07.19.07

tired

Posted in Career at 11:46 pm by Paloma Cruz

Why is it that the days when I’m too tired to blog are the days when I have the most to blog about? My assistant gave notice today. He’s leaving me for a full-ride scholarship to Harvard, where he’ll be pursuing a master’s degree in public policy. I guess if I have to lose my very capable and talented PR assistant, that’s an acceptable place to lose him to.

I am happy for him. I told him so. It’s a great opportunity.

Later it will hit me that this means that I have to hire someone who may end up less qualified and less talented to do his job.

Oh, happy days…

07.16.07

places I wish I could afford

Posted in Retail Therapy at 11:18 pm by Paloma Cruz

With stress becoming a factor in my life on an ever-increasing frequency, I wish I could afford a luxury spa get-away. The Chronicle had an article on Texas spas that added to my wishlist:

Resources:

07.08.07

looking for a job? some help

Posted in Career at 3:18 am by Paloma Cruz

I am always looking for a better job, and I know a lot of people out there are in the same boat — by necessity or desire. Here’s a roundup of articles, tips and tricks to help you on your way.

Things to do

Volunteer work is a good way to add weight to your resume, at least according to Monster.com: “You may have altruistic reasons for volunteering, but giving your time has career-enhancing power, too.” Not bad, you feel good for doing it and add some zest to your resume.

Start a blog. According to The Boston Herald, “Blogging is good for your career. A well-executed blog sets you apart as an expert in your field.” And they give eight reasons why:

  1. Blogging creates a network.
  2. Blogging can get you a job.
  3. Blogging is great training.
  4. Blogging helps you move up quickly.
  5. Blogging makes self-employment easier.
  6. Blogging provides more opportunities.
  7. Blogging could be your big break.
  8. Blogging makes the world a better place.

Need some tips on acing the interview? Membox.com has a quick reference guide to help out:

  • Prepare
  • Dress well
  • Mobile phones off
  • Firm handshake
  • If you use glasses, wear them in the interview
  • Think before you answer

They also have a more detailed list of things to do to prepare. Worth a read, if you’ve already landed that all-important interview.

Brand Yourself

One of the ways to get your career on the fast track and guarantee continued success is to successfully brand yourself.

Tips from Quick Sprout on what to do in your first 7 days:

Thousands of people are trying to brand themselves every day, but the majority seem to be making critical mistakes within the first week of their own personal branding campaign. If you haven’t thought about personal branding much and are looking to start branding yourself, here is what you should do in the next 7 days:

  • Day 1: Pick a niche
  • Day 2: Help others in your space
  • Day 3: Participate within your community
  • Day 4: Network
  • Day 5: Start a blog
  • Day 6: Plan ahead
  • Day 7: Don’t expect the world

These provide a good plan for a way to get started. Don’t think that personal branding can work for you? Just look at what it did for Rick Mahn. From Fast Company, “Mahn’s online conversation has not only paid off with reams of Internet pages talking him up. Online personal branding has begun to change Mahn’s life. Recruiters call him about job offers. Microsoft wanted his take on some pre-production and just-shipped products. And reporters at publications like the Wall Street Journal Online want his ear.”

What not to do

Sometimes the place to start is with a list of things to avoid. Monster.com recommends avoiding the top 10 resume mistakes:

  1. Typos and Grammatical Errors
  2. Lack of Specifics
  3. Attempting One Size Fits All
  4. Highlighting Duties Instead of Accomplishments
  5. Going on Too Long or Cutting Things Too Short
  6. A Bad Objective
  7. No Action Verbs
  8. Leaving Off Important Information
  9. Visually Too Busy
  10. Incorrect Contact Information

Read the article for more info on how to avoid these mistakes. I know that I’ve bookmarked it for myself.

Staying where you are

Thinking about staying in your current job? Being underpaid is one reason that compels many people to quit. How do you resolve that? Do good work, says John Wagner, and your bosses will notice.

If that’s not enough, here are some tips to help you get along with your co-workers and on negotiating workplace conflicts. I know that that’s something we can all use.

Seth Godin would argue that you need to know when it’s time to quit. Have you been branded internally? “The time to look for a new job is when you don’t need one. The time to switch jobs is before it feels comfortable. Go. Switch. Challenge yourself; get yourself a raise and a promotion. You owe it to your career and your skills.”

I’ll probably post on this again, later. This is all for now.

Resources:

ways to gain more energy

Posted in Health at 12:56 am by Paloma Cruz

As someone who is always looking for an energy boost, I found this tip interesting: get a hobby. At least that’s what Life is a Journal recommends. In the recent post “5 Reasons Why Hobbies are Important” number 2 is that it Energizes your life. (Found via Lifehacker.)

If you find yourself falling through your front door after a hard day’s slog and slumping in front of the television you may be surprised to know that you do in fact have some hidden energy left. I found when I was doing a live show on community radio, even after a hard day at the office, I was able to find the energy to perform. The thought of doing the live show energized me. I got a “buzz” from doing it even though every other day of the week I would find myself not having the same energy. So if you think you are just too tired after work to do something with your spare time – if you find something you’re passionate about – you might be surprised by the energy you have.

I wonder if my blogging habit qualifies. Though, to be honest, I’ve never gotten an energy boost from it. It has, however, helped me decompress from my day.

Ririan Project gives us some great ways to boost energy with Give Yourself a Lift With These 27 Effective Power Tips. (Found via BNET.) The ones about food really caught my attention:

3. Breakfast like a king.

They don’t call it the most important meal of the day for nothing. A sensible breakfast will give you the boost you need each morning to last you through the whole day. Hey, if you don’t put gas in your car, it won’t run. Same goes for healthy meals in the morning. To stay full longer, try oats. Oats are full of fiber and low on the glycemic index which means that the sugar is released into your bloodstream slowly, keeping your energy levels constant. Oats are also packed with B vitamins, which lower stress and help convert carbohydrates into energy.

4. Avoid quick-fix foods.

Candy, chocolate, hamburgers, chicken wings, french fries, etc., all these foods are high in sugar or fat and can do a huge number on your energy levels. A quick fact: sugar puts you to sleep. It does not, as most people think, give you more energy. So cut out all those candies and chocolates, and start eating more fruits and vegetables.

5. Tea for me.

Drinking tea regularly every day has been found to increase one’s stamina. However, the type of tea you drink is very important. You should stay away from tea that comes in tea bags, because chances are these contain high levels of caffeine. Instead, buy some dried herbs from your local supermarket and boil some water with them. Natural herbal teas are healthier than the bagged ones. A combination of Siberian Ginseng extract, peppermint, and green tea is a great choice.

6. Supplement your body.

Energy is generated in each and every cell in the body through a chemical reaction, which combines fuel from food and oxygen. The catalysts that make these reactions happen are the vitamins and minerals in out diet. Supplementing our diet can boost energy levels and make up for any deficiencies. The most effective energy boosting nutrients include B complex vitamins and Co-enzyme Q10. Chromium supplements also help stabilize blood sugar levels.

7. Head for a bar.

No, not the type that serves beer, I’m talking about energy bars. Jam-packed with carbs, these bars are designed to provide fuel for a short-term energy boost. Just make sure you read the nutritional breakdown on the label, some of them can contain more fat and sugar than a regular chocolate bar.

8. Drink more water.

Again, sounds obvious, but we’re not drinking enough fluids. This helps you stay hydrated, curbs your desire for an unhealthy snack and keeps you from getting drowsy. If you’re stuck in a boring meeting and you feel yourself nodding off, a sip of water will help you regain your focus.

9. Eat lunch every day.

Too many of us think we’re too busy to stop for lunch and don’t recognize that the resultant midday slump will impact our productivity and attention span. It’s always important to supply your body with a regular input of nutrients. You don’t need to have a heavy meat and potatoes meal at noon every day, but make sure you eat something. And avoid eating while you work at your desk; take a break for lunch even if it’s only 20 minutes.

10. Snack more often.

And avoid big meals. Eating a lot in one sitting causes the blood to divert from your brain and to your digestive system. This can make you feel lethargic. Instead, try eating four or five smaller meals each day. An apple or yogurt are good choices for a quick pick-me-up. Steer clear of chocolate bars or sugary donuts. Although they create a quick boost in energy, your blood sugar levels will drop even faster afterward, and you’ll feel more tired than ever.

All worth a look. I almost never eat breakfast, always reach for quick fix foods and only recently discovered energy/protein bars. Drinking water is an ongoing challenge for someone who consumes soda religiously. All the tips make sense, especially the last: reduce your stress.

Resources:

07.02.07

Iran & Iraq

Posted in Family, News at 10:08 pm by Paloma Cruz

My brother is fighting in a war.

Amazing how simple and complex that one statement is to me and those around me. Amazing what catches my attention these days.

Today’s Houston Chronicle has a story about Iran being implicated in a recent attach in Iraq which resulted in the deaths of five American troops. This is a story which, until recently, would not have made it onto my radar. My radar has expanded.

My brother is fighting in a war.

Iran implicated in attack that killed 5 U.S. troops in Iraq
– reported by the Houston Chronicle

[snip]

The U.S. military accused Iran today of a direct role in a sophisticated militant attack that killed five American troops in Iraq, portraying Tehran as waging a proxy war through Shiite extremists.

[snip]

Powered by ScribeFire.