Have you been affected by the recession? I surely have, and so have most of us, right? Our economy has gone through some pretty startling changes in the last year or two.

I believe that how we react to these changes will determine whether we prosper or fail, as individuals, and as a nation. Will you wave the white flag and hope that better days are coming, or will you adapt and overcome? I choose the latter. Whether you call it a “down-turn”, “recession”, “slow-down”, or even the dreaded “DEPRESSION”, the truth is that it is up to you to use our changing economy as an opportunity to excel.

Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid.

We’ve all been hearing it in the media. Every other commercial is advertising a “recession proof” this, or a “beat the slow-down” that. The television news has been falling all over themselves covering the recession ad nauseum. If you listened to all this hype you might believe the world was coming to an end. It isn’t.

It’s hard to find quality information on the news these days. What you can easily find is infinite quantities of spin and hype. Don’t focus on the gloom and doom, sensationalist reporting. Stay positive, even if times have gotten tough. You’ll be fine, but you’re probably going to have to make a few changes.

Do Something Different.

The other day, a friend was telling me about his woes. “I’m a union carpenter, and I haven’t worked in six months. I’ve never seen it this bad”, he says. I got the sense that this man was prepared to wait another six months, or more, for things to get better.

In the meantime there are other union carpenters – smarter, more industrious ones who are already making their moves. They are becoming entrepreneurial, and going into business for themselves. They aren’t going to sit and wait for the union to save them, they are going to make things happen now. These are the kinds of folks who will prosper through difficult and changing times while others shake their heads and blame “the recession”.

Diversify:

When money gets tight, we need to re-think our business model. Say, for example, your hours have been cut. You went from 40 to 30 hours per week. It is probably time to find a source of supplemental income. Pick a skill or a talent that you have and market it.

Say, for example, you play the guitar. If you’ve been at it for a while, then you probably have knowledge and information that is worth money. Put an ad on Craigslist, or something similar, and start giving guitar lessons. Get yourself a few good customers and you’ll be right back where you were in terms of income, and you’ll be doing something different and presumably more enjoyable in the process.

If you’re not sure what to do, then make a list of your skills. We all have them – things like: gardening, tennis, piano, second language, computer, etc. Now put a possible way to earn money next to each skill. Go from there, and you’ll be on your way to leveraging your individual skills to earn extra cash.

Most of us believe that we have made something out of ourselves through hard work, and smart decision making. In this country we have to earn what we have. We aren’t born entitled, and there are no free rides. The economy has made some pretty tough circumstances for most of us. Nobody is denying that, but, it is important to recognize that we are dealing with exactly that – circumstances.

I will never surrender and become a victim of circumstance. We will all persevere and meet these challenges as long as we keep things in their proper perspective. Tune out the hype and negativity, get back to the basics of hard work and opportunism. Let the tough times weed out the defeatists, and we and our economy will come through this recession stronger than ever.

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The practice of networking is one of those essential elements of life we often take for granted, since we do it naturally. Essentially, I see networking as connecting with people, exchanging ideas, and building relationships. Since early man, networking has been a practical tool for forming alliances with others to trade and share resources. Today networking can be a business marketing tool or a way for people to connect for social purposes.

I know some businesses that use networking as their exclusive marketing vehicle. It’s a highly effective way for people to build relationships for mutual benefit to either do business directly or to refer business. We’ve all heard the saying, “it’s not what you know but who you know.” Well, networking gives us an opportunity to meet those who can be influential to our business. And I’m sure you’ve also heard that people like to do business with people they “know, like, and trust.” Through networking, you can build the “know, like, and trust” factor as you meet and work with people on an ongoing basis.

Socially, people network to meet others with similar interests whether for friendships or romantic relationships. You might be looking for a tennis partner, so you would network at an open house at the local gym or tennis club. Maybe you need a bridge player for your group, so you send out the message across your networks. Single people network to meet compatible dating partners or new friends to share activities with.

Until recently, networking has been the exclusive domain of the real world. That is, we network at clubs, Chambers of Commerce, restaurants, bookstores, gyms, or wherever we expect to find the kinds of people we’re looking for. Today, however, the Internet has all but taken over the domain of networking.

Take for example, MeetUp.com. Here you can find a group that meets just about any interest you have, whether personal or professional. From arts, entertainment, games, and hobbies to personal growth, business building, health and fitness, there’s a MeetUp group for you. It’s all free and although the groups meet locally, you do all your searching online and get your invitations in your email.

Then of course, you’ll find the majority of networking online is done through the social media or social networking sites, like MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Almost everyone who is online is familiar with at least one of these sites. MySpace launched around 10 years ago and was strictly for personal use–although some businesses do have a MySpace page. Imagine connecting with former classmates you haven’t seen for 20 years. Or making “friends” with people all over the globe living in places you may never visit.

Because of the huge popularity of the early social sites, business networking sites jumped in to take business networking online. No more chicken dinners at your local Chamber of Commerce. No more dressing in suits and high heels. Now you can meet your clients, prospects, and business associates without leaving the comfort of your office. LinkedIn, Plaxo Pulse, FastPitch, gibLink, and Facebook all allow members to do business online. Although Facebook began as a site for college students, it diversified as businesses joined in to make the most of its expansive network.

I see one of the primary advantages of online networking as being able to target who you want to meet, and having a huge pool of people to meet from all over the world. You not only save time but money, since most sites are free to join. Instead of the time it takes to get dressed, drive to a destination, and shake hands or have drinks with a number of people before meeting anyone of value for your purposes, in 15 minutes a day, you can make valuable connections quickly and easily. That is, once you get the hang of it and find the right sites and the right way to navigate them. Here are some tips to help improve your online networking efforts.

1. Select the best sites for your purpose.

Find the sites that meet your social or business needs. Don’t waste time on sites that are not what you’re looking for, and don’t sign up on too many sites. You won’t be able to keep up with more than a couple of sites. For the best results stick to a few top sites and work them actively.

2. Get familiar with all the features of each site.

Most sites have similar features such as a profile, a directory, classified ads, forums, groups, and more. With social sites you can search for people with similar interests, in your local area, or just do random searches for interesting people. With business sites, you can build your list of “friends” who may be prospects, clients, or business associates, start a group or join a group in your industry, announce events, and chat in forums. Some business sites like gibLink allow promotion and with others you need to be more subtle. As you familiarize yourself with the features, you’ll find the ones that work best for you.

3. Find time to check in regularly.

Even 15 minutes per day can keep you up to date with your online networking. Respond to friends’ requests and messages, check the chat boards, upload an event, or post a message to your group. If you don’t log in for weeks at a time, you lose the momentum that it takes to build relationships. You’ll build stronger relationships by being active, responsive, and helpful. Eventually your efforts will yield results–new friends or new business, or both!

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Today, however, networking encompasses not only those types of venues, but tons of online networking sites.

I believe MySpace was the first to create a vast networking website where people all over the world could connect at the click of a mouse. It was soon followed by other “social networking” or “social media” sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, FastPitch, Plaxo Pulse, Merchant Circle, Plurk, and Twitter.

If your head is spinning at all these new networking opportunities, you’re not alone. Many of my coaching clients tell me they feel overwhelmed by the increasing number of opportunities to network online. All kinds of issues come up, including safety, value, time, and more. What I usually suggest is factor networking–both online and offline–into your overall marketing plan with just a few well-chosen selections.

I recommend visiting some of the different groups that meet in your neighborhood to determine which ones best meet your objectives. Then do the same online. If you dedicate a few weeks to do this research and selection process, you’ll move out of overwhelm into a nice rhythm where you can always be networking–but without the stress.

Why should you always be networking? Here are some sound reasons:

1. Keep your business in front of your prospects.

I think people have short-term memories, especially with so much going on in their lives. If you aren’t in front of them–either visually or virtually–they might forget you. Someone might meet you but they’re not ready to take action. If you never show up again, they might meet someone else when they are ready. Attending live meetings, of course, is more time consuming than online networking, so just mix it up.

2. Build your brand.

As you show up at networking venues, people will become familiar with your “brand.” Whether I meet people at live events or online, they rarely forget “Slow Down Fast.” It’s a memorable brand I display wherever I network. Your brand may be your name, your company name, or your tagline. Just remember to be consistent in expressing that same brand, whatever you choose, wherever you network.

3. Stay ahead of the competition.

Of course you are unique and there’s no one else who does what you do the way you do it. But people who don’t know you, don’t know that. Networking helps you see what your competition is up to. There may even be a possibility for some referrals. Check out your competition at meetings and online sites. Also, take a look in industry forums where you can also keep an eye on your competitors.

4. Have consistency in your marketing.

To be most effective, marketing needs to be consistent. After you’ve done your research and selected the groups you want to associate with, show up regularly. You might want to join one or two real time events like one Chamber and one professional group. That means going to their meetings, maybe even volunteering on their board, and putting your profile up on their website. For the online networking sites, I suggest choosing no more than two that you will frequent on a regular basis, perhaps once a week. Consistency and focus have been proven time and again to be most effective in getting results from your marketing.

5. Build solid, long-term relationships.

A lot of business people make the mistake of going to a networking event thinking they will come home with a few clients or at least some strong leads. Most expert networkers say that the value of networking comes in the building of relationships. And those take time. But are they ever worth it!!! When people begin to “know, like, and trust” you, they will not only do business with you, but they will send you lots of referrals. This can only happen when you’ve developed a relationship over a period of time. That’s why you need to always be networking.

6. Stay current with trends.

One of the best ways to stay current in your industry and in the world of networking is by showing up. I remember one of my coaching clients telling me she had been on LinkedIn online for some time, but nothing was happening. Then some member formed a local group and the live LinkedIn meeting was in her area. By showing up at the live meetings, she was able to network with other successful business people and learn new trends from the guest speakers. Presently, there are a lot of teleclasses and other events teaching people all about online networking, also called Web 2.0. So keep learning so you don’t get left behind!

As you implement these tips to your online and offline networking, you’ll experience great success and have a lot of fun too!

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Now you’re grown… and, just like your parents taught you, if you’re attending a party, you bring something. The same is true for business networking – whether it’s in person at a convention hall, or online at a forum that you drop by regularly to participate in the discussions.

Did you ever notice… not everyone who networks for business remembers to “bring something to the party?” And that’s too bad, because those of us who’ve gained clients and product sales via networking know that “giving without expectation” is the real way to gain a following.

Maybe you’ve heard of the Law of Attraction. LOA states that whatever you put into circulation will grow. In other words: it’s all about investments, or what you put in.

Networking is an investment. It’s a gift of your knowledge, your time, and your attention, that comes back to you tenfold over time.

Now, of course you can’t bring a covered dish to a networking event. But there are things that you CAN contribute — gifts to give that will bring you return on investment for your effort:

You can bring your expertise – so that other people can benefit from your teachings.
You can bring your questions - so that others may share what they know.
You can bring an open mind - so that you may learn from another person’s point of view.
You can bring YOURSELF - so that people may get a genuine picture of who you are, what you stand for, and why they might want to do business with you in the future.

Let’s say you’re an electrician, and in your networking travels you come across a person who’s purchased an older home. They want to know if they should upgrade to a higher voltage system.

Your choices are, a. Share with them the truth about what you know, and include details – basically giving away your “trade secrets.” Or, b: Pass them a “virtual business card” and tell them to call you for a quote.

Now, many people would likely choose option b., which is pass the card. But that’s the wrong way to go about it. Why? You’ve brought something, right?

Wrong. Bringing your card is not an investment of your time, knowledge, or expertise. Granted, it’s better than nothing… but a business card alone is not going to help you get known. First, the gesture is self-serving, not other-people serving, which is what you should strive for if you want to become known in your field. Second, while your card may look professional… it doesn’t differentiate you from every other electrician in the crowd.

In a gathering of 50 people, the electrician who takes the time to explain what he knows, point by point, may get 20 people who miss what he said, 20 people who understand what he said but don’t do anything, 8 people who attempt to do what he said on their own, and 2 people who decide to do business with him.

But the thing is: the one who makes the effort will be the one who is REMEMBERED in the crowd. And those two people will tell two people. And so on… and so on. Sure, the electician may not get a swarm of new prospects overnight. But the truth is that people remember other people who share with them, listen to them, and treat them well.

Unfortunately, most networking I’ve been exposed to is all about “What’s in it for me?” And that kind of networking just doesn’t fly in the Information Age!

Whether it’s a bottle of wine for the host and hostess, a dish to pass at a company party, or spending the time to get to know others at a networking event… Bring something! It’s especially important to bring YOURSELF.

Find out what people do/need so that you can be of real service to them instead of forcing yourself and your services on them.

One of the greatest gifts we can give others is our undivided attention. Take a genuine interest in others. Listen. See if there’s a way you can help.

NEWSFLASH: I’ve added another chapter to my life by joining C.A.S.T. Recovery, a Los Angeles based outpatient drug rehab program which specializes in designing highly individualized recovery plans with appropriate professionals to support a client’s health, accountability, and success.

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Well, go ahead and take a big sigh of relief because I have some good news to share with you. Even though we’re going through a bit of a rough spot doesn’t mean you just have to throw up your hands and deal with it. Learn how to build your own wealth in a bad economy–and realize that it’s about more than what shows on your resume. Take matters into your own hands and take action now.

Start a side business

You’ve always dreamed of being your own boss. And while now may not be the time to quit your job and go 100% on your own, it may be the time to start a side business. It’ll allow you to pursue your dream and make a little extra money while you’re doing it. You’re probably thinking, start a new business when so many businesses are failing? Yes, you heard me right. Think about it for a moment. Even in a bad economy, there are opportunities to be had and you have to grab them. It comes down to the basic supply and demand rule, so think about how you may be able to benefit from a bad situation.

Maybe you’re a marketing manager. In this economy, one of the first cutbacks that a company makes tends to be their marketing department. Fortunately for you, these companies still have to market their products and services. They just can’t afford to employ the marketing people full-time, plus benefits, plus, plus, plus. So what about becoming a marketing consultant to these companies? It’s a win-win. They need marketing services and you have marketing services to offer. You may make enough money on the side to put it all into savings and investments. You may even find that it is lucrative enough to take it full-time.

Take a minute to think about your talents. Then take a minute to think about how you can profit from these talents.

Lower your spending

We all spend frivolously at some point in our lives. Do you really need a Starbucks every day? Or is it really necessary to spend $200 a month eating out at restaurants? The answer to both questions is no. One of the easiest ways to build your wealth is to stop spending it all! Keep tracking of your spending for one month. Then go line-by-line on your spending sheet and see where you can cut. You may find a couple hundred extra dollars, a few thousand dollars, or 20 extra dollars. Whatever the amount, start socking that money away instead of wasting it. And don’t mistake cutting back your spending for giving up living, either. There are plenty of free and low cost ways to entertain yourself and fill your coffee fix (or whatever fix you have).

Don’t make your exit from the stock market… stay calm

If you have money invested in the stock market, the odds are good that you’ve seen it decrease in the past year or so. This is not the time to panic, sell off all your investments, and start stashing money under your mattress. Panic sell-offs are just making a bad situation worse. The market is cyclical and goes up and down. Your wealth will go back up when the market goes back up–and eventually it WILL go back up. This is not to say that you should just sit back and watch your money disappear either. Evaluate your investments once a year and make necessary changes to watch your money grow. Now may be the perfect time to invest in a company that was too expensive before. It’s kind of like the stock market is having a sale. You can get into investments at bargain basement prices.

Even when times are rough, you can take action and turn the bad times into good ones for you. It’s not always about running off and getting a new job to increase your income and increase your wealth. Sometimes it’s about creatively thinking of ways that you can take advantage of the bad economy and turn it into a positive for you.

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We are told to strive for unattainable lifestyles and to model ourselves after unrealistic, airbrushed models.

Sometimes you need to step back from this virtual reality and ponder what life is really about. Will that Mercedes or those anti-anxiety medications really make you happier, or are they only temporary solutions to deeper issues? Examine these five myths about how you should be living your life and start living the way you want to live.

Myth 1: Material Things Prove Your Worth

Someone once said, “One reason it’s so hard to save money is that our neighbors are always buying something we can’t afford.” Keeping up with the Joneses is certainly no way to live, and the desire to do so stems from a belief that material things prove your worth. Extravagant clothing, houses, and cars oftentimes serve as status symbols in today’s society, but when it comes down to it, what you have in your heart and mind is worth much more than what you’ve got in your wallet. Furthermore, comparing yourself financially to your friends and family will only cause envy and strife. Remember that while luxuries may be enjoyable, they don’t make you who you are.

Myth 2: You Should Always Take an Expert’s Opinion at Face Value

How many times have you taken your car in for a simple oil change, only to be told you need hundreds of dollars worth of repairs in other areas? Have you taken the mechanic’s word for it and shelled out the cash or gone in for a second opinion elsewhere? We tend to rely on experts for advice, whether they are doctors, lawyers, financial consultants, or repairmen, but you can’t forget that even though they are experts, they still don’t know everything. You always retain the power to do your own research or seek out another form of advice. You may find that separate individuals offer different yet complementary opinions that allow you to shape a more informed decision on the issue you are having.

Myth 3: When in Doubt, Medicate

It’s hard to make it through a 2-minute commercial break without seeing an advertisement for some sort of prescription drug. The prescription drug industry has exploded in the past decade, and Zoloft, Prozac, and Ritalin are now part of most Americans’ vocabulary. While there is something to be said for the positive benefits medications have to offer, they are certainly not quick fix on the road to happiness. Before asking your doctor about the latest mood-altering drug you saw on television or in a magazine, consider seeking therapy and using self-improvement strategies to alter your moods instead. Even if prescription drugs are a feasible option for your treatment plan, it’s important to remember that they are not a cure-all. Healing takes time and a repertoire of varying strategies in order to truly come about.

Myth 4: It’s Hip to Be Forever Young

The world today is filled with Peter Pans – adults who don’t want to grow up. Whether they are lacking in emotional maturity or in wrinkles, growing old has become a faux pas for a lot of people. Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s great to feel young at heart and to be physically fit, but it’s possible to do so and still age gracefully. Aging with class involves learning from your past. What’s the point of a life long-lived if you want to act like a child and look like one, too? Gray hair, laugh lines, and a cultivated point of view are things to be embraced, not shunned.

Myth 5: You Can Do It All

Society tends to tell us that multitasking and the ability to juggle lots of things at once is a good thing, but when you have too many things in the air, something is bound to get dropped. Ambition is a good thing, but you have to know when enough is enough. Yes, it’s possible to be a wife, a mother, a businesswoman, and the best baker at the church bazaar, but it’s also okay to say no when your best friend asks you to help her plan a charity gala. When you take on more than you can handle, the quality of your projects often suffers. Don’t feel pressured to be a yes-man. Even the best of us can’t do it all.

There are so many self-improvement blogs, magazines, and websites out there these days, everyone has an opinion on the way you should be living your life. It’s important not to focus on the myths flooding the media but to analyze your situations carefully and live the way that is right for you.

NEWSFLASH: I’ve added another chapter to my life by joining C.A.S.T. Recovery, a Los Angeles based national outpatient drug rehab program which specializes in designing highly individualized recovery plans with appropriate professionals to support a client’s health, accountability, and success.

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With the onset of Blogging and Social Networks such as MySpace and Facebook, the word “transparency” has become akin to revealing all in public. Sometimes casually referred to as “over sharing,” early bloggers talked about everything including their deepest, most private feelings. Photos were being posted on social web sites that revealed drunkenness, partial nudity, or people depicted in violent situations.  Now we have “tagging,” where information can be randomly added to someone’s photo, with or without his or her knowledge.

All is done in the name of being and remaining “transparent.”

How does “transparency” come back to haunt you as an entrepreneur or new college grad looking for a good position at a worthwhile company? A lot of HR Departments are now vetting potential employees on Facebook and MySpace. They can do a simple Google search and find your blog – or literally your online “diary,” where you have revealed not only your deepest thoughts and concerns about yourself, or your religious or political beliefs… but you’ve revealed too much of yourself that may hinder you getting the position that you are interviewing for.

A lot of professional web sites such as LinkedIn have a “profile meter.” Asking you to not only include professional information about yourself – but also personal information. All geared toward someone getting to know you better. Transparency.

However, now is the time to become a bit more “authentic” and less transparent. Let’s learn how to deal with our external world, the business world, by being faithful to our external ideas and judgments about business, clients, prospects, and peers. Being authentic to universal external concepts and perspectives regarding honesty, business etiquette and the reciprocation of ideas, and being open to the perspectives and ideas of others you are doing business with. While remaining faithful to your internal ideas… but keeping much of these ideas and perspectives to oneself…or at least on a personal blog or profile and away from the eyes of your external word…the business world.

Cd Vann a.k.a. Thatwoman_soho , owner of sohobiztube.com and Publisher of Magazine Soho is passionate about remaining less “Transparent” and more Authentic when participating in professional and social networking circles. She enjoys a good glass of wine and a chocolate cigar.

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Suppose someone hands you a five-pound box of paper and tells you that it’s part of a project that’s due next week!

Or what about if you’re creating a business model for your own company – that’s a pretty voluminous project.

Here are some must-have tips for streamlining the work so that things get done right and move forward according to schedule.

Create a plan

A house builder doesn’t just show up at the site and start building. He works closely with an architect, creating blueprints–a plan on how the structure will be created and built. The same holds true for any type of project you’re working on. You need to have a big picture view of the project and then sit down and plan out how you’re going to get from start to finish.

While planning may seem like an extra step when you can just get right to it, it can actually save you a lot of time and mistakes in the long run, making it faster to get from start to finish than if you just wing it as you go along.

Form a team

Teamwork is an ideal way to streamline a project — in fact, many small business owners form teams of freelance professionals to churn out work faster, please clients with their expertise, and pull in more profit in less time.

Each team member should bring something unique to the table, so assign tasks that utilize these talents. Not only will you get the task completed quicker, but you’ll get it done effectively because you’ll have the best people working on what they do best. If you’ve ever attempted to “do it all alone,” you know how disconcerting that can be, not to mention what a time and energy drainer. When you form a team, even if you’re paying money to those people, you’re giving yourself back the gift of time and energy to focus on other important things.

Create a timeline

While a plan lists out the tasks required to get the project done, a timeline adds deadlines to the tasks. Creating a timeline lets everyone know when each task has to be completed, and also gives a sense of cooperation – because you’re depending on another person’s expedience before you can move forward with your portion of the work. Timelines also helps to eliminate procrastination. If everyone involved strives to meet the deadlines, the project begins to take on momentum and a sense of accomplishment – while fuels expedience even more!

Create procedures

Now that you know where you’re going with the project (plan) and when you need to get there, you’ve got to figure out how this will be pulled off. Will you automate certain parts of this by utilizing the appropriate computer programs? Will you outsource to other people who can offer part-time help for less than you would have paid a full-timer? What about communication – is it worth mapping out explicit instructions for people to follow, so that each person takes the shortest distance to success?

Each time you tap into another productive solution, document it and turn it into instructions that other members of the team can use to help move things along. By creating procedures, you’re creating the directions, the road map if you will, on how to get from one task to the next, finally bringing the project to completion. Also – if someone else brings a new idea to the table on how to get something done even faster or more efficiently – hear them out. Procedures should be adhered to, but also offer some flexibility. After all, you want to do what truly works, not what you think will work! This is how great companies continue to innovate new solutions every day!

Keep track of the progress

It’s not enough to just create a plan and run with it. It also streamlines the process if you keep track of how the project’s progressing. As a task is completed, check it off or highlight it before moving on to the next task. If the group reaches a milestone, pump in some fresh energy with a little celebrating and some kudos all around – this keeps spirits fresh and motivation levels high.

If a deadline is looming, make sure that everyone working on the project is reminded of what has to be completed and when — this way, there can be no excuses or oversights. If deadlines are being missed, try to figure out why so that the problem can be corrected and avoided as you move along. Don’t forget to document your solution as part of the procedure or “order of operations.”

Have a back-up plan

Even the perfect plans run into snags, so make sure you have a back-up plan in place. During the planning process, try to anticipate problems or issues that may come up during the project and prepare for how you’ll deal with these snags.

In order to streamline a project, you’ve got to take control. Plan before you jump in with both feet. Form a team and assign tasks to various people to get the job done faster and more effectively. Set deadlines and stick to them. Figure out how you’re going to carry the plan out. In case something goes wrong, make sure you have a back-up plan in place. If you do these six things, you’ll be well on your way to seeing your project finished a lot faster than if you muddle through it as you go.

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While this is not true of all work environments, there are some people in your professional crowd that you definitely want to avoid. Learn the traits of these professional piranhas, and stay out of their treacherous pond at work, so you don’t get eaten alive and watch your career go down in flames.

Idea Thief

The idea thief is the one who takes your great ideas and somehow turns them into his or her own great ideas. He recognizes a good idea when he swipes one, and runs straight to the powers that be to sell them on his grand plan before the creator gets a whiff of what just happened.

How to Deal With Him:

Whatever you do, don’t sell yourself short! Never give away your great ideas for free. Make sure you share them with the appropriate person and not someone who has the opportunity to use your own information against you. Once you identify who the credibility crook is, steer clear!

If you’re forced into a situation where you must work directly with an idea thief, be protective and proactive. Share your work with your boss before the idea thief gets his dirty little paws on it. If you’re brainstorming on email, be sure to CC your boss on all original work created by you. This way, the idea thief will get the hint, and go sponge off someone else’s smarts!

Slacker Steve

These are the workers that sit on a committee or a team, but don’t contribute anything to the project or job task. A group project is the ideal situation for this person, because the rest of the team that has to pick up the slack of Slacker Steve if they want to get the job done. And the worse part is that the slacker gets just as much credit for completing the job task as all of the people who actually worked!

How to Deal with Him:

Nobody likes to be the office tattletale, but if you get stuck bearing the burden of a tough project with only Slacker Steve to offer assistance, take the matter to someone higher up on the food chain. Explain that you feel more comfortable working independently, or perhaps you’d be better paired with someone else in the group who matches your level of industriousness. If that doesn’t work, come right and say that you don’t feel like Steve is pulling his weight. In general, slackers make things draining and frustrating for the rest of us, so stay clear of working with with these toads if you can!

The Control Freak

Next, you have those in the crowd who have to control everything. From what time the meeting is scheduled to assigning tasks to nitpicking the grammar and then changing it back again, the control freak has to have their hands on all aspects of the task at hand. Even when they assign the tasks to a group, the work is never as good as if they had done it themselves, so they end up doing your work for you, or redoing work you’ve already done.

How to Deal With Him:

You have one of two choices when stuck working with the Control Freak. One, you can take a passive role in the project and simply let him micro-manage you. However, this tends to come back and bite you, because if the Control Freak gets out of control, you’ll likely be the one blamed for whatever he messed up. Another option is to somehow finagle a situation where the control freak becomes so engrossed in whatever he’s doing that he can’t possibly have time to pick on your work.

Or, there is always option three, which is to direct his attention to a lesser individual in the group – someone with less experience, who is more likely to actually NEED his constant instructions. In general though, being in the driver’s seat is the control freak’s power feeder, so don’t add fuel to the fire.

Debbie Downer

The power of positive thinking works. If you surround yourself with positive people and have a positive attitude of your own, you’ll go a lot farther than if you hang with a crowd of Negative Nellies. Unfortunately there is always the Debbie or Nellie of the crowd… the one who, if there’s an open parking spot close to the building, will complain that now everyone can watch her as she eats lunch in her car. You all got bonuses, but according to Debbie Downer, it’s not enough… you know the type I refer to! If you get wrapped up in her negativity, she’s going to drag you down.

How to Deal With Her:

If you find yourself stuck under the same raincloud, bring an umbrella! Or, I should say a pair of earphones. Listening to music while working is a great way to drone out the Debbie Downers of the world. Also, make it known (in a polite way of course) that you do not share her pessimistic attitude.

Keep your mind focused on the good things. Use that energy to motivate the rest of the team. Or, at the very least… if Debbie Downer criticizes a certain aspect of work that’s fixable… why not take her advice and work toward improvement! Keep it up, and who knows… you might even get a pay raise for your effort.

Bootlicker Bob

Bootlicker Bob only cares about himself and his success, so he’ll do anything to get ahead. Also known as brownnosers, bootlickers focus all of their energy on making themselves look good and their colleagues look bad. They’re usually the ones trailing the boss, answering to his or her every whim.

How to Deal With Him:

Bootlicker Bob is probably the least harmful out of all the workplace weasles you may encounter. He’s annoying more than anything else – so find ways to avoid him and/or drown him out. If you see that Bootlicker Bob’s sucking up has outed you from a few opportunities to be noticed for your good work, then be the squeaky wheel and make some (positive) noise of your own. If he’s a snitch, keep your nose clean and document everything you do. It’s a good practice to get into anyway, regardless of whether there’s a brownnoser sniffing about.

Backstabber Betty

Similar to bootlickers, backstabbers will do anything it takes to get ahead. They’ll throw you and other colleagues under the bus in a heartbeat, if it means getting that promotion, earning the boss’s praise, or snagging that pay raise.

How to Deal with Her:

Avoid backstabbers like the plague and you’ll avoid becoming one of their casualties in the workplace. Also, play your cards close to the vest, just as you would with the Idea Thief. Keep communication reserved for you and your boss, and try to pair up on projects with someone else, who won’t try to take your credit or steal your thunder. Again, ask if you can go it solo for certain tasks – it will certainly allow you to prove your own competence without old Betty knifing you when you’re not looking, just so she can claw her way to the top!

At work, you have to deal with a lot of different types of people. While there are many good folks that you probably enjoy working with, others can be toxic to you and your career. Stay clear of these six types and you’re sure to soar ahead without any workplace drama.

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One-liners are often meaningful and memorable, but what about the context they were taken from? While it’s great to be remembered for snippets of brilliant conversation, it’s better to be memorable for being a great conversationalist as a whole.

If you’d like to heighten the value of your conversations, here are some tips to consider.

Think Before You Speak

People often have a tendency to blurt out whatever pops into their minds before thinking about the impact it may have on their conversational audience. While flashes of genius may occur occasionally, it’s more likely that a well-thought-out comment will have a greater impact.

Furthermore, when you allow yourself to air your thoughts without consideration to who you’re speaking to or how it may affect them, you can end up saying things you may regret later on, whether it be hurtful comments or simply viewpoints you are not prepared to defend. Instead, take the time during your conversations to carefully consider your remarks. You will find that not only do you become more a memorable speaker, but you won’t have to spend time backpedaling later on comments you didn’t mean.

Know Your Audience

What do you think would be more memorable to a stay-at-home parent – a talk about healthy cooking and recipes for families on a budget or a discussion on the facts and fiction of high-fructose corn syrup? While both topics may contain beneficial knowledge, the former is more likely to keep a parent’s attention and interest because it relates more directly to things a parent may be experiencing.

The point is, to be memorable, you must know who you’re talking to and what will stay with them after the conversation is finished. Whether you are giving an informal lecture to a group of college students or meeting for coffee with your neighbor, being memorable in conversation is all about relating to your audience and talking about things that are of importance to them.

Listen

Contrary to what you may think, memorable conversations do not have to be one-sided. If your conversations become more like soliloquies, the person or people you are speaking to are more likely to tune you out. Great discussions require an even (or close to it) share of the speaking time. That means you need to listen as much as you talk.

When you feel strongly about a subject, it may be hard to take the time to hear what another person is saying, but doing so will allow you to analyze their point of view and respond accordingly, rather than having a one-track mind. If your partner in conversation feels like you acknowledge and understand his perspective, he is also more likely to attribute value to your statements.

Be Sincere

Last but most certainly not least, you absolutely have to be sincere about your topics of conversation in order to be memorable. People are perceptive, and they will know if you are faking it. Conversely, however, they will also know if you are truly passionate and genuine in what you are saying. Everyone appreciates earnest conversation, and they will be more likely to let what you are saying sink in and affect them if they believe you mean it.

Becoming a memorable conversationalist is not difficult, but it does take thought and consideration. Always think about the impact of your statements before they come out of your mouth, and try to know what matters to your listeners so that you can converse about topics that relate to their interests.

Furthermore, be a listener yourself. Don’t allow your knowledge on a subject or fervent feelings about it to overshadow the thoughts and opinions of others. And lastly, always be sincere when you speak. Try these tips and you never know – you just may find your words of wisdom next to those of Eleanor Roosevelt or Albert Einstein on Bartleby.com!

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