I know I do so that's why I take medication for it. My cancer boyfriend has a bad temper as well and he takes medication for it as well.

I have a bad temper but it's not because of my cancer sign. It is because of my Aries moon. I don't take medications because I express my anger. I share it to friends and people I trust. Also, I hate pretending I am okay and fine if I'm not. I act it out and live it until it goes away..I'm usually fine again. I never hold grudges. I forgive and forget.

Working in an office can be a trying experience. There is bound to be incidents that you wish you could take back. Frustration and resentment build up until the point of heated arguments between management and employee.

Every employee want to be acknowledged by their superiors, however, there are times when management is of one mindset. When this occurs too many times, the results can be disastrous, especially if the employee has a short temper. Often, situations that would normally be discussed get out of control and end up with harsh words being shouted back and forth.

When the sparks die down, the employee is left to figure out how to mend feelings and keep his or her job.

After an argument with a superior, the relationship can remain strained for several days or weeks. This creates poor working conditions and can be prevented with the proper communication.
Once this occurs, it often leaves the employee wondering if he or she will have a job in the morning. Losing income for even one week will undoubtedly cause serious financial hardship and a blemish on your employment record.

In the business world today, it is not uncommon to have people who will do anything to gain favor in managements eyes. In instances where a blow out has occurred, this may be the best way to get you out of a big dilemma.

It is important that you handle your supervisor with great care. Think about the situation and the way it was handled by all who were involved.

Sit down over a cup of coffee and discuss the occurrence, making sure that you apologize for the harsh words that were spoken, and explain that if you had a chance to do it over, you would do it differently.

Management prefers professionalism and honesty. When an employee is honest, there is more of a chance that no action will be taken.

Usually, when only harsh words are spoken, a reprimand is added to the employees record. However, too many reprimands can also lead to dismissal.

In todays world, business has adapted a zero tolerance against any type of violence in the workplace. If physical violence was involved, you can expect to loose your job and possible police action may be taken.

Sometimes it may be necessary to involve a third party to arbitrate the meeting. This can be the best way to solve all problems and soothe hurt and angry feelings,

Leon Edward
http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/how-not-to-lose-your-job-after-a-heated-argument-with-your-boss-97252.html

With a franchise business, the chances of success are much higher. According to the US Department of Commerce, after completing a 7 year study, over 90% of franchises are still trading profitably.

So why am I saying that a franchise business might not be right for you?

A franchise is not right for you if:
1) You are the type of person who does not like following guidelines
2) You believe that you know better then everybody else
3) You can’t accept other people’s advice
4) You want to change the look and feel of the product
5) You want to do things your way
6) You expect others to take responsibility
7) You don’t believe in hard work
You are aggressive and can’t control your temper
9) You are not ready for commitment
10) You can’t work with people

The limitations to a franchise opportunity are that you will not be able to deviate from procedures. You will have to buy from predetermined suppliers and use the computer systems and software that has been chosen by the franchiser. You will also be limited to where you can operate the business as the franchiser will not allow you to endanger his reputation, in a location, where he believes that there is little chance of success.

When people choose to go it alone, 80% of business start ups fail within 5 years. This is because they are entering a market where their business knowledge is usually poor, although their product knowledge might be good. All their experience comes from trial and error, and the banks are quick to pull the plug if cash flow projections are not met.

Now a franchisor has been through a period of trial and error. They have found a system that works and suppliers who deliver. Why would they allow you to change this proven system?

Although the chances of success in a franchise opportunity are much greater then if you choose to start your own business, only you can decide if you can live within the confines that have already been determined by others….

Irrespective of which road you choose to go down, always take professional advice.

Naz Daud
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/a-franchise-business-is-not-the-right-opportunity-for-everybody-97366.html

Low carb diet by Dr. Atkins continues as possibly one of the most accepted low carb diets on the market today. Low carbohydrate, high protein Atkins diet attractiveness has helped spring numerous similar diets who operate on the same values of high-protein, low-carbohydrate eating diet. Nowadays people who want to lose weight have a lot of high protein diets to choose from.

Tests have verified that high-protein, low-carbohydrate intake has numerous good effects as well as create considerable fat burning with no need to limit calories. Lots of people who make use of the low carb, high protein diet invented by Dr. Atkins have for a long time been reporting this effect. There are studies that show that low carbohydrate eating improves triclycerides, lowers blood sugar for diabetics and people with beginning diabetes and boosts good cholesterol (HDL). Low carb, high protein diet plan has been continuously confirmed to enhance insulin sensitivity, decrease blood pressure and cut blood insulin levels. If we judge it against diets low in fat, high protein, low carb dieters also lose a reduced amount of muscle mass.

Although not medically proven, there are numerous various positive effects testified by people on low-carb, high-protein diet by Dr.Atkins. Some of these include energy increase, reduced longing for candys, enhanced attentiveness, improved temper and decrease of depression kind of signs.

Nonetheless there are also several advantages that are exclusive to the high-protein, low-carbohydrate Dr. Atkins diet. If you are one of countless people who have been trying to lose weight with low fat diets in previous years you will get pleasure from eating all of those forbidden foods that once you could not touch. Butter, steak and cream are a regular element of low carb diet devised by Dr. Atkins. Many people enjoy eating foods once off limits to them. People on high protein diet devised by Dr. Atkins are permitted to consume their full of rich meats, cheeses and fats and oils.

Diet invented by Dr. Atkins is also undemanding to make use of if compared with majority of other protein high diets that are on the market today. There are a few of simple carbohydrate calculations that you are going to need to learn, but when you do that, you are going to be free to have a meal of any food you want from the acceptable food listing.

Dr. Atkins furthermore emphasized the need of finding your own individual carb level. Various individuals have unique degree of carbohydrate tolerance. While some of us put on weight on just 90 grams of carbs per day, other people can eat as many as 120 grams of carbs daily. During your ongoing dieting phase and pre-maintenance stage of the low carbohydrate, high protein diet by Dr.Atkins, you will ascertain your individual carb count that is going to help you establish your carb goal from now on.

The status of high-protein, low-carb diet devised by Dr. Atkins can even be a double-edged sword for the anyone trying to lose weight with it. Given that there is plenty of tips accessible about the low carbohydrate Dr. Atkins diet, which makes it simple to get resources and support, but can at the same time confuse you. There have been scores of Atkins books written and furthermore there are infinite amounts of websites that provide you with group support, information and tips. However nearly everyone has heard of diet by Dr. Atkins and almost has his or her own outlook about it. You need to be aware that there are scores of misconstructions around the world regarding the features of the Atkins diet, and you are going to, without a doubt, have to stand up for your newly discovered eating technique from time to time.

There are also some of the other downsides for using the high-protein, low-carb Atkins diet. You should count carbs in every piece of food you eat to be assured that you are keeping within your individual carbohydrate boundary. Additionally, there is the matter of Induction, the most intensely contested phase of the plan. Induction can be tough to come through if you have been on a diet that centers on carbs and sugar. Moreover, loads of individuals have a go at Induction and mistakenly judge that this is the method that the whole diet will be. They quit without even starting the genuine diet by Dr.Atkins.

Every now and then even if it does not occur very often, some individuals are going to live through a carbohydrate crash frequently during the 3rd and up to 5th day of the Dr. Atkins diet. Such sort of reaction is a result of their body experiencing the ketosis phase or using fat as fuel instead of carbs. The sensation is short-lived but lots of people trying to lose weight have sworn off high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets entirely because of this small accident.

Overall, with the few trivial shortcomings considered, high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet invented by Dr. Atkins continues to be one of the most used high protein diets because of one simple reason. It works. A lot of people have succeeded with the high protein, low carbohydrate diet by Dr.Atkins and the high-protein, low-carbohydrate approach to dieting.

Luka Zimmerman
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/prevent-diabetes-with-high-protein-low-carb-diet-132138.html

The number of European and in particular UK people moving to the tax haven of Monaco has increased dramatically in recent years, with some estate agents in the Principality claiming that four in ten of their buyers are now from the UK, compared to just one in ten a few years ago.

And if recent surveys are an accuate indication of the future, then Monaco estate agents might be seeing an even higher percentage of Brits buying with them in the near future.

A survey by the Centre For Economics and Business Research suggests that the number of British millionaires will rise dramatically from 376,000 to 1,700,000 - an increase of over four hundred per cent.

Commenting on the findings a local travel guide says that the number of British people in Monaco has increased noticeably, but that property price inflation will temper any increase in new residents.

‘While we do expect to see an even higher proportion of British residents in Monaco, the fact that there is going to be four times the number of millionaires doesn’t mean to say there will be four times the number of people looking to buy in Monaco.

At the moment the cheapest one bedroom apartments are around 850,000 Euros. After taking closing costs into account it’s close to a million Euros. Given the demand for property in Monaco in five years that figure could rise to between 1,500,000 and 2,000,000 Euros for a one bedroom apartment’.

Residency In Monaco

A real estate company specialising in Monaco property agree.

‘Given the cost of property in Monaco, simply being a millionaire won’t cut it for Monaco for much longer. Today’s millionaire won’t see much change out of his or her million at the moment, and how many will want to live in a one bedroom apartment. To have a half decent two or three bedroom apartment in Monaco you need to be a multi-millionaire rather than just a millionaire’.

Monaco has long been known as Europe’s number one tax haven, and for the Monaco Grand Prix, held each May around the streets of Monte Carlo.

Property prices in Monaco are already high due to the lack of land - in the past one of the districts, Fontvieille, had much of its area reclaimed from the sea, but property prices there equal those of the better known Monte Carlo.

One of the best known buildings in Fontvieille, Seaside Plaza, has average prices of three to four million Euros for a three bedroom apartment, and a four bedroom four bathroom one is currently on the market at close to ten million Euros.

In recent years the British economy has consistently been one of the strongest in Europe, and with a top rate of income tax cut a decade ago to forty per cent the wealthy have become wealthier - and want to stay that way.

‘Despite the top rate of tax coming down to forty per cent’, comment the travel guide, ‘By the time other direct taxes such as National Insurance are taken into account around half of top earners salaries are - as many of the Monaco property buyers from Britain see it - being lost to the Inland Revenue. By moving to Monaco they effectively double their disposable income.

When you go to hotels in Monaco and see a couple with estate agent details on the table and a map of Monte Carlo with various places highlighted, there’s an almost even chance that they will be British. A lot more than just a couple of years ago. They like Monaco, the security, the tax advantages and the closeness to London’.

Roger Munns
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/monte-carlo-real-estate-set-for-2007-boost-97533.html

To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up

(Ecclesiastes 3:1-3)–

Four of the boys at training tonight are preparing themselves for their first fight at our forthcoming Christians vs. Lions promotion, scheduled for only three weeks hence. All of these lads are boxers.

Three of those four - Joel, Daniel and young Dave - are friends, finishing their last year of school together. They are a great example of how guys from different ethnic backgrounds (Australian, Latin American, and Lebanese respectively) can still be the best of mates. The fourth guy, Louis, is an enormous Islander man. I’m not sure whether he’s Tongan or from the Cook Islands, but he’s a gentle giant really. He reminds me of Mahendar - a regular here at the Youth Centre. They’re both big, black and burly, but with gentle hearts. Louis has a few years on the other boys who were there tonight. He’s a natural in the ring, and plays the role of the older brother very well indeed.

These four boys are the cream of our crop in the fight club at the moment. They are all capable pugilists, but more than that, they are each a good embodiment of what our club is on about - courage, integrity, self-discipline and teamwork. This isn’t to say that none of them have ever been troublemakers. Indeed, I’ve got a court appearance coming up with one of the boys, scheduled for shortly after his fight, and he’s on quite serious charges. Even so, I’ve seen nothing but positive growth since he joined the club, and I’m hoping for positive results both in his fight and in his court case.

What is it that makes fight training such a powerful tool in the molding of young lives? There was a time when I thought of fighting as just another form of sport. I have come to believe though that fight training taps into something deep in the male psyche, in a way that no other sport does.

When I used to talk to my old girls in the church about the problems we had with our young people, they often used to say “what we need is another war”. I always thought that that was a terrible thing to say - that a war was the last thing that anybody wanted. And of course the girls didn’t really want a war. They had just experienced the benefit of being part of a community that had learnt to pull together through difficult times. And they had seen the positive effect that soldiering could have on the lives of young men.

I believe that men were made to fight. It’s part of our genetic makeup. We may have managed to emerge from the jungle, but there’s still a bit of the jungle in each of us, and pugilistic activity keys right in to those ancient impulses - releasing the wild man within.

This theory isn’t original to me of course. It’s part of the fabric of the Bible - there behind every great warrior-king who showed himself to be a “mighty man of God” in battle, and behind Jacob, who went toe to toe with God Himself and yet lived to talk about it (Genesis 32)! These were men who knew how to fight and pray and bleed and serve.

For a more philosophical exposition on the significance of fighting, we need look no further than Plato’s Republic.

For those who haven’t read it, in the Republic Socrates explores the concept of justice through examining both the just society and the just individual, and then he goes on to delineate their common elements. On the societal level he notes that a just community is made up of a number of vital components parts: rulers who govern, workers who labour, and an army that functions to protect them both. In the individual he finds a similar configuration - the mind that governs the body, the limbs that do the work, and the “themos” (which is often translated as “temper” or “aggression” that plays a parallel role in protecting the individual. Justice in the Republic consists in having all of the component parts (in either individual or society) being present and working together properly.

In the wisdom of the ancient Greeks then, the “themos” is the vital third component in the human constitution, along with the mind and the body. Without the “themos”, no individual is complete, and at a social level, no society will ever achieve a true state of justice.

It is my opinion that one of the negative legacies of feminism in Western culture has been an attempt to deny the “themos”, which seems to be more strongly present in men than in women. This has been for the most understandable of reasons - because of the excesses of male violence. But perhaps it’s time that we realised that trying to eliminate “themos” from society altogether is like trying to eliminate spiders and snakes because we find them distasteful. We soon discover that the created order needs all of its creatures - even those that some of us find ugly - if it is to function properly.

My experience with a vast number of men is that they tend to be either functioning as doormats to their wives and girlfriends, or they’re beating up on them. This is a reflection of the same crisis in dealing with the “themos”. When we attempt to repress the themos, it often spurts out in the most horrible and destructive of forms. When we successfully repress it, we emasculate our men, so that they’re no longer able to stand up for anything. Ironically, of course, such modern day men are not only unable to offer any strength to society. They’re no longer even attractive to the women they sought to please.

The only constructive alternative is for us to reharness the “themos” and channel it creatively. We need to get in touch with that distinctive male energy - recognise it, affirm it, and then learn to bring it under control so that it can be put to good use. Perhaps when we are able to do this, then we will see this country produce leaders of the calibre of Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Theresa, or Mahatma Ghandi - strong people of principle who stand up powerfully for what they believe in. As it is, our leaders always seem to come across as being either “wooses” or criminals or both. God knows we need some real men in this country who know what it means to love their women, to be fathers to their children, and to serve God and their community with their strength!

Fight training, I do believe, is a means to getting at that “themos” and learning to bring it under control. When done in the right way, fight training can help a young person to discover who they are and can help them to bring their futures into focus. They can then come to see their role as warriors in this society who will stand up and use their energy to build a better community and to fight for things worth fighting for.

What about these boys who I watched training with me tonight? Will they go on to become “mighty men of God”? I don’t know. But they’re on the right track, and they’re further ahead now than when they first started their training..

Dave Smith
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/forgotten-secrets-of-the-ancient-greeks-show-us-how-to-keep-teenagers-out-of-trouble-96906.html

Eating disorders is not caused by a single factor, there are many factors that can play a role in the appearance of these disorders like cultural and family pressures, emotional and personality disorders and also genetic and biological factors.

Similar personality traits like low self-esteem, dependency, and problems with self-direction are present to people with eating disorders. Specific personality disorders or behavioral characteristics that might put people at higher risk for one or both of the eating disorders have been determined by researchers.

The following personality disorders like avoidant personalities and dependent personalities mostly in anorexia and borderline and histrionic personalities mostly in bulimia and narcissism which can be present in anorexia and bulimia too have been reported by studies. Patients with bulimia or anorexia can present one of these personality traits. The more important factor in determining treatment choices may be the patient’s specific personality disorders even if they are anorexic and bulimic.

Avoidant personalities are present to people with anorexia. The symptoms which characterize this personality disorder are: being a perfectionist, being emotionally and sexually inhibited, having less of a fantasy life than people with bulimia or without an eating disorder, not being rebellious, or usually perceived as always being “good”, being terrified of being ridiculed or criticized or of feeling humiliated.

Behavioral and eating pattern can be developed by the person with both anorexia and avoidant personality disorder. So for some individuals the only way to obtain love is achieving perfection, with all that involves. Trouble-free and attaining some ideal image of thinness make part of the drive for perfection. In this case the individual is driven to demand nothing, including food. A sense of being even more imperfect and a renewed sense of striving for perfection precede the failure to achieve love. Anorexic patients have a total lack of self but generally people with eating disorders are not typically suicidal. Through process of not-eating they try to revenge on those whose love is always out of reach.

Borderline personalities can be present to people with bulimic anorexia. The following characteristics can be present to these people like: frantically fearful of being abandoned, unable to be alone, difficulty to control their anger and impulses, prone to idealize other people and unstable moods, thought patterns, behavior and self-images. Emotional weapons like temper tantrums, suicide threats, and hypochondriasis can be used by the people with borderline personalities for causing chaos around them. The difficulty in treating bulimia can be the severity of this personality disorder and it can be more important than the presence of psychological problems, such as depression.

The following personality traits like inability to soothe oneself, inability to empathize with others, need for admiration, hypersensitive to criticism or defeat can be present to people with bulimia or anorexia which are often highly narcissistic. Depression and anxiety disorders can be present to patients which have eating disorder but also can be present in families of these patients. It is unknown if emotional disorders, especially obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), are causes of the eating disorders.

About 69% of patients with anorexia and 33% of patients with bulimia have obsessive-compulsive disorder which is an anxiety disorder. It is believed that eating disorders are variants of OCD. In compulsive behavior, repetitive, rigid, and self-prescribed routines that are intended to prevent the manifestation of the obsession, may be present obsessions which are recurrent or persistent mental images, thoughts or ideas. Generally women with anorexia and OCD may become obsessed with exercise, dieting, and food. Compulsive rituals like weighing every bit of food, cutting it into tiny pieces, or putting it into tiny containers are often developed at these patients. Other anxiety disorders like phobias, panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been associated with bulimia and anorexia.

At people with eating disorders, especially anorexia, depression is present which is more severe in darker winter months. Also the patients with bulimia suffer from a specific form of bulimia which is worse in winter. May seems to be the peak month for suicide because the onset of anorexia appears to peak in this month. An eating disorder is rarely cured by treating and relieving depression. Social, psychologic or possibly biologic factors can cause a distorted view of one’s body called body dysmorphic disorder which can be associated with anorexia or bulimia but can also appear without any eating disorder. In this case emotional disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression are commonly to people with this disorder. A disorder in which people have distorted body images involving their muscles has been reported by experts and it is present to men which believe that are “puny” and results in excessive body building, preoccupation with diet and social problems.

Another factor which is present in triggering and perpetuating eating disorders is negative family influence. Children with insecure attachments are present in family with parents who fail to provide a safe and secure foundation in infancy. Mothers play an important role in their child’s life. So mothers of people with bulimia are critical and detached and mothers of anorexics tend to be over-involved in their child’s life. People with either eating disorder have parents with alcoholism or substance abuse. It seems that psychiatric disorders are present to parents of people with bulimia than parents of patients with anorexia. A higher incidence of sexual abuse is often present to women with bulimia. People with bulimia have an obese parent or have been overweight themselves during childhood. Parents can influence their children’s eating habits and prevent weight problems and eating disorders through a healthy eating habits themselves.

Genetic factors play an important role in anorexia. From this point of view twins had a tendency to share specific eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and obesity). A genetic propensity toward thinness caused by a faster metabolism and reinforced by cultural approval, an inherited propensity for obesity and inherited personality traits are some inherited traits that might make someone susceptible to eating disorders. Culture pressures is other factor which can lead to anorexic people.For example clothes for thin bodies, TV programs which present anorexic young models. Excessive exercise plays a major role in many cases of anorexia at athletes. Young female athletes and dancers may present the following problems:eating disorders, amenorrhea (absence or irregular menstruation) and osteoporosis.

The most common factor present in eating disorders which include chemical abnormalities in the thyroid, the reproductive regions, and areas related to stress, well-being and appetite are hormonal problems. A result of malnutrition or other aspects of eating disorders is the change of these chemicals. The limbic system is a small area of the brain where many of these abnormalities begins. Also hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) is a specific system with an important role in eating disorders. In brain is found a small structure that controls our behavior, like eating, sexual behavior and sleeping, and regulates body temperature, emotions, secretion of hormones, and movement called hypothalamus. An extension of the hypothalamus downwards called the pituitary gland controls thyroid functions, the adrenal glands, growth and sexual maturation. Major emotional activities like anxiety, depression, aggression and affection are controlled and regulated by amygdala,a small structure which lies deep in the brain.

Stress hormones called glucocorticoids are produced by the HPA system, including the primary stress hormone cortisol which is very important in marshaling systems throughout the body (including the heart, lungs, circulation, metabolism, immune systems, and skin) to deal quickly with any threat. The inhibition of neuropeptide Y (NPY), a powerful appetite stimulant that also has anti-anxiety properties is one of the specific effects. Certain neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) that regulate stress, mood and appetite and are being heavily investigated for a possible role in eating disorders are released by the HPA system. Serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine are the three hormones that are important. So norepinephrine is a stress hormone, serotonin is involved with both well-being and appetite and dopamine is involved in reward-seeking behavior. Low levels of leptin, a hormone that appears to trigger the hypothalamus to stimulate appetite have been observed in people with anorexia and bulimia.

The reproductive hormones that are severely depleted in anorexics are produced by the hypothalamic-pituitary system. Some experts believe that these reproductive abnormalities are a result of anorexia and others have shown that menstrual disturbances occurred before severe malnutrition set in and remained a problem long after weight gain in 30% to 50% of people with anorexia.

There are many factors who contribute at development of anorexia. Unfortunately teenage females are the most affected.

For more resources regarding signs of anorexia or girls with anorexia please review this website http://www.anorexia-center.com

Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/factors-which-cause-eating-disorders-133376.html

Helping people realize their potential as leaders means clearing a path for them to grow, but it also means identifying what they need to work on in the current job. This is where leadership gets very personal. There’s no substitute for ongoing face-to-face dialogue with people about what’s going well and what isn’t. You can’t let fear of their response undermine your know-how in helping leaders grow and improve.

Stuart, the CEO of a global manufacturing and services company, found a simple way to save Kate, who had the potential to be a great CFO but was having trouble adapting to the company’s Midwestern culture. Kate was hired for her tremendous talent in finance, and she made contributions in her first year by surfacing important issues and having the tenacity to keep them on the table. But others on the executive team complained regularly that she was too gruff with her peers and too intimidating to the people below her. She just didn’t seem to fit in. Stuart recognized the talent and contribution and decided to be frank with her about what she had to change. He even got her a coach, but he was careful in choosing one. He didn’t want Kate to lose her edge; he wanted her to continue to raise tough issues and set a high standard, just to do so more constructively. Her coach was frank about what was at stake and made some specific suggestions. One of them was to emphasize the positives as well as the negatives in her subordinates’ presentations. Instead of cutting people down in front others, signal what was good, then make specific suggestions about what to improve. And stop using four-letter words — that was an absolute. Within a couple of weeks, people noticed the difference. The company retained a high-caliber individual, and Kate herself is working hard to improve with encouragement from her colleagues, who see the change in behavior.

The 360 evaluations many companies use can be helpful, but you have to be thoughtful about how you use them. Don’t try to cover everything; zero in on one or two things the person has to work on. For one leader, the 360 showed a low rating (less than 3 on a 5-point scale) in every item having to do with peer relationships. He was one of four internal candidates to succeed the CEO, and the low rating puzzled his boss. The CEO knew him to be a great performer who regularly delivered 70 percent of company profits, and he was a born learner who stayed at the top of his game. He was also a good conceptualizer. But obviously there was something going on when it came to working with colleagues. By persistently digging and asking pointed questions, his boss got to the nub of the problem. When he respected the other person, the guy was great. When he didn’t, his disdain was very visible. This type of behavior was keeping him from reaching his potential. The CEO brought this pattern to the leader’s attention, and he instantly agreed that it was true and promised to try to curb that behavior. This kind of reflection, whether you do it on your own or with the help of a mentor or coach, improves your judgment and is essential to mastering each of the know-hows.

Confront Behaviors That Harm the Team’s Effectiveness

Leaders often avoid conflict, hoping that a problem with one of their direct reports’ behavior will somehow resolve itself. They seldom do. When I observed George he was two years into his tenure as CEO of a company in a fast-paced industry heavily dependent upon technology. He was having a lot of trouble molding his team of direct reports. He was searching for a new CFO after firing the previous one for failure to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley and his HR director was new. But his real problem lay with his vice president of sales, who had been with the company just six months.

Doug, the vice president of sales, had come with great credentials and very positive reference checks. But none of his references had talked about his tendency to throw temper tantrums at high-level meetings, lecturing his peers about what he perceived as their many failings. They also hadn’t mentioned his lack of analytical abilities. Already the director of R&D had warned George that he and his team were tired of Doug’s abuse and simply couldn’t work with him. With a new product on target to launch in just six months, R&D desperately needed strong input from sales but couldn’t get Doug to cooperate. And after the company had missed its sales targets for three consecutive months, the only explanation George could get out of Doug was that “external factors” were to blame. Doug’s presentation to the board the month before had been very slick, but when it was over George still couldn’t pinpoint the cause and effect of the missed sales targets. He was afraid that he might be in for a hard time from some of the directors at the next board meeting.

George had resolved more than once to bring Doug to task for these problems, but each time the two met in George’s office he had decided to back off, instead urging Doug to get a coach or take other steps to improve his relationships with other departments and to look more deeply into the sales misses. Doug readily agreed, but nothing ever happened as a result of those meetings. George’s dilemma — either to confront Doug or to simply fire him — is a common one for leaders who are uncomfortable with conflict. The hard truth is that if you want to mold a team of leaders you must have the inner courage when an individual’s behavior is destroying the team to confront that person head on and say it isn’t acceptable and has to change.

Copyright © 2007 by Ram Charan from the book Know-How Published by Crown Business; January 2007;$27.50US/$36.50CAN; 978-0-307-34151-8

Ram Charan
http://www.articlesbase.com/leadership-articles/developing-and-deploying-leaders-in-the-right-way-93383.html

Do-It-Yourself car maintenance though sometimes is a total chore, is probably one of the most rewarding tasks you’ll ever do owning a car. How can you forget the very first time you repaired a minor glitch in your car’s lighting system, or the first time you replaced your car’s car’s flowmaster mufflers? Knowing you can handle your car’s problems and issues on your own – and efficiently at that is no doubt a source of pride and confidence.

Here’s an interesting take on the rules of auto repair – found in the internet, it is called The Ten Commandments of Auto Repair:

1. Thou shalt not place any essential portion of thy anatomy beneath a car that is not properly supported with jack stands or blocks.

2. Thou shalt not work on any part of the starting or charging system without first disconnecting the battery.

3. Thou shalt suffer no flame or spark near the battery or the fuel system.

4. Thou shalt forsake the open end of the wrench, and whenever possible to use always the box end upon thy nuts and thy bolts.

5. Thou shalt always securely block the wheels of the car before starting work, lest thee run thyself over with thine own car.

6. Thou shalt never lose thy temper or thy patience. Remember: “Act in haste and you will repent at your leisure.”

7. Thou shalt always exercise extreme care when opening thy radiator, lest thee parboil thyself or some innocent bystander.

8. Thou shalt clean up any and all of the fluids that thy auto may emit, lest they ignite or poison thy pet, thy child, thy soil or thy groundwater.

9. Thou shalt always place thy car’s transmission in Park or Neutral before commencing work.

10. Thou shalt never forget the laws of ASSUME, K.I.S.S., and Murphy, and never blame another person for thine own errors.

* ASSUME: When you ASSUME you make an ASS out of U and ME.

* K.I.S.S.: Keep It Simple Stupid.

* Murphy’s Laws:

1. Nothing is as easy as it looks.

2. Everything takes longer than you think.

3. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

4. If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the one to go wrong. Corollary: If there is a worse time for something to go wrong, it will happen then.

5. You never run out of things that can go wrong.

6. If anything simply cannot go wrong, it will anyway.

7. If you perceive that there are four possible ways in which a procedure can go wrong, and circumvent these, then a fifth way, unprepared for, will promptly develop.

8. If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.

9. It is impossible to make anything foolproof because fools are so ingenious.

10. Whenever you set out to do something, something else must be done first.

11. Every solution breeds new problems.

Amazing how one can learn a lot of new things everyday, isn’t it?

hannah
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/the-ten-commandments-for-diyers-94203.html

Many of us live in different areas than the rest of our family. Many of us live several states away from Mom and Dad and there are some of us that require flight time as part of our holiday ritual. For those of us that have to travel to other countries during the holiday season, flying could be tougher than at other times of the year. Here are a few tips for world travel during the holidays.

First of all, keep your smiling face on during your airport experience. In the airport, the employees have all of the answers and they have all of the power. When you are already running late or sense the upcoming delay in your flight, it is easy to lose patience with these scrooges, but keeping your temper in check could be very beneficial. After all, everything that goes wrong in your life is not their fault, it just seems that way at the moment. Keep in mind that being super nice during a not-so-great situation could mean “free upgrade” and being not so nice could result in lost luggage, or even worse, a full body search as you are “randomly” picked out of the line.

If you have the opportunity, fly during off peak hours. It may be a little inconvenient to have to leave out in the middle of the night, but it could mean beating a huge crowd of people in the airport. Plus if you leave your home airport in the middle of the night, after the time differences (or the international date line) you may be arriving at your destination at a great time of day. Better yet, it could be discounted tickets for those “Red-Eye” flights.

Have something to do while you wait. Inevitably, on an international flight, you are going to have some delays here and there. It could be a four hour layover in Denver or a 30 minute wait at the gate for the boarding to begin, but waits are highly likely. If you have something to read or something interesting to keep your mind busy and occupied, those wait times will seemingly be cut in half. Plus, keeping your mind busy helps you to keep you patience, which takes us back to the number one tip of being nice to airport employees.

Keep security in mind. Post 9/11 security has been greatly increased on all flights, both foreign and domestic. In order to keep things moving smoothly, it is best for you to check as much of your baggage as possible and don’t pack things that you know will trigger an alarm of any kind. Wear shoes that are both comfortable and easily removed and replaced. Have all liquids pre-bagged and remove your coats or jackets before prompted. These little things will help speed the security process and keep your patience in check.

Traveling with children could make everything difficult. Keeping them happy is not always the easiest task on your list of things to do on your world travel. Think about how bored and agitated you get while having to wait in lines and in terminals, then how bored you get on the plane, then multiply that by at least 20 - that is how your kids feel. Keep them occupied with small, quiet toys, coloring books, handheld video games or DVD players, etc. What ever will keep their attention and save your sanity.

Last but definitely not least is to ship your presents. I know it may seem like you could save money by just packing an extra suitcase and putting it on the plane with you, but in the long run, it really will be easier to just ship the gifts to grandma. Ship them several weeks in advance so that you know they get there before you ever leave the states. It is much less likely for the gifts to be lost by the postal services than for them to be lost in the “realm of lost luggage” that we all have heard of.

I hope these tips for world travel during the holidays have helped you to keep in check that temper that you know all too well. Keep in mind that everyone in the airport has a family and friends that they would like to spend the holiday with as well. Keep your attitude merry and bright, and remember, Santa Claus is watching you!

Nancy Arlington
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/the-stress-free-way-to-travel-during-the-holidays-130368.html