The Freedom to Never Stop Working
Many people that have never worked from home envision telecommuters as unshaven (women too), pajama-clad hucksters who wake at ten each day to ensure they don’t miss Court TV. Those who have worked from home for any extended period of time often have a much different view. They know that telecommuting is often like having a cot at work to which they have voluntarily chained themselves. They know a life often spent pining away for simpler times when they worked twelve-hour days and left for a magical place called home. There is no doubt that working from home is a productivity killer for some but for most professionals the opposite is true. Therefore learning to create a work environment in the same place where children come to be hugged is often a tightrope of competing objectives.
Working from home often reveals individuals to be incredibly demanding tyrants who rarely allow breaks. The long hours of self imposed indentured servitude is a hazard that is hard to avoid. The trick is to set a schedule and keep to that schedule. Being disciplined not only about work but also about breaks is important especially during the early stages of telecommuting. Without such requirements many professionals work unceasingly only leaving their home office in dire bathroom related emergencies.
Telecommuters must be demanding of themselves while being careful not to be unrealistic. They must understand the ebb and flow of productivity and recognize that the work cycle is different in the home office than it is in the workplace. Keeping track of accomplishments is a key component to overcoming that sick feeling that often accompanies times when a lull occurs in the work cycle often caused by decision makers at the office. Another valuable tool is a list of “Value Added Extras” that can be done in those lulls. Such lists are comprised of things that never seem to get done but are productivity enhancers such as file organization, contact list updating and cleaning, sending complimentary emails, and other important tasks that office work precludes.
But success is as much a function of the right tools as it is the right approach. Home offices must be places of utility and organization. They must also help the telecommuter maintain professionalism and enable them to excel at their work. Offices must be separate and distinct parts of the home. They must have all of the technology that is needed and must be off limits to family during work hours. Home offices must be treated as though they are located in another building and those boundaries must be respected. It can be tempting for loved ones to “ask a quick question” and thereby destroy the momentum of the telecommuter. This is another crucial aspect particularly at the beginning of the process.
The rigidity of this schedule can ease up a bit once a natural flow has been established where the benefits of working at home can be enjoyed. But until that time it is important to hold off on the twelve-hour days and ease in to the change. In a short amount of time it may be acceptable to break out the bunny slippers and blast the iTunes player. Organized days and a professional office will yield an unexpected level of uninterrupted productivity. When that happens telecommuters quickly realize why the company was willing to let them work from home.
Improving Student Interaction in the Online Environment
Introduction
There are many steps that can be taken in the online environment to improve the quality of the learning process but this article addresses the specific area of student interaction. Online instruction is by its very nature isolated. As instructors we try to help involve students in the discussions to create some semblance of connection and thereby enhance the learning experience. Each student exchange has the possibility of reinforcing an important point or bringing to the fore some issue that is in need of clarification. However, when students do not participate for any reason the quality of their classroom experience decreases precipitously. As instructors we should have a plan to keep students involved.
Helping Students Overcome Feelings of Inadequacy
My experience is that many times students do not participate because of shyness or due to a feeling of inadequacy. To help overcome this problem I ask my students a few key questions about their background at the beginning of the class. These questions are designed to give me personal tidbits that I can use to make my questions more relevant and hopefully more interesting to the student. For example, if a student discloses that he works at a manufacturing plant I will make a note of that in my spreadsheet that I keep for each student. If the student demonstrates a reluctance to participate in the discussions I will use a manufacturing plant as the basis for a question presented to the entire class. The student can then participate with a greater degree of comfort.
Connecting Students, Family and Participation
Another piece of information that I like to get where possible has to do with family or marital status. This is an ideal bit of information to use in private discussions with the student to help motivate and draw them into a meaningful conversation. This takes a great deal of tact but by asking questions while incorporating familial ties the student has an almost emotional connection with the information and motivating that student becomes much easier.
Keys to Success
As with anything an instructor does the tact that must be used in these situations is of the highest order. No clumsy attempts at humor or ham handed conversation starters will do. Phrasing the questions must be correctly and strategically done or the entire enterprise could cause more problems than it solves. Tact and subtlety are subjects not addressed in this particular document but that gives me an idea for another article.
One Final Point
Until then, keeping students involved will have a tremendously beneficial effect on their learning experience and play a role in their long term commitment to education. Each student is important and worth the effort so instructors should never ignore any student. As long as a student is in class, she is worthy of being taught.
Neutralizing Acid Indigestion
Introduction
Acid indigestion is a common problem in modern Western society and usually does not indicate something serious. Instead, acid indigestion is a red flag from the body that poor digestion and assimilation is taking place and that the mind and body are not in harmony. This disharmony is the result of the conscious mind failing to listen to the needs of the body and failing to provide the proper foods in the proper way at the proper times.
Symptoms
Almost everyone has had at least one or perhaps all of the symptoms of acid indigestion. Whether manifested in the form of feeling bloated, heavy or just simple discomfort it is the same cause when manifested in the form of dull stomach pain or heartburn. These symptoms are important because they provide a good indication of what is going wrong with the digestive process. Paying close attention to these symptoms is essential for creating a strategy to manage the discomfort.
Causes
In order to solve a problem of this nature it is essential to know the cause behind it. In the case of acid indigestion there are some simple explanations as well as more complex explanations. Some of the simplest causes of acid indigestion can be remedied by simple behavioral changes.
Behavior changes are designed to ensure that you don’t eat…
- At the wrong times (avoid eating two hours before bed)
- Too much at once (fill the stomach only to 75% capacity)
- Too rapidly (chew slowly and thoroughly)
- At irregular intervals (eat at regular times each day)
- While anxious (relax, sit down and enjoy each meal)
- While conducting business
There are more complex issues that may be causing acid indigestion related to diet and what may be termed “weakness” of the digestive system. In the West we don’t usually speak in these terms but it can be an effective way to describe the problem if the terms are used correctly. The digestive system is like a muscle and when it is not challenged it becomes weak and feeble. This weakness results from eating highly processed foods, the wrong quantities of the right foods and too many of the wrong foods.
Dietary Considerations for a “Strong” Digestive System
To strengthen the digestive system it is important to have a diet that includes the right foods in the right amounts. Remember, it is important to note that even too much of a “good” food can be a cause of acid indigestion. It is helpful to examine Figure 1 that is included below. This figure is the “Food Distribution” chart and serves as a guide to help create a diet that is flexible, nutritious and perhaps most importantly – delicious.
Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Foods
The Food Distribution chart makes reference to three categories of foods that will not only alleviate the symptoms of acid indigestion but will also strengthen the overall digestive system. Primary Foods include whole grains and proteins in equal portions; Secondary Foods include fresh vegetables in season; Tertiary Foods include dairy, eggs and fruit. (Tierra, 1998) Creating a diet of these proportions may require a significant change not only in the way foods are consumed but in shopping habits and food label inspection. In addition to eating the rights foods, it is also important to combine them in the right way and to prepare them correctly. Since acid indigestion is an indication of a weak digestive system, it may be helpful to cook food slightly longer until digestive strength increases. In addition, it is important to avoid combining the following foods in meals because of the incompatibility of the materials.
(Lad, 2003, Some Useful Tips to Aid Digestion section)
Vitamins and Minerals
Kasimir Funk, one of the original researchers of vitamins in the early 20th century coined the term vital-amines to indicate the importance of certain material intake. Today, these vital-amines are known as vitamins and are recognized universally as essential to good health. Added to these vital dietary components are the essential minerals that are crucial for a strong digestive system. While making the transition to the new diet described above it is advisable to include a high quality multi-vitamin and mineral supplement to support the body’s effort to cleanse itself and build the strength necessary for alleviating acid indigestion. There are many high quality formulas that will work well but they are only available at health food stores. Consumers should avoid purchasing supplements in grocery stores or super stores because the quality tends to be significantly inferior to those supplements available at health food stores. (NOTE: The above list is not meant to be exhaustive but should provide a general idea. To learn more about food combinations to avoid you should review Ayurveda.com and their excellent .pdf file on the subject.)
Kitchen Spices and Supportive Herbs
As the diet changes it is also helpful to use other natural substances to support the proper function of the digestive system. For example, ginger and dandelion are extremely effective herbs that have a demonstrated effect on “exciting” the digestive system to produce enzymes, increase bile activity and improve assimilation. Ginger is a culinary spice that can be added to improve the flavor of the new foods that are part of the changed diet. In particular, ginger is an extremely important herb to add to meat dishes because of its ability to assist the intestines in their work to detoxify the substance. (Tierra, 1998) A dandelion tea taken just prior to a meal may also assist in the problems with acid indigestion as it stimulates enzymes and improves overall liver function. If anxiety is the cause of the acid indigestion it may be helpful to consider a relaxing herb as a precursor to a meal. Chamomile’s characteristic soothing qualities may be just the solution to discomfort caused by an anxious stomach.
Acid Indigestion Keys
It is important to understand that there are many potential causes for acid indigestion but they frequently can be found in the dietary habits of the individual rather than from some other more insidious cause. Taking the time to evaluate the diet and bring it into conformity with known healthy eating patterns will quickly help to alleviate the discomfort associated with the complaint. Naturally, it is important to stick with the changed regimen once the adjustment has been made to prevent acid indigestion from recurring.
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References
Lad, Vasant. (2003). Retrieved September 4, 2005, from Ayurveda.com Web site:
http://www.ayurveda.com/online%20resource/food_combining.pdf
Tierra, Michael. (1998). The Way of Herbs. New York: Pocket Books.
Is Email Usage on the Decline
NOTE: This article has a number of technical writing errors that I have included on purpose. I teach technical writing online and use this article with my students.
In the business world today there appears to be a growing epidemic. Where once company email servers buzzed with a non stop flow of emails that communicated updates, provided necessary direction and kept vital operations running there is a noticeable decline. Today the email volume at certain levels of business remains as high as ever but email numbers from senior management and within senior management groups have declined precipitously. Some of this is the natural result of legal exposure that the electronic documents pose but the cause behind some of the decline is very troubling according to experts.
There is a growing trend among many senior managers to decrease communication to subordinates that is likely to have a significant long term impact. The reason for this change is unclear but the fact remains that email from senior management to subordinates has reached its lowest level in years. Some employees report that they received contact via email between four and eight times per quarter in the 2002-06 reporting period. However in 2008 the assessments done by Cooper Pryce Auditing and other reputable companies confirm these findings and establish a negative trend beginning in 2007. According to some reports communications have plummeted to only one or two contacts per year. Interestingly there has been a corresponding decline in phone contact both cellular and terrestrial however those numbers are not as clear.
Anecdotal Evidence
Many workers who review the survey numbers are surprised at the level of decline but insist they are not affected by it personally. However everyone that was surveyed for this article had at least one or two cases of anecdotal evidence that supported the claim. Some employees stated that they believe it is merely the result of management being more cautious and not wanting anyone to have documentation of a decision that may go wrong. Others believe that managers are simply less inclined to work so they have little interest in responding to or initiating an email.
Solutions
Regardless of the cause it is important for employees to take some steps to protect themselves. One, employees should keep copies of emails that they send to managers for direction, approval or some question related to the employee’s work. Electronic copies of these emails can “mysteriously” disappear from the company server directly following an accusation made about a senior manager. Two, despite the lack of responses, employees should continue sending requests, documentation and other communication via email and keep copies of those documents as well. Three, experts strongly recommend that employees should sit down with their manager and talk over the concern. Sometimes the lack of email contact is simply an oversight but it could signal that there is a problem. Getting the information out in the open is the best way to get it resolved.
New Manager Struggles and Solutions
Problems from Day 1
Most new managers occupy their current positions as a result of good performance in the role that is performed by their direct reports. That is a common source of new management talent because past performance is clearly the best indicator of future performance. What is also common is to provide new managers with absolutely no training when they begin.
Unfortunately being good at a particular job does not automatically assure managerial excellence. To make matters worse, new managers usually lack a way to recognize what managerial approaches work best. The reason for this is that most of the freshly appointed leaders end up using a very broad approach in handling management issues that is also very broadly defined. Thus when success or failure results during the day to day functions the new manager has no way to identify the cause.
This process is a time consuming and inefficient way for managers to discover how best to interact and direct the actions of their teams. While this trial and error takes place it usually ends up with fractured teams and confused managers – at least in the interim. The lasting effect is wasted time and loss of money.
What Can Be Done
New managers should determine the viability of their approaches based on simple cause and effect. But using such a basic system of analysis still requires at least some degree of organization and process definition. Otherwise the manager’s assessment of what caused a particular outcome still comes down to a best guess.
This organization should include a comprehensive definition of each of the manager’s roles. This process is essential because it allows the manager to create a plan of action. With a well defined plan of action the manager can then easily identify the approaches that they are planning, what approaches have been used and the impact of each of those efforts. Using simple strategies like this can make a substantial difference in not only the performance of the manager but the overall satisfaction that he/she has with the job. Continuing to use similar steps will help increase and enhance the overall ability of the manager.
Asynchronous Learning Advantages and Disadvantages
Introduction the Issues
There are some inherent disadvantages to the asynchronous learning environment but each one has a remedy which blunts the impact that they can impose on the success of this teaching model. Despite the disadvantages there are enormous benefits to asynchronous learning that make it an optimal choice in many situations. Identifying both the advantages and disadvantages will help educators understand which circumstances will be best served by this approach.
The most valuable step that can be taken is to raise awareness of the disadvantages and there inherent problems. It is essential for instructors and administrators to assure that solutions are deployed before a negative impact on learning takes place and to assure that asynchronous learning is not seen as the culprit behind issues that are ultimately the responsibility of faculty and administration. Instructors should familiarize themselves with each potential disadvantage and watch for indications that a problem is present. Administrators should build effective training systems to assure that instructors have the tools to head off potential problems.
Mentally Disconnected
One of the most prevalent and potentially problematic disadvantages of the asynchronous environment is the sense of being disconnected from the group that students may potentially develop. A student that does not feel connected with the class or instructor may lose motivation, interest and ultimately find that learning and retaining the material is nearly impossible. This disadvantage is exacerbated as students feel more and more isolated as time passes and no intervention takes place. The longer this sense of being disconnected continues, the more likely it is that course concepts will fail to become anything more than words on the screen causing a potentially serious disadvantage to become an almost insurmountable obstacle to success.
Another potential disadvantage can occur when the instructor does not help students see how the classes are important to the personal goals of the student. This gap in understanding on the part of the student increases the risk of failure significantly. Students will often make the impact of this disadvantage evident by expressing negative views to the instructor in the private forum about the various assignments and text. As this disadvantage remains unchecked the student begins to see the course as an obstacle rather than an aid to improve his/her overall ability and knowledge. This can result in an adversarial relationship with the instructor and inhibit the entire learning process. As a further consequence students can begin to voice negative views in the discussion forums and potentially “poison” the thoughts of other students.
Overwhelming Advantages of Asynchronous Learning
The advantages of asynchronous learning far outweigh the disadvantages and this approach has the ability to have an overwhelmingly positive impact on the overarching learning objectives for most courses. One such advantage is the result of the way asynchronous learning is employed. All comments from the students and the instructor are saved throughout the class and organized by discussion and date. This provides students with the opportunity to take in all of the materials that are presented and reflect on all of the concepts at an appropriate time. This advantage benefits students who generally take poor notes or are forced to attend extremely large classes by assuring they do not miss important information.
Pay Sites Galore
This article will tackle some of the freelance sites that I have come across and I will describe my interaction with these companies. I located the sites in my article by doing searches on Google. I made a list of the sites that looked promising and then began following up with each of them. Some of these companies required a sample of previous writing while others simply accepted me without any proof of ability.
The difference in the acceptance process is due to the way the companies are structured. Some sites pay for specific articles and some are simply forums on which writers can post their materials. There are also some hybrid sites that function in a different way altogether.
Provides content creators with the ability to drop articles and images in an online catalog for sale.
Allows authors to sign up and write articles that potentially drive sales. The author selects some products that he can get interested in writing about and then posts the articles. There is a guide for the site as well entitled the Complete Guide to Clickbank.
The site is a straightforward affiliate site that requires authors to create links in the content they write and post on their own sites or blogs that promotes the product the author chooses to promote. I signed up for a few products that I know about and was interested in. I will be writing articles posting them on my site.
Bright Hub is by far the most community oriented site I am a member of. Writers work with editors to create engaging content. The articles require editorial approval before writing so the process is somewhat slower than other sites. Articles pay $10 a piece but have the ability to have royalties paid.
Constant Content is a forum where authors can drop their articles and have them purchased. I signed up for this site but have not submitted anything to it yet. Once I have some other articles developed I will post some on that site.
Demand Studios is a straight assignment fulfillment site that has lots of different types of articles for the author to create. My first article was required to be revised before it could be accepted and I selected four others to write. If they require more specificity than they advertise I will not continue to write for them but I want to give it a fair shot.
Textbroker is another assignment fulfillment site that rates authors. The better your rating the more articles and the higher the pay you can get. I was started with a 3 star out of 5 star rating. I have written eight articles that have been well received and I hope will bump my rating. We’ll see what happens.
Freelance Writing
What makes a person a writer? My definition is simple. If you write – you’re a writer. If someone has paid you for your writing then you are a happy writer. Unfortunately, most writers get paid very little for their work. Many writers work for a company that does not appreciate their skills and some writers have chosen to hide their talent under a bushel. The important step for a writer to take is to find out how to earn money for their work.
There are many opportunities on the internet to earn money writing freelance articles. Like most people, I had no idea how many opportunities there were to make money simply writing articles about subjects that I knew about. The fact is that there are lots of companies that pay writers by the word and are quick to pay. It is unfortunate that there are quite a few scams out there and even dealing with some of the legit companies isn’t always above board. I can’t speak authoritatively about all of the companies but I can share the experiences I have had with various writing companies in a future articles.
In the mean time sharpen your skills by reviewing samples of the work done by other writers that make money online and see if you have the ability to write in a similar way. Obviously plagiarism is a big problem on the internet but writing original content is not difficult for a real writer. Write from your own perspective and using your own style and you won’t have any reason to worry about plagiarism.