Koala-T Assistant (MyKTA)

The internet provides some great resources to learn basic to advanced skills in various programs. If you haven’t figured me out, I love books and find them to be a great resource in learning new skills, but must admit that it is nice to have the visual on “how-to” do something.  Here is a list of resources to check out various software tutorials.

Excel

Excel appears to have the most dedicated video tutorials on the web. Here are some suggested resources that have a nice selection of tutorials.

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/ExcelIsFun
Name: Mike Gel Girvin
Website: http://flightline.highline.edu/mgirvin/excelisfun.htm
Pros:
1,025 Videos to select from.
8,265 Subscribers
Has a large collection of “Playlists” making it easier to learn a set or series that are related.
You can download the workbook files used in the video.
Very current information and new videos appear to be uploaded several times a week.
Basic to Advanced.
Speaks clearly and provides explanations.

http://www.youtube.com/user/bjele123
Name: Bill
Website: http://www.mrexcel.com/
Pros:
808 Videos
440 Subscribers
I remember this guy from three years ago, so he has been posting excel videos for a while. This is my favorite guy. He brings a lot of personality to it, speaks clearly, and provides great explanation.
Uses the “Playlists” feature. Pretty extensive and allows you to group your training on a related subject.
Very current information and new videos appear to be uploaded several times a week.
Basic to Advanced.

http://www.youtube.com/user/ExcelisHell
Name: None.
Website: http://www.teachexcel.com/
Pros:
184 Videos
345 Subscribers
Has a nice collection of “Playlists” making it easier to learn a set or series that are related.
Very current information and new videos appear to be uploaded several times a week.
You can download the workbook files used in the video.
Basic to Advanced.
Speaks clearly and provides explanations.

http://www.youtube.com/user/DannyRocksExcels
Name: Danny
Website: http://www.thecompanyrocks.com/
Pros:
71 Videos
267 Subscribers
Uses the “Playlists” feature. Not a large collection, but still a feature that makes it easier to group your training.
Basic to Advanced.
Speaks clearly.
On his website you can view video tutorials on PowerPoint. It appears that he is putting together a Word video tutorials page, so I’m sure that is to come.
Cons:
Upload of new videos is a bit random.

Various Software

Websites:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/
http://cbt.brainstorminc.com/microsoft/
http://www.lynda.com/
http://h30187.www3.hp.com/

Assessment Testing:

http://www.brainbench.com/
You must sign up for this website to access its features.
There are free assessment tests available.

This is a great time to make some really amazing goals and dreams. It is the beginning of a new decade, 2010. We get to not only plan for the new year, but how about planning for the next ten years. Some goals take more time, the really big ones, to achieve. This is the perfect opportunity to break goals down to the year, over the next three years, the next five years, and to the next decade.

We are at that time of year when so much is going on. Preparing to spend time with family and/or friends over a meal giving thanks for the year that has come and gone, then time with family and/or friends to exchange well-thought gifts, and then a new year is quickly upon us.  Spending the last couple of months thinking about and doing things for others. New Year’s is your time. Time to celebrate you and what you’re going to do to make your mark, that leap, those changes.

During November and December, I look back on the year to remember what I have done, the people I have met, what I have accomplished, and what I haven’t accomplished. It’s a time to evaluate or re-evaluate what is important to me, what I want, and the people I share my life and time with. Asking myself:

• What people and things came into my life that I appreciate that were unplanned?
• What people and things came into my life that I appreciate that were planned?
• What did I achieve and what would I like to achieve with my health/fitness?
• What did I achieve and what would I like to achieve with my career?
• What did I achieve and what would I like to achieve with my relationships?
• What did I achieve and what would I like to achieve with my free time/recreation time?
• What did I achieve and what would I like to achieve with my community?
• What did I achieve and what would I like to achieve with my finances?
• What did I achieve and what would I like to achieve with my home/family?
• What did I achieve and what would I like to achieve with my education?
• What did I achieve and what would I like to achieve with my personal area/social life/networking?

1. The first thing to do is write out how you see yourself in ten years. Write it as a story. It really does put you in the picture. Use all your senses. What do you smell, taste, feel (physically and in your heart), hear, and see. Make it vibrant and interactive, involving the people you want in your story with you.
2. With the amazing life you see yourself at in ten years, write down everything you can think of without filtering in five minutes. It could be a list of 25, 50, or 100.
3. Then take each item and indicate a number 1, 3, 5, and 10, indicating years that you see yourself achieving it.
4. Then in each timeframe, 1, 3, 5, and 10, pick your top 3. Or, pick one thing for each part of your life; health/fitness, career, relationships, free time/recreation time, community, finances, home/family, education, and personal area/social life/networking.

That’s the easy part.

1. With your vision of perfection ten years from now, take the goals you have selected and work your way back. It’s about taking the end result and figuring out the steps it will take you to get to that goal.
2. Break down each goal and list the resources and tasks it will take to accomplish the goal.
3. Once you have researched what it takes to reach that goal, create benchmarks on your calendar of when you want to reach each goal. Don’t forget to assign the one task that you will do each day, week, or month that gets you closer to your nearest benchmark.

It sounds like a lot of work, but a well-thought out plan allows you to track your progress, and putting it on your calendar places it as an important task that must be done like any other important appointment.

What’s interesting about goals is that we can’t account for everything. Our goals may change along the way as circumstances in our life changes and evolves. We may find something that we like better or the goal may morph into something more. We may be faced with challenges that may alter the direction or timelines of our goals.

The point is, the better life that you create for yourself, the better you are able to be for those who are important to you. And the people in your life will change. Cherish those who support and encourage you, relieve yourself of those who discourage you. Everybody should have their Success Support Group or biggest fans.

Now is a great time to plan who you want to be in ten years. Start creating your own life now, don’t let other people determine who you are and what level of success you are able to achieve. Do them for yourself, that’s the only person that matters. We are all unique and gifted. What is important to me, would not be necessarily important to you. That doesn’t matter. Design your roadmap and make your dreams come true.

I’m cheering for you!

This is more of a random post to let you know what I’ve been up to with the site. I would also request that if you have any suggestions, feel free to comment.

Books, Books, Books!

Love books. I could probably have all my walls lined up with bookshelves filled with books. Currently, I have two that reach nearly to the ceiling, but would like two more, as well as books placed randomly about that I’m interested in.

I’ve added to the sidebar some of the books that I think are fantastic. Going into a bookstore, I usually walk out with more than I intended, but love suggestions from other people what their favorites are and why. However, my books don’t detail my reviews or why I like them and they cover various topics, so if you see a book in an area of interest, just know that being placed in my “Books” links suggests that I think it is worth taking a look at.

Would love for you to leave a comment of the books you can’t live without, or a “must have” in your library for when you are looking up certain information, or books that inspire you.

I’ve been meaning to get the Amazon Kindle, but haven’t quite gotten around to it.  Here are my pros and cons for procrastinating on the decision.

• I have been know to carry multiple books around with me.  So the actual physical books can get a bit heavy and cumbersome. I can carry a whole library of books on Kindle and the weight remains the same.
• I take books with me on my scooter and they take up what little room I have access to in my bike.  A Kindle would alleviate all of that.
• There are some books that offer a very luxurious tactile feel, not only with the look and feel of the cover, but the vibrant, colorful, and silky feel of the pages. Kindle does not do color (think cookbooks and art books) and if the book is designed with the more luxurious pages, you’ll never know.
• Purchasing a Kindle book is generally cheaper and some are even FREE.  There’s a perk.
• Physical books are more difficult to transfer in moves and can get a bit haggard over time (I do make every effort to care for my books, but time has it’s aging process on physical elements).
• I have some pdf material on my computer that I would like to be able to read on the Kindle. Don’t think this can be done, but if anyone knows that it can, would love to know how.

I researched both Kindle and the Sony Reader (I love, love, love Sony!), but the reviews on the Sony weren’t very encouraging.   So I decided to download the Kindle for PC to get an idea of what to expect. Downloaded a couple of free books, with the idea of trying it out, so far the cost is NOTHING. Some books I downloaded for free at this time are the following:

• The Art of War
• Edgar Allan Poe’s Complete Poetical Works
• Crime and Punishment
• The Beautiful and Damned
• The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
• The Prince

Will let you know my thoughts. Also, if anyone has a Kindle, tell me your thoughts on it.  Would love to know!  If you love books as much as I do, leave a comment here for your suggestions. Also, I hope you enjoy the collection of my own personal favorites that you might enjoy and let me know what you think.

Here is your mantra, “There Are No Ordinary Moments – Only Extraordinary Moments.” In everything you do, there is a choice. Believe it or not, there are forks in the road wherever you go and in whatever you do. Take a moment to find the appreciation in it.

Today I visited with my mom, which I make a point of doing on a regular basis. I come from a high-drama family. If there is no drama, they will create it. So it makes for an exhausting visit, usually. But I love my mama and I seem to have a way of steering the conversation so that it is uplifting and encouraging. Needless to say, I should be aware that I am getting through a challenging day when I just don’t seem to be able to do that.

I take time to meditate and have even set up a really nice little meditation shelf (right on my windowsill that looks out over the big city lights of downtown). When I’m feeling stressed, it brings me back to center. When I’m having a great day, it’s the perfect time to appreciate my successes and be thankful for the people and opportunities that come into my life.

In finding the extraordinary moments in life, I appreciate the subtle meditation as I walk through the tunnel on my way to work, as the music pipes through. Seriously, I get to hear this every morning. While riding on my Honda, I take appreciation in the wind blowing around me and the cars acknowledging that I am near them (my bike is a bright yellow bumblebee, you can’t miss me). I appreciate the moments when I am stopped to ask where something is (do I look like someone who knows all the locations downtown? I’m getting there.). I appreciate my son on Veteran’s Day as he represents our country serving for the U.S. Navy (I’m really proud of him!). I appreciate my daughter as she sends me really funny pics of panda bears to my cell phone (she is one of the strongest people I know and has a great sense of humor.).

Greatness is everywhere. It’s all around us. Take a moment to breath, dump all the “garbage” out of your head, let go of the negativity that only you create, and experience and appreciate the moment. It will come and go in a flash and you can never get that moment back. It is in the moments that you find your greatness and you discover the greatness in others. Appreciate the hug, the kiss, the interaction with someone you just met, or the interaction you have each day with your colleagues, family, friends, girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, husband, and kids.

Heaven is on earth. It is how you choose to live, breathe, see, and be in that moment. Be gracious. Realize that in every detail we are connected. You might be surprised.

I’m noticing a trend here.  I write quite a bit about style.  Not necessarily a sense of fashion style, there’s that, but the style in your writing, presentation, mannerisms, and attitude.  I get some feedback that maybe stepping up your game in style isn’t really that necessary.  Personally, I think you’re taking away some great opportunities if you don’t pay attention to your style.  I’m not suggesting a sense of conforming, I believe everybody has their own style.  It’s just a matter of bringing your style up notch and making the impression that you want.

I would like to share a couple of great resources that I have and some that I have recently come across that are written so well, it inspires you.

• Secrets Of Nonverbal Communication
• Manliness: The Baby and the Bathwater
• Dress Smart Women
• Dress Smart Men
• The Power of Body Language
• Style Guide – For Business and Technical Communication

These are only a couple of really good resources.  Don’t forget to leave a comment of some resources you think no person should be without.  What style tips would you give that you think makes a big impact for you?  Do you think society has gotten too comfortable or just lazy about their presentation and style?  Would you like to see the attention to style and presentation of the bygone era return?  Would you like to see people dressing appropriately to functions and events, such as church, weddings, anniversaries, and such, as well as going out to a nice restaurant and the theater (I’m speaking of the theater that you would see Phantom of the Opera, not the movie theater)?  Would love to hear your thoughts.

I love seeing companies really encouraging and embracing ecologically friendly habits.  I just got done reading Make a Promise to Save The Environment In your Own Way And Get 500GB File Hosting Account For Free.  You’ll find some great ideas of some things you can do to be more “green” and a free 500GB file hosting account for free to share files.

Some of the things I do:

• My mode of transportation is a Honda Reflex, which is a scooter at 250cc freeway legal motorcycle.  So I get phenomenal gas mileage.
• I walk to work everyday, which reduces emissions.
• I turn off my entertainment electronics when I don’t use them on my light switch plate so they don’t drain electricity 24/7.
• I only use eco smart light bulbs.
• I print only when necessary.
• I drink filtered water from my Pur water filtration pitcher, eliminating plastic bottles.
• I use the plastic bags I get from grocery shopping as garbage bags.  I know, I need to invest in eco friendly bags that I can use over and over again.  But, what will I use for garbage bags?
• I always try to shop from farmers markets over the grocery store when I have the choice.  They seem hard to find when the cold weather sets in.
• My business is set up to be “eco-friendly” and green by conducting business paperless through technology.

Those are just some of the things that I try to do.  Hope I make a little bit of a “green footprint.”

Stop over to the link I mentioned earlier and check out a great free service.  Also, don’t forget to leave your comments of what extra steps you are taking to be more ecologically responsible.  Give us some ideas that we can incorporate.  And don’t forget to take the poll I put up on the sidebar.  You can even add your very own “promise.”

No matter how small, we all make a difference.

You leave an impression and establish an image with every correspondence you make where you are not able to present yourself visually. This is your visual presentation of how you look. This is your pressed suit and tie, and crisp white shirt with polished shoes. Let people know that you are a professional and know what you are talking about. It also impresses upon people the respect you have for others and your compassion as well. The email says a lot about the person you are and the values that you hold. People like nothing better than dealing with people they like. Make it count.

Communication is everywhere and unavoidable. Really great communication is hard to find. If we can’t be in the same room with someone or know their specific location, contact is not that far away. I remember when there was a phone booth at every gas station and in every restaurant. It was like having access to a bathroom. You could always find one somewhere nearby. Today, I don’t think I can find a single phone booth anywhere. If you don’t have a cell phone, you have been living under a rock.

Today we have mobile phones, computers, faxes, On-Star, voice mail, e-mails, texting, and now we are “tweeting.” It’s amazing that we can communicate nearly everywhere, I don’t know about under water. I would have to ask an oceanographer. I don’t even keep a home phone, I just use my mobile phone as my primary communication for talking on the phone. I do have a desk phone. It pretty much just looks nice sitting on the desk, as most of my communication is done through email or face-to-face.

Electronic mail consists of e-mail and voice mail. I prefer email over voice mail, as it leaves record to both the sender and recipient of the exchange and the specifics of the message. Documentation of an interaction is sometimes preferred.

Here are some suggestions for using electronic mail effectively.

Choose email when information is better conveyed in writing.

Some information can be quite detailed when leaving several names, numbers, and addresses. The recipient will need to write the information down anyway and guess at the spelling, unless you are spelling everything out over the phone as well. Still, it reduces error in communication specific information that would be more difficult in retrieving over a voice message or phone call.

Use a phone when you need immediate feedback or need to follow-up.

Some communication requires tact and more of a personal touch. A computer screen can be a bit “cold” and impersonal. Some communication just shouldn’t be done by email, but rather communicating where the other person can hear the inflection in your voice, such as a call of condolence, or in person if possible. Determining the sensitivity of the information will help you select the right medium to use.

I would probably say that firing, laying someone off, or breaking up with someone should only be done in person. If extenuating circumstances dictate that this is not possible, first consider something like Skype, then, as a last resort, by email or correspondence.

Bad news, in general, is best done in person, unless your safety is a concern or the other person is unreachable for some reason. Take ownership and responsibility of the information you need to convey, giving the other person the respect and opportunity to respond. It’s a tough thing to do, but has the capacity to create respect and a level of compassion rather than coming across like a jerk or someone who is just looking for an easy way out.  Ultimately, negatively impacting your image and professionalism.

Write an eye-catching subject line.

Don’t forget the subject line. Also, make sure that you get to the point in your subject line so the recipient can determine its importance. Avoid using words that have the probability of landing in their “spam” folder, such as using the word “free.”

Preview the content and limit the information to one screen if possible.

Get to the point early and organize the information so that it is easy to scan through and retrieve the necessary information by using lists, bullet points, headings, etc. The first paragraph should be your summary and the rest is your supporting information.

Review.

Before hitting the send button, review. I cannot stress this enough. The impression you leave will be immediate, so don’t let typos and incorrect language detract from your message or your image. If it has some length to it, print it. For some reason, a printed document will expose some glaring errors that may have otherwise been dismissed or missed altogether. If it is information that reveals a high state of emotion, such as stress or anger, leave it for a day and go back to it once you have had time to get yourself back to center.

Signal your close and wrap it up.

State or restate what it is that you seek from the recipient what you would like to get from them from this email and a nice complimentary close with your name is always a classy and professional touch.

What important elements would you suggest to our readers that I missed? The more you write the easier it gets. Well, most of the time. Leave me a comment and let me know if this information helps to make it easier for you put your emails together. Let readers know what you find to be the most difficult aspect of writing and sending emails. Or just share your nightmare email elements that you have received, giving us an idea of what not to do.

This is a referral post.  More self-improvement for your writing.

One of the many things I do for work is review memos, reports, presentations, really anything that must form a coherent sentence and structure a thought. A big misunderstanding is the use of commas. Sometimes the rules may be flexible, but the idea is to be consistent. For example, using commas in a series. If you use it to separate every item, then make sure you use that style throughout. I prefer using the comma to separate every item because there are times when some things go together and the comma ensures that each thing is distinct in being presented. Just my preference.

I am attaching the link here for you to get some insight into the use and misuse of the comma. I couldn’t have put it better.

http://www.dumblittleman.com/2009/10/dumblittleman-guide-to-comma-use.html

Management is about people skills. I have experience working in a variety of industries, working with great managers and many more very bad managers. Great managers garner the trust and respect from their staff. Great managers have a knack for tapping into a person’s unique gifts and talents and know what makes them shine. They seem to have a way of polishing a “diamond in the rough” that allows them to shine and grow in their position, as well as in self-confidence. They know how to challenge their staff without crushing their spirit. Staff feel they are heard and understood when they talk to their manager. Great managers realize the conduct and actions of who they oversee is a direct reflection. Ultimately, the expectation of the office culture flows top down.

If a manager treats his or her direct reports with respect and professional courtesy, but allows the direct reports to disempower their staff, whose responsibility is it? If there is a high turnover rate, what processes should be in place in creating a conducive, productive, and collaborative environment?

Reactive management responds in the following manner:

• They are reactive: they doubt themselves and blame others.
• They work without any clear end in mind.
• They do the urgent thing first.
• They think Win/Lose.
• They seek first to be understood.
• If they can’t win, they compromise.
• They fear change and put off improvement.

Stephen Covey states,

The more a leader is honored, respected, and generally regarded by others, the more legitimate power he will have with others.

Stephen Covey gives us his ten suggestions “for processes that will increase a leader’s honor and power with others:”

• Be persuasive: commit to stay in the communication process until mutually beneficial and satisfying outcomes are reached.
• Be patient: maintain a long-term perspective and stay committed to your goals in the face of short-term obstacles and resistance.
• Be gentle when dealing with vulnerabilities, disclosures, and feelings that followers might express.
• Be teachable: appreciate the different points of view, judgments, and experiences that followers may have.
• Show acceptance: withhold judgment, giving the benefit of the doubt.
• Be kind: remember the little things (which are the big things) in relationships.
• Be open: give full consideration to followers’ intentions, desires, values, and goals, rather than focusing exclusively on their behavior.
• Be compassionate: in confrontation, acknowledge errors and mistakes in a context of genuine care, concern, and warmth, making it easier for people to take risks.
• Be consistent: do not use your leadership style as a manipulative technique in order to get your own way.
• Show integrity: honestly match words and feelings with thoughts and actions.

Really these are skills that we should all strive to employ in all our interactions with everyone we come into contact with. Rather universal. It about communicating with one another that sincerely elicits respect and encourages building relationships.

Music transcends language, cultures, financial divisions.  It brings people together and it can tear people apart.  We attach a song or artist to a particular time in our life.  Music can define the great joys in our lives, as well as our lowest points. Music uplifts me when I’m feeling down or calms me down after a workout or a long day at work. Music pumps me up for my workout or when I’m getting ready to go out on the town. Music can inspire and empower me to do whatever I want.

I love music and am fortunate to be able to play some in the background when I’m working.  I keep a nice collection of music on my iPod, but am not very good at creating “playlists.”  If you use the Genius feature in your iTunes, it will give you a nice selection of other bands or songs you might enjoy in the Genius sidebar. Genius also has within its features the ability to put together a mix of songs and great playlists from your existing music collection.

When your collection has become so varied it is easy to forget about what you already have out there. Occasionally I would come across a song I love and put it in My Top Rated. But I feel like I’m missing out on the vast selection that I have to pick from. This feature selects a random collection that is similar to the one you would like to hear more of. It’s fun and you will find that you have a more interesting collection than you thought.

Just follow these simple steps to create your very own playlists for work, home, that romantic evening, exercising, meditating.

1. Select your song.
2. Right mouse click on your selected song to reveal the menu.
3. Click on Start Genius.

That’s all there is to consolidating a list of songs from your library that matches that song. It creates a list of 25 songs. To create the Playlist of the songs from the selection displayed:

1. Either highlight each song you would like included by pointing and clicking using your mouse and holding down the Ctrl key to select individually or the Shift key to select entire blocks of songs. I generally like my selection and use the key combination Ctrl+A to select the entire collection.
2. In the Menu bar select File.
3. In the File menu select New Playlist from Selection or without using the Menu system press Ctrl+Shift+N.
4. The Playlist menu to the left of your song selection will display a new Playlist ready for you to give it a name.
5. Type in the name of your new Playlist.

That’s it and your done. Sync your device and you are ready to go. Now start enjoying more of the music you already have. You’ll be delightfully surprised and open yourself up to an even larger array of music that may become some of your favorites as it mixes up the various Genres in your collection.

Instead of being the one who comments in conversation about music that is in the current mainstream at the moment, you will be able to suggest some music that others have not heard before and may enjoy as much as you do. You’ll have some really cool Playlists to enjoy when you have company over and don’t know what to play in the background.