Using Surveys In The Workplace

It doesn’t matter if you have hundred of thousands of employees, or just three, employee surveys are still necessary to ensure a smooth running organization. However, conducting surveys is more than just handing out forms and getting your employees to answer. To ensure the accuracy of survey data, you, as an employer must observe proper guidelines.

First, be clear about the goals of the employee surveys. Are the surveys to be utilized as gauges for salary increase or for amendments of company policies? It is also important to explain these objectives to the employees. It is advisable to discuss with them the rationale behind the need for a survey and why is it necessary. Another important aspect to discuss is how they will be informed of survey results. These people would want to see results. Second, contact an impartial third-party organization to facilitate and conduct the survey. This will assure employees that their answers and results will not be tampered with to the advantage of the management. Third, be clear about the time constraints. Conduct the survey within a specific time frame so that the process would be more efficient and the results would be achieved as quickly as possible. Fourth, emphasize the value of survey response. Aim for a hundred percent response rate to ensure that all employees have had their say. This will pave the way for a democratic compromise between you as the employer, and the employees. Let your employees in on discussions about these matters and you can be almost be assured of optimum survey results.

However, employee surveys are much more effective if there is a guarantee from the management. Guarantee your employees that your actions and the changes in the company will be based on the survey results. Inform them how you intend to act on these results. It is a good idea to suggest that the final move regarding the survey results would be based upon employer-employee compromise. Provide the means to conduct the survey. It is important that the means you choose should be based on the skills of your employees. An online survey program can process data faster but if most of your employees don’t know how to use computers or aren’t comfortable using one, a paper questionnaire survey is your best bet. In any survey, it is important to assure your subjects that their anonymity will be protected. Confidentiality of personal information is important to encourage employees to be honest in answering surveys.

Lastly, remind your employees that the employee surveys are done for the protection of their rights within the company. It is a good idea to remind them during the course of data collection about survey goals. Publish survey results to encourage your employees to participate in discussions of company plans.

Hydroponics Worldwide A Look At Growing Systems Around The Globe

The advent of hydroponic gardening has redefined the crop-growing industry worldwide. Western nations such as Canada and the United States, along with eastern countries such as Japan are currently at the forefront of the blooming hydroponics industry, maintaining a steady output of large yields and clean, healthy produce. East and west, the hydroponics industry is steadily growing around the globe. Commercial hydroponics is appealing because of its effectiveness and sustainability.

Leading nations are not the only ones profiting from hydroponics gardening technology – developing countries are also beginning to utilize hydroponics gardening systems because of their efficiency and the agricultural benefits of hydroponic growing.

Commercial hydroponics has grown exponentially throughout the world over the last decade. Small- and large-scale hydroponic farms can be found in countries such as Spain, New Zealand, Mexico and Australia. Nicaragua produces over 125 million pounds of hydroponically grown peppers annually. Thanks to the sustainability and efficiency of hydroponics gardening, countries like Nicaragua can perpetually produce crops while bringing in substantial revenue.

Countries such as Israel can benefit from hydroponics gardening systems because hydroponics prevents water from being wasted in the soil. Hydroponic systems both save and recycle water and nutrient solutions.

While hydroponics growing has an increasing commercial appeal, more individual households are also taking advantage of hydroponic systems. Design and construction of hydroponics systems also make hydroponic gardening appealing due to their portability.

Thanks to hydroponic growing, healthy and high-yielding crops are being grown in places such as Antarctica and the International Space Station. The hydroponics garden in Antarctica is used to provide the staff of the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station with at least one fresh salad a day, and a variety of fruits and vegetables typically unavailable in the past.

Climate in indoor hydroponics systems is easily controllable, adding to the universal appeal of hydroponic gardening.

As the world population steadily grows (experts estimate the global population will reach 8.9 billion by 2050) hydroponics gardening systems may play an even more important role due to the sustainability and economic efficiency of hydroponics growing.

Health Benefits Of Herb Gardening

One trend that is quickly gaining huge popularity is herb gardening. People everywhere are starting their own gardens and producing great herbs and other plants that are much healthier and cheaper than the produce that can be purchased at the store. While it used to take a fairly large garden to grow herbs, it is now possible to have your own herb garden inside your home through a process called hydroponic gardening. This means that you will be able to enjoy the health benefits of herb gardening, even though you may have limited yard space or live in a small apartment.

Besides being a great experience, there are many health benefits of herb gardening. The first main health benefit of growing your own herbs is the added nutrition that you and your family will be getting from your food. Home grown food is higher in nutrition because it can be harvested at peak ripeness. This means that you and your family will be getting more nutrients from your food, which will lead to less medical problems. Another one of the health benefits is that garden grown plants are not contaminated with the harmful chemicals and pesticides that are widely used in commercial farming. These chemicals can be dangerous to humans, even in small amounts, so not having them on your food can help keep you healthy.

Aside from the health benefits there are many other benefits that make growing your own food a great option. Plants that are grown at home will be much fresher than plants that were picked, shipped, and sat in the store until you purchased them. The best tasting plants are the ones that are picked fresh and immediately used., and this is only possible for you if you grow your own.

Starting your own garden can be a great idea and also be a lot of fun. Try to choose herbs and plants that you will be using frequently and others that you may not be able to find in local stores. By growing your own herbs you will be getting all of the health benefits of herb gardening as well as better tasting food at a lower cost. If you are new to herb gardening and need some additional information, you can find tips, tricks, and suggestions on the Internet. There is a lot of information that will be able to help you get started with your own garden.

Best Audiobooks To Supercharge Your Mind, Memory & Motivation

How would you like to you take decisions like a top CEO and brush obstacles aside like a rampaging T-Rex? Or, on a more down to earth note work faster, with greater clarity of vision. Break down and solve problems more quickly than usual and feel really positive and in control of your life and destiny?

“Ah yes” you say, “happens to me once or twice a month”. A shame it happens so rarely. It need not be like that though, and here’s why:

Fact 1 – This is how movers and shakers feel most of the time.

Fact 2 It is JUST a state of mind.

Fact 3 You can use audiobooks to give your mind a “work out” & create this state of mind “on demand”.

There are many downloadable audio books on the whole success and motivation subject though, and this can make knowing what one(s) to get hard.

So in this article we’ll break things down to make it easy for you to get going.

Sections –

1) Supercharged Mind – Defined

2) 3 Important facts about the “Supercharged state”

3) How “Brain” workout audiobooks will help you

4) My top 10 audiobooks to give you the best bang/buzz for your buck!

**Supercharged Mind – Defined**

You’ve probably had times when you feel supercharged, when you feel like you can do and achieve anything. When –

1) Everything around you seems to take on extra crisp clarity.

2) You can do things at higher speed and act more decisively than usual.

3) You feel that anything is achievable and that the world can, and will be at your feet!

4) If you’re selling something you’ve got extra buzz and motivation and sell way better than “usual”

It’s essentially a “performance enhanced” state of mind but you’re going to use audio books rather than dodgy substances to get it!

** 3 Important facts about the “Supercharged state”**

1) Successful people have this mindset and can turn it on and off on demand.

2) You don’t have to be supercharged all the time. You can & should turn off or else you’ll likely burn out!

3) You can condition your brain with audiobooks to get into this supercharged state.

As I say you don’t need to be charged up all the time. For example:

If you can go from 0% of your working day “in zone” to 20% of your day you can add way more than 20% in results – if you apply yourself right.

For example: When “fully charged”
In sales – Do your new business calls.
Marketing or writing Do your creative work.
Anything Tackle the hard and important tasks that have greatest reward potential.

When you’re back in “situation normal” then do your admin and boring internal emails.

** How Brain Workout Audiobooks can help you **

Easier said that done you may say. How do I supercharge on demand?

Well, the most common way is by reading motivational/success books or going to seminars.

Both of these are fine but have limitations:
Books Time, especially if you have family or are working flat out and drive-commute.
Seminars Time again but also cost and the charge drains off quickly afterwards.

Enter the audiobook:
Audio books negate the time and cost problems.
You can force charge your mind (push it in) as oppsoed to physically “eye-read” (drag it in)
Have those supercharged seminar speakers in your head Anytime, at the press of a button.

For example, you can listen to audiobooks while:
Driving or on the train
Relaxing in the dark
Cleaning the car
Dog walking
Gardening
Jogging, working out etc

Oh yes, it’s essential to be around positive people as much as possible too. Negative people are like charge draining vampires. They’ll pull you down with them if you give them a chance. They want you to be as depressed as they are there’s comfort in hanging with other losers after all!

Best stop now I sound like one of the audio books (and it’s their job to teach you about this stuff)

** My top 10 download audiobooks for mind supercharging **

My advice is to have a good look about and choose 2 or 3 solid audiobooks to start with.

Don’t be limited by my choices though. Explore. It’s a new world out there and it’s waiting for you to come along and give it a damn good spanking!

1. Glenn Harrold’s Ultimate Guide to Building Your Motivation. Author: Glenn Harrold Publisher: BBC Audiobooks.

2. Awaken the Giant Within. Author: Anthony Robbins. Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio.

3. Glenn Harrold’s Ultimate Guide to Manifesting Your Goals & Dreams. Author: Glenn Harrold. Publisher: BBC Audiobooks.

4. Unlimited Power. Author: Anthony Robbins. Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio.

5. How to Win Friends & Influence People. Author: Dale Carnegie. Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio.

6. Giant Steps. Author: Anthony Robbins. Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio.

7. Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway. Author: Susan Jeffers. Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Audiobooks.

8. Slow Downand Get More Done. Author: Marshall J Cook. Publisher: Listen & Live.

9. Why We Want You To Be Rich. Authors: Donald Trump & Robert Kiyosaki. Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

10. Get Up and Do It! Publisher: BBC Audiobooks.

Oh, and a last minute entry…I couldn’t stop myself but didn’t want to push any others out for:

11. What Would Machiavelli Do? Author: Stanley Bing. Publisher: Harper Collins US.

All of these audio books can be downloaded from online audio book stores and played on your PC, Mac, mp3 player, ipod or burned onto a CDR.

Any of these audiobooks will make a great first go, so check them out and go for it Do NOT procrastinate or you won’t even get out of the starting blocks!

Herb Garden Kits – A ”out Of The Box Simple Gardening Experience

I can remember at being very excited about a new project I was starting. At first I had already foreseen a long stimulating future at enjoying this hobby. I bought all what deemed to me as necessary to start digging in this new adventure. Unfortunately after a while I slowly varied my activities, the latter ending up occupying more and more of my time than my beloved pastime until I went on to new points of interest . A lot of the material is still in the garage, certain items still in their unopened packaging.

The same can be applied to gardening, especially if it is a new found interest or a lack of experience. It could be wise to begin this hobby with a miniature version and give you the opportunity to test how much you enjoy this activity and how well it may blend in your day-to-day routine.

Happily herb garden kits are a simple solution to get you up and running in a very short time and let you set the limits to how much time and efforts you are willing to devote yourself to this past time. Here are some instances when these ”kits” comes in handy.

Time
People are busy rushing from home to their jobs and everything in between. It is a great idea to cultivate herbs for whatever reason it is appealing to you and it is also fairly simple. How much time do you have to keep you herbs happy and healthy. Any herb that you plant has to be tended to, from beginning to end including harvesting. Does your time frame permit outdoor gardening or will it be more convenient and time saving if you choose the indoors gardening option?

Space
Another factor that can greatly influence your choice is space. City dwellers might not have a large space for gardening and are often limited to the confines of a small apartment, or perhaps outside temperatures would not be very friendly to the young plants. A small kit can be composed of a set of 3-4 plants of different herbs that can set on that sunny windowsill in the kitchen. You will find one plant of an herb is enough to fulfill the need. Know your herbs and how to tend to them because some plants can start spreading from a single sprout when out of control.

Commodity
Herb garden kits comes complete with everything you need except for the water and sunshine. Some kits might even contain grow lights that control photosynthesis. You can even get a kit with plants that grows submerged in water, this solution even eliminate the possibility of dirt spilling and creating a mess in your home.
All kits include step-by-step instructions on how to set-up everything, how to plant and care of the herbs, harvesting, characteristics of each individual plants and tips for best results.

Choice
Another pleasant aspect of buying a kit is that there is a tremendous amount of variation offered. You need to choose which category of herbs you plan on growing. Will the harvested leaves be used for culinary reason or, perhaps, you tend more towards medicinal herbs?

The quantity that you will need depends largely on the usage you are aiming for. Remember that with herbs 1 plant will go a long way.

Prices is also a factor but it should not be exclusive. Seed-based kits are less expensive than the sprout version but can be a bit more time consuming and even fragile. Also some herbs can be quite a challenge to a beginner when started from seeds.

Overall, available space and the time you can devote to its care are deciding factor for a kit that is best for you. A small kit containing 4-5 herbs that can grow on your windowsill and may require only simple occasional watering. A large kit offers all that you need to cultivate a 10×10 feet garden.

Take the time you need to plan your garden whatever the size, you will be happy that you did later. List the herbs that you wish to grow and visit a few places to compare prices and options that may suit you best. There is a herb garden kit waiting for you that thoroughly meet your need.