Overnight Genius — just the name attracts me right off the bat. Makes me think though, Rome wasn’t built in a day, so how could someone become a genius in as fast as one day? When I read the whole article, that’s when I found out that it’s actually a product intended for people who want to master common computer programs. Since my little sister and brother are all in their schooling stages, I decided to purchase the product out of curiosity. Upon its arrival, I hurriedly turned on my computer, popped in the Overnight Genius program, and started browsing all the features that it offers. I must say that it’s really intended for beginners - however there are a lot of tips and techniques which even a computer pro like me was able to use.

The Overnight Genius Program Details

Let me not get too deep into all the extraneous and boring details of Overnight Genius – instead let’s hit and emphasize the key points of this learning software. Among common computer programs, the one that is most likely to complicate the casual user is Microsoft Excel, which is an effective tool that you use in order to evaluate, compare, and summarize key information and data that will help the user to manage office, school, and even personal files correctly. Most professional users of Microsoft Excel are those that are in in a career field that utilizes mathematics as a basis of their job, such as those that work as auditors or accountants. This is a given since the program is essential in the analysis of professional-looking reports and charts. Simply put in a nut, Microsoft Excel will allow the user to make spreadsheets, develop spreadsheet analysis, control information much more efficiently, and make graphs and charts without any hassle.

Now, just like anyone who finds Microsoft Excel a bit rough to understand, I found the Overnight Genius to be a big help. I used their product learn more about Excel and the title really speaks for itself, I became a genius overnight. The lesson plan in the program was very clearly laid out and followed in a fun and easy way that helped me to never find it hard to grasp the idea they were trying to say. In the Overnight Genius package, you’ll find Multimedia Training CD-ROMs that are programmed with live instructor-led classroom sessions – this really helps you to get into the learning atmosphere and gives you the opportunity to do hands-on lab simulations. Lessons are available for Microsoft Office products including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Powerpoint, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Frontpage, eBay selling and antivirus protection.

How Computer Based Training Can Help You Learn Microsoft Office

Certainly, I gained a lot of insights from this product without spending a lot of my time. Computer-Based Training is a cost-efficient and time-efficient way to help teach you fast while still remaining in a price range which is a whole lot less compared to what a usual class in your local university or city college would cost you. What’s even more amazing and helpful is the fact that you can always go back to the lesson by simply playing the CD again in order for you to fully master the methods, something that is not possible in classroom classes.

Although you can only play the CD at your computer and not in an audio cd player, this won’t rob you of the easy learning potential - the full motion video, serious assessment and challenging labs will make each session fun and memorable! The price of the Overnight Genius product is surely worth the money so in that regard there is nothing to complain about. This is indeed a good product for those who want to understand how to get to the functional of these commonly-used programs fast. My little sister just asked me if we can get all the sets of Overnight Genius for her birthday, I said yes right ahead because after all, kids should not be deprived of learning. But she has to clean the dishes first.

The services that Stamps.com is offering its clientele is just plain helpful for those people who send postage frequently. By paying a monthly fee, you will be able to print postage directly from your PC, thereby freeing yourself from all the crappy service that most post offices have. I know this has been huge for me as I’ve been able to get my mind off getting stamps and get my mind on actually sending the letter or package! This is actually a great way of improving the postal system in the US because Stamps.com is a service that is designed in conjunction with the United States Postal Service.

The Lowdown on the Online Stamps Service

Stamps.com is largely a software based service, which is accessible through the internet, so you can print out postage any time of the day. But their services don’t end there because they have other postage related features that can make sending packages and mail easier for you. Since Stamps.com is a service that is connected with the USPS, their clients also have access to the address database of the USPS and their software will automatically check if the address entered is the right address to ensure that the package/mail will reach the recipient. They even have an email feature that can notify the recipient that the package is on the way. It is also very easy to import addresses from the software like Microsoft Office’s Outlook.

Packages will also be a snap with Stamps.com because once you have purchased a one month service they’ll send you a digital scale for you to be able to weigh your packages. Another must-try service that Stamps.com is offering is the ability to print your every own postage stamps. And if you are one of those people who have sloppy handwriting and worry too much if the postman will be able to read what you wrote, the flexibility of doing stamps online will help you out!

The Benefits of Internet Stamps Service

Definitely, signing up for a subscription with Stamps.com will save you money and time. Although the subscription will not necessarily save you from the inefficiency of the delivery times of the USPS, it does alleviate the whole postal sending process. Currently, Stamps.com does not allow printing of metered international postage due to government laws.

Convenience is one thing you can get with Stamps.com and if you are one individual who craves this, then getting a subscription with this service will do you good. Where else can you find a legal and approved way of printing your stamps directly to your home printer? Stamps.com is a service that you need even in these times when emails almost rule the world. There is no comparison with the rates offered by the company since they have the most competitive and budget friendly rates out in the market today. They even give their future clients a 4 week trial period to see if their system works for them at no risk at all – what could get better than that?

Visit them and take a look at their service offerings at their website:

http://stamps.com

Money will not make you happy, unless you’re very poor, in which case a little money goes a long way. And yet individuals and societies seem to regard increased spending as the only reliable measure of success, and the main goal of most governments is to achieve an economic growth rate that beats out that of comparable countries. In Happiness: Lessons From a New Science economist Richar Layard argues that this is a totally wrong approach, which will not improve people’s lives. As an example consider indonesia where the average annual income is less than 1/10 of that of the US - but where people are just as happy.

Layard draws much inspiration from the philosopher Jeremy Bentham who had it right as far back as the 1800’s when he said that “The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation”. The goal of the individual is to be happy, this has been known since Aristotle who said that whatever else we desire, we want it because we expect it to make us happier. Therefore happiness is the underlying “why” of all human activity - including constructing and governing societies.

So what can a society do to make its people happier? Layard mentions the 7 factors that have been shown to have the greatest influence on people’s happiness:
* family relationships
* financial situation
* work
* community and friends
* health
* personal freedom
* personal values

It’s interesting to note, that an economic policy that seeks to encourage people to work more, eg. lowering taxes or increasing the mobility of the work force, will in fact decrease people’s situation in several of these areas and thus make people less happy.

One country has in fact acted on this: In Bhutan, a tiny nation in the Himalayas, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck decreed that “Gross national happiness is more important than gross national product [because] happiness takes precedence over economic prosperity in our national development process.” I feel quite sure that more countries will come to make similar decisions. Western materialist culture has made us happy over the last few decades, but constantly increasing consumerism has probably taken us as far as it possibly can happiness-wise. We will not be happier because we can buy more or bigger cars, TV’s and houses. More time and an increased ability to enjoy time with our friends, families and communities is a whole different matter, and this is where society needs to focus.

Layard’s is the most cogent and readable book on happiness on a national and global scale, and seeing as Layard is an economist rather than a psychologist, most of it is based on hard-core numbers and statistics. Layard’s main point is that happiness can be objectively quantified in individuals and in socities and can thus be used as a measure of success. I wish every political leader would read it - I think I’ll send our prime minister a copy :o)

True or false: Having fun at work contributes heavily to an organization’s success!

If you have any doubts about this statement, Managing to have fun by Matt Weinstein may have some arguments to turn your thinking around.

If you already agree, the book is packed with inspiration, stories and tips to help you have more fun and play more at work.

In my thinking, fun is just one aspect of making people happy at work, but the good thing about fun is that it is:

* Cheap
* Instantaneous
* Available to everyone

One of my favourite stories from the book is about Ben&Jerry’s the notoriously anarchistic ice-cream manufacturer started by two Hippies. They (obviously) have no formal, corporate dress-code, so rather than “casual fridays” they sponsor “clash dressing day” where employees put on their worst matching outfits. And one time they sponsored “corporate day”, where everybody came to work in suits, ties, dresses, etc… and loved it :o)

For more information on having fun and getting happy Self-Hypnosis for a Better Life

SHUT UP, STOP WHINING & GET A LIFE!

That’s a phrase I have uttered to myself on numerous occasions (usually when I’m watching the news or Oprah Winfrey). It seems as though we have become a nation of victims. It’s much easier for us to point the finger at everyone else for our problems rather than ‘fess up and take responsibility for ourselves. In order to do that, some people need a kick in the pants, and that’s exactly what Larry Winget offers in SHUT UP, STOP WHINING & GET A LIFE - A Kick-Butt Approach to a Better Life.

I will say that Larry’s style spoke to me from the very beginning of the book. In fact, I found myself smiling when I read this portion in the “Before You Start” section of the book:

If you are going to use quotes from this book either in your own writing or speaking or if you want to share what I have said in this book with others, then remember: I said this stuff. Give me credit. If I did not say it, then I have given credit to the person who did. I fyou quote them, give them credit. If you write a book and I quote you, then I will give you credit. Is that a deal?

Do not share this book. If you think it is good enough you want your friend to read it, then buy her a copy. By the time you finish the book it should be marked up and written in anyway, and that will make it too personal to share with anyone else. Besides it is just tacky to give someone a used book that has been written in. If you think you are going to loan your book to someone who should read it, expecting to have it returned, then you are truly naive. (Besides, how am I going to make any money if you give away you book? Buy another one or two or even a case to share with those who need to shut up and stop whining.)

That part cracked me up. I learned from reading this book that you can always count on Larry to tell you EXACTLY how he feels and what he believes in. Whether you believe the same way or not, it doesn’t matter to Larry so SHUT UP AND STOP WHINING ABOUT IT!

However, since this is a book review, I owe it to you to tell you what I thought about the book. I will state right here and now that I don’t agree with some of the things Larry says. For instance, I don’t necessarily agree with his thoughts on God, divorce, and kids and sex. In fact, those topics seemed out of place in this particular book.

Still, even with my dislikes, I found a lot to like about this book. For instance, here’s Larry’s three reasons why people are not successful:

1. They are stupid.

2. They are lazy.

3. They don’t give a damn.

How’s that for honest? Whether or not you like Larry’s assessment, the fact remains that lots of people aren’t successful and one of the reasons above is probably the source of their lack of success. Fortunately, there’s hope for most people. For instance, you are stupid, then educate yourself. If you are lazy, then get off your butt. If you don’t give a damn, then start giving a damn. F0r most people, the solutions are simple.

If you don’t like harsh, then don’t read this book. If you don’t like feeling like someone is yelling at you while you are reading, then don’t read this book. If you don’t mind that kind of stuff or you are in the mood for a different kind of motivational book, then SHUT UP, STOP WHINING and buy SHUT UP, STOP WHINING & GET A LIFE - A Kick-Butt Approach to a Better Life.

You should know one thing before you read my review of Ricardo Semler’s excellent book The Seven-Day Weekend: He’s my idol.

I deeply admire Ricardo Semler. He’s the CEO of the Sao Paulo, Brazil-based company Semco, and his vision of leadership has been the driving force behind an organization so different, so innovative and so successful that the business world has been forced to sit up and pay attention.

That’s admirable but it’s not the most important reason why Ricardo is my idol. The core reason is this: Semler has chosen happiness as his driving force in business.

He enjoys life and he wants Semco’s employees, customers, suppliers and community to be happy as well. That is the real motivation behind Semco. Not growth. Not profits. Not power. Not status. But happiness.

This is why Semco has chosen to do things… somewhat differently. At Semco:

• Employees set their own working hours
• Employees choose their own salaries
• All meetings are voluntary and open to everyone
• Employees hire their own bosses
• HR has been almost abolished, because leaders need to be able to treat their employees right themselves
• All employees rate their bosses twice a year and all ratings are published
• Employees choose which leader they want to work under
• Employees choose which Semco office they want to work out off
• Employees can take early retirement, meaning they get one day a week off in return for working one day a week after they retire.

Etcetra, etcetera, et-fricking-cetera… It’s hard to find a single aspect of traditional organization and management that Semco hasn’t either blown up, reinvented, abolished or turned upside down. I like it!

Semler first described his vision in the aptly titled book Maverick (also an excellent read). The Seven-Day Weekend was written about ten years later and goes even further.

The title references Semler’s belief that life cannot be divided into work and free time any more. If you can answer business-related email on a sunday evening, why can’t you go to the movies on a wednesday morning? Semco wants employees who are 100% themselves on the job or off it. Consequently, they treat employees as adults who are capable of making decisions for themselves. In return, people respond by honoring that trust and delivering fantastic results.

The book is full of stories from Semco’s everyday existence, and these stories are a joy to read. Time and again these stories illustrate, that Semco does not choose the easy way out. The easy, safe and comfortable way is to fall back on well-known, hierarchical control structures. Semco consistently resists this temptation and instead chooses to believe in its people and its corporate values.

As a result, on of Semco’s top management’s most important leadership tools is… inaction. Not to do anything. To not interfere and to let the organization work out an issue on its own. To trust the process they’ve defined and see where that takes them.

Not out of a laissez-faire management style or a fear of conflict (if anything, Brazilians seem to relish conflict), but out of a realization that every time top executives step in and mandate a solution, they rob the rest of the organization of initiative and the will to act.

This is without a shadow of a doubt the best and most important book on leadership I have ever had the pleasure to read. This book quite simply rocks, and any leader who reads it will be able to pluck dozens of useful, practical and innovative ideas from it’s pages.

It’s an easy, fun read, the stories are told amazingly well and the book is 100% free of MBA-jargon.

Read it!!!