6 Steps to Stop Procrastination When Job Hunting

6 Steps to Stop Procrastination When Job Hunting6 Steps to Stop Procrastination When Job HuntingStop procrastinating and get back to your job search with these six tips.Youve spent the last few months lounging around the house enjoying work-free days. Or maybe you just quit your job and are preparing to transition into something new. Whatever your reasons are for not being employed at the moment, sooner or later youll need to find a job.The problem is, once youve enjoyed time off, it gets a little bit harder to start looking for a job. Eventually you start putting off your search further and further until its absolutely necessary to take action.Looking for tips to reduce your time amongst the unemployed? Here are six steps to help you stop procrastinating when looking for a new job.1. Make your bedWhat does your bed have to do with looking for a job? On the surface, nothing. However, making your bed plays a vital role in your mindset for the day. Think about it a warm, rumpled bed lo oks so inviting you may just lie back down. And if you do, it will be easy for you to say five mora minutes again and again until it becomes Ill do it tomorrow. Avoid the entire procrastination ordeal altogether by simply making your bed when you get out of it. Youll be more likely to stay up and start being productive, as youve already completed your first task of the day.2. Treat the day like you would a normal work dayYouve made your bed, now whats next? Getting out of your pajamas and carrying out your morning routine like you would on a normal workday. Why? Because treating each day like a work day will get you one step closer to your first day at a new career. It doesnt matter if you dont even plan on leaving the house, getting dressed and properly groomed shows that you are ready to work.Having trouble finding the motivation to get back to productivity? Try creating a workplace feeling at home. Even if youre just going online to look for job opportunities, do it at a desk. No t in your bed. Not on your couch. Do it at a work desk or if you dont have one at home, your dining room table. If being at home is too much of a distraction, set up some place where youll have the best chance of success, such as a library or a caf.3. Create your plan of attackOne of the main reasons people tend to procrastinate finding a new position is because theyre unsure of what kind of job they want, or which companies theyd like to work for. Creating an outline of your job search strategy before you begin will help get things on the right track.Thoroughly plan out how you will go about your job search, outlining your career objectives and the necessary steps it will take to achieve your career goals. Be definite of what schriftart of work you want to do. Once you have that, determine which companies you know offer what youre looking for and then narrow that list down to companies you want to work for.4. Calendar your plan and stick to your scheduleYouve targeted the companies you want to apply to and listed all the tasks related to your job search. The next step is to ensure that things get moving as quickly as possible. Make a detailed calendar of your job search strategy with dates and times for all of your relevant tasks. For example, on Monday between 900am and 1200pm, you will update your resume. You could take a one hour lunch break and then apply to your target companies between 100pm until 500pm.Once your schedule is in place, stick to it. Try your hardest to minimize distractions. Remember, your job for the day and every day that youre still unemployed is to look for a new job.5. Be prepared with the necessary toolsAs with a regular work day, you have to be armed with the right tools for your job search if you want to be successful. Is today resume updating and job research day? Then make sure that your laptop and internet connection are working properly. Is today interview day? Then make sure that you are dressed appropriately and you have phy sical copies of your resume and other important documents ready.Having all the tools you need for your job hunt on hand will ensure that you do not lose your momentum and helps minimize distractions.6. Mark the tasks you have already doneRemember that calendar you made of your tasks? The one youre dutifully sticking to? Highlight or check off the tasks that youve already completed. Nothing motivates a person more than seeing that youve actually made headway on your career goals.So get up and get moving. New opportunities are waiting for you

How to Use Facebook to Find a Job

How to Use facebook inc to Find a JobHow to Use Facebook to Find a JobThe way employers find qualified candidates has been drastically revolutionized by the internet and social media over the past 5-7 years. Ads placed in a newspaper are no longer a pertinent way to search for a job. The internet certainly increased the range of ads but the numbers stayed relevantly the same until social media changed the whole playing field and became an amazing way for recruiters to tap into social groups comprised of their target demographic.Weve talked about using LinkedIn to search for a job but lets bedrngnis rule out Facebook. The worlds most popular social media site can provide your best access to companies looking for your specific talents. Especially Facebook groups that are specific to your career and following company pages for the industry leaders in your area. Joining a professional group on Facebook will provide insight about industry trends and hiring periods that might not be obviou s to other people.Because social media has become a popular source, businesses now simultaneously release job openings onto all of their social pages when they become available including Facebook.Note Make sure that if you are going to use Facebook to help you search for jobs and get leads, that your personal page reflects you as a professional, not as the party bro from UT Job recruiters need to see you as a potential job candidate A great way to do this is to create a public and a private Facebook account. Your friends and family have access to the private account so that you can interact with them on a personal basis and any job recruiters searching for you will only see the professional profile.Dont overlook other online sources for job searching, like industry leading blogs. These blogs keep you informed on changing trends, major company events (such as job fairs or get to know us networking events) and openings in their company that might present the perfect job opportunity. They are also a great way to anticipate what will happen with your future employer. You should also join their mailing list to stay one-step-ahead, just make sure their emails dont wind up in your spam accountBecause social media has become one of the most effective recruiting tools for employers, if you learn how to navigate the finer points of these platforms, you will definitely have a serious advantage over the competition searching for the same job

2 Quick Tips for Excellent Business Etiquette

2 Quick Tips for Excellent Business Etiquette2 Quick Tips for Excellent Business EtiquetteBusiness Etiquette tips1. Be polite, friendly, and courteous in emailsEmail communication is very different than verbal or written, and its really common to overlook the importance of having a professional but friendly email voice. We see emails that are entirely task-oriented, brief, and overall give a fairly abrupt feeling to the reader. Instead of getting right down to business, start off emails with a greeting as you would in person. Maybe ask a quick question about the recipients day, or a topic you recently discussed with them, and then after the email pleasantry you can dive into the professional reason for your email. Sign off with a Hope youre having a great day or some similar, friendly closing. This little bit of extra time spent can really benefit your professional relationships.2. Say thank you, and oftenIm a firm believer that you get what you give, and the mora gratitude you show to people who help you and your business ideas, the more youll get in return. Send thank-you notes to anyone who helps you along the way. Acts of gratitude are a good idea in and of themselves, and they have the bonus effect of helping you stay in touch with contacts for networking.These are just two quick tips, but there are loads more out there. What are your best tips for business etiquette? Please share in our comments, or tell us on Twitter and Facebook

Creating a Conference Planning Checklist

Creating a Conference Planning Checklist Creating a Conference Planning Checklist The Basic ElementsHere are the core elements to conference planning. It is crucial to make firm decisions about each point before any other steps can be taken.Conference committee. If the vorstellung will involve a large number of attendees and speakers, it is a good idea to delegate responsibilities for different areas to several motivated people. This way, no one person will be overloaded with work, and more resources will be available while organizing.Agenda. Carefully plan sessions around the conferences theme and objective. Prepare for problems such as missing or late speakers by organizing a few concurrent activities and keeping your organization flexible. Ask speakers for outlines of their presentations, which may be printed well in advance.Venue. Whenever possible, hold the event in the office space already available to the organization. Evaluate the following three considerations when decidin g whether an outside venue is necessaryBudget. Is there funding available for the events location? Costs can easily run over in other areas such as accommodation of speakers and last-minute equipment needs, so consider minimizing the location cost by avoiding certain dates or reserving space for a half-day when possible.Length. What will be the conferences duration? As a rule of thumb, shorter conferences pack more punch, so hold important sessions while the crowd has the most energy. Build in time for refreshments and movement to and from rooms between sessions.Attendance. Be sure to allow sufficient time for attendees to plan for the event. If a fee is involved, arrange for an easy online registration and payment system where possible.Commonly Overlooked ElementsWhile behauptung considerations may not necessarily be forgotten, they tend to be addressed later in the conference planning process than they should be, and cause unnecessary disruption.Contact person. Choose an organizer or committee member to be the go-to person for questions and other issues.Catering services. Avoid leaving refreshment arrangements for the last minute. A simple-sounding item like coffee is surprisingly difficult to serve in large quantities, so investing in service in this area will be worth the expense.Lodging. If the event is to be held at a hotel, plan well in advance to work out accommodations. Blocks of affordable rooms will be available to those who apply early.This checklist will go a long way to planning a conference that will run itself, allowing even the organizers to participate in the proceedings. A little effort early on during conference planning will spare a lot of hassle and anxiety closer to the event.

How to Tell Your Boss Youre Not Happy at Work - The Muse

How to Tell Your Boss Youre Not Happy at Work - The MuseHow to Tell Your Boss Youre Not Happy at Work In an ideal world, our jobs would be challenging, engaging, and rewarding all the time. But, as Im sure youre already aware, that isnt always the case. Sometimes this calls for a drastic change- like finding a new job- but otherbei times, it may just take a small tweak to get your career back on track to a more satisfying path.So, how, exactly does one do that? Well, one incredibly simple way thats worked well for me might surprise you Tell your babo youre bedrngnis happy. I know, it probably goes against everything youve ever been taught about moving ahead in your career, but take it from me, sometimes bosses have no idea their employees arent totally loving their work. And, if you do it right, both you and your boss will thank you for speaking up. Heres how to do it.Make a ListI love lists. They help organize your thoughts, and they provide a nice outline for tough discussions. I f ound them especially helpful a few years ago, when I decided to approach my boss to let her know I welchesnt totally loving my work. Id been working for the company for a few years and had loved my job until our company started to go through several major mergers. I knew part of my dissatisfaction was related to the mergers, but I couldnt quite put my finger on what it was. My job description hadnt changed, and I wasnt working unreasonably long hours, so it was hard to place what was wrong. So, I started jotting down everything, big or small, that made me twitch each day, for about a week. When I reviewed my list, some things immediately popped out at me. I was now working with a new group, which was located in a different time zone, and because we had certain deadlines to meet, I noticed I wasnt going to the gym or taking lunches as often as I used to. Other things werent quite so obvious- at least to me- which ended up being really useful when the time came to chat with my boss. O nce youve done that, its time toPlan a MeetingNo boss likes to hear a laundry list of whats wrong with the job or the company. So, chances are, if you simply present your list of does not like, your boss will view it as complaints or demands he or she cant meet.So, after jotting down your list, its a good idea to make a new one for your discussion with your boss. Review your grievances, see if there are any themes that pop out, and summarize them into agenda items. For example, if youre always eating lunch at your desk or constantly cancelling plans with friends because youre stuck working late, put maintaining a healthy work-life balance as one of the points youd like to discuss. Whenever possible, try to frame your list in positive terms, and from a perspective of solutions rather than simply complaints (more on that in a bit). Once you have your list tidied up, its time to call that meeting. Now, you might be tempted to rush over to your boss and tell him or her you want to talk. But trust me, if you dont want your boss to go into crisis mode, do not do this. Bosses are hard-wired to think somethings terribly wrong whenever an employee approaches them and says, theres something Id like to talk to you about. Instead, find a smooth segue by approaching your manager immediately after a team meeting or after chatting over coffee in the break room. Say you have some ideas on improving your turnaround time on a project, or boosting morale around here, you would like his or her input, and youd love to schedule a time to chat. Now, your boss is primed to not only hear your ideas, but to share his or her own, as well.When you sit down for the conversation, I recommend one of three approaches1. Suggest a SolutionHow you tell your boss youre feeling blas about work is a delicate matter. You dont want to come across as overly negative, but you also dont want to sugarcoat your dissatisfaction, either. So, a great way to approach the conversation is to pair your concerns with suggestions on how to solve them in a way thats mutually beneficial. For example, if your lunch hour has been hijacked by a meeting with the team in London, mention to your boss that having the meeting an hour earlier might help keep the team focused, as everyone wont be watching the clock as their stomachs growl, and the London team wont have to stay so late. Keep the focus on what you can do to improve the situation. Your boss will appreciate the thoughtfulness of your suggestions (and, um, hopefully get the message that your much-needed lunch hour is being sacrificed).2. Solicit AdviceNot totally sure how to solve the problem? Thats OK- you can use the meeting as an opportunity to ask your boss for advice. Lets say, for example, you cant stand working with Bob in accounting due to his terrible dental hygiene habits. Mention youre having some challenges working with Bob, and ask for suggestions on how you can manage the relationship better. Fill your boss in on the tactics y ouve already tried, but didnt seem to work (like suggesting to Bob that email communication works better for you for record-keeping purposes), then ask to brainstorm a few more ideas. The idea is to make your boss aware of the situation so he or she can help you find a solution, not to grouse about Bobs bad breath.3. Ask for HelpThis one might sound tough, but sometimes thats exactly what you need- especially if youre not exactly sure whats getting you down on the job. Let your manager know youre not feeling as engaged as you have been previously, and youd like his or her help getting your groove back. Mention your list, and get the conversation going about what youve noticed around the office and with your role. Keep the discussion as positive as possible, making sure the focus is not on the fact that youre unhappy, but that youre trying to get back on top again. Your boss will appreciate the commitment, and after chatting with you for a while, he or she will have some insight on w hat motivates you- or doesnt- and will be better equipped to help guide you back to a happy place.None of us love our jobs all the time, but if you arent into it most of the time, that usually spells trouble. Getting to the bottom of whats irking you at work isnt easy, but with some careful reflection and honest discussions with your boss, youll hopefully find yourself falling back in love with your work.

What Everybody Dislikes About San Diego Resume Service and Why

What Everybody Dislikes About San Diego Resume Service and Why The Good, the Bad and San Diego Resume Service In addition to supplying education and advice tailored to suit our clients financial needs, you will be in a position to take ownership of your own career development through many different cross-training opportunities and business support. If youre interested in purchasing a research proposal, youve come to the perfect location. Go with Top resume writing services which offers you the very best in the industry. Its extremely important to read carefully essay services reviews, because you wish to prevent low high quality services. What You Need to Do About San Diego Resume Service Beginning in the Next Nine Minutes The program is totally free and simple. The password hacker computer software applications tools are offered in number on the marketplace. Well, its not just an audio download application. 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Organizing Office Events - Spark Hire

Organizing arbeitszimmer Events - Spark HireOrganized office events are never going to be looked forward to by everybody, unless of course its an all-expense paid trip to Burma, but they are still important to have around the office. While some may not admit it, they are soothing and offer a relaxed environment for their duration. Office events are a nice little break, but they are not always appropriate to have.One of the biggies when considering whether or not to create an office event is the work schedule of the people in the office. Office events take up a lot of work hours so you have to keep time management in mind when planning them. If it is crunch time and one team has been crunching down to get a project finished, consider moving the event to next week just so they can participate too. It is an office so you need to take into consideration time management so that an office event doesnt impede anything. Time management is essential to the success of a company so you should m ake sure to take this into consideration.Also, make sure to know what is happening around the office if someone just lost a relative it might not be the best time for a pizza party. Wait a little bit and give them some time to recover before throwing them into forced social situations.Heres another tip make sure to get as many employees involved from as many different parts of the company. Its a good way to get people talking to others they normally wouldnt get a chance to meet and itll help the eager employees let the top executives know they exist. While youre hoping these events are fun social gatherings, a lot of employees will binnensee these as opportunities to rub elbows with the higher ups, and thats a good thingAside from boosting morale, celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, giving people free pizza, and providing a chance for someone to give an awkward speech, office events are the perfect opportunity for people to intermingle within the office. The main goal of them s hould be to strengthen interoffice relations.If you adhere to the above rules, taking special note of the time management section, you should have no problem planning a successful office event.Have you organized a recent office event? Did you take any special considerations into account prior to planning? Share with us in the commentsImage monkeybusinessimages/BigStock.com

United States Military Travel Rates

United States Military Travel RatesUnited States Military Travel RatesMilitary members who travel on official duty (either temporary duty travel or permanent change of station), can request mileage reimbursement for their travel by personally owned conveyance (POC), instead of a government purchased an airline ticket. This offers flexibility in scheduling but the reimbursement process can be a bit convoluted and vary depending on whether your travel is for temporary duty (TDY) or a permanent change of station (PCS). Its best to verify what the tarifs are before you travel to ensure that the cost and potential wait time for reimbursement are worth it. Temporary Duty (TDY) Travel For both uniformed personnel as well as DoD civilian personnel, there are some rules dealing with POC use if travel by POC is not in the Governments interest (namely limits on payment). The best rule of thumb is that the method of travel needs to be specifically mentioned in your orders if you wish to be a ssured of reimbursement. Uniformed personnel may request (or commands may provide) actual expense reimbursement instead of the mileage for TDY travel. Under federal law, TDY mileage rates are based on cost data collected by the General Services Administration (GSA), and even then, the TDY mileage rate can never be higher than the rate allowed by the Internal Revenue Service. In addition to the mileage rates, military personnel members receive a per diem for each day of travel. The per diem amount is separate from the travel reimbursement and is paid separately. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Travel Rates for PCS travel, known as MALT (Monetary Allowance instead of Transportation), are different (lower) than TDY travel. It is because TDY travel rates are specifically designed to reimburse the military the member for traveling on official duty. The MALT/PCS mileage rates do not reflect the price of gasoline. TDY mileage rates, on the other hand, are based on the costs to operat e a vehicle (gasoline, insurance, etc.) and are intended to reimburse the expense of using a POC for the official government travel. Remember, the reimbursement rate is based on a per car calculation, not per person. In addition to the mileage rates, military personnel and their dependents receive a per diem for each day of travel. Generally, 1 day of travel time is allowed for every 350 miles of official distance of ordered travel. If the excess is 51 miles or more after dividing the total number of miles by 350, one additional day of travel time is allowed. When the total official distance is 400 miles or less, 1 days travel time is allowed. When traveling via commercial airline (or other means of travel such as bus or train), theper diem for the member is computed under lodgings plus at the rate for the new permanent duty station, or the rate for the delay point if the member stops overnight. Per diem for the dependents is 3/4 of the members applicable rate for each dependent 12 years old or older and 1/2 of the members rate for each dependent under 12 years.

6 Ways to Keep Your Customers Loyal

6 Ways to Keep Your Customers Loyal6 Ways to Keep Your Customers LoyalIf your competitors are trying to grow new business, its almost inevitable that some of them will start sniffing around your customers, trying to lure them away. Unless you take a few precautions, you could find yourself losing your customer base before you even know whats happened. 01Stay in TouchJose Luis Pelaez Inc/Blend Images/Getty ImagesHow often do you pick up the phone and call your existing customers? Almost certainly leid as often as you should. Yes, it takes time away from other sales activities,but think of the five minutes you spend talking to your best customer as customer insurance.As a rule, the more important your customer is, the more frequent your check-ins should be, but dont neglect any of your customers. Youre also not just limited to using the phone email and even snail mail can be great ways to maintain contact.02Add ValueWhen you call up those customers, dont just say hi. Always try to find a way to offer something of value. It could be a fact youve uncovered thats relevant to your customers business. It could be a news article thats appeared recently that somehow relates to your customer or a suggestion youve come up with on how to maximize the return theyd get using the product theyve already bought from you.If a customer starts thinking of you as a valuable resource over and above what your product does, theyre far less likely to drop you for a competitor.03Build IntelligenceAsk your customers to let you know after theyve been approached by a competitor. If you have a good relationship with the customer, you can just request it as a favor.For new or very major customers, consider offeringsome kind of bonus, like a discount on their next purchase or a freemium of some kind.Once your customers are in the habit of telling you about any poaching attempts, not only will you have a much better chance to salvage the relationship, but youll have an excellent opportunity to spy on your competitors strategies.04Become a ResourceThe more you know about your product and the related industry or industries, the more valuable you can be for your customers. Encourage them to ask you questions, and if you dont know the answer, find out.This will make your relationship with them much stickierbecause even if theyre tempted to ditch your product, theyll hesitate to lose you as a source of information.Build up your knowledge base by reading industry-related books and magazines and by mining information from coworkers in customer tafelgeschirr departments.05CounterattackIf a particular competitor has been approaching or stealing your customers, its time to turn the tables. Go after that competitors customers, and youre likely to distract him from poaching and turn them instead to guarding their own accounts.Once youve built an intelligence network with your own customers, youll be able to launch attacks on competitors at the first sign of poaching so you canstop t hem before they really get started.06Prepare for Price WarsWhen a competitor gets serious about building new business, theyll often start by dropping prices to ridiculously low levels. Be ready to respond to such undercutting as quickly as you can.Providing extra value will help you to lay the groundwork and at least get your customers to think twice before they jump ship.When the inevitable happens and a customer calls to say that Company X is offering them a super price, you need to have a list of reasons on hand why your product is ?still a better deal.

9 ways to get a more fulfilling nights sleep starting now

9 ways to get a more fulfilling nights sleep starting now9 ways to get a more fulfilling nights sleep starting nowFeeling as though youve woken up on the wrong side of the bed and the hustle and bustle of your commute is more of a bug-bare than normal? If you get even a couple of hours less sleep than usual, then this could be a reason why youre feeling more grumpy,according to research from the Iowa State University.To prevent feeling cranky and having a shorter fuse try and include these health tips into your daily routine, to help you get a fulfilling nights sleep1. Night sweats are not to be ignoredIf you find yourself waking with night sweats you want to be clear whether you have woken because you are sweating, or if you have woken up and then started to sweat. If the sweat wakes you up then you may be having a menopausal night sweat and should look into ways of reducing this, such as eating healthy foods little and often. However, if you wake and then you start to sweat, or get other symptoms like palpitations, or just feel wide awake then this is most likely caused by an adrenaline surge because your blood sugar has dropped during the night.If this is the case, then its important to keep your blood sugar in balance during the day.One way you can help do this is by having a small snack of complex carbohydrates, such as an oatcake, half a slice of wheat or rye bread, about an hour before bed. This will stop your blood sugar dropping overnight, and prevent adrenaline from being released into your bloodstream and causing you to wake,recommendsDr. Marilyn Glenville, author ofThe Natural Health Bible for Women.2. Take musiknote of timingsKeep to a sleep routine, if possible setting your alarm to wake you up at the same time each day, regardless of the time you finally frage asleep. It is also a good idea to TRY and be in bed by 10pm although this is not always easy3. Use relaxation or visualisation techniquesIf you find that your mind will not shut off then y ou need to retrain it to calm down as you go to bed. Sometimes the easiest way to do this, especially if you have an active mind, or are a worrier, is to get your mind to think of something else.Take yourself off to a wonderful beach, or a beautiful garden, and let all your senses become involved. Hear the sounds on that beach, smell the flowers in the garden, feel the sand through your toes, picture the blue sky and really make the place come alive. Each night that you do this, you will find that the time it takes to go to sleep will get shorter and shorter because going to this beautiful place signals to your brain that this is the time for sleep,explains Dr. Marilyn Glenville.4. Stay clear of a restful nights sleep by eating broccoliWhy not make it part of your new years resolution to include sleep-friendly foods in your diet? We recommend eating meals containing steamed broccoli that is not only packed with B vitamins, which are essential to support your brain health, but brocco li is also rich in tryptophan, which plays a key role in creating serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter thats associated with sleepand melatonin levels (a hormone that controls your sleep-wake cycles).5. Soothing smellsWhen you go to bed feeling relaxed youre more likely to fall asleep easily and quickly. Dr Marilyn Glenville suggests incorporating scented oils into your bedtime routine.Try using aromatherapy oils such as bergamot, lavender, roman chamomile and marjoram in a warm bath, just before bed. A few drops of lavender oil on your pillow at bedtime can also help.6. Up your magnesiumMagnesium is known as natures tranquiliser as it helps to relax our muscles, which in turn can help us fall into a peaceful sleep.Try and include plenty of magnesium-rich foods in your diet such as, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, fish and leafy green vegetables. Id also recommend taking KalmAssure Magnesium Powder, by Natures Plus (24.50,www.naturesplus.co.uk). This is a naturally chelated magne sium which means it is very easy to absorb and easily delivered to the tissues,explains Nutritionist Cassandra Barns.7. Write things downWrite down what you need to do the next day at least an hour before bed. The aim is to stop the dialogue in your head which can end up stopping you from getting off to sleep, or else waking you up in the middle of night remembering something that has to be done the next day.8. Cut out the night capYou might think that enjoying a glass of wine before bed is one of the easiest ways to get to the land of nod, but it could actually leave you waking up feeling less than refreshed. Dr. Marilyn Glenville explains,Avoid alcohol. Not only does it affect blood sugar levels causing adrenaline and cortisol to be released, but it also blocks the transport of tryptophan into the brain. Tryptophan is important because it is converted into serotonin, the calming and relaxing neurotransmitter.9. Keep your bedroom comfortable and restfulPay attention to the temperat ure in your room and make sure its not too warm and not too cold. Cooler is better than warmer. Keep the room restful a quiet, dark, cool environment sends signals to your brain that it is time to wind down. Invest in a good bed If your bed or mattress is uncomfortable or more than ten years oldit may need replacing.This article was originally published on YourCoffeeBreak.