Sharing is Caring: 10 ways to INSTANTLY build self confidence

Use these 10 strategies you can get the mental edge you need to reach your potential:

1. Dress Sharp

Although clothes don’t make the man, they certainly affect the way he feels about himself. No one is more conscious of your physical appearance than you are. When you don’t look good, it changes the way you carry yourself and interact with other people. Use this to your advantage by taking care of your personal appearance. In most cases, significant improvements can be made by bathing and shaving frequently, wearing clean clothes, and being cognizant of the latest styles.

This doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot on clothes. One great rule to follow is “spend twice as much, buy half as much”. Rather than buying a bunch of cheap clothes, buy half as many select, high quality items. In long run this decreases spending because expensive clothes wear out less easily and stay in style longer than cheap clothes. Buying less also helps reduce the clutter in your closet.

2. Walk Faster

One of the easiest ways to tell how a person feels about herself is to examine her walk. Is it slow? tired? painful? Or is it energetic and purposeful? People with confidence walk quickly. They have places to go, people to see, and important work to do. Even if you aren’t in a hurry, you can increase your self confidence by putting some pep in your step. Walking 25% faster will make to you look and feel more important. 


3. Good Posture

Similarly, the way a person carries herself tells a story. People with slumped shoulders and lethargic movements display a lack of self confidence. They aren’t enthusiastic about what they’re doing and they don’t consider themselves important. By practicing good posture, you’ll automatically feel more confident. Stand up straight, keep your head up, and make eye contact. You’ll make a positive impression on others and instantly feel more alert and empowered.

4. Personal Commercial

One of the best ways to build confidence is listening to a motivational speech. Unfortunately, opportunities to listen to a great speaker are few and far between. You can fill this need by creating a personal commercial. Write a 30-60 second speech that highlights your strengths and goals. Then recite it in front of the mirror aloud (or inside your head if you prefer) whenever you need a confidence boost.

5. Gratitude

When you focus too much on what you want, the mind creates reasons why you can’t have it. This leads you to dwell on your weaknesses. The best way to avoid this is consciously focusing on gratitude. Set aside time each day to mentally list everything you have to be grateful for. Recall your past successes, unique skills, loving relationships, and positive momentum. You’ll be amazed how much you have going for you and motivated to take that next step towards success.

6. Compliment other people
When we think negatively about ourselves, we often project that feeling on to others in the form of insults and gossip. To break this cycle of negativity, get in the habit of praising other people. Refuse to engage in backstabbing gossip and make an effort to compliment those around you. In the process, you’ll become well liked and build self confidence. By looking for the best in others, you indirectly bring out the best in yourself.

7. Sit in the front row
 In schools, offices, and public assemblies around the world, people constantly strive to sit at the back of the room. Most people prefer the back because they’re afraid of being noticed. This reflects a lack of self confidence. By deciding to sit in the front row, you can get over this irrational fear and build your self confidence. You’ll also be more visible to the important people talking from the front of the room.

8. Speak up

During group discussions many people never speak up because they’re afraid that people will judge them for saying something stupid. This fear isn’t really justified. Generally, people are much more accepting than we imagine. In fact most people are dealing with the exact same fears. By making an effort to speak up at least once in every group discussion, you’ll become a better public speaker, more confident in your own thoughts, and recognized as a leader by your peers.

9. Work out

Along the same lines as personal appearance, physical fitness has a huge effect on self confidence. If you’re out of shape, you’ll feel insecure, unattractive, and less energetic. By working out, you improve your physcial appearance, energize yourself, and accomplish something positive. Having the discipline to work out not only makes you feel better, it creates positive momentum that you can build on the rest of the day.

10. Focus on contribution

Too often we get caught up in our own desires. We focus too much on ourselves and not enough on the needs of other people. If you stop thinking about yourself and concentrate on the contribution you’re making to the rest of the world, you won’t worry as much about you own flaws. This will increase self confidence and allow you to contribute with maximum efficiency. The more you contribute to the world the more you’ll be rewarded with personal success and recognition.

Source: http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/10-ways-to-instantly-build-self-confidence/


Love!!! 

Links of the week

Guess what? You can follow HUSL Today on Twitter and add our fan page on Facebook! Add HUSL Today and let me know you did!

HUSL Today Week at a Glance:

MONDAY
Quote: "A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself." -Joseph Campbell. Become a HERO!

TUESDAY
Quote: N/A

WEDNESDAY
Quote: “The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.”- Arnold H. Glasgow

THURSDAY
Quote: There are no mistakes. The events we bring upon ourselves, no matter how unpleasant, are necessary in order to learn what we need to learn; whatever steps we take, they're necessary to reach the places we've chosen to go.”-Richard Bach

Sharing is Caring: How BAD do you want to be successful? http://husltoday.blogspot.com/2010/08/sharing-is-caring-how-bad-do-you-want.html

Facebook wants to share your location with your "friends" http://husltoday.blogspot.com/2010/08/sharing-is-caring-facebook-wants-to.html

FRIDAY
Quote: "If I was on a march at the moment I would be saying to everyone: 'Be honest with each other. Admit there are limitless possibilities in relationships, and love as many people as you can in whatever way you want, and get rid of your inhibitions, and we'll all be happy." -Ian Mckellen

...and now for the news!


Demonstrators around the country protest the Arizona immigration law.
West Palm Beach Florida: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/demonstrators-in-west-palm-beach-march-against-arizona-871717.html

Entertainment news:
More Dr. Laura drama. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2010/aug/18/freedom-of-speech-usa%20http://fb.me/vQO5rI66

Legal News:

Chief Lanier unveils cash reward DC gun tip line. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/13/chief-lanier-unveils-cash-reward-dc-gun-tip-line/

Do you have to be a lawyer if you go to law school? http://www.vault.com/wps/portal/usa/blogs/entry-detail/?blog_id=1461&entry_id=11726

Blagojevich Found Guilty in Chicago Corruption Trial. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-17/blagojevich-found-guilty-of-false-statements-in-chicago-corruption-trial.html

John McCluskey and Casslyn Welch, Arizona Fugitive and Fiancee Arrested at Campsite http://bit.ly/azuiTX

Lifestyle news: 

Former felons feel boxed in by crime question. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/15/former-felons-feel-boxed-in-by-crime-question/

 How long does it take to fall out of shape?? http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/how-long-does-it-take-to-fall-out-of-shape-2277730/

Pepco under fire: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local-beat/Pepco_Under_Fire_Washington_DC.html

Celebrity owned restaurants that thrive. http://atlantapost.com/2010/08/11/6-celebrity-owned-restaurants-that-thrive/

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38656028?ocid=twitter. Oops! There goes a $9k engagement ring!

Randoms:

People are sharing HUSL Today. Can u see it? http://bit.ly/bM3N5I

Sharing is Caring: Facebook wants to share your location with your "friends"

Article source: http://madamenoire.com/16797/facebook-taking-no-privacy-to-the-next-level-12806/
Image source: http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2006/09/11/0000436121/FarruggiaYouareHere.jpg

Why would you want all of your Facebook friends to know where you are 100% of the time?


The social networking site launched a new feature this week called Facebook Places. The new feature shares your location with your friends and borrows heavily from existing services like Foursquare and Gowalla.

Facebook staff said the feature will be useful not only to let friends know where they are, but also to learn if their friends are nearby at the same time, and to write down what they are doing at the location and what they think about it — creating a trail allowing friends to see what the writer did there days or even years ago.

Places product manager Michael Sharon wrote on Facebook’s blog that Places has safeguards to address potential privacy concerns.

First, check-ins will appear only to users’ Facebook friends as a default, and users can further trim the recipients list to specific friends. Users also can remove check-ins by phone or web at any time, Sharon said.

Yes, if you have a Facebook account, you are now automatically logged into the service, so your friends can tag your locations. To disable: From your Account menu, chose Privacy Settings, click Customize and then Customize Settings. Under Things I Share, you can change Places I Check In and People Here Now.

Also, if you don’t want your friends to check you into Places, sharing your current location with a bunch of people you may or may not know, go down to the section called Things Others Share and find Friends can check me in to Places. Set this to Disabled.
So, in a nutshell Places will let people know when you are not home, when you are away on a two-week vacation, when you leave work, when you go to Target, when you arrive at Vanessa’s birthday party, and let weirdos know where minors (the millions of minors on Facebook) are hanging out. Sounds like Places can invade your privacy, all you have to do is sign-in.

Sounds like more shady practices are going on over there in Facebook land. Protect yourselves people. I mean that with the utmost sincerity. Do not trust anyone in the online community enough to share your location with them. If they are really your friends, you can call them or text them your location. Do not under any circumstances make it possible for complete strangers to find out where you are. Not everyone will use this information for your benefit or the way it was intended to be used.

You may read the entire article here.

HUSL Today TIPS: The informal addition to the application process

Back story:
A few years back, I was working in a department store. I was sitting at my station and a young lady waltzes in to ask about our application process. She was wearing torn jeans, her shirt was falling off of her shoulders and she was wearing dirty flip flops. She looked like she had been up all night so I asked her where she came from. She proudly told me her sole purpose for coming to our store was to apply for a job. I happened to be lucky enough to work the next day when she turned in her app-wrinkled and folded. While I was not present in her interview, I can say without reservation that she did not get the job because of the impression she left on my supervisor.

I still meet people like the young lady described above on a weekly basis. Yes in 2010! I figured its because they don't know any better, and so this post was born. Although there are several ways to inquire about a job opening, the old fashioned way is to visit the place of business and inquire in person. Understand if you decide to do it this way, your visit will be an informal addition to your application process.  

Sidenote: Before you make the trip look up the company's info and call to make sure the manager/HR employee is available. You do not want to make an unecessary trip.


While you have the option of calling in (with a pleasant and articulate phone voice of course), if you decide to visit the business, regardless of the position you seek there are a few crucial things you should double check first. Keep in mind that first impressions last long and once made are difficult to change. Here are 4 things you should check:

1. Clothes. While most companies do not look for you to wear a $2000 tailored suit from Brooks Brothers to pick up an app or to speak to their HR department, your clothes should be neat and presentable. This means no wrinkled jeans, no baggy shirts, no [visible] holes ANYWHERE. You may want to scout out the place a day or two before you officially go and speak with the appropriate people to get a feel for how the employees dress. Your clothes are a representation of your judgment. Also, employers want to know you can dress the part of an employee. If they are ill-fitted or dirty, employers may view this negatively. You can never go wrong with business casual and a smile. This leads to...

2. Teeth. Make sure you do not have anthing in your teeth and that your breath is fresh. Im not trying to be facetious. I have spoken with people who's breath was less than fresh and who have had things lodged in their teeth that ranged from spinach to pizza sauce. Check your smile before you walk in or avoid eating foods that may get stuck in your teeth or ruin your breath.

3. Hair. The "messy bed head" look is not ok. Make sure your hair looks groomed and well kept. Combs, brushes and lite amounts of hair gel are friends to us all.

4. Attitude. You want to make your visit a pleasant one. You do not want to strike the management/HR employees as an unpleasant person. Enter with a smile and ask one of the employees if you can speak with a manager/HR employee. Patiently wait for the person to come to meet you and explain the reason for your visit. Ask about their application process and what your experience will be like. Once you've grasped an understanding, smile and walk away.

Sidenote: Do NOT under any circumstances return a paper application with spelling mistakes or several scribble marks. Do not fold it, wrinkle it, or destroy it in any way.  Politely ask for another application and fill it out (free of mistakes) again.


I know people are tired of hearing about our terrible economy (which is arguably recovering), but we have to be more mindful of every step of the application process. If you decide to inquire about a job in person, make sure you look presentable.
What do you think? Should inquiring about a position be considered another part of the application process? The floor is yours....

More Facebook Antics & 5 online rules for EVERY Young Professional

Lets make a long story short:
Security concerns over Facebook have been raised yet again after a security consultant collected the names and profile URLs for 171 million Facebook accounts from publicly available information. The consultant, Ron Bowes, then uploaded the data as a torrent file allowing anyone with a computer connection to download the data.

Simon Davies a representative of the U.K.-based privacy watchdog Privacy International accused Facebook of negligence over the data mining technique, according to the BBC. Facebook, however, told the British news service that Bowes actions haven't exposed anything new since all the information Bowes collected was already public.


Check out the original story and source here.

I'm reaching my whits end with Facebook. Its a necessary evil when you're in the blogging business yet the powers that be at FB continue to invade our privacy and collect information on us without so much as a warning. I would not have such an issue with them collecting information if they put a sort of "blast" on the site the same way they did when they wanted people to create those redonculous custom domain names i.e. Facebook.com/husltoday.

They should focus more on keeping everyone easily informed without having to find out from secondary sources after the fact. The info put out should be straight forward and specific about the information that is at risk of being collected and shared. I especially find their backdoor tactic of sharing information indirectly obtained on you from your less than tech savvy friends who do not have private profiles downright preposterous. This means even if your information has been made private, if your friend has not made their info private the info spies can go in and get intel on you anyway.Wouldnt that defeat the purpose of making your info private? Seems like someone wants to give people a false sense of security about the info they choose to share online. If you ask me, your info is never really private on Facebook.

Find out the 5 online rules when you read the rest.

Sharing is Caring: How to Spin Your GPA

By the time a college graduate transitions to the working world, he or she has spent years being defined by numbers: SATs, GPAs, GREs, LSATs, class rank and so on. As a result, and understandably, college graduates with a thin portfolio of work experience assume hiring managers will place a great deal of stock in their overall GPA as a gauge of intelligence, capabilities and competence.



That’s not always true. The GPA of a newly minted college graduate is certainly something a potential employer will consider, but a good hiring manager takes a more expansive view of each candidate. When it comes to the interview process and resume preparation, it is important for recent graduates to understand the context in which to present GPA and academic performance to a hiring manager. Additionally, there are interview and resume preparation strategies that college graduates can employ to compensate for a less-than-stellar GPA.


The Numbers That Matter
Hiring managers ultimately want to see competencies in coursework specifically relevant to the job vacancy. As a freshman in college, I nearly flunked out of a scuba-diving elective I was taking—which, of course, dented my overall GPA. But because it was not a course relevant to my major or job search, it didn’t have to exact the same damage as a poor grade in one of my core classes.

Highlight your GPA in your major. If you are interviewing for a finance job, and your overall GPA was 3.0 and your GPA in finance courses was 3.5, focus on the latter number. This approach helps hiring managers parse information and identify the numbers that matter most.

Demonstrate improvement and growth. Many people aren't ready for college their freshman year as it takes time to adjust. The unfortunate result is freshman-year grades that aren't very strong. We eventually get my act together, and ast time progresses  our GPA improves. If you can, parse GPA information for prospective employers to demonstrate a positive trend line. An overall GPA of 3.0 is good, but highlighting a GPA of 3.7 junior and senior year is even better. It will matter to an employer.


Hiding Behind a Name
My son is two years away from going off to college, and he was asking me the other day about how top universities are perceived. College graduates must be cautious about assuming that a university’s pedigree will carry disproportionate favor with a hiring manager—especially if the job seeker positions his or her school’s status as an excuse of sorts for a weak GPA.

The country is full of excellent, regionally niche colleges and universities. A good liberal-arts college in New Hampshire might impress a hiring manager with a Northeast firm, but be far less valuable to a company based in the Midwest or Western part of the U.S. The school simply won’t deliver the same familiarity factor in this part of the country. I bring this up because I’ve seen and heard from college graduates who assume a top university will somehow add weight to their GPA in the minds of hiring managers. This is a dangerous game to play, one that could easily backfire.


When in Doubt, Leave It Out
College graduates who enter the work world with a thin professional resume might feel inclined to list their GPA no matter what, simply to “fill the page.” But like any aspect of a job seeker’s background, a graduate should not include GPA on his or her resume if it is a weak or mediocre data point. More than that, a GPA is just a number without a story. There are more effective ways for recent college graduates to tell an effective story on their resumes, including:

Connect coursework to job: Rather than simply stating a GPA, connect a class to the job requirements. For example, the job candidate could write “my program focus was business management, and this job requires business management skills…”


Highlight work experience and internships related to the job: If you have held any jobs or internships during your college experience relevant to the job opening, that will impress hiring managers. And don’t simply list the positions that were held, but focus on the return on investment you delivered to the employer, be it in the form of tangible results, demonstrated leadership, etc.

Emphasize club and association accomplishments, not participation: Everyone wants to put clubs and associations on their resumes, but it is the accomplishments in the club, not simply participation, that will catch a hiring manager’s attention. Instead of populating a resume with a laundry list of university association and club memberships, focus on the ROI you delivered. For example, did you double the size of the club when you were an officer?


Wrong Number
 A GPA listed on a resume, absent any context, doesn’t tell the hiring manager anything about how the candidate will perform in the job. That’s an argument for simply leaving off even a strong GPA.


Additionally, there are cases where a hiring manager who perhaps did not finish college with a strong GPA finds a candidate pretentious for listing a GPA.

A strong GPA is, without question, something a college graduate should take pride in and use as appropriate during the interview process. But it won’t make or break any job applicant.

Rob McGovern is founder of CareerBuilder and currently serves as CEO of Jobfox.com.
Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/hire-education/2010/07/02/how-to-spin-your-gpa/?mod=wsj_share_twitter

HUSL Today Presents: 6 TIPS for building your brand

Lets start with the basics...
What is a brand?

A brand is a symbol. Symbols are designs which represent something else, and a brand is meant to package all of the associations, experiences and characteristics into an abstract construct.

Why are brands important?
Your brand can help you win new customers and keep your existing customers coming back. Branding helps you set yourself apart from others and makes your approach memorable.

Now that we are all on the same page lets get down to business. Nearly all industries can benefit from a branded product, hence here are 6 TIPS for building your brand:

1. Give your brand CHARACTER. Infusing your brand with a little personality can help you define what it stands for. For example, if your brand is about cowboys in Texas then infusing your brand with wooden elements and other elements of the wild west can be very effective. Think of your brand as a person you want most people to like. Shape your brand’s character towards something which your audience will like to associate themselves with. Consider the wild success of the Mac vs. PC ads like the one pictured below.

2. Make your brand HONEST. People welcome honesty and transparency, and your business will be rewarded for it. Don’t offer something you can’t deliver. Instead, admit your fallibility and deliver on your promises. Integrity goes a long way.

3. Make your brand SPECIFIC.  Your brand promise should be precise and attainable, and you should be able to communicate it clearly. For example, consider the YKK zipper; their discret brand is probably on your favorite jeans and you may not have noticed. Their purpose is on connecting things and they have increased their market value because they do it well.

More after the jump.

HUSL Today Presents: So you wanna start a blog??

Whether you want your blog to be rich in content or if you want to use it as a means to make you rich, I encourage you all to explore the rich vs poor dichotomy, which could serve as an eye opener for you.

1. Rich people play the money game to win. Poor people play the money game to not lose.

This is true for money and blogging because the principals can apply to either. Successful bloggers play the game to win; unsuccessful bloggers play to not lose. They don’t have the mindset to concentrate on the win and working hard to achieve the win; successful bloggers do.

2. Rich people think big. Poor people think small.

Successful bloggers literally think big. They think in terms of being at the top in their field or niche. They worked hard to grow their blog and their readership. Having a small blog never entered their minds. They wanted it to be big and successful. They also kept trying until it became big and successful.

3. Rich people focus on opportunities. Poor people focus on obstacles.

Successful bloggers look for opportunities. They do not think about the obstacles in their way, they simply work around them until they find success.

Writers also have a lot of trouble with this one. And fear is a main cause of focusing on what stands in the way instead of the prize that awaits. We all panic. To be a success this is one of the most important things we can change about our mindset.

4. Rich people are willing to promote themselves and their value. Poor people think negatively about selling and promotion.

How many successful people do you see who are afraid to sell and promote themselves? None of them. Maybe they were in the beginning, but once they overcame that fear, they began seeing success. The same is true for bloggers. Find a way to tell people about your blog. Promote yourself as much as possible and be confident about it.

5. Rich people choose to get paid based on results. Poor people choose to get paid based on time.

Think about this one for a second. What is your pay scale? Is it based on your time or your productivity. If many of us changed our pay scale from time to productivity we would get paid pennies! Ooops did I step on your toes??  Successful people concentrate on the result and set their own wage according to those results.

Most writers don’t focus on how long a project will take them to finish, they focus on the end result. Some projects can be done in a very short amount of time making an hourly wage very lucrative, other projects may take longer, but the writer and the client can be proud of the end result instead of how much time it took.


Remember, becoming successful should always be a work in progress.


Most successful bloggers can offer some tips for successful blogging. Some people develop methods based on experience. Others simply offer what they’ve been told—like post often, link often, and be yourself. I will be the first to admit that there are no "surefire" ways to make your blog successful. You will not hear me say "follow these 10 tips and become a millionaire blogger" because what works for one blogger may not work for the next one.

HUSL Today Presents: So you wanna start a blog?

Before you go any further, take a moment to read our previous post to determine whether blogging is right for you.

I will be the first to admit that there are no "surefire" ways to make your blog successful. You will not hear me say "follow these 10 tips and become a millionaire blogger" What works for one blogger may not work for the next one. There are elements of unpredictability that play a role in the success of your blog. Use the following tips to further assess whether blogging is for you: 
Image source: http://www.dartheart.org/system/files/u1/blogging101.gif

Blogging Tip #1: Post Regularly. Readers will be more likely to follow your blog if you have a regular posting schedule. Post weekly, post bi-monthly, post monthly — it doesn’t matter what it is (although it should be at least once a week in my opinion) — but stick to a schedule.

Blogging Tip #2: Use Plugins. Plugins like “relevant posts”, “most popular posts” and “recent posts” make your blog more sticky because they encourage readers to hang around longer. The longer a visitor is on your blog, the better chance you have of converting them into a customer.

Blogging Tip #3: Post from Experience. I like first-hand information. In fact, many web surfers are looking for this type of info. It’s no coincidence that “how to” information is the number one selling product on the web. Most of it comes from first-hand information. Use case studies, write in the first person (eg, use “I”), tell your readers how you solved a particular problem, etc.

Blogging Tip #4: Niche It. Clearly define who your audience is and speak to them – and only them – directly. You will get ancillary customers/clients/readers as a matter of course. BUT, you should always blog with your core audience in mind.

 More tips after the jump.

Evaluating your business idea

You're out on the town with friends and an idea pops into your head. You grab a cocktail napkin and jot down the major premises of your business. You awaken the next morning feeling inspired and ready to launch your new business but you are unsure here to start. Dont fret my pets, the following resources are a great starting point. Why not just dive into your chosen industry? It is best to use some of your time to plan and research. The more you do beforehand, the less you will learn the hard way. Evaluating your business idea is just as important as launching your business because it will reveal any holes you may have in your idea as well as what your competition is offering.

Now what? You must learn more about what you are getting yourself into. Use the following online and offline resources from entreprenuer.com to help you determine if your idea is a good one.

•Entrepreneur Assist offers a collection of free business planning and productivity tools, letting you access free business books, bookmark your favorite articles, schedule events and reminders and share documents to assist you in your idea evaluation and market research process.

•How to Create a Marketing Plan, will help you strategize your marketing efforts.

•The U.S. Census Bureau has the stats and demographics you need to know.

•FirstGov.gov is a well-designed, easy-to-navigate portal to the government online. Click on the tab that says "Businesses and Nonprofits."

More resources after the jump.

HUSL Today Presents: So you wanna start a blog?

Allow me to narrate for a bit: Starting HUSL Today has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life thus far. I've met amazing & thoughtful people. I've read encouraging emails from complete strangers. I appreciate the comments because they let me know I am not writing just for myself. I thank all of you. *smile* Through HUSL Today I have the privilege of showcasing the intricacies of my personality while studying in a field that most see as *tedious & uninteresting. While it is true that I am still a new blogger, I anticipate some of my readers are considering starting a blog of their own. For this reason, I have decided to share what I've learned thus far. Going forward HUSL Today will feature a regular series called "So you wanna start a blog?" Through this series I will share blogging tips and resources for readers who are current and future bloggers.

Image source: http://flyingcart.com/blog/pics/blogging.jpg
Let's start with the basics:

Before you become a blogger you should take time to determine if blogging is right for you. Although starting a blog is a huge step, maintaing a blog can take on a life of its own (Let the church say amen!). When contemplating a blog, you should consider it like you would a job. You MUST consider the minimum qualifications before you begin your journey. Thus, it is imperative that you are honest with yourself when you answer the following 10 questions:


1. Do you enjoy writing? Blogging is primarily a writing venture. It is essential that you enjoy writing or your blog will seem more like work than play. You do not want your blog to become tedious. If you do not like writing, chances are blogging is not for you. Which leads me to...

2. Do you have time to blog? Blogging does not start and stop with posting. You will have comments to moderate, emails to read, reader questions to answer and other bloggers to interact with. You may have to fact check yourself and you may decide to research topics that interest you and your readers. You should plan to update your blog regularly and post daily. This leads me to...

3. Can you handle criticism? Everyone will not read your blog for positive reasons. Some will criticize what you post and others may twist your posts to start rumos. You may be faced with more negative criticism than compliments. Your readers may get out of hand on controversial posts and attack you. You must develop tough skin in order to deal with such situations.

4. Are you good at forging virtual relationships? Interacting with people in real life and interacting with people online are two totally different things. I've met people who are excellent virtual people but they suck when it comes to interacting with people in real life. The opposite is also true. Blogging requires you to understand interacting with people online in a way that allows you to forge long standing "virtual relationships." If you are unsure, join a social networking site like Facebook or twitter (follow @HUSLToday shameless plug) and observe how your friends and followers interact with each other. Take note of what works and use it.

Find out more when you read the rest.

Sharing is Caring: 6 career killing facebook mistakes

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109267/6-career-killing-facebook-mistakes

With more than 400 million active visitors, Facebook is arguably the most popular social networking site out there. And while the site is known for the casual social aspect, many users also use it as a professional networking tool. With that kind of reach, Facebook can be a valuable tool for connecting to former and current colleagues, clients and potential employers. In fact, surveys suggest that approximately 30% of employers are using Facebook to screen potential employees — even more than those who check LinkedIn, a strictly professional social networking site. Don't make these Facebook faux-pas — they might cost you a great opportunity.

Image source: http://www.lowcred.com/wp-content/uploads/fired_you_door.JPG

1. Inappropriate Pictures

It may go without saying, but prospective employers or clients don't want to see pictures of you chugging a bottle of wine or dressed up for a night at the bar. Beyond the pictures you wouldn't want your grandparents to see, seemingly innocent pictures of your personal life will likely not help to support the persona you want to present in your professional life.

2. Complaining About Your Current Job

You've no doubt done this at least once. It could be a full note about how much you hate your office, or how incompetent your boss is, or it could be as innocent as a status update about how your coworker always shows up late. While everyone complains about work sometimes, doing so in a public forum where it can be found by others is not the best career move. Though it may seem innocent, it's not the kind of impression that sits well with a potential boss.

3. Posting Conflicting Information to Your Resume

If you say on your resume that your degree is from Harvard, but your Facebook profile says you went to UCLA, you're likely to be immediately cut from the interview list. Even if the conflict doesn't leave you looking better on your resume, disparities will make you look at worst like a liar, and at best careless.

4. Statuses You Wouldn't Want Your Boss to See

Everyone should know to avoid statuses like "Tom plans to call in sick tomorrow so he can get drunk on a Wednesday. Who cares that my big work project isn't done?" But you should also be aware of less flamboyant statuses like "Sarah is watching the gold medal hockey game online at her desk". Statuses that imply you are unreliable, deceitful, and basically anything that doesn't make you look as professional as you'd like, can seriously undermine your chances at landing that new job.

5. Not Understanding Your Security Settings

The security settings on Facebook have come a long way since the site started. It is now possible to customize lists of friends and decide what each list can and cannot see. However, many people do not fully understand these settings, or don't bother to check who has access to what. If you are going to use Facebook professionally, and even if you aren't, make sure you take the time to go through your privacy options. At the very least, your profile should be set so that people who are not your friend cannot see any of your pictures or information.

6. Losing by Association

You can't control what your friends post to your profile (although you can remove it once you see it), nor what they post to their own profiles or to those of mutual friends. If a potential client or employer sees those Friday night pictures your friend has tagged you in where he is falling down drunk, it reflects poorly on you, even if the picture of you is completely innocent. It's unfortunate, but we do judge others by the company they keep, at least to some extent. Take a look at everything connected to your profile, and keep an eye out for anything you wouldn't want to show your mother.

Facebook Can Help You Get Hired … or Fired

Let me say that one more time.  Facebook Can Help You Get Hired … or Fired

The best advice is to lock down your personal profile so that only friends you approve can see anything on that profile. Then, create a second, public profile on Facebook purely for professional use. This profile functions like an online resume, and should only contain information you'd be comfortable telling your potential employer face to face. Having a social networking profile is a good thing — it presents you as technologically and professionally savvy. Just make sure your profile is helping to present your best side — not the side that got drunk at your buddy's New Year's party.

Spring Clean Your Life & Get Organized!!!

Where would I be without my smartphone or my planner? Ok you probably don't know the answer to that but I will tell you. I'd be in Hades with underwear made of gasoline writing a motion for summery judgment. Ok maybe its not that bad, but I would definitely be suffering. Through no effort of my own, I was forced to get more organized and stay on top of things.  Its Spring and naturally we all want to clean everything. I dont know about you but this was the time my family and I got down and dirty and we cleaned EVERYTHING. While it is a great to keep a clean dwelling and an organized living space, it is also important to spring clean things outside of the home and I dont mean your car. Because I love you here are 5 ways to Spring Clean Your Life & Get Organized.


1. Identify and reduce clutter. pen your mail every day. Or make a weekly appointment with yourself—and don't break it!—to open all your mail and pay all your bills.

• When you pick up your mail, always throw the junk mail out immediately. That leaves a smaller pile to contend with.
• Shred everything with your name, address, and any personal information, especially credit card offers and anything with your social security number.
• Once you have looked at a paper, take whatever action is needed right away.
• Get virtual: anything that you can keep as a document on your computer, do! Do not print out anything—unless you will need it outside your home or office. Always back up important information from your computer onto discs or a backup drive! Do not be afraid, computers are our friends. Backup important files at least once a month or more often if you are really paranoid. It will be there just in case your pc crashes.
• Organize your computer. Try to get files off the desktop—they are visual clutter. Reserve your desktop for the files you access every day. Create folders in your Documents folder to encompass a range of files: Recipes, Events, etcetera. Create categories and subcategories that make sense to you. Hide the icons on your desktop to reduce clutter as well.
• Give everything a place. If everything has a place it will be less stressful when the time comes to straighten up.

2. Create a junk box. This is effective for people (like me) who feel they really can't throw things out. I suggest staging those items out of your life. Put the items in a box with a destroy date written onto it—generally about six months from now. If you find yourself needing to go into it to find something—and you end up actually using that item, not just taking it out of the box—put it with the items to keep. Anything left in the box at the end of the time should be thrown out. I have found this method effective for gettid rid of clothes, items, etc. but never ever ever for shoes. The idea is that if you haven't used it by the destroy date then you dont really need it.

3. Do not be afraid to throw things away.  The biggest obstacle between you and your organized self is your fear of throwing things out. If you are a business, throw out all tax papers older than 11 years; individuals can safely throw out all financial papers older than seven years. Do keep birth and marriage certificates, social security cards, driver's licenses and passports, along with the deed/title to your home, homeowner's insurance in a safety deposit box or in a fireproof lock box and/or with copies with the family lawyer/financial advisor.

• Go through your items quickly and make snap judgments—that first inclination is generally a good one. Then repeat the process. Often, you will find more items that you can live without. If you are holding onto something in case you "might" need it in the far off future, get rid of it! You can always buy whatever it is when you actually need it

4. Get a PDA. If you back it up at least once week and back up your computer at least once a month, you will always have a copy of your address book, your calendar, your task list. It is a brain source—once you put it in there you don't have to think about it until it tells you to. It is an effective tool because of the apps it has available. You can create a To Do or task list which you can prioritize and assign all a due date. If a task needs following up, set a date to take further action.

5. Do not get overwhelmed. Pick one thing that needs to get organized—the smaller the better—papers, computer files, clothes, linen closet, kitchen, mail, children's room, and work on that one thing until you are content that it is sufficiently organized. Then move onto the next item. Never attack the whole house at one time.

Although sometimes I relapse to a disorganized lifestyle, it is an easy system to follow.  I highly recommend it!

Source; http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/how-to-get-organized

TIPS: The top 5 interview questions & how to approach them

With this job market, job interviews are an even more important step to obtaining your dream job. You could avoid this process by taking a risk and hire yourself by becoming an entrepreneur. Regardless of whether it is a phone interview or in person you want to be as prepared as possible for the interview. Talented Generation cares about your success so here are the 5 most common interview questions (that I've both asked and been asked) and how to approach them: 

1. Tell me about yourself. This question is often the first the interviewer will ask so be prepared. This is not the time to discuss how you broke your finger skateboarding when you were 12 or how you hated erasing the chalkboard when you were in elementary school. Instead, the interviewer is oft looking for you to describe your professional skills and how they will be an asset to the company. Your answer should focus on the skills you think are essential for success i.e. Microsoft Office, multitasking, time management, working with groups, etc. Thus, your answer could be something like: 

My name is Raine, I have 4 years customer service experience working for various technology companies including 2 fortune 500 companies. For 2 of those years, I was responsible for training new employees as well as implementing more effective training programs in order to assist new hires with making a smooth transition into our company.

The answer encompasses my experience while also discussing subtle skills like supervising others, working with a volatile industry and a commitment to delivering satisfactory customer service.

 2. What is your greatest weakness? Focus on a genuine weakness but not one that will cost you the job. It will help if you have a weakness your interviewer is likely to relate to.You may choose to discuss your fear of public speaking. This will only work if your job does not involve public relations.  Public speaking is a genuine source of anxiety for many people so chances are the interviewer will be able to relate to your weakness. Regardless of what you choose, make it a genuine and solution-oriented answer. Do not EVER answer with things like "I'm lazy at times" or "I don't respond well to authority." Also, stay away from answers like "I work too hard", "I'm too kind", and "I'm too patient" because these are answers the interviewer has heard a thousand times.  Be sure to discuss how you are turning your weakness into a strength. Something like a fear of public speaking can be improved upon and you can discuss it without being too self deprecating. 

3. What do you know about our company? This is where you display your researching skills. Briefly discuss the company history and different projects the company is currently involved with. Before the interview peruse the company's website until you are comfortable conversing about what you've learned. Take special note of mission statements, press releases and any info you can gather on your interviewer. This question could be the easiest one to answer because a simple Google search of the company can give you all the info you will need. There is no reason to ever get tripped up on this question. 

4. What is your 5 year plan? or Where do you see yourself in 5 years? The interviewer asks this question to gauge your ability to be forward thinking. This is your time to show you have ambition. Discuss in detail what you see yourself doing and more importantly tie it back into your growth in that company. If you're applying for an associate position discuss your ambition to become partner and to join the management team. Make special note of the steps you plan to take to get there and how you plan to remain a dedicated asset to that company.

5. Tell me about the most high pressure situation you've dealt with in the last 6 months. As much as you may be tempted to discuss the time your S/O make you walk the dog at 2am, refrain from such discussions. Nobody wants to hear that anyway. Another thing, your interviewer doesn't care! This is not the time to ramble about BS, control what you share and be meticulous about everything you say. Use this question to demonstrate your resilience and your perseverance in a work environment. Speak about a tough deadline you had to meet and how you approached it. Although you are expected to discuss a hurdle, be sure to discuss it in positive terms. Thus, even though you had difficulty meeting the deadline you should emphasize your determination to complete the task with excellence and in a timely fashion.

Remember, an interview is a 2 way street: they are interviewing you, but you should also interview the company to ensure that you complements to each other. Asking questions shows that you have researched the company and your position and it will help illustrate your interest. 


Here are a few questions you should ask:

What do you think are the three key skills/strengths vital to this position?

Describe the work environment. What is a day in the office like? What are some of the challenges of working here? 

What would I be expected to accomplish in the first six months on the job? in the first year?
Why did you decide to join the company? What are the things that make you stay? 
What is the most difficult part of working for this company? What sort of challenges can I expect? 
What sort of training is offered for this position?

What is the next step in the hiring process for this position?

How soon can I expect to hear from you?

Watch what you share: 3 ways to protect yourself online

This morning on Good Morning America, they discussed the perils of social networking. They profiled a woman who updated her Facebook status informing her friends that she would be out at a concert for the evening. She returned to discover that her apartment was robbed. She was even more shocked to learn that the robbers were her Facebook friends. Check out the video of the robbery below:



In recent weeks, Twitter and Facebbok have added a new feature that allows you to add your location to your updates. When used with the best intentions, two friends will discover they are in the same area. Criminals can interpret your update about going to Vegas for the weekend as an opportunity to rob you because your house will be empty for 48 hours. 

Another popular service is foursquare. According to the GMA crew, this service lets you check in to restaurants, clubs and events to let people know where you are. You can show your support for an establishment by frequenting the joint enough to become the mayor, where you may earn a free drink or just bragging rights that you are the king of the geeky regulars. It also allows you to broadcast tips that may help other people tour the area and find good places to eat drink and be merry.

Facebook encourages people to choose their Facebook friends just as carefully as they chose their actual friends. While Facebook began as a site for college students to network, many people have used social networks as a means to commit crimes. Stories about Facebook stalkers are on the rise and users .Websites like pleaserobme.com have emerged to raise awareness about over-sharing on the internet.

1. Be suspicious. Do not assume that all 700 of your friends are REALLY your friends. Some people are nosey and some people want to hurt you. Just because it is the internet does not make it any less dangerous. In fact, I would argue the anonymity makes it even more dangerous because you don't know who you are truly dealing with. Just because someone says their name is T Johnson does not mean you should trust them. People lie to your face, do not think they won't lie on social networking sites. From now on, when you get a random request from someone take a moment to ask them if you know each other. It seems a bit extreme but it will save you heartache later. You may choose to have a blanket policy i.e. "I will only approve people in my network who share at least 50 mutual friends" or you may choose to make your policy more subjective "I will only approve certain people if I have 50 mutual friends and I will make an exception if he looks like McDreamy." Regardless of what you chose, do not take your online safety for granted. If you feel the need to share your exact location, limit the viewers to your closest friends.

2. Change your privacy settings. I cannot stress this enough. This is especially for those of you who put everything online for others to see. Everyone has received a friend request from someone whom they shared no mutual friends with and wondered "how did they find me?" Stop right now and type your name in a Google search. Thats right, Google yourself. Begin with your first and last name and then do another search with your full name, Take note of what comes up. Do you see your tweets? Do you see your Facebook profile? Do you see anything you weren't aware was posted online? Take charge of your online image the same way you take charge of your reputation. We live in the age of technology and employers often look at social networks to get a perspective about the lives we live.   Make your information private! Do not assume everyone wants to use your information for your benefit. You've been warned. Check out 5 things you should know about your Facebook privacy settings for tips.

3. Don't underestimate the power of the "nosey neighbor syndrome." Nosey neighbor syndrome is a disease which afflicts you in such a way that you feel the need to know everything about your neighbors. There is no cure for "nosey neighbor syndrome" yet and it is spreading like wildfire.  People affected by nosey neighbors syndrome suffer in silence. They wonder what their neighbors had for dinner last night and what they are eating for breakfast this morning. They question their neighbors about their ventures as they leave their homes and stare in disappointment when you refuse to share. Stick with me I have a point. Nosey neighbor syndrome has manifested itself on social networking sites and it has become dangerous. A perfect stranger can take one glance at  your facebook profile and see:
Current city
Birthdate (age)
Sex
Websites
Pages you are a fan of
Religious views
Relationship status
Photos of you
What friends have written on your wall
Family you have on Facebook
Personal info (interests, activities, etc.)


Someone can use this information to hurt you. Don't help them find you. Let people earn your trust. Use a trust policy online similar to the one you have in real life. In my opinion, everyone has a little bit of "nosey neighbor syndrome." In other words, we want to keep up with people we find interesting. We research judges, celebrities and friends. We read gossip blogs to find out about Kim K & Reggie Band the paparazzi make their living following them around. We are inquisitive and we like to know what are friends are really doing. If you have a Facebook account and especially a Twitter account this includes you. The laws of economics rules the world. Sit down because this may surprise you. The leader of the world is not red, white, black or blue; it is green and gold. My point is that as long as the demand for something is there, someone will furnish the supply.

Think twice before you post when and where you will be. You may make the mistake of sharing it with someone with less than good intentions.