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How To Reset Your Password on Windows with the Help of a USB Flash Drive

kevin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:07:19 -0800

We often face situations where we forget or lost Windows password or somebody had changed the password of our system. In such a situation either we have to install windows again or find a solution to reset the password so that we can use the system easily. In this post, I will show you how you can reset the password on Windows easily with the help of your Flash Drive without reformatting or reinstalling your system.. In this post I will use a Flash Drive of 2 GB. Below are the steps to reset Windows password using bootable USB Flash Drive.

Step1. Download a free demo version of Windows Password Key 8.0

http://www.lostwindowspassword.com/downloads/Windows_Password_Key_Demo.exe

Step2. Run the downloaded file to install Windows Password Key 8.0. You can install Windows Password Key 8.0 on any PC you have access to.

Step3.Windows Start menu - From your Microsoft Windows Start Programs menu, select Windows Password Key | Windows Password Key 8.0.exe. . Windows Password Key 8.0 will be launched automatically.

Step4. Create a bootable USB Flash Drive

4.1 You can click "Browse" to browse Windows Password Key 8.0 image file. The file is usually located as the default.

4.2 Select "USB Flash Drive" and insert your USB into a USB port on the computer, specify the USB Flash Drive from the pull-down list.

4.3 Click "burn" button.

4.4 Windows Password Key extracts the ISO image and copies the necessary files on a USB Flash Drive

4.4: Put in your newly created USB Flash Drive and remove your Windows password:

1. Insert newly created USB Flash Drive and reboot your computer.

2. It's necessary to change your computer's setup to make it boot from the USB Flash Drive.

a. pres 'F2' or 'Delete' or "F10" to enter your BIOS setup.

b. Looking for a tab or menu relating to booting in the BIOS setup software's opening screen. In this example, it's simply called "BOOT," and can be accessed by using the tab and/or arrow keys to highlight the word "BOOT" on the menu bar. Once there, hit enter, and you'll see a submenu that's specific to how the PC boots.

c. Using the tab and/or arrow keys,select "Hard Disk Drives", and hit "Enter".

d. Select the "1st Drive", hit "Enter".

e. Select the "USB: your USB brand", in the example it is "USB: Kingston DTG(4G)", and hit "Enter" to Set the USB Flash drive as the first bootable option.

f. When you're done with the BIOS setup program, using the tab and/or arrow keys to navigate to the EXIT menu, select the option for saving the changes you just made, and then reboot. (In many BIOSes, a special key--often the F10 key--will save, exit, and reboot in one step.) . When your computer restarts, it will boot from the USB flash drive.

3. When the USB Flash Drive boots, you'll see Windows Password Key 8.0 initializing (see screen shot below). If so, you can continue to the next step.

4. Choose the Windows installation to be processed:

5. Choose the user whose password you want to reset by typing it's number and pressing 'ENTER'.

6. Type 'y' followed by 'ENTER' to reset the password.

7. After you confirm the resetting of the password. Windows Password Key 8.0 asks: 'Reset password for another account? (y/n)'. Type 'y' to reset password for another account, or 'n' if you are finished and want to exit. Remove the Windows Password Key 8.0 bootable CD/DVD and restart your PC. Now you are able to log into your computer without a password!

For more information about Using a Windows Password Key 8.0 bootable CD/DVD to reset windows password, Please visit: http://www.lostwindowspassword.com/how_it_works/how_it_works_usb.htm

How to find/reset/recover/delete/bypass/crack windows password / administrator password / login password?

bombermanneo — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:18:00 -0800

Disclaimer: Following information should be used only if its your system and you have forgotten account password. Don't use this information to access a system which is not yours without permission.

Many times we face this problem when we or our friends forget Windows XP password and can't log into Windows. So here we are posting a few methods / utilities which can be used to recover Windows password:

1st Method: The first thing which you check if you forget login password. When we install Windows, it automatically creates an account ""Administrator"" and sets its password to blank. So if you have forget your user account password then try this:

Start system and when you see Windows Welcome screen / Login screen, press ctrl+alt+del keys twice and it'll show Classic Login box. Now type ""Administrator"" (without quotes) in Username and leave Password field blank. Now press Enter and you should be able to log in Windows.

Now you can reset your account password from ""Control Panel -> User Accounts"".

Same thing can be done using Safe Mode. In Safe Mode Windows will show this in-built Administrator account in Login screen.

2nd Method: Windows XP and further versions also provide another method to recover forgotten password by using ""Reset Disk"". If you created a Password Reset Disk in past, you can use that disk to reset the password. To know more about it, please visit following links:

http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/what-can-you-do-if-you-forgot-your-windows-administrator-password-1349849.html

3rd Method: If the above mentioned tricks don't work, then try following trick which is actually a loophole in Windows XP Setup and a big security hole:

A. Boot using Windows XP Setup CD and follow the instruction like Accepting EULA, etc.

B. When it asks to repair your existing Windows installation, accept it and press ""R"" to run the repair.

C. Setup will start repairing your Windows and will start copying files, etc.

D. After a few minutes setup will restart your system and when it restarts don't press any key when it shows ""Press any key to continue..."" otherwise Setup will start from the beginning. Don't press any key and setup will resume where it left.

E. Now it'll start doing other tasks and will show a small progressbar with a few details in left side.

F. Look carefully at the details and when it shows ""Installing devices"", press +F10 keys in your keyboard.

G. It'll open a Command Prompt window. Now type nusrmgr.cpl and press .

H. It'll open the same ""User Accounts"" window which you see in Control Panel.

I. Now you can remove or reset any account password without any problem.

4th Method: In fact, there are some convenience ways to help us to be far from that nightmare, as long as you paste "windows password", "xp password", "administrator password", "vista password", "windows xp password", "forgot windows password", "windows administrator password", "windows password recovery", "windows password reset", "windows password Recovery", ect to google, there would be many related results. One of the most reliable way is to take use of windows password Recovery Tool 3.0 which is a current windows tool for empty or reset windows password for PC users even computer freshman. With windows password Recovery, just a few steps, you can re-login your PC without any data loss.

Site: http://www.windowspasswordsrecovery.com

Step1. Download Windows Password Recovery Tool 3.0 and save it to your hard disk. Take note of what folder you saved the file in.

Step2. Burn the downloaded ISO file onto a CD. * To burn your CD, you'll need a blank CD-R . * If you are familiar with burning .iso image files you may use any software you already have such as Nero, Sonic, Roxio etc.

Step 3. Put in your newly created CD and remove your Windows password.

(1) Insert newly created CD in your CD drive and reboot your computer. When the CD boots, you'll see Windows Password Recovery 3.0 initializing (see screen shot below). If so, you can continue to the next step. If the computer still boots into Windows, it's necessary to change BIOS boot sequence to make it boot from the CD. You can find more info about this on our BIOS page HERE..

(2). Select the user account you want to reset.

(3) Click the 'Reset' button to process.

(4) Click 'Yes' to confirm your action. Or, click 'No' to undo your selection.

(5). In the end, a message box appears, indicating Windows Password Recovery has successfully reset the password.

5th Method: If all fails, then simply reinstall Windows and create new accounts. To recover lost data, you can use Data recovery tools available on net but the chances will be very low to get data back.

That's all we can suggest. If you have any other method / tool, feel free to post here.

Windows Password Recovery Tool 3.0

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:14:58 -0800

Three Quick Tips to Clear the Way for Clutter-Free Holidays!

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:16:00 -0800

The holidays are a clutter-full time of year! More items and activities come into our homes and lives during this season than any other season of the year. To make sure the clutter doesn’t inundate you this year, take simple actions now. You’ll be sure to enjoy a clutter-free holiday season!

1. De-clutter your kitchen. Before the season breezes in, lighten up your kitchen. No need for a major overhaul (you can do that in January.) For now, just open your cupboards and pantry doors, looking inside for unused, unwanted and unneeded items. Get rid of plastic cups (you know, the ones that multiply in your cabinets while you’re sleeping?), appliances that haven’t seen the light of day in years, and food that’s outstayed it’s welcome in your cabinets. (A quick check of the expiration date will take the guess work out of this one.) By creating a little breathing room in your kitchen now, you’ll find holiday baking and cooking that much more enjoyable.

2. De-clutter your kids’ bedrooms or play room. Before the holiday’s hit, purge, purge and purge some more. You’ll know you’ve purged enough when you see open space, empty shelves or unused storage bins where once you saw toys, toys and more toys. This space will soon be filled by Santa and all his loot. And won’t it be so much less stressful to already have space carved out before new goodies even land under the tree? Plus, if you donate your lightly used toys to a favorite charity, you’ll help brighten Christmas for less fortunate children. Remember to summarize your donations and get receipts for your taxes!

3. De-clutter your calendar. If there’s one thing there’s not enough of during the holidays it’s time. Take action now to purge non-mission critical activities or at least defer them until after the holidays. Make room for shopping, baking, holiday cards, parties, and all your other favorite holiday activities.

With a little proactive de-cluttering, you’ll enjoy a clutter free holiday season. Plus you may even find space for some “you time” this year. You’re starting to feel merry already, aren’t you?

I'd love to hear your ideas! What decluttering do you do this time of year in preparation for the holidays?

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MS SQL Server Password Unlocker 3.0 is Released

Fiona — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:09:57 -0800

MS SQL Server Password Unlocker 3.0 is newly released to the market for password recovery of MS SQL Server databases. This password unlocker can work on any computers to reset the MS SQL Server administrator and user passwords if with master.mdf file available.

As it is known to all, master.mdf file stores the user accounts including both user names and passwords. MS SQL Server Password Unlocker 3.0 is able to decrypt this file for users to reset the password and access to the databases. MS SQL Server Password Unlocker 3.0 doesn’t require users to reset the password on the machine that SQL Server is installed. Instead, it requires only the master.mdf file only. If with master.mdf file available, users are allowed to reset the password on any machine to reset it new and back to unlock the SQL databases. It is able to reset both user and administrator passwords, supporting Microsoft SQL Server 2000/2005/2008.

It can reset the password instantly considering not the password strength. Passwords in any languages and encoding (UTF-8, Unicode, ASCII, etc.) can be easily reset. Instead of recovering the password, consuming uncertain time, the password unlocker is directly to let users reset the password new or blank. Additionally, the unlocker terminates the servicing automatically if they are running. The unlocker is simply a software key to MS SQL Server with no fussy settings. You just import the master.mdf file and click "Change Password" on the interface to set a new password will have the whole work done.

Home page: http://www.passwordunlocker.com

Product page: http://www.passwordunlocker.com/sql-server-password-unlocker.html

Download page: http://www.passwordunlocker.com/downloads/ms_sql_server_password_unlocker_trial.exe

How-to: http://www.passwordunlocker.com/products/how_to_use_msspu.html

Email: info@passwordunlocker.com

Holiday Organizing with Buckets

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:04:00 -0800

You may recall that I love using buckets to organize and store things—it’s just one of my (uh, many) quirks. Lucky for me, the holiday season offers new opportunities to organize things with buckets (hooray!) and, it turns out, the holiday season also offers the opportunity for finding new buckets.

Yesterday I discovered some new buckets on my way to an in-home client appointment. I arrived very near the client’s neighborhood about fifteen minutes early. It just so happens that my client lives very near to a very nice and very new Target. So, I thought “I have just enough time to stop at Target to return those pillowcases and use the ladies room.”

So I run into this very new, very nice Target and stop at the returns counter — which happens to be right next to a very well stocked Dollar Spot. This very well stocked Dollar Spot happened to have some very cute holiday buckets—in red, blue and green. Now remember, I have fifteen minutes to a) use the ladies room, b) return pillowcases and c) drive the remaining three miles to my client’s home. And arriving on time is a priority. So, those buckets really complicated things. Do I use the bathroom or do I buy the bucket? I opted to stick to the original plan and use the ladies room, reasoning that I could easily swing back by Target on my way home.

Fast forward 4-1/2 hours…and I’m back in the very new, very nice Target. I have $2.50 in my hand and I am ready to claim my lovely green bucket. To my shock and horror, there are only red buckets left! That’s right — all the blue shiny buckets and all the green shiny buckets are g-o-n-e, leaving me not only green-bucketless, but also realizing I am not the only crazy bucket-loving lady on this planet. In fact, there were many bucket-loving people in that one very new, very nice Target buying up my shiny green buckets while I was happily and unknowingly organizing with my client. Who would have thought?

I decided to settle on the red bucket and head home, slightly bothered that all those green buckets got away from me—every single one of them. Gone.

Now a rational person would let it go. I had a red bucket, I should be happy. Right? Nope. Not me. That green bucket kept calling me and that green bucket kept nagging at me. The red bucket simply wouldn’t do. I had to have a green bucket. (Yes, I was becoming an even crazier bucket-loving lady than I was just hours earlier.)

So, I did what any crazy bucket-loving lady would do and headed to my not-so-very-new Target to see if, by chance, it had shiny green buckets. And alas—it did! I am now the happy owner of a shiny green bucket (and a red bucket, too. Because…well…you just never know when you might need a red bucket, right?)

Next: What to Do with all Those Buckets! →

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So, what do I plan to do with these buckets? Well, when I first saw the green bucket, I thought it would make a great spot to store incoming Christmas cards. Without a designated spot, incoming cards can quickly become a source of holiday clutter.

These buckets would also be a handy container to corral card sending supplies – the cards, pens, stamps, address labels, etc. so that this project can be portable and move from room to room as my mood strikes.

I also thought it would be fun to use a bucket to store coupons, catalogs, receipts, and other holiday shopping gear throughout the season. The basket I used for this purpose last year has been permanently “borrowed” by my daughter for use in her closet, so I needed a container for this purpose anyway.

These buckets are really fun colors, making them great to use in a kid’s room any time of year. (Perhaps I should have picked up a blue one or two for my son’s room…hmmm…)

You could also use these buckets as a fun gift basket filled with anything that strikes your fancy...hot cocoa with holiday mugs, for example.

Okay…I’ve got to stop because I’m about to talk myself into more buckets, and really, I have other things on my to-do list today that trump my desire to go crazy buying buckets. (Again.) So, I’ll end the bucket report here. But, if you get a bucket or two of your own, I’d love to hear how you plan to use it. (And not to start a bucket-buying frenzy out there or anything, but just keep in mind these cuties sold out very fast yesterday at that very new Target by my client’s house. So…keep that in mind as you make your own bucket buying plans.)

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PDF Password Unlocker 4.0 is Released

Password Unlocker — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:42:05 -0800

PDF Password Unlocker 4.0 is used to decrypt password-protected Adobe Acrobat PDF documents, including both the "password to open" and "password to modify" which protect the file from opening and modifying respectively. This program not only helps to detect the passwords, decrypts the file and opens the document, but allows you to remove the "password to open" to perform the operations that is restricted even when the document is decrypted, like copying text and graphics out of the documents, modifying the document, adding or modifying text notes, printing, etc. Decrypted file can be opened in any PDF viewer (e.g. Adobe Acrobat Reader) without any restrictions—i.e. with edit/copy/print functions enabled. All versions of Adobe Acrobat (including 9.x, which features 128-bit encryption) are supported.

PDF Password Unlocker 4.0 is based on PDF Password Unlocker 3.0 yet enhanced in the attack force and computing speed. This new version is highlighted in the powerful function to remove all restrictions placed on the Adobe Acrobat PDF documents, accelerated attack speed, and improvement in the UI design and instructions, which is more considerate and closer for both the new and veteran users.

Compare to the old versions, PDF Password Unlocker 4.0 has followings highlights:

Support Adobe PDF versions from 3.X to 9.X

Support PDF files created by other PDF applications

Support 40-bit RC4 encryption

Support 128-bit RC4 encryption

Support 128-bit AES encryption

Support 256-bit AES encryption

Instantly enable actions for copying, printing and others 4,000,000 passwords/s and 8,000,000 passwords/s for multiple-core computers .

Available in 3 attacks brute-force, brute-force with mask, dictionary .

Able to minimize the recovery time by customizing the password character set if any part of the password is known

Save the recovery process and resume if interrupted or terminated unintentionally

Support multiple processor, multiple core

A year's free upgrade and technical support

Three attacks make it faster in speed and more powerful than ever before. The three attacks, brute-force attack, brute-force with mask attack, and dictionary attack, are crucial to the attack speed. They are designed and targeted to be used for different password cases, ignoring how well the password is set. For example, you use the brute-force attack to find the password with no traces, i.e. you forget it all; you use the brute-force with mask attack to look for the password by offering hints, like any capitals, digits, pond key in the password, etc. Dictionary attack is far flexible and smarter for users. You specify a dictionary with creating a text file listing the possible password character sets for the program to base on, which may double or triple the attack speed in an incredible way.

Home page: http://www.passwordunlocker.com

Product page: http://www.passwordunlocker.com/products/ppu.html

Download page: http://www.passwordunlocker.com/downloads/pdf_password_unlocker_trial.exe Purchase page: https://www.regnow.com/softsell/nph-softsell.cgi?ss_short_order=true&items=19681-26&ss_cart_reset=true&quantity=

How-to: http://www.passwordunlocker.com/products/how_to_use_ppu.html

Email: info@passwordunlocker.com

Managing Calendars: More Ways to Keep the Boss More Productive

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:29:00 -0800

Last week we talked about helping the boss be more productive by properly screening calls. This week, let’s explore another way to help the boss be more productive: managing the calendar.

More Than Just Scheduling Meetings

“Managing the calendar,” you’re thinking. “Isn’t that just scheduling the boss’s meetings?” Well, scheduling meetings is just part of what it takes to manage your boss’s calendar. You aren’t just scheduling meetings, you’re doing something much more important. You’re managing his time!

It’s All About Time Management

Think about it. Your boss has so much more to do than attend meetings. If all his time is taken up in meetings, he’ll never get anything else done. Your job is to make sure she’s not so overwhelmed with meetings that she can’t get manage other work.

Just Like Screening Calls

Just because your boss is invited to a meeting doesn’t mean he really needs to be there. Just like screening phone calls, you need to use your judgement here to figure out which meetings to approve and which ones to delegate to someone else.

When you first start a new job this can be quite difficult. Until you get a grasp of your boss’s priorities, it’s a good idea to review his calendar during your daily meetings. Go over all new meeting requests so he can decide which ones he needs to attend and which not. After a while, you’ll get a feel for what can be delegated and can’t, and you’ll be able to start using your own judgment, just like screening calls.

But What About the Rest of the Time

As I said before, managing the boss’s calendar is about more than just scheduling the boss’s meetings (or not scheduling them as the case may be). In Wednesday’s post, I’ll go into more depth about scheduling other necessities for your boss to keep him as productive as possible.

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Fortifying Food for Your Brain

Kim Ode | Star Tribune, Minneapolis — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:08:00 -0700

Just knowing how to pronounce docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, should be a pretty good indicator of brain health, right? (Need some help? It's DOH-koh-sah-HEXXA-eh-NOH-ik.) It's enough to say "DHA," and good thing, since we'll probably be hearing more about this tongue twister as research emerges about the link between diet and dementia.

When nutritionist Elizabeth Somer's mother developed Alzheimer's disease years ago, Somer began looking for anything that might give her an edge against a similar fate. Omega-3 fat has been touted as brain food, but she learned it's not just one fat, but three: ALA, EPA and DHA.

ALA may help your heart, and EPA and DHA help your head, with DHA accounting for up to 97 percent of the omega-3 fats in the brain and up to 93 percent of the omega-3 fats in the retina. One study indicates that those with a diet high in DHA may decrease their risk of Alzheimer's disease by as much as 70 percent.

So, in the language of the grocery store aisle, what does this mean?

It means shopping for salmon and canned light tuna, said Somer, a registered dietitian who's a frequent guest expert on the "Today" show, "The View" and in various health-oriented magazines. She was in the Twin Cities recently to talk about nutritional trends at a forum for food industry professionals sponsored by Carmichael Lynch Spong.

(To test your brain health, go to www.lifesdha.com.)

There's a growing array of foods fortified with DHA, from soy milks to flour tortillas, which points to another trend on the nutrition front. "Seventy-eight percent of shoppers buy some fortified foods," Somer said, whether something as mainstream as Total cereal or more gourmet, such as Fujisan-brand sushi. This plays into the trend of do-it-yourself alternative health care - something that began when yogurt was considered hippie food. Now, she said, yogurt is at the forefront of products that may improve the gastrointestinal health.

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Yet Somer said that the top health concern in the United States remains obesity, and she showed a series of slides from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta tracking the percentage of obese residents in all 50 states. Only Colorado has a prevalence of obesity less than 20 percent of its population. Six states, Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia, have rates above 30 percent. (To view the data, go to www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html.)

This circles back to brain health, "because people overweight at 50 have a threefold increase of risk for dementia," Somer said. Persuading people of the need to eat well, if not eat less, is difficult, mostly because the messages are more like warnings. "People want to know what they can eat, not what they can't," she said.

Somer, whose newest book is "Eat Your Way to Happiness" (Harlequin, $17), includes an appendix of more than 100 food products that meet the guidelines for "real foods," or foods as close to their authentic form as possible. Think oatmeal instead of granola bars, sweet potatoes instead of sweet potato fries, water instead of vitamin water.

Whose guidelines are these? Well, that's not clear, which is part of the difficulty in sorting out what's credible and what's not when it comes to nutrition advice. But there is a common-sense component to seeking out food that's still in its "authentic" form, Somer said. "If you feed yourself junk, you feel like junk, and you'll look like junk," she said.

Kim Ode -612-673-7185

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7 Ways to Become a Grade A Speaker

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:39:00 -0700

You keep a checklist handy for many of your regular tasks — grocery shopping, scheduling your day and week, and creating a hyperlink, for example. Because your profession requires you to speak to groups frequently, you have often wished you could keep a speech preparation checklist handy, to remind you how to get ready to generate the results you want. You won't have to wait any longer. Here is your checklist for top-level speech preparation.

Adopt an upbeat ATTITUDE.

This way, you won't become excessively concerned about yourself — whether you are making a favorable impression and holding the group's attention. Those self-directed thoughts can become obsessive, distracting you from your main purpose: helping your listeners understand and accept your message. And remember, audiences want you to succeed. Successful speakers make meetings and conferences enjoyable and productive. Audience members aren't critics, they are your cheerleaders. Embrace them emotionally, even before you say your first word — then they'll embrace you.

Next: Audience →

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Focus on the AUDIENCE

This way, you won't become excessively concerned about yourself — whether you are dressed properly, making a favorable impression, and holding the group's attention. Those self-directed thoughts can become obsessive, distracting you from your main purpose: helping your listeners understand and accept your message. And remember, audiences want you to succeed. Successful speakers make meetings and conferences successful. Audience members aren't critics, they are your cheerleaders. Embrace them emotionally even before you say your first word — then they'll embrace you.

Next: Animation →

Take the Quiz!

What's Your Workplace Etiquette IQ?
First question:

[photo:46728]

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Be ANIMATED

Listeners don't want to wonder if you have a pulse. So don't read or recite your message. . .tell it, as energetically as you would describe a fun weekend. Move away from the podium, gesture freely, vary your voice, just as you do in casual chit chat. Create
what actors call "The Illusion of the First Time." If you use PowerPoint, rely on the slides as prompts, not as your script. Take a minute to jot down the names of three speakers you rate very highly. Note: Every one of them strikes you as energetic, vital, and sometimes dramatic. They ignite you because they sparkle.

Next: Attentiveness →

Take the Quiz!

Are You a Team Player?
First question:

[photo:46731]

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Be ATTENTIVE

Remain on the lookout for audience feedback. When you detect confusion, restate your point. When you see listeners nod in agreement, let their support energize you. If participants start checking their watches, change your pace or tell a relevant story to recapture their attention. Better still, direct the group in brief interactive dialogue to elevate interest.

Next: Anecdotes →

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Use ANECDOTES

Some of our most cherished childhood memories revolve around bedtime, when parents or others read stories to us, stimulating our imagination and transporting us into majestic eras and scenes. As adults, we continue to love "once upon a time," though speakers use different introductory phrasing. People remember and learn from your stories, not from statistics. Paint word pictures, giving a "you are there" feeling. Use suspense with the skill of a novelist. Paul Harvey carved a grand speaking career on radio as a master story teller, and Zig Ziglar did the same from the speaker's platform.

Next: Appearance →

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Sharpen your APPEARANCE

Although casual and sometimes sloppy dress have gained some acceptance (which you can verify at any public event, and even in numerous work settings), your audience wants you to dress a notch or two above its norm. Tasteful, professional clothing
reflects that you respect them and the occasion. Additionally, your grooming and manners should supplement your professional image. Not surprisingly, you will gain confidence and energy as well when you look your best and present yourself as a polished professional.

Next: Be Atypical →

Take the Quiz!

What's Your Workplace Etiquette IQ?
First question:

[photo:46728]

[page]

Be ATYPICAL

Do something different from other speakers. Audiences withdraw from the "some old same old," so they are drawn to creative speakers who go beyond offering a standard three points and a summary. Examples: include unusual props, impersonations, games, regular audience interaction, or magic if that's your talent. Note: Every season, new TV shows succeed because they become distinctive.

Next time you are going to face an audience, review these 7 ways to become a Grade-A speaker, and then implement them. Once more, here are the seven A's that will enable you to connect with your audience immediately, hold their unbroken attention, and encourage them to endorse your message and respond with action: Attitude, Audience, Animated, Attentive, Anecdotes, Appearance, and Atypical. You will welcome the results, and so will your audience.

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Admin Trivia

Have you played our admin trivia game? Test your smarts! First question:

Write An Effective Out Of Office Assistant Message

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:06:00 -0700

Are you going on vacation? Are you going to be out of the office for a short or even long period of time? Don’t forget to set up and turn on your “Out of Office Assistant” on Microsoft Outlook.

It’s amazing of how many people actually forget to do this. You e-mail someone asking them a question or wanting to state an urgent matter. You wait and wait, but no response. A few hours or days later (depending on the urgency), you e-mail them back again and still no response.

It’s really important to let your fellow staff members and especially your clients know that you will be away for either a short or an extended period of time. A simple bounce back message will be e-mailed to them letting them know that you can’t help them at the present time and for them to contact someone that you’ve delegated to help out in these types of situations.

Here’s a sample message that you can use to create your “Out of Office Assistant”:

I will be out of the office from ____ until ____. I'll be checking email _______(once a week, every day, etc)________, but will have limited ability to respond. If you need immediate assistance or information about the (question/issue), please contact (delegate’s name, e-mail address, phone number).

If you work in a large corporation like me and have quite a few staff members on your team handling different areas, you should include a list of names, e-mail addresses and phone numbers corresponding to the different products/services they handle.

For example:

* Advertising inquiries, please contact John Doe at john.doe@company.com
* Billing inquiries, please contact Jane Smith at jane.smith@company.com

And so on and so forth.

And lastly, don’t forget to turn it on. Also, don’t forget to change your voice mail message to read the same information.

If you like this post, please subscribe to my feeds or get posts e-mailed directly to you.

Until next time,

Take care - of your clutter!

More in Job Skills:

How to Type Faster

What to Capitalize in a Title

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...and more in our Tips and Skills section!

Business Etiquette 101

Susan Bryant | Monster Contributing Writer — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:04:00 -0700

Introductions

The proper way to make an introduction is to introduce a lower-ranking person to a higher-ranking person. For example, if your CEO is Mrs. Jones and you are introducing administrative assistant Jane Smith to her, the correct introduction would be "Mrs. Jones, I'd like you to meet Jane Smith."

If you forget a person's name while making an introduction, don't panic. Proceed with the introduction with a statement such as, "I'm sorry, your name has just slipped my mind." Omitting an introduction is a bigger faux pas than salvaging a botched introduction.

Handshakes

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Handshakes

The physical connection you make when shaking hands with someone can leave a powerful impression. When someone's handshake is unpleasant in any way, we often associate negative character traits with that person. A firm handshake made with direct eye contact sets the stage for a positive encounter.

Women take note: To avoid any confusion during an introduction, always extend your hand when greeting someone. Remember, men and women are equals in the workplace.

E-mail Etiquette

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E-Mail Etiquette

Email, faxes, conference calls and cell phones can create a veritable landmine of professional etiquette. Just because you have the capability to reach someone 24/7, it doesn't mean you should.

Email is so prevalent in many of today's companies that the transmission of jokes, spam and personal notes often constitute more of the messages employees receive than actual work-related material. Remember that your email messages are an example of your professional correspondence. Professional correspondence does not include smiley faces or similar emoticons.

Faxes and Conference Calls

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Faxes and Conference Calls

Faxes should always include your contact information, date and number of pages included. They should not be sent unsolicited - they waste the other person's paper and tie up the lines.

Conference call etiquette entails introducing all the participants at the beginning of the call so everyone knows who is in attendance. Since you're not able to see other participants' body language and nonverbal clues, you will have to compensate for this disadvantage by communicating very clearly.

Be aware of unintentionally interrupting someone or failing to address or include attendees because you can't see them. And finally, don't put anyone on speakerphone until you have asked permission to do so.

Cell Phones

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Cell Phones

Cell phones can be a lifesaver for many professionals. Unfortunately, if you are using a cell phone, you are most likely outside your office and may be preoccupied with driving, catching a flight or some other activity.

Be sensitive to the fact that your listener may not be interested in a play-by-play of traffic or the other events you are experiencing during your call.

Even if you have impeccable social graces, you will inevitably have a professional blunder at some point. When this happens, Klinkenberg offers this advice: Apologize sincerely without gushing or being too effusive. State your apology like you mean it, and then move on.

Making too big an issue of your mistake only magnifies the damage and makes the recipient more uncomfortable.

Choose Your Method of Communication Effectively – Email, Phone, In-person, “Snail” Mail/Memos

Dewoun Hayes CAP — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:07:15 -0700

Have you ever received an email from someone who just started at the company asking you to do something and you haven’t been introduced? Or what about the barrage of emails that go back and forth on one particular subject and still nothing gets accomplished except the art of confusion? Or have you played the popular “phone tag” game? The ability to choose the proper method of communication is important because you will get a lot accomplished, questions will be answered, and most importantly your electronic inbox or voice mail won’t be cluttered.

Email

We know technology has become the fastest and easiest way to communicate, but is it always effective and appropriate?

DO use email when you have to have a “paper” trail or keep track of information.

DO use email for informational purposes (i.e. newsletters, announcements)

DO make email easier to read, wherever possible use bullet points and bold to show emphasis

DO change the subject line for responses so the FW: or FW: FW: is not the subject. Because the content has changed so should the subject line.

DO NOT use email if the message is more than a paragraph in length.

DO NOT use email as a form of relaying disturbing news (i.e. termination)

DO NOT write an email while you are emotionally charged (angry, sad, etc). Calm down and gather your thoughts before responding. This may be a case when you pick up the phone and discuss the issue.

Phone

Due to the fact that email has taken over the communication airwaves, sometimes we forget about the old Alexander Graham Bell invention. It’s so easy to use and just as fast yet we don’t pick up the phone.

DO use the phone when you have not actually met the person; although, for the first initial contact it is best to be introduced in-person, if possible.

DO use the phone when the message contains specific details.

DO NOT leave more than one voicemail in a given day. If after playing phone tag you still are unable to reach the person, send an email or if they are within walking distance, in the same department or company, take a break and go see them.

DO NOT leave a voicemail longer than a 1 or 1 ½ min. If there are large amounts of detail in the message it would be best to speak to the person directly or in person.

Phone etiquette is important, remember to leave your name and phone number twice when leaving a voicemail- once at the beginning and then at the end of the call. Also, if it is urgent and you need a response right away, let the receiver know that it is important and mention if you have a deadline. If you are going to be stepping away from your office for a period of time, leave that in the message as well, this will cut down on the “phone tag.”

In-Person

Similar to using the phone, some people just don’t like in-person contact. However, in many situations it may be the most effective form of communicating. Speaking with someone in person requires eye contact, appropriate body language, as well as using effective intonation. That could very well take a lot out of a person. But it is important to communicate the message properly so that it is understood.

DO speak with someone directly in an effort to introduce yourself, especially if you will be asking them for information or delegating a task to them. Of course, this may not be possible because you are in different countries or parts of the world, the second method would be to pick up the phone, followed by an email introduction.

DO NOT speak with someone in-person if you are in a different emotional state than normal. If at all possible, avoid contact until your emotions have settled down. Emotions are contagious and can take over our frame of rational thinking.

Snail Mail/Memos or other paper correspondence

As much as we would like to try, we cannot get away from paper correspondence. We have to remember that not everyone is electronically savvy (hard to believe, isn’t it?) or for that matter they may not like the big, bad computer! For whatever reason, when all else fails and depending on the urgency, write a letter or send a memo.

The ability to choose an effective mode of communication is important and could impact the message. If you email someone asking them to complete a task and you have never met them, this could damage your potential relationship or if you continuously play the annoying game of “phone tag” (nobody wins by the way) and leave several messages you could be seen as pushy or obnoxious. Of course, this individual should have a voicemail message saying they are away and forwarding information of someone who could help, but that is another topic for a separate blog post. So, choose your communication tool effectively and save yourself time, energy, and face!

Snacking At Work? Healthy Or Junk?

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:52:00 -0700

Do you snack at the office? Do you bring your own food or do you run down to the vending machine/convenience store to get something?

Studies have shown that people start to gain weight on a slow, but regular basis because of this alarming trend. You think to yourself, "It's just one bag of chips" or "It's just one chocolate bar" and no harm done. Well, keep in mind that if you keep doing this on a regular basis, it will definitely become a big deal.

I lost about 30 lbs. in about 6 months because I changed my lifestyle. I didn't go on a fad diet like some people would, since you lose the weight and then gain it back all over again. You have to make a conscious effort to think and feel healthier about yourself. Once you try to set your goals towards this, you will see how easily and quickly you can become a better you.

So next time you feel like running down to the store or vending machine to get something, think before you act! Prepare a small amount of vegetables and fruits for each day. Plan out how much you think you will need. Also, another item that you can add to your vegetables would be hummus. You would be surprised of how light it is and how much better your vegetables would taste with it.

One place that my wife showed me online is Recipezaar's lunch/snack recipes, where you can get a whole range of healthy ideas for your meals. Give it a try! Let me know how you are doing!

What's next?

Subscribe to The Professional Assistant feeds or get posts e-mailed directly to you today.

Until next time,

Take care - of your clutter!

More in Job Skills:

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How To Reset Lost Windows Password

Mark — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:53:34 -0700

If you forget your Windows password or if your password expires, you must reset your password before you can log on to your computer. This article contains two methods that you can try to reset your password so that you can log on to your computer again.

This article is intended for a beginning to intermediate computer user.

You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first.

Reset forgotten or expired password

If you forget your password or if your password expires, there are three methods that you can use to log on to create a new password. One method is to use a password reset disk, if you have created one. By using the password reset disk, you can recover your user account and your personalized computer settings. Another method is to log on using the administrator account to delete the forgotten password and then to create a new password, The third method is to use windows password recovery tool. You only need to reset the password to “Blank” without reformatting or reinstalling your system

The instructions guide you through each step and help you verify that the problem is resolved.

Method 1: Use a password reset disk

To log on to the computer by using a password reset disk, follow these steps. If your computer is or was a member of a domain, go to the "Windows XP Professional in a domain" section and follow those steps.

Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional

1. Restart the computer.

2. On the Windows XP logon screen, click the user name that you want to use, and then press ENTER.

Note You receive the following error message:

Did you forget your password? You can click the "?" button to see your password hint. Or you can use your password reset disk. Please type your password again. Be sure to use the correct uppercase and lowercase letters.

3. Click Use your password reset disk. The Password Reset Wizard starts. The Password Reset Wizard enables you to create a new password for your user account.

4. In the Password Reset Wizard dialog box, click Next.

5. Insert the password reset disc into the CD drive, and then click Next.

6. Type a new password in the Type a new password box, and then type the password again in the Type the password again to confirm box.

7. In the Type a new password hint box, type a hint for the password, and then click Next.

8. Click Finish, and then try to log on to Windows XP again.

If you were able to reset your password and are now able to log on successfully, you have resolved the issue, and you are finished. If you are still unable to log on, try method 2.

Method 2: Log on as an administrator to reset the password

If you did not create a password reset disk, you may be able to log on as an administrator to reset a forgotten or expired password. The steps to do this differ if the computer is a stand-alone computer or a member of a workgroup of two or more, or a member of a domain. Select the appropriate set of steps from the following to try to log on as the administrator to reset the password.

Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional

To log on to a computer as the administrator to reset a password, try the following steps.

1. Log on as an administrator.

a. Restart the computer.

b. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE two times, and then type the name of the administrator user account.

c. In the Password box, type the administrator password, and then click OK.

Note If the administrator password is set to a blank password, do not type a password before you click OK.

2. Reset the password.

.Click Start, and then click Run.

a. Type control userpasswords2, and then click OK.

b. On the Users tab, click the name of the user account that you want to reset the password for, and then click Reset Password.

c. Type a new password in the New password box, and then type the password again in the Confirm new password box, and then click OK.

d. Restart the computer, and then try to log on to Windows XP again.

If you can log on as an administrator to reset your password and you can now log on successfully, you have resolved the issue, and you are finished. If you are still unable to log on, go to the "Next Steps" section.

Method 3: Use windows password recovery tool

If you are not a computer technician, or not familiar with computer system operations, you may feel the above methods are scary and still can’t figure out what I am saying. Then you may try to use the software programs which may suit you. I’ve found that Windows Password Recovery Tool is the most effective. The program can easily reset the password to “Blank” without reformatting or reinstalling your system. Follow these steps:

1. Download Windows Password Recovery Tool 3.0:

http://www.windowspasswordsrecovery.com/downloads/Windows_Password_Recovery_Tool_Trial.iso

http://www.windowspasswordsrecovery.com

2. Burn your Windows Password Recovery Tool 3.0 CD.

3. Insert newly created CD in your CD drive and reboot your computer.

4. Select Windows installation to be processed:

5. Select the account to reset the password for:

6. Reset your lost password.

7. The user's password has been successfully reset

The third method can 100% reset any windows login password . It works perfectly to reset any local user account to a blank password.

Too Many Applications?

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:09:00 -0700

Do you have too many applications open on your computer? Have you passed by a co-worker's desk and noticed that they have 20 different things running all at once?

Believe it or not, this can lower productivity. You actually end up thinking that you are working harder, yet you are reducing your productivity by about 30%. That's quite a bit of work that you could be catching up on throughout your day, each and every day.

It's nice to have the grouping function in Microsoft Windows, but when you start seeing large numbers in each one of them, you know there's a problem. You start scanning through all of your items within that application just to find what you are looking for. Now you've spent more time looking for something as opposed to working on the task at hand.

I usually open all of the applications that I need for the task that I am working on at that particular moment. If I need to open more applications, so be it, so that I can do whatever it is I need to do to get the task completed. Once I am finished with the task, I would look at my next task on my to-do list and figure out what applications I won't need. I close all of them by either clicking on the "X" at the top-right corner or pressing ALT-F4 (keyboard shortcut to remember - can be very useful). Then I would open up the applications associated with the next task.

One piece of advise that I give myself on a regular basis so that I don't feel overwhelmed is to break your tasks down into manageable chunks.

What's next?

Subscribe to The Professional Assistant feeds or get posts e-mailed directly to you today.

Until next time,

Take care - of your clutter!

More in Job Skills:

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Eight Ways to Take a Day for Yourself

AdminSecret — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:59:00 -0700

Even if you absolutely love your job you probably need a little mini-vacation from the office from time to time. You really, really could use a day off? Need a little bit of time to yourself for some much-needed rest and relaxation? Can’t bring yourself to be honest about it to your boss? Don't worry, we totally understand. It's important to take care of yourself — physically and mentally — and sometimes you just have to put yourself first, no matter how dedicated you are to your job. You'll return to your job rested, refreshed, and ready to take on the world!

This tongue-in-cheek guide will help you discover the perfect excuse you need to get yourself out of anything!

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“My grandmother died.”

This one is a tried-and-true classic because it really works, and it should work for you no matter who you are. There’s very little chance that any of your coworkers have actually met your grandmother, so you’re unlikely to get tripped up on that level. If you play your cards right, you might even get more than one day off for this, if you factor in travel time to the “funeral.” There is one caveat: This excuse only works for people under a certain age. If you’re 60 years old, it’s unlikely that your grandmother would still be alive unless you come from a family of vampires. And, of course, remember what you kept in mind when you were using this excuse in school: You can’t use it more than twice! At least not at the same job…

Next: Use Your Head →

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“I’ve got an eye appointment”

Claiming you’ve got a regular doctor’s appointment can be tricky, because nosy bosses will wonder why you haven’t been sick lately, and as an excuse to get out of work it’s just plain overused. Eye doctor appointments, however, are regular, low-key, and dependable. Why would anyone lie about that? For maximum efficacy, “schedule” your appointment for mid-morning and then be unable to come back to the office because your eyes are dilated and it’s just too gosh darn bright in the office for you to work right, especially with that old monitor of yours (Hint hint to the boss!). Your whole office will appreciate your proactive attitude towards your health.

Next: Fight For It →

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“My child was in a fight”

Obviously only a worthwhile excuse for the parents we’ve got in the audience, a fictional schoolyard fight involving a very real child is golden when it comes to getting you out of the office. Fake a call from an angry teacher and you’re in the principal’s office — by which we mean the mall, or the beach, or just relaxing on your couch — in no time. Don’t fabricate anything too serious, of course, and you’ll want to be as vague about the matter as possible because people might be curious about such a juicy story! Just make sure to head off any pesky follow up questions by acting very embarrassed about your misbehaving offspring when you get back to work the next day.

Next: A Bit of Danger →

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“My house got broken into!”

A killer excuse, especially if you live in a rather questionable neighborhood. For those who have never experienced one, a break-in will inevitably result in a lot of time talking to the police, your neighbors, and the helpful insurance people — at least that’s what you want your office to believe you’re doing all day. You may be tempted to say your car was the target of the fictional thieves, but showing up to work the next day in a pristine ride would make you look more than a little guilty. Stay safe and make your far-off home the scene of tragedy. A few whispered conversations might go far towards sealing the deal with this one, so play it up while you can!

Next: Your Inner Animal →

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“I had to take my cat to the vet”

This is the perfect excuse to use because who’s going to question you going out of your way to tend to some poor, helpless creature? Just tell them that your precious cat was hit by a car and is in serious condition. Turns out you don’t have a cat? It’s time to make one up, or say it was a neighbor’s cat and you did the deed yourself. Whatever you do, don’t say it was your dog, because they’ll wonder why you didn’t talk about it before. Just a nice, quiet cat. And if they want you to produce the animal later, well then, poor Fluffy is going to have to take a turn for the worse and die (giving you days off for bereavement in the process?). We promise it won’t just get you a day off — you’ll get some much-needed sympathy as well.

Next: You Are What You Eat →

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“I got food poisoning”

If you just have to leave the office immediately, this is the excuse for you. You want to live it up while you can, right? We’re pretty sure that an imaginary bout of food poisoning could be your ticket to a leisurely day off. It’s a remarkably believable illness that happens to everybody eventually. And it doesn’t last too long, so you can make it back to work the next day in style. You can even use food poisoning to ditch a bad day after a morning snack or lunch. Plus, nobody wants to hear all the gory details, so you don’t have to worry about nosy bosses or jealous coworkers shooting holes in your story. Just make sure you don’t brag tomorrow about all the fun you had while you were “sick” and you should be just fine!

Next: The Waiting Game →

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“I have to wait for the cable guy”

This excuse is perfect for the dependable type around the office, the kind of person who is usually there to pick up the slack. Sound like you? Well, there’s a job to be done and you’re definitely going to be the one to do it, even if it means biting the bullet and “working from home” while you wait for the imaginary cable guy to come. Just make sure you check in by phone or email a couple of times (Tip: Call your boss or coworkers during lunch so you don’t actually have to talk to anyone!) to make it look like you’re hard at work. Already have cable? You need it upgraded or repaired, clearly. So the next time the sun is shining and freedom is calling, make an imaginary call to the cable company and you should be all set. Have fun!

Next: Go All the Way to the Top →

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“The president wants to meet with me”

If you’re the brains of the operation, the one who always has a great plan, you definitely need a high-caliber excuse. Nobody’s going to buy that you got food poisoning, you’re way too smart for that, and everyone knows you know how to set up your own cable. So shoot for the stars and claim that the President insists on meeting with you about … something totally hush hush. Nope, you can’t even tell your boss. Or your boss’ boss. You don’t want the Secret Service to find out you’ve been spilling the details! You won’t just get a day off, you’ll make yourself look that much more important to your boss and your coworkers. Have they met the president? We didn’t think so! So stay tight-lipped about what you got up to on your day off when you get back to work and you should pull this one off in style.

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Taming the Email Monster

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:55:00 -0700

Let’s reframe the role of e-mail in your business. Consider e-mail to be a medium to get information from one place to another, not as an end in itself. It is a “pass-through,” in much the same way as the role of the telephone is to give and receive information.

How many emails are in your inbox right now? Opened? Unopened? Waiting for something? When someone asks you if you have received their email, will you bend the truth to ‘cover’ for yourself because you won’t know? Are you scrolling through pages of inbox looking for something but can’t find it? If you are average, you have 36 hours of work awaiting you – just to clear your inbox. Almost one entire week! You have email overwhelm!

Some reasons for email overwhelm:

* People you work with needlessly carbon copy everyone on everything.

* Or everyone ‘replies to all’, or adds on to long email threads. This forces you to sift through much ‘non-information’ or redundant information before you actually can identify the content of the email.

* Subscribing to too many newsletters and auto feeds. What goes out must come back. Are you sending too many emails?

* You might be addicted to email. Do you take your handheld electronic email device into the bedroom?

* Checking emails while on vacation or during non-business hours?

Other reasons are those you can directly control. What exactly does ‘checking’ email mean to you? Usually that is a big time waster. If you live in your email inbox and manage your to do’s based on what arrives in your inbox each day, then you are controlled by email. Being reactive is a loss of control of your day. You may feel like you are accomplishing much, however, you have confused being busy with accomplishment and getting things done. Another reason your inbox can become unmanageable is that you have an “I’ll take care of this later attitude” (later never gets here). You must make a decision about each email that you open; if not, it becomes clutter. Electronic clutter is expensive because it takes up storage space on your company’s server. Processing speed is slowed, and precious, expensive memory is wasted.

Next: Some Definitions and More Tricks... →

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To be sure we are on the same page, I’ve included a couple of definitions here. Process: a series of actions, changes or functions that bring about an end result. Decide: To conclude, settle. Your time and attention are finite. Demands on your time and attention are infinite. Each time you say yes to something, it means you are consciously or unconsciously saying ‘no’ to something else. Much of what we receive in email is informational, much is not. “Checking email” is a waste of time. It does not involve deciding or processing. When you spend time ‘checking e-mail’, you are NOT spending time processing – hence not being efficient. So the best way to get control is to adopt a mindset which commits you to processing your email daily.

Assuming you answered the initial question in this article with a number greater than 50, here is a good way to regain control. To clear your inbox, make a folder and date it today. Take the contents of your inbox and transfer it to the folder. The positive psychological impact of having an empty inbox is very empowering. Feel the weight of the world lift. (Or do you feel panicky because you are afraid you might have just lost an important communication from an important client? Not to worry-you will sort through the folder you just made according to a planned schedule.) Schedule ten minutes each day to review the old emails and decide on an action. Remember- you must process email to near zero. Six months later, any emails remaining in this folder are most likely stale and non relevant. Declare email bankruptcy and delete them all.

Please note: We had mistakenly identified the author of this article as Joan Burge. The correct author is Alita Marlowe Bluford, and we thank her very much! Check out More Tips for Taming the Email Monster for the ‘do’s’ and ‘don’t’s’ to help you understand how to develop your own system for preventing email overwhelm.

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Social Networking Vs. “Real Life Networking:” Which Is Better?

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:19:00 -0700

I love Social Media and Social Networking! In my audiences where I speak, I see more and more serious business people are devoting time, money and effort to learn how to use these tools. Social Networking tools provide the ability to connect with others in ways that we never would otherwise. By using Twitter, I have connected with people that I would never have met in my normal life. I love Facebook as many “friends of friends” connect where we find common interests. I love YouTube as I’ve posted over 100 videos about various marketing topics and attract people around the world to see them.

Yet, I hear a conversation that is emerging more and more about the importance of being with real people in real places. Some say that they want a “real” contact. Hey, I understand. When it comes to Relationship Marketing, being available for paying customers and interacting with good people is always important. I personally find that I cherish more and more the quality, non-rushed times when I can be with friends around the world breaking bread, sharing a few drinks or just visiting and catching up with them.

Does this mean that we should throw away our Twitter accounts, “De-Friend” all our Facebook Friends and get rid of YouTube?

Not on your life!

I see it as not “either or, but both and.”

When you can connect with new customers at a level of interest and help them, that is great. Each of the social media tools has a unique advantage. I find that focusing on the “Top Four” --- Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube --- help to provide a reasonable connection with others for core business use. Then I use my WordPress Blog to be the focal point to provide value. This strategy is working for many today. It’s working for me.

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You connect with others in the real world through good old-fashioned meetings (remember those?). Participation in real-world meetings is as essential today as it ever was. We like to meet with people, see them in action, watch their reactions to various events and get to know them. Social Media is never going to replace that and it never tried to. 200 years ago people would get together face-to-face and discuss business and other aspects of life. When the printing press was developed and words could finally be communicated without the use of verbal-only communication, it made human connections better. A few years ago, email was derided as a tool that would diminish human communication. It has been used to enhance connections with people but it has to be used properly.

That is the key for marketers today. The tool is not the issue. We often like to make it about the tool. The issue is about your ability to connect with real paying customers in a value-for-value way. As you provide help to them you are able to establish, grow and nurture the relationship.

Whether in person or using the latest, greatest technology tool it is most important to connect with customers. Focus your business efforts on 1) Generating new business and 2) Keeping current customers giddy with glee because they are working with you.

Use current technology to serve customers, but don’t ever give up on live, direct connections with others. This happens through phone calls, hand-written letters (yes, they stand out in today’s world very well!) and physical face-to-face meetings. As new technologies come and go, it is the people connection that matters more than ever.

Constantly enhance your “people connecting” skills. Go to the networking meetings, seminars, conventions and other gatherings with the mind-set to help others. Contribute value first. After the meeting follow-up using the various tools of communication focusing on the preferred medium of your buyer (phone, email, Twitter, Facebook — whatever!). This combination of the human touch and leveraging technology is a sure-fire winner in any economy!

As a Relationship Marketer, you’ll be able to help others — and your own business — the more you focus on being there for other people to meet their needs. Use the tools for what they are meant to be. Focus on people and you will not only do well in business — but also in life.

Ever Been Stranded at an Airport?

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:36:00 -0700

Being stranded at an airport just stinks … canceled flight, no connections and you can find yourself stranded pretty quick.

I’ve experienced this personally a couple of times but usually, I deal with such occurrences when my boss calls as they’re trying to get back home and are stuck in some far off airport due to a canceled or delayed flight. My course of action in such instances is to get the travel agent on the phone to scour for other flights and hotel rooms as a back up … but I could never point my boss in the right direction to the best place for them to ride out the delay short of sending them to a hotel.

Until now.

Given that my boss has an AMEX Platinum card, they can get access to just about any airport lounge so when @nmarasco pointed me to a wiki online that lists and rates a ton of airport lounges, I knew I was going to use this resource in short order.

And soon enough, my boss was delayed and I pulled this little resource out of my assistant tool kit to lead them to the best rated lounge of that airport. Needless to say, I looked like a superstar and they’re still talking about that lounge two weeks later.

So, if your boss is either an air traveling warrior with “frequent flier” status for each major airline or is an AMEX platinum card holder, you now have a quick and easy resource in your assistant tool kit to come in and save the day. Remember, having the right tool for the job makes all the difference.

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Ever Been Stranded at an Airport?

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