What The Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast

BY Laura Vanderkam | 06-14-2012 | 8:00 AM

Mornings are a great time for getting things done. You’re less likely to be interrupted than you are later in the day. Your supply of willpower is fresh after a good night’s sleep. That makes it possible to turn personal priorities like exercise or strategic thinking into reality.
But if you’ve got big goals--and a chaotic a.m. schedule--how can you make over your mornings to make these goals happen?
Because I write about time management frequently, I’ve gotten to see hundreds of calendars and schedules over the years. From studying people’s morning habits, I’ve learned that getting the most out of this time is a five-part process. Follow these steps, though, and you’re on your way to building morning habits that stick.

1. Track Your Time


Part of spending your time better is knowing how you’re spending it now. If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, you know that nutritionists tell you to keep a food journal because it keeps you from eating mindlessly. It’s the same with time. Write down what you’re doing as often as you can. Use my spreadsheet, a Word document, or a pad and pen.
While measuring your mornings, try tracking your whole week. The reason? The solution to morning dilemmas often lies at other times of the day. You may be too tired because you’re staying up late. But if you look at how you’re spending your nights, you’ll notice that you’re not doing anything urgent. The Daily Show can be recorded and watched earlier--possibly while you’re on the treadmill at 6:30 a.m.
As for the mornings themselves, you can be organized but still not be spending them well. Question your assumptions. You may believe that “a man who wants to keep his job gets into the office before his boss” because that’s what your father did, but your boss may be disappointed that he doesn’t get the place to himself for an hour first! If you decide that something is a top priority, do it, but understand that we have to do few things in life.

2. Picture the Perfect Morning

After you know how you’re spending your time, ask yourself what a great morning would look like. For me, it would start with a run, followed by a hearty family breakfast. After getting people out the door, I’d focus on long-term projects like my books. Here are some other ideas for morning enrichment:

For personal growth:

• Read through a religious text: Sacred texts can teach us about human nature and history, even if they’re not from a religion you subscribe to. If they are, pray or meditate and get to know your beliefs in a deeper way.
• Train for something big: Aiming to complete a half-marathon, a triathlon, or a long bike ride will keep you inspired as you take your fitness to the next level.
• Do art projects with your kids:. Mornings don’t have to be a death march out the door. Enjoy your time with your little ones at a time of day when you all have more patience.

For professional growth:

• Strategize: In an age of constant connectivity, people complain of having no time to think. Use your mornings to picture what you want your career and organization to look like in the future.
• Read articles in professional journals: Benefit from other people’s research and strategic thinking, and gain new insights into your field.
• Take an online class: If a job or career change is in your future, a self-paced class can keep your skills sharp.

3. Think Through the Logistics


How could this vision mesh with the life you have? Don’t assume you have to add it on top of the hours you already spend getting ready or that you’ll have to get to work earlier. If you fill the morning hours with important activities you’ll crowd out things that are more time intensive than they need to be. Map out a morning schedule. What time would you have to get up and what time do you need to go to bed to get enough sleep? As for the mornings themselves, what would make your ritual easier? Do you need to set your easel next to your bed? Can you find a more cheerful alarm clock or one you can’t turn off so easily?
It’s easy to believe our own excuses, particularly if they’re good ones. Come up with a plan and assemble what you need, but whatever you do, don’t label this vision as impossible.

4. Build the Habit

This is the most important step. Turning a desire into a ritual requires willpower. Use these fives steps to optimize your routine:

• Start slowly: Go to bed and wake up fifteen minutes earlier for a few days until this new schedule seems doable.
• Monitor your energy: Building a new habit takes effort, so take care of yourself while you’re trying. Eat right, eat enough, and surround yourself with supportive people who want to see you succeed.
• Choose one new habit at a time to introduce: If you want to run, pray, and write in a journal, choose one of these and make it a habit before adding another.
• Chart your progress: Habits take weeks to establish, so keep track of how you’re doing for at least thirty days. Once skipping a session feels like you forgot something--like forgetting to brush your teeth--you can take your ritual up a notch.
• Feel free to use bribery: Eventually habits produce their own motivation, but until then, external motivations like promising yourself concert tickets can keep you moving forward. And keep in mind that your morning rituals shouldn’t be of the self-flagellation variety. Choose things you enjoy: your before-breakfast ritual has the potential to become your favorite part of the day.

5. Tune Up as Necessary


Life changes. Sometimes we have to regroup, but the goal is to replace any rituals that no longer work with new ones that make you feel like every day is full of possibility.
That is ultimately the amazing thing about mornings--they always feel like a new chance to do things right. A win scored then creates a cascade of success. The hopeful hours before most people eat breakfast are too precious to be blown on semiconscious activities. You can do a lot with those hours. Whenever I’m tempted to say I don’t have time for something, I remind myself that if I wanted to get up early, I could. These hours are available to all of us if we choose to use them.
So how would you like to use your mornings? This important question requires careful thinking. But once you decide, small rituals can accomplish great things. When you make over your mornings, you can make over your life. That is what the most successful people know.

Excerpted from What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast by Laura Vanderkam by arrangement with Portfolio Penguin, a member of Penguin Group (USA), Inc., Copyright © 2012 by Laura Vanderkam. Follow her on Twitter. 

The Problem With ANGER- extracted from Awake March 2012

A man who ordered a sandwich at a fast-food

restaurant became enraged when he thought
it took too long for his meal to come.
He entered the restaurant, threatened an
employee, shoved him up against a counter,
and slapped him. The angry man then
grabbed his sandwich and walked out
of the restaurant.

ALL of us get angry from time to time. After all, anger is as much a part of our emotional makeup as love, hope, anxiety, sadness, and fear. Anger that is controlled can
be expressed in a proper way and can serve a useful purpose. For example, anger can be productive if it boosts one’s determination to overcome certain obstacles or problems.

As illustrated by the account above, anger also has a dark side. Some people experience anger more quickly, more frequently, and more intensely than others. When  provoked, they may lash out with verbal or physical attacks. Their anger, in effect, controls them, when it should be the other way around. Such unrestrained anger is dangerous, which is why it is sometimes referred to as “problem anger.” *

Those with anger problems bring grief not only to themselves but also to everyone around them. For  someone with anger issues, even seemingly trivial matters can spark a violent outburst that brings tragic consequences. Consider the following examples: A man walking with a group of friends was shot in the neck after the sports bag of one of his friends brushed against another man on a busy street. A 19-year-old male beat his fiance´e’s 11-month-old baby to death. The man had been playing a violent video game and lost his temper when the baby touched the game’s control panel and thus caused the man to forfeit the game. Similar reports from around the world indicate that an increasing number of people have anger problems. Why is anger on the rise?
*The brochure Boiling Point—Problem Anger and What We
Can Do About It describes “problem anger” as “any dysfunctional
way of relating to and managing anger that persistently
causes significant difficulties in a person’s life including their
thinking, feeling, behaviour and relationships.”




What Are the Causes?

What Effects Can Your Outburst of Anger Have on Your Children?

THE causes of anger are complex. Even
scientists admit that anger is poorly understood.
However, there is general agreement
among mental-health professionals that
all of us react to certain “anger triggers.”


Among others, it may be caused by, Parental Example, Cramped Cities, Economic Despairs, Prejudice and Injustice, Entertainment Industry and the Influence of the Wicked Spirits.



Parental Example
One’s parents have a profound influence
on personality development throughout
childhood and adolescence. Psychologist
Harry L. Mills explains: “From a very early
age, people learn to express anger by copying
the angry behavior they see modeled around
them.”
If a child is raised in a hostile environment —a place where tempers flare over trivial matters—the child is, in effect, being trained to respond to life’s problems with anger. You
could liken the child’s situation to a plant that has been nourished with tainted water. The
plant may grow, but its development could be stunted, and it could perhaps suffer permanent
damage. Likewise, anger is like tainted water, and children who have been exposed to it are more inclined to have anger problems as adults

Click link to see the rest of the article and related solutions.  https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=9541ca93280d76df#cid=9541CA93280D76DF&id=9541CA93280D76DF%21182

Awake! magazine is a monthly magazine distributed by Jehovah's Witnesses at no charge to you. All their work is supported by voluntary contributions from people from all walks of life. You can obtain your free copy of this magazine and other from any of them in your neighborhood, or you can visit their website, at www.watchtower.org/ 

7 THINGS HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE PEOPLE DO

You probably don’t want to admit it but we love distractions. In fact, just like monkeys, we get a shot of dopamine every time something pulls us in another direction. Why do you think you check your email so much?

Want to be more productive and get your focus back? There are no secret tricks here… do one thing at a time. Stop multitasking—it’s just another form of distraction.

Easier said than done, I know.

Here are some tips for staying productive:

1. Work backwards from goals to milestones to tasks. Writing “launch company website” at the top of your to-do list is a sure way to make sure you never get it done. Break down the work into smaller and smaller chunks until you have specific tasks that can be accomplished in a few hours or less: Sketch a wireframe, outline an introduction for the homepage video, etc. That’s how you set goals and actually succeed in crossing them off your list.

2. Stop multi-tasking. No, seriously—stop. Switching from task to task quickly does not work. In fact, changing tasks more than 10 times in a day makes you dumber than being stoned. When you’re stoned, your IQ drops by five points. When you multitask, it drops by an average of 10 points, 15 for men, five for women (yes, men are three times as bad at multitasking than women).

3. Be militant about eliminating distractions. Lock your door, put a sign up, turn off your phone, texts, email, and instant messaging. In fact, if you know you may sneak a peek at your email, set it to offline mode, or even turn off your Internet connection. Go to a quiet area and focus on completing one task.

4. Schedule your email. Pick two or three times during the day when you’re going to use your email. Checking your email constantly throughout the day creates a ton of noise and kills your productivity.

5. Use the phone. Email isn’t meant for conversations. Don’t reply more than twice to an email. Pick up the phone instead.

6. Work on your own agenda. Don’t let something else set your day. Most people go right to their emails and start freaking out. You will end up at inbox-zero, but accomplish nothing. After you wake up, drink water so you rehydrate, eat a good breakfast to replenish your glucose, then set prioritized goals for the rest of your day.

7. Work in 60 to 90 minute intervals. Your brain uses up more glucose than any other bodily activity. Typically you will have spent most of it after 60-90 minutes. (That’s why you feel so burned out after super long meetings.) So take a break: Get up, go for a walk, have a snack, do something completely different to recharge. And yes, that means you need an extra hour for breaks, not including lunch, so if you’re required to get eight hours of work done each day, plan to be there for 9.5-10 hours.

Small Business Owners, Not having a Website Can spell Doom to your Business

More than one-third of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are in danger of making themselves irrelevant to their customers. With an ever-increasing number of people searching online for products and services, the 37% of SMEs in South Africa with no Web presence are losing out on a major channel of communication.
This is perhaps the most important statistic to come out of the annual SME Survey, a unique study which assesses the competitiveness of this sector of the economy. According to Arthur Goldstuck, principal researcher of the survey, other results from the survey have shown conclusively how having a Web site correlates with increased profitability.

 

Example of a website, www.inqabaqhooa.co.za

Goldstuck indicates that some 79% of SMEs with a Web site report profitability, with 30% of these claiming to be strongly profitable. This is a massive difference compared to those without a Web site, where only 59% report profitability and just 14% of these claim to be strongly profitable.

“The popular argument made by these businesses is that there are not enough people online to justify a Web presence. However, they fail to take into account the enormous uptake in smart phones. With more smartphones expected to be sold next year than any other type of phone, it could be fatal for an SME to adopt this viewpoint,” he says.
“Thanks to smartphones, South Africa is witnessing the greatest acceleration of Internet use the country has ever experienced. This translates directly into more people going online to find services. I have no doubt that we are reaching the point where an SME’s website will become the glue that holds together all of its other marketing efforts and activities.”
He points out that when studying individual vertical markets, the great irony highlighted by the survey is the financial services sector – supposedly one of the most high-end areas of business – has one of the lowest percentages of Web site use.
“Less than half (41%) of all auditors, accountants and insurance brokers can be found online. This is particularly troubling given that the major banks all have a significant presence online and a vast array of Internet-based tools available for their customers. More and more people who are familiar with the banks’ Web site will, when looking for an auditor or accountant, expect to find them online.”
Goldstuck suggests that many of these professionals are not yet online because 78% currently maintain a fairly high level of profitability. Therefore, they don’t feel the need to stay with the times. However, he believes that as the Internet becomes the single most important means of searching for a service provider, these SMEs will find themselves increasingly disadvantaged.
“In fact, the only sector with a lower percentage (36%) of Web site is that of education. I think this is because many of these training institutions and specialist schools and colleges are targeting the mass market. Their failure to develop a Web site is an extreme example of the perception that not enough people in SA use the Web. These institutions clearly need to get online, and fast, as only 19% of respondents to the survey claimed to be profitable.”
As far as those SMEs with the highest percentage of Web sites, Goldstuck adds that he is not surprised to find that in the IT and telecoms sector a massive 89% of companies are online. “These are companies that are fully aware of the importance of a Web site. After all, this is the space in which they do business, so one would expect them to comprehend the value of being online.”
He points out that the tourism sector is also well developed from this perspective, with some 77% of tourism SMEs having Web sites. This, he says, is an industry that recognises that their customer base is likely to search for them online. They also understand how important it is to utilise every available channel to attract customers.
“One finding from previous surveys that has been borne out by the latest results is that the larger an organisation, or the longer it has been around for, the more likely it is to have a Web site. Thus a newly formed SME that immediately creates an online presence can give potential customers the impression that it has been established for much longer, or that it is a much bigger business.”
“Regardless of the vertical market you play in, or the size of your business, the survey clearly shows that the growing ubiquity of connectivity means that a website is fast becoming a must-have. After all, when your customers come looking for you, you’d better be there,” Goldstuck adds.

There's many Service Providers that can assist with such services, e.g. Galactic Hosting www.galactichosting.biz and many others. Do not put your business success at the backburner. Act today!

2012 Budget Speech

   ‘Less red tape for micro businesses’                                                                                               Entire speech on SABC News

Micro businesses and small businesses have received welcome regulatory and tax-free threshold breaks from Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's latest Budget.

Micro businesses (those with annual turnover below one million rand) will from March 1 have the option of making payments for turnover tax, VAT and employees' tax at twice-yearly intervals.

The Budget Review document said it was further envisaged that a single combined return will be filed on a twice-yearly basis from March 1, 2013. The number of returns required for these taxes will fall from about 18 per year to only two a year in 2013.

However, the National Treasury sensibly warned qualifying taxpayers that the build-up of tax liability will require taxpayers ?to ensure that funds are available when payment is due?.

To encourage small incorporated businesses, the Budget Review document said the tax-free threshold of such firms would increase to R63,556 from R59,750. It also said taxable income of up to R350,000 would be taxed at 7%, up from the current threshold of R300,000 at 10%.

For taxable income above R350,000, the normal corporate tax rate of 28% applies.

Do We Have a Real Social Life?

Do We Have a Real Social Life?- By Uriel Nangu

How do we spend our weekends? How much quality times do we spend with our families? What activities do we engage in over weekends? Do you know what's interesting in your surrounding neighborhood? If SAB were to close supply just for one weekend, how would you weekend be like?Have you heard this one before? They say a Black man's weekend is made of triple Ms, Mafu, Manyalo, Matlapa. How can we change from this mindset?

You can change this, yes, we can change this. Many people say the village is boring, they say there isn't much activity in the village, but, is that true? What can we do to utilize the school sports facilities in the area? Do they have basketball, tennis and other courts? What's happening there over the weekends? Why not join the teams that are using those facilities to keep yourself active? Why not offer to coach the youth over weekends, or if such facilities are not there, help the schools to approach institutions like Sun City, Dept of Sports, Arts n Culture to sponsor such facilities/activities, for the benefit of our youth in the village?

Have you ever thought of setting up hiking trails at those neaby mountains? Before you say, it's too hot to do that, what prevents you from starting as early as 5:00 am? Why not form a team, explore what short, medium or longer routes you can take and as you go about it, make it a regular activity. Invite others to join the hiking club? Map your trails, so that whoever wants to join can choose distances they are comfortable with. All that you need for that is proper clothing, caps to protect yourself from the sun, and lots of water. You can have some snacks if you want, anything to make your hiking trip interesting.

Mountain Biking? Have you ever thought of setting up a biking club, or join the existing one in Sun City? You may have to invest in your bike, but in a long run, it will be a worthwhile investement. There's a guy in Soweto, Lebo's Backpackers, who is making money by taking tourist on a biking trips in and around Soweto! What prevents you from doing the same? Advertise such services at Bakubung Lodge, have pamphlets distributed to tourists as they leave the National Park, some don't know what to do next, and beleive you me, some would love to mix and talk to locals, this can be a perfect activity for that, while you're making money out of it. Ride with them, take them to a local shebeens, show them around for an hour or so, they will tell others about their experience, and your business venture can grow from there.

Do you have a skill you can pass on to others, like creating jewellery, art, Mosaics, working with ceramics, etc.? Why don't you get a spot at any of the public places, a school, tribal office, church and train others to make such? Don't make money your goal, but use the time as a skill development exercise to help others help themselves. Who knows, the next Arthur Kaplan may just be from Ledig through your training.

In conclusion, do we still say the weekend is boring at the village? Of all the activies mentioned above, no binging was mentioned. We can spend a weekend without getting drunk. Yes, our social life cannot continue for a long time as 3Ms, Mafu, Manyalo, Matlapa! Bua Kubu!

Secrets of Self-Made Millionaires-by Grant Cardone

First, understand that you no longer want to be just a millionaire. You want to become a multimillionaire.

While you may think a million dollars will give you financial security, it will not. Given the volatility in economies, governments and financial markets around the world, it's no longer safe to assume a million dollars will provide you and your family with true security. In fact, a Fidelity Investments' study of millionaires last year found that 42 percent of them don't feel wealthy and they would need $7.5 million of investable assets to start feeling rich.

This isn't a how-to on the accumulation of wealth from a lifetime of saving and pinching pennies. This is about generating multimillion-dollar wealth and enjoying it during the creation process. To get started, consider these seven secrets of multimillionaires.

1: Decide to Be a Multimillionaire -- You first have to decide you want to be a self-made millionaire. I went from nothing—no money, just ideas and a lot of hard work—to create a net worth that probably cannot be destroyed in my lifetime. The first step was making a decision and setting a target. Every day for years, I wrote down this statement: "I am worth over $100,000,000!"

2: Get Rid of Poverty Thinking - There's no shortage of money on planet Earth, only a shortage of people who think correctly about it. To become a millionaire from scratch, you must end the poverty thinking. I know because I had to. I was raised by a single mother who did everything possible to put three boys through school and make ends meets. Many of the lessons she taught me encouraged a sense of scarcity and fear: "Eat all your food; there are people starving," "Don't waste anything," "Money doesn't grow on trees." Real wealth and abundance aren't created from such thinking. 

3: Treat it Like a Duty - Self-made multimillionaires are motivated not just by money, but by a need for the marketplace to validate their contributions. While I have always wanted wealth, I was driven more by my need to contribute consistent with my potential. Multimillionaires don't lower their targets when things get tough. Rather, they raise expectations for themselves because they see the difference they can make with their families, company, community and charities. 

4: Surround Yourself with Multimillionaires - I have been studying wealthy people since I was 10 years old. I read their stories and see what they went through. These are my mentors and teachers who inspire me. You can't learn how to make money from someone who doesn't have much. Who says, "Money won't make you happy"? People without money. Who says, "All rich people are greedy"? People who aren't rich. Wealthy people don't talk like that. You need to know what people are doing to create wealth and follow their example: What do they read? How do they invest? What drives them? How do they stay motivated and excited? 

5: Work Like a Millionaire - Rich people treat time differently. They buy it, while poor people sell it. The wealthy know time is more valuable than money itself, so they hire people for things they're not good at or aren't a productive use of their time, such as household chores. But don't kid yourself that those who hit it big don't work hard. Financially successful people are consumed by their hunt for success and work to the point that they feel they are winning and not just working. 

6: Shift Focus from Spending to Investing - The rich don't spend money; they invest. They know the U.S. tax laws favor investing over spending. You buy a house and can't write it off. The rich, in contrast, buy an apartment building that produces cash flow, appreciates and offers write-offs year after year. You buy cars for comfort and style. The rich buy cars for their company that are deductible because they are used to produce revenue.

7: Create Multiple Flows of Income - The really rich never depend on one flow of income but instead create a number of revenue streams. My first business had been generating a seven-figure income for years when I started investing cash in multifamily real estate. Once my real estate and my consulting business were churning, I went into a third business developing software to help retailers improve the customer experience.
Lastly, you may be surprised to learn that wealthy people wish you were wealthy, too. It's a mystery to them why others don't get rich. They know they aren't special and that wealth is available to anyone who wants to focus and persist. Rich people want others to be rich for two reasons: first, so you can buy their products and services, and second, because they want to hang out with other rich people. 

Extracted from Entrepreneur.com

10 Health Items You Should Include In Your Shopping trolley!

Youghurt

1.Yoghurt

The best way to eat dairy and lose weight? Research points to yoghurt as more potentially more powerful than milk. Numerous studies have linked the consumption of yoghurt to better digestive health as well as an overall lower percent of body fat. “But make sure to check the labels” says D'Adamo. “Certain yogurts can contain a lot of sugar. So your best bet may be to buy Greek yogurt.”

2.Tomatoes

Loaded with antioxidants, low in calories, and packed with anti-cancer benefits — tomatoes can be considered a triple threat when it comes to fruits. They’re also high in lycopene, which may promote cardiovascular health and helps prevent skin from sun damage, says D'Adamo. And the benfits don’t stop there. Research published in the journal of Cancer Epidermal Biomarkers Prevention shows that regular consumption of this power fruit can help lower the risk of prostate cancer in men.

3. Spinach

“Whether it’s spinach, kale, or romaine lettuce, leafy greens are some of the most nutrient dense foods on earth,” says Chris D'Adamo, Ph.D., a nutritional epidemiologist at the University of Maryland school of medicine. So toss it in your salad or serve it as a steamed side, as an excellent (low-calorie) way to get your daily dose of vitamin K. Still need convincing to eat your greens? According to research published in the International Journal of Cancer, consuming spinach protects against the occurrence of aggressive prostate cancer.

4.Salmon

This fish is top of the class in terms of health benefits. Salmon is a great go-to source for lean protein and packs a hearty dose of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. In fact, research published The Journal of the American Medical Association found that consumption lowers the risk of death from heart disease. “But if you can, try and purchase wild-caught salmon,” says D'Adamo. “Farm-raised salmon often has food coloring added to make it pink and is loaded with antibiotics.”

5.Onions

Onions, just like garlic, are both rich in sulfur-containing compounds — so they may not be good for your breath, but they’re good for your body. Multiple studies have shown that eating onion can have cardiovascular benefits (mainly protection against heart attacks) when being consumed in a diet packed with other vegetables.

6. Eggs

Consider this near the top of the list for ultimate super foods. After all, what else can brag about being low in price, high in protein and available year round. Studies have linked the consumption of eggs with increased brain health, decreased inflammation, as well as improved cardiovascular heath. In fact, research from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition links the consumption of eggs to improvement in cholesterol levels, which also helps your cardiovascular health.

7. Garlic

Although you may not snack on garlic cloves the way you snack on almonds, this herb is a must-have on your shopping list. This hearth-healthy herb not only reduces your body’s cholesterol and triglycerides, it protects blood cells and blood vessels from inflammatory and oxidative stress. As an added bonus, research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that compounds in garlic may prevent cellular changes that may lead to cancerous tumor development and inhibit tumor growth.

8. Chicken Breast

Boneless, skinless chicken breast is a timeless classic. Not only is it an excellent source of lean protein, but it’s a terrific source of coenzyme Q10, which essential for skin cell turnover. Its protein is composed of 18 amino acids and contains no carbohydrates, making it the perfect muscle food.

9.Butternut Squash

This winter squash is low in calories and high in vitamin C. But more importantly, it’s loaded with beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin. That might be a mouthful, but according to research published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, those who consume foods rich in beta-cryptoxanthin have a lower risk of developing lung cancer.

10. Asparagus

Not only is this vegetable packed with anti-inflammatory nutrients, it contains high levels of folic acid — which can assist in the regulation of your moods by releasing a neurotransmitter called "serotonin" into your system. But if the feel good powers of asparagus aren’t enough to sway you, maybe its anti-cancer benefits will. Research published in the international journal Cancer Letters suggests that the consumption of asparagus may halt the formation of cancerous tumors.

Hope you'll enjoy eating your way to health!

Job Hunting Tips-By Editor

WHO obtains the best job? Is it always the most qualified applicant? “No,” says Brian, an employment consultant. “The job often goes to the most effective job seeker.” What can you do to become a more effective job seeker? Let us consider five suggestions.1. Be Organised. If you've been out of job for some times, or has been unemployed for a long time, it's easy to be downhearted. What can you do?

How can you counteract feelings of hopelessness? “It is crucial that you establish your own ‘workday’ schedule so that you start your day knowing what is to be done,” suggests the book Get a Job in 30 Days or Less. The authors recommend that you “set daily goals and record what you have done.” In addition, they say that “each day must start with your getting dressed for work.” Why? “Being dressed properly will give you added confidence even when talking on the telephone.” You must make your job to find a job, no matter how long it takes


2. Be Flexible. To increase your chances of finding work, you must be flexible. Jaime, a former job-seeker, once observes: “It is unlikely that you will find a job that has everything you hope for. You need to learn to be content with employment that is less than ideal.” Being flexible may mean overcoming prejudice against certain types of work. Consider Ericka, who lives in Mexico. Trained as an executive secretary, she was initially unable to find the kind of work she preferred. “I learned to accept any suitable work,” she says. “For a while I worked as a sales assistant. I also sold tacos on the street and cleaned houses. Eventually, I was able to find a job in my field of expertise.”

3. Access the Hidden Job Market. The fisherman with the largest net is the one most likely to catch fish. So, too, your knowing how to increase the size of your “net” will improve your chances of landing a job. If you are looking for work only by responding to newspaper or Internet advertisements, the majority of available jobs may be slipping past your net. A good number of jobs are never advertised. How can you gain access to this hidden job market?

In addition to responding to advertisements, you must set aside time each week to call on businesses that you think may have jobs you can do. Do not wait for them to advertise positions. If a manager says that he has no work, ask him if he knows where else you might look and specifically to whom you should speak. If he offers a suggestion, make an appointment with that company, stating the name of the person who referred you.

4. Produce an effective Resume. No matter what job you seek, a well-prepared résumé can be a great asset. “A résumé tells potential employers not only who you are but also what you have accomplished and why they need you,” says Nigel, an employment consultant.

How do you compile a résumé? Provide your full name, address, phone number, and e-mail address. State your objective. List the education you have received, highlighting any training and skills that relate to the job you are seeking. Provide details of previous work experience. Include not only what you did but also examples of the goals you reached and the benefits you brought to your previous employers. Also highlight aspects of your previous employment that qualify you for the job you are currently seeking. Include personal information that describes your qualities, interests, and hobbies. Because companies’ needs differ, you may have to adjust your résumé for each application.

Here under is a sample CV you can use.

Sample Résumé for Those
Without Work Experience

Your Name:

Your Address:

Your Telephone Number and E-Mail Address:

Objective: Seeking entry-level position in manufacturing.

Education: Graduated from Hometown High School, 2004.

Courses: Language skills, mathematics, computers, woodworking class.

Skills and Abilities: Work well with my hands. Regularly service the family car. Made wooden chairs and a table in my home workshop. Enjoy using my math skills while making furniture. Installed roofing material on a volunteer building project. Can use most types of computers and enjoy learning new programs.

Personal Information: Reliable—missed only two days of school in senior year. Honest—returned a lost wallet that contained money. Friendly—regularly engage in volunteer work in the community and enjoy assisting the elderly. Athletics—love playing basketball. Hobbies—enjoy repairing automobiles and woodworking.

References: Available on request.*

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*  Reference contacts could include a schoolteacher who knows you well or a family friend who runs a business. By making these names available on request, you can get an early indication that a prospective employer may be interested in hiring you. Be sure to obtain the permission of those you list as references.

5. Prepare well for interviews. What is involved in preparing for an interview? You may want to research the company you hope to work for. The more you know about the company, the better the impression you will make during the interview. Your research will also help you determine whether the company really has the kind of work you want or is one you want to work for.

Next, think about what you will wear to the interview. If the job you seek involves manual labor, wear appropriate neat, clean clothing. Neat dress and grooming tell the prospective employer that you take pride in yourself and are thus more likely to take pride in your work. If you are hoping to work in an office, choose modest clothing that is considered suitable business attire where you live. Nigel says: “Choose your clothes long before you are due to attend your interview so that you don’t feel rushed and unnecessarily increase your levels of stress prior to the interview.” Nigel also recommends arriving for your interview about 15 minutes early. Of course, arriving too early is not wise. But arriving late could be disastrous. Experts say that the first three seconds of your interview are crucial. During that brief time, the interviewer makes assessments about your appearance and your bearing that deeply influence his or her opinion of you. If you are late, you will make an overwhelmingly negative impression. Remember, there are no second chances to rectify first impressions.

To start off well, smile and give the interviewer a firm handshake if that is the customary greeting. During the interview, concentrate on what the employer needs from you and what you have to offer. Regarding things to avoid, Nigel says: “Don’t fidget or slouch—good posture conveys confidence. Don’t be too informal or overly talkative, and definitely do not use profanity. Also, avoid being negative about your former employers and workmates—if you are negative about them, the interviewer will likely feel you will be negative about this job too.”

Regarding things to do and say during the interview, experts recommend the following: Maintain eye contact with the interviewer, use natural gestures when you speak, and articulate clearly. Be concise and honest when answering questions, and ask relevant questions about the company and the prospective job. At the end of the interview, if you still want the job, ask for it. Doing so will show your enthusiasm.

I hope you will find these suggestions very useful.

Happy Job Hunting