A Bit of Pollyanna

Written by Nan S. Russell


Continued from page 1

I think it's time to look at Pollyanna differently. You will find more work success embracing ideas, seeingrepparttar positive side, and stretching your horizons than finding reasons not to. Impossible is often more a state of mind than a reality. As Helen Keller reminds us, "No pessimist ever discoveredrepparttar 107088 secrets ofrepparttar 107089 stars ... or sailed to an uncharted land ... or opened a new heaven torepparttar 107090 human spirit."

But I've also learned in twenty years in management there's more to winning at working than positive thinking and optimistic approaches. A bit of Pollyanna should be mixed with strong doses of common sense. Or, as British political leader Harold Wilson puts it, "I am an optimist, but I'm an optimist who carries a raincoat."

Still, I know if I had listened to everyone who deflated my idea-balloons, I wouldn't haverepparttar 107091 life opportunities I have now. I've experiencedrepparttar 107092 power of hope, vision and positive thinking inrepparttar 107093 workplace. My point of view? A bit of Pollyanna is a very good thing.

(c) 2004 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved.



Sign up to receive Nan’s free eColumn, Winning at Working, at http://www.winningatworking.com. Nan Russell has spent over twenty years in management, most recently with QVC as a Vice President. Currently working on her first book, Nan is a writer, columnist, small business owner, and instructor




Success at Work : Techniques : Computer Literacy

Written by Stephen Bucaro


Continued from page 1

After receiving my instructions, he successfully completedrepparttar pc board layout. I then introduced him to Computer Automated Engineering (CAE). I showed him how to drag electronic components from a library, userepparttar 107087 mouse to draw circuit paths, makerepparttar 107088 computer simulaterepparttar 107089 function ofrepparttar 107090 circuit, and then makerepparttar 107091 computer layout a pc board forrepparttar 107092 circuit.

He was able to easily master complex technology because he now understood that he wasn't stupid. Computers ARE complex. When he needed help, he studiedrepparttar 107093 help files or asked someone for help. Eventually, his CAE skills became known and I lost him to another manager. "His last stop before being booted outrepparttar 107094 door?" I don't think so. There's no way Motorola is going to let this valuable employee get away.

Even though it'srepparttar 107095 programmers fault that computers and software are too complex, that doesn't relieve you of all responsibility. You must make an effort. Like my friend at Motorola, you must studyrepparttar 107096 help files or ask someone for help when you need it. Not only must you studyrepparttar 107097 help files, but you must also be willing to "try things".

Many people fear that if they click onrepparttar 107098 wrong thing,repparttar 107099 computer will blow up and they will be blamed for it. A properly designed software application preventsrepparttar 107100 user from making a fatal mistake, either by making it impossible, or by providing a warning message. A properly designed application letsrepparttar 107101 user "back out of" or reverse any action. One ofrepparttar 107102 best ways to learn is to "try things". Ifrepparttar 107103 computer blow ups because you made a mistake, you're using improperly designed software.

When you're learning how to perform a function with a computer, if you expect you may need to perform that same function again, take notes. No one will think you're stupid if you take notes. But if you keep asking over and over again how to performrepparttar 107104 same function, they will think you're too stupid to take notes.

When I worked at Motorola, I used a technique called "strokes" to make symbols appear and move aroundrepparttar 107105 computer screen like magic. Some people called merepparttar 107106 "Electronic God". How did I get so good? I tried things. I failed. I studied. I tried again. I understood that technology IS complex. So what?

In today's society, being computer illiterate is equivalent to being functionally illiterate. Makerepparttar 107107 effort to studyrepparttar 107108 help files and to "try things". Don't get discouraged or blame yourself if you don't succeed onrepparttar 107109 first try. The computer won't blow up if you make a mistake. You can't be successful at work if you fail to embrace computers and technology.

---------------------------------------------------------- Resource Box: Copyright(C) 2004 Bucaro TecHelp. To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money onrepparttar 107110 Web visit bucarotechelp.com To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter visit http://bucarotechelp.com/search/000800.asp ----------------------------------------------------------

To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on the Web visit bucarotechelp.com To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter visit http://bucarotechelp.com/search/000800.asp


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