The Benefits of Blogging!

As a business student, concentrating in marketing, the majority of teachers in my discipline encourage students to blog. Many students entering university or a post secondary institute for their first time might not see the true benefit of blogging. Listed below are some reasons why all students (not just business students) should blog!

Build Your Brand Identity

Blogging helps build your professional brand. This is important because employers judge job candidates on their brand. Various tools such as a website, blog, social media etc help build a personal brand. A student with a polished professional brand will have the upper hand when they are ready to enter the work force since employers do often look up job candidates on the internet to see what comes up.

Become An Expert

Through social media, you can communicate what you have learned in the work force or in school. Becoming an expert on a particular subject can set you a part from other students. Blogging on a particular subject can also show the public how knowledgeable you are. It can aid in building your professional identity.

Foundation for Your Social Media

You can communicate through social media but essentially your blog will be where the main hub of information will stem from. Platforms such as Twitter restrict how long status updates can be and should be used to direct individuals to your blog. There is no limit on how much you can include in your particular blogs.

Source:

http://www.searchenginejournal.com/7-reasons-why-blogging-is-still-important-in-2012/39225/

Final Blog Post?

Well I have commented on a post about procrastination but I find myself writing this final blog post at 11pm on the night it is to be submitted. I find myself wondering if I am the only one doing this. Suffice to say I have procrastinated. But I have put a lot of effort in to my final project for this class and hope that will be reflected in my final mark in this class. And if this is to be the final blog post I think it would be a fitting one.

I would like to thank Professor Bob, for all his insights in to communication this term.

Insights like, the goal of communication is to foster and maintain relationships. Also that good communication is courteous. And my favorite gem, it should be as long as it needs to be but no longer.

I must also thank him for his high energy level between the times of 7pm to 10pm at night. It truly makes a difference. It has been a pleasure. Your teaching style, of letting students pick material relevant to them and their own work groups I feel is truly entrepreneurial and what the education system in this country could use more of. I feel that Bob is truly dedicated to his students, and I can swear that I have never received such quick replies to emails from a teacher.

So Bob it has been a pleasure. You show that you enjoy your work and I request that you never stop.

Segregated Funds?????

Segregated funds are the common name for an independent variable insurance contract. They are very similar to mutual funds accept they are only offered through insurance providers, offer a guaranteed death benefit amount, and protection from creditors.

Segregated funds are long term investments with a minimum investment horizon of ten year. Normally the death benefit can be adjusted twice to lock in gains during the contracts life. This is seen by some investors as a good way to partake in the stock market while mitigating the risk.

As with all insurance contracts that have a cash value protection from creditors is guaranteed by law. People who carry a the potential to be sued, like Doctors, Lawyers, accountants, may be interested in this feature as part of sound risk planning.

As mentioned Segregated funds are like mutual funds. Often they are a clone of the holding in a mutual fund but charge a higher management expense fee for the guarantees. Segregated funds are also eligible for RRSP, TFSA, and RESP accounts.

Think that segregated funds might be good for your financial plan? Talk to your financial advisor. If you don’t have one let me know, I think I know someone who can help

Good research

Research

In this blog post I will talk about the power of good research. I chose this topic because one of my favorite TV shows is George Stroumboulopoulos. The research team for this program is excellent. Almost every episode a guest is amazed by a video clip that is showed from their distant past. And of course George is a communications master that never offends his guest and leaves the viewer much more educated about the interviewee.

Good research also allows writers and speakers to present more informative arguments which make listening or reading their point of view much easier.

Some tips I have learned are

1. look for multiple sources presenting similar information
2. look for sources presenting the other view of the information
3. don't blindly, ask if the information makes sense
4. share your research with others for insights you might have missed
5. document your sources thoroughly and in an organized fashion.

How To Succeed In A Job Interview?

   A good performance in interview helps much to get the job. As a senior human resource manager said he could judge whether an interviewee suitable for the job in the first 10 seconds, interview give the employer direct impression about the interviewee's appearance and personality.
    So, how to succeed in a job interview? Interviewee should take full use of the 30 minutes to show his crucial capabilities. First at all, the interviewee must pay attention to his or her appearance. Get dressed properly and neatly. Secondly, good manners are also important. Don't be too proud, and neither too timid. Just be courteous. Thirdly, the interviewee must demonstrate his aptitude and competence for the job and his knowledge in the industry. The last but not the least, the interviewee ought to be honest about his or her personal as well as academic background, for honesty is the best policy. In a word, interviewee should do his best to convince the latent employer. 

Communication and Language

     One of the first things we think about when we hear the word communication language. There are thousands of languages spoken around the world today. In fact, linguistis say that there may be as many as 10000.

　Speaking with others is an important means of communication, but we can also communicate without using words, that is by nonverbal communication. Nonverbal communication includes voice quality, eyes movement, facial expression and body movements such as gestures and change in body position. But many people do not realize that everyone uses nonverbal communication. Sometimes, we “say” more with our face and gestures that we do with our voices.

　Books, magazines, newspapers, radio, television, are other means of communication. Today we can also communicate over long distance with the help of communications satellites. Some scientists say that soon machines will be developed for sending message through the earth. The technology necessary to build these machines is very complex. But the language we speak every day is much more complex than the most modern communication technology.

Source Retrieved from:http://www.skillsyouneed.co.uk/IPS/NonVerbal_Communication.html

Is a face to face communication better than the other types of communication?

   Stepping into the new era, human beings gradually have different types of communication. Letter can be the oldest one, and we also own telegram, telephone, internet, and the list will go on. Seeing that face to face communication is becoming rare among people, making acquaintances be stranger, some people may think that we should be back to the nature, and do more face to face communication. Isn’t it really the best for people’s communication? My answer is absolutely unanimous with it.
   Human beings are all emotional animals. Through the face to face communication, people can exchange their feelings, which can hardly achieved by the cool computer. Letters and telephone may deliver our sentiment as well, however, its ability is limited because it can only be words. On the contrary, people are able to use some body languages when they’re face to face. Take lovers for example, surely they could write some love letters and make a long call to say how much they love each other. But, can it be compared with the kisses and the sweet hugs? Exactly no!
   Sometimes we would find that embarrassed when misunderstanding others’ words from sending the mobile phone message or those from the MSN. One of the reasons is that sentences can be spoken through different tones. Only a simple ‘OK’ will express distinctive emotions. When you speak in a certain voice, you may be happy to agree with someone’s idea; When you speak it lowly, chances are that you feel unwilling and depress. We can find that language is of great interest, for it could be accompanied with different collocation as well as be spoken in different tones expressing ideas that far apart.
    We often hear some stories about the lonely parents who have outstanding sons and daughters, merely be at home. Letters or phone calls are good, how about the face to face communication? Be back home one or more times, have some more chat with our parents, that may be the best presents they need.

I Have a Hostage...Send Someone to Negotiate!

Negotiation is a learned skill that can greatly benefit anyone in various situations. It might be perceived that only business students find it a helpful tool to learn, but this skill can actually benefit anyone in any discipline. Further insight about negotiation, including some basics can be found below!

Do Your Homework

Think critically about all the variables involved. A person that is better informed then the opposition, has leverage when it comes to a negotiation. Separate the core issues and assign value to different variables. Knowing what is more important can help a person decide on what they are willing to give up or not give up.

Know When to Walk

Sometimes walking away is the best choice to make. Carefully think through the different alternatives and come to a conclusion about the situation. Confidentially walking away can discourage the opposition from attempting to gain more in the current situation or in the future.

Listen

Active listening can go a long way in a negotiation. Even if a point is unimportant, listening to the oppositions thoughts can help empower some of your own points. Listening can also uncover any underlying issues that might be not communicated right away.

Tradeoffs

Not all negotiations can be won and sometimes you need to come to a settlement where a tradeoff might or might not occur. It is important to pursue some sort of tradeoff even if you are not winning the negotiation. If you don’t tradeoff, it is likely that the opposition will attempt to negotiate for more as they see this as a sign of weakness.

Source:

http://b2bsalesgroup.blogspot.ca/2007/12/simple-negotiation-tips.html

6 Tips for Writing Clearly and Concisely

One of the biggest misconceptions is that students believe that the “more” they write; the more likely they’ll receive a “higher” mark. But it’s rarely the case due to a lack of poor communication within their writing. Sometimes instructors ask for a 500-word limit in an essays assignment but many students end up writing 700 words or longer. (Blackman, 2011).Here are 6 tips you can follow to write clearly and concisely 

Lead with your main point: If you were forced to boil down your email to one or two sentences, what would they say? Always start by writing your main point. Then elaborate as necessary.

Cut the jargon: Don’t write things you don’t have to

Use short, direct sentences: Put the subject at the beginning of your sentence. Also, watch out for sentences that go on for three or more lines. Shorter sentences are much easier to read.

Read it aloud: When you’re getting ready to send an important communication, you’ll catch mistakes and other problems more easily if you read it aloud. If something trips you up or doesn’t make sense as you’re reading, rewrite until it’s clear.

Use spell check: Seems simple, but you’d be surprised how many people skip this crucial step.

BUT! Don’t overuse spell check: Meaning, don’t assume spell check is going to catch all of your mistakes. (Blackman, 2011)

Blackman, S. (2011, July 29). Wharton University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved December 9, 2012, from 6 Tips for Clear and Concise Business Communications: http://whartonmagazine.com/blogs/6-tips-for-clear-and-concise-business-communication/

Things Ladies Do During Presentations Without Even Realizing It!

Just yesterday I had a huge Human Relations presentation. It was an hour long. Yes I was a bit nervous, but I felt good. I knew ALL my material. When delivering, I felt confident with what I was saying.

After getting my grade back, my instructor told me that I did not have enough power behind my words. I used the floor, I walked around, and I talked to the audience equally, but I lacked power because I diminished my presentation by saying words just as "just" and "little", etc. I didn't realize that I did it. And I found the article that my instructor sent me after class very interesting.

There are many examples in which women especially belittle themselves. Below I have listed examples that apply to many women out there. Women belittle themselves…

1) By telling the audience something will take "just a minute".

[NO] "Im just going to quickly show you an example"

[YES} "Im am going to show you an example"

2) By making a statement sound like a question

"Women often raise the pitch of their voice at the end of a sentence, making it sound like a question. Listen to your own language and that of women around you, and you are likely to notice this everywhere. Unsurprisingly, speaking a statement like a question diminishes its power. Make statements sound like statements; drop the tone lower at the end" 

(Mohr, 2012)

3) By telling the audience that you might be wrong with what you are going to say

When you speak and comment on what people have to say by replying with “Im not sure if this applies but…” or “You definitely know more about the subject than I do but…”

So, LADIES, please keep these things in mind when speaking. I am guilty of doing if without realizing it, and I'm sure...wait...I KNOW that you all do it too.

Retrieved from:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tara-sophia-mohr/8-voice-lessons-for-brill_b_1084041.html?ref=tw

Stop Procrastinating!

As we near the end of semester stress levels are at an all time high. Projects, presentations, term papers, and final exams are pretty much the only thing on any students mind.

For me, this semester has been the busiest of all. Over the last four months, I have slowly learned how to stop procrastinating, and not feel as stressed about the mountains of work I have to do. Here are some of the tips I taught myself along the way:

1.     Write a to-do list.

2.     Separate projects into smaller sections, and do a section a day.

3.     Use an agenda!!! Spread out what needs to be done over each day so you can look at it and know what needs to be done by which date. This also helps remind you of important due dates coming up.

4.     Don’t make a project seem bigger than it is. Breaking the tasks down help ease the workload, and allows the projects seem less daunting.

5.     Start the project with the soonest due date. Getting something done before the due date is the best way to relieve stress.

Resume Tips

As students near the end of their school days, it is important for them to update their resumes, and stand apart from the rest. A resume that is formatted the correct way, with information displayed in an easy to understand manner, the chances of receiving a call for an interview are increased substantially. Since I am no headhunter, I found some extremely helpful tips from forbes.com, and encourage everyone to follow what is suggested.

• Avoid the fancy-schmancy layout, font, and other special effects. Stick to traditional font of Times New Roman, 9 to 12 point size, and black type against a white paper. You might try a different type size for your name and the companies you have worked for, perhaps your title. But try to be consistent. Go easy on boldface type, italics, and underlining.
• Prepare it in a simple Word format that can easily be viewed on most computers. Not a table format or template.
• Use a reverse chronological order. List your present, or most recent job, first, and then work backwards. You state the complete name of the company you work for, or have worked for, and what they do, how long you were there–month and year. Then list the position you held and your accomplishments. You don’t have to use full sentences. Begin with verbs. “Managed company tax reporting, finance, invoicing, purchasing,” for example.
• Get rid of objectives and summary and all that silly stuff. It’s all fluff. An employer doesn’t care about your objective. He cares about his.
• Skip personal information such as married with three kids. Sounds stable to you. But to a hiring authority looking for someone to travel, it may keep you from being interviewed.
• Stories sell. Numbers, statistics, percentages get attention if you put in bold type. Increased profit by this 28%. Came under budget by 30%. If you were born and raised on chicken farm, note it on your résumé.
• Fuzzy key words and phrases should be avoided. These include customer-oriented, excellent communications skills, and creative. These words lack meaning and do absolutely nothing to help you get an interview.
• Use words that refer to titles- customer service, controller, manager, accountant,
• Get the photos off your résumé. You are looking for a job, not a date.

Good luck with the job hunt!

Dear Santa

Over 11,000 volunteers make the dreams of children around the world come true by responding to the letters sent into the North Pole. The letters from Santa are replied to in the language they were written, which even include Braille. To make sure Santa receives your Christmas wishes this year, make sure you send him a letter to the following address:

SANTA CLAUS
NORTH POLE
H0H 0H0
CANADA

Merry Christmas!

Please Note: In order for the letters to be responded to by Christmas this year, all letters must be mailed by December 3^rd, 2012!

Getting Over the "Writer's Blog Syndrome"

Dealing with “Writer’s Block”

There are many stages of the writing process. Some people have strengths within this process, and many people have common weaknesses. When an individual has an inability to write or produce new work in writing, which is considered only a temporary difficulty, it is called “writer’s block”. Sometimes, the hardest part is just starting to write! If you begin writing with no planning or no outline, it is even more difficult to start writing your work.  Some of tips to over come the “writer’s block syndrome” is to:

1)    Write down you ideas- point form or in a sentence structure- just put it down on paper

2)    Consciously stop the non-productive comments running through your head by replacing them with productive ones.

3)    If you have some "rituals" for writing success (chewing gum, listening to music.), use them.

4)    Talk to your Paper: sometimes talking about the ideas you want to write about with someone can generate some ideas

5)    Change the Audience: Sometimes changing whom you are writing too can help you start your paper. Pretending you are writing to a 5 year old gives you the opportunity to write clearly and get your point across, and then you can revise it and change the tone, style, etc.

6)    Start in the middle/the body: Writing down and creating the content for your paper sometimes works best. Leave the introduction and conclusion to the end. They are easier to write when you know what the content of your paper consist of

(Owl Purdue, 2012)

Owl Purdue. (2012). Owl Purdue Online Writing Labs. Retrieved December 3, 2012, from Other Strategies for Getting Over Writer's Block: