Image on Wheels

Would you be proud of your car or embarrassed if you had to give your boss a ride somewhere?

According to a recent survey by Shell, 64 percent of those who responded said that they would be proud of their car. Here are the results of the survey:
Proud 64%
I don't have a boss 9%
Don't know 12%
Embarrassed 15%

Furthermore, the kind of car you drive and the condition in which you keep it speaks volumes about your personality. For example, if your car is clean and in good condition, it says that you take good care of yourself and your belongings. If your car is beat up, littered with trash, and hasn't seen a car wash in years, you may be perceived as sloppy, lazy and untidy.

Dressing the Part

If you haven't updated your look or your wardrobe in a decade, it's probably time for a makeover. To management, your outdated style could signify that you are an outdated thinker. Likewise, if you dress like Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan you could be sending the message that you are flighty, flirty, and irresponsible. If you want to move up the ladder of success,you have to dress for the job you want, not the job you have. You have to wear what management is wearing.

If you're a man, I recommend that you check out one of my favorite sites, www.askandyaboutclothes.com. This website, developed by Andy Gilchrist, is devoted to men's clothing, what to wear, how to wear it properly, and the history of why men wear what they do.

The Write Stuff Can Set You Apart

While growing up, my mother always insisted that I write a thank-you note to every friend or relative who sent me a gift. Perhaps that's why I love to give and receive beautiful handwritten notes to this day. My idea of a great shopping trip always includes a visit to a stationery store since I love to splurge and buy beautiful stationery.

Since 1878, Dempsey & Carroll has provided fine stationery to political leaders, the social set, and Hollywood icons. The company's commitment to craft, exacting standards, meticulous attention to detail and warm customer service have distinguished its business for the truly discriminating. But you don't have to be rich and famous to afford this little luxury.

Since I travel so much, I like to send notes to friends while I'm on the road. This gold beveled card with a gold suitcase is one of my favorites. Send these when you want to leave a lasting impression and when a simple postcard just won't do. $55 for 10 cards and 10 tissue lined envelopes. To see Dempsey & Carroll's full line of stationery, visit their website at www.dempseyandcarroll.com or call 877/750-1878.

"Good in a Room" Helps you Put Your Best Foot Forward in a Sales Situation

Have you ever tried to pitch an idea to your boss only to find that it was shot down before it was given a chance? Life is a series of sales situations in which many times you have to prove that your idea is as good, if not better, than someone else's. Sometimes it is what you say and how you say it that can make or break a deal or decision.

When the time comes to sell yourself, your product, or idea in a high-stakes situation, even the most experienced person can ruin a golden opportunity if they don't know how to make the right pitch. Even in a job interview, hiring decisions tend to look past differences in resume quality and focus on how the candidate performs in the room.

My friend Stephanie Palmer has just published a book that I think you will find extremely useful. Stephanie was MGM’s Director of Creative Affairs and her book, Good in a Room: How To Sell Yourself and Your Ideas and Win Over Any Audience, is in stores now. The book explains the pitching techniques used in the room by successful writers and directors and how you can apply them to sell spec scripts, set up TV shows, land directing assignments, and secure financing for independent films. I recommend it highly!

To read an excerpt or learn more, please visit http://www.goodinaroom.com.

Is Deleting Technology the Answer?

In its most recent annual study, the Institute for Business Technology determined that the average U.S. professional spends 9.4 hours each week just managing email. And that doesn't count the time spent actually writing or answering them! It all adds up to $650 billion in lost productivity for American firms, according to one estimate.

Okay, I admit it. I am one of the few who doesn't own a Blackberry. It doesn't bother me not to have one however, a part of me would like to have what everybody else has... a status item sans the stress. When I travel, I take my laptop and my Sprint aircard so I have access to the Internet every place I go. However, I can't check email on the fly like everybody else. But, as strange as it may seem, I am content that I'm not "connected" 24/7.

I cherish my down time and I enjoy checking email at certain times of the day. And if someone really wants to reach me in an emergency they can always call me. Speaking of calling, have you noticed that your land line doesn't ring as much as it did four or five years ago? My land line seldom rings anymore. That tells me that more people rely on email to communicate.

So if you email me and I don't respond right away, it isn't because I don't care or think your message is unimportant. It's simply because I'm managing my time wisely.

Here are five ways to cut the time (and money) it costs to process email on your Blackberry or PC:

1. Think of messages in terms of monetary value; ignore anything worthless.
2. Create an email filing system that reflects the way you think.
3. Simply send fewer emails. You'll receive fewer emails.
4. Delete without reading any emails that cc you and two or more recipients.
5. Set regular times each day to respond to email and stick to them.

Source: Institute for Business Technology

Etiquette Tips to Make Your Valentine's Day Smooth and Sweet

Valentine’s Day a magical time when love is in the air and romance is in full bloom. However, the taste of romance can turn sour when certain protocols of dating are breached. Your Valentine's Day can be a lot sweeter if you keep the following etiquette tips in mind.

Plan Ahead

Give as much notice as possible when making your restaurant reservation. Most restaurants are booked several weeks prior to the holidays. By booking early, you increase your chances of getting a good table with the best view. For maximum privacy, request a table that is not situated near the kitchen, the entrance, or the restrooms.

Be on time for your date. Tardiness does not reflect well on you. It tells your date that she is not important enough for you to make an effort to be punctual. A few minutes behind schedule is acceptable to most people but if you are running extremely late, show your respect by calling and apologizing.

Restaurant Etiquette

If you are paying for dinner, you are also responsible for choosing the restaurant. Consider your date’s interests and tastes when making your selection.

If you are the host, allow your date to select their menu choices before you make your own. If your budget permits expensive items, make suggestions to your date by saying, “The lobster is excellent.”

When your food arrives, eat at a moderate pace so that you can focus less on the food and more on your date. Never take or make a call on your cell phone or send a text message at the table. To make a good impression, give your date your full, undivided attention.

Who Pays?

The question of who pays for what on a date can be complicated. Traditionally, the man was expected to pay for everything but like many traditions the custom has changed and molded itself into the new society to allow for common sense. Today, the cost of a date is sometimes split or the woman may offer to pick up the tab. Just remember…the person who does the inviting is responsible for paying. Nothing ruins a great dinner faster than learning that your host has no intention of paying the bill.

The Art of Gift Giving

Pamper your date with a genuine compliment such as telling him how nice he looks. A compliment should be received graciously and not be dismissed by saying something like, “These pants are so old; I just haven’t had the opportunity to wear them until now.”

As a token of your love or friendship, present your date with a gift. The price of the gift will depend on how well you know each other and how long you’ve been dating. Flowers are a popular choice this time of year. Red roses are traditionally associated with romantic love. But flowers today have a much broader vocabulary and a favorite color or flower can express just the right sentiment. Many people prefer yellow, pink, peach and white roses. Unconventional colors such as lavender and orange roses are also becoming more popular. Men and women alike enjoy houseplants and orchids.

Other popular gifts include fine chocolates, a bottle of wine or champagne, scented candles, a cookie bouquet, or a decorative picture frame. Gift cards to the movies, Starbucks, an online bookstore or tickets to a musical or sporting event can also please a variety of people.

Show Your Gratitude

Thank your date as a means to show your gratitude. With a positive attitude, you can always find something nice to say, even if the evening proves to be less than perfect. If you had a nice time, call your date the next day or write a thank-you note as soon as possible.

Get Your Annual Pap Test! Jacqueline Whitmore Stresses Importance of Regular Screenings During January – Cervical Health Awareness Month

Approximately 10,000 American women will learn they have cervical cancer/HPV this year, and nearly 4,000 will die from an advanced form of the disease. January is Cervical Health Awareness Month and I am dedicated to educating women about the importance of the Pap test as a screening tool for cervical cancer/HPV and about vaccines that can further reduce the burden of this devastating disease.

In 2001, I was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in situ (the early stages of cervical cancer). That's why I feel it’s important to start the year right and make your health a priority. If you are a woman, I encourage you to contact your health care provider to schedule a Pap test to check for cervical cancer. This screening is a crucial part of a woman’s health care regimen, yet one that many overlook.

Sometimes we get too busy with our jobs and caring for other people that we oftentimes forget to care for ourselves. That was my case. I focused so much of my time and attention on my new business that I neglected to get my routine check-ups. I had no symptoms and did not feel sick so I didn’t feel the need to get my Pap test for four consecutive years! It wasn’t until I went to Canyon Ranch Health Resort in Tucson, Arizona for a speaking engagement that I met a nurse who encouraged me to get a check-up. In retrospect, I believe that she was an angel in disguise. If it weren’t for her advice, I might not have gotten tested that year and may not be alive today.

I am also grateful for my OBGYN, Dr. Laura Weston, for using the ThinPrep Pap test, which detected my adinocarcinoma insitu (the early stages of cervical cancer). I recently saw Dr. Weston for a check-up and had my picture taken with her.

Finally, don’t forget to ask your doctor for an HPV test if you are at least 30 years of age or over. Once you reach your 30th birthday, your risk of long-term HPV infection and cervical cancer becomes greater. At that time, you should begin getting the HPV test along with your Pap, no matter what your Pap result. Getting both tests together offers the most peace of mind.

I am happy to report that I am very healthy today. However, if you or someone you love is battling issues related to cervical cancer, there is a website that can help you. It is the National Cervical Cancer Coalition’s website: www.nccc-online.org. The NCCC is the only organization dedicated exclusively to helping women address concerns about cervical health and disease.