WEB SHOPPING PILLAR: 2011

Friday, April 29, 2011

TEST TIPS FOR A SUCESS WEEK

will be taking the Criterion Reference Competency Test, or CRCT. This test will be administered to students in grades three thru eight. For those in grades three and five, Reading and Math portions must be passed before they are allowed to be promoted to the next grade.

To help your child be successful, here are some test taking tips.

1. Go to bed early. Being well rested helps with concentration.

2. Have a healthy breakfast. Try to limit sugar or carbs as they will give an initial boost but then can cause a crash in energy.

3. Be on time. Getting to school late causes students to be rushed. This can cause them to feel stressed and anxious. This also can affect their ability to be focused.

4. Be prepared. Having No. 2 pencils sharpened and erasers ready ensures that your student will feel ready for the test.

5. Do not miss any days if at all possible. If an appointment has to be scheduled, choose the afternoon. Missing a day will cause your child to have to make it up later and they may have to test in an unfamiliar area. Try your best to make it to all days of testing.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Secrets to Success for a Tot's Birthday Party

I love throwing birthday parties for my child. But, it's a lot of work. There is so much to consider, including the entertainment, arts and crafts, food, invitations, party themes, take home gifts — the list goes on.

This year, I organized a double party bash for my child and her best friend at a child's gym in the area. The experience at the gym seemed to engage children and adults alike. But it was a lot of work.

When planning parties for tikes, especially those 6 years and under, there’s a lot to consider to create a successful soiree. Jennifer Shields, owner of Atlanta-based Posh Tot Events, offers several tips to make your next birthday bash a success.

Time Frame. According to Shields, a lot of parents plan the party for a three-hour time frame, which she thinks is too long. “The best allocation for a party for 6 to 7 years old and under is 90 minutes,” she says.
Consider Nap Schedules. “If you are throwing a party for 1 to 3 year olds, it’s imperative to consider the nap schedule, which is about 1 p.m.,” she said. “Have you ever been around a child who is approaching their nap time?”
Activities that Engage. “You’ve got to make sure there are enough activities, like games or arts and crafts to engage the children and, most importantly, put someone in charge,” Shields said. She recommended a relative. “I prefer arts and crafts over games, though,” she said, because games are hit and miss, but shy and outgoing children alike love arts and crafts.
Food for Feasting. “You’ll want to feed them,” she said. “But, if it’s a mealtime party, it’s got to go beyond the typical cupcakes and lemonade.”
Planning Makes Perfect. “Planning ahead is critical,” Shields said. “There is simply nothing more stressful that your guests arriving and the party not being set up properly.”

I’m excited to consider these tips for a party planning pro for the next birthday event. Do you have any favorite tips to share?

Professional Drummers Play and Offer Tips at Annual Workshop

d drum enthusiasts from across the area, Drumstock Spring Session 2011, organized by drummer Brad Kimes, was a resounding and reverberating success at Cypress Creek Marina.

Over 50 folks of all ages found their way to one of the marina’s ideally suited buildings on Saturday to take in a variety of networking and interactive drum sessions with percussion instruments of all shapes and sizes.

The Wood Family of Crofton brought son Mitchell along with fellow drummer pal Matthew Bauckman to gain some insight from the professionals. Both boys, students at Crofton Middle School, have full drum sets and nicely insulated basements where they like to make a little noise.

The family was enthused with the depth of experience and knowledge that was offered to kids and adults alike at this free session where food was shared and friendships were made.

The crowd swayed to the rhythms of conga player Mark Merella. Benjamin Cowan, Parliament Funkadelic drummer (who often accompanies well-known artist George Clinton), did his drumming thing for the eager crowd tapping their toes.

Talent after talent took to the drums. Cowan followed studio drummer, Nucleo Vega, who offered his top-notch instruction materials for sale to the audience. Tips from Vega’s books, touted by Drum! magazine as among the best of the best, were put into play and relished by all. Check him out at www.nucleovega.com.

Baltimore professional drummer, Brian Rodgers, was down for the day with friends and family, including grandson David Byrd, a student at Sudbury Magnet School and a member of the school’s Jazz band. “I play drums, piano and do a little singing, too,” he said.

Drumstock’s question-and-answer session reiterated that Cowan and other professional drummers “got good” not just because they “kept on doing chops all day long.” He said for him, becoming a good drummer is about “finding your groove, moving that body to build up muscle memory, and pleasing the other members of the group you are playing with at the time."

Successful drum playing is much more than tap, tap tapping on the skins. It’s really a combination of music for the whole band, complementing the other instruments and knowing when too much is too much. It can be a fine line.

Music business expert, Nick Costa, closed out the pre-jam session with some food for thought for the wanna-be performers and to those already in the drum world looking to be hired handily for those hot gigs: “If you can’t do it with a smile, someone else will.” And, “You can be the baddest guy in town or the busiest guy in town.”

Finding your fit and fitting in were important tips, above and beyond handling the drumsticks and cymbals like a pro.

Event for women coming to town

A day of professional enrichment, "retail therapy" and delicious food await ticket holders to the 11th annual Conference for Women on April 20.

It will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Multi-Purpose Events Center.

Jan Hargrave, an expert in reading body language, will be the keynote speaker. The popular speaker, educator and author will reveal the "hidden messages" used in everyday life. She will also demonstrate how to detect deception and reveal the truth in any conversation.

Hargrave has taught nonverbal communication to employees of Lockheed Martin, Merrill Lynch, Starbucks and other major corporations.

Wichitan Gail Cunningham will open the day's seminar sessions with "10 Success Secrets for Women," tips and tools to achieve professional and personal success.

Other sessions include:

■ "Get a Grip! Time Management for Work and Home." Nancy Marks will help others discover practical methods for getting things done at work and home.

■ "Stress and Strife or a Peace-Filled Life." Educator and therapist Susan Rogers will focus on awareness of stressors, acceptance of limitations and practical tools to attain peace of mind in a more meaningful lifestyle.

■ "Learning to Invest With Confidence." Northwestern Mutual Financial Network representative Debi Walters will provide educational information on making secure investment decisions even in today's challenging market.

■ "Silently Successful in a Multicultural World." Donnie Kirk will show participants how the various cultural groups to which they belong make unique contributions to their success.

■ "Stay Alive Self-Protection Course for Women." Martial arts expert Harley Elmore will focus on the realities of self-defense and demonstrate 10 simple things women can do to reduce their chances of being attacked.

■ "There's an App for That!" L.O. Nelson will cover cellphone applications useful to the business environment, plus hardware and personal applications. The presentation is useful and entertaining for anyone with a smartphone or tablet computer.

■ "Death, Divorce and Other Delightful Discussions." Cyndi Schenk and Leann Haines will address legal matters such as wills, probate, family and criminal law, inheritance, separate property and community property.

■ "English: Damaged Beyond Repair?" Author and educator Dave Rankin will address common misunderstandings about "correctness" in language and how problems can be remedied.

■ "B

Bloggers still composing a story of tweet success, 140 characters at a time

Five years ago today, Twitter cofounder Jack Dorsey introduced his creation this way: "just setting up my twttr."

The first comment by Alexander Graham Bell on the telephone - "Mr. Watson, come here; I want you" - wasn't exactly profound, either.

Last month, Twitter laid claim to almost 200 million accounts.

You needn't be intimidated, though, if the ins and outs of the "micro-blogging" service remain lost on you.

According to one survey, 22.5 percent of Twitter users account for 90 percent of the activity. In other words: Even those who have signed up aren't necessarily wedded to the Twitter-verse - at least not yet.

Twitter, originally created as a social-media tool, serves more purposes than one could describe in 140 characters (the maximum for a tweet).

"People can use Twitter to build relationships with clients, get the word out about their products or connect with other Buckeye fans," said Debra Jasper, director of the Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism at Ohio State University.

"I follow some of the smartest people in the social-media arena, for example, and they help me stay informed about the latest happenings in my field. It's like having a tremendously talented research team."

Media Invite: Entrepreneurs Share Tips for Success with Students at SIE Summit

ther leading entrepreneurs will address hundreds of Scottish university students at an event to inspire and encourage them to start their own businesses.

The serial entrepreneur will be the keynote speaker at the Scottish Institute for Enterprise (SIE) annual student summit at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow on Thursday. Sir Tom will be joined on the podium by Mick Jackson, founder of social enterprise firm WildHearts, Oli Norman of PR and events firm, DaDa, Joanne McLeod of Brewhaha Tea, and Gillian O’Neil of moviecom.tv. Students will also hear from a panel of recent graduates who have gone on to successfully run their own businesses.

Winners of the SIE New Ideas and New Ventures Competition will also be revealed on the day, with over £10,000 worth of prize money and in kind professional business support being awarded.

Date: Thursday 24^th March 2011

Time: 1130hrs – 1700hrs

Venue: The Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow

Media Opportunity: Photography and interviews are available between 9am and 1130hrs and between 2pm and 2.45pmand after 5pm. Additional opportunities can be arranged by request.

Please contact Jen Nash (see contact details below) in advance to confirm your

interest in attending or for further information.

A news release and photography will be available on the day.

Established in 1999, the Scottish Institute for Enterprise (SIE) aims to foster a culture of entrepreneurship among students in Scottish universities by equipping them with the enterprise skills, and providing the support and resources for students to start up and grow their own business or social enterprise.

Core values, clear vision key to success

Lee Ann Piano of Noteworthy Training Inc. runs a group of local women through Assertiveness Boot Camp during a Women in Business luncheon at Downtown Soiree, Princeton.

NewsTribune photo/Lindsay Vaugh

PRINCETON — Assertiveness isn’t about what you do, it’s about who you are. Lee Ann Piano of Noteworthy Training Inc. shared tips for building self-esteem, communicating effectively and laying a foundation for a more effective life during a Women in Business luncheon Friday held by Princeton Chamber of Commerce.
“It really boils down to habits,” Piano said. “Where you are in your life is really determined by the habits that you have formed, so if there’s something in your life that is not working, you have to trace back and figure out, ‘OK, what is the habit that I need to change?’”
Piano encouraged the women to identify a set of core values — like faith, integrity and compassion — and personal principles, or examples of how to demonstrate those values. Each woman must have a clear vision of who she is and where she wants to go in life to be assertive.
Many people get bogged down by “stinking thinking” like making excuses and negative statements about one’s self.
To break this habit and increase their self-esteem and confidence, Piano encouraged the women to picture their success, practice positive internal dialogue and realize the power of words.
Assertiveness is not aggressiveness, Piano emphasized.
“It’s the middle ground between being a bully and being a doormat,” she said.
“This is what ‘I’ think. This is how ‘I’ feel. This is how ‘I’ see the situation. It’s a lot of ‘I’ language. It’s not ‘You should..,’ ‘You have to..,’ ‘You’re always..,’ ‘You,’ ‘You,’ ‘You.’”

Tips for Building Midmarket Mobile Apps

Mobile business applications are becoming a tool that's critical to the success of midmarket companies, but it's crucial that they contain information that makes them more useful.

To do that, companies are building what's called "context information" into their B2B and customer-facing mobile apps. By context information, we mean adding details such as the user's identity (who you are); your environment (where you are and the device you use); your activity (things you do and what you allow); and your community (whom you communicate with).

For example, legal firms have much unstructured data in word processing documents, email, presentations, spreadsheets, etc. A legal firm that built or purchased software to pull context information into a mobile app could give its lawyers an easier time locating relevant content, whether the lawyers were in court or with a client offsite.

In the spirit of helping midmarket firms build better apps, Gartner Inc. research VP Gene Alvarez has supplied tips that should help companies design better overall mobile applications:

Make user profile creation simple. Alvarez suggests building mobile applications that allow end-users to create and modify their profiles at any point of contact and avoid requiring the users to sign up on a separate Website before they can use the mobile software.

Know your device. Assuming all devices are created equal or that all networks have equal capacity is dangerous. Surprisingly, some applications ignore basic mobile development best-practices. The apps may require a WiFi connection, for instance, or require a download of files larger than 10 megabytes. Shocking!

Ask for community participation. Customers do not want to give up control or privacy. So asking permission before connecting their communities is important, Alvarez says. This is one of the reasons for the increase of the "check-in" model, where the user has to explicitly locate himself or herself in a particular venue before information is transmitted to other people in that person's network.

Don't be a nuisance. Organizations need to strike a delicate balance between using enough context information and just plain being annoying. Mobile apps should include controls so users are not bombarded by requests to update, Alvarez suggests.

Avoid information duplication. Don't repeat information and sources that are already available. Many organizations think that simply making their applications location-aware qualifies them as context-enriched commerce, but simple location awareness does little to increase customer engagement, Alvarez says.

Stay on one platform. Don't require the user to go to more than one interface to complete a transaction such as entering credit card information or changing profile settings. Forcing users to finish on a Website instead of the app they were already on is frustrating.

Anticipate users' needs. Avoid just waiting for customers to tell you what they want. Have at least some information about the end user, and use it to improve applications based on that user's preferences and history of interactions.

Finally, it's important to remember that customers will react differently to context-enriched mobile applications, so CIOs should track how customers respond and make changes accordingly.

"You will find out what your users like and don't like about the way you have used context information to improve their experience," Alvarez says, "and you can incorporate those findings into your development plans."

Bobbi Brown Launches Dress For Success Makeup Collection

beauty freaks, Rejoice!! This spring, Bobbi Brown is going to launch limited-edition Dress For Success Makeup Collection, to benefit a non-profit organization, Dress for Success.

For last 10 years, Makeup artist and cosmetics creator Bobbi Brown has been partnering with the Dress For Success campaign to empower disadvantaged women by providing them with professional attire, makeup tips and tricks and career development tools to look and feel their best and thrive in work and life.

bobbi brown dress for success makeup

The collection includes a flattering five shadow eye palette, lip color, two shades of lip gloss and Extreme Party Mascara in black. Five shadow eye palette features work-appropriate shades like bone, taupe, espresso, navy, and beige shimmer. Two shades of lip gloss are petal lip gloss and crystal lip gloss.

“Dress for Success is an amazing organization because it gives women the tools and knowledge they need to look like—and eventually become—the person they hope to be,” Brown said in a release.

The limited-edition Dress For Success Makeup Collection will be available for $60, exclusively at Macy’s. 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to Dress for Success Worldwide

Teenager-Inspired iPhone App leads Students to Academic Success

Charlottesville, Virginia – Risk Takers with Skill is a new company that creates educational apps that address the biggest source of anxiety for high school and middle school students; that is, how to do well in school, yet still have enough time to have fun. Themselves two teenagers, the founders of Risk Takers with Skill, who excel extremely well academically, decided to create an iPhone app to help other students learn the ins and outs of doing well without living in the library. The result of their endeavor is Success Tips, a teenager’s practical guide to academic success. With timely study and test-taking tips, as well as detailed subject-specific tips, Success Tips shows students that doing well in school is not as difficult or time-consuming as it seems.

“Interestingly enough, academic success has less to do with working long hours than most teenagers think. It is more about working smart and having a dedicated set of work habits that one habitually follows,” explains Michael Niles, President of Niles Technology Group. “Most teenagers do not have a dependable system with which they study and use consistently to do assignments. Pretty much, they are all over the place. No wonder their grades are also all over the place, and their frustration levels are high. So when approached about publishing this app, it was an easy decision to take. Success Tips is an app that, if followed, alleviates that frustration and puts teenagers in the driver’s seat of their academic life.”

Success Tips is not the typical study-aid or test-taking guide that is laborious to students. It is not really even a guide at all; it is more of a conversation between two sets of teenagers. One set does very well in school, and they share their tips and secrets of how they accomplish this. Covering issues such as how to avoid making stupid mistakes, the detailed structure needed to succeed in math and the sciences and how to write well, Success Tips offers direct “how to solve this problem” advice; advice that has been proved effective by the teenagers that developed the system.

“Success Tips fits right into the Niles Technology Group’s line of education-focused apps, and we are thrilled to publish this product. I particularly like the name that they chose for their company, Risk Takers with Skill,” says Mr. Niles. “They do have excellent study skills that can help students, but they also took the entrepreneurial risk to create an iPhone app that has a distinct noteworthy purpose. Niles Technology Group is proud to be associated with Success Tips. We envision more innovative apps being added to the Success Tips series.”

The incorporation of mobile learning into today’s classroom is moving into high gear, and Niles Technology Group is dedicated to providing top-of-the-line educational apps that fit into students’ mobile lifestyles. Contact Michael Niles at the Niles Technology Group for more information.

Device Requirements:
* iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad
* Requires iOS 3.0 or later (iOS 4.0 Tested)
* 0.8 MB

Pricing and Availability:
Success Tips 1.0 is only $0.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Education category.

Success Tips 1.0
Purchase and Download
Screenshot
App Icon

Niles Technology Group was founded in 2007 to develop software for emerging technologies and is developing a series of mobile computing applications dedicated to teaching superior writing and logical thinking skills. With its experience in the technology and content required to develop full-featured products, Niles Technology Group is a leading iPhone app publisher, and the Achievers Writing Center and Essay Writing Wizard apps have sold successfully worldwide. The key to Niles Technology Group’s success is specificity. Each app is specific to the writing task at hand. Michael A. Niles, the founder, was formerly, for eight years, the President and CEO of The Right Education, Inc. (TRE), a web-based educational technology company that developed The Learning Accelerator. He looks forward to continuing to bring top-line education products to the mobile computing marketplace. Copyright (C) 2007-2011 Niles Technology Group. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.

Australia's expert on boardroom presentations shares tips on success

Julie Garland McLellan brushes readers up on their boardroom-speaking skills in "Presenting to Boards: Practical Skills for Corporate Presentations"

SYDNEY (MMD Newswire) March 22, 2011 -- Business executives know that making a presentation to a roomful of board members can result in success, but they also know that a number of factors can affect this ideal outcome. The boardroom is a place where patience and time are limited, and Julie Garland McLellan clues in presenters on what they should know when speaking before company directors in "Presenting to Boards: Practical Skills for Corporate Presentations" (ISBN 1451594062).

Garland McLellan aims to show business professionals of all backgrounds how to create corporate presentations that will not only inform, but impress the boardroom audience. While most guides explain how to survive speaking before a crowd, Garland McLellan aims to provide the means to help presenters not only meet, but exceed, directors' expectations. "Presenting to Boards" seeks to assist readers so they can excel at the highest level corporate presentation process, from speech creation to delivery.

According to the author, boards are different from any other corporate audience. Garland McLellan describes a board's key characteristics and its needs so presenters can modify their delivery accordingly, and explains that, once the audience's needs are met, the presentation is often remembered as successful.

Garland McLellan offers practical examples and standard templates to use during effective presentations, and outlines techniques and the use of technology as they relate to communication. Follow-up procedures are also provided, including the preparation of resolutions and minutes.

"Presenters from any background can successfully present to boards if they are well prepared. All of this material can be applied in non-profit, government or commercial boardrooms," says Garland McLellan. "Readers can use this information to tailor their presentations to succeed in any type of organization."

Executives understand that the boardroom is not an easy place to make a presentation. The stakes are high due to a judgmental audience, and a poor presentation can result in lost sales or stalled projects. Garland McLellan hopes that with the help of her boardroom expertise, readers can improve their confidence and focus during that next big presentation.

"Presenting to Boards: Practical Skills for Corporate Presentations" is available for sale online at Amazon.com and other channels.

About the Author:

Julie Garland McLellan is one of Australia's leading governance consultants. As a company director she has been on the receiving end of countless presentations, and as an executive has presented to some of Australia's largest and most important boards. The author has served on several boards, including Melbourne Water Corporation, Victorian Minerals and Energy Council, Melbourne University Engineering Foundation, Kimbriki Environmental Enterprises, Bounty Mining and Hassall & Associates.

ABOUT TOWN: Know the Candidates, Success for DECA and More..

Welcome to "About Town with Mark Snyder," a column that will keep you up to the minute with what's what, who's who and what's going on around town. If you see or hear something we could use here, let us know by sending an e-mail to pmpco@aol.com.

KNOW THE CANDIDATES: You should become an educated voter before filling out your ballot on April 5. A Candidate's Night was held last night at Town Hall, and most of it will be on cable television. I'm hoping that SMAC will provide the Stoughton Library with a copy or two to lend out to those without cable.

There are currently two copies of the Stoughton School Committee Debate (held last Wednesday) available for take out at the library. The Snyder's Stoughton School Committee debate will air this Thursday night at 8 p.m., and Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

The Candidate's Night, which featured debates for the five year Stoughton Redevelopment Authority seats (between Donna Ayers and Louis Gitto) and School Committee (between Dr. Erdem Ural, Jeffrey Benson, George Dolinsky and Deborah Sovinee), will air TODAY at noon, Wednesday at 8 p.m., Thursday at 10 p.m., Friday at 3 p.m., Saturday at 4 p.m, and Sunday at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Additional plays next week will be listed at www.stoughtontv.com.

The Candidate's Night event was Chaired by Cindy Pazyra of the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce, with assistance from Sharon Fradkin and Robin Zoll (who served as timekeeper) of the Sharon/Stoughton League of Women Voters. Refreshments were provided by Panera Bread.

Also speaking at the event (but possibly not making it onto TV because of a glitch in the SMAC taping) were uncontested candidates Moderator Howard Hansen, Selectmen John Anzivino and Steve Anastos, and Housing Authority Chairman Arthur Slate.

SMAC OPEN HOUSE: Stoughton Media Access Corporation (SMAC) may not have their act together yet (glitches and mistakes in the first three shows recorded by them), but they do have a shiny new state-of-the-art studio. YOU are welcome to take a tour, and enjoy refreshments at the OPEN HOUSE on Saturday, March 26 at 12:30 p.m.

They need additional programming. Perhaps, YOU can star in your own show! Put together an idea and a crew and take it from there. Meet the members of the SMAC Board of Directors, as well as Executive Director Steve Innis, Program Director Lawrence Hollie, and volunteers. I'll be there. Come on down and say "hello!"

PHOTOS OF STOUGHTON STUDENT SUCCESS at DECA! Check out photos from the Stoughton High DECA chapter's recent trip to the state competition in Boston (click "view gallery" in the media gallery above to see all the pictures).

The SHS team received the Spirit Award and a Gold Level Membership Award for their increase in membership. They also had the team of Seniors, Adam Kenney and Molly Zuk, take two 1st place medallions and one 2nd place medallion for their test and role plays, and came in 1st place overall. Kevin Linehan received a 1st place medallion and 4th place overall. Sophmore Brianna Berry received a 2nd place medallion.

There are also two new Massachusetts State Officers from SHS, Valerie Szeto and Nick Aliquo.

Click here for more info about the competition.

Check back later today for the Afternoon Edition of About Town with Mark Snyder.

Great, we'll send you an email as soon as a follow-up is published!

About this column:

Columnist Mark Snyder will bring you the latest news, events and neighborhood chatter throughout the day. Snyder is the founder of the popular website "Snyder's Stoughton" (snydersstoughton.com), and hosts a TV show on local access cable by the same name. To submit any news tips for this column, e-mail Snyder at pmpco@aol.com.

Other About Town with Mark Snyder Articles

Afternoon Edition: Chamber to Roast Town Manager

By Mark Snyder

Afternoon Edition: Banner Day for STOYAC Basketball Teams

By Mark Snyder

ABOUT TOWN: A Wonderful Garden Project

By Mark Snyder

ABOUT TOWN WEEKEND EDITION: Bruins Honor SHS Student

By Mark Snyder

Afternoon Edition: Municipal Health Insurance Costs an Issue

By Mark Snyder

See all About Town with Mark Snyder articles

Success Tips for Introverts

Do you dread the thought of talking to strangers? Hate going to industry parties? Have a fear of rejection? Let’s face it, you need to network in this economy in order to get (or keep) the perfect job; but sometimes it looks as though the social individuals (extraverts) are the only ones moving ahead.

According to Myers Briggs I am classified as an introvert, so I understand how you feel:

You want to speak up in meetings, but you’re afraid you’ll say the wrong thing
You dread the idea of someone rejecting your ideas, so you keep them to yourself
You panic when you have to introduce yourself to a group of new people
You would rather observe others, rather than be in the limelight
You feel your quiet demeanor is taken for weakness, or a lack of intellect

I can’t tell you how many times bosses and co workers would ask why I never attended the summer parties, and why I didn’t socialize with others (mind you their idea of socializing was frequent trips to a friend’s desk, and chatting up a storm before any work was done). It’s not that I didn’t like them, but I would rather work hard during the day so I could get home, and be at peace with myself. Over the years I’ve matured, and realized that socializing is going to be a normal part of my day-to-day job function, and learned how to deal with it.

Here are a few ideas for introverts to succeed in a business world filled with extraverts:

Don’t avoid social gatherings: instead try going to functions that are more intimate, rather than a large party. Introverts like dealing with people in small doses, so try small events first and once you feel comfortable, you can try attending larger events

Preparation: instead of feeling pressured to come up with something smart to say on the spot, try thinking about your ideas and how you will contribute before the meeting begins. As others are speaking, think about how you can build on the idea, and try not to focus on rejection. If you do not have enough time to process your thoughts during impromptu meetings, try writing down your ideas and following up with your contribution afterwards

Body Language: sometimes we give off the impression that we are distracted or uninterested when communicating with others, even if we’re not! Be mindful of your body language, eye interactions, and facial expression. You don’t need a big grin to look pleasant and attentive

Seek advice: Get to know yourself as an introvert – often career or personal success coaches offer personality assessments. Using the results, you and your coach can develop a plan of action, and coping tips for your work environment

Cyber Networking: Make use of social networking sites, like LinkedIn, to network with those in your

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Entry-Level Jobs 101: 4 Must-Know Tips

For most people, aiming for a higher position at once is the key to job search success. However, for some people who know that in order to succeed in the job market, they have to, literally, start from scratch. This means that people who want to grow positively in the working world; they have to learn the basics and fundamental principles of working, how it is to love the work most people do, and how to establish a good working relationship with his or her colleagues.

In order to enjoy all of these, one must submit himself or herself to an entry-level type of job. This refers to a job that requires minimal skills and expertise with no experience requirement needed.

Because of its nature, entry-level jobs are characterized by low salary, require physical work, and sometimes need field work.

Most often than not, people who are into entry-level jobs have very low hourly rates and may or may not entail insurance. This would mean that any hospital expenses caused by accidents that happened while the worker is at work may or may not be compensated by the employer, meaning there is no guarantee or whatsoever.

What’s more, most entry-level jobs are on a part-time basis. Examples of entry-level jobs are receptionist, apprenticeship, those who are working in a fast food restaurant, customer service, cashiers, etc.

Contrary to popular belief, entry-level jobs should not be ignored. What people do not realize is that entry-level jobs offer more than just low wages. These jobs are the foundation of all other positions available in the job market.

In most cases, people who start to work on higher positions right after they graduate from college are easily bored from their work. What is even worse, there is no room available for personal growth and career advancement.

AFL tips rotations to stay high

THE AFL expects interchange numbers will remain high this year, despite its radical decision to reduce the numbers on the bench to three.

But the AFL will not measure the success of its new rule - in which a substitute has replaced a fourth interchange player - by the numbers of rotations, but by four factors, including the speed of the game, congestion and injury rates.

The AFL's head of football operations Adrian Anderson yesterday said that there was no specific number that the league expected for interchanges, which have increased dramatically over the past few seasons, to a peak of about 160 last year. That increase prompted a change in the rules in a bid to slow the pace of the game and prevent injuries.

''I don't think there's any magic number and I suspect that interchange numbers themselves may stay high,'' said Anderson, the architect of the decision to reduce the bench from four to three plus a sub.

''But what's relevant from our point of view is that the rest that they're getting, so you can't physically get as much rest for the players and keep them going at the same pace with three rotating instead of four.

''I'm expecting that some teams will still have high interchange numbers. But what we would be measuring is not the numbers of the interchange but the effect of that overall on the speed of the players and the congestion of the game and also the injury rates … and the fairness factor.''

Clubs that have successfully used a high interchange system - notably premier Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs - were against the rule change, on the grounds that high interchanges led to fewer injuries (because of less fatigue).

The AFL, however, was concerned that the increased speed was making collisions more dangerous and also enabling more congestion. Anderson said there was a trend towards more congestion in 2010, leading to a less attractive spectacle.

Anderson outlined the four factors that it would measure the success of the interchange rule. They were speed of the game - and the AFL was hoping it would slow down - congestion, injury rates and the question of whether it was a ''fairer'' system in which clubs were not as disadvantaged if they lost a player mid-match.

''We'll measure congestion … We will look [at] injury rates, that have concerned us and we'll measure that. And fairness, which the RMIT study showed that teams were getting more and more disadvantaged when they got injuries because they couldn't rotate. We will measure that factor as well.

''We will look at all the things that measured in introducing a restriction on the interchange and then compare those at the end of the year as to where each of those factors has got to …''

Anderson said the AFL could not rule out a further change to the interchange rules if it was not satisfied its objectives had been met. ''I'm not going to rule anything in our out at this stage.

''That's something we'll need to get the data discussed with the laws committee, see whether it's heading in the direction we expected.''

Anderson anticipated hostility to the new rule. ''I am certain about that there will be the usual sort of cries that it's the end of the game .

Jake Niall

Rise and shine

In an exclusive interview, Brendon Goddard talks of the Saints' wake-up call, the bond between the players at the besieged club and the pain of missed opportunities.