Qwest High Speed Internet
I decided to write this Qwest high speed Internet review once I had a chance to try out their broadband Internet service. I’ve done a lot of research on the market, and hopefully you can take advantage of my expertise and allow me to help you figure out if Qwest is the best company out there for you.
The first thing to note about Qwest is their slogan. “Spirit of Service” is one of the best mantras I have heard recently. I think that a lot of companies forget that they exist for one reason: to serve their customers. Sure, it’s important to make money and pay the bills, but without the customer there is no revenue. Qwest knows this, and works hard to keep your business.
A subscription to Qwest phone service comes with a free wireless router (those things can get expensive!) and a free Multimedia package from Real. The latter gives you unlimited access to more than 2.5 million songs, a complete security package and premium internet and digital video.
I realize the free added value Qwest offers is excellent, but I also realize that it doesn’t really matter if the internet service itself is sub par. Luckily, Qwest is more than just a great value. Up to 89 times faster than traditional dial-up internet, it is easy to set up and easy to use. Best yet, since it doesn’t require a phone line, you can talk on the phone while surfing the internet. All of this comes with parental controls, virus guard, pop-up guard, MSN Money Plus and Encarta Premium.
Obviously, this company offers the more at a very low price. But the thing that separates Qwest from the rest is their dedication to you as the customer. I highly recommend Qwest to anyone who needs the internet.
Coaching: From Frustration to Success
Janet’s career as a software engineer appeared to be stalled. She completed each low level assignment competently, but felt ineffective in team meetings. When Janet asked for more challenging work, she was ignored, while other team members made similar requests and got the choice assignments.
Janet struggled along as best she could and tried hard to support others and be a good team player. She kept wondering why no one took her seriously. She had no idea that her team leader believed that she was always whining, and not really committed to her job.
Frequently, Janet wondered what was wrong with her. Others just seemed to know what to do to get ahead, and she was afraid that she would never discover their secret.
When a friend suggested working with a personal coach, Janet first dismissed the idea: “I’m well trained; I should be able to figure out what to do myself.” However, she was so frustrated that she was considering changing jobs, and finally decided a professional’s perspective might help.
Janet quickly learned that being coached in personal skills was similar to being coached in tennis (her favorite sport). Although the coach could not observe her “game” directly, Janet’s reports of her behavior patterns at work and her actual behavior with the coach gave them plenty to go on.
She admitted to the coach that she had experienced similar problems in other situations, and they decided together that changing jobs now wouldn’t solve anything. Janet decided to use the current situation as a laboratory where she could practice new skills.
Their discussions also touched on several seemingly unrelated areas of Janet’s life. How did she manage her other relationships, what did she want to achieve in her life, how did she handle stressful events, how did she manage her personal space and financial affairs?
After Janet completed a series of self-assessment inventories about these issues, they identified several patterns that Janet wanted to modify. In several important areas of her life, including her job, Janet saw that she was doing just enough to get by.
Her coach challenged her to change the pattern. Janet identified three specific “extra” things that she could do at work that would have an impact on the project she was working on, and she did them.
She found it hard to admit that she really had ignored opportunities to polish her performance, until she realized that she was angry that she was not getting the kind of immediate feedback on the job that she could get from her coach.
Assured that her desire for feedback was normal, and recognizing that it really wasn’t available on the job, Janet made agreements with her personal coach to report on her progress at work. She also reported on her progress in reorganizing her apartment so that she could really enjoy the time she spent at home.
As they continued to work together, Janet realized how unsupported she had been feeling in most areas of her life. Her belief that adults aren’t supposed to need help (except in achieving athletic success) gradually shifted to the recognition that high achievers need coaching to attain superior results.
As Janet continued to recognize and do the important little things on her job, her team leader did notice. Three months after starting to work with her coach, she did get a more challenging assignment; the team leader even commented on how much she had changed. When he was promoted several months later, she was offered a better paying position on his new team.
Communicate skillfully about sensitive subjects. Http://www.DareToSayIt.com/blog
Laurie Weiss, Ph.D. is a Master Certified Coach and communication expert. Dr. Weiss has spent 35 years helping clients resolve conflict in business and personal relationships. Email feedback@laurieweiss.com
What Are The Important Aspects Of Communication
Communication is the process of sharing information. In a simplistic form information is sent from a sender or encoder to a receiver or decoder.
Communication can be:
1. Verbal communication which requires language. A language is a system of arbitrary signals, such as voice sounds, gestures or written symbols which communicate thoughts or feelings
2. Non verbal communication, which does not need language to exchange ones thoughts. Silence is the best example. In certain contexts, silence can convey its own meaning, e.g. reverence, indifference, emotional coldness, rudeness, thoughtfulness, humility, aggressiveness. Silent communication shows more emotion than verbal. Non verbal communication includes gestures, body language, signs, symbols etc.
In everyday day life we come across various forms of communication. Between parties, communication content includes acts that declare knowledge and experiences, give advice and commands, and ask questions. These acts may take many forms, including gestures (nonverbal communication, sign language and body language), writing and speech .The form depends on the symbol systems used. Together, communication content and form make messages that are sent towards a destination. The target can be oneself, another person or another entity (such as a corporation or group
A particular instance of communication is called a speech act. A speech act typically follows a variation of logical means of delivery. The most common of these, and perhaps the best, is the dialogue. The dialogue is a form of communication where both the parties are involved in sending information. There are many other forms of communication but the reason the dialogue is good is because the dialogue lends itself to clearer communication due to feedback. (Feedback being encoded information, either verbal or nonverbal, sent back to the original sender (now the receiver) and then decoded.
Although we do not realize but in everyday we communicate with 10 to 1000 people in one way or the other may be directly or indirectly. All of us come across situations when things go wrong due to lack of communication. There can be various barriers in communication which may lead to such a situation.
Following factors can impede human communication
1. Not understanding the language
Verbal and non-verbal messages are in a different language. This includes not understanding the idioms used by another sub-culture or group. Not understanding the language also means that body language cannot be understood. One person may greet another person differently. If the two people do not understand each other then it can cause a rift in communication
2. Not understanding the context
Not knowing and or understanding the history of the occasion, relationship, or culture. Intent can be perceived differently by the receiver than what the sender intended.
3. Obfuscation
Intentionally delivering an obscure or confusing message
4. Distraction
Inadequate attention to processing a message. This is not limited to live conversations or broadcasts. Any person may improperly process any message if they do not focus adequately. Sometimes due to the “static”, or real life events that cause distraction. This is why an interactive form of communication, one with lots of questions and answers for clarity, would be best so it is easier to stay involved in the message and to have less miscommunication.
So communication is an important activity in one’s life. Whether humans or animals, everyone wants to share his feelings, his emotions, his thought, his ideas and hence develops one way or the other to communicate!
John Khu is an experience entrepreneur and internet marketer. He specializes in communication development and personal happiness.
http://www.communicationessence.com
Ten Tips for Learning to Speak Spanish
Many Americans are learning Spanish to meet both business and personal goals. If you are one of the millions of visionary Americans taking on this challenge, bravo!
In business, speaking Spanish will help you attract loyal customers and a diverse employee base. By speaking Spanish in your personal life, you will meet fascinating people from around the world– and you’ll build valuable, long-lasting friendships.
For adults learning foreign languages can be challenging. You are never too old to acquire a second language! In fact, it’s good exercise for your brain.
Prepare to be dedicated in the pursuit of your linguistic goal. After all, you didn’t learn English over night. We learn our native language through years of trial and error. Nevertheless, you can achieve good results quickly by using these ten practical tips.
1. Use the words you know. Everyone who speaks English knows more Spanish than they realize. When you are beginning to speak Spanish, it could be difficult for you to compose and say an entire sentence. That doesn’t matter. Don’t wait until you have an entire “perfect” phrase. Say the words in Spanish that you know.
When you observe native speakers, you will hear them converse in English, Spanish and even Spanglish. With language it’s never all or nothing! Say what you know, even if it’s only one word.
2. Set yourself up for success. Start with simple greetings like “hola” or “buenas tardes.” If you say please or thank you to a Spanish-speaking customer or employee and you know the words “gracias” and “por favor,” use them after you say the words in English.
Setting a positive bilingual tone for communication is always a good idea. It lets the person you are speaking with know that it’s fine with you to use both English and Spanish.
3. Expect to make some mistakes. If you had a foreign language class in high school or college, perhaps you were corrected so many times that you feel defeated before you start. We all make mistakes when we speak English, so making mistakes in speaking Spanish is normal and natural. Everyone makes mistakes– even native speakers.
4. It’s OK to feel awkward. Speaking Spanish will feel physically different to you. You might even feel like a cartoon character has taken over your speech! Speaking Spanish requires more use of your facial muscles- and then there are those “trilled” r’s. Just do your best. Your accent will develop over time. Not having the best accent will only stand in the way of your ability to communicate if you let it.
5. Being shy is normal. It takes a strong, positive personality to take the risk of speaking another language. We are all inhibited to one degree or another. We’re terrified that people will laugh at us– or even yell at us out of impatience. Smile and dive in! It’s normal to feel inhibited when you begin to speak another language.
6. Ask “yes-no” questions. As you begin to increase your skills, when asking questions pose them so that the answer will be yes or no. This will give you a head-start on understanding the rest of the answer.
7. Practice each day. Practicing just five minutes each day will make a “grande” difference in your ability. A few minutes here and a few minutes there really add up over time. When you do practice, put yourself in situations where you can use the language. Attempts at memorization are usually very ineffective.
Write the days of the week on your calendar at the office and look at them each day.
Put a sticky note on your phone and write the numbers in Spanish from zero to ten on it. Each time you dial a number, say it in Spanish.
Make index cards of the Spanish words you want to learn first, and carry them in your purse or car. Exercises like these make your practice habits practical and help you build them into your normal routine.
8. Learn practical phrases.Think critically about what you do each day and what you need to learn to function more efficiently at your workplace. Learn those words and phrases first. By learning words that are practical, you will use them more often. The more you use the words, the faster you will remember them–and add to them.
9. Don’t worry about your grammar. Remember that no one speaks perfectly. Always remember that communication is always more important than conjugation! If the individual you are speaking with understands you, that’s all that really matters. It doesn’t have to be pretty and perfect to be effective.
10. Go slowly. Learning Spanish is like eating your favorite meal. Savor the experience. Learn Spanish one word or phrase at a time. Chew it completely before going on to more material. If you learn slowly, you will remember what you have learned longer. And, that’s the whole point!
Myelita Melton is the author of the SpeakEasy Spanish TM series. She is a nationally recognized speaker and expert in language and cultural diversity. http://www.speakeasyspanish.com.
Podcasting For Profit
How can I understand podcasting?
If you were to ask someone on the street what podcasting is, most of them will not have any idea what you are talking about. They will ask if you said “broadcasting.”
You might explain to them that it is a special audio file that you can listen to on your MP3 player. But even then you would not be doing it justice. Here are some other ways of understanding what podcasting is.
That is one way to think of podcasting: the information that you are interested in delivered to you, without the stuff you don’t want. Some people have called podcasting TiVo radio.
Another way to think of podcasting is like a radio program that is only about your specific interests and when you click the link or synchronize your MP3 player with your computer, it gets downloaded to you automatically.
And a third way to think of podcasting is a targeted audio program for businesses to add value to their customers and prospects, and for organizations to pass information on to their users.
However you think of podcasting, other people will still give you a funny look because it is still in its infancy. In fact, the term “podcasting” was only coined in 2004! It won’t be long, though, and everyone will be talking about it.
How does it work?
Essentially, podcasting allows you to select the things you’d like to listen to, subscribe to them, have them downloaded to your computer or portable audio device, and listen to them when you want to. Once you’ve subscribed, they will update automatically for you, like a magazine you don’t think about until the subscription arrives in your mailbox every month.
What is the advantage of a podcast over other types of broadcasting? Podcasts assimilate radio, portable CD players, and satellite radio, into one convenient format, and allow new uses not previously available.
So what is it that you can listen to? What kinds of podcasting are available? The answer to those questions is this: everything you can possibly imagine! You will be amazed at the volume and variety of podcasts out there and the possibilities that exist.
Just as the Internet has allowed pretty much anybody to create visual files of information and entertainment, called web pages, podcasting has allowed virtually anybody to create audio files of information and entertainment.
While the technical details are not important here, all someone needs in order to become a podcaster is a computer and an Internet hook-up.
You don’t even need a microphone to create your first podcast. (You may want to get one later, but you don’t need one now).
In fact, if you have a telephone and can browse the Internet, you will be able to listen to podcasts and even create your own.
Who can podcast? Anyone can podcast! We’ll go into much greater detail later about who might want to podcast, but generally speaking, there are several reasons why everyone would want to podcast:
Organizations like churches and nonprofits will podcast to keep people up to date with what’s going on, providing news, seminars and speeches, meeting transcriptions, etc.
Businesses will podcast to maintain their name in the marketplace, offer information on products or strategies, and position themselves as the expert in their industry.
Individuals will podcast if they have something to say to the world. Opinions, rants, and artistic offerings are all fair game in podcasting.
Podcasting formats are as varied as the types of podcasts available.
Some podcasts are like monologues where one person simply shares their ideas into a microphone for the listener to hear. Other podcasts are a dialogged between two or more people and may or may not follow format.
Some podcasts are unscripted while others seem to be very scripted. Podcasting contain music, interviews, and while audio podcasts are quite popular now, audio/video podcasts are slowly gaining popularity as well.
Richard Reichmann is internationally known as a millionaire maker.
He’s a leading consultant in real estate and internet marketing strategies that are profit proven.
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