Thursday, September 30, 2010

Finding Work-Life Balance

I believe a good work-life balance is essential to living a happy life. How to you achieve yours?

Employees at Briargate Trading, a New York trading firm, work super hard around the stock market's 9:30 AM opening and 4 PM closing, but the rest of the day, as most other finance works are hunched over their desks, works head to the movies, play tennis in Central park, take leisurely lunches, visit their kid's schools or work out.

Here's something to think about, when are you intense periods at work and when are your lulls? Would you like a job where you worked really hard for a set time, but then could relax? Or would you rather just work steadily, but less intensely, throughout the day? If you could concoct your ideal work schedule what would it be?

If you're feeling a little over worked and need to get your work-life balance back, here are 10 tips:

1. Negotiate a change with your current employer. Progressive employers recognize the value of good employees, and many are willing to find ways to help current employees deal with short-term or permanent changes caused by family situations. The change can include flextime, job-sharing, telecommuting, or part-time employment. First, research your employer's policies and methods of handling previous requests. Then go to your boss with the information and a plan that shows how you will be an even more valuable and productive employee if you can modify your current work situation.
2. Find a new career. Some careers are simply more stressful and time-consuming that others. If you need more time for yourself or your family, now may be the time to explore careers that are less stressful and more flexible.
3. Find a new job. Rather than a career change, perhaps you just need to take a less stressful job within your chosen career. This change may involve working with your current employer to identify a new position, it may involve a full job-search, or it may involve temping or becoming a consultant or starting a freelancing or other home-based business.
4. Slow down. Life is simply too short, so don't let things pass you in a blur. Take steps to stop and enjoy the things and people around you. Schedule more time between meetings; don't make plans for every evening or weekend, and find some ways to distance yourself form the things that are causing you the most stress.
5. Learn to better manage your time and avoid procrastination. For many, most of the stress they feel comes from simply being disorganized, and procrastinating. Learn to set more realistic goals and deadlines, and then stick to them. You'll find that not only are you less stressed, but your work will be better.
6. Share the load. Even though we may sometimes feel we're the only ones capable of doing something, it's usually not the case. Get your partner or other family member to help you with all your personal/family responsibilities. Taking care of the house or family should not be the responsibility of just one person.
7. Let things go; don't sweat the small stuff. It's simpler said than done, but learn to let things go once and awhile. Don't always worry about the dishes not getting washed each day or that the house doesn't get vacuumed every week. Learn to recognize the things that don't really have much impact in your life and allow yourself to let them go. Then don't beat yourself up for doing so.
8. Explore your options. If you're feeling overwhelmed with your responsibilities, get help if you can afford it. In many cases, you have options, but you need to take the time to find them.
9. Take charge and set priorities. Sometimes it's easier for us to allow ourselves to feel overwhelmed rather than taking charge and developing a prioritized list of things that need to get done. You need to buck the trend, develop a list, set priorities and enjoy the satisfaction of crossing things off your list.
10. Simplify. It seems human nature for about everything to take on too many tasks, to try to do too much, and to own too much. Find a way to simplify your life. Change your lifestyles. Learn to say no to requests for help. Get rid of the clutter and baggage in your house and your life.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Hazardous Resumes

The job market is still rough and there are many out there still struggling to find work; since it has been reported that there are more inaccuracies in resumes. It has long been the case that job seekers buffer their resumes to make themselves look like a stronger, but recently more candidates are downplaying their work histories instead of exaggerating so that they won't appear overqualified for a job.

You may think that the highest group of unemployed people are young professionals and recent college grads. However, it's been said that the greatest number of those looking for work are those who are middle age and have been laid off. This is why some experts say 'dis-embellishment' is happening. This group of individuals have the experience, but can't find jobs to meet their years of work. Typically, this group needs a steady income somehow to pay for things such as their houses, kids, food, etc, so they are willing to take almost any job that, even one that requires much less experience.

Advice: Bottom line is tell the truth. Any work of fiction on either end poses for risk. Further, if any hirer does some research, they can find out the truth themselves.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Blockbuster Files for Bankruptcy Protection

The movie rental business has changed drastically in the past few years. Before, if you wanted to rent a movie Friday night all you had to turn to was your neighborhood movie rental shop. Now the business has expanded with Red Box, where you can rent new releases and old classics for just a buck a day, and Netflix, where you don't even need to leave your home to get a new movie. These players have strongly increased the competition making it hard for mom and pop shops, little alone big movie rental stores like Blockbuster to compete in the market. Recently, the previous movie-rental powerhouse, filed for bankruptcy protection and said it plans to keep stores and kiosks open as it reorganizes.

To compete with the new companies gaining popularity, Blockbuster did make some changes. The company ended late fees and started online and kiosk services of its own. However, it was still unable to keep its debt in check.

Blockbuster's future plans include closing hundreds of stores and continuing it's DVD vending kiosks, by-mail and digital business. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn will help steer the latest efforts to save Blockbuster, reviving a role he played long ago in trying to shape up the company. He has trusted himself into positioning the power of the company and this by time snapping up about one-third of Blockbuster's highest-priority debt. In it's filing it had about $1 billion in assets and $1.46 billion in debt.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Three Reasons to Hire a PR Firm

I've had experience from both the client and agency side of business, and I know what a good public relations firm can do. Here are the reasons I believe companies, especially small companies, should hire an outside public relations firm to do the dirty work.

You don't have time to do PR. You can't just turn off your public relations for a period of time. Just like other functions of the business, it's something you need to keep up. PR is something you need to plan and execute. Just like SEO, the more effort you put into your public relations plan, the more you'll get out off it.
To maximize a launch. Public relations is much more than just writing a press release and putting it over a wire service. If you hire a firm, you'll have a partner to help maximize your media relations, social media, events, award opportunities, etc. However, again PR is not something you can just turn off. One of the worst PR incidents is when a company does a huge launch and a lot of PR for a short time and then stops completely. Again, your public relations efforts need to stay consistent.
To revitalize a product or service. Good PR agencies know how to look at a product, service or company and see something new, something buzzworthy. PR firms can take something you think may be losing it's jive in the market and give it new legs. One thing to note though is even the best PR firm can't save a dieing product. Remember to be honest with your agency and tell them of the product or services successes and failures.

Bonus Tip:

You are in a crowded market. Small businesses trying to complete in a busy, hectic market may find a PR firm more useful. A good PR firm will create a strategy that focuses on your company's strengths and differentiators that make you stand out. Often agencies can break through all of the noise in the market and reach those you want to hear about your offerings.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Tips to Help You Make a Great Impression on Your First Day at a New Job

I'm starting a new job on Monday and I'm very excited. However, with every new beginning, you need to leave your comfort zone and be prepared to be the new kid on the block for awhile. Here are some tips I recommend to anyone starting a new opportunity.
  • Ask questions. You're new and it's better to do something right the first time around than have to do it over.
  • Take notes. Unless you have a photographic memory, take notes. You'll want to all the systems rules and organization policies.
  • Discover everything you can about your new employer. In theory, you should have already done your homework during the interviewing process, but there is always more to learn now that your are going to be on the inside.
  • Listen more than talk. Don't always act like a know-it-all right off the bat. The idea is to communicate that you have some very marketable skills and you are here to learn and apply your skills to help the organization achieve success.
  • Smile a lot and be friendly. Get to know your co-workers and what their interests are.
  • Dress professional/blend in and blend in with your co-workers. You should never underestimate the importance of dressing professionally in your new job, and in the beginning, even if your department has casual days, you should dress professionally because you never known when you'll be called out to meet a top manager or key client.
  • Learn about your co-workers. No one expects you to have every one's name down pat by the end of the first day or week, but if you are bad with names, now is the time to research some of the neat memory-aid tricks you can try to use. Also, use your lunch hours to get together with your current co-workers.
  • Show your team spirit. You are now part of a work team, and teams work together to solve problems and get the job done. Show loyalty to your co-workers and focus more, initially at least, on sharing any recognition you get with the team. Always give credit to the team.
  • Show appreciation. Nothing works like kindness and genuine appreciation. So, show your appreciation to everyone who helps you learn the ropes during the first days on the job.
  • Figure out who has the authority to give you work to do and who is just trying to have you do theirs.
  • Pay attention to the 'grapevine,' but don't contribute to it. You don't want to gain a reputation as a gossip monger.
  • Don't complain about your boss, your office mate, any co-workers, or your previous job.
  • Keep personal business on company time to a minimum. Studies show that just about everyone conducts some amount of personal business on company time, checking email, making dinner reservations, buying stuff online. Try your best to just focus on work.
  • Continue to arrive early and don't rush out the door at the end of the day.
  • Volunteer for projects that will help you get noticed, but don't neglect any assigned work.
  • Track accomplishments. No one else will do it for you. Track them for if nothing else but your personal satisfaction, for raise and promotion meetings, and for future job-hunting.
  • Keep a positive attitude and an open mind. Your life has changed and it will take getting used to.
Being the newest member of the organization, the rookie, is both challenging and exciting. You'll be faced with both difficulties and opportunities, and your goal should be to make the most of all situations. These tips should help provide you with some insights and direction as you approach that new job, but don't worry if you don't make a perfect impression in those early days on the job. Few of us ever do. Remember to relax, keep your mind open, get to know your team members, be yourself and do your work, and you should go far in making a lasting impression and reputation.

Monday, September 13, 2010

A Few Words About Randy Moss

Randy likes to talk a lot, usually too much. He's a great football player, but he really has some public relations issues. The Patriots receiver lashed out in a lengthy and passionate news conference after Sunday's 38-24 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, saying he doesn't feel appreciated in New England and that waiting until the season to get a new contact would be "a smack in the face."

Since his arrival 2007, the unhappy Moss has had three straight 1,000-yard seasons, including a record setting '07 in which he caught 23 touchdowns while helping New England to a perfect 16-0 mark in the regular season.

"It's not that I'm mad or trying to be disgruntled. I'm hurt. You give me a word," he said. "Sometimes you want your boss to tell you you're doing a good job. That's every man or woman who works for somebody. And that's just the way with football. If you do a good job and think that you're doing a good job, you want to be appreciated. I really don't think that - me, personally - that I'm appreciated." Bug, Moss who complained that reporters twist his words around, also said in a 16-minute back-and-fort: I'm not saying that I'm not appreciated here." Well, what are you saying then Randy?

"This is the last year of my contract. Nothing has been discussed. There's not been anything said. Not a letter. Nothing," he said. "I'm not saying that I want to stay here, but I love playing here. If the future of my job lets me go to another team, then that's what it's going to be. But for now, I'm still in a contract for the New England Patriots, and I have a job to do.

Randy has had a trail of on-field accomplishments and off-field problems over his 13 years of professional football. All of his talent has been marred by rancorous departures from Minnesota, Oakland and the Raiders. "When it comes to football, I take my job seriously," he said. "But I think around here in the New England area, a lot of people don't want to see me do good. And the reason why, I don't know. I really don't care. ...Me being unhappy doesn't have anything to do with me toning my game down. I'm here, and I understand my role. My role is to take the ball deep and take the top off the defense."

Then when asked who wants him to fail, Moss said "I'm just thinking that the journey I've taken to get to where I'm at, 13 years, I don't really feel that I'm very liked. And I'm not saying from you all. I don't really give a damn if you like me, to be honest with you."

Moss is an interesting, very talented sports star. He could use some media training too. Of course his large ego gets in the way and gets him in a lot of trouble. This is the center of why it would be hard to be his publicist. I don't think there is a thing Randy Moss can do to change his reputation now - he has been the same his whole career. Good thing he is good at football, because that's why people want to have him around; nothing else.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

How Much Does Freelance Writing Pay?

If you're thinking about becoming a freelance writer, I think you'll find this information interesting.

I'm thinking about offering up my services as a freelance writer for websites and social media sites. This got me to thinking about how much I should charge. I have a creative communications and journalism background and have experience working in public relations and marketing. I believe I can be considered to have been a writer about two years, although I think I've been a writer most of my life.

After doing some research, I found that the answer to this question varies.
  • You can charge by the hour, just a flat rate. A nice starting rate for this is $12 an hour. This is actually a really good rate.
  • You can charge a paragraph rate. This can become somewhat lucrative, unless there's a limit to how many times you can write/post. A good starting rate for this is about $5 a paragraph.
  • You can charge per word. If you want to charge this way, an average pay is about .01 per word, sometimes a bit better. However, some places only pay .005 per word. If you're a fast writer you can make a decent amount this way. This rate can go up as you work longer.

If you're or have been a freelance writer, please offer up your advice or how you've been compensated in the past. Let us know how it has worked for you.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Can You Use a Trademarked Logo Without Permission? State Fair Asks for Logo to be Removed from Bachmann TV Ad

During Minnesota State Fair time, if you were watching TV, you may have seen the Michelle Bachmann ad criticizing Tarryl Clark for 'raising taxes on a variety of State Fair goodies.' The ad was criticized for not only slander, but for showing the Minnesota State Fair logo twice during the chimerical.

"I know, I know, it's State Fair time and you don't want to hear about politics," says Jim "The Election Guy," a character in Bachmann's TV ads. "But while you're at the fair, you should know Tarryl Clark here voted to raise taxes on your corn dog. And your deep fried bacon. And your beer."

While Clark did vote 'yes' on a bill that would increase taxes on liquor sales, Bachmann's claims about corn dog and bacon taxes are a bit misleading. Her campaign says Clark favored a transportation bill that included a metro sales tax hike, which affects corn dogs and bacon but does not specifically target those things.

The State Fair was upset because their logo appeared twice in the TV ad and Fair officials asked the image to be removed. "The State Fair does not endorse any candidate running for political office," said a State Fair official.

Bachmann's campaign said that although they believed they have legal right to keep the image in the ad, they would switch it out for a generic one "out of good faith."

This got me to thinking, what is the proper usage for logos? I think of this issue as almost like a product placement the State Fair did not ask for. The American Advertising Federation (AAF) believes product placement is a good way to advertise, but says it is when everyone benefits from it: the placement source, the company being promoted and the consumer. Also, it is alright if the placement is disclosed in some way. Also, product placement is always agreed upon by both parties involved. That is the issue here. It may not be illegal, but if you're not going to ask for usage permission, don't complain when the party in question doesn't like it and asks to be removed from the situation. I think the Bachmann campaign should be lucky they didn't get into more trouble.

For more questions and answers regarding ad usage, look to the AAF's website here.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Google Takes on Facebook

"Google to launch Facebook competitor very soon" tweeted Kevin Rose, the tech entrepreneur who founded the content-sharing site Digg. The message that the online world that we all have come to love may drastically change sent a shiver up most social media enthusiast's spines.

Search engine giant, Google, is going to take on social networking powerhouse Facebook with a service reportedly called "Google Me," but hasn't disclosed yet how it will be different. This of course leaves all of us in the blogosphere wondering. Will it integrate Google's existing social networking services like, Orkut or Buzz? Will it build onto Google Profiles?

Just recently my friend and I tried out Google's newest innovation: A Gmail feature that allows you to place a phone call through your computer. The service is free in the US and Canada for at least the rest of this year and costs as little as two cents a minute to dial countries such as Germany and Japan.

However, the most radical idea of the year was Google's jump into social gaming. (Currently, Facebook is the most important platform for this kind of game.) Google has already taken steps onto 'Facebook's turf.' In August, Google announced that they were buying Slide for $228 million, a start-up that makes apps for social networking. Also, Google recently invested in Zynga, the company behind the popular Facebook game, FarmVille.

So, why is Google doing this? Google wants your time. Networking and playing games takes more of your time than searching, and time is money.

According to Nielsen Co. report, Americans spend 22.7 percent of their online time on social networks and blogs, compared with 3.5 percent on search-engine sites. Further, social networking sites have boomed more than any other category that Nielsen tracks for share of US Internet time; they were up 43 percent in June of this year compared to June 2009. In contrast, search engines only edged ahead one percent.

Facebook is definitely enjoying its glory days, but will they last forever? I'm not sure. I do believe that if any other company is to take on Facebook, it should be Google. It will be interesting to see how they differentiate their social networking site. I predict that this element will be the key factor to the site's success or failure.