Takin' Care of Business

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Takin' Care of Business

Professional skills are becoming increasingly important in today's work world. Jon Buck shares his thoughts on how developing your professional skills can increase your workplace success.

Jon Buck is a Business Skills and Applications Educator atBenchmark Learning. His education philosophy is centered on using multiple learning styles to make material familiar and relevant to each student. Jon uses his training background in the government and private sectors to deliver effective training in management, human resources, communication, time management, customer service, team building and employee development. Jon is also an Adobe Certified Expert and teaches Captivate, Acrobat, FrameMaker, Photoshop, Dreamweaver and HTML/XHTML/CSS. Jon's past employers include the United States Air Force, where he trained more than 350 officers and enlisted members in established processes and procedures, and U.S. Bank, where he trained managers and trainers in presentation skills and Adobe technologies. He also specializes in video editing, sound editing and curriculum development. Jon spends his free time as the Program Director for Rosemount Youth Wrestling.

Body language dos and don’ts for interviews

9/7/2010 3:55:33 PM

I know, I know. This interviewing thing is a tough business. As if it isn’t stressful enough to have to watch what comes out of your mouth, now you have to watch what your body is indirectly conveying.

There’s a new book on the market that talks about the psychological implications of body language in the business world. Though it boasts perhaps the longest title I’ve ever seen in my life – What Your Body ...

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Jon Buck

Interviewing Communication Skills
How I'm Getting a Smart Phone, While Avoiding Crazy Habits

9/2/2010 8:25:39 AM

What makes a smartphone “smart?”

This may sound like a dumb question, but I have actually been asking it ever since I made a commitment to upgrade my time management system with the purchase of a shiny, new 2011 smartphone in January.

Setting aside the question of the costs (which I understand can top US$2,000 per year when internet charges are included,) I am focused on discovering whether or not I can boost my productivity ...

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Jon Buck

Productivity Technology time management
Does Your Resume Pass This Five-Point Checklist?

8/26/2010 11:07:11 AM

As the economy has worsened and millions of job seekers are chasing after fewer and fewer jobs, what you put on your resume has become more important than ever. Before you send your resume anywhere, run it through this quick five-point checklist to determine if it needs a tune-up or a complete overhaul.

1. Clear Objective

There has been a lot of debate lately among the resume writing "chattering classes" about whether today's resumes even ...

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Jon Buck

business skills Resume Writing Resume job search Job Market Communication Skills
Tips for Having a Difficult Discussion

8/19/2010 9:27:29 AM
If you are at odds with someone and you find yourself:
- Going in circles.
- Getting angry because the other person won't cooperate.
- Frustrated because the other person won't give you what you need.
- Irritated because the other person won't see your point of view.
- Avoiding the person.
You need a strategy that will move you out of "stuck" mode and help you have a conversation that will move you toward resolution. Here are a few ...
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Jon Buck

conflict resolution Communication Skills Decision Making
Top 10 Ways to Lead More Effectively with Humor

8/16/2010 10:23:00 AM

Humor and laughter provide so many rewards. Studies have shown 20 seconds of laughter yield the same benefits as 3 minutes of hard rowing. A Robert Half International study reported 84% of executives believe a worker with a good sense of humor does a better job. Incorporating humor more effectively in the workplace allows you to defuse difficult situations, reduce stress, create attention for new ideas, build rapport, and be a more approachable and memorable ...

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Jon Buck

leadership professional development Communication Skills
6 Steps to Remove TV from Your Life

8/10/2010 8:45:03 AM

You might be wondering: Why remove TV from our life? Truth is, I used to watch TV a fair bit when I was young. When I was a student, I made it a point to watch all prime time shows (The trailers had a way of making you feel you were missing out if you didn’t watch). If there was ever a blockbuster movie on air, I would catch it too. TV made life seem ...

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Jon Buck

life satisfaction quality of life professional development
Upgrade Yourself: MindSurf 2010

7/30/2010 9:56:12 AM

The 3rd Annual MindSurf is the premiere educational event for Twin Cities business professionals who are interested in the most cost-effective way to get up-to-date information, education and resources on the latest developments in business trends, technologies and processes. MindSurf also provides a way for job seekers to add to their resume and network with people from some of the top companies in Minnesota. Benchmark Learning is excited to bring you an opportunity to build ...

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Jon Buck

business skills leadership Events and Social Media communication professional development
8 Ways to Recharge a Tired Old Job

7/26/2010 6:05:57 PM

There’s been speculation that as the economy recovers, many people who’ve been stuck in their jobs and unable to find new ones, will suddenly pick up and move to greener pastures. In contrast there are also predictions of a “jobless recovery,” which may mean being stuck in a lackluster job longer than these people (or maybe you) expected or would prefer. If that scenario plays out, it’s vital to recharge while still in your current ...

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Jon Buck

business skills communication job search Job Market professional development define and build careers
7 Ways to Make Life Changing Decisions

7/19/2010 8:26:18 AM

Most people don’t know the profound effects of making decisions. Often times, we go through life oblivious to what thoughts we are thinking and what actions we are taking. Every single decision we make in our days shapes our current reality. It shapes who we are as a person because we habitually follow through with the decisions we make without even realizing it.

If you’re unhappy with the results in your life right now, making ...

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Jon Buck

business skills Communication Skills Decision Making
Defend Your Idea Without Being Defensive

7/12/2010 8:51:48 AM

Getting behind an idea means imbuing it with our conviction and our passion. Such commitment is vital when pushing for an initiative or suggestion that you think is important to implement. This enthusiasm also helps you bring others to your cause. But it can also be your worst enemy when someone, such as your boss, pushes back.

Since you are so enamored of your idea, your instinct is to protect it as you might a ...

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Jon Buck

business skills leadership communication professional development conflict resolution Communication Skills
Get Prepared for the Coming Job Boom

7/9/2010 3:07:05 PM

Have you been laid off recently or know someone who has? Click here to discover the benefits of receiving training and continuing your education during an economic crisis.

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Jon Buck
Avoid an Office Jungle: Keeping Things Clean

6/18/2010 10:22:06 AM
Until I started working as a professional organizer I had no idea how bad a . Sure, I’d find myself frustrated by a pile of paper from time to time, but paper never took over my space.

So, how does it get this far along? What causes this kind of chaos? Here are some possible answers.
1. Paper comes in at a rate that is faster than the rate at which it is processed.
2. There is ...
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Jon Buck
Manage Your Personal Blog

6/18/2010 9:50:00 AM

If you’re reading this, then you probably have an online personal brand. Your brand consists of all the communities you participate in, and just about any piece of content that holds your name, face, or both. A new study by Pew Internet & American Life Project shows that 46% of online adults have created their own profile on a social networking site, which is an increase of 20% from 2006.

The internet is the global ...

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Jon Buck
Tips to Make your Presentation Fly

5/27/2010 1:42:00 PM

Here are some presentation tips to make your presentation fly.

Write it down

Write down your speech, but try not to read from it. If you have written it down — if you dry up, you will beable to pick it back up again.

Put it on tape

When you practice your presentation, do it with a tape recorder or with a video recorder and then play it back to find out which bits sound ...

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Jon Buck

Business Skills
Find What Works! Navigating Through Productivity Advice

5/26/2010 10:14:40 AM

I’ve been writing about productivity for years. I’ve reviewed books, audio courses and what feels like every piece of productivity advice out there. Along the way, I’ve discovered a secret: What works for David Allen doesn’t work for me, at least not exactly. The same goes for Steve Pavlina, Gina Trapani and every other productivity expert active online and in print. What’s more, they almost certainly don’t work perfectly for you, either.
Don’t get me ...

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Jon Buck
Make 2010 Brighter Than 2009!

5/23/2010 10:29:00 AM

2009 was a tough year in a lot of ways for a lot of people. The economy was turbulent, job status was uncertain for nearly everyone and morale was low across the board. However, a new year can be a great way towards a new beginning and new attitude. If the calendar year can change, why can't you?

Clean up, clean out.
Space and environments are very important factors in attitude and personal morale. ...

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Jon Buck
Go Out on a Limb: Tapping Into Your Network.

5/21/2010 10:10:00 AM

I read an article about a job seeker who was too shy to job hunt. Once she ran through her top closest friends, mentors and colleagues, she was unsure and awkward about tapping into acquaintances and members of her professional network for job leads.

This is something that I have heard before and I can understand the reluctance to asking people who you may have lost touch with, or don't speak to often. But this ...

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Jon Buck

Business Skills
From Manager to Leader

5/11/2010 12:16:00 PM

Ask anyone and they'll tell you. There's a difference between managers and leaders.

Ask them what that difference is and they may have a bit more difficulty. Suddenly the words become amorphous and undefined. Somehow leadership is an intangible - a charismatic component that some people have and others simply don't. That's why, according to the ubiquitous "they", it is such a rarity.

Wrong.

The difference between being a manager and being a leader is ...

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Jon Buck

Business Skills
Improve Your Writing With Word Limits

4/28/2010 10:12:00 AM

Here’s a scenario that might sound familiar: you are listening to a speech or presentation, or perhaps you are reading an article, an essay, or a report, and it becomes clear that the writer is using words without communicating. Some essays, articles, and books might be pleasant to read because the language is colorful, and a speaker might make pleasant, sincere-sounding noises. No doubt some of your my writing or speaking can be described this ...

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Jon Buck

Business Skills
Practical Career Path Progression

4/20/2010 10:00:00 AM

Realistic Career Expectations

Being passed over for a promotion or applying to many jobs without an interview could mean that the promotion or the jobs are beyond reasonable expectations for the employee’s level of experience or education. Of course, it is possible for some employees to jump substantially up the career ladder in one step but isn’t common place.

Years of Experience

If the position that an employee is striving for requires more than two ...

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Jon Buck

Business Skills

Career Pregression

*The thoughts and opinions in this blog are my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Benchmark Learning.

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