Friday, January 28, 2011

Energy Drinks: Cons Outweigh the Pros



Energy drinks have become extremely popular among the young, and why not? After all, they promise increased mental alertness, better physical performance and a general feel-good effect! The problem, however, is that unless these drinks are consumed carefully and in moderation, the negative side effects start outweighing their benefits.

On their own, energy drinks usually don’t cause any harm (provided you pay attention to the health warnings printed on them) unless they are consumed excessively or mixed with other ingredients.

Excessive Consumption
The first question obviously is how do you define excessive consumption? Generally, two or three drinks a day are considered excessive—even more so if one has a sedentary lifestyle. The following is a list of some of the most common side effects of excessive consumption.

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Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Understanding Intrapreneurship



Not everyone is fortunate enough to give wings to her entrepreneurial pursuits due to lack of capital and other resources. The concept of “intrapreneurship” comes to the rescue of such individuals. Intrapreneurship is basically practicing entrepreneurship within the confines of an organization. Intrapreneurship works well for various reasons—the foremost being that unlike entrepreneurial ventures, there is no substantial risk involved. Intrapreneurs are employed by an organization for a fixed remuneration and are involved with generating new ideas and converting them into profitable ventures with financial support and other help from the organization.

Difference between Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship
There are certain similarities and differences between entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs. Like an entrepreneur, even an intrapreneur exhibits characteristics such as independence, conviction, vision, passion to fulfil his dreams, etc. Entrepreneurs make their own decisions, whereas…

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Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Perfect Moment Monday: Thanking Employees


My Perfect Moment for this week included the company of some wonderful friends and watching my husband be a shining example of what makes not just a good leader but a great leader. Every year my husband likes to acknowledge those who work for him. He realizes that saying “thank you” throughout the year means a lot to motivating his employees, but he chooses to show them by inviting them over to our home for dinner twice a year. For some individuals this seems like he is going over the top to show his gratitude and that it is a lot to ask of me to host with him. In reality, I fully support this show of gratitude and really enjoy socializing with these individuals.

This past Saturday was for those who report directly to him and was a celebration of 2010: the successes, the challenges, the laughs and the frustrations. My husband, Jerry, puts a lot of thought into the evening; the gift bags they each receive are meant for not just the employee but are meant to be shared with their supporting spouses. Jerry recognizes that for his employees to truly give their all at work, their spouses or partners play key roles and therefore are not just invited but are part of his decision regarding the theme of the gift bag. This year we did “martini” themed gift bags. The idea was to provide each of his employees the opportunity to celebrate one evening with their partners a successful day.

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