Career 01 (Sep 08 - Mar 10)

[winston]

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*** Article: Being Laid Off -- Is it a Sacred Opportunity? - By Arleen Hannich ***
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Have you ever noticed that "good" things often come out of "bad" things? Events or situations we see as disasters in our life can actually change our life in profound and wonderful ways.

I believe layoffs offer many individuals a sacred opportunity to re-examine their lives. For many of us, something as serious as a layoff is required before we will pay attention to thoughts and feelings that have been plaguing us for months, years, or even decades. Thoughts like: What am I doing in this job? Where is my passion? What is the purpose of my life anyway? Is this really all there is to life?

We may have ignored and stuffed concerns like these for so long that they have begun to show up in our bodies as disease -- a physical manifestation of the disease of our souls. But if physical illness doesn't get our attention, a layoff quite often does.

Many of us expend huge amounts of energy and time rearranging our lives so that we feel the sense of growth and wonder we crave. Yet we haven't really created anything new, and our relief is short-lived. We may feel safe simply rearranging the box we live in, but our life force does not want to be contained in this way. Our life force wants to experience, grow, and expand. Our life force wants us to take the lid off of our box and explore new territories which beckon to us. Enter the layoff -- a perfect opportunity for self-examination, self-expansion, and self-realization.

As you look now to re-enter the workforce, I invite you to consider the following questions:

1. "What is the most important thing to you in your life today? What do you find personally meaningful?" Take some time to really ponder your answers. When you started your career, your answers may have been very different. Allow this layoff to be your opportunity to "catch up" with all the changes you have undergone during your previous years of employment.

2. "When you were growing up, what were you most interested in doing?" Also consider if there was anything you were told as a child you could not do in the area of occupation or career. What were you told would be "best" for you? Now, as an adult with many years of experience under your belt, take a second look at your interests and the advice you received. Determine if the advice is serving you today, and how you can expand your parameters for success and personal fulfillment.

3. "What fears played a part in shaping your previous career? Which of those fears can you throw away now?"

4. "What part of your potential have you been resisting?"

5. "What possibilities -- that you didn't allow yourself to consider before -- may be open to you today?"

Self-discovery is a continual process. You will not be able to complete it in an hour or two, but it is a process that is well worth starting. Once you take the first few steps, I think you might actually find that you enjoy it!

A layoff is a significant event in your life. Though it may not seem so on the surface, I believe there is something sacred in such a life event. I invite you to allow this sacred pause into your life. Use it as fuel for creating a life that supports you in experiencing joy and fulfilling your true potential.

[winston]

Singapore church pays princely sum to leader

A Singapore-based church paid one of its leaders more than 500,000 dollars (329,000 US) in its last financial year, a report said Monday. The New Creation Church, which raised 19 million Singapore dollars in just one day in February for the construction of its new premises, paid one employee between 500,001 and 550,000 dollars in the financial year ended March 31, 2008, the Straits Times said.

It said the church did not confirm if the money was paid to its leader, Senior Pastor Joseph Prince. But New Creation's honorary secretary, Deacon Matthew Kang, was quoted by the newspaper as saying it was the church's policy to "recognise and reward key contributors... and Senior Pastor Prince is the main pillar of our church's growth and revenue." Kang also described Prince as "the key man responsible for bringing in about 95 percent of our church's income," and added "he has enriched the church and not the other way around." Two other employees of the church were paid between 150,001 and 200,000 dollars, but no names were given, the report said.

One of Singapore's fastest growing churches, New Creation had an income of 55.4 million dollars and net assets of 143.36 million dollars in its last financial year, according to its website. Singapore is a predominantly ethnic Chinese society with deep Buddhist and Taoist traditions, but Christians here are known as devout and relatively affluent.

[winston]

When You're Applying to a Company That's Stuck in the "Resume Rut"... By Jason Holland

The traditional resume is all about you, not what you can do for the company. That's why we encourage Early to Risers to send out "sales letters" instead, highlighting how you can increase profits, improve customer service, etc.

But some companies are stuck in the "resume rut" and require job candidates to provide one. In that case, our recommendation is to use your "sales letter" as a cover letter - and make sure your enclosed resume is not cluttered with junk like this:

1. Your photo. It has become trendy to include a photo in a resume - but it's unprofessional. The HR department isn't casting you in a movie.

2. Descriptions of your "traits." Nobody cares if you are "a team player" or a "hard worker." That's assumed. Use the limited space you have in a resume for experience and measurable accomplishments.

3. Your ability to use Word and other basic programs. That, too, is assumed. And, unless you are applying for the typing pool, nobody cares how fast you can type.

4. A third - or even second - page. If you're fairly new to the workforce, one page is enough. (You can leave off your college job at the Burger Hut.) If you have considerable experience, two pages is okay.

(Source: U.S. News and World Report)

[kennynah]

if this was granted by God...no one shall deny these people...but if it is the work of the dark side... no need for any of us to overly worry as well...bcos eventually, justice will be mete out... and i believe the punishment will be very very severe...and eternal lasting...

[winston]

What to Do If You Get Laid Off By Jason Holland

Companies are cutting expenses due to the economy's downward slide. Not even workers with a perfect track record are immune to layoffs. And with an unemployment rate that reached 8.1 percent in February, it can be tougher than ever to find a new job.

If you're handed a pink slip, here are some ideas to help you get the best possible severance package and/or "exit" plan:

Don't blindly sign your severance agreement. The terms can be negotiated. (This is best done by talking to your boss instead of HR.) You can, for example, ask for more money, extended health benefits, or job search assistance.

If you're in the middle of a project, ask to stay on until it is completed. Explain the consequences if it is not done on time.

Offer to keep working as a freelancer or consultant. Your pay will be lower, but at least you'll have some money coming in while you look for another job.

Ask for a prorated bonus, especially if your scheduled performance review is only a couple of months away.
But don't spend too much time and effort begging your soon-to-be-ex boss to "extend" your old job. Remember, it would be just a stopgap until you find a new job - so direct most of your attention to that task without delay. You're not going to be able to live off your severance for long. That already limited source of money will dry up very quickly.

(Source: Smart Money)

[winston]

Does Your Presentation Pass the Google Test? by George Torok

Learn from Google. They know something about the presentation of information. They took the chaotic information soup of the Internet and presented the information in the way that people want. Google didn't invent this but they are the number one search engine.

Why is Google so popular and how can you apply these lessons to your presentation?

1. Don't waste time.
Your audience is on Google time. Get started on time and get to your point quickly. Imagine how quickly Google would die if people had to wait minutes instead of seconds for search results.

2. Prioritize your information
Put your most important points first. Why? Because if you lead with weak points your audience will tune you out by the time you get to the good stuff. Internet marketers attempt to get top Google rankings because most people only pay attention to the top three search results.

3. Focus on topic
One presentation = one purpose. Stay on topic and deliver one message. If your purpose is to sell the idea then focus on the benefits. Don't get bogged down on the logistics. When you search for "how to improve golf game" you don't want to read about the history of the game. If you try to deliver more than one message you will sabotage yourself. Google penalizes websites that try to mislead the search engines.

Deliver your presentation like an Internet search engine.

[winston]

Getting Paid as a Freelancer By Jason Holland

It's every freelancer's worst nightmare: After many hours of hard work on a project, you turn in the final to the client. They say it's perfect. But months later, you've yet to see your hard-earned pay.

This doesn't mean the client intends to stiff you. Because of an ungainly bureaucracy or overly complicated accounting procedures, it can take a long time for some companies to approve your check.

That said, here are some ideas to keep your payment from slipping through the cracks:

Make sure everything is correct on your end when you submit your invoice: tax ID number, itemized expenses, company job codes, etc. Ask for payment up front - either in full or for half your fee. Or get a deposit based on a percentage of your fee. If That's not possible, send periodic invoices throughout the project, instead of one big one at the end.

Make sure that number of edits and revisions you will do for the original fee are spelled out in the contract. Include a fee for further edits and changes beyond that. This will prevent the client from asking you to make changes (through no fault of your own) six months later for free.

When you submit an invoice, offer a 2 to 4 percent discount if you receive your check within 10 days.

Despite all your precautions, the day may come when you run into a client who does take advantage of you, and either ignores your invoices or claims there was a problem with your work. What then?

As a freelancer, you don't have the clout of a big company with a legal team behind you. Sure, you could turn your bill over to a collection agency or take them to small claims court. And if the amount is large enough, that may be worth doing. But in most cases, the best thing to do is save yourself a lot of time and aggravation and write it off as a bad experience. (Unfortunately, you can't write it off as a business loss on your taxes.)

(Source: Inc. and Freelance Switch)

[winston]

12 quick tips for boosting your happiness at work user by Gretchen Rubin

Of course, being happy at work depends mostly on how much you like your job. But there are also smaller steps that can boost your happiness, as well -- partly by boosting your physical comfort and your productivity.

Some of these steps are VERY small, but the fact that you’re taking steps to improve your situation itself boosts happiness.

1. Check for eyestrain by putting your hand to your forehead in a salute. If your eyes feel relieved, your work space is too bright.

2. Sit up straight with your shoulders down — every time I adjust my sitting position, I instantly feel more energetic and cheerier.

3. Get a phone headset. I resisted for a long time, because it looks so preposterous, but it’s really much more comfortable. Also, it lets me pace while I talk on the phone, which also looks preposterous, but is energizing.

4. Don’t keep candy on your desk. Studies show that people are much more likely to snack when a treat is within easy reach, and a handful of M&Ms each day could mean a weight gain of five pounds by year’s end.

5. Never say “yes” on the phone; instead, say, “I’ll get back to you.” When you’re actually speaking to someone, the desire to be accommodating is very strong, and can lead you to say “yes” without enough consideration. Along the same lines…

6. When deciding whether to say “yes,” imagine that you’re accepting a job that you’ll have to do next week. Don’t agree to something just because it seems so far off that it doesn’t seem onerous.

7. Don’t let yourself get too hungry. My husband goes without eating for hours and hours at a time, so once, trying to be helpful, I bought him a big bag of granola to keep in his desk. He ate the whole bag in one day and ended up sick as a dog. Lesson: eat regularly.

8. Take care of difficult calls, tasks, or emails as quickly as possible. Procrastinating makes them harder; getting them done gives a big boost of relieved energy.

9. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, think hard about how you spend your time. Be honest. How much time do you spend surfing the internet, looking for things you’ve misplaced, or doing a task that’s really someone else’s job? Also…

10. Let yourself stay ignorant of things you don’t need to know.

11. Go outside at least once a day, and if possible, take a walk. The sunlight and activity is good for your focus, mood, and retention of information.

12. Say “Good morning” to everyone. Social contact is cheering, and if you feel that you’re on good terms with all the people in your office, you’ll be happier each day. Also, it’s polite.

[kennynah]

11. Go outside at least once a day, and if possible, take a walk. The sunlight and activity is good for your focus, mood, and retention of information.

oh yes.... BAT, Philip Morris, etc...need your support.... go for a smoke...

[HengHeng]

then i need to invest in health or cancer treatment related products after your support of phillip morris as well as to invest alittle on carbon capturing technology companies