In 2011, I took the time to join Match.com and entered the so called "dating scene." I did take myself a little bit out of my comfort zone by doing so but have learned a lot along the way.
Below are some dating tips I have learned along the way while participating in the "dating scene:"
1) Listen to Your Date - I know this might sound obvious but not listening to your date can be a real turnoff! A good friend of mine mentioned to me once we are given two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we talk. Take the time to listen to your date and listen to the responses.
2) Look Presentable to Your Date - I understand that might sound obvious as well but try to have a neat appearance when meeting for the first time. On a personal note, I usually leave out my earring, wear a nice pair of shoes and shirt on the first date. You will want to make a good first impression and looking sloppy could leave the wrong impression or make it look like you are not taking the date seriously.
3) Be Polite to the Server - This one mainly applies to restaurants but also can apply to coffee shops and bars. Make sure you are polite to the person who is serving as your waiter, waitress, barista, etc. Being impolite or making rude comments to the server can be a turn off and your date may not want to go out with you again as a result of it.
4) Be Patient After the First Date - If you end up going out with someone you like, you don't have to send multiple texts or put in multiple phone calls the next day. It may be easy to be "Captain Text Message" or "Captain Phone Call" to get your date's attention but keep in mind that it's not the end of the world if you don't get a response right away. Keep in mind that the other person may be tied up with something else and may be waiting for a better time to return your text or call.
5) If Possible, Try and Meet Somewhere That Will Work for the Both of You - When setting up the date, try and find a location that will work out best for the two of you. Meeting at a place that is familiar to both of you and equal distance will make it easier to meet up.
6) If Utilizing Match.com or other Online Dating, Try and Have a Phone Conversation with the Other Person First Before Setting Up a First Date - It is easy to e-mail someone back and forth and set up a date that way, however, speaking to them can be very different. While you may be able to e-mail someone back and forth and keep a conversation going, talking to them may be a different story. You will want to find out if you are able to have a conversation with the person before deciding whether or not to meet up for a first date. You may find you can e-mail the person back and forth but can't hold a conversation.
7) Focus On the Person You Are on a Date With, Not Someone From the Past - Take the time to get to know the date sitting in front of you and try not to focus or spend a lot of time discussing an ex from the past. It may be easy to bring up a bad relationship but it may come across as whining to your date. Building a relationship starts with taking the time to know the person in front of you.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Who To Thank At The End Of The Year
It's no secret that the end of 2011 is coming to a close and many take time to reflect and look back on the year around the holidays. Looking at how far you have come can help you set your goals for the following year. Setting your goals for the upcoming year is useful but don't forget to take the time to thank those who helped you along the way in 2011. While sending out your holiday greetings, take several moments to thank those who have helped you personally or professionally during the past year.
When making out your list of people to thank, think of the following questions:
Who Really Helped Me Grow In My Professional Career During 2011?
Take a few moments to think of network contacts, people at work, or anyone else who helped you grow in your profession during the past year. Chances are, there was someone who helped you develop your skill set or helped you grow in your current position.
Who Really Helped You Grow As A Person In Your Personal Life?
I know I have a lot of people to thank in this category. A couple of friends of mine really helped me grow as a person in my personal life and I am grateful for the help they provided. Take a few moments to look back on those who have helped develop as a person. This may be someone who helped you with a personal relationship, be more comfortable with others or introduced you to a hobby.
Who Went Out Of His Or Her Way To Do Something Special?
Was there someone who included you in a special event? Was there someone who invited you to his or her wedding or let you be apart of the wedding party? Was there someone who went out of his or her way so you could participate in an event or hobby? These are some questions you can ask yourself when trying to come up with people for this category.
When making out your list of people to thank, think of the following questions:
Who Really Helped Me Grow In My Professional Career During 2011?
Take a few moments to think of network contacts, people at work, or anyone else who helped you grow in your profession during the past year. Chances are, there was someone who helped you develop your skill set or helped you grow in your current position.
Who Really Helped You Grow As A Person In Your Personal Life?
I know I have a lot of people to thank in this category. A couple of friends of mine really helped me grow as a person in my personal life and I am grateful for the help they provided. Take a few moments to look back on those who have helped develop as a person. This may be someone who helped you with a personal relationship, be more comfortable with others or introduced you to a hobby.
Who Went Out Of His Or Her Way To Do Something Special?
Was there someone who included you in a special event? Was there someone who invited you to his or her wedding or let you be apart of the wedding party? Was there someone who went out of his or her way so you could participate in an event or hobby? These are some questions you can ask yourself when trying to come up with people for this category.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Getting to Know Someone - Helpful Tips
Taking the time to build a relationship can be helpful and it must be done properly. There are instances in which having a key relationship can help and being able to build it will help later on. Being able to meet someone is the first step but taking the time to build that relationship is even more important.
Below are some tips on building a relationship with someone:
1) Take the Time to Listen- It's easy to provide someone with your own verbal autobiography during the first meeting, however, that will likely bore the other person and prohibit a relationship from developing. Take the time to listen to the other person in the conversation and inquire more. You don't need to interrogate the other person but take the time to listen and show an interest
2) Find a Common Way to Keep in Touch - Someone prefer phone calls, others prefer e-mails, some prefer texts, the list goes on. Take the time to find a way to keep in touch with the person and find the method that will work for him or her. You don't have to bombard someone with multiple e-mails, texts or calls to get a response. Find the method that works best and remember to be patient.
3) If Possible, Try and Find Common Ground - It's not always easy to find common ground with someone and in some instances, you may not have anything in common with the other person. If you can, try and find a common interest or passion. It will not only serve as a conversation starter but opportunities to build that relationship.
4) Be Respectful to the Other Person - This does sound obvious but realize that certain comments or reacting a certain way to someone's comment could be a turnoff. Be respectful to the other person's beliefs, positions, backgrounds, etc. when developing a relationship. Make sure to be open minded as well.
Below are some tips on building a relationship with someone:
1) Take the Time to Listen- It's easy to provide someone with your own verbal autobiography during the first meeting, however, that will likely bore the other person and prohibit a relationship from developing. Take the time to listen to the other person in the conversation and inquire more. You don't need to interrogate the other person but take the time to listen and show an interest
2) Find a Common Way to Keep in Touch - Someone prefer phone calls, others prefer e-mails, some prefer texts, the list goes on. Take the time to find a way to keep in touch with the person and find the method that will work for him or her. You don't have to bombard someone with multiple e-mails, texts or calls to get a response. Find the method that works best and remember to be patient.
3) If Possible, Try and Find Common Ground - It's not always easy to find common ground with someone and in some instances, you may not have anything in common with the other person. If you can, try and find a common interest or passion. It will not only serve as a conversation starter but opportunities to build that relationship.
4) Be Respectful to the Other Person - This does sound obvious but realize that certain comments or reacting a certain way to someone's comment could be a turnoff. Be respectful to the other person's beliefs, positions, backgrounds, etc. when developing a relationship. Make sure to be open minded as well.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Rules for Meeting a New Person (Can Also Be Used for Dating)
Whether it is for business or for personal reasons, meeting new people is essential in life. Taking the time to develop relationships with others can be beneficial for business and in your personal life.
Below are some tips to use when meeting someone for the first time (for those of you interest in dating, these rules can apply as well):
1) Take the Time to Listen to the Other Person - It's easy to provide someone with your own personal verbal autobiography, however, that doesn't show an interest in the person you are trying to build a relationship with. The other person will probably become bored easily and will not want to further the relationship. Instead of talking about yourself, take the time to listen to what the other person has to say.
2) Show an Interest in the Other Person - Take the time to learn about the other person's interests, passions in life, goals, hobbies, etc. This will make the other person feel more comfortable with you and will make for a better conversation.
3) Eye Contact - When you don't look at the other person in the eye, he or she will notice. You may not think so but eye contact can be very important.
4) Be Respectful to the Other Person and Those Around You At the Time of the Meeting - This may sound obvious but being disrespectful to the other person or those around you at the time of the meeting can be a huge turn off. Small things such as a cell phone or pager going off, constantly texting during the meeting, or answering a call during the meeting can be a turn off to someone. If the person is taking time out of his or her day to meet you, be respectful and do not make the person feel like you aren't willing to pay attention to the conversation.
Below are some tips to use when meeting someone for the first time (for those of you interest in dating, these rules can apply as well):
1) Take the Time to Listen to the Other Person - It's easy to provide someone with your own personal verbal autobiography, however, that doesn't show an interest in the person you are trying to build a relationship with. The other person will probably become bored easily and will not want to further the relationship. Instead of talking about yourself, take the time to listen to what the other person has to say.
2) Show an Interest in the Other Person - Take the time to learn about the other person's interests, passions in life, goals, hobbies, etc. This will make the other person feel more comfortable with you and will make for a better conversation.
3) Eye Contact - When you don't look at the other person in the eye, he or she will notice. You may not think so but eye contact can be very important.
4) Be Respectful to the Other Person and Those Around You At the Time of the Meeting - This may sound obvious but being disrespectful to the other person or those around you at the time of the meeting can be a huge turn off. Small things such as a cell phone or pager going off, constantly texting during the meeting, or answering a call during the meeting can be a turn off to someone. If the person is taking time out of his or her day to meet you, be respectful and do not make the person feel like you aren't willing to pay attention to the conversation.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Taking Time to Volunteer Can Help AYou Meet People
No matter how old you are, taking the time to meet other people is always essential. Getting out of the apartment or house and meeting new people is a great way to create balance in life and give you something to look forward to. It provides us an opportunity to make new friends and other contacts in life. One of the best ways to meet new people is through volunteer work.
Even though it can be a lot of work, volunteer work provides different opportunities to meet new people and can come in many different variations. When volunteering, you have an opportunity to meet and work with new people and there are different projects you can become involved with. Some people enjoy doing charity work, some enjoy working at local food banks and hospitals, some coach local sports teams, etc. There is a wide range of volunteer work you can do and the opportunities to meet new people is always plentiful.
Outside of work, I enjoy volunteering my time to take pictures at Solon High School football games and sporting events. It not only provides me an opportunity to do the type of photography I love but have had a great time meeting the people who work and attend these events. I have enjoyed meeting the parents, athletic directors, coaches, band directors and different members of the media. Taking time on a regular basis to do this has given me the opportunity to meet others and enjoy something I love.
When doing your volunteer work, take the time to say hello to others and don't afraid to introduce yourself. It's easy to walk in, do what you are assigned to do and walk out without saying hello, however, it will leave a better impression if you take a few minutes to say hello those you are working with.
For example, whenever I take pics at a Solon High football game, I take the time to say hello to the various people who attend and work at the games. I take the time to say hello to the people working the gates, the people working the sideline markers on the field, the coaches (usually after the game), and other members of the media. That way, it provides these people with a friendly face for future games and shows an interest in them.
By taking the time to volunteer, you are making an effort to meet new people.
Even though it can be a lot of work, volunteer work provides different opportunities to meet new people and can come in many different variations. When volunteering, you have an opportunity to meet and work with new people and there are different projects you can become involved with. Some people enjoy doing charity work, some enjoy working at local food banks and hospitals, some coach local sports teams, etc. There is a wide range of volunteer work you can do and the opportunities to meet new people is always plentiful.
Outside of work, I enjoy volunteering my time to take pictures at Solon High School football games and sporting events. It not only provides me an opportunity to do the type of photography I love but have had a great time meeting the people who work and attend these events. I have enjoyed meeting the parents, athletic directors, coaches, band directors and different members of the media. Taking time on a regular basis to do this has given me the opportunity to meet others and enjoy something I love.
When doing your volunteer work, take the time to say hello to others and don't afraid to introduce yourself. It's easy to walk in, do what you are assigned to do and walk out without saying hello, however, it will leave a better impression if you take a few minutes to say hello those you are working with.
For example, whenever I take pics at a Solon High football game, I take the time to say hello to the various people who attend and work at the games. I take the time to say hello to the people working the gates, the people working the sideline markers on the field, the coaches (usually after the game), and other members of the media. That way, it provides these people with a friendly face for future games and shows an interest in them.
By taking the time to volunteer, you are making an effort to meet new people.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Two Tips For Getting To Know Someone
Taking the time to get to know someone my be an intimidating process and nerve racking. If it is someone you would really like to know personally such as a good business contact or on the personal side, a date, being nervous and wanting to make a good first impression is natural. Making a wrong impression could set things in the wrong direction and close the door in the future. Making the right impression can be done with two simple tips; taking the time to listen and showing an interest in the other person.
When meeting someone for the first time, it is easy to fall into one of the biggest traps in a conversation, which is giving someone your own verbal autobiography. It's easy to want to tell someone all of your accomplishments, hobbies and passions in life, however, doing too much of it could bore the other person. Spending too much time on yourself could set things in the wrong direction.
During your initial encounter, take time to listen to the other person. While it may sound obvious, not listening will make it harder to have a conversation and make it hard to get to know someone. Take the time to listen to what the other person has to say, how he or she answers your questions and listen to the responses. By listening, it will give you other areas to talk about and make for a better conversation.
In addition to listening, show an interest in the other person. It's one thing to listen to someone but showing an interest in someone else will help make for a better conversation as well. Listen to the responses and show an interest in what the other person has to say.
On a recent trip to St. Louis to visit my sister, I had an opportunity to meet a lot of her friends I had not met before and had to utilize both tips when conversing with them at parties. In one instance, I met someone who plays in the same orchestra my sister plays in on the side.
During this conversation, I took the time to listen to what this person had to say and showed an interest in her responses. I'm not a classical music buff but didn't need to have a conversation with her about it. By taking the time to listen and show interest, I was able to learn how she got started playing viola, how long she has been playing for, how she got started with the same orchestra my sister is apart of and the different concert venues the orchestra uses. With very little knowledge on classical music, I was still able to have a conversation with this person because I took the time to listen to her and showed an interest in what she had to say.
While meeting someone for the first time can be nerve racking, taking the time to listen and show an interest can help lay the foundation for a great conversation.
When meeting someone for the first time, it is easy to fall into one of the biggest traps in a conversation, which is giving someone your own verbal autobiography. It's easy to want to tell someone all of your accomplishments, hobbies and passions in life, however, doing too much of it could bore the other person. Spending too much time on yourself could set things in the wrong direction.
During your initial encounter, take time to listen to the other person. While it may sound obvious, not listening will make it harder to have a conversation and make it hard to get to know someone. Take the time to listen to what the other person has to say, how he or she answers your questions and listen to the responses. By listening, it will give you other areas to talk about and make for a better conversation.
In addition to listening, show an interest in the other person. It's one thing to listen to someone but showing an interest in someone else will help make for a better conversation as well. Listen to the responses and show an interest in what the other person has to say.
On a recent trip to St. Louis to visit my sister, I had an opportunity to meet a lot of her friends I had not met before and had to utilize both tips when conversing with them at parties. In one instance, I met someone who plays in the same orchestra my sister plays in on the side.
During this conversation, I took the time to listen to what this person had to say and showed an interest in her responses. I'm not a classical music buff but didn't need to have a conversation with her about it. By taking the time to listen and show interest, I was able to learn how she got started playing viola, how long she has been playing for, how she got started with the same orchestra my sister is apart of and the different concert venues the orchestra uses. With very little knowledge on classical music, I was still able to have a conversation with this person because I took the time to listen to her and showed an interest in what she had to say.
While meeting someone for the first time can be nerve racking, taking the time to listen and show an interest can help lay the foundation for a great conversation.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Being Able to Do Something You Love No Matter What...Priceless
The wind was blowing and there was a chance of rain when I walked into the Twinsburg high school football stadium on Friday night for the Twinsburg vs Solon matchup. I had heard showers might be on the way, the wind was going to pick up and that the night was going to be a cool, fall evening in middle October. I was dressed in layers, had my hiking boots on and a camera on my side. I could hear the wind tussling and saw the skies darken but I wasn't afraid of the bad weather that was predicted to come.
Since I was a freshman in high school, I have spent numerous Friday nights walking into stadiums on nights like this one to watch a game. I've sat through rain, sleet, snow, and cold temperatures over the years. I've been through brutal weather before and this particular night was looking to be a cold evening on the sidelines.
Even though I knew it was going to be a cold night with the wind blowing and a chance of rain, I wasn't afraid. I knew the risk I was taking by being out there and had my cowboy hat, my hooded sweatshirt, a warm coat and my hiking boots to protect me from the elements.
Best of all, I had one a companion that has seen lots of weather like this over the years and was happy it was with me. That companion was my camera.
When I looked at the weather reports, I could have easily skipped the game and stayed home but I didn't want to. Even when the weather is poor, I love being able to see a great Friday night football game in person and on the sidelines. By adding on my passion of photography on top of it, I always have something to look forward to on Friday night and cannot wait to catch the game.
While the wind blew and the cold set in, I was happy standing on the sideline with my camera in hand to catch the game. Being able to participate in an activity I love at a function I enjoy going to makes it easy for me to stand on the sidelines in different weather conditions. Catching the action through the lens and sharing it later on makes every week enjoyable.
As overtime ended and Solon walked away with the victory, I walked back to my car and put the camera away. I had been out in the elements and standing for close to three hours but still had a smile on my face. I spent time doing something I love and it was well worth it.
Since I was a freshman in high school, I have spent numerous Friday nights walking into stadiums on nights like this one to watch a game. I've sat through rain, sleet, snow, and cold temperatures over the years. I've been through brutal weather before and this particular night was looking to be a cold evening on the sidelines.
Even though I knew it was going to be a cold night with the wind blowing and a chance of rain, I wasn't afraid. I knew the risk I was taking by being out there and had my cowboy hat, my hooded sweatshirt, a warm coat and my hiking boots to protect me from the elements.
Best of all, I had one a companion that has seen lots of weather like this over the years and was happy it was with me. That companion was my camera.
When I looked at the weather reports, I could have easily skipped the game and stayed home but I didn't want to. Even when the weather is poor, I love being able to see a great Friday night football game in person and on the sidelines. By adding on my passion of photography on top of it, I always have something to look forward to on Friday night and cannot wait to catch the game.
While the wind blew and the cold set in, I was happy standing on the sideline with my camera in hand to catch the game. Being able to participate in an activity I love at a function I enjoy going to makes it easy for me to stand on the sidelines in different weather conditions. Catching the action through the lens and sharing it later on makes every week enjoyable.
As overtime ended and Solon walked away with the victory, I walked back to my car and put the camera away. I had been out in the elements and standing for close to three hours but still had a smile on my face. I spent time doing something I love and it was well worth it.
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