Sunday, November 29, 2009

Check out Does Your Name Spell Success? - Careers Articles

Click here: Does Your Name Spell Success? - Careers Articles

Does Your Name Spell Success?
Filed under: Make an Impression Print Article
Posted Feb 2nd 2009 12:00PM
Last udpated 11/09
By M. Wolfe for AOL Find a Job

"What's in a name?" a man named Shakespeare asked long ago. Potential employers may ask this same question of you. After all, your name is the first thing on your resume. Along with your appearance, it's one of the things most people use to form a first impression.Much effort goes into understanding the power of names-ask anyone having their first baby. Some believe a name is the single most important influence on development of our personality and helps create our destiny. Can your name help you succeed? What can you do to increase your chances of success in the name game?

Teacher's Pet
The focus on names starts in grade school. One study of sixth graders by S. Gray Garwood found that students with names that were popular with teachers scored higher in skills tests, set more ambitious goals and were better adjusted. And, with many classrooms being seated alphabetically, already the "A's" are at the head of the class in front of the teacher.

Who Gets the Grade?
Researchers Lief Nelson and Joseph Simmons looked at several different studies on names. They found that while all students want As, students whose names begin with letters associated with poorer performance (C and D) achieve lower grade point averages (GPAs) than do students whose names begin with A and B. This was especially if true if the students liked their initials.
The researchers also looked at 15 years of grade point averages for MBA students at a large private U.S. university. Students whose names began with C or D earned lower averages than those whose names began with A or B, they found. This led them to believe that there is something subconscious about our attraction to our names and initials. It's not that students with C and D initials don't work as hard; it's just that they may find a grade of C or D not as bad if their name begins with that letter. But, what about the rest of us whose initials rank even further down the alphabet? This is an area for more research.

Don't StriiiKe Out
Researchers Nelson and Simmons also looked at Major League baseball records spanning 93 years to see who strikes out and the effect, if any, their name has on strikeouts. Strikeouts, are recorded using the letter "K." And, sure enough, it was discovered that batters whose names began K struck out slightly more often than others. It's not that the batters wouldn't be unhappy with a strikeout, but they may just find it a little less aversive than players with no K for an initial.

Call It Like You Hear It
Grouping is a natural tendency; it's the way our brains work. And, we humans do this when it comes to names. While the danger for stereotyping is real, an Ohio University study showed that employers weigh several factors when judging job candidates, and that the gender match between an applicant's name and the occupation could have a subconscious impact. In a study by James Bruning young adults were asked to predict the success of a group of people entering new careers, based on information provided about the applicants.

Participants predicted that women with more feminine names – Emma and Irma, for example – would have more success pursuing traditional female careers – such as nurse, hair stylist or interior decorator.

Men with more masculine names – Hank and Bruno – were expected to be successful with traditional male careers – such as plumber, truck driver and electrician.

Those whose names least matched the occupation stereotypes might have a harder time landing certain jobs, the study suggests. A woman named Garrett pursuing a job in day care or a man named Bud who wanted to become a hair stylist, for example, might be searching for that dream position for a long time.

Names for Success
One of the biggest studies on names was conducted by the Sinrod Marketing Group's International Opinion panel. After surveying 75,000 adults, the panel found that names people associated with intelligence, for example, include:
Women:
Abigail
Alexis
Grace
Leah
Meryl
Vanessa
Men:
Alexanderl
Davidl
Johnl
Kennethl
Samuell
Tim
Names most associated with leadership include:
Women:
Ruth
Men:
Alexanderl
Dwightl
Lance
When it comes to being hardworking, the edge goes to:
Women:
Adal
Ingridl
Mariel
Margaret
Men:
Jakel
Manuell
Ronl
Todd

The Internet Changes Everything
As the online world becomes a bigger part of your job quest, consider that potential employers may turn to the Internet to find out more about you beyond your resume. Having an unusual name almost certainly guarantees higher search engine placement. An unusual name like "Celine" might be easier to find than "Mary" or "Linda." And, finding information on the right "Isaac Smith" will be easier than finding the right "James" or "Michael" with the same last name. In business, a unique name may mean you'll get a lot more "hits"-and a lot more exposure.

Easy Fixes for a Name to Keep
Dreaming of a name that's still you, but a bit more unique? Consider changing the spelling of your name. Amy may become Aimee. Turn Lisa into Lesa. Make Kevin Kevynn. Change Ryan into Rhyon. The search for alternatives also prompts some people to be creative with punctuation. Take Mari'elle or D'ante, for example. Some people unhappy with their first name just use their middle one. Did you know Farrah Fawcett's full name is Mary Farrah Fawcett? Or they've adopted a first/middle-name combination. Meryl Streep's social security card reads Mary Louise Streep.

More Telling Features:
Body Language
Desk
Handwriting
Walk

Go All the Way: Changing Your Name
Different states have different rules for name changes. And the Internet is making it increasingly easy, fast and affordable. Once you've made the change through the proper legal channels, there is still much work to do, such as notifying the Social Security Administration, your state motor vehicle department, and the human resources office at your job, among others. Then, start ordering new checks and credit cards. It may take time for your friends to start calling you by your new name. Be prepared for some who never will. To them, you'll always be the person you were when they first met you-even if that was in third grade. Still, you'll have the pleasure of knowing that the new people you'll meet will accept your new name-and the identity that comes with it-easily.

Taking the Stage
Entertainers are masters of creating a name to suit their image. Morgan Fairchild's name was Patsy Ann McClenny. And who would think that Kirk Douglas was born Issur Danielovitch Demsky. Whoopi Goldberg -- whose name makes you smile when you say it -- came into this world as Caryn Johnson. Research shows that most people like their name and initials.
Whether you're Maria-Elena the executive assistant; Sean the cop; a television host, media mogul and philanthropist named Oprah; or Bill the Microsoft guy, your name played some role in making you who you are.

: Check out Charity pitch doesn't quite ring a bell

Click here: Charity pitch doesn't quite ring a bell The Columbus Dispatch

Charity pitch doesn't quite ring a bell
Volunteer drums up donations while playing his harmonica
Thursday, November 26, 2009 3:26 AM
By Dean Narciso
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

BROOKE LaVALLEY DISPATCH
Roy Hedrick greets customers at the Kroger at 5965 Hoover Rd. in Grove City with a wave but not a smile because his mouth is engaged in playing his harmonica while collecting donations for the Salvation Army. Hedrick tried the traditional hand bells but found them ho-hum.
The incessant jingle of Salvation Army bells in the entrance of a Grove City Kroger has been replaced by the soft warble of Roy Hedrick's harmonica.
The 72-year-old retired salesman's repertoire is limited to a few upbeat standards. His ability is limited by never having had a music lesson.
But his enthusiasm appears unbounded.
Hedrick first volunteered last year, receiving a list of instructions, a kettle and two small hand bells.
"I thought, well, I'm going to be down there for a couple of hours and I like to play. I just started doing it, and nobody said to stop."
The Salvation Army doesn't mind, and even encourages novelty.
"We do allow people to show off their talents and make it a fun experience for people out in the cold and passing by," said Alice Hohl, Salvation Army spokeswoman.
A horn player, carolers, and even members of the Ohio State University marching band have participated in central Ohio.
At Grove City's other Kroger, at Hoover and Stringtown roads, Sally Morris works a hand puppet, Lamb Chop, with her bells.
"The kids get a kick out of it. It's entertainment," said Morris, a bell ringer since 1993. "And it keeps my hand warm."
Hedrick tried the bells but found them ho-hum.
Between songs at the Hoover Road grocery, he shares compliments and humor. "Someone asked me, 'Do you take requests?' I said no. He said, 'Why not?' Because most of them are for me to stop."
The charity is looking for celebrity bell ringers, Hohl said: "If it were Eric Clapton, we would take him. The red kettle campaign is part of the Christmas ambience. We hear the bells, and we know it's the season for that holiday feeling -- of giving. It carries all the way back to Dickens."
Sharon Buechner of Obetz encountered Hedrick this week as she was shopping.
"Aw, he's playing the harmonica," she said.
"It caught my eye," she said after dropping a few dollars in his kettle. "I just like harmonica. It made me want to put some money in. I used to walk by the bell ringers."
Her husband, Jerry, agreed. "That's a lot better than bells. That gets on your nerves."
To become a bell ringer, call 614-304-1090 or go to salvationarmycolumbus.org.
dnarciso@dispatch.com

Check out Five Secrets to Getting Hired - Careers Articles

Click here: Five Secrets to Getting Hired - Careers Articles

Five Secrets to Getting Hired
Filed under: Interview Tips, Job Searching Tips Print Article
Posted Jul 15th 2009 2:41PM
Reviewed 11/09
By CareerBuilder.com
To ace the interview you need to know how the interviewer thinks. In his book 'Knock 'em Dead: The Ultimate Job Seeker's Guide,' author and job-hunting guru Martin Yate examines the interview from the employer's perspective and shares the five secrets to getting hired.
Secret 1: Ability and SuitabilityThe first secret is to show the interviewer you have both ability and suitability. Every working professional has a combination of skills that broadly define his or her ability and suitability. For example, a good computer programmer working in a bank has both technical and professional skills; that is, the ability to program a computer as well as knowledge of how to get things done in the banking industry and the capacity to work well with bankers.
Yate suggests you itemize your technical/professional skills as they parallel the requirements of the job. Then recall an incident to illustrate each of those skills. If applying for a job in an industry with which you're familiar, consider highlighting your industry sensibilities by describing how you've successfully collaborated and accomplished goals with other industry professionals.
Get FREE help building your résumé
Secret 2: Willingness
The second secret is not to flip out if your interviewer asks if you're willing to make coffee or take out the trash -- especially if you're looking for a job in a small office. More and more potential employers are using these questions to gauge whether you are the kind of person who is prepared to do whatever it takes to help the team.
Think of a time when you went the extra mile and how your doing so helped the company. Then rehearse the story until you can tell it in 90 seconds.
Secret 3: Manageability and Teamwork
Avoiding a nightmare employee is a major concern for managers who develop, over time, a remarkable sixth sense when it comes to spotting and weeding out mavericks and prima donnas.
Being 'manageable' and a team player means that you can work independently as well as with others and can take direction and criticism. Also crucial is the ability to work and get along with a diverse workforce in terms of sex, age, religion, race, politics, abilities/disabilities or national origin.
Make sure you demonstrate with words and actions that you are someone who gets along well with people and has no problem tolerating differing opinions or beliefs. Don't bring up religious, political or racial matters during the job interview.
Secret 4: Professional Behavior
Yate says there are a number of universally admired behavioral traits common to successful people in all fields. They are:
Drive;
Motivation;
Communication skills;
Team chemistry;
Energy;
Determination;
Confidence;
Reliability;
Honesty/integrity;
Pride;
Dedication;
Analytical skills;
Listening skills;
Goal-orientation;
Efficiency;
Economy; and
Ability to follow procedures.
Yate suggests you pick several of the traits that apply to you and that you can back up with stories from your work history. The idea is to create a mental movie of an event, which is much more powerful than simply stating your strong points.
Secret 5: Everyone Hires for the Same Job
All companies are looking for problem solvers. So think of your profession in terms of its problem-solving responsibilities. Then, identify a list of related problems you have solved for your past employers. Come up with specific examples for as many different success stories as you can think of. Then, ask what the first projects you as an employee would be involved in if hired. From there, you can select the most relevant problem-solving examples to share. When reciting these examples use the following formula:
State the problem.
Isolate relevant background information.
List your key qualities.
Recall the solution.
Determine what the solution was worth.
Remember, stories help interviewers visualize you solving their problems as a paid member of the team.
Keep these secrets in mind when preparing for your next interview. Approaching the interview from the employer's perspective and demonstrating your strengths through stories will cast you in a great light and make it hard for the interviewer to forget you. For more of Martin Yates' keen insight, visit www.knockemdead.com.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Check out Will Wendy's bite into Krispy Kreme?

Click here: Will Wendy's bite into Krispy Kreme? | The Columbus Dispatch

Acquisition rumors

Will Wendy's bite into Krispy Kreme?

Thursday, November 26, 2009 11:19 PM

By Dan Gearino

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

With Wendy's/Arby's already indicating it would like to buy another restaurant company, a possible target has emerged: Krispy Kreme.

The rumor surfaced on Breifing.com and then was reported by Barron's.

Such an alliance would be familiar territory for Wendy's, which bought doughnut and sandwich maker Tim Hortons in 1996 and then spun it off in 2006. Wendy's was acquired by the parent of Arby's last year to form Wendy's/Arby's.

Regarding the reports about Krispy Kreme, Bob Bertini, spokesman for Wendy's/Arby's Group, said: "We do not comment on rumor or speculation."

Previously, Wendy's/Arby's had indicated that it was looking to add a brand, which is one reason that the industry news media and analysts aren't dismissing the rumor.

But that doesn't mean the prospective deal is a good idea.

"The question of whether (Krispy Kreme) would add value long term is tied directly to the strategy post-acquisition," said Paul Huffman, managing director for Hadley Partners Inc., an investment bank.

If a new owner wanted to expand Krispy Kreme, it would have to be mindful of how overexpansion affected the brand in recent years, he said.

The doughnut chain, with nearly 550 locations around the world, saw its share price plummet from a high of nearly $50 in 2003 to a low of $1.15 earlier this year. Shares closed Wednesday at $3.25, giving the company a market capitalization of only $219 million.

Huffman thinks the greatest return for Wendy's/Arby's is to focus on its existing business.

"Given the size and scale of Wendy's/Arby's, even small improvements to margins, costs, revenue, etc., have a major dollar impact to the business," he said.

Wendy's/Arby's might be better off looking in other places for acquisitions, said Peter Romeo, who covers restaurant chains for trade publications and on his blog. "There have got to be a lot of younger, fresher and more premium brands out there," he said.

Among the possibilities are beverage chains such as Jamba Juice and regional chicken or pizza brands, he said.

The mere existence of merger rumors shows that credit markets are improving, said Morgan McGowan, associate economist at Moody's Economy.com. "Now we're in a position where economic conditions are still weak, but credit conditions are easing," he said.

That combination of factors makes this fertile ground for mergers.

dgearino@dispatch.com

MINKIN Alvin B. Minkin, of Columbus, passed away Wednesday, November 25, 2009.

For all of you from way back in the day that remembers
Herb Minkin....
His brother passed away..

Alvin B. Minkin

MINKIN Alvin B. Minkin, of Columbus, passed away Wednesday, November 25, 2009. He is preceded in death by his wife Esther "Sug" Minkin, brother-in-law Joe White. Alvin is survived by his son, Keith Minkin; brother, Herb (Marilyn) Minkin; brothers-in-law, Jack White, and Arnold (Susan) White; sister-in-law, Joyce White. Funeral service 1:30 p.m., Friday, November 27, 2009 at THE EPSTEIN MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 3232 E. Main Street, with Rabbi Joel Epstein officiating. Burial to follow at New Agudas Achim Cemetery. Shiva will be observed at the White residence. Memorial contributions may be made to the donor's favorite charity. Online guestbook at: www.epsteinmemorial.com

Published in The Columbus Dispatch on November 26, 2009

Check out Dress Barn completes purchase of Tween Brands

Click here: Dress Barn completes purchase of Tween Brands | The Columbus Dispatch

Dress Barn completes purchase of Tween Brands

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 1:22 PM

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Dress Barn today announced it has completed its purchase of Tween Brands, which had been announced in June. The deal was worth more than $300 million in stock and assumed debt.

Tween will operate as a subsidiary of Suffern, N.Y.,-based Dress Barn.

The deal calls for Tween Brands shareholders to receive nearly half a share of Dress Barn common stock per Tween share owned. Tween shares will no longer trade after today, Dress Barn said in a statement.

Tween Brands operates Justice stores, whose merchandise is marketed to girls ages seven to 14. Tween's CEO, Michael Rayden, will continue to lead the tween retailer, Dress Barn said, and will join Dress Barn's board. Tween Brands will keep its headquarters in New Albany.

Check out Spielmans' Special Story of Love and Life -- FanHouse

Click here: Spielmans' Special Story of Love and Life -- FanHouse

Spielmans' Special Story of Love and Life

Posted Nov 20, 2009 7:30PM By Lisa Olson (RSS feed)

Filed Under: NFL, NCAA Football

Text SizeAAA

When Chris Spielman suffered a brutal neck injury, he said overcoming it was a breeze compared to most everything his wife Stefanie had faced. When her hair started falling out, when clumps of it began landing on the floor and in their toddler's hands, Chris decided to shave his own head, a soldier in solidarity. When it became apparent that more chemotherapy and a mastectomy -- breast cancer's evil twins -- were high on Stefanie's schedule, Chris bid a temporary farewell to the NFL, skipping an entire year so he could be with the woman he proposed to on the 18th hole of a Putt-Putt course.

None of the above should be considered exceptional behavior by husbands or partners forced to watch their loved one undergo treatment for cancer. But everything Chris did back in those gloomy days following his wife's diagnosis was regarded as unusual and, in some parts, emasculating.

Stefanie Spielman, 42, died Thursday after a lengthy battle with breast cancer. Chris Spielman, the NFL and Ohio State star, was by her side, along with their four children, and while she deserves a thousand hosannas and a billion thanks for her work in raising millions over the years to combat the disease, it should be noted that he was quite the trailblazer.

When they met at a teen dance in their hometown of Massillon, Ohio, Chris was a high school stud who soon would be featured on the cover of a Wheaties box; his football journey continued at Ohio State, where his bone-crunching hits as an All-American linebacker became legendary. By the time Stefanie found a lump in her right breast during a routine self-exam, they had been married 10 years and he was deep into an NFL career. This was 1998, and let's just say the world of sports was not as enlightened as it is now.

She was three months pregnant when she felt that lump, and later miscarried. Chris told her he wanted to skip his upcoming season with the Buffalo Bills so he could accompany her to doctor appointments, and hold her head when the chemo made her nauseous, and be a calming force as she underwent surgery to remove her breast. Eight stellar years with the Detroit Lions and another two with the Bills (he set a team and personal record in 1996 with 206 tackles) had given him much credibility with the football-crazed public, but how would they understand this kind of absence?

"Players just didn't leave the game unless they were injured or retiring on their own terms," Stefanie once told me at a fundraiser for Lance Armstrong's Livestrong foundation. "It seemed so simple to me. Just tell the fans your wife has breast cancer. Who knows? Maybe it will have some kind of trickle-down effect. Maybe one fan will go home and say to his wife, 'Honey, sweetheart, don't forget to make that appointment for your mammogram.'

"Cancer is never just about the person who has it. At least it shouldn't be. It's about everyone around that person. Chris made a selfless decision and I love him dearly for it."

He took the season off, shaved his head to match his wife's beautiful bald dome and still there were the grumps in the Neanderthal section wondering why a Pro Bowl linebacker had to go and mess up their Sunday fun. When Stefanie's treatment reached a manageable level, he returned to the NFL for the 1999 season, this time with the Cleveland Browns, but a second neck injury ended his NFL career.

"Nothing my body has gone through can begin to compare to what Stefanie deals with almost every day," Chris once said. "She's my hero."

Stefanie's plan, formed in the aftermath of her diagnosis, began on a small level, with a sign at Big Bear, the Spielman's neighborhood grocery story, asking shoppers to please donate money to Ohio State's James Cancer Hospital. A few thousand dollars, she said, would have made her delirious. Girl Scout troops and baseball teams and individuals and clubs from all across the community began offering their pennies, and within six months those pennies totaled $1 million.

The Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research, along with the Stefanie's Champions awards, has since raised more than $6.5 million for the cause. She survived four bouts with cancer before a fifth, and final, recurrence in the spring left her wheelchair-bound. She accompanied Chris to Ohio State's season opener against Navy, when he was honored at halftime for his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Against a backdrop where Chris once played to phenomenal roars, the loudest applause, by far, came when Stefanie was introduced.

And in a cruel coincidence, on one of her last days came a report from a federal task force saying women should delay mammograms until they're 50, 10 years later than the medical community has traditionally recommended. Not to make the Neanderthals in the balcony squeamish, but if you, the sports fan, have a mother, a sister, a wife, a girlfriend -- or if you just happen to like healthy breasts -- this might be a subject worth discussing at halftime. There is one tough linebacker who'd appreciate it.

"Stefanie has gone home to be with the Lord," Chris Spielman said in a statement released by WBNS radio in Columbus, where he co-hosts a radio show. "For that, we celebrate, but with broken hearts. I want to thank everyone for their support over the last 12 years. Together, with your help, hopefully we made a difference in this fight."

We hear all the time about athletes who'd never win plaques for Father or Husband of the Year. They fail in the complicated tango between celebrity and sports, neglecting their human responsibilities in exchange for fame and an enlarged ego. But there are many more who quietly go about their business between the lines, before returning home and acting as good citizens, good partners.

Chris and Stefanie Spielman's story might have been one of the first public examples of an athlete doing the right -- dare we say, the manly -- thing. Thankfully, and in her memory, it won't be the last.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Check out Black Friday Deals 2009 - WalletPop

Click here: Black Friday Deals 2009 - WalletPop

Black Friday Deals

1 of 12

Getty Images

Ready to Get Your Sales On?

Retailers have had all year to plan for the holiday shopping season -- and now the ads are officially in for what's on sale this Black Friday. However, you'll have to act fast. Supplies will be in limited quantities.

Click through our gallery as we take a look at what you can put on your shopping list this Black Friday 2009.

First Up: Target