In This Edition:
1. July: The Second Half of the Year!
2. Dealing with Other People's Voice Mail
3. Contentment With Partners?
4. Ask People for Favors
5. Now It's Official: Time Flies
July: The Second Half of the Year!
This election year seems to be racing by at record speed. Here we are
with only 177 shopping days until Christmas! Actually, there are scientific
reasons why time seems to speed up or slow down. See "Time Flies" below.
Dealing With Other People's Voice Mail
Have you had it with encountering recorded messages when you call
others? As onerous as the situation may be, here are some ways to make the
best of your opportunuty to leave a message:
- Speak a little louder than usual, enunciating as you speak.
- Say your name and organization, and then slowly leave your phone
number. Follow that with a short, essential message.
- Make your message last 40 to 50 seconds. Too short, and it may seem
insignificant. Too long, and you may irk the other party.
- Pretend you're writing your phone number in the air as you're
reciting it. Some callers speak too fast, making recipients replay the
message repeatedly.
- Days later, No reply? Say, "I'm calling to follow-up the message I
left on Tuesday." Be flexible when offering times and dates when you can be
reached.
Above all, be friendly and personable. You'll stand out like few
others callers that day, and may actuallt receive a return call!
Contentment with Partners?
A survey of 730 adults who are married or dating conducted by the
American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeries finds that 59%
of women and 54% of men would like to change at least one feature of their
partner's face. The top five changes include: 1) hair, 2) wrinkles, 3)
nose, 4) mouth, 5) eyes!
Ask People for Favors
As a boy Benjamin Franklin asked the governor of Pennsylvania for a
book. In his autobiography, Franklin cites that moment as the beginning of
his publishing career. He also learned the importance of asking people for
favors. People will then ask you for a favor in return, and thus one forms
a free exchange, the foundation of all business: "one polite request at a
time."
Now It's Official: Time Flies
According to findings published in the September 2002 issue of
Scientific American, the human brain generates images faster when you
experience positive emotions. Time seems to "fly" when you're having fun!
Conversely, the brain reduces the rate of image making during negative
emotions, This may explain why misery seems to linger. So, Norman Vincent
Peale was right all along: positive thinking is essential!
