Is multitasking a good thing?

By: Lori McMullin, APR, Director of Business Operations & Communications

Center for Business Excellence

A couple of weekends ago, my husband and I watched the movie, “I Don’t Know How She Does It,” starring Sarah Jessica Parker. Of course, we had a debate in front of the Red Box about whether or not it would be any good (hubby agreed it was).

Parker's overextended character is a brokerage firm professional who manages to juggle it all – amidst coming to work with pancake batter in her hair, remembering in the middle of coming home from a business trip she has promised to bake a pie for her daughter’s school bake sale the next morning, and so on. As she says, she keeps juggling, but never gets to toss anything to someone else. Sound familiar?

I found this interesting article on multitasking or, rather, how not to, and thought I’d share it with you:

http://zenhabits.net/how-not-to-multitask-work-simpler-and/

Finding Work, Life, Joy

By Suzy Kridner
Career Specialist
We're already three weeks into the new year and some of us are getting that harried, stressed out feeling again.
Holidays are fun and with Christmas and New Year's on a Sunday, we got extra time off from work, as well as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s holiday.
But it doesn't take long to get back on the treadmill at the office, or if you are unemployed, working at home job hunting, sending out resumes, networking and doing all you can to become employed again.
Speaking of treadmill, I did get to the gym this week for the first time in nearly two years. While I only lasted about 20 minutes, it was a start.
Fortunately, my gym is close to home and only $10 a month.
With the weekend starting, blogger Justine Grey Wise Bread has some ideas for enjoying life more and getting more time for yourself.
Read her article here.

Seven Easy Ways to Blow an Interview

Posted by: Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator


A colleague of mine recently provided me with the link to an article on seven pet peeves of interviewers. It has good information in it on things to avoid when you’re interviewing for that new job.

Click here to read the article.

The Art Form of Interviewing

Posted by: Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

You say your résumé is getting you interviews but you’re not getting the job.

Perhaps you need to take an objective look at what you’re doing during the interview. Here’s a short list of some of the things you should be doing during an interview.

1. Make eye contact with the interviewer
2. Have a firm but not bone crushing handshake (no limp noodles)
3. Dress appropriately
4. Present positive non-verbal signals
5. Use proper grammar
6. Good hygiene
7. Give honest, complete answers without rambling

Think of your interview as a sales meeting. You’re the product, so make sure you highlight your best features during the interview.

Coming next week - Seven Easy Ways to Blow an Interview

What is true success?

By: Lori McMullin, APR, Director of Business Operations & Communications

Center for Business Excellence

Success means different things to different people – and different things to the same people as they grow and evolve through life experience.

Lately, this is something I tend to ponder often as the subject seems to come up quite a bit. It is interesting to catch a glimpse every now and then into the minds of others on this subject.

As for me? Success is most definitely not defined by the car I drive or the house I live in. It isn’t found in the handbag I carry or fancy parties I may or may not attend.

Rather, it’s being content with what I have, who I am and who I surround myself with. That doesn’t mean I don’t want or aspire to certain things. It simply means I’d rather people recognize me for the good I try to do rather than the material things, etc.

I found an excellent link to lessons on the subject:

http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2009/01/23/life-lessons/

Make Your Workday a Healthy One

By Suzy Kridner
Career Specialist
We all try to eat healthy ... well sometimes. Exercise regularly ... well sometimes. And in general take care of ourselves and keep stress under control.
The new year is a time when many of us are thinking about changing our bad habits.
Whether you’re employed but worried about keeping your job, or unemployed and hoping to find a job this year, here are some tips from web entrepreneur Justine Grey for a healthier workday.
Your workday may be job hunting, but it’s still good to treat it like work.
Taking a break for a few minutes is one of my favorite stress relievers. Grey says when you do take a break, consider stepping outside your home or office. And here we don’t have to contend with snow or freezing temperatures (except for a few days a year.)
A quick way to help settle anxiety and mental stress is mediatation, according to Grey. Find a quiet spot to sit in a chair or on the floor. Keep your spine straight and close your eyes. Then, focus on breathing in deeply, holding your breath for two seconds, and letting the breath out slowly. Repeat this deep breathing for five minutes. Deep breathing can help refocus and regroup the mind while squashing stresses of the day.
Locally, Mental Health America of East Central Florida is sponsoring new Live Your Life Well Support groups in Daytona Beach and DeLand. The groups are for those having difficulty or experiencing stress in their lives, or for those who would like to learn new skills to improve their lives. For information, call 386-252-5785.
Read more of Grey’s tips in her web article, “8 Ways to a Healthier Workday.”

A Positive Beginning to a Great Year

Posted by: Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

Happy New Year 2012!

It’s a new year and a new beginning. Let’s think positive that this will be a good year.

Think positive! What does that mean? People are always telling other people to think positive. The recipients of those words, smile, shrug their shoulders or nod their heads, all the while thinking, “What do they mean ‘think positive’? I don’t understand.”

I’m going to tell you what it means to me to ‘think positive’. It means that in any given situation, think about the outcome you want. For example, if you’re going on a job interview think about what makes you qualified for the position, plan to wear an outfit that makes you look good, prepare the outfit ahead of time so you know that it’s ready. See yourself getting the job and going to work every day. DO NOT let any negative thoughts enter your mind. If you start thinking negative thoughts about the interview, crush them like a bug.

If you’re a negative kind of person this will be more difficult for you because you’re creating a new habit of positive thinking. If you put forth the required effort and allow sufficient time you can create a new habit of positive thinking.

There are those people that don’t believe in the power of positive thought. If you’re one of those people, think about this. What do you have to lose by changing to more positive thoughts? The truth is you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Albert Einstein