Would You Answer This Ad?

I found this to be a hoot when I opened this e-mail out of curiosity.

All I saw was the "subject" line and the first two lines of the note, then I launched into a full-bellied laugh.

The ad you read between the double lines is exactly how the note was formatted...punctuation, capitalization, and all. The only change I made is to omit the actual phone numbers and add the note on the last line.

Would YOU answer this ad for a degree, of all things, after reading their command of the English language in the subject line?

Think about this one the next time you look at a resume or online job candidate that notes an advanced degree from some un-trackable institution.
=============================
Subject: Is your skills about to expired?

WHAT A GREAT IDEA!
We provide a concept that will allow anyone with sufficient work experience to obtain a fully verifiable University Degree.

Bachelors, Masters or even a Doctorate.

For US: [Toll-Free Phone Number Omitted for Privacy]
Outside US: +1 [International Phone Number Omitted for Privacy]

"Just leave your NAME & PHONE NO. (with CountryCode)" in the voicemail.
Our staff will get back to you in next few days!

[No signature or identifying organization was in the note.]
=============================

Office Pool: "Innocent Betting" a Legal Rather Than HR Issue

With "March Madness" on the horizon, and other reasons for those "innocent" pools where betting occurs throughout the year, a question arises whether these pools are legal. We won't get into whether they are moral; that's for a different power to decide. While you may see no harm in these voluntary bonding activities, your business or workplace is at risk.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE.

Five-Diamond Customer Service (Hospitality Industry)

This is a true story about my good friend, speaking colleague, and mentor Gregg Gregory and a Marriott Hotel in Atlanta, GA. This is success language in action. What a positive work ethic!

(Bill Marriott's blog and a 9-minute YouTube video of Gregg telling his story of a personal loss and the above-and-beyond service he received.)

Online "People Skills"

Have you ever thought about your online etiquette and manners as "people skills"? I've heard it said that the more connected we are technologically, the less connected we feel face-to-face. People skills are interpersonal skills we typically use in face-to-face interactions, like listening, speaking, leading, making decisions, and the like. We use these skills when we are online, also. How? Well, read Kevin's full explanation of "How to Have Better People Skills Online".

 

Summary of the seven tips for how to have better people skills online:

1 - Become interested in your visitors and other bloggers.

2 - Use your online smile.

3 - Use people's names whenever possible.

4 - Be a good online listener.

5 - Talk about other people's interests.

6 - Make people feel important.

7 - Show sincere appreciation.

 

Want to learn more about improving your - or your staff's - people skills, online or in person? Sign up for monthly learning opportunities at Subscribe2Succeed.com.

English - Which Language Is It, Anyway?

An interesting article about English and its many forms. I'm not sure
how I feel about this yet considering how against the whole "eubonics"
issue I am. While this is not eubonics, it still counters the whole
"speak proper English" or "speak English properly" mantra in which I
grew up and on which I write and speak. As a late-night talk show host
used to say..."Things that make you go 'hmmmmm'".

(Byline)
"English has always been a sponge language. Since it was written down
in the year 700, it has adopted words from Norse, French and Latin,
among others. English now has up to 700,000 words--more than almost
any other language, according to Chambers".

Link to the full article is:
http://www.thestar.com/article/480965

Sentence Obfuscation01

(As seen in a recent major newspaper; I won't reveal the actual publication.)

"What we have seen over the past few days has been a mix of improper
disclosures of partial information mixed with inaccurate information and
then drawn into unfounded conclusions."

The meaning of "obfuscation", from dictionary sources:
obfuscate (verb); obfuscation (noun)

verb
1. to confuse, bewilder, or stupefy.
2. to make obscure or unclear: to obfuscate a problem with extraneous
information.
3. to darken.
4. to make so confused or opaque as to be difficult to perceive or
understand: "A great effort was made . . . to obscure or obfuscate the
truth" (Robert Conquest).
5. to render indistinct or dim; darken: The fog obfuscated the shore.

noun
1. confusion resulting from failure to understand [syn: bewilderment]
2. the activity of obscuring people's understanding, leaving them
baffled or bewildered [syn: mystification]
3. darkening or obscuring the sight of something

To speak success language, ask yourself:
- Does what I say (and what I write) obfuscate the intended message?
- Do I use too many words? Or the correct words for the intended message?
- Do I speak clearly (enunciate), succinctly, and pronounce words correctly?

Challenge yourself to (a.) figure out what the newspaper passage is
actually saying, and (b.) rewrite the sentence to clearly communicate
the message.

Conversation Matters

What kind of conversationalist are you? I've been receiving a wonderful e-newsletter full of content, new words to learn, and interesting communications skills facts and tidbits from Dr. Loren Ekroth. He writes excellent articles about the art of conversation, with specific how-tos and content you can immediately apply to improve your success language skills. I recommend signing up for his newsletter and checking out his articles at http://www.conversationmatters.com.

12:00 Noon - Correct Way to Say

How do you indicate the time for "Noon" and "Midnight"? This interesting question - and the ensuing answers - appeared on a recent forum to which I belong. I have wondered for years whether to note "12:00 P.M." or "12:00Noon". Since success language is as much about our writing skills as it is about our speaking skills and how we present ourselves, I think the researched responses to the question are worthy of noting here.
=======================
12:00 Noon - Correct Way to Say

Garner's Modern American Usage Guide states that neither am nor pm is correct. Use Noon (for middle of day) and Midnight (for end of the day).

Wikipedia has a lengthy article, providing both sides of the story.

The word "meridies" means noon or midday. It is, strictly speaking, illogical to refer to noon as either "12 a.m." (12 ante meridiem, 12 hours before noon) or as "12 p.m." (12 post meridiem, 12 hours after noon). On the other hand, midnight could logically be called either "12 p.m." (12 post meridiem, 12 hours after the previous noon) or "12 a.m." (12 ante meridiem, 12 hours before the following noon); "x a.m." no longer literally means "x hours before noon", but "x hours into the day but before noon" or "x th hour before noon".

The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, states: To avoid confusion, the correct designation for twelve o'clock is 12 noon or 12 midnight. Alternatively, the twenty-four-hour-clock system may be used. The abbreviation a.m. stands for ante-meridiem (before the Sun has crossed the line) and p.m. for post-meridiem (after the Sun has crossed the line). At 12 noon the Sun is at its highest point in the sky and directly over the meridian. It is therefore neither "ante-" nor "post-".

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (Fourth Edition, 2000): "Strictly speaking, 12 a.m. denotes midnight, and 12 p.m. denotes noon, but there is sufficient confusion over these uses to make it advisable to use 12 noon and 12 midnight where clarity is required."

The use of "12:00 a.m." for midnight and "12:00 p.m." for noon, however, is contrary to the U.S. Government Printing Office Style Manual which recommends the opposite: "12 p.m." for midnight and "12 a.m." (formerly "12 m.") for noon.

The NIST style guide recommends that it is clearest if one refers to "noon" or "12:00 noon" and "midnight" or "12:00 midnight" (rather than to "12:00 p.m." and "12:00 a.m.", respectively). Other style guides suggest "12:00 n" for noon and "12:00 m" for midnight, but that conflicts with the older tradition of using "12:00 m" for noon (Latin meridies), and "12:00 mn" for midnight (Latin media nox).

The Canadian Press Stylebook (11th Edition, 1999, page 288) says, "write noon or midnight, not 12 noon or 12 midnight." Phrases such as "12 a.m." and "12 p.m." are not mentioned at all.
=======================
How is this for everything you (might) want to know about "Noon"? I think I'll take a lunch break!

Generational Diversity: Who Manages Whom?

An aspect of success language is that "everyone" (across generations in an organization) speak the "same" language...or at least understand each other. We can only do so by seeking to understand each other. OK, so perhaps we learn to accept each other and figure out how to deal with each other's uniquenesses.

 

My podcast on "Generational Diversity: Who Manages Whom?" touches the tip of the iceberg in terms of the four generations in the workplace today. The program description and link to the MP3 for you to download or listen to online is: Have you noticed that articles and seminars typically note "managing Millenials" (otherwise known as Generation Y, born between 1980-2000)? What came to mind was, "Why is it that Millenials need to be managed? Why not Boomers or Gen-Xers?" Today's segment explores four generations in the workplace, identifies many of their uniquenesses, and offers suggestions on working together more effectively.

 

URL: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thinkaboutit/2008/06/30/Regular-Weekly-Broadcast-of-Think-About-It#

Socially-Acceptable Sayings When You Don't Know What To Say

A bit of humor, though totally serious...
Ever receive a gift and hate what you received, yet the gift-giver is in front of you watching you open it? Ever have to respond to seeing someone else's newborn baby whom you think isn't so cute?Ever receive a comment from someone that you would rather not have received? Another list to which I belong began a string of words/phrases we can use for the awkward situations we find ourselves in. How many of these have YOU used? LOL!

Original word and "urban definition" that started this list: "Interesting "
(adj) Something which arouses no interest at all. Used to politely avoid admitting this, which indirectly expresses your indifference. Example: "Yes, your bottle cap collection is INTERESTING."
==================
Additions from contributors on the list:
- Open a gift that you find absolutely horrid, yet the gift giver is there watching you open it: "Oh, this is...pause...USEFUL." (Unspoken message: Useful to someone but not to you!) S.H.
- Receiving not-so-positive feedback from someone whom you know gives not-go-nice feedback to anyone, any time: "Well, thank you for SHARING." (Unspoken message: ...but I could have lived without you doing so.) S.H.
- Observing someone doing something outrageous and inappropriate: "My! THAT was SOMETHING." (Unspoken message: But I don't know what that something is.) S.H.
- "My Aunt would, upon seeing many newborns, children or grandchildren of friends, usually said 'Now THAT's a baby!' It said it all." J.E.
- And there's the story that has gone around for years about Southern women who say "Bless your heart", and what they really mean. J.E.
- And on the Southern note, another saying is "Isn't that NICE!" That says it all, too. G.N.
- As in "How NICE for you!" When I say that it means I either think what they are doing is really lame or I am having an attack by the green-eyed monster!!! D.D.
==================
End note: Here's a link to a nice article written by one of my colleagues about whether to confront someone or not, and what to say when you'd rather not say anything.
"To Confront or Not to Confront?: What to Say When You'd Rather Not Say Anything At All".
Author - Sarita Maybin.

Article: Every Body's Talking (Reading & Interpreting Body Language)

This link takes you to an article from the Washington Post/Health section (6/24/2008) on how to read and interpret BODY LANGUAGE. It's written by an ex-FBI agent who specializes in reading the subtlies of body language and who says that words matter little in communication. Your body give you away in terms of your real message you communicate. Interesting article. Amateur drawings as graphics demonstrate what is noted in the article. There's an audio slide show included at The Washington Post/Health section website.

Success Language: Work-Life Skills for Success (Part 4 - Sticks and Stones, But Words?)

This link/MP3 is about how name-calling & negative endearments affect you subconsciously and what to do to break through to a success psyche. Part of a multi-part series on work-life skills for success. Based on Sylvia's "Success Language" programs. Complements her book "Why You Talk So White? Eliminate the Behaviors that Sabotage Your Success" & "Success Language" card deck (available at Amazon.com or SpringboardTraining.com - Educational Tools.) Includes readings, expanded content, & lessons to apply to life.

BlogTalkRadio/ThinkAboutIt broadcast - Success Language (Part 4 - Sticks & Stones, But Words?)

"SUCCESS" Quotations

A zillion (is that a real number?) quotations sites are on the Internet. Here's one that has a nice set of quotations on the topic of "SUCCESS".

 

Wisdom Quotes - Success Quotations Resource

Tim Russert Accolades: Lessons on Work Ethic and Values

Here is a bit of a different "take" on the media storm surrounding the life and death of Tim Russert. It is a downloadable MP3 file (half-hour recording) with some lessons applicable to the workplace based on Mr. Russert's character and characteristics.

 

Tim Russert Accolades: Lessons on Work Ethic and Values

 

Program description: Tim Russert, moderator for NBC's "Meet the Press", died suddenly of a heart attack at age 58 on Friday the 13th (6/13/2008). Media coverage throughout the ensuing days consisted of accolades for Mr. Russert from around the world. Words consistently centered on his work ethic, values, and attitude. This segment turns Tim Russert's frequently-mentioned attributes into lessons on how we can be viewed and remembered in our workplaces, businesses, and lives.

Workplace Pet Peeves

Part of success language is getting along with people in your workplace (or other location where you work or volunteer with people). A question was posed in one of the e-groups to which I belong and the following list is a compilation of the responses to the question, "What bugs you in your workplace?" The learning point from this is to avoid doing or being the things on this list.

 

Workplace Pet Peeves

(Actual responses to the question, "What bugs you at work? What is your workplace pet peeve?")

 

"My workplace pet peeve is people who don't begin work until the afternoon and then wants to consume your evening "catching" up on what happened during the morning."

 

"It's the loud talker, but specifically with personal issues.  I am sympathetic to challenges people have, but take your cell phone (which should be set to vibrate, especially if you're in a cubicle) and go somewhere private - for both of us!  "You" really don't want "me" or anyone else knowing your bank business, credit concerns, health issues, holiday plans at your sister-in-law's house or other things we must take care of (briefly) during the business day. Further to the loud talkers...minute-by-minute weather updates at the sign of the first flake or drop, etc.  Arghhh!"

 

"People who use fingernail clippers at work. 'Nough said."

 

"Mine may be a little out there, but my all-time worst pet peeve is people clipping their fingernails at the office."

 

"And to add to that - starting a new job and finding all those nail clippings in the little spaces in the lap drawer!!!!!!  AAAACK!"

 

"...gum snapper, copier jammer, napper (sleeper) and the orally fixated folk who have this profound need to make animal noises with each chew they take!"

 

"It makes me crazy when people chew pens and then leave them around for others to pick up without realizing it has been chewed until it's too late."

 

"My pet peeve is when a 1 hour staff meeting goes into overtime because everyone just spent the first 1/2 hour talking about personal stuff."

 

"Copy machine jammers who walk away and leave mess for next user."

 

"Filing fingernails, picking at skin, clipping finger nails, eating while talking on the phone."

 

"FLIP-FLOPS!   Hate 'em.   Flop, flop, flop walking.  Ugly toes."

(Sylvia's note, with humor: I couldn't tell whether it was just the flip flops that were the pet peeve or whether the ugly toes were, also. LOL!)

 

"A manager would come to my desk - this is unbelievable - open a paper clip, clean his ears, and leave the damn clip on my desk."