Add the following ingredients to a cocktail shaker:

• Add plenty of shaved or cubed ice (3/4 full)
• 3 oz of your favorite vodka
• ½ oz of Grand Marnier
• ½ oz of triple sec
• the juice of one fresh lime
• 100% pomegranate juice (add as much as you like, or just fill the shaker)

Shake thoroughly and strain into a glass of your choice. This recipe should make at least two decent size cosmos. I like to use the stemmed triangular glasses for this drink. I also like to serve it with ice in the glass, but that is your choice. You could just use the leftover ice that is in the shaker.

No matter which way you choose to serve it, relax and enjoy…and let me know how you like it!

In fact, more often than not, on the drive home, I tend to solve a problem that I may have been having all day long.  Even though I do bring my PC home with me, I may not even turn it on while I am at home.  Simply the process of leaving the office, and getting away from the workplace environment, stirs something within my mind that allows me to figure things out.

Where do you find is the best place for solving work problems?

1. Take a Hike.

I have always been a nature lover and either climbing a mountain or just walking a trail on the weekend is a great way to relax and unwind from the workweek.  It is such a stark contrast from sitting in a cubicle and that is what makes it so enjoyable.

2. Visit a Farmers Market.

My wife and I are lovers of great food.  To make great food you need to start with fresh ingredients.  We oftentimes visit local farmers markets on the weekend where we get to see fresh produce from farms in the surrounding area.  You tend to pay a little bit more than the non-local produce in the supermarket but you are 1) supporting local farms and 2) purchasing the freshest produce you can get for your scrumptious nightly meal.

3. Try a new specialty drink.

These days, finding a recipe for a specialty alcoholic beverage is a few clicks away.  I love to explore the variety of different recipes that I can find for frozen margaritas, cosmopolitans, or, better yet, a drink that I have never even heard of.  Add some spice to your weekend and try something new.  It could even be a new wine from a local vineyard.  You’d be surprised at the quality of wines you can purchase from local vineyards, even if you don’t live in Napa or Sonoma.

4. Day Tripping.

As I write this article, I am on vacation.  This time I did not have anything planned, which was different from my typical vacation.  As a result, I was able to take day trips to unfamiliar locations.  Sometimes we just get stuck in the same routine and don’t explore surrounding areas that may be an hour drive from our home.  Venture out and explore your surroundings.  You may just find that it is a lot more interesting than you had assumed.

5. Visit your local library. Really!

OK this one may sound boring to most of you but recently I have really started to take advantage of my local library.  Until I actually checked it out, I didn’t realize that there are a multitude of movies and CDs available for free.  And don’t think that you can’t get the latest books to read.  I can even go online and check out books from my local library which makes it very convenient.

Weekends can go by very quickly but if you fill them with exciting and interesting activities you may find that, by the time Monday morning comes, you just may be ready to tackle the upcoming workweek.  At the same time, you may start planning what your upcoming weekend may entail.

1. Modes of Communication

I remember when there were basically three different modes of communication: face-to-face communication, telephone conversation, and snail mail.  Today, email is the preferred method of communication.  It is an indirect method that most people prefer.  Your recipient can either choose to respond or not – and you have conveyed your message without needing to have direct communication.  In the internet age we also have VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol – popularized primarily with the emergence of Skype and Google Voice), instant messaging and texting.  Texting has usurped email as the main type of communication with young people.  Instant messaging is still being used in the business world, while Skype and Google Voice are used for personal and business communication.

2. Online Banking

The only time I write a check now is for a gift at a christening or a wedding.  If you haven’t started online banking, you should definitely consider it.  I’ve been online banking for at least the past ten years and I absolutely love it.  The reasons for doing so are numerous, such as:

• You don’t have to be constantly writing out checks to pay your bills, licking envelopes, and buying postage.
• You can easily pay your regular bills like mortgage and car loan with a couple of clicks and the payments will be made electronically on the proper day to avoid late charges.
• You can also receive your bills electronically and an email will notify you when the bill arrives.  Then, after logging into your bank website, you can schedule your bills to arrive on a given date.

Another great thing about online banking is that you can set up anyone as a recipient of funds.  So, if you want to send a check to a relative you can do so online either by having a paper check mailed to them or directly depositing the money into their account.

3. Online Degrees

I could be considered an authority on online education as I just completed another college degree taking online classes exclusively.  I just received my diploma in the mail last week and I never once visited the college.  I am a huge proponent of online education.  The benefits far outweigh any drawbacks – especially for anyone who works full-time – since the logistics of driving to and from class would simply be too time-consuming.  There wasn’t even the hassle of having to go to the bookstore as I could order those online as well.  Sure, there are some drawbacks – such as not having face-to-face interaction with classmates – but even that is possible if you want to Skype with them. If you have the inclination to go back to school for your degree, you should really consider taking an online degree.  Take one class as a test drive; you will not regret it.

4. Online Training and Seminars

I remember a time that the only way you could get training on the job was either by going to a training class or having a trainer come into your workplace.  Well, the landscape has certainly changed here.  Webinars have become extremely popular in the internet age, bringing together a virtual class online.  Gone are the travel costs for both the trainer and the trainee, which lowers the cost for the class itself.  Anyone can basically put together a training class from the comfort of their own home with tools such as GoToMeeting.  I regularly schedule GoToMeeting training classes with foreign counterparts and customers.

5. Searching

There were days when you wanted to learn more about a particular subject you would open a book, an encyclopedia or a dictionary.  At my house, we always had a full collection of World Book Encyclopedias. When the end of each year came, we would receive the edition that chronicled that particular year.  To this day I use a dictionary and thesaurus on a daily basis – but now they live online and not on my bookshelf.  Today, we have lightning fast search engines that can give us thousands of links based on specific keywords.  Just yesterday I used the internet to scope out farmer’s markets in my neck of the woods. Not only did I find a local one, but I got directions on how to get there.

6. Researching

My brother, a professor at a prestigious liberal arts college on the West Coast of the US , has written text books in the area of Government and Political Science.  He has told me that with the advent of the internet age, the manner in which he does his research for his books has changed dramatically.  In the past, he would have to go to a library to do his research.  Today all of this research is done online, in the comfort of his own office.  His main concern is to be conscious of sites with faulty information.  Fortunately for him, his research is typically done on legitimate government and political science websites – so that is a minor concern.

7. Buying Online

If you can’t find it in a local store, you can always find it online.  A case in point is that I recently could not find canned pumpkin anywhere in local stores.  My wife uses pumpkin to make pumpkin breads, pumpkin ravioli and for other baking needs.  It appears that there is a pumpkin shortage in the United States due to excessive rain.  So, I mentioned to my wife that we should try to find it online – and we did. We were able to order a case of canned pumpkin for a fairly reasonable price.  If you can’t find it at a local store, chances are you can find it online.

8. Telecommuting

The internet age has completely redefined how we work.  The ability to sit in your home office while connecting to all of the same resources as if you were in your work office is a reality in today’s workplace.  This has allowed people like me to avoid a two and a half hour commute on the days that I am allowed to telecommute.  The time savings, gas savings and the wear and tear on my car (and on me) is a huge gain.  There is nothing I can do at work that I cannot do at home – other than walk over to somebody’s office.  As mentioned previously, I use GoToMeeting if I need to meet with someone and share my computer.

9. Freelance Writing

With the popularity of the internet, there has been an explosion in online content.  As a result of this, there has been a huge boon in freelance writing.  Opportunities exist as never before in this area.  If you love to write and are good at it, chances are you can find an online presence that will pay for your services.  I have had the good fortune of doing just that for this very popular blog, which happens to be based halfway across the world.  Being able to develop a portfolio of your work, and get paid for it, is a tremendous opportunity in the online world.

10. Worldwide media accessibility

The internet has opened up all users to worldwide media.  Internet radio is accessible to anyone in the world connected to the internet.  An example of this is that the other morning my wife (of Greek descent) was going to put on some Greek CDs on the stereo as she cooked for a large group that was visiting later in the day.  I suggested to her that we should search the internet for a Greek radio site.  We quickly found a Greek radio website that had links of roughly fifty different radio stations, most of which were music stations.  We found a radio station based in Thessaloniki, Greece, which is where her mother was born.  I hooked up some cheap $5 speakers to my laptop and we were able to enjoy hours of Greek music, at no cost.  My wife was flabbergasted with the quality of the sound and the variety of the music.

These are just some of what I call “life-changing” advancements of the internet age.  The productivity and personal gains that the internet has given to the world are tremendous.  This list is not meant to be comprehensive but these are some of my favorites.  I am fortunate in that I am able to remember what life was without these conveniences.

I sometimes wonder if the young people of today can truly appreciate the gifts that the internet has bestowed upon us.

Put those quick recipes aside for a moment and relax with an ice cold beverage.  Take the time…you’ve earned it.

My drink of choice is the frozen margarita.  I’ve been drinking them for years and I’ve put that experience to good use; I have come up with the perfect recipe.  This is an awesome drink to have at the end of a hard week at the office.  Here, ladies and gentlemen, is my frozen margarita recipe:

Pour the following ingredients into a blender.

• 3 ounces of your favorite tequila. I swear by Jose Cuervo Gold.
• 1 ounce of your favorite triple sec.
• 1 ounce of Grand Marnier.
• 1 ounce of Rose’s Lime Juice.
• The juice of one fresh lime.
• Load up with ice.

Run your blender until the liquid is a frothy mixture.  Make sure you add enough ice so that there is a decent thickness to the liquid.  Slice a small wedge of lime and coat the rim of your margarita glass with the juice.  Pour some sea salt onto a dish and place the glass upside down so that the salt adheres to the glass rim.  When your drink is through blending, pour into the glass and enjoy!

I believe that this will be the best margarita you have ever tasted.  Take it from what my friends call me: Margarita Man.

Do you start planning your weekend long in advance?

Do you start thinking about what you’re going to do on the weekends as early as Monday morning?

We all need something to look forward to. But people all around us remind us to stay in the moment.  For example, how many times have you heard this?

“Live for today!”

Or this timeless classic:

“Enjoy each day because you never know if there will be a tomorrow.”

Well, it’s my conjecture that most of us, unless we are retired or really enjoy our jobs, live for the future. I am definitely guilty of this but I tend to think it’s a healthy practice. Having activities to look forward to is beneficial to a positive outlook on life. At least we aren’t depressed and feeling sorry for ourselves in what could possibly be a mundane job. Getting through the week is so much easier when we have fun times to look forward to.  While I’m not exactly “living for the weekend”, I make it a point to have something to look forward to and I’m happier for it.

How do you approach each day of your working life?

“Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven’t half the strength that you think that they have.”

This one was actually introduced to me by my daughter. When I read this quote, I immediately think of a phobia that I had growing up which especially manifested itself when I was in high school. That phobia is the fear of public speaking. Who hasn’t experienced this phobia in their lives? If you haven’t, then you are in the minority. Being a former scientist, I oftentimes had to present my research in front of other scientists at national symposiums or seminars. I knew that I was not gifted in the way of articulation and I didn’t want to embarrass myself on the national stage, so to speak. So I turned to the international speaking group called Toastmasters International whose mission is to make effective oral communication a worldwide reality. Well, it worked for me. After joining and having to give organized speeches as well as extemporaneously speaking at each meeting, my skills progressed well enough that I was able to deliver an effective presentation. I looked at that obstacle in the eye and hit it head on. Recently, after years of being away from a Toastmasters club, I rejoined a local club near my work. I had almost forgotten how supportive fellow club members can be.

“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

How true is the above quote? We affect how we think. No one else can control our thoughts. When I hear someone say “He made me sad” or “She got under my skin”, I say NO. You made yourself sad or upset. We are all responsible for our own thoughts and our own actions. Take responsibility for your own thoughts and your own actions. Turn around the way you look at things. A fundamental change in your thoughts could lead to a huge change in your life.

“Be impeccable with your word.”

Don Miguel Ruiz wrote a book entitled the “Four Agreements” and his 1st agreement is entitled “Be impeccable with your word.” If there is one thing that we all have in common it is that our words define us. We can control how we speak and what we say, just as we can control our thoughts. If we do not choose our words wisely then we will be judged by others according to those words. So it is imperative in our lives to think before we speak. At work, and in our personal lives, it is our words that represent us. Being careless and irresponsible with your words, can be disastrous. The common expression “Loose lips sink ships” is synonymous with the above quote. Being responsible in your verbal interaction is extremely important, not only in your work life, but in your personal life, as well.

“The Truly Educated never Graduate.”

If there is one quote that I tend to live my life by it is the above quote. I’m not sure of its origin as I saw it on a car, as a bumper sticker. I always try to learn something new every day, whether it be in my working life or otherwise. I know that this is the reason that I gravitate to non-fiction versus fiction. I don’t learn anything new by reading fiction. You cannot go wrong by learning something new. As an older worker, I am always concerned that a younger worker could be brought in to take my place. OK, I may be slightly paranoid, but I’ve seen it over and over again. They say they are having a layoff, but miraculously the position is supposedly abolished and then a young buck is hired who just happens to have the same job duties. How surprising is that? Being complacent in your job is dangerous. Open yourself up to the bleeding edge technologies. Immerse yourself in skills you do not yet know. Never graduate!

Inspiration can come from many sources. It’s up to you to use those words to make the positive changes that can benefit your life.

Get your private island

The addition of an island or free-standing working surface to your kitchen will do wonders for your productivity. Years ago, being an avid woodworker, I built an island for my wife, at her request. This was, by far, the biggest and most important addition to our kitchen. Fortunately, I was able to build it to her specifications. The proper height is especially important and it will typically be the exact same height as your kitchen countertops. If the height is too low, it could add to back problems due to the chef bending over to work on the surface. If it is too high, it will be very uncomfortable to use the work surface. There are many advantages to utilizing an island in your kitchen. The main advantage is that you now have a much larger surface to prepare your meals. Rather than using approximately a two foot deep countertop as a work surface, your work surface could potentially double or greater. It is important to locate your island in a central location in your kitchen. As a result, it makes it very easy to get at your refrigerator, pantry, or your pots and pans. The island I built also has a built-in cabinet where my wife keeps many of her large pots and pans. This also puts the cookware in close proximity to her when she needs them. Another pleasant advantage to using an island in your kitchen is that you can now face the center of your kitchen rather than facing a wall when using your countertops. This can lend itself to having a conversation with your children or your spouse while preparing your meal. Do not underestimate the importance of an island in your kitchen. Ask someone who has one and they will tell you that they cannot live without it.

Slow cooking

Well, this isn’t fast cooking, per se, but still a kitchen accelerator. Purchasing a slow cooker or Crock-Pot can result in a tremendous productivity boost in your kitchen. Why, you might say? You can be cooking your nightly meal while you are busy taking your kids to their soccer game. All you have to do is load up the slow cooker and your meal can be cooking itself throughout the day. Not only does it make your life a whole lot easier, it will fill your house with a wonderful aroma. Just peruse the internet and you will find recipes, books, and sites that are devoted to slow cooking. Some favorites that my wife makes are pulled pork, chili, and basically any type of stew. Believe me, it is worth the investment.

Buy a free-standing mixer

The most popular free-standing mixer that is out there is made by KitchenAid. We picked one of their mixers up years ago and the advantages of this kitchen tool are numerous – and the time saved is tremendous. They may not be cheap, but the advantages are numerous. If you bake bread or make pizza for your family, a free-standing mixer is invaluable. If you purchase an attachment called a dough hook, you can use it to knead the dough while you are busy working on the rest of your meal. This mixer can also be used to whip potatoes, mix up meatloaf, or combine ingredients for cakes, pies, or any other type of dessert. Even though this type of mixer is expensive, they will last for years.

Get your gadgets

These days, kitchen gadgets that can be purchased are numerous.  One special gadget that my wife utilizes is called a microplane. It is a tool that is approximately one foot long which includes a metal blade surface, about one inch wide, and a plastic handle. It is similar to the size of your typical hand file. The microplane is used to shred cheese, puree garlic, and to shred lemon or lime zest. The uses are endless and it has become an essential gadget in my wife’s kitchen arsenal.

A bread knife – especially if you cook or buy any type of bread – is an essential kitchen gadget. A bread knife is a special type of knife that has serrated edges which make it very easy to cut into a loaf of fresh bread. A bread board, which is a wooden surface with holes, allows you to cut the bread and the crumbs, will fall into a metal plan beneath it. The two pieces are separate which makes for easy cleaning.

Two other gadgets that are well used in our kitchen are the lemon and lime reamer. All you have to do is slice the lemon or lime in half and by simply pressing each side of the reamer together the juice can be easily directed to the food you are preparing.

Avoiding Hell’s Kitchen

There are numerous ways to increase your kitchen productivity; I have only scratched the surface.  I didn’t even get into the clean-up!  With the right setup, methods and the tools in place, you can make working in your kitchen not only more productive…but a lot more enjoyable.

1. Don’t research the company beforehand.

Why bother? You are being interviewed for what you can bring to the table, not on your knowledge of that company. If you had to do that for all of the companies you are interviewing at, you just might get them mixed up. Going into the interview blindly will keep your mind clear and should help you in answering their probing questions.

2. Don’t try to find a contact who works for that company.

Knowing someone who works for that particular company could lead to problems. There could be something in your past with that person that may have a detrimental effect on you getting the job. Your vast resume of job experience, or your stellar educational superlatives, should help you rise to the top of the candidate list. Adding anything else to the mix, like an inside contact within that company, could lead to complications. And utilizing job networking applications like LinkedIn may be difficult, and time-consuming, to use. And do you really want to connect with former colleagues?  You didn’t like most of them anyway.

3. Leave your portfolio of work at home.

If you have worked previously, and this isn’t your first job interview, you probably have a portfolio of your work. If you are a software developer, you probably have examples of code you have written. Or, if you are a graphic artist, you should have a portfolio of your work. But, bringing your portfolio with you is just another thing you’ll have to remember. You want to keep it simple and keep your mind clear of all distractions. If they ask you about your previous work, you should be able to explain it to them. Real-world examples may only complicate matters.

4. Dress casual.

These days business casual is typically the dress of the day. So, why not just jump into that environment for the interview as well. That should show the company that you will fit right into their workplace. In fact, you shouldn’t wear any type of suit, suit jacket, or tie, because it could send the wrong message. You want to fit in with the other employees and dressing casual will show them that you are a team player.

5. Ask about vacation time.

You know that you have that planned vacation to the islands coming up in the summer. And you want to make sure that getting this job won’t hinder going on that vacation. So, rather than waiting for the second interview, or after they have offered you the position, inquire about the vacation right off the bat. It is much better knowing this before you get too far into the interview. And if you aren’t happy with the amount of vacation that they are offering to new employees, voice your opinion. This will show that you have the ability to speak up for yourself.

6. Ask about telecommuting.

It’s the year 2010 right? And companies these days are becoming more and more progressive in their stance toward working from home. You also know that the commute to this company could be pretty taxing on your body if you have to drive in every day of the week. So, make it a point, in that first interview, to let them know that working from home, at least a few days a week, could really benefit your work productivity. Tell them how much time you will be saving not having to commute on those days. You could hit the ground running first thing in the morning and you could also work later in the day.

We all know that a job interview is an anxiety-ridden experience. But, if you really enjoy going to job interviews, by following the advice given above, chances are you’ll be going to a lot of them!

Step 1 – Prepare Your Material

This is first because it should be. Nothing alleviates stress more than knowing, inside and out, what you’re going to talk about. Doing the research, and gathering the information needed for the presentation, should be your #1 priority.

In fact, if you are giving a presentation, it is understood that you are the authority on the topic. More often than not, you will know the topic better than anyone else in the room. Just that fact should help you get through it with a well-informed confidence.

Step 2 – Create an Outline

Some people like to write the whole presentation out first, which is fine. But, when you are ready to give the presentation, you should use index cards with bullet points, rather than a document that is completely written out. Chances are you are using overheads or PowerPoint to assist with the presentation. You may already have the bullet points on the slides, which makes it easier to speak to.

Since you know the material (see step #1), just use the bullet points for an outline to keep you on track. No one wants to listen to someone who reads the whole thing from a script. For one thing, it’s boring. Another is that your audience may make the assumption that you’re not prepared, which doesn’t bode well for your presentation.

Step 3 – Practice

Yes, I know, this one is obvious, but it cannot go unstated. Being a member of Toastmasters, the international organization devoted to public speaking, I know how important it is to practice a speech or a presentation. I know of some people who have practiced for a presentation while they are working on the assembly line at their job. Others may be practicing while running on a treadmill at the gym. If you want to give your presentation to your dog, that is cool too.

Simply repeating the words over and over really helps you get over those nervous jitters about speaking out loud. One thing that you want to also do is time yourself. This had been drilled into me at my Toastmasters meetings because we are very concerned with staying within time boundaries. If you don’t have a stopwatch, there are online timers that you can use that will help you stay within the time allotted.

Step 4 – Visualize Success

After practicing your presentation, visualize positive responses from your audience and your boss. See yourself speaking with confidence as you know the material and are imparting important information to your audience. One quote that I use when it comes to life and to giving a presentation is “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” If you look at giving a presentation as a positive event, rather than an ordeal, you may find that you might even enjoy the experience.

Think of it as personal growth rather than a chore that you are dreading.

Step 5 – Solicit Feedback

When you are ready to give the presentation, perform a dry run for your peers, if at all possible. Ask them for constructive criticism. In Toastmasters, after we give a speech, there is an evaluator who also gives positive feedback and recommendations for improvement. You may be doing or saying something that takes away from the presentation, but you weren’t aware of this fact.

Maybe you were using the words “ah”, “so”, “you know”, or “again” excessively. I actually counted 53 times that my Human Resources manager said the word “again” at a half hour presentation. Do you think that took away from the material she was presenting? Absolutely. If you know these things ahead of time, you can make positive changes and refine the presentation based on this feedback.

We all know it can be difficult giving a presentation. But if you follow the steps outlined here you just might find that this dreaded, anxiety-ridden, task can end up being a positive, fulfilling, and gratifying experience of personal growth.