Knowing first impression we make is a lasting one, why do we insist on answering our phone simply by saying "HELLO?" Most of us just don't think about it. Let's look at a couple alternatives.

If you are an individual, you might choose to answer phone like this:

"Hello. This is Chris Bradford. Thank you for calling. How may I help you today?"

Or, if you are a corporation or other business entity, you might choose to answer phone in this manner:

"Thank you for calling Brande's Dream Team. This is Chris Bradford. How may I help you today?"

With either of these methods, you will be making a truly professional first impression.

What about your answering machine? Does it simply take messages, or do you also use it as a promotional tool? Whoever is calling you wants to speak to you. They will probably leave a message. So you have their attention, for about one minute. If your message is any longer than one minute, they are more likely to hang up on you.

Let's look at a simple sample script.

"Thank you for calling. This is Chris Bradford, distributor of wonderful products and promoter of an exceptional business opportunity. I regret I am unavailable to take your call at moment. However, Your call is very important to me. At sound of tone, please leave me as detailed of a message as possible, and I will return your call within 24 hours."

In this message you accomplished several important things.

1. You thanked them for calling you.

2. You gave them a brief introduction as to what you do.

'At Christmas I no more desire a rose Than wish a snow in May's newfangled mirth; But like of each thing that in season grows.' > Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), Love's Labour Lost

Christmas - that time of over-indulgence, added anxiety and sheer stress. Bah, humbug!

Actually, I love Christmas. But reality for so many people at work is that hidden beneath surface of jollity and bonhomie is that it is potentially most difficult time of year.

The four work stresses of Christmas.

1. Christmas has become a giant milestone in year. This forces everyone into an artificial mindset that demands that everything be completed 'before holiday.' As a result, weeks before Christmas are an absolute nightmare for many people. People who are already overworked are forced to pull extra hours to get work completed. Yet often, a moments thought by those demanding completion of jobs would show that nothing bad will happen if they are held over until early January.

If you are a 'holiday hurrier', spare a thought for what is truly urgent and what is simply being hurried because it is Christmas.

2. The social whirl. Just because it is Christmas, everybody has to get on. And on, and on. Festive parties seem to start as soon as shops start displaying tinsel - and that can be as early as September where I live! If you are prone to suffer from stress - as so many of us are these days - endless eating and drinking in smokey atmospheres (even if you don't smoke yourself) is just going to make things worse. Not only are you lowering your bodies resistance, but you are also severely limiting your ability to keep on top of heightened workload.