Well… surely time passes so fast and year ended like a flash. When you engage in work you don’t feel the time passing. But today seems a long boring day for me since I don’t have any work. So I wanted this day to end so soon. I waited impatiently for the 1st of January, not to celebrate the year but to stay home :) Coz we get a holiday tomorrow for the celebration of the Gregorian New Year.
Now let’s think back at the past year and get only the experience gained. But be careful not to cry or shed silent tears over past tragedies. The New Year is meant not to cry over split milk nor to repeat mistakes. Take them as a blessing in disguise and the spirit to avoid repetition. Just learn lessons from past and keep in mind to live a better year ahead. Let’s take bold strides with confidence in the coming year.
Wish all your dreams will come true in the year 2008. Most impotently peace in Sri Lanka, something we all Sri Lankans needed so badly.
It’s winter. The cold breeze comes and caresses our bodies and chills us to shiver in cold. This is not like the cool and sweet breeze we have in Sri Lanka before or after a rain. I like to sit and watch the rain, how the water is pouring and makes circles on the ground. It gives the perfect colour to the tree leaves leaving them so crystal clear. Even the air seems so fresh after the rain and birds sing happily. Everything has come to alive and so my mind too. But I miss them all here.
I heard that it will only rain once a year in Dubai. Even in high noon I shiver like a person having fever. Cold climate is new to me, since in Colombo the temperature doesn’t go below 22°C. Although I waited impatiently for the arrival of winter, now I think Sri Lankan climate is the best.
If you happen to be in Dubai during summer you’ll not like to stay but to go back to cosy climate we have in Sri Lanka. I came to Dubai at the end of July and felt like I was thrown into a hearth. I was being scorched by hot breeze even without sun. The water in the taps was also hot, sometimes too hot to touch from naked hands.To tell you the truth I don’t like both of these climates I came across in Dubai.
I started my blog last year but after few posts I became lazy. I used to write a lot when I’m in a mood (happy or sad) I thought to start writing again as before. Hmmm let’s make a diary out of my blog with my new life in Dubai.
Last Friday we went to global village where the Dubai shopping festival is happening. The Global Village is a unique international destination for tourism, entertainment, leisure and culture. It brings together diverse customs and cultures covering a broad spectrum of activities including music, dances, arts and handicrafts, theatre, costumes and cuisine of different countries.
It was so far from Dubai, where we stay. We didn’t think it will be that far. We went from home around 3 and able to catch a taxi around 3.30. The emirates road we took to reach there is like a dessert, no houses to be seen.
Somehow we went inside the village which has different countries’ shopping complexes. First we went to Egypt and bought a papyrus art. Then we went to some other countries’ stalls. We bought shoes for winter, plant, bag, cap and weight lifting glows. At that time it was bit dark despite of the lights emanating from shopping complexes. The most exciting thing there was the merry-go-rounds. To join for such event we need to buy tokens which look like coins. We participated in one such game (they called it typhoone ride) which is so thrilling and at the same time bit dangerous. I screamed from the middle of the show to the last. It was so breathtaking event that I thought I’m going to fall off the seat. Mind you this is my first ever experience of such an event :)
Although we have more shops to visit, our feet were aching, it was dark and around 12 midnight we thought to go home after visiting Sri Lankan shopping complex. To our surprise and misfortune there were not that much of shops opened and no cultural things of Sri Lanka to show our Sri Lankan identity. We thought to open shops ourselves, which is something impossible. But we felt so sad to see the stalls. We had a ray of hope more shops will be opened during next month when the shopping festival is really going to blow up. With hands full of shopping items we took a taxi from there. There is a good taxi and bus services which is something really important in Dubai if you don’t have a vehicle of your own.
Hello Friends. Here are some tips for facing the Interview in Good Manner -
:: Dress appropriately in simple - comfortable clothes that reflect your personality.
:: Avoid wearing new shoes (squeaking noises) and do practice wearing your tie.
:: Be punctual - don't be late or even too early.
:: Read up about the company - what business they are into, growth trends, diversification etc
:: Read your own resume - be sure that you don't have to look into your resume to recall details during the interview.
:: Carry extra copies of your resume and testimonials - you never know when you may need them.
:: Make sure you know the full name and designation of the person interviewing you.
:: Keep your references ready.
:: Remember to make a note of your previous or current salary with all its components.
:: Make a good first impression.
:: Wish the interviewer(s) cheerfully and with a smile.
:: A firm handshake is an indicator of how you are feeling. If you are a lady, then some male employers might not make the first move, but go ahead and initiate the handshake.
:: Wait till you are asked to sit down. Look the person in the eye.
:: Do not appear too nervous or overconfident - Your body language usually conveys more than what you are saying. Don't slouch or lean forward too much.
:: Try to curb nervous mannerisms [eg. fidgeting or biting your finger.]
:: Appear comfortable, confident and interested in securing the job.
During the interview -
- Start the interview with a pleasant smile.
- Always remember to give a firm handshake. If there are women in your interview panel, wait for the other person to extend the hand while shaking hands.
- Listen carefully to what the interviewer is saying.
- Stress on what you can contribute to the organisation.
- Remember that the employer is in control of the interview.
- Don't be too long-winded, say what you want to convey in crisp sentences and use terms that would convey your job & achievements.
- Complete your sentences - don't answer just yes or no.
- What you don't know can be learned, tell them if you don't know something. But give instances of how quick a learner you are.
- Do not boast. People on the other side are shrewd and can generally see through you. At the same time talk about achievements giving due credit to others.
- When talking about yourself and your aspirations, do not sound vague or do not say that you don't know something. You should be very clear and precise about what you want to do, where you want to go etc.
If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification, don't answer vaguely.
- Don't talk about your personal problems, why you need the job etc.
- Don't get personal, even if you know the interviewer personally.
- Don't be overconfident or too nervous.
- Don't badmouth your previous employer - you could do the same in the case of the prospective customer.
- Don't complain about politics, a bad boss or a poor salary - your reasons for change should be higher responsibilities, location etc.
- If the interviewer is interrupted during the course of the interview, don't pick up papers on his/her desk and read them.
- Don't ask about salary before the offer is made.
- Strike a balance between what you actually are and what you want to be, don't paint a picture of yourself as somebody who is not concerned about money, social status etc.
- Don't be in a hurry to complete the interview.
- Ask questions at the end of the interview, it could be about the company, the job or the next stage of the interview process. It will be an indicator of your interest in the position.
- Send a thank-you letter, outlining your interest in the job and why you are qualified for it.
Be Positive and Confident - And the Job is yours. Best of Luck!
Reference http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewsnetworking/a/interviewguide.htm
“A loving relationship is one in which the loved one is free to be himself
The beauty of a woman Is not in the clothes she wears, The figure she carries Or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman Must be seen from her eyes, Because that is the doorway to her heart,The place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman, Is not in a facial mole, But true beauty in a woman Is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives,The passion that she shows, The beauty of a woman With passing years - only grows.
Shorten your workday. If 10 hours isn’t enough, try nine-and-a-half. Losing 30 minutes of work time each day makes you organize your time better. No longer will you tolerate interruptions... make personal phone calls from the office... or chat around the water cooler. Your pace will pick up, your focus will sharpen, and you’ll soon find that you’re getting more done despite the shorter workday.
Bonus: You have freed up two-and-a-half hours for yourself each week. This works just as well outside the workplace. Allot fewer hours for chores and projects, and you’re more likely to buckle down and get them done.
Take a break. Hard workers often feel that they don’t have time to take a break. Recharging your batteries isn’t wasted time -- it keeps you running. Escape from your workday life for at least 30 minutes each day or a few hours each week. Use this escape time to do whatever it is that most effectively transports you away mentally from your daily responsibilities. That might be reading a novel, exercising at the gym or listening to classical music. These escapes keep your mind sharp and your energy level high. If you just can’t find the time, add the escape more formally to your schedule. If your escape is exercise, plan a game of tennis or golf with a friend -- the friend will be counting on you, so it will be tough for you to back out. If your escape is music, buy season tickets to the local symphony -- you’re more likely to attend if you already have purchased the tickets.
Don’t look at E-mail first thing. Instead, use the morning to focus on your most important tasks. Most people’s minds are sharpest in the morning, and completing important responsibilities before lunch creates a sense of relief and accomplishment that can carry you through the afternoon.
Helpful: When you reply to an E-mail, try to fit your entire response in the subject line. Some people waste hours each day crafting long responses when short ones are all that’s needed.
Avoid the urge to multitask. When many things need to get done, it’s tempting to try to do them all at once. But multitasking isn’t the secret to productivity -- it’s a sure way to be inefficient.
According to a study published in Journal of Experimental Psychology, it takes the brain four times longer to recognize and process each item it is working on when multitasking than when it is focused on a single job. Other studies have found that work quality suffers when we try to multitask.
To get many things done, either in the office or at home, do just one thing at a time. If another obligation crops up or an unrelated idea pops into your head, pause from your current task only long enough to jot it down in your planner (not on a scrap of paper, which could get lost).
Be your own boss. Even if you are an employee with a company, think of yourself as an independent entrepreneur working with your company, not as a hired hand working for it. We all are self-employed, in a manner of speaking. We work for the sole proprietorships that are our careers. There’s a productivity advantage to be had by keeping this in mind -- independent contractors know that they must continue to deliver results every day to retain their clients, while employees sometimes allow themselves more slack and act as if their employers owe them something.
Cut people off. Learn to put off interrupters without causing offense. When someone needs you, say, “How much time do you need? If it’s more than a few seconds, let’s schedule it for later so I can give you my full attention.” The time will be more convenient for you, and the person may solve his/her own problem in the meantime.
Greet callers with, “What can I do for you?” rather than “How are you?” -- the latter might be taken as an invitation to chat.
Don’t do chores when big deadlines loom. Faced with a big, important task and several small, easy, but less vital chores, many people start by tackling the chores. Knocking these off provides a sense that progress has been made, and it clears the tables to focus on the big responsibility -- but it’s still a poor strategy.
Always tackle the most important job first, though it might be the most difficult and time consuming. In the corporate world, the most important task usually is the one that will generate or save the most money for the company. If you put off this crucial task, unforeseen complications or new assignments might prevent you from getting the important tasks done at all.
Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Julie Morgenstern, founder of Julie Morgenstern Enterprises, LLC, a time-management and corporate-productivity consultancy, New York City. She is author of Never Check E-Mail in the Morning and Other Unexpected Strategies for Making Your Work Life Work (Fireside). www.juliemorgenstern.com
URL: http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/blpnet/article.html?article_id=39810
In a study conducted with Buddhist monks trained in deep meditation techniques, scientists found that when the meditators focused on thoughts of deep compassion and loving kindness it produced remarkable results. Perhaps not surprisingly while the monks were meditating their brain waves showed a change in gamma waves the brain waves that are associated with our perception and problem solving abilities. But here’s the surprising part, the changes in brain activity persisted even when the monks stopped meditating. In our words, thinking kind thoughts had changed their brains to be smarter and produce happier feelings long-term. Monks with the most hours of meditation showed the most pronounced brain changes.
If Buddhist monks can do it, so can we. Our brains have a “nice” muscle. The more you exercise it, the easier it is to be nice. and the more you will reap the benefits. So even if you are a bit of curmudgeon and don’t always feel like thinking nice thoughts, make an effort to overcome your grumpiness and spend a bit of time each day thinking about what you could have done today to be just a tad nicer. Over time, you’ll find yourself not only getting more smiles from co–workers and compliments at the school board meeting.
You may also be surprised to find that your ideas seem more creative, your answers to tough problems come a bit more easily and even the occasional dark moods we all experience come less frequently.
Nice truly does make you healthy, wealthy and wise…and happier!
Sweet childish days, that were as long As twenty days are now.
~William Wordsworth~
We could never have loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood in it.
~George Eliot~
Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows.
~John Betjeman, Summoned by Bells ~
There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragr ant than ever again.
~Elizabeth Lawrence~
"A candle loses nothing of its light by lighting another candle."
