Steve Marr.org

Our trash baskets are a treasure trove for identity thieves and nosy people. Protect yourself with a paper shredder.
Shred all personal, banking and other important documents that you don’t want others to see.

More than one business has encountered the troubling experience in which a competitor rummaged through trash looking for useful information.  Don’t let this happen to you.

Most businesses receive phone solicitations for different charities and causes they do not want to support. Some of these advocates are pushy and hard to get rid of unless you just hang up.

Rather than be rude, I ask one question, “Have you filed a voluntary disclosure statement with the Better Business Bureau?”  If they have, I ask them to send me a copy.
The Better Business Bureau encourages charities to file these statements.  Few do. I simply state that I will only consider donating if they have filed this document and can send me a copy.  Otherwise, my policy is no. This saves time engaging in useless conversation. 

When thousands of passengers on the Carnival Cruise ship Triumph were stranded after an engine fire disabled the ship, the story filled the news for days.  This situation is an excellent example of trade-offs. Passengers get a nice vacation package with good food, service, and ship activities at a low price. However, the trade-off is that the cruise ship industry is not covered by most U.S. regulations. Carnival passengers who complained that the ship did not meet U.S. standards need to think through what it would cost to make that happen.

The Wall Street Journal recently carried an article on active workstations. Some people have installed workstations with a treadmill or elliptical machine in an effort to exercise while working. The Mayo Clinic conducted a study with transcriptionists using such workstations.  They learned that those who typed while walking produced 16% less work.

I receive questions from readers who have struggled with bosses or organizations. While each situation is different, there are five key questions to ask and answer as you seek to understand your place in your company.  They will help you evaluate your job performance and what you need to do to keep your job or get a promotion.