Most of us are not wise about financial matters. We don't know how to judge which stocks will be profitable, whether we should invest in bonds, or what the financial interests are of those who say they will give us the answers. Knowledge is our best defense against bad advice, according to the Consumer Federation of America. Investing Your government has free help available. At … [Read more...]
Let someone else reveal your accomplishments
It has been called 'managing up,' self promotion, and some less flattering monikers. It's the ability to influence your own boss to invest in your ideas and advancement. It's a soft skill that can be mistaken, at best, for manipulation, but, at worst, for thriving on the fruits of others' labor and covering one's fanny. Real managing up is supposed to be done not for personal … [Read more...]
Ask your people to come up with suggestions before the meeting
So you're wondering how to improve the efficiency of your department or your team and think your people could be mined for golden ideas. How about a brainstorming session? It could be a popular method, but is it better than having workers develop ideas on their own? Psychologists at the University of Texas at Arlington researched the number and quality of ideas produced by … [Read more...]
Email can be hazardous to your career
You can't fault organizations for being careful. They have a number of things to guard against including everything from terrorists, to lost trade secrets, libel, and potential violence. That's why emails are routinely subjected to programs that search for dangerous words and suggestive remarks. The latest software is very sophisticated. It doesn't just hunt for words and … [Read more...]
There are many ways to finance a home
Finance all of it, part of it, or none of it. Whichever you choose, you've got plenty of company. The National Association of Realtors reports these trends: Age: Buyers age 45 to 65 and older are less likely to finance a home purchase. They are often repeat buyers or are downsizing. Average buyer: The typical buyer tends to finance 91 percent of their home purchase. First-time … [Read more...]