Taking a Moment to Reflect......

The year is coming to a close and with the holiday season coming to an end soon, I couldn't help but reflect on some great accomplishments I've made over the past year:

1. Budgeting My Time Better and Working Towards My Goals- this was something I wasn't particularly very good at prior to coming into 2010 but have come quite a long way in where I was a year ago
   
2. Being Able To Photograph Solon Comets Football Games For Their Incredible 2010 Season - being on the sidelines this season was incredible and I am thankful to all of those who made it a success. I had an awesome time getting to know the players, fans, parents and anyone who was supportive during the season. It was an honor to take these pictures during the season and I am grateful for the experience. I am thankful for Jim McQuaide and his staff, Jim McQuaide (his son), Athletic Director Mark McGuire, Sandy Ellis, the parents and the Solon Comets faithful.
   
3. Having My Pictures Put on Display at the Applebee's Restaurant in Solon- one of my goals was to find different ways to share my photos and with the help of Tammy Strom from the Solon Schools, some of my pictures from Solon Comets football and baseball made their way into Applebees. I can't thank Tammy enough for her help with this and seeing my pictures up there for the first time was an experience.
4. Getting Published in Terry Pluto's Book "Things I've Learned While Watching the Browns"- I submitted in a piece in regards to why I watch the Browns day in and day out and if you look on page 70 of his book, you can see what I wrote. I am thankful for Terry and his publishers for using my piece.
   
5. Having an Awesome Set of Friends and Coworkers
   
6. Having the Opportunity to Work with the Awesome People on various projects at Mavis Winkle's
   
7. Having a loving family
   

Post from a friend...

This is a post my friend and activist Britni Tozzi recently posted on her blog. She is planning on doing a mission trip to Africa again and her story is quite incredible. I know I have dedicated this blog to a lot of my sports heroes but wanted to take a moment to honor a real hero and true blessing in my life.

http://britnitozzi.blogspot.com/2010/12/seeds-of-growth-great-thanks-to-you.html?spref=tw

Take Time To Be Grateful

As the year is coming to a close, you may be looking back at both the good and the bad from the past year. Every year is different but there are usually good points and moments to be grateful for during that time. Before the year ends, take time to really think about the good moments from the past year and be grateful for those times.

To start off, take time to be grateful for those you have met and helped you along the way. Chances are, you came across people who helped you professionally or personally during the year. These people may have helped get you through a rough situation, may have helped you land a position or been a shoulder to cry on at times. Take a few moments to remember who was there for you during the good times and the bad, the people who were the first to say congratulations when you landed that big promotion or job, or who were always there for you no matter what. Take time to realize who these people are and find a way to say thank you.

Once you have done that, take time to be grateful for any goals you have accomplished. When looking back at where you were at previously, you may realize you have come along way from a certain point. Take a few moments to realize where you started, what path you took and how far you came from a previous point. You might end up being surprised as to how far along the path you have walked and how much you have accomplished.

Lastly, take time to realize what lies ahead for you and what opportunities may arise. Take time to realize what can be ahead in your future, how these opportunities came about and why you are excited. Having a solid foundation with opportunities is an incredible thing to be grateful for and be thankful for what is in store.

Before the year is over, take time to be grateful; you might be surprised as to how much you have in store for you.

Building Relationships Can Start With Finding Common Ground

Taking time to build relationships is key and can be done in several different ways. Taking time to keep in touch and learning about others are a couple of different ways to build relationships but finding common ground and interests can be an excellent way to develop a relationship with someone. Finding a hobby or common interest with someone can lead to building a stronger relationship with that person.

When trying to develop a relationship with someone, finding a common interest is a great starting point for finding time to bond and socialize with that person. For example, I am a huge hockey fan and one really good friend of mine shares the same passion for the game. When I first met this person, we found this common ground and built our relationship by going to games with one another. During this time, I was able to socialize with my friend, learn more about him and have developed a great friendship with him as a result. We often go to games each year and have a great friendship as a result of that.

Even though sports can be a common ground, other interests can help create similar friendships. For example, if you have an interest in fishing and come across someone with that same interest, going out for a fishing outing with this person can be a great way to develop that friendship. If you enjoy scrapbooking, inviting someone with that same interest to a scrapbooking party can help you create a stronger bond with that person. The sky is the limit and finding that common ground with a particular hobby can be a great way to develop that relationship.

Finding common ground is key in develop a relationship but taking time to enjoy it with another person can help strengthen that friendship for the future. Whether your interest is in sports, fishing, photography or anything else, finding that common ground can pave the path for developing that relationship.

A Postive Attitude: It's Contagious

A positive attitude is contagious. I understand you have probably heard that line many times before but think of it this way; how often do you feel better when you come across those who are pleasant, happy and willing to share the same feelings? How many times have you sat through an assembly, program or speech where the person speaking was positive, energetic and could transfer that energy to the crowd? Chances are, you’ve come across those who maintain a positive attitude and felt that attitude was contagious.

Being positive may not always be easy but can make the environment you are in more pleasant and enjoyable. For example, one of the reasons I enjoy going to Mavis Winkle’s Irish Pub in Twinsburg and Independence is because the people who work there are always positive and fun to be around. The servers enjoy talking to the patrons, they take time to know the people they are serving and makes the atmosphere inside the place more enjoyable. It’s apparent the positive attitude the employees have spreads to the people eating the awesome food inside the restaurants and makes for a great dining experience. The business they are in is not always easy to have a positive attitude in but the friendliness and positive feelings the employees have becomes contagious inside the restaurant.

Even though there are times in which being positive can be difficult, taking a lighter view can help get you through the process. Let’s say you are a college student and have a 20 page paper to write. Writing the 20 page paper may not be easy to do, does not sound like fun and may be boring but how you choose to handle the experience can make a difference. Instead of taking a “this will never get done” attitude, try taking an “I will get this done attitude.” Create a step-by-step plan to finish the paper in sections, set deadlines for yourself and believe in yourself that it can be done and you will do a good job. This will help you stay motivated during the process, help you feel better about yourself and give you a positive way to channel the anxiety of writing the paper. Taking a positive approach to a difficult situation is not always easy but can be done.

When thinking of taking a negative attitude towards a situation, think of the times you have come across others who weren’t pleasant or nice when they needed to be. How many times have you gone into a coffee shop, retail store, etc. and the person assisting you acted as if he or she didn’t care or didn’t want to be there? How did you feel when you walked away? What impression did that person leave? This negative attitude obviously came across and left you with a negative experience. Remember how this experience felt and ask yourself if that is the impression you want to leave one someone else.

While there may be instances in which taking a positive attitude is not easy, possessing a positive vibe can be contagious to those around you and leave a great impression.

College Students: Take Time To Socialize

During your college years, there will be moments where you will be busy with classwork, projects, and other commitments and it can be stressful. Budgeting your time is key and taking care of your schoolwork is a must. Getting bogged down can happen but taking time to socialize with others on a regular basis can help relieve some of that stress. Finding different ways to socialize with your friends can help relieve some of the stress you are feeling and help bring a bit more balance to your college experience.

Even though taking time to study and do your homework is a must, there are several different ways in which you can budget some time a week to socialize and hang out with others. Below are some suggestions:

• Get Involved With Different Campus Organizations- Whether it's Greek Life, the campus radio or television station, a community service group, etc. getting involved with the different groups on campus will help you budget your time and give you something to look forward to on a weekly basis. It will also help get you out of your dorm room or apartment and meet others
  
• Start a Weekly Event With People Who Share Common Interests- During my freshmen year at Otterbein, Sunday evening became Ultimate Frisbee night where a bunch of my friends and I would gather for a weekly frisbee game. For some of my other friends, it was a weekly get together to play Magic The Gathering, Poker, Halo or Nintendo Wii. These weekly events provided a way to relax during the week, enjoy the company of others who shared the same interests and relax. Find a way to start a weekly event such as these and it will help you socialize with people on a regular basis
  
• Take Time To Hang Out With Others When Invited and When You Can Go With Them- If a bunch of your friends are going to go to the theater to see a play and you can go, go with them! If they are going to a sporting event on campus and you can go, go with them! Taking time to enjoy these opportunities will help take you away from your stresses and help you relax a bit. It will also get you to socialize with the people you are hanging out with too!
  

The Holidays Are Coming Up Soon So Give Thanks!

It's the first weekend in November but in just a few weeks Thanksgiving will arrive and then the holiday season. The holiday season can be stressful at times for many people but opens up an opportunity to give thanks as well. It's the end of the year and it's a great time to take a few moments to send those who have helped you get through the year or have become good friends a simple thank you.

Taking time to say thank you during that time of year will mean a lot to the people you are expressing gratitude towards and below are some tips on how to give thanks:

• Send Holiday Cards - writing these cards out can be time consuming but will mean a lot to someone who receives them in the mail. Getting a holiday card during a time of year that is synonymous with celebrations can be very meaningful to a person and appreciated as well. You can simply purchase your own cards or get creative and make them yourself!
  
• Send Holiday E-Cards- for those of you who prefer to send cards electronically, this idea is for you! More and more card companies are allowing users the ability to send cards through e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, and other forms of social media. Sometimes these companies allow users to design their own cards and provides a more personal touch
• Bring in a treat for the office and co-workers to enjoy - this typically goes over pretty well and can be a nice little surprise for the people you work with. One example of this going over well was when I did an internship over a long winter break in December during my college years. As we got closer to Christmas, I was trying to figure out something to bring in for the people who I worked alongside during this internship and an idea came to me; candy canes! When I walked in the door that morning with packages of candy canes for these people, it meant a lot that someone took the time to bring these into the office for others to enjoy. It showed I cared and was a way for me to say thank you and Happy Holidays.
  

College Students: Take Time To Say Hello

"Hello, how are you doing?"

When you are in line waiting to get your food from the cafeteria, getting your coffee from the shop, or getting your books from the bookstore, how often do you take the time to ask the people working in these places that question? These people are taking time out of their day to serve you the food or provide you help with finding the right study materials but how often do you take the time to ask how they are doing?

By taking a few moments to say hello to others, it will help you stand out from the crowd. Not many people take time to say hello to people in different departments on campus so taking just a few minutes to ask how someone's day is going will help set you apart.

College campuses vary in size but there are different ways in which you can get to know more then the professors and your classmates. For example, when you go into the cafeteria to get your lunch or dinner, take a couple of minutes to see if you can strike a conversation with the person serving the food. You can ask him or her how the day is going, if a lot of people have come through or find ask a simple question to get a small conversation going. It will probably mean a lot to this person that you are taking time out of your day to get to know him or her and it will set you apart from others in a positive way.

Doing this can take a little bit of practice, however, getting to know others will not be as hard. You might be amazed how easy it is to strike up a conversation with someone with a little ice breaker and how much that person might appreciate you taking the time to do so.

During my time at Otterbein, I took time to practice this skill early on and it benefited me along the way. It meant a lot when I took time to say hello to the people working in the bookstore, the people up in the cafeteria (aka the Cardinal's Nest), the coffee shop on campus, the people working in the library, the admissions staff, the alumni relations staff and several others. Taking a few minutes to say hello to these people each day made it easier for me to have a conversation with them later on and helped me develop relationships with several different people on campus. By being friendly to these people and taking time to learn how their days were going, it made it easier for me to say hello to these people on a daily basis and become friends with them.

Whenever you are running errands on campus, don't forget that taking a few minutes to say hello to someone can help develop a relationship and make you a friendlier face on campus.

Reading: One of The Best Skills To Have

Learning is a never ending process and when it comes to building your career, taking time to read different types of material can benefit you. With different books available on various topics for a wide range of industries, taking time to read respected and well known books and articles can help benefit you and provide other insight.

Finding reading material online or in your bookstore is easy, however, trust your network on which books to select. People within your network may have insight on which articles and materials to read that are beneficial to your career growth. For example, if you are a salesman, talking to other salespeople inside your network may open up idea for sales books are recommended. If you are studying to be a teacher, talk with current teachers and ask if they have read books on different teaching methods out there for certain subjects. Finding the material is easy but take time to ask people within your network what they would recommend.

By taking time to read different materials, this could open up different opportunities, practices and theories on developing your skill set and your career. Using the sales example again, if you are a salesperson, taking time to read different sales books can help you find different methods in learning more about the customer, putting together a proposal, asking for referrals, handling objections and closing the sale. It never hurts to take time to read another viewpoint and what you learn different ways to improve your work performance an develop your career.

For many different industries, there are trade and online publications that could help you learn more about developments in your industry. Taking time to read through these can help you keep up on current events in your industry, understand what direction your line of work could be headed and develop strategies based upon the information you read. These publications are either printed on a weekly, monthly or even a daily basis and can help you keep up with current trends in your industry.

Early on, reading is one of the best skills we are taught and even as developing professionals, we can never do too much reading.

One of the Biggest Keys To Networking: Finding Information Out About the Other Person

Networking has proven to be an effective business tool and can be beneficial if done properly. Meeting people and developing these relationships can lead to a brighter future down the road. Meeting new people does take a little bit of practice and starting a conversation from scratch is not as hard as it seems. One of the biggest keys to developing a relationship from the start is taking time to listen to the other person and learning about him or her.

At networking events, it's usually easy to move around and meet several different people. Take time to maneuver around the room a bit and talk to several different types of people there. It's not always possible to know everyone but try and take time to get to know the different people who are attending the event.

When you start conversing with someone, try to avoid providing your whole life story in 30 seconds. If you enjoy your work, it is easy to get carried away on that topic and talk more about yourself instead of getting to know the other person. Talking too much about yourself can be a bit of a turnoff to someone and might bore the person you are talking to as well.

As a way to get to know the other person, start asking questions about what he or she does, hobbies, how he or she joined the organization hosting the event, etc. This way, it gets the person to open up a bit and provides you an opportunity to listen and learn more. I'm not saying to make it a game of 20 Questions and try to avoid too many yes and no questions. Take this as an opportunity to learn more about the other person and find common ground that might be there.

Networking is key but taking time to know the people you meet with is just as important!

ABBC- Always Bring Business Cards

Networking is one of the most powerful tools in business today but a surprising number of people forget to bring a valuable item when going to networking events; business cards. Even though it makes sense, there are many different networking and social events out there in which people forget to bring business cards.

These events are great opportunities to meet people but how are you supposed to be remembered if you don't have any information to leave with the people you are conversing with?

Whenever you go to a networking event, social or business-oriented function, take a fair number of business cards with you. You never know who you may run across as these events, who can be a valuable contact and the doors that can open up from these interactions so make sure you have your business cards with you. With the number of people that attend, it's best to leave the people you talk to a card with your contact information for future reference. The people you meet may end up with a lot of business cards towards the end of the night but your will be in the pile if you provide one.

If you are currently unemployed, it's understandable if you don't have a current business card, however, you can obtain business cards for this use. One of the most popular web-sites to go to for personal business cards is www.vistaprint.com, where you can design your own business cards and get a certain number of them for free. This web-site has helped a lot of different job seekers get business cards when they needed it and can provide you with the same benefits as well. Taking time to design these cards is worth the investment and having these available at a networking event can help key people you meet remember who you are.

Even though it can seem like a hassle, there are ways in which you can carry business cards efficiently and effectively. Sometimes having a case full of them in your pocket, wallet or purse makes them easy to pull out when you need it. Others will carry them in a shirt pocket for easy access and other simply keep them in a coat or pants pocket. Carrying these is easier then you think and it's always good to make sure they are accessible.

Whenever you go to a business function or networking event, remember ABBC, Always Bring Business Cards!

Map Out What You Want Your Resume To Look After Four Years

For college students, having a great resume is not only crucial for when you graduate but when you apply for internships as well. Your resume is an opportunity to provide a snapshot for a potential employer or internship supervisor a reason why he or she should bring you in for an interview. These people are looking for people who can help them succeed, reach their goals and have a drive to learn. Taking the time to map out what you want this piece of paper to look like during your college years will help you get your foot in the door when you need it the most.

Even though it might sound odd, taking time to figure out what experiences you want on your resume will pay off later on. This will help you plan what type of internships to go after, what work and professional experience you want to have under your belt, and how to reach these goals. This will help you decide where you want to go in your college career, what you want to work towards and how you are going to get there.

By taking time to figure out what experiences you want on your resume, you will set goals for yourself and create a polished resume that could look enticing to a potential employer when you graduate. Having a resume that shows internships, work and leadership experiences will show a potential employer when you graduate that you were active, outgoing and willing to learn. This will help set you apart from a lot of the other resumes that will come through there and increase your chances of getting a call for an interview. Having mapped out these experiences will also provide different successes to talk about during your interview.

Even though it might seem odd mapping out your resume, taking the time to do so will help you succeed later on. This will give you goals to reach for, find what you want to achieve in and outside of college and provide great experience for when you need to look for your first job out of college. Take the time to figure out what path your resume to take.

College Seniors: Take Advantage of Opportunities, Take Time To Help Others and Enjoy the Ride

For many of you who will be graduating college soon, the thought of leaving a fun environment for the so called "real world" can be intimidating. Leaving what is comfortable and joining the work force to start your career is scary and difficult but not impossible. Being able to adjust to your life outside of college can start with the internships, networking and friendship you make during your senior year.

In several months, many of you will have to venture out and find your first job. There will be job interviews, resumes, handshakes, and lots of different pieces that play part in the job seeking process. Finding a job right out of college can be difficult but isn't impossible.

During your senior year, take time to intern and network with professionals in the area. Internships provide valuable real life experience that can put you a step ahead of others in the job search process. This also provides you an opportunity to become friends and meet mentors who can serve as references and guides later on during your search. Some campuses hold different networking events where you can meet professionals from the area. Taking advantage of these events can help you meet people who can help mentor your along the way and may even have a position available when you graduate. When presented the opportunity, take the time to intern and network with professionals who can guide you down your path of success.

In addition to networking, take the opportunity to mentor younger students in your field of study. At this point, you've had almost four years to develop the talents you had when you came in as a freshman and taking the time to help others will help develop relationships and teach you to be a team player. Many of the freshmen and even sophomores appreciate a senior taking the time to share knowledge, expertise and advice. Many of them have goals like you have at one point or another and they will never forget the friend who took the time to help them along the way.

By taking the time to mentor, it will also provide you with friendships and a reason to keep in touch with others as you make the transition into your professional career. Being able to talk to these friends on the phone, online, on Facebook, etc. will help relieve some of the stress and anxiety you might be feeling from leaving college. It also means a lot to these people that someone is taking time out of his or her day to keep tabs on how they are doing and it will be appreciated in the long run.

During your senior year, you will have opportunities to intern, network and mentor so take advantage. The relationships you build through interning, networking and mentoring others can help make the transition easier and prepare you for life outside of college.

College Students: Take Time To Support Other Campus Functions and Events

Taking time to learn the campus and the environment is important during freshmen year. It's important to learn what events are popular, how to get involved, and meeting people at different types of functions. It's easy to stay within your comfort zone but take time to enjoy a diverse group of activities. Similar to the phrase "never judge a book by its cover," never judge an event by the advertisement on the outside.

During your freshmen year and beyond, take time to experience different events you may not have gone to otherwise before starting college. If your school has a big arts program, take time to see the musicals, plays and other instrumental performances on campus. If your school has a big fine art program, take time to visit student art exhibitions. If you have never really been to a sports event, take time to go to a football game, basketball, etc. Going to these events will help take you out of your dorm room and help you interact with others on campus. You may also be surprised as to what you might find enjoying!

In addition t0 providing different ways to socialize with others, taking time to experience events can serve as a pleasant diversion and method to relax. For example, during my time at Otterbein College, taking time to watch some of my friends perform in a instrumental concert or one of the musicals served as a nice diversion. It was always fun to do something different, it was an opportunity to support my friends and it helped make my experience on campus more meaningful. For me, going to these events also served as a getaway and helped me wind down when I needed it the most.

When you are looking for something to do, consider going to events that might be outside your normal interest level. You may find it relaxing to experience something else your campus has to offer and helps you support another group of people. Taking time to enjoy these events can help make your experience more meaningful and provide different ways to socialize as well.

The Importance of Saying Thank You

Whether you are a college student interviewing for an internship or a seasoned professional interviewing for a job, one of the most important aspects of interviewing is taking time to say thank you. The person you are interviewing with is taking time out of his or her day to learn about you, how you can help his or her business and possibly provide you with experience you will need in your career. Not saying thank you for this opportunity could be costly and can eliminate you from future opportunities.

When internships or job candidates do not say thank you for the interview, it often frowned upon and could eliminate you from contention. This person is taking time out of his or her day to sit down with you and not taking the time to say thank you can turn him or her off from wanting to hire you. The person interviewing you did not have to bring you in for an interview in the first place so not saying thank you can leave a bad impression.

After you interview, make it a habit to send a hand-written thank you note and an e-mail (if you have it) to thank the person for his or her time. Not many candidates take time to say thank you so sending a hand-written note (or typed) will set you apart from most other candidates. This will show the person you interviewed with that you do care, you are interested and you were grateful for the opportunity to sit down and have a conversation. This shows you are willing to take the extra effort to thank someone for his or her time and can put you in a positive light.

Even though it might seem tedious, taking the time to say thank you is important in the interview process. If someone is taking time out of his or her day to discuss a possible internship or position with you, it's important you show your gratitude and appreciation. Taking a few moments to write a note will show this person you care about the opportunity and can set you apart from other candidates. Take the time to say thank you and it can help land you in the right spot later on.

College Students: Plan Your Four Years and What You Want To Accomplish

If you are a college student, your college career will bring you valuable experience not only in the classroom but with what you do outside of the classroom as well. You have four years ahead of you to build up real life experience for potential employers when you graduate and it's important you make the most of it at this time. The time you spend inside and outside of the classroom, the activities you are involved with and the relationships you build will set the foundation you need to succeed when your college career is over.

Even though it takes time, planning your four years of college and what you want to accomplish is important for success in the "real world." Taking time to determine where and how many internships to do, what activities to get involved in and the types of relationships you want to build will help you make the transition from college to the working world.

When making up your plan, consider the following:

1) What Organizations on Campus Can I Be Apart of That Can Provide Experience Related to my Major? - This will help you get experience and connections you will need when interviewing for internships and possibly a job later on. This will provide you with experience you can use to prove to others you have the skills necessary for a particular internship or job. Getting involved in these organizations can also put you in touch with classmates or other connections on campus.

2) What Types of Internships Can Help Me Get the Experience I Need? Not every major is the same but the purpose of getting an internship is to get real-life experience in a learning setting. Don't simply take an internship just to get a bullet point on the resume; get as much experience and knowledge from that internship so it can boost your skill set for later on. Take time to determine which types of internships would benefit you the most and figure out a way to apply for them.

3) How Can I Learn to Network With Professionals in My Field of Study? The relationships you build in college can help open the doors for internships and even jobs later on down the line. Learn to network and find different ways to connect with professionals in your field while you are a student. Not many students take the time to ask professionals for advice and the people you will want to build relationships have been in your shoes before.

4) What Do I Want My Resume to Look Like My Senior Year? This will help map out where you want to go and how to get there. It might seem like a bizarre question but this will help you plan where you want to go.

Taking Time To Learn About Others is Key in Building Relationships

In business and in your personal life, having relationships and friends can provide support and encouragement. It's important to have those who will be in your corner, lend a shoulder to cry on when needed and be a good sounding board when you need one. Relationships can be beneficial and can be built by taking the time to learn about the other person.

As a way to build a relationship with someone, it's important to take time to learn about the person sitting across from you instead of giving them your verbal autobiography. Taking time to understand the other person's interests, needs, and values shows you care and provides reason for the relationship to develop. Showing an interest in what's important to the person you are building a relationship with will set you apart from so many other people.

Developing relationships and taking time to learn about others does take practice but can be done. You can practice by talking to your neighbors at home. the people you work with, the people you interact with at your favorite restaurants or coffee shops, etc. When you interact with these people, take time to show interest in their day, what they are currently up to and you might be surprised how a conversation and relationship can develop.

During my college years, one of the ways I practiced learning about others is by taking time to ask the cafeteria people, my classmates, my professors, the people who worked in the bookstore, etc. how their days were going and listening to what these people had to say. By taking time to simply ask, "Are you having a good day?" or "What have you been up to lately?" and listening to their responses, it set me apart because I took time to show I cared about the person I was asking the question to. It made me a more familiar and friendly face on campus and I was able to make a lot of friends as a result of this.

Building relationships is key but how you go about doing it is important as well. Take time to learn about others and it can open up more doors then you can imagine.

Having Hobbies Helps Relieve Stress and Can Help Refresh!

Our lives as professionals or college students can be stressful and time consuming. Working hard at the office or outside the classroom can be very demanding both mentally and physically. Being able to get away every once in a while helps reduce daily stress and help relax a bit. Taking time to enjoy your hobbies outside of work or outside of school can help relieve the stress and can help you refresh.

In your professional or student career, taking your work seriously is a must and number one priority but taking time during the week to enjoy hobbies can help reduce some of the tension. Hobbies serve as a way for us to enjoy something that is fun and meaningful outside of our daily work or school routine. Taking time to enjoy these simple pleasures can help you relax outside of work or when you are not doing homework. These serve as a getaway for us and can help us relax a bit as well.

During the week, some of my favorite activities include sports blogging, reading about sports or watching sports live in person or on TV. Yes, I am a sports nut but doing these activities helps me relax. I enjoy taking time to write about the latest sports story for my blog, I have a plethora of sports books I enjoy reading and being able to sit down to watch my favorite sports teams helps me relax and refresh my mind. These activities give me something to look forward to and provides enjoyment and relaxation.

In addition to watching sports, I am an avid photographer and going to a site to take pictures serves as an escape and a great way to relax. Photography is a hobby I picked up in college to serve as a way to relax and has continued to serve the same purpose since graduation. Taking my camera on long walks through parks, landscapes, small events, and sporting events (yes, I am a sports nut and enjoy taking pictures at sporting events). Now that football season is gearing up, taking my camera to a Solon High School football game (my alma mater) helps me wind down from the week and helps me relax a bit as the weekend begins. Photography has been a great hobby for me to help me relax and serve as a way to refresh a little bit.

To find hobbies, you don't have to be a sports nut like I am or enjoy photography to help relax. Some find playing a musical instrument a fun way to relax (and be with other people), others join book clubs, paint, draw, listen to music, read, or go to the movies as ways to relax and wind down from the week. Others take time to teach others their favorite hobbies and share that passion with others who start to show interest in that same activity. Finding something you enjoy isn't as hard as you think and you can find something beyond a sports arena to serve as your hobby.

To relax and relive stress, take time outside of work or school to enjoy the hobbies you are passionate about the most. These helps serve as your getaway for a bit and can help you refresh and fill the time outside of work or school. Sports and photography are two hobbies of mine that help me refresh on a weekly basis but you can find other hobbies that suit your needs and interests. Take time to enjoy and provide yourself something to look forward to when you are not at work or school.

Getting Back Up After Being Knocked Down Can Open More Doors Later On

Going through tough times is never easy but giving up and not trying won't help your situation. No matter what level you are at, we have all gone through periods professionally and personally that have been tough and difficult to deal with. Getting knocked down is hard but getting back on your feet will open the door for more opportunities later on.

One of the best examples of reaching the benefits to getting back up after being knocked down comes from looking at the history of Walt Disney.

Early on in his entertainment career, Walt Disney's mistakes with his first company, Laugh-O-Grams, taught him valuable lessons of moving forward despite being knocked down. Laugh-O-Grams was Disney's first attempt to start a company and while he was able to find animators to work with him, he made the mistake of not managing the money properly. As a result the company went bankrupt and the business was a failure.

At this point, Disney could have given up but decided to move on with another venture. With the help of his brother, Disney set up a studio in Hollywood and produced a series called The Alice Companies. This success of the series helped give the two brothers a terrific head start to a company that has since evolved into one of the leading entertainment companies in the world. Instead of giving up, Disney got back up on his feet and pushed forward by forming a more successful company.

Not too long after the success of The Alice Comedies, Disney found himself knocked down again after he learned he lost the rights to the character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Oswald was a successful character for Disney, however, Universal Pictures owned the rights to the character. As a result, Universal could make Oswald productions with or without Disney and many of Disney's animators left the company not too long after this news broke.

Instead of giving up, Disney created a new star, Mickey Mouse. This time, Disney held onto the rights and the character became more successful then Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Disney created the first cartoons featuring Mickey that had sound and other characters were created along the way. These characters led to other successes for the Disney company and proved that Disney's determination to keep moving forward paid off.

Not every situation is easy to get through but perseverance can pay off in the end. Disney was knocked down twice when his first studio failed and when he lost the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. In both instances, Disney continued to press forward and created both a company and characters that are leaders in entertainment worldwide. Disney isn't the only person who has gotten back up after being knocked down and you can get back on your feet after tough times too.

Getting Settled in at College

Summer is nearing an end and for a lot of you college freshmen out there, it is time to start a new chapter in your academic life. For many, it will be the first time away from home, being away from what's familiar and experiencing another community other then the one your grew up in. Being a college freshmen can be intimidating at first but finding ways to get settled in and involved will help relieve that anxiety and fear.

In reality, starting college can be a bit scary. You are making the transition from your own home to a dorm room and you are starting over in your life. You may not know everyone that is living in your dorm or the people in your freshmen class. It can be intimidating but remember that you are not the only one who is making this transition and there are many others you are going through the same experience.

Below are some tips for getting settled into college and starting off on the right foot:

1) After you move in, take time to walk the halls of your dorm and introduce yourself to others who are living there - on paper, this might seem like an odd idea but you never know who you will come across and it's a great way to meet the people you will be living in the dorms with over the next several months. This will help you meet people you might want to hang out with, may have a class or two with and help relieve some of the anxiety you are feeling of being away from home. Take some time to introduce yourself to others and learn names.

2) Find different activities and clubs to join - being apart of extracurricular activities will help you make new friends, give you something else to look forward to and mix in with other people. Stay true to your hobbies and find different groups you can be apart of on campus. This will help you settle in a bit, get involved and meet other people and provide a diversion for you. Getting involved will enhance your college experience and create some good memories.

3) Say hello to your RAs, Hall Directors, cafeteria staff, book store staff, etc. - saying a hello and asking how someone else's day is going can really mean a lot to someone. Taking the time to do this with your RA, Hall Director, the people who serve the cafeteria food (you will be surprised how just saying thank you means a lot to the people who work to serve you your breakfast lunch and dinner) and the book store staff. This will help these people provide a friendly name with your face and give you an opportunity to know these individuals as people.

4) Don't Get Behind in Your Schoolwork and Set Specific Times to Study or Do Homework- Take the time to work out a study and homework schedule so you are not getting behind. This will help you create a schedule that is a bit more balanced, disciplined and get good grades. Procrastinating and waiting until the last minute to do projects or assignments will cause more stress and you will get more out of your assignments if you take your time and not rushing it.

Good luck!

Believing in Yourself is a Key Part of Success

"Yes I can!"

How difficult is it to say those three words?

"Yes I can!"

To reach your goals in business and in life, you have to believe that what you are striving for can be attainable. Not all goals are easy to attain but not believing you can reach for what you want can hinder your progress. In order to earn what you want to achieve, you have to believe in yourself and know you can tackle any obstacle that stands in the way.

In many different professions, the people working to provide safety to others, entertainment and play sports have to believe in themselves in order to do their jobs well. Doctors have to believe they can treat patients to the best of their ability in order to provide the best care and firefighters and police officers have to believe in themselves when going to save and protect others. From an entertainment and sports standpoint, theater directors have to believe they have the ability to take a script and make the best show possible for audiences to see, filmmakers have to believe they can make a great film with the tools and actors they have to work with and professional athletes have to believe in themselves to perform at the best of their abilities. Believing in yourself spreads across many different professions and success will come if you know you can reach your goals.

Another popular example of believing in oneself is looking at the life of Chris Gardner, a stockbroker whose rags to riches story was turned into the film The Pursuit of Happyness. In the early 80s, Gardner was determined to succeed as a stockbroker and believed he could make it in that industry. Gardner was working as an intern at the Dean Witter Reynolds brokerage firm and often stayed late and arrived early to make outgoing phone calls to prospective clients. Gardner's belief he could succeed helped provide him the strength he needed to show up early and stay late and he eventually earned his license and was hired as a full time employee.

If Gardner had never believed he could make it, he never would have been able to push himself to reach his goal. Gardner knew he could succeed in the business and his positive and hard working attitude towards his work helped him reach his goal. Gardner's ability to believe he could reach his goal helped provide him the strength he needed to get there.

Believe your dreams can happen and the road to reaching your goals might be tough but can be walked upon despite the obstacles. There will be times in which the path to reach your goal will not be easy but believing you can still reach your dream will help you complete the journey.

If You Are Overloaded, Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help

Having lots of commitments and opportunities can help a business strive but taking on too much can have the opposite effect. The ability to take on multiple projects is a plus, however, taking on too many without delegating or asking for help can be detrimental. It will force you to remember quite a bit and put a lot of weight on your shoulders.

In business and outside of your job, delegating is a skill to learn and does take practice. Being able to assign tasks to others can help improve your efficiency and help get a larger project done. Delegating and assigning tasks to everyone can help get the project done in a shorter amount of time and put less stress on yourself.

As a way to practice, start utilizing this concept in some of your social groups you are apart of. If you are planning an event, help form a committee to get the project off the ground and assign tasks to those helping to volunteer. This will take up some of your free time outside of work but you will be surprised how some of the skills and concepts can be applied to business projects.

Take this for an example, say you are working as the Director of Admissions for a small college and want to plan an open house. Right off the bat, you will need the following:

- volunteers to help
- invitations sent out to prospective students
- refreshments
- phone calls to prospective students or their parents (depending on the situation)
- current students to speak with prospective students
- professors to speak to prospective students

Right off the bat, it's easy to tell that is a lot for one person to take care of! Taking on this and handling other duties is not only time consuming but can be exhausting as well!

An efficient way to delegate this situation would be to do the following:

- assign people to find students and professors willing to volunteer time to talk to prospective students
- talk with someone in the school's marketing department about designing an invitation and getting that sent out
- assigning someone to talk to the food services company on campus to provide refreshments
- assign someone to find volunteers to run the event
- create a call list and divide up amongst the other admission directors

Utilizing this strategy can help you cover more ground in a shorter amount of time and get everything you need get done completed efficiently and effectively. This will help relieve stress off your back and help gets that list of activities done and completed.

Taking on projects can be helpful to your business but don't get too overloaded. Getting overloaded and doing too much can decrease your efficiency and make it more difficult to complete the project. Delegating and using the help of others helps alleviate the stress on your shoulders and can get the project done in a more efficient and effective manner.

Encouragement From Pro Football Hall of Famer Floyd Little

Even if you have never watched a game of professional football in your life, anyone looking to achieve and be the best can take the advice newly enshrined Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Floyd Little said in his induction speech. Little played several seasons with the Denver Broncos in the NFL but his induction speech where he encouraged people to believe in themselves can be useful to everyone looking to achieve more in their lives.

While taking the podium on August 7, 2010 to talk about his career in professional football, Floyd Little talked how there were "naysayers" who believed he could never make it. As a way to get through, Little mentioned that taking a "Yes I can" attitude is what helped him push to becoming a better student in school (he mentioned he got thrown out at one point and struggled with his grades). Little's belief that he could do better in school helped pave the way for him to attend Syracuse University and after that, the Denver Broncos.

Throughout his speech, Little encouraged the crowd to take a "Yes I Can" attitude towards their own lives and to believe in themselves despite what the naysayers say.

Even if you have never watched a single play in a professional football game, utilizing Little's advice on taking a "Yes I Can" attitude can help you reach your goals.

Having realistic goals is great to have in your career but reaching them takes a positive attitude and a belief that you can reach them. In order to believe they are achievable, you have to believe that the goals you set can be reached. If you don't believe you can reach the goal, how are you supposed to achieve it?

Little talked about how taking a "Yes I Can" attitude towards his school work helped him achieve more in life and there is room for improvement. No matter where you are in your career, understanding this concept can help you improve your performance and reach for further goals in your career. Everyone has room for improvement and believing you can achieve more and do more can help you find the path to better success later on. Understand that believing you can perform better can help you go farther then not believing in yourself at all.

Even though naysayers can appear along the route to your success, believing you can achieve more will help you reach your goals. Many believed Little would never make it beyond high school but his belief he could achieve more helped pave a path that would lead to the NFL. There were naysayers along the way but Little's attitude that he could do better in the classroom helped me get better grades and reach college and the NFL.

Believing it can be done will help you go farther. Take the time to believe in yourself and realize that dreams can come true.

Plan to Succeed

Ideas for businesses are always plentiful but some of the most creative ideas can end up in failure as a result of failing to take time to do one simple part of the process; creating a plan!

Having a great idea for a business or knowing what you want to achieve in your career is great but you need to carefully build the ladder that will get you to the top. Not taking time to construct how you will go about executing your ideas could hinder your flight to success.

If you are looking to start a business, taking the necessary time to plan is crucial for success. Researching the industry takes time but will allow you to understand your competition, how to create your market niche and develop the types of products you want to sell. This also will help you define who your target audience is and can help you set the stages for creating a successful marketing plan to reach these people.

Though it can be expensive at times, creating a marketing strategy as part of your business plan will be crucial to your success. If people don't know about the product you are selling, how are they supposed to purchase it? How are you going to alert your target audience your product fills their needs? How will you create a brand name that will resonate with potential customers? These are all questions you need to ask when developing your business plan.

Planning for success can often be seen when expansion teams enter professional sports leagues. Owners for these teams have to plan how to build a team that will be competitive in the league they are playing in, how to reach the target audience, and drive fans into their stadiums or arenas. These teams need to plan how to build a team from scratch to winner in a few seasons, develop a brand name through creative marketing strategies and develop a loyal and consistent fan base. The team will need to win on the court, field, ice (if you are playing hockey), create a name that is easily remembered and develop a fan base to be successful.

While starting up a business requires planning, developing your career and where you want to go takes planning as well. Taking the necessary steps to plot where you want to go in your professional career and how to get there takes dedication and time but can pay off. Do you want to eventually reach a management position? What will it take for you to earn a promotion? What can you do to become one of the best workers in your company? These are all questions people ask themselves and the answers can help pave the way for a plan to help them reach their goals.

An example that can used to explain comes from watching one of my heroes, former Orioles third baseman Cal Ripken Jr., during and after his career as a professional baseball player. After being drafted out of high school, Ripken wanted to make the Orioles roster and created a plan to help get him there. He created offseason training plans to help hone his skills, he played winter ball to get him more experience playing professionally and solicited the advice from veteran players who had been in his shoes before. As a result, Ripken was able to hone his skills and had a career in which he broke Lou Gehrig's record for most consecutive games played, made the All-Star team 19 times, won a World Series, and made it into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot. Ripken's plan for his career worked and paved the way to success.

During his playing days, Ripken knew he wasn't going to play forever but planned for his life beyond baseball. He started to develop Ripken Baseball Inc. which is a program designed to help grow the love of baseball to others and has created other charitable foundations. Ripken listened to others along the way during his playing career and helped set many of these foundations in motion while serving as an active player. By the time he had retired, Ripken's plan started to take shape and he successfully created a life for himself outside of baseball.

Taking the time to plan is crucial and even though it can be exhausting, it can pay off in the end. In order to get to where you want to go, you need to know what you need, what will get you there and the right direction to go in.

Getting the Word Out: A Lesson in Marketing

Having a business can be rewarding and a lot of work but consumers can only buy your product or services if they know your business exists! You might have the best product or service on the market but no one can buy it if they don't know it exists!

Putting together a marketing plan for a business is essential and necessity to promote your products and services. Consumers have to know your product is available in order to purchase it and leaving this out of your plan could help slow down your growth. Having a marketing plan that is creative, outgoing and well thought out can help provide the growth you will need to sustain and be successful.

One example of how this has been done well in recent times is what the American Hockey League's Lake Erie Monsters have done to market themselves to fans in Cleveland. The Monsters are a minor league team in what many call a major league city and the team had to almost start out from scratch. The previous team in the market, the American Hockey League Cleveland Barons, played to an empty Quicken Loans arena for several seasons from 2001-2006. The Barons weren't very big on marketing and almost never advertised at all in the market. As a result, the team took a hit at the gate and many in Cleveland didn't even know the team existed.

After the Barons left town to move to Worecester, MA, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert brought in the Lake Erie Monsters and he and the executives hired to run the team put a huge emphasis on marketing. The team was not only utilizing traditional methods of purchasing ad space in newspapers, television and radio but hired salespeople who previously contacted those who purchased tickets to Cleveland Barons games and Cleveland Lumberjacks games (the Lumberjacks were a minor league team in Cleveland before the Barons). These salespeople found out that many people were unaware that minor league hockey existed in Cleveland but those phone calls along with the ads in the paper and on radio and television helped get the word out. It took time to put in those phone calls but the person on the other end of the phone lines learned a little something when they received that call or saw the ads elsewhere.

In addition to traditional forms of marketing, the Monsters have a functioning web-site, have utilized Twitter and Facebook and have had players make public appearances at local rinks and schools. As a result, this has helped build the brand name of the Monsters and become more familiar to people in Northeast Ohio. The Monsters are also cross promoted at Cavaliers basketball games and this and the other marketing efforts have helped fans become more familiar with the team and get them through the gate.

In these times, it's not always easy to have a big budget for advertising and marketing but there are cost efficient ways to promote your business. Social media such as Facebook and Twitter cost almost nothing but time to the business owners and many have been able to grow by utilizing this as part of a marketing strategy. Networking at different functions can help put you in touch with people who may need your products or services and blogs have also become useful in getting the word out. Being able to get in front of people utilizing the growing forms of social media and networking can help put you in front of potential customers and make consumers aware your business exists.

Putting together a good product or service is vital to a business but making others aware it exists is crucial to growth. Marketing does take time and can be expensive but can also be done in ways that can help promote your business and grow your sales.

Saying Hello and Taking Time To Know Others: A Lesson From NHL Star Mark Messier

"How are you doing today?"

When going into your office or workplace everyday, how difficult is it to ask that to those who work with you? Asking someone how his or her day is going is really not difficult to do and can help build your relationship and trust with that person.

On a daily basis, you can simply go into your office or workplace and not really take the time to get to know your teammates and others that work in your office. You can simply go in, do what you have to do, and leave for the day but how can you build relationships with these people if you don't take the time to get to know them? If you come across as if you don't care, how do you expect these people to respond to you when you need them the most?

Taking a few minutes to get to talk to others isn't as hard as it seems. Simply saying, "Hello, how are you doing?" to others you work with and listening to the responses can really mean a lot to the person you are conversing with. It's not everyday that someone within your management team will say hello and get to know the people who work alongside you or at other parts of the company so saying hello and taking time to know the person you are talking to can make a difference.

Being a lifelong hockey fan, one of the best examples I can provide is what NHL Legend and Hall of Famer Mark Messier (pronounced Mess-EE-ay) did when he was a member of the New York Rangers. Messier knew he could just walk into the practice rink or Madison Square Garden on a nightly basis and not really talk to anyone but his teammates. He simply could have walked in, did what he had to do, and walked out at the end of the day but he didn't.

While serving as team captain, Messier took time everyday to say hello to those who worked in the Rangers front office, Madison Square Garden and many others as he walked into and out of the arena. Messier understood that taking time out of his day to ask others how their days were going showed he cared. These people felt more comfortable around Messier and found it easier to talk to this NHL Legend because he took the time to know them as people and showed he cared. As a result, Messier is still considered to be on of the most beloved New York Ranger and NHL players of all time because off his willingness to learn about others and show he cared.

Taking time out of your day to know others isn't that difficult and it will show others you work with that you care. Sparing just a few minutes of your day to check in on how another worker or person is doing can make a difference and build a relationship with that person. You can practice by asking the people working in your local coffee shop, favorite restaurant or other gathering places how their days are going and you will be surprised how meaningful it is to them that you are taking time to get to know them. Once you do that, take time at work to do the same and you will start to see a difference.

Relationships Are Key

No matter who you are, the relationships you have on a personal and business level are key to success. The relationships you have with people you have worked with, people you have met through networking, and other means can help point you in the right direction during your career and help you make progress along the way.

On a professional level, key relationships can help point you in the right direction and develop your skills along the way. Some of my best relationships with network contacts have helped me learn to network better, develop deeper relationships with others and provide direction on how to improve my performance at work. Relying on other advice from people who have been in my shoes before have helped me grow professionally and develop skills that needed a little shine to them.

During your career, relationships can come in many different shapes and sizes and it's best to take advantage of the advice that can be provided. Relationships with past and present co-workers can be key and other relationships can develop from people you have met through networking, other network contacts and in other social situations. Don't be afraid to develop relationships in different ways because you never know when you will need a lending hand.

When attending a networking event or going into work, take time to develop relationships with the people you meet or work with. You never know when you may need a lending hand from these individuals and when you will need another person in your corner.

Feedback Can Open Doors For Improvement

Whether you are starting out at your new position, hunting for your next job or are a seasoned veteran in your field, there is always room for improving your methods, techniques and strategies. Finding ways to improve can be found in different ways and one of the most efficient methods is to solicit feedback from others. Feedback can open up possibilities you never expected and can also point you to the right direction to improving your methods and strategies.

Soliciting feedback from others can be nerve racking at times, however, the information you receive can point you in the right direction. Hearing negative feedback about your performance or your habits can be difficult to take but can help you realize what you need to do different to improve. Hearing this information might sting at times but it's better you understand how you can handle yourself or a situation better then not knowing you are going the wrong direction in the first place! The feedback you hear may not always be positive but can help you understand what direction to take to improve your methods.

In your business profession, soliciting feedback from those inside and outside your field can help open opportunities to improve your methods and how you conduct business. Hearing feedback from people within your industry can provide you insight on how you can stay current with modern strategies, maintain a high level of professionalism and be a key contributor to your company. Those outside your field can still provide insight you might not have thought of otherwise and can provide another perspective. Perspectives from both the inside and the outside of your field can provide you with the insight you need to improve your strategies and continue your path to success.

When hosting an event for your business or organization outside of work, soliciting feedback from your guests can only help you become more prepared for your next adventure. Taking a few minutes or having people fill out feedback sheets can help you understand what areas you need to improve on, how the event could have been run better and will provide you with the direction needed for your next event. You might not be able to please everyone 100% with your event but understanding their thoughts and concerns can help you plan for a better event next time.

Taking time for feedback is worth it and by utilizing it, you can open doors for yourself and manage to continue down the right path.

Find Your Niche With Networking Groups

Over the past several years, networking has grown into one of the most popular ways to find jobs and mingle with different professionals. As more and more job seeker groups become prevalent, opportunities to network are plentiful.

For those new to networking, it can be an intimidating task, however, the best way to find what type of networking group you are looking for is to get out and try several of them. It doesn't hurt to go to more then one and you don't have to limit yourself at all.

Below are different tips on finding networking groups and events you are comfortable with and getting the most out of these sessions:

1) Go to networking groups that have a large turnout and small turnouts- Doing this will help you decide if you feel more comfortable networking in a large room full of people or a small get together at a local coffee shop or restaurant. Some networkers prefer a larger setting while others prefer a smaller and relaxed setting to meet with new people. The only way to find out which type of interaction works best for you is to try both types of groups.

2) Always bring business cards or a notepad- Make sure you have a way for people to remember who you are and if you can't get a person card from another person, have a small notepad to take down his or her information. People do make the mistake of not bringing business cards to a networking event and it's harder for people to remember who you are if you don't give them something to remember you by. For large and small groups, business cards are a must and have that notepad available in case you meet someone you would like to network with who doesn't have a card.

3) Keep your eyes open for networking events in the evening or at restaurants- Networking events in the evening and/or at restaurants during this time typically are more relaxed and are in a closed setting. The people you meet there are often winding down from the day at work and a restaurant often serves as a relaxed setting. This will allow you to network with other professionals when they are a bit more relaxed and not so focused on work.

4) Find networking events within your field- Most industries have organizations associated with them (e.g. PRSSA for Public Relations Professionals) and sometimes networking events are planned as a way to get new members or have an outing. These events can be big or small based on the organization planning it and you will get to meet people within your specific field. It doesn't hurt to look into these groups and attend one of their networking events.

For a Job Seeker, Time Management Can Be One of Your Biggest Enemies

Searching for a job can be a long process and does take up a lot of time. Getting opportunities to interview, preparing for interviews and meeting people does take a lot of time and can be exhausting. Not properly managing your time can hinder you significantly and can slow down your progress.

Below are some tips for managing your time properly during a job search:

Set a daily schedule for yourself and stick to it - Even though you are not working, set a daily work schedule for yourself as if you are working. Set aside at least several hours each day (typically seven or eight) and stay close to that schedule. The best time to reach out to network contacts is during business hours and those should be the hours you are working to find your next position.

Write down your daily tasks each day- Writing down what you have to do each day on a sheet of paper might sound tedious but will help you remember what you need to accomplish on a daily basis and keep yourself focused. Making checklists or to-do lists can help you stay organized and keep you up to date with what needs to be accomplished for a successful job search. This will also help you remember appointments, interviews and follow ups.

Keep mind of opportunities to network- Sometimes we are faced with choices in life and when it comes to networking events, we do have choices to make. Networking events can be intimidating at times but have proven to be effective ways to find a job. Getting out and meeting new people is a great way to find other opportunities for jobs. Networking events can make the day longer, however, they are worth the time and you never know what might arise afterwards. Taking time to go to these events will increase the number of people you meet during your search and can help point you in the right direction.

Keep mind of opportunities that might not come often- While networking, you will come across people who have hectic schedules and will not have a lot of time to talk. If you are given an opportunities to speak with that person (even if it's by phone), make time in your schedule to do so. You never know what might come of that conversation and if you pass, you might not get that opportunity to speak with that individual again. Take the opportunity when given and it might open up another door for you.

Facebook: Great Tool With Great Responsibility

Over the past few years, Facebook has transformed from a college trend to a worldwide phenomenon in terms of users and marketing value. Users have enjoyed being able to reconnect with old friends and family members and businesses have been successful by utilizing it as a cost-efficient marketing tool. Facebook is no doubt an incredible way to communicate with others but users need to be careful and responsible for the content posted on profile pages.

Below are some general tips and rules of thumb for utilizing Facebook:

If you don't know someone, don't become his or her friend on Facebook - With the number of users on Facebook, it's easy to get people confused and chances are, you will get friend requests from people you don't know. Some people simply befriend everybody on Facebook even though they don't know most of the people they are sending out requests to and this is not the best practice for utilizing this form of social media. If you don't know someone requesting to be your friend on Facebook or vice versa, do not accept the friend request. You can usually send a message through Facebook to verify the person's identity if you want but keep your friend list to only people you know and have met. This will avoid people you don't know and might not trust getting a hold of your profile information and anything you post on there.

Watch what you post on your profile page - Freedom of speech is beautiful but understand that using Facebook to criticize someone, post inappropriate material or lash out at a business may get you in more trouble then you think. Numerous people have been let go from their jobs for criticizing their employers through Facebook posts and the same can happen to you if you are not careful. Even when you think someone will not see it, you might be surprised as to who finds what you post and it can cost you in the end. Try to avoid posting anything that might be offensive, degrading or nasty about someone because it might end up in the wrong hands.

Decide early on what type of information you want on your profile and stick to those guidelines- Some Facebook users put all kinds of information from where they currently live, their phone numbers, e-mail addresses and where they work on their profile pages. When setting up your page, decide whether or not you want users to know where you live, a number to call you or e-mail you. This will help you determine whether or not you want random people calling the number you posted on your Facebook page or sending you e-mails for similar reasons. You have the ability to control what you want people to see and decide how private you want your profile to be and stick to it. This will help prevent you from being bothered or annoyed while utilizing Facebook.

It's okay to say no in certain situations- Web-sites and web browsers have several different ways in which news articles, videos and pictures can be shared through Facebook. With the use of Smart Phones, pictures and videos can be uploaded within seconds of be taken. If you are at an event in which you could be photographed or videotaped, watch your actions and who has the camera. It's okay to decline having your photo or video footage of you taken. Chances are, it won't be the first time the professional photographer has heard that and nothing can be posted about you on another web-site if nothing is shot to begin with. Beware of who is taking pictures or video and realize it could end up on Facebook.

Burnt Bridges Are Almost Impossible To Rebuild

Even though it's been said time and time again, "never burining a bridge" is good advice and practice that will hold for a long time. Upsetting someone or destroying a relationship with a customer, client, hiring manager or even your boss can have negative consequences for a long time. Burning the bridge that stands between you and another person could cost you career opportunities later on due to the connections that person might have with others. While others might anger us and not treat us well, burning a bridge with someone can lead to negative effects for a long time.

Most of the time, burning a bridge can come from someone losing his or her cool during a conversation or situation with another person. Losing a temper can lead to heated discussions and make for an unpleasant situation. Situations can be stressful but losing your temper on someone can make the situation even worse. If you feel upset over a particular situation, take some time to cool off and calmly talk to the other person involved in the matter. That way, the other person won't feel you are attacking him or her and you can still have that relationship for the future. Heated discussions can lead to inappropriate behavior and both sides and burning the bridge as a result of it can hinder your success in the future.

During a job search, there have been situations in which candidates burned bridges with the hiring managers over simple tasks. Throughout my college years, many of the people I interned for or heard speak at other events had one or two stories of job candidates blowing up at them over small matters such as not sending in a resume like the hiring manager had asked or following directions. Hiring managers determine whether or not you will get a chance to interview for a position and destroying that relationship before it starts can not only eliminate you from that position but probably several others. This hiring manager might know people who work at competitors in the same industry or other people looking to hire talent. Burning the bridge with a hiring manager can prevent you from getting other opportunities for positions later on.

In addition to losing it with hiring managers and other company personnel, many people burn bridges by utilizing social media or job seeker groups to voice their displeasure towards an individual or company. This practice is often not appreciated by those being trashed in these interactions and can burn a bridge with more then the person being mentioned. That person's connections might see what was posted or written and may not appreciate what is being said either.

Even though it may be hard to do at times, never burning a bridge with someone can help alleviate stress and missed opportunities later. Destroying a relationship with someone can have negative consequences that can never be rebuilt after the altercation. A burnt bridge is impossible to get across and you might miss the opportunities on the side if you decide to burn it in the first place.