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10 Great Places to Go on Your 18th Birthday!

La Di Da is a recognised 21st birthday venues Melbourne biggest and best parties and events for years now. If you’re looking for some of the best place to go on your 18th birthday then you’re in for a treat! I am a personal party planner and have been so for many years. I have planned hundreds of 18th birthdays and over the years have realized that it is quite difficult to find, without help, some good places to go on your 18th birthday. Therefore i have listed below my top 10 places to go on your 18th birthday.

Remember, it’s the most important birthday of your teenage years and it only comes once in your life, so don’t make the same mistake I did. Make It Count!

So let’s get straight into my 10 Great Places To Go On Your 18th birthday!

# Place 1: Host A Party!
This is the one of the most popular places to go on your 18th birthday and includes having it at home or renting a function room. If for whatever reason you don’t won’t to go to any extreme places to celebrate your 18th birthday, having a party is a great way to see your 18th birthday in.

# Place 2: Go clubbing!
One of the most popular places to go on your 18th birthday is going to a club. This is a very fun and memorable way to spend your 18th birthday and will involve a wide variety of activities throughout your night. Try to go to one of the more famous clubs in your city and dress to impress. Your 18 now you can start feeling like an adult!

# Place 3: Go Shopping!
Whether you have thousands to use on your 18th or hundreds going shopping is a definte must for your birthday. Not only is it fun to do but for your 18th you want to be look slightly different as appose to the old you. Buying something new to mark your 18th is a good way to feel as if your actually celebreating your adulthood .

# Place 4: Theme Parks
This is a very fulfilling way to spend your 18th birthday. If you’re in to this type of thrill then i would definitely recommend finding and going to a theme park in your area. Try and go to a well known theme park in your city as this will make your experience a whole lot better.

# Place 5: Road Trip!
The reason that I love this one so much is it can fit into any budget. Going on a road trip with friends or family can be an enjoyable and memorable way to spend your 18th. If you love the open road at heart and have someone to visit many miles away then nothing shouts “adventure” like a road trip.

# Place 6: Casino
If you’re the type of person that is “up” for a bet at the first glance of a gambling proposal then maybe the casino is for you. Find your nearest one, bring ID and have some good old fun gambling, but don’t get too carried away as you may end up with no money at all!

# Place 7: Go to a music show
Always wanted to see Beyonce, Enrique Iglesias or someone famous live? Well if you can and they are appearing in your country go out and see them. Nothing completes an 18th birthday better than seeing your favourite artist perform. Even if there not available try and see some live music in your local area, it’ll be worth it.

# Place 8: Go horseback riding.
This is a one of my personal favourites. I remember my first horseback ride… It hurt! But after I got used to the idea of an extremely powerful animal underneath me I really enjoyed myself. Horseback riding is a very calming and relaxing way to spend time being at one with nature. I recommended this for all those naturist’s out there who would love the idea of riding off into the sunset on their 18th birthday.

# Place 9: Sky diving or extreme sports.
Sky diving or something similar like extreme sports is a very unusual but rewarding way to spend your 18th birthday. I guarantee that if you are in to this type of extreme thrill then you won’t be disappointed. Remember that skydiving isn’t for the faint hearted so if the sight from the top of a flight of stairs gets yours knees a bit wobbly then I would stick to something like indoor skydiving that is available in some cities worldwide.

Place 10: Rent a condo on the beach
Renting a condo or even staying in a hotel on your nearest beach (even if its miles away) can be a very relaxing and cost effective way to get away from your home town but still be in the comfort of your own country. This is one of my personal favourites so if there is a beach near you and you like a good view then spend a night down there. It’ll be worth it.

Now the thing to remember here is your 18th birthday is a once in a lifetime event and you should really try your best to make it unforgettable, with any budget. I found out the hard way and would hate for you to suffer the same drag that I went through. So I have done the research and produced the ultimate guide on “things to do on your 18th Birthday”, which explains fully the “Do’s and Dont’s” of your 18th birthday, including *101 places to go on your 18th birthday!

Check it out at: [http://www.thingstodoonyour18thbirthday.net]

Victoria Jones has put together the ultimate guide on “things to do on your 18th birthday” which will help anyone with any interest in the area. Click here to for more information:

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Turn Your Charitable Donation Into Tax Savings

The charities to donate to are those who in need of fund for either health matter or family support. Long before “Cash For Clunkers” or “Cash For Appliances” we had Cash For Trash. Donating your unwanted things to charity is a very easy way to potentially reduce your tax liability and lead to a larger tax refund. For example, if you received a gift for Christmas this year that replaced an older item you already owned, think about donating that item before discarding it. What you consider to be junk may 1) be a much needed and useful item to someone else and 2) be a tax deduction for you.

3 great ways to benefit from your unwanted things.

Here are the best three things you can do to get more value out of your unneeded / unwanted stuff.

1) Give your item to a family member or friend who you know can use it. The satisfying feeling you will receive in return for helping out someone you care about is even better than reducing your taxes.

2) List your items for sale on as many free or near free mediums as possible. The Pennysaver, Craigslist, the Green Sheet, and even many newspapers offer free advertising, within certain dollar limits. If you are simply looking to get as much money out of the item as possible you may find an individual or entity willing to pay more than the potential tax reduction value.

3) Give your item to a qualified charity. The IRS allows you to deduct the current value of your useable and functional donation from your itemized tax return. The Salvation Army provides a thorough list of typical donations and their monetary values on their website.

-If you have a unique item to donate and are unsure what the value should be listed as you can always stop by a consignment shop or auction house and ask for an appraisal. You can also use online sources – see below.

-Want to know if your charity is considered qualified by the IRS? Use the tool listed below

-Of course this option does bring more than a potential tax reduction. You are helping someone in need.

Your donation does make a difference in someone’s life – a true story.

Carl was looking for work and struggling financially. He was ecstatic to be hired as a salesman at a local appliance store. Carl worked hard every day to make the customers and his boss happy. It eventually paid off when Carl’s boss promoted him into a sales manager position!

Even though Carl smiled widely and graciously thanked the boss for the promotion he was secretly concerned about the manager’s dress code. As a manager he would be required to wear a suit jacket to work everyday. He needed at least 5 suit jackets and certainly couldn’t afford new dress clothes.

Carl went to the Goodwill store with his fingers crossed. With the store attendant’s assistance Carl was able to find enough suit jackets to meet the dress code! His bill came to $40.00 for 5 jackets. Someone’s charitable donation was going to make a big difference for Carl.

How do I make sure I am getting the full value of my deduction?

1) Be sure that you get a receipt for the value of your donation. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a formal document but you should get something in writing from the charity stating the value of the donation and the date on which you donated it.

2) Also note that, according to the IRS website, if the amount of a taxpayer’s deduction for all non-cash contributions is over $500, a properly-completed Form 8283 must be submitted with the tax return.

3) The IRS advises that in order to get credit for your charitable deduction you need to itemize your taxes. Have your tax advisor run some numbers before you decide whether to itemize or go with the “standard deduction”. If your deductions add up to less than what your standard deduction would be then there is no advantage to itemizing.

It is important to become familiar with all the tax deductions available to you, including qualified charitable donations. Arranging your financial affairs, around IRS approved deductions, could give you an advantage when considering your overall tax liability.

Can you turn trash into cash without the IRS?

A different way of thinking about this topic is turning someone else’s trash into your cash! We’ve discussed giving your unwanted things away but is there something you can do with the things discarded by others?

When I was a kid my dad would take my brothers and I to the rifle range in East Butler. After all the adults were done target practicing my dad would send us to the end of the range to dig out all the lead that had hit the side of the hill. We filled up small buckets each week. He took that lead, as well as the discarded brass cartridges, and used these free raw materials to mold and then reload new ammunition. He used some for himself and sold the remaining ammunition to others thus providing him cash from a bucket of lead trash.

Take a walk around your house and neighborhood. Is there trash you can turn into cash?

To learn more visit BowmansMoneyCollege.com [http://www.bowmansmoneycollege.com]

Mike Bowman – Bowman’s Money College

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Want to Learn Surfing?

Aha! Get a surfing app for this coming surfing contest. Whenever we hear of the term “surfing”, instantly a scene plays automatically in front of our eyes. We imagine ourselves on a surf board riding on the crest of a wave and showing off many fancy moves to our friends who are watching from the shore. It is not unusual at all because we often see pictures of celebrities surfing or we see this popular sport in movies.

So wouldn’t you like to learn surfing so that you can turn the imagination into reality? Now when we see others riding on the waves and showing off their moves, it might look like a piece of cake but that is assuredly not true. Unlike any other sport, it is an art and you have to learn to master it so that you can perform the moves flawlessly.

Next time when you go on a vacation, why don’t you try your hand at this sport? Nowadays, there are many surf schools that teach surfing to children and adults. Don’t be under the misconception that they will charge you an arm and a leg. The rates are quite reasonable and the lessons are quite enjoyable and thrilling.

If you are visiting the place during the peak season, then there are high chances of the surf camps being already booked. This sport is a huge hit with teenagers, adolescents, and adults so when the holiday season begins loads of tourists flock to the surf camps that are held so that they can learn surfing. That is why it is preferable that you register quite some time in advance so that you are not disappointed.

How do surf camps work? It is extremely simple. The classes are designed according to the age of the person. For instance, the lessons for small kids and adolescents will be slightly different. Adults will be taught in a different manner altogether. The trained and qualified staff will make sure of your safety at each step so you can rest assured that you will be in good hands.
When you are thinking of joining a surf camp, what better place other than Hawaii? The warm and sunny weather and the blue waters of the ocean form the perfect setting for you to try your hand at surfing. www.surfschoolshi.com is one of the best surf schools in Hawaii as it has some of the most efficient instructors on board. So what are you waiting for? Get ready to ride the waves and scream your lungs out!

Top 5 Team Building Ideas for the Corporate

Team building is a very important aspect of any business to run efficiently, a well spent team building is through Sydney picnic spots. If you are involved in conducting activities, events and training related to team building, then you are reading the right article. Whether it is a weekend picnic with the office mates or a corporate training in the field, you need to have excellent team building skills, as an organizer.

There are many resorts and hotels, which help you to organize these events, in a balanced way, which includes fun and professionalism. Mumbai is a busy city, which is full of corporate and would demand such outings often. It is necessary to maintain a healthy relation with the staff, as the number of staff working in each corporate is normally more than 500. Thus, these business firms take help from resorts like naturetrails for activities related to corporate team building.

Below are some of the tips, which would help you to conduct these team building activities efficiently:

1. Participation:

Send out the teasers, roll out emails and send reminders to encourage participation. Your motive behind conducting a corporate team building outing is to ensure that you have maximum participation. Volunteering really helps in encouraging the staff to open up and thus, create a friendly environment at work.

2. Arrange sports activities:

Even if this is an official meet outside at a resort, you need to have a little exercise time as a quick ice breaker. This will help the new staff to open up with the seniors and bring out comfortability in the office environment. You may arrange for a sport that involves more people such as cricket, football tournament, volleyball, etc.

3. Arrange for a Karaoke evening:

This is one of the most common planned activitiesofany corporate, and is easily arranged by the resorts near Mumbai. Music is the best way to get your employees break the shell of shyness. You may arrange for a singing competition at a resort near Mumbai, followed by a buffet dinner.

4. Field trip to the mountains:

At times, working in a city becomes too monotonous and boring. Due to strenuous working hours and work pressure, the employees do not get a chance to take a break. This may lead to frequent mood swings at work and sharing of negative energy in the environment. The best option to prevent this boredom is to take your staff for a day picnic, somewhere near Mumbai. There are some ideal places, which are best for a day trekking, mountaineering and kayaking, just about 2 hours from Mumbai.

5. Membership with the travel agencies:

There are many travel companies, which provide corporate packages for larger groups. These travel agents also provide a corporate membership, by fixing few resorts that would be dedicated for the trainings and outings. These are more beneficial from the cost point of view, as the competition pressurizes the travel companies to provide excellent deals. By choosing a membership, you also have a liberty to customize your training sessions and fun activities.

Premature Baby Charity Knitting Patterns

Do you want to knit for a good cause? Wondering where to start? Is there a need? With your generous donation, you can help support the educational hopes and dreams of thousands of Indigenous youth across Canada, help the community donate now.

Yes there is!

Whether you are nutty about knitting or an eager novice with your needles paused there are lots of charities to choose from. Knitting for charity can definitely be fun, but it can also be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding things you’ll ever do.

Have you knitted for your children? Your grandchildren? Your friends’ children? Your friends’ childrens’ children? Knitting baby clothes is quick and rewarding but sometimes there are just not enough babies in your social circle to knit for. If you love knitting beautiful little items of baby clothing then why not think about charity knitting for premature babies?

There are lots of ways that you can click your knitting needles for a worthy cause. The information here will help you begin charity knitting for premature babies. There is something sweet about knitting a little item for the tiniest of babies. Not only are you providing an individual gift for someone who urgently needs it, but also baby clothes are quick and simple to make! So it’s gratifying in more ways than one. Even if you’re a novice this is a venture you can start and see through right to the end. Read on for some great general guidance on charity knitting for premature babies and some details of particular charities you can have a look at before you decide who to knit for. The charities often offer free knitting patterns.

Where can I find Premature Baby Charity Knitting Patterns?

  • Bliss

One of the many ways that you can support Bliss is by knitting for babies in special care units. Knitted items are most helpful for babies about to go home, but there is also a need for blankets and hats for babies in hospital. Knitted items are often not suitable for intensive care units – stitched cotton is preferable. However for larger babies, and in high dependency and special care units, knitted items are often very welcome.

Bliss asks that to reduce their costs volunteer knitters help by sending items direct to their local unit, and not to Bliss. To find the address of your local unit, and to check which items they have requested to receive, please contact Bliss via their website.

Bliss also use Knitted breasts. The knitted breasts allow nurses to easily demonstrate to women important massage techniques that let them stimulate their milk production and express their valuable first drops of milk. They are particularly helpful when there are language barriers. Woollen breasts are a brilliant free alternative to expensive teaching aids that are used by health professionals to educate new mothers to express by hand before going on to use an electric pump.

  • Bonnie Babies

This charity sends premature baby outfits and blankets to special care baby units around the UK and to parents who need support. A mother who needed a way to deal with the loss of her premature child founded Bonnie Babies six years ago. Bonnie Babies makes premature clothing, blankets, and burial outfits for U.K. Special Baby Care Units and families. Their aim is to show each mother and family that there are people thinking of them and caring for them.

Bonnie Babies mainly makes blankets for premature babies. They provide patterns for toys, hats, and sweaters (including a “5 Hour Baby Sweater!”), but blankets are quick, simple to make, and guaranteed to fit. Families can then continue to treasure them long after the child is grown.

Feed the Children

Feed The Children is a UK charity that has a knitting pattern for a jumper appropriate for children of all ages. They are also look for knitted hats, gloves and scarves.

  • Early Angels

This is a site based in the U.K set up to help people to knit, crochet or sew clothes, blankets and other keepsakes for premature, low birth weight and sadly stillborn babies. They have a wide range of free knitting, crochet and sewing patterns accessible on their pattern page.

The charities have a lot of information on their websites, below is some general advice to help you get those needles clicking.

Colours

Pastel colours are the most popular. Apart from baby pinks and blues other colours, which may be chosen, are: Lemon, Cream, White, Mint Green, Peach, Lilac and Aqua. It is accepted that bright and dark colours should be avoided as they often make premature babies look frailer. When knitting burial garments the advice suggests its best to use colours such as white or cream and to avoid pinks, blues and lilacs, as they are not appropriate for the colouring of a stillborn baby.

Yarn

Premature babies have very delicate skin and can often be allergic to wool; therefore it is best to steer clear of garments made with a wool mix. Acrylic yarn is more appropriate when knitting for preemies. Ideal yarn to use for preemie knits is baby double knit or 4ply yarn. Most preemie patterns will use these.

Size

Don’t put too much importance on trying to perfect the size of a preemie item of clothing. There is a great difference between premature baby sizes and so an item of any size should be suitable for at least one baby. As a general guide premature babies head circumference is roughly the same as their chest circumference. The average premature babies chest measurements are 8″-14″. However clothes of all sizes are needed for preemies, so no matter how big or small your item is it will most likely fit at least one baby.

Fastenings

Plain flat half-inch buttons are best to use for fastening. Avoid nylon and metal fastenings, as they get very hot under the incubator heaters. Do not use Velcro as a fastening, it is very scratchy on the hook side and also damages knitted garments when they are laundered. Ease of dressing is vital for preemies and as a general rule it is best not to use ribbon as a fastening as ribbon can often be fussy to tie on a garment so small.

The charities involved usually have free knitting patterns and advice on their websites so do not be worried by all the details as you really will be able to find a garment to suit both your knitting skills and the babies needs

Knitting items for premature babies can be very worthwhile and rewarding. It is definitely appreciated by the charities and the families who receive them. If you are excited by the prospect of getting your knitting needles working for charity and want to explore charity knitting for other organisations here are some other ideas to help your search.

Charity Clowns

Teddies for Tragedies

Algerian Action

Save the Children

Knitting for Operation Christmas Child

The Sailors’ Society

Loving Hands

Operation Elderly Charity Stitcher

The Baby Pack Project

I hope you find the right premature baby charity knitting patterns to suit your skills and enjoy the rewards of knitting for charity.

I am a mom to one gorgeous little boy who was impatient to be born, arriving early at 34 weeks. I am not a great knitter but know the importance of donated items to mothers of premature babies. Find out more:

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Skiing Tips For The New Players

Sunny skies and blooming wildflowers set the ideal atmosphere for a heli skiing Canada in Aspen. Skiing is an adventure sport that offers a great combination of speed, thrill, and fun. During the winter season, numerous people head towards mountains where they can enjoy this sport. As a result, many people start their skiing career every year. This clearly explains the kind of popularity the sport has gained over several decades. If you are also planning to start skiing either as a career or just for some fun, it is quite important to follow few tips that will help you glide smoothly along the snowy mountains.

For an absolute first-timer in skiing, it is wiser to rent skis than to buy them in the beginning. In addition to skis, you can also consider renting all the ski gears, including the gloves and the goggles. This is because these gears are usually quite expensive. You should buy them only after you have assessed how much you actually like the sport based on your first experience.

While renting or purchasing your skis for the first time, it is important to ensure that you choose skis that are nearly 30 cm shorter than your height. This is required for a good grip and balance. If you don’t get your first pair of skis right, you are likely to spoil your first ski experience. While selecting your ski shoes, you should check how comfortable and lightweight they are. They should not restrict the motion of your toes within the shoe, but at the same time they shouldn’t be loose enough to let your foot lift off the base.

After you have worn your ski protective accessories, such as helmets, goggles, and gloves, etc., take a few minutes to check if anything is loose, broken, or just plain uncomfortable. This will reduce the chances of any accidents during skiing. Also, it will minimize the possibilities of getting distracted because of unimportant things. A right set of ski helmet, ski goggles, and ski gloves is very important for your protection as well as for your comfort during the sport.

Balancing your weight is the most important skill while you are skiing. You need to remain calm and balanced right from your beginning stance. It would be better to have your first ski experience under the supervision of an experienced skier. Even if you can’t find anyone who is sufficiently experienced in skiing, you can certainly observe the weight balancing techniques as used by others before you start skiing.

How To Have A Celebrity-Style Wedding Reception On A Cheap Budget

All small wedding reception venues Melbourne at the Chalet get exclusive use of the Wattle Park Chalet’s Grand Hall and private garden for your reception and ceremony, as well as our wonderful park for photos. Have you always dreamed of an elaborate wedding reception, but have become content with a simple reception to save money and/or time? Well, you shouldn’t give up on your dreams. Your wedding is a special day and you don’t want to have to look back wishing you had done things differently. It is in your best interest to create the wedding that will be most memorable and happy for you. Despite widespread notions, having a celebrity-style wedding reception doesn’t have to mean cleaning out your bank account. By using some unconventional resources you can have the wedding reception to rival those of celebrities, but without the high cost.

Get Organized Before you can actually start putting your celebrity-style wedding reception together, you need to get yourself organized. Think about what you want. At this stage, don’t worry about how much things will cost. When you get to the shopping stage you will be able to determine what is feasible or not. The main items you should include on your list are wedding venue, decorations, food and drink, placecards, centerpieces, and music.

Enlist the Troops If you want to save money on your wedding reception-skip hiring a professional. These individuals are typically highly skilled in what they do and their fees prove it! Your best bet is to find people who are willing to help you for free. You shouldn’t have look further than your family and friends. Enlist the services of as many people as you can. This includes children. Children can be especially helpful with repetitive crafts, so include them in your wedding reception plans. Don’t wait until the last minute to solicit assistance. Let people know way in advance that you will need them to help you with your wedding reception.

Time to Shop With your list of wedding reception ideas in hand, it is time to start shopping. The venue for your wedding reception will probably be the most expensive part of the reception. Cheap alternatives that don’t look cheap include restaurants and church halls. If you choose to have your wedding reception at a restaurant, make sure that you can use your own flatware, plates, and glasses. You can purchase elegant versions of these at discount shops for less than $100, depending on the number of guests you invite. Simplify food at your wedding reception by having three choices from which your guests can choose when they RSVP to your invitation. Caters charge less when you order by the plate. As an added touch you can place a delicious assortment of divinity on each table. For your centerpieces and decorations, hobby shops offer the best prices. You can find design ideas that you can create you and your troops can create for very little. Placecards aren’t a necessity, but if you have assigned people at tables, placecards will help people to find their table. You can create your own wedding reception placecards by purchasing an inexpensive greeting card software program and elegant paper. You will need an inkjet printer to print the cards. Unless you know someone who will offer you a cheap price for wedding reception music, skip the DJ and the live band. Creating a few CDs of various popular love songs is a less expensive choice.

Reward the Troops A wedding dinner with the wedding party (bride, groom, bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents) just before the wedding ceremony is traditional. It is a good idea to either invite your wedding reception helpers to this dinner or to a separate fun event. At this event you should show your appreciation for helping make your wedding reception the best ever!

Epic Characters And Storylines Were Once Concept Art Too!

Creating the concept board frames artist Sydney has a lot more to offer job opportunities. ‘Optimus Prime’, ‘Prince of Persia’, ‘Green Lantern’ and many more such characters that have managed to capture our imagination over the years, simply started out as Concept Art. In fact, movies such ‘Lord of the Rings’, ‘Avataar’ and ‘Planet of the Apes’ have some extensive concept art that goes into them before they can materialize onscreen. So when you see one of the Transformers “transform” in and out of their actual form, remember that they were first put onto a piece of paper, or monitor before any of the “transforming” could take place. Every feature, mood, and personality was captured at this very stage of conceptualization.

So, what is Concept Art? Very simply put, it is a form of illustration that’s used to create a tangible, visual representation of an idea. This idea could include a design, a backdrop, a character or even a mood. In short, it is the basic look and feel of all the elements that the game, movie, animation or comic is going to present to its audience. It is the base upon which most sci-fi and fantasy movies, video games and comic books are rolled out. The idea of ‘concept art’ was first introduced in 1930 and further popularized by artists in the automobile and gaming industry.

Concept art earlier involved fine artists wielding out their paint brushes and palettes to stroke out characters and the basic environment with which they will interact. In the more evolved era, the use of software like Photoshop and Corel Painter, as well as dedicated graphics tablets has made life much easier for concept artists to put across their vision, that too within the deadlines. However, to successfully enjoy the benefits of such technology, the artist must be familiar with how paints would blend on an actual canvas.

With the advancement in technology and expectations of the audience, concept art has come to include traditional painting techniques to photo realistic practices. A concept artist begins working with simple sketches of the initial idea, and refines them to finally transform into the realistic pictures required by the company. This makes concept artists almost enigmas of the art world.

So the next time you decide to collect the sands of time in a Prince of Persia, or fling across an Angry Bird, or choose a weapon in Mafia Wars, remember it was all just concept art at one point in time!

Give Your Sales Team A Routine Checkup

The staff working lunches are very good way to reward your employees. The sales world is ever changing. And, the truth is that many of us are probably guilty of paying more attention to our car’s maintenance than to the “shape and condition” of the relationships that we take part in every day.

Because of how jam packed our lives are, in general, who has time to “stop” what we are doing to check in with everyone about what is working and what is not?

The old saying, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it” doesn’t apply to sales.

Everywhere in business, no matter what business it is, there’s always room for growth and improvement. And, in many workplaces, people are less inclined to let themselves be heard, so as not to appear to be “rocking the boat”. With so many employees fearing for their jobs more than ever, it’s not always easy to get them to speak up about what may be on their minds.

I am not talking about annual reviews. Rather, I am proposing that managers make more of an effort to keep open lines of communication between them and their sales team. There’s nothing worse than when you have members of your staff or team who feel either intimidated by their superiors, or if they feel that an “open door” policy does not exist. Of course, this does not mean that you want everyone running to you with every little problem that comes along. But it does mean that you and the company that you work for care about those who work within their walls, and you can show that caring by listening to those who either have ideas to share, or criticisms that need to be known, as well.

Arrange informal lunches every so often with your sales team to allow for “brainstorming” new ideas, or bringing to light any problems that may have presented themselves along the way. Do not wait for a formal “business meeting” for people to talk. This is not always a situation that will encourage them to say the things that they want, so be sure to provide them with just such an avenue.

Open lines of communication are critical for every relationship to work, and therefore are a “must” in sales.

Never underestimate the power of the human word. Ipads, texting, emails, etc. – all of these media are fine. However, if the person sending the message does not know how to properly communicate their words to others, the message will mean nothing.

We should never be so busy that it interferes with out ability to interact with and be available to others. Just as when you are involved in getting a sale, anticipate problems before they become too big to handle. Always let your sales people know that their voice in the company matters. And lastly, it also provides you with an opportunity to offer your advice without sounding too harsh, as well. Every good conversation starts with good listening – dialogue vs. monologue. Make sure you always keep the balance, and you will find less surprises along the way.

Make Your Office More Green

Going green in the office should be good for the staff and for the company but despite this, many firms will struggle to implement green initiatives unless they have a specific policies in place and a member of staff prepared to champion the green cause. Office rubbish removal Sydney provide recycling when we remove computers, printers, copy machines, copiers, monitors, networking equipment, and any other big bulky computer machinery.

This is because making changes requires time and effort, as well as in some cases an initial outlay of capital, whereas doing nothing, even if that means higher ongoing costs, is often the easy option.

If you have the ability to make and implement decisions that can have a positive (or negative) green impact on your office you should be considering the environmental impact of those decisions as part of the decision making process.

This does not mean that if you are not in a position to authorise changes within your company that you can not initiate these changes, although it does mean you may have to work harder to make an impact by assessing where improvements can be made and making the case to those who do have the power to make changes.

As with many things, simple steps can have a large positive impact. Two areas that can have immediate green advantages without significant cost expenditure are in the areas of recycling and energy use.

Rubbish and recycling collections may be organised by your company or through the building management and whilst changes to the provision of waste collection will require cooperation from the current provider, changes will also need the involvement of staff and your daily cleaners. Many refuse collection services now work on the basis of collecting office rubbish in the categories of general recycling and non recyclable waste. There is usually a cost advantage in sorting waste with the recycling being cheaper to dispose of than rubbish that goes to landfill, so this could be a good starting point to introduce a change within your office, but it will also mean that staff need to be committed enough to sort rubbish into the respective types. One way to make the task of sorting rubbish easier is by removing the traditional under desk waste bins and providing central refuse stations within the office, so that staff have to make a conscious decision in disposing of their rubbish.

Energy use is another area where small changes can have cost advantages. Any refurbishment programme should incorporate energy saving elements like sensors on lights and energy efficient equipment. Even if there is no planned capital spend replacing old bulbs with energy efficient ones and reducing the temperature of the heating in winter or turning down the air conditioning in summer can have a positive green impact with little or no cost implications to implement.

Simon Murray is a businessman and author writing for the internet about business and real estate matters and promoting green property management techniques. He also maintains a directory of serviced offices

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