7 Quick Ways To Optimize Your Work Day
September 21, 2008 by Tom · 2 Comments
I have been madly busy all day. Looking back on today I have not been very good with my time. Distractions have been getting in the way and there was plenty of things I could have done to streamline my day.
So I thought it would be great to finish the day with some simple tips that I usually find help to optimize my time and help me get the best out of my time online.
1. Close All Instant Messengers
If you are limited to time then it’s important that you read all your email and make sure you are able to et to all the duties and tasks you have ahead of you. So make your self invisible on gmail, don’t load up msn and just resist talking about how much beer you drank on the weekend with an online buddy!
2. Write a list the night before
If you can write a list before shutting down of an evening and then go over it before even turning on your computer your mind will be going in the right direction. I like writing my lists down on paper as it allows me o easily make notes and change things around.
3. Save non work related web pages for the weekend
Store all the cool and funny non work related emails in a text page when you see or receive them. 101 pictures of break dancing cats may seem like something you just have to look at but really….. it can wait!!
4. Ask for clearer instructions
I often start jobs or tasks on wishy washy instructions. You spend a whole bunch of time getting the initial task done only for your boss or the client to tell you that wasn’t what they meant. If an email or memo isn’t clear… ask for clarification…. this is a tip I NEED to act on myself.
5. Take frequent breaks
I find if I get stressed I start making mistakes. Make sure you take your screen breaks. You may feel like you are working less time but chances are you will get more work done.
6. Get around procrastination by doing boring jobs first
Plan your day so you do all the boring jobs in the morning. If you can plug yourself into your iPod and just work away then do that. Get the jobs done before procrastination starts.
7. Save drinks for after work
photo credit: radiobread
If you are busy, resist all urges to slip off for a lunch time drink. You will regret it the next day when you realize that you have double the amount of work as usual and anything you did do is riddled with mistake.
I hope these tips have been helpful.
The Hottest Make Money Online Blogs – Part 1
September 18, 2008 by Tom · 5 Comments
I’m pretty sure that all of you must have read quite a few Make Money Online blogs but the sad reality is that most of them FAIL at helping you to make money. Several bloggers don’t have a clue as to how to make even a nickel online whereas some bloggers know-it-all but insist on fluffing up their blogs.
However, there do exist some blogs which are genuinely useful and the guys behind it are genuinely great people.
This is the first part of a series which is destined to continue for times immemorial. Just kiddin’, but anyway, it will extend to at least a couple more parts as there are loads of bloggers who deserve coverage.
Lucas, the blogger at Net Strife, is a great guy and has some super-quality posts over at his blog. The design is beautiful yet simple and the content tops the design.
Lucas blogs from the perspective of a dude who’s experimenting with making money online and constantly tracking and reviewing his progress. Some of the posts simply blow you away due to the value that’s exhibited in them.
Here are the posts you MUST read:
http://www.netstrife.com/how-i-make-a-fortune-with-wordpress-themes/
http://www.netstrife.com/value-your-time/
http://www.netstrife.com/how-to-get-clients-as-a-freelancer/
Now, I’m sure every one of us has heard about Tyler Cruz at some point or the other. This poker superstar has an insanely cool name with an insanely cool blog to go along with it 
.
The design is sleek, the ads are plenty and yet, they don’t clutter up the entire look. Tyler is one of the blogging superstars I actually respect as he comes across as humble and always willing to learn.
He’s had a number of friendly competitions with arch-nemesis Gyutae Park and these are always fun to follow. You should definitely checkout the Affiliate Marketing Challenge that’s going on.
Apart from all that, Market Leverage simply loves this guy and generously sponsors high-ticket prizes for his competitions.
SuiteJ is a relatively new blog compared to the others but judging by the awesome posts, Jay will have his hands-full with blog expos and conferences in a year or two.
Seriously, the big-head (Jay’s affectionate nickname) is amazing at churning out high quality content. He writes on a variety of topics spanning from design to website flipping.
Recently, Jay recorded his first video post and you should definitely go check it out. What’s more, he’s even giving away a FREE eCover design (no strings attached!)
So folks, that sums up this part of this series. Stay tuned for more
Obese Cats
These guys are just chillin’ out, watching TV after a hard day’s work at the office.
The Top Billboard Albums of the 1960′s
September 17, 2008 by Tom · Leave a Comment
Music is a rapidly changing beast and most of us have our preferences. You also notice that as you get older you find yourself often tied to the music you loved in your teenage years. New music just does not cut it!
Here are the number one albums according to Billboard for the 1960′s.
1960: Original Cast – The Sound Of Music
1961: Original Cast – Camelot
1962: Soundtrack – West Side Story
1963: Soundtrack – West Side Story
1964: Original Cast – Hello, Dolly!
1965: Soundtrack – Mary Poppins
1966: Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass – Whipped Cream And Other Delights
1967: Monkees – More Of The Monkees
1968: Jimi Hendrix Experience – Are You Experienced?
1969: Iron Butterfly – In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
As you can see the 1960′s was a very interesting year for music. The Billboard chart’s started in the 50′s and it took until the last half of the 1960′s for non-musical related albums to start becoming popular. The outh really started to rule and it’s great to see it charted in music.
I was born in 1981, the number one album that year was Kim Carnes with Bette Davis Eyes. I be honest I have no idea what this is!!
What was the number one album the year you was born?
3 Sports You Won’t See At The Olympics
September 16, 2008 by Tom · Leave a Comment
Urinal Surfing
Only the manliest of man would be brave enough to surf the mighty waves of piss in a urinal. This guy is either drunk, getting paid a small fortune or there’s someone pointing a gun at his head off camera.
5 Of The Worst Ideas That I Have EVER Had!
September 15, 2008 by Tom · Leave a Comment
I am sure you can all relate to this post!
Some people call them brain farts, some people call them mistakes but at the time of conception they seem like absolutely brilliant ideas!! Then disaster strikes.
1. Carrying two glasses on top of a plate, in one hand
photo credit: shawnogram
A similar thought has passed through the mind and carried out by most people. Sometimes you get lucky but often, something falls, smashes and causes way more work than just carrying things up seperately!
2. Drinking beer during lunch break
photo credit: Carlos Luna
It seems like a great idea to go to the pub with a couple of friends and have a social pint over lunch….. 3 pints and a game of pool later…. you stumble back to work and spend the afternoon in dizzy waves chasing the mouse pointer around the screen!
3. Asking my girlfriend if she is OK after stepping on a sharp object!
photo credit: Ninha Morandini
Asking someone if they are OK in a moment of pain normally gives them the immediate action to take out all their angst and rage on you! You come out of the situation feeling worthless and sorry for giving a damn about the said person.
4. Running after a bus down a crowded street
That moment when you decide you can catch the bus is just not a rational moment. The minute you start to run and dodge you will lose your ground on the bus, lose footing and risk knocking a baby out of it’s stroller…. trust me I know!
5. Becoming a blogger
Ok, this one could be argued to be a good idea. But since blogging entered my life I have been thinking about it for most of the day every day… if I see something on the street, I wanna blog about it, If I am nit getting enough visitors….. I can’t sleep until I have hatched a new plan to get more. You get the point, blogging takes over your life. You can catch me blogging here and at FrugalZeitgeist.com.
What are the stupidest ideas you have ever had?
Top 5 NFL Fantasy Football Rookie Sleepers of 2008
September 14, 2008 by Tom · Leave a Comment
photo credit: Abqtrucker
If you play NFL fantasy football like me, you always have to be aware of the sleepers that nobody knows about but they light up the field unexpectedly especially the rookies. Even if they were great in college, it doesn’t mean they’re have the same success.
Anyways, here are my top 5 NFL fantasy football rookie sleepers of 2008. Pick them up if you can before they’re all claimed off free agents!
Read more
10 alternatives to the F word
September 13, 2008 by Tom · 2 Comments
I’m sure most of you say F**K at least once a day…. but let’s face it, it’s not pleasant and definitely not nice to use around kids.
So, to try and help you out here are 10 much more polite and child friendly replacements for the F word.
- Fudge (Get the fudge out of here!
- Pete (For Pete’s Sake!)
- Frickin (Frickin hell)
- Balderdash (Oh Balderdash!)
- Feck (Feck!)
- F (He was screaming F’ing bloody murder)
- Farmer (You Melon Farmer!…. Melon replacing Mother)
- Donald Duck (I don’t give a Donald Duck).
- Puck (Make like a hockey player and get the puck outta here!)
- Fiddlesticks (Oh Fiddlesticks!)
Let us know if you have any others
20 of the dumbest warning labels ever
September 12, 2008 by Tom · 3 Comments
Everyone has heard of a variation of the poodle in the microwave story… you know the one where the old lady dries her poodle in the microwave then sues the microwave manufacturer for not putting this warning on the product.
photo credit: Wayne_Parrack
Well even though this is an urban legend that has it’s roots way before microwaves existed, it’s popularity is surely partly responsible for the utterly ridiculous warning messages that manufacturers often apply to their products.
I once heard that a pack of peanuts had a warning about the product containing nuts! I don’t think this is true but some of the examples below are almost as bad.
Here are 20 of the dumbest examples of this phenomenon:
- CD Player > Do not use the Ultradisc2000 as a projectile in a catapult
- Electric Router > This product is not intended for use as a dental drill
- Chainsaw > Do not attempt to stop chain with hands
- Dishwasher > Do not allow children to play in the dishwasher
- Fireplace Log > Caution, risk of fire
- Sleeping Pills > Warning: May cause Drowsiness
- Underarm spray deodorant > Do not spray in eyes
- Hair Dryer > Never use hairdryer while sleeping
- Laser Printer Toner > Do not eat toner
- Small Wheeled Wheelbarrow > Not intended for highway use
- TV Remote Control > Not dishwasher safe
- Car Windscreen Sun shield > Do not drive with sun shield in place
- Bathroom Heater > This product is not to be used in bathrooms
- Air Conditioner > Do not place hand in fan whilst fan is running
- Bicyclist’s Shin Guards > Shin pads cannot protect any part of the body that they do not cover
- TV Set Manual > Do not pour liquids into the TV
- CD Player > Warning: Dangerous warning inside
- Birthday Candles > Do not use soft wax as earplugs or any other function that involves insertion into body cavity
- Baby Stroller > Remove baby before folding
- Aim-n-Flame Fireplace Lighter > Do not use near fire, flame or sparks
This list was sourced from the book “Unusually Stupid Americans” published by Villard in 2003
12 Hyped Up Utterly Crappy Websites
September 11, 2008 by Tom · 5 Comments
There are tons of websites on the WWW that are wildly successful but come to think of it, are nothing special. In fact, they look ugly and are filled with shit. he only reason that people flock to these sites till date is because of the hype.
1. Myspace
Myspace takes the crown for the ugliest social networking website out there. Although it may be the biggest, that doesn’t make it the best and it’s success is down to the fact it was one of the first social networking sites out there. Nowadays it’s not cool, hugely over rated and used by social networking users as a no.2 or no.3 profile behind their facebook or bebo profiles.
