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Other Added - Learn to Talk on Paper: The Art of Effective Business Writing
Personal budgets can help you manage your personal finances so you can avoid the stress of having no money when you need it the most. Handling your money well can also help you avoid the painful and embarrassing process of filing for bankruptcy. To be able to budget your money, you will need to know how to handle your money. This information is available from various sources, including how-to books. Below are a few things you should keep in mind to help you get started in making the budgeting process work for you.Personal budgetsBasically, a personal budget is a financial plan that sets limits on the amount of money that you will spend on your needs in a given period of time. What you should include in your budget are things like your income, any debts you might have, your savings and other forms of funds that you may possess. After knowing the amount of money you can spend, it is now time for you to list your expenses and to assess whether your income can support your lifestyle. Seeing how you spend your money can then guide you in making changes in your life so you can end up with more savings that can help you secure a stable future.Budgeting TipsIf in case you do need to make some changes in your lifestyle, there are a number of ways you can lessen your expenses. One of way of doing this is to automatically allot 10 percent of your income for savings. Saving your pocket change can also help you save money, as the coins can add up to a substantial amount of money.In making your budget, you should plan your spending before designing the budget and not the other way around. Most people make the mistake of tracking their spending after making a budget and they usually end up with nothing to spend at the end of the month. You should also be able to pay bills according to your budget, as this
Have you ever taken a course in public speaking?
When you do a public speaking course, you don't hear much about grammar and vocabulary. Instead you learn not to be embarrassed, to overcome your inhibitions, to speak without a prepared script and to reach out to the audience in front of you.
We're not saying that good grammar and such things aren't important in writing. They're very important.
But they're not the essence. In some ways, writing is so much harder than public speaking, because your audience isn't right there in front of you. But the object of the whole exercise is to break through the invisible barrier that separates writ
Lofty goals and plans can hit a roadblock when they create friction inside of a business. If they run counter to the stated mission and vision of the company or are skirting the edge of its culture it may be wise to eliminate the initiative or rethink its positioning. Not consulting with employees before new initiatives, turning objectives into obsessions, and/or creating unrealistic goals can be an implosion waiting to happen.It’s wise to prepare management and staff for changes in scope and/or direction that may be on the horizon. Asking for input and involving key personnel, both on the corporate level and those in integral positions within specific areas of the company, are good ways to smoothly transition new plans into the organization’s future.All too often the company’s culture is the glue that helps it stay together. Understanding that many employees remain with an entity because of the culture (sometimes even more than monetary compensation) is a point to take into consideration whenever new strategies are in the initial planning stages.Certainly fresh opportunities are the lifeblood of all businesses and should not be dismissed out-of-hand. But, planning for the possibility of opportunities creates a more fluid transition and a feeling of proactive response than does the franticness of reaction.Planning sessions should address a realistic view of the organization’s capabilities, and such topics as its market, competition, and the economic environment, as well as contain a reasonable perspective of its ability to adjust to potential changes and growth.Even the launching of a new division should not be the cause of culture shock. Transition issues are so important that they must be included in any and all planning.Keeping the planning on track is another situation that often create
Two tips he stressed over and over again in his classes.
The first: move heaven and earth to wean yourself from the inhibitions and nervous habits that your schoolteachers, bless 'em, have bequeathed to you. Leave no stone unturned to rid yourself of the awkward, stilted and artificial writing styles that have been reinforced daily since your early childhood.
The second: when you write a letter or the like - even if it's a business letter you'd normally place in the "highly formal" category - imagine that the addressee were sitting right there, on the other side of your desk.
Relax. If you really believed the recipient was with you in the room, you would never have the effrontery to begin with "please be advised" or "we wish to inform you".
Incidentally, I've a confession to make. I'm a fairly experienced writer, but time and time again, I find myself committing the very offences that would make Rudolf Flesch cringe.
I'm a sinner! But then - I am aware of it. I try to catch myself in the act.
And when I succeed, I'm pretty ruthless with myself.
When Flesch says you should imagine the person you're writing to you is right there with you in the room, it doesn't mean that informality is appropriate for all categories of written documents.
But more often than not, it's regarded today as a sign of professionalism, rather than the reverse.
More importantly, it's far more effective, as we'll see. And whichever way you look at it, effective communication is the name of the game!
Incidentally, you'll notice that I said we spoke about... rather than we wrote about.
I can't see you as I write. All I can see is my monitor and it's not much of a conversationalist. All the same, I'm using talking words all the time.
I recall my school days in South Africa, round about half a century ago. At the end of every term, we wrote exams, and one paper was always called "English Composition."
From the lowest grade to the highest, the format was about the same. There were generally two questions: The first would begin: "Write an essay of about 500 words on one of the following topics..." The second would be the same, with "letter" substituted for "essay".
Between examinations, the teachers would drum a multitude of rules into our impressionable heads, always accompanied by grim warnings about the terrible consequences of non-compliance! Many of these rules directly contradict what I'm telling you to do now.
Have you ever taken a course in public speaking?
When you do a public speaking course, you don't hear much about grammar and vocabulary. Instead you learn not to be embarrassed, to overcome your inhibitions, to speak without a prepared script and to reach out to the audience in front of you.
We're not saying that good grammar and such things aren't important in writing. They're very important.
But they're not the essence. In some ways, writing is so much harder than public speaking, because your audience isn't right there in front of you. But the object of the whole exercise is to break through the invisible barrier that separates write
As author of a book defending advertising against its many social and economic critics,* here is the one question I am most frequently asked: “What about subliminal advertising?,” to which I typically respond: “What about it? It doesn’t exist!”That’s the short answer. Some elaboration is required.The term “subliminal” means beneath the threshold of perception. Many things are subliminal, such as the circulation of our blood, which we normally do not feel, experience, or perceive moving throughout our bodies. And it is possible to have our skin touched in such a way that we do not notice the touch. Subliminal advertising, however, is supposedly the power to motivate action based on something that no one can perceive, such as a message flashed on a movie or television screen at 1/3000th of a second or the word “sex” unrecognizably embedded in ice cubes in a liquor print ad. James Vicary and Wilson Bryan Key, respectively, are the two proponents of these claims. Marketing professor Stuart Rogers argues that Vicary’s movie theater “experiment” was a hoax.The notion of subliminal perception is a self-contradiction because it is not possible to perceive something that is beneath one’s threshold of perception. Add to this the fact that advertisers exert great effort to make their messages blatantly explicit—innuendo, sexual or otherwise, is intended to be noticed—and you have no grounds for the subliminal advertising complaint. Critics are never satisfied, though, so they now talk about “semi-subliminal” advertising and “secondary imagery” that is often missed on an initial look. The latter is just a variation on the subliminal-embed theme of Wilson Key. The former is what Ayn Rand would call an “anti-concept.” Either something is above the threshold of perception or it is not; it cannot be half-way between. There are,
Relax. If you really believed the recipient was with you in the room, you would never have the effrontery to begin with "please be advised" or "we wish to inform you".
Incidentally, I've a confession to make. I'm a fairly experienced writer, but time and time again, I find myself committing the very offences that would make Rudolf Flesch cringe.
I'm a sinner! But then - I am aware of it. I try to catch myself in the act.
And when I succeed, I'm pretty ruthless with myself.
When Flesch says you should imagine the person you're writing to you is right there with you in the room, it doesn't mean that informality is appropriate for all categories of written documents.
But more often than not, it's regarded today as a sign of professionalism, rather than the reverse.
More importantly, it's far more effective, as we'll see. And whichever way you look at it, effective communication is the name of the game!
Incidentally, you'll notice that I said we spoke about... rather than we wrote about.
I can't see you as I write. All I can see is my monitor and it's not much of a conversationalist. All the same, I'm using talking words all the time.
I recall my school days in South Africa, round about half a century ago. At the end of every term, we wrote exams, and one paper was always called "English Composition."
From the lowest grade to the highest, the format was about the same. There were generally two questions: The first would begin: "Write an essay of about 500 words on one of the following topics..." The second would be the same, with "letter" substituted for "essay".
Between examinations, the teachers would drum a multitude of rules into our impressionable heads, always accompanied by grim warnings about the terrible consequences of non-compliance! Many of these rules directly contradict what I'm telling you to do now.
Have you ever taken a course in public speaking?
When you do a public speaking course, you don't hear much about grammar and vocabulary. Instead you learn not to be embarrassed, to overcome your inhibitions, to speak without a prepared script and to reach out to the audience in front of you.
We're not saying that good grammar and such things aren't important in writing. They're very important.
But they're not the essence. In some ways, writing is so much harder than public speaking, because your audience isn't right there in front of you. But the object of the whole exercise is to break through the invisible barrier that separates writ
Investing is one of the most overlooked yet important aspects of human life. Many people put off investing or simply do not put any of their money away their entire working life and when it comes time to retire, there is nothing there for them. In this world of uncertainty when it comes to Social Security, it is imparitive that an individual invests some of thier income for their future use and retirement. Putting off investing is one of the most hurtful things you can do for your future. When it comes to investing, time is your greatest ally. Time allows you to earn compound interest on your bank accounts, own stocks whose dividends are reinvested and whose shares split, as well as own properties that continually increase in value.There are many excuses for someone to put off investing. "I'm too young, I'll start in a few years when I am making more money." "I don't have the money right now, I have kids to raise, I'll start when they move out." "If I don't have any money saved, there will always be Social Security for me." Pretty soon, someone finds themselves nearing the age of retirement with little to no money waiting for them when they finally retire. This is not a fun situation to be in. When most people are retiring that individual is forced to stay in the workforce to support themselves and make a futile effort to build some kind of portfolio to allow them to retire before life gets the best of them.When many people think of investing, they think of the stock market. Though this is a major part in investing, it is by no means the only one. There is real estate, Bonds, and even banks. You may wonder how a bank can be considered a good investment. Though it may not make you much money on your money, they are a place to build up your funds to invest other places. A bank can be an important stepping
But more often than not, it's regarded today as a sign of professionalism, rather than the reverse.
More importantly, it's far more effective, as we'll see. And whichever way you look at it, effective communication is the name of the game!
Incidentally, you'll notice that I said we spoke about... rather than we wrote about.
I can't see you as I write. All I can see is my monitor and it's not much of a conversationalist. All the same, I'm using talking words all the time.
I recall my school days in South Africa, round about half a century ago. At the end of every term, we wrote exams, and one paper was always called "English Composition."
From the lowest grade to the highest, the format was about the same. There were generally two questions: The first would begin: "Write an essay of about 500 words on one of the following topics..." The second would be the same, with "letter" substituted for "essay".
Between examinations, the teachers would drum a multitude of rules into our impressionable heads, always accompanied by grim warnings about the terrible consequences of non-compliance! Many of these rules directly contradict what I'm telling you to do now.
Have you ever taken a course in public speaking?
When you do a public speaking course, you don't hear much about grammar and vocabulary. Instead you learn not to be embarrassed, to overcome your inhibitions, to speak without a prepared script and to reach out to the audience in front of you.
We're not saying that good grammar and such things aren't important in writing. They're very important.
But they're not the essence. In some ways, writing is so much harder than public speaking, because your audience isn't right there in front of you. But the object of the whole exercise is to break through the invisible barrier that separates writ
Are you your own worst enemy when trying to do your job?Is your career on shaky ground and you’re wondering if it’s your fault?Do you find yourself wondering, once again, if you’ll be fired?If you’re asking these questions, then you might be sabotaging yourself and not even know it!Do yourself a favor and probe deeper to discover how you might be adding to your lack of success.Here is a sampling of the markers of self-sabotage:• Exhaustion • Missed deadlines • Weight gain, no self-care • Health issues • Fractured friendships and relationships • No time for networking • Working harder and longer hours but never getting caught up • Reluctance to talk to, or trust, your bossWhat can you do if you feel that you might be self-sabotaging your career?Here are tips:• Schedule time to step back and look at the bigger picture. You say you have no time to do that? That’s self-sabotage! It’s only by getting a 50,000 foot view of your situation that you can see what can be done differently. The goal is to work smarter, not harder.• Organize your thoughts. Separate tasks into those that only you can do. Be realistic and accept that you don’t have to do everything yourself. Micromanaging will de-motivate your staff and doesn’t allow them to own their projects.• What resources would you need to perform your job better? You might need to ask for more staff, delegate assignments or telecommute one day a week.• Once you have identified what you need, ask for a meeting with your boss. Insure that you are rested, calm and able to state the facts clearly while making your case. Your boss might even help you prioritize the most critical tasks.• If you discover e
From the lowest grade to the highest, the format was about the same. There were generally two questions: The first would begin: "Write an essay of about 500 words on one of the following topics..." The second would be the same, with "letter" substituted for "essay".
Between examinations, the teachers would drum a multitude of rules into our impressionable heads, always accompanied by grim warnings about the terrible consequences of non-compliance! Many of these rules directly contradict what I'm telling you to do now.
Have you ever taken a course in public speaking?
When you do a public speaking course, you don't hear much about grammar and vocabulary. Instead you learn not to be embarrassed, to overcome your inhibitions, to speak without a prepared script and to reach out to the audience in front of you.
We're not saying that good grammar and such things aren't important in writing. They're very important.
But they're not the essence. In some ways, writing is so much harder than public speaking, because your audience isn't right there in front of you. But the object of the whole exercise is to break through the invisible barrier that separates writ
If you own a website, you definitely want to improve visibility and get more traffic. There are a number of ways to do so like using search engine optimization, pay-per-click, submit to directories and more. Here are a list of effective ways to get more traffic and get more sales. 1. Sign-up to win web site awards. When you win, some award sites publish your web site link, name and description on their site. 2. Join online business associations or clubs. If you join, they will usually list all their members on their web site. It will give your business extra exposure. 3. Utilize a simple form of viral marketing. Write or have someone else write a small report with your ad included on it and allow others to give it away. 4. Improve your business by promoting customer feedback. Tell them you want their honest opinions about your business, good or bad. 5. Design your packaging so it sells your products. Utilize colors and lettering that make your product more attractive to your prospects. 6. Compare your product's guarantee to your main competitors. Find a niche were your can design your guarantee to be more powerful. 7. Try not to assume your audience understands everything in your ad copy. If you have words they may not know the meaning to, define them. 8. Build alliances with other online businesses. You could trade links or ads, create joint venture deals, cross promote your products, etc. 9. Design your web site to be a valuable resource for people. Include original content, links to other interesting web sites, ebooks, software, etc. 10. Compete with the highly branded businesses by practicing good customers service, strong product quality and speedy service. B
Have you ever taken a course in public speaking?
When you do a public speaking course, you don't hear much about grammar and vocabulary. Instead you learn not to be embarrassed, to overcome your inhibitions, to speak without a prepared script and to reach out to the audience in front of you.
We're not saying that good grammar and such things aren't important in writing. They're very important.
But they're not the essence. In some ways, writing is so much harder than public speaking, because your audience isn't right there in front of you. But the object of the whole exercise is to break through the invisible barrier that separates writer and reader.
Notice that question I asked three paragraphs ago? Of course, this is one of the tricks we use to tear down that very barrier.
I could have saved a lot of words by leading right in with: "Those who have taken public speaking course know that..." But a question has a more intimate, personal ring. With a bit of luck, I'll even make you feel I'm talking directly to YOU. Why? Because a person normally peppers his everyday conversation with millions of questions!
For precisely the same reason, this article, is full of word contractions. That is to say: I write "they're" rather than "they are"; "I'll" and not "I will." Certainly sounds more cozy, you will -oops, you'll admit.
"Yes," you may well protest, "let's assume I'm a bank manager or the like? Can I really use that style in writing to my clients? And oh my gosh - what if I'm some kind of government official?" (We won't talk of lawyers for the moment - they're a special class of headache, which we'll have to deal with separately.)
The rejoinder is: "Sure, you can." When you write a business letter, you want to make your point quickly and effectively. Further, you're looking for a response: you want action. An informal style, rather than one of prim and proper conventionality, is more likely to do the trick.
For all that, you could ask me a very strong question:
"This makes sense when you want to be friendly: when you're looking to get the business of a potential customer, or to retain that of an existing one.But what if I deliberately need a stiff and formal tone, as when I'm writing a letter of demand to a debtor?"
We can do no better than to quote an example direct from Rudolf Flesch. Compare these two extracts:
"It is imperative that you submit the above amount within five days. Failure on your part to comply may result in legal action at your expense."
"If you don't pay this amount within five days, we'll start legal action at your expense."
Which of these two versions is more likely to startle the hapless recipient out of his wits?
You be the judge!
Azriel Winnett is creator of Hodu.com - Your Communication Skills Portal. This popular website helps you improve your communication and relationship skills in your business or professional life, in the family unit and on the social scene. New articles added almost daily. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Azriel_Winnett |
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