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There is something special about people who take pride in their work.  You can hear it in their voices, see it on their faces and validate it with their results.Smiling not only makes you look inviting, accepting and nice - but it comes across in your voice too.   And while I know firsthand that it is impossible to wear a smile every minute of everyday - it's something you need to try to do more often - even if it's fake!I'm not suggesting you go as far as joining a Laughing Club, however, next time you catch yourself walking down the hallway at work and you're all by yourself - crack a smile.  I swear it'll make you feel better.  I also swear that it'll make you look nuts - so make sure you're alone!  Smiling is contagious, universal and creates an atmosphere.  Don't hold back - let a rip!Smiling will:- Release hormones to regulate your mood- Increase the number of antibodies that fight infection- lower your blood pressure- boost respiratory … [Read more...] about Secrets of a Fake Smile

On show #55 of the Working Podcast a listener asked how they could buck a nasty trend and start taking their lunch hour AWAY from their desk. Download the show here or listen directly on our home page. While the Voice of Reason did a nice job of addressing the psychological ramifications, I'd like to touch on the potential medical fallout.Why should you get away from your desk for lunch?  Stew on these numbers...# of germs per square inch in most cubicles:• 25,127 on the phone• 20,961 on the desktop• 3,295 on the computer keyboard• 1,676 on the mouse Source: University of Arizona/The Clorox CompanyBut you're not the only scaredy cat who's too busy to break away for lunch:• 78 percent of employees eat lunch at their desks at least two to three times a week. • Nearly 50 percent eat lunch at their desks every day.• 53 percent of all employees take a half-hour or less for lunch.• 24 percent of workers always clean their desks before eating at … [Read more...] about Your Cubicle, The Petri Dish

It looks like the fine folks at Career Builder have run out of bananas.  The chimps behind "Monk-e-Mail" have been given a pink slip and are being phased out. And nope, they're not being replaced with younger monkeys at half the pay - they are being replaced with an old timer: YOU!In order to show you how workplace stress can rapidly age you, the new "Age-o-Matic" campaign allows you to upload your photo, answer a few silly questions about your work environment, add your voice - and voila - you're aged 50 years!Check out my rapid aging here!I definitely think the campaign is clever and will receive a nice amount of buzz.  However, the press release states:"Age-o-Matic instantly produces jaw-dropping, dramatically-altered photos depicting how they will look if they stay in their current positions."Yes, the fact that they are utilizing talking avatar technology is sweet. However, after testing out a few photos, it's very clear the center of your … [Read more...] about See How Work Stress Ages You!

When I started the Working Podcast back in April '05, I was psyched to jump on the podcasting train as an early adopter.  Now in '07, podcasts are a dime a dozen.  That means I have to work twice as hard to produce a product that is superior to our "competitors."In order to continue to deliver quality content and market it, I realized that I could no longer go at it alone.  I did not have the time or energy to do all the things that need to be done to make the podcast a success.  Enter, Eric: great friend and now an excellent business partner.So far, the partnership we've formed has been awesome.  I'm not a fool, there might be some rocky road ahead, but that's life, no?  And don't get we wrong, we're hardly making millions - but I figured, while fresh in my mind, I'll throw out the reasons why our partnership is working:Same Values. Different Skills.  You want someone with similar moral convictions, but someone who can bring things to the … [Read more...] about 7 Secrets to a Solid Biz Partnership

Fictional bosses. They are often even more dreadful then their real-life counterparts.  They can utter the words ‘You’re Fired!’ on a whim, cause in the fake world, wrongful termination lawsuits don’t exist.Get the Worst Boss List here. You'll find dreadful bosses such as Captain Kirk, Keyser Soze, and Willy Wonka.  The list is by no means complete.  Add your picks and join the debate.  Leave a comment below, e-mail us at jobacle@gmail.com or leave us a voice mail at 888/786-1080.  We'll pick up the debate on the next few episodes of the Working Podcast.  Please subscribe now! … [Read more...] about 21 Worst Fictional Bosses – Add Your Picks!

On the third Monday of every January, schools, federal offices, and banks across America close as we celebrate America's most "recent" holiday: Martin Luther King Jr. Day. But maybe you're like me and forced to work while many of your friends get the day off!  If you are, give your employer the finger by giving this a Digg!It was 20 years ago that President Ronald Reagan (unwillingly) signed a bill into law making MLK Day a  national holiday - one of only four days to honor an individual person.  Although the day is a federal holiday and a state holiday in all states, it is ignored by many companies.  In 2006, 69% of employers did NOT get the day off.More companies are closed on Veterans Day or Columbus Day - which are also federal holidays.  Why?I don't mean that as a rhetorical question.  I REALLY want an answer.  Why? Is it because stores haven't found a way to make money?Is it because the holiday is still "new?"Is it … [Read more...] about Stuck at Work on MLK Day? Digg This!

Catharsis is a form of emotional cleansing first defined by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. But Aristotle didn't work in a cube.  This Sunday we'll be releasing episode #54 of the Working Podcast and one segment on the show has an interview with Craig of JobVent.com - a neat site where employees can anonymously rate their company.  So many career sites seem to be focused on casual rants and raves  - and it got me thinking - is all of this venting a good or bad thing?   I'm a positive guy, but let's be honest, you guys want the cons first!CONS:*Venting is short-term relief.  You will be tricked into thinking you solved the problem.  In reality you just exhaust yourself.  Once your energy rebuilds, so will the anger from the root of the issue.*Venting, whether verbal of physical, allows you to rehearse negative behavior.  In order to become a happier person you should be doing the opposite - rehearsing positive behavior.*Venting causes you to … [Read more...] about Angry at Work? The Right Way to Vent…