Cynic in the City

The 6 Keys To Being Awesome At Everything

2013-04-15T09:38:00.006-05:00

The 6 Keys To Being Awesome At Everything

Tony Schwartz, The Energy Project | Nov. 16, 2010, 9:06 AM |

I've been playing tennis for nearly five decades. I love the game and I hit the ball well, but I'm far from the player I wish I were. I've been thinking about this a lot the past couple of weeks, because I've taken the opportunity, for the first time in many years, to play tennis nearly every day. My game has gotten progressively stronger. I've had a number of rapturous moments during which I've played like the player I long to be.
And almost certainly could be, even though I'm 58 years old. Until recently, I never believed that was possible. For most of my adult life, I've accepted the incredibly durable myth that some people are born with special talents and gifts, and that the potential to truly excel in any given pursuit is largely determined by our genetic inheritance.
During the past year, I've read no fewer than five books — and a raft of scientific research — which powerfully challenge that assumption (see below for a list). I've also written one, The Way We're Working Isn't Working, which lays out a guide, grounded in the science of high performance, to systematically building your capacity physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
We've found, in our work with executives at dozens of organizations, that it's possible to build any given skill or capacity in the same systematic way we do a muscle: push past your comfort zone, and then rest. Aristotle had it exactly right 2000 years ago: "We are what we repeatedly do." By relying on highly specific practices, we've seen our clients dramatically improve skills ranging from empathy, to focus, to creativity, to summoning positive emotions, to deeply relaxing.
Like everyone who studies performance, I'm indebted to the extraordinary Anders Ericsson, arguably the world's leading researcher into high performance. For more than two decades, Ericsson has been making the case that it's not inherited talent which determines how good we become at something, but rather how hard we're willing to work — something he calls "deliberate practice." Numerous researchers now agree that 10,000 hours of such practice as the minimum necessary to achieve expertise in any complex domain.
There is something wonderfully empowering about this. It suggests we have remarkable capacity to influence our own outcomes. But that's also daunting. One of Ericsson's central findings is that practice is not only the most important ingredient in achieving excellence, but also the most difficult and the least intrinsically enjoyable.
If you want to be really good at something, it's going to involve relentlessly pushing past your comfort zone, along with frustration, struggle, setbacks and failures. That's true as long as you want to continue to improve, or even maintain a high level of excellence. The reward is that being really good at something you've earned through your own hard work can be immensely satisfying.
This blog was originally posted at HBR.org and is republished here with permission.

Pursue what you love

coco rose

Passion is an incredible motivator. It fuels focus, resilience, and perseverance.

Do the hardest work first

Fayes4Art via Flickr

We all move instinctively toward pleasure and away from pain.
Most great performers, Ericsson and others have found, delay gratification and take on the difficult work of practice in the mornings, before they do anything else. That's when most of us have the most energy and the fewest distractions.

Practice Intensely

SAS-2009 Oxford via Flickr

Practice intensely, without interruption for short periods of no longer than 90 minutes and then take a break.
Ninety minutes appears to be the maximum amount of time that we can bring the highest level of focus to any given activity. The evidence is equally strong that great performers practice no more than 4 ½ hours a day.

Seek expert feedback, in intermittent doses

The simpler and more precise the feedback, the more equipped you are to make adjustments.
Too much feedback, too continuously, however, can create cognitive overload, increase anxiety, and interfere with learning.

Take regular renewal breaks

Robert Anthony Provost via Flickr

Relaxing after intense effort not only provides an opportunity to rejuvenate, but also to metabolize and embed learning.
It's also during rest that the right hemisphere becomes more dominant, which can lead to creative breakthroughs.

Ritualize practice

Crystal via Flickr

Will and discipline are wildly overrated. As the researcher Roy Baumeister has found, none of us have very much of it.
The best way to insure you'll take on difficult tasks is to ritualize them — build specific, inviolable times at which you do them, so that over time you do them without having to squander energy thinking about them.

It takes several hours of daily practice to achieve excellence, so prioritize

U.S. Army via Flickr

I have practiced tennis deliberately over the years, but never for the several hours a day required to achieve a truly high level of excellence. What's changed is that I don't berate myself any longer for falling short. I know exactly what it would take to get to that level.
I've got too many other higher priorities to give tennis that attention right now. But I find it incredibly exciting to know that I'm still capable of getting far better at tennis — or at anything else — and so are you.
Here are the recent books on this subject:

Talent is Overrated by Geoffrey Colvin. My personal favorite.
The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
The Genius in All of Us by David Schenk.
Bounce by Mathew Syed

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ACCOUNT HACKED !! :( So Sorry

2013-03-07T19:46:00.001-06:00

Dear Followers,

I'm really sorry for the last three posts - they are not from me. Some strange sort of hack has gone on. :( I would have taken care of it sooner but I'm on vacation in The Keys right now. I've changed my password - that hasn't seemed to help. I think I will have to deactivate the account for now until I get back and can contact Google for help. Thanks for your patience! Again, my apologies.

Regards,

Audrey

Check out Audrey's Awesome eBay Store

2013-02-22T20:30:00.001-06:00

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7 Ways to Update Your Resume

2013-02-15T15:58:00.000-06:00

7 Ways to Update Your Resume

Originally published at: http://www.communicationsjobs.net/articles/article.asp?id=7051

Posted By: Alex Kecskes In: Job Seeker - Resume

It’s a new year. Hopefully, the economy will turn around. Whether it does or doesn’t, you’re going to have to update your resume for a new, leaner economy to land a good job. Here are seven things you can do to freshen up the old CV:

1) Cut the Deadwood. If your resume is getting longer every year, it might be time to jettison some posts you held before, say, the Internet came into existence. Unless you were a super star or a rainmaker at a previous position, cut it out. Chances are, the supervisor you worked under is no longer there, or the company may even have changed owners and there will be little record of you ever having worked there.

2) Stress Lean & Mean. As companies struggle to rebound from the bad economy, they’ll be looking for employees that have a demonstrated ability to save them money. Stress your abilities to do just that—in each job you previously held and in the objective or summary part of your resume.

3) Learn a New Language. The economy is increasingly becoming an international one. So study a foreign language and include that in your resume. It can make a difference with so many people applying for the same job.

4) Add a New Skill Set. If you’re weak on the tech side, take an IT or computer class and add your new skill set to your resume. Tech competence is becoming a deal maker in many hiring decisions.

5) Expand Your Social Media. Join more professional social media organizations. Tag your increasing levels of participation at the end of your resume. Who knows, maybe your future employer belongs to one or more of those organizations.

6) Update Awards & Recognitions. That plaque you got from the company you worked for 10 years ago is passé. Add any new awards, recognitions and accolades and keep them current.

7) Check References. Make sure the contact information you have for your references is still current. Dump old references (anything over a decade is old) and replace them with new references that reflect your latest abilities and goals.

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients. Please see more of his blogs and view additional job postings on Beyond.com.

Is it REALLY understood that Hollywood sells Californication ? I mean, was it - before the song and the show, that is?

2013-01-29T03:43:00.001-06:00

Dear World,

Maybe don't watch season one episode one of Californication if you're a newly single, out-of-work writer with addiction issues.

Kind Regards,

Audrey

Audrey LaFave
906.282.0981
lafavea@gmail.com

FOR SALE BRAND-NEW W. TAGS , HALF-PRICE (...

2013-01-20T02:45:00.001-06:00

FOR SALE BRAND-NEW W. TAGS , HALF-PRICE (a STEAL @ $20):
This top (Dress barn, size L, last year's fall collection) is too big for me.
It is brand-new, never-been worn, still has tags (NWT).
The brand must run large b/c I would always wear an L. If you whear an XL,or even or XXL, this would fit you, and would be real flattering. wouldnve worn it too large but it falls off my sholders which for us big(ger) girls we know iss a no-no!!!! If you're in Chicago, I can have to try you come see it as well and...

January 20, 2013 (1 photo)

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Super Dooper Yoopers - The Daily News - Jacqueline Leiker, Raymond Crandall...Audrey LaFave??? Nah. ;)

2013-01-01T20:45:00.002-06:00

This column was published back in 2009 in The Daily News, the local newspaper for Iron Mountain and Kingsford, Mich. I never noticed it until I was Googling myself for some job application stuff and I have decided to share it with my followers.

Burt Angeli, the Sports Editor for The IM-K Daily News, pays homage to U.P. sports legends Ray Crandall, my late grandfather, and Jacqueline Leiker, one of my former competitive cheerleading coaches in the below sports editorial column.

Check out the bold parts below if you want to see me bragging about myself and two of my mentors in my own blog! :)

Super Dooper Yoopers extend MSU streak - IronMountainDailyNews.com | news, sports, business, jobs - The Daily News

ScuttleBu(r)t ...

The Super Duper Yoopers, led by whistle-tooting Bob (1641 Parkview) Furno, extended their Michigan State basketball winning streak to 10 straight trips.

A local group watched the Spartans dismantle Indiana last Saturday including the scene where Indiana's Devan Dumes threw an elbow at the Spartans' Tom Herzog - third cousin of Iron Mountain's Betty (Crocker) Wahlstrom. Hope Dumes has learned you don't mess with a Wahlstrom.

Tommy and Lupe Izzo hosted a party for the gang, along with his parents Dorothy and Carl, on Friday night.

"Tom had his picture taken at his request with every couple at the party," Furno said.

Former Niagara golf coach Mark Zenko piloted the bus, arriving 45 minutes early in East Lansing.
"Several rookies on the trip this year, but they all behaved, and when I blew my whistle moved it out," Furno noted.

Wonder if any of the passengers suggested "1641" take that whistle and !!! ...

"Border Wars" high school wrestling tournament, moved from Norway to Iron River this year, wanted Renee "Queen of the Kitchen" Pollard to continue her hospitality room duties.

That didn't happen.

Although West Iron Coach Jeff Chernach did retain two other major components of the Norway tournament - Mary Pat and former Knights coach Bob Madigan.

The Madigans helped out with the West Iron tournament's direction ...

Kingsford grad Audrey LaFave is following in the footsteps of her late grandfather Ray Crandall and Flivver competitive cheerleading coach Jackie Leiker.

Audrey writes for The Daily Press of Escanaba where Ray began his illustrious journalism career. He hired yours truly to this Daily News sports position some 30 years ago.

She also coaches the Escanaba High School jayvee cheer squad, applying the stuff she learned from her Flivver days competing for Jackie.

Audrey, you can't go wrong emulating either Ray or Jackie ...

Here's a belated thank you Burt! Dec. 26 would have been the 90th birthday of Helen Crandall, my grandmother - Grandpa Ray's wife. They each passed within a week of one another in late January 2000. So I feel this was interesting timing for me to have found this column.

Perhaps I will have to go back to my roots and start emulating Ray and "Jackie" again (but OMG I would NEVER call Mrs. Leiker "Jackie" to her face! Or even in print with out quotes, lol. That'd be like calling Mrs. First-Lady Kennedy "Jackie," lol....MAYBE Jacqueline) :)

Although I've never stopped writing, I haven't had any ties to cheer or gymnastics in several years. Perhaps I will look into the possibility of coaching cheerleading or gymnastics here in Chicago. Comment if you have any thoughts! Thanks everyone for reading.

Can Sadness and Clinical Depression Affect Your Financial Bottom Line?

2012-12-29T17:53:00.004-06:00

A recent study suggests that sadness and/or clinical depression has the potential to negatively impact financial decision-making and overall monetary well-being.

It seems reasonable to expect that sadness could potentially take a toll on our everyday lives. For example, depression is correlated with a lower output/overall productivity (in life and at work), has been shown to affect our general mental state and well-being, and, most importantly, has been proven to negatively impact our relationships with others, including our family, friends, significant others and other loved ones.

But now, a new study has found a correlation suggesting that depression and feelings of sadness may also have the ability to affect your wallet.

We've all heard ourselves (and others) lamenting miserably, saying such things as:

"Ugh, why am I always so poor?!?"

"Well, I would really love to go out with you guys this weekend but I *literally* only have $8 for the next 14 days, so....yeah. I'm out." :(

"Dude! We have no food in this house, let's order something. Are there any, like, $5 delivery pizza deals because all I have is the change I was gonna use to watch my laundry with... But it's all good, the pizza smell sometimes works almost like Febreeze, I swear to God it does!"

And, last but not least, in the immortal words of my father, "I'm so broke, I can't afford to pay attention."

Check out this full article from The Wellness Wire below. Obviously I did not write it, but it sure got me thinking...very interesting subject matter and findings!

Click here for the full article: Can Depression and Overall Sadness Impact Your Finances?

In my next blog post I will share some tips and tricks to help get through the "winter blues." Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is very common, and staying inside alone (even though that is exactly what you feel like doing) is only going to exacerbate your feelings of loneliness, sadness and depression. But, putting yourself out there when you just feel like cuddling up at home alone to ride out the storm is much easier said than done! Next time, I'll share some info from experts on home remedies that can be an add-on to depression meds if you suffer from SAD.

Discouragement

2012-06-21T15:42:00.002-05:00

Discouragement is a powerful emotion. If we are not careful, it can creep into every area of our minds and souls until nothing in life feels satisfying.

"Discouragement is like a cold - easy to catch, but much harder to get rid of."

A personal goal that I am currently working on is to try be thankful every day, and to bear in mind that I probably have it better than 99 percent of the people in this world. But of course that is not always easy! My hope is that this post will "encourage" - see what I did there? Eh? Eh? ;) I couldn't resist - even one person who reads it to try to remove discouragement from their hearts as well.

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.

The following is a little story I heard on a Christian radio broadcast today. Later on when I came home, I looked it up online so I got it straight. This story illustrates a wise tidbit about discouragement.

--- Once upon a time it was announced that the devil was going out of business and would sell all his equipment and tools of the trade to whomever was willing to pay the price.

On the day of the big sale, all the devil's tools were attractively displayed. There was Envy, Jealousy, Hatred, Malice, Deceit, Sensuality, Pride, Idolatry, and other implements of evil on display. Each of the tools was marked with its own price tag.

Over in the corner by itself was a harmless-looking, wedge-shaped tool very much worn down, but still it bore a higher price than any of the others. Someone asked the devil what it was, and he answered, "That is Discouragement." The next question came quickly: "And why is it priced so high even though it is plain to see that it is more worn than these others?"

"Because," replied the devil, "it is more useful to me than all the others. I can pry open and get into a man's heart with discouragement when I cannot get near him with any other tool. Once I get inside, I can use him in whatever way suits me best. It is worn well because I use it on everybody I can, and few people even know it belongs to me."

This tool was priced so high that no one could buy it, and to this day it has never been sold. It still belongs to the devil, and he still uses it on mankind. ---

-Author Unknown

Don't let the devil discourage you.

To view the related pastoral reading in its entirety, click here.

Air Conditioning ... Only Idiots Like Me Don't Have It

2012-06-20T00:51:00.001-05:00

WANTED: WINDOW AIR CONDITIONING UNIT

My current apartment is the first place in my life where I've ever lived without A/C...and recently I remembered exactly why that is - because it sucks not to have air!!!

It is literally *91* degrees in here right now! :(

This afternoon, I got off my wallet and bought another fan, a stand-up oscillating one for the bedroom (we already have three ceiling fans and one window fan, but naturally this serves only to blow hot air around. Arg). I've been taking my new fan with me all over the house since it got it home, as if it were my pride and joy - the bedroom, living room, dining room, kitchen, you name it, haha. Although, I haven't yet brought it into the bathroom. But now that I think of it, I probably will have to bring it in there if I want to blow-dry or straighten my hair any time in the next three months, lol. Hey, it's a little less ghetto than turning the hair dryer on the "cool" setting and pointing it at my face, or going into the kitchen and just standing in front if the open freezer! ;)

So now, here I am, sitting around, two-feet in front of my fan, wearing next-to-nothing, sweating, and thinking about how hot I am, when I come to a conclusion.

I've decided, that air conditioning is one if those inventions, that, once it exists, you're sort of an idiot not to have it.

I'd go ahead and put it in the same category as sliced bread, light bulbs, microwave ovens and the internet... I mean seriously, now that these things exist - there is absolutely NO reason not to have them! And...I now decree air conditioning to be on that list. Central air, if you can get it, but if not, air of some sort should be required...like, by construction codes or in rental housing agreements, or something. Seriously! :)

Bottom line is ... I need a cooling unit in this house!!!

So - anybody have a window a/c unit they'd like taken off their hands??? :)

Things That Make You Say "Hmmm..." Part Deux

2012-06-16T10:00:00.001-05:00

"We Make Your Floor Looks Like New!"

:-)

LOL

:-)

Things that make you say "Hmm..."

2012-06-16T08:35:00.001-05:00

And here ladies and gentlemen we have the "Taco Place Steak House"

Good Deeds

2012-06-11T23:41:00.001-05:00

I realize that much of the blogs I post are about annoying or strange things that happen to me or that I see around. Today I'd like to share something positive.

I remember back in the day when we were traveling back and forth to college in downstate Michigan, Lana used to pay for the car behind us when we'd cross the Mackinac bridge. People were always so appreciative, and I'm sure she got some good karma out of that, as well as just feeling good about making another person feel good. I always thought it was a pretty neat thing to do, anyway. :)

Well, somebody did a similar thing for me the other day, at a McDonald's drive thru.

So, to make a short story long:

A couple of days ago, I had a hankering for a soda as I was running around doing some errands. So I pulled in to the McDonald's off Clark and Ashland in Andersonville, which is a busy area, traffic-wise. Total cluster-bleep, actually, lol. You can enter the drive-thru from either side; either from Clark or Ashland (parallel streets), however that day the line was quite long and everyone in line was coming from the Clark side. There's more room on that side to form a line...on the Ashland side it is sort of an awkward angle to pull up to make an order.

Anyway as I pulled up, another guy had pulled in from the Ashland side. He was technically there before a lot of the people in front of me. But because he wasn't quite "in line," and it was taking forever, no one let him in when it really should have been his turn. Three cars went by without letting him in. I was only there to get a small Sprite; so I wasn't too excited to wait in line for ten minutes. But I was feeling nice and I know it is frustrating when no one lets you in. Don't get me wrong, I'm no saint - I've done the exact same thing as those other drivers did - thinking, "Hey, you're trying to creep in, and I don't feel like waiting behind another vehicle, so I'm just going to pretend you don't exist and stay bumper-to-bumper with the car in front of me." Anyone who drives in Chicago, or anywhere, really, has been ticked when they can't pull out into traffic because some jerk is too lazy to wait an extra five seconds or chance hitting the light up ahead. Anyway, I digress.

So I let the guy in. No big deal. I waved him by, he waved thanks, and that was the end of it, I thought. Happens every day in this city.

But I was wrong - when I got to the window, the cashier waved me by too, saying the person in the car ahead of me had already paid my bill.

So the extra two minutes I ended up waiting in line paid off - I got my Sprite for free. :)

Funny how sometimes it is the smallest act of kindness from another person that can really make our day. It only saved me a dollar, but I really enjoyed that Sprite. So, thanks Mr. McDonald's-drive-thru-bill-payer-man! :D You rock!

Navigating NATO

2012-05-18T10:39:00.000-05:00

Navigating the city during the NATO weekend is likely to be a huge pain in the ass this weekend, as dignitaries from more than 50 countries and thousands of demonstrators arrive for the two-day NATO summit that takes place this Sunday and Monday at McCormick Place.

Many downtown businesses have instructed employees to work from home Friday and Monday. Mine is not one of them.

So it's Friday, the first day of NATO weekend here in Chicago and the impending sense of doom I was feeling this morning before I left the house is slowly turning to plain old irritation, an emotion I am much more familiar with.

Hey Rahmy - why are we doing this again? Remind me
why this was a good idea??

So I get to the Ravenswood Metra train stop this morning, 10 minutes early, prepared for TSA screenings, bag measurements, and all around a general police-state environment. Other than the conspicuous lack of people - apparently half of us decided to stay home today (the half with any brains, I guess)nothing else appears out of the ordinary on the platform.

When my train pulls up and the doors open, I see two people step out and realize immediately that no one has listened to the warnings we have heard all week about the special rules on trains over the NATO weekend. One of the people is carrying a laptop in a case, the other a backpack, and BOTH have coffee in hand - all three items which are supposedly "prohibited" on commuter trains today through Monday. This kind of grinds my gears... I mean, why did I follow the rules? Why did I switch to a smaller bag, remove all liquids and makeup from my purse, leave my salad at home and throw out my water bottle on the platform??? Boo! (Now I have to buy a ten-dollar lunch in the Loop with money I don't have, thank you very much!)

Another added security measure agreed upon by Metra and the secret service (who, by the way, wanted to shut down all train travel in the city, but officials pushed back), was a restriction on "carry-ons." Friday through Monday (the summit itself takes place on Sunday and Monday), passengers on Metra trains are only allowed one carry-on, and it must be no larger than 15" x 15", and 4" deep - roughly the size of a man's briefcase, officials said when they released the information. I find this to be overtly sexist. For one thing, women make up 52 percent of the population - a majority. So, wouldn't it make more sense to base your dimensions on a woman's purse rather than a man's briefcase?? Second, I would bet that commuters traveling to work are three- to five times more likely to carry a purse or a tote bag than a briefcase. Who carries briefcases anymore anyway? Lawyers on TV and men over seventy, that's who.

I continued to think about this over the last few days, and tried to consider a way that this wasn't a group of middle aged men making a sexist decision. I eventually came to the conclusion that some laptop cases/bags would also fit into those dimensions...I realized this was not a good argument - laptops are expressly prohibited on trains this weekend, so that of course never came into the equation during the decision-making process on carry-on size requirements. :(

That being said, I highly doubt Monday will be anything like today - the summit will be wrapping up and I expect the security to be tightened up significantly on commuter trains into and out of the downtown area. And, truth be told, I'm a little scared - protesters are already getting rowdy and there have been several arrests. Luckily nothing has happened near my building in the Loop, and I sure hope it stays that way. If I could, I would avoid downtown altogether all weekend long and definitely on Monday...possibly I'd even leave town altogether. But, since I don't have Friday and Monday off like all the smart people in town have planned for, I must travel by train in the city. I could take the El...and I might on Monday. But if the security is as lax as it was today, I should have no problem traveling, briefcase-sized carry-ons notwithstanding. Then again, if the security for getting on trains in Chicago isn't going to be comprehensive, then I sure do hope nobody crazy has hatched any sort of nasty plot.

In the News:

Ready, set: Here comes NATO summit weekend (Chicago Tribune)

Security Plan Shuts Down Roads, South Loop For NATO Summit Weekend (CBS Chicago)

No-Fly Zone To Be Enforced By Shoot-To-Kill Order During NATO Summit (Chicago Tribune)

INC.com says - Give Your Employees Unlimited Vacation Days

2012-01-10T14:07:00.000-06:00

Source: http://www.linkedin.com/news?actionBar=&articleID=1026708525&ids=dPoPdzcSejoVdPwUdP4NcjoRdiMUe30Tcz8ScjcTejcVcjgNdzkRb3sMcz8Tdz4QdzgRczoNd34SdjkIdj8Re30Tdz8MciMPcPsMe3sMcz0N&aag=true&freq=weekly&trk=eml-tod2-b-ttl-1&ut=3u-71-TEnfhB41

The 9 a.m.-to-5 p.m. workplace is almost dead. Throw your preconceived notions about vacation out the window and give your employees the no-strings-attached, unlimited vacation days they deserve or you'll soon be a dinosaur.

With an unparalleled culture in which our people actually enjoy coming to work (see Your Employees Need a Treehouse and Let Your Employees Choose Their Titles) as the foundation, every last Red Frog employee is unflinchingly focused and devoted to our mission. Producing vast amounts of quality work is the norm, so we reward them with unlimited vacation and they, in return, reward Red Frog with outstanding work that blows me away every single day.

Taking vacation at Red Frog is encouraged (and even celebrated). And it's not abused. Ever. By anyone. Simply make sure your work is getting done and make sure you're covered while you're away and that's it—no questions asked.

The pessimists and naysayers have said this policy would either be abused or that it's not entirely real—that our employees feel pressured to never take off. I assure you they're underestimating a positive work culture and are simply wrong. Also, I feel sorry for their workplace.
Through building a company on accountability, mutual respect, and teamwork, we've seen our unlimited vacation day policy have tremendous results for our employees' personal development and for productivity. There. I said it. I think Red Frog is more productive by giving unlimited vacation days. Here’s why:

It treats employees like the adults they are. If they’re incapable of handling the responsibility that comes along with having unlimited vacation days, they're probably incapable of handling other responsibilities too, so don't hire them.
It reduces costs by not having to track vacation time. Tracking and accounting for vacation days can be cumbersome work. This policy eliminates those headaches.
It shows appreciation. Your employees will need unexpected time off and some need more vacation than others. By giving them what they need when they need it, you show your employees how much you appreciate them and they reciprocate by producing more great work.
It's a great recruitment tool. We hire a mere one out of every 750 applicants at Red Frog. When you combine fantastic benefits with a positive culture, it's noticed.

I lead by example. I worked more 100 hours last week, but this week, as I write this column, I'm watching surfers and sipping a delicious Hawaiian brew.

By Joe Reynolds

8 Secrets to Being a Low-Maintenance Woman

2011-06-07T12:22:00.002-05:00

8. Stop asking "What are you thinking about?" all the time - chances are, nothing. Let him keep his thoughts to himself occasionally.

7. Stop making your relationship the main topic of all your conversations. With your girlfriends, your boyfriend, your husband or your co-workers - talk about something else, it's not always about your relationship.

6. Be OK with solitude. Even the tightest couples need and thrive on time apart. A low-maintenance gal is OK with the occasional guys night out because she can't wait to spend a quiet evening alone.

5. Take care of your own self-esteem. Don't leave it up to the man to tell you how great you are to build your self esteem - do it yourself.

4. Take it easy on the special orders. Chances are the chef might actually know more about food than you do. Designing your own entree every time you are at a restaurant asking for water, lemon, a napkin, a straw isn't impressive it's annoying.

3. Learn to laugh at yourself. Being low-maintenance often means being bale to bounce back quickly from life's little trouble. A girl that can laugh at her own mistakes comes across as confident, funny and less likely to fall apart when someone else makes a mistake.

2. Buy some freakin' comfortable shoes. We don't care if they are ugly - we are sick to death of hearing about how much your feet hurt. To a lot of men a respectable pairs of shoes or whatever is just as appealing as a pair of stilettos.

1. Stop worrying about your hair. The simpler the style, the faster you will be able to get out of the house and on to something more fun.

After no rapture, billboard proclaims: "That was Awkward"

2011-06-01T12:53:00.000-05:00

Originally published at http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=646&sid=485527

A few billboards in the area announced the end of the world was coming May 21st. Didn't happen. "That was awkward," is the billboard response.

The Family Radio Group, led by Howard Camping, launched an expensive advertising campaign to promote judgment day. Saturday was supposed to be the beginning of the end - the first day in a five month event that would end with the universe destroyed on October 21, 2011. Other church groups shared the belief and purchased their own billboards and advertising vehicles to spread the message. Here's a link to some of the hundreds of billboards across the country that went up. Below you'll see a billboard from Seattle's Interbay neighborhood, sponsored by Camping's group.

Photo by Stephanie Klein, MyNorthwest.com

Now what? This billboard below has been making the rounds on social media sites:

What are your post-rapture thoughts? If you believed it would happen, how will you defend yourself against the people who will make jokes at your expense? A sociologist, who's studied these kinds of doomsday predictions, says for some it'll reinforce their beliefs.

"A third of believers become disillusioned after a failed prediction, while another third find reason to believe more strongly. The remaining group members fall somewhere in between," says Stephen Kent with the University of Alberta, in an interview with Live Science. (Gee, what a brilliant scientific mind - "Well, some folks will still believe, other won't, and the rest will fall somewhere else along the continuum.")

Situation Room supposedly watching the Osama bin Laden fiasco unfold

2011-06-01T12:25:00.001-05:00

Online dating fears

2011-05-06T14:13:00.000-05:00

A recent study found the biggest fear women have of online dating is that the man might be a serial killer.

The biggest fear of men? That the woman might be overweight.

Special, huh? Lol.

Our dog Kodi has passed away :(

2011-04-26T15:50:00.000-05:00

Kodi LaFave, AKA "Millie's White Kodiak Bear," died peacefully in the family home in Iron Mountain at 8:30 a.m. Monday, with his Mom and brother by his side.

Born in October 1998, he lived to the ripe old age of 87 dog years, or 12 and a half regular years. He is survived by his human family, B.J., Joe, Audrey and Beau LaFave, along with his best friend, Sydney.

Kodi was lain to rest that evening in the front yard of the LaFave household on Millie Hill, and a beer was had by all in his memory.

He will be missed by family, friends and neighbors, as well as the many bikers, walkers and hot-tubbers he met on frequent trips to Lake Antoine, or the one-time visit to Bimbo's.

He now is sitting next to a big lake in the sky with ducks that fly over and a big rock between his feet.

- Beau LaFave, with contributions by Audrey LaFave

None Injured in CTA Brown Line Train Derailment

2011-04-19T11:20:00.000-05:00

CHICAGO - No injutries were reported after a CTA Brown Line train derailed this mornign near the Belmont Station in Chicago.

According to various media reports, a still-and-box alarm and EMS Plan I, which sends at least five ambulances, were called by the Fire Department just in case. Sirens were all the could be heard nearly throughout the area, according to pedestrians. Onlookers also commented on the numerous helicopters blanketing the skies.

First responders were able to escort 13 passengers from the one affected train car down a catwalk back to the Belmont stop. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

Belmont Street has been closed between Sheffield and Clark, and traffic continues to build in that area this morning.

BREAKING NEWS: 'El Train Derails in Chicago

2011-04-19T09:49:00.006-05:00

CHICAGO - A north-bound passenger train derailed on the North side of Chicago this morning at approximately 8:45 a.m.

According to a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) official, emegency responders and CTA personnel are on the scene now. Currently, the derailed Brown line train is blocking all four lines of elevated train track just north of Chicago's busy Belmont station, halting CTA train service indefinitely.

The train derailed near a point on the tracks where three 'El lines intersect - the Brown, Red and Purple lines. An operator of a CTA Purple line train at the Diversey stop said the power was cut to the entire 'El system in order to allow work on the derailment.

"These things usually take quite some time," he said. "We will not be moving any time soon."

The CTA official did not know the extent of the derailment, but did say that shuttle buses were en route at 10 a.m., and would shuttle passengers between Southport and Fullerton. He could not comment on what passengers should do if they needed to go further north than Southport, but speculated that southbound service from Fullerton should be back online soon - including Red and Brown line service to the Loop.

There is no available information as to how or why the derailment occurred at this time.

UPDATE: According to various media reports, a still-and-box alarm and EMS Plan I, which sends at least five ambulances, were called by the Fire Department just in case.

First responders were able to escort 13 passengers from the one affected train car down a catwalk back to the Belmont stop. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

Belmont Street has been closed between Sheffield and Clark, and traffic continues to build in that area this morning.

Things babies born in 2011 will never know

2011-01-20T10:53:00.001-06:00

Do you think kids born in 2011 will recognize any of the following?

by Stacy Johnson --- Huffington Post --- Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Video tape: Most of the news stories produced this year will all be shot, edited, and distributed to TV stations without ever being on any kind of tape. Not only that, the tape-less broadcast camera used today offers much higher quality than anything that could have been imagined 10 years ago -- and cost less than the lens on the camera we were using previously.

Travel agents: While not dead today, this profession is one of many that's been decimated by the Internet. When it's time for their honeymoon, will those born in 2011 be able to find one?

Wired phones: Why would you pay $35 every month to have a phone that plugs into a wall? For those born today, this will be a silly concept.

Long distance: Thanks to the Internet, the days of paying more to talk to somebody in the next city, state, or even country are limited.

Watches: Maybe as quaint jewelry, but the correct time is on your smartphone, which is pretty much always in your hand.

The separation of work and home: When you're carrying an email-equipped computer in your pocket, it's not just your friends who can find you -- so can your boss. For kids born this year, the wall between office and home will be blurry indeed.

Books, magazines, and newspapers: Like video tape, words written on dead trees are on their way out. Sure, there may be books -- but for those born today, stores that exist solely to sell them will be as numerous as record stores are now.

Movie rental stores: You actually got in your car and drove someplace just to rent a movie?

Paper maps: At one time these were available free at every gas station. They're practically obsolete today, and the next generation will probably have to visit a museum to find one.

Newspaper classifieds: The days are gone when you have to buy a bunch of newsprint just to see what's for sale.

Dial-up Internet: While not everyone is on broadband, it won't be long before dial-up Internet goes the way of the plug-in phone.

Encyclopedias: Imagine a time when you had to buy expensive books that were outdated before the ink was dry. This will be a nonsense term for babies born today.

Forgotten friends: Remember when an old friend would bring up someone you went to high school with, and you'd say, "Oh yeah, I forgot about them!" The next generation will automatically be in touch with everyone they've ever known even slightly via Facebook.

Forgotten anything else: Kids born this year will never know what it was like to stand in a bar and incessantly argue the unknowable. Today the world's collective knowledge is on the computer in your pocket or purse. And since you have it with you at all times, why bother remembering anything?

The evening news: The news is on 24/7. And if you're not home to watch it, that's OK -- it's on the smartphone in your pocket.

CDs: First records, then 8-track, then cassette, then CDs -- replacing your music collection used to be an expensive pastime. Now it's cheap(er) and as close as the nearest Internet connection.

Film cameras: For the purist, perhaps, but for kids born today, the word "film" will mean nothing. In fact, even digital cameras -- both video and still -- are in danger of extinction as our pocket computers take over that function too.

Yellow and White Pages: Why in the world would you need a 10-pound book just to find someone?

Catalogs: There's no need to send me a book in the mail when I can see everything you have for sale anywhere, anytime. If you want to remind me to look at it, send me an email.

Fax machines: Can you say "scan," ".pdf" and "email?"

One picture to a frame: Such a waste of wall/counter/desk space to have a separate frame around each picture. Eight gigabytes of pictures and/or video in a digital frame encompassing every person you've ever met and everything you've ever done -- now, that's efficient. Especially compared to what we used to do: put our friends and relatives together in a room and force them to watch what we called a "slide show" or "home movies."

Wires: Wires connecting phones to walls? Wires connecting computers, TVs, stereos, and other electronics to each other? Wires connecting computers to the Internet? To kids born in 2011, that will make as much sense as an electric car trailing an extension cord.

Hand-written letters: For that matter, hand-written anything. When was the last time you wrote cursive? In fact, do you even know what the word "cursive" means? Kids born in 2011 won't -- but they'll put you to shame on a tiny keyboard.

Talking to one person at a time: Remember when it was rude to be with one person while talking to another on the phone? Kids born today will just assume that you're supposed to use texting to maintain contact with five or six other people while pretending to pay attention to the person you happen to be physically next to.

Retirement plans: Yes, Johnny, there was a time when all you had to do was work at the same place for 20 years and they'd send you a check every month for as long as you lived. In fact, some companies would even pay your medical bills, too!

Mail: What's left when you take the mail you receive today, then subtract the bills you could be paying online, the checks you could be having direct-deposited, and the junk mail you could be receiving as junk email? Answer: A bloated bureaucracy that loses billions of taxpayer dollars annually.

Commercials on TV: They're terrifically expensive, easily avoided with DVRs, and inefficiently target mass audiences. Unless somebody comes up with a way to force you to watch them -- as with video on the Internet -- who's going to pay for them?

Commercial music radio: Smartphones with music-streaming programs like Pandora are a better solution that doesn't include ads screaming between every song.

Hiding: Not long ago, if you didn't answer your home phone, that was that -- nobody knew if you were alive or dead, much less where you might be. Now your phone is not only in your pocket, it can potentially tell everyone -- including advertisers -- exactly where you are.

Turns out, I'm like, old

2010-12-22T15:54:00.004-06:00

I recently traveled to Washington DC for a business trip to meet with a client. My mom's sister Chris and her family live nearby...technically, in a suburb of DC. Charles Town, WV is like 70 miles out of DC but is still considered a DC suburb, even though it's a two-hour drive away. In fact, my uncle Jim said probably 90 percent of the people they know in town commute to DC or the surrounding metro area for work. So, anyway I decided to catch an earlier flight out of Chicago to hang out with them - my aunt and uncle and their two boys, Nick and Josh. Nick is the oldest - he's a senior in high school. I'm not sure if he is 18 yet... I think he is, but he may still be 17. Anyway, you get the picture. And Josh is younger, he's like 13.

Tons of things happened on this trip, including me meeting the clients from hell, getting my picture taken by the White House, freezing my butt off in a cold snap of single-digit East Coast weather, and hanging out with my family - playing Pictionary Man with Josh and watching 'Glee.' However, one incident will be the basis of this post, and that is the fact that I learned just how old a twenty-something like me really seems to an 18-year-old male relative.

On my last night in West Virginia, before dropping me at my hotel in Washington, the Cogs took me out to eat at Outback. The six of us (cousin Nick brought a friend) were driving there, and Nick's friend got a text from his girlfriend wondering where he was. The fam decided we thought he should have little fun with it. He said he was "with Audrey." When the poor girl took the bait and asked, "well, who is that?", he said it was a girl he had just met today and we had gone out for dinner at a steakhouse (by this time we were ordering). So, technically, all this was true, but of course it sounded a little less innocent than it actually was. I told the friend, John, that when the jig was up and he told her that I was just Nick's cousin, that he better not add something like "and plus, she's like, old," to my description. He agreed to this.

At this point though, Nick said, "How old are you, anyway?" I told him my age, which is 25. And he replied, "25!?! Why don't you have a kid?" LOL! I didn't have a very good answer to that...it was a little out of nowhere, so I sputtered out a, "Wha-Why don't I have a kid??? Cuz I'm only 25!!!" Which is not really an appropriate answer - being 25, I guess technically, I could have a 10 or 11-year-old (I'm really glad I don't, though!), and more realistically, I suppose I could easily have a 4 or 5 year old...But, I digress. So then I said, "I'm not even married. And anyway, you're 18 - why don't you have a kid?"

By way of apology, Nick said, "I'm sorry! I work at IHOP, the 25-year-olds there all have like three kids." Still, Nick - not cool! ;) I did get a kick out of it though...yep, seemed pretty hilarious...*right* after I finished sobbing in grief for my lost youth and making appointments for Botox injections twice daily for the rest of my life - which apparently isn't too much longer considering how freakin' old I am! ;)

Thefts increase during holiday season

2010-11-19T16:42:00.004-06:00

It's that time of year where surprises are expected - but someone stealing your iPhone off your desk at work is not the kind of surprise you're liable to be too jazzed by.

Police departments and HR offices across the country note an increase in stolen cars, break-ins and petty thefts during the later months of the year. Case in point: just today someone managed to walk out of my office w/ a DESKTOP computer, as well as the monitor, mouse and keyboard. He must have been really motivated to work from home, because aside from making it past the locked entrance to our suite, he also managed to avoid detection by the real employees at 9 in the morning (I knew there was a really practical reason for being late)! It took us a couple more hours to realize the desk chair was also missing from the cubicle - so he was able to wheel the whole damn thing out, right under our noses. Like I said, I guess the guy really wanted to set up a home office.

Bottom line, this holiday season, keep your eye on your personal items, like purses, briefcases, wallets, phones and iPods/iPads/Kindles. Not just in the grocery store and on the train - but also at your desk at work. Always lock your doors - at home and in the car. Enable any security devices, if you own them. Have a friend you trust come and "House-sit" at random times of day if you plan to be out of town for an extended period of time. Another stat police & other experts tout at this time of year is that people who otherwise would not steal are more likely to do so. Please be careful with your stuff! As someone who's already had to replace a stolen iPod once, I know I will try my best to do so myself. TTFN.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry