• Pay attention! It's very tempting to multi-task while on a conference call, but the clacking of a keyboard or having to repeat information because someone wasn't paying attention is very annoying.
• Before speaking, state your name. For example, "Jay, this is Kathy. My team will have no problem making that date."

Tips for everyone:

• Don't rehash moot points.
• Cooperate rather than agitate.
• Deflect rather than respond to personal attacks.
• Keep your emotions in check.
• Greet and treat everyone with respect.
• Come prepared with all necessary documents and agreements.
• Keep an open mind.
• Don't insist that the opinions and positions of others are wrong
  The Most Unusual Businesses
  Since childhood I've had an interest in unusual businesses. I grew up with four brothers, and when it was time to vote for which television show we would watch, I sold my vote to the highest bidder. You could call that the business of politics. I collected the paper-wads that fell all over when my brothers had their wars, and then sold them back to them for a couple cents each. I was a war profiteer in the paper-wad wars. I also sold candy out of a hollow book in school.My business activities were more conventional as an ad
  Meetings can consume major portions of the workday. If something significant doesn't occur during (or as a result of) the meeting, the time will have been wasted.

  If you are in charge of a meeting:

  • Before scheduling a meeting, ask yourself, "Why do I need to have everybody in the same room?" If you can't think of a good reason, don't call the meeting.
  • Give attendees plenty of advance notice. This goes for meeting cancellations as well.
  • Prepare an agenda, with items listed top-to-bottom in order of importance, and give it to invited attendees ahead of time.
  • Schedule adequate time to cover the items on the agenda and any important side issues that may crop up during the meeting.
  • Ensure that the meeting room has everything you'll need, such as a white board or projector.
  • Show up early for the meeting to see that everything is in order.
  • Introduce everyone at the beginning of the meeting.
  • Address the items on the agenda one at a time. If you run out of time, ask the attendees if they would like to continue or schedule a second meeting.
  • Never allow meetings to unexpectedly run beyond the end of the workday.
  • Don't allow any one person to dominate the meeting or bog down the group. It's your meeting.

  QUICK TIP: If an attendee is chronically negative in your meetings, give them an action item before the meeting. i.e., "Mark - I know you care a lot about this issue. Could you put together a two minute summary of your opinions on it and present it at the next meeting?" Many times being in the spotlight will change their attitude.

  If you're an invited attendee:

  • Review the agenda before arriving at the meeting.
  • Show up on time or early.
  • Bring paper and a pen.
  • Bring business cards to hand out to anyone who needs one.
  • Listen actively and take notes.
  • Maintain the formality or informality established by the chairperson.
  • Don't be afraid to ask for more detail or an explanation if you don't understand something. Someone else may be wondering the same thing.
  • Provide input whenever possible.
  • Don't engage in side conversations.
  • Apologize if you are late, but don't make excuses. No one really cares what held you up and it further delays the meeting.
  • Never bring friends, spouses, children, or others to business meetings.

  If the meeting involves a conference call:

  • Call in a few minutes early to allow time for resolution of any technical difficulties.
  • Avoid using a cell phone. Reception is usually not as good as on a land line, and if you lose your signal and get disconnected it is very disruptive to the meeting.
  • If your phone has a mute button, use it whenever possible to cut down on background noise and improve the quality of the call.

  QUICK TIP: Never trust the mute button and never assume you know who's listening.

  • Pay attention! It's very tempting to multi-task while on a conference call, but the clacking of a keyboard or having to repeat information because someone wasn't paying attention is very annoying.
  • Before speaking, state your name. For example, "Jay, this is Kathy. My team will have no problem making that date."

  Tips for everyone:

  • Don't rehash moot points.
  • Cooperate rather than agitate.
  • Deflect rather than respond to personal attacks.
  • Keep your emotions in check.
  • Greet and treat everyone with respect.
  • Come prepared with all necessary documents and agreements.
  • Keep an open mind.
  • Don't insist that the opinions and positions of others are wrong
    Networking
    Today, some forms of networking must occur and continue on a regular basis for individuals to start a business and keep it running. Effective networking is done when we meet the right people who we want to attract to our product and service. The main reason many of us start a business is to make a profit. The profit can be made by selling a product or offering a service. To market the product and get it into stores for the public maybe difficult without a plan and a good network of people. Networking enables people with similar
    that the meeting room has everything you'll need, such as a white board or projector.
  • Show up early for the meeting to see that everything is in order.
  • Introduce everyone at the beginning of the meeting.
  • Address the items on the agenda one at a time. If you run out of time, ask the attendees if they would like to continue or schedule a second meeting.
  • Never allow meetings to unexpectedly run beyond the end of the workday.
  • Don't allow any one person to dominate the meeting or bog down the group. It's your meeting.

  QUICK TIP: If an attendee is chronically negative in your meetings, give them an action item before the meeting. i.e., "Mark - I know you care a lot about this issue. Could you put together a two minute summary of your opinions on it and present it at the next meeting?" Many times being in the spotlight will change their attitude.

  If you're an invited attendee:

  • Review the agenda before arriving at the meeting.
  • Show up on time or early.
  • Bring paper and a pen.
  • Bring business cards to hand out to anyone who needs one.
  • Listen actively and take notes.
  • Maintain the formality or informality established by the chairperson.
  • Don't be afraid to ask for more detail or an explanation if you don't understand something. Someone else may be wondering the same thing.
  • Provide input whenever possible.
  • Don't engage in side conversations.
  • Apologize if you are late, but don't make excuses. No one really cares what held you up and it further delays the meeting.
  • Never bring friends, spouses, children, or others to business meetings.

  If the meeting involves a conference call:

  • Call in a few minutes early to allow time for resolution of any technical difficulties.
  • Avoid using a cell phone. Reception is usually not as good as on a land line, and if you lose your signal and get disconnected it is very disruptive to the meeting.
  • If your phone has a mute button, use it whenever possible to cut down on background noise and improve the quality of the call.

  QUICK TIP: Never trust the mute button and never assume you know who's listening.

  • Pay attention! It's very tempting to multi-task while on a conference call, but the clacking of a keyboard or having to repeat information because someone wasn't paying attention is very annoying.
  • Before speaking, state your name. For example, "Jay, this is Kathy. My team will have no problem making that date."

  Tips for everyone:

  • Don't rehash moot points.
  • Cooperate rather than agitate.
  • Deflect rather than respond to personal attacks.
  • Keep your emotions in check.
  • Greet and treat everyone with respect.
  • Come prepared with all necessary documents and agreements.
  • Keep an open mind.
  • Don't insist that the opinions and positions of others are wrong
    Is it Spring Already?
    Probably the most confusing time of the year for the freelancer is spring. There are so many great things going on it is very hard to keep your mind on work.The constant life consuming choices of home depot or office depot, lawn mower or computer, notebook or gardening tool can make us want to crawl in a hole and forget the whole thing.To organize your gardening, home improvement, yard, family and your business is more than a daunting task, it is almost impossible. I have found a way to do it all and not die trying
    ting. i.e., "Mark - I know you care a lot about this issue. Could you put together a two minute summary of your opinions on it and present it at the next meeting?" Many times being in the spotlight will change their attitude.

    If you're an invited attendee:

    • Review the agenda before arriving at the meeting.
    • Show up on time or early.
    • Bring paper and a pen.
    • Bring business cards to hand out to anyone who needs one.
    • Listen actively and take notes.
    • Maintain the formality or informality established by the chairperson.
    • Don't be afraid to ask for more detail or an explanation if you don't understand something. Someone else may be wondering the same thing.
    • Provide input whenever possible.
    • Don't engage in side conversations.
    • Apologize if you are late, but don't make excuses. No one really cares what held you up and it further delays the meeting.
    • Never bring friends, spouses, children, or others to business meetings.

    If the meeting involves a conference call:

    • Call in a few minutes early to allow time for resolution of any technical difficulties.
    • Avoid using a cell phone. Reception is usually not as good as on a land line, and if you lose your signal and get disconnected it is very disruptive to the meeting.
    • If your phone has a mute button, use it whenever possible to cut down on background noise and improve the quality of the call.

    QUICK TIP: Never trust the mute button and never assume you know who's listening.

    • Pay attention! It's very tempting to multi-task while on a conference call, but the clacking of a keyboard or having to repeat information because someone wasn't paying attention is very annoying.
    • Before speaking, state your name. For example, "Jay, this is Kathy. My team will have no problem making that date."

    Tips for everyone:

    • Don't rehash moot points.
    • Cooperate rather than agitate.
    • Deflect rather than respond to personal attacks.
    • Keep your emotions in check.
    • Greet and treat everyone with respect.
    • Come prepared with all necessary documents and agreements.
    • Keep an open mind.
    • Don't insist that the opinions and positions of others are wrong
      Age Discrimination is Alive and Unwelcome Here!
      Common sense appears to be a rare commodity these days. Why is this so?In an era when the emphasis seems to be on all things young, beautiful and sometimes shallow its about time we took stock of ourselves and did our businesses a favor by employing older workers! Age discrimination is a terrible injustice that has far reaching effects on our economy where ever we are.When I was much younger I used to watch these older workers with wonderment and ask myself 'how did they get to be so smart' many of them didn't even h
      gize if you are late, but don't make excuses. No one really cares what held you up and it further delays the meeting.
    • Never bring friends, spouses, children, or others to business meetings.

    If the meeting involves a conference call:

    • Call in a few minutes early to allow time for resolution of any technical difficulties.
    • Avoid using a cell phone. Reception is usually not as good as on a land line, and if you lose your signal and get disconnected it is very disruptive to the meeting.
    • If your phone has a mute button, use it whenever possible to cut down on background noise and improve the quality of the call.

    QUICK TIP: Never trust the mute button and never assume you know who's listening.

    • Pay attention! It's very tempting to multi-task while on a conference call, but the clacking of a keyboard or having to repeat information because someone wasn't paying attention is very annoying.
    • Before speaking, state your name. For example, "Jay, this is Kathy. My team will have no problem making that date."

    Tips for everyone:

    • Don't rehash moot points.
    • Cooperate rather than agitate.
    • Deflect rather than respond to personal attacks.
    • Keep your emotions in check.
    • Greet and treat everyone with respect.
    • Come prepared with all necessary documents and agreements.
    • Keep an open mind.
    • Don't insist that the opinions and positions of others are wrong
      Home Embroidery Business
      Embroidered designs are seen on everything from T-shirts to bath towels. There’s plenty of need for embroidered products; you just have to find your niche within the market. People like the personalized designs of embroidery to show off on themselves or their pets. You could target your services to pet stores, sporting goods stores, or maybe even your local golf courses. Another option might be to target local businesses to see if they want a variety of items to use as promotional products.What skills and tools are needed
      ume you know who's listening.
      • Pay attention! It's very tempting to multi-task while on a conference call, but the clacking of a keyboard or having to repeat information because someone wasn't paying attention is very annoying.
      • Before speaking, state your name. For example, "Jay, this is Kathy. My team will have no problem making that date."

      Tips for everyone:

      • Don't rehash moot points.
      • Cooperate rather than agitate.
      • Deflect rather than respond to personal attacks.
      • Keep your emotions in check.
      • Greet and treat everyone with respect.
      • Come prepared with all necessary documents and agreements.
      • Keep an open mind.
      • Don't insist that the opinions and positions of others are wrong. Suggest that they look at it from another perspective.
      • Don't threaten.
      • Don't do non-relevant tasks during the meeting, like typing on your laptop or reading papers.