Token accounting in ancient Mesopotamia (Part 11)

The Mesopotamian civilization emerged during the period 3700–2900 BCE amid the development of technological innovations such as the plough, sailing boats and copper metal working. Clay tablets with pictographic characters appeared in this period to record commercial transactions performed by the temples.[10] Clay receptacles known as bullae (Latin: 'Bubble'), were used in Elamite city of Susa which contained tokens. These receptacles were spherical in shape and acted as envelopes, on which the seal of the individuals taking part in a transaction were engraved. The symbols of the tokens they contained were represented graphically on their surface, and the recipient of the goods could check whether they matched with the amount and characteristics expressed on the bulla once they had received and inspected them. The fact that the content of bulla was marked on its surface produced a simple way of checking without destroying the receptacle, which constituted in itself an exercise in writing that, despite being born spontaneously as a support for the existing system for controlling merchant goods, ultimately became the definitive practice for non-oral communication. Eventually, bullae were replaced by clay tablets, which used symbols to represent the tokens.



During the Sumerian period, token envelop accounting was replaced by flat clay tablets impressed by tokens that merely transferred symbols. Such documents were kept by scribes, who were carefully trained to acquire the necessary literary and arithmetic skills and were held responsible for documenting financial transactions.[15] Such records preceded the earliest found examples of cuneiform writing in the form of abstract signs incised in clay tablets, which were written in Sumerian by 2900 BCE in Jemdet Nasr. Therefore "token envelop accounting" not only preceded the written word but constituted the major impetus in the creation of writing and abstract counting.

Working, Accounting, Banking

Token accounting in ancient Mesopotamia (Part 11)

The Mesopotamian civilization emerged during the period 3700–2900 BCE amid the development of technological innovations such as the plough, sailing boats and copper metal working. Clay tablets with pictographic characters appeared in this period to record commercial transactions performed by the temples.[10] Clay receptacles known as bullae (Latin: 'Bubble'), were used in Elamite city of Susa which contained tokens. These receptacles were spherical in shape and acted as envelopes, on which the seal of the individuals taking part in a transaction were engraved. The symbols of the tokens they contained were represented graphically on their surface, and the recipient of the goods could check whether they matched with the amount and characteristics expressed on the bulla once they had received and inspected them. The fact that the content of bulla was marked on its surface produced a simple way of checking without destroying the receptacle, which constituted in itself an exercise in writing that, despite being born spontaneously as a support for the existing system for controlling merchant goods, ultimately became the definitive practice for non-oral communication. Eventually, bullae were replaced by clay tablets, which used symbols to represent the tokens.



During the Sumerian period, token envelop accounting was replaced by flat clay tablets impressed by tokens that merely transferred symbols. Such documents were kept by scribes, who were carefully trained to acquire the necessary literary and arithmetic skills and were held responsible for documenting financial transactions.[15] Such records preceded the earliest found examples of cuneiform writing in the form of abstract signs incised in clay tablets, which were written in Sumerian by 2900 BCE in Jemdet Nasr. Therefore "token envelop accounting" not only preceded the written word but constituted the major impetus in the creation of writing and abstract counting.

Working, Accounting, Banking

Token accounting in ancient Mesopotamia (Part 1)

Source : Wikipedia

The earliest accounting records were found amongst the ruins of ancient Babylon, Assyria and Sumeria, which date back more than 7,000 years. The people of that time relied on primitive accounting methods to record the growth of crops and herds. Because there is a natural season to farming and herding, it is easy to count and determine if a surplus had been gained after the crops had been harvested or the young animals weaned.

During the period 8000–3700 BCE, the Fertile Crescent witnessed the spread of small settlements supported by agricultural surplus. Tokens, shaped into simple geometric forms such as cones or spheres, were used for stewardship purposes in relation to identifying and securing this surplus, and are examples of accounts that referred to lists of personal property.[10] Some of them bore markings in the form of incised lines and impressed dots. Neolithic community leaders collected the surplus at regular intervals in the form of a share of the farmers’ flocks and harvests. In turn, the accumulated communal goods were redistributed to those who could not support themselves, but the greatest part was earmarked for the performance of religious rituals and festivals. In 7000 BCE, there were only some 10 token shapes because the system exclusively recorded agricultural goods, each representing one of the farm products levied at the time, such as grain, oil and domesticated animals.The number of token shapes increased to about 350 around 3500 BCE, when urban workshops started contributing to the redistribution economy. Some of the new tokens stood for raw materials such as wool and metal and others for finished products among which textiles, garments, jewelry, bread, beer and honey.

The invention of a form of bookkeeping using clay tokens represented a huge cognitive leap for mankind.[12] The cognitive significance of the token system was to foster the manipulation of data. Compared to oral information passed on from one individual to the other, tokens were extra-somatic, that is outside the human mind. As a result, the Neolithic accountants were no longer the passive recipients of someone else's knowledge, but they took an active part in encoding and decoding data. The token system substituted miniature counters for the real goods, which eliminated their bulk and weight and allowed dealing with them in abstraction by patterning, the presentation of data in particular configurations. As a result, heavy baskets of grains and animals difficult to control could be easily counted and recounted. The accountants could add, subtract, multiply and divide by manually moving and removing counters.

Working, Accounting, Banking

Token accounting in ancient Mesopotamia (Part 1)

Source : Wikipedia

The earliest accounting records were found amongst the ruins of ancient Babylon, Assyria and Sumeria, which date back more than 7,000 years. The people of that time relied on primitive accounting methods to record the growth of crops and herds. Because there is a natural season to farming and herding, it is easy to count and determine if a surplus had been gained after the crops had been harvested or the young animals weaned.

During the period 8000–3700 BCE, the Fertile Crescent witnessed the spread of small settlements supported by agricultural surplus. Tokens, shaped into simple geometric forms such as cones or spheres, were used for stewardship purposes in relation to identifying and securing this surplus, and are examples of accounts that referred to lists of personal property.[10] Some of them bore markings in the form of incised lines and impressed dots. Neolithic community leaders collected the surplus at regular intervals in the form of a share of the farmers’ flocks and harvests. In turn, the accumulated communal goods were redistributed to those who could not support themselves, but the greatest part was earmarked for the performance of religious rituals and festivals. In 7000 BCE, there were only some 10 token shapes because the system exclusively recorded agricultural goods, each representing one of the farm products levied at the time, such as grain, oil and domesticated animals.The number of token shapes increased to about 350 around 3500 BCE, when urban workshops started contributing to the redistribution economy. Some of the new tokens stood for raw materials such as wool and metal and others for finished products among which textiles, garments, jewelry, bread, beer and honey.

The invention of a form of bookkeeping using clay tokens represented a huge cognitive leap for mankind.[12] The cognitive significance of the token system was to foster the manipulation of data. Compared to oral information passed on from one individual to the other, tokens were extra-somatic, that is outside the human mind. As a result, the Neolithic accountants were no longer the passive recipients of someone else's knowledge, but they took an active part in encoding and decoding data. The token system substituted miniature counters for the real goods, which eliminated their bulk and weight and allowed dealing with them in abstraction by patterning, the presentation of data in particular configurations. As a result, heavy baskets of grains and animals difficult to control could be easily counted and recounted. The accountants could add, subtract, multiply and divide by manually moving and removing counters.

Working, Accounting, Banking

Accountancy

Source : Wikipedia

Accountancy is the process of communicating financial information about a business entity to users such as shareholders and managers. The communication is generally in the form of financial statements that show in money terms the economic resources under the control of management; the art lies in selecting the information that is relevant to the user and is reliable.

Accountancy is a branch of mathematical science that is useful in discovering the causes of success and failure in business.The principles of accountancy are applied to business entities in three divisions of practical art, named accounting, bookkeeping, and auditing.

Accounting is defined by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) as "the art of recording, classifying, and summarizing in a significant manner and in terms of money, transactions and events which are, in part at least, of financial character, and interpreting the results thereof.

Accounting is thousands of years old; the earliest accounting records, which date back more than 7,000 years, were found in the Middle East. The people of that time relied on primitive accounting methods to record the growth of crops and herds. Accounting evolved, improving over the years and advancing as business advanced.

Early accounts served mainly to assist the memory of the businessperson and the audience for the account was the proprietor or record keeper alone. Cruder forms of accounting were inadequate for the problems created by a business entity involving multiple investors, so double-entry bookkeeping first emerged in northern Italy in the 14th century, where trading ventures began to require more capital than a single individual was able to invest. The development of joint stock companies created wider audiences for accounts, as investors without firsthand knowledge of their operations relied on accounts to provide the requisite information.[6] This development resulted in a split of accounting systems for internal (i.e. management accounting) and external (i.e. financial accounting) purposes, and subsequently also in accounting and disclosure regulations and a growing need for independent attestation of external accounts by auditors.

Working, Accounting, Banking

Accountancy

Source : Wikipedia

Accountancy is the process of communicating financial information about a business entity to users such as shareholders and managers. The communication is generally in the form of financial statements that show in money terms the economic resources under the control of management; the art lies in selecting the information that is relevant to the user and is reliable.

Accountancy is a branch of mathematical science that is useful in discovering the causes of success and failure in business.The principles of accountancy are applied to business entities in three divisions of practical art, named accounting, bookkeeping, and auditing.

Accounting is defined by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) as "the art of recording, classifying, and summarizing in a significant manner and in terms of money, transactions and events which are, in part at least, of financial character, and interpreting the results thereof.

Accounting is thousands of years old; the earliest accounting records, which date back more than 7,000 years, were found in the Middle East. The people of that time relied on primitive accounting methods to record the growth of crops and herds. Accounting evolved, improving over the years and advancing as business advanced.

Early accounts served mainly to assist the memory of the businessperson and the audience for the account was the proprietor or record keeper alone. Cruder forms of accounting were inadequate for the problems created by a business entity involving multiple investors, so double-entry bookkeeping first emerged in northern Italy in the 14th century, where trading ventures began to require more capital than a single individual was able to invest. The development of joint stock companies created wider audiences for accounts, as investors without firsthand knowledge of their operations relied on accounts to provide the requisite information.[6] This development resulted in a split of accounting systems for internal (i.e. management accounting) and external (i.e. financial accounting) purposes, and subsequently also in accounting and disclosure regulations and a growing need for independent attestation of external accounts by auditors.

Working, Accounting, Banking

Not depressed, just sad, lonely or unhappy (Part 11)

Death - part of life

"Trauma" comes from the Greek word for a "wound", and in a medical sense, it is what happens to the body when a wound delivers a shock.

But bereavement, of which I have much sorrowful experience is, alas, part of the natural course of life's sad events.

As Shakespeare observes, with Hamlet, his father lost a father, and that father lost a father before him, and so on, ad infinitum, through the hinterland of human history.

Grief is desperately upsetting: it hurts you for ages, and the loss of someone you love is emotionally painful, and can be enduringly so. But why not call it by its proper name: bereavement: grief: loss?

One reason may be that we are losing old rituals which human beings have practised for eons.

When I was a young woman in France in the 1960s, you would come across a shop with its blinds drawn, and a notice saying: "Ferme pour deuil": closed for mourning.

t is still seen in France, and is also a usual response in Italy. Mourning symbols were widespread in all cultures - widows' weeds, black armbands - and the community was expected to respect those who mourn.

Outward signs of mourning have declined, if not been abolished in more secular societies now: but our sense of sadness and loss endure, and instead of this being called mourning, it is called "trauma".

It might be a start to revive or recapture some of the wider, non-medical vocabulary for the gamut of human experience.

Depression may also be melancholy: it may be discouragement, disappointment, abandonment, sadness, sorrow, mourning, rejection, regret, anxiety, grief, obsession, introspection, loss, separation, loneliness, isolation, alienation, guilt, loss of hope, temperamental woe and simple, pure, unhappiness.

It can be forms of low mood now out of date. The Edwardians were very keen on a condition known as "neurasthenia"; Virginia Woolf was diagnosed with it.

It was also known as "nervous debility", or, in its milder form, being hyper-sensitive and thin-skinned.

Job , Jobs, Career

Not depressed, just sad, lonely or unhappy (Part 11)

Death - part of life

"Trauma" comes from the Greek word for a "wound", and in a medical sense, it is what happens to the body when a wound delivers a shock.

But bereavement, of which I have much sorrowful experience is, alas, part of the natural course of life's sad events.

As Shakespeare observes, with Hamlet, his father lost a father, and that father lost a father before him, and so on, ad infinitum, through the hinterland of human history.

Grief is desperately upsetting: it hurts you for ages, and the loss of someone you love is emotionally painful, and can be enduringly so. But why not call it by its proper name: bereavement: grief: loss?

One reason may be that we are losing old rituals which human beings have practised for eons.

When I was a young woman in France in the 1960s, you would come across a shop with its blinds drawn, and a notice saying: "Ferme pour deuil": closed for mourning.

t is still seen in France, and is also a usual response in Italy. Mourning symbols were widespread in all cultures - widows' weeds, black armbands - and the community was expected to respect those who mourn.

Outward signs of mourning have declined, if not been abolished in more secular societies now: but our sense of sadness and loss endure, and instead of this being called mourning, it is called "trauma".

It might be a start to revive or recapture some of the wider, non-medical vocabulary for the gamut of human experience.

Depression may also be melancholy: it may be discouragement, disappointment, abandonment, sadness, sorrow, mourning, rejection, regret, anxiety, grief, obsession, introspection, loss, separation, loneliness, isolation, alienation, guilt, loss of hope, temperamental woe and simple, pure, unhappiness.

It can be forms of low mood now out of date. The Edwardians were very keen on a condition known as "neurasthenia"; Virginia Woolf was diagnosed with it.

It was also known as "nervous debility", or, in its milder form, being hyper-sensitive and thin-skinned.

Job , Jobs, Career

Not depressed, just sad, lonely or unhappy (Part 1)

Is sad so bad?

Cases of depression have grown around the world. But while awareness of the illness has helped lift the stigma it once attracted, have we lost touch with the importance of just feeling sad, asks Mary Kenny.

Looking back on my own reasonably serene childhood in Ireland during the 1950s, I recall quiet murmurs about people who suffered from “nerves”.

I remember hearing that a neighbour - a well-to-do woman whose larger house and smart appearance was rather envied in the community - had had a “nervous breakdown”.

Although when I repeated this to my aunt and uncle, with whom I was living, I was hushed up with a peremptory word of censure. There was, clearly, something slightly shameful about a “nervous breakdown” and one didn’t speak about it.

I can see now, though I did not see then, that these were hidden incidents of depression among family and neighbours. But the stigma over depression, or even mental illness of any kind, must have added to their anguish.

How times have changed. It is an accepted truth, in our time, that depression is an illness with a global reach.

t seems that depression in various guises - whether chronic, uni-polar, bi-polar, clinical, recurrent, major or minor - accounts for a greater burden of disease, world-wide, than war, cancer and AIDS all put together.

This new openness is a good thing. Yet in the process, are we losing something?

Take the word, “trauma,” which is now frequently and commonly invoked in conversation today. A person who has suffered a bereavement is said to be “in trauma”.

A person who has been subjected to shock is said to be “traumatised”. The break-up of relationships - a sad human experience which brings us a sense of loss, and hurts our need for attachment - is, similarly, described as “a traumatic experience”.

In his excellent autobiographical study of depression which he so adroitly called Malignant Sadness, Professor Lewis Wolpert employs the concept of “trauma” to describe, for example, bereavement.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

Not depressed, just sad, lonely or unhappy (Part 1)

Is sad so bad?

Cases of depression have grown around the world. But while awareness of the illness has helped lift the stigma it once attracted, have we lost touch with the importance of just feeling sad, asks Mary Kenny.

Looking back on my own reasonably serene childhood in Ireland during the 1950s, I recall quiet murmurs about people who suffered from “nerves”.

I remember hearing that a neighbour - a well-to-do woman whose larger house and smart appearance was rather envied in the community - had had a “nervous breakdown”.

Although when I repeated this to my aunt and uncle, with whom I was living, I was hushed up with a peremptory word of censure. There was, clearly, something slightly shameful about a “nervous breakdown” and one didn’t speak about it.

I can see now, though I did not see then, that these were hidden incidents of depression among family and neighbours. But the stigma over depression, or even mental illness of any kind, must have added to their anguish.

How times have changed. It is an accepted truth, in our time, that depression is an illness with a global reach.

t seems that depression in various guises - whether chronic, uni-polar, bi-polar, clinical, recurrent, major or minor - accounts for a greater burden of disease, world-wide, than war, cancer and AIDS all put together.

This new openness is a good thing. Yet in the process, are we losing something?

Take the word, “trauma,” which is now frequently and commonly invoked in conversation today. A person who has suffered a bereavement is said to be “in trauma”.

A person who has been subjected to shock is said to be “traumatised”. The break-up of relationships - a sad human experience which brings us a sense of loss, and hurts our need for attachment - is, similarly, described as “a traumatic experience”.

In his excellent autobiographical study of depression which he so adroitly called Malignant Sadness, Professor Lewis Wolpert employs the concept of “trauma” to describe, for example, bereavement.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

Not depressed, just sad, lonely or unhappy (Part 1)

Is sad so bad?

Cases of depression have grown around the world. But while awareness of the illness has helped lift the stigma it once attracted, have we lost touch with the importance of just feeling sad, asks Mary Kenny.


Looking back on my own reasonably serene childhood in Ireland during the 1950s, I recall quiet murmurs about people who suffered from "nerves".

I remember hearing that a neighbour - a well-to-do woman whose larger house and smart appearance was rather envied in the community - had had a "nervous breakdown".

Although when I repeated this to my aunt and uncle, with whom I was living, I was hushed up with a peremptory word of censure. There was, clearly, something slightly shameful about a "nervous breakdown" and one didn't speak about it.

I can see now, though I did not see then, that these were hidden incidents of depression among family and neighbours. But the stigma over depression, or even mental illness of any kind, must have added to their anguish.

How times have changed. It is an accepted truth, in our time, that depression is an illness with a global reach.

t seems that depression in various guises - whether chronic, uni-polar, bi-polar, clinical, recurrent, major or minor - accounts for a greater burden of disease, world-wide, than war, cancer and AIDS all put together.

This new openness is a good thing. Yet in the process, are we losing something?

Take the word, "trauma," which is now frequently and commonly invoked in conversation today. A person who has suffered a bereavement is said to be "in trauma".

A person who has been subjected to shock is said to be "traumatised". The break-up of relationships - a sad human experience which brings us a sense of loss, and hurts our need for attachment - is, similarly, described as "a traumatic experience".

In his excellent autobiographical study of depression which he so adroitly called Malignant Sadness, Professor Lewis Wolpert employs the concept of "trauma" to describe, for example, bereavement.

Job , Jobs, Career

Obama’s Speech

By Jonah Goldberg

Yes, there were some fine parts. How could there not be?

But I really disliked it. Maybe I’m letting other factors poison my take, and I should probably sleep on it before rendering final judgment. But here are a few things that really stuck in my craw.

1) As we speak, al Qaeda continues to plot against us, and its leadership remains anchored in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. We will disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda, while preventing Afghanistan from again serving as a base for terrorists. And because of our drawdown in Iraq, we are now able to apply the resources necessary to go on offense. In fact, over the last 19 months, nearly a dozen al Qaeda leaders –and hundreds of Al Qaeda’s extremist allies–have been killed or captured around the world.

I understand we’re launching a surge in Afghanistan, and I know Obama will never let go of the “Iraq was a distraction” stuff, but did the Commander-in-Chief really need to say that only now, thanks to the draw down in Iraq, can we go “on offense” against al Qaeda? Have we been on defense for the last 9 years?

2) As we do, I am mindful that the Iraq War has been a contentious issue at home. Here, too, it is time to turn the page. This afternoon, I spoke to former President George W. Bush. It’s well known that he and I disagreed about the war from its outset. Yet no one could doubt President Bush’s support for our troops, or his love of country and commitment to our security. As I have said, there were patriots who supported this war, and patriots who opposed it. And all of us are united in appreciation for our servicemen and women, and our hope for Iraq’s future.

This is what passes for bipartisan graciousness at the highest level of national security? Bush was a really swell guy who loved his country. Okay. What about the fact that he was right about the surge and our ability to leave Iraq (as much as we are) is attributable not to Obama’s fidelity to his campaign pledge, but to a decision made by Obama’s predecessor, a decision Obama opposed vociferously. I don’t expect an “I was wrong” from an Oval Office address (though it would be nice — as it would have been from Bush more than once, too). But Obama’s lawyerly avoidance of reality makes him seem petty and raises the suspicion that he can’t think straight about these issues. That is dangerous.

3. And so at this moment, as we wind down the war in Iraq, we must tackle those challenges at home with as much energy, and grit, and sense of common purpose as our men and women in uniform who have served abroad. They have met every test that they faced. Now, it is our turn. Now, it is our responsibility to honor them by coming together, all of us, and working to secure the dream that so many generations have fought for –the dream that a better life awaits anyone who is willing to work for it and reach for it.

Our most urgent task is to restore our economy, and put the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs back to work. To strengthen our middle class, we must give all our children the education they deserve, and all our workers the skills that they need to compete in a global economy. We must jumpstart industries that create jobs, and end our dependence on foreign oil. We must unleash the innovation that allows new products to roll off our assembly lines, and nurture the ideas that spring from our entrepreneurs. This will be difficult. But in the days to come, it must be our central mission as a people, and my central responsibility as President.

This is what really disgusted me. If you read this closely, what Obama is saying is that not only do we owe it to the troops to rally around his discredited and partisan economic agenda (“It’s our turn”), not only is it a test of our patriotism to sign on with his environmental and industrial planning schemes, but that doing so “must be our central mission as a people.”

I find everything about that offensive.

Job , Jobs, Career

Not depressed, just sad, lonely or unhappy (Part 1)

Is sad so bad?

Cases of depression have grown around the world. But while awareness of the illness has helped lift the stigma it once attracted, have we lost touch with the importance of just feeling sad, asks Mary Kenny.


Looking back on my own reasonably serene childhood in Ireland during the 1950s, I recall quiet murmurs about people who suffered from "nerves".

I remember hearing that a neighbour - a well-to-do woman whose larger house and smart appearance was rather envied in the community - had had a "nervous breakdown".

Although when I repeated this to my aunt and uncle, with whom I was living, I was hushed up with a peremptory word of censure. There was, clearly, something slightly shameful about a "nervous breakdown" and one didn't speak about it.

I can see now, though I did not see then, that these were hidden incidents of depression among family and neighbours. But the stigma over depression, or even mental illness of any kind, must have added to their anguish.

How times have changed. It is an accepted truth, in our time, that depression is an illness with a global reach.

t seems that depression in various guises - whether chronic, uni-polar, bi-polar, clinical, recurrent, major or minor - accounts for a greater burden of disease, world-wide, than war, cancer and AIDS all put together.

This new openness is a good thing. Yet in the process, are we losing something?

Take the word, "trauma," which is now frequently and commonly invoked in conversation today. A person who has suffered a bereavement is said to be "in trauma".

A person who has been subjected to shock is said to be "traumatised". The break-up of relationships - a sad human experience which brings us a sense of loss, and hurts our need for attachment - is, similarly, described as "a traumatic experience".

In his excellent autobiographical study of depression which he so adroitly called Malignant Sadness, Professor Lewis Wolpert employs the concept of "trauma" to describe, for example, bereavement.

Job , Jobs, Career

Obama’s Speech

By Jonah Goldberg

Yes, there were some fine parts. How could there not be?

But I really disliked it. Maybe I’m letting other factors poison my take, and I should probably sleep on it before rendering final judgment. But here are a few things that really stuck in my craw.

1) As we speak, al Qaeda continues to plot against us, and its leadership remains anchored in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. We will disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda, while preventing Afghanistan from again serving as a base for terrorists. And because of our drawdown in Iraq, we are now able to apply the resources necessary to go on offense. In fact, over the last 19 months, nearly a dozen al Qaeda leaders –and hundreds of Al Qaeda’s extremist allies–have been killed or captured around the world.

I understand we’re launching a surge in Afghanistan, and I know Obama will never let go of the “Iraq was a distraction” stuff, but did the Commander-in-Chief really need to say that only now, thanks to the draw down in Iraq, can we go “on offense” against al Qaeda? Have we been on defense for the last 9 years?

2) As we do, I am mindful that the Iraq War has been a contentious issue at home. Here, too, it is time to turn the page. This afternoon, I spoke to former President George W. Bush. It’s well known that he and I disagreed about the war from its outset. Yet no one could doubt President Bush’s support for our troops, or his love of country and commitment to our security. As I have said, there were patriots who supported this war, and patriots who opposed it. And all of us are united in appreciation for our servicemen and women, and our hope for Iraq’s future.

This is what passes for bipartisan graciousness at the highest level of national security? Bush was a really swell guy who loved his country. Okay. What about the fact that he was right about the surge and our ability to leave Iraq (as much as we are) is attributable not to Obama’s fidelity to his campaign pledge, but to a decision made by Obama’s predecessor, a decision Obama opposed vociferously. I don’t expect an “I was wrong” from an Oval Office address (though it would be nice — as it would have been from Bush more than once, too). But Obama’s lawyerly avoidance of reality makes him seem petty and raises the suspicion that he can’t think straight about these issues. That is dangerous.

3. And so at this moment, as we wind down the war in Iraq, we must tackle those challenges at home with as much energy, and grit, and sense of common purpose as our men and women in uniform who have served abroad. They have met every test that they faced. Now, it is our turn. Now, it is our responsibility to honor them by coming together, all of us, and working to secure the dream that so many generations have fought for –the dream that a better life awaits anyone who is willing to work for it and reach for it.

Our most urgent task is to restore our economy, and put the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs back to work. To strengthen our middle class, we must give all our children the education they deserve, and all our workers the skills that they need to compete in a global economy. We must jumpstart industries that create jobs, and end our dependence on foreign oil. We must unleash the innovation that allows new products to roll off our assembly lines, and nurture the ideas that spring from our entrepreneurs. This will be difficult. But in the days to come, it must be our central mission as a people, and my central responsibility as President.

This is what really disgusted me. If you read this closely, what Obama is saying is that not only do we owe it to the troops to rally around his discredited and partisan economic agenda (“It’s our turn”), not only is it a test of our patriotism to sign on with his environmental and industrial planning schemes, but that doing so “must be our central mission as a people.”

I find everything about that offensive.

Job , Jobs, Career

Create a wonderful First Impressions (Part 1)

To convey to you here is a favorite technique in creating a good first impression. A simple technique, but this is the key to my success became inspiration for harmonious relations. Of course, this technique is also effective when applied during the interview work.

The first time I learned to be a professional radio announcer, one important lesson instructed by instructor when it is broadcast Smile when talking.

According to smile can be heard. Listeners will easily be able to distinguish where the announcer was friendly and where broadcasters are not friendly or grumpy. As we know, that most people would prefer the people were friendly compared with the broadcaster that bitchy. If the radio listener can distinguish just which broadcasters are friendly or not, especially when dealing directly instead?

The opinion was increasingly strengthened again after I have studied Neuro Associative Conditioning System, an excavation techniques, development and structuring potential. A smile that seems an easy job in fact have a major impact in the "conquest" anyone's heart.

A smile is able to create four wonderful things:

1. Raises self-confidence

2. Happiness

3. Passion and enthusiasm

4. Genuine acceptance

Job , Jobs, Career

Create a wonderful First Impressions (Part 1)

To convey to you here is a favorite technique in creating a good first impression. A simple technique, but this is the key to my success became inspiration for harmonious relations. Of course, this technique is also effective when applied during the interview work.

The first time I learned to be a professional radio announcer, one important lesson instructed by instructor when it is broadcast Smile when talking.

According to smile can be heard. Listeners will easily be able to distinguish where the announcer was friendly and where broadcasters are not friendly or grumpy. As we know, that most people would prefer the people were friendly compared with the broadcaster that bitchy. If the radio listener can distinguish just which broadcasters are friendly or not, especially when dealing directly instead?

The opinion was increasingly strengthened again after I have studied Neuro Associative Conditioning System, an excavation techniques, development and structuring potential. A smile that seems an easy job in fact have a major impact in the "conquest" anyone's heart.

A smile is able to create four wonderful things:

1. Raises self-confidence

2. Happiness

3. Passion and enthusiasm

4. Genuine acceptance

Job , Jobs, Career

Create a Tempting First Impressions (Part 1)

To convey to you here is a favorite technique in creating a good first impression. A simple technique, but this is the key to my success became inspiration for harmonious relations. Of course, this technique is also effective when applied during the interview work.

The first time I learned to be a professional radio announcer, one important lesson instructed by instructor when it is broadcast Smile when talking.

According to smile can be heard. Listeners will easily be able to distinguish where the announcer was friendly and where broadcasters are not friendly or grumpy. As we know, that most people would prefer the people were friendly compared with the broadcaster that bitchy. If the radio listener can distinguish just which broadcasters are friendly or not, especially when dealing directly instead?

The opinion was increasingly strengthened again after I have studied Neuro Associative Conditioning System, an excavation techniques, development and structuring potential. A smile that seems an easy job in fact have a major impact in the "conquest" anyone's heart.

A smile is able to create four wonderful things:

1. Raises self-confidence
2. Happiness
3. Passion and enthusiasm
4. Genuine acceptance

Job , Jobs, Career

Create a Tempting First Impressions (Part 1)

To convey to you here is a favorite technique in creating a good first impression. A simple technique, but this is the key to my success became inspiration for harmonious relations. Of course, this technique is also effective when applied during the interview work.

The first time I learned to be a professional radio announcer, one important lesson instructed by instructor when it is broadcast Smile when talking.

According to smile can be heard. Listeners will easily be able to distinguish where the announcer was friendly and where broadcasters are not friendly or grumpy. As we know, that most people would prefer the people were friendly compared with the broadcaster that bitchy. If the radio listener can distinguish just which broadcasters are friendly or not, especially when dealing directly instead?

The opinion was increasingly strengthened again after I have studied Neuro Associative Conditioning System, an excavation techniques, development and structuring potential. A smile that seems an easy job in fact have a major impact in the "conquest" anyone's heart.

A smile is able to create four wonderful things:

1. Raises self-confidence
2. Happiness
3. Passion and enthusiasm
4. Genuine acceptance

Job , Jobs, Career

Job Searching at Work

By: Alison

What you do when you're job searching, especially when you're doing it at work, can be problematic when it comes to keeping the job you have already.

In addition to the folks who tweet that they hate their job, there are those who spend all day on Facebook, even though they are friends with their boss and he or she can see every update. That's not such a great idea when you are supposed to be working.

Then there are the mistakes that make you cringe. I heard from someone who was in a panic after he emailed his resume to his boss by mistake. The AutoFill tool that automatically enters email addresses in Outlook and other email programs can be dangerous and using your work email address for job searching isn't a good idea.

One solution is to set up a separate email account for job seeking. That way you won't send your resume to the wrong person by mistake and you'll have all your job search correspondence in one place. If you use Gmail or Yahoo mail or another web-based email account, you'll be able to check it from anywhere.

If you have already made the mistake of clicking the Send button, it's time for damage control. You'll need to act quickly. Here's how to handle it when your boss catches you job searching. In the future, you'll need to job search a little more carefully - some stealth job hunting may be in order.

Job , Jobs, Career

Job Searching at Work

By: Alison

What you do when you're job searching, especially when you're doing it at work, can be problematic when it comes to keeping the job you have already.

In addition to the folks who tweet that they hate their job, there are those who spend all day on Facebook, even though they are friends with their boss and he or she can see every update. That's not such a great idea when you are supposed to be working.

Then there are the mistakes that make you cringe. I heard from someone who was in a panic after he emailed his resume to his boss by mistake. The AutoFill tool that automatically enters email addresses in Outlook and other email programs can be dangerous and using your work email address for job searching isn't a good idea.

One solution is to set up a separate email account for job seeking. That way you won't send your resume to the wrong person by mistake and you'll have all your job search correspondence in one place. If you use Gmail or Yahoo mail or another web-based email account, you'll be able to check it from anywhere.

If you have already made the mistake of clicking the Send button, it's time for damage control. You'll need to act quickly. Here's how to handle it when your boss catches you job searching. In the future, you'll need to job search a little more carefully - some stealth job hunting may be in order.

Job , Jobs, Career

Perfect Braid Hairstyle by Penelope Cruz’s

Perfect Braid Hairstyle by Penelope Cruz’s

Ngeblog Tanpa Resiko Kehilangan Kerja

Di era serba internet seperti saat ini, rasanya blog sudah jadi gaya hidup sehari-hari. Sama halnya dengan situs jejaring social lainnya seperti Facebook atau Twitter, blog dimiliki hampir semua internet savvy di luar sana. Mungkin juga termasuk Anda. Diperkirakan bahwa di Indonesia sendiri di tahun 2009 jumlah blogger akan mencapai angka 1 juta. Jumlah ini tidak mengherankan mengingat banyaknya alternatif layanan hosting dan web based tool gratis dan relatif mudah dikuasai sehingga dalam hitungan menit saja blog Anda sudah bisa diluncurkan untuk publik. Beberapa layanan gratis yang popular digunakan antara lain Blogger, Wordpress dan Multiply.



Blog yang merupakan singkatan dari weblog, digandrungi oleh banyak orang karena merupakan media yang memungkinkan pemiliknya untuk menuliskan topik kesukaan mereka untuk kemudian di-publish di dunia maya dengan singkat, tanpa proses panjang seperti halnya mengirim tulisan ke media cetak. Blog juga cara lain untuk berkomunikasi. Kerabat dan teman bisa mengetahui kabar terbaru pemilik blog hanya dengan membaca entry yang ditulisnya, bahkan memberikan komentar.



Banyak orang mengklaim bahwa blogging jadi hobi bahkan sudah jadi kebutuhan mereka. Di blog mereka bisa menuliskan pikiran mereka, menerima feedback dari pembaca, menambah jejaring dan teman, bahkan menciptakan sebuah komunitas khusus untuk blog. Munculnya layanan microblogging tidak membuat aktifitas ini kehilangan penggemar, justru malah membuat blogging semakin kuat karena bisa dijadikan tool yang turut bisa mempromosikan blog seseorang.



Kebanyakan pemilik blog adalah perseorangan yang menulis topik apa saja yang menarik bagi mereka. Namun saat ini semakin banyak perusahaan mengelola blog untuk berbagai kepentingan seperti promosi, branding, menciptakan image bahkan riset dan pooling untuk mengetahui keadaan pasar dan konsumen.



Kalau blogging sudah jadi keseharian Anda, ingatlah bahwa kegiatan yang menyenangkan, therapeutic bahkan menghasilkan ini juga memiliki resiko yang bisa membahayakan karir dan pekerjaan Anda. Jika Anda sudah lama bermain-main didunia blog, tentunya Anda ingat dengan Heather B. Armstrong yang kehilangan pekerjaannya sebagai web designer atau Ellen Simonetti yang dipecat dari sebuah maskapai penerbangan gara-gara blognya.



Beberapa tips yang bisa mencegah agar hal-hal buruk tidak timbul karena blog Anda adalah sebagai berikut :

• Jangan mempermalukan pihak lain maupun diri sendiri dengan menuliskan hal-hal yang bisa membuat Anda menyesal nantinya. Walaupun intensi Anda adalah mencurahkan isi hati, etika tetap wajib dijaga. Internet adalah dunia yang sangat luas dan semakin gampang diakses. Bukan tidak mungkin boss atau rekan kerja Anda bisa menemukan blog dan membaca hal memalukan tersebut. Jika Anda ingin kebebasan penuh dalam menulis, Anda bisa mencoba fitur protected entry yang ada di Wordpress atau fitur yang memungkinkan Anda untuk memilah pembaca seperti yang ada di Multiply dan Blogspot atau bahkan memberlakukan total proteksi terhadap blog.
• Jangan 'ngeblog' di kantor. Dengan mudah browsing history Anda bisa diketahui pihak manajemen. Hal ini bisa menuntun mereka ke online journal Anda yg bukan tidak mungkin pernah berisi keluh kesah Anda tentang kantor. Seperti pengalaman Anda saat sang boss mencuri ide Anda atau saat Anda kesal karena ditegur atas kesalahan yang tidak Anda lakukan.
• Jangan pamerkan identitas Anda seluruhnya. Gunakan nama lain atau inisial. Hati-hatilah dengan foto Anda, orang lain atau property kantor yang dipajang diblog. Selain berkaitan dengan copy right, Anda tidak akan tahu jika ada yang memanfaatkan foto-foto tersebut untuk kepentingan pribadi orang lain.
• Hindari untuk dengan gamblang mencantumkan identitas professional Anda seperti jabatan atau posisi, nama perusahaan dan alamat tempat Anda bekerja, bahkan jenis industri pekerjaan Anda. Playing safe is better jika Anda masih ingin memiliki pekerjaan Anda.
• Bijaksanalah dalam menulis hal-hal yang berkaitan dengan pekerjaan. Jangan membeberkan rahasia perusahaan, nama klien, konflik dalam perusahaan serta hal-hal lainnya yang tidak seharusnya diketahui umum, apalagi kompetitor.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

Ngeblog Tanpa Resiko Kehilangan Kerja

Di era serba internet seperti saat ini, rasanya blog sudah jadi gaya hidup sehari-hari. Sama halnya dengan situs jejaring social lainnya seperti Facebook atau Twitter, blog dimiliki hampir semua internet savvy di luar sana. Mungkin juga termasuk Anda. Diperkirakan bahwa di Indonesia sendiri di tahun 2009 jumlah blogger akan mencapai angka 1 juta. Jumlah ini tidak mengherankan mengingat banyaknya alternatif layanan hosting dan web based tool gratis dan relatif mudah dikuasai sehingga dalam hitungan menit saja blog Anda sudah bisa diluncurkan untuk publik. Beberapa layanan gratis yang popular digunakan antara lain Blogger, Wordpress dan Multiply.



Blog yang merupakan singkatan dari weblog, digandrungi oleh banyak orang karena merupakan media yang memungkinkan pemiliknya untuk menuliskan topik kesukaan mereka untuk kemudian di-publish di dunia maya dengan singkat, tanpa proses panjang seperti halnya mengirim tulisan ke media cetak. Blog juga cara lain untuk berkomunikasi. Kerabat dan teman bisa mengetahui kabar terbaru pemilik blog hanya dengan membaca entry yang ditulisnya, bahkan memberikan komentar.



Banyak orang mengklaim bahwa blogging jadi hobi bahkan sudah jadi kebutuhan mereka. Di blog mereka bisa menuliskan pikiran mereka, menerima feedback dari pembaca, menambah jejaring dan teman, bahkan menciptakan sebuah komunitas khusus untuk blog. Munculnya layanan microblogging tidak membuat aktifitas ini kehilangan penggemar, justru malah membuat blogging semakin kuat karena bisa dijadikan tool yang turut bisa mempromosikan blog seseorang.



Kebanyakan pemilik blog adalah perseorangan yang menulis topik apa saja yang menarik bagi mereka. Namun saat ini semakin banyak perusahaan mengelola blog untuk berbagai kepentingan seperti promosi, branding, menciptakan image bahkan riset dan pooling untuk mengetahui keadaan pasar dan konsumen.



Kalau blogging sudah jadi keseharian Anda, ingatlah bahwa kegiatan yang menyenangkan, therapeutic bahkan menghasilkan ini juga memiliki resiko yang bisa membahayakan karir dan pekerjaan Anda. Jika Anda sudah lama bermain-main didunia blog, tentunya Anda ingat dengan Heather B. Armstrong yang kehilangan pekerjaannya sebagai web designer atau Ellen Simonetti yang dipecat dari sebuah maskapai penerbangan gara-gara blognya.



Beberapa tips yang bisa mencegah agar hal-hal buruk tidak timbul karena blog Anda adalah sebagai berikut :

• Jangan mempermalukan pihak lain maupun diri sendiri dengan menuliskan hal-hal yang bisa membuat Anda menyesal nantinya. Walaupun intensi Anda adalah mencurahkan isi hati, etika tetap wajib dijaga. Internet adalah dunia yang sangat luas dan semakin gampang diakses. Bukan tidak mungkin boss atau rekan kerja Anda bisa menemukan blog dan membaca hal memalukan tersebut. Jika Anda ingin kebebasan penuh dalam menulis, Anda bisa mencoba fitur protected entry yang ada di Wordpress atau fitur yang memungkinkan Anda untuk memilah pembaca seperti yang ada di Multiply dan Blogspot atau bahkan memberlakukan total proteksi terhadap blog.
• Jangan 'ngeblog' di kantor. Dengan mudah browsing history Anda bisa diketahui pihak manajemen. Hal ini bisa menuntun mereka ke online journal Anda yg bukan tidak mungkin pernah berisi keluh kesah Anda tentang kantor. Seperti pengalaman Anda saat sang boss mencuri ide Anda atau saat Anda kesal karena ditegur atas kesalahan yang tidak Anda lakukan.
• Jangan pamerkan identitas Anda seluruhnya. Gunakan nama lain atau inisial. Hati-hatilah dengan foto Anda, orang lain atau property kantor yang dipajang diblog. Selain berkaitan dengan copy right, Anda tidak akan tahu jika ada yang memanfaatkan foto-foto tersebut untuk kepentingan pribadi orang lain.
• Hindari untuk dengan gamblang mencantumkan identitas professional Anda seperti jabatan atau posisi, nama perusahaan dan alamat tempat Anda bekerja, bahkan jenis industri pekerjaan Anda. Playing safe is better jika Anda masih ingin memiliki pekerjaan Anda.
• Bijaksanalah dalam menulis hal-hal yang berkaitan dengan pekerjaan. Jangan membeberkan rahasia perusahaan, nama klien, konflik dalam perusahaan serta hal-hal lainnya yang tidak seharusnya diketahui umum, apalagi kompetitor.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

Etiket Bisnis Pebisnis Korea dan Jepang

Adakah beberapa dari Anda yang bekerja di perusahaan asing? Atau setidaknya selalu bertemu dengan orang asing untuk urusan bisnis dan pekerjaan? Jika ya, Anda pasti tahu betul bahwa berhadapan dengan orang asing yang berbeda kebudayaan memiliki tantangan tersendiri. Bukan hanya soal bahasa dan cara berkomunikasi yang terkadang menjadi kendala, tapi juga soal kebiasaan, adat, dan tingkah laku yang harus selalu disesuaikan. Mungkin Anda pernah mengalami kejadian unik atau memalukan berkaitan dengan cross-cultural business ini, misalnya Anda lupa tidak membungkuk ketika menyapa bos besar dari Jepang atau selalu kerepotan memenuhi permintaan atasan dari Korea yang ingin segala sesuatunya selesai dengan cepat.

Dalam menjalankan bisnis, setiap negara ternyata memiliki cara yang berbeda-beda yang dipengaruhi oleh kebudayaan yang dianutnya. Untuk bisa menjalin bisnis dengan rekan asing, terkadang Anda harus menyesuaikan diri dengan cara mereka. Bukan berarti mengubah budaya perusahaan dan kehilangan jati diri, tetapi mengetahui dan memahami etiket-etiket bisnis yang berlaku serta menerapkannya tatkala bertemu dengan orang asing sesuai dengan kebangsaannya.

Banyak panduan mengenai etiket bisnis internasional yang bisa dipelajari dan beberapa diantaranya adalah seperti dibawah ini:

Jepang.
Business card adalah hal terpenting yang harus Anda bawa ketika bertemu dengan pebisnis Jepang. Setelah Anda bertukar salam (baik dengan cara membungkuk atau berjabat tangan), berikan kartu Anda dengan cara yang sopan, yaitu memegang dengan kedua tangan. Jangan pernah melipat, mencoret-coret, memainkan, apalagi meninggalkan kartu yang Anda terima, sebab Anda akan dianggap tidak menghargai sang pemberi kartu. Simpan kartu-kartu tersebut di tempat yang pantas dan perlakukan dengan hormat. Untuk busana, gaya konservatif dan formal adalah pilihan yang pas. Untuk wanita, sebaiknya menggunakan rok daripada celana panjang. Berhati-hatilah dengan hand gesture dan ekspresi wajah, sebab bisa menimbulkan salah interpretasi. Selalu datang setidaknya 10 menit sebelum waktu pertemuan, terutama jika Anda akan bertemu dengan para bos atau eksekutif senior. Orang Jepang terkenal tepat waktu, jadi buatlah agenda rapat yang tepat waktu pula. Ketika rapat pebisnis Jepang akan mencatat apa-apa saja yang terjadi dalam rapat, maka tidak ada hal yang luput atau terlewatkan.

Korea.
Sama halnya dengan Jepang, pebisnis Korea juga menganggap business card sebagai hal yang penting dalam urusan bisnis, jadi pastikan Anda selalu membawanya. Dalam suatu pertemuan, jarang sekali Anda memperkenalkan diri langsung kepada lawan bicara, biasanya orang ketiga yang akan memperkenalkan Anda. Jika Anda lebih junior, maka Anda harus membungkuk terhadap lawan bicara yg lebih senior/posisinya lebih tinggi. Korea sangat menjunjung tinggi senioritas dan hubungan atasan dan bawahan. Sebagai bentuk penghormatan, biasanya mereka menyapa lawan bicara dengan nama jabatan/profesi/titelnya kemudian dikuti oleh nama keluarga, misalnya: Direktur Kim, Manajer Choi, atau Supervisor Lee. Atau jika Anda tidak yakin, panggil saja dengan sebutan international, misalnya Mr. Kim atau Ms/Mrs Lee. Orang Korea biasanya mengadakan pertemuan bisnis yang dibarengi dengan jamuan atau minum (beralkohol), Anda bisa mengggunakan alasan keyakinan dan kesehatan untuk menolak secara halus tawaran tersebut.

Dua negara ini merupakan negara Asia teratas yang berinvestasi di Indonesia setelah Cina. Mendekati pasar bebas, akan semakin banyak orang-orang asing yang masuk ke Indonesia untuk mendirikan bisnis. Hubungan kerjasama pun mau tidak mau akan semakin sering terjalin. Diperlukan pengetahuan yang luas dan kepekaan yang cukup tinggi terhadap kebiasaan dan kebudayaan negara yang akan menjadi rekan bisnis Anda. Oleh karena itu, pelajarilah lebih jauh etika-etika bisnis yang berlaku secara internasional agar pendekatan dan jalinan bisnis Anda dengan orang asing bisa berjalan dengan lancar.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

Etiket Bisnis Pebisnis Korea dan Jepang

Adakah beberapa dari Anda yang bekerja di perusahaan asing? Atau setidaknya selalu bertemu dengan orang asing untuk urusan bisnis dan pekerjaan? Jika ya, Anda pasti tahu betul bahwa berhadapan dengan orang asing yang berbeda kebudayaan memiliki tantangan tersendiri. Bukan hanya soal bahasa dan cara berkomunikasi yang terkadang menjadi kendala, tapi juga soal kebiasaan, adat, dan tingkah laku yang harus selalu disesuaikan. Mungkin Anda pernah mengalami kejadian unik atau memalukan berkaitan dengan cross-cultural business ini, misalnya Anda lupa tidak membungkuk ketika menyapa bos besar dari Jepang atau selalu kerepotan memenuhi permintaan atasan dari Korea yang ingin segala sesuatunya selesai dengan cepat.

Dalam menjalankan bisnis, setiap negara ternyata memiliki cara yang berbeda-beda yang dipengaruhi oleh kebudayaan yang dianutnya. Untuk bisa menjalin bisnis dengan rekan asing, terkadang Anda harus menyesuaikan diri dengan cara mereka. Bukan berarti mengubah budaya perusahaan dan kehilangan jati diri, tetapi mengetahui dan memahami etiket-etiket bisnis yang berlaku serta menerapkannya tatkala bertemu dengan orang asing sesuai dengan kebangsaannya.

Banyak panduan mengenai etiket bisnis internasional yang bisa dipelajari dan beberapa diantaranya adalah seperti dibawah ini:

Jepang.
Business card adalah hal terpenting yang harus Anda bawa ketika bertemu dengan pebisnis Jepang. Setelah Anda bertukar salam (baik dengan cara membungkuk atau berjabat tangan), berikan kartu Anda dengan cara yang sopan, yaitu memegang dengan kedua tangan. Jangan pernah melipat, mencoret-coret, memainkan, apalagi meninggalkan kartu yang Anda terima, sebab Anda akan dianggap tidak menghargai sang pemberi kartu. Simpan kartu-kartu tersebut di tempat yang pantas dan perlakukan dengan hormat. Untuk busana, gaya konservatif dan formal adalah pilihan yang pas. Untuk wanita, sebaiknya menggunakan rok daripada celana panjang. Berhati-hatilah dengan hand gesture dan ekspresi wajah, sebab bisa menimbulkan salah interpretasi. Selalu datang setidaknya 10 menit sebelum waktu pertemuan, terutama jika Anda akan bertemu dengan para bos atau eksekutif senior. Orang Jepang terkenal tepat waktu, jadi buatlah agenda rapat yang tepat waktu pula. Ketika rapat pebisnis Jepang akan mencatat apa-apa saja yang terjadi dalam rapat, maka tidak ada hal yang luput atau terlewatkan.

Korea.
Sama halnya dengan Jepang, pebisnis Korea juga menganggap business card sebagai hal yang penting dalam urusan bisnis, jadi pastikan Anda selalu membawanya. Dalam suatu pertemuan, jarang sekali Anda memperkenalkan diri langsung kepada lawan bicara, biasanya orang ketiga yang akan memperkenalkan Anda. Jika Anda lebih junior, maka Anda harus membungkuk terhadap lawan bicara yg lebih senior/posisinya lebih tinggi. Korea sangat menjunjung tinggi senioritas dan hubungan atasan dan bawahan. Sebagai bentuk penghormatan, biasanya mereka menyapa lawan bicara dengan nama jabatan/profesi/titelnya kemudian dikuti oleh nama keluarga, misalnya: Direktur Kim, Manajer Choi, atau Supervisor Lee. Atau jika Anda tidak yakin, panggil saja dengan sebutan international, misalnya Mr. Kim atau Ms/Mrs Lee. Orang Korea biasanya mengadakan pertemuan bisnis yang dibarengi dengan jamuan atau minum (beralkohol), Anda bisa mengggunakan alasan keyakinan dan kesehatan untuk menolak secara halus tawaran tersebut.

Dua negara ini merupakan negara Asia teratas yang berinvestasi di Indonesia setelah Cina. Mendekati pasar bebas, akan semakin banyak orang-orang asing yang masuk ke Indonesia untuk mendirikan bisnis. Hubungan kerjasama pun mau tidak mau akan semakin sering terjalin. Diperlukan pengetahuan yang luas dan kepekaan yang cukup tinggi terhadap kebiasaan dan kebudayaan negara yang akan menjadi rekan bisnis Anda. Oleh karena itu, pelajarilah lebih jauh etika-etika bisnis yang berlaku secara internasional agar pendekatan dan jalinan bisnis Anda dengan orang asing bisa berjalan dengan lancar.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

Working Smart: The Importance of Being on Time

By Elizabeth Hanink


Time — as my father-in-law (and Benjamin Franklin) used to say — is money. The follow up, of course, is that we have no right to anyone else’s money; so quit wasting your employer’s by being late. You may think that’s an unnecessary reminder, but, interestingly enough, not all employees recognize when they are late.


Take, for instance, the employee that punches in on time but then ever so comfortably settles in. First comes the stashing of personal items. Then comes the requisite cup of coffee, a quick bathroom break, and don’t forget the greetings that are necessary all around. By the time real work starts, a good 10 to 15 minutes are gone. There are no specific statistics, but do the math. Multiply by five days a week, times several, even tens, of employees, and you are talking a hefty hunk of change.


Then there are the folks who are late in the ordinary fashion: late for arrival, late for meetings and on it goes. The strange thing is that the events that cause people to be tardy are sooo predictable: lost keys, heavy traffic, dawdling kids. In short, people are usually late for preventable reasons. If they were organized, disciplined and competent, what difference would misplaced keys make? A second set would be nearby. Basing the time you need to get to work on the best of all possible worlds is foolhardy.


Vince Lombardi has my vote on punctuality: “If you are 15 minutes early, you’re late.” If you want someone with more authority than a football coach, how about Louis XVIII’s line: “Punctuality is the privilege of kings.”

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

Working Smart: The Importance of Being on Time

By Elizabeth Hanink


Time — as my father-in-law (and Benjamin Franklin) used to say — is money. The follow up, of course, is that we have no right to anyone else’s money; so quit wasting your employer’s by being late. You may think that’s an unnecessary reminder, but, interestingly enough, not all employees recognize when they are late.


Take, for instance, the employee that punches in on time but then ever so comfortably settles in. First comes the stashing of personal items. Then comes the requisite cup of coffee, a quick bathroom break, and don’t forget the greetings that are necessary all around. By the time real work starts, a good 10 to 15 minutes are gone. There are no specific statistics, but do the math. Multiply by five days a week, times several, even tens, of employees, and you are talking a hefty hunk of change.


Then there are the folks who are late in the ordinary fashion: late for arrival, late for meetings and on it goes. The strange thing is that the events that cause people to be tardy are sooo predictable: lost keys, heavy traffic, dawdling kids. In short, people are usually late for preventable reasons. If they were organized, disciplined and competent, what difference would misplaced keys make? A second set would be nearby. Basing the time you need to get to work on the best of all possible worlds is foolhardy.


Vince Lombardi has my vote on punctuality: “If you are 15 minutes early, you’re late.” If you want someone with more authority than a football coach, how about Louis XVIII’s line: “Punctuality is the privilege of kings.”

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

How Sharp Are Your People Skills at Work? Take This 5-minute Quiz

By Kathy Simmons



The ability to interact with your boss and co-workers can make or break your career. Studies have shown that IQ takes second position to emotional intelligence in determining outstanding job performance and long-term success. Now, more than ever, you need to pay attention to your people skills to be hired, kept and promoted.


In the words of John Hancock, “The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and influence their actions.”


Emotionally intelligent people have mastered the art of living in harmony with others. They respond appropriately when conflict arises, and seem to know the right thing to do regardless of the circumstances. Does this description fit you?


Measure how sharp your “soft” skills are by taking the following quiz:

1. A co-worker criticizes your idea in front of the boss. Which best describes your reaction?

a) Immediately remind the critic of his most recent flawed idea.
b) Say nothing. You'll vent with co-workers later.
c) Become angry and demand to know why the critic is being so non-supportive.
d) Thank the critic for his input, and promise to take the feedback under consideration.


2. Your boss is acting differently lately. She has been much less communicative and friendly. You would be most likely to…

a) Avoid her. Otherwise, you are likely to stay on her bad side.
b) Schedule a meeting and ask for her feedback on your work performance.
c) Assume she has personal problems and ask others if they are aware of details.
d) Begin working on your resume. You would rather quit than be fired.


3. You’ve just found out that you are the target of a nasty rumor at work. Which of the following best describes your response?

a) Do nothing. Rumors have a way of blowing over eventually.
b) Make it a point to find the source of the rumor and confront him or her aggressively.
c) Create a rumor about someone else to take the spotlight off yourself.
d) Become depressed and distracted.


4. A less-talented co-worker is promoted to a position you hoped for. How would you handle the disappointment?


a) Start looking for another job.
It’s obvious your talents are not appreciated where you are.
b) Resolve to make life difficult for the co-worker. She’ll earn that promotion!
c) Ask the hiring manager what areas you could focus on to be a stronger candidate in the future.
d) Pout, and hope someone notices your hurt feelings.


5. Your raise was much less than expected this year. How would you deal with the bad news?

a) Take a few extra sick days. That’s your way of evening the score.
b) Ask your co-workers how much they got. Then decide if yours was fair.
c) Go to your boss’s boss and express your disappointment.
d) Ask your boss what accomplishments would warrant a
re-evaluation in six months.


6. You discover that you made a huge mistake that will cost the company plenty of money. What is your solution?


a) Immediately bring it to your boss's attention and ask for advice on minimizing the damage.
b) Resign as quickly as possible.
c) Try to cover up the error as smoothly as possible — and hope nobody looks too carefully.
d) Blame others for their contribution. You won’t take the heat alone!


7. One of your co-workers regularly gossips about upper management. She seems to know quite a bit of information and it’s hard not to listen. You would be most likely to:

a) Listen eagerly, but never repeat what you hear.
b) Tell her in no uncertain terms what you think of her lack of loyalty.
c) Let your boss know she is gossiping.
d) Tell her you would rather talk about other things — then change the subject quickly.



BEST ANSWERS:

1. d, 2. b, 3. a, 4. c, 5. d, 6. a, 7. d

6-7 correct: Your soft skills are razor sharp! You consistently display maturity when it comes to coping with the inevitable conflicts and disappointments that arise at work.

4-5 correct: Most of the time your soft skills are sharp, but there are times you fall short of behaving professionally. Watch your tendencies to retaliate or take things personally.

3 or less correct: You have significant deficiencies in your soft skills. To raise your awareness in areas of emotional intelligence, start by reading any of the following books:
· Working With Emotional Intelligence, by Daniel Goleman
· People Skills, by Robert Bolton
· Be Your Own Executive Coach : Master High-Impact Communications Skills, by Peter Delisser

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How Sharp Are Your People Skills at Work? Take This 5-minute Quiz

By Kathy Simmons



The ability to interact with your boss and co-workers can make or break your career. Studies have shown that IQ takes second position to emotional intelligence in determining outstanding job performance and long-term success. Now, more than ever, you need to pay attention to your people skills to be hired, kept and promoted.


In the words of John Hancock, “The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and influence their actions.”


Emotionally intelligent people have mastered the art of living in harmony with others. They respond appropriately when conflict arises, and seem to know the right thing to do regardless of the circumstances. Does this description fit you?


Measure how sharp your “soft” skills are by taking the following quiz:

1. A co-worker criticizes your idea in front of the boss. Which best describes your reaction?

a) Immediately remind the critic of his most recent flawed idea.
b) Say nothing. You'll vent with co-workers later.
c) Become angry and demand to know why the critic is being so non-supportive.
d) Thank the critic for his input, and promise to take the feedback under consideration.


2. Your boss is acting differently lately. She has been much less communicative and friendly. You would be most likely to…

a) Avoid her. Otherwise, you are likely to stay on her bad side.
b) Schedule a meeting and ask for her feedback on your work performance.
c) Assume she has personal problems and ask others if they are aware of details.
d) Begin working on your resume. You would rather quit than be fired.


3. You’ve just found out that you are the target of a nasty rumor at work. Which of the following best describes your response?

a) Do nothing. Rumors have a way of blowing over eventually.
b) Make it a point to find the source of the rumor and confront him or her aggressively.
c) Create a rumor about someone else to take the spotlight off yourself.
d) Become depressed and distracted.


4. A less-talented co-worker is promoted to a position you hoped for. How would you handle the disappointment?


a) Start looking for another job.
It’s obvious your talents are not appreciated where you are.
b) Resolve to make life difficult for the co-worker. She’ll earn that promotion!
c) Ask the hiring manager what areas you could focus on to be a stronger candidate in the future.
d) Pout, and hope someone notices your hurt feelings.


5. Your raise was much less than expected this year. How would you deal with the bad news?

a) Take a few extra sick days. That’s your way of evening the score.
b) Ask your co-workers how much they got. Then decide if yours was fair.
c) Go to your boss’s boss and express your disappointment.
d) Ask your boss what accomplishments would warrant a
re-evaluation in six months.


6. You discover that you made a huge mistake that will cost the company plenty of money. What is your solution?


a) Immediately bring it to your boss's attention and ask for advice on minimizing the damage.
b) Resign as quickly as possible.
c) Try to cover up the error as smoothly as possible — and hope nobody looks too carefully.
d) Blame others for their contribution. You won’t take the heat alone!


7. One of your co-workers regularly gossips about upper management. She seems to know quite a bit of information and it’s hard not to listen. You would be most likely to:

a) Listen eagerly, but never repeat what you hear.
b) Tell her in no uncertain terms what you think of her lack of loyalty.
c) Let your boss know she is gossiping.
d) Tell her you would rather talk about other things — then change the subject quickly.



BEST ANSWERS:

1. d, 2. b, 3. a, 4. c, 5. d, 6. a, 7. d

6-7 correct: Your soft skills are razor sharp! You consistently display maturity when it comes to coping with the inevitable conflicts and disappointments that arise at work.

4-5 correct: Most of the time your soft skills are sharp, but there are times you fall short of behaving professionally. Watch your tendencies to retaliate or take things personally.

3 or less correct: You have significant deficiencies in your soft skills. To raise your awareness in areas of emotional intelligence, start by reading any of the following books:
· Working With Emotional Intelligence, by Daniel Goleman
· People Skills, by Robert Bolton
· Be Your Own Executive Coach : Master High-Impact Communications Skills, by Peter Delisser

Job Vacancy , Indonesia Job , Job Indonesia