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Seven Things Every Well-Rounded YBP Should Know

  • By: Alisha
  • June 4, 2007
  • 4 comments

You are black professional. You are a young black professional. Chances are even if you’ve scored a great paying job in a lucrative field and you’re involved in upliftment of your community, there are still some things that you don’t know. Here are the few things that every YBP should know (in no particular order):

1. How to exit a job interview graciously-Even if you think you bombed the interview (and we know you didn’t!), give your interviewer a firm handshake and thank him/her verbally. Don’t forget to make strong eye contact. Follow-up with a handwritten thank you card. Handwritten cards add more of a personal touch than an email or phone call. Make sure your handwriting is legible.

2. When to send out wedding/party invitations-This is more for the ladies. Nothing is worse than receiving an invitation to a wedding that you’d really like to attend a week before. Save the date cards should be sent out atleast 2-3 months before the wedding to give your family and friends enough time to secure days off of work and book travel/lodging. Invitations should be sent six to eight weeks in advance.

3. How to RSVP for an event-RSVP is French for “please respond”, so please follow directions. RSVP cards/requests are sent out to guests to estimate how many people to accomodate for seating and food. It is inconsiderate to fail to respond and still attend. Send your cards in or call the host by the indicated date. Be sure to include your full name and note whether or not you will bring a guest.

4. How to obtain a passport-Every YBP should want to broaden their horizons in travel. If you and your crew are planning a vacation outside of the country, don’t think about boarding that plane without a passport. They usually cost up to $97 and an application process is required. If you’ve never had a passport, apply in person at your local U.S. Postal Office. Bring a certified birth certificate and a form of identification. For more information, look online here.

5. How to use the company credit card- Even though the Human Resources manager reviewed the use of the company credit card with you, I’m reinforcing the rule. Do NOT use the company credit card for personal purchases/matters. So what if your name enscripted across the card? Using the card to get into a club or concert while out of town on business is a no-no. Use the card for booking travel and food costs only. Those pumps or dress slacks you saw at the Galleria are off limits! Remember, the bill goes to the company, not you.

6. How to take care of your body-How can you work at your job and in your community if you are unhealthy? Women should have check-ups yearly–sometimes every six months. Men under age 40 usually don’t have checkups regularly, but it is recommended atleast every other year. Of course, both sexes should practice safe sex and use effective contraceptives every time to avoid sexually trasmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies. Check out Web MD for information on health.

7. How to accept other cultures and ways of life-Newsflash: Everyone is not like you and that’s not always a bad thing. A well-rounded individual surrounds him/herself with an array of people to learn from them, as well as teach them about themselves. You’ll probably come in contact with different people in your office, when you’re volunteering or working on different social committees. Before you shun them because they’re not like you, be open and give them a chance. You never know what’s hidden beneath the surface or behind the eyes.

 

Posted in: Career, Lifestyle

Putting Off Procrastination

  • By: Alisha
  • May 23, 2007
  • 3 comments

You have a LOT of work to do and you know it. For a month, you have known that a major project or school assignment was due. It’s a couple of days before deadline and you’ve done…..NOTHING! Have you ever had an important task to fulfill, yet when it’s time to accomplish it, you find everything else under the sun to do? Suddenly cleaning that disastrous closet out or alphabetizing your CD and DVD collection become top priorities. Sound familiar?

You may possibly be a procrastinator. Procrastionation by definition is “putting off intentionally or habitually,” according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Oddly enough, there are no concrete statistics on procrastination, so it is assumed that research was put off, also! Whether you have chalked it up to procrastination just being “a part of you,” there are some valid reasons we procrastinate other than “I just don’t feel like it…”

Unpleasant Tasks. Simply put, it’s something that you don’t want or don’t like to do. Most times, though, these tasks aren’t as bad as you think.

Complex Projects.There’s an important project in the works at your job. It’s been deemed to be a major undertaking and you are stressed. Where do you begin?

Indecisiveness. You can’t make up your mind about what or how to carry out a task.

Fear of Failure. You’re afraid of doing something wrong or not measuring up to a standard of perfection that usually self-imposed.

Lack of Focus. You can’t concentrate and maintain focus long enough to complete a task.

Surely, some of these reasons ring a bell. So how do you put off procrastination? See these tips to buckle down and get that work done!

Make daily or weekly lists of your tasks. A list can help you visualize what you need to do.

Prioritize items on your list according to importance. Analyze what needs immediate attention and work your way down your list.

Tackle complex projects effectively. Break projects or assignments into smaller sub-projects to manage tasks better.

Prevent distractions or interruptions before they occur. Turn off your cell phone, radio or television if you know they will distract you. Inform co-workers, family or friends that you are working to cut down on phone calls, visits, etc.

Schedule breaks between your work session. If you’re working on a project at work, schedule a walk around or outside the office for a set amount of time once certain tasks have been completed.

Change your environment. Often it’s hard to focus if we are in uncomfortable settings. Work and home offices are not always the best settings to be productive. If you can’t focus in your normal surroundings, change it up (if you’re allowed)! Try a quiet coffee shop or a bookstore. Remember to do what works best for you.

Do atleast one undesired tasks at the beginning of the day to free up time later. Once one difficult task is completed, you not only have more time to do other things, but you may also feel a sense of accomplishment.

If you still can’t break the habit, try these resources: Procrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do About It by Jane B. Burka, Ph.D. and Lenora M. Yuen, Ph.D. If books aren’t your cup of tea, download the free version of My Life Organized, a task management software, to help you get things in order.

Don’t put off until tomorrow, what you can do today. Be productive!

Posted in: News

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