Young Urban Professional's nOOk![]() Young Urban Professional's nOOk a discussion hub on career jobs, business, lifestyle, money, current events, blogging, acoustic music, and more Articles
A Yuppie Advise: Easy Start-up Financing
2008-01-11 10:52:00 Okay, ‘am not the one in the picture, that was borrowed. Here we go again, another brief on money issue. If you are starting a small business, how do you choose the right start up financing? As money rule of thumb, these three important criteria should easily be met by a good start-up financing facility, namely: Easy processing of application, Fast Approval, and Excellent customer service. If these criteria are not met, find another startup financing provider.Visit also these cool BLOGS: My Sense and Sensibility HRM Business Practices Briefs More About: Financing , Start-Up , Start
Right Solution for Employees’ Time Pilferage
2008-01-03 21:47:00 If you are an employee, most likely you are guilty of time pilferage once in a while. Time is a very precious commodity for employers or business owners. Time can mean cost or investment. It can also mean profit or loss. Hence, an employee time tracking solution is indispensable in their operations. While they treasure it, employees tend to devalue it. Somehow, I noticed that occasionally we put value on it only when the payroll section miscalculated our over time pays.Time pilferage is a serious issue, and is a terminable offense in some companies. When or how does an employee commit this? Time pilferage is committed when:we are always late for work;we ‘over-break’ or we extend break beyond the time allotted;we don’t finish our task/s on time;we do other things than what we are paid for (I am sure, you will be able to fill a 11x 8 paper in less than 30 minutes for the list of these things –I’ll bet on that ^_^);work off-site and we fail to log our correct time render... More About: Solution
Lead Management Software
2008-01-03 16:28:00 Marketing, promotional, and advertising campaigns will become exercises in futility if they do not generate leads that are eventually converted into sales. Companies spent billions of dollars a year for these activities, however, it seems that only a few pay attention on lead management.The true essence of Customer Relationship Management or CRM begins when you take care first of your sales leads. These leads are your 2nd bases of the sales innings –if I may use that baseball metaphor. The actual sale is touching the homerun plate. However, often times we neglect the importance these leads and we simply let them slip away.A Lead Management Software developed by AIMpromote is an excellent tool to help you take care of your sales leads until they are converted into loyal customers. This solution combines unique features, streamlined workflow, unprecedented ease-of-use, and exceptional customer service to give your business a competitive advantage. It is an on-demand web-based...
Slowing Down, Not Lagging Behind
2007-12-29 10:15:00 According to Barbara Kovach in Survival on the Fast Track, there comes a time in the career of every ambitious person when it is necessary to slow down a bit. The Reason is this: At some point in your race up the ladder, some insecure-yet-powerful senior managers will begin to see you as competition. They will begin to focus on your flaws and look for reasons to push you off the track. Though your opinion once counted, you may begin to be ignored.Kovach, who studied the lives of those who made it to or near the top, found that this is normal transitional period. The thing to do at this point is slow down. She offers the following advices:1. Give up a competitive orientation for cooperative one.2. Develop interpersonal rather than achievement-oriented skills.3. Replace an emphasis on substance with one style.Accompanying those three are the following points of learning:1. The team is more important than the individual.2. Merit alone will not carry you to the top3. You must be tolera...
An Excellent Employee Time Tracking Solution
2007-12-28 14:35:00 ClockSpot is now considered as one of the preferred employee time tracking solution for small and big businesses alike. Here are two of the testimonials:"We spent months looking for an affordable online time clock solution for our clinics. Clockspot was by far the most robust and affordable web time clock we came across. "Dr. Chen-Kung Ho, M.D.Neocare of Central Georgia, inc."Keeping our timesheet online helps us keep our sanity managing remote employees. I can't imagine going back to Excel speedsheets and dealing with data syncs after using Clockspot. "William MooreUnderwave Technologies, LLCWhy invest on ClockSpot?It is a practical solution for business whose operations consist of deploying and monitoring field personnel. This is the easiest way to track employees’ time anywhere, anytime. Their online timesheet and phone time clock is accessible via phone or internet.It helps businesses of any size prevent further losses due to time wasted or pilfered by employees simply bec... More About: Time , Tracking , Employee , Solution , Excellent
Give Back to Your Community, Give for A Cause
2007-12-27 16:11:00 One way for a young professional or young businessman to make an impact to his community is by giving back a part of his earnings or profits to charitable institutions or worthy causes. One such cause, I would recommend Charity Boat Donations through BoatAngel. They accept boat donations and sells them at ebay for the purpose of creating and distributing absolutely Free DVDs. Recently, they have just completed their anti-drug-use documentary film D.O.P.E., which stars skateboard legends Jay Adams from Dogtown's Z Boys, Christian Hosoi, Dennis Martinez (world champion), Bruce Logan (world skateboarding champion). The movie portrays their rise to fame, fall into prohibited drugs, their freedom from addiction. Below is a sample trailer of this very informative and inspiring movie:I have always campaigned against drug-addiction, for I have seen how some of my friends and peers wasted their lives because of this vicious vice. Your donations at BoatAngel will help further this cause... More About: Community , Back , Give
Dubai Apartments
2007-12-27 14:01:00 Dubai can either refer to one of the seven emirates that constitute the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the eastern Arabian Peninsula, or that emirate's main city, sometimes called "Dubai city" to distinguish it from the emirate. It is situated on the Persian Gulf coast of the United Arab Emirates and is roughly at sea level (16 m/52 ft above). The emirate of Dubai shares borders with Abu Dhabi in the south, Sharjah in the northeast, and the Sultanate of Oman in the southeast. Hatta, a minor exclave of the emirate, is surrounded on three sides by Oman and by the emirates of Ajman (in the west) and Ras Al Khaimah (in the north). The Persian Gulf borders the western coast of the emirate. (Wikipedia)Dubai lies directly within the Arabian Desert. However, the topography of Dubai is significantly different from that of the southern portion of the UAE in that much of Dubai's landscape is highlighted by sandy desert patterns, while gravel deserts dominate much of the southern region of the... More About: Apartments , Dubai
Start 2008 Right by Being Thankful!
2007-12-27 06:32:00 One of the best long-term investments in self-management and managing people is a well-placed "thank you." It seems, as if, it is almost impossible to bank too much on this kind of currency. We need to know that we are recognized by others as having made a contribution to our department or organization. We need to be affirmed as an individual in the role we are playing. We want our efforts to be recognized in public. This one of our important basic human needs according to Maslow.If you tend to be a problem solver -as I do -you may be emphasizing needed improvements rather than past accomplishments more often. This kind of emphasis sometimes fills up so much of our view of the world that we forget to be grateful, both to others and to our Maker, for all the good things we see and we have.A daily routine of identifying or recognizing a task well done with a note, a short email, a SMS, a phone call, or a personal word of commendation will open up communication channels among your peer... More About: Start , 2008
Medical Assistant Training Programs
2007-12-26 07:53:00 “According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are about 800,000 doctors in practice in the United States, with only 500,000 medical assistants working for them. As such, the medical assistant field is expected to grow substantially within the next ten years, especially as more doctors become overloaded with patients. The job is challenging, but there are many rewards, not in the least the chance to provide patients with the best care available.” (www.medical-assistant-training-schools.o rg)This is good news to those who are aspiring to become medical assistants. But it is not easy. To grab this opportunity, one who aspires must undergo medical assistant training programs that will hone his / her skills and core competencies needed to be successful in this field. Medical assistants are important support staff for medical practitioners. They help alleviate some of the administrative tasks that are usually necessary but may take the time and energies of doctors. To b... More About: Programs , Training , Assistant
Furnace Filters
2007-12-26 06:19:00 According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency indoor air is two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Replacing your furnace filters periodically is imperative. A quality furnace filter from WEB Products is your primary defense against air-quality problems specially this cold season.There are many factors that affect indoor air-quality, but bad and clogged air filters are the most common culprits. Check your air filters regularly and have them replaced when warranted.Visit also these cool BLOGS: My Sense and Sensibility HRM Business Practices Briefs More About: Filters
How important is a Graduate Degree in Career Success?
2007-12-24 04:10:00 “The demand for marketing, advertising, promotions and public relations managers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012.” -U.S. Department of Labor’s 2004-05 Occupational Outlook HandbookIf this is true, those of us who are pursuing careers in these fields should also consider graduate degrees. MBA in Marketing, Finance, Economics, HRM and other graduate programs are usually being pursued by those who aspire for management positions. Most young professionals, I noticed, tend to shun pursuing higher education. Some would even contend that it is a waste of efforts, expensive, and simply time-consuming, Further; they aver that you can succeed without a graduate degree strap on your shoulders. I agree on the latter, partly because education or a degree is only one of many contributing factors in career success. On the other hand, I disagreed on the former contentions. Graduate degrees has merits on their own, and would sometimes prove to b... More About: Success , Career , Degree
My Last Yuppie Advice for 2007
2007-12-21 06:14:00 With 10 days remaining for 2007, there is nothing much to do. My son and I were packed and ready to go in less than 24 hours for our holiday vacation in Hawaii. I am already off from work and will resume on January 2, 2008. While I will continue posting here, let me just leave this last yuppie advice; something that you might want to digest through the holidays. Have you considered thinking or contemplating about these things?Once I get out of high school I am going to see the world in travel... Once I finish college I am going to see the world and travel... Once I get married I am going to travel with my spouse After our kids are older we are going to see the world and travel... When our kids get out of high school we are going to see the world and travel... As soon as we retire we are going to see the world and travel... Now, I am out of school, kids are gone and I am retired if I was younger and my health was better I would see the world and travel.I did. I don’t want to th... More About: Advice
Save Time and Money for Your Business through Clockspot
2007-12-21 05:43:00 Here is an excellent tool to employee time tracking for small business owners or for those who manages off-site personnel – Clockspot. This is an online time sheet equivalent to that old-time card and bandy clock. It is the easiest way to track employee time from anywhere. Every day, businesses lose thousands of dollars paying employees for time they didn't work. Clockspot will help your business save time and money through this innovative online time clock. Here are its salient features and benefits:Clockspot is ideal for business with off-site personnel. Employees can log-in by phone or through the internet.Clockspot is secure. You can specify where your employees log-in by assigning a specific IP address or computer.Clockspot can track how much an employee spends to accomplish a given task; hence you can allocate specific and realistic time frames for any projects. More so, it can generate real-time reports of on-going projects.Clockspot can give you an insight on how your... More About: Business , Money , Time , Save
Alcoholism and Drug Addiction: Siamese Twins of Social Disorders
2007-12-20 23:41:00 This might easily be construed as an off-beat entry here, but it’s not. I have always been an anti-drug-use advocate since college. Not only that, I was an alcoholic myself. I never realized it, ‘till this problem wreaked havoc in my career and relationships. I had to seek help and undergo treatment to free myself from alcoholism. Some of us may have these problems without realizing it. In a brief, what is addiction? How does one get out this bondage?“Addiction is defined as an overuse of any substance that changes the natural chemical balance of the brain. It is basically agreed upon that addiction encompasses biological, psychological, and behavioral factors.” Though addiction can be identified easily as an individual problem, it does not negate the fact that alcoholism and drug addiction are Siamese twins of social disorders. These social ills transcend classes in our society. These are not problems that plagued only the rich and the famous, because they have an unli... More About: Social , Twins , Drug , Disorders
Uncluttering your clutters
2007-12-19 16:48:00 'Clutters' greatly affect our way of life. They derail us from our goals and objectives. They cause us to lose sight of our priorities. Worse, we end-up so tired at the end of the day without accomplishing anything significant. Frustrating huh.Take this: we wake up one day and knew that everything is in order. We know what we are going to do and probably had a list of priorities, albeit, unexpected 'clutters' appear from nowhere and you are caught in a myriad of difficult situations. What are your options?Sometime ago, I read this story:Not long ago great flocks of migratory birds overwhelmed airport radar systems at Des Moines, Omaha, Nebraska and Kansas City. The computerized radar systems were 'knocked-out' for hours after they tried to process information on thousands of transient geese. There was pandemonium all over the place as planes where put on a standby and those that were about to land created great jitters and fears to those manning the tower because their radar s...
All in a Day’s Work: Working Away from Home (Part 2 of 2)
2007-12-18 23:26:00 By Shiera*Majority of the Japanese don't speak English so they might avoid engaging conversation with a foreigner officemate. Maybe that's one of the reasons why I never even knew the names of the persons seated next to me.As a Filipino, I'm fond of eating every 30 minutes or so. If I were in the Philippines, a pack of potato chips wouldn't usually last for more than 5 minutes if I ever decide to pass it around. In here, you'd think twice of doing that. The Japanese are so polite that most of the time, they won't refuse even if they want to. I've stayed here long enough to have learned suppressing my self from passing food around.How serious should you be at work? I've been glancing at my officemates' screens as far as my myopic eyes could see and yes, you guessed it right. I've never seen a non-work related window in their screens during work hours. How do they ever remain awake after staring at the documents or the source code? I should really ask tips from them.How l... More About: Home , Work , Part , Working , Workin
Data Management with NOAH
2007-12-18 10:00:00 The laptop probably is one of the single piece of equipment that I cannot live without today. My life seems to revolve around it. My work, finances, special projects, purchases (yeah that includes my shopping and grocery list), personal stuff, and almost everything else are managed in my ThinkPad single handedly. Still, I am looking for an application that I can use to organize these in one single interface. While outlook is quite efficient, I am still looking for a single platform that can efficiently manage these things. Then, came Noah .Noah is an award winning data management software that can virtually organize and manage all your computing stuff in a single interface –online or off-line.Emails, web bookmarks, working files or docs, contacts, it's all in there somewhere. But how do you dig through the thousands of ad-mails and spam-mails to find that really important one from your client, or your friends. Remember that sales proposal you prepared for your client? Where d... More About: Management , Data , Data Management
Tasks Management, not Time Management
2007-12-17 19:50:00 Have you wondered who devised time reckoning and why the clock or your watch was invented? There are several suggestions as to where and who began measuring time. For me, that is moot and academic. What is important is time measurement was meant for us to manage our activities not time itself.Each of us were given an equal amount of time each day, hence we cannot add nor subtract any therefrom. The 24-hour period given to us, whether managed or unmanaged will slipped us and cannot be recovered. Hence the phrase ‘Time Management ’, IMO, is a misnomer. What we can manage, however, are our activities to fit the time we have in a day. If viewed this way, here are three implications in the business setting:1. Working professionals will become more conscious about managing their work priorities and therefore will accomplish more. An employee time tracking implemented by an employer is meant to place a parameter by which an employee have to render work, and possibly avoid unnecess... More About: Time Management , Tasks
A Yuppies Advise: Finding the Right Date
2007-12-17 19:01:00 I got this from one of the text messages forwarded to me: “My boyfriend used to ask his mother, 'How can I find the right woman for me?' and she would answer, 'Don't worry about finding the right woman- concentrate on becoming the right man.'It sure made me grin… and –ouch! We are always on the look for the Mr. and Ms. Right and yet we are not even doing anything to make ourselves the right man or woman.On another note, before you even think of finding the right person, perhaps you should first take time to get out of your shell and socialize. Now, if you have difficulty in meeting people in person, (like me? *grins) you can try the chat lines. Meet people first over the net through free chat. Then, get to know about him/her (your potential date, and probably Mr. or Ms. Right) through that sensible phone chat. Get the basic info that you consider as possible matches to your preferences. Then from there, decide whether you’d like to go into the next level. (Read ...
A Yuppie Advise: Mismanaged Finance Indicator
2007-12-15 01:58:00 A well organized life includes managing your finances well. I have observe that some young professionals have the tendency to squander what they earned on their first job. Understandably, if you have spent 5 years of your young life in college, study your ass-off, then finally you landed on a good paying job, it is but proper to enjoy the fruit of your labor. Agree. However, this should not be to the detriment of your finances and your credit rating.Here are some kernels of yuppie advices:Learn to value every single cent you earned.Save for unexpected emergencies. As they say, “save for the rainy days.” So that, you do not have to run into bad credit loans.Should you are caught in a financial crunch; make a loan but compare offers first. Do not just fill-out the first credit card or loan application that you received without checking the TOS and the interest rates in particular.Be wise. Protect your credit rating, because a poor or bad rating is an indicator of a mismanage... More About: Finance , Indicator , Cato
Social Network for Sports Enthusiasts
2007-11-27 18:23:00 I love playing basketball when I was in college. Nevertheless, I never imagined that watching has a lot more thrill when something is at stake, money that is. I have said I have never been a gambler, although occasionally I buy basketball picks. On a couple of occasions, I was lucky but most of the time otherwise.Incidentally, there is a new social network in town that gives a venue for sports enthusiast to post, share, buy, and sell sports picks. Yeah -Oddsbreakers.com. This is quite different. This is actually; institutionalizing sports picks over the net.The good thing though, if you are enjoying betting on basketball picks or football picks, you can find a lot of information here so that your odds may climb a little higher. Ask other members and learn from their strategies as well. Try it. Signing up is free. Visit also these cool BLOGS: My Sense and Sensibility HRM Business Practices Briefs More About: Social , Sports , Network , Social Network
Career Change Options for Yuppies -Part 2
2007-11-23 20:15:00 In my previous post, I shared the viability of changing careers. I left open-ended questions there to be answered. Incidentally, I stumbled upon an excellent article about this issue in Learning & Life entitled ?Movin' On Up: Three Smart Career Choices for Young Professionals?. Interestingly, we shared the same observation, to wit:"In the past, people often worked for the same company all their lives. Now some employees change jobs and even careers with the same frequency that they switch cell phone services. An explosion in online educational opportunities allows today's working professionals to alter career paths for personal growth or financial gain--without sacrificing their incomes."Again, what are the implications for us young urban professionals? Two significant thoughts come to mind:1. Changing career is now acceptable, rather than abhorred. To change career in midlife used to be discouraged for two reasons, namely; less opportunity for a second career (or very... More About: Change , Options , Part
Three Key Factors for Online Business Success
2007-11-23 20:13:00 Putting your business online is not as easy as some people will convince you to believe. It involves hardwork and patience. Your success relies heavily on at least three important factors, namely; web design, traffic, and convenience.Website design includes the overall aesthetics appeal of your site (form), relevant information contain therein (substance), and navigational features (functions). Take another look at your site and ask the following questions: Is it an attention grabber? Are the information relevant and useful to your potential clients? Can your visitors easily find what they are looking for?Traffic, traffic, and traffic. Without which there is no way you will earn from your online business. Should I add more? Make your site SEO friendly and have it registered to directories and major search engines.Convenience. If you browse your web site and decided to buy, how do you proceed? If you cannot answer that immediately, then you probably do not have a shopping cart softwa... More About: Business , Online Business , Success , Online , Sine
Quick Car Buying Common Sense Guide
2007-11-23 19:21:00 As they say, ?buying a used car could be frustrating, and it is like buying someone? else junk.? Well, that could be partly true if you lack the common sense in your purchase.Between buying new cars and used ones, I?d always go for the latter. Why? Value depreciation of new car is faster than its o to 1 mile mark. The price of that new car you bought today is almost (+/-)15% less when you wake up in the morning. On the other hand, if you have the budget for it, then go for it. However, for young professionals like me, a good quality used car is the best alternative.Here is a quick car buying common sense guide for those who prefer to buy used car:Your Car. Define or determine what type (make and model) of car you really want. At least list 3 of your best choices. This will lessen your frustrations when you started shopping for your ideal car. Write down the basic specs, your preferences.Your Car Reviews. Next, review your list by finding everything about your car. Read ca... More About: Sense , Buying , Car Buying , Guide , Quick
Rethinking Freelance Work and Small Business Management: Part 2
2007-11-23 15:43:00 Starting from my last post?s question: What have I learned from these? I partly answered that. Let me expound my answers here and on the next posts. I learned, the hard way, that in order to succeed in managing your own business, you need to have these important traits in you:CommitmentOwning a business takes your management concerns into your sleep, at home, at play ?anywhere, anytime. As I have said, If you are not willing to sacrifice those times intended for other things you deemed important to you, you will not survive. You cannot delegate the task of oversight to any of your employee when you are starting. Your business needs your presence, and sometimes on a 7/24 basis. Yeah. I know that is not smart. But that is the kind of commitment the founders of known companies did.In my consulting, I have clients who have grown exponentially and yet the owners still man the helm. Larger companies? Do not go that far. Bill Gates of the Microsoft Empire has still the final say... More About: Business , Small Business , Management , Work , Freelance
Award Winning Tool for your Online Business
2007-11-21 09:43:00 Have you considered online business? Alternatively, are you selling your wares online? Last week I started a series on the issue of freelance work, and among the topics I will be covering include online business. So watch out for those series of posts. Ashop Commerce: An Online Business Tool However today, in this post I would like to introduce you an indispensable tool that you need when doing business online ?Ashop Commerce. This site offers complete ecommerce software for your business and is currently the leading provider of hosted shopping cart in the market.Why use Ashop Shopping Cart?1. Easy to install and manage;2. The system is integrated with all leading all major banks, gateways and third party processors including PayPal;3. Complete solution for those who are starting up because they offer step-by-step assistance for FREE and they offer advices on how to maximize your website?s earning potential;4. Last, but not the least, you can bank on the reliability of the software ... More About: Online Business , Award
Change Concepts: A Reflection
2007-11-21 06:41:00 "He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution, which rejects progress, is the cemetery. "~Harold WilsonMy consulting takes me sometime to organizations that seem to love the status quo. They will cling to it, fight for it, and drown anyone who tries to rock their boat. It is not easy. My role is made even more difficult by the fact that I am usually being hired in order to look into this status quo and initiate changes.Organizational Change I normally ask; why these things are being done this way. Alternatively, why does the system go that way and not the other way? The typical answers I get: Well, you have to admit that things are as they are. Followed by a frowned forehead and shrug of a shoulder. Why do people react that way? For the last 5 years, that continues to puzzle me. No matter how prepared you are to preclude objections and have clarified your objectives, people will naturally resist change.Change is inevitable. I remember a company whose ... More About: Concepts , Reflection
Smart Online Gambling
2007-11-20 03:11:00 Do you have money to spare? Do you frequent casinos or the sport stadium to see your favorite teams and bet? On the other hand, do you simply want to gamble as a part of your free time leisure activity (I will not recommend it as a habit, that is entirely different okay)?Here is the score: you can do those past time favorites of yours in the convenience of your own home. Yeah. Casino online, sports betting and other similar games are available online. The problem though, there are thousands of these proliferating and operating in the net. How do you pick the authentic and the reliable from the rest? It will be foolhardy, not fun, and time consuming to compare and choose. Well, not if you allow a third party to do that for you. This third party will sift through all these online games by comparing and ranking them. So that you can make an intelligent pick, and gamble smartly. ^_^Visit also these cool BLOGS: My Sense and Sensibility HRM Business Practices Briefs More About: Smart , Online , Gambling
A Better Alternative to Monetizing your Blog
2007-11-19 23:08:00 Get paid to blog is not easy as others may claim. That is especially if you are considering this on a full time basis as your primary source of income. You need to have the basic writing skills, a good blogging platform, plenty of time to spare optimizing your blog, and most of all an excellent blog advertising partner.There are two popular means to blog for money, namely: (1) passive income generation through advertising within your blog and affiliate marketing, (2) active income generation through writing paid posts or reviews. In the former, you need only to place snippets of code in your site from the advertisers and let it generate income for you. Income returns here is slow yet steady. Of course, huge traffic is required if you need higher conversion for your ads. The latter, IMO, is better. Write a good post/review for the advertiser following their requirements then you are paid upon approval.Now, if you want a reliable ?get paid for blogging? partner to help you mon... More About: Alternative , Blog , Monetizing , Native , Alterna
4 Killer Tips to Attract Her and Keep it that Way
More articles from this author:2007-11-18 16:50:00 Dan Bacon succinctly summed it:?The first thing you need to know about how to attract women is that: It is something that you can learn.? Everything can be learned, that is if one is willing to learn. Having laid that premise let me offer 4 practical killer tips in attracting women and keeping them attracted. Dan gave 3 already; I will add 4 from an Asian perspective:Be yourself. (1) Be natural. In Dan?s word, do not try to impress her. Do not pretend to be someone else. (2) Do not lie or exaggerated. Asian women (I think it is also true for the rest regardless of race or gender) hate lies and many of them can be unforgiving on this (forgive me ladies for saying that). Sometimes, in our desire to be accepted, we lie about some things about us that we thought we can confess later and be forgiven. It is a wrong assumption brother. (3) Be truthful and honest at the outset, she will love you for that.Look good. (1) Good grooming is imperative. If packaging differentiates a p... More About: Tips , Killer 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |




