Don’t Buy Provillus Until You Read This Provillus Review!
January 19, 2012 | 
Author Over the past couple of years a lot has been said about Provillus. Some people hate, some love it, and some sites simply give outrageous claims about Provillus and other natural hair loss treatments.
So after buying and using it for the past year, this is my unbiased and honest Provillus review and experience with the product.
What is Provillus?
Provillus is claimed to be one the top natural hair loss treatments on the market. However, like most health products, there is a chance it may not work for you. Nothing works 100% of the time for everyone – our genetic make-up is just too diverse for any perfect, universal health product to exist! And that’s a fact!
Any potential problems with Provillus?
1) Can take up to 6 months: Although it only took about 2 or 3 months for my hair loss to slow down and for new hair to appear on my bald spot, for some people it could take up to 6 months to see any noticeable results. I guess it all depends on your genetics, general well-being, and how soon you start the treatment.
2) Not 100% effective: With that said, Provillus sometimes may not work for you at all. Look, no treatment, no matter how advanced it is, can work for everyone 100% of the time. Our bodies are way too different for the perfect cure to ever exist!
3) Possible side-effects: Although Provillus claims to have no side-effects, sometimes people do not follow directions and they take a double or even triple dosage, thinking it will speed up the results. This is NOT recommended – it can cause conditions like a dry and itchy scalp, and sometimes more severe reactions like chest-pain and dizziness. But if you do what they tell you, it is unlikely you will have any side-effects – unless you are allergic to one of the ingredients, of course.
So why did I buy Provillus then?
There were a number of reasons why I and many other hair loss sufferers settled on using Provillus:
1) Safe, natural, cheap alternative: First off, Provillus and other hair loss products are the safest and cheapest options. If you think custom wigs and hair pieces can run into the hundreds of dollars; and hair transplant surgery is a long, painful $10,000 procedure that isn’t covered by your health insurance.
2) Reliable, quality ingredients: Provillus is one of the few products that contains BOTH the FDA-approved ingredient, Minoxidil, which helps block the production of DHT (the hair loss hormone); and the naturally-occurring Azelaic Acid that stimulates new hair growth. Not to mention other natural hair loss herbs and vitamins, like Saw Palmetto, Biotin, Pumpkin oil extract and many others…
3) Separate formula for men and women: Since Provillus is scientifically formulated to take our varying hormones into account, there is a separate formula for men, and Provillus for women – this makes it safer and gives you a better chance of treating your hair loss.
4) 90 Day money-back guarantee: Provillus is NOT some fly-by-night company that is going to take your money and run with it. It is a reputable brand that believes in helping as many men and women as possible. That is why they offer a 90-day money-back guarantee, so if you are not happy with your results, you can get all your money back.
5) Discreet, online order: Many hair loss sufferers (me included) are embarrassed about our hair loss, and do not really want anyone knowing we a taking a product to treat our balding. Thankfully, Provillus requires no prescription, and it can be ordered discreetly online from the comfort of your home. And when the package comes, nobody will know that it is a hair loss product – the packaging is discreet, and your bill will merely be from Provillus.
Piano Brands And Review
So you want to buy a piano. What a great musical adventure you have before you. Starting out on the journey, however, can be overwhelming, what with so many types and brands of pianos to choose from. That’s why I’ve provided this primer on piano types and brands for you, so that you can quickly and easily find the right piano for you and get on with enjoying a lifetime of making beautiful music together.
Types of Pianos
Grand pianos vs. Upright pianos: Grand pianos have an average of 10,000 moving parts and range in size from 4′ 6″ to over 9′ long. They have a winged shape with a curved right side and flat left side. Grand pianos are generally owned by professional and more serious amateur pianists.
The two primary types of grand pianos are Concert Grand pianos, the largest of grands reaching 9′ and over, and Baby Grand pianos, any grand piano that is smaller than 6′ tall. Different sizes of grand piano differ in the potential volume of sound it is able to produce, the tonal quality of its lower register (the bass notes), and the overall sound quality.
Also known as vertical pianos, upright pianos have an average of 5,000-6,000 moving parts. They typically cost less and take up less space than grand pianos, and are more commonly owned by amateur and hobbyist piano players.
Upright pianos come in various types depending on their size, the tallest reaching about 60″ in height. The taller an upright piano is, the better the action.
* Spinet pianos – approx. 36″ tall
* Console pianos – approx. 40″ tall
* Studio pianos – approx. 45″ tall
* Professional pianos – approx. 48″ tall
It is entirely possible to achieve the same quality with an upright as with a grand piano and, in some cases, better quality of tone than certain baby grands.
Digital pianos vs. Acoustic pianos: In contrast to traditional grand pianos and upright pianos, digital pianos utilize the technologies of audio microchips and speakers to reproduce the sounds of a traditional piano as well as those of other keyboard instruments like organs and harpsichords. Digital pianos also offer players the ability to record their practice sessions and performances.
The following brands produce some of the best digital pianos available:
* Alesis;
* Casio;
* Daewoo;
* Kurzweil;
* Roland;
* Suzuki;
* Technics;
* and Yamaha
Brands of Pianos
Because of differences in materials and construction and design techniques, a piano’s sound and action vary greatly depending on where in the world it is made.
American pianos: American piano manufacturers are reputed for producing pianos of top-quality construction and design and, as a consequence, are typically more costly than most European pianos. At the top of the list of major U.S. brands of pianos is Steinway. Steinway pianos are considered by many professional piano players to be the premiere pianos, as well as among the most expensive. Steinway is best known for their line of grand pianos;
Other major U.S. piano brands include:
* Baldwin (also produces the Chickering and Wurlitzer brands);
* Mason & Hamlin (limited production, high-end pianos);
* Hobart M. Cable
* Winter & Company.
Asian pianos: Asian-made pianos are also highly valued today, with the two premiere Asian brands of piano – Yamaha and Kawai – coming from Japan. Yamaha produces some of the world’s most revered pianos, which explains why they must produce 200,000 pianos each year to keep up with demand. Kawai is renowned for having been the first to utilize plastic parts in their pianos.
Other major Asian brands of piano include:
* Daewoo;
* Hyundai.
* Nordiska;
* Pearl River;
* Samick;
* and Young Chang
European pianos: Many countries in Europe – the U.K., France, and the Czech Republic – also produce great pianos, though arguably the best European pianos come from Austria and Germany.
Among the finest of Austrian and German pianos are:
* Bechstein;
* Bluthner;
* Bosendorfer;
* Feurich;
* Forster;
* Grotrian;
* Hamburg Steinway;
* Ibach;
* Sauter;
* Schimmel;
* and Seiler.
How to Evaluate Pianos
To decide on what type of piano to get, first consider where you plan to keep it and how much you’d like to spend on it. That will help you hone in on what types and brands you can feasibly choose from. Then you can start looking at (or listening to, as the case may) such other factors as piano tone quality, tuning stability (or life expectancy), action (or piano touch), and piano finish (ie. clear or opaque).
How to Trace a Cell Phone Location
New advances in technology have made it possible for anybody to trace a cell phone location.
These advances in technology designed to trace a cell phone location came about as a result of a number of recent events, including the events of September 11, 2001. Technological breakthroughs which have occurred since then include the inclusion of GPS technology in most mobile phones, and an improved ability to detect a phone’s location based on signals from local transmission towers.
There are number services on the Internet which allow you to trace the location of a cell phone. They may differ in therms of interface and appearance, butthey are using the same data from the telecom companies.
In the past the only way to gain access to the technology to trace a cell phone location was to buy equipment, and the use of this equipment was largely regulated to official organisations such as the police.
The way these services work is by gathering information from the telecom company that provides the cell phone service. this information includes the location of the cell phone as calculated by a combination of factors including the GPS as previously mentioned, and the distance to each of the nearest cellphone transmission masts. This is the same information which the police get.
There are wide range of reasons why you might want to trace a cell phone location, such as trying to find out where a friend or relative rates while you’re out and about, keeping track of the location of a child, meeting up with friends, and trying to find shops and restaurants near you. Companies make use of these services in order to track their employees location, and also to provide security for employees when they are working in a remote location on their own. In the end, there are probably as many reasons as there are users.
The way GPS technology works in modern cell phones varies between the different cellphone networks, and with some operators it does not continuously transmit location. This means that when you want to trace a cell phone location, the information that you will be gathering is most likely collected from transmission tower locations.
The location of the phone will be tracked using triangulation – by taking 2 or more readings, it is possible to calculate where the signal is comming from by working out the triangle that fits the signal strengths. The 3rd point is the location of the phone.
However, when the person who has the phone has made an emergency call, this GPS transmission will always be sent. This is designed to ensure that the police can always track a cell phone location, in order to get help to people who need it.
The result of this design that the accuracy of the location which is provided by the service will be greater in areas which are more populated, and have more radio transmission masts, and will be lower in areas where there are very few radio masts, such is the wastelands, deserts, or un-populated areas of countryside. So, it is easier to track a cell phone location with a high level of accuracy in built up areas.
Nonetheless, most times you trace a cell phone location the information from the cell phone masts should be fine. After all, you do not need to know the person’s location with a very great deal of accuracy for most purposes.
It Works Marketing? A Skeptic’s Honest Review
If you’re looking for a review of the It Works opportunity, you’ve found it!
About 7 years ago, a company by the name of It Works! was created in Grand Rapids, MI. The CEO of the company, Mark Pentecost, found a ‘body wrap’ which could be targeted to any area of the body to see slimming results in just 45 minutes. This wrap became known as the “Ultimate Body Applicator” and has drastically changed the face of the health and wellness industry ever since.
Does their product “The Ultimate Applicator” Really Work?
When I was first introduced to the concept that a body wrap could really help to facilitate fat loss – I rolled my eyes. But, in April of this past year, I attended an Expo in Cincinnati where I saw the It Works Marketing Team wrapping expo participants of the American Massage Therapy Association. I saw over 100 people wrapped that day, and never have I experienced such genuine excitement from strangers-all in one place. While I don’t know any of those people on a personal basis, I do know that many of those people came back from that expo with over 9 inches gone from their waistline.
So, does the Ultimate Applicator work? Definitely!
Company Financial Summary/Payment Plan
After a skeptical review of the It Works Marketing payment plan, it appears that they are in pretty good shape for the long term. The CEO of the company has extensive experience in multi-level marketing and a sound long-term business plan. I would say that their payment plan appears to be a bit too rewarding for their distributors to last.
However, they have long since surpassed the critical stage for a network marketing company to survive – so I guess I could be wrong in that assumption. Currently the only flaw I can see is a lack of tools and a dominating web presence. But, apparently, there is an extensive overhaul, and state-of-the-art web release coming this summer which is poised to double the size of the company.
So, although, I was very skeptical at first, the It Works Marketing team proved me wrong. They seem to be very well poised for long term growth.
Vimax Reviews – Is Vimax Safe And What is The Dosage For Penis Enlargement Pills?
What is Vimax?
Vimax was designed to help men improve their sex lives. The product works in a few different ways. First, it works by increasing the male sex drive. Specially selected herbs help increase the level of testosterone in the blood, and increase the sexual prowess of the user. Secondly, the pills work by actually increasing the length and girth of the penis. The process is actually rather simple, the herbs included in the pill help increase the blow flow capacity to the groin area, which over time will enlarge the arteries and blood vessels within the penis. So within a few months, you have a larger more prominent penis.
Why is Vimax popular?
Vimax is popular, because it works. Thousands of men, just like you have used Vimax over the years and have seen some amazing results. That is a lot more than the other so-called penis enhancement products can say. The all natural ingredients are also what makes Vimax so popular, because no one wants to put something in their body that could actually harm them.
What is it made of and is it safe?
The full list of ingredients for the Vimax pill are: Muira Puama (balsam), Velvet, Ginkgo biloba (leaf), Damiana (leaf), Cayenne (fruit), Oats (entire plant), Avena sativa, Ginseng (root), Panax Ginseng, Caltrop (fruit) Tribulus terrestris. Other Ingredients: cellulise, vegetable stearate and silica. Contains NO yeast, wheat gluten, soy protein, corn, milk/diary, sodium, sugar, artificial coloring, preservatives or flavoring. It’s 100% natural and good for you.
Why does it work?
First, you have Ginkgo Biloba. The Chinese culture has used it for years to increase brain flow to the brain to help improve memory and mental ability. Studies show that the herb also helps increase blood flow to the genital region as well, which means that you have the ability to stay erect longer than you ever have before.
Next, we have Horny Goat Weed. The name pretty much says it all, but this herb’s job is to help increase your sexual desire and make you ready and willing whenever the mood hits you. Vimax penis pills also contain palmetto, which is another drug known to increase sexual libido. So you have a double punch with one pill.
Cayenne fruit is also included in the mix, and is known to increase the length of your genitals up to 4 inches or more.
Ginseng is one of the best herbs in the bunch. It works by increasing the size of the blood vessels in the penis, which means that over time your penis will actually get fuller and wider and stay that way permanently.
Is there a guarantee?
Yes! If you don’t notice a difference in 60 days, the manufacturer will give you your money back. That says a lot about the way that they do business, and the fact that they stand behind their product and their promises. You can rest assured that you are protected in your purchase.
What is the daily dose I must take?
Just one tablet a day. You can also take one thirty minutes before sexual activity for increased stamina and intensified orgasms.
How much do pills cost?
A one month supply will cost you approximately $30-40 dollars a month. It is recommended that you purchase a couple of months worth at a time, so that you don’t have to worry about running out. Buying in bulk will often get you a price deal and save you on shipping.
Pros of Vimax
As with everything, it’s important to think of the pros and cons of using Vimax. Here are the pros:
· Erection strengthening
· Increased sexual stamina
· Increased penis length (typically 1-4 inches on average)
· Increase penis girth (up to 25%)
· More intense orgasms
· Improvement in urinary flow
· Increased blood circulation to genital area.
· Higher sex drive
· Treatment of impotence
· Increased sperm production
· Overall improvement in sexual function
Cons of Vimax
Now for the cons:
· Cost of treatment. A month’s supply costs around $35 dollars.
· The time needed to see improvement (could take up to a month to see results)
· Possible side effects- which are virtually unheard of.
How long does it last?
Forever. Unlike some of the creams and pumps, the effects of Vimax are noticeable and permanent. If you gain 4 inches in length over the course of your treatment, then you will always be 4 inches longer! Your results don’t diminish or fade away over time.
Final thoughts
There are lots of products out there that promise amazing results, but very few that actually deliver. The ones that you hear about in your spam email box are often fly-by-night companies looking to make a quick buck. Vimax is not one of those companies. They have been helping couples for over 5 years, and stand behind their product 100%. It really doesn’t get any better than that. See below how you can pick up your FREE report about Penis Enlargement Pills and Patches before you purchase anything.
Rules to Setting Business Goals and Objectives: Why and How to be SMART
We all know that nothing runs without a plan, and a plan cannot run without having its objectives set.
That applies to any kind of plan, whether we’re talking business or personal finances, university degrees or NGO programs, website promotion or weight loss.
Setting objectives and milestones is of crucial importance for any planning activity and is the core of its success, or failure.
Knowing how to set objectives is not exactly rocket science in terms of complexity, but any strategist should know the basic rules of how to formulate and propose objectives. We will see in this article why objectives play such a major role within a company‘s planning and strategic activities, how they influence all business processes, and we will review some guidelines of setting objectives.
The Importance of Setting Objectives
One might wonder why we need to establish objectives in the first place, why not let the company or a specific activity just run smoothly into the future and see where it gets. That would be the case only if we really do not care whether the activity in discussion will be successful or not: but then, to use a popular saying, “if something deserves to be performed, then it deserves to be performed well”. In other words, if we don’t care for the results, we should not proceed with the action at all.
Setting objectives before taking any action is the only right thing to do, for several reasons:
- it gives a target to aim to, therefore all actions and efforts will be focused on attaining the objective instead of being inefficiently used;
- gives participants a sense of direction, a glimpse of where they’re going to;
- motivates the leaders and their teams, since it is quite the custom of establishing some sort of reward once the team successfully completed a project;
- offers the support in evaluating the success of an action or project.
The 5 Rules of Setting Objectives: Be SMART!
I am sure most managers and leaders know what SMART stands for, well, at least when it comes of establishing objectives. However, I have seen some of them who cannot fully explain the five characteristics of a good-established objective – things are somehow blurry and confused in their minds. Since they can’t explain in details what SMART objectives really are, it is highly doubtful that they will always be able to formulate such objectives.
It is still unclear from where the confusion comes: perhaps there are too many sources of information, each of them with a slightly different approach upon what a SMART objective really is; or perhaps most people only briefly “heard” about it and they never get to reach the substance behind the packaging.
Either way, let us try to uncover the meaning of the SMART acronym and see how we can formulate efficient objectives.
SMART illustrates the 5 characteristics of an efficient objective; it stands for Specific – Measurable – Attainable – Relevant – Timely.
1. Be SPECIFIC!
When it comes of business planning, “specific” illustrates a situation that is easily identified and understood. It is usually linked to some mathematical determinant that imprints a specific character to a given action: most common determinants are numbers, ratios and fractions, percentages, frequencies. In this case, being “specific” means being “precise”.
Example: when you tell your team “I need this report in several copies”, you did not provide the team with a specific instruction. It is unclear what the determinant “several” means: for some it can be three, for some can be a hundred. A much better instruction would sound like “I need this report in 5 copies” – your team will know exactly what you expect and will have less chances to fail in delivering the desired result.
2. Be MEASURABLE!
When we say that an objective, a goal, must be measurable, we mean there is a stringent need to have the possibility to measure, to track the action(s) associated with the given objective.
We must set up a distinct system or establish clear procedures of how the actions will be monitored, measured and recorded. If an objective and the actions pertaining to it cannot be quantified, it is most likely that the objective is wrongly formulated and we should reconsider it.
Example: “our business must grow” is an obscure, non-measurable objective. What exactly should we measure in order to find out if the objective was met? But if we change it to “our business must grow in sales volume with 20%”, we’ve got one measurable objective: the measure being the percentage sales rise from present moment to the given moment in the future. We can calculate this very easy, based on the recorded sales figures.
3. Be ATTAINABLE!
Some use the term “achievable” instead of “attainable”, which you will see it is merely a synonym and we should not get stuck in analyzing which one is correct. Both are.
It is understood that each leader will want his company / unit to give outstanding performances; this is the spirit of competition and such thinking is much needed. However, when setting objectives, one should deeply analyze first the factors determining the success or failure of these objectives. Think of your team, of your capacities, of motivation: are they sufficient in order for the objectives to be met? Do you have the means and capabilities to achieve them?
Think it through and be honest and realistic to yourself: are you really capable of attaining the goals you’ve set or are you most likely headed to disappointment? Always set objectives that have a fair chance to be met: of course, they don’t need to be “easily” attained, you’re entitled to set difficult ones as long as they’re realistic and not futile.
Example: you own a newborn movers company and you set the objective of “becoming no. 1 movers within the state”. The problem is you only have 3 trucks available, while all your competitors have 10 and up. Your goal is not attainable; try instead a more realistic one, such as “reaching the Top 5 fastest growing movers company in the state”.
4. Be RELEVANT!
This notion is a little more difficult to be perceived in its full meaning; therefore we will start explaining it by using an example in the first place.
Imagine yourself going to the IT department and telling them they need to increase the profit to revenue ratio by 5%. They will probably look at you in astonishment and mumble something undistinguished about managers and the way they mess up with people’s minds.
Can you tell what is wrong with the objective above? Of course! The IT department has no idea what you were talking about and there’s nothing they can do about it – their job is to develop and maintain your computerized infrastructure, not to understand your economic speech. What you can do it setting an objective that the IT department can have an impact upon, and which will eventually lead to the increase you wanted in the first place. What about asking them to reduce expenditures for hardware and software by 10% monthly and be more cautious with the consumables within their department by not exceeding the allocated budget? They will surely understand what they need to do because the objective is relevant for their group.
Therefore, the quality of an objective to be “relevant” refers to setting appropriate objectives for a given individual or team: you need to think if they can truly do something about it or is it irrelevant for the job they perform.
5. Be TIMELY!
No much to discuss about this aspect, since it is probably the easiest to be understood and applied.
Any usable and performable objective must have a clear timeframe of when it should start and/or when it should end. Without having a timeframe specified, it is practically impossible to say if the objective is met or not.
For example, if you just say “we need to raise profit by 500000 units”, you will never be able to tell if the objective was achieved or not, one can always say “well, we’ll do it next year”. Instead, if you say “we need to raise profit by 500000 units within 6 months from now”, anyone can see in 6 months if the goal was attained or not. Without a clear, distinct timeframe, no objective is any good.
Sample Performance Appraisal
A performance appraisal carried out for professional and administrative personnel and a confidential employee performance appraisal contains the names and job titles of employees and the department for which they work. It also states the names of the appraisers and their job titles. Performance appraisal sheets are normally divided into three main topics that are, evaluation or job performance area, ratings, and comments. The evaluation area comprises of various factors. These factors include job knowledge, professional competence, and managerial ability. Apart from these, productivity, quality of work, problem solving ability, communication, and initiative are also areas that need evaluation. Factors such as attitude and cooperation, personal leadership, adaptability, and self-improvement also cannot be ignored while evaluation.
Based on the appraisals, professional and administrative personnel can be rated as outstanding, excellent, acceptable, marginal, or deficient. The comments section contains improvements, suggestions, goals to be achieved, potential of employees, etc. Performance appraisals show the overall effectiveness of employees in their job performance, that is, it is a summary of all comments. Plans for professional growth is a section that supervisors and employees should develop cooperatively. This section includes additional responsibilities, management opportunities, special courses, committee assignments, etc. While evaluation, it is advisable to give examples of strengths and weaknesses of the employees as and when possible.
Confidential employee performance appraisals also contain other job requirements such as focusing on specific needs of business or needs for individual improvement, public contact, ability to stay within cost guidelines, etc. They also give a performance summary, which shows the employee’s outstanding and strongest points, employee’s shortcomings and weaknesses, and specific accomplishments and changes since last performance review. They also help in deciding goals for improvement, that is how the employee can be more effective and what additional training can be helpful.
Performance appraisals also have an employee feedback section. This section contains the employee’s most important accomplishments on the job, weakest job performance areas, areas in need of improvement, and other work concerns they would like to discuss. It also provides the date scheduled for the next review and the areas targeted for improvement.
Posted in Company Reviews Articles | 
Tags: Appraisal, History, Management, Performance, Sample, Styles | 
No Comments »
Bamboo Flooring Review – Pros and Cons of Bamboo Floor
Bamboo, which is actually considered a grass instead of a tree, grows much more quickly than most types of hardwood. Usually the bamboo is harvested between three and six years. Compare that to hardwood trees which can take anywhere from 40 years to 120 years to mature. That’s a big difference obviously and is the main reason it is considered such a good Eco friendly option to hardwood.
Another reason bamboo is liked by environmentalists is because the bamboo requires very little pesticides and fertilizers. Pesticides and fertilizers can pollute the land and waters where the forests are managed. However, the manufacturing process of bamboo flooring can result in byproducts being dumped into local rivers and streams. So, it’s very important to make sure you are buying bamboo from a reputable manufacturer. Two of the top manufacturers are Teragren and Ecotimber.
One of the problems with bamboo flooring is that the product comes from countries where there isn’t much regulation. Again, this is why you want to look for well known and respected brands. Another thing to check for is whether the product passes the standards set by the Federal Stewardship Council, or FSC for short. The organization certifies forest management.
Look for bamboo that is older than just a year or two. The best bamboo will be harvested every five or six years or longer, which makes for a better product because it will be more durable, hard and dense.
A positive aspect of bamboo is the fact that it does better is areas that are exposed to water, whereas hardwood flooring does not do well when exposed to water. Also, the better quality bamboo is harder than many hardwoods, is stain and scratch resistant. Because bamboo is water and stain resistant, the floors are easier to maintain and clean. Using a wet mop on a bamboo floor is OK, while it is not with most hardwood floors.
One of the cons of bamboo is that there are basically only two types of colors: a natural light yellow hue and a darker caramelized tone called amber. However, it is possible to stain the natural planks with many different colors.
Make sure you have an experienced floor installer to handle your job if you choose to use bamboo as sometimes floating a bamboo floor can be difficult. Overall though, installing isn’t a problem and will make you happy to use a product which isn’t hurting the environment.
Overcome the Top 10 Causes of Workplace Stress
Workplace stress is on the rise and it’s costing corporate America a fortune. Some estimate that 80% of health care costs are stress related, and these expenses go right to the bottom line.
According to CNN-Money.com, Americans spent more than $17 billion for anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs in 2002, up 10% from the year before and nearly 30% over a two year period.
The Institute for Management Excellence reports that American industry spends more than $26 billion each year for medical bills and disability payments with another $10 billion for executive’s lost workdays, hospitalization, and early death.
In addition to these staggering figures, stress takes its toll through the added costs of quality control, legal challenges, lost opportunities, poor performance, bad attitudes, and training.
We cannot do much about the skyrocketing costs of medical care and prescription drugs, but we can take immediate action to control the top ten causes of stress as identified by The Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health.
The countdown is:
10. “Workload” – Employees report that they are often stressed when they have too little or too much to do. Managers need to divide responsibilities and help employees prioritize work that must be done. Make sure you understand the impact before shifting responsibilities. Take into account the cost of stress before you increase anyone’s workload or hire more people.
9. “Random interruptions” – Telephones, pagers, walk-in visits, and spontaneous demands from supervisors all contribute to increased stress. Time management, delegation of responsibilities, and clarification of expectations can reduce these stressors. 8. “Pervasive uncertainty” – Stress levels increase rapidly when people are confronted by new requirements and procedures. Keeping people informed controls stress and increases productivity. Put details in a memo so they can review the facts following your explanations.
8. “Pervasive uncertainty” – Stress levels increase rapidly when we are confronted by new requirements and procedures. Finding out what’s going on and keeping staff informed helps control stress and increases productivity. Write out the information in a memo so you can review the facts. Staff members will appreciate the written analysis.
7. “Mistrust and unfairness” – These situations keep everyone on edge, create bad attitudes, and lower productivity. It is important to keep an open line of communication to avoid misunderstanding and know what people are thinking about your decisions. Managers must consistently build trust and give equal treatment – just do the right thing.
6. “Unclear policies and no sense of direction” -Lack of focus causes uncertainty and undermines confidence in management. You need more than a well-written policy manual. Enforcement of policies and clear communications are essential.
To make sure everyone gets the message, you can repeat your explanation in a variety of ways -repetition and feedback are important. Reinforce policies through memos, articles, bulletin board postings, personal meetings, and small group discussions.
5. “Career and job ambiguity” – If people are uncertain about their jobs and careers, there is a feeling of helplessness and of being out of control. In addition to the trusted job descriptions and annual personnel reviews, people need to understand a broad range of issues that affect the company.
News of mergers, consolidations, plant closings, and restructuring contribute to a feeling of helplessness. Management must keep people informed about situations that will affect their jobs, or the rumor mill will add to an already stressful situation.
4. “No feedback – good or bad” – People want to know whether they are meeting expectations. Consistent, written and verbal, personalized feedback is required. Some people need more attention than others, but everyone’s performance is enhanced if leaders frequently affirm individual efforts.
3. “No appreciation” – Failure to show appreciation generates stress that endangers productivity throughout the company. There are many ways to demonstrate appreciation, but the most effective is a sincere comment about how much the person means to you and the company.
2. “Lack of communications” – Poor communication leads to decreased performance and increased stress. Management memos and announcements work well for distributing information, but two-way conversation improves communication and solicits ideas and suggestions while reducing stress and complaints.
1. “Lack of control” – Workplace stress is at its greatest when employees have no say regarding things that affect them. You can decrease sensitivity to all the other stressors and give a sense of being in control by involving employees in operating and administrative decisions and acting on their input. Frontline employees know what they are talking about. Listening to what they have to say reduces stress and increases productivity.
Effective managers understand that stress control is a leadership responsibility and give it just as much attention as any other management function.
Grasping the concepts and reducing stress one step at a time can have an amazing impact on your bottom line –and on the lives of those who do the heavy work.
Crystal Quest Water Filters Review – Get the Unbiased Truth Now
How good are Crystal Quest Water Filters when you put them up against the larger and more popular companies? This is definitely not the first purifier company that comes to mind, so how good are they?
They are well known for their counter top purifiers. However, they also sell pitcher and faucet purifiers. They range in price from twenty seven to one hundred and thirty dollars, depending on which website you get them from. In other words, they are among the cheapest filters out there.
The twenty eight dollar pitcher Crystal Quest Water Filter is one of their more basic models, but this is still quite effective at purifying your water supply. It takes out over ninety nine percent of the chlorine, probably the most important element that needs to go.
It comes in a sleek small filter that goes well in any refrigerator, as it doesn’t take up much room, and is able to purify two thousand gallons of water before needing replacement. Depending on your home size, this will probably last you for a half to a full year.
It is also capable of dramatically lowering the iron, mercury, copper, and other metal amounts, and it also gets rid of most of the lead and aluminum via ion exchange. It is known for also making the water taste and smell better, and lowers the pesticide level as well.
This Crystal Quest Water Filter was rated by a popular review magazine as the top purifier for two straight years, and if you are in the market for a water pitcher purifier, this definitely is one you might consider. It will not only save you money but save you the hassle of installing the purifier as well.
Of course, it won’t do nearly as thorough a job as a faucet purifier or whole house model would, but if you just want a basic filter to improve the taste and smell, then this should do the trick.
The countertop water purifier is another popular model they sell. This one is made of stainless steel, and not only does it work well with your interior design (it needs to since it will be situated on the counter) but it’s very simple to get set up, which can’t be said for many purifiers today.
The filter will last you a long time, and you won’t have to worry about constantly replacing it, like you would have t o with some models. It is capable of lasting you as much s ten thousand gallons before needing replacement.
The estimate on their website claims this will last you roughly one to three years, again depending on the size of your home. You can also get Crystal Quest Water filters that are capable of going thirty thousand gallons before needing replacement if you are willing to shell out the extra money.
It utilizes six different filtration steps, and comes with 1 micron filter capabilities. If you aren’t aware of it, this is one of the lowest micron ratings you can get. This is good enough to get rid of the vast majority of impurities in your water supply. These are a couple of the more popular Crystal Quest Water Filters to look into.