
"You will not like it. It's too technical and depressing!"
Someone said this to me ... who actually did not even read the book and just listened to and read some other peoples’ book reviews.....
Well I never thought that .....
* I would be reading a 600 page biography....
* I would be reading about an IT (marketing) high-profile professional ...
* It would take me only a month to read it ...
* It would be such as interesting book that gives me so many different insights into his personal as well as professional life......
and to be honest
I did not perceive it as too technical and depressing at all!
It was in a bookstore at Khan Market, here in New Delhi, where I noticed Steve Jobs’s biography exposed twice in the same shop window. I remember that I loved reading biographies when I was in my twenties but mostly about sports professionals.
One day I started reading the preview of the eBook version on my iPad and I felt that as an Apple user this would be a must read for me. (I would like to mention here that it was my Apple enthusiastic husband who convinced me to switch from a PC to an Apple Computer some time ago. Believe me, once you use an Apple Computer you will fall in love with it and you do not want to go back to a PC using Microsoft Windows anymore!)
I decided to buy the book not from the bookstore but to order it online from www.flipkart.com which gave me a better deal (since Amazon does not deliver to India!). I received it on the 31st December 2011 in my mail and I finished reading it on the 30th January 2012.
I must say that it was very gripping. Every day I looked forward to read more and more. When I reached half of the book I already started feeling a bit sad because I knew that there were just 300 more pages left and I thought “I wished there would be another 600 pages more to read ...”
What I loved
* The deep insight into his corporate as well as personal life.It covered so many different stages of Steve’s life, such as his adoption, his college experiences, his emotional and family life, his music heroes, his trip to India, the way how he set up and run different companies, how certain corporate issues have been solved, how meetings have been conducted, how different people got the idea for creating certain revolutionary products, how much planning went into building Apple stores the way he liked it, what he was looking for in new hires, how he prepared his New Product Release Presentations, his relationship with business partners, employees, friends etc., dealing with advertising agencies, negotiating with competitors, how it felt being kicked out of his own company and then being taken on board again and last but not least his health problems.
* The summary on page 565 and 567 that summarises his very impressive key achievements.
Steve Jobs’s personality - 41 character traits
After reading his biography I remember that he has been perceived as:
The most memorable parts from this book for me personally
There are many memorable parts in this thick book, some funny, some interesting, some sad, some revealing, some inspiring, some insightful ... Even though initially I wanted to disclose my favourite 15 stories I decided not to reveal too much and just encourage the reader to read and buy the book (even if you are not a Mac user!!!)
What I missed in the book
The Lessons I learnt
MOTIVATION BY PRAISE is not always the most effective way to get the best out of people.
I was a strong believer in MOTIVATION BY PRAISE (I’ve even published a book in German about the power of praise as a motivational tool) but after reading this book I realised that praise is obviously good but it does not always necessarily bring out THE UNIMAGINABLE from people. The book author Walter Isaacson often mentioned that Steve Jobs was very critical and often used to say to people’s proposals, suggestions, ideas etc. sentences such as “This is shit!” Well, it showed that many people who dealt with Steve took it as an encouragement to do things they never dreamed possible, rather than being offended. And often the end result showed that those people were able to think beyond their imagination and finally came up with fantastic solutions, products etc.
(At this point I would like to mention an episode that I experienced myself some months ago when giving a presentation. I was talking about “German Business Etiquette” at a big organisation in New Delhi and I forwarded my presentation to the Deputy Director some days before the event. The reply I got was “Please make it more meaningful, many of these executives have already dealt with German companies”. Apart from the fact that nobody told me that, I had to restructure my whole presentation since I thought my audience was not much aware of German culture and business etiquette. Apart from that I thought this female Deputy Director never heard me presenting, this person doesn’t even know what the content includes, how can she ask me to make it more meaningful? By the way, it was also a speech for which I did not get paid for. I kept Steve Jobs’ presentation style in mind.... few slides, few words, more big visuals.... Well, I was surprised about her comment BUT in hindsight I must say that if she would not have given me that feedback, I would have not presented it the way I did. I had to change my whole strategy but it helped me to turn it into one of my best speeches ever, if not the best. I presented my content like a scenario and I was able to involve the audience from the first second....... It showed me that YES, if you want to IMPRESS, never be satisfied with the first version of things you do or create! You can indeed do better! In the future whenever I work on something important for which I need approval from someone else I imagine Steve Jobs whispering into my ear “This is shit!” and I’m going to challenge myself a bit further.
* Lesson 2:
Less is definitely more (for many things in life). Keep it simple, easy, minimalistic, user-friendly, elegant. In other words “Simple is better”, or in Apple words “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
The reality distortion field - think beyond what is possible no matter what it takes and what other people say.
Hold presentations the way Steve did it.
Use slides but keep it short regarding words and use more visual pictures. It makes it easier for the audience to follow and remember. Focus on how you sell your message to your audience. His wording during his presentations was often just more than brilliant! (By the way, there is another book and a video on Youtube that just focuses on his presentation skills techniques!)
* Lesson 5:
You don’t always need to ...
TO BECOME AN ICON if you work hard and have an unshakeable passion. I must say in this regard Steve Jobs was an exception! Real life often still tells you something else.
How would I rate it?
I would give it a 9 out of 10.
I would have given it a "10" if ......
A multimedia version of this book would have been a truly “different” experience for the audience in which one can read, listen to and watch. I would have loved it that way, even though I must admit that when I read books I always highlight certain parts in the book. This allows me to find what I’m looking for in a more effective way later on.
And one more thing ....
Today (24 February 2012) Steve Jobs would have turned 57 years....
Thanks Steve, the world still misses you....

Dear Steve,
The world would like to wish you
a Happy 57th Birthday !
Veels geluk met jou verjaarsdag! (Afrikaans)
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Hartelijk gefeliciteerd! (Dutch)
Happy birthday! (English)
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Zorionak zure urtebetetze egunean! (Euskera)
Tavalodet Mobarak! (Farsi)
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Bonne Fete! (French, Canada)
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Co’ latha breith sona dhuibh! (Gaelic, Scottish)
Ledicia no teu cumpreanos! (Galician, Spain)
Gilotcav dabadebis dges! (Georgian)
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S dniom razhdjenia! (Russian)
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Srecan Rodjendan! (Serbian)
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Vse najboljse za rojstni dan! (Slovene)
Feliz Cumplea-os! (Spanish)
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Wilujeng Tepang Taun! (Sundanese)
Mi fresteri ju! (Surinamese)
Honera! (Swahili)
Grattis pOE fsdelsedagen (Swedish)
Tahnyotho! (Syriac)
San leaz quiet lo! (Taiwanese)
Suk San Wan Keut! (Thai)
Droonkher Tashi Delek! (Tibetan)
Dogum gunun kutlu olsun! (Turkish)
Mnohiya lita! (Ukranian)
Janam Din Mubarak (Urdu, India)
Chuc Mung Sinh Nhat! (Vietnamese)
Malipayong adlaw nga natawhan! (Visayan, Philippines)
Penblwydd Hapus i Chi! (Welsh)
Eku Ojobi! (Yoruba, Nigeria)
Ilanga elimndandi kuwe! (Zulu, South Africa)

Title of the book: Poised for Success - Mastering the 4 Qualities that distinguish outstanding professionals
Author: Jacqueline Whitmore
Year of Publication: 2011
Publishing House: St. Martin’s Press
ISBN: 978-0-312-60032-7
Number of Pages: 178
Price: List price: $ 21.99, on Amazon.com for $ 14.20 maximum
Content:
Part 1: PRESENCE
(Poise is presence personified, package yourself for success, the well-dressed man, the well-dressed woman, sound advice, discover and create your personal brand)
Part 2: POLISH
(Networking not working?, foster friendships instead, cultivate your VIP Relationships, hone your business hospitality skills, entertain with elegance and ease, be the world’s best guest)
Part 3: PROFESSIONALISM
(Social Media Essentials, the Likability Factor, follow through or fall back, seven unwritten rules every professional needs to know, listening: the lost link in a loud world)
Part 4: PASSION
(Rise and shine, gratitude, grace, and acts of kindness, for the health of it, fashion your life with passion)
8 Things I loved in this book:
* The idea of consulting other experts from other industries (e.g. an image consultant, a wine expert and many more) and including their opinion, added value to the book and enriched it in a particular way.
- Image (the way you look, you behave and you talk; what your car, your resume, your business card, your photograph, your stationery, your workspace and your website/blog site says about you)
- Etiquette (how to be a great host and guest, how to be thoughtful, table manners and much more)
- How to excel in customer service
- How to conduct a healthier and happier life (this part reminded me a bit of Joel Osteen’s credo),
- The power of active listening
- How to build good relationships online and offline
- How to look, act and sound more professional (how to promote yourself more effectively)
* Every chapter provided at the beginning some good quotes.
How would I rate it?
I would give it a 9.9 out of 10.
I would have given it a 10 if ...
...it would have included some pictures or illustrations in Part 1, chapter 3, “The Well-dressed man”. For me personally (from a woman’s perspective) it would have been easier to understand certain concepts when it comes to men’s fashion.
“I’ve read many books in my life but only this book was able to make me take action so quickly on certain things that were long overdue in my personal as well as professional life. This is a brilliant resource for any business professional who wants to make an impact on other people and stand out from the crowd. Highly recommendable!”
(Karin Schroeck-Singh, Director of Soft Skills Edge and the Blogcaster of “The Manners and Career Blogcast”)

* Book Title: “Everyday Etiquette - How to Navigate 101 Common and Uncommon Social Situations”
* Book Author: Patricia Rossi (www.patriciarossi.com)
* Publishing House: St. Martin’s Press
* Year of publication: September 2011
* ISBN N.: 978-0-312-60427-1
* Price: $ 14.99
* What I particularly liked:
- The title says it all “Everyday Etiquette”. The book gives you numerous etiquette tips on dealing with friends, relatives, your children, your pets, acquaintances, visitors, work colleagues and the general public in various situations. Usually etiquette books are focused either on social etiquette or business etiquette only. This book is a good mix and covers both topics very well.
- The author shares at the beginning of each chapter a personal experience. Some are very good stories while others are okay.
- There are some etiquette topics that - even for Etiquette Professionals - would be new, such as: Tobacconist Tips for the Cigar Enthusiast, etiquette Tips on: Poker, Skyboxes, Triathlons, NASCAR races, Tattoo Studios, traveling on cruises, service animal etiquette etc.
- That there was an Etiquette Quiz at the beginning. Readers always love to test their Etiquette IQ.
- Every chapter had some illustrations that highlight the most important tips on a certain topic. It makes it more memorable for the reader.
- Some topics provided concrete examples, e.g. how to write an effective Thank-you note or sentences you should avoid when trying to comfort a person with a life-threatening disease.
- The Questions & Answers section at the end that answers very interesting etiquette dilemmas, e.g. how to unfriend someone on Facebook.
* How would I rate it?
I would give it a 9.5 out of 10.
* I would have given it a 10, if it ....
- would have included more personal stories and experiences throughout the book not just at the beginning of each chapter.
- would have had a conclusion at the end of the book. It ends with a Questions & Answer session which I find a bit abrupt.
The book could have provided:
- a final personal experience from the author that demonstrates that also nowadays manners DO matter
or
- repeated the same quiz that has been presented at the beginning. It would have allowed the reader to see how effective the lessons from the book have been. Have the mistakes in the first quiz (before reading the book) been avoided in the second, same quiz (after reading the book)?
"Make yourself or your friends, relatives and acquaintances a special gift this year..... buy Patricia's Rossi etiquette book! This might be the best investment you might have ever made in your own personal development. A book that teaches you how to feel at ease and confident in any social as well as professional situation." Karin Schroeck-Singh

Please, come in.
It’s good to see you here again.
Do you want to take your coat off?
May I take your coat?
Do sit down.
Have a seat.
Can I offer you a drink?
May I offer you an aperitif?
Would you like a sherry?
Help yourself to some more.
The bar is over there. Please help yourself.
Excuse me, where is the toilet, please?
You’ve got a cosy flat.
You have a wonderful house.
Would you like me to show you around the house?
What a nice garden you have!
Let’s go and sit in the garden.
I’d like to live in the country, too.
May I introduce you to my wife?
I’ve brought you a little something.
Thank you. You shouldn’t have.
My husband has told me a lot about you.
Only good things, I hope.
Make yourself at home.


Be my guest
What are you doing this evening?
I am thinking of having a quiet evening.
Have you got anything planned for tonight?
Would you like to join us for dinner this evening?
Thank you, that sounds very nice.
I would be pleased if you would honour me with your company.
May I invite you to my place tonight?
Would you and your wife like to come over for a glass of wine?
I’d love to; at what time?
Would between eight and half past suit you?
We’ve invited a few colleagues over for Friday evening. Wouldn’t you like to join us, too?
I’d love to, but unfortunately I won’t be able to. Our sales manager is coming for the weekend.
I’d love to, but I’ve got another engagement.
Why don’t you bring your colleague along with you?
My wife would like to meet you.
I’m afraid I can’t make it tonight.
She’ll be very depressed if you turn us down.
She’ll be very disappointed if you refuse our invitation.
Thank you very much. I’ll look forward to that.
I’m looking forward to meeting your family.
I'm afraid I'll have to say no I need an early night.

Title of the book: “The Power of Civility”
Publisher: Thrive Publishing
Year of publication: 2011
Number of pages: 212
Price: $ 24.00
ISBN: 978-0-9829419-6-6
This book is co-authored by 18 top civility and etiquette professionals who share their opinions, experiences and provide insightful tips on how to be more civilized, whether at home, at work, in your community, in public or abroad.
It includes the following 18 chapters:
--> What I particularly liked was:
* That someone had the idea to publish a book on civility which includes so many different views, opinions, experiences and thoughts from experts working in the same industry. I wished other professionals working in other sectors would be able to provide similar resources. It would be highly interesting.
* Those parts in various articles where Etiquette Professionals share their own personal experiences when dealing with other people. Stories make it always more memorable, ALWAYS.
* Reading about other Etiquette Professionals’ background allowed me also to find out more about their credentials, how they write their profiles and how they differ from each other. The list at the end is also very helpful because it allows you to see instantly the location of various etiquette professionals. A good idea!
* Some interesting new quotes on civility which I would like to add to my next edition of my Book on “Etiquette Quotes”.
--> My Top 3 articles were:
1.) The Power of Leadership Civility by Laura Barclay
She included the results of a survey of business professionals on their thoughts and experiences of workplace civility, the negative impact of incivility, the different types of incivility, benefits of leadership civility for business and how to create a civil workplace. Highly interesting!
2.) Lunchbox Civility - A tool for leaders by Penelope Paik
She provides great tips on how to establish a clear, functional, successful and effective civility initiative for you and your organisation. Brilliant!
Furthermore, I got another book tip which talks about “The Cost of Bad Behaviour”.
3.) R for Mutual Respect - A booster for civility in Healthcare by Suzanne Nourse
I loved her article because everyone can somehow relate to what she wrote and - at some point in life - experienced similar situations when going to a healthcare professional. Suzanne provided 8 symptoms and remedies from the healthcare professional’s perspective and 7 symptoms and remedies from the patient’s perspective. Something particularly helpful and interesting for an Etiquette Consultant who trains companies in that regard. I wished more etiquette books would have a similar approach in which they don’t just give you general tips on manners but also what to do or how to react while experiencing inappropriate behaviour.
Every Etiquette Professional in this book wrote important things that we should bear in mind in our social as well as professional life. However, these were my personal three favourite articles because they covered topics that I did not come across in other etiquette books so far. As mentioned earlier, interesting survey results, a symptoms/remedy approach and how to implement an effective civility initiative inside a company. Wonderful, truly enjoyed reading it!
--> How would I rate it?
I would give it a 8.5 out of 10. I would have given it a 10 if:
* it would have included some more topics which are hardly to find in other books or online. There are already many resources available which cover topics, such as: table manners, image etc.
* it would have included also other Etiquette Professionals from Europe, Asia and Australia who share their experiences, views and tips.
* it would have included one article about civility online (tech etiquette).
I was a bit less interested in reading about political civility and psychological complexities of incivility. However, I would recommend this book to companies, employees and definitely also to other Etiquette Professionals because of the diversity of topics, writing styles and views.


Ice-breakers
Did you have a good journey?
Had a good journey, I hope.
The train was rather overcrowded.
I hope you had a pleasant flight.
The flight was rather bumpy.
Did you get through the customs okay?
I didn’t have any problems.
How was the transfer to the hotel?
We haven’t seen each other for ages.
How are your wife and children?
By the way, many thanks for your Christmas greetings.
Thanks for your card when you were on holiday.
Did you find our company straight away?
I didn’t have any trouble thanks to your clear instructions.
Let’s sit down, shall we?
May I introduce you?
Let’s forget the formalities.
I suggest we drop the formalities.
May I offer you something to drink?
Coffee, tea or something else?
I’ll have the same as you.
Do you feel like talking business right now?
Shall we have a drop of something to keep the cold out?

Introducing others
Mr Smith, may I introduce you to Mrs Brown?
Tom, I’d like you to meet Sandra.
Sandra, this is Tom.
Claire, I’m not sure if you have met Tom. Tom, this is Claire.
Pleased to meet you.
The pleasure is mine.

3. Introducing yourself
By the way, my name is ….
Perhaps I should introduce myself.
Jim Moore’s the name.
I am from Bonn. Where do you come from?
I am here on a holiday/business trip.
Pleased to meet you.
Happy to make your acquaintance.
I think we’ve met before.
Do you remember me? We met at Chris Johnson’s party last month.
Pleased to meet you.
Glad to meet you, too.

2. At a Congress or at a Conference
Excuse me, where is the conference room?
Are you here for the first time? So am I.
You look a bit lost. Can I help you?
Nice place. Do you come here often?
I’m from …. Where are you from?
Do you happen to know the guest speaker?
What do you expect from this congress?
Are you here on business?
Can I get you a drink?
May I ask why you are here?
Are you also staying at the ....(e.g. Hilton Hotel)?
Is it comfortable? – Yes, very.
What’s the food like?
How long are you staying?
Here is my card.
We could have dinner together, if you like.

When you're going out do you find it difficult to talk to strangers? If you are with friends you don't know that well, do you know what you are going to talk about?
Some people think that small talk is not important but I think that being good at small talk makes you confident socially. And don’t forget that small talk skills can help you to develop relationships with people easier and quicker. Furthermore, it paves the way for other topics of conversation.
The following 21 parts will give you various options how you can start different conversations by feeling confident at any time.
1. Starting a conversation with strangers
Excuse me, do you speak English?
Excuse me. May I ask you a question?
Excuse me, is this seat taken?
Nasty weather, isn’t it?
What a slow train it is!
I beg your pardon. Was that your glass/chair?
I am awfully sorry, was that your foot?
You look worried. Is there anything I can do for you?
Has it been raining here like this for long?
It’s rather cold/hot/crowded in here, don’t you think?
May I invite you for a drink?
Why not have a beer? – Good idea!
Is this your first visit to …..?
Are you here on business or pleasure?

The basis of Japanese business etiquette is mutual trust and respect for individuals, companies and values.
* Mind your manners:


2) Infrastructure at par with global standard, like well stocked library, spacious class rooms & computer labs with excellent bandwidth. 


Imagine …. Your child applies to a college/university tomorrow and you as a parent could make a real contribution in supporting him/her going through this experience.
There are key stages in the application process which your child would have to manoveur successfully in order to gain admission into his/her chosen university. The first stage would be to choose the best university for them. This process requires a lot of thinking on the part of the child as well as the parent. Mainly a parent would be concerned about the safety of the child and the academic credentials the child would acquire during his/her stay at the university. It is very important during this stage for the parent to lay down certain rules that they wish their children to follow in order to choose the best university for them. However, it is important that the parent keeps in mind the child’s wishes during this initial stage.
Once your child has chosen his/her preferred university then starts the process of writing an application. The university application in itself would give your child an opportunity to find out a lot about themselves in terms of their aspirations and goals. It might be that during the application process your child might change his/her mind regarding this particular university or the course they are going to do. Therefore, it is very important as a parent to understand how your child came to that particular conclusion and support them in their decision. One of the most important parts of completing a university application is the essay. While your child is writing their university essay it is important to offer your services as a proofreader or general advisor to them. Make sure they know they express themselves truthfully and honestly during this essay writing process.
Give them some examples of good essays that you have came across and found interesting and thought provoking. This would lay down the general foundations for your child to understand how to articulate a good essay.
The day they receive the acceptance letter from the university in the mail, celebrate it with your child and be happy for their success! Don’t yet start burdening them with the responsibility of being on their own. This also goes the other way. If you find that your child has not been accepted in their particular choice of university give them your support during this emotionally tough time. Don’t be dismissive of the fact that your child might feel depressed or sad once they got rejected. Try to go through all the different reasons why they think they were not accepted and try to give them sound advice and encourage to persevere.
As a personal advice I would tell my child to see a rejection not as a negative experience but as a sign that it would not be the right and best thing for him. I would also remember my child that rejections are simply a part of life – be it in social or professional life. Knowing how to deal with them in an appropriate manner is the key. Furthermore, I would also remind my child that famous people, such as the German topmodel Claudia Schiffer, and many more were rejected at the beginning of their career. They were persistent and didn’t give up, and still they became very famous later on. Your child should have a similar attitude. Create a perception that rejections are just normal in life, and I’m sure your child will not have to struggle so much in overcoming the initial negative feeling. Teach your child at an early age in his life that rejections don’t always need to be perceived as negative. Very often it is just a sign that something better is going to happen in the future and that experience might turn into a very positive one later on.
Some of the key points that you should remember as a supporting parent are:
* Don’t put too much pressure on your child.
* Show your genuine interest in what they do, what they have chosen, etc.
* Before submitting the final version of application: make sure all requirements are properly met, deadlines are met, there are no mistakes in spelling and grammar.
* If your child decides to apply at a Top University you should encourage him, but don’t make false hopes, if they get admitted then great, but otherwise your child should also be realistic.
Once your child goes to college bear in mind to support him during that time too, don’t just limit your support and advice before the academic year.

I came across the name "Guy Kawasaki" for the first time in 1998 when I read the German version of his book "How to drive your competition crazy". I absolutely loved it! I was very eager to read his latest book release "Enchantment - The Art of changing hearts, minds and actions".
* The chapters he covers in this book are:
7 Things I loved in his book:
1.) The personal stories. People are very much interested in knowing other peoples’ experiences. Something we can learn a lot from. It was a great idea to include these stories, without them this book would not have been the same. My 4 personal favourite stories were from Mike Stevens, Matt Maurer, Richard Fawal and Chris Anthony.
2.) The chapter “How to achieve likeability” and more thoughts on “swearing”, a topic you usually don’t read a lot about.
3.) How other people and companies approach certain things differently, eg. Zappos, Neile McQueen Toffel (Steve McQueen’s first wife), Amazon etc.
4.) The results of many research projects and experiments that have been shared.
5.) The 20-question-quiz (at the end) to check how much you remember from reading his book. It reminded me of taking a course. I found it a great idea!
6.) The Coverphon as the very last story in his book. “Under the cover: How it took 260 people to make this cover.” It was highly interesting, again a real-life story! I thought more authors should include stories like this too when they are writing their own books.
7.) The great tips on how to enchant people online (via social media) and offline. Just some things that you will learn (4 Qualities of a good positioning statement, how to draw a bright line between ethical and unethical activities, how to foster a heroic imagination, how to communicate in an easy manner, 3 reasons why a checklist is important, how to craft a story that does your cause justice, how to enable people to suspend disbelief, how to launch your cause, how to thrive in this new world, the 3 benefits from asking people to support you, how to illustrate the salient point, the importance of getting your first follower, tips on how to move people to action, methods to find a way to agree, 3 ways on how to handle competition, how to achieve trustworthiness and much more.....).

MOTOROLA - Founder Paul Galvin came up with this name when his company started manufacturing radios for cars. the popular radio company at the time was called Victrola.
MICROSOFT - Coined by Bill Gates to represent the company that was devoted to MICROcomputer SOFTware. Originally christened Micro-Soft, the “-” was removed later on.
HEWLETT PACKARD - Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard tossed a coin to decide whether the company they founded would be called Hewlett-Packard or Pckard-Hewlett.
HOTMAIL - The name was finally settled for as it included the letters “html” - the programming language used to write web pages. it was initially referred to as hotmail with selective uppercasing.
APPLE COMPUTERS - Steve jobs may have gotten the idea either from working at a community type farm or from his fascination with Apple Records, also popular with The Beatles. he was three months late in filing a name for the business, and he threatened to call his company Apple computers if the other colleagues didn’t suggest a better name by 5 o’clock.
CISCO - It is not a n acronym as popularly believed. it is short for San Francisco.
ADOBE - Adobe Systems were incorporated in 1982 by John Warnock and Charles Geschke. The name evolved from Adobe Creek in Los Altos, California, a river that ran behind the house of one of the company’s founders.



German is an official language in different European countries: Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands and South-Tyrol (Italy). 
“How much do soft skills really matter?” was the topic of my Key note speech that I presented on Friday, 6th May at the Delhi Gymkhana Club, a very prestigious club in New Delhi. (Imagine, if you want to join this club as a member you would have to wait for more than 30 years!!!)
I emphasized the importance of communication skills in today’s corporate world which can make the difference between business success or business failure, getting a job or losing a job.
The highlight of my speech was when I illustrated with personal experiences and stories the impact that poor soft skills can have on companies and employees.
The well-attended event ended with making the audience more aware of the multiple benefits of Soft Skills Training for companies and individuals. (The speech has been recorded as a video, unfortunately the volume is too low. I wished I could have also published it with this blog post.)


* MIT open courseware: This free course materials' USP is that it comes from a renowned institution, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. About a decade old, it includes notes, assignments, exams, and multimedia resources on almost all MIT courses from anthropology, architecture, biological engineering and cognitive sciences to political sciences, economics and management. 

There are multiple benefits of teaching your child how to speak in front of other people:
* it helps to build their communication skills and confidence
* they learn how to capture the audience’s attention
* they learn to develop charisma
* they learn to write their own speech
* they discover their own potential
Five ideas how you can teach your child great presentation skills:
1.) Be a Role Model and lead by example.
I remember the first video that I recorded and uploaded on YouTube. My 3 1/2 year old daughter was observing me and loved watching it. She is usually quite a shy girl, but she was so inspired from it that she started imitating me and recorded herself by repeating what I was saying. Apart from being already very tech-savvy with an Apple Computer, she loves looking at her own video and since then became generally more confident. If you have a computer with a web cam show your child how to record videos. It’s a lot of fun and they surely love watching themselves. Give them constructive feedback and help them to improve to become really great in it. By watching themselves they will realize how they come across to other people. It’s a great way to learn and improve. Learning by practicing is often the most effective way of acquiring a new skill.
2.) Show them (good and poor) videos of presentations online.
Look on Youtube and other video sharing websites for speeches and presentations. Find some good and some poor examples. Watching poor presentations might teach your child more than watching a good speech. Sit together with your child and discuss: Was it a good or a poor presentation? Why was it good? Why was it poor? What could they (or you) personally apply to my own presentation in the future?
3.) Provide any opportunity to hold speeches in your private circle.
Whenever there is an important event, such as a wedding celebration, an anniversary party, a friend or relative’s birthday, etc. allow your child to speak. The more exposure your child gets to bigger groups the better. Your child will gain a powerful advantage and as adult they will lose their fear of public speaking.
4.) Encourage your child to take on a leadership role at school. If debates or discussions are taking place encourage your child to take the lead and use any given opportunity to practice. Initially it might be difficult for your child to put him/herself outside his/her comfort zone. But getting more involved in school and/or extracurricular activities might turn into an invaluable experience which adds to your child’s learning and skill development.
5.) Let your child join a group in which “Presentation Skills for Kids” are offered such as:
a) Toastmasters: (USA) There is a eight-week program called “Youth Leadership program” in which kids get lots of opportunities to learn how to give powerful presentations, conquer their fears, express their ideas and succeed. For more info check out their website at:http://www.toastmasters.org/Members/MemberExperience/SatellitePrograms/YouthLeadership.asp
b) Fastrackids: (www.fastrackids.com) (USA, India, Germany, Brazil, Russia etc.) Kids get the chance to hold presentations by being recorded, which then will be shown to their parents.
c) Kid Power Academy: (www.kidpoweracademy.com (UK) is a company that helps your child to conquer shyness and become a master communicator.

Video Marketing is by far the easiest way to brand yourself as an expert in your market. If you want to create trust, credibility and build traffic all at the same time, using video marketing is by far one of the smartest and most effective strategies you can use for your business.
In order to understand that video marketing is a great marketing tool for you learn about the 10 benefits it offers ...
1.) First of all, the videos are free. You don’t need to plan for a budget or pay per click.
2.) Furthermore, you have an international audience that can view your videos on a GLOBAL scale.
3.) Also, remember, that word of mouth is easy. If your video is really great it is highly likely that people will comment on it and will share it with their friends on various social networking websites.
4.) Video marketing will help you to improve your search engine rankings on Google, since the video on Youtube highlights your website and many people might visit your site in order to find out more about you or your offer.
5.) By the way, did you know that you can also make your own customized channel? Bear in mind that whenever a video is added to a Youtube account, it creates one profile channel by itself. Interested viewers usually form a part of this channel and may also take its subscription. You might even consider of sending those people newsletters through emails. It can build your customer list more easily that way.
6.) As we all know, content is key! Therefore, bear in mind that if you consistently create high quality video content that your visitors want and need you will easily become recognized as the expert in your niche.
7.) We live in a very mobile world nowadays .... and that allows you to view videos with all kinds of gadgets (mobile phone, ipod, laptop, ipad etc.). What does that mean? That it allows you to access video content anywhere at any time.
8.) Another advantage is that it engages more senses than written text which only uses one medium. You can appeal to visual learners. Words are fine, audio too, but there is nothing comparable to a video... remember!
9.) It gives you more credibility.
10.) And last but not least, there is nothing to loose. Video Marketing is a win-win situation.

http://www.theprotocolinstitute.com
Did you know that Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Co., invited job candidates to lunch with him to observe their salting habits?

Typical "Stress Interview Questions" are for example: 


a) Make sure the interview location is accessible by checking for accessible parking space, ramp entrances, accessible restrooms, elevators, and water fountain and telephones at the proper height for a person using a wheelchair. 
In the old traditional working pattern, hopping jobs was not a popular thing. Individuals after being academically qualified would get a job and spend their entire life working for the same company and retire happily. Well, that's history!
As in the present scenario the job opportunities have opened up like never before, which is in a way attracting individuals to shift jobs very frequently. Studies conducted by Bureau of Labor suggest that people in their 20 change their jobs every 18 months and that 75 percent of all working class are job hoppers.
Loyalty and stability nowadays are being associated with lack of skills and initiative and long term commitment of staying in a job forever is being considered as a career suicide. Supporters of job hopping say that job hopping helps employees increase their profile and help them in achieving a good salary, contradictory to those employers who pick up a candidate by looking closely at their track records and usually choose those candidates who have not changed their jobs too frequently.
According to various experts the most common reason for job hopping is the salary. People have a general tendency of constantly comparing their salaries amongst their friends and colleagues at work, which makes them shift places in order to be equal with them. This urge to be equal or be one step ahead of them very often blinds them to change their jobs on frequent regular intervals. They do not realise the long term loss which they could have on their career growth path. Furthermore, many individuals shift jobs because they face difficulty in managing the work load which gets unbearable or the companies’ management where they work for is extremely authoritative. Last but not the least, the presence of hostile and unfriendly environment also results in employees shifting their jobs.
Since every industry requires a specific set of skills and talent, changing jobs has to be a well thought decision. The employee should only opt for a job change if the job offers more responsibility and more opportunities, a higher designation, a good salary package, and helps in learning new things. One should always remember that a job is more than a way of earning one’s living. It is a means of finding and seeking what motivates you as an individual and what you desire to become.
I can say from my personal experience that I had many different jobs in my career and it just benefited me. I was able to learn so many new things, improved my soft and hard skills considerably, got an insight into different industries and finally enriched my personal and professional network with so many different people from all walks of life. I would say that as long as you are young you should definitely use the opportunity to make as many experiences as possible. Going abroad can accelerate your learning in a way you can't imagine.....
What do you personally think: is job hopping good or bad? I would love it if you would share your personal experiences on my blog ....

http://www.theprotocolinstitute.com
I told them that I had reserved that date for them and I could not book that date with another client. They couldn't call two weeks before the session and expect to get a full refund on their deposit. I told them that $500 of their initial deposit was nonrefundable and I would send them a check for the rest. They were furious and saw no reason why I should not refund their entire deposit. Unfortunately, I did not have a clause in the contract to explain what would happen should they cancel. I ended up giving them the full refund on their deposit. It left a bad taste in my mouth and I likely won't do business with that company again. Lesson learned.
Now, I have a clear explanation in my contract with corporate clients that cover these issues. Here are some things you may want to consider when drafting your corporate contracts. It's all about protecting your interests!
Cancellation Window. If a client gives you plenty of notice, you may be able to find alternate sessions to make up the loss in income. Still, it's not a given. I recommend having staggered cancellation windows so that companies have an incentive to let me know as early as possible whether or not they have to cancel. For example, if a client cancels a seminar within 21 days of the event, they will lose a percentage of their deposit. If they cancel within 14 days, the percentage will be more substantial. Consider how long you realistically need to make other arrangements.
Expense Reimbursements. Say Client X has cancelled a seminar 22 days before it was scheduled. They will lose a portion of their deposit, but if you've already booked a flight or hotel, it should be their responsibility to pay. Keep careful track of any costs incurred on your part, and have your contract clearly state that any expenses related to their account will also be withdrawn from the deposit. (Note, by expenses, I mean major purchases like air travel. Don't charge them for every paper clip you used.) You may also consider that your travel expenses can sometimes cost more than the deposit itself. If it looks like you will have to shell out a lot of money for flights and hotel rooms, you may want to ask for a higher deposit to cover those costs.
Cancellations on Your Part. Having to cancel a seminar is always a last resort. That said, emergencies happen. If you have to cancel due to an illness or personal emergency, alert the client as soon as possible. Don't burden them with too much information (they don't need to hear your drama), but apologize and offer alternatives. Can a colleague handle the seminar, or can it be moved to a later date? If not, suggest that you give the client a credit to be used towards a future seminar. You may also want to add a clause in your contract that allows you to deduct a small percentage of the deposit if the client refuses a credit.
By spelling out these things ahead of time, you will prevent misunderstandings down the road. Be sure that you and your client have a clear understanding of what the contract stipulates so that there are no unpleasant surprises should a cancellation be necessary.
See Juanita in action ....
ABRAHAM LINCOLN 






