Archive for missouri

Non-Toxic Networking. Can it be true?

Networking became kind of a joke for a few years because everyone was buzzing to physical meetings and exchanging business cards or brochures, brags and phone numbers.   For certain the paper industry benefited, but sometimes it was difficult to understand much other benefit.

When was one supposed to WORK the work that would develop according to the promises of network?  There never seemed to be more hours evolving in one’s day.

So, we kind of became numb to the possibilities and let it slide.  Now we have a great deal of online “social networking”.  We’re learning the benefits of connecting professionally and with people we’ve not contacted for a long time but whom we hold valuable.   Even when the effort to participate in the social networks seems automated and more than a habit…an addiction, we are still learning benefits and learning management tips so we can keep a life and keep a network.

Because it is WHO you KNOW and WHO KNOWS you.   So, how do you keep your networking efforts from becoming a toxic pool of wasted time in your busy career?

Jennifer Gniadecki  wrote a quick read, Non-Toxic Networking,  with many practical applications that show how to keep networking from eating your life.  How to make your networking efforts, in real time and virtual a profitable and pleasant experience.

Jenn as walked the fiery coals of networking.  She has figured out some things to do that are benefical for survival and thriving.  I highly recommend this e-book for your networking management shelf.

As a professional copywriter, Jenn turns a good word and phrase into entertaining and applicable information.

If you are a professional in the corporate office or a professional virtual assistant, Jenn points have application.  She is an active member of many networks, both physical and virtual.  She is particularly active at VAnetworking.com with solid, honest input for questions from other members.  If you are a professional virtual assistant you will benefit from membership at VAnetworking.com and the support of an especially NON-TOXIC network.   This virtual network has supported members for several years; the experience is there.   Our sister blog, @ Bar JD Virtual Professionals, has every bit as much dedication to the group as you will find here.

Visit the page about Non-Toxic Networking, written by Jennifer Gniadecki,  at Bar JD today and give yourself a break.  You can learn that networking won’t kill you; that it will work for you.  Get it TODAY!

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Leaping Lizards – or — The Life of a VA

And how sometimes support people get tangled up in the turning world. Support people are a wonderful resource. I prefer some with a sense of humor, who know what they are doing, who don’t assume that I am making up my problem. This isn’t a demand from me — support people must have eternal patience. When we were first getting on the Internet, the frustration of getting a connection led almost everyone I knew, including ME to sessions of meltdown. I observed that when getting an Internet account, one had to fight, fight, fight, scream at the support people, weep, fight, fight, fight, then the thing would just work on its own without any clear understanding of what changed.
This week, I spend many hours on Monday with multiple support people on a popular contact management service. I was so tired and getting grumpy. When DH wanted to go visit some other people, I said I just wasn’t up to it and stayed here in the office, calling Support. Fortunately, I did that and also I changed to a roam phone so I could pace the floor while talking to Support.
The dog, an eighty to ninety pound bundle of terrier intentions, experienced a broken collar which left him just having to run about checking things he ordinarily must leave be. Checking the areas around my small tomato plants in small pots awaiting the garden. Checking like getting ready to toss them from hell to breakfast.
While Support is doing his IT stuff, I am on the porch, snarling at the dog. ” Come HERE! Duke! Stop That, Get out of there, Come HERE.” Oh good, I caught him and can haul him into the house. Support is still sort of the edges of this call. Duke heads for his digs in the laundry room and releases the lizard he had caught around the plants. A lizard somewhat the worse for wear. Support cannot be left out of the scene now because I’m trying to get ahold of the lizard with a shopping bag glove to get rid of it. competing all the while with Duke who wants to chase that lizard. But, lizards have little claws and I’m goosey. I dropped it.
I just kept trying to kick it away from Duke, while I learn that nothing like this has ever happened to Support during a call! His question, after I told him how big the dog is, was is the lizard big too? Fortunately no.
I really like having the lizards in the hostas and didn’t plan to harm this one. Duke has no judgment and no conscience. The lizard kind of came apart. Now, I’m thinking Support is going to have expanded experience of me throwing up because that tail squirming on the kitchen floor just grossed me OUT! I had to have the conversation take a break while I got my shopping bag glove lined up so I could get ahold of the pieces and toss them outside because it was just making me sick.
Support and I finished our testing, did not solve our problem and said good night. Just another day when you live in your office with big dogs and wildlife.. Lizards have a weird smell.

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Missouri VAs — your clients may benefit from this SBA training

Human resources have a viable and valuable place in the office and corporate environment. Maintaining a communication between employers and employees has business advantages when measured against the costs of training for new employees, the losses during the learning curve or during the time when an employee is getting ready to move on. There are legal issues to consider in the successful office as well. When these issues are avoided by employers the gain is more impressive. When all of the gears work together, the business benefits, thrives and can keep workers.

The Missouri Small Business is scheduling a series of seminars regarding some of the legal issues to be dealt with in human resources: HUMAN RESOURCES LEGAL ISSUES SERIES – Personnel Law – Hiring & Firing (Feb. 1, 2007); Establishing Essential HR and Record-keeping (Feb 8, 2007); Personnel Law – Common HR Mistakes and Hot Topics (Feb 15, 2007). .

The prices are reasonable at $99 a session or $267 for the entire series, a nice discount. You can learn more at the Missouri Small Business Development Center in Jefferson City. (http://www.sbdc.missouristate.edu/) or calling 1417-836-4639 View a FLYER with more information, particularly contact information.

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Repeat after me — VOTE VOTE VOTE

We are coming up to another important election and opportunity to state our position on many issues all over the country.

In Missouri, there are state issues and local issues that are of grave concern to Missouri residents and deserve attention.

There are candidates who have agreed to spend their time and energy to particpate in our democratic-republic government form and make honorable efforts to express our positions and needs in the action of that government, local, state and national. These people deserve our respect enough to have us get ourselves out and about to state our choices and opinions and positions regardless of what those may be.

Thank goodness for elections — the lifeblood of the media to sell ad spots to the candidates and issues. Remember Campaign spending could back the pay check of the one you love.

There is no please about it — this is a demand. Next Tuesday, get off your duff and VOTE!

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Blowing Missouri Smoke

Again, a regional, personal and political issue, but one I must state.

Smoking issue

I despise smoking. Smokers smell, they contribute to health hazards. In crowds, they make me smell in a manner that is most offensive when I get away from them; the odor hangs on and ruins my clothes, fouls my surroundings and belongings. (Wipe a wet cloth down the walls of the smoker home, or on the windows of the smoker car. Yech!) With all of the information about health in particular that has been daily available for the last 50 years, I have a really difficult time appreciating the intellect of someone who chooses to begin a smoking habit.

I understand the evils of smoking in terms of health and these days in terms of money. I have great sympathy with the people who think that adding four cents to a pack of cigarettes will keep young people from smoking. I am suspicious of the success future of such thinking, but they have my sympathy.

However, this is an amendment to the constitution. I cannot support a lifetime tag on the amendment of any constitution that addresses an addiction, a health issue and a small tax. This would have to be introduced in a different format to get my support. So, I will be voting NO next week and the smoking idiots can remember that if you play, you pay. Sure, your health care will cost Missouri neighbors, but you will be the uncomfortable one with the ravages of lung cancer or emphysema and with the shortened life. We will miss you, but it was, at the very base of things, your choice and you can choose.

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Stem Cells in Missouri — NO

Not a particularly ‘office’ issue, but a statement that I must make.

Stem cell issue

I have major problems with the Missouri Stem Cell Initiative a proposed amendment for the 2006 elections in Missouri.

Number one, I do not believe this is good for Missouri or the United States. I believe that researchers have not sufficiently resolved the possibilities of stem cell benefits for the ailments and conditions targeted from other sources of stem cells besides embryonic stem cells. I believe there are sufficient other resources for stem cell research and possible resolution of health conditions, both disease and injury. Resources which include cord blood, baby teeth, adult stem cells and others. I do not support the call for the embryonic stem cell supply. There are lines of embryonic stem cells of sufficient supply to experiment. Prove it first with these; then be good scientists and check in other paths to learn if the results cannot be replicated with acceptable stem cell sources. Embryonic stem cells are not acceptable. I must vote NO.

Secondly, the advertising for this initiative makes fools and points the ‘stupid’ finger at Missouri residents and voters by implying that without this amendment being enacted, Missouri residents will be denied the medical advancements of stem cell research. What a totally fraudulent statement to make! That is so insulting. If I were mad/insane enough to endorse this mad scientist idea, I would hope that my pain at the insulting promotion would counsel me to vote NO.

Thirdly, with the caveat that I do endorse stem cell research and that I do not wish to diminish the suffering of people with injuries and conditions for which there is no other encouragement, stem cell research and application/treatment is still a medical procedure. And a medical procedure with limited demand among the general population.

I resist the thinking that would make a medical procedure an amendment to any constitution. Make it a law; make it a proclamation, make it a proposal with term limit, but not an amendment.

I find sufficient reason and personal opinion to vote NO on Amendment 2 next week.

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