Happy July Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Nicole Jackson
Jenna Kasse
Amy Sorsoleil
Alex Thompson
Laura Wilkerling
Jennifer Bremer
Corinne Danielson
Manuel DeBrito
Rebecca Haugen
Darren Mattern
Katherine McQuisten
Esau Sanchez
Rose Regan
Patrick Agoha
Lori Laufenberg
Serah Muhungura
Lisa Renollet
Cory Buck
Cheryl Fernandez
Sandy Saunders
Taylor Wilson
Nathan Dorschner
Jeffrey Gunness
Jeffrey Juberien
Mark Radloff
Natalie Ruiz
Robert Teeple
Nathan Works
Suzanne Zimmerman
Alisa Lingwall
Mayra Murillo
Wanda Senne
Desiree Wharton
Samantha Carl
Ginger Cloyd
Hannah Casey
Clark Haaland
Lee Harwarth
Lexington Marino
Daniel Pehrson
Annette Slawinski
Jennifer Kroschel
Ryan Smith
Brian Wurtzel

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Welcome to Break Week!

Dear MSB Online Learner:

Welcome to Break Week! Enjoy your time off from classes!

As a friendly reminder, your Summer 2007 courses will be available for you Monday, July 16, 2007 by 8 am. Don’t forget to log in to your classes in Blackboard, within 72 hours, to validate your registration.

Below you will find the article Are you Making Time for You? Take some time to take the quiz and apply the results to your own environment.

Are You Making Time for You?
by Susan Bryant
Monster Contributing Writer

Juggling work and home life can be so time consuming, it's possible to never pencil in any time for yourself -- not as an employee, spouse or parent, but just as you. Where do you fit into the equation of work and life balance? Do you fit in at all? Answer the following statements to find out what value you place on personal downtime.

Keep a record of whether each of these items is TRUE or FALSE for you…1. If I'm not accomplishing something with my time, I feel like I'm wasting it.
2. I can't spend time on myself without feeling guilty that my family or job needs my attention more.
3. I never feel replenished by the activities of my life, only depleted by them.
4. I have every hour of my week accounted for. I have no time when nothing is scheduled.
5. I can't remember the last time I felt completely rested, calm and reenergized for the next day's challenges.
6. Having an unexpected day to myself -- free from responsibilities to others -- makes me anxious.
7. I've lost a sense of who I am as an individual. I tend to think of myself only in terms of my responsibilities to others.
8. I feel resentful at times towards my spouse, children or employer because my needs always seem to be last on the list.
9. I can't remember what I once did for fun.
10. My typical week leaves me so exhausted, finding a way to have some time to myself only seems like another burden.

Each "true" response is a red flag of the critical importance of finding a way to incorporate personal downtime into your life. Consider yourself a well that is constantly drawn from to nourish the important relationships and work in your life. Without replenishing the well, it eventually dries up. Making time for yourself isn't only necessary for your own well-being; it has a direct positive impact on those around you. Invest in yourself by making personal downtime a priority in your life. It is the one task that should truly remain at the top of your to-do list.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact the education department at 1-877-609-8889.

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Welcome to the last week of Spring Quarter 2007!

Dear MSB Online Learner:

New students: We’re excited to get a chance to help you pick out your courses (if you haven’t already had a registration appointment) and look forward to having you as a student this summer!!!

Current students: Register for summer quarter courses right away to assure your seat before classes fill! Thank you to everyone that has already registered!!! Also, as a friendly reminder: please check each class expectations and grading criteria as well as the course calendar for all due dates for the remainder of the quarter. All course work must be complete prior to the end of the final date of the quarter. Identify due dates of all work in the final weeks of the quarter now to plan ahead. All work will be due prior to Thursday, June 21, 2007.

Below you will find the article Work Less, Accomplish More. Take some time to read the article carefully and take what you can and apply it to your own environment.

Work Less, Accomplish More
by Beverly West
Monster Contributing Writer

Admins, whose job descriptions tend to include a bit of everything, can often feel like there are never enough hours in the day, no matter how much overtime they put in. If you're feeling overworked, overwhelmed or just plain over it, the following time-management tips can help you maximize your productivity so you can accomplish more -- and get home earlier.

Separate Work from Home

"Between responding to personal emails, instant messaging and fielding cell-phone calls from my kids, it can get very hard to stay focused on the tasks at hand," says Dana Bilbao, a producer for a Los Angeles-based entertainment company. So when Bilbao is in the office, she tries to concentrate on her work as much as possible. Then when she's at home, Bilbao can really deal with her issues there without distraction. "I wind up having better quality time both places," she adds. Separating your work duties from home-related ones will allow you to keep your mind on work when you're there and, in turn, procrastinate less, feel less overwhelmed and accomplish more.

Establish Boundaries and Stick to Them

While it's always great to try to make everyone happy all the time, it's just not possible in a workplace governed by the irrefutable laws of time and space. Learn when to say no. "There are times when it is absolutely right to go above and beyond the call of duty on the job," says Jason Bergund, a New York City-based production coordinator. "When it's a real emergency, then I don't mind staying late or going out on a limb. But that's different than just letting people dump their last-minute work on your desk so they can make it home early." While you need to do your work, you also need to take care of yourself and know your job's boundaries.

Get Organized

Time spent hunting for files or lost phone numbers could be used for making progress on your to-do list. Good organizational structures are essential in any time-management plan. Kim, an administrative assistant for a New York-based securities company who preferred not to use her last name, spends a few moments each day sifting through and responding to email so it doesn't become a mountain of unorganized cyber junk by midweek.

Bilbao prioritizes using notes. "Sticky notes posted on my keyboard are my method for reminding myself of the most important and immediate items on my list," she says. "I think people should try out a few systems and see what works best."

Make Time for Yourself

Any well-constructed to-do list has to include some time for relaxing and centering yourself, or you might wind up too stressed out to do anybody any good. "The second I drop the kids at school, I take a moment to breathe," Bilbao says. "It's the most important moment of my day. I switch gears from caring for kids to working with grown-ups."

If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact the education department at 1-877-609-8889.

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Welcome to the eleventh week of the Spring Quarter 2007!

Dear MSB Online Learner:

New students: We’re excited to get a chance to help you pick out your courses (if you haven’t already had a registration appointment) and look forward to having you as a student this Summer!!!

Current students: Don’t forget to register if you haven’t already, classes are filling quickly! Thank you to everyone that has already registered!!! Also, as a friendly reminder: please check each class expectations and grading criteria as well as the course calendar for all due dates for the remainder of the quarter. All course work must be complete prior to the end of the final date of the quarter. Identify due dates of all work in the final weeks of the quarter now to plan ahead. All work will be due prior to Thursday, June 21, 2007.

Below you will find the article Five Ways to Stay Positive in Negativity. Take some time to read the article carefully and take what you can and apply it to your own environment.

Five Ways to Stay Positive in Negativity
by Julie Fuimano

It's easy to be positive in a positive environment. It's when things are emotionally draining and negative that you're challenged to behave differently. But you have the opportunity to be the beacon of light for others around you. By your actions and responses, you can demonstrate and teach others how to behave in an appropriate, positive and professional manner.

Positive energy catches on just as quickly as negative energy. Sometimes people are simply stuck in a habit or pattern of behavior and are accustomed to acting a certain way. If the environment is really caustic, then it's what people are used to and may be all they know.

It takes some time and effort as well as a commitment to do something differently to create sustainable change. You must be willing to identify and stop tolerating what's not working, do the right thing even if it's initially unpopular and then teach others to do the same.

Here are five ways you can be a positive force in your workplace:
The First Step Is Awareness

Recognize the negativity around you. Sometimes you can even feel your energy being drained by the words being spoken. If it feels bad or uncomfortable, then it's negative. These feelings are a form of intelligence similar to a tap on the shoulder letting you know something is not right. If you can identify what is happening, you can make good choices about handling it.

It All Starts with You

In what ways are you contributing to the negativity around you? Are you listening to gossip or participating in conversations where the only focus is to denigrate, diminish or criticize? Language matters. Everything you say has an impact, and when you say something negative, not only does it dishonor the person you're speaking about as well as the person you're speaking with, it makes you feel bad even if you don't realize it. Learn to respect people's humanity and their right to be themselves. Complaining without end does not focus on creating solutions; rather, its impact is only to perpetuate and magnify the problem, wasting everyone's precious time and energy.

Speak Up

Tell the other person how you feel by saying, "This doesn't work for me." It's nonjudgmental, since you're making it about you, not them. Also, people often don't realize they are being negative. Point it out in a gentle, caring way: "Do you realize you are complaining?" Just bringing it to their attention can be enough to shift the conversation. Over time, people will learn what they can and cannot discuss with you, and it will stop being an issue. If you say nothing, your silence conveys permission to continue.

Be Constructive, Positive, Meaningful and Beneficial

What is the point or purpose of what you're saying? Is it to hurt or help? And at the end of the conversation, is there an action step to take? Constructive conversations are empowering and leave people a little better off from having participated in them. Become the kind of person who takes your time and words seriously.

Praise and Acknowledge

It's amazing what a few words of praise and acknowledgement can do. You want to be the kind of person people gravitate to because they know they will be uplifted by you, not put down or drained of life-sustaining energy. In short, you want people to feel good after being in your presence.

No matter what is going on around you, you control your inner environment and how you choose to respond to external events and situations. It's your responsibility to become the kind of person you enjoy being and with whom others enjoy being around.

It takes a true leader to walk a path different from the crowd. So when others are negative, stretch your boldness muscles and be positive in spite of what others do or think. It's the only way to create a ripple of change. And if each of us does our part, then slowly but surely, we will make a difference in our work environment and the larger community.

[Julie Fuimano, MBA, BSN, RN is the Coach with Nurturing Your Success Inc., working with people who are frustrated, stressed and unhappy and who are ready to give up being overwhelmed for the time, peace and happiness they desire. Clients report increased clarity and focus, confidence and control in situations. They say no to what they don't want -- without guilt -- and yes to what they do; they receive more respect, have more time for themselves and have more fun. Call (610) 277-2726 or write to Julie@NurturingYourSuccess.com to explore how coaching would work for you or your organization. Fuimano is a popular speaker, world-renowned writer and author of The Journey Called YOU: A Roadmap to Self-Discovery and Acceptance, the manual for personal leadership. Sign up for her e-newsletter here.]

If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact the Education Department at 1-877-609-8889.

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Welcome to the tenth week of the Spring Quarter 2007

Dear MSB Online Learner:

New students: We’re excited to get a chance to help you pick out your courses (if you haven’t already had a registration appointment) and look forward to having you as a student this summer!!!

Current students: Don’t forget to register if you haven’t already, there are plenty of open section! Thank you to everyone that has already registered!!! Also, as a friendly reminder: please check each class expectations and grading criteria as well as the course calendar for all due dates for the remainder of the quarter. All course work must be complete prior to the end of the final date of the quarter. Identify due dates of all work in the final weeks of the quarter now to plan ahead. All work will be due prior to Thursday, June 21, 2007.

Below you will find the article Time Management for Managers. Take some time to read the article carefully and take what you can and apply it to your own environment.

Time Management for Managers
by Matt Krumrie
Monster Contributing Writer

It's 8 p.m., and Mary is still at the office. Sighing as she answers her final email for the night, she thinks back over the day.

"This isn't the job I was hired to do," she grumbles. "Instead of the project and people management I love, all I'm doing is babysitting and dealing with one crisis after another."

If you're a manager, you may have been in this situation. Sometimes there just doesn't seem to be enough time to get things done. But other people do it, and so can you.

"Have you ever wondered how some extremely successful people not only get it all done, but also have time for vacations, trips and golf?" says Kathy Gillen, president of executive coaching company The Gillen Group in Elk River, Minnesota. "It's because they have managed a way to figure out how to manage their time."

Let's face it: There isn't a day that goes as planned for most busy managers. That's what management is -- juggling tasks to achieve a common goal and ultimately better the whole organization.

"When's the last day you didn't have a high-priority phone call, an urgent email or a stressed-out colleague begging for attention?" says Tom Gegax, founder of Gegax Management Systems in Minneapolis and author of By the Seat of Your Pants: The No-Nonsense Business Management Guide. "Getting pulled off-course is in every leader's job description. That's why enlightened managers must have a strategy for dealing with daily interruptions."

The Six D's

Gegax bases his time-management principles on the "six D's": don't do it, delay it, deflect it, delegate it, do it imperfectly and do it.

"When something pops ups, rather than robotically just doing it, I start with the first option," Gegax says. "If that doesn't apply, I move on to the second. I keep cruising down the list until I reach the appropriate action."

For instance, many seemingly urgent tasks disappear if you don't do them or delay them, he says, leaving you more time and energy to focus on the tasks that matter.

And while some flare-ups need immediate attention, your involvement isn't always required. Carefully consider whether to deflect the situation to another department or delegate it to a subordinate, Gegax advises.

If you do opt to tackle the problem yourself, Gegax cautions against automatically shifting into "perfectionist mode."

"A large number of my projects could hardly be described as perfect, yet were successful nevertheless," he says.

Of course, reserve the final "D" -- do it -- for the tasks you've determined will keep you moving toward your goals.

The Multitasking Trap

Multitasking may seem like a way to productively "juggle" numerous tasks, but it actually prevents you from getting things accomplished, says Laura Stack, president of Denver-based consultancy The Productivity Pro and author of Leave the Office Earlier. She offers these tips on how to better manage your time and stay focused:

*Batch: Email kills your concentration. Turn off the notification function on your email program. Set aside a specific number of times per day to check and deal with your email.

*Prioritize: Don't get sidelined by interruptions. If you're working on the last-minute details of a report for a meeting that starts in 30 minutes, don't accept a drop-in visitor's request to "ask you something really quick."

*Control Self-Interruption: Many times you interrupt yourself. You're sitting at your desk when all of a sudden, your brain starts talking to you. "Oh, I need to tell Chris this," it says, and you pick up the phone or dash off an email to "blurt" out whatever you were thinking about before you forget. Instead, get yourself a three-ring binder, some loose-leaf paper and A-Z tabs. Create a sheet of paper for each person with whom you communicate frequently. When your brain reminds you of something, simply turn to that person's communication log. Jot down the thought or idea, and then go back to what you were doing. When that person's log has several thoughts saved up, call the person and set up a meeting or phone conference.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact the Education Department at 1-877-609-8889.

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Happy June Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Nubbe, Tracey
Campbell, Lee A
Hamre, Stephanie
Ervasti, Kristine K
Jordan, Amanda M
Julius, Andrea L
Lewis, Nicholas M
Ollila, Jadon J
Papka, Stephanie L
Welton, Nathan
DeYoung, Mary K
Finch, Donald L
Corcoran, Tami L
Ekholm, Annette
Meier, Tria
Brennan, Jennifer A
Dolney, Tara
Turner, Lisa B
Ernst, Senesi T
Meier, Sean C
Melander, Christine
Scott, Michael A
Springman, Ed B
Young, Jessica A
Elftmann, Felicia M
Gerhardt, Kristina L
Hayden, Stephanie N
Jaeger, Aimee
Kassa, Stephanie M
Kimmes, Susan L
McDonald, Travis J
Bisch, Julie R
Meger, Nathan D
Monroe, Desmund P
Smidt, Allison B
Christian, Melissa M
Narch, Marlo E
Erickson, Nathen A
Gray, Holly M
McLeod, Kellye
Myhre, Jeff
Powers, Cheryl
Rockstead, Leland D
Snauwaert, Kye L
Villanueva, Ramon R
Benson, Adam D
Goodrich, Kathleen
Raiche, Brian F

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