It's really cool that we live in a day and age in which having several different careers is completely doable. I have a similar goal (writing a book, doing other freelance gigs, in addition to a few other things), and I'm excited to think that I CAN do these things. I know that jack-n-jills-of-all-trades have been around for centuries, but at the same time, it's becoming increasingly possible for lots of people to do it.
It's especially heartening after taking all those damn tests in high school that told me that I should either be clergy (ha!) or a teacher (double ha!). Remember when you believed that a career was a big, one-time decision that you were stuck with for the rest of your life? A lie!
Just like needing to write in cursive. Man, they lied a lot to us.
Andrea wrote: "So, I recently learned a couple more signs from some drinking buddies: 1. The boss gathered everyone into a room and asked "Who here is feeling a little overwhelmed? We'd like to make sure that you have all the help you need, so tell us if things are getting out of hand" and you raised your hand. You'll be gone in six months."
That's true only if you work for a horrible manager. A competent manager isn't going to fire someone for being honest in that situation (assuming that it's reasonable for someone in their position to be overwhelmed). I'm a manager and I ask my employees this periodically; it's because I know that lots of people are afraid to speak up if they need help, and that's not good for anyone. I'm grateful when people are honest with me. But, of course, if your manager sucks, that won't apply.
I come from Pakistan and you should eat the carrots there - especially in winter - They are sweet sweet sweet!!! You don't need to baby them or anything. Just eat it. They are fabulous!!!
Actually, this article is describing "baby-cut carrots." This is an important distinction from real baby carrots, which are carrots picked early when they are very small. True baby carrots will only be found in fine restaurants, maybe the farmer's market, or your backyard. All small, packaged carrots at the supermarket are baby-cut carrots. If these packages are labeled as baby carrots, this is a violation of the FDA's Standards of Identity.
at least you have some time to do something about it. Remember, forewarned is forearmed. Get your resume up to date and go get a better job. Then quit, and feel that accomplishment of knowing you did it to them before they did it to you.
Sorry, your link took me nowhere. I used several sources for my research, as well as my own experiences, and this CIO magazine may have been one of them. As far as I know, I have written the most extensive list out there. I don't rip-off articles, it's not my style.
Amazingly enough, they never taught about the financial section of functions in my Excel class in college (or at least I don't remember them!). A very timely and helpful article as my husband and I are about to buy our first house. Thank you. :)
Everyone at my company are on pins and needles except for upper management. We've had over 20 people quit in the last 3 months. I got written up for 6 months for explaining my side of a work-related situation. I'm sitting at work right now writing this. I've given up...I'm putting out resumes and waiting to get fired. Sigh...
As a postal worker,my duties at the plant have become slim to none. I'm not sure if I'm going to make it to the christmas rush. No one talks to me anymore, not that they did much in the first place. I can't help but feel that people are conspiring against me. To be brief, if I'm going down, how do I take as many people as possible with me? Thanks in advance!
As someone who's been on the receiving end of numbers 1, 6, 8, 9, 11, 14, 16, 17 and 20 (all at once) I'm hoping someone sees this and gets out while the getting is good. That smarts. I still haven't fully rec-overed and it's over 2 years ago...
So, I recently learned a couple more signs from some drinking buddies:
1. The boss gathered everyone into a room and asked "Who here is feeling a little overwhelmed? We'd like to make sure that you have all the help you need, so tell us if things are getting out of hand" and you raised your hand. You'll be gone in six months.
2. Depending on the organization, have you been in the exact same position for several years? I'm not talking promotions; some companies, like Microsoft, prefer to move people around constantly. Stay in one area for too long, and they start thinking that you lack the talent to be useful to more than one area of the company.
Thanks for the links. I have used openoffice.org before to translate Word files to PDF files - it's a great tooll and as you mention there are more free ones. I know there are a ton of calculation tools out there but I wanted to 1) show people how to build their own schedule and 2) (more importantly) begin the process of showing how to play with the schedule to determine the impact of extra payments and also show the logic (or lack thereof) behind the MMA - Money Merge Account programs; articles to follow.
You can also download a free "pretty" version of an amortization excel spreadsheet at Mugrosoft... er, Microsoft Templates. Requires Excel 2000 or higher.
Might want to mention that this template (as well as the one you posted here will work just fine with the free office suite OpenOffice.org (http://openoffice.org
A lot of people avoid doing these calculations because creating this type of worksheets is just too time consuming. Thanks for stepping up and providing us a great tool!
I'm fortunate that I've never been fired yet, but I was in an agency that was going down the tubes and at one point we had no receptionist, were answering our own phones, the staff went from 20 to 8 in three months and we lost 2 accounts. Myself and my art director ran away as fast as we could. As it turns out, they survived, but when you see warning signs it's best to act on them.
Great post on an important subject. I just wanted to point out something about recycling for those who mentioned it. We often believe that recycling is one of the best things we can do for the environment. Of course, it is extremely important and everyone should make an effort to recycle, but waste prevention is much more effective. The energy used to recycle plastic (or paper...) is also a precious resource. Honestly, I'm not sure how it works, but it requires electricity, fuel and water. The energy spared from not consuming (a plastic bottle in this case, but also paper...) is huge- not buying the plastic bottle saves the energy (and petroleum) of producing, transporting and recycling.
The same goes for much of what we consume. Less is better.
Freecycle.org is this same idea, but on a much larger scale (and focused completely on exchanging items for free, unlike Craigslist). Join your local group and you can be hooked into thousands of people in your town, post wanted ads - the whole nine yards. It increases your chances exponentially from just emailing friends or friends of friends.
It's really cool that we live in a day and age in which having several different careers is completely doable. I have a similar goal (writing a book, doing other freelance gigs, in addition to a few other things), and I'm excited to think that I CAN do these things. I know that jack-n-jills-of-all-trades have been around for centuries, but at the same time, it's becoming increasingly possible for lots of people to do it.
It's especially heartening after taking all those damn tests in high school that told me that I should either be clergy (ha!) or a teacher (double ha!). Remember when you believed that a career was a big, one-time decision that you were stuck with for the rest of your life? A lie!
Just like needing to write in cursive. Man, they lied a lot to us.
Andrea wrote: "So, I recently learned a couple more signs from some drinking buddies: 1. The boss gathered everyone into a room and asked "Who here is feeling a little overwhelmed? We'd like to make sure that you have all the help you need, so tell us if things are getting out of hand" and you raised your hand. You'll be gone in six months."
That's true only if you work for a horrible manager. A competent manager isn't going to fire someone for being honest in that situation (assuming that it's reasonable for someone in their position to be overwhelmed). I'm a manager and I ask my employees this periodically; it's because I know that lots of people are afraid to speak up if they need help, and that's not good for anyone. I'm grateful when people are honest with me. But, of course, if your manager sucks, that won't apply.
http://AskAManager.blogspot.com/
I come from Pakistan and you should eat the carrots there - especially in winter - They are sweet sweet sweet!!! You don't need to baby them or anything. Just eat it. They are fabulous!!!
Actually, this article is describing "baby-cut carrots." This is an important distinction from real baby carrots, which are carrots picked early when they are very small. True baby carrots will only be found in fine restaurants, maybe the farmer's market, or your backyard. All small, packaged carrots at the supermarket are baby-cut carrots. If these packages are labeled as baby carrots, this is a violation of the FDA's Standards of Identity.
at least you have some time to do something about it. Remember, forewarned is forearmed. Get your resume up to date and go get a better job. Then quit, and feel that accomplishment of knowing you did it to them before they did it to you.
17 and 20 describe my current status
-Siplin
Your site is very informative, and well put together. I have book marked it so I can refer back to it from time to time. Thanks a bunch!
Can't beat cookies. I saw a recipe for bananas in syrup that I hope to try someday soon.
Sorry, your link took me nowhere. I used several sources for my research, as well as my own experiences, and this CIO magazine may have been one of them. As far as I know, I have written the most extensive list out there. I don't rip-off articles, it's not my style.
Amazingly enough, they never taught about the financial section of functions in my Excel class in college (or at least I don't remember them!). A very timely and helpful article as my husband and I are about to buy our first house. Thank you. :)
Everyone at my company are on pins and needles except for upper management. We've had over 20 people quit in the last 3 months. I got written up for 6 months for explaining my side of a work-related situation. I'm sitting at work right now writing this. I've given up...I'm putting out resumes and waiting to get fired. Sigh...
http://www.cio.com.au/index.php/id;202416649;fp;;fpid;;pf;1
I read this last year where a lady bakes her cookies on the dash board. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14174161/
As a postal worker,my duties at the plant have become slim to none. I'm not sure if I'm going to make it to the christmas rush. No one talks to me anymore, not that they did much in the first place. I can't help but feel that people are conspiring against me. To be brief, if I'm going down, how do I take as many people as possible with me? Thanks in advance!
As someone who's been on the receiving end of numbers 1, 6, 8, 9, 11, 14, 16, 17 and 20 (all at once) I'm hoping someone sees this and gets out while the getting is good. That smarts. I still haven't fully rec-overed and it's over 2 years ago...
Dandelions a diuretic. Fascinating.
Dr. Dorree Lynn
http://www.fiftyandfurthermore.com
So, I recently learned a couple more signs from some drinking buddies:
1. The boss gathered everyone into a room and asked "Who here is feeling a little overwhelmed? We'd like to make sure that you have all the help you need, so tell us if things are getting out of hand" and you raised your hand. You'll be gone in six months.
2. Depending on the organization, have you been in the exact same position for several years? I'm not talking promotions; some companies, like Microsoft, prefer to move people around constantly. Stay in one area for too long, and they start thinking that you lack the talent to be useful to more than one area of the company.
Thanks for the links. I have used openoffice.org before to translate Word files to PDF files - it's a great tooll and as you mention there are more free ones. I know there are a ton of calculation tools out there but I wanted to 1) show people how to build their own schedule and 2) (more importantly) begin the process of showing how to play with the schedule to determine the impact of extra payments and also show the logic (or lack thereof) behind the MMA - Money Merge Account programs; articles to follow.
You can also download a free "pretty" version of an amortization excel spreadsheet at Mugrosoft... er, Microsoft Templates. Requires Excel 2000 or higher.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC010566201033.aspx
Might want to mention that this template (as well as the one you posted here will work just fine with the free office suite OpenOffice.org (http://openoffice.org
A lot of people avoid doing these calculations because creating this type of worksheets is just too time consuming. Thanks for stepping up and providing us a great tool!
I'm fortunate that I've never been fired yet, but I was in an agency that was going down the tubes and at one point we had no receptionist, were answering our own phones, the staff went from 20 to 8 in three months and we lost 2 accounts. Myself and my art director ran away as fast as we could. As it turns out, they survived, but when you see warning signs it's best to act on them.
I meant no harm, it was a genuine mistake. I have righted my wrong, and hope you will take a leaf out of the great man's book and forgive me. Thanks.
This is an great list. I have seen some of these lists before but this seems most complete. Thanks for putting these together.
Brian http://bsjpark.blogspot.com/
Great post on an important subject. I just wanted to point out something about recycling for those who mentioned it. We often believe that recycling is one of the best things we can do for the environment. Of course, it is extremely important and everyone should make an effort to recycle, but waste prevention is much more effective. The energy used to recycle plastic (or paper...) is also a precious resource. Honestly, I'm not sure how it works, but it requires electricity, fuel and water. The energy spared from not consuming (a plastic bottle in this case, but also paper...) is huge- not buying the plastic bottle saves the energy (and petroleum) of producing, transporting and recycling.
The same goes for much of what we consume. Less is better.
Freecycle.org is this same idea, but on a much larger scale (and focused completely on exchanging items for free, unlike Craigslist). Join your local group and you can be hooked into thousands of people in your town, post wanted ads - the whole nine yards. It increases your chances exponentially from just emailing friends or friends of friends.