ITList Information Technology Blog » Lead http://itlist.com Current IT field related information Mon, 27 Dec 2010 04:35:43 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.2 Tips for a Simplified and Happier Life http://itlist.com/tips-for-a-simplified-and-happier-life/ http://itlist.com/tips-for-a-simplified-and-happier-life/#comments Sun, 26 Dec 2010 04:23:51 +0000 bikram http://itlist.com/?p=2777 When life has taken a toll on our lives with its hectic schedule, harsh and merciless stressful days and long hours spent at work how some of us still manage to lead a happier and peaceful life? Have you ever wondered or have you pacified yourself saying, it’s just they are lucky? Well, no one is lucky, they have just given an effort to simplify and beautify their lives. Knowing few simple tips can make life indeed happy and simplified. These tips are as given below –

Find your personal goal

If you know what you want to do in life, what’s your purpose of living; life will not only be easier for you, but also meaningful and worth. Most of us live life without any goal and thus life turns out to be frustrating. Talk to yourself, find out your dreams and aspirations and what you want to do in this life. Then work towards achieving your goal. Set small goals before reaching the final one. With sheer dedication and passion work towards the goal, it will also boost your confidence and self esteem.

Prioritize your wants

Many times we want everything and get nothing, it’s because we fail to prioritize our wants and ignore what we actually value. Know yourself, know what is your priority – money or success, family or spirituality? It will help you to set your personal goals and categorize your priorities in order.

Know your passion

Know what you are passionate about, what makes you happy and what you never deny to do. Try to make your passion your profession; then work will never seem to be a load and stress. If you love your job, life will be easier and happier.

Meditate everyday

Sit alone quietly and meditate every day, it will help you to talk to your inner self. Don’t think about anything while meditating, you can chant too. Listen to your inner voice.

Know what you are good at

Knowing your strengths will help you to enhance them and utilize. Honor your strengths and enhance them.

Help others

Serve the society, it will not only help you to evolve as a better human but also soothe you from within. Help others as per your own capacity. In this way you will be more humble, honest, helpful and loved by all. Tomorrow others may help you back.

]]> http://itlist.com/tips-for-a-simplified-and-happier-life/feed/ 0 The Importance Of Body Language In An Interview http://itlist.com/the-importance-of-body-language-in-an-interview/ http://itlist.com/the-importance-of-body-language-in-an-interview/#comments Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:45:13 +0000 SamElli http://itlist.com/?p=1806 A massive part of any interview isn’t what you or the interviewer says, but rather your body language.  Body language is a huge form of communication that most don’t even notice.  The visual clues that people emit affect emotions from how that person is received, to deductions on how that person feels.  Sending the wrong body language in an interview could lead to you not getting a job, no matter what you say.  Coming off anything less than positive could be enough to seal the deal, and make you appear less than fit for the job.

So be conscious about everything you’re doing as you walk through the door.  When your interview begins, think about the facial expression you have.  The first thing an interviewer wants to see, is a confident positive person walking through their door.  Does your face reflect confidence, and a positive attitude?  Exactly what you should be asking yourself.  Stand up straight, reflect good posture, and smile politely.  But don’t appear overconfident, remember you don’t have the job yet, and overconfidence can be just as bad as negative body language.

From the successful entrance, make sure to shake hands with ever interviewer present.  If you’re being interviewed by a panel, or just one person, make sure to walk over to them and give a good firm handshake.  A firm handshake is important, as it shows confidence and also the ability to lead.  You’re unafraid when you give someone a firm handshake, and up for the challenge.  Make that clear by speaking through your body.

From there make sure to keep up that good posture when you sit down.  Respond positively to every question, keeping your confident and courteous demeanor no matter the topic.  Also remember to use hand gestures casually when speaking.  By using hand gestures you show a calmness during your speech that will resonate on the interviewer.  Don’t get excessive with your hand motions, but tracing a few shapes to illustrate an idea is always good.

Answer questions by leaning forward slightly, to show genuine interest and consideration in the question, and your answer.  Don’t forget to also keep your voice at a higher decibel.  You want to be heard, but you don’t have to shout.  Being too loud makes you look overconfident, and that never plays well.  Speak so all can hear you, but don’t hurt their ears.

Finally, shake hands with everyone once the interview is over, and thank them for the opportunity.  Then, keeping your posture straight, and your disposition positive and courteous, leave the room the same way you came.  If you pull off all of these factors correctly, your body language will have been pretty much impeccable.  Letting your body speak with you could even just be that edge you need to land that job.

]]> http://itlist.com/the-importance-of-body-language-in-an-interview/feed/ 0 Make Yourself Into A Leader http://itlist.com/make-yourself-into-a-leader/ http://itlist.com/make-yourself-into-a-leader/#comments Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:40:31 +0000 SamElli http://itlist.com/?p=1799 Becoming a leader is different than becoming a manager at your place of work.  Not everyone in management knows how to lead, and the problem that sort of manager, is that they don’t last very long.  To truly become a manager worth your mettle and paycheck, able to lead a team to success, you have to develop your leadership skills.  Developing those skills is hard work, and can take a very long time.  But in the end becoming a true leader is worth your time, because leaders always distinguish themselves.  Because the leadership quality is fairly rare, employers are always willing to stick with a good one.

Think of what you would expect from a leader, and what you hope to gain out of becoming one.  If it helps make a list of each, preferably side by side, to figure out your motivation.  These factors will give you a guide to follow.  By writing out what you want, and what you expect, you have a good idea of whether or not being a leader works for you.  In most cases being a leader means taking a back seat for the better good of the team sometimes.  If you aren’t prepared to do that, you’ll have a hard time developing your leadership skills.

To be a leader you have to be prepared to take charge.  Being a leader is just what the title implies, you are expected to lead your followers, or your team.  The best way to do that is to lead by example.  You have to be the best performer, so that the rest of the team can feed off your leadership.  Nobody wants to follow a coworker that can’t achieve goals as well as they can.  This doesn’t mean you have to be the best at doing the job, but rather the best at meeting goals and following directions.  This way you inspire through example, making yourself a natural leader before you ever have the title.

Finally, you have to be the anchor of the team.  When the cards look like they’re stacked against everyone, you have to be the person to bring the motivation to get the job done.  A leader motivates the team by any means available.  So if you want to be a leader, you have to be able to stay positive to help your team get the job done, no matter the situation.

]]> http://itlist.com/make-yourself-into-a-leader/feed/ 0 Can You Work From Home? http://itlist.com/can-you-work-from-home/ http://itlist.com/can-you-work-from-home/#comments Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:43:52 +0000 SamElli http://itlist.com/?p=1690 Thinking about pursuing a work at home opportunity?  Don’t really know where to start?  Well before you think about where you could go on the internet or otherwise to find jobs, consider if you’re even the work at home type.  Working from home you’re really your own boss, and so you have to  be able to manage your time as such.   Which means the first thing to consider is whether or not you’re a procrastinator.

If you find yourself waiting till the last minute to accomplish tasks, working from home may not be for you.  You need to effectively manage your time.  The last thing you’d want is to be up against a deadline that looms ever closer, that you shouldn’t have to worry about.   If you don’t think you’ll be able to manage your time without a boss checking in every once in a while, this may not be the career for you.

Make sure that you have the space in your home to create an adequate working environment.  You don’t want to be converting an area like your living room, or bedroom.  Both are full of distractions and can lead you to unintentionally losing focus when working.  You  have to ensure that you have the room to make your own office.  A place where you can be free from non-work related distractions.  A sanctuary of at home production to where you can always accomplish your goals.

Also, you need to be a very self motivated person.  You have to make a lot of decisions for yourself when you work at home.  You only have yourself to fall back on, which means you have to keep yourself positive and goal focused.  Part of that is avoiding the temptation to get personal tasks done when you’re supposed to be working.  Try to avoid household chores or things you wanted to get done while you’re working.  This will lead to longer term distractions which can lead to major procrastination on your part.  That is absolutely always bad.

]]> http://itlist.com/can-you-work-from-home/feed/ 0 Knowing When To Ask For A Raise http://itlist.com/knowing-when-to-ask-for-a-raise/ http://itlist.com/knowing-when-to-ask-for-a-raise/#comments Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:07:01 +0000 SamElli http://itlist.com/?p=1683 Feeling that you deserve a raise for your hard work is all well and good, but bringing about the fact is a fine art.  You have to time your approach perfectly and ensure that you are well prepared to make your point in outstanding fashion.  Anything less can lead to an uncomfortable confrontation the likes of which you’d want to forget.  Or worse, could lead your boss to think it may be time to look for a different employee happy to work at your pay level.

Taking those thoughts into account, you are better prepared to make your case.  Start out by making an appointment with your boss for a personal meeting.  Springing a situation like this on your superior is never a good idea.  Talking money is not a great surprise conversation for anyone, and your boss won’t appreciate being sprung with that at all.  So ensure you avoid that confrontation, and set up an appointment to meet with them, but don’t tell them the situation just yet.

Try to have the meeting take place in a different area than the boss’ office.  In their office they are the master of the domain, and will act as such, creating a power shift from your arguments to theirs.  So try some neutral territory, like a working lunch.  Take your boss out and have the meeting at a restaurant, that gives you a good level playing field, and if you offer to pay for the meal, a happy boss to start out with.  Otherwise you can always try a neutral meeting room around the office, or an empty break room.  Anywhere but the boss’ office is good for making your case.

Practice your argument for why you feel you deserve a raise.  This way you know the points you want to make, and will appear prepared and knowledgeable about the situation at hand.  Also it gives you an opportunity to answer any arguments your boss may have, through your understanding of the facts.  But remember to always be courteous, this isn’t a “give me a raise or I’ll leave scenario“.  This is just an opportunity to outline your worth to the company, and your hardworking nature which makes you feel worthy of a raise.

Finally, just be cautious to not cross a line that your boss wouldn’t appreciate you crossing.  Stay courteous and professional, and overall positive even if the meeting doesn’t go the way you want.  Your boss already knows whether or not they want to give you a raise before you’re even having the meeting, this is just a chance to take some initiative.  If your boss doesn’t want to pay you more, you’re not going to get it, so don’t take that personally.Feeling that you deserve a raise for your hard work is all well and good, but bringing about the fact is a fine art.  You have to time your approach perfectly and ensure that you are well prepared to make your point in outstanding fashion.  Anything less can lead to an uncomfortable confrontation the likes of which you’d want to forget.  Or worse, could lead your boss to think it may be time to look for a different employee happy to work at your pay level.

Taking those thoughts into account, you are better prepared to make your case.  Start out by making an appointment with your boss for a personal meeting.  Springing a situation like this on your superior is never a good idea.  Talking money is not a great surprise conversation for anyone, and your boss won’t appreciate being sprung with that at all.  So ensure you avoid that confrontation, and set up an appointment to meet with them, but don’t tell them the situation just yet.

Try to have the meeting take place in a different area than the boss’ office.  In their office they are the master of the domain, and will act as such, creating a power shift from your arguments to theirs.  So try some neutral territory, like a working lunch.  Take your boss out and have the meeting at a restaurant, that gives you a good level playing field, and if you offer to pay for the meal, a happy boss to start out with.  Otherwise you can always try a neutral meeting room around the office, or an empty break room.  Anywhere but the boss’ office is good for making your case.

Practice your argument for why you feel you deserve a raise.  This way you know the points you want to make, and will appear prepared and knowledgeable about the situation at hand.  Also it gives you an opportunity to answer any arguments your boss may have, through your understanding of the facts.  But remember to always be courteous, this isn’t a “give me a raise or I’ll leave scenario“.  This is just an opportunity to outline your worth to the company, and your hardworking nature which makes you feel worthy of a raise.

Finally, just be cautious to not cross a line that your boss wouldn’t appreciate you crossing.  Stay courteous and professional, and overall positive even if the meeting doesn’t go the way you want.  Your boss already knows whether or not they want to give you a raise before you’re even having the meeting, this is just a chance to take some initiative.  If your boss doesn’t want to pay you more, you’re not going to get it, so don’t take that personally.

]]> http://itlist.com/knowing-when-to-ask-for-a-raise/feed/ 0 Things To Avoid In An Interview http://itlist.com/things-to-avoid-in-an-interview/ http://itlist.com/things-to-avoid-in-an-interview/#comments Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:31:02 +0000 SamElli http://itlist.com/?p=1584 Many times people cover what to do positively in an interview, to ensure that you get the job.  But what about the things that you should avoid?  The instant interview enders for potential employers.  There are a plethora of things that you should avoid when giving an interview, as many interviewers use them as cues to judge your character.  Which means coming off the wrong way can lead to you losing out on a job opportunity before you’ve even had a chance to impress.  Here, I’ll go through five that you’ll want to avoid.

-Try to avoid smiling too much

Smiling is good, too much smiling is very, very bad.  When all you do is smile at an interview, you look nervous and intimidated.  Smiling always appears as your desperate attempt to avoid feeling inferior at the interview, when you most certainly do feel as such.  So smile when the moment calls for it, but don’t be afraid to be completely serious also.

-Avoid humor at all costs.

Humor is a great way to make the work environment a more friendly place to be, not to mention more enjoyable.  But until you know your coworkers well enough to crack the right jokes, you should probably avoid making them in the first place.  Bad jokes that don’t meet the humor standard of your potential employer are a good sign that you might not be the person for the job.  So do yourself a favor and avoid the jokes during the interview process.

-Don’t ask pointless questions.

Nothing comes off worse than stupid questions at an interview.  Think about what you want to know beforehand, so you’re well informed before the interview even begins.  There’s no thorn in your side quite like appearing uninformed, or unready to work at a position or company.

-Be careful how you dress.

You don’t want to be casual during an interview, you want to dress nicely, that means wearing a tie for the gents, and business appropriate apparel for the ladies.  Also don’t wear too much clothing, to the point that you could sweat during the interview.  Sweating looks very bad, as it makes you appear nervous and weak.  Both are things that you do not want to show in an interview.

-Be willing to go beyond your boundaries.

You may be asked about tasks that may seem uncomfortable to you, whether if they’re slightly outside your area of expertise, or not what you expected from the position.  Always seem willing to take on new tasks, even if you don’t have prior knowledge.  An employee that’s unwilling to learn to become a better contributor to the team isn’t very useful to a new employer.  That will show in an interview.

]]> http://itlist.com/things-to-avoid-in-an-interview/feed/ 2 Things to Do to Choose the Right Web Hosting plan for you http://itlist.com/things-to-do-to-choose-the-right-web-hosting-plan-for-you/ http://itlist.com/things-to-do-to-choose-the-right-web-hosting-plan-for-you/#comments Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:59:52 +0000 IT List http://itlist.com/?p=295

Guidelines for the Things You Have to Look at when Choosing a Web Hosting Plan

In today’s world, more and more, the internet is playing a larger role in our lives. People use it to express themselves. Companies use the internet to sell their products to wide range of people. This is where we get our news and ideas. The internet has become so important that it now dominates our lives.

How do they do it? You may ask. Well, the answer lies in websites. As you go through the World Wide Web, you can view thousand upon thousands of websites. There are websites for keeping in touch. There are websites used in commerce. There websites that lead to other websites. The diversity and activity just makes you want to jump in on the fun by creating a website of your own.

If you are a person of humble means with little to no technological inclinations, building a website for the World Wide Web can be a daunting task. This is where a web hosting service can help. The web host service provider can get you web presence for what ever purpose it may serve you. Whether it is for fun or for business, a web hosting service will set your website up on the internet.

However there are hundreds of web hosting services out there that are claiming to be the best, making it hard to choose from all of them. This guide will show you what to look for. Follow these simple steps and you will be able to find the best possible web hosting service that will fit your need and budget.

Action Steps

What are your needs?

List down all the things you will need in your web hosting. Do you need more space? Or, is a higher bandwidth a greater concern? If you are a total newbie and you do not know what to do, then you should be looking at the plan that offers add-ons that will help you develop your website the way you need it to. Then you must look at your budget. How much will budget allow you to spend? The more features you add on the more expensive it will likely get.

I recommend: You could learn more about web hosting by going www.wikipedia.com and typing in web hosting. They have a very informative article about web hosting. You can also learn more about the history in this article.

What is your skill level?

Have you been working in the internet for long? How much do you know about setting up your website? These are some of the questions you need to ask before you choose the web hosting package for your website. If you have below average knowledge and you do not have enough free money to pay a consultant to handle this it would be best to sign up with a hosting package that will help you set up your site for free.

I recommend: Try the free features of the web hosting packages from www.gossimer.biz, where you can get free software for forums, blogs, shopping carts and image galleries. For an additional fee you can also take advantage of their plans for site building software.

Look at your budget

You do not want to pay to the teeth for a web hosting package, so you have better shop around. Get a second, third and fourth option. Don’t be fooled by the lower prices though. Some plans might offer a lower rate but could offer fewer features. Review the rate carefully and look at what each company offers before making a decision.

I recommend: Use review sites like www.hosting-review.com to compare rates and review their features. If you do not have the budget to buy web hosting, check out this article about free web hosting and how it can work for you or against you.

List down everything and compares

With all the information you have collected so far, choosing the right web hosting plan for you can get a bit confusing. Start by listing down all things you need for your website. The next thing you need to list down the plans that you can actually afford. Then, list down the features that you really need. A lot the unnecessary expenditures come from buying features you don’t really need.

I recommend: docs.Google.com has a set of tools that are totally free. You can use this to collaborate with other members of your team to see what works for you and your entire organization.

Try it out and then make a decision

There are some web hosting companies that offer free trials on their web hosting services. Give these a try first before committing to a contract. If you like their services and it fits your needs, then, by all means, go for the one that you have seen work. In case your free trial does not work out keep one of the plans you like as insurance. Remember to take note of the expiration date of the free trials. Read through the fine print as well. You don’t want to go back and return the product only to find out that you are no longer qualified.

I recommend: There are a lot of web hosting companies out there that offers free trial periods. One such company is www.homestead.com which is a company owned and operated by Intuit.

Tips and Tactics

  • Choose phone over email support. When choosing a company to host your website it would be best to have phone support. Email is an effective means of communication most of the time but it can fall through the cracks. For really urgent issues, it would be best to go directly to a phone support personnel.
  • Leave room for growth. Murphy’s Law states that all empty space will eventually be filled. The same goes for a website. As you start slow you will eventually grow your business. As your business grows your need for greater bandwidth and server space will grow. Leave room for growth without breaking your budget.
  • Do it right the first time. If you are working on a website for the first time and you have no experience with computers, you would be best served getting someone to build your website for you. Try to find affordable web services in the internet. If your budget does not allow for an outside hire, try finding a hosting company with easy to use tools for web development

Recommended Solutions Providers

  • If you are looking for the most bang for your buck then www.gossimer.biz and their many free features should be perfect for your needs.
  • Comparing web hosting rates is a long and tedious process. The review site www.hosting-review.com compares the rates for you while reviewing all the features.
  • Intuit’s free web hosting service http://www.homestead.com/ provides free web hosting service by one of the largest business software company in the world
  • Google Docs is a surprisingly powerful free online service that allows you to create presentations, documents and spreadsheets while collaborating with other people on the internet.

Best Sites to Learn More

Best Blogs and Forums

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