Nov
7
Are You a Weight Loss Loner or a Weight Loss Program Joiner?
Most people who want to lose weight understand the basic process – expend more calories than you take in and you’ll lose weight. Some people are confident that they can research options, chose, implement and evaluate the success of any
weight loss plan themselves, while others feel lost and intimidated by all of the available choices and would rather help navigating the weight loss waters. Here are some tips to help determine if you’re a weight loss loner or a weight loss program joiner.
Weight Loss Loners: Most successful weight loss loners are analytical by nature. They like puzzles and problem solving. It’s not too overwhelming for them to determine a safe and healthy calorie level, plan an exercise program, and research which foods and activities will get them there. Weight loss loners will likely even enjoy the process of keeping a food and exercise journal. Loners will likely find charting and analyzing their progress and making any necessary changes to be an enjoyable process. Weight Loss loners are not necessarily loners in real life. They aren’t anti social, but they are usually more willing and able to motivate themselves and obtain individual support from those closest to them rather than feeling they need to get their support from people who are initially strangers. Loners often find they are able to fulfill any need of being part of a team or group by joining a team sport – which helps them simultaneously lose weight and reach out to others. The challenge and hard work of going it alone will actually motivate a weight loss loner whereas this process would likely intimidate or overwhelm a weight loss program joiner. Weight loss loners often really love the “numbers game” challenge of crunching the calories in / exercise out weight loss formula. It’s very important for weight loss loners to do enough research and gain enough knowledge to make sure they are still getting a well balanced diet with enough calories.
Sep
12
Co-workers and Office GossipHow often do you hear others complain about another employee in the office? Complaints about people when they are not present equates to gossip. How often have you caught yourself doing the same thing? Any discussion with another person in a negative way is considered gossip. Some people
are worse at doing this than others. Gossip can quickly ruin friendships and business relationships. There’s always the notorious co-worker who tells on you. How about those people that go to your boss and insinuate that you’re not doing your job correctly, timely or not at all. For some, these complaints may be valid but it can be very frustrating when you consider there are always two sides to a story. Numerous people choose to listen to only one side. Look deep inside yourself to see if you are one of these people or if you contribute to their behavior.Fueling the fireOthers try to fit in by participating in discussions that are negative. It is probable, you either speak these negative words or fuel the fire. Everyone has been in this situation on more than one occasion. No matter what you think, others don’t want to hear you complain 24/7. This reflects bad on you and the person you’re talking to. Others see or hear you converse in this manner so be aware no matter how discreet you are, your participation is recognized. Constant negative discussions will bring a person down and make them dread being around you. Most people enjoy being around others that are positive.Change yourself and othersIf you change your ways, others will acknowledge it and also change. I recall a time when I was complaining to a co-worker about my boss. They agreed but instead of fueling my complaints, they said “What can you do?” and shrugged their shoulders. This person did not agree or disagree with what I was saying but their comment and body language ended the conversation. This was their way of saying I was gossiping and they didn’t want to have a part in it. I immediately realized what I doing and stopped complaining and changed the subject.
Apr
10
Avoiding Damage to Your Computer ScreenIf you own a computer monitor, it’s going to get dirty. In addition to collecting dust and other particles floating through the air, your monitor will get smudged by your fingerprints pointing things out to other people. If you own an lcd monitor and want to clean it, you should read this
article first and not make certain common mistakes. This article will demonstrate how to clean an lcd monitor effectively without damaging the screen or other part of the hardware.Lcd monitors are different from crt monitors because they don’t have a thick glass or plastic covering over the electronic display area. In this sense your lcd monitor screen is more like a calculator screen than a crt monitor or a television screen. Because of this, you need to pay special attention to what cleaning agents you use on this particular type of screen. Using the wrong type of cleaning fluid can cause damage to the liquid crystal display, which is the last thing you want to do on an expensive lcd monitor.To remove dust particles and other free-floating debris from your lcd monitor, you can either use a soft, moisture-free cloth or a Swiffer cloth. I prefer Swiffer dusting cloths because they not only sweep away dust and debris, but also catch it in special electrostatic grooves in the fabric. So potentially a Swiffer cloth can clean an lcd screen more effectively than a regular soft cloth, but how you choose to remove dust is really a matter of personal preference. Just be sure that neither cloth contains any hard piece of debris that could potentially scratch the surface of the lcd monitor.
Apr
3
When It’s Your Turn to Speak UpSenior citizens have lots of wonderful ideas. After all, they have a lifetime of experience and the time to ponder over the meaning of just about everything. Unfortunately, too many senior citizens keep their good ideas to themselves. To stand before a group of other seniors and share their thoughts may seem torturous to some and just too much effort for others. Believe it or not there are plenty of seniors who really would like to hear your thoughts, opinions, experience and suggestions. If you have some good ideas and a format to present them, then all you may need is a few senior tips for public speaking to help you along. 1, Be prepared. In any speaking engagement, by or for people of any age, the key element is always solid preparation. This includes a thorough exploration of your subject, the organization of your material into sequential chunks of information and the physical preparation of an outline to guide you along. As a senior citizen making a presentation you will want to prepare in just that way. Only you will also want to prepare your own small collection of personal aids like a bottle of water for that tickle that you know you will get after 10 minutes or a few tissues for that inopportunely running nose of yours. You’ll stand up more confidently as a senior citizen in front of any group if you know you have come equipped to stand and deliver. That’s why good senior tips for public speaking always begins with being prepared. 2 Know your group. As your rise to speak you will feel much more relaxed if you have already made a quick study of the group you face. If you are speaking to a group of seniors then you need to assume that some will have hearing issues, some will be visually impaired , there may be some who will need to sit towards the back so they can sneak out to the lavatory.
Aug
11
For most people, public speaking is not something they love to do. It can be downright terrifying to stand in front of a group of people and give a presentation. It’s even worse when you’re a shy, quiet person who would rather go unnoticed. It’s not surprise that the fear of public
fearing has been rated the #1 fear in America.Like it or not, public speaking is something we all have to do eventually, whether it’s giving a speech in high school, college or presenting a project at work. Still, there is hope, even for those shy types who dread public speaking more than anything. I was one of those shy kids in high school who would get extremely nervous when it came to public speaking. I would stress about having to give a presentation for days, sometimes even weeks. On occasion, I would even resort to pretending to be sick that day. This was a hit and miss thing though, since sometimes the teacher would just make me give the presentation in front of the entire class on the day that I came back anyway. And of course, I’d be the only one, so this focused even more attention on me, which was the exact opposite of what I wanted. Over the years, as I grew more accustomed to public speaking, I figured out that there certain things that I could do to calm myself and make the presentation go more smoothly. Had I known in high school what I know now, I probably would not have stressed so much about it and I may have even learned to enjoy it. Since it’s not possible for me to go back to high school, I figure that the next best thing is to pass along the tips that I’ve learned to other high school students. Hopefully, these tips will help some other shy kid who dreads public speaking as much as I did back then. [THE DAYS LEADING UP TO YOUR SPEECH]Be PreparedYou need to know your subject matter forwards and backwards. It should be so ingrained into you that you’re able to give the presentation while you’re standing on your head with your eyes closed. (Hey, you never know what the teacher will ask of you.) So be sure you dedicate sufficient time to research. This is not one of those things you want to leave to the last minute.Create an outline for your presentation
Jul
14
Alignment as the Means of Controlling Disbursements in Your Small BusinessWhether a business is large or small, the same basic principles and practices of internal control apply. One of the key components of internal control is the accounts payable cycle.Large or Small, the Control Concepts are the Same Whether a business is large or small, whether it is
operated from a separate facility or you operate it from your home, the same basic principles and practices of internal control apply. One of the key components of internal control is the accounts payable cycle, encompassing the purchasing and cash disbursement functions. Even though the internal control steps involved in the process may be concentrated in just one person, in the case of a home-based business, or in a just a few people in a small business, these steps will be inherent in the decisions that are made and the actions that are taken. Segregation of duties, as would apply in a larger business, may not be practical or possible in a small business, but being aware of the different aspects of internal control will help to more clearly define the decision-making process, keep your small business on track, avoid unnecessary expenses or losses, and make the most efficient use of your resources. Making Focused Decisions In a home-based business or a sole proprietorship, accounts payable controls will probably come down to the decision of whether you should spend a certain amount of money on a certain item. This decision will actually involve a process of control in the sense that you have some basis for making the decision. A cash disbursement shouldn’t be perceived as a decision that is made at the moment of purchasing goods or paying for services. The origin really goes back to your business plan. All disbursements made in your small business should ultimately be justified based on your business plan – your goals and objectives, and the course you set for achieving them. Staying on Course Direction is key – in what direction are you going, and where does your direction come from. In the case of a sole proprietorship or home-based business, for example, you are the source of your own direction. You decide where you are going and how you want to get there. Maintaining a clear focus on your direction will help you avoid making unnecessary or unproductive expenditures, and veering off the course you have set. Your focus will be on making those disbursements that are necessary and reasonable in order to help you achieve your goals. Flexibility with a Solid Base Of course a certain amount of flexibility needs to be built into any system, in order to take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves, to respond to changes in the marketplace, and to adapt and adjust as your business evolves and grows. But having a framework in which to evaluate decisions regarding disbursements will once again take you back to your original plan. If your plan needs to be changed or adjusted, then that becomes your new plan and your new focus for direction, and your framework for decision-making. This is a dynamic and ongoing process, but it is nevertheless a process that requires careful thought and planning, and not spontaneous decisions. Timing is often critical in a fast-paced business or marketplace, where delaying a decision can mean losing out on an opportunity. Your whole cycle therefore needs to be just as dynamic. With some forethought, you can build flexibility into your system, without sacrificing the control element. And when you are clear about your objectives and direction, the time it takes to evaluate a decision regarding disbursements is reduced. You know how that disbursement fits into your overall business strategy. And, as you gain experience and knowledge in your business, you will develop an instinct about what disbursements are necessary and reasonable. An instinctive decision is actually based on an accumulation of knowledge and experience, and is not the same as an uninformed decision. Instinctive decision-making takes on added importance in a fast-paced environment, but you need the inherent framework provided by an internal control system, together with your knowledge and experience, in order to make these decisions. The Business Plan as the Starting Point Clarity as to your goals, objectives, and direction comes from going through the process of developing your business plan. It is here where you think through the product or service you will offer on the market, what it will take to produce the product or provide the service, the resources you will need in order to do so, and the efficiencies you hope to utilize in your favor. The business plan could be thought of as a description of the destination (the goals and objectives of the business), and the business strategy as the means to get there. This leads to the preparation of a budget, which could be thought of as a map, leading to the destination. In determining the resources you will need, you will inherently make a distinction between capital expenditures, start-up costs, and operating expenses. Some items, the expenditures for capital goods, will contribute to your business over a sustained period of time, while other items, the operating expenses, will be necessary to maintain ongoing operations, will have a shorter turnover time, and will be recurring. The Budget as a Tool A budget should not be so rigid as to restrict or limit a business, or prevent it from taking advantage of opportunities as they arise. But if it is not realistic and definitive, a budget loses meaning and purpose. Changes to a budget should be made within the broader context of changes in strategy or direction. New roads may be built that lead to the same destination, shortcuts may be found, or additional destinations may be added as the business grows and expands. This leads to budgetary changes aligned with changes in the plan and strategy. The budget represents in concrete terms (but not set in concrete) how the plan will be carried out – what income should be expected and what expenditures should be made to generate that income. The budget transforms the business plan into terms that can be put into practice in the day-to-day operations of the business. In this sense, the budget should be seen as a practical tool to be utilized to move the business forward on the right path, and not thought of as a deterrent, intended to limit the capacity to make decisions and run the business. Budgets, Forecasts and Projections A budget for capital expenditures and start-up costs is generally prepared once, when a business is commencing operations. An operating budget is often prepared on an annual basis. Many changes can occur during the year. While some changes can be foreseen and programmed into the budget, there will undoubtedly be other fluctuations that cannot be easily predicted, such as variations in the prices of materials and supplies, the cost of fuel, and other expenses. And selling prices may need to be adjusted according to fluctuations in market conditions. Many businesses have an annual budget, and then prepare quarterly or monthly forecasts to take into account these fluctuations during the year. In a home-based business or a small business, the time and effort involved in preparing such forecasts may or may not always be justifed. The important thing is to be aware of these changes during the year and how they affect the business overall. For example, increases in the cost of materials and supplies may need to be offset by adjustments in selling prices in order to achieve the same bottom line goal. If a business plan that was presented to lenders or investors contains a budget, that budget should not be altered, since the lenders and investors will probably want a report comparing actual results to budgeted results at some point in the future, depending on how financing for the business was negotiated. In this case, fluctuations during the year can be managed more efficiently by preparing updated forecasts. Likewise, cash flow projections will be directly affected by price changes and other fluctuations during the year, and the business decisions that are made in response to these changes. A cash flow projection therefore needs to be kept as up-to-date as possible. Here again, if the business plan contains a base cash flow projection, this can be maintained for comparative reporting purposes, with updated cash flow projections added as business conditions dictate. Flow of Control The steps involved in an accounts payable control system, or the thought process involved in decision-making, can be seen in terms of a logical flow, that starts with the business plan and ends with the disbursement. This flow is as follows: 1. Business plan 2. Business strategy 3. Budget 4. Forecasts and cash flow projections 5. Requisitions 6. Quotes and bids 7. Competitive comparison 8. Purchase order 9. Proof of delivery 10. Invoice verification 11. Payment End Results Within the context of overall internal controls, the controls that apply to the accounts payable cycle affect, or form a part of other, more general internal controls, such as variance analyses of budgeted versus actual expenses, or forecasted or projected expenses versus actual expenses. The controls inherent in the accounts payable process will also form part of cash flow comparisons and analyses. Variance analysis should lead to productive information and practical steps and measures that can be taken to improve the entire accounts payable process, always in line with the original intent expressed in the plan, and leading to more effective decision-making and ultimately, greater success in running the business and achieving goals and objectives, and improvements in the bottom line.
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