Archive for May, 2008

How to Ask For a Salary Increase and Get Your Raise

Thursday, May 29th, 2008

By Roger Clark Feeling overworked and underpaid? If youre starting to feellike you deserve a raise, here are eight DOs and DONTs to buildyour confidence and tact (and what to avoid!) in asking for thesalary you feel you deserve. DO 1. Devise a Plan of Action. First and foremost, get a strategytogether. Make a note of the specific projects youve undertakenand the results youve accomplished. List all of your job skillsand the features that make you an asset to this company. Findout what a typical raise is for someone with your experience inyour area of occupation. Know the facts and be realistic in yourrequest. 2. Ask for an amount thats slightly higher than one you would behappy with. If you would be happy with a 5% raise, ask for one acouple of points above it. That way, if your boss starts tonegotiate, you wont feel as if your worth has been diluted anyby getting less than what you feel you deserve. 3. Remember, your boss shouldnt be the only one negotiating. Ifyour company is going through a slow period or the economy isdown, try to be flexible and know how to respond if your bosssuggests a lower amount than what you may have been expecting. Consider other ways of getting a raise too, such as additionalvacation time, employee perks or more time off. All of these canbe just as good (if not better!) than an actual amount of money. 4. Choose a specific day and time to meet with your supervisorabout your raise request. Avoid choosing a Monday or Friday whenbosses are at their busiest. Studies have actually shown thatpeople are more receptive on a Tuesday or Wednesday after lunch. That way, theyre not thinking about the weekend or theirstomachs while youre getting up the nerve to ask about a raise! If youre afraid of being interrupted during your request, ask tospeak to your supervisor for a few minutes after hours. DONT 1. Raise your tone of voice if your boss objects to your raise atfirst. Remember, he or she is paying you to do a certain job,and youre asking for more money to do the same job. Beprofessional and polite at all times, and listen more thandemand. Chances are, if your supervisor doesnt award you araise, they might hint at what could else could be done to earnit. If they dont, dont be afraid to ask what steps would benecessary to prove yourself. 2. Threaten with quitting if you dont get the raise or tellingyour boss you have another job offer unless you actually do. Hemay just call your bluff and let you go! 3. Stumble or beat around the bush with your request. Bestraightforward and confident. You are a valuable member of ateam and the supervisor hired you because they obviously thoughtyou were the best qualified. If you have Thank You notes fromcustomers or letters from the company praising you for a job welldone, bring those to your meeting as well, as theyll help tocement your request and remind your supervisor of your rolewithin the company and its progress. 4. Compare yourself to, or talk negatively about your coworkersor others in a position higher than you. You may think that thiswill put you in a positive light when it comes to a promotion ora raise, but to your boss, it shows that if you have a poorattitude toward your colleagues, youll keep the same poorattitude if you are promoted. Remember, be confident, professional and tactful. If the bosssays no or wants to think about it, open his mind to furtherconsideration by volunteering to do more at the office. Stay anextra hour or help another team on a critical project. Thisdemonstrates that youre willing to tow the mark rather thangiving your boss the impression of gimme the money first andTHEN Ill work. Good luck! Roger Clark is senior editor at Top Career Resumes and Career Information Resources who provide free information to job seekers on all aspects of finding a new job and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roger_Clark http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Ask-For-a-Salary-Increase-and-Get-Your-Raise&id=50322 get a quick small loan with bad credit personal guarantor of business loan credit bureau no faxing payday loan no fax payday loans construction to permanent loan

Sports Management Degrees Prepare You for the Business Big Leagues

Monday, May 26th, 2008

By Dawn Papandrea There’s a reason why sports superstars like A-Rod can make a gazillion dollars a year. The main one being that the sports business industry is more than twice the size of the U.S. auto industry and seven times the size of the movie industry. In fact, according to Street and Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal annual survey, sports is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the United States, estimated at $213 billion in 2002. Interested in sharing the wealth in a career related to your passion for all things sports, even if you’re not a superstar third baseman? If so, be prepared to complete a thorough business spring training within a reputable sports management degree program. Step Up to the Sports Management Degree Plate “The sports industry is clearly big business,” attests Dr. Sharianne Walker, chair of the Sports Management Program at Western New England College. “The reality is that those in sports management careers deal more with dollars and cents than goals scored or RBIs.” In other words, in order to succeed in the sports management industry, a student must know much more than the lifetime batting average of Cal Ripken Jr. “You need solid business skills, sport industry experience and sport industry contacts/network,” says Walker. ” It is important for students to look at academic programs that provide them with an opportunity to build all three.” In addition, she says, you should find ways to distinguish yourself from among other rookies in sports management careers. “It is particularly important for students to demonstrate that they have had industry experience. This can be done through internships, practicum, class-based industry projects, working within the college’s athletic department and/or other volunteer work with sport organizations,” suggests Walker. Sports Management Careers: Which Position Will You Play? By earning a sports management degree, you’ll be setting yourself up for a plethora of career opportunities. From professional sports and college-level athletics, to health and fitness organizations, there are many sports management careers beyond the ball field. One common thread, however, is that your business skills stats must be of big league caliber. “Students need to know how to sell tickets, develop sponsorships and create innovative revenue streams for the sport organization,” says Walker. “Sport employers are also looking for problem-solving skills, technological savvy, communication skills, willingness to work hard, and the ability to get along with people and cultivate relationships.” In short, the wide world of sports management is full of excitement. If you think you can be a big-game player, start researching sports management degrees to find the one that will guarantee you a spot in the starting line-up. To find college and career schools near you, surf http://www.CollegeSurfing.com Copyright 2007 The CollegeBound Network All Rights Reserved Dawn Papandrea is the managing editor of The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school or career that’s right for you! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dawn_Papandrea http://EzineArticles.com/?Sports-Management-Degrees-Prepare-You-for-the-Business-Big-Leagues&id=489904 johnny paycheck syndrome payday advances plasma money cash florida plasma -loan -loans personal short term loans that can be paid monthly

How To Slim Down Fast

Saturday, May 17th, 2008

By Brian Bonito Losing weight has grown into a nationwide craze. New diet talk is certainly a great conversational piece, especially when theres a hot book or weight loss supplement on the market. But the real problem with all this, is that it doesnt seem to net any true progress. Can anyone show you how to slim down fast? Slimming down isnt really all that difficult, although the prolific experts might have you believing otherwise. As if shopping for exotic foods in exotic stores is the secret to lose maximum weight. Kind of funny, really, especially when losing weight is an individual thing. Always has been, always will be. You must make a decision, a commitment, that you are going to lose the weight regardless of the circumstances, and no matter what kind of obstacles you face. This mindset is a prerequisite for beginning a successful weight loss program. Many well-intentioned, overweight people, say, Im going to try to lose weight. Sorry to say, but that wont completely cut it. Its not as easy as saying you will try. You have to mean it. When you say, try, the word try is kind of a small disclaimer for when you dont make it. I told you I would try. I never guaranteed I would make it. Its simple. Either you will, or you wont lose weight. But you will never do it if you only try. Heres how to slim down fast: once you make the all-important decision to lose weight, then you get to work. You begin right where you are and do the little things you can to start making weight loss progress. You walk 20-30 minutes a day. Your diet: you begin scaling back the bad food eating. You become more aware of your habits, your activities, you become more in tune as to what is moving you toward weight loss, and what is moving you away from weight loss. You make a conscious effort to learn more. You buy a couple of basic weight loss and diet books and implement one thing at a time. Nothing exotic. Stay with the basics. You watch your weight, and notice how you feel and adjust from there. This is how to slim down fast. You take a step out into the unknown with the faith that you will find your way. You move without a visible guarantee. Others have lost the weight you would like to lose. For you, extreme weight loss results are possible. Its up to you to take the first step, and begin. Get your FREE subscription to Underground Weight Loss VIDEOS. Plus a FREE copy of the cant miss Fat-Slashing Power Formula: Weight Loss Secrets! Just for visiting:Insane Weight Loss Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Bonito http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Slim-Down-Fast&id=513688 texas car loan bad credit history el paso refinance car loan bad credit no credit check motorcycle pay day advance loan

Does The Sacred Heart Soup Diet Really Work?

Wednesday, May 14th, 2008

By Simon Forsyth Perhaps the hardest part for anybody beginning a diet is that everyone wants to see results very quickly. It is all too easy to become impatient and want the ‘quick fix’. But like anything in life, nothing worthwhile is generally easy. This also applies to weight loss. After all, if losing weight were easy, NOBODY would be overweight! However, there ARE certain diets that can jump start your weight loss goals. And this is where the Sacred Heart soup diet comes in. The Sacred Heart Soup Diet is a diet that has actually been going around for many years. The diet was supposedly thought to come straight from the cardiology department at the Sacred Heart Memorial Hospital in America. It was allegedly used for very obese heart patients. However, like most of these diets - this is nothing but an urban myth. The Sacred Heart Soup Diet has been called a number of different names. For example: the Spokane Heart Diet, the Cleveland Clinic Diet, Sacred Heart Memorial Hospital Diet and the Miami Heart Institute Diet. Low Calories The diet doesnt offer many calories but because it fills you up, you are less tempted to eat anything else and indulge yourself in ‘naughty’ foods! The soup acts as filler, making sure that the dieter does not get hunger pangs or the feeling of starvation. Due to the low number of calories that you are eating, a dieter following the Sacred Heart Soup Diet may experience a few side effects. These can range from feeling a little weak or lightheadedness, but generally most people won’t feel too bad and its very easy to stick with because you know it will only last for a short time. The diet should only be followed for a week - it’s not meant to be taken as a continuous diet and there should certainly be breaks between using it. But as a fast weight loss program its unrivalled. Losing weight, like anything else worthwhile in life, takes discipline and perseverance. I am not going to lie to you like so many others and promise you that it is easy. Its not. But neither is it a monumental mountain to climb if you apply the right diet program and adopt a positive attitude to your goal. Here is a recipe for the diet. Sacred Heart Soup Diet Recipe Ingredients: 1 or 2 cans of stewed tomatoes 3 plus large green onions 1 large can of beef broth (no fat) 1 pkg. Lipton Soup mix (chicken noodle) 1 bunch of celery 2 cans green beans 2 lbs. Carrots 2 Green Peppers Making the soup Season with parsley, salt, pepper curry, if desired, or bouillon, or even a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Cut the vegetables into small to medium size pieces. Then cover with water. Boil on high heat for 10 minutes. Then redduce heat to a simmer and then continue to cook until vegetables are soft and tender. This soup can be eaten anytime you are feeling hungry. This will help you to feel full and not be tempted to eat fatening foods. Eat as much as you want, whenever you want. This soup will certainly not add on any pounds! The more you eat, the more you will lose. You could even fill a thermos in the morning and take it to work with you. You can then eat a few bowls during the day and not be tempted by those naughty foods! The Sacred Heart Soup Diet will only work if you follow it exactly. Instructions: Make sure you consume at least 4 glasses of water or diet soda per day. You can eat the soup at any time of the day or night. Sacred Heart Soup Recipe 6 large green 2 green peppers 1 or 2 cans of tomatoes 1 bunch celery 1/2 head cabbage 1 package Lipton Soup Mix 1 or 2 cubes bouillon (not compulsory) 1 48 oz. can V8 Juice (not compulsory) Season with salt and pepper etc. Day 1 - Any fruit you would like to eat except bananas. Day 2 - Any vegetables you want. Day 3 - Consume as much soup as you wish. Consume plenty of fruits and vegetables. Day 4 - Up to six bananas, all the skim milk you want. Day 5 - Ten to twenty ounces of beef, a can of tomatoes, 5 to 8 glasses of water. Day 6 - All the beef and vegetables you want. Day 7 - Consume as much unsweetened fruit juices, brown rice and fresh vegetables as you wish. Again, eat at least 1 bowl of soup during today. Don’t eat any bread or drink any alcohol, or carbonated drinks. Incorporating the Sacred Heart Soup diet into your slimming program will help you lose the weight you desire. Be disciplined in your planning and execution, plan out your foods for the week and you will get there. Don’t give in to temptation! For more information about the Sacred Heart Soup Diet please visit my website. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Forsyth http://EzineArticles.com/?Does-The-Sacred-Heart-Soup-Diet-Really-Work?&id=239655 no qualifying payday advance missouri legislation-pay day loans borrowing fast cash sba loans

Studying When You Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Part 1

Friday, May 9th, 2008

By Claire Williams Studying can be extremely difficult when you have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome /Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome /ME. And if you experience severe brain fog, concentration and memory problems, it can be a near-to-impossible feat. But if you **do** feel well enough to study, there **are** options out there which can make things a lot easier for you. So what do you do if you want to study but have CFS/ME/PVFS? Well if your condition is moderate-to-severe then taking a term- or year-out to recover from your condition is definitely worth considering. But for some of us this just isn’t an option. In addition, some of us may already be studying a course when we first develop this condition. Not wanting to stop the course, it is not uncommon for us to try to carry on, regardless of our struggles to keep up with the course’s pace and intensity. What’s more, often it’s not a case of ‘just managing your course’ either. If only it were that simple! College and university life opens up a ‘brave new world’ of socializing, parties, and events - things that most CFS/ME/PVFS sufferers struggle to keep up with, if at all. —– SIDE NOTE —– Alcohol for example, can play a big role in socializing, especially at university. But many (if not most) CFS/ME/PVFS sufferers are alcohol-intolerant so beware! Check out the article below for more info: http://www.sleepydust.net/The_Sleepydust_EMagazine-sleepydust-ezine-issue-001.html#art1 —– SIDE NOTE —– From a personal perspective, studying with CFS/ME/PVFS is something I’m very familiar with. I was diagnosed with Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome (PVFS) in the second term of my first year at university, so most of my university-life was spent as a PVFS sufferer. Although the PVFS wasn’t nearly as bad as it is now, I still had to battle with the brain fog, exhaustion, weakness and the many other dreadful symptoms that come with it. That was in addition to the emotional stress of getting used to the illness and the restricted lifestyle it imposed on me. In fact, not being able to do as much as I would like to is **still** something I’m trying to get used to even now! Many students move away from their home to study further a field. And while that often can make sense for a healthy individual, I think that in some cases, the strain of living on your own/with friends/in halls/dorms can make coping with CFS/ME/PVFS even more difficult. When I was a university student I lived away from home, firstly in halls, and then with friends. I studied full-time but with hindsight I think that studying **part-time** would have lifted a lot of the stress for me. The pace would have been slower and I may have even been able to attend more classes too (I missed many of them). With hindsight, I think that it may have been easier if I had considered either: 1) going to a **local** university or college and studying **part-time** or; 2) opting for a ‘home study’ course (distance learning). So if you feel that you can study but perhaps not full-time, then going part-time could be an option for you. And if you feel that you are not able to manage a full-time or even part-time course, then home study (distance learning) can be a viable option. I think that living in the home environment while you study may make it much easier on you (if your home environment is a safe, calm environment and if you are surrounded by people who know and care for you). Studying when you have CFS/ME/PVFS **is not** a decision to be taken lightly, particularly if you are considering moving far from your familiar home environment and studying full-time. That is not to say that it cannot be done, because it can. But how well you manage will be largely affected by your living and course arrangements, and the severity of your illness. That doesn’t mean there aren’t ways around it! The location of your university/college, and the length of your course/ frequency of your classes can all have a bearing and this is especially relevant when you study as a CFS/ME/PVFS sufferer. So bear this in mind. Try to keep your options open and don’t rule out taking a term- or year-out, part-time study or home-study. The second half of this article will feature in another issue of the Sleepydust E-magazine, where we’ll take a look at studying techniques and exams. To read more tips about how to manage and deal with your ME and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome visit: http://www.sleepydust.net/MYALGIC-ENCEPHALOPATHY-cfsme-homepage.html And to learn more about working from home when you are chronically ill or disabled, visit: http://www.sleepydust.net/WORK-FROM-HOME.html Copyright, Claire Williams, 2004-2005. All Rights Reserved. ** Publication Guidelines ** The article above may be freely reproduced provided that:(1) you only mail to a 100% opt-in list; (2) ALL links areLIVE hyperlinks (3) the article is published in its entiretyincluding the title, copyright notice, & the author’sbio & resource box (which must be placed directly belowthe article). Claire Williams is editor of sleepydust.net and has suffered from Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome since 1995. She created sleepydust.net to help ME / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia sufferers deal with their condition - from handling their money worries, to recovering from their illness. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Claire_Williams http://EzineArticles.com/?Studying-When-You-Have-Chronic-Fatigue-Syndrome—Part-1&id=71538 cash now loans bad credit get personal loan foreclosure loan fast furniture credit accounts with no credit check

How Is Our Soil?

Sunday, May 4th, 2008

By Patricia Nordman “What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it?” (Isaiah 5:4). With the deepest sorrow possible, God finally had to let Israel have its way. He finally lets us have our own way, too. Surely He weeps as He admits there is nothing more He can do for us, or He has tried everything to soften our hearts. Our stubborn will circumscribes His perfect will for us. As God deplores the state of our vineyard, how many times have we earthly parents lamented the vineyards of our children? What more could we have done to save them from themselves? We plant, nurture, admonish, hope, and dream, but still they do not meet our expectations. When our child is lost physically or spiritually, we grieve and weep, as does our Lord. But we can do no more for those who wish to go their own way, just as God must let us go our way, for He has given us free will. God graced Israel with every blessing necessary for full fruition. What strikes us is the lack of gratitude. God’s tender tendencies seem lost on His chosen. He didn’t plant this vineyard for personal gain. It was to be His and their garden of delights. His deep feelings for His people are expressed all through the Old Testament, as well as the New Testament, especially in Isaiah, Jeremiah and Hosea. And yet the vineyard–ours, too–grows weeds of disgrace! “How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees on it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land” (Numbers 13:20). How do we bring back the fruit of God’s precious land? What is it? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22,23). Today, let us enrich the soil of our hearts and minds with gratitude for God’s daily blessings. It is so easy to forget them in our worldly pursuits. As for personal thanksgiving, I thank God every morning upon waking for our beloved sons and daughters and grandchildren! As happened with Job, our latter years are even more blessed! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patricia_Nordman http://EzineArticles.com/?How-Is-Our-Soil?&id=196365 loan bad credit low interest pay day loans loan waiver scheme and its impact on money market i cant get a personal loan

Tracking Your Marketing Dollars

Thursday, May 1st, 2008

By Vann Baker A client recently asked, “I don’t have a formal marketing budget, so how much should our company spend on marketing?” There is no simple answer because all companies have different marketing goals, different target audiences and staffing varies for sales and marketing follow up. Ideally, good marketing helps to bring pre-qualified customers to your sales team, who then complete the sales process and close the sale. But the reality is that most companies spend a great deal of time, effort and money marketing, but spend little time tracking and analyzing. They know exactly what they are spending but may have no idea about how their message is being received, what strategies are really working and what sales were a direct result of their marketing effort. Companies who clearly define their marketing strategy, set realistic goals and marketing budgets, then track the results always seem to have better control over their marketing efforts, and are able to make changes quickly in response to market changes or changes in strategy by their competition. Step 1: Budget First, figure out what you can afford to spend per month for the next three months without negatively affecting your company’s cash flow. Then, create a simple marketing plan that gives you the most effective return on your marketing dollars. Usually this means determining the best way to reach the greatest number of pre-qualified prospects for the least amount of money. Step 2: Plan and Measure Carefully measure the effectiveness of your marketing. Promotions that use codes, coupons or other means to track responses to the campaign are best great since they help you to track responses. E-mails, telephone calls, website traffic and conversions of website traffic to actual leads must be tracked and measured in order to determine what is effective, or not. Step 3: Analyze Analyze your marketing results to determine which marketing strategy or marketing message is working best. A high response rate may be good, but a fewer number of more qualified leads will usually be better. As you follow up on leads ask them what they liked about your marketing message or the way the message was presented. Step 4: Refine and Perfect Refine your marketing message and focus on marketing campaigns and messages that work, repeating Step 2 and Step 3 at end the end of each quarter. You can experiment with increasing your marketing budget each quarter to reach more prospective customers. By determining which strategy or campaign works best, over the next few months, shift more of your budget into the marketing strategy that’s reaching your target market and bringing you the results you want. Five tips to make tracking easier 1) Simplify your marketing efforts. Focus on one theme per quarter but do try variations of your marketing message. Different graphics, images, and colors may contribute to different responses in recipients. Be sure to track which version customers respond to better. 2) Centralize your lead results. Even if you different people in different departments responding to leads, make sure you centralize data collection so everyone involved will track and record data in one place. Relying on estimates or monthly meetings to try and determine which what strategy is working can be counter productive, especially if you have a campaign that flops and you need to change your message immediately. 3) Analyze what works and why. And find out what does not work and why. If you’re not getting the response you had hoped for with a new promotion or message, ask your prospects why and determine what’s at fault. Is the message not clear? Is the media appropriate? Does your offer or message hit any “hot” buttons? 4) Create a call to action. Does your offer have a time limitation and a call to action? Don’t just rely on the offer itself to prompt a response by the recipient. Make your prospects want to respond right away to the offer. Have a respond by date or put a time limitation so they can’t wait for more than a few days to respond. 5) Refine your marketing message. Sometimes “great” ideas don’t result in a big response. Remember that you can refine your marketing message in order to get a greater response or change the message graphically so you get noticed instead of lost with all the other offers your market may be receiving. Vann Baker is the president and creative director of Design-First, a marketing company that helps companies of all sizes and in many different industries with branding, marketing strategies and creating effective marketing materials. Vann has over 25 years of marketing experience, and has created websites, brochures, e-blasts, catalogs, direct mail and effective marketing campaigns. For more tips and information about marketing your company, go to: http://www.design-first.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vann_Baker http://EzineArticles.com/?Tracking-Your-Marketing-Dollars&id=511110 delaware free credit report personal bad credit loan credit reports for all three tri-merge credit reports