Author: color_sparklers@yahoo.co.in (You can contact him for any other information)
As you read the passage, there may be some lines which you may not understand when you read just once. It is because you don’t have experience in reading articles on various issues that you could not understand the sentence in your first read. Don’t panic. Do not keep worrying if that line is important to understand the rest of the passage or if a question might be there on that line. You must stick to some rules and you must follow them. You cannot be in a dilemma when in an exam. Continue to the next line, finish reading the passage. While reading the passage, the essence of the passage must keep building up in your mind. You should not be like, “ok, I’ve finished reading the passage. Now, lemme think what is the passage all about”
Prepare a set of rules for yourself for every section of every exam and follow them during the exam. During an exam, your target is to “solve as many questions as possible correctly and immediately mark the answer for every question you have solved”. So, your brain must be working to achieve that target and should not think of anything else. If you waste time by thinking whether or not to “read a sentence again”, “redo a problem”, “verify an answer”, it means that you are not taking your mind to the next problem confidently and convincingly because of which you will not be able to answer the next question with full concentration or full potential. So, mental preparation for and exam and application of strategies during the exam are very important if you want to perform the best you can in an exam.
So, as far as the reading comprehension section goes, choose the passage that you can best answer first by looking at the questions, the length of the passage and by glancing at few of the lines of the passage to know what the topic of the passage is.
Most importantly, while reading, focus on how much you are understanding, how much is being taken by the mind constantly as you move your eyes through the words and lines rather than focusing on the speed.
What actually happens with most people who grapple with RCs is - they are tensed because of that basic fact that they do not have any experience in reading articles or books of any kind. But they do not realize the fact that if this tension prevails in their minds and hearts during the exam, they cannot even answer the questions which they can. So, I once again stress that you can ward off your stress and tension during an exam by preparing and following a strategy for every section of any exam. The strategy must be prepared according to the knowledge you have, the time you have for that section, the skills you have, the confidence you have.
Now, coming to the practical point of view, I’ll tell you two accounts where people fail to read an RC effectively. First account – A person because of the tension he has and with an intention to perform better in RC than he can, starts of well reading the first few lines or may be the first para well. But there is tension in him. With tension, a person cannot perform better in the long run. Since he has read few lines or a para & understood it well, he will tell his mind & heart – “yes, I’ve got some essence, now cool down” while simultaneously reading the other lines of the passage superficially without getting their meaning. Now, as he comes to the 4 th paragraph, he realizes that he has not understood the 2 nd and 3 rd paras well. Now again the tension creeps in and the same story.
Second account – For a person who has an anathema towards RCs, when the time comes he has to face an RC in an exam, he first thinks if there is anything else left to be answered – a time waster. Then he thinks, “abbaaa…, should I grapple with these RCs now?” He looks at the time and begrudgingly starts reading the passage. But he himself does not know that he has started reading the passage because while reading the passage, there are so many other things going in his mind. Since he started reading the passage begrudgingly, he reads the first two paragraphs superficially only. What actually goes in his mind is “ayyo, what is this topic? This is totally abstract. How many questions are given?” He looks at the number of questions again. Then thinks, “I think time is running out”. He looks at others. Then thinks, “should I leave this passage go for another passage? I haven’t practiced RC at all. How will I do now?” He has actually read two paragraphs by the time he thinks all these things and has not understood anything because he did not make any attempt to understand. He ofcourse realizes that thing after reading two paragraphs, and then suddenly starts reading the next couple of lines with a speed that no one else could read with.
Many of you, I know, might have experienced both the accounts that I’ve stated here. When you can figure out the problem, when you know the cause for the problem, can’t you figure out the solution for that?
So, I repeat "focus on how much you are understanding, how much is being taken by the mind constantly as you move your eyes through the words and lines rather than focusing on the speed". Its not enough if you just understand some lines somewhere in the passage. You must concentrate to understand everything you read. Do not lose you concentration and do not be tensed.
Now, the problems, the causes, and even the solution is there in this page. If you still are not able to know what the solution and what the strategy must be in dealing with RCs, then go on to next page.
Friday, September 30, 2005
Thursday, September 29, 2005
The trick to mastering Word Power
If you want to ace GRE/ GMAT, mastering Word Power is half the battle won.
But merely cramming 4,000 words at the rate of 50 words a day is not the answer. There are chances you will forget what you have learnt.
Instead, here is a simple technique to help you strengthen your vocabulary; this technique involves your mind and not just your memory.
i. Experiment with synonyms
After you see the meaning of a word, look up its usage in the sentence that is usually present in the dictionary. Note down this sentence. Prepare a new sentence after understanding the meaning of the word.
Try to create sentences with the new words you are learning every day. You should write at least five different sentences with every new word over a period of time.
When you do this, your mind is forced to find the suitable usage of the word. This mental exercise ensures the meaning of the word is ingrained in your memory.
ii. Prepare sentences with antonyms
It does not end here; you need to make sure the meaning of the word is permanently stored in your mind. In order to do so, you will need the help of a thesaurus. Use it to find out the antonym (opposite) of the word.
After you find out the antonym, use it in a sentence in the same way you did with original word. If possible, create at least five different sentences with a word over a period of time.
iii. Compare synonyms and antonyms
Use both the synonym (a word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word) and the antonym to construct sentences using the same context or situation. This procedure enables you to see a word from both sides.
If you can follow this strategy, it would definitely solve your problem of learning new words without forgetting their meaning.
iv. Let's take an example
Take the word punctilious. Its synonyms are: careful, conscientious, exact, finicky, formal, fussy, meticulous, particular, proper and strict.
Make sentences with some of them as given below.
a) We really appreciated our punctilious host's warm welcome.
b) Our hosts were very careful to offer us a very warm welcome.
c) The hosts were meticulous in ensuring their guests' comfort.
Now, take the antonyms of punctilious. They are easygoing, informal and lax. Let's make sentences with these:
a) The hosts' easygoing attitude left the guests with a cold feeling.
b) The hosts were very informal in receiving their guests.
c) The hosts' lax attitude made the guests feel uncomfortable.
v. Important: Use the same context
You should always use the same background to write sentences using a new word, its synonyms and antonyms. If you use different circumstances, events or situations to get acquainted with the meaning and the usage of a word, there is a strong possibility that you may get confused.
It is the context that will always remind you of how the word is used, and will ensure you don't forget the meaning easily.
vi. Patience and will power
Even if you have to learn only 700 new words, the exercise is time-consuming and requires effort on your part.
Interestingly, if you ask novelists, writers, journalists and even professors of English the meanings of such words, they might fumble; they may even have heard of these words for the first time. So you need not feel terrified or disheartened about the mammoth task ahead of you.
Again, it would be nothing short of being naive on your part to think you can master Word Power like magic. However, patience and a strong will power will see you through
But merely cramming 4,000 words at the rate of 50 words a day is not the answer. There are chances you will forget what you have learnt.
Instead, here is a simple technique to help you strengthen your vocabulary; this technique involves your mind and not just your memory.
i. Experiment with synonyms
After you see the meaning of a word, look up its usage in the sentence that is usually present in the dictionary. Note down this sentence. Prepare a new sentence after understanding the meaning of the word.
Try to create sentences with the new words you are learning every day. You should write at least five different sentences with every new word over a period of time.
When you do this, your mind is forced to find the suitable usage of the word. This mental exercise ensures the meaning of the word is ingrained in your memory.
ii. Prepare sentences with antonyms
It does not end here; you need to make sure the meaning of the word is permanently stored in your mind. In order to do so, you will need the help of a thesaurus. Use it to find out the antonym (opposite) of the word.
After you find out the antonym, use it in a sentence in the same way you did with original word. If possible, create at least five different sentences with a word over a period of time.
iii. Compare synonyms and antonyms
Use both the synonym (a word having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word) and the antonym to construct sentences using the same context or situation. This procedure enables you to see a word from both sides.
If you can follow this strategy, it would definitely solve your problem of learning new words without forgetting their meaning.
iv. Let's take an example
Take the word punctilious. Its synonyms are: careful, conscientious, exact, finicky, formal, fussy, meticulous, particular, proper and strict.
Make sentences with some of them as given below.
a) We really appreciated our punctilious host's warm welcome.
b) Our hosts were very careful to offer us a very warm welcome.
c) The hosts were meticulous in ensuring their guests' comfort.
Now, take the antonyms of punctilious. They are easygoing, informal and lax. Let's make sentences with these:
a) The hosts' easygoing attitude left the guests with a cold feeling.
b) The hosts were very informal in receiving their guests.
c) The hosts' lax attitude made the guests feel uncomfortable.
v. Important: Use the same context
You should always use the same background to write sentences using a new word, its synonyms and antonyms. If you use different circumstances, events or situations to get acquainted with the meaning and the usage of a word, there is a strong possibility that you may get confused.
It is the context that will always remind you of how the word is used, and will ensure you don't forget the meaning easily.
vi. Patience and will power
Even if you have to learn only 700 new words, the exercise is time-consuming and requires effort on your part.
Interestingly, if you ask novelists, writers, journalists and even professors of English the meanings of such words, they might fumble; they may even have heard of these words for the first time. So you need not feel terrified or disheartened about the mammoth task ahead of you.
Again, it would be nothing short of being naive on your part to think you can master Word Power like magic. However, patience and a strong will power will see you through
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
6 'soft' skills you need for success
6 'soft' skills you need for success
Reputed Software Company in India is all geared up for a client
visit.
The clients have indicated that, after inspecting the progress of the
project they have outsourced, they would like to meet the team
members working on it.
Why? To select one team member for a stint onsite -- something almost
every software engineer aspires for.
Ravi has been one of the most active members in the project and has
done a wonderful job. He is technically brilliant, but has some
concerns:
Will he able to communicate his performance to the client in an
impressive manner so that he is chosen?
Why do his team mates not prefer to come to him for solutions and go
to less capable people instead?
His project manager doesn't seem to be very warm towards him either,
although he does drop in those occasional mails appreciating his
work.
Here is a typical scenario in an IT company; or for that matter, any
organisation where interpersonal communication is involved. Or, like
in Ravi's case, where an employee suffers from a lack of
interpersonal skills.
Are technical/ job-related skills enough?
Technical and job-related skills are a must, but they are NOT
sufficient when it comes to progressing up the ladder.
With the traditional paternalistic style of leadership becoming
passé, professional managers expect their teams to be proactive and
communicate openly.
"Soft skills are very important in business. It is essential to be
technically sound, but one should also have the ability to convey the
idea to the masses in the simplest possible manner," says Mayurkumar
Gadewar, an ERP consultant with Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
With the boom in outsourcing taking root across industries, many
professionals and subject matter experts directly deal with their
clients on a regular basis.
Their approachability and people skills are what ultimately sustain
the contract their employers have bagged.
"Planning is necessary but execution is also equally important. And
it takes soft skills to execute any idea because it involves dealing
with people directly," says Gadewar.
6 soft skills for every hard-nosed professional
Behavioral training experts say there are several soft skills are
required in these circumstances. Some of them include:
i. Interpersonal skills
ii. Team spirit
iii. Social grace
iv. Business etiquette
v. Negotiation skills
vi. Behavioral traits such as attitude, motivation and time
management
Do you have these? If your answer is yes, good for you.
But if your answer is no, then you know it is time to approach either
a training organisation or a training consultant.
Will formal training enhance your soft skills?
There is a lot of argument in the industry as to whether it is
possible to enhance soft skills in a few hours of training,
especially when one considers the fact that a person has lived with
those traits all his life. To this, the answer is harsh but real -- a
professional who wants to do well in his/ her career does not really
have a choice.
In the initial years of your career, your technical abilities are
important to get good assignments. However, when it comes to growing
in an organisation, it is your personality that matters, more so in
large organizations where several people with similar technical
expertise will compete for a promotion.
Training on soft skills becomes all the more relevant in a country
like India where the education system does not delve into personality
development.
"Soft skills training are essential because we do not have it in our
academic curricula. Therefore, corporate houses have to take up the
task of grooming employees who are the link between the company and
the external world, so that they are able to present themselves
better, " says Sumeet Mehta, an equity research analyst with Fortis
Securities Ltd.
Be your own trainer!
While organizations are definitely investing in augmenting their
staff's people skills, here are some inputs for professionals and
students who would like to initiate the process themselves:
i. Be a part of team activities
It could be either as a part of your church choir, or an NGO, or your
local youth circle.
Observe your own behavior in the group and how you relate to others.
ii. Ask family members or close friends to write down your best and
worst traits.
Ideally, have at least four to five people do this for you.
Evaluate the common traits all of them have mentioned. Thus, you can
be aware of your strengths and work improving your weaknesses.
iii. How well do you manage your time?
Think.
Can you do more in life? Or is your day too crammed with activities?
Effective time management is very essential in the corporate world.
iv. Introspect on how you react to feedback.
In organizations, people skills mostly come into the picture when
there is feedback given -- be it for an idea, an executed project or
a presentation.
You are judged by the way you respond to feedback.
Do you get defensive?
Do you insist you were right?
Do you meekly accept criticism?
Remember, people tend to be judged and stereotyped according to their
responses. You will, too.
v. How good are you at critiquing?
While responding to feedback is one side of the coin, giving feedback
is the other side.
Are you aggressive? Pessimistic? Do you believe in constructive
criticism? Or prefer to be the yes-man?
vi. Live consciously
Any organisation is manned by people, therefore soft skills are all
about how you deal with people and present yourself.
Though it may be easier said than done, soft skills can be enhanced
simply by being aware of oneself and living consciously.
Reputed Software Company in India is all geared up for a client
visit.
The clients have indicated that, after inspecting the progress of the
project they have outsourced, they would like to meet the team
members working on it.
Why? To select one team member for a stint onsite -- something almost
every software engineer aspires for.
Ravi has been one of the most active members in the project and has
done a wonderful job. He is technically brilliant, but has some
concerns:
Will he able to communicate his performance to the client in an
impressive manner so that he is chosen?
Why do his team mates not prefer to come to him for solutions and go
to less capable people instead?
His project manager doesn't seem to be very warm towards him either,
although he does drop in those occasional mails appreciating his
work.
Here is a typical scenario in an IT company; or for that matter, any
organisation where interpersonal communication is involved. Or, like
in Ravi's case, where an employee suffers from a lack of
interpersonal skills.
Are technical/ job-related skills enough?
Technical and job-related skills are a must, but they are NOT
sufficient when it comes to progressing up the ladder.
With the traditional paternalistic style of leadership becoming
passé, professional managers expect their teams to be proactive and
communicate openly.
"Soft skills are very important in business. It is essential to be
technically sound, but one should also have the ability to convey the
idea to the masses in the simplest possible manner," says Mayurkumar
Gadewar, an ERP consultant with Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
With the boom in outsourcing taking root across industries, many
professionals and subject matter experts directly deal with their
clients on a regular basis.
Their approachability and people skills are what ultimately sustain
the contract their employers have bagged.
"Planning is necessary but execution is also equally important. And
it takes soft skills to execute any idea because it involves dealing
with people directly," says Gadewar.
6 soft skills for every hard-nosed professional
Behavioral training experts say there are several soft skills are
required in these circumstances. Some of them include:
i. Interpersonal skills
ii. Team spirit
iii. Social grace
iv. Business etiquette
v. Negotiation skills
vi. Behavioral traits such as attitude, motivation and time
management
Do you have these? If your answer is yes, good for you.
But if your answer is no, then you know it is time to approach either
a training organisation or a training consultant.
Will formal training enhance your soft skills?
There is a lot of argument in the industry as to whether it is
possible to enhance soft skills in a few hours of training,
especially when one considers the fact that a person has lived with
those traits all his life. To this, the answer is harsh but real -- a
professional who wants to do well in his/ her career does not really
have a choice.
In the initial years of your career, your technical abilities are
important to get good assignments. However, when it comes to growing
in an organisation, it is your personality that matters, more so in
large organizations where several people with similar technical
expertise will compete for a promotion.
Training on soft skills becomes all the more relevant in a country
like India where the education system does not delve into personality
development.
"Soft skills training are essential because we do not have it in our
academic curricula. Therefore, corporate houses have to take up the
task of grooming employees who are the link between the company and
the external world, so that they are able to present themselves
better, " says Sumeet Mehta, an equity research analyst with Fortis
Securities Ltd.
Be your own trainer!
While organizations are definitely investing in augmenting their
staff's people skills, here are some inputs for professionals and
students who would like to initiate the process themselves:
i. Be a part of team activities
It could be either as a part of your church choir, or an NGO, or your
local youth circle.
Observe your own behavior in the group and how you relate to others.
ii. Ask family members or close friends to write down your best and
worst traits.
Ideally, have at least four to five people do this for you.
Evaluate the common traits all of them have mentioned. Thus, you can
be aware of your strengths and work improving your weaknesses.
iii. How well do you manage your time?
Think.
Can you do more in life? Or is your day too crammed with activities?
Effective time management is very essential in the corporate world.
iv. Introspect on how you react to feedback.
In organizations, people skills mostly come into the picture when
there is feedback given -- be it for an idea, an executed project or
a presentation.
You are judged by the way you respond to feedback.
Do you get defensive?
Do you insist you were right?
Do you meekly accept criticism?
Remember, people tend to be judged and stereotyped according to their
responses. You will, too.
v. How good are you at critiquing?
While responding to feedback is one side of the coin, giving feedback
is the other side.
Are you aggressive? Pessimistic? Do you believe in constructive
criticism? Or prefer to be the yes-man?
vi. Live consciously
Any organisation is manned by people, therefore soft skills are all
about how you deal with people and present yourself.
Though it may be easier said than done, soft skills can be enhanced
simply by being aware of oneself and living consciously.
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Reading Comprehension tips- By one of my friend who scored 1500 in GRE
First of all, you need to understand that the reading comprehension is actually a treasure hunt and nothing more. All that is being asked has its answer somewhere in the passage given, and so you must look for the right area in the passage. Keeping that in mind sure helps... for example when you think you have read something about the question in the passage somewhere, and are about to answer from memory, don't! Go through the passage again, and find the exact thing that you were trying to remember, and then you can go ahead and answer a question.
Next, eliminate outrageous answers outright. By "outrageous" I mean any answer choice that mentions something not mentioned in the passage. It may be that the passage is about wildlife conservation, and you get an answer choice that seems to fit in, except for the fact that it mentions poachers or government apathy, etc. --- anything that was not there in the passage... chucj it out straight away.
Also, it helps to keep a pencil and paper at hand and manually cross out answers that you have eliminated like that. You know, A B C D E looks a lot more confusing than A B C D E where you have eliminated B, D and E and can actually focus on A and C. (Sorry Yahoo mail does not allow a strikethrough).
To add to this list I have another piece of advice which, although repeated, I guess is a life-saver in itself. And that is, read the way the various books such as Kaplan and Barrons ask you to tackle the RCs or anything for that matter. Practice their sample examples religiously, and I am sure your standards will improve.
Finally, don't panic. If you see that something is taking a lot of time, you have to make an educated guess, much like the way a captain decides to send four of his men through the enemy territory while he saves the other 46. You have to take mental decisions, and tough ones at that, to be able to triumph. At the end of the day, the GRE is not about how much you know but it is about how well you can steel yourself for the challenge!
Next, eliminate outrageous answers outright. By "outrageous" I mean any answer choice that mentions something not mentioned in the passage. It may be that the passage is about wildlife conservation, and you get an answer choice that seems to fit in, except for the fact that it mentions poachers or government apathy, etc. --- anything that was not there in the passage... chucj it out straight away.
Also, it helps to keep a pencil and paper at hand and manually cross out answers that you have eliminated like that. You know, A B C D E looks a lot more confusing than A B C D E where you have eliminated B, D and E and can actually focus on A and C. (Sorry Yahoo mail does not allow a strikethrough).
To add to this list I have another piece of advice which, although repeated, I guess is a life-saver in itself. And that is, read the way the various books such as Kaplan and Barrons ask you to tackle the RCs or anything for that matter. Practice their sample examples religiously, and I am sure your standards will improve.
Finally, don't panic. If you see that something is taking a lot of time, you have to make an educated guess, much like the way a captain decides to send four of his men through the enemy territory while he saves the other 46. You have to take mental decisions, and tough ones at that, to be able to triumph. At the end of the day, the GRE is not about how much you know but it is about how well you can steel yourself for the challenge!
Monday, September 05, 2005
12 Tips for Creating Better Presentations
http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/getworkdone/presentations.mspx
You have a presentation to create. It's important. But, formatting diagrams can take forever and the text on your slides seems to have a mind of its own. Then, there's the sad fact that everybody's PowerPoint presentations look the same.
Sound about right? If so, I've got good news for you! Creating professional, unique presentations can be much easier than you might think.
This article will help you find the right tools to get exactly the presentation you want. We'll look at three components of creating effective presentations, and provide timesaving tips to help send your presentation off in style.
On This Page
Clearly Communicate Your Information
Grab the Viewer's Attention
Stay in Control of Your Presentations
Clearly Communicate Your Information
Want slides that clearly communicate your most important points? You might be surprised at how little work it takes to go from basic to brilliant! PowerPoint provides a host of tools for keeping your slides consistent, precise, and professional.
Take a look at two versions of a basic bulleted text slide below. The text in both slides is identical. Which would you prefer to present?
It took just a couple of shapes and a bit of editing in the Slide Master to go from the slide on the left to the slide on the right.
Here are 4 ways to let Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 help you clearly communicate your information:
1. Set up and use AutoLayouts. In PowerPoint 2003, you can select from over two dozen available layouts with a single click. Just open the Slide Layout task pane to view and access layouts for text and a variety of content. To open this task pane, on the Format menu click Slide Layout.
You can also customize the positioning and appearance of all layouts at once, using the Slide Master. On the Slide Master, make a variety of formatting changes just once to affect all slides in your presentation.
To access the Slide Master, on the View menu select Master and then click Slide Master. Once in Slide Master view, you can reformat the font, bullets, and even the line spacing of text. (These options are all available in the Format menu.) Or, alter the size and positioning of AutoLayout areas—the areas of the master that control slide layouts for the active presentation. Learn more about the Slide Master.
Get more tips for using masters in the Stay in Control of Your Presentations section of this article.
2. Turn off (or manage) AutoCorrect layout options. PowerPoint 2003 provides several automatic formatting options to help your slides conform to the provided layouts. They can be big timesavers, but they can also be frustrating if you're not using them intentionally. If you don't want your bulleted text to shrink automatically in order to fit content, or the positioning of pasted objects to change automatically, you can easily turn off these features.
To turn off any AutoFormat options, on the Tools menu click AutoCorrect Options. Then, select the AutoFormat As You Type tab of that dialog box.
The bottom three options on the AutoFormat As You Type tab of the AutoCorrect dialog box control automatic formatting behavior for layouts.
3. Start by outlining your presentation in Word. Take time to outline your presentation before creating slides. Doing so can save time and help you give a more clear and effective presentation.
Try setting up your outline in Word, using paragraph styles Heading 1 through Heading 9. When you use those styles for your outline, you can create PowerPoint slides in just a click. Learn to create PowerPoint slides from a Word outline.
4. Consider differences for print vs. screen presentations. Presentations designed to be viewed on screen don't always work well when you print them. Dark backgrounds that look good on slides, for example, rarely print well. Similarly, footer content that you need in print is likely to be distracting on-screen. Fortunately, PowerPoint makes it easy to switch between print and screen presentation designs. Here are two features that can help:
• PowerPoint provides color schemes that apply to different slide elements (such as text, lines, and object fills). You can format slides for print using one color scheme, then just click to apply a different scheme for on-screen use. All slide elements formatted with scheme colors will automatically swap to take on the new scheme. Learn more about using and customizing color schemes.
• Showing, hiding, and customizing header and footer content in PowerPoint can be a snap. Learn how to create and manage headers and footers.
Top of page
Grab the Viewer's Attention
The Microsoft Office Clip Art gallery offers a huge range of images. These can be great for many uses, but they might not be the most sophisticated way to emphasize your important idea.
Creating slides that get the viewer's attention is not about which pictures to include. It's about using the space on your slides effectively. Don't crowd your slides, and only include elements that contribute to the points you want to make. When you use graphics on a slide, choose images that serve a purpose (such as a chart or diagram that displays a direct benefit of your idea). Compare the two marketing slides below, for example.
The simple column chart in the slide on the right replaces two paragraphs of text, and makes a much stronger impression. Coordinating the chart colors with the slide design was automatic.
Check out 4 ways to help grab and keep your viewer's attention.
1. Use sound recordings when sending a presentation electronically. A clean slide that emphasizes key points is more effective than a slide that contains every word you intend to say. But, what do you do if you're sending your presentation electronically? Consider recording narration to accompany your slides.
• To record narration for a presentation, on the Slide Show menu click Record Narration.
• To record sound for a single slide, on the Insert menu select Movies and Sounds and then click Record Sounds.
Learn how to record narration and sounds.
2. Use Notes and Handouts to help you stay on track or to create quick and easy leave-behinds for your viewers. Use the Notes pane that appears below the slide in Normal view to write notes to yourself for your presentation, or to create notes that you can print for your viewers. You can also format and print handouts that contain up to nine slides per page.
Learn to create Notes pages and Handouts.
3. Create charts and diagrams that emphasize your key points. To chart data in PowerPoint, start by clicking the Insert Chart icon on any Content slide layout, as show here:
The Insert Chart icon is circled in red.
• When you click the Insert Chart icon, you'll get a default chart that's a snap to customize and a data worksheet that's easy to edit. Visit my blog to learn about charting data in PowerPoint.
• The Insert Diagram or Organization Chart tool (available from the Drawing toolbar) is a nice way to create quick and easy flowcharts. However, I find that using AutoShapes to create any type of diagram or flowchart can provide much more flexibility without much more work. See the Stay in Control of Your Presentations section of this article below for information on the available tools for creating flawless presentation graphics.
4. Use animation and slide transitions consistently and sparingly. Having text and graphics appear on-screen just when you need them can be a nice touch. However, using too much animation can distract from your presentation's content.
• For effects that emphasize without overwhelming, limit animation to key points and use consistent animation choices throughout the presentation. Open the Custom Animation task pane (available on the Slide Show menu) to apply and manage animation. Learn to use Custom Animation.
• Subtle and consistent slide transitions can also provide a professional touch without being distracting. Use the Slide Transition task pane (available from the Slide Show menu) to format and apply slide transitions. Learn about using slide transitions and timings.
Top of page
Stay in Control of Your Presentations
Custom colors, layouts, and graphics can do a lot for your presentation. But a misaligned flowchart, or a presentation that crashes on your client's computer, isn't likely to make the impression you want. For example, take a look at the two organization chart images below. Which would you prefer to call your own?
Nudging and fussing to create the organization chart on the left took about an hour, and it's far from perfect. Using available PowerPoint tools for duplicating and alignment, the chart on the right took just 10 minutes to create.
Here are 4 ways to keep your presentations both great-looking and easy-to-manage.
1. Keep file size manageable. A common cause of stress with PowerPoint presentations is that the file size becomes too large to edit or to run presentation smoothly. Fortunately, this problem is easy to avoid by using smaller picture file types, compressing pictures, and using native PowerPoint features whenever possible (such as tables, charts, and AutoShapes) instead of embedding and importing objects.
Visit my blog to learn more about options for reducing picture file size.
2. Use the available tools for creating perfect diagrams. One of the nicest things about PowerPoint is that getting something perfect is easier than getting it close.
• Instead of nudging objects until your eyes get tired, use the Align Or Distribute tools. They can help you perfectly align and evenly distribute objects in a click. To access these tools, select Align or Distribute from the Draw menu, which is available on the Drawing toolbar.
• You can also use Guides to align and space objects. Guides can help you measure distance and keep positioning of elements consistent across multiple slides. To see your Guides, on the View Menu select Grid and Guides. Then, in the Grid and Guides dialog box, select Display drawing guides on screen.
Learn more about alignment and distribution options for PowerPoint objects.
• Zooming in on an object in PowerPoint can greatly increase the accuracy of what you see. To do this without trial and error, just select the object before changing the Zoom setting on the Standard toolbar.
Visit my blog for more tips on creating beautiful, flawless diagrams.
3. Know exactly what the recipient of your presentation will see. If you're sending a presentation by e-mail, try saving the presentation as a Slide Show so that it automatically opens for the recipient in slide show view. To do this, on the File menu click Save As. In the Save As dialog box, select PowerPoint Show (.pps) from the Save As Type dropdown list, as you see here:
This screenshot shows how to use save your presentation as a slide show.
If you're sending a presentation on CD, the Package for CD feature in PowerPoint 2003 is a great time and stress-saver. This feature will set up your presentation (including linked files) on a CD so that the slide show will run correctly for any recipient. It even adds a PowerPoint viewer so that the recipient's computer doesn't need PowerPoint to run the show. Learn more about Package for CD.
4. Use Masters for consistency and to save time. In addition to customizing elements of slide layouts (as discussed earlier in this article), you can use the masters to save time and keep slides consistent by adding graphics and formatting just once for all slides.
• Place graphics (such as your logo) on the Slide Master, so that they automatically appear on all slides. Note that, when graphics appear on the master, you can still hide them for just certain slides. To hide graphics for an active or selected slide, on the Format menu click Background. Then, in the Background dialog box, select Omit background graphics from master.
• You can add a Title Master to use different formatting and graphics on title slides from other slides in your presentation. To do this, switch to Slide Master View. Then, select New Title Master from the Insert menu.
• While a great new feature in PowerPoint enables you to create multiple slide masters for a single presentation, use this feature carefully. Keep in mind that the purpose of a master is to help keep your slides consistent.
You have a presentation to create. It's important. But, formatting diagrams can take forever and the text on your slides seems to have a mind of its own. Then, there's the sad fact that everybody's PowerPoint presentations look the same.
Sound about right? If so, I've got good news for you! Creating professional, unique presentations can be much easier than you might think.
This article will help you find the right tools to get exactly the presentation you want. We'll look at three components of creating effective presentations, and provide timesaving tips to help send your presentation off in style.
On This Page
Clearly Communicate Your Information
Grab the Viewer's Attention
Stay in Control of Your Presentations
Clearly Communicate Your Information
Want slides that clearly communicate your most important points? You might be surprised at how little work it takes to go from basic to brilliant! PowerPoint provides a host of tools for keeping your slides consistent, precise, and professional.
Take a look at two versions of a basic bulleted text slide below. The text in both slides is identical. Which would you prefer to present?
It took just a couple of shapes and a bit of editing in the Slide Master to go from the slide on the left to the slide on the right.
Here are 4 ways to let Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 help you clearly communicate your information:
1. Set up and use AutoLayouts. In PowerPoint 2003, you can select from over two dozen available layouts with a single click. Just open the Slide Layout task pane to view and access layouts for text and a variety of content. To open this task pane, on the Format menu click Slide Layout.
You can also customize the positioning and appearance of all layouts at once, using the Slide Master. On the Slide Master, make a variety of formatting changes just once to affect all slides in your presentation.
To access the Slide Master, on the View menu select Master and then click Slide Master. Once in Slide Master view, you can reformat the font, bullets, and even the line spacing of text. (These options are all available in the Format menu.) Or, alter the size and positioning of AutoLayout areas—the areas of the master that control slide layouts for the active presentation. Learn more about the Slide Master.
Get more tips for using masters in the Stay in Control of Your Presentations section of this article.
2. Turn off (or manage) AutoCorrect layout options. PowerPoint 2003 provides several automatic formatting options to help your slides conform to the provided layouts. They can be big timesavers, but they can also be frustrating if you're not using them intentionally. If you don't want your bulleted text to shrink automatically in order to fit content, or the positioning of pasted objects to change automatically, you can easily turn off these features.
To turn off any AutoFormat options, on the Tools menu click AutoCorrect Options. Then, select the AutoFormat As You Type tab of that dialog box.
The bottom three options on the AutoFormat As You Type tab of the AutoCorrect dialog box control automatic formatting behavior for layouts.
3. Start by outlining your presentation in Word. Take time to outline your presentation before creating slides. Doing so can save time and help you give a more clear and effective presentation.
Try setting up your outline in Word, using paragraph styles Heading 1 through Heading 9. When you use those styles for your outline, you can create PowerPoint slides in just a click. Learn to create PowerPoint slides from a Word outline.
4. Consider differences for print vs. screen presentations. Presentations designed to be viewed on screen don't always work well when you print them. Dark backgrounds that look good on slides, for example, rarely print well. Similarly, footer content that you need in print is likely to be distracting on-screen. Fortunately, PowerPoint makes it easy to switch between print and screen presentation designs. Here are two features that can help:
• PowerPoint provides color schemes that apply to different slide elements (such as text, lines, and object fills). You can format slides for print using one color scheme, then just click to apply a different scheme for on-screen use. All slide elements formatted with scheme colors will automatically swap to take on the new scheme. Learn more about using and customizing color schemes.
• Showing, hiding, and customizing header and footer content in PowerPoint can be a snap. Learn how to create and manage headers and footers.
Top of page
Grab the Viewer's Attention
The Microsoft Office Clip Art gallery offers a huge range of images. These can be great for many uses, but they might not be the most sophisticated way to emphasize your important idea.
Creating slides that get the viewer's attention is not about which pictures to include. It's about using the space on your slides effectively. Don't crowd your slides, and only include elements that contribute to the points you want to make. When you use graphics on a slide, choose images that serve a purpose (such as a chart or diagram that displays a direct benefit of your idea). Compare the two marketing slides below, for example.
The simple column chart in the slide on the right replaces two paragraphs of text, and makes a much stronger impression. Coordinating the chart colors with the slide design was automatic.
Check out 4 ways to help grab and keep your viewer's attention.
1. Use sound recordings when sending a presentation electronically. A clean slide that emphasizes key points is more effective than a slide that contains every word you intend to say. But, what do you do if you're sending your presentation electronically? Consider recording narration to accompany your slides.
• To record narration for a presentation, on the Slide Show menu click Record Narration.
• To record sound for a single slide, on the Insert menu select Movies and Sounds and then click Record Sounds.
Learn how to record narration and sounds.
2. Use Notes and Handouts to help you stay on track or to create quick and easy leave-behinds for your viewers. Use the Notes pane that appears below the slide in Normal view to write notes to yourself for your presentation, or to create notes that you can print for your viewers. You can also format and print handouts that contain up to nine slides per page.
Learn to create Notes pages and Handouts.
3. Create charts and diagrams that emphasize your key points. To chart data in PowerPoint, start by clicking the Insert Chart icon on any Content slide layout, as show here:
The Insert Chart icon is circled in red.
• When you click the Insert Chart icon, you'll get a default chart that's a snap to customize and a data worksheet that's easy to edit. Visit my blog to learn about charting data in PowerPoint.
• The Insert Diagram or Organization Chart tool (available from the Drawing toolbar) is a nice way to create quick and easy flowcharts. However, I find that using AutoShapes to create any type of diagram or flowchart can provide much more flexibility without much more work. See the Stay in Control of Your Presentations section of this article below for information on the available tools for creating flawless presentation graphics.
4. Use animation and slide transitions consistently and sparingly. Having text and graphics appear on-screen just when you need them can be a nice touch. However, using too much animation can distract from your presentation's content.
• For effects that emphasize without overwhelming, limit animation to key points and use consistent animation choices throughout the presentation. Open the Custom Animation task pane (available on the Slide Show menu) to apply and manage animation. Learn to use Custom Animation.
• Subtle and consistent slide transitions can also provide a professional touch without being distracting. Use the Slide Transition task pane (available from the Slide Show menu) to format and apply slide transitions. Learn about using slide transitions and timings.
Top of page
Stay in Control of Your Presentations
Custom colors, layouts, and graphics can do a lot for your presentation. But a misaligned flowchart, or a presentation that crashes on your client's computer, isn't likely to make the impression you want. For example, take a look at the two organization chart images below. Which would you prefer to call your own?
Nudging and fussing to create the organization chart on the left took about an hour, and it's far from perfect. Using available PowerPoint tools for duplicating and alignment, the chart on the right took just 10 minutes to create.
Here are 4 ways to keep your presentations both great-looking and easy-to-manage.
1. Keep file size manageable. A common cause of stress with PowerPoint presentations is that the file size becomes too large to edit or to run presentation smoothly. Fortunately, this problem is easy to avoid by using smaller picture file types, compressing pictures, and using native PowerPoint features whenever possible (such as tables, charts, and AutoShapes) instead of embedding and importing objects.
Visit my blog to learn more about options for reducing picture file size.
2. Use the available tools for creating perfect diagrams. One of the nicest things about PowerPoint is that getting something perfect is easier than getting it close.
• Instead of nudging objects until your eyes get tired, use the Align Or Distribute tools. They can help you perfectly align and evenly distribute objects in a click. To access these tools, select Align or Distribute from the Draw menu, which is available on the Drawing toolbar.
• You can also use Guides to align and space objects. Guides can help you measure distance and keep positioning of elements consistent across multiple slides. To see your Guides, on the View Menu select Grid and Guides. Then, in the Grid and Guides dialog box, select Display drawing guides on screen.
Learn more about alignment and distribution options for PowerPoint objects.
• Zooming in on an object in PowerPoint can greatly increase the accuracy of what you see. To do this without trial and error, just select the object before changing the Zoom setting on the Standard toolbar.
Visit my blog for more tips on creating beautiful, flawless diagrams.
3. Know exactly what the recipient of your presentation will see. If you're sending a presentation by e-mail, try saving the presentation as a Slide Show so that it automatically opens for the recipient in slide show view. To do this, on the File menu click Save As. In the Save As dialog box, select PowerPoint Show (.pps) from the Save As Type dropdown list, as you see here:
This screenshot shows how to use save your presentation as a slide show.
If you're sending a presentation on CD, the Package for CD feature in PowerPoint 2003 is a great time and stress-saver. This feature will set up your presentation (including linked files) on a CD so that the slide show will run correctly for any recipient. It even adds a PowerPoint viewer so that the recipient's computer doesn't need PowerPoint to run the show. Learn more about Package for CD.
4. Use Masters for consistency and to save time. In addition to customizing elements of slide layouts (as discussed earlier in this article), you can use the masters to save time and keep slides consistent by adding graphics and formatting just once for all slides.
• Place graphics (such as your logo) on the Slide Master, so that they automatically appear on all slides. Note that, when graphics appear on the master, you can still hide them for just certain slides. To hide graphics for an active or selected slide, on the Format menu click Background. Then, in the Background dialog box, select Omit background graphics from master.
• You can add a Title Master to use different formatting and graphics on title slides from other slides in your presentation. To do this, switch to Slide Master View. Then, select New Title Master from the Insert menu.
• While a great new feature in PowerPoint enables you to create multiple slide masters for a single presentation, use this feature carefully. Keep in mind that the purpose of a master is to help keep your slides consistent.
13 Characteristics Of Sucessful People
THE 13 CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE -
By Jeffrey J. Mayer -
SucceedingInBusiness.com
I've spent many years studying successful people and have identified the
skills, talents, and characteristics that enable them to succeed. As you
look at and study these skills, talents, and characteristics, you'll realize
that you possess many of them yourself.
Some of these skills and talents are more dominant than others and will play
a greater part in your being, or becoming, a success in the business of
life. These are the things you do well.
The things you do easily and effortlessly. These are your strengths. When
you find you need a skill or talent you don't have, just go out and look for
a person or group of people with the skills, talents, and training you need.
Skills and talents that complement your own. These people will become your
teammates, colleagues, co-workers, professional advisors, and friends. With
these combined skills and talents organizations grow, prosper, and become
successful.
These are the five things you'll find every successful person has in common :-
1. They have a dream.
2. They have a plan.
3. They have specific knowledge or training.
4. They're willing to work hard.
5. They don't take no for an answer.
Remember: Success begins with a state of mind. You must believe you'll be
successful in order to become a success.
The following is a list of the skills, talents, and characteristics you'll
find in successful people: -
1. Successful People Have a Dream.
They have a well-defined purpose. They have a definite goal. They know what
they want. They aren't easily influenced by the thoughts and opinions of
others.
They have willpower. They have ideas. Their strong desire brings strong
results. They go out and do things that others say can't be done.
Remember: It only takes one sound idea to achieve success.
Remember: People who excel in life are those who produce results, not
excuses. Anybody can come up with excuses and explanations for why he hasn't
made it. Those who want to succeed badly enough don't make excuses.
2. Successful People Have Ambition.
They want to accomplish something. They have enthusiasm, commitment, and
pride. They have self-discipline. They're willing to work hard and to go the
extra mile. They have a burning desire to succeed. They're willing to do
whatever it takes to get the job done.
Remember: With hard work come results. The joy in life comes with working
for and achieving something.
3. Successful People Are Strongly Motivated Toward Achievement.
They take great satisfaction in accomplishing a task.
4. Successful People Are Focused.
They concentrate on their main goals and objectives. They don't get
sidetracked. They don't procrastinate. They work on the projects that are
important, and don't allow those projects to sit until the last minute.
They're productive, not just busy.
5. Successful People Learn How to Get Things Done.
They use their skills, talents, energies, and knowledge to the fullest
extent possible. They do the things that need to be done, not just the
things they like to do.
They are willing to work hard and to commit themselves to getting the job
done.
Remember: Happiness is found in doing and accomplishing, not in owning and
possessing. Many years ago I was asked: "Jeff, do you like pleasing habits
or pleasing results?" As I pondered that probing question, and squirmed in
my chair like a worm at the end of a hook, I felt as if I had painted myself
into a corner. A few moments later I answered: "I like pleasing results."
From that moment on my life changed. I began to do the things that were
difficult, because they enabled me to achieve my goals.
6. Successful People Take Responsibility for Their Actions.
They don't make excuses. They don't blame others. They don't whine and
complain.
7. Successful People Look for Solutions to Problems.
They're opportunity minded. When they see opportunities they take advantage
of them.
8. Successful People Make Decisions.
They think about the issues and relevant facts, give them adequate
deliberation and consideration, and make a decision. Decisions aren't put
off or delayed, they're made now!
Success Tip: Spend more time thinking and planning before you make your
decision, and you'll make better decisions.
Success Tip: When you don't get the expected results from the decision
you've made, change your course of action. Decisions should never be carved
in stone.
9. Successful People Have the Courage to Admit They've Made a Mistake.
When you make a mistake, admit it, fix it, and move on. Don't waste a lot of
time, energy, money, and/or other resources trying to defend a mistake or a
bad decision.
Remember: When people are wrong, they may admit it to themselves. If they
are handled gently and tactfully, they may admit it to others and even take
pride in their frankness and broad-mindedness. But people become very
defensive and angry when others try to cram their mistakes down their
throats. If you want to learn how to overcome the fear of failure, overcome
the procrastination habit, and become more successful by writing and
reviewing your goals, you should
10. Successful People Are Self-Reliant.
They have the skills, talents, and training that are needed in order to be
successful. Your thoughts, comments & opinions are appreciated.
11. Successful People Have Specific Knowledge, Training, and/or Skills and Talents.
They know the things they need to know to be successful. And when they need
information, knowledge, or skills and talents that they don't possess, they
find someone who does possess them.
12. Successful People Work with and Cooperate with Other People.
They have positive, outgoing personalities. They surround themselves with
people who offer them help, support, and encouragement. They are leaders.
13. Successful People Are Enthusiastic.
They're excited by what they're doing, and that excitement is contagious.
They draw people to them because these people want to work with them, do
business with them, and be with them.
By Jeffrey J. Mayer -
SucceedingInBusiness.com
I've spent many years studying successful people and have identified the
skills, talents, and characteristics that enable them to succeed. As you
look at and study these skills, talents, and characteristics, you'll realize
that you possess many of them yourself.
Some of these skills and talents are more dominant than others and will play
a greater part in your being, or becoming, a success in the business of
life. These are the things you do well.
The things you do easily and effortlessly. These are your strengths. When
you find you need a skill or talent you don't have, just go out and look for
a person or group of people with the skills, talents, and training you need.
Skills and talents that complement your own. These people will become your
teammates, colleagues, co-workers, professional advisors, and friends. With
these combined skills and talents organizations grow, prosper, and become
successful.
These are the five things you'll find every successful person has in common :-
1. They have a dream.
2. They have a plan.
3. They have specific knowledge or training.
4. They're willing to work hard.
5. They don't take no for an answer.
Remember: Success begins with a state of mind. You must believe you'll be
successful in order to become a success.
The following is a list of the skills, talents, and characteristics you'll
find in successful people: -
1. Successful People Have a Dream.
They have a well-defined purpose. They have a definite goal. They know what
they want. They aren't easily influenced by the thoughts and opinions of
others.
They have willpower. They have ideas. Their strong desire brings strong
results. They go out and do things that others say can't be done.
Remember: It only takes one sound idea to achieve success.
Remember: People who excel in life are those who produce results, not
excuses. Anybody can come up with excuses and explanations for why he hasn't
made it. Those who want to succeed badly enough don't make excuses.
2. Successful People Have Ambition.
They want to accomplish something. They have enthusiasm, commitment, and
pride. They have self-discipline. They're willing to work hard and to go the
extra mile. They have a burning desire to succeed. They're willing to do
whatever it takes to get the job done.
Remember: With hard work come results. The joy in life comes with working
for and achieving something.
3. Successful People Are Strongly Motivated Toward Achievement.
They take great satisfaction in accomplishing a task.
4. Successful People Are Focused.
They concentrate on their main goals and objectives. They don't get
sidetracked. They don't procrastinate. They work on the projects that are
important, and don't allow those projects to sit until the last minute.
They're productive, not just busy.
5. Successful People Learn How to Get Things Done.
They use their skills, talents, energies, and knowledge to the fullest
extent possible. They do the things that need to be done, not just the
things they like to do.
They are willing to work hard and to commit themselves to getting the job
done.
Remember: Happiness is found in doing and accomplishing, not in owning and
possessing. Many years ago I was asked: "Jeff, do you like pleasing habits
or pleasing results?" As I pondered that probing question, and squirmed in
my chair like a worm at the end of a hook, I felt as if I had painted myself
into a corner. A few moments later I answered: "I like pleasing results."
From that moment on my life changed. I began to do the things that were
difficult, because they enabled me to achieve my goals.
6. Successful People Take Responsibility for Their Actions.
They don't make excuses. They don't blame others. They don't whine and
complain.
7. Successful People Look for Solutions to Problems.
They're opportunity minded. When they see opportunities they take advantage
of them.
8. Successful People Make Decisions.
They think about the issues and relevant facts, give them adequate
deliberation and consideration, and make a decision. Decisions aren't put
off or delayed, they're made now!
Success Tip: Spend more time thinking and planning before you make your
decision, and you'll make better decisions.
Success Tip: When you don't get the expected results from the decision
you've made, change your course of action. Decisions should never be carved
in stone.
9. Successful People Have the Courage to Admit They've Made a Mistake.
When you make a mistake, admit it, fix it, and move on. Don't waste a lot of
time, energy, money, and/or other resources trying to defend a mistake or a
bad decision.
Remember: When people are wrong, they may admit it to themselves. If they
are handled gently and tactfully, they may admit it to others and even take
pride in their frankness and broad-mindedness. But people become very
defensive and angry when others try to cram their mistakes down their
throats. If you want to learn how to overcome the fear of failure, overcome
the procrastination habit, and become more successful by writing and
reviewing your goals, you should
10. Successful People Are Self-Reliant.
They have the skills, talents, and training that are needed in order to be
successful. Your thoughts, comments & opinions are appreciated.
11. Successful People Have Specific Knowledge, Training, and/or Skills and Talents.
They know the things they need to know to be successful. And when they need
information, knowledge, or skills and talents that they don't possess, they
find someone who does possess them.
12. Successful People Work with and Cooperate with Other People.
They have positive, outgoing personalities. They surround themselves with
people who offer them help, support, and encouragement. They are leaders.
13. Successful People Are Enthusiastic.
They're excited by what they're doing, and that excitement is contagious.
They draw people to them because these people want to work with them, do
business with them, and be with them.
Interview Tips
Interview Tips
1. Be on time!
Practise getting to the venue to see how long it will take. Public transport may be useless, the traffic may have been heavy, but however reasonable it won't affect the fact that your chances are reduced if you are late. Always remember - You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Aim to be early - you can always find a nearby cafe/shop/pub to wait in. And if worst comes to worst and you are going to be late, then definitely ring in and let them know.
2. Be Prepared!
Look at the employers' website and learn something about the company before you attend your interview. Feed them the opportunity to talk proudly about something positive you have found.
3. Write down and practice possible questions!
Writing them down and practicing them with someone will make it easier to remember when you get to the interview. Use the third person when talking about the job. Avoid sounding as though you assume the job is yours.
It is fine to ask about the package on offer and accommodation - living in and living out are particularly relevant. Don't forget to find out if the company will guarantee a resort or chalet - many will only allocate you a country. You could also try a fewer more testing questions such as how they differentiate themselves from their competitors or what they think the toughest/hardest part of the job is.
4. What are your weaknesses?
Don't be Spud from Trainspotting! 'None…ah well, ah'm a bit of a perfectionist actually!' Try to find an area of your experience/skill that is currently lacking. An interviewer will appreciate your candour - as long as whatever you disclose can be easily remedied.
5. You never get a second chance to make a first impression!
SMILE! Dress professionally in simple business attire. Just because you are going to be working in a ski resort does not mean you should wear Oakleys and a fleece to your interview. And don't forget that firm handshake and to maintain eye contact - without glaring!
6. Be honest!
There really is no point lying about your background and/or skills. If you get caught, or even manage to get out to resort and then get found out, you can be sure you won't be around for long! Job interviews are about matching needs - if there isn't a good match, then chances are that the job won't work out.
7. Check your CV for possible gaps!
Make sure you know how you are going to explain time gaps on your CV.
8. Talk about specific achievements!
Interviewers like to know how you felt about about a particular success. Some will ask for specific examples of things you've done that you're particularly proud of; how you solved problems; how you learned - and improved - from difficult situations.
9. Don't talk too much!
Spud again - Communication is a two-way thing so give them a chance
10. Prepare a sample menu plan!
If you are applying for a catering job then take along a sample menu plan. By this we mean a starter/main/dessert combination over six days, ideally with a vegetarian option. Think about teh balance of nutrients and how the colours will look on the plate. Our recipe section has a number of favourites.
11. Take a spare photo & CV with you!
Your interviewer won't be expecting it so you will impress them. It also helps them remember you after the interview.
12. Be enthusiastic and positive!
Don't criticize previous employers, particularly within the industry.
Focus on positive achievements and views.
12. Be on time!
And finally, Don't give up!
The fact is that you will not be offered every job however perfect you think you may be for it. Usually it's because the interviewer was completely blind to the talent that stood before them. However, just on the off chance that it was not, feedback from interviews where you have been turned down can be invaluable for improving future results. Ask politely if they can give you any feedback for the future - there's a job out there for you somewhere.
1. Be on time!
Practise getting to the venue to see how long it will take. Public transport may be useless, the traffic may have been heavy, but however reasonable it won't affect the fact that your chances are reduced if you are late. Always remember - You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Aim to be early - you can always find a nearby cafe/shop/pub to wait in. And if worst comes to worst and you are going to be late, then definitely ring in and let them know.
2. Be Prepared!
Look at the employers' website and learn something about the company before you attend your interview. Feed them the opportunity to talk proudly about something positive you have found.
3. Write down and practice possible questions!
Writing them down and practicing them with someone will make it easier to remember when you get to the interview. Use the third person when talking about the job. Avoid sounding as though you assume the job is yours.
It is fine to ask about the package on offer and accommodation - living in and living out are particularly relevant. Don't forget to find out if the company will guarantee a resort or chalet - many will only allocate you a country. You could also try a fewer more testing questions such as how they differentiate themselves from their competitors or what they think the toughest/hardest part of the job is.
4. What are your weaknesses?
Don't be Spud from Trainspotting! 'None…ah well, ah'm a bit of a perfectionist actually!' Try to find an area of your experience/skill that is currently lacking. An interviewer will appreciate your candour - as long as whatever you disclose can be easily remedied.
5. You never get a second chance to make a first impression!
SMILE! Dress professionally in simple business attire. Just because you are going to be working in a ski resort does not mean you should wear Oakleys and a fleece to your interview. And don't forget that firm handshake and to maintain eye contact - without glaring!
6. Be honest!
There really is no point lying about your background and/or skills. If you get caught, or even manage to get out to resort and then get found out, you can be sure you won't be around for long! Job interviews are about matching needs - if there isn't a good match, then chances are that the job won't work out.
7. Check your CV for possible gaps!
Make sure you know how you are going to explain time gaps on your CV.
8. Talk about specific achievements!
Interviewers like to know how you felt about about a particular success. Some will ask for specific examples of things you've done that you're particularly proud of; how you solved problems; how you learned - and improved - from difficult situations.
9. Don't talk too much!
Spud again - Communication is a two-way thing so give them a chance
10. Prepare a sample menu plan!
If you are applying for a catering job then take along a sample menu plan. By this we mean a starter/main/dessert combination over six days, ideally with a vegetarian option. Think about teh balance of nutrients and how the colours will look on the plate. Our recipe section has a number of favourites.
11. Take a spare photo & CV with you!
Your interviewer won't be expecting it so you will impress them. It also helps them remember you after the interview.
12. Be enthusiastic and positive!
Don't criticize previous employers, particularly within the industry.
Focus on positive achievements and views.
12. Be on time!
And finally, Don't give up!
The fact is that you will not be offered every job however perfect you think you may be for it. Usually it's because the interviewer was completely blind to the talent that stood before them. However, just on the off chance that it was not, feedback from interviews where you have been turned down can be invaluable for improving future results. Ask politely if they can give you any feedback for the future - there's a job out there for you somewhere.
Twenty Points for Effective Software Project Management
Thanks Narayana Prabhu
Twenty Points for Effective Software Project Management
Introduction
Software Project Management differs from other project managements in
several ways.
The Project Manager, like a captain on a ship, is ultimately responsible
for the success of a project. The project manager, besides being the focal
point for the project execution, is responsible for driving organizational
initiatives and changes, and keeping the customer delighted all the time.
Most of the software projects fail not because they are inherently complex,
but mainly because of the poor project management. You can be a smart
programmer capable of writing complex programs, but it is not enough for
project management. The project management skills are quite different. It
involves getting the work done by others, the way you want and yet making
them feel happy about it.
Challenges in Software Project Management
Software Project Management is different from other disciplines or fields.
Some of the factors contributing to the differences are listed below, and
these factors complicate Software Project Management:
1. Working Remotely: At times, you need to work with people living
geographically at different locations, which you might not have met. This
leads to a lot of communication problems.
2. Invisibility of the Final Product: Though there are intermediate work
products in each phase of the software development life cycle, the end user
and at times the developer are not able to visualize the final product
through the various software artifacts. In contrast, in case of a bridge or
building construction, the end user and the worker can actually visualize
the final product evolving.
3. Knowledge Workers: Working with well-educated people is easy as well as
tough. As the developers are smart and equally educated as the project manager, managing them becomes easy. It becomes more difficult mainly because of the knowledge level differences in a particular technology or domain where the developers may have more knowledge.
4. Technological Changes and Market Openings: The software developers have
to continuously improve the knowledge level due to the technological
changes. This, on the other hand, paves a way to them to acquire jobs that
lead to high attrition rates, which ultimately lands the project manager in
trouble.
The Best Practices
This white paper presents 20 best practices followed in software project
management to maintain a well-orchestrated team to create and claim
sustainable values. The points mentioned here are not in any order of
priority.
1. Customer Focus
When you encourage the team, definitely they will put in great efforts to
come out with an excellent product that delights the customer. At the same
time, you need to make sure that the team understands the pains of the
customer and also the impact of bad products on the brand name of the
organization.
As this is a primary concern of any organization, you need to
work on this activity constantly and continuously throughout the execution
of the project. This helps you to sustain the relationship with the
customer and also get repeated orders. Needless to mention about the good
will and the references you get, when you delight the customer.
Moral: Customers is the real boss; you need to keep him happy
2. Recognition
Nothing can motivate the developers to a great extent as recognizing the
great piece of work done by them. When you recognize their work, they feel
honored and important. It also brings in a feeling of belongingness and
great satisfaction to the developers.
The project managers can use email
facilities and team meetings as effective tools to recognize people. You
can send out an appreciation mail or praise the developer in the team
meetings, which are within your scope. When you couple this with the
recognition awards of the organization, it can do wonders as recognitions
improve the performance of the individual as well as the team.
Moral: Recognition is the greatest motivator
3. Communicating the Project Plan
Communicating the project plan to all the team members is as important as
creating the project plan. You need to keep the team well informed about
the plan so that they can visualize the bigger picture.
Moral: Understanding the plan is the first step towards delivering a
quality product
4. Strategy
You need to devise a good strategy to successfully implement the various
aspects of the project plan. You might have derived a good plan, but still,
if your strategy is poor, it can yield disastrous results. You as a project
manager need to liaise with the architects and senior developers while
framing major strategies.
Moral: Strategy can mar or improve the effectiveness of a plan
5. Suitable Methodology
It is highly important that you need to be careful while choosing a proper
methodology for the project execution. A process life cycle, which is an
excellent fit for a project in one area or domain, may not fit in other
domains or areas.
Moral: One man’s food is another man’s poison
6. Business Functionality
You need to ensure a good understanding of business functionality among the
project team. With all the technical knowledge in this world, one may not
be able to beat a person who has good functional knowledge. That explains
the importance of having good functional knowledge among the team. You as a
project manager need to ensure that the due diligence documents are
constantly updated to reflect the knowledge gained during project
execution.
Moral: Knowledge is power
7. Project Review Meetings
A weekly/fortnightly Project Review Meeting is very much required for a
project. Besides helping to keep track of the project execution, it helps
in keeping the team focused. It makes each and every member of the team
know what is happening in the other part of the project, which is required
to understand and visualize the project in bigger picture. You can share
all the important and significant organizational changes/initiatives in the
meeting. You need to ensure that action items are noted and recorded in the
Minutes of Meeting (MOM) document and tracked to closure. If you look at
this meeting as more of information sharing and execution point of view,
rather than as a statutory requirement to comply with Quality Management
System (QMS), you can benefit more out of it.
Moral: A map is of no use if you do not know where you are
8. One-on-One Meetings
Unlike the Project Review Meetings mandated by the QMS of the
organizations, a one-on-one is very special in its kind. The purpose of
one-on-one meeting is to create a continuous learning environment, which is
very much essential in the software industry. One-on-one meetings build
trust between the project manager and the team members. Since it is on a
one-on-one basis, the chances are more for the team members to freely share
their views, discuss issues, and express concerns in an open manner. You
can understand the concerns of the team members and resolve them at an
early stage through these meetings.
You can effectively use these meetings to groom and mould the team. Instead
of waiting until the end of the year to do a formal annual appraisal and
give the review feedback, the project manager can take the one-on-one
meeting as an opportunity to give informal feedback to the team members
about their strengths and possible areas of improvement. Since it is not a
formal appraisal, chances are very high that the team members will respond
to the feedback in a more positive way and would discuss with keen interest
to improve their strengths or overcome the shortcomings. On the other hand,
it provides the project manager an ample opportunity to assess and gauge
the team members’ work on a periodic basis and encourage them to learn or
improve continuously.
It is human psychology to work more to achieve a goal when there is a sense
of urgency. For instance, the students at college study with all sincerity
just before the examinations. As it is true at work places too, you can
utilize the one-on-one meetings to create the sense of urgency. You can set
short-term goals to team members in one of these meetings and evaluate the
progress in the subsequent meetings. You can also use these meetings as an
opportunity to drive the organizational changes, though that is not the
main purpose.
The success of a one-on-one lies entirely on the way it is conducted. You
need to conduct it in a totally informal and friendly manner, of course
without losing the focus. Care should be taken to make sure that no
unrealistic promises are made to the team members to fulfill their
aspirations. You can conduct these meetings regularly once in a month on
convenient days when you are free from your routine activities.
Moral: Run as fast as you can, just to stay in place – The Red Queen in
Alice in Wonderland
9. T-Cons
In this industry, often we work with people who are geographically apart.
At times emails create two islands of people communicating over a sea of
misunderstanding. This, besides distracting the environment, creates an
unhealthy atmosphere. Teleconferences (T-Cons) between onsite and offshore
parties help eliminate most of these communication problems.
You can use T-Cons to communicate effectively with your customer and build
mutual trust with them. It is a good practice to include the entire team in
T-Cons whenever possible. This brings all the team members to the same
level and also, helps you to groom the team indirectly in communication
skills. You should prepare the MOMs at the end of every call and send it to
all the participants to ensure that every issue is understood in a proper
way and track the issues to closure. As a thumb rule, one should not get
onto emails unless otherwise warranted.
Moral: Voice is better than text
10. Encourage Finding Bugs
You need to encourage your team members to find as many defects as possible
in the work products. Earlier they find, the cheaper it is to fix. Concerns
regarding linking of defects and performance appraisals are to be removed
as otherwise the team members might hide the bugs.
Moral: A stitch in time saves nine
11. In-House Trainings
When at school, we tend to go in for private tuitions mainly because we get
a special or an individual attention, which we do not get in our regular
classes.
In a similar way, when you arrange training specific to the project in
hand, you make the team happy, contained, and more valuable. This will
certainly improve the performance on the whole. You should arrange these
trainings in addition to the compulsory hours of training arranged/required
by most organizations.
Moral: Trainings make men happiest in themselves also make them most
serviceable to others
12. Knowledge Sharing Sessions
Transforming tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge is a key challenge in
this industry. You can arrange Knowledge Sharing Sessions to achieve this
to a large extent. The benefits are many. The team member who makes the
presentation improves on presentation and communication skills besides
sharpening his knowledge.
The other team members, who participate, gain something new that eventually satisfies their thirst for knowledge. The project and the organization gain a knowledge pool and the knowledge is retained. The team members go out of the room with a larger perspective and can think broadly and crack problems in a better way than before.
Moral: Knowledge not shared is knowledge not discovered
13. Knowledge Repository
You need to build a project specific Knowledge Repository and give access
to all team members. You can place Technical and Functional Documents, Best
Practices, Lessons Learnt etc, in the repository. It not only helps in
retaining the knowledge gained in the project execution but also helps in
reducing the time one needs to spend with new team members.
Mora
Twenty Points for Effective Software Project Management
Introduction
Software Project Management differs from other project managements in
several ways.
The Project Manager, like a captain on a ship, is ultimately responsible
for the success of a project. The project manager, besides being the focal
point for the project execution, is responsible for driving organizational
initiatives and changes, and keeping the customer delighted all the time.
Most of the software projects fail not because they are inherently complex,
but mainly because of the poor project management. You can be a smart
programmer capable of writing complex programs, but it is not enough for
project management. The project management skills are quite different. It
involves getting the work done by others, the way you want and yet making
them feel happy about it.
Challenges in Software Project Management
Software Project Management is different from other disciplines or fields.
Some of the factors contributing to the differences are listed below, and
these factors complicate Software Project Management:
1. Working Remotely: At times, you need to work with people living
geographically at different locations, which you might not have met. This
leads to a lot of communication problems.
2. Invisibility of the Final Product: Though there are intermediate work
products in each phase of the software development life cycle, the end user
and at times the developer are not able to visualize the final product
through the various software artifacts. In contrast, in case of a bridge or
building construction, the end user and the worker can actually visualize
the final product evolving.
3. Knowledge Workers: Working with well-educated people is easy as well as
tough. As the developers are smart and equally educated as the project manager, managing them becomes easy. It becomes more difficult mainly because of the knowledge level differences in a particular technology or domain where the developers may have more knowledge.
4. Technological Changes and Market Openings: The software developers have
to continuously improve the knowledge level due to the technological
changes. This, on the other hand, paves a way to them to acquire jobs that
lead to high attrition rates, which ultimately lands the project manager in
trouble.
The Best Practices
This white paper presents 20 best practices followed in software project
management to maintain a well-orchestrated team to create and claim
sustainable values. The points mentioned here are not in any order of
priority.
1. Customer Focus
When you encourage the team, definitely they will put in great efforts to
come out with an excellent product that delights the customer. At the same
time, you need to make sure that the team understands the pains of the
customer and also the impact of bad products on the brand name of the
organization.
As this is a primary concern of any organization, you need to
work on this activity constantly and continuously throughout the execution
of the project. This helps you to sustain the relationship with the
customer and also get repeated orders. Needless to mention about the good
will and the references you get, when you delight the customer.
Moral: Customers is the real boss; you need to keep him happy
2. Recognition
Nothing can motivate the developers to a great extent as recognizing the
great piece of work done by them. When you recognize their work, they feel
honored and important. It also brings in a feeling of belongingness and
great satisfaction to the developers.
The project managers can use email
facilities and team meetings as effective tools to recognize people. You
can send out an appreciation mail or praise the developer in the team
meetings, which are within your scope. When you couple this with the
recognition awards of the organization, it can do wonders as recognitions
improve the performance of the individual as well as the team.
Moral: Recognition is the greatest motivator
3. Communicating the Project Plan
Communicating the project plan to all the team members is as important as
creating the project plan. You need to keep the team well informed about
the plan so that they can visualize the bigger picture.
Moral: Understanding the plan is the first step towards delivering a
quality product
4. Strategy
You need to devise a good strategy to successfully implement the various
aspects of the project plan. You might have derived a good plan, but still,
if your strategy is poor, it can yield disastrous results. You as a project
manager need to liaise with the architects and senior developers while
framing major strategies.
Moral: Strategy can mar or improve the effectiveness of a plan
5. Suitable Methodology
It is highly important that you need to be careful while choosing a proper
methodology for the project execution. A process life cycle, which is an
excellent fit for a project in one area or domain, may not fit in other
domains or areas.
Moral: One man’s food is another man’s poison
6. Business Functionality
You need to ensure a good understanding of business functionality among the
project team. With all the technical knowledge in this world, one may not
be able to beat a person who has good functional knowledge. That explains
the importance of having good functional knowledge among the team. You as a
project manager need to ensure that the due diligence documents are
constantly updated to reflect the knowledge gained during project
execution.
Moral: Knowledge is power
7. Project Review Meetings
A weekly/fortnightly Project Review Meeting is very much required for a
project. Besides helping to keep track of the project execution, it helps
in keeping the team focused. It makes each and every member of the team
know what is happening in the other part of the project, which is required
to understand and visualize the project in bigger picture. You can share
all the important and significant organizational changes/initiatives in the
meeting. You need to ensure that action items are noted and recorded in the
Minutes of Meeting (MOM) document and tracked to closure. If you look at
this meeting as more of information sharing and execution point of view,
rather than as a statutory requirement to comply with Quality Management
System (QMS), you can benefit more out of it.
Moral: A map is of no use if you do not know where you are
8. One-on-One Meetings
Unlike the Project Review Meetings mandated by the QMS of the
organizations, a one-on-one is very special in its kind. The purpose of
one-on-one meeting is to create a continuous learning environment, which is
very much essential in the software industry. One-on-one meetings build
trust between the project manager and the team members. Since it is on a
one-on-one basis, the chances are more for the team members to freely share
their views, discuss issues, and express concerns in an open manner. You
can understand the concerns of the team members and resolve them at an
early stage through these meetings.
You can effectively use these meetings to groom and mould the team. Instead
of waiting until the end of the year to do a formal annual appraisal and
give the review feedback, the project manager can take the one-on-one
meeting as an opportunity to give informal feedback to the team members
about their strengths and possible areas of improvement. Since it is not a
formal appraisal, chances are very high that the team members will respond
to the feedback in a more positive way and would discuss with keen interest
to improve their strengths or overcome the shortcomings. On the other hand,
it provides the project manager an ample opportunity to assess and gauge
the team members’ work on a periodic basis and encourage them to learn or
improve continuously.
It is human psychology to work more to achieve a goal when there is a sense
of urgency. For instance, the students at college study with all sincerity
just before the examinations. As it is true at work places too, you can
utilize the one-on-one meetings to create the sense of urgency. You can set
short-term goals to team members in one of these meetings and evaluate the
progress in the subsequent meetings. You can also use these meetings as an
opportunity to drive the organizational changes, though that is not the
main purpose.
The success of a one-on-one lies entirely on the way it is conducted. You
need to conduct it in a totally informal and friendly manner, of course
without losing the focus. Care should be taken to make sure that no
unrealistic promises are made to the team members to fulfill their
aspirations. You can conduct these meetings regularly once in a month on
convenient days when you are free from your routine activities.
Moral: Run as fast as you can, just to stay in place – The Red Queen in
Alice in Wonderland
9. T-Cons
In this industry, often we work with people who are geographically apart.
At times emails create two islands of people communicating over a sea of
misunderstanding. This, besides distracting the environment, creates an
unhealthy atmosphere. Teleconferences (T-Cons) between onsite and offshore
parties help eliminate most of these communication problems.
You can use T-Cons to communicate effectively with your customer and build
mutual trust with them. It is a good practice to include the entire team in
T-Cons whenever possible. This brings all the team members to the same
level and also, helps you to groom the team indirectly in communication
skills. You should prepare the MOMs at the end of every call and send it to
all the participants to ensure that every issue is understood in a proper
way and track the issues to closure. As a thumb rule, one should not get
onto emails unless otherwise warranted.
Moral: Voice is better than text
10. Encourage Finding Bugs
You need to encourage your team members to find as many defects as possible
in the work products. Earlier they find, the cheaper it is to fix. Concerns
regarding linking of defects and performance appraisals are to be removed
as otherwise the team members might hide the bugs.
Moral: A stitch in time saves nine
11. In-House Trainings
When at school, we tend to go in for private tuitions mainly because we get
a special or an individual attention, which we do not get in our regular
classes.
In a similar way, when you arrange training specific to the project in
hand, you make the team happy, contained, and more valuable. This will
certainly improve the performance on the whole. You should arrange these
trainings in addition to the compulsory hours of training arranged/required
by most organizations.
Moral: Trainings make men happiest in themselves also make them most
serviceable to others
12. Knowledge Sharing Sessions
Transforming tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge is a key challenge in
this industry. You can arrange Knowledge Sharing Sessions to achieve this
to a large extent. The benefits are many. The team member who makes the
presentation improves on presentation and communication skills besides
sharpening his knowledge.
The other team members, who participate, gain something new that eventually satisfies their thirst for knowledge. The project and the organization gain a knowledge pool and the knowledge is retained. The team members go out of the room with a larger perspective and can think broadly and crack problems in a better way than before.
Moral: Knowledge not shared is knowledge not discovered
13. Knowledge Repository
You need to build a project specific Knowledge Repository and give access
to all team members. You can place Technical and Functional Documents, Best
Practices, Lessons Learnt etc, in the repository. It not only helps in
retaining the knowledge gained in the project execution but also helps in
reducing the time one needs to spend with new team members.
Mora
13 Characteristics Of Sucessful People
THE 13 CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE -
By Jeffrey J. Mayer -
SucceedingInBusiness.com
I've spent many years studying successful people and have identified the
skills, talents, and characteristics that enable them to succeed. As you
look at and study these skills, talents, and characteristics, you'll realize
that you possess many of them yourself.
Some of these skills and talents are more dominant than others and will play
a greater part in your being, or becoming, a success in the business of
life. These are the things you do well.
The things you do easily and effortlessly. These are your strengths. When
you find you need a skill or talent you don't have, just go out and look for
a person or group of people with the skills, talents, and training you need.
Skills and talents that complement your own. These people will become your
teammates, colleagues, co-workers, professional advisors, and friends. With
these combined skills and talents organizations grow, prosper, and become
successful.
These are the five things you'll find every successful person has in common :-
1. They have a dream.
2. They have a plan.
3. They have specific knowledge or training.
4. They're willing to work hard.
5. They don't take no for an answer.
Remember: Success begins with a state of mind. You must believe you'll be
successful in order to become a success.
The following is a list of the skills, talents, and characteristics you'll
find in successful people: -
1. Successful People Have a Dream.
They have a well-defined purpose. They have a definite goal. They know what
they want. They aren't easily influenced by the thoughts and opinions of
others.
They have willpower. They have ideas. Their strong desire brings strong
results. They go out and do things that others say can't be done.
Remember: It only takes one sound idea to achieve success.
Remember: People who excel in life are those who produce results, not
excuses. Anybody can come up with excuses and explanations for why he hasn't
made it. Those who want to succeed badly enough don't make excuses.
2. Successful People Have Ambition.
They want to accomplish something. They have enthusiasm, commitment, and
pride. They have self-discipline. They're willing to work hard and to go the
extra mile. They have a burning desire to succeed. They're willing to do
whatever it takes to get the job done.
Remember: With hard work come results. The joy in life comes with working
for and achieving something.
3. Successful People Are Strongly Motivated Toward Achievement.
They take great satisfaction in accomplishing a task.
4. Successful People Are Focused.
They concentrate on their main goals and objectives. They don't get
sidetracked. They don't procrastinate. They work on the projects that are
important, and don't allow those projects to sit until the last minute.
They're productive, not just busy.
5. Successful People Learn How to Get Things Done.
They use their skills, talents, energies, and knowledge to the fullest
extent possible. They do the things that need to be done, not just the
things they like to do.
They are willing to work hard and to commit themselves to getting the job
done.
Remember: Happiness is found in doing and accomplishing, not in owning and
possessing. Many years ago I was asked: "Jeff, do you like pleasing habits
or pleasing results?" As I pondered that probing question, and squirmed in
my chair like a worm at the end of a hook, I felt as if I had painted myself
into a corner. A few moments later I answered: "I like pleasing results."
From that moment on my life changed. I began to do the things that were
difficult, because they enabled me to achieve my goals.
6. Successful People Take Responsibility for Their Actions.
They don't make excuses. They don't blame others. They don't whine and
complain.
7. Successful People Look for Solutions to Problems.
They're opportunity minded. When they see opportunities they take advantage
of them.
8. Successful People Make Decisions.
They think about the issues and relevant facts, give them adequate
deliberation and consideration, and make a decision. Decisions aren't put
off or delayed, they're made now!
Success Tip: Spend more time thinking and planning before you make your
decision, and you'll make better decisions.
Success Tip: When you don't get the expected results from the decision
you've made, change your course of action. Decisions should never be carved
in stone.
9. Successful People Have the Courage to Admit They've Made a Mistake.
When you make a mistake, admit it, fix it, and move on. Don't waste a lot of
time, energy, money, and/or other resources trying to defend a mistake or a
bad decision.
Remember: When people are wrong, they may admit it to themselves. If they
are handled gently and tactfully, they may admit it to others and even take
pride in their frankness and broad-mindedness. But people become very
defensive and angry when others try to cram their mistakes down their
throats. If you want to learn how to overcome the fear of failure, overcome
the procrastination habit, and become more successful by writing and
reviewing your goals, you should
10. Successful People Are Self-Reliant.
They have the skills, talents, and training that are needed in order to be
successful. Your thoughts, comments & opinions are appreciated.
11. Successful People Have Specific Knowledge, Training, and/or Skills and Talents.
They know the things they need to know to be successful. And when they need
information, knowledge, or skills and talents that they don't possess, they
find someone who does possess them.
12. Successful People Work with and Cooperate with Other People.
They have positive, outgoing personalities. They surround themselves with
people who offer them help, support, and encouragement. They are leaders.
13. Successful People Are Enthusiastic.
They're excited by what they're doing, and that excitement is contagious.
They draw people to them because these people want to work with them, do
business with them, and be with them.
By Jeffrey J. Mayer -
SucceedingInBusiness.com
I've spent many years studying successful people and have identified the
skills, talents, and characteristics that enable them to succeed. As you
look at and study these skills, talents, and characteristics, you'll realize
that you possess many of them yourself.
Some of these skills and talents are more dominant than others and will play
a greater part in your being, or becoming, a success in the business of
life. These are the things you do well.
The things you do easily and effortlessly. These are your strengths. When
you find you need a skill or talent you don't have, just go out and look for
a person or group of people with the skills, talents, and training you need.
Skills and talents that complement your own. These people will become your
teammates, colleagues, co-workers, professional advisors, and friends. With
these combined skills and talents organizations grow, prosper, and become
successful.
These are the five things you'll find every successful person has in common :-
1. They have a dream.
2. They have a plan.
3. They have specific knowledge or training.
4. They're willing to work hard.
5. They don't take no for an answer.
Remember: Success begins with a state of mind. You must believe you'll be
successful in order to become a success.
The following is a list of the skills, talents, and characteristics you'll
find in successful people: -
1. Successful People Have a Dream.
They have a well-defined purpose. They have a definite goal. They know what
they want. They aren't easily influenced by the thoughts and opinions of
others.
They have willpower. They have ideas. Their strong desire brings strong
results. They go out and do things that others say can't be done.
Remember: It only takes one sound idea to achieve success.
Remember: People who excel in life are those who produce results, not
excuses. Anybody can come up with excuses and explanations for why he hasn't
made it. Those who want to succeed badly enough don't make excuses.
2. Successful People Have Ambition.
They want to accomplish something. They have enthusiasm, commitment, and
pride. They have self-discipline. They're willing to work hard and to go the
extra mile. They have a burning desire to succeed. They're willing to do
whatever it takes to get the job done.
Remember: With hard work come results. The joy in life comes with working
for and achieving something.
3. Successful People Are Strongly Motivated Toward Achievement.
They take great satisfaction in accomplishing a task.
4. Successful People Are Focused.
They concentrate on their main goals and objectives. They don't get
sidetracked. They don't procrastinate. They work on the projects that are
important, and don't allow those projects to sit until the last minute.
They're productive, not just busy.
5. Successful People Learn How to Get Things Done.
They use their skills, talents, energies, and knowledge to the fullest
extent possible. They do the things that need to be done, not just the
things they like to do.
They are willing to work hard and to commit themselves to getting the job
done.
Remember: Happiness is found in doing and accomplishing, not in owning and
possessing. Many years ago I was asked: "Jeff, do you like pleasing habits
or pleasing results?" As I pondered that probing question, and squirmed in
my chair like a worm at the end of a hook, I felt as if I had painted myself
into a corner. A few moments later I answered: "I like pleasing results."
From that moment on my life changed. I began to do the things that were
difficult, because they enabled me to achieve my goals.
6. Successful People Take Responsibility for Their Actions.
They don't make excuses. They don't blame others. They don't whine and
complain.
7. Successful People Look for Solutions to Problems.
They're opportunity minded. When they see opportunities they take advantage
of them.
8. Successful People Make Decisions.
They think about the issues and relevant facts, give them adequate
deliberation and consideration, and make a decision. Decisions aren't put
off or delayed, they're made now!
Success Tip: Spend more time thinking and planning before you make your
decision, and you'll make better decisions.
Success Tip: When you don't get the expected results from the decision
you've made, change your course of action. Decisions should never be carved
in stone.
9. Successful People Have the Courage to Admit They've Made a Mistake.
When you make a mistake, admit it, fix it, and move on. Don't waste a lot of
time, energy, money, and/or other resources trying to defend a mistake or a
bad decision.
Remember: When people are wrong, they may admit it to themselves. If they
are handled gently and tactfully, they may admit it to others and even take
pride in their frankness and broad-mindedness. But people become very
defensive and angry when others try to cram their mistakes down their
throats. If you want to learn how to overcome the fear of failure, overcome
the procrastination habit, and become more successful by writing and
reviewing your goals, you should
10. Successful People Are Self-Reliant.
They have the skills, talents, and training that are needed in order to be
successful. Your thoughts, comments & opinions are appreciated.
11. Successful People Have Specific Knowledge, Training, and/or Skills and Talents.
They know the things they need to know to be successful. And when they need
information, knowledge, or skills and talents that they don't possess, they
find someone who does possess them.
12. Successful People Work with and Cooperate with Other People.
They have positive, outgoing personalities. They surround themselves with
people who offer them help, support, and encouragement. They are leaders.
13. Successful People Are Enthusiastic.
They're excited by what they're doing, and that excitement is contagious.
They draw people to them because these people want to work with them, do
business with them, and be with them.
Quotes On SUCCESS
Quotes on SUCCESS
I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.
~ Helen Keller
~~~~~~~~~~
The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.
~ Roosevelt
~~~~~~~~~~
You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try.
~ Beverly Sills
~~~~~~~~~~
Successful and unsuccessful people do not vary greatly in their abilities. They vary in their desires to reach their potential.
~ John Maxwell
~~~~~~~~~~
Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.
~ Ronald E. Osborn
~~~~~~~~~~
If you aren't making any mistakes, it's a sure sign you're playing it too safe.
~ John Maxwell
~~~~~~~~~~
If you have the will to win, you have achieved half your success; if you don't, you have achieved half your failure.
-David Ambrose
~~~~~~~~~~
Success is not measured by what a man accomplishes, but by the opposition he has encountered and the courage with which he has maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.
~ Charles Lindbergh, Aviation pioneer
~~~~~~~~~~
Unless you are willing to drench yourself in your work beyond the capacity of the average man, you are just not cut out for positions at the top.
~ J.C. Penny
~~~~~~~~~~
To bring one's self to a frame of mind and to the proper energy to accomplish things that require plain hard work continuously is the one big battle that everyone has. When this battle is won for all time, then everything is easy.
~ Thomas A. Buckner
~~~~~~~~~~
Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.
~ John Wooden
~~~~~~~~~~
You must do the very thing you think you cannot do.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
~~~~~~~~~~
Nothing ever comes to one that is worth having except as a result of hard work.
~ Booker T. Washington
~~~~~~~~~~
A competitive world has two possibilities for you: you can lose or, if you want to win, you can change.
~ Lester C. Thurow
~~~~~~~~~~
True success is obeying God.
~ John Maxwell
~~~~~~~~~~
There are three ways to get something done: Do it yourself, employ someone or forbid your children to do it.
~ Monta Crane
~~~~~~~~~~
Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?
~ Frank Scully
~~~~~~~~~~
Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.
~ Booker T. Washington
~~~~~~~~~~
All the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action.
~ James Russell Lowell
~~~~~~~~~~
The secret of success is consistency of purpose.
~ Benjamin Disraeli
~~~~~~~~~~
Doing little things with a strong desire to please God makes them really great.
~ St. Francis De Sales
~~~~~~~~~~
I cannot give you a formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure - which is: try to please everybody.
~ Mr. Herbert Bayard Swope
~~~~~~~~~~
Listing your personal milestones is like storing a pocketful of sunshine for a rainy day.
~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes our best is simply not enough.... We have to do what is required.
~ Sir Winston Churchill
~~~~~~~~~~
I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.
~ Helen Keller
~~~~~~~~~~
The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.
~ Roosevelt
~~~~~~~~~~
You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try.
~ Beverly Sills
~~~~~~~~~~
Successful and unsuccessful people do not vary greatly in their abilities. They vary in their desires to reach their potential.
~ John Maxwell
~~~~~~~~~~
Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.
~ Ronald E. Osborn
~~~~~~~~~~
If you aren't making any mistakes, it's a sure sign you're playing it too safe.
~ John Maxwell
~~~~~~~~~~
If you have the will to win, you have achieved half your success; if you don't, you have achieved half your failure.
-David Ambrose
~~~~~~~~~~
Success is not measured by what a man accomplishes, but by the opposition he has encountered and the courage with which he has maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.
~ Charles Lindbergh, Aviation pioneer
~~~~~~~~~~
Unless you are willing to drench yourself in your work beyond the capacity of the average man, you are just not cut out for positions at the top.
~ J.C. Penny
~~~~~~~~~~
To bring one's self to a frame of mind and to the proper energy to accomplish things that require plain hard work continuously is the one big battle that everyone has. When this battle is won for all time, then everything is easy.
~ Thomas A. Buckner
~~~~~~~~~~
Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.
~ John Wooden
~~~~~~~~~~
You must do the very thing you think you cannot do.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
~~~~~~~~~~
Nothing ever comes to one that is worth having except as a result of hard work.
~ Booker T. Washington
~~~~~~~~~~
A competitive world has two possibilities for you: you can lose or, if you want to win, you can change.
~ Lester C. Thurow
~~~~~~~~~~
True success is obeying God.
~ John Maxwell
~~~~~~~~~~
There are three ways to get something done: Do it yourself, employ someone or forbid your children to do it.
~ Monta Crane
~~~~~~~~~~
Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?
~ Frank Scully
~~~~~~~~~~
Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.
~ Booker T. Washington
~~~~~~~~~~
All the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action.
~ James Russell Lowell
~~~~~~~~~~
The secret of success is consistency of purpose.
~ Benjamin Disraeli
~~~~~~~~~~
Doing little things with a strong desire to please God makes them really great.
~ St. Francis De Sales
~~~~~~~~~~
I cannot give you a formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure - which is: try to please everybody.
~ Mr. Herbert Bayard Swope
~~~~~~~~~~
Listing your personal milestones is like storing a pocketful of sunshine for a rainy day.
~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes our best is simply not enough.... We have to do what is required.
~ Sir Winston Churchill
~~~~~~~~~~
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