Frantic Friday Frenzy

Today starts the infamous “Black Friday” craze, where everyone stays up to the wee hours of the morning and shops until they drop. But, the real question is: Do you really have to go out to get the deals that you want? The answers is: no! With “Gray Thursday, Black Friday, Cyber Sunday and Monday, and Small Business Saturday” you can almost guarantee that you will still get the deals you want throughout the Thanksgiving weekend and week after as well.

The key to a successful shopping experience during this time of year is having a strategy. Know where you want to go, have a budget, make a list, print out and bring coupons, and research “BOGO” sales. Buy one, get one sales are more popular than ever before. Many stores and businesses offer BOGOs on products you already use and want. They want your return business. This shopping season is all about getting and keeping YOU, the customer wanting more. Be mindful when shopping this holiday season.

Have a good time and be financially responsible. Remember, that credit card statement will be waiting for you at the end of the month. Make sure that you are not setting yourself up for end of year “Holiday Dread” of paying for everything that you think you needed, and could have waited to purchase.

Jenice

Monday Morning Mindset

Speaking truth starts with understanding what you feel about yourself and your abilities. There a ways to get your mind set for the weeks’ challenges. When dealing with difficult situations it is helpful to get somewhere quiet and ask yourself a few quick questions:

• Am I being kind to myself in this moment?
• Is this necessary to do?
• Does this situation make me whole?
• Is this true of my core self?

When asking yourself these questions remember that each situation in your life is not about how you act, but rather how you react to it. The best way to not draw offense from any situation is to find clarity from within. Speak aloud some positive affirmations about yourself such as “I am a kind person, I am a person of truth or I have the ability to overcome this situation and come up higher.” The ability to “self talk” in a positive manner can determine your ability to see the challenge as a benefit instead of a hindrance. Being mindful of yourself is the first step toward growing and becoming a better person. You will make mistakes, because you are human. It is okay to take a moment and gain clarity in a world full of challenges.

All the Best,
Jenice

Fantastic Friday

Friday has finally come and now it is time relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor.  Friday is the day we all can’t wait to come and love to enjoy.  It is important to relax as much as you work.  Stress is not only hard on your body, but your mind as well.  Take some time this Friday to relax into yourself by reading a book, writing some poetry or doing something that you haven’t had a chance to do in a long time.  Enjoy some company with a friend, or take yourself out to dinner.  Whether you go out or stay in, enjoy your “Fantastic Friday” because you can.

Jenice

 

Two-Cent Tuesday

Two-Cent Tuesday

June 26, 2013, was a historical day in our great Nation. The Supreme Court ruled that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was unconstitutional. Marriage is being re-defined as simply “Loving Relationships.” On Nov 14, 2013 in a private ceremony I wedded my beloved “Husbian.” We have been together for 11 years and in the span of those 11 years anything could have happened. In the 11 years my “Better Half” and I have been together we have been through many trials. Our military careers were threaten, my “Better Half” had 3 major surgeries which disabled her from walking for up to 3 – 6 months each surgery, we were not covered by any spousal benefits, no income tax acknowledgements and a series of other personal dilemmas came against us. But, you know what “they” say? Love will always prevail!

Many of those whom are legally married are protected and afforded rights and liberties; we still have along way to go for marriage to be legal for everyone in all states and countries. The world has a lot to change, including worrying about who I love and who loves me unconditionally. Rights and liberties are for all, not only for those who feel they deserve them – but each and every one of us. Until this is fully understood, how love is defined love will continue to be divided.

Office of Personnel Management Same Sex Marriage Benefits

All the Best,
Jenice Armstead-McGinnis

Two-Cents

Two-Cents

Monday Morning Mindset

Thoughts become things, if you don’t believe this just look outside your front or back door. That building across the street, the car you drive, the bus you ride or the clothes and shoes you wear were all once someone’s idea. Thoughts are all ideas of the mind, which have the ability to become “things.” It has been said that the average human being has up to 5,000 single thoughts each and everyday. Keeping in mind that 5,000 of those thoughts become up to 500 ideas and of those 500 ideas only 20 – 50 have the tendency to become actual things with using provoked action. Those 20 – 50 things could be up to 1 or 2 published, created, invented or researched physical or tangible objects. Thoughts are important for various reasons.

A thought is the creative and intuitive way for your brain to understand the environment for which it is viewing. There are various ways for the brain to view one single event, item or person. There are truly hundreds of thousands of ways for something to be viewed, interpreted or communicated. The whole idea of a thought is to provoke action. It is mindful to have “Think Sessions” with yourself. “Think Sessions” are a great way to build thought control. Since your thoughts have the ability to become things, it is wise to remember that those “things” may or may not be in favor of what you want to create in your life. Choose your thoughts wisely, or they will choose you.

Thoughts Become Things

Two-Cent Tuesday

What is “Job Classification” you ask? I am glad you did. Job classification & qualifications are the “well oiled engines” that make a human resources department run smoothly. Job classification is how job descriptions are created for organizations employees. Job classification determines employee job responsibilities, duties, pay grade level and other important aspects of employee rights. Many employees are unaware of how job descriptions are created. Simply put, job descriptions are created by using job classifications.

Job classifications are ever changing and developing with the needs of an organization. Job classification is the outline for how and what a job description will state for employee development and promotion. Job or position classification standards include a plethora of information such as determining employee work schedule, Fair Labor Standards Act information, grade/wage promotion ability and exempt or non-exempt position status. In all, job classification is a full time, skilled ability that takes many years to perfect. With economy changes, job classification changes for organizational structure.

For more information on job classification check out the government site: Office of Personnel Management

Jenice

Two Cents

Two Cents

Monday Morning Mindset – Happy Veterans Day

Veterans Day is more than a holiday celebrated for shopping sales, free meals and discounts.  Veterans Day is the day for all of us to honor those who have served both voluntarily and involuntarily for all to enjoy the freedoms of civil rights, equal rights and rights to come.  Veterans are the backbone of this country, being a veteran of the United States Navy is my honor.  I am honored to have served these United States of America.

Being a veteran has allowed many benefits that I other wise would not enjoy.  The military provided an education that my parents couldn’t afford to give me.  I earned my Associates in Science from Vincennes University, Associates in Art, Bachelors in Business Administration with a concentration in Computer Science, Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources from Saint Leo University and currently earning my Doctorates in Business Administration.  All this education has been provided by the opportunities of being a veteran of the military.

What most people who know about all my educational path don’t know the challenges that took place while earning my education.  The many nights I was on “watch” while cramming for an English exam.  Military deployments to South Korea; Mombasa, Kenya; Rhoda, Spain; and Iraq where I was sleep derived and living off of Ready Made Meals (MREs) while scheduling exam retake dates to graduate on time.  The training operations in Camp Pendleton for mortar missile training while staying up until the early hours of the morning to ensure I had my math test submitted on time.

Today, as you see people in your coming and goings remember the ones who have given their lives for the rights you freely enjoy.  Don’t merely “thank a veteran” “appreciate a veteran.”  Appreciation is worth more than any thank you could ever say.

All the Best,

Yeoman Second Class (Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist) Armstead aka Jenice

Great Lakes, ILL.  aka  Great Mistakes

Jenice Armstead Boot Camp Photo

 

Easy Proofreading

Proofreading can be dry and mundane, but when you have some simple steps for proofreading it has the tendency to almost be fun.  Truth be told, proofreading is not just for writing, it can be used for anything from note taking to daily sticky notes.  You don’t know how many things have been taken out of context just because I didn’t take the time to do a quick proofread of a note I left for someone.

The first step toward great proof reading is to use a checklist.  A checklist allows for a quick outline of the important things that you want to convey.  It is used much like one would use an “outline” to start writing or developing a plan.  It seems like over doing it, but believe me a checklist is vital for developing great proofreading skills.

The second step is to fact check, too many times people accidentally plagiarize.  This can cause some serious creditably issues.  Make sure to check your work and fact check every thing you write.

The third step toward great proofreading is to spell-check.  There is no reason not to spell-check in this day of advanced technology; there are dictionaries and thesauruses everywhere.  You can easily down load an “app for that” and make sure to use it each time you proofread.

A step that has saved me more than once is the fourth proofreading step, read your writings aloud.  Reading aloud is different than reading something to yourself.  Often, if you read silently you will miss content, context, tenses or similar words such as their, there, and they’re.

That brings us to the fifth step toward great proofreading, focusing on one line at a time.  This one goes along with reading aloud.  While reading aloud you can take the time to focus on one line at a time.  Invest yourself in each line by developing powerful sentence structure.

Attention to formatting is the sixth proofreading step.  Formatting can be difficult, remember to utilize formatting options online for easier understanding of what is best for your writings.

Which brings us to proofreading step seven, which is start all over again and proofread your edits.  If you take the time to embrace each and every step, your proofreading skills will improve.

Happy Proofreading Writing

Jenice

Proofreading

Reference: Proofreading Helpers 

Two-Cent Tuesday

As an employer or employee it is always good business sense to keep up with your knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) of your field of choice. There are plenty of business sites for increasing your knowledge and skill base. O*Net is a great place to start. O*Net has every and any job description you can think of which exists. Not only will you gain a healthy knowledge of the job description, but the site gives you information about similar jobs and salary or wage grades for the position. Empower yourself with knowledge and check out onetonline.org.

two cents

Monday Morning Mindset

Having and keeping peace in your life is all about active action toward deciding to remain constant in every situation. In a world full of turmoil, unemployment and despair “Peace” says that no matter what the situation is, you have a right to remain peaceful at all times. Peace isn’t about getting what you want when you want it. Peace is the ability to remain stable in the middle of a tragedy, uncomfortable situations or simply when you are having a bad day. Peace is one of the fruits of the Spirit. When you have peace, you can remain grounded in knowing that everything will work out and be okay in the long run. Take some time to remind yourself to remain peaceful. Set your calendar or a alarm clock to remind you to remain peaceful throughout the day. Then say aloud “I am at peace with myself, others and all situations.” Remember, thoughts become words, and words become deeds.

Peace

Jenice