"Out of Office" When You Are Out Permanently

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MS Excel Keys

CTRL+SHIFT+(	Unhides any hidden rows within the selection.
CTRL+SHIFT+)	Unhides any hidden columns within the selection.
CTRL+SHIFT+&	Applies the outline border to the selected cells.
CTRL+SHIFT_	Removes the outline border from the selected cells.
CTRL+SHIFT+~	Applies the General number format.
CTRL+SHIFT+$	Applies the Currency format with two decimal places (negative numbers in parentheses).
CTRL+SHIFT+%	Applies the Percentage format with no decimal places.
CTRL+SHIFT+^	Applies the Exponential number format with two decimal places.
CTRL+SHIFT+#	Applies the Date format with the day, month, and year.
CTRL+SHIFT+@	Applies the Time format with the hour and minute, and AM or PM.
CTRL+SHIFT+!	Applies the Number format with two decimal places, thousands separator, and minus sign (-) for negative values.
CTRL+SHIFT+*	Selects the current region around the active cell (the data area enclosed by blank rows and blank columns). In a PivotTable, it selects the entire PivotTable report.
CTRL+SHIFT+:	Enters the current time.
CTRL+SHIFT+"	Copies the value from the cell above the active cell into the cell or the Formula Bar.
CTRL+SHIFT+Plus (+)	Displays the Insert dialog box to insert blank cells.
CTRL+Minus (-)	Displays the Delete dialog box to delete the selected cells.
CTRL+;	Enters the current date.
CTRL+`	Alternates between displaying cell values and displaying formulas in the worksheet.
CTRL+'	Copies a formula from the cell above the active cell into the cell or the Formula Bar.
CTRL+1	Displays the Format Cells dialog box.
CTRL+2	Applies or removes bold formatting.
CTRL+3	Applies or removes italic formatting.
CTRL+4	Applies or removes underlining.
CTRL+5	Applies or removes strikethrough.
CTRL+6	Alternates between hiding objects, displaying objects, and displaying placeholders for objects.
CTRL+8	Displays or hides the outline symbols.
CTRL+9	Hides the selected rows.
CTRL+0	Hides the selected columns.
CTRL+A	Selects the entire worksheet. If the worksheet contains data, CTRL+A selects the current region. Pressing CTRL+A a second time selects the current region and its summary rows. Pressing CTRL+A a third time selects the entire worksheet. When the insertion point is to the right of a function name in a formula, displays the Function Arguments dialog box. CTRL+SHIFT+A inserts the argument names and parentheses when the insertion point is to the right of a function name in a formula.
CTRL+B	Applies or removes bold formatting.
CTRL+C	Copies the selected cells. CTRL+C followed by another CTRL+C displays the Clipboard.
CTRL+D	Uses the Fill Down command to copy the contents and format of the topmost cell of a selected range into the cells below.
CTRL+F	Displays the Find and Replace dialog box, with the Find tab selected. SHIFT+F5 also displays this tab, while SHIFT+F4 repeats the last Find action. CTRL+SHIFT+F opens the Format Cells dialog box with the Font tab selected.
CTRL+G	Displays the Go To dialog box. F5 also displays this dialog box.
CTRL+H	Displays the Find and Replace dialog box, with the Replace tab selected.
CTRL+I	Applies or removes italic formatting.
CTRL+K	Displays the Insert Hyperlink dialog box for new hyperlinks or the Edit Hyperlink dialog box for selected existing hyperlinks.
CTRL+N	Creates a new, blank workbook.
CTRL+O	Displays the Open dialog box to open or find a file. CTRL+SHIFT+O selects all cells that contain comments.
CTRL+P	Displays the Print dialog box. CTRL+SHIFT+P opens the Format Cells dialog box with the Font tab selected.
CTRL+R	Uses the Fill Right command to copy the contents and format of the leftmost cell of a selected range into the cells to the right.
CTRL+S	Saves the active file with its current file name, location, and file format.
CTRL+T	Displays the Create Table dialog box.
CTRL+U	Applies or removes underlining. CTRL+SHIFT+U switches between expanding and collapsing of the formula bar.
CTRL+V	Inserts the contents of the Clipboard at the insertion point and replaces any selection. Available only after you have cut or copied an object, text, or cell contents. CTRL+ALT+V displays the Paste Special dialog box. Available only after you have cut or copied an object, text, or cell contents on a worksheet or in another program.
CTRL+W	Closes the selected workbook window.
CTRL+X	Cuts the selected cells.
CTRL+Y	Repeats the last command or action, if possible.
CTRL+Z	Uses the Undo command to reverse the last command or to delete the last entry that you typed. CTRL+SHIFT+Z uses the Undo or Redo command to reverse or restore the last automatic correction when AutoCorrect Smart Tags are displayed.

 

Five Short Chapters on Change

Five Short Chapters on Change

 

Chapter 1.
I walk down a street and there is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. It takes forever to get out. It is my fault.

 

Chapter 2.
I walk down the same street. I fall in the hole again. It still takes a long time to get out. It is not my fault.

 

Chapter 3.
I walk down the same street. I fall in the hole again. It is becoming a habit. It is my fault. I get out immediately.

 

Chapter 4.
I walk down the same street and see the deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.

 

Chapter 5.
I walk down a different street.

 

Thank You Again for the First Time : Improve Your Business Writing

Thank You Again for the First Time

 

One of the most common polite mistakes I see in business writing is this: a message that ends "Thank you again. . . ." without thanking the reader at the beginning.

 

If you are in the habit of thanking the reader again at the end of your messages, be sure you said thanks somewhere previously. Otherwise, your politeness will sound canned and look silly. That would be a shame when your intention is to connect sincerely with your reader.

 

How to Have a Great Conversation with Anyone

The art of conversation takes practice, and is not as hard as you might think. It will take some knowledge, practice, and patience, and you can learn to relax and enjoy a great conversation.

With these tips you will be well on your way to having a good, meaningful and entertaining conversation with anyone!

1. Make a good first impression. Smile, ask questions that require more than a yes/no answer, and really listen. Maintain eye contact and keep as friendly and polite as possible.
2. Listen. This is the most important part of any conversation. You might think a conversation is all about talking, but it will not go anywhere if the listener is too busy thinking of something to say next. Pay attention to what is being said. When you talk to the other person, injecting a thought or two, they will often not realize that it was they who did most of the talking, and you get the credit for being a good conversationalist - which of course, you are!
3. Find out what the other person is interested in. You can even do some research in advance when you know you will have an opportunity to talk with a specific person. Complimenting them is a great place to start. Everyone likes sincere compliments, and that can be a great ice-breaker.
4. Ask questions. What do they like to do? What sort of things have they done in their life? What is happening to them now? What did they do today or last weekend? Identify things about them that you might be interested in hearing about, and politely ask questions. Remember, there was a reason that you wanted to talk to them, so obviously there was something about them that you found interesting.
5. Forget yourself. Dale Carnegie once said, "It's much easier to become interested in others than it is to convince them to be interested in you." If you are too busy thinking about yourself, what you look like, or what the other person might be thinking, you will never be able to relax. Introduce yourself, shake hands, then forget yourself and focus on them instead.
6. Practice active listening skills. Part of listening is letting the other person know that you are listening. Make eye contact. Nod. Say "Yes," "I see," "That's interesting," or something similar to give them clues that you are paying attention and not thinking about something else - such as what you are going to say next.
7. Ask clarifying questions. If the topic seems to be one they are interested in, ask them to clarify what they think or feel about it. If they are talking about an occupation or activity you do not understand, take the opportunity to learn from them. Everyone loves having a chance to teach another willing and interested person about their hobby or subject of expertise.
8. Paraphrase back what you have heard, using your own words. This seems like an easy skill to learn, but takes some practice to master. Conversation happens in turns, each person taking a turn to listen and a turn to speak or to respond. It shows respect for the other person when you use your "speaking turn" to show you have been listening and not just to say something new. They then have a chance to correct your understanding, affirm it, or embellish on it.
9. Consider your response before disagreeing. If the point was not important, ignore it rather than risk appearing argumentative. If you consider it important then politely point out your difference of opinion. Do not disagree merely to set yourself apart, but remember these points:
• It is the differences in people–and their conversation–that make them interesting.
• Agreeing with everything can kill a conversation just as easily as disagreeing with everything.
• A person is interesting when they are different from you; a person is obnoxious when they can not agree with anything you say, or if they use the point to make themselves appear superior.
• Try to omit the word "but" from your conversation when disagreeing as this word often puts people on the defensive. Instead, try substituting the word "and", it has less of an antagonistic effect.

10.  Consider playing devil's advocate - which requires care. If your conversation partner makes a point, you can keep the conversation going by bringing up the opposite point of view (introduce it with something like "I agree, and…"). If you overuse this technique, however, you could end up appearing disagreeable or even hostile.

11.  Do not panic over lulls. This is a point where you could easily inject your thoughts into the discussion. If the topic seems to have run out, use the pause to think for a moment and identify another conversation topic or question to ask them. Did something they said remind you of something else you have heard, something that happened to you, or bring up a question or topic in your mind? Mention it and you'll transition smoothly into further conversation!

12.  Know when the conversation is over. Even the best conversations will eventually run out of steam or be ended by an interruption. Shake hands with the other person and be sure to tell them you enjoyed talking with them. Ending on a positive note will leave a good impression and likely bring them back later for more!

Warnings

• Choose carefully when asking personal questions. You do not want to venture into overly personal issues. Even if the other person might be willing to talk about it, you may end up learning things that you really do not want to know. You certainly do not want the other person to think afterward that you coerced them into revealing personal information.
• Be sincere! Compliments are great, but too much flattery is obvious and will reveal you as being insincere.
• Beware of topics that can be inflammatory - such as religion and politics - and don't venture into them unless you know the person has roughly the same convictions as you, or the circumstances otherwise allow for pleasant discussion. Again, it's fine to disagree and can be nice to talk about differences, but it can also be a quick step toward an argument.
• Try not to argue! You do not have to agree with everything someone says, but you do not have to tell them all about how you disagree. If you feel the need to explain an opposing viewpoint, express it simply and without putting the other person on the defensive. It is better to simply change the subject in a casual conversation than to get involved in an argument.
• Try not to nod or respond with "Yes" and "I see" so much. It might make the person think you are bored and sometimes it may seem like you are rushing them along. Never say anything hurtful or offensive to the other person, this may project a bad feeling between you.
• If it is a planned conversation, try listening to the news in case you run out of thing to say, it is always a good solution.
• Also try not to cut the person off mid-sentence. It seems disrespectful and it makes it seem like what you have to say is more important than what the other person has to say. Let the person finish their thoughts and then continue on with thoughts of your own.

 

A good story for all of us to follow in our careers and social life

A good story for all of us to follow in our careers and social life

Once upon a time a Washerman was bringing up two donkeys.

Let us say Donkey-A and Donkey-B.

Donkey-A felt it was very energetic and could do better than the other.  It always tried to pull the washerman's attraction over it by taking more load and walking fast in front of him.

Innocent Donkey-B is normal, so it will walk normal, irrespective of the washerman's presence.  After a period of time, Washerman started pressurising Donkey-B to be like Donkey-A.  But Donkey-B unable to walk fast, got continuous punishment from washerman.  It was crying and told personally to Donkey-A "Dear friend, only we two are here, why to compete with each other....we can carry equal load at normal speed ".

That made Donkey-A all the more energetic and next day it told to washerman that it can carry more load and even it can run fast also.

Obviously happier washerman looked at Donkey-B.., his BP raised and he started kicking Donkey-B. Next day with smile, Donkey-A carried more load and started running fast. But it was breathtaking for Donkey-B and it couldn't act that way....But the washerman was frustrated, so he harassed Donkey-B terribly, and finally it fell down hopelessly.

Then Donkey-A felt itself as a supremo and happily started carrying more load with great speed.  But now the Load of the Donkey-B is also being carried by Donkey-A., and still it has to run fast.   For some period it did, finally due to fatigue it got tired and started feeling the pain.  But washerman expected more from Donkey-A. It also tried best, but couldn't cope up with his owners demand. The Washerman got angry with Donkey-A also and started harassing to take more load... Donkey-A was crying for long time and then tried its best... But it couldn't meet the owner's satisfaction.  Finally the day came when due to frustration the washerman killed Donkey-A and went for searching some other Donkeys.

Its an endless story..........

But the moral of the Story in Corporate and social life is......,

"Think all colleagues are same and that everyone is capable.... Always Share the Load equally..... Don't ever act smart in front of your Boss and never try for getting over-credit...

It doesn't matter if you are 'A' or 'B'

For the Boss you shall be always DONKEY.

 

How Can I Ask Telemarketers To Stop Calling

Telemarketers can be quite a pain at times. However, if you have always wanted to avoid such phone calls but never knew what to say or do, read on. In this article, we tell you how to get telemarketers to stop calling.

 

How Can I Stop Telemarketers to Stop Calling

 

·         If available, it is always advisable to check the caller ID. If it is some number which you do not recognize, then it might be a telemarketer. But, on the contrary it can be your friend or family member who might be calling from another phone, so be cautious about it.

·         Another way of avoiding such calls is after answering the phone, if you feel that you do not know the person on the other side of the phone, say a simple sorry and hang up. You can also say something like - "Sorry, but I do not accept telephone solicitations at this number."

·         Make sure you find out the name of the company that the marketer is calling from. Some of the telemarketers will just give you their name when asked who is calling. If the caller acts smart, simply ask which organization he/ she is calling from.

·         After you have successfully got the name of the organization, request immediately that you be placed on the particular company's ‘Do not call list’.

·         Jot down or save the number of the company that had called you. This will remind you that you have already asked the company to stop calling you if they call you again.

·         Simply hang up! Yes, this is rude, but sometimes you need to be a little rude to make them understand. 

 

Tips 

 

·         If you do not have any interest in the product they are trying to sell, say so directly instead of wasting anyone's time.

·         Be fast and precise to ask them to add you in their 'Do not call' list. Some marketers are pretty clever and will hang up as soon as they sense what you are trying to say.

·         Simply saying something like - "No, thank you, I would not like to buy the product" will work sometimes but be firm in whatever you say.

·         If you have voice message activated, then, perhaps you can record something like - "If you are a telemarketer or a business organization trying to sell anything, please put me on your 'Do not call' list. Thank you."

·         Lastly, try not to make personal attacks on anyone. Please remember, that those telemarketers are people too who are trying to make a living like you.

 

3 powerful phrases to boost your optimism

Let's face it.

 

We all want a little credit, even just the tiniest bit of recognition for a new haircut, a fetching sartorial ensemble, or a job well done. But when compliments are lacking, or words of encouragement nonexistent, then positive thinking phrases are the next best thing.

 

Use positive thinking phrases like the ones below and give yourself a friendly pat on the back.

 

Positive thinking phrases, or positive affirmations, are like mantras you repeat over and over to yourself. Hopefully, by some mystifying subliminal process, the power of these words will be able to condition you to positively influence your way of thinking and as a result, your way of living.

 

Here are some examples:

 

Phrase #1: Hey, Gorgeous!

 

Admit it.

 

Getting complimented for your looks is a wondrous tonic for the ego. So get out of bed, face the mirror and give your ego a boost. Nothing beats a greeting like that first thing in the morning to get you revved up for the stress of the day ahead.

 

Don't worry about sounding a bit vain or conceited, as long as you do it in private and out of anyone's earshot. And when you feel good inside, it'll reflect on your outer person, making you even more attractive. It won't be long before others will notice and compliment you as well.

 

Phrase #2: Yes, I can!

 

Another variant of this is, "Ain't nothin' to it but to do it," as mentioned in the show, Hey Arnold, on Nickelodeon.

 

In order to accomplish something, you must first believe in your heart that you are fully capable of success.

 

You'll find that it's usually the hardest part of any endeavor-mustering enough courage. Without this belief in yourself, you can get easily discouraged and prone to quitting.

 

Have faith.

 

Remember, the only thing that can stop you is yourself.

 

Phrase #3: Here I am, World, do your worst!

 

It may sound like you're inviting bad luck and catastrophe, but what this really means is that you are welcoming life's challenges with open arms and are willing to bravely take them on.

 

Like a proud sentinel in a storm, you stand firm against anything flung at you. And no matter how muddied and besieged you emerge from the battle, you emerge nonetheless, ever ready to fight and live another day.

 

Plus, it's a really cool motto, don't you think?

 

Try these positive thinking phrases on for size and get yourself in the mood for life.

 

Keep your day bright!

 

out of the box thinking?

A man eats two eggs each morning for breakfast.   When he goes to the grocery  store he pays 60 cents a dozen.   Since a dozen eggs won't last
a week he normally buys two dozens at a  time. One day while buying eggs he notices that the price has risen to 72 cents.  The  next time he buys groceries, eggs are 76 cents a dozen.

When  asked to explain the price of eggs the store owner says, "The price has gone up  and I have to raise my price accordingly". This store buys 100 dozen eggs a day.   He checked around for a better price and all the distributors have raised  their prices. The distributors have begun to buy from the huge egg farms.   The small egg farms have been driven out of business.  The huge egg  farms sell 100,000 dozen eggs a day to distributors.  With no competition,  they can set the price as they see fit. The distributors then have to raise  their prices to t he grocery stores. And on and on and on.

As the man  kept buying eggs the price kept going up. He saw the big egg trucks  delivering 100 dozen eggs each day. Nothing changed there.   He
checked  out the huge egg farms and found they were selling 100,000 dozen eggs  to the distributors daily. Nothing had changed but the price of  eggs.

Then week before Thanksgiving the price of eggs shot up to $1.00 a dozen. Again  he asked the grocery owner why and was told, "Cakes  and baking for the holiday".  The huge egg farmers know there will be a lot  of baking going on and more eggs will be used. Hence, the price of eggs goes up.  Expect the same thing at Christmas and other times when family cooking, baking,  etc. happen.

This pattern continues until the price of eggs is 2.00 a  dozen. The man says, " There must be something we can do about the price of  eggs".

He starts talking to all the people in his town and they decide to  stop buying  eggs. This didn't work because everyone needed  eggs.

Finally, the man suggested only buying what you need.  He ate  2 eggs a day. On the way home from work he would stop at the grocery and buy  two
eggs. Everyone in town started buying 2 or 3 eggs a day.

The  grocery store owner began complaining that he had too many eggs in his  cooler.  He told the distributor that he didn't need any eggs.   Maybe
wouldn't need any all week.

The distributor had eggs   f iling up at his warehouse.  He told the huge egg farms that he didn't  have any room for eggs would not need any for at least two weeks.

At the  egg farm, the chickens just kept on laying eggs.   To relieve the  pressure, the huge egg farm told the distributor that they could buy
the eggs  at a lower price.

The distributor said, " I don't have the room for   the %$&^*&% eggs even if they were free".   T he  distributor told the grocery store owner that he would lower the price of the  eggs if the store would start buying again.

The grocery store owner said,  "I don't have room for more eggs. The customers  are only buying 2 or 3  eggs at a time.  Now if you were to
drop the price of eggs back down to  the original price, the customers would start buying by the dozen  again".

The distributors sent that proposal to the huge egg farmers but  the egg farmers liked the price they were getting for their eggs but,  those
chickens just kept on laying.  Fin ally, the egg farmers lowered  the price of their eggs.  But only a few cents.

The customers still  bought 2 or 3 eggs at a time. They said, "when the price of  eggs gets  down to where it was before, we will start buying by the dozen."

Slowly  the price of eggs started dropping.  The distributors had to slash their  prices to make room for the eggs coming from the egg farmers.  

The  egg farmers cut their prices because the distributors wouldn't buy at a  higher price than they were selling eggs for. Anyway, they had full warehouses  and wouldn't need eggs for quite a while.

And those chickens kept on  laying.

Eventually, the egg farmers cut their prices because they were  throwing away eggs they couldn't sell.

The distributors started buying  again because the eggs were priced to where the  stores could afford to  sell them at the lower price.

And the customers starting buying by the  dozen again.

Now, transpose this analogy to the gasoline  industry.

What if everyone only bought $10.00 worth of gas each time they  pulled to the pump?  The dealer's tanks would stay semi full all the  time.  The
dealers wouldn't have room for the gas coming from the huge  tank farms.  
The tank farms wouldn't  have room for the gas coming  from the refining plants. And the refining plants wouldn't have room for the  oil being off loaded from the huge tankers  coming from the oil  fiends.

Just $10.00 each time you buy gas. Don't fill it up.  You  may have to stop for gas twice a week but, the price should come  down.

Think about it.

As an added note...When I buy $10.00 worth  of gas that leaves my tank a little under quarter full. The way prices are  jumping around, you can
buy gas for $2.65 a gallon and then the next morning  it can be $2.15. If you have your tank full of $2.65 gas you don't have room for  the $2.15 gas. You might not  understand the  economics of only buying  two eggs at a time but, you can't buy cheaper gas if your tank is full of the  high priced stuff.

Also, don't buy anything else at the gas station;  don't give them any more of your hard earned money than what you spend on  gas, until the prices come down..."

just think of this concept for a  while. 

Two Important Qualities,

First-year students at Med School were receiving their first anatomy Class with a real dead human body. They all gathered around the surgery table with the body covered with a white sheet.

The professor started the class by telling them, "In medicine, it is necessary to have 2 important qualities as a doctor: "The first is that you not be disgusted by anything involving the Human body".

For an example, the Professor pulled back the sheet, stuck his Finger in the butt of the corpse, withdrew it and stuck it in his mouth. "Go ahead and do the same thing," He told his students. The students freaked out, hesitated for several minutes, but eventually took turns sticking a finger in the butt of the dead body and licking on it.

When everyone finished, the Professor looked at them and said, "The Second most important quality is observation. I stuck in my middle finger and licked on my index finger. "Now learn to pay attention".

 

Career Guidelines

The Career Guides contains a wellspring of valueable  guideline on issues pertinent to both the job search and work life in general. Below are some ready guidelines for you:-

• How Do You Choose the Right Career Path for You?
  Choosing the right career eludes some of us right up until retirement. Be one of the lucky ones who have truly found their calling.
  Avoid Common Interview Mistakes
  Your professional CV and attention-grabbing cover letter are landing you interviews with your target companies yet somehow you are never able to make it past the interview stage. Make sure you are not suffering from the career-blowing deficiencies.

• Swiss business schools offer international students a great range of programs
  A recent study conducted by QS, the education and career network that organizes the QS World MBA Tour, revealed that 16% of potential MBA students from countries across the globe are considering Switzerland as their MBA destination. 24% of Europeans considered studying for their MBA in Switzerland.
• Now in India also like IMT Ghaziabad, U.P, India who is having its tie up with UK also & having its branch at U.A.E. also.
• 
  How Do You Choose the Right Career Path for You?  Choosing the right career eludes some of us right up until retirement. Be one of the lucky ones who have truly found their calling.

The Job Interview

• Tough Interview Questions:- How to Survive the Last Mile    Tips to survive some tough interview tactics in style
• The Thank You Letter  The interview went well, but don't forget the follow up! Please write an  thank you letters that show you are courteous, professional and well-suited for the job.

Career Management

• Women and the Corporate Ladder   Traditionally, women have faced more obstacles than men when it comes to climbing the corporate ladder.

Demand for MBAs by Region   More and more companies are global in their operations without ties to any one region, according to the QS TopMBA.com Recruiter Survey 2007. In total, 58 of the 489 recruiters responding to in a  survey had global responsibility for MBA hiring from top business schools. These global recruiters include strategy consulting firms, investment banks, and pharmaceutical companies, supplemented by a small number of companies in most other sectors.

 

T E A M

T olerance of one another's weaknesses.

E ncouragement of each other's efforts.

A cknowledgement that every person has something to offer.

M indfulness of how each person depends on the others for success.

 

How to Improve Your Memory & Exercise Your Brain

Everyone can take steps to improve their memory, and with time and practice most people can gain the ability to memorize seemingly impossible amounts of information. Whether you want to win the World Memory Championships, ace your history test, or simply remember where you put your keys, this article can get you started. Scientists believe that exercising your brain can create a ‘cognitive reserve’ that will help you stay sharp as you age.

1. Convince yourself that you do have a good memory that will improve. Too many people get stuck here and convince themselves that their memory is bad, that they are just not good with names, that numbers just slip out of their minds for some reason. Erase those thoughts and vow to improve your memory. Commit yourself to the task and bask in your achievements — it’s hard to keep motivated if you beat yourself down every time you make a little bit of progress.

2. Keep your brain active. The brain is not a muscle, but regularly “exercising” the brain actually does keep it growing and spurs the development of new nerve connections that can help improve memory. By developing new mental skills—especially complex ones such as learning a new language or learning to play a new musical instrument—and challenging your brain with puzzles and games you can keep your brain active and improve its physiological functioning.
3. Exercise daily. Regular aerobic exercise improves circulation and efficiency throughout the body, including in the brain, and can help ward off the memory loss that comes with aging. Exercise also makes you more alert and relaxed, and can thereby improve your memory uptake, allowing you to take better mental “pictures.”
4. Reduce stress. Chronic stress, although it does not physically damage the brain, can make remembering much more difficult. Even temporary stresses can make it more difficult to effectively focus on concepts and observe things. Try to relax, regularly practice yoga or other stretching exercises, and see a doctor if you have severe chronic stress.
5. Eat well and eat right. There are a lot of herbal supplements on the market that claim to improve memory, but none have yet been shown to be effective in clinical tests (although small studies have shown some promising results for ginkgo biloba and phosphatidylserine). A healthy diet, however, contributes to a healthy brain, and foods containing antioxidants—broccoli, blueberries, spinach, and berries, for example—and Omega-3 fatty acids appear to promote healthy brain functioning. Feed your brain with such supplements as Thiamine, Vitamin E, Niacin and Vitamin B-6. Grazing, eating 5 or 6 small meals throughout the day instead of 3 large meals, also seems to improve mental functioning (including memory) by limiting dips in blood sugar, which may negatively affect the brain.

6. Take better pictures. Often we forget things not because our memory is bad, but rather because our observational skills need work. One common situation where this occurs (and which almost everyone can relate to) is meeting new people. Often we don’t really learn people’s names at first because we aren’t really concentrating on remembering them. You’ll find that if you make a conscious effort to remember such things, you’ll do much better. One way to train yourself to be more observant is to look at an unfamiliar photograph for a few seconds and then turn the photograph over and describe or write down as many details as you can about the photograph. Try closing your eyes and picturing the photo in your mind. Use a new photograph each time you try this exercise, and with regular practice you will find you’re able to remember more details with even shorter glimpses of the photos.
7. Give yourself time to form a memory. Memories are very fragile in the short-term, and distractions can make you quickly forget something as simple as a phone number. The key to avoid losing memories before you can even form them is to be able to focus on the thing to be remembered for a while without thinking about other things, so when you’re trying to remember something, avoid distractions and complicated tasks for a few minutes.

8. Create vivid, memorable images. You remember information more easily if you can visualize it. If you want to associate a child with a book, try not to visualize the child reading the book – that’s too simple and forgettable. Instead, come up with something more jarring, something that sticks, like the book chasing the child, or the child eating the book. It’s your mind – make the images as shocking and emotional as possible to keep the associations strong.

9. Repeat things you need to learn. The more times you hear, see, or think about something, the more surely you’ll remember it, right? It’s a no-brainer. When you want to remember something, be it your new coworker’s name or your best friend’s birthday, repeat it, either out loud or silently. Try writing it down; think about it.

10. Group things you need to remember. Random lists of things (a shopping list, for example) can be especially difficult to remember. To make it easier, try categorizing the individual things from the list. If you can remember that, among other things, you wanted to buy four different kinds of vegetables, you’ll find it easier to remember all four.

11. Organize your life. Keep items that you frequently need, such as keys and eyeglasses, in the same place every time. Use an electronic organizer or daily planner to keep track of appointments, due dates for bills, and other tasks. Keep phone numbers and addresses in an address book or enter them into your computer or cell phone. Improved organization can help free up your powers of concentration so that you can remember less routine things. Even if being organized doesn’t improve your memory, you’ll receive a lot of the same benefits (i.e. you won’t have to search for your keys anymore).

12. Try meditation. Research now suggests that people who regularly practice “mindfulness” meditation are able to focus better and may have better memories. Mindfulness (also known as awareness or insight meditation) is the type commonly practiced in Western countries and is easy to learn. Studies at Massachusetts General Hospital show that regular meditation thickens the cerebral cortex in the brain by increasing the blood flow to that region. Some researchers believe this can enhance attention span, focus, and memory.

13. Sleep well. The amount of sleep we get affects the brain’s ability to recall recently learned information. Getting a good night’s sleep – a minimum of seven hours a night – may improve your short-term memory and long-term relational memory, according to recent studies conducted at the Harvard Medical School.

14. Build your memorization arsenal. Learn pegs, memory palaces, and the Dominic System. These techniques form the foundation for mnemonic techniques, and will visibly improve your memory.

15. Venture out and learn from your mistakes. Go ahead and take a stab at memorizing the first one hundred digits of pi, or, if you’ve done that already, the first one thousand. Memorize the monarchs of England through your memory palaces, or your grocery list through visualization. Through diligent effort you will eventually master the art of memorization.

 

How to Be Charming & Charismatic

Have you ever noticed how some people captivate everyone they speak to? No matter what they look like or how much money they have, they can walk into a room and instantly be the center of attention. When they leave, people think highly of them and want to emulate them. That’s charisma, a sort of magnetism that inspires confidence and adoration.

Like beauty, luck, and social position, charisma can open many doors in life. Unlike these other qualities, anyone can become more charismatic.

1. Improve your posture. Good posture will give the impression of self confidence (even if you don’t feel that way on the inside). While walking, maintain a relaxed yet definitive upright posture: spine long, shoulders back, head level with the ground. This may feel awkward or overpowering to you when you first practice it, but keep trying.
2. Relax the muscles in your face to the point where you have a natural, pleasant expression permanently engraved there. Face the world and show everyone you’re not afraid.
3. Make a connection. When your eyes come in contact with another person’s, nod and smile subtly with a subdued joy shining forth. Don’t worry about the other person’s reaction and don’t overdo it.
4. Remember people’s names when you meet them for the first time. This takes an enormous amount of effort for most people. Repeat the person’s name when stating your name to that person will help you to remember it better. For example: “Hi Jack, I’m Wendy.” Follow through with small talk and repeat the person’s name. Repeat it once more when you say goodbye. It’s not just about helping you to remember that person. The more you say a person’s name, the more that person will feel that you like them and the greater the chance they’ll warm up to you.
5. Be interested in people. If you meet a new acquaintance, for example a coworker, a classmate, a friend of a friend, etc. find out about their immediate family and interests. Be sure to ask after the names of family members and remember them. Be careful in that subject though you don’t want to be nosy. If you ask too much they will become uncomfortable. Also ask after their particular interests in life. These two topics will ensure much better small talk than just harping on about school or work. Most people don’t like to think about those things at social occasions unless they have to. Even if it is about networking, you should understand fully the worth of taking a break from talking shop. It is important to refrain from talking up about yourself. Be purely interested and impressed by the person with whom you are speaking.
6. Orient topics toward the audience. This means taking into account topics that interest those around you, even if you are not so keen on them. If you are in a sporty crowd, talk about last night’s game or the meteoric rise of a new team. If you are amongst a group of hobbyists, draw out their hobbies and make remarks related to fishing, knitting, mountain climbing, movies, etc. Nobody expects you to be an expert. It is your level of interest and willingness to engage in topics that makes you an interesting person to be around. Exercise an open mind. Let others do the explaining. If someone mistakenly thinks you know more about the topic, be genuine and simply say that your knowledge is limited but that you are hoping to learn more about it.
7. Praise others instead of gossiping. If you are talking with someone or you are talking in a group of people, and up pops the subject of another person in a positive or negative way, be the one to mention something you like about that person. Hearsay is the most powerful tool in gaining charm because it is always viewed as 100% sincere. It has the added benefit of creating trust in you. The idea will spread that you never have a bad word to say about anyone. Everyone will know that their reputation is safe with you.
8. Don’t Lie. A lie is something you say for which there is some direct evidence somewhere out there that contradicts it. If you tell Mary that you like Jane and Billy that you don’t like Jane, Mary and Billy will talk and your reputation will be ruined. No one will believe a word you say.
9. Issue compliments generously, especially to raise others’ self esteem. Try to pick out something that you appreciate in any situation and verbally express that appreciation. If you like something or someone, find a creative way to say it and say it immediately. If you wait too long, it may be viewed as insincere and badly timed, especially if others have beaten you to it. If you notice that someone is putting a lot of effort into something, compliment it, even if you feel that there is room for improvement. If you notice that someone has changed something about themselves haircut, manner of dress) notice it, and point out something you like about it. If you are asked directly, be charming and deflect the question with a very general compliment.
10. Be gracious in accepting compliments. Get out of the habit of assuming that the compliment is being given without genuine intent. Even when someone makes a compliment out of contempt, there is always a germ of jealous truth hiding in their own heart. Be effusive in accepting the compliment. Go beyond a mere “thank you” and enjoin this with “I’m glad you like it” or “It is so kind of you to have noticed.” These are “compliments in return.” Avoid backhanding a compliment. There is nothing worse to a person complimenting than to receive the response “Oh well I wish I was as ______ as you/that situation.” That is tantamount to saying, “No, I am not what you are saying I am, and your judgment is wrong.”
11. Control your tone of voice. The tone of your voice is crucial. Most people feel insecure somewhere inside and have an inability to accept praise. For this very reason, when you praise, do it subtly and glibly. When you say, “you look nice today” it should be in the exact same tone that you would use to say “it’s a nice day.” Any variation from your normal tone will arouse suspicion about your sincerity. Practice giving compliments into a recorder and play it back. Does it sound sincere? Practice until you get it right.. It might not sound right to you, in that case, ask someone for judgement.

Tips

• Developing charisma is an art. The general guidelines above can help you be more charismatic, but your charisma must come from within you and must reflect you as an individual or it will appear fake. Fortunately, everyone has the ability to be charismatic, and it simply needs to be coaxed out. Practice and take note of what works and what needs improvement.
• Don’t mimic others. People with well developed charisma have a remarkable ability not only to sway people’s opinions but also to cause others to emulate their personalities and even gestures. At the same time, however, research has shown that charismatic people do not emulate other charismatic people. Their individuality sets them apart.
• Have a message. Don’t be afraid to be controversial, to push the envelope. If you believe in something or feel strongly about it, communicate that in a respectful way. Your charisma will help people be accepting of your ideas.