How to Use Microresolutions to Improve Sales Performance

When managers roll out major changes it can be a shock to everyone who has to comply with new rules. When handled incorrectly, disruptions can cause resentment and resistance that counteract productivity, and most companies can’t afford to waste that kind of time.

While certain things can’t be helped (e.g. new company software, new compliance laws, etc.), there are reasons you might want to take a different approach if it’s necessary to change employee behavior.

Sales employees can benefit from small, well-defined resolutions as a means of strengthening performance and company revenue rather than blanket procedural changes.

What is a microresolution?

A microresolution is an achievable behavior change that employees can use to improve their day. It needs to be a clear goal, so generic calls for improvement will not do.

For example, let’s say an employee is having trouble making a strong first impression on their prospects. Considering that sales today is largely driven by the ability to teach the client about their own business, it might be a worthwhile resolution for the employee to start working on how to impart their best suggestions and tools as quickly and naturally as possible right at the start of a conversation. Or since people have more energy and resolve in the morning, it may make sense to have your reps tackle their hardest tasks before 11 a.m.

Inspiring employees

The amazing thing about these microresolutions is that they can and do apply to everyone. No one is above making better decisions in their day, and this is an excellent way to inspire employees to feel a resolved sense of purpose when they confront their daily tasks.

Whether a person needs help in documenting their activities or they need assistance with executing a specific sales tactic, encouraging everyone to make one small resolution can be the start of some drastic changes in the office. So let’s say that a person takes care of their most hated task at 10 a.m. in the morning, they may feel so accomplished that they start doing more in the afternoon as well which ultimately leads to better-serviced accounts. The point of this exercise is to focus an employee’s attention on something they can do rather than bemoan the fact that the company is failing to hit a certain level of achievement.

Camaraderie

Just because a microresolution is easily definable, doesn’t mean that it will be easy to adjust to. It will take some experimentation to fully adapt the change into a day, but this experimentation is excellent for generating discussion and a sense of camaraderie.

With everyone working together to fix one of their shortcomings, it can help employees feel connected to one another for better teamwork and understanding. The key here will be to have everyone on board with completing this task and depending on the type of office environment, it may make sense to track that progress in a public way. This way, people can draw strength and advice from each other rather than feel like they are the only one who is struggling.

Changes and adjustments

Let employees know that resolutions can grow into more ambitious goals, but only after the original resolution has been thoroughly mastered. This is why it’s so important for salespeople to set realistic goals. It’s also why reps should only work on one resolution at a time.

Someone who wants to get their numbers up by 70% may be setting themselves up for failure, while a field salesman who aims for a 10% revenue increase can always adjust their target after they’ve met their goal consistently over consecutive months. While change can sometimes be slow, the sense of pride and achievement an employee feels after hitting a personal goal is meant to be a jumping-off point for continued growth within the company. If you’re a sales manager, then you may want to suggest individual goals that you feel will be best to improve your reps’ performance.

The impact on sales

The more involved an employee is in their overall progress, the better their relationships and confidence will be with clients when making sales. By allowing a salesperson to see marked success in their days in one aspect, the comfort level they feel in their job should also rise.

Every sales team is different, but there is no one who is immune to the pleasures of doing their job more effectively. If possible, implementing this type of program in a company should apply to everyone: senior executives, managers, and everyone in between. While it may take some time, using microresolutions on a consistent basis should lead to a lasting, positive impact on sales performance.

More Info: lifehack.org

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Learn the Secrets of Usenet in 3 Easy Steps

 Featured photo credit: Viktor Hanacek via picjumbo.com

If you waste too much time on the Internet like I do, you have probably torrented all sorts of files such as movies or other forms of media. But what if I told you that there is a faster alternative to BitTorrent which can also protect your privacy?

That is precisely what Usenet is. Usenet is not some newfangled prototype. In fact, it is older than what most people believe when they think of the Internet. Usenet was originally created during the late 1970s to late 1980s essentially as a series of disconnected discussion boards and groups. But today, these groups contain huge amounts of data and files which anyone can download.

So why don’t corporations and the government crackdown on Usenet? To some extent, they have. But Usenet has been able to stay under the radar because there are a few catches with it such as that it can seem trickier to use. But it really is not that hard. Here are some key steps which even the least tech-savvy person can use to start downloading all sorts of files through Usenet.

1. Pay for your Usenet provider

When you download files through Usenet, you are downloading through server farms and not through peer-to-peer sharing. This better protects your privacy and also allows you to download more obscure files which do not have enough seeders. But it does mean that you have to pay a fee so that those servers can be maintained.

The fee is not that much, and most Usenet providers are willing to provide a free trial while you understand how Usenet works. NewsHosting, one of the most popular Usenet services, charges just $13 per month for their standard plan, which places no limit on the amount of data that can be transferred. That is an exceptional price considering the kinds and amount of data which can be downloaded.

Most Usenet providers will charge roughly the same amount, so users should look at other aspects to determine which provider is best for them. One of the biggest keys is data retention – because Usenet providers receive so much data, they have to periodically expunge older data to make room. Aim for a provider with a longer retention period. Other things to check for include how much data you can download and how many connections you can have at the same time.

2. Use SABnzbd

In addition to a Usenet provider, you need a Usenet client. But what kind of client you get depends on why you intend to use Usenet.

The two reasons to use Usenet are to get access to interesting discussion groups via comp.* or news.*, or to download files. Essentially, you can get a client which can do one or the other, or you can pay for a client that can do both. If you are interested in a paid client, then I would recommend Newsbin.

If your primary interest in Usenet is to download files and you do not want to pay for a client, then the best choice by far is SABnzd. This client is very easy to install, especially because it now comes with a wizard which guides you on the steps.

One key point here is that when you sign up with a provider, you will receive via e-mail the provider’s server details as well as a password. Also, enter the number of connections which your providers allows.

SABnzd will restart at least once so that you can test the server’s connection, but once it is finished you will have the address you can use to get access it from your web browser.

3. How to Find the Files

So you have your Usenet client and provider, which are the tools needed to download files. But you cannot just type in “find usenet files” on Google and expect to get anywhere. You will have to find a dedicated indexer to find the location point from which you can find Usenet files, which are normally called NZBs.

Some indexes charge an incredibly small fee like $1 per year to run, and you should be willing to scrounge that little cash. But one of the big challenges with indexes is that major ones such as NZBMatrix have been forced to close down. Binsearch.info, for now, is one of the better indexes and it is free.

When you search with Binsearch, just type in the kind of file you want to find. It should be noted that the naming sense of Usenet files can be peculiar, so it can take you a while to get the hang of it. But once you find the file you want, click on the checkmark and the click the “Create NZB” button at the bottom. Your computer will download the NZB file.

From there, you can add the NZB file to SAB, and SAB will download the files, unzip them, and place them in your directory. From there, you can do it again, downloading and using all the downloaded information you can get. More Info: lifehack.org

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Six Things that I Want you to Know Before a Job Interview

 Featured photo credit: Pexels.com via static.pexels.com

Finding a job is hard, but what compounds the difficulty is going to several different interviews before landing a job. Practice makes perfect, but interviewers from different companies have different styles and ask different questions during interviews, so really how can you prepare for it? I am a recruiter by profession and have seen all kinds of candidates from the nervous and unsure ones to the overly-confident and brash ones. For those who need a confidence boost, here are some things that I want you to know to help you better prepare for an interview.

1.) We don’t store your embarrassing moments in our long-term memories.

We don’t interview just one person a day, and we do not discuss the whole interview for the whole eight hours that we are at work. We do other things, too, like post jobs, complete reports, and prepare for meetings. Do not be too self-conscious during an interview. If you end up sneezing ten times during an interview, chances are that we might not even remember after the day ends. Do not get obsessed that we may be watching out for every tiny detail in your body language.

2.) We want you to read our website.

Please do not go into battle unprepared. You should know the enemy, and in the case of an interview, please know the company the you are interviewing for. Read what their vision and mission are and read current events that they have been involved in. Why would you want to be part of something that you do not know about? If you do not know why, it will definitely show during the interview.

3.) Do read different interview questions and prepare answers for them.

Preparation is the biggest thing. If in case you do not get the job, at least you can say to yourself that you did your best. The best way to prepare is to scan through a list of different interview questions and mentally (or aloud) rehearse. Much better would be to write down your answers. That way, when one of those questions comes up during the interview, you won’t be left scrambling for an answer.

4.) Know what the job’s duties and responsibilities are.

Before going to an interview, find out as much as you can about what you will be doing if you get the job. Read the job description that was posted and if anything seems vague to you, you should ask about it during the interview. That way everything is transparent. Transparency in the job interview can save you from issues that could arise if you do get the job.

5.) Know what we do as a company and what you can do for our company.

Please do not show up for an interview and not have an idea how you can be an asset to the company, or not know why we should hire you. Applying for a job is pitching yourself to get hired, just as in sales. While you should do your best sales pitch during an interview, you should also stick to the facts and do not oversell yourself. Too much confidence and stretching the truth about what you really can do will turn off recruiters.

6.) We get nervous, too.

We do know that there are other options out there such as better-paying jobs, better-known companies, and companies with better work environments. In the back of our minds, we know that there is a chance that you might not accept our offer if we decide to hire you. As much as you are trying to please recruiters, we are trying to please you, too. More Info: lifehack.org

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7 Ways to Promote Your YouTube Channel

If you have decided to create a YouTube channel, you need to find the best ways to promote it. After all, if it is not being promoted, people aren’t going to know about it, and you will be simply wasting your time because you won’t be making any money.

Here are seven ways that you can promote your YouTube channel, and you can start right now.

1. Create Good Thumbnails

The first thing you should do is create great thumbnails that show what your channel is all about. If you are trying to promote a video about how to repair a broken lamp, you don’t want the thumbnail to show your cat.

Make sure the thumbnail is a hint of what to expect from the video. If the audience can’t figure out what the thumbnail is in reference to your video, they aren’t going to be as likely to click on it as they would if they saw the connection.

2. Optimize Your Channel

You need to create a profile that is clear and compelling, and one that offers a full description of what your channel is really about.

Your profile should be on-brand, and be similar to your other social channels, including colors, backgrounds, logos, social media icons for the other channels you use, custom banners and layout, etc. Basically, when people see your YouTube channel, they should automatically recognize your brand.

3. Use Videos in Email Newsletters

One great way to let people know about your YouTube channel is to tell them via email. If you send out regular email newsletters, incorporate some of your videos into these newsletters.

When you are promoting a certain video, make sure that you promote it during certain days of the newsletter mailings to get the best results and the most viewers.

4. Use the Right Promotional Tools

There are several online tools available for you to use that will help you to promote your YouTube channel. With many of these tools being absolutely free to use, there is nothing stopping you from promoting the heck out of your channel. Some of the best tools include:

• Ad Promotion
• YouTube Views
• YouTube Tools
• Video Promotion
• Reddit
• Digg

5. Hold Contests

Everyone loves to win stuff, and a great way for you to engage with and increase your audience is to hold contests. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on prizes. In fact, prizes can be as simple as offering free informational videos, e-books, etc.

Upload a call to action video that announces your contest that includes a description of the rules, and encourage your followers to share the contest with their friends along with entering themselves.

6. Create a Trailer

If you are looking for a fun and interesting way to introduce people to your YouTube channel, try creating an entertaining trailer. This is really easy to do, since all you have to do is create a montage of video clips of the best moments of videos that are already on your channel.

The better the clips, the more likely that people are going to be interested in tuning into your channel to check out everything that you have to offer.

7. Use Video SEO

It is important that you optimize your YouTube channel for SEO. After all, YouTube is the second-largest Internet search engine, and if you are using SEO, your videos are going to reach a greater audience through their searches.

Things that you need to consider when using SEO include title tag information, audience retention, keywords in description tag, tags, comments, likes and dislikes, number of subscribers who are still there after watching, etc. More Info: lifehack.org

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The 2 Things You Need to Know to Find More Time in the Day

 Featured photo credit: picjumbo via picjumbo.com

Are you a busy parent that’s already prioritizing work and family but want time for more? Well, I want you to know it’s possible. In fact, I think that if you apply these two things tips, you’ll have more time and feel less busy.

1. Be efficient in all that you do

You should always be asking yourself “What’s the best way to do this?” Focus on doing everything in the order that makes the most sense. The opposite of this is multi-tasking, which you should avoid. When you multi-task you get distracted and don’t do anything well.

In being efficient, you’ll also want to keep it simple. For example, when making dinner focus on doing only that and have a repertoire of meals that are fast. Once you’ve made them a time or two, you’ll know the order in which to prepare and cook the ingredients. It doesn’t even have to be a “recipe”, it can be just a protein and veg, which is what I often do. That makes grocery shopping easier too because I just get the number of protein and veg I need and mix and match throughout the week. I keep it simple when I’m cooking too. If I’m grilling, I cook both meat and veg on the grill (which also saves on clean-up time). If I’m cooking it in the oven, same thing. If I want really fast, I do burritos or tacos. I can get them on the table in 10 minutes.

This works for the little things too, like putting everything that needs to go downstairs by the gate. This way you take everything downstairs on one trip. If you have 3 minutes of free time, you can clean the bathtub (yes, it can be done in 3 minutes). If you need to return something to a store, put it with the grocery bags so you remember to do it on the same trip. Think about everything you do this way. What is the most efficient order to do things? What can you do first that makes the other tasks easier?

2. Manage your time, don’t let it manage you.

Really think about how you’re using your time. Write down your daily and weekly tasks. How does your schedule look? How do you want it to look? You have to look at this before you can add more in. If your more is that you want to work out but you don’t think you have the time, think about this. You have three options: before work, during work, after work.

• Before work. Can you get up earlier? Will that affect any other parts of your day? Will your spouse be responsible for the kids if they wake up early? Will you still get as much sleep as you want?
• During work. Is there a gym at your office you can use? One thats close to the office? If you work out during the day, will you have to stay at the office longer? Will it affect daycare drop-off or pick-up?
• After work. Can you do it after work but before you pick up the kids? If your husband/wife picks up the kids, can you arrive home 30 minutes later than you normally do? Can you do it after the kids go to bed? If so, what will you have to give up?

Ask yourself these questions. Use the answers to decide where you want to fit this in your schedule. Then test it out and see if it works for you. If not, what changes will make it work?

Basically, this is just being efficient with your schedule. Don’t just do things at a certain time because that’s the way you always did them. You might think you only like to work out in the morning. But if the evening is the best time for you, is it better to try doing it then or just never do it?

Will this work for me?

I used to think I couldn’t get up before my kids. I used the argument that I didn’t know what time they were going to wake up. Then I tried getting up 5 minutes before them. And it worked – for the first week. The second week it didn’t, so I got up earlier. Then I decided that I liked having time in the morning and I wanted to get up at 5am every day. I asked my husband if he would be in charge of the kids from 5 – 6am. He said yes. It doesn’t always work out, but it does more often than not, and now it is part of my routine.

Now imagine if that were an activity you wanted to do. Are you willing to make changes to make that happen? We can’t literally add time to our day, but we can choose how we spend our time and make the most of it. And that feels like more time.

As a parent, you will have to be flexible because you just can’t predict what your kids will do or what situations will come up. If you want to get up early but think it won’t work out, shoot for 3 days a week.

What happens when you start managing your time?

You’ll take your relaxation time more seriously too. No more sitting on the couch half-watching a show half-trolling Facebook because you’re bored. If it’s your time to spend with your husband or wife, you will want to make it meaningful.

Same for your time with your kids. Decide on a time of the day to focus on your kids. Be intentional with your time and you will be able to accomplish more, strengthen your relationships, and lead the life you want to lead.

It’s your turn now, what are you going to add into your life? More Info: lifehack.org

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4 Ultimate Tips to Zipper Selection and Use

Before taking up your project, making the right selection of materials for the project should be considered.

The best way to getting the best zipper materials is to contact a zipper supplier who has much information about zippers and also ready to share this information with you. However, these few tips could do a lot to guide you to choosing the best zippers out there.

1. Zipper selection

There are different types of zippers with different lengths, different parts and material make-up, different shapes or designs. Making the right selection may pose a great challenge if there is little or no knowledge whatsoever about them. Before you can select a good zipper, having a good knowledge about all these will make it a lot easier to deal with.

2. Different types of zippers

• Coil zippers

The Coil Zippers are the most available type of zippers. Often, they are referred to as the Nylon Zippers because of the Nylon material make-up. Now, however, they are made of polyester but still retain their name “Nylon Zipper”. These zippers are heat resistant, light-weight and/or rustproof. Because they are readily available, they are often said to be the best zippers but that may not be true. Availability doesn’t necessarily indicate good quality.

• Separating zippers

The separating zippers are so designed to completely be separated after the installation of the zipper. The name “open-ended zippers” shouldn’t confuse you, it’s the same zipper. The separating zipper uses a box and pin mechanism and commonly is installed or used on coats, hoodies or sweatshirts.

• Invisible zippers

The coil on these zippers is located on the back of the zipper, installed such that it’s hidden or not visible. The best projects to use these zippers on are dresses and skirts. A perfect description for this zipper could be “a coil zipper with a tear drop- like pull”.

• Metal teeth zippers

This zipper has two lines of metal teeth, modeled and lined on each side of the zipper tape at regular intervals. The material make-up could be of nickel, aluminum, and brass. Commonly, they are used on hard case bags and in jeans wears.

• Plastic teeth zippers

The plastic zippers could be mistaken for Metal teeth Zipper. The only distinguishing fact is the plastic material they are made unlike the metal teeth zippers made of aluminum, brass, and nickel. They are also used on jeans wears and hard case bags but more prevalent on bags. They could be affected by heat so caution must be taken being used on projects especially on wears as ironing the dress may damage the zipper. This is the major reason they are commonly used on bags compared to jeans or wears. They are rustproof.

3. Zipper make up

Every zipper has three parts, the slider, teeth and the tape. The chain is formed when the two side-lined teeth are joined together by the slider. In separating zipper, you can also find the reinforcement film, insertion pin, and the retainer box.

4. Measuring zipper length

Zipper lengths are measured from teeth to teeth or metal to metal. If measuring a closed bottom zipper, start your measurement from the top stop and measure down to the bottom stopper. But, if measuring a separating zipper, start measurement from the top stopper and measure down to the end of the retainer box.

It shouldn’t be confusing seeing or hearing measurement lengths of zippers. The numbers in a zipper label simply refer to the width of the chain. For instance, a zipper indicated as #3 has a chain measuring 3mm and a zipper indicated as #5 has a chain measuring 5mm. A closer look at the zipper slider will reveal the number of chain measurement.

However the length measurement of zippers which are of different varieties, there could still be a need to shorten the zipper length to meet accurate usage. This, of course, shouldn’t be a big problem or challenge. The easiest way to have this done is simply stitching over the coils where you desire to create a stop. Trip out the lower end of the zipper after getting your accurate zipper length for your production. Where to create the stop either at the top or bottom depends solely on what you are using the zipper for or its position on the production and it’s your choice to make. However, it’s better to shorten the zipper from the top when it’s been used on the waistband of skirts or pants. If used on pockets or the necklines, it’s better to shorten from the bottom.

When sewing a zipper into the waistband of pants or a skirt zippers should be shortened from the top. Shorten from the bottom for pockets and necklines.

5. Zipper care tips

• If zippers ever get stuck, use a liquid soap help get if freed.
• Either metal teeth or plastic teeth zipper, make sure to cover the zipper with fabrics when ironing, keep it closed and the slider fixed.
• When laundering, ensure to launder with the zipper closed so as not to damage the teeth and slider. More Info: lifehack.org

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5 Effective Treatments for Alopecia

 Featured photo credit: Caroline Speranza via flic.kr

We may call hair loss alopecia when we want to be formal and scientific, but let us be straight. Losing your hair sucks. As someone who has had hair loss starting in his early 20s and has a family history of early hair loss, it is tough to see how your friends and family react sometimes. And while hair treatments can help your fight against alopecia, your hair is fighting a battle against Father Time. He always wins.

That sense of desperation creates a rich feeding ground for charlatans and crooks, and so some people do waste their money on unreliable treatments. But some remedies, both natural and chemical, can help the fight against hair loss. Here are a few tips which can make you look your best.

1. Think about nutrition

If you have ever lost a lot of weight at a time, you may have noticed significant hair loss. The Lindora Clinic notes that hair loss is a common side effect to periods of massive weight loss. This is because your body redirects nutrients away from nonessential functions like your hair and towards essential functions like your organs. A lack of protein, in particular, will create hair loss, as that is essentially what your hairs are made of.

Consequently, the first step towards treating hair loss is to eat right. A protein and iron-rich diet will provide the nutrients you need to stimulate your hair, so load up on fish, leafy greens, and chicken. These foods offer other health benefits and can help you slim down without starving yourself and cutting off the nutrients from your hair.

2. Minoxidil

You probably know this as Rogaine, but this drug does work and is one of only two drugs actually approved by the FDA to fight hair loss (the other drug, finasteride is alright). As WebMD notes, “Minoxidil belongs to a class of drugs known as vasodilators. Minoxidil solution and foam are used to help hair growth in the treatment of male pattern baldness. It is not used for baldness at the front of the scalp or receding hairline in men. The foam and 2 percent minoxidil solution is also used to help hair growth in women with thinning hair.”

But minoxidil will only keep your hair growth up for as long as it is administered. When you stop using it, all the hair which you will grow up to that point will fall off and possibly more.

If you want to use minoxidil, use the 5 percent treatment two times per day once in the morning and evening. Take care to really massage it in your head when it is dry and let it sit for a bit.

3. Oil massages

If you are interested in something more natural, then various oils such as coconut or castor oil massaged into your scalp can help your hair growth. These massages help for two reasons. First is that these oils can improve the blood circulation to the affected areas. More blood in your scalp means more nutrients to your hair that will help keep them healthy. Many of these oils also contain minerals and nutrients of their own which can improve your hair health when massaged in.

The second is the massage itself. Stress is one of the key factors behind hair loss and a good massage can relieve any tension you have. Other methods of relieving stress such as deep breathing or meditation are also excellent options.

4. Hair Transplants

Hair transplants are the most drastic but generally the most effective means of battling hair loss. While hair transplants have been around since the 1950s, advances in medicine have made the procedure less intrusive and do a better job at hiding the transplant.

In a hair transplant, a surgeon moves hair follicles from one part of your hair to the other and transplant them into the bald area. The transplanted hair will fall out quickly, but stimulates natural hair growth.

If you are interested in a hair transplant, you have to understand what it entails. First, a hair transplant will cost thousands of dollars and most insurers will not cover that expense. There are also additional medical risks such as an itchy scalp or swelling, as well as the fact that the transplant will fail a small percentage of the time.

Take care to discuss this surgery with a professional certified by the International Society for Hair Restoration Surgery before going under the knife.

5. Visit your doctor

Most of the time, hair loss is embarrassing but harmless. But sometimes, it can be an indication that something is wrong with you. Some examples of diseases which can be associated with hair loss include lupus, thyroid disease, and even HIV. For younger people, hair loss can also be associated with anorexia given the aforementioned link between hair and weight loss.

If absolutely nothing is working to fix your hair and you have other symptoms, you might want to visit your physician. He can confirm that nothing is wrong with you and can recommend other treatments which can help grow your hair back. More Info: lifehack.org

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