Of all of the phrases that are pointless, meaningless and overused, "going forward" really is the highest ranker. Initially, it came in as a substitute for "in the future," referring to plans to progress projects, etc. Of course, it's not really about going forward in any sense other than chronologically, because much corporate activity is about dressing up the same carp to look different. Never mind the fact it still exudes the same aroma of fish. Why "going forward" has gained such popularity is beyond me. Why not say "in the future" which has the same number of syllables, or something meaningful dependent on the context its being used? Time was when context mattered. But going forward has gone viral. It's become the "erm" of the corporate world. It's a phrase, a sentence and a full stop in itself. “We'll book a telecon to discuss it going forward.” “Yeah, book me in on my diary going forward.” As such, it's become a cliché. More than that, its ubiquitous use has stripped it of any meaning.
Having heard the phrase used in interviews on the news recently, it appears that "going forward" has actually seeped into the real world.

Reinventing the Wheel

Reinventing the wheel is something that no sensible person would attempt. And most corporate bods are sensible enough to realise this. And not reinventing the wheel is something you'll find managers bragging about. It's a new approach, but they're not trying to reinvent the wheel. Having said that....

Avoid Fillers

 

People pause and hesitate in conversation all the time. Sometimes it's because they're struggling for the right word. Sometimes it's simply out of habit. In linguistics, vocalised hesitations are referred to as "fillers." According to Michael Larcombe writing in New Scientist in 1995, "silence is often construed as a signal that the current speaker is ready to give up his or her turn. So, if we wish to continue our speaking turn, we often need to fill the silences with a sound to show that we intend to carry on speaking." But there probably aren't many linguistic experts in the corporate world, which is why when call centre staff are trained, they are instructed to avoid "foghorning." This is presumably because protracted "eeeeer" sounds are a little like foghorns. Ok. But it's also perhaps unsurprising that speakers of different languages use different sounds as fillers, which renders the term meaningless when used in training notes for staff in call centres based in India. Imperialism - or unfathomable ignorance - remains rife.

It's On My Radar

A statement you'll hear countless times when travelling by train within earshot of a corporate cock is, “Yeah, yeah, it's on my radar...” A favourite of the inept and those who prefer to look busy rather than actually doing anything.

Car-Park That

 

I suspect that most normal people consider a car-park to be a large flat place where drivers park cars. The clue's in the name, really. But if someone says they're going to "car-park that" during a meeting, it's probably not a good sign. On the surface, it's

Put It On Ice

To me, a freezer is a domestic appliance that keeps foodstuffs cold, thus preserving them. The principle is extended in the business world to refer to keeping an idea fresh but inactive. Or something. A variation of the real-world term whereby something such as a project is put "on ice," putting it in the freezer is much snappier and inventive, and provides a neat alternative to car-parking, or a "cooler" alternative to the back burner.

Be Progressive

 

The corporate world is big on buzzwords. Nevermind if they're meaningful or used sincerely. Image is everything. Substance is for other people to worry about. Yes, the box is empty, but it looks nice from the outside, so people are going to be happy to pay through the nose for it. And they're supposed to be thinking outside the box anyway, so what does it matter what's inside? Progressive is one such buzzword. Companies like to appear "progressive" - whatever that means. As far as I can tell, it means they've found new ways of screwing people over and making as much profit as possible for delivering the minimum of service or product they can get away with.

High-Level Stuff

High Level - serves to reinforce the us and them division between managers and the chairpounders who aren't important enough or savvy enough to understand what the upper echelons of an organisation discuss behind closed doors. The meeting's all about high-level stuff... we'll break it down and roll it out to staff once we've fully digested the implications of the implementing the strategy moving forward. What they really mean is that because they don;t actually do the work, they haven't got a clue, and so talk about things broadly and vaguely with no idea of whether or not it's physically possible. So, "we need to make a saving in this area of £6.2M. if we reduce the staffing levels by 60% that should do it." Yeah, but the work volume's still there. But that's not for the people on the shop floor whose jobs are on the line to worry about, because it's high level. The penpushing proles wouldn't understand.

Pushing the Envelope

The implications of pushing the envelope sound very like passing the buck. But no, It's going beyond the established boundaries. So why not pushing the boundaries or parameters rather than some meaningless metaphorical envelope?

Knowledge is Power

Sometimes there just isn't a carp metaphor or catchphrase that fits the bill. I've overheard managers on phone calls, in telecons or even in meetings foundering for a phrase that sounds impressive and serves to cover the fact they haven't a clue what they're talking about. “yeah, yeah, I've not really got so far going forward on this one, it's got a lot of chefs on it and I didn't want to step on anyone's toes. I'm still trying to capture down the soft knowledge, and it's on my radar...”

But why? Knowledge is power. If you know the code, are privy to the important, "key concepts" you can speak in a manner that sets you apart from the plebs, the drones on the bottom rungs, and those who aren't in the world of business. And in doing so, it's possible to demonstrate that knowledge and radiate signals that you therefore have the power. So, remember and use these phrases in interviews, in meetings, or loudly while loitering at the coffee machine and you'll go far.

1. Include your first and last name at the top of your resume.
2. Right below that, you want to include your contact information.
3. Next put the word objective and list your goals that you are trying to achieve.
4. Next you want list your work experiences including the start and end date, your job title, and your job duties for each job you had, starting with your most current work experience.
5. Next list your education, including any degrees that you have earn your school/college names, and High school name, and you want to list your start and end years and it's also a very good idea that you courses that you may have taken that relates to jobs that you are searching for.
6. List your hobbies and interests that way employers can know who you are as a person.
7. Last you want to list some references, or if you want you may put “Available upon request.”

Now see that was not hard, make plenty copies of your resume, and it's very important that you keep it updated at all times.

This presence of self-made awareness has created a culture which speaks to personal pleasure interpreted in the way in which we work. Larry Burkett, a renowned financial author and speaker, when speaking about the prevalence of “get-rich-quick-schemes” stated that “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”. The truth is that our youth have been brought up in this culture and bring its value set into the work experience. The result is a conspiracy, one which says I don't have to work to get what I want. Managers are often doing a trapeze act to entertain employees and produce results. Young people are constantly bombarded by this philosophy which poses an increased challenge to the future of American workers, the next generation. The presence of television shows like “Deal or No Deal” speaks to the absence of work as a reality. The conspiracy is one that employers must get their arms around in order to reach this new generation and create a work environment that increases productivity and yields higher rewards for the organization. The manager holds a crucial role in the understanding of this prevailing conspiracy and needs to take necessary steps to strengthen personal discipline among young people in the work place. The pressing question asks whether or not it can be influenced for future years. The answer to this query has been raised by leaders for a long period of time and one which is not going away. As leaders, we must understand the heart of our youth to tackle this effectively.

The future of the American workforce rests upon an understanding of basic qualities needed for the management of younger employees. Every person has needs which must be met by each station in life. The theories which surround the why of human behavior offer clear indicators to organizational effectiveness. As previously noted, our culture is speaking a clear message regarding what motivates the adolescent. There are a few characteristics which mark the management of youth. Operating under this pretense does not guarantee success but serves as guideline for comprehension. Maslow's hierarchy of needs indicates a realization of five basic needs, physiological, safety, social, esteem, and self actualization. Focusing attention on the last level, self actualization, it is critical to note that this is “the desire to become what one is capable of becoming”. (Hersey, Blanchard, Johnson, 2001) This desire is at the crux of team dynamic. Regardless of the theory, understanding culture is a significant portion of the solution. The following are a few suggestions for managers which tap into this critical generation.

• Remain current in modern trends among young people. Doing so will build connection with key motivators.
• Take every opportunity to increase relationships with the young people in your charge. Adolescents recognize a fraud when they see one. If a leader is transparent in each interaction interior motivators are revealed which may make headway to increase organizational efficiency.
• Develop strategies which diversify the work experience of the adolescent. In laymen's terms, cross-train every team member.
• Observe and assess the growth of each worker to ensure that skills are in line with key motivators. They will be much more productive if they sense that they add value.
• Follow-up consistently with key motivators so that management goals are running parallel to the employee. When it is not, efficiency drops dramatically.

Today's leadership of young people is a delicate and rewarding juggling act which must be balanced with cultural trends to produce organizational effectiveness.

Breaking The Ice

He was applying at a non-government organization, for a position of a Training Manager. Normally, applicants were required to do a training demo, so he conducted one. As a teacher, he would lecture passionately and he did the same during his training demo. When he finished, he paused and looked at his audience. The members of the panel were quiet, as if waiting more from him. He smiled and asked: “Would you still like to see me dance?” It broke the ice, and the panel which was obviously caught off-guard broke into a quiet laughter. The next day, the position was offered to him.

Sports They Played

There was a time when he applied at a foreign company. He was asked by a British interviewer: “What did you do in your previous employment?” My husband said: “I did all the dirty work”. The British proceeded to ask what was his boss doing then, to which he replied, “He played golf”. Being a golf player himself, the British asked my husband, “Do you play golf John?” He replied “No, I play badminton”. Whether or not the British knew what badminton was (a sport usually played by people in the lower middle class in our area), my husband did not know. But the British chuckled, and then he hired my husband as deputy director.

Korean Epic

During his interview at a Korean company, the interviewer asked my husband what he knew about Korea. My husband has never been to Korea, but he likes to watch Korean television series. At that time, he was nightly watching an epic entitled “Jumong”, a story of a hero destined to lead and unite his country. My husband began his answer with this line: “Well, Korea has a very rich culture, it is pictured in the story of its epic hero named Jumong…” He had no idea if the interviewers knew Jumong, but he believed it was one contributing factor why he was among the five short listed applicants who were called back for the written exam.

Motivation Techniques

He was again required for a demo in one of his prospective work. This time, it was a teaching demo. Being a teacher for more than a decade, it was a piece of cake. He proceeded with his demo on efficiency, analogizing such to 100 ways of capturing a woman's heart and choosing only one efficient way to get the same output. He used the chalk board, hand gestures, visual aids and other techniques to make his lecture as lively as he can. After exhausting every technique imaginable in his demo, the panel seemed dissatisfied and asked: “How do you motivate your students to be attentive in class?” He quickly replied with a grin: “I can sing… and I can dance!” To his surprise, he was praised for his show of confidence and he was hired.

Those one-liners made his interview experiences more memorable. They continue to bring a smile on my lips every time. Maybe I can try them myself in the future.

During the Meeting

1. Greet the delegates as they arrive, make sure they sign the Attendance List and ask them to take a seat
2. Ensure that the speakers/presenters, if any, have the equipment they need to hand
3. Be prepared for any unplanned, extra requests eg. photocopying or additional teas and coffees
4. If you are chairing the meeting also, ask the Group if they consider the last

Minutes to be a true record of what happened. Minute this point

1. Stick to the Agenda as closely as possible and try to steer the conversation back onto the beaten track if delegates wander off onto other subjects
2. Use shorthand if possible
3. Alternatively, type directly onto a laptop as people are speaking then you don't have to transcribe shorthand notes later on
4. Remember to record only the main points and actions
5. If you do miss an important phrase or sentence, don't be afraid to ask the speaker to repeat his words
6. At the end of the meeting, try to organize a date for the next one whilst everyone is present

After the Meeting

1. Transcribe the notes as soon as possible whilst fresh in your mind
2. Remember there is no need to record everything that is said. Edit carefully, cutting out what is not required, sticking only to the main points and actions
3. Once typed into the correct format, spell check and ask a colleague to proof read
4. Liaise with the chosen venue to book the next meeting
5. Send out by email if possible and include a date for the next meeting
6. See if you have any "Actions" to attend to

Good Luck!

One of the best you can do is have a business plan. You should treat it like a real business. Write out an outline for a plan. Fill in details of your business and where you want to be in the future. By creating an outline you will train yourself to complete those goals.

If you are just starting your own business, you might want to find an experienced person that might be willing to help you. They can guide you in the right path. With a business mentor and a business plan you should be able to have success in your business.

The most important thing is have the want to succeed. You need to have the desire to work long and hard hours. You may think that owning your own home based business gives you the ability to work when you want, which you are able to do, but you will succeed most when you work set hours and sometimes longer hours than you would on a regular job.

You were very nice about signing up, but they do not want to pay up. They do not answer your emails or phone calls. You get no assignments too. That is so sad. What is really sad is you have to pay to get paid. If it is a very small fee and a work at home job is willing to pay you, it is not so bad. However, the scam programs that are not willing to pay make the legitimate programs look bad. People are scared to trust them. That is why it is important to report scam programs.

There is a place on the internet where you may report work at home scams. You may report scams at Better Work At Home Business Bureau. You will be able to give them the link to the website address and tell them why you are reporting the website. They might even help you get your money back, but I am not sure. The good thing about this site, you can find all of the work at home programs that are scams, and all of the programs that are not. Take a look and feel better about work at home programs.

That left the company being run by the bosses son. The bosses son disappeared and stayed shacked up with his ex wife. She had recently got hooked up with him again.

With the son and boss gone, Ath took charge over the crew. With Ath in charge, the work ended. When we started doing the slap preparation, Ath would make us stop, and do nothing. Ath also had me running him around town, and up to his girl friends work place.

When this started Red quit the job and just left. Quiting at this point was the best decision to make. I should have quit to, but I used to be a real gullible type of person, and could not say no to people easy.

After Red it had us down to me and Ath. Ath would often leave me alone on the slap preparation, and go riding around in the company truck. I heard that he was out dancing in front of the other concrete company crews. One of those crews was where the foreman changed jobs to.

The boss had come home from vacation. The son turned in a full pay check. And me an Ath had our hardly earned half checks turned in.

The boss hired back the foreman, and his other son Tom had come back. Work was still on the two foundations we had been prepping. This prep work should have been done in about four days for both of them.

It turned out the boss was not on vacation, he went to see is brother who was dying from cancer. He's son lied about his work, and said he thought me and Ath were doing what we were supposed to do. Ath was fired, and I had became lazy.

The foremen along with the bosses other son talked with me a long time. They were trying to find out all that happened while they and the boss were gone. I think its hard to get information from a scary gullible person.

After painful days getting back into doing the labor work again, I was able to keep my job. The boss was never the same though, he was always angry to see me. It probably reminded him of his brother, and his findings when he returned.

Another crew member the boss hired, had tricked me into getting fired. He had told me that the boss was going on vacation, and that I was not needed for the next week. When I met up with the crew after week, I got my surprise.

It was more of a relief, then grief. At first I was upset over the trick, but then realized I was out from under that angry boss. I would not quit, because I was a gullible scary person. When he had tricked me, he was helping me I think.

I think If I had quit, which I believe was the best move to make then. The boss would have come back to Ath and his son, and I would not have been part of my bosses grief.

I realize though, if I had quit. The information that was needed on what actually happened in the bosses absence might not have come out correctly. With the boss favoring his son story, Ath could have been made to look very bad. Worse then what really happened. This could have hurt the boss worse. Only God knows.

My dream was to be able to work from home. For ten years I have been searching to find that perfect job. Along the way I did find some jobs with reputable companies, but I also found more than my fair share of scams. After all these years, I decided that I was going to create my perfect job.

You now need to decide what you can do. Think about what are your interests, passions or hobbies. Now think how you can create an income from this. For example, if you love crafts maybe you could market your products. Be creative when deciding on what to do. Be sure to choose an area that interests you and that you either have a working knowledge or are prepared to do proper research.

To help you get started, I have listed below a sample of a few business ideas with a brief summary. Feel free to take these ideas and run with them or incorporate these ideas into your own. Remember you can be creative.

1. Book Editing Service

   You will provide proofreading services for e-book writers, publishing houses and writers. Editors need to be detail oriented and will correct grammar, sentence structure and spelling errors.
   
   Assuming you already have a good working computer, the start-up costs would be minimal. You will need a printer, fax machine, telephone and copier. The majority of your budget will be spent on advertising your services.

2. Debt Collector Service

   You will assist businesses in collecting money on past due accounts. You will need to be an investigator who finds people who have disappeared without paying their debts. You will also need to negotiate and arrange a repayment plan that would be agreeable to both the debtor and debtee. For your services, generally, you can expect to receive 20-30% of monies collected.
   
   You will need to have a professional image. I suggest getting business cards and business letterhead to use with all correspondence. You will also need a computer with internet access, printer, fax machine, telephone, copier and a post office box. You will also need to advertise your services. Until you gain clientele, I suggest you target small businesses with your services before you try to secure the larger ones.

3. Professional Fundraiser

   As a Professional Fundraiser your duties will be help organizations raise the money they need to help people within the community.
   
   On behalf of the charity you are working with, you will be contacting businesses, foundations and philanthropic through phone calls, mail and in person to convince them to give money to these charities.
   
   You will need a computer with internet access, telephone, fax machine, copier, as well as, supplies to start your mass mailing, such as stamps, paper and envelopes.

4. Internet Researcher

   As an Internet researcher, you will research the latest business statistics on different companies and markets as needed by your clients. You will also put this information into usable formats for your client.
   
   You need to like research and be able assess information using well-worn paths.
   
   You will need a computer with internet access, phone, fax machine, copier, printer and software to input the information for your clients.

5. Writer

   The possibilities are endless in this field. You need to decide what direction you would like to take and run with it.
   
   One area with a large demand is ghostwriting. As a ghostwriter, you would get paid to write for someone else. After you receive payment for your writing, all rights of the piece would be the property of your client. Many businesses need help writing for their business, some people have great ideas and want to write a book but don't have the skills to see the project through. This is where you come in.
   
   You will need a computer with internet access, phone, fax machine, copier and a website to help with your marketing. The majority of your budget will be spent on marketing your website and services.

This was intended to give you a starting point and a few ideas. As you can see the possibilities are endless. All you need is a desire to be self-employed and the discipline to work at it. If you are looking for a way to make a quick buck without putting in the hard work you will never succeed. You should set realistic goals and as you achieve those, you can make new goals.

As competitive markets in world economy gradually become fiercer, finding all possible means of destroying their respective competitors, you'll find that your pockets are gradually tightening up, not breathing freely anymore. There isn't any more time for abundance on frivolity, luxurious items or simply buying what you want to for no reason at all. You may have to hold out on that beige Victorian bath or the hovering paper-shredder with in-built mp3 player.

Current inflation rates at 2.5%, job-cuts and food prices sky rocketing on a daily basis greatly contribute to our everyday juggling, to a more financially restrictive lifestyle in respect to previous years; as Mervyn King (governor of the Bank of England) has said in his recent speech “Serious thinking and a willingness to contemplate radical changes are necessary”. He also said other things of a similar nature. Therefore, either adapting to or changing with the current economy becomes crucial in order to survive.

Plants need water, oxygen and light; Machines need electricity in order to function; the modern human being needs a reclining hydraulics-chair, motorized, with embedded dvd-player, internet access and optional Dictaphone. Some even spot the signs of a recession early, ready to retire to their underground bunkers where SPAM and other canned goods are plenty stocked. It won't be long before we'll be eating our dog's food, or dog food or indeed our dog. It may well make for grim times ahead.

Thankfully enough, due to extensive research and the powers of investigative journalism, there are ways which allow us to escape the rigid and cold reality of having to work all our lives for little money, like the slippery weasels that we are. No longer working to repay a mortgage which we will certainly not benefit from (i.e. death) or writing a cheque signed “You see what I did there”. We will work together on things you could do to drastically improve your net income without having to work hard at it, and generating much more money than if you were.

The first thing is having rich parentage. This of course ensures that some of the wealth is distributed accordingly. This guarantees you money without having to move very much. Failing that, you could try applying for Government funding for a project which is based on "Ethnic Integration in modern society" or similarly entitled, this almost always guarantees funding from local Governments; should Government employees enquire about said project simply reply "The previous occupant has moved, I am just a tenant". Use some adequate apparel, such as a blonde wig or a colourful apron, should the authorities ever make a visit.

Another sure way to get large amounts of cash is sponsorship. Of course, with the advent of the internet this could also involve very little work, especially when instructing children to copy and paste text. For instance, post your proposal of a sponsored event in forums or newsgroups, widely frequented websites are also hugely profitable. An example of a good sponsored event is "Non-broadcastable and undocumented walking race": it will draw enough attention because it sounds interesting, yet people will not demand to see it.

These are some simple and fun ideas on how to make money fast without hard-work. Remember: Keep it fun-tastic! Some may work for you; some will simply be as futile as just sitting down reading this article. But one thing is certain: you will have had bundles of fun in the process, almost as much as I have had in making a profit from you reading this article.

Tricked you: now go and work so I can earn some money.