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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We’ve become a culture of “yes people:” “Yes, I can stay late to help with your project.” “Yes, you can have that expensive themed birthday party with the live ponies.” “Yes, let’s go out for drinks on Friday.” “Yes, I’m available to help you move tomorrow.”

Why is it so difficult to turn down a commitment these days? I have a theory – I think it’s because technology makes it almost impossible for us to hide! Back in the old days, you could become unavailable for a little while if you needed a mental vacation. But now, it seems like wherever you go, someone’s showing up with an invite or a request – texting you, emailing you, leaving you voicemails, messaging you on Facebook or wherever else, ready to hold you accountable. And worse… while you’re juggling all those priorities, even more obligations and temptations keep popping up.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: we can’t be everything to everyone, and we can’t do it all. If we try to, we soon discover how it feels to be that proverbial chicken without a head. And with all this running from here to there, feeling the pressure mount to be the perfect mom or dad, friend, employee, coworker, coach, Christian, golf buddy, vacation planner, party person, and so forth… pretty soon we really DO start to feel like our heads have become detached from our bodies as we mentally unravel!

I know it’s hard to say no when someone needs your help or requests your presence. But try to view your life in a pie graph format, with slices taken out for various commitments that you must attend to. The smaller the “sliver” of pie that you devote to one activity, the less attention, concentration, and appreciation you’re able to give it. And then you’re no longer enjoying yourself and being present in the moment. That’s what they call being “stretched too thin” and I think we all know when it’s happening to us. And our family, friends and colleagues notice, too.

So let me offer a few tips on how to say “No” without offending or disappointing people.

1. Say “no” to this, but “yes” to that.

Don’t you usually find that your commitments to certain people are cumulative? You’re helping a friend work on his truck this week, and then next week he’s calling to see if you can come over and look at the brakes on his wife’s car. If it’s not a good time, then say so. “Listen Bill, I really wish I could help you, but I’m swamped with work this weekend and the kids have Scout Camp.” And while you’re letting your friend down easy, casually bring up another event or task that you two will be teaming up on. “So let me know how it goes, and I’ll see you on the fifth for our camping trip!” It’s always best to end the conversation on a high note, especially if you’re delivering disappointing news.

2. Put out the silent “no” – don’t make yourself so easily accessible.

A great way to get yourself labeled as a “yes” person is to be everywhere all the time. Your phone is on, you’re logged into your favorite social networking site, you’re fielding emails, you’re Skyping. This sends a message to people which says, “I’ve got nothing happening, so give me something to do!” Know what’s the best way to tell people you’re busy? Disappear! Even if you’ve just lowered yourself into a hot bubble bath, nobody except your immediate family has to know. To the outside world, you’re out of sight and that means you’re probably embroiled in some other project for somebody else. It works at the office, too. When people ask you where you’ve been or what you’ve been up to, just explain that you’re “super busy” or “crazy busy”! Trust me, there’s no better way to get the needy masses off your back.

3. Take a deep breath before you say “no.”

Being assertive has to do with making your own needs known but doing it in a calm, confident way. If you’re starting to get all stressed out about overbooking yourself, then it’s going to show in the pitch of your voice, the pace of your steps, the tightness of your muscles and the way you express yourself to others. If you feel overwhelmed, take a time out for yourself. Go for a walk, breathe a few deep, cleansing breaths, get into a few Yoga positions or do whatever you do to calm down. When you’re feeling human again, prepare your polite “no, thank you” and then ease into your regretful response.

4. Be apologetic about your no’s, and enthusiastic about your yeses.

Sometimes people get offended simply because of the manner of our delivery. One of my friends has this talent for making people feel unimportant when she’s turning down their invites. Something about her flippant, “Oh, no, we won’t be able to make it – we’re going tubing that weekend!” makes you feel a little bit unspecial. Other people just give off that snappish “I’m so overwhelmed” vibe when you approach them – and while they really may be overwhelmed, this can be unfriendly and off-putting. Knowing this, it’s worth practicing saying your “no thank you”s and “sorry, I can’t make it”s a bit more gracefully and gratefully. “That was so nice of you to think of us,” “Okay, I can’t wait to see you on Sunday instead!” and “Oh, I really wish I could come” go a long way in conveying a warm, friendly and positive attitude toward the people who count.

5. Say no with a polite explanation.

Open, honest communication is always the answer, and it’s no different when juggling your priorities and obligations to people. If you were invited to a co-ed baby shower but you already scheduled a golf outing for that day, then sure, you may feel like that’s a flimsy excuse best kept to yourself. But, a stiff “Sorry, can’t make it, CLICK” can be a tad insensitive, especially if this shower is for someone you actually do care about. So, at the very least, leave a genuinely apologetic, “Sorry, I already have plans for that day – but let’s get together soon so I can bring you your shower gift in person!”

What’s your best tactic for “letting people down easy?” Leave your comment on the Slow Down Fast blog!

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The fact of the matter is that people love to get stuff for free… or feel like they’ve gotten something for nothing. This phenomenon doesn’t end when buying shoes, either.

People all over the country take jobs that offer them less money than they’re worth, with the logic that they’ve got great benefits–are getting “stuff” for free. And companies shove this theory down employees’ throats. “Sure, we’re paying you $20,000 less than you qualify for, but we offer you 2.5 weeks of paid vacation, health insurance and a 401K!”

I’m here to tell you to do the math.

Know your worth

First, you have to know what you’re worth. Sure, we’d all like to make a million dollars, but in reality what is your experience and knowledge worth to a company? Many job websites offer a salary comparison section, where you can use your experience, the area where you’ll be working, and the position you’ll hold to find out what the salary range is. Before you ever step foot into a salary negotiation, you’d better make sure you know what you’re capable of getting for a salary.

Trade all of the “perks” in for cash

You have to take a logical look at a job offer and weed out the fluff (benefits) from the facts. Why should you work for less than what you’re worth? Why should you go with a company that is offering you less in cash and a lot of fluff when you can go with an opportunity that allows you to grow and advance your career, even if you’re getting a few less perks out of the deal?

Let’s look at some examples and then break it down logically

Sam Seller is comparing two job offers. Company A is offering him $50,000 (when the average salary for his position is $60,000), but they also offer two weeks of paid vacation, an on-site gym for its employees and health insurance. Company B is offering Sam $65,000 per year, but doesn’t include any of the benefits that Company A is offering.

What should Sam do?

Sam can get a gym membership at a local gym for $20 per month ($240 per year). He is in good health and can get a medical insurance policy for $200 per month ($2,400 per year). And at a salary of $60,000 per year, two weeks of paid vacation is equivalent to approximately $2,306. So if Sam pays for all of these “benefits” himself, it’s only going to cost him about $4,946. Why should he give up getting paid what he’s worth, as a trade for the company’s so-called benefits when he can take the $65,000 a year job, pay for all of these benefits, and still have $15,354 more to show for it?

Trade all of the “perks” for growth opportunities

It’s not all about the cash you receive right away, either. Some companies offer growth opportunities where others don’t. Career growth is something else you’ve got to take into consideration.

Sam Seller is comparing two job offers. Company A is offering him $50,000 (when the average salary for his position is $60,000), but they also include two weeks of paid vacation, an on-site gym for employees, and health insurance. Company A is a growing company and is expected to continue to grow over the next several years. There is opportunity for advancement, promotions, and bonuses. The other company, Company B, is offering Sam $65,000 per year, but doesn’t offer any of the benefits that Company A has put on the table. It’s a small company that hasn’t grown much over the past few years, and Sam will be working in the top position in his department… no room for advancement or growth.

How does this change Sam’s situation?

The monetary factors remain the same, but career advancement and growth is significantly different for the two companies. In this situation, it may be worth it to Sam to take the slightly lower salary with the opportunity to advance his career over the next several years. In the long run, his income will be higher for it.

There are two points you have to keep in mind when deciding which career move is the best one for you. First, you should know what you’re worth and accept positions where you’re paid what you’re worth, regardless of how much fluff the company adds to make it seem like you’re getting “paid” in benefits. Second, you’ve got to consider the career path you can take with the company. If your career is at a dead end with the company, then it may not matter what the salary is because you’re going to be stuck in the position unless you leave the company.

Don’t mistake benefits for getting paid–especially in these hard economic times. It’s better to work for what you’re worth than to be soft and complacent.

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I know we are all concerned about economic conditions these days, with massive job layoffs, declining housing markets, and plunging stock prices. Yet, the rise in unemployment has created a great opportunity for those who have entrepreneurial dreams.

With very little capital outlay, now is a great time to start a home based business.

I did some research and found that there are over 16 million home based businesses in the U.S. Some of these are service based and some sell products.

A recent Forbes.com article indicated a few of the best service businesses to start include event planning, home landscaping, computer repair, graphic design, consulting, and public relations. Home based businesses can also market products through network marketing, eBay, Amazon, or an affiliate program.

No matter what your dream is, I believe there’s an opportunity for everyone who wants to start a home based business. Whether you’re fed up with the restrictions of a stifling job or have been laid off, if you’re ready to be your own boss, you can start a business that uses your best talents and skills.

For example, secretarial skills can easily transform into a virtual assistant business. Or you may be a young retiree looking for a part time venture or a mother wanting to stay at home with the children. Whatever your reason, the home based business is a good bet for a slow economy.

However, you do need to get some basic business education before you hang out your shingle. You may be talented at the service you provide or have the greatest product on the market, but you have to have some business savvy to succeed. You could read business books, take seminars, get a coach or mentor, and network with other business professionals in your industry. Use search engines to research the business you want to start. See who the competition is, find out what you need to start a business, and get some marketing ideas.

According to the SBA (Small Business Administration), over half of all U.S. businesses are home based, and they provide more than $530 billion of income each year. If you plan to be among those businesses that not only survive but thrive in this economy, here are some helpful tips:

Start a business that fills a need or solves a problem. Do you have a product or service that is the solution to a specific problem? Do you know who your target market is? When you answer these questions, you will have a business that is focused on a need and targeted to a market. Then decide how you can deliver this product or service in a unique way that will stand out from your competition.

The virtual assistant, for example, solves the problem of how a home based business owner can get office support without having to hire an employee. The virtual assistant business may stand out by targeting a niche market, such as professional coaches.

Stay up to date with current trends.

As a business start-up, see if you can match the service or product you want to sell with a current trend such as the environmental and economic issues. Where is there a need that you can fill? What target market is underserved? Look for trends that have longevity rather than ones that may just be the next best thing.

Build your team.

You might not want to hire employees, but you could use contractors to build a team of people who have skills that you lack. Outsource your weakest skills such as administrative tasks, bookkeeping, writing, and web design. Conversely, your home based business may be a resource for other home businesses if you provide a valuable service like graphic design or computer repair.

Develop excellent customer and referral relationships.

To keep marketing costs at a minimum, focus on getting repeat business and referrals. To stand out from the competition, focus on extreme customer service. Make sure you follow up and stay in touch with prospects, past and present customers, business associates, and referral sources. Develop alliances with complementary businesses that can send you qualified leads.

Build an online presence.

Even if your service is locally delivered, you can still benefit from a website. Use it as an online brochure and lead generator. It will build your credibility and introduce prospects to your services. If you sell products, most can be sold online, so set up a payment service like PayPal and start getting people to your site. You can do this with blogs, articles, social networking, and joint ventures.

As a local business you can get listed in the local directory at Google and Yahoo.

Several successful businesses such as Microsoft and Disney began during recessions so I really believe now is a great time to start a home based business.

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K.I.S.S. stands for a couple things. Firstly and most notably, it means “keep it simple, stupid”.

While the “stupid” line may seem a little harsh, it adds humor to the saying, and probably is responsible for the saying’s notoriety.

K.I.S.S. can also stand for “keep it short and simple”. This is similar to the principle of Occam’s razor which states that the simplest explanation is usually the best one.

Whichever interpretetation you like, the K.I.S.S. principle is worth pondering. There is a brilliance and a perfection to be found in simplicity.

Here are a few rules to live by that relate to the K.I.S.S. principle. Following them will simplify your life at work, and at home, and ultimately earn you a reputation that you will be proud of.

Be honest.

Honesty, as they say, is the best policy. But why is that? Isn’t it true that a well placed white lie can get you out of a jam? Have you ever heard of a “business lie”?

It is true that a fib told here and there can be helpful – but only in the immediate sense. Consider the consequences. While a lie can be useful to you today, it will ultimately earn you a reputation of someone who can not be trusted. Even a co-worker, who was complicit in your lie, will have a lower opinion of you.

Deceit, in the long run, will not help you further your purposes. Your reputation will eventually catch up to you, and you will not be trusted by your co-workers, direct reports, or your family and friends. It isn’t worth it.

Another reason to stick to the truth is that eventually your own web of lies can turn on you. The more lies you tell, the more you must keep track of what you said to who, and when. Pretty soon, you’ll get it wrong and then guess what? You’re busted!

The simplest course is the right one – always tell the truth. While you may not always have “the right answer” in a given situation, you will be much better off overall.

Always give your best effort.

Give your maximum effort to those who expect it of you. Your employer, your family, and your friends deserve your best work. Not only do they deserve it, but in the end it will be easier on you. I’ll explain.

If you’re someone who spends a lot of time slacking off, you’re probably spending as much time covering your tracks. You’re deleting cookies from your non work related web surfing. Your having to lie about where you were all day. It’s stressful and time consuming to carry on like this.

When you try hard every day, you will feel better about yourself. You’ll have the confidence that comes with knowing you have done everything in your power to get the job done. More importantly, though, you’ll have the self-respect that comes with putting in a good, honest days work.

Don’t over-complicate.

This is the “keep it short and simple” principle. I have an example for this one:

One day I was exiting the Motor Vehicle office, and I came across a hot dog man. I was hungry, so I made a bee line for the cart, and ordered two.

This was at a time in my life where I was a manager of a location for a large company. The culture of that company was changing. We were getting increasingly bogged down with reports, and having to learn new, complicated systems to accomplish the smallest task. We found ourselves spending all day on these reports, and having no time to actually conduct business. It was all very frustrating and draining.

And then there was the hot dog guy.

I remember looking at him, and thinking, “brilliant!” Here is a guy who has figured something out. His business plan looks a little something like this:

• Cook Hot Dogs.
• Sell Hot Dogs.
• Count Money.

Also, he always had lunch covered. Bonus.

My point is that the hot dog guy was keeping it simple. He was smiling, and enjoying his work. The K.I.S.S. method was working for him – deliciously.

I’m not suggesting that we can all adopt as simple a business model as the hot dog guy did, but there is a lesson to be taken from him. We must keep things simple, whenever possible, and avoid overcomplicating our business, and our lives.

However you interpret the K.I.S.S. principle – if you follow it chances are you’ll be more effective, and much happier. You’ll spend less time defending your actions and maintaining your web of deceit. You’ll have the quiet confidence that comes with a sound work ethic. If you get off track, then do what I do – think of the hot dog guy.

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Communication is a vital skill that we must use all day, every day. We communicate with co-workers, managers, customers, family, and friends multiple times in a day, and cannot function in today’s world without communicating. We should, therefore, seek to maximize our effectiveness when communicating with the people in our lives.

But what is communication? Webster’s dictionary defines it as a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior.

Communication, however, is much more than that. Effective communication comes from within. It comes from the desire to understand someone else’s point of view – even if it is at odds with yours. It comes from a spirit of cooperation. Truly effective communication is a skill held by people who are confident, compassionate, and wise.

Here are a few points that will help to explain.

Listen then talk:

We have all been conditioned to view communication as a competition. In fact, our entire Western society is built on the competitive model. We must compete in order to win. We are great competitors. Survival of the fittest, right?

Yes, but that isn’t how effective communication works. Communication is not a competition.

When you are in a dialogue with someone, are you listening – really listening to their point of view – or are you chomping at the bit to throw in your next brilliant point. We have all been guilty of doing that. In fact, we’ve been conditioned to communicate that way. The person who gets their point across the most forcefully, or the loudest, or the most eloquently wins, right?

Consider that communication is not a competition at all. It is a group effort towards a higher understanding. Ideally there should be more than one winner. Consider that however brilliant your point may be, that there might be many other points of equal brilliance that should be heard.

It is the convergence of great ideas that leads to a collective higher understanding. This can only be accomplished when an emphasis is put on understanding other peoples’ points. Do not fear that the other ideas being shared will overshadow –or beat – yours. Have the confidence to draw good ideas from the people around you, whether it’s your boss or an underling, and you’ll end up with a much stronger finished product.

Please don’t dominate the rap, jack, if you’ve got nothing new to say…

We’ve all had to work with – and probably for – a real blabbermouth. They are a never-ending fountain of verbiage. Don’t they sound just like Charlie Brown’s school-teacher after a while? “Wuh, wah, wuuhh, wahhhhh…” When someone runs at the mouth, but rarely has a point, we will eventually tune them out completely. It gets to a point, before very long, where that person may even have a good idea, but we’ll never hear it. “Wah, wuhh, wahhhh…”

And then there’s that other kind of person. The kind who says very little, but when they speak – people listen. This is the quiet, confident type, who knows how to make a point. These are folks who know that good ideas are measured by their quality, not by their quantity.

Who would you rather be? Who would you rather collaborate with? Who would you rather work for? The fact is that less is more, when it comes to communicating effectively. So save your breath, and you’ll be heard.

In short, good communication takes plenty of confidence and empathy. You must truly seek the opinions of your collaborators. You must never be intimidated or threatened by a good idea – even if you have one of your own to share. Consider that the reason you are collaborating in the first place is to put forward the best possible idea. Cooperative, communication will guide any group towards just that idea – then you all win.

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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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