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I Have Recently Lost My Job

Posted by lapantz4less on November 16, 2008

I have tons of bills and debts to pay off. What am I going to do?

These are the questions you may be facing now if you lost your job recently and are still unemployed at the moment. How do you go about making ends meet during these hard times?

For people who have strong determination, losing one’s job recently is only an event gone. They still look towards the future by continuing to find other jobs and working hard, even if what they are going to get is a fraction of their previous salary.

However, for many others, it is like the end of life itself. Without a job, how are we going to even survive on food and shelter? If we do not get a job fast (or a job that pays roughly the same as the previous one), we are doomed.

The reality is that our jobs are always unstable. As long as we work for someone, there is no guarantee that our jobs are secure and solid, because human opinions sway with the economic wind. We need to do something fast to prevent more problems from presenting themselves.

One good way is to readjust your lifestyle. People worry a lot when they lose their jobs recently because they cannot keep up with their previous lifestyle. When you find yourself spending lesser each day, then finding a job that pays lesser does not seem to be a big deal anymore. It is a form of lateral thinking that continues to triumph over many individuals who struggled once with retrenchment.

The other way, simple and easy, is to find a way to make money comfortably without worrying about job security. I’m sure many people like you are looking for a way to find such a job, but not sure what exactly it is. The sad thing is that most of the people looking for this do not try hard enough to find out the real thing and just end up becoming slaves to the economy with their 9-5, less-than $2000 jobs.

If you want to get out of this vicious cycle, you need to think a bit more business-mindedly and go about earning money through business. The good thing is that with the evolution of technology, you do not need to worry about having to set up a business physically or creating goods to sell and store in warehouses. In fact, with a bit of money spent on your Internet business, you can earn back ten-fold or even hundred-fold, all without the hassle of going to an office and processing orders. Now is the time of digital business and many people are looking for this solution, yet have not fully comprehended its potential for driving economies.

Before you can get started, you need a bit of education. Invest in education, and you will not need to worry about how to get started. If you have indeed lost your job recently, now is the time to take action and get started with Internet business and marketing.

Posted in Jobs | Tagged: , , | 2 Comments »

Losing Your Job – 5 Ways to Lose the Fear of Being Unemployed

Posted by lapantz4less on November 15, 2008

Lately, I’ve been reading on the news about layoffs in many different companies. Well, the layoffs have started in the company I’m working at, and you can see the worry and fear on some of the people’s faces. Definitely, not fun. So, I’ve come up with a quick list of five things you can do to minimize (or get rid of) the fear of losing your job.

1.) Pay off those debts – there’s nothing like a heavy debt load to add to the worry about losing a job
2.) Constant training – keep your skills up to date. You never know when you’ll have to look for a new position which may require new skills.
3.) Network – always meet new people and be aware of any new positions on the market. Get to know your local head hunters. Go to industry functions and meet the decision makers in similar companies. Use online networking websites like Linkedin or Facebook.
4.) Have an emergency fund – put aside approximately 6 months to a year of living expenses. If you don’t have the cash, have a line of credit available in case you need it. You never know how long it will take to get a new position.
5.) Control your spending – keep a budget or track your finances (whatever works for you) and spend less than you earn. Do you really need the latest gadget or another car in the driveway?

Fear is definitely one of the top issues when it comes to personal finance and success. This fear is usually based on the fact that many of us are living beyond our means – drowning in car payments, debt and mounds of consumer goods.

I think the secret to success is to not depend on our jobs – that means getting control of our financial habits.

Most of us need our jobs because we have bills to pay. If you minimize those bills, it will certainly minimize the fear of not having the regular income of a steady job.

So pay off those bills and ditch that feeling of fear!

My name is Thomas Strumpski and I am an accountant and aspiring singer!

www.lapantz4less.comhttp://www.123ariclesubmit.com

Posted in Jobs | Tagged: , | 4 Comments »

How to Get Over Losing Your Job

Posted by lapantz4less on November 15, 2008

Most of us have grieved for the loss of people, pets and moments. And as we continue to experience life by taking more risks emotionally and physically, we leave ourselves open to the possibility of loss and rejection. In the list of things that people mourn, we often do not realize how deeply affected we or our loved ones can be with the loss of a job. People who are unemployed grieve similarly to those who have lost loved ones. The pain of losing a job is not only about a significant loss of income, but can hurl an entire identity into turmoil. Many of us define ourselves by our work. We calibrate our self-worth by what we accomplish or do not accomplish, what we earn or don’t earn. In other words, if a project fails, then we are failures. If a project takes off, then we are wonderful. If we are out of work, who are we?

The knee-jerk reaction is to ask, “Why me?” or to cast the blame on the powers that be: “My boss doesn’t like me,” “This is company politics,” or “My co-workers are afraid of my ability and have plotted against me.” However, anger is an energy drain and will leave us without the energy to look for a solution. Whatever pushes our buttons, shakes us up, has something important to teach us. If we do not assume responsibility for our actions, we play the part of a victim. When a manager criticizes us, we might want to listen to the critique and question ourselves: “Is this true, some of it, all of it? How can I improve?”

The loss of a job might be so destabilizing that the person experiences:

  • Difficulty waking up in the morning or experiencing sleep disturbances
  • Craving and eating the wrong foods, particularly stimulants
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Cocooning at home
  • Loss of ambition; the perception that there are no other jobs out there
  • Submissive or abusive behavior
  • Similar to Dr. Kubler-Ross’ five stages of grief for a death, losing a job requires processing each stage in order to adapt to the changing work/home life. Everyone falls down, but not everyone picks himself up.

Here are some suggestions to navigate the stages and turn failure into triumph.

  1. Denial: The psyche needs to protect itself and absorb what has happened little by little, instead of all at once. Recite the job loss story over and over to take the sting out of it; distract yourself with positive friends, outdoor activities or your community center.
  2. Anger: You can turn the anger outward and play the victim, or twist the emotional sword inward. Either way is an energy drain. Reinterpret the scenario compassionately; be kind to everyone, especially to yourself! Release anger in a healthy way through exercise, visualization and breathing. Exercise intensity or length of time should correspond to your anger level. A ten-minute walk might not be enough. Go to the ocean or a lake and spend some time to cool down your thoughts. Sit still near a fountain.
  3. Bargaining: This is “the what if or I should have” stage. The mind is engaged in negative streaming, brain-locked in an upsetting point in time. Be aware of negative thought streams to objectify them; have a logical discourse with your thoughts. Then you can invest your energy into a solution.
  4. Depression: The sadness sets in and the feelings need to come out. Crying is good; there is great truth in the saying, have a good cry. Watch movies with a similar life crisis to bring out suppressed feelings; see how the main character resolves his unemployment crisis. Then laughter is a wonderful pick-me-up after the crying. It will release feel-good chemistry. Watch all the comedies you can, even 12 hours a day! This will help reset a realistic optimism. Tap into positive friends to have a good time.
  5. Acceptance: This is the point where we think and feel that the loss really happened. We accept our disappointment and the blow to our self-esteem. This is the time when we are ready to rebuild our work/home balance. It is how we handle this failure that will determine our next success. Because we are acquainted with loss and failure, we will not fear it again like the first time. We are ready to network, update our job skills, take classes and rewrite the resume. We might even say that losing that job was the best thing…

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Useful Gadgets For MySpace Members

Posted by lapantz4less on October 4, 2008

This is the age of web 2.0. What this means is that websites are no longer static. Users can communicate with one another in different ways. There may be a chatting system implemented within for example. Users can also activate sharing with each other. Many kinds of files can be shared such as documents, audio and video. How much a website can do depends on what features have been implemented. Usually, as time goes on, the site improves with new features. Sometimes, users may need to upgrade in order to use more features on the site.

A website that is in the category of web 2.0 usually looks modern. The interface may appear simple for users to quickly adapt to it, but the site maintains its elegance. You may find these sites in a web 2.0 directory that you can search with Google.

MySpace is probably the most popular interactive website out there. It has many features and may require some exploration before you get used to it. There are many ways for you to customize your site once you become a member. You can play around with colors, themes, etc. It is probably better customize so that your site has a unique look to it as opposed to generic. Besides, this reflects the image you want to project.

One way to customize is by using MySpacer countdown clock. You can do the same with MySpace contact generator. You can use MySpace countdown clock to count-down to any event you wish. It could be an anniversary, a birthday, a festival, etc. Popularity counts at MySpace so you may want to install MySpace contact generator to make it easy to communicate with other users. You may use it to email or instant message other users.

Are you tempted to take a look at those useful gadgets? Just go to MySpace countdown clock and MySpace contact generator and see for yourself.

Posted in Internet | Tagged: | Leave a Comment »

Twitter to Better Business Networking

Posted by lapantz4less on October 4, 2008

Understanding the value of Twitter without experiencing it is a pretty big leap. My own initial reaction was: “what a waste of time. How can sending 140 character updates of what you’re doing, and reading others updates possibly add any value to anyone?” Finally enough of my higher profile professional friends were talking about it that I couldn’t ignore it anymore. Once I joined it literally took me about 15 minutes to understand the true value of Twitter for the professional:
 
Twitter for the professional networker is about deepening relationships and “being in the loop.”
 
I see one of my best friends, who also happens to be a fantastic networker, about once a week. As soon as I started following him on Twitter I saw the value. Every time we see each other even though it’s only been a week there’s a bunch of catch-up that needs to happen. Now that we both follow each other on Twitter we each have visibility into most of the details of what’s happened during the week. Instead of that catch-up period we’re able to immediately take a deep dive into the specifics and how we can help each other.
 
The impact on already close relationships is impressive. The ability to deepen looser connections and relationships is even bigger. Imagine you and I have met a time or two, but have never had the opportunity to really sit down and get to know each other. This happens all the time and frequently it’s because one or both of us are just too darn busy to find a time to get together. Now, what if we start following each other on Twitter and we each can begin to get an idea of what goes on around us each and every day. Not just at work either. Many of us provide updates after hours and on weekends and you can gain real insights into what’s important in people’s lives; family, hobbies, favorite sports, etc. Now when we do finally connect we’re able to do so at a much deeper level. Twitter is a relationship deepener like none other I’ve ever seen.
 
Following a variety of interesting people on Twitter can also bring you incredible visibility. Right now Twitter is the land of the early adopter. These are the folks that find all of the cool technologies first. By following these people you can learn about unbelievable tools you never would have known about otherwise. The same is true for events. There have been conferences that I’ve wanted to attend but couldn’t. By following a number of attendees I practically felt like I was at the event and was able to glean many of the information nuggets without having to invest the time. I’ve never felt as ‘in the loop’ as I do since I’ve started using Twitter.
 
Do yourself a favor and begin exploring Twitter today (www.Twitter.com). With any luck you’ll be just as surprised as I was.
 
Happy Networking!

 

source:  http://www.lapantz4less.comhttp://www.123articlesubmit.com

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Squidoo to Brand Your Business

Posted by lapantz4less on October 4, 2008

If you’re wielding the power of social networking sites like Squidoo to brand your business, then you’ll want to learn the best way to maximize your efforts. It’s not enough the set up a niche account on Squidoo and expect people to click through and want to find out more about you – you have to take it upon yourself to brand your business yourself!

The first thing you want to do is set up your complete profile if you want Squidoo to help brand your business. The profile pages have become more interactive and now appear to be a lens of their own rather than an “About Me” page.

Log into Squidoo and click the Profile tab at the top of your dashboard. You can change your personal info, such as your name, screen name (best to make it niche-specific), your photo (remember – this is a personal networking site), or your bio, which is akin to a resource box that’s shown on all of your lenses (where you can add a hyperlink).

The More About Me section can also be altered, and this is where you want to think strategically in allowing Squidoo to help you with branding your business. Here’s how to use this section to help increase branding potential:

Featured Lenses

Choose five lenses which showcase your business brand the best. You can create a lensography, which tells a little about each lens that you’ve ever created, or choose lenses that have a specific purpose in helping to position you as an expert in your niche.

External Links

You can also use Squidoo to link to other domains! This is the perfect opportunity to brand your business and here’s what you can add to Squidoo:

Your blog
Your Twitter page
Your FaceBook page
Your eBay store
Your Etsy store
Your Lulu store
Your CafePress store
Your favorite blog ever
One more site the visitor should see
Another of your blogs
Your MySpace page
Your Zazzle store
And one more domain of your choosing

Share My Favorites

This option lets others see all of your favorites if you have it turned On. If you’ve favorited your own lenses, then all of your own lenses will be showcased.

You can skip everything else as far as using Squidoo to brand your business, except the very bottom of the page where it says, “Social Application Settings.” Here, you can enter your Twitter account information if you’re trying to brand your business by having your target audience follow you on this mini blogging social network.

Your Squidoo profile page will now be housed at a URL such as:

http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/nickname

(Replace nickname with your own Squidoo user ID).

It’s important to note that your profile page earns its own PageRank, so any links that you have pointing to your domains from that page can potentially help boost your other sites (and lenses) in the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages).

If you want Squidoo to help you with your branding opportunities, make sure that you also do your part in using Squidoo to showcase the most valuable content and information that you can to your niche.

Right now, you can use Squidoo to brand your business by investing in a professional lens that is built from scratch with 100% original content via http://www.BuildMyLens.com – which includes a single or VIP four pack of Squidoo lenses to showcase your brand and product to your target audience.

source:  http://www.lapantz4less.comhttp://www.123articlesubmit.com

 

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Build It: A Sub-$250 Desktop PC

Posted by lapantz4less on September 30, 2008

reference – http://www.lapantz4less.com – http://www.123articlesubmit.com

read more | digg story

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Lenovo Laptops – Your Perfect Companion

Posted by lapantz4less on September 25, 2008

In today’s fast-moving world many of us want access to quick information even while on the move. This need led the manufacturers to design a device which is portable and allows one to store data and information without much hassle. A laptop is a dependable device which enhances personal life and productivity in business. One of the leading names existing in the market is Lenovo. Lenovo laptops have a huge demand in the market because of their enhanced features and consistency. Lenovo laptops are not only trendy but come in wide range of colours. Lenovo laptops excel in functionality, durability, stability and technology.

Those of us who seek utmost security, for them these power-packed laptops ensure that every saved information is safe and intact. People who are deeply into business, these laptops are equipped with a security chip and a fingerprint reader.

Fingerprint reader makes sure that all the data is sealed until the users fingerprint tallies with the one it has on the record. Lenovo has also introduced a VeriFace software which serves as a form of high-security. This software enables the user to use their face as a medium for security to your notebook PCs. In addition to this the laptop is facilitated with a hard drive shock detection that ensures that the hard drive is undamaged even after a fall. Supported with three USB ports, a huge screen, and liberation from wires this trendy laptop has a winning edge over all others.

One of the most appreciated laptop is the ThinkPad 600E although there are few who prefer the N 100 series since they offer a comparatively better speed, good performance and fine audio. Lenovo’s T60 range of laptops have also received recognition from the users in terms of their genuinity and consistency. The demand for these highly renowned laptops has witnessed a fall in their price. Cheap Lenovo Laptops have made this device affordable and accessible. These laptops are gradually meeting the demands of the people and slowly expanding itself in order to serve customers worldwide. This incredibly useful device has certainly left a mark on people all over the world.

The author is a specialist in retail writing. His writing skills reflect the outcome of years of exposure to the retail industry. Working with retail giants as a consultant has enriched her knowledge base and his passion for writing got fire. He can be read regularly on RetailsDirect.com. Diwali Gifts

 

http://www.lapantz4less.com/b-i-TP-T61-NB-C2D-2.1-4GB-100GB-b-i-p-32541663.html

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Next Generation Low Cost Laptops – The Asus Eee Notebook PC Series

Posted by lapantz4less on September 25, 2008

Computing technology continues to improve every year, leading to better performance and improving prices on low cost laptops. Today’s budget notebooks provide an impressive set of core options, and the Asus Eee series leads the way.

Asus is a leading maker of net book computers, which are low-cost laptops also known as sub notebooks. Using the latest technology such as solid state hard drives, LCD screens and open source software, Eee delivers top performance at a lower price point. Even more impressive is the quality light weight design, with certain models weighing only a few pounds. Currently, there are three models in the series. The entry-level 700 model offers a low price entry-level laptop for ultra mobility.

Within this group there are the Eee 2G, 4G and 8G which run on either Linux Xanros or Windows XP. Impressively, by upgrading to the 900 Eee laptop, the notebooks feature touch track pads with interactive navigation, 9 inch LCD screen, a built-in web camera, internal Wifi capability, Bluetooth compatibility and a more powerful Celeron processor. One step up, the 1000 series models have larger solid state hard drives, up to 80GB, and a larger keyboard and LCD 10″ screen along with an Atom Intel processor.The notebooks continue to innovation and lead the way for inexpensive laptop options – reports suggest that the platform will evolve to run the next generation Windows 7 operating system and WiMax chips starting in 2009. By providing computers to markets ranging from the US and EU to China and India, Asus is providing affordable laptops throughout the world.

Bradley E. is an editor at iReviewer, a leading reviews site. Get the latest notebook reviews at iRW.com

 

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Do I Really Need the Best Laptop?

Posted by lapantz4less on September 25, 2008

Depending what your need is for the laptop will determine if you really need the best of the best or one that will cover your requirements. If your just a casual surfer of the net, college student or you need a good laptop for your business, each type of person will desire something different.

The person who goes on the internet just to check their e-mails or to chat with their friends will only require a basic computer with minimal amount of RAM as well as programs. They wouldn’t need to get all the up grades or even fill their laptop with major amount of gigs.

A college student, depending on what type of classes he or she are taking, must decide if they would want to get graphic programs or not. A big issue with students is that they want the laptop to be conveniently mobile. Some laptops are bulky and have some weight. The best college laptop is the one that works for that particular person.

As for the business man or women, their needs will also vary. First of all they need one that will not fail them. They will require a dependable laptop that can be mobile as well. Since a businessperson travels quite a bit he will need to make sure that he or she gets a long life battery and a back up one as well. The programs that they’ll need will also depend on what field of work they are in. In advertising one would need a laptop that has a few different graphic programs, while someone in banking would need spreadsheets and financial programs.

Whatever the need there’s a laptop out there for you. Making a list of exactly what you’ll be doing with it and using it for will help you in your decision.

For more information on Best College Laptops, please go to http://bestcollegelaptops.com

 

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