How to keep the achoos away

Ahh Winter. The season of celebrating holidays, eating good food and tissues. Wait - Tissues?? By now if you haven't caught that annual winter cold, you most likely know someone who has (and are actively avoiding them...well their germs at least). But how do you avoid someone you work with? To be frank, working in an office environment can be like thrusting yourself into a cesspool of germs for 8 hours a day. BUT WAIT! While this may seem like your fate is sealed to spend a week or so in a cough medicine-haze, there are things that you and your office mates can do to help fight the good fight against cold and flu bugs. (in no particular order of course)

1. Wash your hands - and not just after going to the bathroom. I recommend doing this at least before eating and after meeting someone. Does this really need elaboration? (and then avoid touching your face)

2. Keep a handy supply of hand sanitizer nearby. I know that there are constant debates on the actual benefits of this product, however, I feel as though any little bit helps.

3. Clean your office space at least twice a week - especially if it is frequently visited. By this I mean to keep it nice and clean in the traditional sense, but to also wipe it down with household cleaning wipes. Areas to target are:

• Keyboard
• Monitor
• Mouse
  
• Phone
• Doorknob
• General desk area
• Any handles (ie. filing cabinets)

4. Eat well. Your body can't protect you from impending disease if you don't give it the necessary tools for success. This includes the recommended dose of vitamins (esp Vitamin C!)

5. Keep your fluid levels up! Staying hydrated will both keep you healthy and keep your skin looking fresh! In this case, coffee and other caffinated beverages do not count as fluids. Water or a sports drink will work wonders. (And if you do end up getting sick, it will keep the 'gunk' so to speak moving right out of your system)

6. ZzzZzzZzz Who doesn't want to just curl up and go to sleep when the sun has set by 6pm? By allowing your body 7-9 hours of good, uninterrupted sleep each night, you are giving it time to rest from the day and prepare you for the day ahead. This can be achieved through setting up a nightly routine that you stick to.

7. Take off. If you feel yourself coming down with something, take the day off from work. Your body will thank you for the extra time to rest and heal and your office mates will thank you too. It is also important to point out that it is okay to ask for help as well. Over-exerting yourself when you aren't feeling your best is not the way to get better.

8. Some people recommend the flu shot - or any other preventative procedures. While I am not telling you to go out and get this done (because then I would be a hypocrite) many people swear to its benefits. If you do decide to get one, research the side effects and be fully educated on the risks and benefits before you go.

9. Know the difference between a cold and the flu or something more serious - and don't be afraid to go to the doctor. And when I say doctor, I mean a living, breathing person in one of those spiffy white lab coats. Google does NOT count as a doctor - even though we want it to.
9a. If the doctor gives you medicine for your ailment, finish your prescription!

10. Keep warm - I mean, its called a cold for a reason! Okay, so while the actual act of being cold won't get you sick, there has been some research to show that lower body temperatures can in turn lower your immune system, thus making you more prone to getting sick. So here's to big comfy sweaters, tightly-wrapped scarfs, warm gloves and a hat to top off any winter ensemble.

So there you have it. 10 tips on staying healthy. While I'm not a doctor, I do love watching medical shows. But what I love more is staying healthy. (gosh that was cheesy) My best advice would be to just be smart and use your best judgment this season in terms of staying healthy. Remember and put into practice those things we were taught in kindergarten and you are one step ahead of those who don't.
Now I'm off to set up a countdown to springtime and warm weather! Woo!!

^^^

who isn't excited for this?

Four Tips for Making a Lasting Impression

A first impression can often be the determining factor in the course of a relationship, personal or professional, so why chance it? As professionals, we should be doing everything in our power to make sure that every first impression we make is nothing short of the best representation of ourselves. This is especially important when meeting someone in your industry whether they are a potential client, your stiffest competition or even a new employee. By establishing a shining first impression, you are laying the foundation for a solid relationship. Therefore, it is just as important to take care in fostering that impression and turning it into a promising connection.

1. The Handshake

Ask five people what the ingredients for a “perfect” handshake are, and you will most likely receive five different answers. Growing up, my father taught me that when meeting someone, you always look them square in the eyes and give them a solid, firm handshake. Of course this varies with different cultures, but typically in America this is a good rule to follow. By doing so, you are showing whomever you are meeting that you not only care, but respect them and want them to feel confident in meeting with you. I have found that it is off-putting to offer a weak handshake. To me, that says that you do not care enough about me or my time to even put in the effort to give me a good handshake. Again, it is all about first impressions, and you don’t want to start out at a disadvantage.

2. Meeting Etiquette

Countless books have been written on meeting etiquette and most likely say the same thing. The key thing to keep in mind is respect. Here are three tips I find most helpful when attending meetings.

1. Be on time. “If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late” is a good rule to follow. Arriving at a meeting late will most likely leave the other attendees with a bad impression. Remember to allow for traffic in planning your travel time. This will save you from keeping others waiting.

1. During the meeting, instead of formulating what you are going to say next, clear your mind and listen — don’t just hear — what others are saying. This will allow you to catch other details you may have missed when calculating your response.

1. Fight the urge to bring your cell phone. Knowing it’s there will only tempt you to check it, which will only further distract you. Instead, leave it in your office or in your car. If it is necessary to have it on you, placing it on silent or vibrate will keep distractions at a minimum while you wait for your important call.

3. Business Cards

Don’t forget business cards! In a time of almost paperless communication, business cards still remain an important commodity amongst professionals. It is safe practice to make sure to have a stack with you at all times. It is important that your business card properly reflect you or your company. Business cards are so customizable, with literally thousands of options from the type of paper to fonts to creative cutouts, yet more often than not you will receive a standard rectangular cut out on white paper stock. If it is appropriate for your market, why not try mixing it up a little? For example, LeapFrog Solutions’ business cards have rounded corners and utilize both sides to stand out. Most people are surprised to find a green backing to our cards with our motto, Make Your Message Matter® inscribed. It also lists our GSA Certification for our government-based clients. Our cards reflect that we are a creative and fun marketing agency while also focusing on our serious business practices.

4. The Follow Up

Sending a follow-up message is something we are all taught to do, but how many of us actually do it? Five minutes of your time really goes a long way in terms of creating a lasting impression. It is simple to do and may even help to keep you top of mind with whomever you meet. For tips on email etiquette, see Carita Eleazar’s article in the November 2010 issue ofHop To It. However, to stand out and take it one step further, a handwritten note is almost unheard of in these times of 4G cell phone speeds but will surely get you noticed. Some stationery and a book of stamps could be one of the best investments you make in terms of making an impression. Thanking them for their time and suggesting next steps to take will keep the door open for future meetings.

A good first impression is an invaluable piece to developing a relationship, be it professional or personal. However, it is also a matter of what you do with that impression that builds that relationship. By starting out strong and continuing to foster a good bond with others, you are setting yourself up for success. Your handshake and meeting etiquette coupled with memorable business cards and follow-up communication are all relatively small gestures that can help you make a strong lasting impression with whomever you meet.

Abbi Boose graduated from George Mason University with a B.A. in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in Tourism and Events Management.

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Poppin' Bottles!

LFS is celebrating this morning! Celebrating our fantastic team and all of their hard work!

A Happy Holiday at LFS

A Happy New Year from all of the froggies at the LFS pad!

We were reminiscing about the fantastic holiday festivities that we had here in December and thought we should share some photos of all the cheer, burritos, Acai, and amazing Albino Pachyderm Bartering System (gift exchange extravaganza). Fun was had by all and as always, the best gifts came in liquid form!

Happy New Year from LeapFrog Solutions!

Wishes for a bright and productive 2011!