Personable and enthusiastic about her work, it took me months to uncover the problem. Calling Cheryl to my office for a quick question, I inquired why the information I needed wasn’t in the file. “Oh,” responded Cheryl, “I haven’t done the filing yet.” Thinking she misunderstood what I needed, I explained that what I was looking for was from four months ago. “Yeah, that filing’s not done yet,” she said matter-of-factly.

It turns out Cheryl didn’t like to file. So she’d ignored that aspect of her job, working on the growing pile, stacked unobtrusively in the supply closet, for just five to ten minutes a day. By the end of our discussion, I realized it wasn’t just filing Cheryl was ignoring. Several tasks were minimally touched.

Cheryl did what many who are not winning at working do. They intentionally dawdle, procrastinate or ignore the parts of their work they don’t like. They choose their to-dos, not by what needs to get done, but by what they feel like doing that day. Personal desire, not business needs, dictate their cherry-picking approach to a job description. And then they wonder why they’re bored, don’t get a big increase, or are not offered the best assignments.

As a new manager at the time, I didn’t get it. As a seasoned manager twenty years later I still don’t. You see, work is much like Henry Ford’s adage: you can have “any color, as long as it’s black.” There’s not much choice on the basic model of job responsibilities. You’ve been hired to do what needs to be done. So like it, or not, that’s why your job exists. There’s no smorgasbord option to the work you’re commissioned to complete.

But here’s what many people miss about job responsibilities - they’re only the start. You can cherry-pick the best and most desirable work and choose what’s fun and interesting to you. People who are winning at working do it all the time. That’s because they understand discretionary effort and cherry-picking are options they can explore after the work they’ve been hired to do is done, and done well.

So instead of procrastinating, they get through their work, so they can tap into the best new assignments. Instead of putting off what they dislike to do, they get it out of the way. And instead of dawdling or wasting time with least important to-dos, they prioritize their work around the needs of the business and tackle the more difficult responsibilities, impacting results and contributing to the organization.

You see, people who are winning at working make a different choice than Cheryl did. Recognizing that the path to more interesting and challenging work comes by doing the job they’ve been hired to do exceptionally well first, they do that.

Like J.P. Morgan said, “You can’t pick cherries with your back to the tree.” People who are winning at working never turn their back on their job responsibilities. Instead, they help grow a bigger tree. They know that higher pay, promotional opportunities, discretionary work endeavors and assignment cherry-picking follow strong performance and accountability.

Sign up to receive Nan’s complimentary biweekly eColumn at http://www.winningatworking.com Nan Russell has spent over twenty years in management, most recently with QVC as a Vice President. She has held leadership positions in Human Resource Development, Communication, Marketing and line Management. Nan has a B.A. from Stanford and M.A. from the University of Michigan. Currently working on her new book, Hitting Your Stride: Your Work, Your Way (Capital Books; January 2008). Visit http://www.nanrussell.com

(c) 2007 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved.

Fendi handbags have a well-established reputation for fine craftsmanship and an unprecedented attention to detail. These fine handbags incorporate both a classic style and exciting innovation.

In terms of popularity, Fendi handbags are amongst the most desired handbags in the entire fashion industry.

The recognizable design and the quality of workmanship have both contributed to the Fendi handbag being a very popular fashion item amongst celebrities and other rich and famous people.

Having produced quality fashion products for more than 75 years has established Fendi as an icon in the fashion world. They are considered by many to be amongst the top of the most magnificent and most respected designer labels.

The work of Karl Lagerfeld, one of the most respected fashion designers in the industry, has led to some of Fendi’s well-known designs. Karl Lagerfeld acted as Fendi’s creative director. During his tenure at Fendi he designed some of the most thrilling and exclusive pieces in the Fendi collection.

To give you an idea of how well sought after these Fendi handbags can be, consider the Baguette. These handbags can easily fetch the price of $30,000. This vintage Fendi handbag has a short shoulder strap and it is carried under the arm. The shape of the bag resembles the French baguette, hence its name.

Less expensive Fendi handbags are still not cheap. A Fendi handbag can easily set you back between $1500 and $3000. The exclusivity of these handbags and their popularity amongst the rich and famous are two of the reasons for the high prices that they command.

Fendi does not only produce handbags. They also make other fashion accessories, which also carry high price tags due to the status of the label.

The Fendi handbags and accessories are probably out of reach of the average person. Nevertheless, it is always good to know how to identify these items and impress your friends by pointing them out. You also never know when you might run into an authentic Fendi handbag that is being sold by somebody who does not know the real value.

Pierre Perissel recommends these fashion jewelry items to accentuate your beauty and add sparkle to your outfits. Pierre also contributes fashion and jewelry information to TheFashionPro.com.

Do you always get what you pay for when it comes to skin care? Let’s hope not. While cutting-edge lasers have proven themselves effective at removing acne scars, the premium price for laser treatments may not appeal to everyone. Happily, another more economical option for correcting facial scarring includes intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments.

Intense pulse light treatments are typically more affordable than laser treatments for cosmetics corrections because the machines usually cost less than lasers. Moreover, unlike most lasers treatments- that are typically exclusively performed by physicians- estheticians can perform IPL facials, which brings the price down substantially.

Several medical journals have published reports on the effectiveness of IPL treatments for treating scars. For instance, a study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology examined how well IPL improved raised, inflamed and small scars and concluded that this method did show definite improvements in scarred skin.

Similarly, the Journal of Cutaneous Laser Therapy featured a study that reviewed how well IPL treatments promote new collagen growth. New collagen growth is essential for filling acne scar indentations and smoothing damaged skin.

Five volunteers took part in the study. First, researchers took samples from the patient’s skin in order to measure changes in the skin’s collagen levels. Next, each of the participants received four IPL sessions. Once the volunteers completed a series of IPL treatments, examiners took another skin sample from each subject.

After reviewing the before and after skin samples, every patient showed evidence of new collagen growth.

Since IPL treatments can help correct acne scarring, the next question is how long will the skin retain the improvements delivered by this type of phototherapy. An investigation that appeared in Dermatologic Surgery and that spanned five years answered this question.

In the study, eighty patients of various skin tones received IPL treatments to combat the signs of aging. Investigators took photos of the participants and measured the patients self-perceived improvements in skin texture and hypopigmentation after the IPL treatments. The volunteers had received an average of three IPL treatments.

Four years after the treatments, 83% of the participants could still see an improvement in skin smoothness while 79% were witnessed an improvement in hyperpigmentation clearing.

While studies suggest that IPL treatments can prove ideal for acne scarring, there are several factors to consider before opting for an IPL treatment to correct scars. The first is, how many treatments will you need to get the results you desire. In most studies, patients only received three IPL sessions to correct skin imperfections and skin discolorations.

Before your IPL treatment, explain to your physician or esthetician how you expect your skin to look after the IPL treatments. This way, you will get realistic numbers for how many treatments you will need and what improvements you can expect to see with your acne scars after you complete the IPL sessions.

Sources:

Cartier, H. Use of intense pulsed light in the treatment of scars. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology; January 2005, vol 4, no 1, pp. 34-40.

Goldberg, David J. New collagen formation after dermal remodeling with an intense pulsed light source. Journal of Cutaneous Laser Therapy; June 2000, vol 2, no 2, pp 59-61.

Robert A. Weiss, Margaret A. Weiss, Karen L. Beasley. Rejuvenation of photoaged skin: 5 Years results with intense pulsed light of the face, neck, and chest. Dermatologic Surgery; December 2002, vol 28, no 12, pp 1115-1119.

Naweko Nicole Dial San-Joyz founded Noixia, a San Diego based research firm dedicated to helping people intelligently, safely and affordably enhance their image by offering custom skin solutions to people with acne scars on the face and body. San-Joyz She has appeared on radio stations, in newspapers and on TV shows across the United States promoting beauty through health consciousness. Anyone seeking to enhance their image and remove acne scarring can find custom, clinically proven solutions at Noixia.com.

Of course Smokers’ should have rights.

They are entitled to the same rights as
everybody else.

I think this whole question of rights for smokers and others comes down to ethical considerations.

Ethics is all about doing what is right.

I think it was the Greek philosopher Aristotle who stated something like that.

And what is doing what is right?

Well this really comes down to doing whatever is going to cause least harm to others.

The law, our behavior in society, and accepted ethical considerations often go hand in hand.

For example, it is against the law to damage someone else’s property. This is also not sociallyacceptable behavior and it is obviously unethical.

However, consider another scenario, such as telling a lie. Now, this may or may not be against
the law. It is really a consideration of the context in which the lie was told. And, from the
point of view of our behavior in society, telling lies in generally unacceptable. But, if as
Aristotle claims, that ethics is doing the least harm to others, there may well be situations
where telling a lie may be a preferable situation to being totally honest.

Now, what has all this got to do with smokers and their rights?

Well, I shall try to explain, taking into consideration the three factors mentioned above.

That is:

The Law Acceptable Behavior in Society, and Ethics

Firstly, the law regarding the use of tobacco products has changed considerably in recent years in most western countries.

Why has it changed?

There is now overwhelming evidence of the dangers associated with smoking and the use of tobacco products.

Those dangers apply not just to the users of the product, but also to all who come into contact with
the toxic fumes of burning tobacco.

So, exposing others to these risks is no longer socially acceptable. And, smoking in the vicinity
of others is certainly not causing least harm, so therefore is also unethical.

Laws tend to reflect societies’ values. In my part of the world, smoking is no longer
allowed in restaurants, pubs, clubs, and in most work places.

It is not legal, socially acceptable, or ethical to go and beat up someone.

Even if it is legal in some places, it certainly is not socially acceptable or ethical for smokers to breathe their dangerous passive smoke anywhere where others may be adversely afffected by it.

I do have empathy for smokers who would prefer not to be smokers. I was in that category myself
for many years. It is difficult to stop and stay stopped. There is not one effective method of stopping smoking and staying stopped that works for everybody.
If you are a smoker who wishes to quit, you will need to find the strategies that
are right for you. There are some excellent resources available for you however.

www.stayingstopped.info is one such source, and has
link that will take you to many others.

But in conclusion I will reiterate what I said at the beginning of this article.

Smokers do have rights!

They have the same rights as the rest of us!

But, none of us have the right to cause harm to others.

Ian McKenzie (http://www.ianmckenzie.name) is Director of Ian McKenzie’s Domains, and Professional Performance Australia. He has a work history background in education, motivation and health promotion.

His web site Staying Stopped http://www.stayingstopped.info has useful strategies for smokers trying to quit and for health professionals working with smokers.

For more than two decades, acne sufferers have turned to the potent drug isotretinoin to control severe, unrelenting acne lesions. Even though reports of side effects like suicide and depression have plagued isotretinoin, this blockbuster drug still has appeal in the anti-aging market.

Much of isotretinoin’s age-fighting capacity found root in laboratories. One group of researchers discovered that oral dosages of isotretinoin could actually enhance surgical procedures used to reverse the signs of aging like wrinkle and blotchy skin coloring.

According to a report in Dermatologic Surgery, investigators gave 60 patients that ranged from 35 to 65 years old oral doses of isotretinoin three times a week for two months, while the patients underwent cosmetic surgical procedures. The control group of 60 women, with the same age range did not receive isotretinoin while undergoing aesthetic surgery.

At the conclusion of the isotretinoin testing, researchers examined the skin of the women and found that persons who took the acne drug witnessed increased skin thickness, reduced pore size, increased skin firmness and tone, and reduced hyperpigmentation spots.

While you may not be eager to take prescription strength drugs to enhance the look of your skin, you can consider slathering on a layer of isotretinoin instead.

In fact, investigators have found that a 0.05% isotretinoin gel can increase the skin’s thickness.

Similarly, a study in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment found that treatment with a 0.05% isotretinoin cream coupled with sunscreen reduced wrinkling around the eye area. In the trial, researchers gave 172 women the isotretinoin cream along with the sunscreen, while 174 participants used only the carrier cream. The volunteers used the creams once a day for six months and then stopped using the creams for three months.

Examiners observed the participants’ skin for wrinkles and fine lines three, six and nine months after the experiment started. The group using the isotretinoin combined with the sunscreen showed a substantial reduction in the signs of photo aging.

Because isotretinoin has multiple remedial applications, some doctors are now more willing to prescribe reduced doses for off-label uses like combating aging skin. Alternately, if oral isotretinoin is out of the question, you can also ask you doctor about topical isotretinoin gels to help reverse wrinkles and uneven skin coloring.

Sources:

Griffiths, C. E. M., S. Maddin, O. Wiedow, R. Marks, A. E. Donald, G. Kahlon. Treatment of photoaged skin with a cream containing 0.05% isotretinoin and sunscreens. Journal of Dermatological Treatment; April 2005, vol 16, no 2, pp 79-86.

Hernandez-Perez, E., H.A Khawaja & T.Y.M. Alvarez. Oral Isotretinoin as Part of the Treatment of Cutaneous Aging. Dermatologic Surgery; July 2000, vol 26, no7, pp 649-652.

Tadini, K. A., L. R. Gaspar, P. M. B. G. Maia Campos. Epidermal effects of tretinoin and isotretinoin: influence of isomerism. Pharmazie; May 2006, vol 61, no 5, pp 453-456.

Naweko Nicole Dial San-Joyz founded Noixia, a San Diego based research firm dedicated to helping people intelligently, safely and affordably enhance their image by offering custom skin solutions to people with acne scars on the face and body. San-Joyz She has appeared on radio stations, in newspapers and on TV shows across the United States promoting beauty through health consciousness. Anyone seeking to enhance their image and remove acne scarring can find custom, clinically proven solutions at Noixia.com.

There are various ways one can begin to make money online and boy can it be pretty easy. Probably the most well known method is the article marketing method. This only takes but an hour or so each day depending on how many articles you write, and can put out great profits! Continue reading and I will give you the basis of creating profits from articles on your way to making a lot of money online.

One thing that often deters people from trying this method is that it usually requires some time put in before you start seeing some results and many people don’t like to write their own articles. However, it’s not the article writing that takes a long time, it’s the waiting. One must be patient and wait for some time before they start to make some money.

For those who stick it out comes great benefits. Once a person sees that first check they are hooked! It is a great way to make some extra cash or if you get experienced a great way to quit your day job.

For some article writing can actually be enjoyable and a worthwhile experience. When a person wants to make a lot of money online they really have to start writing many articles a day. What comes with good article writing is knowledge in many fields and the ability to become faster and faster at writing. This even means that you can apply your skills to other parts of life. If you have to write a business letter, you now have the skills necessary to whip one out in no time at all!

If you want to make a lot of money online, make sure to do the research first. There is nothing like someone rushing into a project and realizing they have gotten in over their head. Reading in this field is key to success. It is important to pick up on other’s faults and to make them your advantage and to not make the mistakes yourself.

All it takes is a few decent articles a day and an affiliate account. I will show you how!

Nick Larson is the owner of nclarson.com. His blog outlines the details in his “My Money Making Journey” series on his way to reaching his goal of $5,000 dollars a month from $0.

Lesbian engagement rings are perfect for those who are thinking about marrying the woman of their dreams and want to spend from here to eternity with their partner. Don’t feel obliged to stick to any conventions related to heterosexual engagements, unless you would like to (i.e. spending 3 months salary, purchasing a large diamond stone, etc). After all, lesbian engagements or unique and so too should be the ring.

Jewelry is often most cherished when it holds special meaning for the recipient and lesbian engagement rings are no different. Consider getting a piece which somehow symbolically speaks volumes i.e. design one together with a jeweler, get an inscription of a favorite saying on the inside of the band, using your partner’s birthstone, or have a design engraved that means something just for the two of you.

Many symbols abound in the gay and lesbian community that you may or may not want to incorporate into your ring. Rainbows are fun for some but not for everyone. In the rainbow flag, red is for life, orange is for health, yellow for the sun, green for nature and blue for harmony. Some prefer the gay pride triangle, although it is more commonly used amongst gay men. The Venus symbol, which represents the female, is not only a symbol of lesbianism, but of powerful womanhood in general. In addition, the Greek lower case of the letter ‘l’ for lambda, represents liberation and the struggle for gay civil rights.

Do you want to deal with the salespeople at the mall or would you rather shop gay and lesbian friendly shops online to buy a lesbian engagement ring? If so, check out some of these vendors. (I have not dealt personally with stores so make sure you do your research before buying):

GayWeddings.com This store has everything you need to have the perfect wedding, civil commitment or union. As far as rings are concerned they have gold wave rings, rainbow gemstone rings, and infinity bands.

LoveandPride.comThis store has higher end jewelry incorporating precious metals and gemss and costing up to several thousand dollars. Their Love and Promise Collection has more traditional-looking diamond rings while their Love and Pride collection is more funky and symbolic.

The author just celebrated her one year anniversary and sports a beautiful ascher cut ring. She and her husband put together the website: http://www.ultimate-engagement-ring-guide.com to help you find the perfect ring.

With housing skyrocketing, Gas prices bouncing around like a rubber ball, and the cost of living out of reach for many of us, a second income is almost a way of life or should I say a way to live. I was a Trucker for over 25 years and it took a lot of time away from my family.

I was hurt on the job a few years back and couldn’t return to the work I loved and enjoyed. I raised a family and supported my wife on it and lived very comfortable the years after our children left home. Now I am back to starting over again . At my age it isn’t easy. I had a long passion with computers and the internet the same time as my driving years. To do something with both of them would be a dream come true. Now here is where my second life begins.

Like many others, I looked on the internet for opportunities. Let me tell you there are many scammers, snake oil salespersons (pc), and so-called Gurus. You can lose a lot of money chasing these GET RICH schemes. Please don’t do it. Anyone promising you to make a million dollars over night is not looking out for you. A business has to be built from the ground up. You need to have the knowledge to do it the right way. I have found a business that gives you the training, resources, websites, online services, and basically everything you need to build a business for the rest of your life. Think of a business from the comfort of with your home, vacationing, beaches, RVing, and anywhere you want to live. The best part of this is it’s FREE.

Now like everything else, you get out of life what you put into it.. If you take your business seriously and work it, you will be successful in whatever success means to you. If you don’t work at it, you won’t be successful. All I ask is for you to take an honest and hard look at this chance to change your life. Go through what is called the PATH training. If nothing else, it will help you with any online business you might start. I wish you a long an healthy personal and business life.

http://www.ezinfocenter.com/9529063/FREE

“Vacation is time off to remind employees that the business can get along without them.” Earl Wilson. The implications behind this quote are discussed as well as the importance of taking a vacation to relieve stress and enhance well-being.

This quote tackles an interesting issue for many employees. It suggests that employees are just not that important or worthy to the company. As such, it can leave a person feeling quite despondent. However, by accepting the quote, a person can take their vacation without guilt or believing the company will fall apart as they are not there for two whole weeks.

Some people may find it hard to accept such a quote, believing it does not apply to them. You may have met people reluctant to take their vacations as they believe the company will not survive without them. Or if they do take the vacation, they keep their phone on so they can be contacted at any time. Some people may also leave their vacation early to go into work.

Yet, if we take the quote to be true, why should any person behave in this way? The truth is you really are not indispensable and a business really can get by without you, whilst you take your vacation. Even world leaders take a vacation and the world still functions during that time. Your company may well and truly value you and perhaps you really are important to them. In fact you must be, else there would not be a role for you there in the first place. This is not in doubt. What is in doubt is the belief that a company would crumble without you. Yes, you can be valued, however you are not indispensable.

So what can we learn from this quote? Consider the following:

Hopefully, it will help you acknowledge that it is okay to take a vacation.

Taking a vacation means you will be away in mind as well as body. In other words, don’t take work with you and don’t allow people to contact you whilst you are away.

It can help a person relinquish control and interestingly, by doing so, take control. By taking your vacation you are stepping away from your job and so must trust others to function in your place. This is where you are relinquishing control. Yet by doing so, you show that you control your work and your work does not control you.

By taking your vacation you have shown you are able to create a balance in your life and are making important decisions that matter to you. You realise that there is more to your life than work.

Your stress will be reduced as you will feel able to take your vacation without feeling guilty and the vacation itself will revive you.

Shortly before going on your vacation, ensure that people know you are away, delegate work as necessary and schedule meetings and deadlines to account for your vacation time. If you are good enough in your role at work (which you are), then you will slip right back into it when you get back.

Copyright Julia Barnard 2007

Julia Barnard is a professional counsellor living in Adelaide, Australia.

She provides an online counselling service through her website http://www.makethechange.com.au.

Julia also writes articles for the website aimed at enhancing well-being and promoting good mental health.

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Expensive but necessary software can cut deep into the profit margins of small business. Fortunately, the open source software movement has produced a variety of excellent programs that can fill the needs of your small business without emptying your bank account. Open source software is freely distributed with public source code, for anyone to use or modify as long as they don’t claim copyright.

Office

OpenOffice.org is probably the best-known package of open source software after the Linux operating system. It includes a word processor, a spreadsheet program similar to Excel(tm), a presentation program, a database program, a draw program similar to CorelDRAW(tm), and a mathematical equation editor. OpenOffice.org is already used by many businesses and government organizations, and its files are compatible with MS Office files.
Available for: Windows, Mac, Linux
Compare to: Microsoft Office(tm) with CorelDRAW(tm)
You save: $340-500

Image Editing

For image editing, try The GIMP, an open source program very similar in capability to Adobe PhotoShop(tm). GIMPshop, a modified version, even has menu commands structured like PhotoShop. Although GIMP handles color slightly differently and might not be the perfect choice for a professional graphic designer, it’s more than sufficient for most small business needs.
Available for: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
Compare to: Adobe PhotoShop(tm)
You save: $500-700

Web Design

No knowledge of HTML but you want to build a website? Try Nvu (pronounced “N-view”), an open source What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) web editor. Nvu is designed to be very easy to use, including for the novice web designer.
Available for: Windows, Mac OS X (pre-Intel chip), Linux
Compare to: Microsoft FrontPage(tm), Macromedia Dreamweaver(tm)
You save: $250-400

Content Management and Blogging

Using a content management system is becoming increasingly popular for business websites. A well-designed and set up content management system (CMS) makes updating a website easy and quick, even for people with few technical skills. Custom CMSes can run thousands of dollars, however. Fortunately, there are several excellent open source CMSes which can readily serve the needs of a small (or large) business. Two of the most popular are Mambo and its spinoff Joomla! Both are very customizable, and add-on modules can add or enhance a huge variety of functions, from blogging to shopping carts.
Available for: All platforms
Compare to: Custom CMSes
You save: $100s-10,000s

Blogs are hot for businesses right now, and blogging platforms can also act as simple content management systems for small websites. They’re easier to learn how to use than full-blow CMSes, but still offer a range of functions. One excellent open source blogging platform with a wide range of add-ons is WordPress, but there are many others.
Available for: All platforms
Compare to: Movable Type
You save: $150+

As you can see, depending on the particular software needs of your small business, open source software can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. And because open source software projects are constantly being developed and upgraded, you rarely have to wait years for bug fixes or new features. Many projects even encourage users to suggest features to be added.

So if you’re tired of expensive software and paying extra for infrequent upgrades, maybe it’s time to give open source software a try.

Melissa Barton is a freelance writer and editor, specializing in science and travel writing. Her credits include Geotimes, Transitions Abroad, Student Health 101, and other publications. Visit her online at Rosetta Stones Freelancing (http://www.rosettastones.net).