Be Prepared for A Natural Disaster

 Disasters can be in many forms including: hurricanes, flash floods, tornadoes, earthquake, blizzards, fires, hazardous material spills and acts of terrorism. You can not always predict how, when and where a disaster will occur but you can always learn to prepare for it.

There are a couple of things that you can do to hep lessen the impact of the emergency.

1) Create a disaster Kit- You can find recommedations for the American Red Cross and Department of Homeland Security. Below is a general list of items that should be included.

• Water- Use plastic containers instead of glass or cardboard to store water. You should have a 3-day supply of water for each family member. Each person needs about a gallon of water each day.
• Food- Have a three day supply of non-perishable food items ready in your kit. Choose things that do not require cooking or refrigeration.
• If you need to heat something, get a Sterno can and matches.
• First Aid Kit- You should have one at home and in your car. Make sure to include bandages, gauze, over the counter medicines, soaps, antiseptic and other first aid items.
• Make sure you pack flashlights, radios, batteries, signal flares, matches, tapes, can opener and other tools. Also pack sanitary items such as toilet paper, personal hygiene supplies and disposable plastic bags.
• Have at least one change of clothes and shoes per family member. Also include blankets.
• Make sure that you have all the special medications and or accommodations for each family member. This includes infants, elderly or the disabled.

Have an emergency plan on effect. Each family member should know each others numbers as well as local emergency numbers. Make sure everyone knows where they will meet during a disaster.

Practice your disaster plan in advance of the impending emergency. Plan ahead, don't wait till the final hour to try and put a plan together. Hopefully, this information will be useful to everyone who reads this. BE SAFE, BE PREPARED.

How to Effectively Market Yourself on Your Resume !!!

With the unemployment rate over 8% and a very competitive job market, how does your resume stack up in comparison to others. Your resume, simply put, is a marketing tool that you use when seeking employment. Whether you are unemployed, underemployed or just looking for a career change, this tool is very valuable. What is on your resume and how the information is presented (appearance) can either help or hurt your chances of getting that interview.

So how do you make sure that your resume is an efficient marketing tool. Here are some things you should consider when putting together your resume.

Your resume should be a polished, professional document tailored to showcase your strengths for the positions(s) that your a looking for. It is possible to have two or more resumes that are modified to showcase you skills for a specific position. Each should be tailored to the specific position that you are apply too, and not too generic.

1) Overall appearance- Are you mailing or handing out hard copies to prospective employers? If so, make sure it stands out. Make sure you use good quality paper. Have you tripled-checked the spelling and grammar? Is everything in proper tense? Is the resume free of smudges and printed on good paper with cover letter and envelope ( if applicable) to match.

Is the typeface and font appropriate for the document. Is the font the right size, not too small or to large? Is the document readable. Are the headings, job titles and other important information easily seen.

2) Objective- I have personally seen resumes with no objective at all. It should be a one sentence description of your job hunting goals. It should be broad enough to spotlight your qualifications.

3) Organization- Is the resume presented in a simple, straightforward manner that makes it easy for the prospective employer to get all the pertinent information they need at a glance. Keep the organizational style of the resume consistent.

4) Professional Experience is what is most important to your prospective employer, so make sure that this area is legible, clear and concise. Avoid vague and ambiguous phrases and terms. List all achievements, successes and accomplishments.

5) Make sure you include education: colleges, degrees, certifications, advance training , etc. This also includes on the job training. Emphasize the education and/or training that will be most useful to the job you are applying to.

6) Although not mandatory, you may want to include other activities such as special achievements outside of work, community involvement, interests, etc. This will help your resume stand out and persuade the reader to want to meet with you, in other words, interview you.

Always remember to not flat out lie about skills and education you do not have. Do not claim that you did something you did not do. This includes stretching the truth just a little bit. As tempting as it may be, do not do it. Chances are you will get caught and if you get caught after you get the job, it could lead to termination for falsely representing yourself.

Applying this information will help you efficiently market your resume. Good luck and great success in your new endeavors.

Can Your Job Actually Be Making You Sick

Can you job actually be making you sick? That is a good question. Can you job actually be making you sick, literally. Do you dread Monday mornings and all the happiness of the weekend drain away. Do you suffer from headaches, nausea and other sicknesses.

For one thing, too much stress from the workplace is not a good thing. It is proven that people in medium or high stress jobs visit family doctors more often than those in low stress job. There is also medical evidence that suggests that stress can adversely affect an individual's immune system therefore increase their chances for diseases. You job can also make you emotionally sick. Long term exposure to stress and cortisol released when you are stressed can KILL you.

But how can you tell if your job is making you sick. First you have to understand that there is stress related illness and environmental issues. How do you know the difference?

Stress related illness is when a stressful job is so upsetting that it is manifesting itself in physical symptoms. Some signs include dreading going to work each day, not being able to eat while at work and not sleeping well. More severe symptoms include panic attacks and hot flashes.

Environmental related illnesses deal with your actual working environment, the building, carpet, furniture and materials you use on a daily basis. Some people develop severe allergies to things commonly used in our physical environment. You could be highly allergic to just about any chemical, including industrial cleaners, perfumes, colognes and other chemicals around the office. It can be as severe as fainting from the odors or more subtle like a headaches or nausea while at work.

Get the opinion of a medical professional (i.e, Doctor) to rule out other issues and get to the root of your illness. 

So once you have determined that it is stress from your job is definitely making you ill, what can you do about it? Is there any way to avoid the stress.

This will be discussed in a future blog.

Do Not Try to Please Anyone But Yourself

I know, I know... The title may seem selfish at first. However, putting yourself first is not selfish at all. Especially if you are know to be a people pleaser.

I had to personally learn over the years that you can not please people. No matter how accurate you do something, there will always be one person that will not be happy. You can not stress over what someone will not like or will be displeased with. This includes family and friends. This is your life to live, not your parents, family members or friends. Stop letting people try and live their lives through you. It is not your responsibility.

This is not to say that you should reject  advice from people. But remember that the ultimate decision is yours. You do not want to look back on life with regrets because you did what others expected or wanted to do. Life is too short to be trying to please everyone but yourself.

Just a few words of knowledge from someone who is learning this for herself.


Ya Girl,

Young, Flyy & Educated.

Interesting Poem of The Day

Happy Sunday-

I found this poem online today and thought it would be an interesting read to share. The author is unknown.

Hope you take something away from reading it.

Sistas Let's Stop Hatin' On Each Other...

Ok...so I walk in and you see me. You see that my hair is done, my
outfit is fierce and I carry myself like a lady. I smile at you but
you roll your eyes at me, then, turn your head and whisper something to
your girl. Why you hatin'?

Ok... so maybe I'm a new employee and this is my first day at work. I
almost thought I would be the only sista in the joint until someone
introduced us to each other. I smile and extend my hand, happy to know
I won't be here alone. You smile and shake my hand but there's
insincerity in your eyes and your hand is limp. You seem guarded.

What's wrong Ma'?

Ok ...so maybe my man and I have been having problems. And since
you've been my best friend for years I confide in you that I think he's
cheating on me. You offer your support. Until I find out that he's
been cheating on me....with you! Why would you hurt me like that?

I found your knife, girl.....it's in my back!

As women we battle daily. We battle keeping our families together,
keeping our men happy and maintaining our presence in the workforce.
With all that battling going on why in the world should we have to
battle each other?

Now I'm not saying every sistah has a knife...but some of you
do....and you know who you are. Why is it that a woman can't get
her glamour on without you having a problem? Why can't I get a
blonde weave without you having something to say?
If I'm working myself to death in the office
trying to climb the corporate ladder...why am I suddenly a sellout?
If I leave the room for a minute why can't I trust you around my man?
Smiling in my face, but gossiping all my personal business behind
my back? You now have permission to consider yourself triflin'!

Inferiority Complex. It makes us feel that in order to be someone
special we have to put everyone else beneath us. Are we so insecure in
ourselves that we can't feel good until we pull someone else down?

There's something wrong here. We've come to envy those who've
accomplished in their lives what we've only dreamed of having for
ourselves. And when we fear we will never be able to get what we want
- we steal it.

There is a serious self-worth issue going on here. We're in a day and
age where we should be encouraging each other and holding each other
up.

Sisterhood should not end when Oprah goes off. Truth be told, there
will always be someone prettier, sexier, stronger, and smarter. I'm sorry
Boo - that's just the way it is. But that's ok.....just do you!

I don't care how good Beyonce' looks - if she walks into the same room
I'm in, it doesn't make me any less of the diva I already am! I love
admiring hairstyles...but there's no need to be jealous. Honey,
nowadays there's enough hair for err-body.

I have goals in life. There are things I strive to attain. Yet I seek out
successful sisters because they keep me motivated.

Life is so much more than who looks the best, who dresses the best and
who makes more money. So when you see your sister going for hers let
it inspire you .... To do you.
 

~ Author Unknown ~

Common Fitness Misconceptions and The Truth of It All.

With summer right around the corner, many people are trying to get into shape. One main way of losing weight is through exercise and fitness along with eating healthier. But with so much information out there, how do you know what is the truth and what is myth.

Below are a few common misconceptions and the real truth regarding the matter.

Misconception #1: All fat is bad!
Truth: Your body actually needs a certain amount of fat for vital functioning. It also helps slow down the aging process and satisfies your hunger for longer periods of time. The key is knowing the difference between healthy and unhealthy fats and how to replace the unhealthy fats with healthier options.

Misconception #2: A calorie is a calorie whether it comes from a bowl of ice cream or a bowl of celery.
Truth: Calories that are consumed from fatty foods are more likely to cause weight gain than those consumed from eating carbohydrates. Your body uses less energy to process and store dietary fats than dietary carbohydrates.

Misconception #3: Exercise is the only sure way to lose weight. ( Not considering weight loss surgeries)
Truth:  Weight fluctuations are impacted by many things including dietary intake, exercise and genetics.Though adjustments made in any of these areas can deliver positive health effects, weight is most efficiently lost using a balance combination of both diet and exercise.
* Reminder: Regular physical activity is a very important component to successfully maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Misconception #4: I can burn fat from specific regions of my body by just exercising those areas.
Truth: Spot reduction is not possible as many will like you to believe. When you exercise, your body utilizes energy produced by metabolizing fat from all regions of the body, not just the specific muscles involved in the exercise.

Misconception #5: If there is no pain, there is no gain. If I do not feel sore the next day, I did not work out hard enough.
Truth: Soreness may actually result from tiny tears in the muscle tissue and may indicate overdoing it. Listen to your body is hurt. You may have to discontinue that particular exercise.

Hopefully the truth shall set you free :) There are more misconceptions out there, so just do your research.

* Talk to a fitness professional or your doctor to get clarity on what is myth and what is fact so that you can work on getting that body you always wanted.

How to Cope with Negative Coworkers

Taken from my Hubpages: :http://spierce86.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Deal-with-Negative-Coworkers

At work, there are always coworkers that are constantly negative. They complain about how much they hate their job, fellow employees and bosses. They exude negativity. We are not talking about generally positive people who have negative thoughts at times or ones who are legitimately complaining about something. If you spend too much time with them, it will affect you demeanor as well.

How do you deal with negative coworkers. Here are a couple of suggestions to help you cope.

1) Deal with generally negative people by spending as little time as possible with them.

2) Remember that the cause of their long term negativity is not your concern. Positive people do not allow the negativity of others to affect their attitude.

3) If you are forced , through your role in the company, to deal with them, do not allow yourself to be drawn into negative discussion.

4) Avoid providing a sympathetic audience for the negativity.

5) Suggest that the negative person seek assistance from Human Resources or the supervisor.

6) If all else fails, talk to you supervisor or HR about the challenges you may have to deal with when working with negativity.

7)If negativity among employees at your company is persistent, the issues that causes the negativity are left unaddressed or if the negativity affects your ability to complete your work, you may have to consider moving on. Sometimes, it is the work culture that is creating the negativity among employees.

At either rate, the goal is not to let the work culture or negative employees affect your positive disposition.

It's A New Year... Hello Everyone

Wow... its almost the end of the first month in 2012 and I haven't blogged in a few months. The page can definitely use some updating lol. New Blogs will be coming up shortly. The month of February will feature Black History Month Spotlights, which will be featured once a week. There will also be changes to the content and design of the website. Stay tuned for all the new changes coming your way.

If you would like to be featured on this blog, feel free to email me at aspiring4excellence@gmail.com

Much Respect,

Young, Flyy & Educated.