Fred Harteis News Articles - Working From Home Comes With a Price

Fred Harteis News Articles - Tired of the traveling required as a private manager in IBM's consulting group, John Zeising thought a job transfer to a home-based role seemed like the perfect option. But as the years slipped by, he discovered that working from home came with a price.

"It just got old," he said. "Every year it got ... progressively more isolating. I felt like a hermit. ... You just kind of sit there looking at the walls wondering what you're doing with your life."

Zeising said he went months at a time without having any face-to-face interaction with other IBM employees. In January 2004, he attended an IBM sales and marketing kick-off meeting with 25,000 employees. He didn't see any of those employees again until 9 months later, when he met his manager at a Kinko's to turn in his laptop.

Zeising isn't alone in shunning work-from-home arrangements. Although 25 percent of employees have the option to telecommute, just 11 percent do, according to the 2005-06 National Technology Readiness Survey.

This may seem puzzling for employers, who are increasingly adding telecommuting arrangements to their benefits packages. As fuel costs rise and the labor market tightens, 27 percent of hiring managers said they will be more willing to allow employees to telecommute, according to a survey by CareerBuilder.com and America Online.

Working from home does have many perks for employees, notably the 30-second commute, which saves time and fuel costs. Telecommuting also benefits those who work well independently or in silence, or who have children and often work off-hours to make up for lost daytime productivity.

But it's not a viable option for all workers. Forty-three percent of senior executives surveyed by OfficeTeam, a subsidiary of Robert Half International, said telecommuting arrangements are best for staff-level employees. More than two-thirds said their senior executives rarely or never telecommute.

"Effective management requires plenty of 'face time' with employees," said Diane Domeyer, executive director of OfficeTeam in a press release. "Supervisors should have an open-door policy, and that means being available to staff who need guidance with projects."

Domeyer says upper-level employees also tend to travel often, so when they're on-site, they frequently need to set up meetings with support staffs or garner project approvals.

But being a telecommuter doesn't necessarily mean stalling your career progress. The key, Domeyer says, is making sure you stay visible. For many workers, this means occasionally coming into the office -- even if you don't have to -- but being strategic about it and scheduling meetings with key teammates.

When you're working remotely, remind your boss and teammates that you actually are working. Send weekly or periodic progress reports to demonstrate everything you have accomplished.

Finally, make sure everyone knows the best way to reach you. When on-site workers can't reach a colleague by phone, they can simply walk to her office. But that option isn't possible for telecommuters, so they need to designate multiple channels through which they can be reached. If you'll be away from your phone, give your co-workers a way to contact you via instant messenger, e-mail or cell phone.

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About Fred Harteis : Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News - Defense attorney: Hussein 'believes in his fate'

Fred Harteis News - Two defense attorneys on Thursday told Saddam Hussein in his jail cell that his death sentence has been upheld.

"He was not surprised at this. But he believes in his fate, and his only concern is the unity of the Iraqi people," chief defense attorney Khalil al-Dulaimi told CNN in Amman, Jordan.

Al-Dulaimi described the former Iraqi dictator's morale as "normal."

Hussein was convicted on November 5 for crimes against humanity in connection with the killings of 148 people after an attempt on his life. His death sentence was upheld Tuesday by an appellate court. Hussein was not in attendance.

Hussein's execution by hanging must take place before January 27 -- or within 30 days after the Iraqi High Tribunal upheld the death sentence -- according to chief Judge Aref Shaheen.
"He believes in his destiny," the attorney said.

Al-Dulaimi said that neither the defense team nor Hussein's family have been given an execution date.

The U.S. State Department also says it has not been told when Hussein will be executed.

Iraqi law requires that the family be allowed to visit the day before the execution and that they be notified by the prison administration of the date the sentence is to be carried out.

A senior Bush administration official said Thursday that the execution is likely to be "a couple of days" from now.

Under international law, most governments have the power to stay any executions, but Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has said his government would not do so in Hussein's case.

Hussein was sentenced to death for his role in the 1982 killings of 148 people in Dujail, a mostly Shiite town north of Baghdad, following an attempt on his life.

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About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - Get Organized Using Everyday Household Items

Fred Harteis News Articles – Easy ideas to organize your life

Use Nail Polish to Color-Code Keys ~ Color-coding keys. Lay keys flat and apply a thick coat of a different shade to the top of each key. Reward: Keys of distinction.

Business Card Holder as Sugar Packet Carrier ~ Original Purpose: Keeping your credentials presentable. Aha! Use: Making packets of your favorite sweetener portable.
Reward: Always having coffee your way -- without a purse full of powder from broken packets.

Laundry Bag as Dishwasher Item Saver - Original Purpose: Saving delicate unmentionables from getting stretched in the spin cycle. Aha! Use: Keeping mini Tupperware lids, baby-bottle caps, and other small items from falling through the dishwasher rack. Reward: No more diving for treasure on the floor of the dishwasher.

Matchbox as Travel Sewing Kit - Original Purpose: Lighting your fire. Aha! Use: Storing a tiny travel sewing kit. A matchbox is the perfect size for holding the essentials: needles, thread, buttons, and a few safety pins. Reward: No need to panic when a button emergency strikes during a business trip.

Store Toilet Paper in Tall Vases - Original Purpose: Showing off all those long-stemmed roses from gentleman callers. Aha! Use: Helping toilet paper hide in plain sight. Reward: Guests don’t have to root around for a new roll in your not absolutely, positively tidy vanity, and you always know when you’re running low.

Magnetic Clip as Recipe Holder - Original Purpose: Keeping the office phone list within easy reach. Aha! Use: Holding your recipe at eye level while you’re standing at the stove. Stick the clip to the stove hood and your recipe is exactly where you need it. Reward: An end to the daily dinner dance from recipe to stove and back.


Source: Aol.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles – 5 Things Not to buy on Line

Fred Harteis News Articles - The perks are obvious: There's no need to move off the couch and you can take advantage of online-only discounts and sales tax breaks. But believe it or not, there are still some things you should buy in store.

Here are five things not to buy online.

Luxury Goods
Sure, you can find good deals online, but how about a Rolex for $50? A Prada handbag for $150? If you believe you're getting the real deal when you spot such steals, there's also a bridge for sale in Brooklyn that you might be interested in. Counterfeit goods account for about 13% of Internet purchases, says Stephen Polinsky, vice president of sales for GenuOne, a security technology company specializing in brand protection. "There's a real chance for an item to be misrepresented," he says. For example, you'll spot plenty of trendy Louis Vuitton Globe Shopper handbags on eBay. The photos, pulled from the brand Web sites, are of the real thing. But the real bag retails for $1,280, so what you see isn't going to be what you get when the sale price is $100.

Prescription Medications
Just how badly do you want to save a few bucks on that Viagra prescription? Fact is, knockoff prescription meds are as plentiful online as other fake goods, says Polinsky -- but they are much more dangerous. At best, you're buying sugar pills. At worst, according to the Food and Drug Administration, the meds could be expired, contaminated or contain improper dosages.

Fragile Electronics
When you buy a flat-screen TV from your local electronics store, you expect that it'll be handled with care by store employees every step of the way, from the store to your living room. But online, you have no way of knowing if that delicate screen will be schlepped to your doorstep on a truck that's also carrying a carton of loose bowling balls. The retailers don't make it easy, either. Most foist responsibility on the shipping carrier, rather than handle it themselves. PC Connection, for example, requires you to refuse damaged goods from the carrier, or note the damage when you sign for the delivery.

Groceries
If you're the type of shopper who likes to tap the melons, purchasing groceries online may already sound a little dodgy. But the price is the real reason to head to your local supermarket instead of online, says Teri Gault, founder of The Grocery Game, a consumer savings program.
When shopping online, expect to pay a premium for the convenience. You also miss out on the two hallmarks of savvy shopping: store specials and manufacturer's coupons. "You can't use manufacturer's coupons online," says Gault. And there's no way for the store to translate some steals, such as half-price meats and bakery breads at the end of the shopping day. Add in a delivery fee of $4 to $15 and the convenience of shopping online seems a little less handy for your wallet.

Intimate Clothing
No one relishes swimsuit shopping, so the inclination to do it online -- without the harsh and unflattering lights of a dressing room -- is tempting. But retailers may charge you an additional shipping fee to send items back, as well as restocking fees of up to 15%. While women have come to expect that finding the right bathing suit will take hours of try-on trial-and-error, buying bras and underwear can be equally tricky. Bra-cup size varies slightly by manufacturer. And many online retailers are (rightly so) finicky about accepting returns for such personal items.

Source: Cnn.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - For some, blizzard will put holiday on ice

Fred Harteis News Articles - Denver's snowed-in airport reopened Friday for the first time in two days, but the backlog of flights around the country could take all weekend to clear, and many stranded travelers might not make it home for Christmas.

As planes began taking off again, passengers with long-standing reservations filled most of the outbound flights. That was bad news for those waiting to rebook flights canceled during the storm.

"Unfortunately, this comes down to basic math," said airport spokesman Chuck Cannon. "You've got thousands of people standing in lines, and the airlines do not have thousands of seats."

The departure of a Frontier Airlines flight for Atlanta, Georgia, a few minutes after noon was greeted glumly by Christina Kuroiwa, a Fort Collins, Colorado, woman who had been trying to get to San Jose, California.

"Well, I guess that's good for them, but it really doesn't help me," said Kuroiwa, who had actually gotten on a plane Wednesday, only to sit stuck in the snow on the runway for more than eight hours.

The jam in Denver backed up flights around the country heading into one of the busiest travel times of the year, with 9 million Americans planning to take to the skies during the nine-day Christmas-to-New Year period.

Army Spc. Nicholas Silva curled up on a bench Friday, put his head on his arm and hunkered down for a third night inside Chicago, Illinois' O'Hare Airport. The 20-year-old based at Fort Drum, New York, said he hoped to board a plane home to Aurora, Colorado, on Saturday evening.

"I've slept in worse areas, so this doesn't bug me all that much," said Silva, who spent last Christmas stationed in Iraq and is traveling home for the first time in two years. "I'll be home for Christmas. I can see my family. Does it really matter after that?"

More than 3,000 incoming flights were canceled or diverted from Denver during the 45-hour shutdown. There also were delays in Atlanta because of low visibility, and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, because of wind.

Source: Cnn.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - Plastic Penalties

Fred Harteis - UP UNTIL SEVERAL months ago, 39-year-old Mark Martinez, was what you'd consider the credit-card industry's ideal customer. His payments were always on time. He never went over his credit limits. He even carried a balance on one of his cards, which meant he was bringing the bank a profit, to boot.

Then much to his shock, Martinez discovered that his card issuer had jacked up his interest rate to a whopping 29.99%. The reason: His $8,000 balance was dangerously close to the card's $8,800 limit. "It was really oddball," says Martinez, whose 790 credit score was high enough to get him any credit he applied for, at the lowest rates available.

Despite his pristine history, Martinez had encountered the latest scourge of the credit-card world: the so-called "default" rate, or punitive charges that credit-card companies can impose on customers suddenly deemed a higher credit risk. Default rates are typically triggered by things like a late payment or going over the credit limit. But they could also be the result of something as seemingly insignificant as running up a higher balance.

In fact, because of a practice called "universal default," credit-card issuers are actually allowed to hike their rates for pretty much anything, according to consumer-watchdog group Consumer Action. In its 2005 Credit Card survey, Consumer Action found that 90% of card issuers would use a universal default rate hike if a customer's credit score decreases, 86% would do so if they paid a mortgage or any other loan late. Nearly half (43%) would hit you with universal default if they decide you have too much debt, while 33% would do it for the exact opposite reason: too much credit available. You can see a rate hike even if all you do is get a new credit card (33%) or shop around for a car loan or mortgage (24%).

Negotiating Power Back in 2003, a study by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, a Washington, D.C., a consumer advocacy group, found that 56% of the consumers who called their credit-card companies to ask for a lower interest rate were able to get it within five minutes. That may not be as easy today, says US PIRG consumer program director Ed Mierzwinski. "They are being much more difficult because they're trying even harder to squeeze the last dollar out of your pocket," he says. "But if you're a good customer you should understand they don't want to lose you because the cost of acquiring new customers is very high."

Some prep work before asking for a lower rate will certainly help, says Scott Bilker, author of "Talk Your Way out of Credit Card Debt." "Look through your statements and tell them exactly how much you've spent on the card over the last two or three years," he says. "Tell them that business will be gone if they don't lower your rate."

Have at least one or two credit-card offers in hand before you call, says Linda Sherry, spokeswoman for Consumer Action. "Tell them, 'Look, these companies have sent me this preapproved offer. I'm seriously considering taking this, but I'm really loyal to you guys, and was wondering if you could take me down to 10.9%.'"

Alternatively, Bilker suggests, throw the credit-card company a bone. "Tell them, 'I'm buying a refrigerator. I could use your card, or I could use another card. Give me a special deal and I'll use you.'"

Jumping Ship If the card company won't budge on the rate, it's time to switch cards. And while 0% APR offers certainly aren't as easy to come by as in the past few years, there are still offers available for folks with good credit, says Bilker. He keeps an updated list of such offers on his web site. So do web sites CardWeb.com and CardRatings.com. Bilker's advice: If you plan to transfer a balance, ask to do it at the time you apply. It increases your chances of getting approved.

But be wary of balance transfer fees, which lately have also been on the rise, warns Cardratings.com's Arnold. While most fees used to be 3% of the transferred balance, up to a cap of $50 to $75, many card issuers now charge 4% of the balance with a cap of $90, Arnold says. Notably, Bank of America recently eliminated the cap on its 3% fee. So on a $10,000 transfer, you'd be hit with a $300 charge.

One more word of caution: Credit cards typically apply payments to the balance that carries the lowest rate. So if you take advantage of a 0% or low-rate offer on balance transfers, be sure to put the card in a drawer until you pay that balance off. Should you charge up a balance by making purchases, your payments will be applied toward that balance, which will likely carry a higher rate.

Source: Cnn.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles- Anthony banned 15 games

Fred Harteis News Articles - NBA scoring leader Carmelo Anthony was suspended for 15 games Monday and six other players were penalized as commissioner David Stern came down hard on both teams after the Nuggets and Knicks brawled at Madison Square Garden.

Nate Robinson and J.R. Smith each got 10 games, and four other players also were suspended. Stern fined each organization $500,000. But there was no separate penalty for Knicks coach Isiah Thomas, who had warned Anthony not to go into the lane before the mayhem started Saturday night.

It was the NBA's scariest scene since the brawl between Pacers players and Pistons fans two years ago. The league is still recovering from that episode, and Stern made it clear the players must learn to control themselves.

"We're going to go after the players who aren't able to stop," he said during a conference call. "We have set up the goal of eliminating fighting from our game. We haven't eliminated it completely."

Anthony's suspension was the sixth longest in NBA history. Mardy Collins, whose hard foul on Smith sparked the fighting, was suspended six games and Knicks teammate Jared Jeffries will miss four. Also, the Knicks' Jerome James and Denver's Nene were both penalized one game for leaving the bench area during the chaos.

Ten players were ejected after the fight, which started with 1:15 left in Denver's 123-100 victory. The punishments were announced before both teams were to play Monday night -- New York at home against Utah; Denver at home against Washington.

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About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - College? Retirement? How to handle two big financial challenges

Fred Harteis News Articles - Is it possible to save for retirement and for a child's education at the same time? Sure, but it requires a pretty decent income and lots of disciplined saving. And even then it's no picnic.

Indeed, as a practical matter, Most people have enough trouble just saving adequately for their retirement. Throw in college education and it just becomes too overwhelming. Too often the result is that people don't address either goal adequately, or they get so discouraged that they sometimes give up altogether, figuring it's hopeless.

Have an emergency fund First, build a cash reserve, or emergency, fund. Have about three month's worth of living expenses in a very safe and readily accessible account - a money-market fund, savings account or perhaps an ultra-short-term bond fund, something with an average maturity of no more than two years.

The idea is to have a buffer that acts as a first line of defense against financial setbacks, a stash you can fall back on to cover unexpected expenses you can't fund out of your paycheck or to carry you until you find a new job in the event you're laid off.

You can give yourself a bit more wiggle room by opening up a home equity line of credit that you could tap when your emergency fund is on the verge of being tapped out.

Put as much as possible in retirement accounts After you've got your emergency reserve funded, start plowing as much as you can into your 401(k) or other retirement savings plan.

You, apparently, have embarked on this part of the plan before accumulating the emergency stash. I think it's better to do it the other way around, or, if you can manage it, build your cash reserve fund as you save at least something for retirement. But the most important thing is that once you've got that cash reserve together, you want to fatten up those retirement accounts.

Ideally, you want to contribute at least enough to your 401(k) to take full advantage of whatever match your company offers. But if you really want a shot at a comfortable retirement, probably shoot for socking away 10 percent to 15 percent of your salary in your 401(k).

If that's more than your plan allows, then do the max and try to make up the rest by opening up an IRA or even a taxable mutual fund account.

If you get started early enough - say, in your 20s or early 30's - contributing this amount should give you a good shot at an income that, combined with Social Security, should fund a comfortable lifestyle in retirement. If you don't get started until your 40s or later, however, you should try to ramp up your savings even more.

Unless you think you can get by on Social Security - your only hope for a comfortable retirement these days is to save rigorously throughout your career.

With college expenses, on the other hand, there are several alternatives. Your kid may qualify for financial aid. You may be able to hit up the grandparents for help. Students can earn part of their tuition, or take out college loans. You could borrow against your home equity. You could even dip into your retirement accounts or other savings if you really, really need to.


Enhance your family's current financial situation by building a reserve fund and then set the stage for your future financial security by saving for retirement. If you can still manage to after that, then do whatever you can for your kids' education.

Source: Cnn.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News - PlayStation murder case plagued by paperwork error

Fred Harteis News - Officials dismissed a murder charge Tuesday against a sheriff's deputy accused of shooting and killing an unarmed teenager who authorities believed had stolen video game consoles.

A grand jury foreman said he had checked the wrong box on the indictment paperwork, triggering the dismissal.

Monday New Hanover County District Attorney Ben David had announced Cpl. Christopher Long, 34, would face a second degree murder charge.

David said the sheriff's deputy opened fire as police raided the home of 18-year-old Peyton Strickland.

Police suspected the teen stole two Sony PlayStation 3 video game consoles from a college student in Wilmington.

The grand jury foreman told a court Tuesday that he checked the wrong box on the indictment form by mistake, according to an order signed Tuesday by Superior Court Judge Ernest Fullwood.

The foreman learned about the mistake after other jury members heard about it from media reports.

A copy of the indictment filed as evidence Tuesday shows a check next to "true bill" indictment, with a heavy mark made through "not a true bill," followed by what appears to be the foreman's initials and Tuesday's date.

When a grand jury wants a murder indictment, it returns a "true bill." When it decides it does not want to issue an indictment, it returns "not a true bill."

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Source: Cnn.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - Holiday 2006: Retail winners and losers

Fred Harteis News articles - The recent drop in gas prices has given a needed boost to shoppers ahead of the holidays but retail experts aren't convinced that will translate into big sales gains for store chains.

Frank Badillo, senior economist with market research and consulting firm Retail Forward, thinks the upcoming holiday shopping season will be "good" but "not great."

The holidays are crucial for retailers since November and December often provide 50 percent or more of merchants' annual sales and profits.

Badillo expects fourth-quarter holiday sales to grow about 5.5 percent this year, slower than the 7 percent growth seen in the previous two holiday seasons, according to Retail Forward's estimates.

One bright spot? Online sales, where growth is expected to sizzle.

He delivered his forecast Wednesday during a Web cast of Retail Forward's holiday outlook.

For its part, the National Retail Federation (NRF), the industry's largest trade group, said it expects holiday sales to be "subdued" this year, forecasting a gain of 5 percent to $457.4 billion, which would fall short of last year's 6.1 increase.

Despite the summer surge in gas prices above $3 a gallon, retail sales have held up relatively well so far this year.

The subsequent drop at the pump should only help to "sustain the healthy pace of sales and especially the low-income shoppers," he said.

But gas prices are only the first of the trifecta of potential risks threatening consumer spending, with the softening housing market and higher interest rates still very much in play.

"Housing is the more immediate drag. The big unknown is how deep the housing slowdown will be," Badillo said.

In this environment, home improvement retailers become an immediate casualty, he said.

To his point, both Home Depot and Lowe's warned recently that their full-year results, blaming the housing-related spending slowdown.

While high debt loads and higher interest rates are making consumers more cautious, economists warn that the housing market could be a bigger problem down the road.

For years rising home values made consumers feel wealthier, acting as a bulwark against rising energy prices. When interest rates were falling and home prices were rising, Americans quickly refinanced their mortgages at lower rates, effectively turning their homes into piggy banks, and tapping into them for cash.

All that has changed.

"Longer-term, consumer prices are important too," Badillo said. "Government data shows core inflation is creeping up. If that trend continues, it will put pressure on the Federal Reserve to possibly increase rates further."

Source: Cnn.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News - E. coli outbreak now in 6 states; agencies focus on Taco Bell

Fred Harteis News - More than 120 people in six states may be infected with the strain of E. coli bacteria involved in an outbreak that may be linked to Taco Bell restaurants, officials said Friday.

Sixty-three people have been confirmed to have the illness, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday afternoon, and state health agencies, earlier said about 60 other cases were under investigation. South Carolina and Utah are the latest states to report outbreaks.

State and federal agencies are still trying to pin down the source, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the vast majority of the reported cases involved people who had eaten at Taco Bell restaurants before falling ill.

Dr. Greg Braden of the CDC said his agency and state health departments have not seen any other sources of the illness and are zeroing in on Taco Bell and its suppliers.

"We have some leads to say that it might be green onions, and that's based upon some preliminary testing that's been done in a number of laboratories right now," Braden said, "but the testing has not been confirmed, so we're keeping the options open, and the investigations that we're doing will be covering a wide range of foods, all of them served at Taco Bell specifically."

On a voice recording for consumers looking for more information on E. coli, Taco Bell says, "Many of the people who reported becoming ill did not eat at Taco Bell."

Representatives for the company could not provide an updated count of consumers who contracted E. coli after eating at its restaurants. Instead they referred CNN to the health departments of the states where cases have been identified or are suspected: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, South Carolina and Utah.

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Source: Cnn.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - 12 Ways to Handle Interruptions at Work

Fred Harteis News Articles The average manager receives six interruptions an hour. And following each interruption, it can take more than five minutes for them to get back into their task.

While some disruptions are part of the job, others are time-wasters that rob you of precious hours as well as the satisfaction of attaining your goals. How can you end frivolous interruptions while managing the essential business-related ones? Here are 12 techniques:

1. Create daily and weekly to-do lists, based on your priorities, to keep you focused and able to discern whether an interruption is important or will help you accomplish your goals.

2. Identify which work relationships are most important and which individuals are chronic interrupters and time-wasters. Develop separate strategies for dealing with each. Set up guidelines as to whom you will interrupt work for, whom you will need to take care of later and whom to say "no" to or redirect somewhere else.

3. When you are interrupted, ask how long it will take, what they need and when they need it. Decide if you have time to handle it and when -- or whether you can refer them to someone else. Tell them what you can do, based on your "to-do" list. Always provide reasons why you can't do something for them immediately; mention a tight deadline or pressing meeting.

4. Sometimes it's easier just to answer their questions as quickly as possible and get back to your priorities. Set a time limit by saying, "I have five minutes. What may I do for you?"

5. If it is your boss who has the request, let him or her know what you're working on and ask which task should take priority.

6. To discourage impromptu interruptions and distractions, arrange your desk so you are not visible from the door or facing the entrance to your cubicle.

7. Curtail frivolous interrupters by standing up when they enter your work space while glancing at your watch. If they don't take a hint, ask them to walk with you while you talk. Then walk them to the restroom or back to their office so that you can control when the conversation ends.

8. During your most productive hours, send your calls to voicemail. Then set aside a time (preferably when your chatty neighbor usually drops by) to return them.

9. Unless you're expecting an urgent message, resist the impulse to constantly check e-mail. Consider eliminating desktop e-mail notification to reduce distractions.

10. Avoid holding meetings in your office or cubicle; that way you can leave when it's convenient.

11. When you've been interrupted mid-task, make a few notes to remind yourself where you were and what your next step is, so that you can more easily resume the project where you left off.

12. Follow the golden rule by not interrupting others or stopping by "just to chat" during regular business hours.



Following these time savers will help you cut down on frivolous interruptions and give you more time for doing those things that will bring you the greatest results and rewards.

Source: Cnn.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.

Fred Harteis News Articles - E. coli sickens 22 in New Jersey; 14 ill in Long Island

Fred Harteis News Articles - An E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 22 people -- two of them seriously -- was linked by health investigators Monday to three Taco Bell restaurants in New Jersey. Investigators also were examining whether an outbreak on Long Island was connected to the fast-food chain.

All but two of the people who fell ill in New Jersey had eaten at one of the fast-food restaurants between November 17 - 28, authorities said. But exactly what food contained the bacteria was still unclear.

"We have to find the food they all had in common," said David Papi, director of health for Middlesex County.

All but four of the victims are under 18, authorities said.

Five of the New Jersey victims were in the hospital Monday, including two in serious or critical condition with hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can permanently damage the kidneys, officials said.

Twenty of those infected, including two restaurant employees who tested positive for E. coli but did not get sick, ate at a Taco Bell in South Plainfield; another ate at a Taco Bell in Edison, New Jersey; and one ate at a Taco Bell in Franklin Township, New Jersey, authorities said.

In Long Island, an E. coli outbreak sickened at least 14 people, including 10 who ate at Taco Bell. Four restaurants were closed as a precaution in Suffolk County, and Nassau County officials asked that four additional restaurants be closed, health officials said.

Taco Bell Corp., based in Irvine, California, had no immediate comment Monday.

The fast food chain closed its South Plainfield restaurant last week when it first appeared that the infection might have come from there. It was not until Monday that suspicion fell on two more Taco Bells.

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Fred Harteis News Articles - Fired for Blogging?

Fred Harteis Articles - It was Merriam-Webster Online's No. 1 word of 2004, and FORTUNE magazine named it the No. 1 tech trend for 2005. Two surveys by the Pew Internet & American Life Project in November 2004 found that 8 million people say they have created one and almost one-third of Internet users say they read one. But it's still a mystery: Six of 10 Internet users say they don't know what "blog" means.

A blog, according to Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary, is "a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments and often hyperlinks provided by the writer."

Bloggers write about their lives to keep friends and family up-to-date, talk about their industry, discuss hobbies or rant about their favorite reality TV show. But posting pictures of you at work, disclosing confidential information about your employer or bad-mouthing your co-workers could get you in hot water for committing inappropriate behavior.

Whatever bloggers are writing about work, employers don't like it. Employees have reportedly been fired for blogging at a number of companies, including Starbucks, Delta, Wells Fargo, Friendster and Kmart.

In a January 2005 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), only 3 percent of human resource professionals report disciplining an employee for blogging and none reported dismissing an employee for such behavior. Despite this, ejected bloggers stand by their claims.

What could be grounds for termination? If you are disclosing trade secrets or proprietary or confidential information on your blog or using excessive amounts of time when you should be working, it's possible you will reap the consequences, says Rosemary Haefner, vice president for human resources at CareerBuilder.com.

If you're thinking of starting your own blog or already have some, here's some advice to make sure your online diary isn't reason for your employer to let you go:

1. Know where your company stands.
Ask about the company blogging policy before you start, even if you are doing it anonymously, Simonetti advises. Does your company establish boundaries? Is blogging acceptable? Is it OK to mention your employer? Are there topics that are off limits? What are the consequences?

2. Blog on your own time.
If you are using company hardware, a company network or doing it on company time, you are likely bound by company policy and could be reprimanded or terminated for wrongful use, Haefner says.

3. Practice safe blogs.
"Employees who go around sharing negative or confidential information about their company, product or service -- either internal or external -- to the company would and should get fired," says Pete Quintas, CTO of SilkRoad Technology, creator of an enterprise blogging application called Silkblogs. "You need to be honest and not secretive about what you are writing unless you are willing to deal with the consequences."

4. Don't hide it from your boss.
Quintas says you should be honest about your blogging, and ask your employer if it is OK to do. "I would consider it analogous to asking your employer: 'I have been invited to speak on a panel at this industry conference; can I participate?'"

5. Use good judgment.
If you consider blogs and the Internet an extension of your voice, what you say on your blog about your company, product or service should be kept within the guidelines of what you would verbally say in public, according to Quintas. "Treat it with the same restraint of how you talk in person about your company, remembering that more people have access to what you say." he suggests. Don't say anything different than what you would say at a happy hour, or at a company holiday party, or at an industry trade show, or in front of a customer."

6. Others will disagree with you.
You can't please all people all of the time. As with any communications medium, the best advice is to be aware of the repercussions your decisions may have, Wright warns. "Anytime you post, you are effectively making a choice between being safe, and having something worthwhile to say. It's a rare occasion where you can both please everyone and come up with a new and engaging line of thought. Sometimes things you say will offend people, no matter where you're saying them."

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About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.