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My RSS Feedhttp://www.newportstationers.com/index.htmlHot News!enmremillard@cox.netCopyright 2008 Michael Remillard2008-08-12T12:20:00-07:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:24:36 -0700Make First Impressions Countmremillard@cox.netWork2008-08-12T12:20:00-07:00http://www.newportstationers.com/solutions_files/fc6200c0abf7c0e3abd60b86d75e18a1-11.html#unique-entry-id-11http://www.newportstationers.com/solutions_files/fc6200c0abf7c0e3abd60b86d75e18a1-11.html#unique-entry-id-11
When first impressions make the difference, it’s important to understand how you come across to others. Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., is the founder of Quintessential Careers, a leading career development site. He shares his tips and insight on the way we impact people, whether it’s in person or on paper.

First Impressions Made in Person

Attire

Whenever you’re meeting people for the first time, whether you’re networking, attending a business meeting, or dating, it’s essential to look the part. In other words, dress for the specific occasion, even if it means doing a little research up front. Think of how you want to be perceived by the people you’re about to meet and dress accordingly, advises Dr. Hansen.

Grooming

Hair should be neat; not the wind-tunnel look. For women, less makeup is always better than too much, and a light perfume or cologne is acceptable, but be careful of overwhelming the people in the room with the scent. Keep in mind that being well-groomed can make people think you’re efficient and reliable, while being unkempt and untidy makes people think you’re disorganized.

The Handshake

Make it simple. Extend your right hand and grasp their hand gently but firmly. No bone-crushers, and certainly no four-handed, one-hand-over-the-other shakes. Definitely no sweaty, clammy, or wimpy handshakes, either. If necessary, carry a handkerchief in your pocket and wipe your hand before you do the meet and greet.

Conversation

The world doesn’t revolve around you, and neither should your conversations. Be sure to engage the other person when you talk, and use their name for emphasis. You can, of course, talk about yourself, but don’t make the whole conversation about you, and keep stories short. Look for common ground with the person you’re talking to, and share stories about that common interest.

Attitude

Nothing works better in any situation than having and expressing a positive attitude. Let your enthusiasm for any new situation show, and leave your problems at the door.

First Impressions Made on Paper

Cover Letters

Your cover letter might be someone’s first impression of your personality and professionalism. Keep it short—that means no more than four or five brief paragraphs. In your first paragraph, create a dynamic and powerful opening that explains why you are writing. Always address the letter to the recipient by name. “To whom it may concern” shows that you have little knowledge or interest in the company. What’s the worst mistake you can make? Misspelling the person’s name. Second worst mistake? Misspelling anything else. After all, if you’re not careful about your own business, why would anyone think you’ll take care of theirs?

Résumés

Aim for a single-page résumé, but don’t cram every single detail into a page with zero margins and tiny type. Make use of white space and go to an additional page only if absolutely necessary. Organize your résumé to reflect your most recent job at the top and include dates of employment. Use bulleted sentences, not paragraphs, to describe your work experience. Résumés are read quickly, and bulleted sentences are easier to read than long paragraphs. And be sure to spell check carefully. Misspellings and grammatical errors tell employers you aren’t detail oriented.

Business Cards

For business card first impressions, the most important element is the design and format. Except in special circumstances such as creative professions, colors—of the paper and the text—should be conservative. The same holds true with the typeface—use basic fonts that are easy to read. The design should be simple and tasteful, advises Dr. Hansen. And it should include your key contact information.

That’s why Avery Two-Sided Printable Clean Edge Business Cards make such a great first impression. Both sides are matte coated, so you can print vivid color and sharp text on both the front and back of the card. You’ll have all the room you need to communicate important information about you and your business without giving the card a crammed appearance. Armed with Avery Business Cards, and these tips, you’ll be able to create a first impression that will also be a great lasting impression.

Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., is a professor of marketing at Stetson University, DeLand, Florida, and founder of Quintessential Careers, a leading career development site. To learn more, go to www.QuintCareers.com.]]>Perfumemremillard@cox.netFashion2008-08-01T05:00:00-07:00http://www.newportstationers.com/solutions_files/8ce9e87bee8144139e3ab71305c2b753-10.html#unique-entry-id-10http://www.newportstationers.com/solutions_files/8ce9e87bee8144139e3ab71305c2b753-10.html#unique-entry-id-10 p08080101

The hardest part involved in picking a fragrance is sorting through the perfume counter in a department store with all of your olfactory senses in one piece.

Applying a scent to your skin is the most vital part in testing a variety of fragrances. You should always remember to apply the fragrance on one of your pulse points.

Right afterwards, leave the location or go do something else for about twenty minutes. This will give the fragrance ample time to react to your body chemistry and mature.

This is important in how to shop for a new perfume because there are times when you may find the top note of a fragrance appealing however as it reacts with your body chemistry, the middle and base notes may change greatly and become un-appealing to you.

If however you still enjoy the aroma of the fragrance after you after done this, you may classify it as a potentially new scent for your collection.

You should also note that it is not a good idea to test more than two or three fragrances at any given time. Always apply the fragrances to pulse points however make sure they are not near one another. This is so that the fragrances do not mix.

Perfume Gifts
Choosing a fragrance for another person and determining what they will like is not always an easy task. The most important thing you can do is to ask perhaps their spouse or someone else close to them what their tastes may be. You can also determine a new scent they may like by finding out what fragrance they currently wear.

You could always opt to purchase them a complimentary product in the same fragrance they already wear or to buy them a gift set. The gift sets typically contain cologne, lotion and at times a body powder or shower gel. You could also try telling the salesperson at the store the fragrance your friend wears and ask them to suggest another perfume in a related scent.

If you are unable to find clues as to what your friend may prefer in a fragrance, you may look towards their personality traits for help. Who a person is can really clarify what their signature scent might be. There is such a wide variety of scents and fragrance families, that having a clue to your friends personality may be exactly the insight you need in determining what scent is for them.

If your friend is overtly feminine, a fragrance that comes from the fruit or floral family might be something she would love. However, if she evokes sultry self-confidence, she might prefer a scent that is bolder.

Oriental fragrances that are spicy and contain musk or cinnamon are probably more to her taste. A woman who is more down to earth or your typical homebody would be apt to love a woody or mossy fragrance.

An endless romantic who embraces the dynamics of love would find a fragrance with floral notes combined with citrus or perhaps a light dash of oriental perfect for her needs.

Before you purchase a fragrance for someone else, make sure you know of the store’s return policy. This is just in case you do not pick a scent that your friend likes.

It is important to note that you should not rely on the small scented scraps of paper that you can spray perfume on to test.

They do not offer a true representation of what the fragrance is really like. If you have any questions as to the scent of a fragrance, ask for some samples.

Those samples are the perfect size for a couple of applications and allow you to make a good decision when it comes to making a fragrance choice for you or a friend.

Once you've made a decision - shop. You may find quite a variance in price for the same fragrance from store to store. Also once your sure about your decision check online. Many online retailers like PerfumeDolly.com sell 100% genuine perfumes at a considerable discount even when you factor in the shipping.

Special Thanks to Beauty And The Bath

]]>Easy Steps for Combating Stressmremillard@cox.netWork2008-07-01T19:11:00-07:00http://www.newportstationers.com/solutions_files/05b5e05b3b4f80755b6cbbe71382b651-9.html#unique-entry-id-9http://www.newportstationers.com/solutions_files/05b5e05b3b4f80755b6cbbe71382b651-9.html#unique-entry-id-9 Stress

But if stress happens too often or lasts too long, the results aren't good. You can find yourself with headaches, backaches, stomachaches and worse. It can affect your short-term outlook and your long-term health.

Bad for You, Bad for the Company
Stress isn't just bad for you, it's equally bad for your company. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, stress-related disorders are fast becoming the most prevalent reason for worker disability. Job stress and related problems cost American companies an estimated $200 billion or more annually through absenteeism, turnover, accidents, etc. So it's in everyone's interests to reduce stress in the workplace.

To that end, here is a list of techniques for managing and reducing stress on the job. Every technique may not work for you, but chances are, some of them will.

Manage Your Time More Effectively
Stress is often caused by feeling overloaded and fearing that you won't get everything done. Set priorities. Do the important tasks first. If some of the less important tasks fall by the wayside, learn to live with it.

Set Daily, Weekly, Monthly Goals
It's easy to feel like a hamster on a treadwheel, going nowhere. Setting realistic goals will help you feel focused and in control. Plus, goals provide a yardstick to measure your progress and even give yourself a pat on the back once in a while.

Recognize Your Limitations and Don't Take On Too Much
Most of us hate to say no to our co-workers and superiors. But a realistic "no" is often better for the company than an unrealistic "yes" that you can't live up to. Practice saying no without upsetting or offending others.

Don't Be Afraid to Share the Load
Asking for assistance doesn't mean you're lazy or incompetent. Quite the contrary, it often means you're a very concerned member of the team who wants to get the work done in the best possible way.

Avoid the Conflicts, Beware the Drama
Arguments and office politics are stress inducers. Are they worth it? Almost never. Look for win-win situations where everyone feels good about the outcome. You'll feel better about it, short term and long term.

Take a Break
Sometimes the best way to complete a job is to walk away from it. If you're feeling stressed, take a break. Switch to another task, take a walk or climb the stairs. When you come back to the job, you'll feel refreshed and refocused.

Relax, Breathe Deeply
Strangely, breathing through your nose really does bring down your stress level.

Depend on a Friend
Friends help us relax, laugh and see things differently. Talk to a friend about the things that are stressing you. They might help you look at things in a new way.

Try to See Things Differently
Rather than getting upset when someone has a different point of view, try to see things from their perspective. Listen actively, don't be rigid. Remember, there's always something new to learn.

Accept What You Cannot Change
A certain degree of acceptance is a critical stress reducer for life, as well as work. There are some things you simply can't change. Learn to recognize them, accept them and move on.

Take Advantage of Available Resources
No matter where you work or who you work for, remember it's in your company's best interests to reduce on-the-job stress. Talk to your employer or supervisor. She may already have stress reducing plans. Or, together, you may be able to put some plans in place.

]]>Walk it Offmremillard@cox.netLifestyle2008-06-03T22:35:57-07:00http://www.newportstationers.com/solutions_files/318ac490e38000e266905a5beae1ad1d-8.html#unique-entry-id-8http://www.newportstationers.com/solutions_files/318ac490e38000e266905a5beae1ad1d-8.html#unique-entry-id-8A little extra walking during your workday can improve your fitness levelWho knew that working in an office could actually help contribute to your physical fitness? It's true to some extent. According to a recent study by the American Council on Exercise, the average administrative professional takes a total of 4,327 steps during each workday, or 1.7 miles.

The problem is, although that may sound like a lot, it's really not when compared with other occupations. A nurse, for instance, takes a daily average of 8,648 steps or 3.4 miles, a restaurant server takes 10,087 steps adding up to 4.0 miles, and a mail carrier takes 18,904 steps accounting for a whopping 7.5 miles. (Results for each of the above were compiled by having those study subjects in each occupation wear pedometers during work hours for three days).

Specific to office professionals, among the contributing factors in keeping their walk total so low is the electronic capability of today's office. Years ago, an executive assistant might need to answer a buzzer from the boss 20 or 30 times a day, which often involved getting up from the desk and walking into the boss's office. Plus, memos were typically hand-delivered, meaning more walking. Now, of course, most if not all of that kind of communication is completed with a few strokes on the keyboard and the click of a mouse.

So, how can you fight back against the increasing sedentary lifestyle of todays office and help improve your fitness level while working? Here are some ideas:

If you drive to work, park farther away in the parking lot.

If you live within a mile or two of your office, consider walking to work once in a while on days when the weather is nice.

If your office is located on a floor of your building other than the first, take the stairs instead of the elevator.

At least once in a while, rather than emailing a co-worker, walk to their cubicle or office and deliver the message in person.

When you go to the rest room, instead of going to the closest one, walk to one farther away...preferably one on another floor where you can take the stairs.

On breaks (if possible) and during lunch, go for a stroll. During cold winter months you could just walk throughout the building, but in summer, get outside if you can and walk for a solid 10 or 15 minutes.

Special Thanks To Pendaflex]]>Tips For Planning Your Next Meetingmremillard@cox.netWork2008-06-01T21:26:00-07:00http://www.newportstationers.com/solutions_files/a294b1ef39d746201edcf3266d5d2453-5.html#unique-entry-id-5http://www.newportstationers.com/solutions_files/a294b1ef39d746201edcf3266d5d2453-5.html#unique-entry-id-5

Okay, daily, run-of-the-mill meetings that run five to 10 minutes don't usually pose a lot of problems, but the lengthier, day-long marathon meetings do. That's because they tend to require the planner to pull together a variety of details from having the right equipment on-hand to coordinating snacks and meals.

You can hire a meeting planner who will do all of this for you -- and sometimes that is a good idea, especially if your meeting is large and requires finding an off-site venue. , But with a little advance planning-particularly if the meeting is on-site-anyone can pull off a meeting with few, if any, glitches.

Consider the setting. Choose a conference room that is light and airy without too many distractions. Make sure it can accommodate all the guests. There's nothing worse than having to squeeze too many people into a room, which can make the meeting feel claustrophobic, or having too big a room with a lot of empty chairs, which can send the message that the meeting wasn't important enough for everyone to attend.

You will want a conference table that allows plenty of room to spread out papers. Chairs should be comfortable to sit in for an extended period of time, but not so comfortable that attendees are included to nod off after lunch.

Invest in a sturdy easel that will not wobble if someone with a heavy hand writes on it or easily tips over if bumped.

Keep a fresh pad of oversized easel paper on-hand for writing notes or brainstorming ideas.

If only a few notes are needed, consider a white, dry erase board. They come in handy and can be erased completely when the meeting is over.

Double-check that you have a fresh supply of markers and dry erase markers.

If you are showing a slide presentation or PowerPoint from a laptop, dim the lights, but don't have them so low that people can't take notes or become drowsy. Draw the blinds on the window and dim lights near the screen, while keeping other lights on.

A laser pointer will help the speaker make his point accurately without standing in front of the screen.

If there is a PowerPoint presentation, spend some time refining the graphics before the meeting to make it interesting. The content of a presentation might be solid, but it will appear boring if the graphics are dull. At the same time, if there is too much animation, a good presentation might appear disjointed and confusing.

Keep high-energy snack foods handy. Peanuts are good. So is granola. Serving too many snacks with a high sugar content can rev up attendees only to have them crash later on.

While you can't avoid serving coffee at meetings, consider having some bottled water on hand.

Follow these tips and you are likely to put meeting planners out of business will likely be congratulated for your organizational expertise.]]>Office Romancemremillard@cox.netWork2008-06-01T15:15:00-07:00http://www.newportstationers.com/solutions_files/546b928689235580bad24f2161180471-0.html#unique-entry-id-0http://www.newportstationers.com/solutions_files/546b928689235580bad24f2161180471-0.html#unique-entry-id-0Romance in the office can lead to marriage or to a lawsuit.

Office romance is not unusual. In fact office romance is fairly common these days as the office is where we spend so much of our time. Handled well it can lead to a relationship. Handled badly it can lead to a lawsuit for harassment.

It is not surprising that romance springs up at the office. We spend a third or more of our lives in the office or other places of work. It is a non-threatening environment where we have an opportunity to meet potential dating partners and learn more about them than just what they look like. Yet romantic involvement between employees is loaded with dangers for both the employees and for their employer.

Many companies tried to ban dating among their employees. Most have since abandoned that plan, because of legal restrictions and a recognition of the inevitable. Instead most now try to restrict such activities that are harmful to the business.

Is It Appreciated?

If you are going to allow employees "coming on" to other employees, you have to first make very clear the company policy on harassment. If an employee is not interested in, or receptive to, an advance from another employee, it should end there. Playing around, verbal sparring, etc. are appropriate preludes to dating, but only if the receiving party is comfortable with them. If you have a harassment policy, make it very clear all employees. If you don't have one, you need to generate one right now.

Is It Appropriate?

In most cases, mutually-agreeable relationships between employees pose no danger to the company. However, there are instances where they are inappropriate and may be harmful to the company and its interest. For instance, it is never a good idea for a manager to be romantically involved with a subordinate in their own organization. Situations such as this should be clearly spelled out in the company policy as inappropriate and subject to corrective action.

What Are The Downsides?

Some of the downsides are preventable. Others aren't. If two employees marry and have children, one employee may leave the company to raise the children. There is nothing you can, or should do, about this except be prepared to hire a replacement.

The downside with the biggest danger to the company is when a relationship between employees breaks apart. In many cases, the employees will handle it like adults and move on with their respective lives. In other cases, the resulting unpleasantness may require transferring one or both employees to new roles. An employee may file a claim of harassment, even if your policy is very clear and is enforced. In an extreme case, the emotional stress may lead an employee to lash out and commit an act of violence.

What are The Upsides?

The upside to romance in the office is that you will have some happy workers. When people are happy they tend to be more productive and have fewer health issues. When partners work for the same employer, they have someone they can talk with about their activities and problems at work who understands and can help them resolve the issues

What You Need to Do

You need to develop a fraternization policy, publicize it, and then enforce it.
The specifics of a fraternization (or non-fraternization) policy for your company will depend on your company's culture and industry, the laws of your location, and good managerial decisions about what you want to accomplish.

If you encounter a problem situation, you may need to relocate one party or the other so they no longer work together. If you can't find another position within the company for either of them, let them decide who leaves. (If they don't decide, you must be prepared to make the decision, and document the business purpose behind it.)

Once you have developed your policy, publish it to all employees. Give a copy to all new employees as part of their new employee orientation. Make sure everyone in the organization knows the policy, and knows the penalties for violating the policy.

A "broken heart" can be a severe emotional stress for some people. Be sure your employees know about your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) if you have one. If you don't have an EAP, you should look at adding one to your employee benefits package.

Finally, once you publish the policy, you must enforce it. Be careful to be even-handed in your enforcement of the policy so that you don't get accused of gender bias. Look at each situation on its own merits. Don't arbitrarily assume that the more senior individual is more valuable to the company.

Managing This Issue

A well-written, widely publicized, strictly enforced fraternization policy won't prevent office romances from developing. It will, however, make life a lot easier, and less litigious, for you when you have to deal with it.]]>Get Organized And Reduce Stressmremillard@cox.netWork2008-05-30T21:13:00-07:00http://www.newportstationers.com/solutions_files/9ccd565e8ec177887935b01650c8e1b6-3.html#unique-entry-id-3http://www.newportstationers.com/solutions_files/9ccd565e8ec177887935b01650c8e1b6-3.html#unique-entry-id-3Clutter = stress. The more things you have to look at, deal with, sort through, ignore, or clean, the greater your stress levels. Experts say that most people regularly use only about 10 percent of their belongings, which means that 90 percent of what's on your desk or in your home isn't necessary to everyday living.

Chances are if you have piles on your desk, stacks on the floor or half finished projects everywhere, you're experiencing stress, which can prevent you from working at your optimum level of productivity.

So, whether you're working at home, on the road or in the office, learning to organize your workspace can dramatically lower your stress levels. Here are some basic tips for getting orgainized:

1. Tackle a job that's within reason. Don't try to organize the entire office all at once. Take small steps, like organizing the top of your desk or a single drawer. Then, move onto another area, like a large file cabinet or closet. Think about where and when you waste the most time or feel the most stressed –searching through a file cabinet or delving into an archive to look for an old client presentation or expense account–and designate this as first priority.

2. Get six large boxes. Label them "To Do," "File," "Keep," "Store," "Trash" and "Donate." Beginning in one corner of your area, go through every object there. If it gets daily use, keep it where you can put your hands on it easily. If not, put it in one of the boxes depending upon how often it gets used. Remember the cardinal rule of de-cluttering: When in doubt, throw it out.

3. Now look at the items in the "To Do" box. These should go where you can find them easily. Put them into a file folder, a briefcase or keep it as the first file or two in the closest drawer to your office chair. Better yet, put the "To Do" files in a rack on your desktop so that you see it the first thing every morning.

4. Next, look at the "File" and "Keep" boxes. Get new file folders and label each one with its contents. Put each type of document in its own folder. Use color-coded files for different clients or project types; they will be easy to find when you're in a hurry. The items in the "Keep" box should be placed in a file cabinet the furthest away from your workspace since you don't use them everyday.

5. Finally, look at the "Store" box. Either store these items as-is or find a box to keep them in for long-term storage. Itemize the contents of the box for easy retrieval later.

6. Make a promise to yourself to keep the workspace free of clutter. Limit your desktop to only a few necessary items.

7. As tempting as it might be to add personal items to your desktop, exercise caution. One or two personal photos or mementos that you really cherish will be more meaningful than a dozen.

8. Add a plant. It is soothing and will "freshen" the space.

9. When the job is done, set some ground rules for the newly-organized space. Define what will–and will not–be kept or stored in the area.]]>Simple Guidelines to Avoid Office Conflictsmremillard@cox.netWork2008-05-27T21:30:00-07:00http://www.newportstationers.com/solutions_files/6acf26ae7482ebd86bca7acf50db6d0b-6.html#unique-entry-id-6http://www.newportstationers.com/solutions_files/6acf26ae7482ebd86bca7acf50db6d0b-6.html#unique-entry-id-6

Simple Guidelines to Avoid Office Conflicts

The truth is that no matter how busy our lives become there's always time to follow certain rules that pertain to office and workplace etiquette. By following some simple guidelines, not only will you increase your likeability factor in the office, you may further your career, too.

Watch your volume. Be sensitive to how loudly you may be speaking. Consider closing your office door and lowering your voice whenever speaking in person or on the telephone.

Keep personal telephone conversations-and emails- brief and to a minimum. Be ever mindful that others are nearby and that this is a place of business. Avoid using the company telephone, fax or email for any inappropriate and personal matters.

In some workplaces, privacy is difficult to find. If you overhear a private conversation, move on; ignore what you hear.

Avoid gossip. Only discuss personnel matters directly with specific individuals, superiors and management.

Be sensitive to scents and smells surrounding you. Save cologne and perfume for social occasions, and ask if fresh flowers and potpourri bother co-workers before installing them in your space.

When eating at your desk or in shared areas, avoid foods with strong aromas that will travel throughout the office. As great as French fries, popcorn and Indian food are, they can smell unpleasant to others. Dispose of empty food containers and other items where they won't contribute negatively to the office atmosphere.

Keep your personal workspace clean and neat at all times. Generally, less is better when it comes to office and cubicle decor. Use discretion when displaying personal items such as family photos and mementos so as not to overdo, clutter and obstruct your work area.

Use shared areas with respect and courtesy. If you expect everyone you work with to cleanup after themselves, model that behavior yourself. Wash and return all kitchen items to their proper place, clean spills, and wipe countertops and tables as needed. Help maintain supplies. When leaving food items in a shared refrigerator, mark all items with your name and date. Remove all items at the end of your work week and toss or recycle empty containers.

Restrooms run a close second to kitchens as annoyance spots. After use, wipe the countertop and sink of any spilled water or soap. Be sure the toilet is clean for the next user. Notify the proper attendant if supplies are low or out, and of any plumbing problems.

Maintain all shared items in "like new" condition and return borrowed supplies. Leave the photocopier in working condition and be sure to take back that borrowed stapler with at least a few staples left inside. If a machine stalls or jams, take time to undo the jam or to alert the proper person to attend to it. We all expect and want to be able to use items and equipment when needed.]]>