the Covenant

In your career you will inevitably come to say some dumb or regrettable things to your boss. At one time or another, we all do it to varying degrees. The following list of such things is by no means exhaustive, but if you can avoid saying them, you will be doing yourself, your professional persona and your boss a tremendous service.

So, keep these top 10 things to never say to your boss in mind the next time you’re chatting him up by the water cooler.

Number 10
“Impossible; that can’t be done.”
This is just the kind of short-sighted thinking no boss wants to hear about. It suggests both a lack of effort and indifference. So, unless you follow it up with a solution or an alternative, it’s not terribly proactive or even helpful to say such a thing.

Number 9
“This is the best they could do, huh?”
Whether said in response to new office phones, computers or the banquet hall at a family-style restaurant rented for a Christmas party, this is one of those smart-ass comments that indicates to your boss, and to others, that you have a deluded sense of entitlement. It also belittles the efforts someone — possibly your boss or even his boss — has made.

Number 8
“That’s not my problem.”
Be that as it may, this presupposes the existence of a problem and, more than likely, a frustrated boss or coworker in need of some assistance. At the very least, your boss is looking for someone to take responsibility of the solution to this problem — even if it wasn’t yours to begin with. That means he already knows it’s not your problem, so you can spare him the reminder.

Number 7
“That isn’t in my job description.”
In one of the many great courtroom scenes in A Few Good Men, Tom Cruise asks a witness to point out where in the U.S. Marines manual the mess hall is indicated. Naturally it isn’t in there. The point is, a lot of things aren’t detailed in your job description, including e-mailing your friends from work or surfing the web, but you probably do those things anyways, right? So when the boss asks you to do something a little out of the ordinary, don’t take offense and never say to your boss that it’s not in your job description to do it.

Number 6
“Does it really matter if I get this finished?”
A strictly educational environment might promote the idea that there is no such thing as a dumb question, but this isn’t true at the office. To know the difference a good question to ask yourself is: “Will this question waste someone’s time?” No boss wants you to spend an hour doing a project incorrectly, but asking about the relevance of a certain question is time-wasting and insulting to both of you.

Number 5
“That’s a no-brainer.”
As a tired-out cliché this statement is offensive enough; but delivered with just the right amount of patronizing tone, it becomes an insult. Your boss doesn’t hear “no-brainer” as much as he hears, “The answer is obvious; how dumb are you anyway?”

Number 4
“We should totally hook up on MySpace/Facebook.”
No, you shouldn’t. Ever. Your boss knows this and he might be a little disappointed that you don’t. Extending a request like this puts him in an uncomfortable position. He may be too nice to say no, or foolish enough to say yes. Either way, social interactions with your boss should, almost without question, be discouraged. We don’t mean you can’t mingle with him at office parties, but try not to plan weekend getaways with him and his family anytime soon.

Number 3
“I got so trashed last night…”
You might just be jawing over the prior evening, but to your boss this might be your hint that you plan to be especially unproductive that day. It might also remind him that you don’t have qualms about keeping work and private lives separate and that you don’t have much discretion at all. Therefore you can’t be trusted with additional responsibilities.

Number 2
“I don’t get paid enough for this.”
Ninety-nine percent of the time you’ll be wrong when you say this. Furthermore, such a statement packs so many ready-made responses. Most potent among them might be, “Then quit, and fulfil your great untapped potential elsewhere.” All told, this kind of statement serves no other purpose but to b*tch and complain — which you do not want to do in front of, to or around your boss. Save it for people who might actually think you’re right, like your mother.

Number 1
“Sigh!”
The passive aggression and frustrating ambiguity of a sigh are what land it at the No. 1 spot. It can be delivered in response to the full range of requests from your boss, and it seems sufficiently open to interpretation to allow you to deny even having sighed at all.

But this is as true to you as it is absurd to your boss. We all know very well what a sigh means; it’s the official theme song of being annoyed, and the national anthem of imposition.

think before you speak
The one overriding and evident motif running through all the entries is this: These top 10 things to never say to your boss damage your professional persona by creating the perception that you have an uncooperative attitude. Many of them, if not all of them, can be avoided by taking a positive attitude with you to work and really taking a moment to consider what you’re going to say before you actually say it.

The ability to create and keep efficient, effective schedules is not highly regarded; it’s not often a compliment one hears or makes about a colleague or coworker. That isn’t to say it has no value or importance. Rather, it is an ability that is associated with characteristics — like “accountable,” “responsible” and “dependable” — that will serve you well throughout your entire career.

In developing the ability for effective scheduling, the usefulness of tools like PDAs is not in dispute, but neither is the inability of these tools to execute your workday. In order to align your busy schedule as it is on paper with the inexactitude of reality, adhere to the following tips for effective scheduling.
Prepare and clarify your objectives
Carefully consider your objectives for events such as meetings beforehand, noting precisely what you want to accomplish and what questions you may need to ask. Doing so will allow you to allot the right amount of time to events in your schedule.

When you arrive or, if possible, in advance of the appointment, clarify these objectives by making them known to others.

Always be punctual
Make it a priority to be on time and seek to develop a reputation for punctuality. Few reputations will precede you more effectively or say more good things about your professional persona than an adherence and dedication to punctuality. This doesn’t mean arriving exactly on the hour or demanding that others do so as well; rather, it’s a function of your reliability. It shows you can manage a busy schedule, that you respect the time and attention of others and that you insist upon the same.

Be realistic
Time is the ultimate factor here, so making an unrealistic assessment of even one meeting or event can throw off the remainder of your schedule and, consequently, your entire day. Furthermore, while it would be nice to dispatch with certain unpleasant appointments quickly, you can’t make out your schedule this way. In other words, learn to schedule realistically, not ideally. Make an estimate on the time, then add 10% to 20% on top of that to allow for travel, drawn-out meetings, etc.

Send confirmations
A schedule that includes meetings and appointments with other people takes a bit of control out of your hands and puts its efficiency in jeopardy. One step to take back some of that control is to send e-mail reminders the day before or the morning of in order to confirm your meetings with all those involved. It will also help you reschedule in the event of cancellations.

More tips for effective scheduling at work…

Consider in-between times
On paper, in a PDA or on the computer a schedule can look nice and efficient. Color-coded blocks of time tightly cut off at the hour would be inspirational for anyone intent on taking on the day. Reality, however, is far different. You may need to account for travel time for out-of-office meetings, or you might run into the right person on the wrong day and try to take care of certain matters then and there instead of worrying about rescheduling a meeting.

While actually adding to your schedule “Walk across the courtyard — three minutes” would be both ridiculous and potentially indicative of a psychological disorder, you should nonetheless make mental notes of these in-between times while creating your schedule so they can’t trip you up later.

Keep track
In his book How to Organize (Just About) Everything, author Peter Walsh offers the following advice: “Keep track of how much of your workweek you devote to appointments. If the amount exceeds 50%, evaluate whether other people’s agendas are overpowering yours.”

It can certainly happen, which is why Walsh also suggests that you make sure to include in your schedule time to work alone without intrusion.

Take the lead
Regardless of whom your appointments are with, do your part in maintaining an effective schedule by upholding a professional persona. In other words, don’t be the one to initiate the kind of chit-chat that can throw off your day. You may have to endure some from your superiors — this may prove unavoidable — just don’t make it any worse. Cut off or reroute a pointless conversation with courtesy to save you both valuable time during the day.
timetable tricks and tips
There are, of course, only so many hours in a day, yet bungled or poorly designed schedules can make some days seem longer and more trying than others. Should you find your workdays running later and later into the evening, this might be a sign that it’s time to take effective scheduling a bit more seriously.

The proper manly handshake fits somewhere between the guy whose hand meets yours like soggy bread and the guy who sets out to bully you with his kung-fu grip. It is a lost art, and if you think you already know how to give a handshake that scores points on every level, we urge you to read on anyway.

How important is it to give a handshake? Etiquette considers the handshake an enormous moment because we live in such a hands-off culture; thus, the handshake is often the first time two strangers make actual physical contact. The first derived impressions after you give a handshake run the gamut from professional to friendly to arrogant to milquetoast in a variety of situations. The following four steps to give a handshake are basic, but of great value — and they apply to meeting both men and women.

step 1
Make eye contact
Start a proper manly handshake by doing three things at once: first, look the person in the eye. If you’re sitting, stand up, and as you stand, quickly and discreetly make certain your hand is dry by pressing it against your pant leg. A smile isn’t necessary and may not always be totally appropriate when you give a handshake, but it generally will work in your favor. Giving the person you’re meeting the evil eye almost never will.

This step, initiated by eye contact, is etiquette 101. Evading eye contact is a way to stir distrust. Making eye contact, however brief, is a proper and formal means of greeting anyone, and says as much about you as anything else you do from this point forward.

Now, some time ago, standing up may have been reserved for greeting women, but today you should stand for both men and women to give a handshake. It is a basic sign of respect.
step 2
Extend your hand
If you are being introduced to someone or introducing yourself, extend your right hand with your palm facing due left to give a handshake. Do us all a favor and neither lock your elbow so your arm is part of a joust nor tuck your elbow so far in that you’re making a right angle. Somewhere in the middle works just fine. Remember, you are opening yourself up to a greeting; it can be a position of vulnerability, but neglecting to accept a handshake is an even greater foul.

Yes, there are people who cannot, for whatever reason, shake hands with their right hand. Former Senator Bob Dole is a notable example, which is why he often carries a pen in his right hand. By and large, however, if someone can’t use their right hand, the onus is on them and they will make the correction. If you extend your right hand to someone who can’t use theirs, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about and nothing for which you need to apologize — just make the adjustment.

We have two more tips on how to give a handshake…

step 3
Grip firmly
I think we all know what it means to grip firmly. No need to prove your strength — this isn’t the gym and it’s not a scene from Over The Top. When you give a handshake, grip as tightly as you would a baseball bat or a golf club prior to your swing. From there, according to famed etiquette guru Peter Post, “two or three pumps are all that’s needed.”

To reiterate: The grip is where a lot of guys spy a moment to flex, to show who’s boss. If you meet one of these guys, play your poker face and do your best not to react, in either direction, to this sad little display. Just keep up your end of the bargain and grip like a man.
step 4

Release
Finally, the last step in giving a proper handshake involves the release. Etiquette says to go with the flow, since some people prefer a longer handshake, but you should be prepared to let go after those “two or three pumps” and try to signal as much by relaxing the muscles in your hand. Hanging on any longer can make some women uncomfortable and some guys as well.

A handshake is a social convention that communicates a lot about us. The key is to toe the line: Clinging to another’s hand too long creates an awkward situation, while releasing too soon exudes its own level of discomfort.

A couple of weeks back, the news was flooded with reports of Warren Buffet’s investments in General Electric and Goldman Sachs. Mr. Buffet is undoubtedly one of the greatest investors to walk the face of the planet, so how wrong can you go by just blindly following his lead? Well, if you do not share Warren’s investment strategy or have his time horizon, you can find yourself in a chaotic world where you are feeling out of control of your investments, and potentially falling into a bad decision that can cost you a lot of money.

For example, if you are looking to save for retirement over the next 30 years (long-term, value investing), you will need a totally different investing style than if you are looking to put some extra money in your pocket each week by trading (momentum or short-term day trader).

To be a successful (read: profitable) investor, you first must go in with a game plan that fits the mold of your life goals, personality, risk tolerance, and financial situation. Here are some items to ponder when developing your own personal investing style.
Set your goals
A sound investment strategy first begins with setting a goal to attain via investing. A goal is a tangible item, such as saving a fixed amount for a home or car purchase or perhaps boosting your income by a certain amount each month. If you go in saying you want to buy a home or have extra cash to party on the weekends, your investments will likely be fruitless unless you have actual numbers to tie them to.

More importantly, if you need $50,000 for a down payment on a home in five years, you will need to employ a different approach to investing than if you were looking for an extra $500 each month to supplement your income. Setting your goal will determine the tone of your investing future. For instance, if you have a 30-year time horizon for your retirement account, it may make sense to stick to larger cap companies that have strong histories of paying and raising their dividends. If you have a one-year time horizon, you may have to find high-growth companies that choose to retain their cash to fund future expansion (rather than paying dividends). Although sticking to one approach is more effective, if you choose to have different goals, you should have different accounts and strategies for each so you can keep them separate.

There are a few more tips to consider when developing your own investing style…

Work within your limits
When developing your own investing style, your personality plays a tremendous role in how you can most successfully invest. For example, you may be adverse to strong intestinal fortitude to take big bets on speculative investments or to go against the investing grain. If that is the case, you are likely better suited for investing in mutual funds and automatically adding funds each month to your investments. You would not want the high intensity of trading or taking risky bets to cloud your judgment. Especially if you are a novice investor, stepping outside the box puts you more in fight-or-flight mode rather than objective, decision-making mode.

When you are in control and work within your personality boundaries, you can make excellent decisions and feel confident in your strategy. Eventually, you can learn to step outside your comfort zone, but that takes practice. In the mean time, stick to your guns and you will avoid emotionally charged decisions such as selling to early — or even worse, never.
Stick to what you know
Some may argue that investing is not gambling. Sports betting or poker is not gambling either — but only to those that have such extensive knowledge of the situation that they can make the best decisions. When developing your investing style, take stock of your business skills and the industry that you work in. It may seem like the day-to-day grind to you, but that first-hand experience provides you with an edge over everyone else who does not have a clue about the business you work in. If you venture outside your sphere of knowledge, you can be hit by events that you do not fully understand.

A simple rule to follow is: If you do not understand what a company does, it is probably not wise to throw money at it. Additionally, from an investing style standpoint, if you are a value investor (where you look for undervalued companies based on earnings and financials), investing in momentum or technical analysis trades is probably not the way to go.

money styles
You are your own person, and your investing style should be as unique and custom-tailored to you as possible. Certainly, there are buckets of investment types out there, but odds are not many have exactly the same job, income, personality type, financial goals, and ambitions as you. Formulate a plan that you feel 100% comfortable with — the better the suit fits, the better you look and the more confident you feel, and such is the case with your finances and investing.

The art of persuasion represents the history of shrewd but diplomatic manipulation — getting people over the fence and onto your side without the use of force. Its ultimate goal is basic, but difficult: To convince your audience to internalize your argument, then embrace it as a part of their core belief system.

In his book, Influence: the Psychology of Persuasion, author Robert Cialdini defines six weapons of influence: reciprocation, commitment/consistency, authority, social validation, scarcity, and liking/friendship. Below, we’ll look at a number of persuasive techniques and how some of Cialdini’s “weapons” can be applied, along with some hints from Aristotle and one rather innovative technique offered up by two guys with distinctly Hollywood backgrounds.
Manufacture a need
Attempting to persuade others to believe you when you lack an identifiable urgency is pointless. If the thing you want — support, money, approval — isn’t obvious, you’ll need to make it obvious by manufacturing a profound need and lacing it with urgency.  Cialdini’s weapon of scarcity comes into play. He writes, “People find objects and opportunities more attractive to the degree that they are scarce, rare or dwindling in availability.”

Advertisers rely on first creating a need for you (Nothing else can dehydrate your food like a Ronco Food Dehydrator), then on creating the notion of scarcity (and you have five minutes to buy one at this amazing price). In the professional world, you have two such agents on your persuasive side: time, and the indeterminate actions of your competitor. In order to get your audience on your side, you have to convince them of a need they may not be aware they had. For example, you need to get a program off the ground immediately because now is the only time it can be implemented with the best possible results.
Use loaded words
Politicians and advertisers use loaded words every day. Consider the commonly used phrases “war on terror,” “defending democracy” or “all natural.” What precisely do they mean? Not even an effectively drawn-out response could deliver the connection and the true meaning of these terms. In the desire to persuade, meaning itself is often secondary when loaded words are used.

For example, Warren Buffet rarely fails to refer to his investors as “partners,” though they do not meet this definition. He knows, however, that doing so instills a sense of equality and fraternity in them without  his having to give up a single thing. Cialdini’s ideas of both reciprocation (“People are more willing to comply with requests from those who have provided such things first”) and liking/friendship (“People prefer to say yes to those they know and like”) can be seen in Buffett’s simple, but loaded, choice of words.
Speak their language
Again, “People prefer to say yes to those they know and like.” To that end, a basic means of persuasion involves not only using jargon they understand and recognize, but simply using the name(s) of your audience. It’s as fundamental as meeting someone for the first time; if later on you’re able to remember their name, you’re bound to make a far better impression. It massages the ego and convinces the listener both that somebody has remembered their name, and that they proved worthy of having their name remembered.

The next three techniques — ethos, pathos and logos — appear as modes of persuasion in Aristotle’s On Rhetoric. Combining all three modes properly has the potential to craft an extremely persuasive argument.

You’re on the way to mastering the art of persuasion…

Appeal to authority (ethos)
Of authority, Cialdini writes, “People are more willing to follow the directions or recommendations of a communicator to whom they attribute relevant authority or expertise.”

An appeal to authority is meant to satisfy your audience that you come from a position of power, whether you are demonstrating your own in-depth knowledge on the topic; your own qualifications; a display of your own interest of commitment in the matter; or you’re introducing the words or work of an individual who is an established authority in order to align their views with your own.
Appeal to emotion (pathos)
Too often, people incorrectly assume that the business world is only concerned with facts. While numbers have their place and should never be ignored entirely, an appeal to emotions can prove especially effective in a business setting.

The key is to evoke an emotional response by using metaphors or appealing to a sense of risk and adventure — without overdoing it.
Appeal to reason (logos)
Appealing to reason is the application of unimpeachable facts and figures to influence your audience. For many in the professional world, there may be no better form of persuasion. In conjunction with ethos, using reason and logic will help to convey the impression of authority, in part because you appear supremely prepared.
Tell a story
Finally, former Hollywood consultants Robert Dickman and Richard Maxwell, the authors of The Elements of Persuasion, warn not to overlook the persuasive power of storytelling. They believe that we organize our thought processes according to stories and argue that “every great leader is a storyteller.” To them, a story is “a fact wrapped in an emotion that compels an action, which transforms our world,” and as such, can be utilized as a technique in persuasion.

They outline the five elements of a successful story: The story is told with passion,  through the eyes of a hero, one who first encounters an antagonist, then experiences an awareness, and this awareness leads to the ultimate transformation.

The point, then, is to dress your presentation to persuade in the skin of a story. Position what you’re chiefly trying to persuade (a financial opportunity) as the hero; known obstacles as the antagonist (risk of financial loss); insert your primary argument as the awareness (reasons risk is reduced); and the ultimate transformation as your perceived outcome (financial reward). And, of course, tell it with passion.
well-planned wiles
The art of persuasion is loaded with numerous techniques in addition to the ones listed here. Some are less than ethical (such as deliberate deception), but they all work toward the same goal: To convince your audience to internalize your argument, then embrace it as a part of their core belief system.

I recently had lunch with one of the world’s most well-known critics, so I took the opportunity to ask her what she thought of the three judges on American Idol. “Truly, constructive criticism conveys that indispensable degree of honesty through a combination of credibility and skilled diplomacy,” she said. “For example, Simon Cowell is too cold, while Paula Abdul is often way too warm. But Randy Jackson strikes the proper balance between the two.” I pressed Goldilocks to elaborate, and she said, “He’s just right.”

Someone submitting themselves to you for approval makes giving constructive criticism fraught with pitfalls. Here are some tips to find that critical golden mean so that your comments neither sound inutile nor cause too much offense, while still getting the person to respond and improve accordingly.
Omit character traits
If you want your criticism to get the best out of someone, suppress the urge to attach one of his personality deficits to your critique. If you do start to bring up personality deficits, it’s likely he will interpret your comment as an ad hominem attack, causing your point to fall on deaf, insulted ears. It isn’t possible to entirely separate a person from their work, but your criticism should make that effort.
Frame your criticism in appropriate language
The very words you speak can make all the difference. Using terminology germane to the issue keeps constructive criticism on a professional level, beyond reproach. Furthermore, you can thaw out even the most severe criticism by tenderizing your language. Opening with “It seems to me…,” or “I could be wrong, but…” makes it less likely that your point is compromised by arrogance or rudeness.
Get your facts straight
The efficacy of constructive criticism is in direct proportion to the credibility of its source. Conversely, few things can torpedo your authority more quickly than unknowingly basing your comments on factual errors. Facts in the form of criticisms that are impossible to dispute act as an arsenal of stealth weaponry. They can deliver your harsher critiques with surgical precision while never letting the person know that you’re launching them.

Show a little empathy when giving constructive criticism…

Keep emotions in mind and in check
Offering effective constructive criticism requires you to neutralize any unreliable elements of emotion in order to blunt their influence. To a certain degree, you must take his feelings into account; it may not be possible to spare him some measure of embarrassment, but overt humiliation is mean-spirited and counterproductive. On the same token, your own feelings need to be kept in check; they are susceptible to bias and can be used to discredit you.
Focus on what can be done, not what’s been done
Refer to specific opportunities for improvement and avoid singling out inadequacies. Keeping your criticisms positive is both tactful and essential. It’s less disparaging for the person to hear that he has overlooked an opportunity than it is to be told that his current ideas are incompetent or defective.
Empathize
One of the more potent steps you can take before delivering constructive criticism is also among the simpler and more compassionate ones: Stop for a moment and remind yourself what it’s like to be in those shoes. You feel vulnerable, under direct attack and it’s human nature to become defensive in the extreme.
Utilize reason, not personal preference
Criticism of any kind bears an innate bias, but you can overcome that by remembering that comments grounded on reason are less open to counter-arguments, both valid and otherwise. It’s difficult for anyone to defend nonsense against the stability of logic, but it’s easy to dismiss criticisms dangled on the capriciousness of ”like” and “dislike.”  Your credentials fade the very moment your comments begin to drift from authoritative conclusions into whimsical preferences.
Allow time for a response
It’s to your psychological advantage to pause between criticisms and allow the person a chance to explain himself. The act of offering an explanation, however weak it may be, is intellectually satisfying: It helps keep his ego somewhat intact while preventing him from becoming overwhelmed. Furthermore, you’ll come across as both fair and open-minded, increasing your credibility while decreasing the chance that any of your constructive criticism gets overlooked or forgotten.
tell it like it is
Giving good constructive criticism will probably not win you too many immediate friends, but neither should it create a host of enemies.  When delivered with a consistently proper balance of tact and authority, it will earn you something better: an enduring respect and a greater degree of productivity from the people around you.

Professional development is critical to career advancements in the form of promotions, raises and new opportunities. A continuous quest to learn new skills and techniques is important, because it is through these new abilities that you will position yourself for offers of greater responsibilities and leadership tasks in the workplace. For example, since most advanced leadership positions come with profit and loss responsibility (if you’re in marketing), you would benefit greatly if you became familiar with financial forecasting and planning. Armed with some financial acumen, you may be able to manage an entire marketing campaign — not only in relation to leads and sales, but also in relation to the overall profitability of a project.

So, how does someone go about learning these new skills and developing professionally? Well, the default answer — and it’s usually a good one — is to visit your human resources officer and explore any professional development paths offered at your company. Certainly, this is a great place to look, but if access to this professional development knowledge were simple, everyone would be in charge — right? Additionally, what about smaller organizations in which HR departments are not as advanced or even available? Follow these suggestions for seeking out viable professional development opportunities and take matters into your own hands.
Business networking events
Before you rush out to sign up for all the big industry conferences and seminars, consider a look in your own backyard, as you will often find an array of networking and business development events. Local chamber of commerce functions, for instance, are great places to meet new contacts who can help expand your business horizons and knowledge base or provide prospective leads for your organization.

Special-interest venues, such as venture capital forums, provide opportunities to meet new people and foster new business knowledge and skills. These avenues are also far more convenient and may be more attractive to your employer than it would be to send you to the big out-of-town national workshop. If your organization has not suggested that you attend one of the bigger out-of-town deals, asking for a four-figure budget (registration, plane ticket, hotel, meals, etc.) may be met with some doubt, particularly if it seems like an excuse to party on the company’s dime rather than to build new relationships and business skills. Your organization may have a more flexible budget for the occasional luncheon and could be more receptive to you being away from the office for two hours than for two days.

Even if your employer will not front the bill for these events, they are affordable enough for an individual and can be well worth the investment. Of course, if some real professional development arises from these smaller local events, it may be easier to get the company to send you out to Las Vegas for a national session.
Hit the books
Bookshelves are teeming with books and periodicals that can help your professional development. More often than not, you simply have to look to the New York Times’ best-seller list to find a handful of the most current business and professionally focused reading material to peruse. Another idea is to specifically identify an area you would like to work on and select a book that addresses that subject. Reading one book per month will greatly improve your knowledge and your professional skills. Many of these books are relatively easy reading, and don’t feel discouraged if some of the material is not immediately processing or if you are struggling to apply the new techniques at work. Situations will arise, weeks or months after reading the book, to trigger the knowledge.

Professional development takes dedication and might require a return to school…

It’s also wise to not force your new knowledge into work situations. In most cases, even though you are excited to apply the fruits of your reading, when the application is forced, you may take actions that you don’t fully understand, which is bad. Additionally, it may bother people, especially when they see you reading a book and a week later you are spewing quotes as if you are the new master of all. Finally, consider subscribing to a couple of special-interest trade magazines or journals that fit the bill — they often provide consistent reading and are a great source for professional development ideas.
Back to school
Going back to school to get your master’s degree is certainly not a bad idea, but it may not be the answer for many of us. To save some money and to remain employed, visit the local universities or community colleges in your area — many offer evening or weekend courses that cover many topics, from business management to web site development.

Additionally, many employers offer tuition reimbursement programs that can be used for the one-off class approach, rather than full graduate school. If your employer does not offer such a program, they may be open to reimbursing you for your expenses — even splitting it with your employer would be a good deal. Consider presenting the idea to your manager along with a business case on how you can use this new knowledge to take on a project at work. This will make the educational tract appear to be a potential boon for the company and not just for your individual advancement and professional development.
Prepare for time sacrifices & commitments

Regardless of the path you take to further your professional acumen, be prepared to commit a good portion of your free time to the cause. Finding success in business and in your professional life is similar to succeeding in a relationship, a sport or any other activity — it takes time and energy. Certainly, that sounds trite, but since your job likely preoccupies your day, you’re left with only evenings and weekends to spend on professional development. Additionally, you will find that most classes and seminars take place outside of normal business hours.

Before you get too discouraged about forever missing out on weekend partying, consider how you can blend some fun into your professional development. It might seem like a slight to your friends, but perhaps you can find a new set of golfing buddies with whom to hit the links. However, rather than your high school friends, keep an eye out for opportunities to play a round with people that you can learn something from regarding business or networking. And while you’re at work, make an effort to go to lunch with one of the executives rather than the typical social crew of peers.
professional prosperity
Honing your professional skills and abilities is not a task to be taken lightly. It will most likely come with big time commitment and some financial expense. But if you are serious about positioning yourself for greater and more lucrative opportunities in the workplace, it is critical to become the proverbial jack-of-all-trades. As your knowledge base expands, opportunities to run and manage upper-level projects should become more frequent and more successful.

One of the most important and momentous presidential elections in U.S. history has passed, and the American people have made a historical choice in Barack Obama. A variety of his positions and decisions influenced his successful campaign for the U.S. presidency, and although the stakes may differ, they are not beyond the usefulness of our readership. Rather, Obama’s success presents a handful of valuable tips every man can apply to his professional life in an effort to help him achieve his goals. And on that note, we present success tips from Barack Obama.
Embrace technology
History may look back on Obama’s decision to understand — and effectively utilize — the fluid technology of the modern minute as his most prudent decision. He isn’t the first president to capitalize on technology (think FDR’s fireside chats, or JFK’s televised debates), but thanks to the elasticity of Web 2.0, Obama became the social networking “friend” of millions, personalizing him in a way that no candidate has ever done before. This use of technology allowed us to feel a closeness to him as a person first, then as a candidate without him really ever having to do anything.

Presidential pointer: Technology is not staid; it moves quickly. So embracing technology is wise only if you understand and implement the trends that fill it out. The potential network is vast — Linkedin, Facebook and more — but it’s not enough to sign up; it needs to be understood and nourished. Embracing technology means embracing a system that is always in flux.
Be the bigger man
Remember when the press was hounding Obama for a comment on the news that Sarah Palin’s teenage daughter was pregnant? The man had many options — and many of them could have scored him political points — but the option he chose was stunning: “My mother had me when she was 18.” A dignified and honest response, not what you would expect from any politician. It highlighted the nobility of taking the magnanimous path over the petty one. Furthermore, had Obama jumped on the opportunity to label Palin a hypocrite or a bad parent, he would have labeled himself the same.

Presidential pointers: You may not always win in choosing to be the bigger man, but you will certainly never lose. Dignity is not a forgotten conduct, but its scarcity raises its value and helps to substantiate your reputation down the road.

Elevate by association

When Obama accepted the nomination for his party, he did so in a theatrical fashion, choosing not the confines of an arena, but a modern, athletic stadium where heroes perform. The impact served to remind us not of a dull political rally, but of a stadium concert or an NFL game — images we can identify with. It furthermore helped to elevate Obama as a hero, who was then able to be humble and deferential to the historical precedent.

Presidential pointers: Sometimes the stage acts as more than just a setting, it can have a non-verbal impact on the subconscious. In 1988, Michael Dukakis donned a military helmet that made him look absurd — the image was disastrous. It made a small man look even smaller. Find ways to make yourself larger than your surroundings instead of the other way around.
Recruit people who are better than you
The decision to tag Joe Biden as his running mate was a level-headed, rational and highly strategic move on Obama’s part. The presidency is too big a role for one man; the success of any administration can often be tied to the people whom the president recruits. Vice President-Elect Biden’s DC baggage was no match for his years of experience, and no one could accuse Obama of seeking to make a splash with the decision.

Presidential pointers: Successful men keep their inner circle populated by people whose skills and intelligence can serve and benefit them — people who professionally complement their own skill set. You don’t have to be the smartest or the most handsome in your circle to succeed, you merely need to maintain that it is your circle.
be like obama
As the 44th president, Obama will be faced with decisions of immense importance in the years to come, and while these may dictate his success or failure as the leader of the United States, they present all of us with opportunities for professional success provided we can learn from them, adapt them to our own situations and implement them appropriately.

No.10 - K5 Relax

Prague, Czech Republic

Set in beautiful Prague, where the women have a feral quality to their Slavic features, K5 is like Doublemint gum — it doubles your fun by combining a slick strip club with a built-in escort service. In the cavern-like restaurant in Prague’s Golden City, you can eat while being treated to some sultry pole-dancing. Then, you can retire to one of K5’s themed rooms for your hard-earned dessert.

No.9 - Wanda’s

Montreal, Quebec

Montreal is globally renowned as a sin city where strip clubs and rub-and-tugs are as rampant as porn on the internet. And back in the day, Chez Paree was the spot for hockey players and high-rolling tourists. The times are changing, however, and Wanda’s has established itself as Montreal’s classiest place to sit back and let the female form take you away to that special place where all your dirty fantasies might come true.

No.9 - Wanda’s

Montreal, Quebec

Montreal is globally renowned as a sin city where strip clubs and rub-and-tugs are as rampant as porn on the internet. And back in the day, Chez Paree was the spot for hockey players and high-rolling tourists. The times are changing, however, and Wanda’s has established itself as Montreal’s classiest place to sit back and let the female form take you away to that special place where all your dirty fantasies might come true.

o.7 - Seventh Heaven

Tokyo, Japan

Seventh Heaven is Tokyo’s original strip club, and it’s styled after occidental strip clubs. There is a fairly even spread between American, Asian and European girls, so it is ideal for the traveling businessman who can’t be bothered negotiating the dirty terrain of second-tier establishments. And if you go, don’t be surprised if you meet a friendly Westerner who stopped teaching English to make bigger money by grinding her booty on stage.

No.6 - Le Crazy Horse

Paris, France

Le Crazy Horse is the classic Parisian strip joint that, like Moulin Rouge, combines cabaret spectacles with naughty behavior. In various stages of undress, the ladies bathe themselves, dance as flappers or swing together in a smoothly choreographed laser-light show. Now, if you can’t make it to Paris, the MGM Grand in Las Vegas has a Crazy Horse Show where you can get more or less the same thing, and one of the best strip clubs in Vegas is Crazy Horse Too, where the service platter gets more lewd than its Parisian counterpart.

No.5 - Spearmint Rhino

Las Vegas, Nevada

Also in Vegas is the Spearmint Rhino, which has recently been named the Gentleman’s Club of the Year at the Exotic Dancer’s Adult Nightclub & Exotic Dancer Awards Show. With over 250 dancers, the girls are piping hot and the club is always packed. Because of its success, the Spearmint Rhino has branched out and set up shop all over the world, but the original in Vegas is still the one. It’s upscale, and if you can afford the cash, be sure to treat yourself to a stint in the private Rhino Room, where the world is your oyster and you call the shots.

No.4 - 4 Play Gentleman’s Club

Los Angeles, California

Located in West L.A., 4 Play is like the rest of L.A.: full of silicone blondes. The difference is that after drooling about the sexual skills of the girls on the beach, at 4 Play you get Playmate-caliber dancers who treat the pole like their best vibrator. Oddly, the joint doesn’t serve booze, but what’s the point in getting your drink on when you’d rather get a hard-on? With lap dances, couch dances and even bed dances, 4 Play is sure to have you reaching for the bankroll and begging to go all the way.

No.3 - Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club

New York, New York

With Hustler Clubs having been franchised and set up all over the States, it would be difficult to say they’re all the same, but the one in New York is a kick-ass joint. After all, the girls are New Yorkers and there’s a lot to choose from in a city full of promises and dreams. The high ceilings encourage acrobatic feats from the girls, and with a new wing for big spenders, you can look forward to blowing your wad in the brand-new themed fantasy suites.

No.2 - Night Flight

Moscow, Russia

Moscow is a wild and crazy place, especially for a stranger in such a strange land, but Night Flight does its best to make you feel like a king by tickling your five senses. The Swedish-run establishment is a restaurant, a night club, a cigar lounge, and a strip club all rolled into one. Their motto is: “Nightflight: Do It Tonight.” The women are gorgeous and the scene is like an X-rated high school prom where the only goal is to get it on. And if you don’t dream of Russian booty from time to time, you clearly haven’t played Russian roulette to see how long you can hold out before the gun goes off and you topple over.

No.1 - Hot Lap Dance

New York, New York

At Hot Lap Dance, they don’t beat around the bush. Brushing aside the traditional agony of watching naked chicks while surrounded by a bunch of other horny dudes, Hot Lap Dance focuses on the private lap dance. Rated as one of America’s hottest locales for sexual escape, Hot Lap Dance is located in a commercial loft space in Midtown Manhattan, and if you know anything about New Yorkers, you can rest assured the nubile girls you meet will have some kind of wild personality to go with their killer bodies. And given its private, more intimate setup, Hot Lap Dance is also one of the finest spots to let it all hang out at your bachelor party.