What, then, is this elusive thing called love that everyone sodesperately needs? Sometimes, we sort of like this girl because she isbeautiful ? Or the girl likes him because he is handsome? But this kindof “Cinderella Syndrome” when the girl is waiting on her PrinceCharming, is not real love. It is better known as “infatuation”, andthere is a vast difference between it and real love. Here, we help youto differentiate and find out if you are really in love and not justinfatuation.

Infatuation

Infatuation is a feeling; real love involves a commitment also.Infatuation is just love of emotion. Real love, though, is love ofdevotion. Only the emotions are affected in infatuation, but in reallove both the emotions and the will are involved. Next, a person “fallinto” infatuation, but “grows into” real love. Guys, have you ever seena girl who was so beautiful that you thought you’d faint? This isinfatuation! It is based totally on physical attraction; often youdon’t know much in-depth about the person you so-called love. Thus,infatuation is mostly biological. Also remember, never tell a girl youlove her, unless you are willing to marry her.

Then, infatuation is basically selfish where real love is basicallyselfless . Infatuation is more interested in satisfying yourself andthe “feeling” than it is in the other person. Real love is primarilyinterested in the other person. It seeks to give instead of get.. Loveunselfishly seeks the highest good for the other person. Lastly,infatuation is weakened by time and separation where real love isstrengthened by time and separation. This does not mean that there willbe no pain in separation. On the contrary, there is great pain inseparation if you are truly in love.

Love

Now you know what is infatuation, we will go on to discuss about the details of a true love.

Love is patient. The word translated “patient” means to waitpatiently for the fulfillment of expectations. When you have difficultydating this girl and she does not want to come out, if you truly loveher, you will not complain and blame her, you must look at thesituation from her point of view - maybe she is having some problemswhich prevented her from coming out. You must react to it with patienceand understanding. Next, have you ever met someone you liked so muchthat you wanted to push the relationship and make it progress faster?Sure you have! Love, however, is willing to give a relationship time togrow at a natural pace. It does not push but is willing to wait for therelationship to grow at a rate that is satisfactory to both parties.Love is Kind. Love seeks to encourage and build up others. It respectsthe feelings and emotions of others.. It finds its greatestsatisfaction in making others happy.

You can do the following:

Give one another things such as gifts and encouragement cards.
Compliment one another. Magnify the other party’s strength.
Listen to one another. Pay close attention to what each of you has to say and make each other feel that what each says is important.
Treat one another special in public. Compliment and encourage one another sincerely in the presence of others.

Love is Not Jealous
Jealousy usually indicates aninsecure and immature heart. Love wants the best for others, butjealousy is possessive. Jealous is reflected in the childish statement,”If he is going to talk to her, then he can just forget about me!”Often, one person wants to totally possess the other and to restricther relationships with others.

Love is Not Brag
Love is not a windbag and is notanxious to impress. Often a guy will brag to a girl, trying to impressher so that she will like him. A truly great person, however, does notneed to exalt himself! Others will exalt him.

Love is Not Arrogant
Love is not conceited,boastful, cocky, or stuck-up. Love, instead, is humble and has aservant attitude. Sometimes, a guy may come across to a girl with an “Ican take you or leave you” attitude. His demeanour implies, “You oughtto be thankful that somebody as neat as me is dating you.” Of course,this is not love.

Love always covers
This word cover means to passover in silence, to keep confidential. Love is patient with the faultsof others. It doesn’t criticize and broadcast to the world the faults ofothers. Love is there even when it knows the other is not perfect.

Love always Perseveres
Love always stands itsground and holds out. It will outlast anything. It will even love inthe face of unreturned love.Real love will last though all sorts oftrials, tribulations and stresses.

Love is Not Provoked
This means that love has along fuse. It does not become irritated and angry. It is not easilyoffended. Love does not seek its own This is the heart of love. Love isother-centered rather than self-centered. Love says, “I love you, I wantto give to you.” Selfishness says, “I love you, I want you!”

Love does not act unbecomingly
This means that lovedoes not behave disgracefully, dishourable or indecently. It does notembarrass others by its action. It is characterized by tact andsensitivity. This also means that love should have good manners. Besure to do little things like opening doors for your girl, or offeringher your arm when you walk together.

Love is forgiving
Lastly, this is a MUST for asuccessful love story. If a guy is not willing to forgive and forgetwhen his girlfriend is one hour late, he is not exhibiting love. Lovedoesn’t hold grudges when it has been wronged. It doesn’t remainresentful. Remember this: Love forgets past failures and sins.

Beauty, brains, sex appeal and a charming personality, what else you can ask for in your lady love? While most men would die for this deadly

Know what drives your man crazy! (Getty Images)
combination in their dream girl, there are certain stereotypes in a woman that men find fascinating.

Be it a woman’s sense of dressing, her physical attributes or her behavioral traits, a woman possesses several things that make men go weak in their knees.

We spoke to men from diverse age groups to know what in a woman do they find most intriguing …

1. Lady in red : Women in red make men drool all over them. A study claimed that men find women in red more sexually attractive, confirming it really is the colour of romance. So the next time while getting ready for a romantic dinner with your mate, make sure you flaunt an opulent outfit, of course in red.

The hidden secret : “Red is such a sensuous colour and I feel any outfit in shades of red enhances a girl’s persona. Whenever I notice a girl wearing red – Indian or Western – I get the confidence to walk up to her and I find that quite thrilling,’ admits 25-year old Rajat Sharma, working as a business consultant.

2. Long wavy locks : If you thought that dishing big bucks on the best of attires or make-up can help you bag the desired guy, you might be doing way too much than actually required. The easiest way to your Prince Charming’s heart is to sport long luscious curls as a study confirmed that men find women’s long locks irresistible.

The hidden secret : 23-year old Sourabh Mal, working as an assistant manager with a private firm shares, “A girl’s natural curls demands attention and no man can resist that. It is a perfect reflection of her femininity. I personally love woman with long hair which extends till their waistline. Letting your long hair down is a sign of sensuality, which is why when a woman releases her hair from her bun, her lover starts going nuts.”

3. Curvy toned body : Skinny is out as men prefer bootylicious babes. For women with a curvaceous body, not only it makes her look fit and maintained, but it also adds to her sex appeal. Flaunting perfect twin assets descending down to your slender neck and a well toned abdomen can make your man go crazy like never before.

The hidden secret : 24-year old Mayank Khurana, an MBA student shares, “A well toned body, which isn’t too skinny, but is curvy holds a lot of importance for a woman’s personality. With a woman who flaunts curves, there is more for a man to love . A waif thin, size zero structure looks good only on the ramp, but as for my girlfriend, I really want her to flaunt a fuller body.”

4. Long, sexy legs : A woman’s long limbs are something that makes men go weak in the knees. Probably this is the reason that men go gaga after Bollywood babes like Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif.

The hidden secret : “Long legs are the ultimate sign of a woman’s sex appeal. Tall woman have always been a guy’s hot pick, so it goes without saying that long legs make them more desirable,” asserts Vikram Thapar, a college student.

5. Dark, deep eyes : Blue, black or brown, women can convey a sea of emotions through their eyes. Men admit to having a soft corner for girls with large eyes, which makes them look more confident and in some way reflects their inner beauty and poise.

The hidden secret : Kartik Dhar, a photographer says, “Beauty is how one feels from the inside and this is reflected in a girl’s eyes. Eyes are the windows to a woman’s mind ideally; one just should know how to read them. Eye contact is the key to any conversation or a relationship and great looking eyes are what you look at most of the time. As they say, the soul that can speak through the eyes.”

6. Brunette, not a blonde : A new study claims that men prefer brunettes to blondes, especially when it comes to choosing a life partner. Donning a blonde look may make you glam, but it’s the charm of black hair that men find attractive in their partners. The study also reveals that dark-haired woman are more dependable and sensible and they are good choice to become wives.

The hidden secret : 27-year old Ashish Kumra, working as a network engineer feels, “Women with blonde hair are generally considered bitchy. And it’s often said that blondes are dumb and this automatically make brunettes better. Sexy and brainy is a heady mix that any man would love to have in a woman. Men prefer natural beauty and coloured hair takes away all the charm from a woman’s innate charm.”

7. An intellectual mind : Beauty with brains is a deadly combination, thus a woman with a great intellect makes her way into a man’s heart.

The hidden secret : Kartik adds, “If a woman is an intellectual, it makes a big difference. Personally I have felt that the most attractive thing about a woman is her IQ and as beauty is skin deep, whereas intellect and wisdom is more real.

1. Sex is a beauty treatment.  Scientific tests find that when women make love they produce amounts of the hormone estrogen, which makes hair shine and skin smooth.

2. Gentle, relaxed lovemaking reduces your chances of suffering
dermatitis, skin rashes and blemishes.  The sweat produced cleanses the pores and makes your skin glow.

3. Lovemaking can burn up those calories you piled on during that
romantic dinner.

4. Sex is one of the safest sports you can take up.   It stretches and tones up just about every muscle in the body.  It’s more enjoyable than swimming 20 laps, and you don’t need special sneakers!

5. Sex is an instant cure for mild depression.It releases endorphins
into the bloodstream, producing a sense of euphoriaand leaving you
with a feeling of well-being.

6. The more sex you have, the more you will be offered.The sexually
active body gives off greater quantities of chemicals called pheromones.  These subtle sex perfumes drive the opposite sex crazy!

7 . Sex is the safest tranquilizer in the world. IT IS 10 TIMES MORE
EFFECTIVE THAN VALIUM.

8. Kissingeach day will keep the dentist away. Kissing encourages saliva to wash food from the teeth and lowers the level of the acid that causes decay, preventing plaque build-up.

9. Sex actually relieves headaches. A lovemaking session can release the tension that restricts blood vessels in the brain.

10.  A lot of lovemaking can unblock a stuffy nose. Sex is a natural
antihistamine.  It can help combat asthma and hay fever.

The Art of Seduction
Seduction is the art, and joy, of tempting your partner into a romantic, sensual liaison. It is less about the outcome of your liaison, and more about the game of seducing. When you begin a game of seduction you are inviting your partner to a completely sensual experience designed to heighten ALL of their senses. Your partner should be in a passive role, while you determine which sense to heighten and which zone to pleasure.

Typically, a successful seduction is longer than your average lovemaking session, and can even last over a few days or weeks. It’s important to remember that coupling doesn’t always have to happen. Think of it as an extended foreplay session. If days of sensual innuendoes and mood setters can’t get your partner in the mood, nothing will!

Before beginning your seduction plan, you need to decide how long you want your seduction to last. Is there a special day coming up? Do you want to make some serious changes in your love play? If so, a week long seduction might be a better approach.

Once you’ve decided your time limit, you’ll want to look at how you want to begin capturing your partner’s sensual attention. There are numerous ways to go about this. The most important thing to remember about this stage is that you should NOT couple! This is about getting their interest and heightening their senses for when you actually do couple. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• leave an erotic love note on their pillow
• e-mail a fantasy you wish to enact with them
• give a sensual massage using your favorite massage oils
• have a finger food picnic
• play a lover’s game
• kiss longer and more frequently
• find more opportunities to touch your partner
• make eye contact more frequently
• watch a semi-erotic move such as Henry & June
• have an old fashion “necking” session

The Main Event
Now that you’ve put all this effort into getting your partner ready, it’s time to move onto the main event. Again, it’s important to remember that the longer you draw out the seduction, the better it will be.

There are various stages of arousal you enter into when engaging in love play. The shorter the experience, the lower the level of arousal you are able to access. The longer the experience, the higher the level of arousal you and your partner can enter into. Thus, if you can prolong the experience you will create a memory you will both treasure for quite a while.

To make the most of this factor, you’ll need to have things in place that will heighten all of your partner’s senses. We’re talking about a full assault on their senses. When you’re done with them you’ll leave them wondering how sex could have ever been otherwise. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Sense of Sight: Care and attention should be placed on the location. If in your bedroom, candles lit, silky bedding and lots of pillows are a must. Arouse this sense further with lingerie.

• Sense of Smell: Aromatics can work for you or against you. Make sure you know which scents your partner enjoys. Get scented candles, incense or scented massage oil to help heighten this sense.

• Sense of Taste: This can be incorporated in two ways. One is through food with aphrodisiac qualities such as strawberries or oysters. The other is through edible lotions, chocolate syrups or whip cream.

• Sense of Hearing: Get creative and record yourself telling an erotic story and leave it playing in the background. Or, play music that fits the overall mood you are going for. If you have sensual movies you may want to have the sound playing in the background.

• Sense of Touch: One of the most erotic senses of all is the sense of touch. You will already be using this sense just by engaging the seduction. To heighten it you need to make sure every time they feel something against their skin it has an extra sensation added to it. You can do this with silky bedding, silky lingerie, or even with a massage with your favorite oils. You may also want to try a feather, something furry or a rose when you touch them.

You can further heighten the senses by hindering one of them completely. A reduction causes the other senses to work more to make up for the loss. You can remove the sense of sight by using a blindfold. You can remove the sense of touch by using restraints. You need to make sure your partner would be comfortable with this type of love play before doing this though.

For an additional benefit, when you execute your main event, you may want to try something a little different. For example, a tryst with role-playing may let your partner become more open and result in new levels of arousal. Or, a prolonged temptation before letting them reach their peak will certainly get results.

Remember, this is your seduction. You can do whatever you KNOW will get your partner excited. The main point is to infuse some creative loving into your relationship. If you’ve lost a bit of that “new love attraction” this is an excellent way to get it back. Every few months, make sure you do something similar to this to keep the spark alive and create some fantastic memories to look back upon!

Google Talk does not provide built-in functionality to allow you to control your idle status. There are times when you want to use messenger and be online, but without letting others know about this. Seems like impossible in Google talk, now made possible by gAlwaysIdle. download: http://rapidshare.com/files/92328113/gAlwaysIdleSetup.rar very good feature.

know Its too long to Read but…its Chetan Bhagat…!!!

Touchy feely’ Article by Chetan Bhagat

I remember the incident - I was in a restaurant and one girl in our group
was especially charming. So I, like any other male, tried to put on a
wooing act. You know the routine, a nanosecond extra eye contact, a few
more nods to whatever she says, and attempts to throw in those one-liners
which you know you wouldn’t if she weren’t there. And it seemed to be
working. She leaned forward when she spoke to me, and every now and again,
we’d have a small conversation of our own, separate from our group. She
laughed at my approach with the fork and knife, and I teased her about her
hair band, which had little teddy bears. Yes, we were flirting. A while
later, she asked me the question what did I study? I said engineering,
without any particular meaning attached to it. And then like a cold metal
rail, she went stiff.

My jokes weren’t funny any more. Her eyes wandered to everyone else.

What was it?

Why? Why? Why?

Two days later, I still couldn’t get over my great start that had
dissipated listlessly upon mentioning my education. Engineer? What was
wrong with that? My mom had wanted me to become one since I was five! I had
to call her. ‘So what happened to you that day, hot and cold, missie?’ And
then she said, trying to be nice, ‘Well, it’s just that I am skeptical
about engineers as friends. I don’t know, they can be, you know, very
logical and everything…not very touchy feely’.

Not touchy-feely. Now what the heck did that mean? Well, she obviously did
not mean it literally, since girls don’t really suggest that sort of stuff,
certainly not in the first meeting across the table. I guessed it was
something to do with feelings, sort of having an emotional side. The
stereotype being, the nerdy guy who sees relationships like laws of
physics, to whom love is just a bunch of chemicals going crazy in your
brain, and getting to know a person means obtaining their bio-data.

It’s time to set the record straight.

It’s true that a lot of what engineers study (and they end up studying
quite a lot), has to do with formulae, laws and numbers. No matter how hard
we try, some of the vocabulary we read all day gets into our language. So
when my mother said, ‘Are you getting married next year or not?’ I was
liable to say, ‘Well, at this moment in time, the probability is relatively
low,’ (This line is really factual) and felt it was completely normal to
say it. And when my sister went sari shopping and couldn’t explain the
shade she wanted, I told the shopkeeper the percentages of pink, orange and
red in the sari.

Yet, ladies, I don’t think we’re bad at relationships, love and getting to
know people. We too, can be touchy-feely, as that is part of our education
as well. The reason for this is that most engineering students live in the
ultimate educator - boy’s hostels. Now, let me explain how this plays into
this ‘touchy-feely’ thing. Relationships. Imagine eating, sleeping,
brushing your teeth, bathing (ok rarely this one) and partying with the
same people all the time. So, when you are kicking that bathroom door down
for the tenth time, or when you stand in line for ‘gulab-jamuns’ in the
mess, and when you are done with the vodka bottle and sharing all your
secrets, you know it is good practice. Yes, hostels maketh the man.

So, next time you are in a flirtatious situation with the techno types, go
on, flirt a bit more. Of course, I am biased towards my kind, but if you
find the conversation turning too geeky, just ask them, ‘So, what were your
hostel days like?’ and chances are, you’ll see a heart behind the
calculator (next best). Coming back to my missie, I thought of what would
make me win her over. Flowers… too cheesy. Music… don’t know her taste
(nor trust mine). Teddy bears… don’t even go there.

Desperate for some good lines, I just turned it right back at her. ‘Yes, I
know what you are saying about engineers. The thing is, unless people with
depth like you start hanging out with us, we won’t get any better. Can you
meet me some time for some touchy/feely… oops, I mean coffee/tea?’

She giggled!!!
And when they giggle, you have won!!!

Regards

Chetan Bhagat

“We will do it”
means
” You will do it”

“You have done a great job”
means
“More work to be given to you”

“We are working on it”
means
“We have not yet started working on the same”

“Tomorrow first thing in the morning”
means
“Its not getting done…
At least not tomorrow !”.

“After discussion we will decide - I am very open to views”
means
“I have already decided, I will tell you what to do”

“There was a slight miscommunication”
means
“We had actually lied”

“Lets call a meeting and discuss”
means
“I have no time now, will talk later”

“We can always do it”
means
“We actually cannot do the same on time”

“We are on the right track but there needs to be a slight extension of the deadline”
means
“The project is screwed up, we cannot deliver on time.”

“We had slight differences of opinion”
means
“We had actually fought”

“Make a list of the work that you do and let’s see how I can help you”
means
“Anyway you have to find a way out no help from me”

“You should have told me earlier”
means
“Well even if you told me earlier that would have made hardly any difference!”

“We need to find out the real reason”
means
“Well I will tell you where your fault is”

“Well… family is important, your leave is always granted. Just ensure that the work is not affected”
means
“Well you know…”

“We are a team”
means
“I am not the only one to be blamed”

“That’s actually a good question”
means
“I do not know anything about it”

“All the Best”
means
” You are in trouble”

MaizeBODY { MARGIN-TOP: 25px; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 15px; COLOR: #006699; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica }Life is not measured by how many breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

“If you don’t like someone, the way he holds his spoon will make you furious. If you do like him, he can turn his plate over into your lap and you won’t mind.” - Oscar Wilde

“If you live to be one hundred years old, I want to live to be one hundred minus a day, so I never have to live one day without you. - Pooh

“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light within.” - Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

“The value of life can be measured by how many times your soul has been deeply stirred.” - Soichiro Honda

“There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.” -Charles Dickens

“Work can wait while you show a child the rainbow. The rainbow won’t wait while you do the work.” -Unknown

‘Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.’ - Dr. Suess

‘I love being married. It’s so great to find the one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.’

‘Not where I breathe, but where I love, I live’

‘Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light, I have loved the stars too fondly To be fearful of the night.’ Sarah Williams, ‘The Old Astronomer to His Pupil’

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.

A good exercise for the heart is to bend down and help another up.

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honourable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing. - George Bernard Shaw

A man may make many mistakes, but is not a failure until he starts blaming someone else for them.

A man spends the first half of his life learning habits that shorten the other half of his life.

A person is grown up not when they can take care of themselves, but when they can take care of others.

There was a World wide survey of “Most Embarrassing Moment in human life”

the finale had the following three incidents….

Third Place

“It was the day before my eighteenth birthday. I was living at home, but my parents had gone out for the evening, so I invited my girlfriend over for a romantic night alone. As we lay in bed after making love, we heard the telephone ringing downstairs. I suggested to my girlfriend that I give her a piggy-back ride to the phone. Since we didn’t want to miss the call, we didn’t have time to get dressed. When we got to the bottom of the stairs, the lights suddenly came on and a whole crowd of people yelled “SURPRISE!”.

My entire family, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins and all of my friends were standing there ! My girlfriend and I were frozen to the spot in a state of shock and embarrassment for what seemed like an eternity.

Since then, no-one in my family has planned a surprise party again

Second Place

“While in line at the bank one afternoon, my kid decided to release some pent-up energy and started to run amuck. I was finally able to grab hold of her after receiving looks of disgust and annoyance from other patrons. I told her that if she didn’t start behaving herself right now, she would be punished. To my horror, she looked me in the eye and said in a voice just as threatening, “If you don’t let me go right now, I will tell Grandma that I saw you kissing Daddy’s pee-pee(dick) last night!”.

The silence was deafening after this enlightening exchange. Even the tellers stopped what they were doing! I mustered the last of my dignity and walked out of the bank with my daughter in tow. The last thing that I heard as the door closed behind me were the screams of laughter.

And the Winner is…

This one actually happened at Harvard University in October last year.

In a biology class, the professor was discussing the high glucose levels found in semen. A young female (freshman), raised her hand and asked, “If I understand what you are saying, there is a lot of glucose in male semen, as in sugar?” “That’s correct.” responded the professor, going on to add much statistical data. Raising her hand again, the sweet young thing asked, “Then why doesn’t it taste sweet?”.

After a stunned silence, the whole class burst out laughing, the poor girl turned bright red and as she realized exactly what she had inadvertently said(or rather implied), she picked up her books without a word and walked out of the class, and never returned.

However , as she was going out of the door, the professor’s reply was a classic. Totally straight- faced, he answered her question, “It doesn’t taste sweet because the taste-buds for sweetness are on the tip of your tongue and not in the back of your throat!

Management is all about connecting with the people on your team. So how do you effectively manage a team? With common knowledge, of course. These are a few back-to-basics rules that will help you develop management skills that really matter.
Body Language

Like it or not, your body speaks volumes, even when you are silent. Here’s how to express an attitude that’s appropriate for a leader.

1. Stand tall. Keeping your shoulders back and holding yourself up to your full height will give you an air of confidence.
2. Take your hands out of your pockets. Putting your hands in your pockets is often seen as a sign that you have something to hide.
3. Stand with your arms crossed behind your back. This will help you adjust your posture, and it leaves your hands in a position that is open and not intimidating.
4. Make eye contact. Always look directly into the eyes of the people you are speaking with. This shows you’re interested and also gives you a sense of confidence.
5. Sit up straight. Even if you’re at an 8 a.m.meeting and feeling tired, it’s important to sit up straight in your chair. Slouching makes you look disinterested and can give off an unwanted air of laziness.
6. Face the person you’re talking to. This shows you are interested and engaged in the conversation.
7. Shake hands firmly. For many, a handshake is a reflection of the person you’re shaking hands with. You don’t want to come across as unsure or overbearing, so make sure yours is professional and confident.
8. Always smile. Smiles are contagious and will make others feel positive when you’re around.
9. Look your best. You don’t have to be model perfect every day, but you should dress appropriately and neatly. Clothes can have a big impact on the way you’re perceived.
10. Walk confidently. Keep your head up and take even strides.

Meeting Deadlines

No one will be happy if your team has to rush around at the last minute to complete a project. Follow these tips to make deadlines less stressful for everyone.

11. Only promise what you can realistically deliver. Don’t create deadlines that you know you can’t meet. By only promising what you know you can do, you’ll be able to finish on time.
12. Set clear goals. Once you know what you need to accomplish, it helps to know how and when you want to do it. Put your goals down on paper and make sure everyone on your team gets a copy.
13. Organize a team. Many of your employees will have unique strengths and training that can make them great assets to certain projects. Pick a team that has the right skills to carry out the job.
14. Delegate tasks. Spread work among your employees in a way that doesn’t leave anyone overburdened while also allowing the project work smoothly.
15. Create milestones. Creating milestones for you and your team will help you keep track of your progress and also give you a sense of accomplishment as you reach each milestone.
16. Keep communication open. Keeping everyone in touch with the status of the project is key to making sure it’s completed on time.
17. Do it right the first time. Planning ahead will help prevent you from delivering a substandard product. Having to redo something for a client costs money, and, more than likely, future business opportunities.
18. Stay organized. Staying organized will help keep you from wasting time chasing down important documents and information.
19. Make sure expectations are clear. Be sure that each member of your team knows what their specific responsibilities are. This will save time and prevent tasks from being overlooked.
20. Create a plan. Compile your goals and milestones into a comprehensive plan for attacking any project you are given. This way, you can make sure you’re staying on schedule and that all of your employees will be clear about how and when things should be done.

Getting Along with Employees

A happy office is a productive one. Everyone will be more cheerful if you follow these simple rules.

21. Don’t make your employees come in on days they’re normally not scheduled to work or call them while they’re on vacation. A surefire way to make employees resent you is to invade their personal time for nonpressing work. Unless you have something that absolutely has to be done, let time away from work stay that way.
22. Don’t play favorites. Playing favorites can bias your judgment and impair your leadership abilities. Treat your employees equally.
23. Give credit when it’s due. Don’t take credit for your employees’ ideas or hog their limelight. This action not only fosters resentment but also makes you seem untrustworthy.
24. Don’t micromanage. While it’s fine to keep up with what your employees are working on, don’t constantly look over their shoulders.
25. Never discuss employee matters with their co-workers. This kind of gossip always gets back to the person and will make you look unprofessional.
26. Don’t interfere with employees’ work. If your employees are getting work done, don’t stress about how it gets done. Even if it’s not being done they way you’d do it, it’s best to let employees use their best judgment.
27. Don’t push unreasonable deadlines. You don’t want to spend all of your time at the office, and neither do your employees.
28. Keep your promises. Barring some catastrophic event, you should always keep promises you make to employees, especially about pay and benefits.
29. Keep work about work. Don’t require employees to run your personal errands. Take care of your own personal business or hire an assistant.
30. Reward hard work. Make sure your employees feel valued for the work that they do. Employees will be more willing to put in extra effort if they know it’s noted and appreciated.
31. Provide motivation. Sometimes employees need a morale boost. Provide them with encouragement to get a project rolling.

Manage Yourself

Being a good manager isn’t just about what you can encourage other people to do, it’s also about managing your own performance.

32. Be accessible. Don’t hole up in your office all day — come out and visit with your employees. Let them know that they can always come to you with problems and concerns.
33. Be open to constructive criticism. It may not always be what you want to hear, but listening to constructive criticism gives you the chance to learn and grow from your mistakes.
34. Accept responsibility. Part of being the boss is accepting responsibility for the mistakes of all that you manage, not just your own.
35. Know there’s always room for improvement. No matter how good you think you are, your job can always be done better. Always be willing to learn.
36. Improve your skills. Learning is a lifelong process. You’re never too old to take a class or ask a co-worker to help you improve your knowledge.
37. Explain things simply. Don’t use big words or technical jargon just to sound smart and impress others. Your employees will understand and perform better if you explain simply and clearly what you need.
38. Instruct rather than order. You may be the boss, but you don’t have to be bossy. You’ll have more success if your requests are more tactfully delivered.
39. Include your staff in your plans. Don’t make your work top secret; let your employees know what’s going on and how they are expected to contribute.
40. Know your subordinates’ jobs. You don’t want to be caught with inferior job knowledge.
41. Be flexible. It’s fine to be firm in what you expect, but allow for flexibility in how it gets done.
42. Get regular feedback. Your employees and superiors can give you valuable feedback on how to improve your performance. Use this to your advantage.
43. Know your limitations. You can’t be everywhere doing everything all at once. Know the limits of your time and abilities and say no to things you know you can’t do.

Boosting Productivity

Getting the most out of your day can be difficult with a busy schedule, but you can use these tips to help you maximize your time in order to be better available to employees.

44. Get the most out of meetings. Be organized and prepared for meetings to increase effectiveness and time savings.
45. Focus your energy on things that matter. Don’t let trivial tasks take time away from things that are really important.
46. Identify your time-stealers. Everyone has little things that detract their attention and make them lose focus. Figure out what these are and work to eliminate them, if only for a few hours a day.
47. Be punctual. Being on time is a big deal. Never keep people waiting for appointments or meetings if you can help it.
48. Respond to your correspondence within a reasonable amount of time. You don’t have to be chained to your inbox, but make sure you respond to emails within a few hours whenever possible.
49. Do only what is necessary. There are times when going above and beyond works, but doing so on a daily basis can derail your progress on more important issues. Get the key things done first, then see if you have time for additional things.
50. Stick to schedules and routines. While they may not be the most exciting things, schedules and routines can help streamline and improve your productivity.
51. Organize and manage your schedule. Use any tools and utilities you have at your disposal to prioritize your day and keep track of what you need to get done.
52. Plan more than you think you can do. While this may sound stressful, it can actually be a great motivator. If you manage to get everything done, you’ll enjoy a great sense of achievement.
53. Get to work early on occasion. Sometimes an uninterrupted half hour in an unoccupied office can help you get key things done or allow you to plan your day before there are any distractions to slow you down.
54. Know that sometimes stress is good. While too much of anything, especially stress, can be bad, sometimes a little stress can be the motivation to get you moving, allowing you to get more done.
55. Do your least favorite tasks first. Get your most tedious and least desirable tasks out of the way earlier in the day. After that, everything else will be a breeze.

Managing Finances and Resources

Whether you’re a business owner or a manager, staying on top of tangible items is vital to success. These tips can help you keep track.

56. Set up a realistic budget. While it’s good to be optimistic, don’t plan for more spending than you know you can afford. Make sure you plan for emergencies and contingencies as well.
57. Save costs where they matter the most. Don’t just pinch pennies for the present. Make sure your savings will pay off in the long run. Compromising on quality might cost you later on in repairs and replacements.
58. Spend only when it’s necessary. Don’t spend if you don’t need to. Every bit you save goes toward your profit.
59. Find alternative sources of finance. Sometimes even successful businesses need a little help. Business loans and investors can help you through leaner times.
60. Stay true to your contracts. Not only will you gain the respect of your clients, you’ll also avoid legal battles that can be a serious financial drain.
61. Make sure employees are well compensated. Employees deserve to be rewarded for hard work. Make sure yours are well compensated for their time and they’ll be more productive and happier to come to work.
62. Learn to do more with less. Quality is much more important than quantity, so make what you have count.
63. Assign equipment wisely. While it might be nice for every employee to have a PDA, budgets often don’t allow for such conveniences. Make sure the employees that need tools the most have access to them.
64. Invest in solid technology. This doesn’t always mean the latest technology, but what your office needs to do work effectively.
65. Update when necessary. Using obsolete equipment and programs can really slow you down. Update when it makes sense so you won’t get left behind by competitors.
66. Don’t be wasteful. Every sheet of paper, paper clip and pen is a cost on your budget. Use materials wisely and don’t waste them out of haste or carelessness.

Communicating with Clients

Whether you’re a business owner or a manager carrying out a project, one thing is always the same: The client is dominant voice in decision-making. Learn to communicate with them effectively and you’ll set a good example for the people you supervise.

67. Remember that the customer is the boss. At the end of the day, your job is to make the customer happy. Act accordingly.
68. Differentiate your products. Don’t get lost in a sea of products and services like yours. Make sure you stand out from your competitors.
69. Retain customers as much as you recruit new ones. While you always want to bring in new business, it’s very important to maintain relationships with loyal customers.
70. Provide effective channels of communication. Make sure your clients can contact you easily and quickly if they have a problem, concern or question. They can also provide a valuable source of feedback.
71. Maintain customer data. Use this data to make your customers feel special by remembering occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. It’s also helpful for keeping track of purchasing preferences.
72. Segment your customers. Not all customers are alike. Divide your customers into groups that allow you to provide attention and services that meet each customer’s unique needs.
73. Provide effective after-sales services. Don’t let contact fall off after the work is complete. Make sure your client stays happy.
74. Listen attentively. Pay attention to exactly what clients are asking for to help you better meet their needs.
75. Don’t be afraid to say you don’t know. It’s OK not to know the answer to every question. It’s better to say you don’t know and get back to a customer than to try to bluff your way through a conversation and have to backtrack later.

Keep Up with Change

There is no way to stop the world from changing, so follow these tips to keep up and ahead of the game.

76. Don’t fight change. You can’t stop markets, trends and technology from changing, so learn to go with the flow.
77. Adopt a predictive managerial style. Don’t wait for things to happen to make a move. Anticipate problems and provide contingency plans.
78. Test your contingency plans. Waiting for disaster to strike is a dangerous way to find out if your emergency plans will hold. Test them out from time to time to fine-tune them and make sure they’re still relevant.
79. Identify the positives. Even the most negative changes can have positive aspects to them. Being able to identify and maximize them can help make adapting less painful.
80. Be quick to adapt. Learn to adapt to changing situations quickly and be able to change plans on the spur of the moment if the situation requires it.
81. Stay tuned to external factors. Your business is affected in many ways by outside factors. Keep abreast of these so you can anticipate any sudden market changes that would affect how you need to manage.
82. Put in place a Research and Development plan. Encourage innovation and creativity to stay ahead of the demand for newer and better products and services.
83. Keep an eye on the competition. Don’t let the competition get the best of you. Keep up-to-date with what they’re doing and use it to your advantage in managing your business.

Resolving Problems

Whether problems are internal or external, they can make your management duties a nightmare if you don’t handle them correctly. Here’s how to stay on top of them.

84. Stand up for employees. If other departments or managers are bearing down hard on your employees, stand up for them.
85. Fix what’s broken. Don’t waste time placing blame. Take care of fixing the problem before dealing with any possible repercussions.
86. Manage and control your emotions. Don’t let anger or frustration affect your problem resolution. If you are emotionally invested in a situation, cool down before discussing it or bring in an outside mediator.
87. Learn when to step in. Some problems might resolve themselves if you just let them be, but you need to be aware of times where you’ll need to step in and take control of a situation.
88. Take the blame. If you’ve made a mistake, fess up. It’ll give you more time to work on fixing the problem instead of talking your way out of taking the rap.
89. Get the facts first. Before you pass judgment on a situation, make sure you have the whole story. Listen to employees and refrain from questioning anyone’s integrity without first ensuring that you’ve gathered all the data.
90. Rise above the crisis. Learn to separate yourself from the problem and rise above the fray. You’ll be able to think more clearly and make a better decision on how to rectify the issue.
91. Don’t ignore problems. A small problem can easily snowball and become something much more difficult to fix.
92. Try to depersonalize problems. Let employees know that the problem isn’t with them but with their actions. Don’t make it personal.

Go Above and Beyond

Managing people isn’t just about getting the job done. To truly be a great leader, sometimes you need to go above and beyond what the job calls for.

93. Lead by example. You can talk until you’re blue in the face, but the best way to get a point across is to be the model to emulate. Let employees follow your lead.
94. Get your hands dirty. Sometimes you need to show your employees that no one’s above doing unattractive tasks.
95. Make a difference to your employees. Don’t just be a generic manager — stand out as a leader and role model for your employees.
96. Gain your employees’ trust and respect. You’ll have a much easier time managing employees when they respect your rules and boundaries and trust your leadership.
97. Be empathetic to personal problems. Whether it should or not, what happens outside of work can have a big affect on the quality of work produced. Be sensitive if employees have personal issues that keep them from concentrating on work.
98. Be unique as a manager. Every position demands something different and you should be proud to be adept at your particular role rather than trying to emulate other managers.
99. Remember that ethics matter above all. Be honest and reliable in all of your business and personal relationships.
100. Be on the lookout for new ideas. You never know where your next great inspiration will come from.
101. Get to know your employees. Learn more than just their names. Get to know your employees’ family backgrounds, likes and dislikes. Doing so will make you more personable.