a brighter life.

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Why Finnish people never raise their voice

If you have had the chance to work or spend a holiday in Finland, you might have noticed that Finns never raise their voice.

Finnish men and women are remarkably polite towards friends and strangers and you will almost never see them quarrel. Finns are also known to be extremely honest and this is reflected in their incredibly low crime figures.

Most people react with disbelief when they hear these facts for the first time. “Human nature is similar everywhere,” they argue. “We are all made of the same flesh and blood. Cultural myths are nothing but fairy tales.

”To prove their point, they will look up on Internet until they find a news report about some atrocious murder in Helsinki and then they will smile satisfied. “You see, there are also criminals in Finland!”

Perfection does not exist. Indeed, Finnish youths shout at each other from time to time and criminality, although relatively low, is far from being eradicated.

My point is not that Finnish men and women inhabit an ideal society.

I am just trying to bring to your attention the fact that verbal or physical violence constitutes a rare phenomenon in traditional Finnish society.

In this respect, Finns are amazingly different from other cultures. Foreigners who go to live in a small Finnish town for a year frequently experience a shock when they return to their own country. If you doubt my words, take a moment to reflect.

Pick up pen and paper and make a list of situations in the last month when you have witnessed verbal or physical abuse. Chances are that your list will be long.

Business discussions that turn to shouting matches.

Aggressive behaviour during sporting events.

Humiliating treatment of employees.

Loud, bitter, public recriminations between spouses.

Human life offers infinite occasions for disagreement and irritation. How is it possible that Finns systematically tend to avoid violence?

Is there a lesson that we could all apply to improve our private life and working environment? What makes traditional Finnish culture so peaceful?

The answer is deceptively simple. Apparently, Finns have found a better way to discourage unacceptable behaviour.

Is there a lesson that we could all apply to improve our private life and working environment? What makes traditional Finnish culture so peaceful?
The answer is deceptively simple. Apparently, Finns have found a better way to discourage unacceptable behaviour.
It is a way that involves not-doing, rather than doing. It is a form of punishment that can take life-threatening proportions in small Finnish towns isolated by snow during winter months. It is called ostracism.
Nobody will force you to be honest. You will be free to offend your neighbours. No one will prevent you from making as many enemies as you wish. There will be no shouting and few complaints.
Nevertheless, one day, when you really need help in a critical moment, people will just leave you alone.
A few decades ago, specially in small Finnish villages, ostracism constituted a horrifying punishment that only a fool would be willing to incur.
Nowadays, although modern technology renders snow and ostracism less threatening, honesty and politeness still remain at the core of Finnish culture.
“This is is an interesting principle,” you might say, “but does it have universal application? Do we all need to go and live in Finland?” Frankly, I don't think so.
I believe that we can start small, right here. It is quite simple, actually. In fact, next time you are about to raise your voice, all you have to do is think of the Finnish snow.

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Building of Teen Self Esteem Starts at Birth

When does self esteem begin? Many times we think that self esteem begins in our children when they hit their tween years, not realizing that it really begins at birth. It is developed with the influence of parental attitudes and behaviors right from birth and then continuing on into all the childhood developments.

Their self-esteem is first built by having their basic needs met, including the need for love, comfort, and closeness. How children are treated by their parents or primary caregivers sets the stage for how their self-esteem is developed. Young babies and children who feel unloved find it more difficult to develop a sense of self-worth and then carry those feeling on into later childhood and on into their teen years.

Supportive parental behavior, including encouragement and praise for accomplishments, as well as the child's internalization of the parents' own attitudes toward success and failure, are the most powerful factors in the development of self-esteem in early childhood. Stresses at home, such as parents arguing a lot, or not having friends to play with and interact with, can have a negative impact on a child's self-esteem and self-worth even at a very early age.

When children have a good quality of self-esteem they can handle conflicts, peer pressures and making friends, easier. Preschoolers learn self-esteem in stages through developing their senses of trust, independence, and initiative with their parents and siblings and then that moves on into interacting with their friends and other relatives.

Self-esteem comes from different sources for children at different stages of development. Our self esteem is instilled in us during our youth. It is very important to be aware if the under current in the home is critical; as being criticized by parents and family members tends to slowly strip the child of their feelings of self worth.

Self esteem is described as having an inner good feeling of oneself. It is the way you perceive yourself and your self value. When this reflects within the child, it is what they think and feel about themselves and how well they feel that they do things, this is ultimately what is important to them and this is the foundation their self esteem is built upon.

As the children grow and mature and their experiences move outside the immediate home and move on into school, and with their peers, it becomes more important in these areas how they determine their self-esteem. Schools also have a huge influence on self-esteem through the attitudes they foster toward competition and diversity and their recognition of achievement in academics, sports, and the arts. At this stage, social acceptance by a child's peer group plays a major role in developing and maintaining self-esteem.

The physical and emotional changes that take place in adolescence, especially in early adolescence, present new challenges to a child's self-esteem. They are faced with physical and hormonal changes and this the time when teens go through major changes in their lives and their self-esteem can tend to be very fragile. This is the time when teens require and need to have a very supportive family.
Fitting in with their peers becomes more important than ever to teens self-esteem, and, in later adolescence, relationships with the opposite sex or sometimes the same sex can become a major source of confidence or insecurity. Body image is a major component in teenagers' self-esteem, and they are very concerned about how their peers see them. This goes for both boys and girls, body image is very important and teens who have high self-esteem like the way they look and accept themselves the way they are.

Parents can foster self-esteem by expressing affection and support for the child and to start this as previously stated in the early years, will be helping the child set realistic goals for achievement instead of imposing unreachably high standards. Teens that learn to set goals in their lives have higher self-esteem than those who do not. During this time and even before, children and/or teens can be taught visualization. This is an excellent tool to create and develop self esteem in all individuals and a great visualization tool is vision map videos.

Teens can also be encouraged to watch the words they use to describe themselves, such as if they constantly say they are stupid or that they can't achieve success; they need to understand that is what will happen. So, make it a habit of saying positive things and use this positive posturing to create self esteem to their full advantage. The use of affirmations is also a great way for them to start using affirming language and these are also featured in vision map videos.

Be sure and explain to your teen that nobody is perfect in the eyes of everyone else, so by trying to be perfect you may just be setting yourself up for disappointment and failure. Spend more time focusing on the qualities about them that you like and less on the ones that you dislike. Teach them to believe in themselves completely, and others will also believe and trust in them.

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Breaking Out of a Bad Mood

Breaking Out of a Bad Mood

Every now and then, you might find yourself in a bad mood. No one likes being in a bad mood because their energy seems low, they can be irritated easily, and life does not look pretty. This can decrease your productivity and send you into a negative spiral. Furthermore, no one wants to be around someone who's feeling sour. A bad mood is a great way to bring those around you down into the dumps. So how do you shake off a bad mood?

It’s easy! Just try out one of these simple ideas to turn your frown upside down:

1. Get dressed. That’s right. Get up, take a shower, put on some nice clothes and gussy yourself up to the nines.

• Studies have shown that your mood has a lot to do with your self-image. How different do you think your self-image is between a just-rolled-out-of-bed look and a ready-to-hit-the-ground-running look?

• By getting dressed and doing what it takes to make yourself look good on the outside, you feel better on the inside. When you feel better on the inside, your mood changes significantly and you’re ready to face the day. Another bonus that comes with a positive self-image is an increase in self-confidence.

2. Get moving. Exercise releases hormones that help alter your mood. For example, cleaning your space gets you moving and makes you feel better about your surroundings. This also clears out clutter and makes your space more appealing. It doesn’t really matter what exercise you do. The idea is to just get up, get out, and get moving.

• Many times your bad mood can be amplified by your lack of movement. Getting up and doing something, whether it’s exercising or even walking around the block, can give you a big mood boost.

3. Read a book. Reading a book takes you to a different place and allows you to step into someone else’s shoes. Why not pick up a book by your favorite author and let them transport you out of your bad mood for an hour or so?

4. Meditate. Deep breathing exercises and a focused mind can break you out of any sour mood. Remember back in grade school when you were taught to take deep breaths and count to 10 when you got angry? It was actually for a very good reason.

• When focusing on one thing and breathing deeply, our bodies tend to respond in a positive way by relaxing and releasing tension.

5. Hang out with friends. What are friends for? Spend some time around any of your good friends and you’ll be snapped out of that bad mood so fast you won’t even know what hit you. Connecting with the ones you love can re-create positive and hopeful feelings.

6. Laugh. There’s no possible way that you can laugh and stay in a bad mood. It’s proven that your emotions follow your actions, which is why many therapists recommend taking action to cure things like anxiety and stress. Next time you’re in a bad mood, try laughing.

• I guarantee that you can’t stay in your bad mood after more than 5 minutes of continuous laughter! Try watching funny videos or a hilarious sitcom.

7. Treat yourself. Do something just for you. You deserve it anyway. The key is to just go a little overboard and do something you wouldn’t ordinarily do. Have fun with it and make it memorable.

• Go shopping for one of your favorite articles of clothing and splurge a little if you can afford it.

• Have a back massage or spa treatment. Similar to meditation, this is a great tool to relax and break you out of whatever might be dragging you down.

• If you’re short on funds, go window shopping. Go to one of the most expensive stores around and try on clothes or go test drive a hot little sports car. Give yourself a reason to get back into the swing of things and get rolling again.

• Get a hot fudge sundae with extra hot fudge. If you would prefer not to eat a lot of sugar, then treat yourself to a special organic dish.

While there are many other ways to shake yourself out of a bad mood, these are a few great ways to start. Try some of them next time you’re feeling down. Better yet, see how many of them you can make it through before your bad mood has completely vanished. I would bet that you will be feeling great again in no time.

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Why you should base half of your decisions on facts and the other half on reality

Lies, sweet lies. How much we love them and what ridiculous price we are willing to pay for them!

“Men should avoid the distractions of pretence and delusion,” wrote German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer in the year 1842. “Impossible expectations disconnected from reality always result in disappointment and sorrow.”

Learning to see the truth is seldom easy and never without cost, but a sharp vision of the world and a clear mind bring man unlimited rewards.

Conformity is a bank from which you can borrow short-term convenience after you have secured repayment by means of a mortgage on your soul.

By willingly ignoring facts, we often place ourselves in a fog of ignorance, increasing our likelihood of making expensive mistakes and creating dangerous inconsistencies in our actions. Consider these five examples:

1.- UNHEALTHY FOOD: Despite being aware of long-term negative effects of some foods, we keep on consuming them in the illusion that, somehow, we alone will be immune to the consequences.

2.- DECAYING WORK ENVIRONMENT: We close our eyes to signs of decline in the company we work for, often for years, in order to avoid the nuisance of searching alternative employment or the risk of starting our own business.

3.- WRONG RELATIONSHIPS: We ignore major character flaws and attribute non-existent virtues to someone we find sexually attractive in order to justify an unsustainable choice.

4.- UNRELIABLE FRIENDS: We avoid confronting breach of trust to avoid rocking the boat, preferring to hang around people who do not deserve our friendship instead of making the effort to seek further.

5.- UNSOUND INVESTMENTS: We trust prodigious assurances of reckless money-managers and place our savings at great risk without giving it another thought.

Everybody makes mistakes and, when it comes to learning, there is no substitute for experience.

However, if we wish to minimize errors, few habits are as effective as standing still from time to time, questioning aspects that look too good to be true, and checking the consistency of our logic.

“Only an unclouded vision of reality allows man to perceive truth,” observed Schopenhauer. “Decisions based on facts render individuals self-supporting, which is the key to happiness.”

History shows that prejudice and conformity block progress more frequently than ignorance. In our age, we tend to forget to which extent the acquisition of knowledge is dependent on moral courage.

Let us restate at every opportunity our right to discard facts that don't match. Only by allowing reason to thrive will we keep civilization alive.

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Every Failure Is An Opportunity In Disguise

As much as we would all love to live an easy life with endless resources and finances, most people might admit that life would be pretty monotonous if there were no obstacles or failures. Evidence of this might be seen by watching the celebrity gossip television programs, where the rich and famous of Hollywood seem to bounce from one crisis to another, seemingly bored of living the good life. How many times have you watch such stories in the news, and thought what you would do to benefit humanity if you could have their vast resources of wealth, power and influence. How many times have you been puzzled when trying to understand their mindset?

Success begotten without any hard labor or without crossing any insurmountable barrier is hardly remembered even by the most successful people. To compare it with something which we experience every day, we would not value sunlight if it was not snatched by darkness of the night. While no one in this world is spared from ill fortunes and his share of bad luck, disappointments and failures, what separates men from mouse is the individual ability to deal with failures. While some succumb to their past rejections and present failures, some rise above it and strive harder to perfect their processes to achieve success. The second group always visualizes the entire spectrum of life – with its due quota of ups and downs and sees every failure as another opportunity thrown at them which has the potential of future success. This relentless pursuit of happiness and success despite all the hurdles which might come in the way, eventually take these people high on the ladder of accomplishment. The people who are tormented at the sheer thought of failure, past or present, are usually left behind.

What is it that makes successful people look beyond their set backs and re-set their goals with renewed enthusiasm and vigor? Here are some of the ways by which people can achieve this skill:

• Treat the past as over and future as illusive. This means that you have to act for the present moment, which is all that you have in front of you. If you let your past failures come in your way of thinking positively for the future, you would be perennially haunted by what obstacles may occur in future. The key is to treat any set-back as an opportunity to improve the way you do things. Once you start believing in what the present is offering you, you tend to be more focused on making the most of your opportunities.

• Believe in yourself. We all know about the rejection which Graham Bell faced from the scientific community when he invented a new way in which we could communicate. If Bell had given up on his belief and resigned to his failures, we would have perhaps never reached this far as we have today in the field of communication. Failures, negative criticism, set backs are all intrinsic part of success. If you believe in your ideas and can firmly stand by it, you can look at every failure on its face and see the sun that shines behind the barrier.

The talent or ability to take every failure in the stride is an important asset in any organization. It is really the leader’s responsibility to coach his employees and team members the importance of remaining steadfast in their approach to achieve respective career and personal goals. Set backs would come and go and would continue to do so, so long as you are involved in some kind of activity in life. There is a saying that when it rains, it pours. Nothing can be truer than this saying, when it comes to being flooded with set backs. Where we go wrong is that we fail to notice the silver lining around the cloud.

Motivational Magic is a mindset that gives special attention to building and reinforcing this type of thinking. People are given the tools to develop a more positive outlook towards life and to go beyond failures with a smile and head held high. The whole idea is to derive new enthusiasm from our adversities. Reaching deep within to tap into an inner power that you never worked with ever before. Reverse the negativity, and let us not turn the whole adversity experience into a vicious cycle where we perform sub-optimally in the face of adversities to invite more failure.

If you have tried hard, try harder this time pushing down all the adversities which hinder you and success could be round the corner. Overcoming the adversities of life can reward you with an exhilerating feeling of strength and accomplishment. While most people run from adversities, the true leader embraces adversity and uses it as a slingshot to propel themselves forward. Mount Rushmore was inspired by such leaders, incredible men who accomplished amazing feats by harnessing the power of adversity.

Allow your adversities to unlock your greatest opportunities for personal achievement and extraordinary accomplishments!

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The one recipe proven by experience

We have a saying in my home village: "Life works when you make it work." Does it sound cold-hearted, even perhaps a little cynical? After all, you could argue, each person has to deal with his own difficulties and major problems can really bring you down.

Let me bear witness of the fact that major problems will indeed bring you down sooner or later. Rare is the man who travels through life without encountering crushing adversities of one sort or another.

You cannot achieve immunity against life's difficulties, but the best approach for fighting back is purposeful action. Even if you have doubts whether your course of action is the right one, you will at least have already begun to move.

Keep your eyes open and let experience correct your course. Learning from mistakes will progressively improve the sharpness of your vision.

Continuous forward movement is bound to bring you closer to your objectives. For minor or major problems, choose the one recipe proven by experience: relentless action.

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During a recession, early birds get eaten first

Change is great. We all love to see people try to improve things. Where would we be without adventurers and risk-takers? If you are in search of glory or wish to make a fortune, it obviously pays to be first. Nevertheless, during an economic depression, it can happen that early birds just get eaten first.

That does not mean that we should be sceptical about innovation, but only that, when money is tight, it is advisable to be extra careful. If you are running a business these days, you are probably watching your cash-flow like a hawk. Well done. My guess is that, right now, you need to make a major mistake like you need a hole in your head.

Managing a company in recession mode demands more of the ant than of the grasshopper in our souls. When the market recovers, there will be plenty of time for taking bold risks. In the meantime, a miser's frame of mind might be what you need to ensure business survival. In my view, in difficult times, one should keep in mind the following three principles:

1.- MAKE PRODUCTS FOR EASILY ACCESSIBLE MARKETS. If you are running a specialist service company in Minnesota, forget about the Chinese market for the moment. Chances are that you'll be able to detect better opportunities if you concentrate your attention on people next door. Transportation costs money and communication takes time. In times of deep economic trouble, I believe in focusing all efforts on the easiest markets and putting aside, temporarily, risky expansion ideas.

2.- USE QUALITY TO SAVE YOU MONEY. If you are delivering services, such as painting houses, what level of quality should you try to achieve? How often do you give grounds of complaint to your customers? If your answer is never, you are doing great. If not, that might be good news as well. Quality improvements, as perceived by customers, often involve negligible costs for business. Delivering impeccable quality saves you money. For this reason, during an economic recession, I wouldn't recommend launching new products with potential quality problems that might take you down beyond hope of recovery.

3.- EVALUATE EVERY COST AS AN INVESTMENT. An economic recession blurs the line between fixed and variable costs, production and overhead. When money is tight, you need to take immediate decisions about where your cash is going. Evaluating every expenditure as an investment is a technique that brings about outstanding results. Is your inventory going to make you a profit within the next two months? Which steps of your process could be eliminated without negative impact for customers? In periods of crisis, one should eliminate investments in new technologies with long payback periods, since they might eat up the cash that you need to survive right now.

When you look around and see people going bankrupt, it is not unwise to become risk-shy.

* Before you explore new countries, take a walk down the street.
* Before you invest in new technology, make sure that you can afford it.
* Before you take additional cargo, stabilize your ship.

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Twenty three years of persistence (about Howard Cater)

"This is the place," the guide tells me, pointing at a promontory in the sand. "That's where Howard Carter's barrack used to stand." To me, that small elevation in the Egyptian desert looks no different from any other dune.

I examine the spot and take a look around, wondering if the guide is telling me truth. Is this really the place? Who knows. I shake my head and tell myself that it doesn't matter.

Did I come here to look at the desert? No, what brought me to this place is the story. In 1922, archaeologist Howard Carter must have been standing where I am now, pondering about his unsuccessful past and his dark future.

The sand ends abruptly three hundred meters behind my back. I turn around and contemplate the Nile waters. A couple of small boats are crossing the river.

The sight before Howard Carter's eyes must have not been that different from what I am watching now, I tell myself. The guide signals me that he will be waiting below, I nod to him, and he begins to walk back to our boat.

At the beginning of 1922, Lord Carnavon, the excavation's sponsor, had announced to Carter that, after that year, he would not be providing further funding. Carter's past results had been disappointing and Carnavon, after some hesitation, had decided to put an end to the enterprise.

At that time, Carter was 48 years old and could look back at his life as a complete failure. Twenty three years had passed since he had first conceived the idea of the missing tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen. Those twenty three years had been wasted in the desert dust.

The science of Egyptology had accepted as fact that Tutankhamen's tomb had been pillaged and forgotten centuries ago. Only Carter was convinced that Tutankhamen's tomb was still intact, buried somewhere under the sand.

"What have I achieved in 23 years?" Carter must have asked himself as the end of 1922 approached. "I have no money, no wife, no children, and no future." Carter's determination to search for Tutankhamen's tomb had only led to wasting Carter's own life and the best part of Lord Carnavon's fortune.

Europe had been ravaged by World War I and Carter knew that, after his long years of failure, his chances of finding another sponsor for funding excavations in Egypt was nil. I take a few steps on the sand, use my hand to shade my eyes from the sun, look at the wooden sign on the other side of the dune, and smile.

It is the sign that nowadays points tourists to Tutankhamen's tomb, which Howard Carter finally managed to find six weeks before Christmas 1922. He had spent 23 years looking for that tomb and had succeeded only a few days before reaching Carnavon's final deadline.

During the following 16 years, until the day of his death, Carter enjoyed the prestige and financial advantages of being the most famous archaeologist in the world. The treasures found in Tutankhamen's tomb have an immense value, but for me, they cannot be compared to the lesson drawn from Howard Carter's persistence.

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There is no future in repeating the past

Every morning, I remind myself that there is no future in repeating the past. After some years of doing this, the message is beginning to sink in. I am now becoming more adept to listening to truths extracted from past mistakes.

In my kitchen, I keep a battered red spiral notebook where I write down principles I should not forget. As I continue to fill its pages, I realize how often I record the same messages. Will I ever learn to...

1. Never expect someone else to solve my problems
   
2. Concentrate on work I love.
3. Ignore silly rules and preposterous expectations
   
4. Don't waste my resources
   
5. Mix fun and productivity in every task
6. View mistakes as learning experiences
7. Drop false ideas that keep me paralysed
8. Design my own future and colour my own dreams
9. Avoid nasty and deranged individuals
10. Delegate as much as I can
    
11. Devote more time to my close friends
12. Seek creative alternatives in every situation
    
13. Turn off the news (which are always pretty much the same as the day before)
14. Learn to see everything in perspective
15. Read my favourite books more frequently
16. Lose my car keys and take long walks
    
17. Spend more time thinking about what's important
18. Never expect magic
19. Mistrust first impressions
    
20. Pursue my goals relentlessly
    
21. Prevent problems so that they never happen
22. Cook and enjoy wonderful food
23. Escape noise, conflict, and nonsense
    
24. Remind myself that, in the end, time is all I have

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How to prevent the myth of linear History from distorting your thinking

When Edward Gibbon set out to write The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire in the year 1769, his goal was to demonstrate that, in History, civilization often moves backwards as time advances. Reading Gibbon's work is the best foundation for understanding current problems and the most effective vaccine against delusion.

“In the Dark Ages, ancient statutes were broken and melted by unfeeling avarice,” noted Gibbon. “The soul of the geniuses who had shaped them evaporated in smoke. The cost and labour of centuries were consumed in a moment. Of the writings of Antiquity that still existed at that time, many were lost forever.”

During hundreds of years, injustice and evil took over the world. There was little that individuals could undertake against a tidal wave of ignorance and violence. Those who tried to resist the trend were wiped out. The economies of major countries were reduced to shambles and life expectancy sharply decreased.

The good news is that, despite all difficulties, many men and women survived and thrived in the Dark Ages:

▼ New agricultural methods were developed and land productivity doubled.
▼ The idea of using cork stoppers in bottles enabled the creation of a mass-market for wine.
▼ In the quietness of monasteries, Greek and Latin books were translated into modern languages.

These and many other short steps turned the Dark Ages into the Renaissance, showing that each century is shaped by conflicting forces. History never follows a line of steady progress, where all things become increasingly better.

The passage of time does not guarantee that knowledge will be accumulated. Through centuries, skills and techniques have often been lost and forgotten. Mistakes of the past are likely to be repeated. Linear History is a myth, a pleasant fantasy based on deceitful patterns derived from a faulty interpretation of facts.

Believing in myths never yields good practical results because it inhibits individuals from taking rational action to improve their situation. If you reside in a country where conditions are rapidly deteriorating, you owe to yourself to make an effort to distinguish reality from wishful thinking.

When danger is lurking between sick trees, closing your eyes and hoping for the best is not going to protect your future. Ignore the myth of linear History. Instead, check facts, ask tough questions, and find out what things are really like. If prospects don't look good, then it's time for you to move.

“The restoration of the past is a most generous wish,” observed Gibbon, “but the false application of maxims of Antiquity is the source of many disappointments. One should never overlook differences of time and characters.”

Look ahead and decide if you like what you see. If you don't, you may want to take action to improve your personal situation. Make sound choices and play your cards wisely. There are plenty of things that you can do to make your future brighter. Unlike the Dark Ages, present times offer individuals countless opportunities. Take them.

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How to use Ancient Mongol tactics to find a job

Achievement is not about having resources or connections. It's rather about what you do despite your limited resources and your lack of connections. In our times of economic recession, thousands of people lose their jobs everyday. If you are looking for a new position these days, using Mongol tactics might help you achieve your goal faster.

During the whole XIII century, Mongols dominated the world. They did not succeed thanks to their meagre resources. Neither were they able to resort to their political connections, since they didn't have any. From being a tribe of shepherds, Mongols managed to grow to rulers of the world exclusively by their own efforts.

How did Mongols win battles against ten-times bigger armies? Even more remarkable is the fact that, physically, Mongols were relatively small in size. Nevertheless, they crushed the Persian, Russian, and Bulgarian armies one after the other, each in its home territory.

If Mongols conquered the world starting with nothing, applying their tactics might give you a decisive advantage in your job search. The three principles that I am presenting here can benefit anyone seeking employment.

First, become single-minded about your purpose. Mongols knew that their life was at stake in every battle and they never hesitated which way to go. It was always forward. Finding a job is certainly much easier than building a world empire, but in any case, determination will dramatically increase the speed of your success.

Since talking yourself into becoming single-minded is unlikely to work, how can you acquire the necessary determination? My answer will surprise you. All you have to do is to be realistic and use basic economic common sense. The truth is that you can always find a job, no matter how bad the economy situation is, because the demand for work, for services, is infinite.

* If you are willing to accept the salary that someone is willing to pay, you will find a job.

* You might need to move to another town to get that job, but you can be sure that there is always someone somewhere who needs to get something done.

* If you are flexible about salary and conditions, there are always people out there willing to hire additional help for their business or private needs. All you have to do is find them.

Second, increase your knowledge daily. Mongols possessed pitiful technology when they started to build their empire, but they learned from everyone they met. From the Chinese, they picked up metal-working techniques, from the Persians, they learned how to use smoke screens in battle.

Compared to Mongols living in the XIII century, the Internet allows you countless possibilities to learn at low cost. You can find vacancies in data bases. You can use electronic templates to prepare your curriculum vitae. You can listen to podcasts and watch videos on interviewing techniques. The more knowledge you accumulate, the quickest you'll find employment.

The third principle is the most important. You must move as fast as you can. When Mongols fixed themselves an objective, they gathered information quickly, sharpened their swords, and off they were. Riding horses for hours on end was their daily routine, day and night if necessary, until they reached their target.

You don't need to become obsessive about your job search, but taking relentless action is a proven approach for maximizing your achievements. Take the first step in your chosen direction and follow up with a thousand steps more. Let your learning grow rapidly and it will show you the path to success.

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How to regain serenity and motivation after making a serious mistake

Publishers love biographies since they usually sell well for many years. The best biographies are short on dates and rich on story, meagre on doubts and abundant on motion.

Reading about mistakes made by illustrious individuals is why people enjoy biographies. In this respect, little, insubstantial errors don't count. A solid biography must contain at least one horrendous, shattering mistake.

• A great actor who accepts a role in a trash movie and ruins his career.
• A successful fund manager who makes a bad investment and experiences enormous losses.
• A self-made millionaire who marries a worthless woman and goes through devastating divorce.

Thick biographies provide extensive details about how eminent persons turn into fools. Vanity and greed play a role sometimes, although less frequently than venal authors like to portray.

The truth is that, in the great majority of cases, mistakes are made in good faith, out of insufficient knowledge, insight, or perspective. Dangers that appear self-evident in hindsight often pass undetected under real-life strains and tensions.

Demanding readers expect stories to be both entertaining and thought-provoking. We want books to provide teachings that go beyond the trite and commonplace. There is no point in reading about past mistakes if we cannot draw lessons for the future.

How can you overcome feelings of impotence, sadness, and guilt after you have committed a gigantic error? Here is what I have learned form reading History.

As soon as we realize the full extent of a major error, psychological misery arises from comparing ourselves to others or to a parallel reality that would have existed if we had known better.

Such negative emotional reactions rest on a logical fallacy that only determined reasoning can erase. Mistakes are subjective and the knowledge present in a person's mind is the only relevant factor when it comes to taking decisions.

This means that, after making a dreadful mistake, you should avoid comparing your situation with someone else's. It makes little sense to lament how well you could be doing if you had made wiser choices.

Each of us is born in different circumstances and each life is unique. Individuals have to grow at their own pace and learn their own lessons. Competition is a fallacy because life is not a race.

Experience can be painful but it is irreplaceable. Don't linger on illogical comparisons that bring nothing but misery. Stand up and look ahead. Your next achievement will bring you farther. Mistakes can make you a better human being and show you the way to happiness. Let them.

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Five growth sectors in the 21st century economy

If you think that, after this recession, the world will look pretty much as it is today, you are wrong. The idea that all things go back to average applies only at the end of the road, where we will all be, on average, dead. In the meantime, many sectors of the economy are bound to shrink into oblivion. Others will emerge as growth powerhouses. From the latter, these five belong my favourites:

1.- PREVENTIVE MEDICINE. Sooner or later, health insurance premiums will start reflecting the actual level of individual risk. If you smoke, you'll pay more. If you drink a lot, you also incur greater health hazards. If you practice high-risk sports, you might have difficulties to find an insurer willing to take you on. Should this scenario become true, preventive medicine, helping people avoid sickness, will become a fantastic business.

2.- TURN-KEY HABITATION. If you are hundred years old, you'll be able to confirm that, despite internet and mobile phones, the way we buy or rent a place to live has changed little for generations. Massive migration goes along with a global economy and, sooner or later, we are bound to see striking advances in relocation and habitation services. GPS is becoming a standard fixture in new cars. How long is it going to take until we have world-wide standardized quality ratings for houses? What about turn-key availability with full furnishing and connectivity?

3.- ROAD MANAGEMENT. Traffic jams can eat up a substantial portion of your lifespan. It is time to do away with traffic congestion. Road management will exploit open ways as business assets, allocating lines according to traffic supply and demand and pricing for peaks, like a popular discotheque does on Saturday nights. Digital tracking technology has opened ample possibilities for improvement in how roads are used today. I believe that those advances will come and that they will be incredibly profitable.

4.- ACCELERATED TRAINING. How come that you can find affordable audio-courses to learn French in three months, but not to become a lawyer or a nurse? Global markets will turn the tide in training products, both in quality and price. Does it make sense that the way professionals are trained has hardly evolved for hundreds of years? Higher education is still far from being inexpensive. I am convinced that new digital products will change this field and the lives of many.

5.- TRANSACTION INSURANCE. Internet purchases of complex products or services still remain risky nowadays, but this might change before long. Some credit cards are already offering transaction insurance, but I believe that the market for this kind of protection products is bound to grow at a great speed. Low premiums will come if all-risk transaction insurance becomes a popular product. This seems likely to me due to the increasing number of cross-border purchases made on the internet.

Entrepreneurs bridge the gap between their profitable vision of the future and currently underutilized resources. No rules can help you develop perfect ideas, since flawless business models do not exist. Each vision is individual, as it is the information in a man's mind and his perception of the world. Those above are five of my ideas. Which ones are on the top of your list?

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Abdicate what you cannot demonstrate

"I am leaving behind everything that is artificial," announced Paul Gaugin to his friends when he was 43 years old. "I have decided to go back to nature and devote the rest of my life to painting."

Gauguin left Europe for Central America and later moved to an island in the South Pacific where he produced a series of paintings to which no one paid much attention.

Destitute and ignored by the public, Gaugin died in 1903, when he was only 55 years old. Long after his death, critics recognized him as a genius. Nowadays, each of his paintings is worth millions.

Paul Gaugin's biography is the quintessential story of the unrecognised artist living in miserable conditions. Disillusioned by his lack of success, he became an alcoholic, an aspect that must have contributed to shortening his life.

I do like Paul Gaugin's paintings, although they don't belong to my favourites. I will leave to art critics the job of praising Gaugin's work, since for me, this is not the lesson to be drawn from the story.

My point is that Paul Gaugin made a mistake.

His was the kind of huge error that is often portrayed as heroic sacrifice. The fact is that nobody needs to ruin his life in order to become a great painter, inventor, musician, or entrepreneur.

Do you think that Gaugin would have lived longer if he had stayed in Europe and worked further at his job? Certainly, since he was a stockbroker. Would he had produced such great paintings if he had devoted just his evenings and weekends to art? In my view, that's most likely.

"Paul, your idea of leaving everything behind is pure nonsense," I would have told Gaugin if I had been one of his friends. "There are better ways to do things." I guess that he might have been curious to hear my advice, so here it is.

1. For succeeding in art, like in any other field, persistence plays a much bigger role than talent. A little every day amounts to a lot in the long term.

2. Extraordinary skill and expertise are the result of learning from a long series of failures. Take your time to make mistakes.

3. Giving up something in exchange of nothing is counter-productive. Advance slowly and make each step worthwhile.

4. Innovation in art, business, or philosophy needs a long time to catch the public's attention. You need to be both relentless and realistic.

5. Instead of wasting time complaining, devote your efforts to promoting your work. Flawless marketing comes no easier that perfect art.

Be patient. Build your pyramid stone by stone. One day, your monument will be so high that no one will be able to ignore it. Forget questionable ideas that lead to uncertain results.

Go for the gold. Persistence and patience work in most cases. Giving up everything and throwing yourself to the wolves is not a good approach. When you are faced with unproven ideas, follow my formula: abdicate what you cannot demonstrate.

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Read like a rabbit, think like an eagle

Last Thursday, I borrowed from the library three volumes that I needed for research. As I walked past two teenagers smoking cigarettes, one of them threw his opinion at me.

"Reading sucks!" he said. The books in my hand became heavier for a moment, but I did not bother to reply. I know better than that.

Nevertheless, the comment lingered in my mind. At night, I had a nightmare about a world without books, entertained only by high-concept movies.

My nightmare turned to be a premonition. It was meant to prepare me for my task the following day: interviewing candidates for a secretarial position.

The first candidate did take off her headphones for the interview, but she was hardly able to understand my questions. Was her mind still under the influence of the music beat?

The second candidate took a call on her mobile phone in the middle of the interview. Her boyfriend wanted to know how the interview was going. She said she was doing great. I had a different perception.

The third candidate was carrying a book, a real one. It was Stendhal's novel THE RED AND THE BLACK. I asked her if she liked the book. She replied that it was overrated, that Stendhal's other novel was much better.

She gave me reasons, she showed me logic. I guess that she had not developed her thinking abilities by watching TV. In a way, it was not fair to the other candidates.

"I read as much as a rabbit," she added with a smile. I was not aware that rabbits read so much, but I let it go at that. I was already sold.

The third candidate had a striking advantage. She was able to organize her ideas, she could think in concepts. Half-way through the interview, I concluded that she was a keeper. I made her an offer.

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12 COMMON RÉSUMÉ WRITING MISTAKES

12 COMMON RÉSUMÉ WRITING MISTAKES

Many Canadian and international jobs seekers are aware that errors on their résumé, even seemingly insignificant ones, can mean the difference between a request for an interview and having their résumé sent to the “not interested pile.” In today’s highly competitive job market, it is essential that job seekers craft résumés that are error-proof with high impact. The list of mistakes made by job seekers when writing their résumés is endless. The following are the 12 most common résumé-writing mistakes that Résumésolutions.ca résumé writers see from our clients

1. Poor spelling and grammar - It does not make a great first impression to describe yourself as being "very resuts oriented.” Yes, it is a cliché, but there will be no second chance to make a good first impression. Proofread your résumé repeatedly.

2. Including unnecessary information - As proud as you maybe of that 8 grade hockey team championship, do not devote your résumé to it.

3. Zero focus on achievements and strengths - Providing lengthy, generic job descriptions – your career history section should reflect your achievements and demonstrate the benefits of employing you. Of course, you should back the statements up with facts and figures wherever possible.

4. Listing less important career details before key experience and achievements.

5. Using a "life story'' résumé writing approach. A potential employer does not need to know that your wife/husband left, leaving you with two kids, two cats and a large mortgage.

6. Using an outdated résumé format, visit our sample page to see Résumé Solutions sample résumés.

7. Writing old, irrelevant information. If you built up your career to a management role from your start on the shop floor, a detailed description of your the High school education or first job is not your strongest selling point. Limit job descriptions to the last 10-15 years.

8. Sharing highly personal information such as SIN number, date of birth, marital status or the number of children you have.

9. Attaching a photograph. Never include one.

10. Going on and on. If your résumé is more than two pages and you are not an academic or in highly technical roles, forget about applying for positions, which require "excellent communication skills''.

11. Forgetting the importance of active language / action verbs. Start sentences with strong action words such as "delivered'', "designed'', "implemented'' and "initiated''. Click to read our article on using action verbs effectively called Writing a Great Résumé Using Action Verbs.

12. Information in the wrong order. It is crucial for a recruiter to see the most relevant information first, so remember to put each section of your résumé such as work history and education in reverse chronological order and place the most important information on page one.

Make sure you are not making mistakes when writing your résumé and if in any doubt utilize the experts of RésuméSolutions.ca. We offer a very powerful and effective service.

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Why Advertising is Important for Your Business

Why Advertising is Important for Your Business
Businesses exist to sell products and services to the public for a profit. If the public does not know that your business exists, finding customers to make enough purchases for your business to survive will be a failure without some additional help. Advertising is an important factor in business because it gets the word out about your company and establishes a presence and a brand about what you are offering.

One of the best ways to advertise is by word of mouth, also known as referral marketing or referral advertising. When other people hear good things about your business or they have a positive experience shopping with your business, they become walking billboards for your business without you having to spend additional money on advertising to create it.

Advertising locally through newspapers and fliers as well as billboards can be an effective source of advertising when your business is up-and-coming, but expanding your advertising sources becomes important as you grow. You can extend your advertising approach out to television commercials as well as radio in order to reach wider audiences, but the revenue from your business should be able to pay for advertising costs for these methods to bring you the value you are looking for.

Creating an assortment of advertising and marketing techniques will help you to reach many different customer bases. Identifying a target market to advertise your business to is also very valuable, because a target market of customers will be more interested in your business than trying to appeal to masses of people with varying interests. Making sure that enough people know that you exist who are naturally interested in your product as a target is a great way to bring in customers and increase the profit of your business.

Creating an impulse in potential customers to purchase your product is very important when it comes to advertising. It can be easy to create advertising that puts your customer in a mindset not to purchase your product, either by unintentionally avoiding the sale of your product by focusing on information or topics that draw attention away from your product. Be sure to study the needs of your target market to get the best results.

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SAP Training – Guarantee of Success

SAP acronym for system application and product data processing is the most popular among the both advertising and businessman. Whatever your business is SAP proved best for small businesses as well as big businesses. Even giants like Microsoft and IBM used SAP software to run their business well. SAP software is widely used in both small as well as big business houses. The popularity of SAP increasing by leaps and bounds. If you are the person knowing SAP then there are lots of opportunities waiting for you. You can get high paying job after completing your SAP training. SAP now becomes a passport of success in your life. SAP not even secure your career but also it is the guarantee of success in your life. Many educational institutes offering training in SAP online as well as on location among these you have to select best for you and drive your career fast. SAP is filling extra fuel to your computer career. SAP is not easy to learn but if you are lucky to get SAP consultant who has in depth knowledge in SAP then it becomes easier to learn. One thing always keep in your mind that in whichever SAP module you take training but learn it by heart and it will securely take your career to new heights.

SAP Training focuses on both the theory and practice, SAP Training–the acquisition of skills and knowledge. It is therefore an activity that seeks to fill skills and knowledge gaps. If you are a SAP professional your need might be for SAP certification. Before embarking on training you must know what your training needs are. What gap needs to be filled? Is the training need for an organization or an individual? What is your desired career path and specialization? What do you need to know? Are you sure training will close the gap? Set your training objectives carefully. The purpose of your training should be well defined. SAP training is not only necessary for your bright career but also it promises healthy earning in your life. Work very hard to learn SAP because after completing SAP training successfully you are nothing to worry about your career because reputed organizations will ready to give you high earning jobs. You can get SAP training in its modules like SAP Financial, SAP SCM, SAP CRM, SAP SD and many more. SAP software and programs addresses mainly the financial services, the public services, the consumer industries, the process industries, the discrete industries, and the services industries. Since all of these industries involve an increased level of dealing with customers and developing relationships with them.
If you want to learn SAP with the one the reputed education institutes then visit http://www.lcit.co.uk

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Mid-Life Career Change - Can it be done?

Many people say it is never too late to do things. The same is true for a mid-life career change. You may be a home-based worker who chooses to do other things for a change, or an office employee who wants to get his dream job, or simply someone who needs less stress in life and wants instead a better work-life balance, and new challenges to take on, a mid-life career change is really never too late.

It would be important to know what field you would like to work in. You do this by first identifying the things you dislike most about your previous career and then identifying as well what you like most about it. You can start with this, and just add things you enjoy most or things that interest you. This way, you can move to a different field, but still do the things you love in your previous career. For instance, from being manager at a fast food chain, you can probably make a mid-life career change to become project manager in a charitable institution. This way, you fulfill your interest and love for charitable work, while still honing your leadership and planning skills as a manager. What lifestyle would you want to have? Do you want a home-based career or an 8 to 5 job? Do you want to be able to manage your time, without your boss always nagging at you? These are just some of the important questions to ask yourself when you've decided to take on a mid-life career change.

In addition to finding out the field you would like to shift to, you should also identify your current skills because these are vital as well in making that mid-life career change. What can and can you not do? Are you proficient in communications, leadership, web design, software development, science or health? These are referred to as transferable skills, because no matter what field you are in, they can be very useful. You may also identify your talents and knowledge; you might be surprised to land your dream job because of these.

Knowing your interests and skills is not enough; you also need to have even just a little experience in your target job for a successful mid-life career change. You can do some sort of moonlighting, like volunteering for the company you plan to work for perhaps, or working in a part-time job that entails doing the same things as your target career. These are helpful not only in helping you decide if a mid-life career is really the right path to take, but also in giving plus points to your resume.

Changing careers also entails changes in modes of travel, if applicable. Of course, this is not a problem anymore when you shift to a home-based job because you work in the comforts of your home. In most mid-life career changes, however, there may be modifications not just in the site of work but also in the place you live in. Sometimes you need to move to a nearer area for convenience or, more commonly, you change your mode of travel, be it a daily commute by bus, car, train, or frequent air travels.

You also need to consider other variables, like your target salary and potential for career progression. It is a known fact that making a mid-life career change entails hard work and tough times, even doubts from other people. These should not stop you, though, because it is far better to have a career that you enjoy doing rather than forever working in a job where you feel dissatisfied and always stressed.

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Five Steps to Find a Job in Difficult Times

Thanks to unemployment, newspapers and television are managing to recapture part of their lost audience. Pictures of forlorn job seekers alternate with interviews of puzzled white-collar workers who, until today, had never given a thought to the possibility of finding themselves on the street.

In some countries, the number of job seekers is reaching unheard-of proportions. Ireland and Spain, two of the worse cases, are on their way to a 20% unemployment rate. If disasters paralyse, absolute disasters can wipe out all capacity for action.

Should you be searching for a job, here is some advice to help you move faster on the road back to employment:


1.- FORGET ABOUT DEPRESSING UNEMPLOYMENT STATISTICS

No matter how bad the business downturn is, there are jobs out there. All you need to do is to find yourself one. If you are flexible, organized, and relentless in your approach, you won't remain unemployed for long.


2.- UNDERSTAND THE REASONS

Mass unemployment is a phenomenon that results from major shifts in the economy. You, as an individual, are in no way to blame for circumstances that affect a great segment of the population. Do not take it personally and, above all, do not waste a minute complaining.
You cannot change factors that are causing the loss of thousands of jobs in certain locations or sectors of the economy, but you can move away from those and, instead, seek a job in areas where you stand much better chances.

3.- GO WHERE THE MONEY IS

If companies in the field where you have been working for the last ten years are going bankrupt one after the other, you'd certainly want to move to greener pastures. The same principle applies if you reside in an area whose economy is in shambles.
in a downturn, there are bad places and horrible places to look for a job. Don't waste your time trying to land a job in companies that are falling apart. You have better things to do than seeking to get aboard The Titanic, now and for the rest of your life.

4.- BE RELENTLESS IN YOUR SEARCH

Don't post your curriculum vitae on just two web sites, but on twenty. If that doesn't work, then try another twenty. Call up ten companies per day, ask to talk to their human resources manager, and pitch your skills. If that doesn't work, call another ten.
Looking for a job is a tedious chore, but if you have to do it, you might as well give it all you have. The faster you get it done, the sooner you can go back to normal life.

5.- MAKE OFFERS THAT ONLY A FOOL WOULD REFUSE

As a result of your active search, you will be invited for interviews. If you really want the job for which you are being interviewed, chances are that you will get it if you manage to convince the other party that you are reasonably competent and extraordinarily motivated.
A big company might be too bureaucratic to appreciate your willingness to go the extra mile, but a small-business owner will be delighted to hear your plan to lower his risk of hiring you. Here are some examples:

• If the laws of your country allow it, offer to work for a token salary during a certain period, so that he can see how great you are.
  
• If you are looking for a job in a 24/7 operation, propose to work on the shift that nobody wants.
  
• If there is a location where nobody wants to go, volunteer to work there temporarily.

In some cases, this approach will bring no results, but sooner or later, an employer won't resist the temptation of accepting your offer. Use your flexibility to get your foot on the door. As soon as you have regained employment, you can go up from there.

If you have the drive and curiosity to be reading this, I have little doubt that you will do what you need to do. Focused thoughts and relentless action constitute the rational approach for finding a job, or in general, for achieving anything of value. May your job search be short and your success spectacular.

JOHN VESPASIAN writes about rational living. He has resided in New York, Madrid, Paris, and Munich. His stories reflect the values of entrepreneurship, tolerance, and self-reliance. See John Vespasian's blog about rational living.

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Keeping Your Job During A Recession

I struggle to write about keeping your job during a recession as it almost suggests that during the recession there are special strategies to keep your job. I personally believe excellent work ethics helps you keep your job during the economic downturn. Those very strategies will also help you move up the corporate ladder in good times.

Regardless of the economic climate, one should always practice good work ethics. If I have to choose, these will the few things that will help in keeping your job during a recession.

1. Be Nice

It feels funny to even remind people of this common courtesy. But in a recession where jobs are threatened, between two persons of equal caliber we all can guess who will be put on the chopping list. If you have been nasty to colleagues perhaps it is time to reflect and start changing. Smile more often, offer words of encouragement, help and time for others.

2. Be A Competitive Advantage

Ideally, you are already a competitive advantage to your unit. It’s never too late to start if you have never thought about this. What is it that you can uniquely offer to your work group that others cannot? Can you work late? Are you a detailed person who would dot the “Is” and cross the “T's”? If you are a competitive advantage to your team, you have a better chance of keeping your job during a recession.

3. Work Hard

Really, do more. Doing more implies a few things. It says you are willing to sacrifice. It says you enjoy your job. It also says you add more value to the company but churning out more than your fair share. During a recession when everyone is expected to work with limited resources, the one who can work harder will likely triumph.

4. Do More Talk Less

If your mom has told you this before, “Do more, talk less” heed that advice now. If you are someone who complains, blames, and gossips you had better stop now. No one will tolerate a complainer, someone who pushes blame and spends too much time gossiping in good times - much less during a recession. Take personal responsibility for your own actions and stop blaming others. If it can be fixed, stop complaining. If it cannot be fixed, no amount of complaining will fix it. How will all these help in keeping your job?

5. Increase Revenue, Cut Costs

That will be a constant theme amongst companies and you should make that your mantra too. What unit do you belong to? Is yours a profit center? If it is, figure out ways to help more money. If yours is a cost center, think of ways to cut costs. It will all contribute to the company’s bottom line and that will help in keeping your job.During a recession, be happy that you have a job. In that context, you will naturally do the right thing by doing more and talking less. Genuinely contribute to the company’s vision and direction and be sincerely nice to people. That way you increase your chances of keeping your job during recession.

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Types Of Resumes : Find Out How To Choose A Job Earning One

It's not astonishing that many people require aid in writing resumes, as a result of the fact that there are different types of resumes that you can choose from. Learning how to pick the right formats for resumes can be a crucial part of the resume writing process.

When picking which resume will work best for your requirements you want to give some thought to your work history. Whether there are gaps in your work history or whether it is long establish are the things you have to consider. If your work history is long and you have worked throughout most of your working life then a chronological resume is normally going to be the optimal selection. This form of resume are very effective in highlighting your most viable streanghts; which include you working experience.

An operational resume format would ofttimes be the better choice, if the history of your work is reasonably short and you have some gaps in your work history. Instead of your experience, functional resume allow you the opportunity to focus on your skills.

If you are still not sure which resumes will work best for your situation you might consider writing down every job that you have held for the poast five to ten years. Analyse the dates find whether they flow together well or whether you see gaps in the dates. This can assist you to not only structure your resume accordingly but will also give you a good idea of which resume formats will work better.

Once you have decided which format will work optimal for your position, it is then essential to focus on some key elements that are important in penning resumes. First you need to make sure that you maintain complete and unfettered honesty in every resume that you write. Whereas it can be pretty tempting to embellish your resume, your awareness must be drawn to the fact that most employers check up on the given information in a resume and will toss aside resumes that are seemingly untruthful. Showing dishonesty on a resume will unquestionably do you no favours. You should be aware that in any case that the employer should find out afterwards that you were dishonest with your resume, there is the possibility that you will lose your job and that is definitely something you do not want to happen you.

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The Importance Of Marketing

If you want to help your business live up to the amazing potential you already know it has, it is very important for you to do a suitable marketing course to acquire professional-level marketing skills. Always remember, no matter how wonderful your product is and how great a value it offers to those who purchase it, if the potential buyers do not know about it, it doesn't mean anything with regard to your bottom line, which is obviously making money. When it comes to running a successful business, having all the essential resources at your disposal, a carefully chosen team of employees, top-notch services, and an incredible product to offer will only win you half the battle. You will need an excellent marketing program in order to win the other half of the battle.

For Businesspersons

If you are an experienced businessperson, you probably already know some of the basic elements of successful marketing. But, if you want to make the most of your business, you will need to acquire lots of new marketing skills in line with the latest trends and developments in your industry. The best way to do this is to sign up with a suitable marketing course and get formal education. A good course will ensure that you get all the essential skills required to put your business on the path of success. However, it is also very important for you to understand that there are different types of courses available in the market. For example, you may like to focus on some specific skills or you may like to just brush up on the basics only. The idea is to choose the one that is the most suitable for your business.

For Marketing Professionals

Even if you don't have your own business, you can still benefit from a good marketing course. Large businesses often require qualified marketing professionals to take care of their marketing tasks. It is a highly lucrative career, as it pays big money. If you know the ins and outs of successful marketing, it can be the right career option for you. The right course could be just the ticket to this new highly lucrative career. Even if you are already working as a marketing professional, enhancing your skills and knowledge with the right course will accelerate the successful upward movement with raises and promotions as and when new oppurtunities come. It will open the doors of a whole new selection of opportunities for you. When you acquire those new skills, it will make you more competitive and you will be able to exercise your creative muscles in the most efficient manner. You will be able to build a name for yourself in the industry. You may get calls from other companies to join them with much higher compensation and incentives

Even businesses can get benefited by investing in a marketing course to enhance the skills of their employees. While the employees feel happy that they get a chance to learn new things at no cost, businesses enjoy a much more efficient manpower.

James Copper is a writer for http://www.baol.co.uk where you can find information on marketing courses .

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