4. Technology. Ignore technology at your own peril. Whether it's legal or not technology will make you obsolete if you ignore it. Take one look at recording industry. They're holding on for dear life... and it's getting worse and worse for them as wireless broadband and smaller computers make sharing files easier and easier. If you did a poll of teenagers today, how many of them do you think would tell you that it was wrong for them to share files? Percentage wise... not very many, right? These are same people that will be making laws for next generation. Once a business model is obsolete, it's dead. Horse and Buggy makers don't bring in a lot of money, but automobiles are a multi-billion dollar industry.

Conclusion: Make it a point, from this day forward, actively stay on top of business developments. Read magazines, check out news sites, and read articles like this. Always keeping in mind PEST method. By watching new trends you'll not only keep your business from being blindsided by something new, you'll also be able to stay on profitable side of cutting edge without bleeding to death in process.

------------------------------------------ Aaron Colman, helping business make money online.

Web design, custom PHP scripts, MySQL databases and more.

Free e-Course: Mastering Internet Lead Generation http://www.ibasics.biz/leads ------------------------------------------

Try to steer discussions in direction that you want to go, by concentrating on improvements you have made and can continue to make with appropriate training or job experience.

Listen.

Listen to, and take note of, your manager’s comments. Weigh up what he has to say even if you don’t agree with it. There may still be an element of truth in what he has to say, and you may learn something useful about how others see you. If you do disagree, however, it is important to say so. Don’t just accept his comments passively. Make it clear that you have a different opinion, but back up your response with cogent arguments of your own to support your case.

Stay Calm

At all times keep your cool. It is almost inevitable that you will bear brunt of some criticism. You manager will feel almost obliged to search for something, however wonderfully you have performed during preceding months. Don’t get angry. Keep calm. Fight your corner. Stay polite.

You will come across as someone who can take criticism, but is prepared to defend himself and his views. That can only do you good.

Profit from experience

Use appraisal process to your advantage. Remember points 1 and 2. Go into meeting well prepared, so that after initial looking back you can steer meeting towards where you want to go when you start looking forward. Talk about your aims and goals. Show yourself to be a positive, forward looking person. Say what it is that you need to achieve both your own personal aims and goals set for you by your manager. Ask for training necessary. Ask for job experience you want. Ask for more responsibility and promotion. You cannot fail to impress your manager with your enthusiasm.

Your appraisal should be a positive and beneficial experience for both you and your manager. It is a time when you can both reach a common understanding of past and both explain what you are looking for in future. It is a time when grievences can be aired and misunderstandings cleared up. It is a time when you can reset course and secure resources needed. In short, it is something to look forward to rather than to dread.