Like, um, yea, so... just one of the many ways we wander off of on our conversations. Although the following information does not exactly let one know how to deal with these problems, this article does help to reveal how to explain things more effectively. Found at Global Knowledge.
10 Ways To Explain Things More Effectively
April 1st, 2008
By Calvin Sun
In the course of your work, you may sometimes need to explain technical concepts to your customers. Having them understand you is important not only for technical reasons, but also to ensure customer satisfaction. The ability to explain things clearly and effectively can help you in your career, as well. Here are a few tips to help make your explanations understandable and useful. #1: Keep in mind others' point of view
You've probably seen the famous illusion that looks like either a young woman or an old woman. Two people can look at that same picture, and they can have opposite views of what they're seeing. Keep this idea in mind when explaining a concept. Something that might be perfectly understandable to you might be incomprehensible to someone else. Don't be the person customers complain about as using "geek speak." #2: Listen and respond to questions
It's easy to become annoyed when someone is asking questions. However, try to resist that reaction. A better attitude is to be happy that the other person is interested enough to ask questions. To minimize confusion and misunderstanding, try to paraphrase or summarize a question before you answer it. This step is particularly important if you're in a group setting, and you've just taken a question from someone in the audience. Repeating the question for the entire group helps everyone better understand your answer. #3: Avoid talking over people's head
When you explain things to people, do their eyes glaze over? Chances are it's because you're talking over their head. Symptoms of such behavior include the use of jargon and acronyms. Remember, the people you're talking to probably lack your specialized knowledge, so you should use readily understandable terms.
The same goes for acronyms. They're important, but if you use them, define them in "longhand," followed by the acronyms in (parentheses), so that everyone's clear. Doing so avoids the scenario of situation normal, all fouled up (SNAFU).
Even within IT, the same acronym can mean different things. For example, both "active server page" and "application service provider" have the acronym ASP. A story from the Vietnam War era further illustrates this point. A young woman brought her boyfriend home to meet her father, a retired military officer. The woman was nervous because the boyfriend was a conscientious objector. When the father asked the young man to talk about himself, the latter replied, nervously, that he was a CO. The father clapped the young man on the back and congratulated him, thinking the latter was a commanding officer. #4: Avoid talking down to people
Avoid the other extreme as well. Don't insult people by assuming that they're only as intelligent as a three-year-old. An attendee at one of my communications training classes described it aptly as "Barney communications."
Greek mythology has references to two monsters, Scylla and Charybdis, who sat on opposite sides of a narrow strait of water. If a ship sailed too close to Scylla, it was destroyed and the sailors eaten up. If the ship sailed too close to Charybdis, it was destroyed by a whirlpool that Charybdis created. The ship had to go right between them to survive. Follow that same principle with your customers: Make your explanations neither too complicated or too simple. #5: Ask questions to determine people's understanding
The people you're talking to shouldn't be the only ones asking questions. You should be asking questions as well, to make sure they understand. Your questions can be open ended, which gives people a chance to provide detailed information, or they can be closed ended, which generally calls for a simple yes/no response. In either case, asking questions tells people that you're interested that they understand. #6: Focus on benefits, not features
What's the difference? A feature is some inherent property of an object. A benefit, on the other hand, is a way the feature helps a person. For example, one of the features of a Styrofoam cup, because of the material used, is insulation. Someone who's planning a party probably doesn't care how the cup provides insulation. That person is more interested in the fact that such a cup keeps hot things hot and cold things cold.
In the same way, try to focus on benefits of technology rather than features of technology. This distinction becomes more important the higher the level of the person you're talking to. The CFO probably has little need to know about the specific commands and steps involved in setting up database mirroring. That person will want to know, however, that such a practice reduces the chances of data loss. #7: Use analogies to make concepts clearer
An analogy involves explaining an unfamiliar concept in terms of a familiar one. For example, in drawing an analogy between a firewall and a bank teller, you could say that people don't just go directly into a bank and take money out. They go to the teller and identify themselves; the teller makes sure they have enough money; and then the teller gives them the money. Similarly, a firewall ensures that people who want access to a system really are permitted to have that access.
When choosing an example for an analogy, first figure out the general principle you're trying to explain. Then, choose something from real life that illustrates that principle. Say, for example, that you're trying to explain memory leaks. Suppose you conclude that the principle involved is that of taking without giving back completely. An example/analogy might be the consequences of pouring a cup of pancake batter into successive measuring cups, or the consequences of lending money to your brother-in-law. #8: Compare new concepts to familiar ones
Another illustrative technique is to use a familiar or existing product as a comparison. If you're explaining a new release of a software product, the comparison is easy. Simply discuss the additional capabilities it has over the previous one or how key features are different. If the person hearing your explanation is also an IT person and is familiar with different or older technology, try explaining in those terms if you can. For example, when explaining thin clients, consider a comparison to the old 3270-type terminals that IBM once used for connection to mainframes. #9: Use the concepts of subsets and supersets
Brooklyn is a subset of New York City, because all of it is a part of that city. Conversely, New York City is a superset of Brooklyn, because the former contains, in addition to all of the latter, other boroughs as well. These concepts are helpful in describing, for example, a "lite" versus a "professional" version of a software product. If the latter does everything the former does, plus more, it truly is a superset of the former, and the former is a subset of the latter. Be careful, though: If the "lite" version does even one thing that's missing from the professional version, there's no longer a subset/superset relationship. #10: Confirm that your explanation makes sense
Once you've finished explaining your point or answering a question, ask a final question yourself. Make sure the people who heard your explanation truly did understand it. Consider asking them to give you the explanation in their own words, just to double-check. About the Author
Calvin Sun works with organizations in the areas of customer service, communications, and leadership. His Web site is http://www.calvinsun.com and his e-mail address is csun@calvinsun.com.
Looking to find out new music that you might like? This service might help. It's called Musicovery and is based simply on the idea that all songs have different moods and tempos. You just choose where along the x and y axes you want Musicovery to pull a song for you and you get that song, as well as a string of other related songs. You can also narrow your search query via genres and decades. It's really cool.
It's amazing to me how many guys don't know how to tie a tie and yet to wear one is so simple and professional/stylish that it's worth taking the time to learn. For the longest time, I only knew one way, apparently called the Half Windsor. This was always a little bit crooked for me, until I discovered both the Double Windsor and Pratt Knot. Now depending on what the length and thickness is, I'm more than well equipped for whatever tie debacle life may throw my way.
I suppose it's additionally important to acknowledge the existence of the Four in Hand.
This article about organization left me saying, "well duh." I'll try this as soon as I get back to school.
Paper Management
· the most workable daily paper management system falls into only 5 slots. Using the "5 basket system," See our office resource section for product recommendations, each paper will fall into one of the following categories:
To Do
To Read
To File
Today
Trash
· The following compiled list of category questions will give you a better idea of what to ask yourself when handling papers on a daily basis. This system REALLY WORKS. You just need to be totally honest with yourself -- that's all.
· Place each appropriate paper in the corresponding basket based on what you need to do with it (do an action on it later? something for today? read it? file it? toss it?)
· Remember, "maybe," "miscellaneous" and "stuff" are not categories of choice. Now ...be honest here. Place a verdict on each paper once and for all. We know you can do it!
· if you have to ... pretend we are right there with you -- because we reallyare!
· Remember, there is no cheating or excuses in this part of the sorting. You are far too important to us to let you slide at this point. It's called tough love. We know the types of papers that thousands of people hold onto -- with the best of intentions. We also understand the valuable space that these intentions consume. You do too.
· Understand that this diligent sorting is a must to recover your valuable workspace. Afterwards, you will have a clearer vision of all that needs your immediate attention. You will be able to make healthier decisions in the future too.
· Trust us. We know that you have a heart of gold and visionary dreams of all you want to accomplish. We sincerely admire that in all our clients. Yet, we also wanton see you succeed in your truest form. We need you to be more realistic about the amount of hours in the day and what truly needs to be addressed.
· In order to do that, you have to let go of certain things that may not suit your higher purpose any longer. Things that may not be as important as you once thought.
· Trust in the Universe that you have a higher purpose and clarity of vision is what’s needed to achieve that role. We all have a unique contribution to make. Sadly, it is oftentimes unseen in the midst of dies-organized ways.
· OK! Now once you get started, "keep on trucking" through those piles! One pile at a time. The momentum will actually increase with every paper that passes through your hands.
· Oooops, watch it now! If you pick the paper up, be very careful not to put it down in another pile. That is exactly what we mean about "passing a verdict once and for all." No shuffling of piles allowed here folks.
· Sorting may appear difficult at first, yet after you truly understand "what's the worst that could happen if I do not have this paper tomorrow" in any given situation, the easier it will become.
Note: Attempt dealing with all of your paper in this regard for 21 days and you will be well on your way to developing a new habit. It's a piece of cake from that point on. What have you got to lose? Just do it for 21 days ...then make a choice ...YOU controlling the paper...or the PAPER ONCE AGAIN CONTROLLING YOU!
Divide and conquer:
· with each piece of paper, let's see if we can decide the following. This is "key” now folks!
· Do I need to: read it? File it? Toss it? Do something later? Do something yesterday? (Not to worry -- in the initial stages we usually uncover a LOT of these due to the fact that important things got buried). We all know about "out of sight out of mind" so don't fret. Avoid beating your self up now -- you promised!
· you may run across several where you find yourself asking: why do I even have this?
· Just place all those "needed to do yesterday" items in the Today basket as you come across them and you can schedule them for tomorrow seeing as "today" is D-Day and there are no interruptions excluding emergencies that require you to stop mid-stream of the task at hand.
· I know, I know... a lot of people get to this point and think we are going to make you throw everything out. Not to worry! We understand there is really, truly, qualified and quantified data roaming around this desk that is extremely valuable to your business or home concerns. These next few steps are only designed to assist you in making educated decisions on "what the heck to do with all this paper." Our aim is not to trash it all on you, only to help you categorize it and systematize what you need to do vs. what is no longer important today.
To Do...
· Warning: this basket may be extremely large by the time you finish. Relax. It’s actually quite normal to unearth quite a bit of things that need our attention in the near future during this part of the process. After all, we are nearing the bottom of the desk once and for all! No need to panic. We can easily show you how to easily dwindle this down in no time! See our section onhandling daily schedules.
· Pick a paper ...any paper, and ask:
Do I really need to do this?
Is it too late to do this?
Do I really want to do this?
Does anybody care if I do this?
· When a paper meets the criteria to the above questions, with an "emphatic yes -- Instill need to take action"To Do basket. That's it for now! place the paper in the
· If the answer is "nay," ...too late ... not as important as I "thought' ...no time to do this or what am I even saving this for? Toss it! Utilizing the 5th basket (trash), Ian option we hope you see as viable.
· to process paper landing in the To Do basket -- see our section on handling daily schedules.
To Read...
Do I have time to read this?
Do I have more than 3 months of issues here?
Is this out of date?
Will I possibly receive this again?
Is there another resource for this if I decide I may want to read it at a later date?
· whatever you do, avoid taking the time to read at this point. When a paper meets the criteria to the above questions, with an "emphatic yes -- I still need to read this," place the paper in the To Read basket.
· Loops, hold on a sec. If the item you want to read is "part of" a magazine, journal, newspaper or periodical -- tear the appropriate pages out and staple them together. 80% of the time that you save an entire item, you will forget why you were saving it by the time you get back to it.
· to process paper in the To Read basket -- see our section on handling daily schedules.
To File...
· OK. Some of the valid categories you may stumble into here are:
· archival files: legal and tax papers
· current files: regular business or home documents, warranties, instructions, reference material, clients, papers you will use as resource etc.
· some of the invalid categories are a swarm of unknowns from Oshkosh to Kalamazoo. To deal with these critters you need to ask the following:
Is this a duplicate?
What's the date?
How often will I need to refer to the information?
Do I need this piece of paper or do I want it? (Big difference)
Will I really use this information?
Is this really quality information?
Can I acquire this information somewhere else in case I do need it later?
Can I live without this piece of paper? (What’s the worse that could happen if I didn't have this tomorrow)?
Does this paper deserve to occupy my valuable space?
· Remember, 80% of what you file is never looked at again!
· When a paper meets the criteria to the above questions, with an "emphatic yes -- Instill need to file this," place the paper in the To File basket.
· If the answer is "nay," ... not as important as I thought ...I can get this again or why am I even saving this? Toss it! Utilizing the 5th basket (trash) IS an option we hope you see as viable solution.
· to process paper in the To File basket -- see our section on handling daily schedules and creating file systems.
Today...
· now listen closely. In deciphering the difference between the To Do and the Today baskets, I want you to think of "when" these items need to be completed. Obviously any past due items need to receive the red carpet treatment. That is what the Today basket is all about. It's your "hot list" of things to do, not a "wish list" of things to do.
· The To Do basket are items that will need your attention, just not necessarily today.
· Ask yourself:
· Am I nearing a timeline on this?
· has this opportunity expired?
· is this past due, yet still requires my attention?
· is this really something for today - or is it a project? (If so, place it in the To Do basket)
· is this a miscellaneous paper that I just don't know what to do with?
· Am I dumping this here to avoid making a decision about it?
· Do I really have to do this today or do I have too much to do already?
· Understand that the primary concept of the Today basket is to segregate all of your priorities for the day from all the others in the To Do basket.
· with this in mind, you want to set yourself up to win. Decide what is realistically feasible to accomplish in a given day. Whatever you designate in the Today basket is accomplished that day.
· if your basket is not empty at the end of the day, you are probably attempting to-do too much and inevitably setting your self up for disappointment and we wanton avoid tat completely.
· Remember, after unearthing the desk like you have just done the Today basket may appear demanding for the next few days. After that it will be an cinch!
· when a paper meets the criteria to the above questions, with an "emphatic yes -- Indeed to do this immediately," place the paper in the Today basket.
· If the answer is "nay," ... not critical ...I still have a safe amount of time to deal with this -- Place it in the To Do basket instead. If the paper is history due to its age -- toss it!
To process paper in the Today basket -- see our section on handling daily schedules.
Trash...
· Alright, I know many of you save a conglomeration of papers because you tossed something once and lived to regret it, Hamm? Just remember, keeping everything isn't the best solution either due to the limited commodity called: space. P>
· with this in mind we need to build up your confidence in regards to "letting things go." So, give this solution a shot:
Place all of the papers you are hesitant to dump in a box.
Put a real date (i.e.: September 30) on the box, 3 months from today, tops!
Place the box in your garage or storage area.
Make a note on your calendar to dispose of the box according to the day you have designated.
If you have not opened this box within this time, chances are it's safe to eliminate.
Vow to keep your promise and dispose of it as marked.
REWARD yourself...you have done a !!
Yippee!!! You have finished weeding the papers!
Managing Files:
Avoid using manila envelopes for storing items in a filing cabinet, except in the case of maintaining past tax records. A manila envelope for any other reason means, "outfox sight, out of mind." Which equals wasted space.
When storing tax information, place all records used in a large manila envelope. This includes: credit card billings, receipts, check registers, bills and any other documentation used in calculating your deductions. A copy of your tax forms also needs to be included. Date the outside of the envelope w/the tax year and file towards the back of one of the filing drawers. (Better yet, use an archive box for storing tax files). This means the oldest year will always be in front. Save tax records for 7 years. At the end of each new 8th tax year just toss the entire envelope in front. Note: Certain types of businesses and professions are required by law to maintain records indefinitely. Check with your local tax attorney for accurateness in this regard for your locale and profession.
Depending on the amount of papers you need on a regular basis, everyone needs agile cabinet of one size or another. Several vendors make "sturdy hard plastic” portable file cabinets for those who operate out of a "mobile office" or have only anew records to maintain. (See our resource section for product recommendations.)
When designing a file system stay away from elaborate color schemes. Color enhances this dreaded task for many people and I do recommend using it with certain people. Just remember when using color -- we still need to keep it simple. (See our resource section for product recommendations.)
Realize that color schemes may give some people an excuse not to file when they run out of the respective color needed. Maybe there was a special of the month that prompted the initial "deal." Make sure you are you willing to pay the regular price.
If purchase a popular color -- it might be sold out or on back order in the future. Make sure you monitor your stock to avoid running out at an inopportune time. All the time spent waiting for a color means our "filing is piling" -- creating is-organization!
When creating any type of file system -- remember to keep it simple. You wouldn't want to build a system in such a confusing manner that requires a road map to find a file.
Remember 80% of what we file is never even looked at again!
Color tabs come with color file folders and they are much harder to read. If you are set on using color files -- invest in a pack of clear tabs. (See our resource section for product recommendations.)
When naming hanging files and interior files, always stick with the first identifying word that comes to mind for that group of papers. Attempts at making it overly sophisticated ensure you won’t remember what you called it and you do need to find what you have decided to save. Keep it simple!
Clarification: think of each hanging file as the family name. Each interior file can bethink of as the kids in that family.
Name the interior file with an identifying word and write the name on the tab. Now, on the front cover of the interior file, write the "family" name of the hanging file where you are going to place it. Case in point: I have created a hanging file for all information and work I am involved with regarding the National Speakers Association. The hanging file is labeled NSA. Within that hanging file are several interior files. Some of the topics are: National; Chapter; Events; Board meetings etc. Each interior file not only has its" folder labeled appropriately -- it contains the words on the front cover: *NSA. This way anyone using my file system that retrieves an interior file knows exactly where it gets returned to without having to understand the logic of my file system.
Place all tabs for hanging file folders on the front of the file. The fingers normally approach a file in such a way that if the tab is in front, the interior folder for that fillies right there. If the tab is on the back of the file folder, the contents being filed have greater tendency to slip between one file folder and the next into an open space, aka: the black hole!
Always, always use an interior folder for the contents of a file. Make sure it is labeled to correspond with the hanging file folder itself. When the contents of a file need tube retrieved, remove the interior folder. NEVER remove the hanging file itself. After all, this is the landmark designating where the file actually lives. This simple subtle task will avoid lost files.
Manila folders have several scored lines on the bottom; these are used when an overabundance of paper in the interior file would hinder the visibility of the label on the folder. Fold the scored area as necessary to expand the size of the folder.
Avoid filing pocket folders, (the type you receive in workshops etc.); they impede the visibility of the interior filer folder name as well as the tab on the hanging file folder. Instead, remove the contents you need from the pocket folder and staple the paper together before placing it in the interior folder.
Never use paper clips when filing. They have a tendency to get caught on another paper that is a different subject matter within the interior files. Staple multiple sheets of similar topics together that are sharing the same interior folder.
Make sure you use "nouns" when filing not adjectives. What is "old stuff" anyway? Note: avoid using a title of "miscellaneous." You need to make a decision about that paper, even if it means tossing it.
As an alternative, if you are more of the creative sort" you may have a natural abhorrence to filing cabinets. Utilize a cubbyhole organizing system on the wall or even on your desktop. These organizers can be found in almost every office supply store. They are either made of particleboard or the same metal material used for filing cabinets. These cubby systems allow you to visually see anything you want in entirety. (See our resource section for product recommendations.)
Find out what the policy is in your office for the retention of records. Someone needs to make this decision or the tendency is to store everything indefinitely. This can add up to incredible expenses and lost space in a relatively short time. Note: people have tendency to invest in more file systems and/or archive boxes for offsite storage, rather than weed through papers and make decisions. You will eventually need to increase the square footage of rented space thus incurring even more costs --all because no one took the time to analyze the data and make a decision!
Designate an expiration date for as much of your filed material as possible. Maintain consistency.For example, use a red pen in the upper left-hand corner and code specific expiration date on the material. Some people are hesitant in assigning this date for fear of error in judgment. They have a tendency to "save everything because they got burnt once." You must decide to make a decision. If you are in doubt and need some confidence in this type of decision-making -- just add 4 months to the date to be safe. Note: Next time you are in that file and run into a file with an expiration date that has passed -- toss it! Avoid taking the time to re-read, or re-analyze your decision. Trust yourself! Saving everything can get extremely costly rather quickly!
If there are numerous users of your filing system, designate a "file guardian." This person will be in charge of re-filing all information, as well as logging that have what for how long. This will greatly reduce the chances of miss filing, as well as reduce the time wasted on searching for files that are in use by others.
When creating/organizing a file system, segregate active files from archive files. Use a” destroy date" on as many archive boxes as possible.
When storing archive boxes make sure the contents are labeled on all 4 sides of the box as well as the top lid. This will expedite the retrieval process as well as ensure that the contents will be visible from any angle, no matter who puts the box back.
Invest in hanging "box" files for categories that contain larger amounts of data. As general rule of thumb, if a file grows larger than one inch, it most likely needs to be further subdivided in order to enhance rapid retrieval. (See our resource section for product recommendations.)
After using files during the course of the day, return the file folder to the To File basket. You wouldn’t want to leave them hanging around where they could potentially get buried with other projects.
Schedule filing time on a weekly basis. Stick with the same time on a regular day. This will allow you to create a new and positive habit in maintaining your files. The task will most likely take you 30 minutes a week or less.
If you have a tendency to save relevant articles, beware that you are not saving an entire magazine or newspaper for this purpose. Take the time to cut out the article; otherwise this will quickly become a "space gobbler" in your file system. Note: if you stuff an entire paper or magazine in a file folder chances are you will forget "what” you were saving anyway!
This is pretty funny. I don't know if this is necessarily true, but with regards to the way bills can be killed and how politics strangely works this, I got a good laugh.
This comes after a recent EPA report about greenhouse gas emissions, cited by 23/6
The EPA recently completed a report concluding that greenhouse gases are pollutants that must be controlled. Rather than being forced to respond to the findings with new regulation, The White House ducked any obligation with an ingenious tactic. They refused to open the email that contained the report. The email remains unopened.
Brilliant! That's so astoundingly retarded no one would ever see it coming! But the maneuver was actually not dreamed up by Bush. It's one of many suggested tactics found in the handbook given to every new president, called The Presidential Guide For Dealing With Bad News. Take a look:
Ever wanted to know how current and past employees would rate and review companies you may be interested in applying for, or even more interestingly, what salaries people were getting?
I don't quite know what it is about these two artists, but I like them a lot.
The first is Rodney Smith. Perhaps you've seen works like the following?
The second is Philippe Halsman. His images look like this:
I generally like colored photographs more, but there is just something about these two that I find intriguing. Are there any black and white photographers that you like?
Looking to make extra $$ on a fun part time job while at school?
Apparently this job is for you. It's called Project Popwall and it seems like an intriguing way of getting in marketing, at least online marketing that is.
A lot of people ask me where I get these street signs made
I get them customized from a company called Custom Street Signs. I've made two already, the one above and one called Imagineering Way and they've just come out wonderfully. Both of them were 6x24, non-reflective, and arrived quickly in a slightly crude (however effective) package.
I would totally recommend them for a unique gift for that equally unique person :)
I've always wondered this for the longest time. Before going to school, all I knew is that you had to use different things for different stains. This is a good resource for stain removal, however, if you would like to be a little more creative or your stains are a little bit more stubborn, the following might be for you.
Introducing Stickystain
It's a iron on sticker in various shapes that you can use to conceal and hide stains.
From the designer's website, [these are] Iron-On stickers that turn unsightly stains into attractive doodles. An alternative way to prolong the life of stained clothes. A postcard sized sheet that would be enough to rescue at least 4 different stains.
This is a really funny/interesting article. Especially thinking about some of my friends and how they can't manage to stay awake, here is something they and you might be able to do.
From Maxim:
Make Money at Work from the Comfort of your office
Free coffee, infrequently clean bathrooms, faux friendships—working a cubicle job has several obvious benefits. But in addition to the mysterious rashes, your employer has unknowingly given you everything you’ll need to make some money on the side. Supplement your salary with one of these five day jobs.
Virtual Juror Web sites like ejury.com and onlineverdict.com collect feedback on court cases from virtual jurors, then hawk it to real-life shysters. Cases take between 20 minutes and an hour to read and rate. “It’s an easy way to make money,” says ejury.com founder Chris Bagby, “and people learn to enjoy it because the cases can be intriguing.” Objection, your electronic honor! Risk: Low (tell your boss you’re doing research) Pay: $5–$60/case
E-Commerce Jockey Brilliant T-shirt idea? Download a free trial of Photoshop, use your office scanner to create a design, and enlist cafepress.com or zazzle.com to print the goods. TakePride cofounder Patrick Gray started a line of clothing while working full-time at a corporate law firm. “We launched the business from our desks,” he says. Risk: High (especially if you ship from work) Pay: Pennies to gold bullion
Audio Transcriber As you mindlessly transcribe speeches and interviews, your employer thinks you’re writing up reports while listening to iTunes. Sites like productiontranscripts.com and tigerfish.com prefer speedy typers, but contractedwork.com welcomes average keyboardists. Fingers, ho! Risk: Low (unless office music is frowned upon) Pay: $8–$40/hour
Personal Assistant Making reservations, checking movie times, booking flights—you already run virtual errands for your girlfriend, so why not get paid? With Google, a phone line, and some local knowledge, you can be an at-your-service online assistant. “The pay’s competitive and goes up if you know golf or wine,” says red butler.com concierge specialist Chris Sterling. Risk: High (use screen-minimizing shortcuts) Pay: $12–$35/hour
Quality Assurance Specialist Does the phrase “This call may be recorded for quality assurance” make you hot and bothered? Apply online at voicelog.com to verify calls and analyze customer service for telephone companies and other service industries in shifts of two or more hours. Want to know more? Please hold for the next operator. Risk: Moderate (you’ll always be on the phone) Pay: $8.50 and up/hour
As a DIRECTOR, you combine an unusual openness and passion for beauty and style with confidence and a down-to-earth sensibility that allow you to realize your vision.
You are practical and pay attention to the details that others tend to miss.
By focusing on what is real and concrete, you achieve more than those who always have their heads in the clouds.
When it comes to what really matters in your life, you are confident in your ability to succeed.
Having beautiful things in your life gives you pleasure and satisfaction - you have a keen eye for style.
Even when problems present themselves, deep down you know you will overcome these challenges.
When routines get too familiar, you become bored and start looking for ways to spice things up.
You are open to new types of experiences – you are not afraid to take a risk on something new.
You have a highly developed sense of taste – you know what looks good on you, in your home, and in the world at large.
You're not afraid to let your emotions guide you, and you're generally considerate of others' feelings as well.
You prefer to have time to plan for things, feeling better with a schedule than with keeping plans up in the air until the last minute.
Generally, you believe that you control your life, and that external forces only play a limited role in determining what happens to you.
And Advocating
Being social, empathic, and understanding makes you ADVOCATING.
Some people find being around others exhausting—but not you! You are energized by spending time with friends, and you are good at meeting new people.
One of the reasons you enjoy conversation as much as you do is that you often learn about yourself while talking things out with a friend; you realize things about your own beliefs while discussing them with others.
You have insight into what others are thinking and feeling. This ability allows you to be happy for others, and to commiserate when something has gone wrong for them.
You are highly compassionate, and being conscious of how things affect those close to you leaves you cautious about trusting others too hastily.
Despite these reservations, you are open-minded when it comes to your worldview; you don't look to impose your ways on others.
Your sensitivity towards others' plights contributes to an understanding—both intellectual and emotional—of many different perspectives.
As someone who understands the complexities of the world around you, you are reluctant to pass judgments.
-------------------------- And although I haven't redone this in a while, it does make a lot of sense.
Check out my report here and try this to find out what your Personal DNA looks like.
Hopefully you've already registered, but if not, get ready to see the first internet balloon race, here (as part of a crazy awesome Orange campaign) tomorrow starting at lunch :)
I love how it integrates advertising Orange with the phenomenon of Social Bookmarking. Prizes are involved too. Looks like fun. To find out more or sign up for what looks like something really exciting, click here.
I figured out this puzzle I had posted earlier, but it definitely wasn't as intense or interesting as these Microsoft interview questions I found.
For instance, how are M&M's made?
Hahahah
Microsoft Interview Questions
The following are actual questions from actual interviews conducted by Microsoft employees on the main campus. Microsoft Consultants are sometimes allowed to have a life, so questions asked of them during interviews don't really count and aren't listed.
How many cars are there in the USA? (A popular variant is "How many gas stations are there in the USA?")
How many manhole covers are there in the USA?
You've got someone working for you for seven days and a gold bar to pay them. The gold bar is segmented into seven connected pieces. You must give them a piece of gold at the end of every day. If you are only allowed to make two breaks in the gold bar, how do you pay your worker?
One train leaves Los Angeles at 15mph heading for New York. Another train leaves from New York at 20mph heading for Los Angeles on the same track. If a bird, flying at 25mph, leaves from Los Angeles at the same time as the train and flies back and forth between the two trains until they collide, how far will the bird have traveled?
Imagine a disk spinning like a record player turn table. Half of the disk is black and the other is white. Assume you have an unlimited number of color sensors. How many sensors would you have to place around the disk to determine the direction the disk is spinning? Where would they be placed?
Imagine an analog clock set to 12 o'clock. Note that the hour and minute hands overlap. How many times each day do both the hour and minute hands overlap? How would you determine the exact times of the day that this occurs?
You have two jars, 50 red marbles and 50 blue marbles. A jar will be picked at random, and then a marble will be picked from the jar. Placing all of the marbles in the jars, how can you maximize the chances of a red marble being picked? What are the exact odds of getting a red marble using your scheme?
Pairs of primes separated by a single number are called prime pairs. Examples are 17 and 19. Prove that the number between a prime pair is always divisible by 6 (assuming both numbers in the pair are greater than 6). Now prove that there are no 'prime triples.'
There is a room with a door (closed) and three light bulbs. Outside the room there are three switches, connected to the bulbs. You may manipulate the switches as you wish, but once you open the door you can't change them. Identify each switch with its bulb.
Suppose you had 8 billiard balls, and one of them was slightly heavier, but the only way to tell was by putting it on a scale against another. What's the fewest number of times you'd have to use the scale to find the heavier ball?
Imagine you are standing in front of a mirror, facing it. Raise your left hand. Raise your right hand. Look at your reflection. When you raise your left hand your reflection raises what appears to be his right hand. But when you tilt your head up, your reflection does too, and does not appear to tilt his/her head down. Why is it that the mirror appears to reverse left and right, but not up and down?
You have 4 jars of pills. Each pill is a certain weight, except for contaminated pills contained in one jar, where each pill is weight + 1. How could you tell which jar had the contaminated pills in just one measurement?
The SF Chronicle has a word game where all the letters are scrambled up and you have to figure out what the word is. Imagine that a scrambled word is 5 characters long:
How many possible solutions are there?
What if we know which 5 letters are being used?
Develop an algorithm to solve the word.
There are 4 women who want to cross a bridge. They all begin on the same side. You have 17 minutes to get all of them across to the other side. It is night. There is one flashlight. A maximum of two people can cross at one time. Any party who crosses, either 1 or 2 people, must have the flashlight with them. The flashlight must be walked back and forth, it cannot be thrown, etc. Each woman walks at a different speed. A pair must walk together at the rate of the slower woman's pace.
Woman 1: 1 minute to cross Woman 2: 2 minutes to cross Woman 3: 5 minutes to cross Woman 4: 10 minutes to cross
For example if Woman 1 and Woman 4 walk across first, 10 minutes have elapsed when they get to the other side of the bridge. If Woman 4 then returns with the flashlight, a total of 20 minutes have passed and you have failed the mission. What is the order required to get all women across in 17 minutes? Now, what's the other way?
If you had an infinite supply of water and a 5 quart and 3 quart pail, how would you measure exactly 4 quarts?
You have a bucket of jelly beans. Some are red, some are blue, and some green. With your eyes closed, pick out 2 of a like color. How many do you have to grab to be sure you have 2 of the same?
If you have two buckets, one with red paint and the other with blue paint, and you take one cup from the blue bucket and poor it into the red bucket. Then you take one cup from the red bucket and poor it into the blue bucket. Which bucket has the highest ratio between red and blue? Prove it mathematically.
What's the difference between a linked list and an array?
Implement a linked list. Why did you pick the method you did?
Implement an algorithm to sort a linked list. Why did you pick the method you did? Now do it in O(n) time.
Describe advantages and disadvantages of the various stock sorting algorithms.
Implement an algorithm to reverse a linked list. Now do it without recursion.
Implement an algorithm to insert a node into a circular linked list without traversing it.
Implement an algorithm to sort an array. Why did you pick the method you did?
Implement an algorithm to do wild card string matching.
Implement strstr() (or some other string library function).
Reverse a string. Optimize for speed. Optimize for space.
Reverse the words in a sentence, i.e. "My name is Chris" becomes "Chris is name My." Optimize for speed. Optimize for space.
Find a substring. Optimize for speed. Optimize for space.
Compare two strings using O(n) time with constant space.
Suppose you have an array of 1001 integers. The integers are in random order, but you know each of the integers is between 1 and 1000 (inclusive). In addition, each number appears only once in the array, except for one number, which occurs twice. Assume that you can access each element of the array only once. Describe an algorithm to find the repeated number. If you used auxiliary storage in your algorithm, can you find an algorithm that does not require it?
Count the number of set bits in a number. Now optimize for speed. Now optimize for size.
Multiple by 8 without using multiplication or addition. Now do the same with 7.
Add numbers in base n (not any of the popular ones like 10, 16, 8 or 2 -- I hear that Charles Simonyi, the inventor of Hungarian Notation, favors -2 when asking this question).
Write routines to read and write a bounded buffer.
Write routines to manage a heap using an existing array.
Implement an algorithm to take an array and return one with only unique elements in it.
Implement an algorithm that takes two strings as input, and returns the intersection of the two, with each letter represented at most once. Now speed it up. Now test it.
Implement an algorithm to print out all files below a given root node.
Given that you are receiving samples from an instrument at a constant rate, and you have constant storage space, how would you design a storage algorithm that would allow me to get a representative readout of data, no matter when I looked at it? In other words, representative of the behavior of the system to date.
How would you find a cycle in a linked list?
Give me an algorithm to shuffle a deck of cards, given that the cards are stored in an array of ints.
The following asm block performs a common math function, what is it?
cwd xor ax, dx sub ax, dx
Imagine this scenario: I/O completion ports are communictaions ports which take handles to files, sockets, or any other I/O. When a Read or Write is submitted to them, they cache the data (if necessary), and attempt to take the request to completion. Upon error or completion, they call a user-supplied function to let the users application know that that particular request has completed. They work asynchronously, and can process an unlimited number of simultaneous requests. Design the implementation and thread models for I/O completion ports. Remember to take into account multi-processor machines.
Write a function that takes in a string parameter and checks to see whether or not it is an integer, and if it is then return the integer value.
Write a function to print all of the permutations of a string.
Implement malloc.
Write a function to print the Fibonacci numbers.
Write a function to copy two strings, A and B. The last few bytes of string A overlap the first few bytes of string B.
How would you write qsort?
How would you print out the data in a binary tree, level by level, starting at the top?
How can computer technology be integrated in an elevator system for a hundred story office building? How do you optimize for availability? How would variation of traffic over a typical work week or floor or time of day affect this?
How would you implement copy-protection on a control which can be embedded in a document and duplicated readily via the Internet?
Define a user interface for indenting selected text in a Word document. Consider selections ranging from a single sentence up through selections of several pages. Consider selections not currently visible or only partially visible. What are the states of the new UI controls? How will the user know what the controls are for and when to use them?
How would you redesign an ATM?
Suppose we wanted to run a microwave oven from the computer. What kind of software would you write to do this?
What is the difference between an Ethernet Address and an IP address?
How would you design a coffee-machine for an automobile.
If you could add any feature to Microsoft Word, what would it be?
How would you go about building a keyboard for 1-handed users?
How would you build an alarm clock for deaf people?
If you had a clock with lots of moving mechanical parts, you took it apart piece by piece without keeping track of the method of how it was disassembled, then you put it back together and discovered that 3 important parts were not included; how would you go about reassembling the clock?
If you had to learn a new computer language, how would you go about doing it?
You have been assigned to design Bill Gates bathroom. Naturally, cost is not a consideration. You may not speak to Bill.
What was the hardest question asked of you so far today?
If MS told you we were willing to invest $5 million in a start up of your choice, what business would you start? Why?
If you could gather all of the computer manufacturers in the world together into one room and then tell them one thing that they would be compelled to do, what would it be?
Explain a scenario for testing a salt shaker.
If you are going to receive an award in 5 years, what is it for and who is the audience?
How would you explain how to use Microsoft Excel to your grandma?
Why is it that when you turn on the hot water in any hotel, for example, the hot water comes pouring out almost instantaneously?
Why do you want to work at Microsoft?
Suppose you go home, enter your house/apartment, hit the light switch, and nothing happens - no light floods the room. What exactly, in order, are the steps you would take in determining what the problem was?
Interviewer hands you a black pen and says nothing but "This pen is red."
Playing Apples to Apples yesterday, it was interesting to see how many Japanese references there were. Not sure if it was wholly a good thing or not. I mean with things coming out of Japan like Human Tetris and Anime, I'm never really sure the things Japanese culture becomes tokenized as is beneficial or hurtful to an otherwise very rich and diverse culture. Anyway, similarly related to the at times bizarreness that comes out of Japan is this dude.
He creates instruments out of vegetables. Slightly amusing, though I would be more impressed if he were to play some songs from any Zelda game with that Ocarina of his.
This comes after a recent EPA report about greenhouse gas emissions, cited by 
![[Image]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_usV4tPn6OiqbE2NGfv8XRsPzDHAH1N85xN8JKBdEWvRedKAiffkTtHf9b_MoAEzgN0Q92s2--dT9FsWU4Nl7Qaezg2d4QUVcYY0TfthK3zRKV40jJyTIC3VfZREg=s0-d)
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