7 Short Tips on Word 07

These days I am busy with my Summer project, and I must say that, i might not be able to learn the Technical part of my studies, but I have learned quite a lot about Word 2007 which I use to create and generate reports. Here is a quick look at my 7 tips which I have started using them recently more often.

1. Changing page orientation :- In Word's default settings, the width of pages is shorter than the length. To change this, Go to Page Setup –> Orientation, select the Landscape icon. You are done. You can even have Customized size from the Size box.
2. Printing selected portions of document :- Sometimes you would like to print certain portions of a document. To do this, first select the portion of the document you want a print out of. Go to the Office button –> Print. In the dialog box, check the Selection box. You can also define the Page range.
3. Applying Subscripts and Superscripts :- To apply Subscript formatting to text in a Word document, press Control + Equal Sign. To apply Superscript formatting, press Control + Shift + Plus Sign.
4. Checking the Thesaurus :- Sometimes while writing your document, you need a synonym for a word, and might have no time to log on to the Internet. Word has its own built-in thesaurus. To access it, select the word for which you need a synonym and press Shift-F7.
5. Changing the case of letters :- One of the annoying things that happen to me is that I press the Caps Lock key by mistake, and not even realize it. The result is that words that need to be in lower case end up capitalized or vice versa. To fix this, select the text and press Shift + F3 to change the case of the words. This is a toggle key that will allow you to choose between block capitals, title case and sentence case.
6. Return Font to Default format :- You are working on a document in a particular font. You use Bold or Italics, etc to change the format for a word or a phrase. Now to get back to the default font format you were working with, press Ctrl and the Spacebar together.
7. Moving paragraphs Up or Down :- To move a paragraph up in a Word file, select the paragraph and press Alt + Shift+ Up arrow. To move a paragraph down, select it, press Alt + Shift + Down arrow.

 

5 tips on Powerpoint 2007

It's been more than a year now, I have been using Powerpoint 2007 to create presentations, All thanks to my college faculties for giving us presentations to be presented every week. During this one year, I have learned a lot on how to use the features in PowerPoint 2007, and what all features are there not available in earlier versions. I have listed down these points which will be helpful to you if you ever intend to give presentation anywhere.

1. SmartArt :- WOW, this is truly a Wow feature by Microsoft. SmartArt got great designs and shapes to be used. The good part is that you can change colors, give pre defined color combinations, which may suite your presentation theme and your topic. They also provide you designs for special purpose like Hierarchy, process, Chain reaction and few more… It completely eliminates the requirements for those drawing tool, used to draw those flow charts.
2. Formatting Images :- Basic formatting did exist in earlier versions, but was not very interactive. The new version is much better and provides some more better and required features. Changes made to the images can be seen live, as soon as you make any changes, you do not need to apply those changes to see the effect of it. Another feature provided is to disable the image compression which in turn increases the size of presentation but also the quality remains intact. To disable image compression Go to Image options (Appears when you insert and select an image) –> Compress images –> Options, and untick "Automatically perform Basic compression on save". From there you can also set the density of the image as per the requirements. The only problem which I came to know later on was that you need to do this again and again, for different images, as it is not a permanent change.
3. Page Setup :- It is not possible to give a presentation in a single style on all the Projectors. According to the device you are presenting on, you need to change the page setup, hence getting the most of it. We cannot present the same presentation on Plasma and on a projector, as both have different aspect ratios. To select the proper page setup, Go to View tab –> Slide Master –>Page Setup. From here choose the correct setup you want to. You can have customized sizes as well.

4. Custom shows :- We are used to give long presentations in short duration, and leave the deep understanding part. You have to insert that data so that everyone could read that. One way is to put notes in each and every single slide, But in notes to, everything cannot be expressed. The other way is to create a complete slide and present a Custom show. How ? Just Go to Slide show tab –> Custom Slide, and choose the slides you want to show. Simple enough.
5. Rehearse Timings :- Timings are very important for us. If we go beyond those time limits, we are bound to get reduced marks. This rehearsal tool comes in handy, where in you can practice and see if your speech matches with the presentation and time allotted. You can also set the time for slides to switch automatically when you have rehearsed, and save that rehearsal. This is one of my favorite tools which I think was needed but the there was no alternative to that.

 

Management Lessons

A Professor at a Managment Institute was explaining marketing concepts to the Students

• You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say: "I am very rich. Marry me!" - That's Direct Marketing
• You're at a party with a bunch of friends and see a gorgeous girl. One of your friends goes up to her and pointing at you says: "He's very rich. Marry him." - That's Advertising
• You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and get her telephone number. The next day, you call and say: "Hi, I'm very rich. Marry me." - That's Telemarketing
• You're at a party and see gorgeous girl. You get up and straighten your tie, you walk up to her and pour her a drink, you open the door (of the car) for her, pick up her bag after she drops it, offer her ride and then say: "By the way, I'm rich. Will you marry me?" - That's Public Relations
• You're at a party and see gorgeous girl. She walks up to you and says: "You are very rich! Can you marry ! me?" - That's Brand Recognition
• You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say: "I am very rich. Marry me!" She gives you a nice hard slap on your face. - That's Customer Feedback
• You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and say:
   "I am very rich. Marry me!" And she introduces you to her husband. - That's Demand and Supply Gap
• You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and before you say anything, another person come and tell her: "I'm rich. Will you marry me?" and she goes with him - That's Competition eating into your Market Share
• You see a gorgeous girl at a party. You go up to her and before you say: "I'm rich, Marry me!" & your wife arrives. - That's Restriction for entering New Markets

 

How to prepare for meetings?

If there is one activity that unites professionals from different occupations all over the world, it is meetings. Executives, managers, or software developers, they all spend a large part of their working hours closeted in conference rooms discussing issues, significant and insignificant.

But the truth about meetings is they are largely a waste of time if not organised well or not planned in advance. Here are some tips to help you get the best out of these congregations.

 

Time and venue

The initiator of the meeting must take up the task of sending out meeting requests to all parties who are required to attend, specifying the date, time and venue. If the meeting is a teleconference or a videoconference with participants from multiple locations, it is essential that the meeting request contain the date and time of the various time zones. This is a common mistake, as a colleague in Tokyo found out when she forgot to specify the time zone in her e-mail, which meant that disparate groups of people were waiting for her to teleconference them at different times of the day!

The initiator must ensure a discussion room or conference room large enough to hold the requisite number of attendees is booked for the scheduled time.

Material

It is also up to the initiator to arrange for any materials such as a projector, computer, slides, handouts, or even just a whiteboard and markers. A manager at a telecommunications firm narrates how a meeting he was invited to was delayed by 45 minutes because the computer and projectors were not set up, leading to senior managers walking out and requesting a reschedule.

If you are invited to a meeting for which handouts are distributed, make sure you read those notes before attending. It will keep you in tune with the discussions once you are part of the meeting, and will demonstrate your preparedness with ideas and thoughts on the topic at hand.

Agenda

Once the time and venue of the meeting is fixed, it is vital that the initiator of the meeting decide the points on the agenda. Each of these points must be covered in detail and decisions taken on them before the meeting wraps up.

Preferably, these points can even be enumerated in brief on the whiteboard in the room, allowing everyone to be aware of the agenda and helping the initiator keep an eye on it at all times.

Minutes of the meeting

In the duration of the meeting, several points and ideas will be thrown up which, if not documented, will evaporate into thin air well before the end. It will be impossible for anyone to retain all the discussed points in memory. Therefore, it is best for the initiator or the meeting-in-charge to appoint one person to jot down notes during the meeting. It is better still if two or three people take notes just in case one misses out something important. At the culmination of the meeting, it is the duty of the person assigned to note down the minutes to create a document and circulate it amongst all attendees. Such a document typically contains the date and time of the meeting, number and names of attendees, the agenda and, against each of the points on the agenda, the action items.

The focus on agenda

Often, despite maintaining an agenda and adhering strictly to time and schedule on a few points, the discussion deteriorates into heated debates. At this point, it is the prerogative of the meeting-in-charge or the initiator to ensure an objective discussion. Also, if a member starts rambling for hours without any end in sight, he must be brought back on track. It should be made clear that although brainstorming is acceptable, digression into irrelevant territory is entirely unwelcome.

Conclusion

When all points on the agenda have been discussed to the satisfaction of all parties, the person writing the minutes or even the initiator can wrap up by briefly reading out the salient points of all that has been discussed, including action to be taken once people return to their work. The minutes of the meeting is a good starting point to follow up with team members in the following days if necessary action has been taken, as discussed.

 

Shortcuts to Success

PLAN while others are playing.

STUDY while others are sleeping.

DECIDE while others are delaying.

PREPARE while others are daydreaming.

BEGIN while others are procrastinating.

WORK while others are wishing.

SAVE while others are wasting.

LISTEN while others are talking.

SMILE while others are frowning.

COMMEND while others are criticizing.

PERSIST while others are quitting.

 

Practical Cases & Management Lessons

CASE 1

A crow was sitting on a tree, doing nothing all day. A small rabbit saw the crow, and asked him, "Can I also sit like you and do nothing all day long? The crow answered: "Sure, why not." so, the rabbit sat on the ground below the crow, and rested.

All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

Management Learning:

To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.

CASE 2

A turkey was chatting with a bull. "I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree," sighed the turkey, "but I haven't got the energy. "Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?" replied the bull. "They're packed with nutrients." The turkey pecked at a lump of dung and found that it actually gave him enough strength to reach the first branch of the tree.

The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch. Finally after a fourth night, there he was proudly perched at the top of the tree. Soon he was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot the turkey out of the tree.

Management Learning:

Bullshit might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there.

CASE 3

A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold, the bird froze and fell to the ground in a large field. While it was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on it.

As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, it began to realize how warm it was. The dung was actually thawing him out! He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy. A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him!

Management Learning:

1. Not everyone who drops shit on you is your enemy.
2. Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.
3. And when you're in deep shit, keep your mouth shut!

CASE 4

The boy rode on the donkey and the old man walked. As they went along, they passed some people who remarked "it was a shame the old man was walking and the boy was riding". The man and boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they changed positions. Later, they passed some people that remarked, "What a shame, he makes that little boy walk."

They decide d they both would walk! Soon they passed some more people who thought they were stupid to walk when they had a decent donkey to ride. So the both rode the donkey! Now they passed some people that shamed them by saying "how awful to put such a load on a poor donkey". The boy and man said they were probably right so they decided to carry the donkey. As they crossed a bridge, they lost their grip on the animal and he fell into the river and drowned.

Management Learning:

If you try to please everyone, you will eventually lose your ass

CASE 5

Once three government ministers Mr. ABC, Mr. PQR and Mr. XYZ were travelling in an autorickshaw. They met with an accident and all three of them died. Lord of death was waiting for this moment at the doorstep of death. He asks ABC and PQR to go to HEAVEN. But, for XYZ, he had already decided that he should be sent to HELL.

XYZ is not at all happy with this decision. He asks the load of death as to why this discrimination is being made. All the three of them had served the public. Similarly, all took bribes, all misused public positions, etc. Then why the differential treatment?

He felt that there should be a formal test or an objective evaluation before a decision is made; and should not be just based on opinion or pre conceived notions. Lord of Death agrees to this and asks all the three of them to appear for an English test. ABC is asked to spell "INDIA" and he does it correctly. PQR is asked to spell "ENGLAND" and he too passes. It is XYZ's turn and he is asked to spell "CZECHOSLOVAKIA".

XYZ protests that he doesn't know English. He says this is not fair and that he was given a tough question and thus forced to fail with false intent. Lord of Death then agrees to conduct a written test in Hindi (to give another chance assuming that XYZ should at least feel that Hindi would provide an equal platform for all three).

ABC is asked to write "KUTTA BOLA BHOW BHOW". He writes it easily and passes. PQR is asked to write "BILLI BOLI MYAUN MYAUN". He too passes. XYZ is asked to write "BANDAR BOLA GURRRRRR....." Tough one. He fails again. He is extremely unhappy.

Having been a student of history (which the other two weren't), he now requested for all the 3 to be subjected to a test in history. Lord of Death says 'OK', but this would be the last chance and that he would not take any more tests.

ABC is asked: "When did India get Independence?". He replied "1947" and passed. PQR is asked "How many people died during the independence struggle?". He gets nervous. Lord of Death asked him to choose from 3 options: 100,000 or 200,000 or 300,000. PQR catches it and says 200,000 and passes. It's XYZ's turn now. Lord of Death asks him to give the Name and Address of each of the 200,000 who died in the struggle. XYZ accepts defeat and agrees to go to HELL.

Management Lesson:

"IF YOUR MANAGEMENT HAS DECIDED TO SCREW YOU, THERE IS JUST NO ESCAPE"

CASE 6

The secret is finally revealed. On the first day God created the cow. God said, "You must go to field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer. I will give you a life span of sixty years." The cow said, "That's a kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. Let me have twenty years and I'll give back the other forty." and God agreed.

On the second day, God created the dog. God said, "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. I will give you a life span of twenty years." The dog said, "That's too long to be barking. Give me ten years and I'll give back the other ten." so God agreed (sigh).

On the third day God created the monkey. God said, "Entertain people, do monkey tricks, make them laugh. I'll give you a twenty year life span." Monkey said, "How boring, monkey tricks for twenty years? I don't think so. Dog gave you back ten, so that's what I'll do too, okay?" and God agreed again.

On the fourth day God created man. God said, "Eat, sleep, play, enjoy & worship god. Do nothing, just enjoy & worship god. I'll give you twenty years." Man said, "What? Only twenty years? No way, man. Tell you what, I'll take my twenty, and the forty cow gave back, and the ten dog gave back and the ten monkey gave back. That makes eighty, okay?"

"Okay," said God. "You've got a deal."

Management Lesson:

So that is why for the first twenty years we eat, sleep, play, enjoy and do nothing; for the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our
family; for the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain our grandchildren; and for the last ten years we sit in front of the house and bark at everybody. In all these stages, we forget to worship god for his grace on us.

 

Chanakya Quotes

A man is great by deeds, not by birth.

A person should not be too honest. Just as straight trees are chopped-down first, honest people are taken advantage of first.

Variant: A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and honest people are screwed first.

A rich man has many friends.

A woman is four times as shy, six times as brave and eight times as lusty as a man.

An egoist can be won over by being respected, a crazy person can be won over by allowing him to behave in an insane manner and a wise person can be won over by truth.

As centesimal droppings will fill a pot so also are knowledge, virtue and wealth gradually obtained.

As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it.

Avoid him who talks sweetly before you but tries to ruin you behind your back, for he is like a pitcher of poison with milk on top.

Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions - Why am I doing it? What the results might be? And Will I be successful? Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead.

Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person.

Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth.

Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous.

God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your god. The soul is your temple.

He who befriends a man whose conduct is vicious, whose vision impure, and who is notoriously crooked, is rapidly ruined.

If you get to learn something even from the worst of creatures, don't hesitate.

In a state where the ruler lives like a common man, the citizens live like kings do. And in the state where the ruler lives like a king, the citizens live like beggars do.

Jealousy is another name for failure.

Never go on a long journey alone.

Never make friends with people who are above or below you in status. Such friendships will never give you any happiness.

Once you start working on something, don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest.

One who is in search of knowledge should give up the search of pleasure and the one who is in search of pleasure should give up the search of knowledge.

The biggest guru-mantra is: Never share your secrets with anybody. It will destroy you.

The four greatest enemies of a man are - the father who has taken a loan, the characterless mother, the beautiful but promiscuous wife and the stupid child.

The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all directions.

The world's biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman.

There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth.

Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends.

Whores don't live in company of poor men, birds don't build nests on a tree that doesn't bear fruits and citizens never support a weak administration.

Wise men should never go into a country where there are no means of earning one's livelihood, where the people have no dread of anybody, have no sense of shame, no intelligence, or a charitable disposition.