First-Time Business Owner

I write Entrepreneur.com 's Young Entrepreneur column because I believe there are far too few resources directly addressing the nonacademic trials and tribulations young entrepreneurs face along their journey. Whenever possible, I encourage up-and-comers and established entrepreneurs to mentor the next generation of dream-seekers; for it is this insight and insider education that will provide the foundation for the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. With that, here are 10 pieces of advice that I wish someone had given to me before I launched my first venture.

1. Focus. Focus. Focus:Many first-time entrepreneurs feel the need to jump at every "opportunity" they come across. Opportunities are often wolves in sheep's clothing. Avoid getting side-tracked. Juggling multiple ventures will spread you thin and limit both your effectiveness and productivity. Do one thing perfectly, not 10 things poorly. If you feel the need to jump onto another project, that might mean something about your original concept.
2. Know what you do. Do what you know:Don't start a business simply because it seems sexy or boasts large hypothetical profit margins and returns. Do what you love. Businesses built around your strengths and talents will have a greater chance of success. It's not only important to create a profitable business, it's also important that you're happy managing and growing it day in and day out. If your heart isn't in it, you will not be successful.
3. Say it in 30 seconds or don't say it at all:From a chance encounter with an investor to a curious customer, always be ready to pitch your business. State your mission, service and goals in a clear and concise manner. Fit the pitch to the person. Less is always more.
4. Know what you know, what you don't know and who knows what you don't:
   No one knows everything, so don't come off as a know-it-all. Surround yourself with advisors and mentors who will nurture you to become a better leader and businessman. Find successful, knowledgeable individuals with whom you share common interests and mutual business goals that see value in working with you for the long-term.
5. Act like a startup:Forget about fancy offices, fast cars and fat expense accounts. Your wallet is your company's life-blood. Practice and perfect the art of being frugal. Watch every dollar and triple-check every expense. Maintain a low overhead and manage your cash flow effectively.
6. Learn under fire:No business book or business plan can predict the future or fully prepare you to become a successful entrepreneur. There is no such thing as the perfect plan. There is no perfect road or one less traveled. Never jump right into a new business without any thought or planning, but don't spend months or years waiting to execute. You will become a well-rounded entrepreneur when tested under fire. The most important thing you can do is learn from your mistakes--and never make the same mistake twice.
7. No one will give you money:There, I said it. No one will invest in you. If you need large sums of capital to launch your venture, go back to the drawing board. Find a starting point instead of an end point. Scale down pricey plans and grandiose expenditures. Simplify the idea until it's manageable as an early stage venture. Find ways to prove your business model on a shoestring budget. Demonstrate your worth before seeking investment. If your concept is successful, your chances of raising capital from investors will dramatically improve.
8. Be healthy:No, I'm not your mother. However, I promise that you will be much more productive when you take better care of yourself. Entrepreneurship is a lifestyle, not a 9-to-5 profession. Working to the point of exhaustion will burn you out and make you less productive. Don't make excuses. Eat right, exercise and find time for yourself.
9. Don't fall victim to your own B.S:Don't talk the talk unless you can walk the walk. Impress with action not conversation. Endorse your business enthusiastically, yet tastefully. Avoid exaggerating truths and touting far reaching goals as certainties. In short, put up or shut up.
10. Know when to call it quits:Contrary to popular belief, a smart captain does not go down with the ship. Don't go on a fool's errand for the sake of ego. Know when it's time to walk away. If your idea doesn't pan out, reflect on what went wrong and the mistakes that were made. Assess what you would have done differently. Determine how you will utilize these hard-learned lessons to better yourself and your future entrepreneurial endeavors. Failure is inevitable, but a true entrepreneur will prevail over adversity.
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Source : http://www.entrepreneur.com

Career Development in Process Improvement

The individuals whose careers appear to grow the quickest follow similar patterns of behavior: they perceive competition exists, they acknowledge the steps they have to succeed, and that they perceive World Health Organization is accountable. They take hold of their career and settle for full responsibility for his or her growth.

Having lived and worked in numerous countries, over the years I actually have typically been asked by individuals concerning what brought Maine to a selected country or into a selected job. After I admit my very own life and career, there are prime ten tips for career development that I found terribly useful and that i would really like to share with you.

1. Build your Dream:

It is important to admit your dream and also the vision for your own life and career. you wish to think about it as an entire. You cannot distinguish between your personal and your vocation. you simply have one life and you wish to outline your goals and ambitions. These might modification over time and that’s utterly fine. However while not goals nothing may be achieved.

Put in writing your mission, vision and goals. If you write one thing down, there's a hundred -percent likelihood that it'll get done. Write your personal mission statement, and if necessary, write a "stop-doing" list. Set 3 goals: the key to aged prime of your time management is setting 3 goals set 3 goals for the year, the quarter, the month, the week and also the day.

2. Believe Yourself:

As your skills increase, you gain additional expertise and a clearer understanding your significance to your organization. Basic cognitive process in yourself, your skills, and your ability to succeed are important success factors for your career development. And always remember the folks that have helped you on the method.

3. Ne’er Stop Learning:

A proved  thanks to advance in your career is to be frequently feat new data. be prime of trends or developments in your field and certify that your current résumé reflects those required skills. Take specific actions to enhance your skills. seek for opportunities for coaching. Read books. Read blogs. build an endeavor to be told new skills and follow them the maximum amount as you\'ll be able to in your current job. forever keep in mind these words “If you\'re not moving forward, you\'re moving backward.”

4. Sharpen your individuals Skills:

Strong social skills play an important role in gaining the respect of your boss and co-workers; they're going to conjointly attract the notice of outdoor influencers World Health Organization would possibly open new doors of chance for you. Be friendly, outgoing, and attractive. Listen rigorously to individuals, and follow being a transparent and effective individual.

5. Expand your Network:

Strengthen your personal network by attending trade conferences. Also, connection skilled knowledgeable association in your field of alternative could be a good way to faucet into a career network. Meeting folks that add your prospective field will provide you with valuable insight into what life is like therein career. Gather data by gathering contacts. The additional folks that are awake to your strengths and skills, the higher your possibilities of hearing concerning any new opportunities which may arise.

6. Realize a Mentor:

Develop mentoring relationships, either within or outside of your company. Recent studies have shown that four out of 5 promotions are influenced by a mentor to a higher place within the company. Mentors also are nice sources of knowledge and career steering. The proper mentor is somebody World Health Organization works well with you and World Health Organization has the expertise and success you look for.

7. Build your name:

In business, your name is that the most precious issue you own. Be proverbial for being dependable, professional, and cooperative. Build a reputation for yourself by attending conferences, delivering speeches, or writing articles.

8. Stop Telling & begin marketing:

Learn the art of self-promotion. If you have got had major accomplishments or created fortunate programs, certify individuals realize it particularly those in prestigious positions World Health Organization might assist you advance professionally. Let or not it's proverbial that you just are seeking a promotion or future maximize in your career.

9. Develop trust:

People naturally wish to surround themselves with individuals they trust. Developing trust takes time and consistent effort. Trust goes 2 ways: you wish to behave in such how that folks can trust you may do what you say. And equally necessary, you wish to trust others.

10. Pay Back:

Think about World Health Organization you've got met and the way you'll be able to facilitate some other person. Do some volunteer work .Explore doable career tracks and build a powerful networking base through volunteer activities. Volunteering teaches you concerning yourself and your world whereas getting ready you for the longer term and connecting you to your community

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Successful Career Planning

Career planning is not an activity that should be done once -- in high school or college -- and then left behind as we move forward in our jobs and careers. Rather, career planning is an activity that is best done on a regular basis -- especially given the data that the average worker will change careers (not jobs) multiple times over his or her lifetime. And it's never too soon or too late to start your career planning.

Career planning is not a hard activity, not something to be dreaded or put off, but rather an activity that should be liberating and fulfilling, providing goals to achieve in your current career or plans for beginning a transition to a new career. Career planning should be a rewarding and positive experience.

Here, then, are 10 tips to help you achieve successful career planning.

1. Make Career Planning an Annual Event:

Many of us have physicals, visit the eye doctor and dentist, and do a myriad of other things on an annual basis, so why not career planning? Find a day or weekend once a year -- more often if you feel the need or if you're planning a major career change -- and schedule a retreat for yourself. Try to block out all distractions so that you have the time to truly focus on your career -- what you really want out of your career, out of your life.

By making career planning an annual event, you will feel more secure in your career choice and direction -- and you'll be better prepared for the many uncertainties and difficulties that lie ahead in all of our jobs and career.

2. Map Your Path Since Last Career Planning:

One of your first activities whenever you take on career planning is spending time mapping out your job and career path since the last time you did any sort of career planning. While you should not dwell on your past, taking the time to review and reflect on the path -- whether straight and narrow or one filled with any curves and dead-ends -- will help you plan for the future.

Once you've mapped your past, take the time to reflect on your course -- and note why it looks the way it does. Are you happy with your path? Could you have done things better? What might you have done differently? What can you do differently in the future?

3. Reflect on Your Likes and Dislikes, Needs and Wants:

Change is a factor of life; everybody changes, as do our likes and dislikes. Something we loved doing two years ago may now give us displeasure. So always take time to reflect on the things in your life -- not just in your job -- that you feel most strongly about.

Make a two-column list of your major likes and dislikes. Then use this list to examine your current job and career path. If your job and career still fall mostly in the like column, then you know you are still on the right path; however, if your job activities fall mostly in the dislike column, now is the time to begin examining new jobs and new careers.

Finally, take the time to really think about what it is you want or need from your work, from your career. Are you looking to make a difference in the world? To be famous? To become financially independent? To effect change? Take the time to understand the motives that drive your sense of success and happiness.

4. Examine Your Pastimes and Hobbies:

Career planning provides a great time to also examine the activities you like doing when you're not working. It may sound a bit odd, to examine non-work activities when doing career planning, but it's not. Many times your hobbies and leisurely pursuits can give you great insight into future career paths.

Think you can't make a hobby into a career? People do it all the time. The great painter Paul Gauguin was a successful business person who painted on the side. It actually wasn't until he was encouraged by an artist he admired to continue painting that he finally took a serious look at his hobby and decided he should change careers. He was good at business, but his love was painting.

5. Make Note of Your Past Accomplishments:

Most people don't keep a very good record of work accomplishments and then struggle with creating a powerful resume when it's time to search for a new job. Making note of your past accomplishments -- keeping a record of them -- is not only useful for building your resume, it's also useful for career planning.

Sometimes reviewing your past accomplishments will reveal forgotten successes, one or more which may trigger researching and planning a career shift so that you can be in a job that allows you to accomplish the types of things that make you most happy and proud.

6. Look Beyond Your Current Job for Transferable Skills:

Some workers get so wrapped up in their job titles that they don't see any other career possibilities for themselves. Every job requires a certain set of skills, and it's much better to categorize yourself in terms of these skill sets than be so myopic as to focus just on job titles.

For example, one job-seeker who was trying to accomplish career planning found herself stuck because she identified herself as a reporter. But once she looked beyond her job title, she could see that she had this strong collection of transferable skills -- such as writing, editing, researching, investigating, interviewing, juggling multiple tasks, meeting goals and deadlines, and managing time and information -- skills that could easily be applied to a wide variety of jobs in many different careers.

  

7. Review Career and Job Trends:

Everyone makes his or her own job and career opportunities, so that even if your career is shrinking, if you have excellent skills and know how to market yourself, you should be able to find a new job. However, having information about career trends is vital to long-term career planning success.

A career path that is expanding today could easily shrink tomorrow -- or next year. It's important to see where job growth is expected, especially in the career fields that most interest you. Besides knowledge of these trends, the other advantage of conducting this research is the power it gives you to adjust and strengthen your position, your unique selling proposition. One of the keys to job and career success is having a unique set of accomplishments, skills, and education that make you better than all others in your career.

8. Set Career and Job Goals:

Develop a roadmap for your job and career success. Can you be successful in your career without setting goals? Of course. Can you be even more successful through goal-setting? Most research says yes.

A major component of career planning is setting short-term (in the coming year) and long-term (beyond a year) career and job goals. Once you initiate this process, another component of career planning becomes reviewing and adjusting those goals as your career plans progress or change - and developing new goals once you accomplish your previous goals.

9. Explore New Education/Training Opportunities:

It's somewhat of a cliche, but information really does lead to power and success. Never pass up chances to learn and grow more as a person and as a worker; part of career planning is going beyond passive acceptance of training opportunities to finding new ones that will help enhance or further your career.

Take the time to contemplate what types of educational experiences will help you achieve your career goals. Look within your company, your professional association, your local universities and community colleges, as well as online distance learning programs, to find potential career-enhancing opportunities -- and then find a way achieve them.

10. Research Further Career/Job Advancement Opportunities:

One of the really fun outcomes of career planning is picturing yourself in the future. Where will you be in a year? In five years? A key component to developing multiple scenarios of that future is researching career paths.

Of course, if you're in what you consider a dead-end job, this activity becomes even more essential to you, but all job-seekers should take the time to research various career paths -- and then develop scenarios for seeing one or more of these visions become reality. Look within your current employer and current career field, but again, as with all aspects of career planning, do not be afraid to look beyond to other possible careers.

Final Thoughts on Career Planning

Don't wait too long between career planning sessions. Career planning can have multiple benefits, from goal-setting to career change, to a more successful life. Once you begin regularly reviewing and planning your career using the tips provided in this article, you'll find yourself better prepared for whatever lies ahead in your career -- and in your life.

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Source : http://www.quintcareers.com

Travel Tips

When it involves traveling, the simplest locution is perhaps “Keep It easy, Stupid.” It’s very easy to overwhelm yourself by packing too several things, or creating too several plans. However I’ve found the simplest journeys square measure those that square measure well-conceived however leaves to a small degree time for spontaneous fun. There square measure very little stuff you will do to create the foremost out of your travel expertise — whether or not you’re about to succeeding town over, or round the world. Once the jump, twenty six travel tips that’ll assist you get the foremost out of your next vacation.

1. Flying thusmewhere? Sign on on-line so you don’t have to wait in line at the landing field. And whereas we’re on landing field tips.

2. Wear slip-ons on your flight. They’re softer and they’re easier to urge on and off within the security line.

3. Place something spoilable within a plastic bag–even if it’s closed–just in case it leaks. Liquids can continually realize the way of unseaworthy onto your favorite shirt if you allow them to.

4. Decision your bank before traveling abroad and verify what banks you\'ll be able to use while not obtaining charged further exchange fees.

5. And decision your public utility and verify if they provide special rates for international knowledge plans (having a map on your phone will undoubtedly are available in handy!) wherever you’re traveling.

6. If you’re about to rent a automotive whereas traveling abroad, confirm to examine whether or not the cars in this country square measure all manual or automatic. There’s nothing worse than aiming to the rental place and realizing that you simply don’t truly acumen to drive stick.

7. Continually pack a tiny low bag to throw your dirty underclothes into.

8. Keep a bag packed and prepared with travel toiletries that you simply solely use once traveling. That way, if you forget it, you’re not missing something you would like in your day to day life anyway.

9. Continually check the data for a building on-line to examine if they need free wireless local area network or they create you procure it. They continually advertise that they need wireless local area network, however check the fine print.

10. Write the names and addresses of hotels down on paper just in case your phone isn’t operating once you arrive somewhere and want to urge in a very cab.

11. Confirm you have got an amendment of garments in your carry-on bag just in case your baggage gets lost.

12. Keep your passport on your person the least bit times. It’s not fun to urge that shit taken.

13. Learn to like solid fragrance as a result of it travels rather well.

14. Do some analysis and verify what native different weeklies run within the town you’re visiting. you'll be able to verify regarding nice native events, shows and gallery exhibitions you may otherwise miss.

15. Once doubtful, crumble busy restaurants. If the locals square measure about to trouble about to it, it should be halfway okay.

16. Learn the native tipping culture. Tipping is usually additional, generally less and in some places, entirely proscribed.

17. Keep separate compartments in your baggage for everything — toiletries, underwear, shirts, etc. That way, you’re less seemingly to depart one thing within the bedroom.

18. several airports currently have “Buy it and come back it” book stores, wherever you'll be able to purchase a paperback, browse it so come back it and acquire the worth on the book back. Take into account this to assist lighten your load.

19. Travel snacks, travel snacks, travel snacks! Continually keep a biscuit or some edible fruit in your bag, just in case of a surprise case of “the hungriest.”

20. Don’t be a hooligan: learn the native drinking culture. For instance, in Barcelona, you’re entirely allowable to drink outside, however individuals usually don’t get entirely crazy with it. Simply because you'll be able to get shit wasted and climb everywhere historical statues doesn’t mean you should.

Beauty benefits of saffron

Saffron is that the most precious spice of this world that is employed in myriad preparation recipes to feature Associate in nursing tempting aroma to your favorite cuisines. Saffron is additionally an enormous depository of the many health advantages that enhance the well-being of an individual. Except for these wonderful qualities, saffron provides lots of beauty advantages too, which is able to induce you to use saffron in your beauty routine daily. This text brings you the wonderful ten beauty advantages of saffron. Scan on to grasp a way to use saffron in your beauty applications.

1. Take one teaspoon of wood power, 2-3 strands of saffron, and a couple of spoons of milk. Combine all ingredients along. Before applying this face mask, wash your face and wipe with an artifact. Apply this mask once the face remains wet. you\'ll be able to massage your skin totally with this pampering restorative in a very circular motion. Let it dry for twenty minutes and so rinse it off. Apply this sandal-saffron mask a minimum of once per week for a refulgent and swish skin.

2. Saffron is abundant with anti-bacterial qualities that create it ideal for natural action skin problem. Saffron exfoliating qualities create it an exquisite aid in clearing and brightening up the complexion.

3. Absorb few stands of saffron in milk for two hours. Then smear this milk everywhere your face and neck. Wash out when couple of minutes. On continuous use, you skin can begin obtaining fairer naturally.

4. Saffron is a superb skin lightening agent that helps to lighten your skin tone dramatically. you\'ll be able to create a skin lightening face mask with 2-3 strands of saffron, one pinch of sugar, one teaspoon of milk, one teaspoon of water and 2-3 drops of vegetable oil or vegetable oil. Keep 2-3 strands of saffron in one teaspoon of water long. By morning, color of water can flip yellow. Then add milk, sugar and coconut oil/olive oil to the current. Dip a bit of bread during this mixture and wipe your face with this piece of bread. Little items of bread will continue your face however it\'ll come back off simply once you wash the face. Keep this combine on your face for quarter-hour. This saffron mask freshens up the boring complexion instantly. It helps to ease off dark circles and fatigue lines. The immediate advantages of applying this alimentary saffron mask that it helps in blood circulation leading to a glowing skin.

5. Absorb chirring and saffron in milk long. Grind this mixture within the morning to use on your skin. This face masks terribly useful for making you skin honest and glowing.

6. Massage your face with malaise (milk cream) with 2 strands of saffron side to that. On continuous use, you will notice fairer and refulgent skin everywhere.

7. If you combine few strands of saffron with milk and drink it often, your complexion can improve naturally.

8. You be able to combine few strands of saffron with vegetable oil, oil or vegetable oil to massage your skin. Massaging your face with any of those oils offers lighter and softer skin.

9. You be able to combine one pinch of saffron with liquor ice and milk. Apply this combine on your bald patches; this mask helps to arrest hair fall and promotes the expansion of latest hair.

10. Apply honey with few strands of saffron side to that. Massage your face with wizardly mask that acts as a home facial.

Online Customer Service

The Internet is AN impersonal place to buy. Thanks to this, the web client feels very little loyalty to you or your company. Several internet buyers won’t restrain their anger and upset either. They feel safe behind their anonymous email address. Therefore, in responding to a criticism, you need to quickly establish rapport together with your client. To do this, your phone skills and email rule should be exceptional. You won’t probably get a second probability to create the proper impression.

Here square measure some tips to place you on the proper track:

1. Don’t provide stock responses once clients don't seem to be asking stock questions! Lookout to Answers each question or concern that a customer poses in an email. There’s nothing worse than obtaining back AN email from a business owner or their client service representative that doesn’t address the issues you declared in your email, provides canned responses to what you asked, or causes you to want a nuisance…or a dummy!

2. Finish the decision or email on a high note for the client. They’ll bear in mind your last words best. In different words, don’t finish the speech by oral communication, “And I’m extremely sorry you didn’t receive your appliance once secure.” Say, “Martha, your appliance is on my table without delay. I’ll be packaging it right when this decision and that i can take it to the post workplace myself.” currently stop talking! Don’t be tempted to apologize once more and prompt them of the matter. Leave customers with the nice style of a resolution in their mouths.

3. In emails, use “exaggerated courtesy.” Since the person can’t see your expression or hear your tone of voice, your words should do everything for you. Browse emails a minimum of 3 times before touching the send button.

4. Take away or paraphrase phrases in your email that might be thought-about rude, such as, “As I same on the phone,” (Ouch, that’s a reprimand! we have a tendency to expect the sentence to finish like this, “As I same on the phone, Stupid!”)

5. Think about outsourcing your client service. i used to be a client service skilled for fifteen years within the high-tech  business. As a hiring manager I explore for 2 client service “virtues” in candidates: patience on the far side live and a real feeling for folks. If you are doing your own client service for your tiny business, you wish to see if you've got those qualities. If not, you may need to source your client service to somebody WHO does!

6. Raise customers what they want! Usually their request are {going to beware} additional cheap than no matter it had been you were going to do to create it right. And it'll be the answer they need, not the answer you're thinking that they want!

7. Acknowledge their pain and build it right! In my expertise, customers seldom demand one thing quite what they originally expected. Thus don’t begin providing every kind of freebies to undertake and build them feel higher. What they really need is for you to acknowledge their pain and build it right. Creating it right typically suggests that obtaining what they expected within the 1st place. And it doesn’t have to be compelled to be among a free gift. Don’t substitute “bribing” the client for genuinely caring concerning their pain. You can’t get their loyalty, however you'll be able to earn it.

8. Avoid over compensating for your company’s mistake. Gushing with defensive words and providing them the sky thanks to a tiny low shipping error will leave your client questioning your expertise. And if you’ve given them the sky for such a tiny low mistake, what the euphemism can you are doing after you extremely mess up?

9. If attainable, provide customers a selection on the answer to their drawback. They’ll read their expertise with less pain that means. If they couldn’t transfer your eBook thanks to some technical problem, they may desire a full refund, they may need the possibility to transfer the eBook once more, or they may like that you simply email them the eBook.

10. If you are doing it rigorously, you'll be able to use some client service things to upsell customers. “Martha, did you notice on our computing machine that you simply will get a second appliance at [*fr1] price? If I ship them nowadays, each widget can arrive in much time for Christmas. Gift-wrapping is enclosed, by the way.” currently stop talking and let Martha sell herself on your supply. This can be not the time for a tough sales pitch!

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Source : http://www.smallbusinessbrief.com

100 questions to ask people

1.                                                                                          How are you, really?
2. How do you feel right now? What are you thinking about?
3. What’s your favorite color?
4. What’s your favorite food?
5. What’s your favorite dessert?
6. How old are you?
7. What have you learned today?
8. What was your favorite subject in school?
9. What do you do?
10. What are some of your favorite books?
11. What are some of your favorite movies?
12. What kind of music are you into?
13. If you were going to write a book, what would you call it and what would it be about?
14. What’s one of the scariest things you’ve ever done?
15. What accomplishment are you most proud of?
16. Are you married?
17. How did you meet your spouse / girlfriend / boyfriend?
18. Do you think it’s better to get married when you’re young or better to wait a while?
19. Do you have any kids?
20. Have you ever thought of adopting?
21. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
22. How did you get into [INSERT THEIR CAREER FIELD]?
23. Would you recommend [INSERT THEIR CAREER] for other people? Why / Why not?
24. What do you do for fun?
25. Do you like traveling?
26. If you could visit any country in the world, where would you go?
27. Who are some people you’d like to meet someday?
28. If someone asked you to give them a random piece of advice, what would you say?
29. What’s one of your favorite habits you have?
30. What are some things that make you really happy?
31. What are some things that make you really sad?
32. What are some things that scare you?
33. Do you like to plan things out in detail or be spontaneous?
34. Are you a religious person?
35. If you could go back in history, who would you like to meet?
36. Would you rather live in the country or in the city?
37. What was your life like growing up?
38. What were you like in high school?
39. Do you have any brothers or sisters? How many?
40. What’s your favorite part about today so far?
41. Who in your life has influenced you the most? How did they do it?
42. What’s your favorite joke?
43. Have you ever tried sushi? (Did you like it?)
44. Do you like spicy food?
45. How do you like your steak cooked?
46. Do you have a favorite number? Any particular reason why you like that number?
47. If you were a type of animal, what would you be and why?
48. What’s one of the strangest things you’ve ever done?
49. What kind of vacations do you like?
50. What are some of your major goals in life?
51. What are some of your smaller goals in life?
52. What do you like least about yourself?
53. What embarrasses you?
54. If you could try out any job for a day, what would you like to try?
55. What’s your earliest memory?
56. What’s the best decision you ever made?
57. Who’s your best / closest friend?
58. What do you think people think of you?
59. What were your grades like in school?
60. If you could learn one random skill, what would you learn?
61. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
62. Have you ever taken a personality test? (How did the results turn out?)
63. What’s the first thing you notice about people?
64. Do you think people can control their own destiny?
65. Do you think all people are equally valuable, or do you think some people in certain situations might be more valuable than others (say, a severely retarded patient vs. a doctor who could potentially save hundreds of lives)?
66. Do you think people are basically bad or basically good?
67. Do you think morals are universal or relative to the beliefs, traditions, and practices of individuals or groups?
68. Do you think God exists?
69. Do you think any kind of afterlife exists?
70. Do you vote? Why / Why not? If you do vote, how do you usually vote?
71. Do you think gay people choose to be gay? Do you think straight people choose to be straight?
72. Is torture ever a good option? If no, why not? If yes, when?
73. Would you kill an innocent person if you thought it might mean saving a dozen other people?
74. What’s the most money you’ve ever given away?
75. What’s the biggest personal change you’ve ever made?
76. What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done?
77. What do you think would be one of the best steps we could take toward ending poverty around the world?
78. What do you think we could do to best improve the education system?
79. In general, what do you think about art?
80. What are some of your favorite websites?
81. What’s the biggest turnoff in a man/woman?
82. What’s the biggest lie you’ve ever told?
83. What’s something most people don’t know about you?
84. What’s something you wish everyone knew about you?
85. What are some of the first things you do in the morning?
86. What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you?
87. Do you cry easily?
88. How do you feel about public speaking?
89. Do you like to talk on the phone?
90. How many emails do you get each week, roughly?
91. If someone were to make a movie about your life, who would you hope would play you?
92. What’s one of your favorite questions to ask new friends or to get a conversation going?
93. Would you ever sky dive or bungee jump?
94. Have you ever been in a fist fight?
95. What’s the best prank you’ve ever pulled?
96. What did you do on your 16th birthday?
97. What do you think is one of the most undervalued professions right now?
98. How would you explain your basic life philosophy?
99. Would you rather be hated or forgotten?
100. If you knew you would die tomorrow, would you feel cheated today?

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Source : http://marshalljonesjr.com

30 Questions You Should Ask Your Best Friend

Best friends are, well, the best. They check to see if you have dirt on your butt after sitting on the ground. They let you borrow that one awesome dress. They e-mail you pictures of cute baby animals to make your day less boring or stressful. They’re also really cool, amazing people who you should always strive to get to know even better than you already do. I know a lot of us are in that weird stage of adulthood where we find ourselves having less and less time for friends. We have jobs, partners, cats—I mean, life is just hectic. However, that doesn’t mean your relationship with your bestie has to fade. There are ways of deepening and strengthening that bond, and no, you don’t have to go on a road trip to Ohio, or chip in on a timeshare. Simply ask your best friend some questions about herself. Sure, you talk about everything, but do you know what her first crush, or what type of bird she’d choose to be? Trust us, it matters. The following questions will spark some new, ridiculous, wonderful, deep, and deeply goofy conversations with your besite.

1. Who are your top three lady heroes?

2. When you were little, what did you want to be?

3. Who do you think should run for president in two years?

4. What’s the best book you’ve read so far this year? Ever?

5. What makes you feel afraid?

6. Would you rather get lunch with Gillian Flynn or J.K. Rowling?

7. What’s your most embarrassing childhood memory?

8. If you had the option of adopting a baby fox or baby koala, which one would you choose?

9. What’s your dream job?

10. Who is your favorite mythological god/goddess?

11. Who was your first crush?

12. If you had to choose between using Internet Explorer forever, or permanently using an AOL e-mail address, which one would it be?

13. If you could either be a duck or an owl, which would you be?

14. What do you love about yourself most?

15. What don’t you like so much?

16. Rugrats or Doug?

17. Which house would you belong to in Game of Thrones? Like, very honestly.

18. If you got a (new) tattoo, what would it be of?

19. What would you like to eat for your last meal?

20. If you had to be on a reality TV show, which one would you choose?

21. Who has influenced you the most?

22. What are your favorite lyrics?

23. Real jeans or jeggings?

24. On the first day of ruling the world, what would you do?

25. If you were forced to open a bakery, what would you name it?

26. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done on a date?

27. What do you hope to achieve by 50?

28. What has been your best moment this year (so far)?

29. Would you rather be stuck in traffic for two hours, or have Chipotle run out of guacamole forever?

30. Why are you so amazing?!

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 Source : http://hellogiggles.com

Top Ten Safe Computing Tips

1. 1.Patch, Patch, PATCH:

1. Set up your computer for automatic software and operating system updates. An unpatched machine is more likely to have software vulnerabilities that can be exploited.

1. 2.Install protective software:

1. Sophos is available as a free download for Windows, Macintosh, and Linux from IS&T's software page. When installed, the software should be set to scan your files and update your virus definitions on a regular basis.

1. 3.Choose strong passwords:

1. Choose strong passwords with letters, numbers, and special characters to create a mental image or an acronym that is easy for you to remember. Create a different password for each important account, and change passwords regularly.

1. 4.Backup, Backup, BACKUP:

1. Backing up your machine regularly can protect you from the unexpected. Keep a few months' worth of backups and make sure the files can be retrieved if needed. Learn more about TSM and how to backup your system.

1. 5.Control access to your machine:

1. Don't leave your computer in an unsecured area, or unattended and logged on, especially in public places - including Athena clusters and Quickstations. The physical security of your machine is just as important as its technical security.

1. 6.Use email and the Internet safely:

1. Ignore unsolicited emails, and be wary of attachments, links and forms in emails that come from people you don't know, or which seem "phishy." Avoid untrustworthy (often free) downloads from freeware or shareware sites. Learn more about spam filtering.

1. 7.Use secure connections:

1. When connected to the Internet, your data can be vulnerable while in transit. Use remote connectivity and secure file transfer options when off campus.

1. 8.Protect sensitive data:

1. Reduce the risk of identity theft. Securely remove sensitive data files from your hard drive, which is also recommended when recycling or repurposing your computer. Use the encryption tools built into your operating system to protect sensitive files you need to retain.

1. 9.Use desktop firewalls:

1. Macintosh and Windows computers have basic desktop firewalls as part of their operating systems. When set up properly, these firewalls protect your computer files from being scanned.

1. 10.Most importantly, stay informed:

1. Stay current with the latest developments for Windows, Macintosh Linux, and Unix systems. IS&T provides a news page and we recommend that those interested subscribe to the IS&T Security-FYI electronic newsletter.


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Source: https://ist.mit.edu/security/tips