One idea to clue others in to your current work load is to keep a very visible dry marker board near your desk or in your office. Use it to write down tasks or projects you're working on. Check off items completed and leave one's yet to be finished on board until you've done them. Add new requests to board as they come in. A visible check-list will keep you from procrastinating on simple tasks -- acting as a constant reminder. And, you might deter someone from giving you another project if it's obvious you've already got more than you can handle.

Pass buck when buck needs passing ============================ If your task and assignment list is built from internal office assignments and a new request comes in from your supervisor, use their authority to your favor. Allow them to adjust your priority list for you. Allow them to bump a project or move back it's deadline. If necessary, allow your supervisor to take responsibility for promises you can't keep to others (if they are reason that you can't). If you do that -- it is very important that others are notified of schedule or deadline changes and that changes were made by those in authority over you. This will relieve you of unnecessary pressure and stress. Is this passing buck? If you were in a car accident that was clearly not your fault, knowing all of implications that go along with responsibility, would you take blame for it? Probably not. The same should hold true for less complicated situations.

Put yourself in their shoes ============================ What if you ordered a product as a holiday gift -- if it didn't arrive in time because company couldn't meet demand of orders, wouldn't you rather them be upfront and honest and tell you no -- that they can't delivery gift in time? Think about how upset you would be! Think about how upset others would be if you took on more than you can handle and didn't have time or energy to fulfil request.

Maybe that anti-drug campaign slogan "Just Say No" should get a new face for 21st century. Instead of bumper stickers, maybe it should be printed on coffee mugs or flash as screen savers. And if we find ourselves still struggling to say no when we've already maxed out our to-do list, maybe we can just add it to to-do list as priority number one.

Even in world of internet marketing - you have those that offer you twenty zillion subscribers in a matter of 24 hours, and those that believe that tried and true methods of daily marketing will take you where you want to be. In this scenario, glitter and glitz will grab your attention but depending on product, it may not keep you. You may not subscribe because your instinct tells you that it is just fluff without a firm base underneath.

Diversity and variety are indeed spice of life - without it, we would all eat same things, wear same clothes, and repeat what other person says without an original idea in our minds. Pretty dull, if you ask me. But we are showered with differences. If we welcome this aspect of life, we will be given opportunities to broaden our horizons and delve into areas we never thought possible. We can choose a model of friend we like and together we can work at changing what needs changing in our world and world at large. We should anticipate daily challenge of world marketplace that features people, places and things. We are living in a wonderful time and place in history - but we need to take full advantage of everything that is offered. If not, we will be ones that fall to wayside or just stand on sidelines to watch everyone else enjoy life, world, and everything there is in people and nature. ENJOY! ©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 June http://www.arleenssite.com