I Answer 4 U

How I Make My Time Fly in Office

2013-04-09T23:47:00.000+05:30

Request: If by any chance you happen to be working in my office and know me, please do not report this to my boss. And if you are my boss and are reading this article then I am pretty sure you too are looking for ways to waste your time and thus have no moral right to blame me if I am doing what you are not able to do. J

Who am I ?
Before I tell you about the things I do to make my office time fly, I would like to tell you briefly about why I am in ‘better’ position to do all the below mentioned things. I am one of the Pennas, the group of our behind this site, who has recently got a job in one of the top companies in the world. Unlike my friend, who has completed about 10 months at job and has had enough experience to write about surviving first days at work, I am still too inexperienced at work. I, being the junior most member in my assigned project, am not expected to do any ‘real’ work. They say it’s our “honeymoon” period and ask us to take it easy. Basically it all ends up with me having to stay at my desk for 9 hours waiting for day to end. Also please note I don’t have access to any social networking site from office. L

After first week, wherein I did just nothing, except waiting for clock to show 5 pm, I discovered how I could ‘utilize’ my time better. Here are few things I did to make my time fly at office.

Checking Mails: This is probably the first thing that each employee does after logging into system every morning. Being a ‘responsible’ employee, I also do the same, just in case if I have some work coming up my way. I experience a sense of relief as the outlook shows nothing as unread. This means I have completed my obligatory duty of the day and am free to start my own special routine.

Making time fly at work
Learn something about the world around: My next stop is Google news, wherein I just don’t read top news stories on my country but also about other major nations. I am sure you might be feeling it’s a boring activity but let me tell you, this has a profound advantages. My seniors are usually impressed by my habit of being globally aware and often ask me what’s going around. They are impressed by my knowledge, besides they don’t get a feeling that I am merely wasting time from the morning itself.
Green tea and desk exercise: Till now about one and half hours are over and I start feeling a bit sleepy after doing a rather boring activity of reading news. It’s time I do as I preached in my article, 3 Real Benefits of drinking Green tea, I go and get a flask full of hot water for green tea. It’s slight bitter taste and caffeine keeps me awake. I start my first set of desk exercise just to make sure I keep burning some additional calories too. Must say GREEN TEA and DESK EXERCISE is great combination even for people doing real work to lose unwanted pounds and to relax.
“I want work”: By this time my colleagues start calling me to have a cup of coffee. Time to discuss about office and boast how much I want to work but there is nothing substantial coming my way. This way they feel that I am real good employee and am raring to go. This may not really be true but what is wrong in creating good impression.
Googling the random stuff: Back on desk, it’s time to Google random things which usually have no connection with my work, but who cares. Frankly if they do a survey on searches people make during office time, they will find that 90% of searches have no relevance with the work.
Flash Games: Fifteen minutes after making random searches I end up on some flash games site. I find some arcade game and adjust the window size so that no one else is able to see what I am doing. This goes on for an hour until it’s time for lunch.
Weekend Plans and day-dreaming: Everyone is usually relaxed after lunch and a sort of team meeting takes place wherein team leader usually discusses about upcoming birthdays of team members or a team outings. For half an hour so we all do some real brainstorming and usually decide to come up with concrete suggestions next day. After this meeting as others get down to work, I start counting days left for the week to end. I spend some time dreaming about what I will do this weekend and make a list of upcoming films I will watch.
Shhhhh Our own li’l secret: Did you know the article you are reading was written during office time? Yes, I am getting bored at office and this is one the ways I am making my time fly, by sharing my thoughts with you all.

Now as my article is about to get over I am really get restless and keep watching clock every minute hoping it will show 5 o’clock soon. Before I sign-off, I hope you liked my ways of wasting time at office. Don’t forget to comment and share your office-time secrets.J

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

6 Reasons Why You Should Invest

2013-04-06T22:58:00.000+05:30

We all wish to earn more than what we are earning at present moment. In order to attain this goal we have two options in front of us either we work harder or we earn on others hard work. I am sure second one sounds better and easy. Investing, in any of the financial instruments like bonds, stocks, mutual funds, or commodities like gold, silver, is a way we can earn over the long period of time and returns are based on hard work of others. If a country or company, as a whole, performs well their stocks, bonds or currency grows stronger and so does your investment. J

Although ability to earn more is major factor but it’s not the only reason why you should start strategizing your finances. ‘Living in the moment’ may not always be the right approach as far as personal financial management goes, you need to plan for future and be ready to face all the risks you may face. Today I will be outlining some reasons why you should start investing.

1) Don’t let inflation eat your pie: I am sure if you have not invested your money than its either lying in your cupboard or a general saving account. In times like now, where inflation is going at around 7-8% if your deposits are returning anything less you are losing your money. Inflation determines your ability to buy a certain commodity in future. Example if $10 can get you 10 candies now, and if inflation is 10% you will have to pay $11 for same 10 candles after 1 year. Thus your purchasing power diminishes if your investment returns are not keeping pace with inflation. If you ask an economist he will tell you that actual returns on your investment is difference between returns and inflation.

2) Remain rich if not richer: Investing properly makes sure that you keep earning a good sum through-out the life without worrying about the recession or any other sort of turmoil. A friend of mine invested in gold in summer of 2007 and during recession times of 2008 when everyone was going after yellow metal, he made a killing.

3) Retire Rich: During our 30s and 40s, we often postpone our dreams for days after retirement. But how often we come across people who in their retirement are not able to enjoy because they don’t have necessary corpus left with them. Proper financial planning makes sure you don’t lose out on fun even during your twilight years and you are not dependent on others.

4) Variety of Investing Options: We are fortunate enough to be living in a far more globalised and open world. Today options and markets available for investment are galore. Vigilant regulatory bodies have also made these investments safe even for non-technical people. Sitting at home you can invest in Brazilian Bio fuel, just by a mouse click.

5) Invest early and compound you’re JOYS: Power of Compounding can make you richer than you expect to be. But for that it would be great if you start to invest as early as possible. Re-investing your profits (compounding) can have a magical effect on your earning if you remain in game for long duration. A long term approach will reap amazing results, so start early, when you have the ability to work as hard as possible.

6) Tax Savings: Now this one is the immediate benefit of investing. Tax benefits are provided if you invest some amount of your earning in debt instruments and other prescribed sources. I have taken this benefit at last because this should be the last priority on your list of reasons why you should invest.

As a rule of thumb you should invest minimum of your 25% of your earnings per year for a good financial future. Although through-out the article I have talked about investing money but investing in life-skills and education can also reap good benefits too. TIME is MONEY invest it to grow and become successful in life.

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Read More:
Hard Currency V/s Soft Currency in Forex
How You Can benefit from Pay-As-You-Drive Insurance
15 Sure-Shot Ways to Save Money

Benefits of “Pay as You Drive” Car Insurance

2013-04-04T21:26:00.000+05:30

Car Insurance Premiums can hit your pocket hard; I learnt it the hard way at a pretty young age. I had got my first car, an old Chevy, in high school and I got my first and last speeding ticket within the first month. I was pretty ignorant about the effect I would have on my premium until my father gave me the bill and asked me to pay it from my savings. Since that incident I have been extra cautious while driving and dread that a small mistake on my part may leave a big hole in my pocket. Year after year I get rewarded because of my good driving practices by a small discount in premium amount. But my outlook regarding car premium, I paid, changed after I ended up paying similar premium last year, as for half of the year I was not in country and didn't drive as much as I usually drive. That’s when my friend suggested to me to go for Usage-based Insurance.

We all know that premiums are usually based on our age, gender, driving history, marital status and vehicle type among various other generic factors. Pay as You Drive (PAYD) Car Insurance is the insurance where you pay your premiums depending on your usage pattern i.e. kilometers we cover, how you drive, how often you brake, what speeds you maintain, etc. If you are thinking how these companies do get to know all these details about you, well they install a small device on your car’s dashboard to monitor various parameters. These devices may have an inbuilt GPS too.

Under this scheme, you, as a driver, need to approach auto insurance and choose range of distance you will cover over next year and get a quote. Companies provide you an option to get a ‘top-up’ mid-term, in case you feel you will exceed the distance limit.

Benefits of going for Pay as You Drive Insurance

Before you go about reading through advantages of this system let me give you an analogy which will impress upon you how and why you can gain from it. You might have been for both buffet and a la carte dinning at some point of time. In buffet you pay a fixed amount of sum for unlimited meal while in a la carte you get to choose food you wish to eat and pay accordingly. I have experienced, in buffet we invariably end up eating a lot more if food is good or we end up cribbing that we wasted our money for such a bad food. Fixed premium and usage based premium is somewhat similar.

1) Save Money: If you are not the one who spends half of the year on road driving around than I am sure this scheme is just perfect for you. By usage based insurance one can cut down up to 35% on premium expenditure without compromising on risk cover.

2) Saves Fuel: An extra incentive of saving on premium will encourage you as driver to not waste fuel for a ride just round the corner of road. You will be encouraged to use public transport or a car pool.

3) Good for Environment: Cutting down on fuel will help to cut down on pollution as well. It will help in reducing our excessive dependency on fossil fuels.J

4) Anti-theft mechanism: If GPS is present in the monitoring device you will be able to track-down stolen vehicles easily.

5) Decrease in number of accidents: With fewer vehicles on road I am sure number of accidents will reduce too.

6) Good Driving Practices: All type of car insurances help in infusing and cultivating good driving practices as at the back of the mind every driver fears the increase in premium which his little negligence can have. PAYD adds another dimension which also provokes car drivers to drive only when it’s essential.

7) Insurance in true sense: Insurance is the cover provided depending on risks one faces. If you drive less you are bound to be at lesser risk, so you should be paying less premium. Thus unlike traditional premium rates, your premium will be charged depending on your ‘real risks’.

Challenges in PAYD insurance

Although this scheme is not new but it is evolving like never before with all new tracking technologies coming up. Still it faces some challenges even as drivers are wary that GPS system breaches their privacy. On the other hand, auto Insurance companies still have not set rates in place as it requires an intensive research to determine the risk each insurer faces.

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Read More:
15 Ways to Save Money
10 Weirdest Jobs in the World
Famous Advertising Slogans
Tips for Small Businesses to Survive Crisis

Hard Currency V/s Soft Currency

2013-04-02T22:23:00.002+05:30

Recently I met my old school friend who is making great money in foreign exchange trade or Forex, as they call it. I was pretty impressed by how he was able to dodge his 9-5 job so early in his 20s. I decided to grill him a bit in order to learn some nuances of the forex trade. Starting from today I will be sharing few important points I learned and let me assure you it’s not as difficult as it seems.

Foreign exchange is usually related to buying and selling of currencies of different countries. In Foreign Exchange trade, currencies of different countries are broadly categorized as - Hard and Soft Currency.

What is Hard Currency?

Hard Currency, also referred to as strong currency, is usually the currency of a strong geo-political nation. The currency of such a nation is expected to remain stable over the period of time. These currencies are traded throughout the world and have a stable purchasing power. Most of the international deals and contracts are signed in terms of such currencies as their value doesn't fluctuate much over time. Historically, US dollar, Euro and Swiss franc are some of the currencies which are considered strong. Political stability, fiscal outlook, policy of central bank plays an important in determining how well a particular currency performs and pegs against other currencies.
High liquidity and free convertibility of the hard currency makes it an attractive option for investors as well as traders. Investors, generally, prefer to invest in such currencies especially during tough times. Such investments provide stable returns, which may not necessarily be high but are less risky.

What is Soft Currency?

Before I discuss about soft currency I would like to ask you a simple question, given a choice, would you like to invest your money in a bank in North Korea? I am sure you won't. Why? Because it faces a constant threat of War, its political establishment is not democratic, its economy is not open and is highly regularized by the whims of some high and mighty rulers of the Korean nation.
Although here I took an extreme example, but soft currencies are usually from countries that are not too stable (politically and economically) nor come in the category of "superpowers". Investments and trade in such currencies is a high risk proposition. But investors willing to earn more over short-term can definitely go for such currencies, at their own risk. For traders, soft currencies are a big NO-NO. Its convertibility outside the host nation is very less thus no major international deal take place using soft currencies.

Conclusion and Caution:
I would like to specify that there is no specific formula or rule which categorizes any particular currency as Hard or Soft. German Deutsche Mark was considered as a strong currency before Euro replaced it. Such incidents show that as an investor or trader you are advised to be sure about the Geo-Political as well as economic outlook of various countries. Be wary and cautious while making any international deal as they can be indirectly affected by major international events.

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Read More:
Real Benefits Of Drinking Green Tea
What is the difference between BPO and KPO?
Advantages and Disadvantages of Outsourcing Testing Activity

Simple tips to kick start the first job

2013-03-28T22:15:00.000+05:30

Anxious about your first job? It is a mixed feeling of excitement and nervousness. It is natural to feel butterflies in your stomach for this experience because our first job is such a big deal for us. All of us want to make it perfect but do the question is HOW?
You may have the required knowledge to pull yourself through. But is that enough? What else would you require to work efficiently? Well, merely having skills isn’t enough. It’s the everyday handling of tasks with presence of mind and awareness about every minute detail that helps us make the right decisions at the right time. But even before that we need to get a hang of the work culture and appreciate the differences in this kind of an atmosphere. Being casual and not understanding the seriousness of this new life, I made a lot mistakes during the starting and had a hard time in the first months. Following are some of those blunders of my new job life and would like to share with you so that you can get your perfect start and don’t goof up like I did.

Keep it professional

1. Follow the clock:
Well I was late on the first day of my job. Yes, the Very First Day. I was late by an hour, but reached just in time to be recruited. Phew! The expression on the face of my boss is worth remembering and I shall remember it for the rest of my life so that I don’t repeat this mistake.
Professionalism starts with following the rules. Even if you have not completed your work, the least you can do is show up on time. Discipline is a key aspect and cannot be ignored. Also, keep enough margins during the break to be back on time. Some employers keep a track of the time you left work and got back. Thus, being even a minute late can give a bad outlook.

2. Attire:
The right attire is necessary to make a good first impression. A pleasant start will give you the opportunity to work your way through. But keep in mind that maintaining a good impression is tougher.
Certain companies have rules about attire. Also, it is a good idea to follow the clothing sense which is acceptable with the natives of the place and doesn’t hurt their sentiments.

3. Expect no friends at work:
This was one of my worst mistakes. I used to think that the people I’m good to, would be good to me. Gradually, I realized that they are not obliged to do so. Simply, they do not care. Always remember that no one is a friend at work, especially your colleagues. Even though you may be friendly and nice to them, work is their first priority. And they expect the same from you. Be friendly, not clingy. Be polite and helpful to whoever requires your help. But don’t make them feel awkward by overdoing it. Also, since you don’t know them personally, you cannot trust them.
Tip: if you really want to make friends, you can be in touch with people in other departments. At least they won’t be bothered about how much competition you give them or how they can cut you out of it. However, avoid “talking your heart out” and never take names while gossiping.

You’re out of college, so grow up.

4. Avoid Groupism
Four of us from our college had been recruited in the same company. After the initial days, gradually all of us starting sitting together and had our lunches together. It used to be great, discussing about the good old college days. This happened unconsciously and we never spoke to anyone else other than us. After about a month, a fellow colleague, upset and alone came complaining to us about our so called “group”. Shocked, all of us realized what a mistake we had made.
When you are a part of a group and talk less to others, they feel left out and think you don’t like them. Never let that happen. The last thing you want is to hurt someone and make them go against you. While being in the group, ensure that you have a good relation with all the other colleagues as well. No matter how much you hate them, at least greet them with a good morning or a simple hello and make a pleasant face if you walk past them. Ignoring anyone or failing to meet anyone in the eye is failing to be professional in your approach.

5. Mind your mannerisms
Everyone has been brought up in different ways and thus have different manners and different ideas of right and wrong. Most of the characteristics of our personality are because of the influence of people who have nurtured us. For example, in a family it may be okay to shout and call each other. However, it is not considered professional and thus inappropriate in the work place. Certain gestures are often misunderstood, because they might be specific to the place you belong to. These things may not be taught in schools or colleges. Thus we need to pay a lot of attention towards the rules and ideas incorporated in our place of work. If you are not sure about something, you can ask your colleagues or someone who wouldn’t mind answering you.
Tip: It is a good idea to research about the place you are going to. The research can include religious beliefs, native beliefs and of course, the work culture of the company.

6. Using native language
This is something that personally I find very offending. It feels as if the people are talking in their native language as they’re talking about us or don’t want us to participate in the conversation.
Usually, in every organisation there are norms about the official language. It is advisable to use only this language inside the work premises. Even while you are not working, for example, while having lunch etc, use the official language with your colleagues.

Don’t consider salary as the basis for measuring the value of your work.

Mostly we want more salary than we get. Reason being, unawareness about one’s market value, feeling that we are one of the best etc. This results in disappointment upon getting rejected for higher paying jobs and ultimately succumbing to a lower paying job. Also, note that certain employers have jobs depending upon the education you have had. For example, if you want to become a teacher, you may need to have at least Bachelors degree in the subject, according to an employer. However the employer may choose someone who has a Masters in the field instead of a candidate with just a Bachelors degree.
Also keep in mind that a lot of times freshers are recruited because they can be paid lesser than that of experienced candidates. You may do the same job as that of an experienced counterpart, and you may be even better at it, but you will be paid less since your qualifications or experience may be lesser.
So, if you find yourself in such a position, dissatisfied with your salary, remember these points and give in your best, rather than feeling disheartened merely because of the pay scale.

Looking back, I realize I’ve made a huge pile of mistakes and I had 100% chances of killing the first impression. But having faced them gives me the courage to face harder situations, if not know the solutions. Sometimes we know that a certain thing is wrong but still take them casually and go ahead and make the mistake anyway. Only after we saw the results, we regretted doing it. I hope these encounters helped you understand the severity of such minute mistakes.
Well, it’s not the advice that counts. The most important are the experiences that enrich our lives with wisdom. Only after you explore your field and get into the dynamics of how things work at the workplace, you realize what more you can do. So don’t be afraid of doing mistakes, but remember to learn from them. This is just the beginning; there’s a lot more to learn. Get out of your comfort zones and experience life as we know it!

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Earlier Post :10 Interview Mistakes I Made
Do's and Don'ts of Successful Interviewing
Importance of Clarity of Thought
Two Best Ways of Dealing with Tough Situations

15 Solid Tips To Save Money

2013-03-20T23:51:00.000+05:30

Money is among those things in life which can never be enough. No matter how much we try to save money, something or the other eats up our hard-earned savings. So how do we convert these unexpected shocks into surprises and not let them get in the way of our happiness? The only solution is to be better prepared and buy the right things at the right time, so that we are not caught off guard with unwanted expenses. Here I will be discussing few sure shot steps to save money, as many of us are fed up of being miserly and wish that we could spend just a ‘little’ more and at the same time save a ’little’ more.

Here’s presenting 15 easy ways to save money:

1. Get supplies in bulk, look out for offers
Bulk shopping will get you a relatively higher discount. So make sure you get your groceries and utility items from a store that allows you to get the benefit of bulk buying. Also remember to swipe your membership card for more loyalty points.

2. Try non branded clothing
Well, a lot of us have this affinity towards branded clothes, because of the quality and unique styles, and that’s why they come with a higher price. But don’t you get bored of the clothes going on and on for years together? This is why you could try local brands. They won’t last very long, so are fit for short term purposes and the best part they cost a lot less.

3. Look out for sale at the online stores
During the sale in shopping malls, a lot of online stores also give discounts. It is a good idea to check these out too, before buying from your traditional store. There are several offers which make you buy more than you want but it is worth the money! Besides online stores are usually cheaper.

4. Open source softwares
Now this one is for techies. Open source softwares are the ones which are available for free. However, do not mistake them for the ones which have a free trial period and then become a pain with the constant reminders of the payment. Some open source softwares may not have all the features of their paid counterparts, but will definitely be helpful if you need only the basic features.

5. Save the supplies, eat leftovers!
Another major way of saving is to save the leftovers of one meal and consume them after a day or two. This will keep you from boredom and save the supplies. If you do not mind this, you can try cooking a large quantity for two meals at once. This will save time, energy and of course the cooking gas. But don’t forget to store them in refrigerators unless you don’t mind eating stale food.

6. Do laundry at home during the holidays
Washing and ironing of clothes is a tedious job and requires a lot of time. We all know how costly the process is. But sparing out some time for it during the weekends will definitely save a fortune. Guys saving these small bucks would eventually save a lot more than you expect.

7. Switch to effective calling plans
This is one for youngsters especially. A review every six months, will give you a better idea about which plan suits the best. If needed, you could change the service provider as well. I am sure you will find a far cheaper way to communicate, without missing any gossip or status update.

8. Clear off dues, ASAP
This one is a real pain in the @$$. Unpaid dues create a pile of mess with the ever growing penalties and finally disconnection of service. Try clearing them at the earliest or use your negotiation skills to get them cleared ;)

9. Buy gifts in advance, in bulk.
Make a list of festivals, birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions of all friends and family when gifts are to be given. Gifts are a big headache; for the giver and sometimes for the receiver as well. It is best to buy similar gifts for everyone of the same importance. Getting them in bulk will make more room for savings with discounts. Remember to keep two or three spare ones, just in case of a surprise ;)

10. Haggle your way in….. sometimes
If you go to a specific store every time, you could ask for discounts. If the shopkeeper recognizes you, he wouldn't refuse an opportunity to retain a customer. Even branded stores can give discounts, just on asking them. It may seem a little awkward to ask, but even if it gives you 10% off, you certainly won’t regret it, would you?

11. Recycle gifts
As mean and inconsiderate as it seems, many of us don’t even open whole wrapping paper, just a peek inside gives us an idea about the usefulness of the gift. If they don’t seem of any use, you can pass them on to others. A word of caution- it would be better keep a diary about who gave what, just so that you don’t end up giving someone’s gift back to them.

12. Going out for a dinner? Get the best deal!
Many sites have coupons that give you even a whooping 60% discount on the local restaurants! You have to pay a minor amount, to buy it beforehand, but it’s definitely worth it. Besides buffets usually cost a lot less as compared to à la carte

13. Pool transport
Do you know someone from workplace who stays near your apartment? A transport pool saves you money when there is inefficient public transport. This will ensure that both of you save on fuel expenses. Another added advantage is that you can always claim you care for environment.J

14. Bookworms, be smarter
Instead of buying books, read them for free by subscribing to a website. Find eBooks or if you really like to flip through pages, exchange with friends or join a library.

15. Keep a separate budget for health issues:
All being said and done, there can be no compromise on health. If you feel something is wrong, even if it is very minor, don’t ignore it or think about the budget. Go straight to a doctor. However, for the yearly/ monthly check up, you can look for discounts and packages.

The best way to save is to be able to save without compromising. But with the ways listed above, it is no longer impossible. Go ahead; give it a shot to save more! And do let us know your ways to being a smart saver.

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Read More:
How Small Businesses can Survive Financial Crisis
Two Ways of Dealing with Tough Situations

10 Mistakes I Made During My Interviews

2013-02-24T19:29:00.000+05:30

Every time we go for an interview, we experience something new as each interview is different because of the factors we can’t control, especially the interviewer. Each time we discover some or the other trait in us which unfortunately, more often than not, kills the chances of getting selected for a job. It is mostly when we are caught off guard and unprepared that we make some mistakes which we may not realize immediately or think that it’s not a big deal. But you never know.
Today I would be sharing with you ten mistakes I have made during interviews. I hope you will learn from them and will not be subjected to rejection. These mistakes which will help you in identifying what you need to keep in mind for interviews and will prevent minor mistakes which may have a major impact on the future.

1. Not planning the attire beforehand.
This one happened while I went for my High School admissions. Parents weren't at home and one of my buddies just turned up and reminded me that I had my school admission lined up for the day. I turned up wearing casual shirt and jeans. The interviewer’s first question to me was, “Don’t you know you have to wear formals at interview?”
In an interview, the first impression helps you get the attention of the interviewer. Interviewers have to make snap judgments about the candidates, thus dressing appropriately will help you get the first step right. Don’t overdo or under do it. And ensure that your clothes are ironed and don’t have any stains or marks on them. If you think you will dirty them on the way, wear a jacket or carry a change. Also, have your shoes polished. Having these minute details in order may not necessarily give you an advantage over others, but if you don’t pay enough attention, they can easily kill your chance of making a good impression.

2.   Having an untidy or unclean outlook.
After Learning from my previous experience in my second interview in for an internship I went wearing formals. It was out of town and I had traveled overnight. Tired and little shabby I made my next interview blunder of my life.
You don’t need make up. Just make sure that your face is clean, hair done smartly and have a slight smile on your face. If you look glum, it gives an impression of being uninterested or being preoccupied with something other than the interview, which sends the wrong message. Also, don’t grin and make the interviewer feel that you are laughing at them!

3.   Failing to carry the necessary documents/stationary
During my internship (which I got after a lot of toil), I received a call from another organization where I had applied. I desperately wanted to make a switch as that other organization was more reputed and had a history where interns got a direct job. So there I was during my lunch hour with just a pen-drive containing scanned copies of my resume and other qualification certificates. I asked a guy over there if I could just get the print-outs as I came directly from my job and didn’t get time. He made face but got me the print-outs. Finally my chance for interview came and to my utter shock the person taking my interview was the same guy. During the rest of my interview I was just preoccupied of my blunder and his face just made me lose all my confidence.
It is a good idea to have a notepad and pen with you. Also, get all the necessary documents and don’t wait for the print out or photocopies for the last minute, especially if you don’t have these facilities available at your place. Caring about your own things sends across a message of being responsible for your own work.

4.   Showing too much pride
After my great final year results in college, I was over the moon. I was confident (or was it my over-confidence) I would get the best job among my peers. I still remember how I ruined my chances of getting the best on-campus package. Interviewer asked me a simple question why I scored so well in my exams. I started telling him about how focused I was during my final semester and spent time studying. I don’t remember at what point of time I forgot I was in an interview, I just kept going on and on.
If you have had significant achievements, be sure to mention them but do not go on bragging. Talking a lot about your achievements shows that you are too proud of your work. This in turn implies that you are more interested in boasting about yourself than the interview. You need to convey that you will be able to adapt to the job soon and then reassure them about your capability by sighting an example of your previous accomplishments.

5.   Joking with the interviewer
This interview blunder was made not by me but one of my friends. He is called the entertainer of our group and has the ability to come up with those witty one-liners which can make you laugh. He had gone for an interview for some serious job and unfortunately made it a joke for himself.
Well there are some of us who believe they can crack up anyone. But alas, when you are going for an interview it’s not you who has this power. The interviewer may ask you casual questions or even joke around a bit to make you feel at ease. But that doesn’t mean that he’s in a mood for your jokes. Always be on the safer side. You don’t know the interviewer and can’t predict his reactions.

6.   Taking too long to answer
This mistake I have made in nearly all my failed interviews, am pretty sure we all are aware of what happens when interviewer asks something which we are not prepared for or weren't expecting them to ask.
It’s okay to do this once but make sure you don’t repeat it. This is one of the mistakes that make you lose a good chance. If you do this, it implies that either you are thinking too much to make up a lie or you are too distracted and need some time to get back to the interview. To cover up, be confident and don’t feel guilty about it.

7.   Saying “What?”
Saying this deadly word will probably be the worst of the things you can do. It just shows that you are so distracted and uninterested in the interview that you don’t even care to listen what is being asked. If at all you don’t understand what the interviewer is asking you, a smart way of asking is to use their sentence as a question. For example, if the interviewer asks, “what is meant by xyz”?, and you don’t get it, you can reply, “xyz?” instead of “what?” or “can you repeat that?” etc.

8.   Getting worked up about mistakes
This often happens with me as I am not able to forget things easily. This attribute can be deadly especially during interviews where you need to forget previous questions and take one question at a time. If you answer some question incorrectly, don’t let it show on your face, just let it go. Focus on getting rest of the things right. The more you think about it, the more distracted you are.

9.   Begging for the job
Certain interviewers have a habit of grilling candidates, as if they are their personal barbecue meat. Well the truth is that they are their personal meat. By asking difficult questions and putting forth difficult situations in front of you, they want to check your attitude towards your work. For example, if the interviewer asks you why they should hire you, don’t say that you are good at everything or can adapt to any kind of situation. Firstly, that’s not possible for anybody, secondly it sounds vague and absurd and thirdly, this is when the interviewer will start grilling you about each point you just blurted out. Instead, you can list your skills that are relevant to this job and add that there would be things that you may not know but will grasp the new skills quickly.

10.   Being unprofessional in the premises.
Even if you have given the interview and are waiting for say, results, do not wander out in the premises or fiddle with things. Do the necessary bit and mind your own business. You never know who may be watching you. Sometimes, there are specific people allocated to observe your behavior and manners.

I have worked hard so that I don’t make these common mistakes during my interviews. These interview mistakes will help you know what you are possibly doing wrong in spite of giving the best of your efforts.
Share your interview experiences or any queries about them.

Read More :
Do's and Don'ts of Successful Interviewing
Clarity of Thought
Two Ways of Dealing with Tough Situations

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Top 3 Real Benefits of Drinking Green Tea

2013-02-20T20:50:00.000+05:30

"Green Tea has many health benefits and keeps body fat under check"

Well I am sure many of you might have heard/read this statement while inquiring about green tea. I too had heard it but never believed it. How can drinking those leaves in hot water going to 'delete’ extra pounds of fat around my belly???

My perception towards this 'magical' herb took a U-turn when I saw its effects in reality. Few months ago while undergoing my industrial training at a renowned organization I came across a Chinese consultant, Chang. He looked damn fit and young. He dropped by and asked about my educational qualifications and experience. After initial awkwardness we started having a freewheeling talk. I, finally, asked Chang a question which was there in my mind from the time I saw him.

"How old are you?"
"Hmm... make a guess."
"24?" "Nah...”
"28?"
"Nah... 38"
"Are You Kidding Me??? No Way"
"Yeh I am. Here check my passport"

Extremely shocked, I asked how come he was so fit and hardly had any wrinkles or any other signs of aging. He told me Chinese people usually have a lot of garlic, herbs and of course GREEN TEA. I inquired more about his routine and eating habits. He smiled and shared his 'secrets'. That day at the end of day Chang said that next day he would bring 'special' green tea for me.
Next day he brought me a red shiny packet of Green Tea and asked me to have it throughout the day as a replacement of plain water. Since that day I have been religiously following his advice and I must say I am a proud green tea drinker. I have seen a positive change in my body and best of all I have not changed much of my routine.
Today I am going to share 3 real health benefits of drinking Green Tea with all those fence sitters who are still not able to decide whether these leaves have some 'magic' or not? (I have intentionally tried not to use too many medical terms or chemicals as I don't have much knowledge related to it, besides I am trying to share my experience with common people rather than scientists looking to do some research on Green Tea)

1) Boosts Metabolism : Rate of metabolism usually affects the amount of fat present in human body. Obesity is usually blamed on low rate of metabolism. Green Tea helps in increasing the rate at which body fat is converted to calories. This helps us in shedding accumulated fat and at the same time keeps us feeling fresh (I have lost 8 pounds in 2 months, without changing my routine i.e. no exercise just a bench work).

2) Reduction of Wrinkles and slowing down the aging process : Green Tea has anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory properties which help in reducing wrinkles (May be this property of green tea was the secret behind Chang's youthful looks).

3) Reduction in Tooth Decay : Some researches have shown that it contains certain natural chemicals which kill bacteria which cause plaque and tooth cavities. (Can't say much on this as my teeth are already pearl white J ).

So Here I have listed top three advantages of drinking Green Tea. I have personally chosen these benefits as I have till now in 2 months have experienced them. By the way one more reason I read somewhere on net was according to some research drinking green tea helps in reducing depression. Well weight loss in my case has definitely reduced a lot of tension J

P.S. With the end of this article I have just finished my second cup of Green tea.

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Why Positive Thinking Can Be Bad

2013-02-12T23:35:00.004+05:30

This article is about how a positive attitude, in its various forms, can also be bad and consuming. As crazy as it seems, make sure you are not one of the people caught up in too much of positivity.

What is positive thinking?
It is an attitude, a way of life that focuses on the pros rather than the cons so as to not be hindered by possible failure or breakdown. Simply, it is a thinking that allows you to think only about the favorable outcomes and the advantages following them.
These days we hear so much about how a good attitude helps you get through anything, about how you can dodge your adversities and have a happier life with it. Though there is some truth in it, almost every positive attitude preacher just says things without giving a proper wholesome explanation. Though there isn't much to be explained, there is a lot to understand which follows self assessment and improvement . Today I am trying to answer a question “Can Positive Thinking Be Negative? “

• When a “positive thinking/attitude” could be bad for you:
Just like a lot of negativity is bad, a lot of positivity can be bad too. If positivity keeps you from panicking, it may keep you from working as well. For example, you prepare for an examination only when you are worried about it. A little bit of anxiousness and nervousness always helps to put in the best of your efforts. Till we don’t see an adverse action being taken against us, we don’t care about it. We hardly do anything without a motive, without a goal. Think I’m exaggerating?? Ask yourselves!

• Be positive, not ignorant.
When you see something bad happening, what do you do? Work towards making it better or shun it and try to believe that some miracle will take care of it? I guess a lot of people have seen situations where they were left with nothing but to pray for some miracle to happen. But more often than not we try to correct things ourselves. Not caring about something and leaving it to “destiny” is not called being positive, it’s called being ignorant.

•   Be positive, not blind.
There’s another category of positive thinking where in-spite of knowing the odds and the severity of the situation, people tend to stick to their beliefs and methodologies. Just because the method worked once, doesn't mean it will work in all kinds of situations. Change is the way of life and one needs to be ready to adapt new things.

•   Be positive, not delusional.
When the situation is still in control and a lot is left to be done, it is best to keep a balanced approach. If you let yourself wander in the dreams of being successful by overlooking the odds and hoping that time will take care of it, it can prove to be devastating. If such a horrible thing does happen, you would be caught off guard thus making it a shock for you. Being aware helps you to be prepared for the worst. Therefore, be positive about the result but also be aware of the adversities.

•   Whom shouldn't preach about positivity:
For example, someone is working to achieve something and you have to keep the person involved and his morale upbeat. What would you do?
a) Already start telling them that they shouldn't be concerned as everything is going as per plan and there’s nothing to be worried about?
OR
b) Would you also encourage them to put in their best efforts till the end?
Well, it is best to hope for the best, only after all the possible steps have been taken. This will let the person be happy and content that he has worked to the fullest, and has not left any stone un-turned.

•   Dream positive, work for it.
Who doesn't love dreaming and thinking about the perfect life, job and family (that we may never be able to have)? We do know that not all of those dreams can come true; nevertheless we at least strive to achieve them. So, ensure that you snap out of the dreams soon enough to start working towards them. Merely building castles in the air never helps. But once you dream, taking baby steps to build the castle will take you a long way. Having a positive attitude will help you build that dream and give you a zest to work for it.
However, the implementation still requires consistent hard work and determination.

•   When you should consider changing to a balanced approach:
Sometimes it so happens that people are so tuned to taking things in a positive way, that they refuse to accept that things are going in the wrong direction. They tend to manipulate stuff in their mind and believe that “whatever happens, happens for the best”. Yes it does happen for the best, only because you can probably learn from your mistakes. But did the significance of the lesson learnt outweigh the adversity of the event? If it didn't, it is best to realize that now.
This doesn't imply that you have to switch to being a pessimist. We just have to see things as they are and accept them at the right time to work towards make the situation better.

A positive thinking as well as positive attitude brings strength, energy, motivation and initiative. But it is important to not go overboard with one idea and ignore the consequences of the odds. If you think this article made a little sense to you, you can try taking a positive action, rather than just thinking positive. Remember the saying, “well done is better than well said”? Instead of merely having a positive thought, put the positivity into action and utilize the concept of positive thinking better. All the best!!

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Read More
Importance of Being Confident
Hopeless Situations in Life are not always Hopeless
Clarity of Thought in Life
Change Your Bad Habits Successfully

Importance of Being Confident

2013-01-15T23:09:00.000+05:30

Confidence for some, the Holy Grail to success and for others, is a way to live. In life, we often across two category of people one who are intellectually great but fail to perform when it matters the most, and others who though not intellectually great, walk-away with the limelight just by delivering the goods at right moment. The difference between two is their confidence, their ability to perceive that they will succeed no matter what the situation is. Here, today I will discuss about the positive side of confidence and as for over-confidence will talk some other day.

Today I had a very important exam and my preparations were not up to the mark, though I had attended all my lectures but I had hardly done self-study. I was sweeting like anything, in fact was visualizing the outcomes if I fail. Some three hours before the exam, I just started watching one of the solved Video Tutorial I had regarding the test, as it started playing my perception started to change. By the end of tutorial, I felt I knew a lot more than I thought I knew. My CONFIDENCE was up. During the test although I didn't know some of the questions I answered them to the best of my ability (when i checked them later they were mostly correct too!!!). So should I say it was confidence which made me answer well in my exam? Not really but it certainly put me in a better state of mind, which I term as a Winner's Mode.

Confidence is one's ability to visualize optimism and success in times when many others visualize failure. It helps one get over his/her fears, because it puts one in a world where he/she feels that anything can be achieved. Confidence is the way one sees himself, it is ones sense of being happy about what he is and what his abilities are.

Winner is the one who thinks he can win

All the weight lifters in Olympics at one time or the other might have lifted more weight than the standing world record. But what matters is their lifts in that arena, in front of billions of viewers. A person who wins or breaks the world record is not the one who is technically the best or is the most powerful of them, but he is the one who is the most confident among them. Skills and power may make you lift pounds and kgs in practice but once you enter that Olympic arena and have expectations of millions of countrymen on your shoulders, it’s your confidence which will put you in the Winner's Mode.

If you have been successful in the past, naturally your confidence gets a boost but that doesn't mean an amateur boxer can't beat a pro. The past statistics may give confidence before the real game,but what matters is how much of that confidence is summoned by an individual during the real test. A confident person imagines himself to succeed in every situation and has faith in his preparations and ability to perform against the odds. His mind tells him that he has the resources to outshine others and in a way he is superior to others. This thinking changes the body language of an individual. Stage fear and nervousness don't affect a confident person because he feels he 'owns' that stage. For a confident person, others' expectations and criticism act like a drug which makes him perform better. More the people mock him, better he will perform.

A person who lacks confidence often fails even to attempt something 'difficult' or 'tough'. He fears that he will fail and in order to avoid failure he terms such tasks are beyond his ability. While for a confident person, 'tough' or 'difficult' are just any other words, in fact such terms make his adrenaline rush through their veins and they take it as a challenge. They not only attempt such tasks, but also approach them with a feeling that they will succeed.

Confidence is one of the sure shot keys to success in life but just think of it, if good skills are to added to it, a person can become INVINCIBLE.

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Read More :
What does being Proactive mean?
Importance of Hopeless Situations in Life
How to Change Your Bad Habits Successfully?

Christmas Celebrations

2012-12-23T16:32:00.002+05:30

Christmas, the most awaited time of the year, is back. Family holidays, get togethers delightfully amazing food, breathtaking decorations, and of course, the delicious Christmas cake are the highlights of the festival. While, in addition to this, kids await the arrival of Santa Claus and his reindeer for their dream gifts(almost all of us had once believed that Santa Claus sends us those gifts J). To make your expectations from Christmas turn into reality, you can start preparing for it at least two weeks before. This would help to develop an idea about how you want it, a list of guests, venue etc. Once you have a general idea about the broad arrangements, get into the nitty gritties.

So how do you make the most of Christmas time, while doing this?

• Get everyone in for the planning and arranging.
Let this Christmas celebration create everlasting memories with family. It would be a very good idea to involve everyone in the party planning. Discuss their ideas and work together, to make sure that their unique styles and ideas are incorporated. This would make them feel that their contribution towards the event is indeed valuable and will get them all excited and pepped up for the final day.
You can also have the guests involved in the planning. If they are close enough, you could also go in for pot luck.

• Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!
You can become Santa by getting surprise gifts for everyone. Gifts are an exciting to receive and especially when kids are the receivers. It need not be a very big gift, but should be special to them. Also, the element of surprise should do the trick. You can also get into Santa Claus attire, or just wear the red cap to get everyone in the mood.

• Make it special, make it more ‘You’
When you put in a bit of your originality, it will automatically become special and make the others feel special as well.
If you want to seek professional help for the different aspects of the get together, do put in a personal touch to it as this will incorporate your ideas, thus giving it a sense of completeness. The personal touch could be given as a part of the food, decoration or anything else which you can think of.

• Make everything Christmas-ly!- Keep the theme as Christmas
A theme helps build up that zest and much needed enthusiasm to kick off a great party. If you have guests, you can give them something to think about and get ready for. For example, if you keep the theme as Christmas, you could ask the participants to wear only Chrismas colours’ clothes (green and red clothes). To make it even more exciting, keep prizes for the best dressed person.

• Music has the power to bring people together
The celebration mood can be enriched by music. You can prepare a medley of your favourite Christmas carols or just plain soothing music. You can ask the kids to prepare a Christmas carol, to give the aura of a church choir inside the house ? Small things like these will make your Christmas even better.
Make sure the songs are soothing and are played at a low volume, so that they don’t overpower the main events.

• Prepare a skit
This is a great thing to do, to make your kids know why Christmas is celebrated and its significance. It need not be very elaborate. You could just include the gist.
This is only if you and the participants have enough time to prepare for it, otherwise other things will also help build the right atmosphere and keep the spirits high.
Christmas is all about garnishing family time with enjoyment and preserving the leftovers, that is, memories. You don’t need to follow these guidelines, just put in these basic ingredients, rest assured your party will be a success!

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Read More
How to Plan the Perfect Holiday ?
Why do we need to move on from past relationship ?

How to Plan the Perfect Holiday

2012-12-03T16:10:00.002+05:30

Come festival season and the thought of holidaying starts popping up in our minds to get a break from the mundane routine. If the thought seems too good to be true, then all you need to do is turn the right key at the right time.

Some people believe that unplanned and spontaneous holidays/outings are the most enjoyable ones, well yes that’s true but they aren’t relaxing. They sure are packed with excitement but if your idea of a holiday is to ease off, then a planned holiday will suit your need better. Here I would like to list down few important points to remember while planning a perfect holiday with family proactively :

Before undertaking the holiday trip:
• Plan at least a month in advance
• Relaxing is possible only if you have at least a week of holiday.
• List down the places you have in mind.
• Make sure all the members of the family are involved in planning. That way you will have more ideas and everyone’s issues and priorities can be looked into.
• Once you have a fair idea about what exactly everyone wants, you can short list the places which can be visited and then decide, on the basis of the most optimal combination of the following factors.
o Budget
o Transportation to, from and during the visit.
o Climate
o Cuisine
o Language spoken
Research about all the above are necessary when planning a holiday for a place which has not been visited before.

• Plan each day of the trip in such a way that you get breaks in between. This is essential to ensure that no one is tired and spirits are always high.
• On one of the days, you can also plan a surprise for the family. This gets everyone extremely excited and fun levels will increase.
• Be sure to take a first aid kit.
• If the holiday is planned at someone’s residence, inform them well in advance.
• For the breaks in journey, you can keep card games or any other games which everyone can enjoy.
• While packing, make a broad list of the things you will be taking with you, for example clothes, toiletries, number of footwear etc. This will help in cross checking the stuff each time you have to pack.
• Also, you can make one bag for each particular place, for everyone, for example, winter clothes in one, summer clothes in another and food in another one. This way you just need to open one bag at a time. Saves time and TENSION.
• When packing is done, count the number of bags you have. You can cross check that you have the entire luggage at every stop.
• Apply for leave at work.
• Ensure that the kids have their holidays during the stay period.
• Inform the paper boy, milkman etc of your absence in advance.
• Also, tell a neighbor about the period of absence and give them a contact number in case of an emergency.

A Perfect Holiday

While on the holiday trip:
To savor each moment of the trip, put away all the stress and tensions. For the days of the trip, you should have nothing to worry about, everything should be planned and there should be nothing to worry about. Take a deep breath and start the journey with a fresh, calm mind.

• As they say, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do”, try the cuisine, lifestyle etc that the natives of that place have. It is important to understand that the people of a particular place follow a particular lifestyle because it is the best suited to that environment. So to experience the true essence of the life in that region, don’t be afraid of trying new things!
• Have a person to guide you throughout your visit. It could be a professional or any other reliable person. This way you will know all the nitty-gritty of the region and be able to have the best possible experience.
• Take lots of pictures! It’s always good to have memories intact.
• Note down all the places you visited and if possible, have a day to day account, including where you went, what exactly happened, what you ate and the take away of the day. At the end of the day, it’ll be relaxing to relive the happy memories.
• You can also keep an account of your expenditure, just so you know the exact figures. You can ask your kids to maintain this account. It makes them feel good to keep such an important account and makes them aware of new things.
• To cherish the well spent holiday, take a souvenir home. It could be a picture of the family at a landmark or some special thing which is made in the region.

While returning from the trip:
Well don’t worry, there isn’t much to do now, except cherishing the memories made during the trip 
• Check that you have all your belongings packed in your bags, with the list of the things you made.
• Put the house keys in an easily accessible bag.
• You can make the holiday end happily by discussing the whole trip with everyone. The new, exciting, good, bad and learning experiences will divert everyone’s mind from sulking about the holiday ending.

Finally, mentally prepare yourself for the old routine. But as you do this, if you have indeed enjoyed the holidays, only those memories will come to your mind, instead of imagining yourself slogging at work again. Well that’s a good thing, because that means you really have relaxed and have achieved what you wanted at the beginning of the planning!

All the best! Happy holidaying!!

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

5 Facts about the Romans We Did Not Know

2012-11-24T19:22:00.000+05:30

Much is known about the Roman civilization, which spanned an incredible twelve centuries and seemed to implode almost as a victim of its own success. It is commonly used as an example of greatness, but just as often the failings of the Romans are held up as parables of weakness. However, let’s look at some lesser known facts about the Romans.

Wine for Breakfast? OK.
It's no secret that the Romans were decadent people, and when many think of the Romans they envision golden sculptures, rich red wine and free-flowing grapes. However, few people fully understand exactly what the Romans ate and at what time they ate it. In fact, some may be surprised to learn that the decadence was equally humble and extravagant when it came to breakfast eating. Many would start the day with a pancake, or perhaps a bowl of oatmeal - these items were seen as functional and this was a functional meal. However, alongside this meal was wine, which was commonly, drunk at the breakfast table. This may seem extraordinary now, but it was completely normal then.

A Roman’s Best Friend
Anybody who has visited a Roman museum will know that they adored animals, especially dogs, as they were seen to be statuesque and creatures of symbolic power. However, they did also adore them for their functional power, and their loyal ability to protect against intruders. Much like households of the modern day, the Romans used dog-warning signs on their property to warn would-be criminals. In essence, it could be argued that they were the first ones to create this symbol of canine authority that prevails today.

Romans – The Narcissistic Plumbers
Not everybody is aware of this, but the Romans did indeed pioneer the entire concept of sewers and plumbing. Some of their underground systems were built so meticulously that they are still used as functioning sewers today. This all came about because the Romans were known to be very clean people and they would pride themselves on their personal appearance and ability to appear more successful than their enemies.

Top 5 Fascinating Facts About The Romans

Artistic Obscenity
The Romans offered the world distinctive architecture and culture that had influenced art throughout the ages, like splendid micro mosaics of Rome from the 19th century.
Around the time that most young students reach college-level literature education, they are made aware of certain vulgarities in the artform that have been eradicated from popular history. For example, James Joyce's love letters to his wife - it's difficult to imagine how these could exist in such a seemingly poetic era, but they did. However, the use of vulgarities in poetry dates back even further, to whom else but the Romans. Many pieces of poetry have been found that detail explicit sexual acts, things that truly demonstrate the human desire for vulgarity is as old as time.

Culinary Pioneers
Romans loved their food and alcohol, and they also loved being the best and the first to achieve something. When these two things are combined, it only stands to reason that they would have invented the cookbook. The very first cookbook was titled 'De Re Coquinaria', and gave details on how to cook, and eat, like an emperor.
The Romans were undoubtedly an incredible people who worked extremely hard to create civilized life for the entire world. It is easy to take this for granted, considering the distance that the world has traveled since then, but it is important not to forget that the fundamentals of every day life come from this time period.

This is a Guest Post “5 facts about the Romans we did not know “ was sent to us by myfamilysilver.com. My Family Silver offers for sale beautiful examples of antique and modern silver from around the world.We as a team 4 Penna, are thankful to him for his contribution.

Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tasitch/7662310

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Ten Weirdest Jobs in the World

2012-11-13T17:40:00.000+05:30

Have you ever wondered who is responsible for ensuring the effectiveness of your deodorant, comfort of your furniture, or tastiness of your pet's food? There are loads of unusual real professions that are largely unheard of. Some bizarre jobs hardly seem like work, while some of them require a special person with nerves of steel or a strong stomach.
If you belong to the significant portion of the population who considers their job a bore, read on to learn about 10 of the weirdest jobs in the world. Some of these may inspire a career change on your part, while the majority of them may very well give you a new appreciation for your seemingly mundane job.

1 - Paint Drying Monitor
The saying “I'd have more fun watching paint dry” has long been used to describe the most boring activities or events, but think twice next time you say this - it could be your full time job. When manufacturers of paint test new products, someone must literally go through the process of watching it dry as a measure of quality control. While this job requires little physical activity or interaction with the public, the thought of organising your office filing cabinet suddenly seems like a holiday.

2. Dice Quality Inspector
Whether you are gambling and the stakes are high, or if you are simply playing a board game with family and friends, a dice with the smallest imbalance of centre can change the outcome of the entire game. For this reason, every dice manufactured must go through a series of tedious testing for imbalances so small that only a professional tester could detect. This job may sound easy, but it is a very tedious one that comes with great responsibility.
If the smallest imperfection goes without notice, it changes the equal probability of the numbers rolled. Failure to give each dice the most thorough inspection can cost a company millions of pounds if they are sued by a casino or big-time gambler.

3. Furniture Tester

Furniture Tester

Furniture design is truly an art that requires special artistic and scientific abilities, but even the most attractive piece of furniture won't be a good seller if it feels awkward or uncomfortable. This is where furniture testers are needed to sit, lie, and lounge on furniture for hours on end. While this just may be one of the most comfortable and easiest jobs in the world, don't scoff at this profession. After all, these dedicated testers are the reason why your sofa is so comfortable for afternoon naps.

4 - Train Pushers / Stuffers
Many Japanese subways are overcrowded and surpass capacity by as much as 200%. In order to cut down on the chaos, the Japanese government actually employs people to literally push and stuff passengers into the subway, making sure the passengers are packed tightly like sardines in a timely manner. Needless to say, this job requires a lot of physical force, and probably its fair share of altercations.

5 - Armpit Sniffer
Your deodorant doesn't just work by chance. Although scientists carefully create formulas for deodorant in laboratories, the product cannot be marketed and sold until it has gone through rigorous testing by armpit sniffers. The job title properly fits the description, as armpit testers are required to smell real human armpits throughout their entire work day. With an average salary of $22,000, would you be interested in this profession, or would you rather leave it up to the pros?

6 - Pet Food Technologist
Scientists very well know what ingredients are most healthy for your pet, but since animals aren't particularly health-conscious, they know that unless the food is appealing your pet won't go near it. Pet Food Technologists are responsible for making sure the taste and smell of the pet food is desirable. While smelling pet food doesn't sound so bad, tasting it is a different story. With some testers claiming yearly wages as low as $16,000 to upwards of $1.5M, there seems to be no average salary. At any rate, hopefully they allow plenty of extra paid sick days.

7 - Corpse Farm Caretaker
When forensic evidence is needed from a corpse in relation to a crime, or important research, a scientist doesn't exactly go retrieve the body and carry it along to the lab with them. However, someone has to be responsible. Caretakers of corpse farms don't just exhume the body, they have to make sure to get rid of the spider webs, maggots, and the like to prepare it for scientific testing. For their sake, let's hope they never forget to wash their hands before lunch.

8 - Golf Ball Diver
About 2.5 billion golf balls are lost annually in the bodies of water within or alongside golf courses. However, most of these golf balls aren't gone for good, as they are worth their weight in gold. Golf Ball Divers brave the sometimes dangerous (but almost always slimy) waters of golf courses in search of lost gold balls - and the pay is surprisingly lucrative to those willing to take on the job. While the pay per ball is merely a few pence, a good golf ball diver can collect 2,000-5,000 balls per day.

9 - Ostrich Nanny
Not only must ostriches and their eggs be under constant surveillance because of their value and high risk of theft, someone has to be there to break up any ostrich quarrels! Ostriches aren't what comes to mind when one thinks of vicious animals, but they have been known to peck each other to death. For these reasons, they need a full-time nanny to make sure that they are not kidnapped, and that they all get along.

10 - Snake Milker
Snake venom is necessary for medical and scientific research to create life-saving medication and vaccines. The job of a snake milker requires handling live snakes while milking their venom. This job is quite risky, but thankfully, there are a handful of milkers willing to take the risk in the name of science. It goes without saying that this is surely a job that requires a steady hand!

Guest Post by Tom Faulkner – provider of designer and handmade furniture. We as a team 4 Penna, are thankful to him for his contribution.
Source of Image : http://www.flickr.com/photos/rightee/3346386528/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Do's and Don'ts of Successful Interviewing

2012-10-29T23:12:00.000+05:30

An interview plays a very important part in the selection procedure in any walk of life. An interview is a formal interaction between a seeker and provider. This interaction is crucial for both of them and both are expected to be well prepared for it. Today, instead of the usual discussion of do's and don’ts of giving interviews, and asking you to be confident about yourself, I will be discussing about the there side of coin i.e. do's and don’ts of taking successful interviews. So all the 'providers' especially job providers and HR managers read through tips of successful interviewing. The Art of conducting Interviews successfully can go a long way in the development of the organization because it is only through the interviews that the company is able to judge the caliber of candidate. A good selection will become an asset for the organization, while a bad one will be a liability soon. Here, it is also important to know that interviews also serve as criteria on which candidates evaluate the organisation for which they are applying. Keep the importance of interviewing in mind and let us get to do's and don'ts.

Do's of Conducting Interviews

Before the Interview
1) Plan Location and Process: An interview should be conducted at a silent place where you are able to give proper attention to the candidate with minimum distractions. Prepare the blueprint of the process and the rounds of interviews he will made to go through and convey the same to prospective candidates.
2) Prepare Yourself: Just like candidate, you too need to prepare yourself for the interview. Make a note of job profile for which you are conducting interview. It would be helpful if you chalk-out the flow of interview as well, it will help you in judging all aspects of evaluation.
3) Turn off cell phone or at least keep it at silent/vibration mode.

During the Interview
1) Introduce: Just as you get ready to start "drilling" the poor candidate, it is advised that you introduce the panel to him/her. Also, define the role of each member of the panel in the interview.
2) Start slow: Start by asking some general questions before jumping the gun. Try to establish an easy, informal relationship with him. This will help in making him comfortable and would help you know his qualities better.
3) Let him talk: Encourage him to talk and interrupt him where ever necessary. A word of caution: keep a track of time and the flow of interview. Your basic objective is to judge whether the person sitting on the other side of the table is suitable for the job or not, so don't waste time in listening to his stories unless they reveal something about his ethics and behavioral pattern.
4) Be truthful: Sometimes, candidates are not sure about the job profile and things which will be expected from them. In such a case, tell them frankly about their role in the organisation if they are selected and the growth opportunities they will have. Also explain to them various overtime and shifts norms which may apply to his position. All this will help candidate make up his mind about whether he can do a particular job or not.
5) Past Experience matters: If you are interviewing a candidate with experience, it is advisable to ask enough questions about his past experience in order to judge his loyalty, work ethics, inter-personal skills, etc. People may say forget the past and talk about present but it’s always advisable to learn from past mistakes and work accordingly, so try to gain necessary information about his past experiences.
6) Document and keep note: Keep a pad with you and write down points about the candidates that you found note-worthy. This will help you judge strengths and weaknesses of all the candidates at the end of the day and short-list few.

After the Interview
Shortlist the candidates on clear objective grounds and select only qualified candidates rather than over/under qualified ones. Give proper thought before short-listing or rejecting anyone. It would be advisable to keep a written copy on why a particular person was accepted or rejected.

Don'ts of Conducting Interviews

Before the Interview
Unplanned and Haphazard Preparation: A big NO-NO. Through interviews you are going to recruit a person whom you will be giving a substantial amount of salary over the period of time. And no organization can give away money to anyone who is not qualified to do a particular job. Thus interview process needs to be well planned in order to select the most suitable person for a particular job.

During the Interview
1) Jump the gun: Never start the interview with leading, tough questions. Always try to break the ice first before gradually moving on to job related questions.
2) Don't Talk to much: Don't ever forget you are here to select a candidate and not to show-off your skills. Let the other person talk. You just need to listen to him and take down points which might be important. You should only answer to his questions and ask him related queries. Keep the flow of the interview.
3) Don't make him feel you are superior: This is probably the most common mistake the interviewer makes, don't demean the other person, treat him as an equal. Various intimidating tactics used can have a negative impact on the interviewing process and the reputation of the organisation.
4) Don't ask personal questions: Be too the point don't ask personal questions. Also avoid ask questions relating to politics, religion and other sensitive issues.
5) Wrong information about the organisation and job profile: While telling the candidate about the organization and job profile be truthful. Don't make false commitments and claims about job or institution.
6) Don't pay too much attention to a particular thing: It has been often seen that interviews take a particular strength or weakness of candidate and keep on discussing about it. Instead of doing so one should be judicious enough to move on other topics and evaluate other factors of candidate’s personality.

Interviewing is an art which will help you draw a perfect future of your organization so practice it well.

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Read More:
What does being Proactive mean?
How to Get Through Tough Times in a Relationship
Two Ways of Dealing with Tough Situations

Importance of Hopeless Situations in Life

2012-10-18T16:15:00.000+05:30

Hopeless Situations, all of us have been through such conditions or may be some of us still find ourselves in such situations. Hopeless situations literally mean situations where we are devoid of any hope of a positive result. But do we really need to be so pessimistic at such times? Are we missing a ray of hope somewhere? Can situations really become so bad that we can't take anything positive out of them? Today I, who has been through many hopeless situations, would be sharing lessons I have learnt from such times.

Our Mentality in Hopeless Situations

It is not like out of the blue that we find ourselves in bad situations, rather many of us can anticipate them coming but we are not able to fight ourselves out of it. All of us fight to avoid such conditions and sometimes no matter how much we try, or fight, we are not able to control things and outcome is the same, heading for a disaster. It is difficult to think calmly when things are going bad around us and the pressure is too much to handle for any normal person. But does this mean we should surrender without fight? No, never!

No matter what happens, things could have been worse, and we have to work our way through such conditions to be a real winner. After all, life can never be a bed of roses, life is full of sufferings. Winners don't inherit victories, they create and earn it. Marathon is not won without sweating in the sun; it is won by challenging the limits of human potential against nature.

Do you know what the best part of hopeless situations is? It is the HOPELESSNESS!!! In such situations, we have an extra advantage of knowing that we are about to lose, and now we can forget the fear of losing and can devote our energy on trying to survive for as much time as we can. This fight for survival polishes the character of a human being. This teaches us lessons which ideal situations can't teach. And these lessons will keep us in good stride for future battles that life puts us in. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Key to be a Winner ALWAYS

The key to gain from hopeless situations is not to get disheartened under the pressure of losing. Moreover, one should accept that odds are against us, and instead of taking stress we should try to enjoy the pain. It is easier said than done, but haven't we learnt that easier things don't have as much value as tougher things have. So how can we convert this loss to win, this suffering to relief?

One should face every situation with an intent to learn, rather than to win or conquer. If your intention is to learn, you will win in every situation, since every experience will teach us lessons, which books and classrooms won't. Remember, the worse the condition is, bigger are the lessons to be learnt. This feeling of learning from hopeless situations itself will give you the power to smile and keep you hopeful for the battles ahead.
Besides learning, we also need to think during such situations. Think

Why I am in such a situation?
What decisions have led us here?
Why we made such choices?
Where we can correct ourselves?
What changes we need to bring about in ourselves and others to be in better position?

What to do in such Hopeless situations?

FIGHT as much you can rather than accepting the inevitable just like that. Rewind the clock, ANALYSE where you started to go wrong and try to CORRECT yourself. Even if the outcomes are not up to your expectations, KEEP TRYING. Remember, bigger the loss, more important the lesson learnt. Don’t be afraid to start from scratch. Life doesn't give us the liberty of the Undo button.

Be ready for long haul
There is no magic wand which will make you undo all the mistakes you made, nor will you get back to winning ways overnight. Life doesn't become rosy with the blink of an eye; you need to be patient to fight the gloom around you. The more you stumble, the more you need to learn in order to become a winner. Don't complain about the situation, fight it. And if at any point of time, you feel the need of some 'feel-good' factor, think about people who are in worse situations as compared to you, if they can survive, why can't you?

Good situations make us complacent and we start to feel that we are perfect but adverse conditions teach us things which we have been ignoring. We are able to pin point our weaknesses on which we need to work on.

Don’t lose hope in hopeless situations nor is the need to complain, fight your way through because a sweet sunshine is waiting for you on the other side of this dark canal. Go grab it!

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Read More:
15 Sure Shot ways to Save Money
Two Ways of Dealing with Tough Situations
How to Change Your Bad Habits Successfully?
An excuse is a skin of a reason stuffed with a lie
Pursuing Happiness doesn't mean being Selfish

Two Most Important Keys to Succeed in a New Venture

2012-10-10T23:21:00.000+05:30

Recently I attended a seminar about what makes some people click in their own entrepreneurial ventures while others just fade out in darkness after initial success. It was a good experience to hear few of the eminent speakers, but probably in their quest on blaming external, and few internal, factors for failure of various bright entrepreneurs, they forgot to focus on the psychological part of the issue. Let’s not forget ITS ALL UP THERE...

Today I would like to dwell on the two most important things which will help the 'entrepreneur' in you to succeed. Just like you, I have also heard some of these clichéd things often from everyone, "There are no shortcuts to Success", "There is no replacement for hard work", etc, etc. But there are two things which make us work hard and at the same time, help us achieve success easily.

Passion : A driver which gets you rolling

When a person decides to convert his idea into a business venture, he has to face many forces which suggest him to drop it. At such moments, one feels too weak and he needs a force which will not only make him counter these negative forces but will also energize him to fight his way through. Passion, for me, is that very force which makes one forget his/her difficulties and makes one fight through all constraints. Passion makes one sweat it out, Passion makes one forget hunger and illness, Passion keeps one awake through cold nights just to keep that 'lamp of idea' burning.

I have come across many people, who have greatest of business ideas, but when it comes to converting them into business ventures they just fizzle out. When I tried to find out the reasons behind this trend I found out all though few situations were against them, but they usually lacked the passion to work hard on their ideas and develop them. That is why I say Passion is the driver/force which gets you rolling through initial stages when other easier paths are ready to lure you.

Passion is that adrenaline rush which makes a soldier fight out, in spite of wounds and injuries, in worst of conditions. Even Venture Capitalists, or VCs, give a lot of importance to passion which a budding entrepreneur portrays while giving presenting his business plan to them. An entrepreneur needs to demonstrate his "love" for his idea, and where there is love there has to be PASSION.

Motivation : Keeps the flag flying high

Now that you have overcome the static friction, its time to dwell with kinetic friction. After setting up a business and getting initial success that one deserves, its often seen that people complain of lack of motivation to keep working. Boredom sets in and quite often and not, one tries to ponder over newer ideas to venture into. Motivation is that external or internal force which keeps spurring him to work hard. It helps in keeping complacency at bay and keeps one hungry for more success.

Motivation not only means keeping oneself spurred, it also means keeping your sub-ordinates and partners on their toes to fight out difficulties a venture may face. Setting Goals and giving incentives are some of the few techniques which can be used to keep people motivated.

One needs to understand that as in science, static friction is always greater than kinetic friction, similarly in business, setting up a business is more difficult than sustaining it. And after all the hard work of setting it up one needs to keep working a little less harder to keep it going otherwise it may just bite the dust soon. Any business start-up doesn't achieve success overnight, one needs to continue working hard to realize the full potential of the venture. It would be foolery to leave your dream project just due to lack of motivation. Instead, one needs to keep finding different ways to motivate oneself and one's team.

Passion and Motivation together can make anyone successful in life, and any business venture, a success story.

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Read More :
Success and Failure in Life
Does seeking Happiness mean being Selfish ?
What do you give - reasons or excuses?
Promises - meant to be broken or for the keeps?

Origami :Tips to make Perfect Origami Product

2012-10-05T23:37:00.000+05:30

I hope you were able to make a perfect Airplane, by following the instructions we discussed earlier. Now let me tell share with you few origami paper folding tips which will help you make perfect origami products. These tips will help you transform yourself from a beginner to an expert.

1. Choosing your paper: Before you start making an origami object, it is essential to know what kind of textured paper would suit best. If the object involves a lot of loose ends, it needs a thick paper to keep the object stable enough. Using a thin material may lead to very droopy and unstable object. Thin papers are ideal for origami objects with a lot of folds, as it makes the folding, creasing and cutting easier.

The second aspect about the paper is its colour. You can use a plain colour paper (both sides or single side coloured), paper with printed design or polka dots etc. For animals, large objects etc plain paper is suitable. However designs, flowers and decorations go best with printed sheets.

2. While marking the dimensions you could crease the ends instead of using a pencil, as mostly both the sides show in the final product. This way you can keep a 1mm or less margin for any mistakes or any kind of minor alterations However, if you are more comfortable with a pencil boundary, go for it but ensure that you cut exactly along it.

3. Always use a rough sheet before using the selected one. This not only helps you get an idea, but also a practice which will help you avoid mistakes on the final sheet. Moreover, you will be able to judge which crease is really required and which just spoils the whole look by being a reference.

4. Always follow the mentioned dimensions. Origami requires accuracy and not following the dimensions of paper may lead to faults from the beginning.

Origami : Paper Lotus

5. Folding in a straight line: if you have trouble folding thick paper or even a long line, do not hesitate to use a ruler. Keep a one foot long, thin ruler handy.

6. Precision is an indispensable aspect of origami. So do all your folding and cutting according to the specifications. Any discrepancy will lead to an ugly result.

7. The most important thing which will help you in origami : Patience.

8. Following instructions is only for the beginners when you have to learn and get the hang of it. Once you know it, just enjoy it!

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Read More:
Glass Painting : Introduction to Glass Painting
Instructions of Making a Glass Painting at home
Tips For Making A Good Glass Painting

Clarity of Thought

2012-09-23T08:39:00.000+05:30

Just like any other young recently graduated boy, I had big dreams in my eyes when i went for my first job interview yesterday. After a general introduction, the interviewer asked me where i saw myself after 5 years and what was my dream. I always thought I have everything planned and would become famous one day, but when he asked me that question I was left speechless. Should I say want to be famous? FAMOUS. Who doesn't want to be famous? But do I know how I really know how I want to go about it??? I just said I want to be a solution provider to my customers. He laughed and said my answer was something that Interview Tips sites suggest. I too smiled but deep within I was in turmoil of my own.

We all often dream big things for ourselves in our formative years and more often than not find ourselves in a rut away from our dreams. Lack of clarity is the biggest culprit which hinders us from becoming what we want to. We always have a vague idea instead of having a full fledged plan. Therefore we don't know how to go about fulfilling that dream. We don't set our goals, instead we set statements like "I want to be famous", "I want to be rich" etc. Goals are more specific and they specify the path to our dreams. Setting short-term goals and achieving them keeps us on track and keeps us aware of our objectives.

Clarity in Our Thoughts results in Clearer Goals
Once we know what we want to achieve and have thought about how we wish to achive it, its time for us to make goals. This is a necessary step if you are serious about achieving success and give it some good time and thought. Don't be too optimistic nor be too pessimistic about your plan. I would advise you to write down your goals on paper and in checklist form. Put cross or tick in front of them after regular intervals of time and never mark partially achieved goal.

Tackling Mistakes
Mistakes are pass and parcel of life, no one was, is and will be perfect. We are often scared of making mistakes, in fact which hinders our ability to take risks and thus, also the possibility of achieving greater heights. And in our quest to avoid mistakes we end up doing nothing. So don't be afraid to make mistakes, keep learning from them. When we start our journey in our professional life, we all start as an amateur and keep gaining experience from the baby steps we take. Like babies, sometimes we fall, but unlike childhood days, there is no one to hold us. We need to pick ourselves up and learn to keep walking, at the same time use our experience when time of taking big strides comes.

Don't be a slave, be a Master
Earlier, I discussed about importance of being proactive in life, continuing in the same breath, it is importance that we choose to be clear in our thoughts and proactively define our way of life instead of life dictating its terms on us. So if time comes when you feel enough is enough and you can't continue with living the same boring life, you can just decide to change, but do it only if you have a plan in place. Take time to decide on the path you want to take and work out the feasibility of your choice before taking the plunge. Don't depend on someone else to guide you and to dictate what you should do, instead follow your heart and your brain, soon you might find yourself in a position where you will become an example for others. Be proactive and rather than waiting for opportunity to fall on your lap, create an opportunity where you would be in a postion to independently write your own destiny.

Adapt and Follow your Goal
Not all things will ever pan out according to your plan, so we need to give a clear scope of tolerance in our plan. Flexibility is the key to such cases, Be Flexible: Bend But Don't Break.
Don't lose your direction or aim if you face some problems on way. Instead, work around them to get everything on track. It may take your time and extra effort but it is worth every second and penny. May be something might happen which makes you realise that your dreams and goals are too good to be true, don't lose heart, make some minor changes depending on your experience. Its never too late to undo your mistakes and start afresh. Rework on your goals and start following them, motivation to do so will come from within.

A person who has a clear vision, ability to take risks and can adapt in any situation need not be afraid of anything because not even Destiny can stop him from achieving his goals.

P.S. I am waiting for a call from that company, but now I am confident enough to answer THE QUESTION because i have clarity in my thoughts now :)

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Read More:
Importance of Being Confident
Importance of Hopeless Situations in Life
How to Change Your Bad Habits Successfully?
Success and Failure in Life

Do's and Don'ts while Helping a Lonely Friend

2012-09-08T23:27:00.000+05:30

If you have a lonely friend and you really want to help them come out of loneliness and make new friends, you need to need to just follow some do's and don'ts. Before you go through them, please understand that loneliness is just a phase which anyone of us go through at some point or the other, so show your compassion towards him/her.

Some Do's while trying to help a Lonely Friend

Be with them. In the initial phase, they don't like to socialize, therefore you alone should be there with them, before trying to make them interact with new people.
Give them an ear and a shoulder to cry. Sometimes the best way to help a lonely friend is to listen to what they have to say. They want someone to become their confession box and you need to play that role. This will relieve them as well as help you bond with them better.
Try to give different interpretation of things when they are overtly negative about something. Sometimes, they may get very negative about a small gesture or something said to them, an off-hand comment maybe. You need to make them see such things in a different light or at least make them realize that it shouldn’t mean that much to them. This will go a long way in getting them to their normal happy self.
Take them out for a picnic, a movie or something you know they like, ONLY if they are willing, don't force them.
Even if you are with your partner, don't leave your single friend alone, take them with you sometimes.
Introduce your friends to him/her and try to make them feel comfortable.
Make them busy in something so that they don't keep thinking all by own through-out the day. Group activities are very effective in such cases. Developing a new hobby does wonders in bringing back the composure of people but it may not be very simple to persuade them into it.
Lastly (this is something which I have done myself), ask them to join some online community or network, where they can interact with strangers without any fear and can share their thoughts, debate with them, do anything just to take out what they are holding inside. Warning: Make sure your friend is not getting addicted to these online mediums.

Some Don'ts while trying to Relieving Loneliness of a Friend

Don't treat them as if they are ill. They are just going through a phase of life or may be their nature is such and therefore, just help them rather than making a fuss about it.
Don't be too loud and make him/her feel you are doing some sort of charity.
Don't cancel your plans of meeting them after you have promised them in advance. This may make them feel lower and they might further go into their shell.
Don't make them self-conscious. Give them freedom to express themselves.
Don't leave them in a company of strangers at a party. Be with them, they need your support at such times to open-up with strangers.

Last words : What you are trying to do is very noble and are being a FRIEND INDEED, be good to them in their hour of need and surely your friendship will grow leaps and bounds.

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Read More:
Two Ways of Dealing with Tough Situations
Is Your Over Possessive Nature Killing Your Relationship?

How to Change Your Bad Habits Successfully?

2012-09-03T11:39:00.000+05:30

Bad Habits, well we all have them and presumably all of us want to change them. For some, its smoking, some are lazy, others are shy, list of bad habits goes on and on. And equally large is our list of resolutions and promises we make to get rid of these bad habits. But unfortunately only a few of us are able to successfully get rid of our bad habits. Why is it that few are able to do it while the majority fail? Who should be blamed for our inability to break bad habits? Our lack of Self-discipline? Lack of Motivation? Or the way we go about it?

If you ask me, I would say its a mixture of all of them, but the biggest culprit is our approach towards leaving out bad habits. We expect our bad habits to go away instantly and we aggressively approach this mission; rather than going about it more strategically. Overnight, we can get rid of few easy habits but old bad habits require time and a better approach; something which we conveniently forget while making New Year Resolutions. So in order to effectively come out of your bad habits I would like share with you Three Stages to Break Bad Habits which I too used to change my bad habits.

First Stage
This is the initial phase of your journey and probably you are full of motivation, but you need to understand Rome wasn't built in a day thus don't try to be over aggressive nor try to do anything complicated.

Set Your Goal and don't be overly ambitious.
Read about how people worked their way through similar habits. Talk to people who have been there and done that.
Prepare Yourself for the long haul and the battle ahead. Get things you may need over the time in your quest, prepare the list of people who might help you in your endeavour. List down problems you may face in the journey and how you will face them.

Second Stage
By now, your motivational levels might have dropped down drastically, and you might even want to get back to your old habit, while some people may become more aggressive in this stage and might just feel they have won the battle. No matter in what category you fall, my advice to you is exercise some self-control.

Continue with the good work. Rather than going back to your habit or thinking you have overcome it, continue with the good work.
Write about your experience and how you are feeling; every day. I don't want you to write essays, just write 3-4 lines in a diary. And whenever you feel demotivated read through past entries.
Seek support from your family and people around you in keeping you motivated.
Find new good habits. In order to replace your bad habit, try to find their good replacements to keep you occupied and busy.

Third Stage: Go for the Kill
After going through two stages, you have come to a point, where you are sure that you would be successfully change your bad habit. But a word of caution- if you have raced through initial two stages, you might just lose your battle.

Test Yourself and try to do things which might lure to that habit again.
Read your notes that you had written in Second Stage. Try to feel the emotions you went through in order to come to these stage where you can overpower your bad habit; this will make you resist the attractions of the old habit.
A little self-discipline .

Key to Succeed in Your Endeavour
There is no time limit or prescribed duration that you should spend on each stages, so don't rush through. And if you really want to know, let me tell you first and second stages are the foundation on which the success in the third stage is built. So spend all your time, efforts and (if need be) money, on first two stages.

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Read More :
What do you like to give - reasons or excuses?
Do we really need Swift Services in our Lives?
What to do if you have broken a promise?

Similarities in Different Languages

2012-08-26T13:29:00.000+05:30

MIND YOUR WORDS
Ever discovered any similarities in words of different languages? Well, we need not be baffled to find common or similar words in Hindi-Sanskrit, Urdu-Persian and English. There are hundreds of such words which show relationship among these languages of North India, Middle East and Europe.
Philologists have subdivided all human languages in various "Language Families." The largest and the most prominent language family is called INDO-EUROPEAN LANGUAGE FAMILY. It includes all the INDO-ARYAN languages of north India (Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Oriya, Assamese, Gujarati, Marathi and Punjabi), all the languages of Europe and the languages of Middle East (Persian, Pashto etc). Arabic, Hebrew and the like belong to a separate language family called SEMETIC LANGUAGE FAMILY. They are not included in INDO EUROPEON LANGUAGE FAMILY, even though they feature in the Middle East. Similarly, languages of south India ( Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam) belong to DRAVID LANGUAGE FAMILY. Tongues spoken by tribals of Madhya Pradesh, Chhotanagpur, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa are collectively called AUSTRIC LANGUAGE FAMILY.

Please note that I am talking about languages and not about scripts.

Let us come back to "Indo European Language Family". Philologists opine that language about 10 to 15 thousand years ago in the Middle East and the surrounding areas is the fore-runner of all the languages of the Middle East, North India and Europe. Script had not evolved till then and so, no written specimen of it found so far. It is lost in time. The descendents of that language divided in two Language Sub-families--CANTUM and SHATAM. Cantum Sub-family, initially, had Greek and Latin. Greek and Latin, subsequently, branched off into all the modern European languages. SHATAM SUB-FAMILY gave rise to Persian, Pehelvi, Pashto languages on one hand Sanskrit on the other hand. The descendents of Sanskrit are modern Indo-Aryan languages of north India like Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Oriya, Assamese, Gujarati, Marathi and Punjabi. Since Sanskrit (and its descendent languages), Persian(and its descendent languages) and Greek( and all European languages) are derived from the same language, many common or similar words are found in all these languages of India, Europe and middle East.

Do not be surprised if AL-JABAR of Persian is ALGEBRA in English. ANGUSHTHA of Sanskrit is ANGUSHTA in Persian. For hand, the Sanskrit word is HASTA in both Sanskrit and Persian. BHRATRI of Sanskrit is BIRADAR in Persian, BROTHER in English and BHRATA in Hindi. What BETTER is in English is BEHTAR in Persian and Urdu and VRIHATTAR in Sanskrit. Hindi-Sanskrit BHAAR is BAAR in Urdu-Persian. BAD of English is BAD (with changed pronunciation) in Urdu. So, BAD NAME is BADNAAM in Urdu. NAME and NAAM are so similar. CHATWAR is in Sanskrit meaning four. It is CHAAR in Hindi and CHAHAAR in Persian (as in CHAHAARDEEWAARI). When C is pronounced as S, no wonder that SAMITI became COMMITTEE. DUHITRI in Sanskrit is DUHITA in Hindi, DUKHTAR in Persian and DAUGHTER in English. Greek MATRE is MOTHER in English, MAATRI in Sanskrit, MAADER in Persian and MAATAA in Hindi. DOOR of English is DWAAR in Hindi-Sanskrit and DAR in Urdu -Persian. AIK (one) of Hindi is YAK in Persian. Sanskrit SHASHTHA became SIX in English. SEPT became SAPT in Sanskrit and HAFT in Persian. Deca of Greek is DUS in Hindi and DASH in Sanskrit. FATHER is PIDAR in Persian and PITRI in Sanskrit. Persian JUGRAFIA became GEOGRAPHY in English, JARAASEEM is GERMS. GRASS is GHAAS in Hindi and GHAYAAS in Persian. Wheat is called GODHOOM in Sanskrit and GANDUM in Persian. ANTAR of Hindi-Sanskrit is INTER of English and ANDAR in Hindi -Urdu. Hindi- Sanskrit ANTKAAL is INTQAAL in Urdu-Persian. Knee is called JAANU in Sanskrit and ZAANOO in Persian. MOOSHAK of Sanskrit is MOOS in Persian and MOUSE in English for the same rodent. Mihir means Sun both in Sanskrit and Persian. MYTH in English is MITHYA in Hindi-Sanskrit. NAVGATI of Sanskrit is NAVIGATION in English. English NEW is NAV in Sanskrit and NAU in Persian. Path of English is path in Hindi. SHRESHTHI in Sanskrit is SHERIF in English and SHAREEF in
Urdu-Persian. English SAINT is Hindi SANT. For fever we say TAAP in Sanskrit, TAP in Persian and Temperature in English. UPPER is OOPER in Hindi. The list is unending. Even UNENDING is ANANT in Hindi.

It is interesting to note that Greek, Latin, Sanskrit and Persian literatures had nearly the same golden period.
The commonalities cited above are because of common lineage and not because of give and take of vocabulary of two cultures. Exchange of words resulting due to mixing of cultures is a different phenomenon, not covered by this study. Thousands of English, Portuguese, Dutch, French, Persian, Arabic and Turkish words are found in all the languages of India. Their illustration is a part of grammar and not a part of philology.

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Read More
Selection of mate among Indian tribes

6 Reasons Why London Olympics 2012 were a Success

2012-08-15T00:18:00.000+05:30

It has been just 2 days since the glittering closing ceremony brought down curtains to one of the most successful sporting events, and I am already missing them. I would be lying if I call myself athletic by any sketch of imagination, still it didn’t dither me from following and cheering sporting greats from around the world, who participated in this quadrennial event. Olympics, in itself, is a story of human ability and strength. It is a tale of one's ability to fight challenges and succeed. It is a folktale of mental and physical strength. In this backdrop, London 2012 wrote another glorious chapter in the History of Olympics.

By now if some of you are wondering why I am going gaga about this event, let me share with you 6 reasons as to why I feel London Olympics 2012 were a success and were special.

1) Great Opening Ceremony: After Beijing 2008, everyone was bit sceptical about London's ability to match the high standards that the fuming Dragon had set. But Danny Boyle's knack of pulling out the rabbit from a hat came in handy for the organisers, as the Oscar winning director pulled off a great show. Audience and critics around the world raved about it.

Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte

2) Large Viewership: This 15 day event attracted a large amount of audience as people around the world watched and celebrated Olympic's spirit of togetherness. Even the live telecast through Youtube attracted around 45 million people.

3) Open among competing nations: May be for the first time in the history of Olympics, they were not reduced to a fight between 2-3 nations for supremacy. In fact more than handful countries gave table toppers a run for their money. A quick look at medal tally says it all with US getting 46 gold medals, China 38, Britain 29, Russia 24, Korea 13. Post-Cold-War era had seen US run away with bucketful of gold medals, while the last Olympics had seen China and US fight for the top rank. But the London Olympics saw a far open sporting fight among nations.

4) Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps: These two legends carved a niche for themselves during 2012 Games and secured their distinguished places in sporting history. While Michael became the most medalled sportsmen ever, Bolt rewrote history books by his record breaking sprints. If Michael made headlines in first week, Bolt hogged the limelight in second week.

5) Winners were humble in their triumph while losers smiled their way into the hearts of people. Unlike past there was far better grace exhibited by vanquisher and loser. Eg. Russian Pole Vault Queen Yelena Isinbayeva could only win bronze in her favourite event, but she humbly accepted her defeat promised to fight her way back to top in Rio 2016.

6) Largely controversy-free and clean: Except an isolated case or two of doping 2012 Games were largely dope-free. Few boxing controversies and match fixing allegations in badminton couldn't affect the overall spirit of the viewers and athletes.

Besides these points, England's multi-cultural society came out in full force to support some of the greatest athletes of all time. What are your views?

Also read Olympics: Frequently Asked Questions

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

KPO vs BPO: Difference between KPO and BPO

2012-08-03T23:06:00.001+05:30

With the global outsourcing sector showing steady growth, despite the looming slowdown, there have been many KPO and BPO units coming up especially in the developing nations. For a layman, both seem one and the same thing but in reality there is profound difference in KPO and BPO. Let us first define both the terms.

What is BPO?
Business Process Outsourcing or BPO is outsourcing of some of the business functions to a third party in order to save money. It usually consists of the back office or front office operations. While front office services are related to client interaction and customer support, back office services are related to finance and HR. If outsourcing is done to a company situated outside the parent company's country, it is known as offshore outsourcing.

What is KPO?
Knowledge Process Outsourcing or KPO is a subset of BPO. KPO involves outsourcing of core functions which may or may not give cost benefit to the parent company but surely helps in value addition. The processes which are outsourced to KPOs are usually more specialized and knowledge based as compared to BPOs. Services included in KPO are related to R&D, Capital and insurance market services, legal services, biotechnology, animation and design, etc. are the usual activities that are outsourced to KPOs. LPO or Legal Process Outsourcing is special type of KPO dealing with legal services.

Difference between BPO and KPO, which one is better?
As we saw earlier, BPOs usually deal with fringe business activities such as customer care, finance and HR and at the same time, the USP of a BPO is their being cost effective. Companies usually outsource such processes to BPOs which are not directly linked to its value chain. And the motive behind such outsourcing is directly linked to cost reduction. On the other hand, highly specialised and knowledge based services are outsourced to KPOs. These activities are directly related to core offering of parent company. The motive behind such outsourcing is not only to reduce cost but to get specialised solutions for which availing in-house resources might be tough.
The difference in BPOs and KPOs can also be judged by the way they hire people. While basic education may be enough for you to get a BPO job but a KPO job requires you to be competent in a particular field. Also, the training provided by the KPOs is more rigorous and sector specific. So if you are a 'Jack of all trades', KPOs may not be the right choice for you.
Even businesses outsourcing their services to KPOs do a more extensive research before giving a contract to a particular KPO, as a good KPO can be the differentiating factor between a good market offering and a bad one.
So if you compare the functionalities and expertise involved, KPOs are far better than BPOs, but both of them help businesses to streamline their operations and making them cost effective.

Why KPOs are emerging at a rapid pace now?
1) Lack of highly qualified professionals in developed countries.
2) BPOs are shifting further east to Philippines and Bangladesh, thus India is exploring KPOs as the next big thing for them.
3) As the US Government is taking steps to reduce outsourcing, BPO will get hit the most, unlike skill based KPOs.

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Read More
Tips for Successful Interviewing
How Small Businesses can Survive Financial Crisis
Advantages and Disadvantages of Outsourcing Software Testing Activity

Olympics: Frequently Asked Questions

2012-07-28T23:17:00.002+05:30

Olympics is a quadrennial sporting event which is a holy grail for athletes around the world. As Summer Olympics have taken off in London, I would today be discussing some of the most asked questions related to the event, which serves as the ultimate test of athlete’s mental and physical toughness. Nearly all the countries in the world are represented in the Games. With the expectations of their countrymen on their shoulders, athletics sweat it out to win the ultimate goal of winning a medal for their country at this sporting event.

Olympic Games are a reflection of changing society and psychology of people. Though they are, sometimes, a reflection of political situations around the world but at the same time it is the celebration of togetherness and human power. With this let us answer few of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to Olympics.

When and where did the Olympics start?
They first originated in Ancient Greece widely accepted year is 776 BC. They were help in the city of Olympia, hence the name Olympics. These games were help between various city-states and kingdoms which were present in those times. During the Games all the battles or conflicts were postponed, until the end of Games. Ancient Olympics too, were once in four years event and are said to have been discontinued from 393 AD.

What were the events in Ancient Olympics?
During those days the sporting events featured were running events, discus and javelin throw, various types of wrestling, jumping events, horse riding.

Who was the First Olympic Champion?
Legend has it that Coroebus of Elis became the first Olympic Champion. He was baker by the profession. He got olive branch as a reward. During those days as is today the honour of winning was more important than the reward. Champions of those times were immortalised by poems and statues.

From when the Modern Olympics started?
1896 was the year when the Modern Olympics were held under the patronage of International Olympic Council (IOC). They were hosted in the Panathenaic stadium in Athens. In all fourteen countries were represented by 241 athletes in 43 events. Next Olympics were held in Paris.

From which year women started taking part in Olympics
1900, Paris Games. This was the first time women participated in the Games.

What are the different forms of Olympics?
Although most of us consider Summer Olympics as the benchmark but there are in all 4 forms of Olympics:-
* Summer Olympics : These are held every 4 years and were officially started from 1904, St. Louis, United States. Around 300 events are covered in these Games.
* Winter Olympics : They started from the year 1924 and were hosted in Chamonix, France. Various winter sports are covered in these Games. They have never been hosted by a southern hemisphere country for obvious reasons.
* Paralympic Games : These Games take place few days after both Summer and Winter Olympics and involve athletes with physical disability. These started from 1960, Rome, Italy.
* Youth Olympic Games: These Games were started from 2010, Singapore and involve athletes within the age group of 14-18.

What do Olympic Rings Signify?
The five different coloured interlinking rings are official symbol of Olympics and they represent unity in five continents ((Asia, Africa, America, Australia, Europe). The Olympic flag was adopted in 1914.

Olympic Rings : What do they signify

What is the Olympic motto?
The Olympic motto is Citius, Altius, Fortius, a Latin expression meaning which in English means "Faster, Higher, Stronger".

What is Olympic Flame?
It is one of the symbols of Olympics and has its origins from Ancient Games, where flame was kept burning throughout the Games as fire had divine cultural association and was thought to have been stolen by Prometheus, who in Greek Mythology is credited for creation of man. Torch relay was started from 1936 Games. Now days Olympic Torch is ignited few months before the official start of Games at the original site of Olympics in Olympia, Greece and then is transported to host city through Torch Relay which ends with the opening ceremony.

So while you all are cheering for your favourite athletes this Olympics, don't forget the message of Love and Unity that this event conveys.

Copyright © ianswer4u.com

Read More : 6 Reasons Why London Olympics 2012 were a Success