Cyber bullying.  It’s a word that is thrown around frequently with no clear or defined explanation.  Well, we’ll give you one.  Do you remember a few years back there was a viral video of an over weight boy swinging a lightsaber as he pretended to be a character from Star Wars?  It was deemed one of the most popular online videos of all time, being downloaded over 1.1 million times and was parodied on the Late Night Show with David Letterman.  What happened to Ghyslain Raza, the fifteen year old star of the film, was what cyber bullying specialist Nancy Willard termed “outing,” or the spreading of private photos, videos or even secrets to embarrass another person.  Raza was eventually diagnosed with depression by a pedopsychiatrist and was forced to drop out of school.  The two high school students who e-mailed the video were sued by the Raza family and ultimately had to reach a hefty, though undisclosed, settlement.  Now, this is the most extreme case of cyber bullying, but it is a real crime that you can be arrested and sued over.

So what is cyber bullying exactly?  Willard claims it is the harassment or tormenting of another person online.  Below are some other common forms of cyber bullying:

Flaming
Flaming is the posting of derogatory remarks on someone else’s webpage or IMing nasty remarks to someone.  Mostly, it’s online fights filled with bad language. One way to deal with flaming is to ignore it.  Take down the post or block the person on IM.  If you fight back, you’re engaging in a flaming war and are just as culpable as the person who flamed you.  Flaming wars can escalate into RL physical fights, which nobody wants. Of course, call 911 or the local police if you believe you are in any danger.

Impersonation
Impersonation is when a person logs into someone else’s account and sends out messages pretending to be that user.  Guess what?  This is a form of identity theft and it is a federal crime!  Generally it’s prosecuted as a Class C Felony which can bring with it 2-8 years in jail and up to $10,000 in fines depending on the harm inflicted by assuming another person’s identity. Call the police.

Denigration
You remember the burn book from Mean Girls, right?  Well that’s denigration.  Types of online denigration can include creating profiles that make fun of another person, erecting blogs that rate people in your class or creating home pages that make fun of others.  This can be taken very seriously by authorities.  In her book, Totally Wired: What Teens and Tweens are Really Doing Online, author Anastasia Goodstein tells the story of one Michigan parent whose daughter was expelled from school when she created a MySpace page that denigrated her home economics teacher.

Harassment and Cyberstalking
Willard defines “harassment” as the repetitive sending of offensive, rude or insulting comments to an individual online.  This behavior can escalate to “stalking” when the messages become threatening or intimidating to the point that the recipient becomes afraid for his/her own safety.  Cyber stalking in most states is prosecuted under stalking laws, making it a Federal offence that carries with it up to eight years in jail and $250,000 in fines.

If you are a victim of cyber bullying you have a variety of options.  Below are some tips compiled from The Stalking Resource Center on what you should do if you are being bullied.

1. Ignore all messages.  When someone harasses you by sending repeated messages and you respond to one of them, according to Michelle Garcia of the Stalking Resource Center, that tells them that they can get a response from you by bombarding you with messages. But report the messages to authorities if you sense any danger.
2. Block the harasser.  But this won’t always work.
3. Delete the profile, blog, e-mail or IM accounted that is being attacked.  If they don’t know where to find you, they may not harass you.  You can always start a new blog, profile, e-mail or IM account.
4. Document the harassment.  All text, IMs and e-mails should be saved to show to the proper authorities if the harassment continues.
5. Trace anonymous messages. If you’re getting emails from an anonymous source, it’s possible to trace the IP address to a specific computer server. Online stalkers can be reported to your internet service provider.

What Is The SOSTAC Model Of Marketing?

SOSTAC focuses on the six most important elements of any business SOSTAC is an acronym for these six elements: That may look intimidating at first glance. But, each element asks a simple question and provides an easy starting point.

• Situation analysis, asks what the current state of the business is.
• Objectives, helps list an overview of goals for the business.
• Strategy helps provide a “big picture” plan to achieve the goals
• Tactics breaks down the “big picture” strategy into smaller details
• Action helps assign responsibility and deadlines for certain tasks
• Control offers an easy way to track the progress of the plan

Each of these six elements contributes an essential piece of the overall marketing plan. We can also look at it in another manner:

SOSTAC is an Acronym for the 6 basic elements of the Marketing Plan:

• Situation Where are we now?
• Objectives Where do we want to get to?
• Strategy How are we going to get there? – The Big Picture
• Tactics How are we going to get there? – The Detail
• Actions Who is going to do what and when?
• Control How can we control, measure and develop the process?

Each element relates to a key step in the process. Simply work through the Pro-Forma on the following pages step by step and fill in the gaps to suit your business and your goals.
One thing you need to be aware of: Read more…

By Alan Sugano of www.Adscon.com

As you know, Microsoft is gently nudging users to migrate away from public folders and onto SharePoint document libraries and lists. In the initial release of Exchange Server 2007, there wasn’t even a GUI interface to manage public folders, although this was added in Exchange 2007 SP1. It is fairly easy to configure SharePoint to accept incoming email for document libraries and lists. Once a document library or list is configured to accept incoming email, you can send messages to the Document library or list just like a public folder.

If your message has an attachment, the attachment will also be saved in the document library, however the attachment and email message (if you’ve configured the document library to save your email messages) will appear as two separate entries in the document library. If you’re currently using public folders to track message threads, consider enabling inbound email for a Discussion Board Web Part, which is probably the closest match for this type of use of a public folder. Here are the high-level steps to configure incoming email for your Document Library or List:

1. Install SMTP on the SharePoint front-end server.
2. Configure Active Directory (AD) for SharePoint Contacts.
3. Configure Inbound Email Settings using SharePoint Central Administration.
4. Configure a document library to accept incoming email.
5. Test.
Read more…

In persuit to develop my presentation skills I have decided to give my brain good two weeks to learn this trick of the trade. So I shall be searching the net for quality information on presentation skills to compile this pack for anyone willing to become a good presentet plus I shall be incorporating my learning from a recent course at Learning Tree International.

Well here is something very interesting I found on http://www.presentation-pointers.com and I think its worth looking at.

The “3-1-2″ method

It is a refinement of the “Tell’em” method. All presentations should have three parts–a beginning, a middle, and an end. Most people start drafting their presentation by writing in the order in which they will deliver the presentation–(1) the introduction, (2) the body, and (3) the conclusion. This “1-2-3″ method is intimidating, like standing at the bottom of a steep hill and envisioning the long climb to the top. Just thinking about the task can cause procrastination. When finally initiated, the “1-2-3″ system can lead to false starts because it lacks focus.

The “3-1-2″ method, in contrast, is less intimidating and results in a focused presentation with thematic unity, so necessary in an oral presentation. Start your draft with the “bottom line” conclusion (#3), then develop an opening (#1) that grabs the attention of the audience, spells out the benefits they will achieve by listening to you, and tells them what you are going to address. By starting with your conclusion, you now have a destination–you know where you are heading with your presentation. With the beginning and ending on paper, your task of enumerating supporting data and arguments (#2) will be much easier. It will be like standing on top of the hill and contemplating your descent to the bottom–not as intimidating as the “1-2-3″ method from the bottom of the hill.

Here is where a lawyer’s education and experience can be very beneficial in the boardroom. The “3-1-2″ system derives from a concept with which lawyers are very familiar–the “Doctrine of Recency and Primacy.” As trail lawyers know so well, juries–and probably senior corporate officers–tend to pay more attention to what they hear at the beginning and the end of presentations, with much less comprehension during the middle. Thus the importance attached by lawyers to their opening statement–their version of ” Tell’em what your are going to tell’em” and their final summation to the jury–the “Tell’em what you told’em/ Placing the focal point of the presentation at the end and the beginning of the presentation increases the likelihood the audience will listen, retain, and act upon this message which is supported by the elaboration of the supporting evidence in “2.”

Prepare your draft

Some people are more comfortable drafting the text of their presentation in full. This allows for a more complete exposition of the data. But it also means that you may use language and syntax more appropriate for the written rather than the spoken presentation, which can be confusing to the ears of the audience. A “main point” outline is an alternative that will allow you to move more directly to “spoken,” more conversational, language.

As you prepare your draft, use the active voice and concrete, not abstract, language. Use declarative, but not compound, sentences. Give specific examples, and do not be afraid to tug at the heart strings of your audience. Your message, and the words that convey it, must be grasped by these listeners when you say them. They cannot do an “instant replay.” Know the audience members needs and concerns, and frame your “case” in such a way that your presentation solves these needs/concerns. Make it easier for audience members to remember what you want them to remember with stories and anecdotes that emphasize your main points. These illustrations can be the glue that makes the main points “stick” in the minds of your listeners.

Confidence building - the real thing

After completing the draft–verbatim or outline–reduce your presentation to 3×5 cards with large-lettered “memory joggers”. Then practice by yourself in front of a mirror, with tape recorder, or better yet with a video camera. Listen for your pace, your inflection, your enthusiasm, and if you are using “uh,” “er,” “you know,” or other fillers that render the otherwise intelligent person appear illiterate. See how much better you would sound if you replaced these sounds with pauses. If videotaping, watch your body language, facial expression, and gestures.

See where visuals can be inserted. These visuals should be thought of as exclamation points or highlighted sections of your presentation. Make them simple and interesting–be careful of organization charts and “laundry lists.” Use large lettering (better to have large letters written with a magic marker than small letters from a computer.) Use only the top two-thirds of the transparencies (so people in the rear can read without being required to stand) and use telegraphic language, limiting letters to minimum necessary. Use color if you can.

For overhead transparencies, use the “revelation technique” when you have a “bullet outline.” Tape strips of cardboard along the side of the vu-graph, keeping points on the visual covered until you discuss them. This will keep your audience focused on the point you are emphasizing, rather than reading point four while you are still talking about point one. Check the alignment of your vu-graph on the projector so that it appears straight on the screen. This may require you to place an “L-shaped” tape guide on the glass. Then orient your overheads in relation to this newly-created frame, and you will not have to check that the visual is “squared away” on the screen. Some audience members could be annoyed and distracted by visuals that appear crooked on the screen. The above advice can, of course, also be applied when using a computer-driven presentations program such as PowerPoint.

Read the rest of the article here…

The law of attraction is the latest buzz these days. There is a lot being said and discussed about the law of attraction which could make things complicated. Any law follows rules. The law of attraction is no exception. Just like aerodynamics, law of attraction also follows some basic rules. It is better to gain knowledge about these rules so as to use them for your advantage. The 3 rules of Law of Attraction are:

1. You attract things similar to you.

Invariably, you will end up attracting things similar to you. If you are unhygienic, so will be your style of living. You will grapple with a lot of health related issues, since you are unhealthy. So to attract what you want, you have to put efforts into becoming like that. If you want to lead a healthy lifestyle you have to become healthy. Hence, if you find that you attract things you don’t want, take a stock of who you really are. To attract what you want you have to transform yourself.

2. What you attract is driven by what you believe in.

Your belief system has a lot of hand in building and shaping your attitude. The fruits of your actions that you perform are very much dependent on what attitude you carry. Success can only come to you if you believe in yourself. Attitude is the key which shapes your actions and ultimately will result in success or failure.

3. The mantra to attract things you want - Change.

Change is the only thing permanent in life. It may sound clichéd but it is a well known fact. If you want to achieve something you have to put in efforts to change. The change that you bring into your life will result in you attracting better things. If can successfully bring about a drastic change in yourself, you will definitely see far better things getting attracted into your life.

How many times have you faced a situation which you hoped you would never have to? I understand how frustrating it is to land up in such a situation. I believe there are causes for those things happening to us. Ever wondered what they could be? I give you 3 possible causes of why you attract what you don’t want.

1. Skewed Beliefs.
What you believe in or have faith in has a lot to do with what you attract. Don’t mistake beliefs and wants. They are completely different. It is possible that you crave for things, but in your heart and mind you know you are not qualified to have it. The beliefs that you have shapes your attitude.

2. Incorrect Attitude
Your beliefs lead you to behave and act in a particular fashion. Each action or task you have performed in your life has borne a result. There is an outcome always even if you don’t act. It is these actions and your attitude that has a big hand in attracting what you want. If they are appropriate to attract what you want, you will definitely have it, else you will never have it.

3. Accepting Defeat.
Perseverance is the key if you want to attract something. You can never attract what you want if you accept defeat before you get it. Achieving or getting something is certainly not easy, but accepting defeat is not the solution. You have to pursue it until you achieve your goal. There are a lot of sources from whom you could seek help. It could be a person who can be your coach or teacher or an accountability partner. On the other hand, it could be an arrangement of objects which will keep up your inspiration to continue working towards your goal.

You attract HE (God) gives:

Be inspired:

TED Baker motivates:

The law of attraction is being talked about a lot in TV and among people. Many people seem to have benefited in a big way due of law of attraction bearing fruits for them. I am sure you must be wondering if the law of attraction applies to everyone. For an individual, the most important issue would be if the law of attraction can be as fruitful for him/her as for others.

Every field in governed by some fundamental laws and they work no matter what. The law of attraction is no exception. The more practical issue that one should think about is how to make the law of attraction work so that you benefit in the same way as others have.

The truth is the law of attraction has been always bearing fruits for you. If you happen to be living a mediocre lifestyle it is because all activities you have done till now have been so. A person who has done things above average is leading an above average life! Hence the law of attraction was always there. It was you who failed to notice it.

Examine the life of people who have had success in life. Notice all activities they started doing differently, rather than following their earlier methods. You will definitely discover that they started doing things in a fashion that attracted what they wanted. For example, they could taste success in business because they proactively took measures to carry out activities that would make them successful.

Become Before You Achieve: The Rule of Attraction

It is very common for people to say that they will undertake activities or perform tasks if some specific condition is fulfilled. On the contrary, the fact is that if you want achieve something you have to initiate yourself on to that path. A common characteristic of all successful people is how they initiated themselves into reading, teaching, motivating and inspiring

A common misconception is that successful people do all these things is because they are so. But the fact is they have been doing these things since a long time. They have disciplined themselves into doing these activities. The reason they are successful today, is that they were carrying out those activities since a long time.

To be successful you have to initiate yourself on to that path. You have to do activities that would bring success, rather than believing that you would do them once you are successful. Success is not a thing that will happen overnight. It is a journey you have to proactively start and perform the activities to taste success.

Hence, change the way you think. Don’t think about what you will do once you reach a particular position in your life. Discover what you want to be and start on the journey by doing things which will get you closer to what you aim to be. Once you do this, the law of attraction will do marvels for you. The more successful projects you undertake, the more the success you will taste.

I am sure you must have definitely heard people getting frustrated when things don’t work for them. Many people land up wondering when the law of attraction will start bearing positive results for them.

A person who truly knows and understands what the law of attraction is all about will surely know why these people don’t attract things they want. Ever wondered how much time it takes for the law of attraction to bear results for you?

Remember, the law of attraction is not a magic mantra that when used would change things instantly for you. It is like thinking of becoming healthy and doing nothing about it. The solution to this is – you. It is all dependent on the effort you put in and actions you undertake. To become healthy you can’t just give up eating some foods. These are all shortcuts which help you for a short period of time. But in the long run you will not be able to see any significant benefits.

Law of Attraction will work at a pace that you work at. If you are slow to change, the law of attraction shall also be slow to bear results. Hence the faster you bring in the transformation, the faster you would attract things you want in your life.

The crucial part here is to be aware of what to change. Unless and until you know what to change, you won’t be in a position to initiate the transformation process. And unless you begin the transformation you will not attract things that you want.

Each of us is a live magnet. The people, circumstances that come into our lives are always very similar to the thoughts that are very prominent in our minds.

All the success in our life, be it in the professional or personal arena is governed by this law. The law of attraction is know to human beings since a long time. Egyptian mystery schools wrote about it around 3000 years before Christ. Every thing that you do, speak is because of this law. It is omnipresent.

The Law of Attraction has been expressed in a number of ways by many people. Some very common forms are “Like attracts like”, “Birds of a feather flock together” and many more.

Never underestimate the power of your thoughts. They are a kind of mental energy that propagates as fast as light. No barrier is too tough for them. Many times it must have happened that you are thinking about a person and the next instant the person is calling you. You are not aware but your thoughts were connected to the person about whom you were thinking.

Everything that has happened to you till now in your life is due the the kind of person you are. Changing how you think will also change the things that you attract. The only thing that you have to do is change yourself and you will turn a new leaf in your life.