“The difference between try and triumph is a little umph.” ~Author Unknown
"All the so-called, secrets of success, will not work unless you do." ~Author Unknown
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Thanks for visiting Bestworkeffort.com, a website committed to helping your workday go by smoothly, no matter what’s going on around you. Here, you’ll find insightful articles and work related information below to help those eight (or more) hours sail by. If you're looking for a job, we also have information to help you land one. Be sure to check out the links on the right…..and have a great day!
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Letting Go………
Happy New Year Readers! I trust that you all had a happy and safe new year’s celebration and hope that this year brings health, healing and prosperity to you all. With the New Year comes a brand new opportunity to start over, try again and hopefully get it right this time. Because we are a site that is dedicated to all things work related, from time to time, we also like to touch on things that affect you outside of work. Because ultimately, if your outside life is damaged or in need of order and attention, it will affect your work whether you realize it or not. That said, we want to talk about letting go of stuff that may have grown toxic over time and is no longer of use to you. If everything is good in your life, then maybe you have a friend who just can’t seem to pry themselves away from the wrong person. Or, perhaps you are the one who gave too much, received too little or stayed way too long with someone or with something that did not recognize you as a gift. Whichever the case, letting go requires change. And change as we all know can be scary. But there are some basic steps you can take to unravel yourself from negative situations while also placing you on the path to permanent contentment in Love and Life.
First, be honest. Start by examining your motivation for staying in a bad or less than desirable situation. Whether we’re talking about a man, woman or a job, we must be honest with ourselves about what makes us stay. Many times when we hold on to negative situations, what we are really holding on to are our expectations of how we hoped things would turn out. We must be willing to admit when it is no longer wise or emotionally healthy to stay in a situation we aren’t happy with. Realize what is at stake and decide how much more you are willing to sacrifice. Negative situations don’t only impact us emotionally, but can also affect us physically because unresolved emotional issues tend to manifest in the form of sickness and disease.
Secondly, have Faith. One of the traps that keep us connected to negative people or situations is the thought that we won’t find anything better. This is a trick of the enemy. Don’t fall for it. God is a God of multiples and never does anything for a single purpose. He didn’t just die for one person, he died for humanity. Also, be broad minded and think of all the possibilities there are to arrive at the sum of 10. You have 5 + 5, 8 + 2, 11-1, 7+3, 9+1, 13-3, 30-20…..you get the point. So, this notion of there only being 1 solution for a problem is questionable at best. If one situation didn’t work out, don’t allow yourself to believe that that was your only chance for happiness or success. During this New Year, don’t forget that God is the consummate re-gifter and if someone refuses to recognize you as the gift that you are, He will give you to someone else or place you in a better situation, if you trust him to do so. And, with music’s popular sentiments of Beyonce offering to “upgrade ya,” and Chris Brown proposing that you let him “transform ya,” why not let God re-gift ya. If you do, you won’t be disappointed.
And finally, be Fearless! The other trick that keeps us trapped in darkness is, Fear (False Evidence, Appearing Real.). It is only natural to be apprehensive after we’ve been treated badly. But to stay apprehensive or to base your decisions on what other people might think or say is to give your offenders complete control over you. Being fearless doesn’t mean that you don’t feel fear. It simply means that you experience the fear, while moving forward and trusting the outcome to a higher power who has all the answers to our questions and all the missing pieces to life’s many puzzles.
Have a great year, Readers. And May You Find All The Love And Appreciation That Your Heart Can Hold!
By Danielle Taylor
Comments about this article can be sent to Bestworkeffort@yahoo.com
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Got The Interview....Now Get The Job!
by Danielle Taylor
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Bad Bosses & The Blame Game
Accountability is the substance for which great working relationships are built. And if there is none, chaos will shortly ensue. Everybody has to answer to somebody. But, what happens when the person or "boss" you answer to is a total moron who blames all of their fowl ups on you? Clearly, this is a frustrating situation. But there are some things you can do to protect yourself and your reputation from idiot bosses who attempt to use you as a scapegoat. Let's say that you work in an office or workplace where addressing this with HR is not an option for whatever reason. Then, you'll have to handle things on your own, and not by punching your boss in the face, which might feel good to you momentarily, but is better left as sort of a fantasy you indulge in from time to time. Start by removing the possibility of blame being placed on you by being the best, which might be tricky if your boss is a disorganized spaz who somehow draws you into their mayhem on a daily basis. But, it can be done by using some of the suggestions below:
1). Keep a detailed schedule or "to do list" of all your activities. The worse your boss is, the more detailed your schedule should be. Although all is well in my working relationship with my current boss, I haven't always been so lucky. During those trying times, I went so far as to schedule my entire day in 10 minute increments, leaving no room for, "Didn't I give this to you....I can't find it, so you must have it." What satisfaction it gave me to say, "Um....no, you didn't give it to me, because it is not recorded on my highly detailed to do list."
2). Ask him or her lots of questions, even if it annoys them. This makes them accountable and forces them to give clear instructions on projects and assignments.
3). Arm yourself with a pen and pad whenever you talk to your BB (bad boss). This is especially helpful if they tend to holler out random tasks in a terrets like fashion and expect you to know what the heck they're talking about. Write down everything they say so that you can get clarification if necessary and get the exact information you need to do your job.
4). Calm Down. When you're being scrutinized at work, it is a known fact that the pressure can make you screw up more. So, calm down. I don't believe you can think and panic at the same time. Never mind other people and their frantic, irrational behavior. You just focus on the task in front of you, pray, count to 3 and do your best!
5). Stay Positive. Any detection of attitude coming from you will only make it easier for the BB to point the finger at you. More than likely if you've been saddled with a bad boss, others around you may know of their nuerotic behavior too and probably sympathize with you because they've also been a victim of your bosses disarray. Staying positive and maintaining a good working relationship with others makes it increasingly obvious that your boss is the one with the problem.
6). Document, Document, Document. If the situation escalates to a point where you feel you’re in someway being verbally abused on a daily basis, something has to be done. Part of the reason why the behavior of a bad boss can seem oppressive is because it makes you feel helpless. Documenting each incident privately in detail will help you feel that you are doing something about the situation. It also makes it easier to make a case in a court of law, (if it should come to that), or to someone at your job who is in an objective position to put an end to it. Abuse, whether verbal or physical looks different on paper (just ask DCFS). Of course, this should be done at home and kept in a handy, but safe place.
If all else fails, sharpen up those resumes (or let Insight Resumes do it for you - see the free resume review tab on the right) and read the ebook, "Everything You Need To Know To Get A Job In 30 Days, During Any Economic Climate," available by clicking here:http://store.payloadz.com/go?id=241492
By Danielle Taylor
Comment about this article can be sent to bestworkeffort@yahoo.com
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The 10 Commandments of Resume Writing
Procrastination Kills:
Apply as soon as possible. If you wait an hour, in this economy 500 people will have already applied ahead of you, lessening your chances of your resume being reviewed.
Quantity Counts:
Even though the news reports are grim when it comes to employment, there are still opportunities are out there. The more resumes you send per day, the higher your chances of receiving a call back. Per ratio, you can expect to receive 1 call back per every thirty resumes you send due to the high unemployment rate.
Silly Gets Ignored:
You must get a professional email address. No nick names. Steven.coolbreeze10@yahoo.com or, Kelly.sexylady@aol.com won’t do. Employers will not take you seriously. Try using some combination of your first initial and last name in the email address.
Use a unique description in the subject line.
Employers are receiving a record number of resumes. Try to make yours stand out by using a different title in the subject line when responding by email. For example if you are appling for an administrative job, everyone is probably responding with the title of the position (i.e., Administrative Assistant position posted on Craigslist) Instead, try something like, “Qualified Candidate for the Administrative Assistant Position," or "Experienced Administrative Assistant.” That will set you apart from the other thousands of replies employers are receiving.
Write a professional cover letter:
When responding to an employment ad, resist the urge to send a generic, 2 sentence cover letter. None of that, “Hi….I’m applying for.” That is too informal. A structured cover letter tells the employer that you’re intelligent and willing to do what it takes to get the job done.
Keep your cover letter brief and to the point.
Cover letters can be too short and they can also be too long. Cover letters should consist of no more than 3 brief paragraphs. Don’t try to cram all of your qualifications and work history into the cover letter. That Is what the Resume is for. Instead, use it to introduce yourself and give areas where your qualifications coincide with the job requirements.
Never, Never, Never include a picture.
Sounds like common sense, but you’d be surprised at the number of people who send photos with their resumes. This is a job search, not a match making response. What you look like is not important. Just stick to the facts and what qualifies you for the position.
Limit your resume to 1 page if at all possible:
If you go over 1 page, you’re including too much information and boring the reviewer to death, if they even take the time to review it. It is better to edit your resume down to 1 page, than to cram your life’s history into 2 or 3 pages, turning the reviewing off as most human minds tend to wonder after 10 minutes.
Never, Never discuss Salary in the cover letter or Resume. It’s that simple. Don’t do it
Wording to Avoid:
In your cover letter, avoid phrases like, “I want to get my foot in the door,” or “I just need a chance.” These phrases portray you as a desperate job seeker who will do or say anything to get the job. It also makes you sound like a job hopper….somebody who just wants to get into a company/organization and hop/move on to the next position without given proper regard to the job they were hired for. Good Luck job seekers and remember......persistence pays off!
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A Tribute To Work Ethic...
Since we are a website dedicated to excellence in the workplace, we thought it best for us to remember Michael Jackson from the perspective of his commitment to his job and dedication to his craft. From the time he first appeared on the entertainment scene in 1969 and even following his death, Michael Jackson was a man who provoked varying opinions about everything from his appearance to his lifestyle. But, whether you are a fan or a foe, the one area of his life that remains undisputed is his incredible…almost super human talent that many say were fueled by his passion for music and his ferocious Work Ethic. According to Thinkexist.com, Michael is quoted as saying, “The greatest education in the world is watching the masters at work.” Here is what some of the “Masters” have to say about him and his Work Ethic:
Spike Lee, who worked with Jackson on the video, “They Don’t Care About Us,” talked with NPR’s Scott Simon from France about Michael Jackson, his work with him, his legacy, his favorite songs, and the world’s reaction to his death.
Spike Lee: “What really got me… people are talking about, like they’re experts… they don’t know Michael.. they were talking all types of stuff… they might have met the guy one time, but had the people who worked with Michael, who were there, when he was in the studio creating, who was there when they were rehearsing, doing the choreography, let’s talk about the work.”
Scott Simon: “Do you mind telling us… what did you learn from Michael Jackson close up that the other people are missing?”
Spike Lee: “Work Ethic.”
“I’ve met a lot of great athletes, Michael Jordan, recently made a documentary on Kobe Bryant, and these guys are known for their work ethic. And as great as Michael was, and as great as Kobe is, Michael could give those guys a run for their money when it comes to work ethic.”
Article By Antonio "LA" Reid
You can see his influence in the dance moves -- the syncopated choreography -- that a lot of young artists use. And a lot of them have picked up his work ethic. When you look at a Britney Spears production or a Justin Timberlake production, or if you look at an Usher production, you really see that they took a page out of Michael's book; they went to rehearsal, and they must've worked eight hours a day, because their shows are flawless, as Michael's shows were flawless. Love him or hate him, it is clear that Michael Jackson’s work ethic allowed him to create a legacy that will live on throughout the ages. And this aspect of his life….his hard work and dedication to excellence when it came to his music, is something that we can all aspire to achieve within our own respective careers.
Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records
Mr. Gordy said that Mr. Jackson, as a boy, “always wanted to be the best, and he was willing to work as hard as it took to be that. And we could all see that he was a winner at that age. And I’ve always believed winners are winners long before they win. And picking them out before they win is very easy with a Michael Jackson.”