Thursday, February 21, 2008

Taking A Break From Tooting Your Horn

For a person like me who really isn't into boasting and bragging hearing others tooting their horns "all the time" can be a little annoying. I know for a fact we all know someone who is guilty of being a "tooter addict." What I've learned is that when people have to convince you that their lives are so fabulous and wonderful chances are there is something missing. For those of us, who don't toot alot it just means that we are comfortable with who we are and what we have, and it doesn't matter if other people don't always notice, because we know for ourselves. Therefore, we don't have to waste our breath telling people all the time. We all like to brag here and there, but when you do it on a daily basis this can get on peoples nerve, and make them not want to be around you. Now, for those who brag alot, I know you're thinking if a person doesn't want to be around me, because I talk about what I got, that means their jealous. This is so untrue. This just means stop talking about yourself long enough to learn about others, and what great things they have going for themselves. Remember, it's okay "sometimes" to let others know...hey look at what I got, done, have, or will have. Just be aware that you're not doing it all the time and especially to the same people. By doing things this way you give others the opportunity to feel happy for you, and not annoyed because you're tooting a bragging horn in their ear constantly. One last thing, to all those "tooter addicts," next time you brag make sure it's worth boasting about.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Working Hard Can Burn You Out

Something we must all learn in life is to take a break. Even if it's just for a day or two. I consider myself to be a workaholic, and haven't been on a vacation in about three years. However, I do try to take a few days to relax even if it means in the comfort of my own home. When we work-work-work, and don't free our minds of the everyday hustle and bustle, things can begin to take a toll on us. Our attitudes towards others suddenly goes from nice to don't bother me. If we deal with customers on a regular basis we can begin to lose that good customer service we owe to the people who help pay our bills. Above all though, being burnt out can affect the relationships you have with your family, friends, and whoever else is significant in your life. I've been burnt out quite a few times, and the people who are closest to me usually feel the wraft of my tiredness. Luckily, they know how to keep me in check, and let me know in so many words when it's time to take a breather. Remember, theres nothing wrong with being a hardworker. I think finding a balance between work and relaxation is one of the keys to avoiding getting burnt out...as well making time for yourself not just others.

Interviews Can Be A Piece Of Cake

If you're like many of us you have gone on aleast one interview in your life, and if you haven't you will one day (unless you're super lucky). Interviewing can be stressful and cause many of us anxiety. The more interviews you go on, the easier it gets, but lets face it we all worry about them. From my own personal experiences with interviewing, I hate them, but I love them. It's like going on a blind date you don't know who you will meet, at the same time this could be a life changing moment for you. So just how can you get over the anxiety and stress of interviewing? Well for me, I notice that usually I'm more confident when I interview for a job of a field I'm experienced in or that relates to my degree. I've never worked in a doctors office as an assistant. Therefore, chances are you won't find me seeking an assistant position in a doctors office. This doesn't mean you can't take chances, and every position you seek to get you've gotta have experience within that field. However, all I'm saying is if I have no interest whatsoever in a certain position nor experience, I'm not going to bother trying to get it. When you interview for a job you want and are familiar with, it really makes you more motivated and confident. I try to go into every interview prepared and comfortable. This means wearing clothing that I feel relaxed in, but at the same time is suitable for the position I'm trying to get. When the person interviewing me questions me, I try to answer truthfully and to the best of my knowledge. Trust me you don't want to lie during an interview, I've done it before,and people can sense when you're lying. You stumble upon your words, you ask for the question to be repeated, and you take a long time answering. It doesn't look good. Usually, I try to ask the interviewer questions as well, like how do they like working for the company, what challenges do I have to look forward to facing if I get the position, etc. This takes the heat off of me, and makes the interviewer have to think, so they don't just sit, and grill me the whole time. Being down to earth is probably the best advice I could give. People know when you're being yourself. Think about how many people the human resources department or hiring manager interviews. They can tell when someone is being fake. If you're not being yourself, the answers you give them they will have heard a thousand times before. We are all unique in our own special way, and that's really what we have to bring to the table at interviews uniqueness. Don't be afraid to take charge of the interview, and sound like you already have the position. If you want a job go in there and take it, and don't let the person sitting in front of you, asking a thousand questions intimidate you. Remember, they had to go through the same process to get where they are sitting, and that tough attitude some of them possess is just a front to hide their insecurities. Interviewers know what it feels like, and just like you're nervous so are they. Look the person interviewing you in the eye at all times. This shows them you aren't scared or wasting their time and you mean business. To all who will interview....good luck, and don't forget nothing stands in the way of you getting a job you want but yourself.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

What Can Change Buy You

In regards to my earlier post "Save Your Change," I began to think about the things a little change can buy you (in an effort to convince those who think saving change is a waste of time). Well lets see...in applying this to my life, I thought about how just a month ago I was looking around for pricing on starting up my very own website. I came across places where for around $5.00 a month you can start up your very own website. Some places even offer you a 30 day free trial. So getting back to saving change, just by saving 17 cents a day for thirty days you'd have saved $5.10 which would cover the cost of the website. I also thought about gym memberships. Alot of us, would love to join one, but we don't have the money. Where I live a gym membership can run you roughly around $25-$30 bucks amonth. Now if you can scrape together 85 cents-$1.00 a day that would pay the cost of a gym membership ranging between $25 and $30 dollars after saving for 30 days. When I was little me and my sister would save our change to buy Christmas gifts for our parents. Saving change for the holidays is a great idea. By scraping up dimes, nickels, and pennies and saving $30.00 a month in change you can save well over $300.00 in a twelve month period, and use this money for gift shopping. If you live on a tight budget saving change can be a great way to make you feel like you're not completely broke. After you save up spare change treat your family to a movie or dinner. There really is an unlimited amount of possibilities as to what change can buy you.

Save That Change

One of the greatest tips I could ever give anyone is to save money. Now if you're like me you probably like to spend money just as fast as you get it. However, there will come a day and trust there will when you'll experience a rainy day. A year ago I started collecting spare change I found around my house, in my purse, car, clothes, wherever I could possibly think change might be. When I started off I only had a little box of change, but a year later the box was full. Throughout, that year of saving I found much use for the change I was saving. My nephew would come to visit me, and he would always ask me if he could have some money to buy treats at lunch or to purchase something at the bookstore. Now, while I could have reached into my purse or pockets to fork him over some cash, I instead would pull out the box of change. My nephew was fascinated over all the change (especially the quarters). I would let him reach in the box and grab some change, and he'd be so thrilled. The box of change came in handy when I wanted to grab a morning juice, before work, or buy a snack for lunch. So, I'm sure you're asking yourself right now how did you save change if you were using it at the same time. The key was that I didn't always go into the box of change, I only used it when I really needed to. Whenever, I spotted even a penny anywhere I'd grab it and throw it in the box. By saving change I would also help myself save money, because I'm not using new earned cash everytime I want to give my nephew money or buy a newspaper, snack, etc. Remember, you can always save up change and go to the bank and cash it in for money. When my sister got married she and her husband took a cruise. She had been saving her change, and right before they left she cashed in the saved change and used the money to take on their honeymoon. You really can do whatever you want with the change you save. I think the thing to remember is change is money. Don't get discouraged if you're not saving as quickly as you'd like the key is patience. The more your change begins to mutiply the easier saving it gets.
I've always had a thing for giving out tips to people from my own personal experiences. So please be patient with me as I embark on a "tipper tantrum."