Posted on October 31st, 2008 — in Information Parlor
Having excellent persuasion skills is one of the most important abilities to possess in today’s fast-paced world. We need the support and cooperation of other people to help us in reaching our goals. The saying “No man is an island” is an undeniable truth.
Here are some hot tips to effectively influence and persuade anyone you desire.
1) Enter their world.
You must understand the situation according to their point of view. Set aside your personal interests and concentrate on them.
Just pretend that if you are them, what would you do? What would be your opinion? Then take the appropriate action that would be beneficial to them.
Copy them. Observe how they act, how they speak, and how they think. If they rub their forehead while they think, act like them. If they speak at a clear and slow pace, try to do the same thing. This is called mirroring.
In due time, the people you’re mirroring will subconsciously feel more comfortable with you. It’s as if they see themselves in you.
However, you must proceed with caution. Do not let them be aware that you are copying them. They might interpret it as mockery and you’ll just get into trouble.
2) Be Friendly and Nice.
Smile to brighten up the day. Make a sincere compliment to raise their spirits. Little things like these count a lot.
Make them feel that whenever they need help or just someone to look up to, you’ll always be there to lend a hand. They would tend to be more receptive to people that they trust.
If you want to ask your boss a favor, do everything you can to please him. Overdeliver and exceed his expectations. Soon, he will notice your efforts and will be more than glad to grant your request.
3) Provide them with compelling evidence.
Explain to them how your ideas or suggestions could be the most effective techniques to implement. Show them undeniable proof that you have the best product by way of testimonials, before and after scenarios, and detailed comparisons against your competitors. Just make sure that all your claims are true and verifiable. Always maintain a good reputation.
4) Meet their existing needs and desires.
People are self-centered. They are initially concerned with their own well-being before others. If you can prove that your proposal will provide more advantageous benefits to them than to your own, then they will probably accept it.
If you could focus more on their interests, desires, needs, and expectations, then you would satisfy their cravings for attention. Moreover, it would show that you really care about them. Mutual trust and respect would be established.
This is the most important thing to remember when persuading anyone. No matter how close you are to becoming like them or how overwhelming your evidence is, if it does not satisfy the “What’s In It For Me?” test, your persuasion efforts will not produce satisfactory results. Always bear in mind how they will benefit from your actions.
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Posted on October 30th, 2008 — in Information Parlor
4 Reasons You Should Make WebConferencing Part of Your Business Today:
1)It is cheap. The prices on webconferencing services have come way down in recent years. What used to cost literally hundreds of dollars has since deflated down to extremely affordable prices. Snoop around the web and you will find that decent webconferencing services can be had for as little as $20 per month. Buyer beware should be the rule as usual but this stuff isn’t only for $100 million dollar businesses anymore.
2)The productivity boom. Webconferencing can drive your business to be more productive. No doubt. More than half of my day used to be wasted going to and from meetings. Cutting out just 15% of travel time can make a huge difference. Wouldn’t you rather be doing something else besides waiting to go to meetings? Webconferencing can significantly cut down on your wasted time and can help your business become more profitable also.
3)The technology is there. The technology has piggybacked the broadband revolution. What used to be choppy video in a 3 inch by 4 inch square has turned fully interactive, multiuser, and full screen. Webconferencing is big, stable, and enjoyable. This part of the internet has come a long way since 1999.
4)Webconferencing is good for environment. Another bonus is that webconferencing allows you to save commuting time and therefore we use less fossil fuels. Everyone could deal with less global warming. The computer time used to webconference must be amortized in here somewhere as making and running a computer isn’t exactly fantastic for the environment. However, the few hours it takes to webconference surely outweigh the environmental damage that 5 people running their cars does to our planet.
Check out webconferencing. You’ll be amazed how far it’s come and how far you could go with it…
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Posted on October 29th, 2008 — in Information Parlor
“But that’s not what I meant!!!” Have you ever found yourself feeling this way when a person misinterprets something you said?
The way people interpret information from others they communicate with differs almost as often as the personalities and experiences of each of these individuals. The world wouldn’t be a very interesting place if everyone had identical beliefs, thought patterns, and feelings, but it can be exasperating if the person you are communicating with does not “get” what you’re trying to say. It gets even trickier in e-mail when you can’t see the body language or hear the tone of voice from the other person.
So how do we address this challenge? We do it by first being aware of some of the roadblocks to good communication, and then consider some of the remedies I propose to address these roadblocks.
Three roadblocks to communication that immediately come to mind include:
1. Conflicting Communication Styles: Some people are most comfortable communicating with a direct style, while others find it uncomfortable. Similarly, some are more comfortable with other people being direct with them, while still others might find it offensive.
Some people are laser-like in their speaking, and get to the point immediately, while others are more comfortable giving a lot of background information before getting to the point.
The key is to realize that there’s no communication style that’s better than the other and to have patience and compassion when interacting with a person whose communication style is different from your own.
If you’re unaware of your own communication style, you might be interested in taking the DISC(R) profile or purchasing Linda Beren’s “Understanding Yourself and Others(R) An Introduction to Interaction Styles.” It’s a great little book and will provide a lot of great insight into dealing with people who communicate differently than you do.
Regardless of your preferred style, some things are universal when it comes to communicating effectively. This leads me to the next roadblock…
2. Different Frames of Reference: This is where different individuals interpret the same set of facts or the same event in different ways. Each individual brings to the situation a different frame of reference.
The way people interpret situations or sets of facts depends on the background, experiences, values, attitudes, motives, assumptions, and expectations of each individual.
As of this writing, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina is very fresh in my mind, and it’s been interesting, for example, to see how people have interpreted different statements people have made in the media after this disaster. Different frames of reference are at the very crux of this issue. The upshot in my own case is that I’m able to have a discussion with friends I don’t necessarily agree with that have a different framework without it getting heated. Sometimes agreeing to disagree is the best you can do. No hard feelings!
For example, someone who grew up in survival mode on the streets will have a very different frame of reference from a person who had every advantage growing up.
That’s an extreme comparison, but anything in between that continuum can affect the interpretation of a statement. What are your frameworks?
3. Personal Barriers: The way a person interprets a situation also depends on emotions and values. The person may hear what he or she wants to hear rather than hear what was actually said.
Mental set, emotional states, prejudices, and the way the individual chooses to filter or screen what is said will affect the way a message is understood. Poor listening skills are a major reason many messages are not understood properly.
For example, suppose I was in a really bad mood for some reason, and I showed up late to an event. Someone at the event totally unaware of my mood may ask out of genuine concern, “Where were you?” I’d really have to be careful not to interpret that question as accusatory.
Below are a few more tips that can at least get you started to help bridge the communication gap:
On the listening end:
* Have an open mind. Remember: seek understanding rather than employing judgment.
* If communicating in person, pay attention to body language as well as the content of the message being conveyed. Listen to what is not said. Pay attention to their tone of voice.
* Ask for clarification about what the person has said before jumping to conclusions (i.e., “What I think I’m hearing you say is …Is that correct?”)
*Acknowledge the other person’s feelings and try to put yourself in their shoes. Empathy goes a long way!
On the speaking end:
* Show responsibility for how you’re interpreting things (i.e., “This is what I perceive the situation to be”)
* Be assertive and say what’s on your mind, but the key is to do it diplomatically.
* Be aware of your tone of voice.
* Ask if you’re being understood and clarify any misunderstandings.
Remember that in the extreme, communication breakdown can cost you relationships and in business can also cost you money. Something I heard Tony Alessandra say a few years ago really shifted the way I thought about how I interacted with people, which was, “Do unto others as they would like done unto them!” instead of the familiar, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” So go forth, do good in this world, and communicate well while you’re making your mark!
Copyright 2005
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Posted on October 29th, 2008 — in Information Parlor
I have been a Packet8 VoIP user for several months, and have
logged over 10,000 minutes of calling time on this service to
date. During this time, I lost my dial tone 3 times and had
around 6 incomplete or dropped calls. Two times, the person I
was talking to said I sounded like I was in a “tunnel”. Other
than that, the call quality has been excellent and I have no
complaints. Other than the “tunnel” sound that happend twice,
the other problems were due to my local network setup and had
nothing to do with Packet8 at all. Since the length of my
average call is about 45 minutes, I’ve used Packet8 for around
220 calls so far. With only 2 of these calls having quality
issues that I can attribute directly to Packet8 service, I can
safely say that Packet8 VoIP service has proven to be over
99% reliable. With unlimited local and long distance calling
for $19.95 a month, Packet8 unlimited local and long distance
service with +99% reliability is the bargain of the year!
My Packet8 experience has been absolutely wonderful so far. When
I received my Uniden 1868P VoIP adapter/telephone combo device,
I was able to install it in minutes due to the excellent
instructions that were enclosed. After making the necessary
cable connections, I lifted the receiver, dialed the special
code that was provided, and had an email confirming my
activation within minutes. I made my first “live” internet phone
call within 15 minutes of unpacking the adapter. As an IT
professional, I have installed hundreds of new hardware devices
and have never experienced a setup as quick and easy as this
one. Installation is so simple that I firmly believe anyone
can do it!
Most questions can be answered by reading the technical support
postings on the Packet8.com website. For issues that are not
covered, you can call a customer support number and talk to a
“real person” or send an email. I emailed a question regarding
the password to my VoIP adapter device, and had an answer within
10 minutes. This is perhaps the quickest response I have ever
had from any company’s tech support! Packet8 is also very
good about keeping subscribers informed of upcoming changes via
email. I get an informative email from them every 3-4 weeks,
telling me about enhancements they are adding to services or
upgrades that are available for my adapter/phone combo device.
All account management can be done through the user section of
the Packet8 website. I can logon and see invoice history,
download updates and manage my services. The simple online
control panel allows me to tailor services to meet my needs. I
can set the number of rings before voicemail picks up, change my
voicemail password, and turn voicemail on/off. I can also turn
call waiting on/off or forward all my calls to a number of my
choice if I’m going to be away from home for awhile. Beginning
November 2005, I’ll be able to enter an email address that voice
messages will be forwarded to. This is a great service that I
think I will use often; voice messages will come to me via an
email attachment that can be forwarded to anyone I wish.
The features I get for free with Packet8 are awesome - call
waiting, call forwarding, caller id, distinctive ring (this
is a feature on the Uniden 1868p phone), 3 way conference
calling, call blocking and voicemail. I never paid the extra
price for these features with my old land line service, but I
sure do enjoy them for free! I think voicemail is one of the
best features with VoIP. I was able to get rid of my answering
machine and I can now check my voicemail from anywhere with a
toll free number that Packet8 provides. If I want, I can add an
800 number or “virtual numbers” in another area code for a few
dollars per month, and the distinctive ring service will tell me
which phone number is ringing.
Needless to say, I am totally satisfied with Packet8 VoIP
service and highly recommend this provider. Their main
competitor is Vonage, who offers comparable service for about $5
more per month. If you want high quality, VoIP service for $60
less a year than Vonage, Packet8 is
definitely the way to go.
© 2005 Debbie Jacobsen, all rights reserved.
This article may be published without permission as long as
it remains in it’s original form, including live links.
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Posted on October 28th, 2008 — in Information Parlor
Short message service (SMS) is a wildly popular feature available on most digital mobile phones. SMS allows users to send short messages to other cell phones. These short messages are called text messages. SMS was invented by a Finnish civil servant named Matti Makkonen. Many people understand what SMS is, but few understand how it actually works.
In SMS, messages are sent with a “store-and-forward” mechanism. The messages are sent to a Short Message Service Center (SMSC), and then relayed to the intended recipient. If the messages do not reach the recipient upon the first attempt, then the SMSC will try again. It is important to understand that SMS delivery is not guaranteed. Many messages cannot be delivered, but the delivery is called “best effort.” The amount of attempts to send a text message varies with the company.
SMS messages are transmitted via SS7 within the standard GSM MAP framework. SMS messages have a certain payload length. The signaling protocol is precisely 140 bytes. In simple terms, SMS messages have very constrained character limits. This is why messages are sent in “txt speak.” Text speak is the practice of shortening words and phrases in order to fit messages into the allowed amount of bandwidth. SMS messages cost different amounts in different countries. In the United States, the average message costs 10 cents.
Text messages do not always have to be sent from mobile phone to mobile phone. AOL Instant Messenger has an option that will send instant messages to a cell phone. Additionally, there is a widget available for Mac OS X Tiger that will allow a user to send text messages to a cell phone from the dashboard. SMS messages can also be utilized to give news alerts. Additionally, SMS messages can be used to give sports updates and statistics. In this way, SMS messages are very versatile.
Technology is constantly evolving. SMS services prove that communication is becoming broader and easier. Technologists predict that SMS service will advance such that the service will be more reliable, and be able to store more data for the purpose of transmission.
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Posted on October 27th, 2008 — in Information Parlor
Uses of Video conferencing
Video conferencing can be used in a host of different environments, which is one of the reasons the technology is so popular. General uses for video conferencing include business meetings, educational training or instruction and collaboration among health officials or other representatives. Thus far video conferencing has been used in the following fields:
- Telemedicine - Telecommunicatio - Education - Surveillance - Security - Emergency Response
Advantages and Benefits of Video conferencing
Perhaps the biggest advantage or benefit video conferencing has to offer is the ability to meet with people in remote locations without incurring travel expenses or other expenses associated with face to face communication. Business meetings, educational meetings, healthcare conferences and more can all be easily conducted thanks to video conferencing technology. Individuals living in remote areas can also use video conferencing to keep in touch if you will, with the world at large.
More people are easily accessed and contacted using video conferencing. Because of this technology information and knowledge are often disseminated at more rapid rates, and collaboration between people occurs more willingly and freely. Students can take advantage of video conferencing to take classes at distant locations that would normally be unavailable. They can also take classes that will accommodate busy schedules.
Video conferencing can stimulate better brainstorming, knowledge sharing and information gathering. Businesses can use video conferencing to provide presentations to key members of an organization or to solicit new clients in a professional manner, regardless of their location. The possibilities for communication are virtually endless thanks to video conferencing technologies.
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Posted on October 27th, 2008 — in Information Parlor
SMS, or Short Message Service, is the technology behind what we often refer to as ‘text messages’ or ‘SMSes’, as well as what allows for news alerts on cellular phones. In recent years SMS has ballooned to over a 50 billion dollar industry and is quickly taking the communications world by storm.
Short Message Service actually refers to a framework that uniquely allows computers, or in this case phones, to communicate with each other without the need of a central hub. With SMS, phones can find each other, send short packets of information back and forth, and do it all without any central computer to guide them. But because the system does not rely upon fixed lines like a land based telephone system does, the amount of information that can be sent at one time is limited in size. This depends on the language spoken, but for English letters this typically means around 150 characters (Chinese and Japanese letters are limited to 70).
Quite recently, however, new developments in the technology have allowed for even longer messages to be sent. Long or Concatenated SMS is a development that allows multiple messages to be combined to form a single message. In effect, what happens is that your phone actually sends out a few smaller messages and then the receiving phone simply compiles those messages so that for users on both ends, it appears as though the message were cohesive. While there are some limitations, the brilliance behind SMS is that because there is no need for central hubs, and thus the system can be expanded indefinitely without any concerns of it slowing down or becoming more expensive.
The most common form of SMS is ‘texting’. This usually takes place with a cellular phone in which individuals use the letters behind the number pad on their phone to spell out words and phrases and then send them out. Because many companies charge by the word, individuals have come up with a sort of ‘texting slang’ to cut down on the amount of words required to convey a particular message. For example, ‘gr8′ and ‘BTW’ mean ‘great’ and ‘by the way’. In addition, other words have just been shortened, such as ‘lata’ to mean ‘later’. Most users simply pick up the lingo through frequent use, and although some slang is widely understood and used, other shortcuts are developed within circles of friends and family.
The major advantage of SMS is its price. The price is typically $0.05 per message, a significant cut below that of traditional telephony and cell phone per-minute charges. The savings of SMS has its roots in the nature of the technology. Short Message Service, like SIP, is modeled on a peer to peer model and not a cog and wheel like traditional communication systems. This means that instead of having to route a message through a central hub, your text goes straight from you to its destination. This has radically cut down on the cost of SMS implementation and led to its overwhelming popularity throughout the world.
Short Message Service (SMS) has radically changed the face of the communications industry. While the practice has become quite common throughout the world, it has only recently become popular here in the United Stats, a growth partly predicated upon, surprisingly enough, its featured role in the show American Idol. The fact that ‘texting’ is quickly gaining both in popularity and recognition in the United States is not surprising however, due to its ability to offer users a cheap, quick, and often fun way to communicate with friends and family.
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Posted on October 26th, 2008 — in Better Home Improvement, Lifestyle Infos, Shopping Mall
When I was looking for a new sofa I thought that I would never be able to make a choice because I liked just too many different kinds. Well it did take me some time to find the right one but when I found the leather sleeper sofa that I got I knew that it was the one. It not only looks great in our living room but it is so comfortable. I am getting tons of compliments on it and we have already received praises on the comfort of the mattress from some guests we had over the weekend.
We decided that it was time that we got a new sofa when we came home and found another hole chewed out of it by our new puppy Rascal. We had the couch for years however and it had more stains and more tears on it than we would like to admit. So we went out couch shopping the next day. We found a great deal on a beautiful leather sleeper sofa from one of the furniture stores we went to and couldn’t pass that up. Rascal is being watched very closely now that we have the new sofa. He isn’t allowed to use this one as a chew toy.
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Posted on October 24th, 2008 — in Photography Center
It’s quite common for us to hear about new technologies, invest in them, use them and never fully know how they work. Quite often that’s a shame because these new technologies are quite incredible and it’s fun to know exactly why something does what it does.
Digital photo frames use much the same technology as some televisions and computer screens, depending on what screen they actually have. A lot of the time they have LCD screens which scan an image progressively, which means that each row of pixels is transferred on to the screen one at a time. The amount of pixels needed for each image is known as the screen ‘resolution’ and the resolution of the screen need to match or be compatible with the resolution of the digital image which it is projecting. If it’s not, then the picture will be subject to distortion and blurring. This is why most digital photo frames have a resolution of 16:9, as this is compatible with most images.
So how does each of the images get onto the digital photo frame in the first place? Well, these digital .JPEG files need to be on a digital camera, mobile phone or computer/laptop with a memory card or USB stick first. When the files are transferred to the USB/memory card this data storage device is then placed in the slot of the digital picture frame and the frame’s mother board then reads the data and projects it onto the screen. Each frame will have a remote control, touch screen facility or a set of buttons on the side of it which enable the user to interact and customize their display.
So there you have it, now when you transfer your cherished memories and best photographs from digital camera to digital photo frame you know exactly how it’s done. Sit back and enjoy!
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Posted on October 24th, 2008 — in Better Bets, Misc., Virtual Gambling
Link up everybody’s ultimate pursuits and what you will bare is something known as a web based sportsbook. And seriously: what could be more resourceful? Think of a clique of sports buddies cheering in support of a home team, and almost regularly wagers are sure to be reckoned adding to the noise. Avid to catch some of the exhilaration, on-lookers regularly attempt to figure who will win in the coming meet. This all evolves into a warmhearted meet named web based sportsbook.
Have you got what it takes? Top online sports betting and wagering games right here!
Ok, so it might well seem to be addiction prone though in fact sportsbook wagers is, in reality, merely an amusement and to tie up with your fellow sports fans. Here, you can risk a a trivial budget of dinero and nonetheless have a excellent time. Further to this, here are a select number of basics to get you going sportsbook wagers.
To place a bet, we would advise you search for a web based sportsbook, i.e. a setup that takes in web based sportsbook. In the U.S.A., there’s four states where to do sportsbook wagers absolutely legally, but if legality is no concern, you can do it just about anywhere assuming you pinpoint a bookie and you’re a legal adult. Included in the games you can bet your money on are pro and, in addition, college level football & basketball, professional hockey, professional hockey, and, in addition, wagers on both horse and dog racing. Punters might bet money on the entire result of a fight or game, when any given competitor will go under, and even whether a given tossed coin in a fight or game will come out either heads or tails.
The odds makers confide in stats make it easier for you choose which team you deem will win. Primarily, there’s likelihood, that is to say point leverage given to a the trailing party anticipated to lose by x number points. Evidently, this is the odds maker’s acknowledged modality of organizing level lays for a sports book. By way of an example a client will have a choice of wagering on a lineup anticipated to lose and and nonetheless win the bet assuming the party does actually get defeated by x number of points.
So, why not have a shot at it and have a lot of fun in tandem? But make certain that you won’t get seized and kill your entire retirement pension on a conceit. Else, you’re sure to find yourself feeling sorry for yourself for the rest of your life.
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