7 Excellent Tips on Becoming a Great Graphic Designer

By : Mohd Asrul Nasirudin

When you saw nice adverts on television or cool and stylish web designs on the Internet, you think that you can do the same. But when you tried it and cannot visualize what have you been storming in your brain you feel like a complete failure.

Here is some tips on how to become a great graphic designer.

1) Rules of thumb; have a positive mind.

Do not think that you cannot come with a good design. Being creative is a subjective matter. Drawing, sketching or painting is a skill. A skill can be acquired through continuous practice. Nobody has been born with an instant skill to draw. Even a popular artist cannot make a million dollars worth of painting when he is out from the womb. They become good by practicing every minute, everyday honing their art skills.

2) Be passionate

We're willing to do what we like the most. Before you start jumping in this field, you have to ask yourself "Is this something that I will love and really want to do?" Can you sacrifice most of the time sitting in front of the computer sketching with your tablet? Can you spend hundreds of dollars to buy a book just to become a great designer? If you starting to have a doubt, turn back. It is not too late.

3) Spend some time on research

Buy art and design books. Flip through page by page and study the design of others. Think why their design has become very popular and well accepted by the society. Is it the usage of color? Is the color blend well with the whole concept? How about the interface? Will the user be able to use the website without putting much effort in learning? You will received better knowledge from books and magazine in Borders then by the books most instructors include in their curriculum. If you have plenty of money to spend, get yourself magazines, comics. Not a porn one though.

4) Do not be afraid to be rejected

We are afraid to be rejected. You have spend a lot of time finishing your design but when you show it to the world, they simply rejected it. You do not have a slightest idea on why they reject your work. All they do is bashing your work with harsh words. Simply put, do not give up after hearing their critiques. Most of the bad critiques are not from the design field. They just trolling around to test your patience. You know your work the best, if the critique can somehow help you make the design better, take it.

5) Good equipment does not equal to good design

-Some says they cannot produce good design because they does not have a high end equipment to do their work. This is probably true if you are already a well establish designer. You need a faster workstation to output your nonstop creative ideas. What if you are just starting? A very good designer can come out with a great artwork with any tool that they have at the moment. A good comic artist can draw on a single thin paper with charcoal and its accepted by the reader. They do not even need a thick white paper with a heavy duty mechanical pencil. What is needed is only the idea and medium to convey it to the people.

6) Love your self

Research has proven that a good night sleep boost human creativity or problem solving ability thus providing us innovative ideas. Study indicated exercise stimulate creative thinking and make more oxygen to boost brain power to last for a few hours. If you stuck on a problem, take a rest. Do not push yourself too hard.

7) Always carry a notepad and pen

You would never know when the idea will come and strike you. It may come when you are on your bed and about to sleep; it may come when you take a walk in the park with your dog. When the time comes, you may think you have the power to remember all the good juices but when you reach home and sit in front of your desk it is all gone. Jot down any idea that crossing on your mind on the notepad. Its long lasting.

That is only some part covered on how to become a great designer but most of the tips written above are the important aspect for you to becoming the graphic designer you want to be.

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Are You Living Your Life Purpose?

By : Pat Mussieux

I'm sure you've heard the question many times and perhaps you are still pondering the answer! I am often asked by women "how do I figure out my purpose?" Is there a process? Is there a formula? Am I supposed to just know what 'it' is? And how can I make money at it?

"Every individual has a place to fill in the world, and is important, in some respect, whether he chooses to be or not." - Nathanial Hawthorne, 1804-1864

I know that I am blessed because, from a very young age, one thing I knew for certain was that I wanted to be a teacher. While I didn't go to university and actually progress into that specific career choice, my work in the past 30 years has been that of facilitator, trainer, coach and speaker - that's as good as being at the front of a classroom, as far as I am concerned.

There were many times, however, on my life journey that I was employed and in various J.O.B.S. - and just going along, day in and day out. Once I had a taste of self-employment though, I was off to the races - but that journey, too, has had many bumps along the way.

So many people go through life unhappy with their careers and their lifestyle because they have never found the answer to that life purpose question. Instead - they have 'settled'. When you do understand the purpose for your life, you will enter into the greatest joy, peace and place possible.

One of the reasons that many women are 'stuck' when it comes to this question is because of past conditioning - living life to someone else's expectations. In the work I do with my clients, here are some of the typical questions I ask of them - they may help you uncover your own life purpose - and get unstuck.

1. What is one thing that really excites you - that you could do all day long without being paid?

What are some things that you do that actually make your toes curl with absolute joy? Take note, for a few days, and keep a list - for me, when I was in a particular J.O.B. a few years ago, I put a happy face beside the items that really made me happy - and it became quite clear that I needed to get back to the work that I so loved.

2. What is your natural talent?

For me, I realized that it is public speaking. Now you've got to understand that when I tell my mother about any new speaking engagement, she cracks right up. Apparently, in elementary school, I was so very shy that she had to literally drag me out from under a chair to get me to go to school. Go figure! Well that changed quickly as I grew into my adult years - for which I am grateful because I not only have the ability, now, to touch many, many lives - but I get paid very well for doing so. What comes to you naturally and how can you turn that into a business?

3. What thoughts or dreams are impossible to get out of your mind?

When I was working at that J.O.B., I gave it my all - I really did - heart, body, mind, spirit and soul - but I wasn't sleeping at night. While, for the most part, the job was a great fit for me and I knew that I was, in fact, still making a difference - it wasn't where I belonged. What is keeping you awake at night?

4. What are you prepared to commit to - no matter what? Being an entrepreneur, and having your own business, is no easy feat.

Certainly there are great benefits to it - flexible hours, being your own boss, charging what you're worth and so on. There is also the 'down side' to it - flexible hours, being your own boss and charging what you're worth - yes sirreee - it's the same list! I am serious about this. Many women in business struggle, financially, because they do not have the discipline to manage the flexible hours, they feel extremely lonely being their own boss and they have tremendous fear about charging what they're worth - many feel like a fraud.

5. Where/how have you helped people?

Sometimes the answer is staring you right in the face - you may have been 'coaching' people all your life, and didn't realize that's what 'it' was. Consider having a conversation with some of your good friends - you know, the ones who come to you all the time because of your creativity, your problem-solving, your hospitality - whatever 'that' is. Ask them some questions about the outcomes/results that you have provided. Your answer may be right there.

"Take calculated risks. This is quite different from being rash."

- George S. Patton

Once you have become clear on your purpose, have identified a way to make a business out of it (or, you're already in that business) then it is essential to have the processes and systems in place to make it viable - so that you can make money. It's one thing to be living your purpose - but you're not running a charity!

The critical 'next steps' are to create the systems, processes, and procedures necessary so that your business runs like a lean, mean machine. This, my friends, is where many women give up - throw in the towel - because they are exhausted and they are not making any money. They are 'three feet from gold'!

CONCLUSION

It really IS possible to live your purpose, have a thriving and successful business doing so and touch lives around the world. To be successful, you must know what transformation you offer, be clear about your niche market (or, who needs you out there), charge what you're worth and stay focused on your talent. This is the formula for living your best life!

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

1. Schedule time to work through the questions above.
2. Talk to your family and friends and identify your unique talents.
3. Make a decision to live your life purpose - start a business and/or grow your business.

Put some of these basics in place and I guarantee you will not only grow personally, but your business practices will also improve. When you develop new skills, you are developing the confidence and courage to move forward and invent the life, and the business, you truly want. You will be much more comfortable and successful in the overall scheme of things.

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Top Business Skills - Planning

By : Tony Jacowski

Planning is one of the top business skills you must possess when it comes to strategy. You need to be capable of thinking strategically and planning strategically. The question that you need to be asking yourself is; can you see what is in store for the future with specific projects and actions.

Project planning is another type of planning that is a part of top business skills. As a manager or a team leader, you will be asked to take on projects. You must be capable of planning these projects from beginning to completion properly. Planning projects means you can estimate a body count for how many people you need to work on the project, how much money it will take, how many hours need to be spent, resources required that you need to buy and resources that are already in house, and much more.

Financial planning is another one of the top business skills that is vital in management or leadership positions. The need for financial planning skills arise when you are given a budget that has to last your department for a year or even that needs to be enough to complete a project rollout. You also financially plan when a business sends you on a corporate road trip with a company credit card and certain limits for food and other expenses.

Risk is a part of planning that quality management has the capability of foreseeing. Risk management is one of the top business skills that many people do not plan for. You have to be able to foresee risks that might be coming down the pipe if you implement certain changes to a process. Being a risk taker is fine but you have to be aware of all risks and you must be capable of dealing with them in case they do happen.

Planning is one of the top business skills that is very important for an organization. A successful manager or leader will have planning skills which are broken down into project planning, financial, risk, and strategic.

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Effective Medical Writing For Clinical Submission #1

By : Diane Mauriello

Effective medical writing is the key to successful clinical submissions. Medical writing should be effective in terms of cost, time and effort. Other characteristics of effective medical writing for regulatory submission include quality-controlled, quality-assured, consistent, accurate, version correct, data-driven, GCP-driven, process and procedure adherent. In order to maximize the potential for a positive regulatory filing with the FDA or similar regulatory bodies in countries outside the US, medical writing for clinical submission should planned and managed to the characteristics early in the development of a document to be written.

Consider all documents and components, for example, appendices, and narratives, tables listings, figures and graphs required for a regulatory submission, the following experienced based guidance is intended to simplify the process:

* Challenge: The regulatory submission for a drug for example has 5 CTD (Common Technical Document) Modules, "what documents and document components are to be written"? Solution: Develop a TOC (Table of Contents).
* Challenge: The regulatory submission will require a format, "what format will be followed"? CTD? Legacy NDA? 505 (b)(1) or (2)? Solution: Choose a format.
* Challenge: The clinical submission will require source documents to support the written documents, "what are the source documents, which will be included in the clinical submission"? Solution: Develop a TOC that reaches this level of granularity!
* Challenge: The clinical submission will require a team effort between writers, QC (Quality Control), QA (Quality Assurance), sponsor functions, experts, CROs (Contract Research Organizations), etc., "what is the process for file and information transfer between team members onsite and offsite, in-house and remote"? Solution: Develop a process and procedure and adhere to that process and procedure throughout the clinical submission. Communicate the process and procedure to all team members at the beginning to obtain team commitment to follow while informing of the consequences for deviating from.

For effective medical writing for clinical submission, these are important points to consider early in the process.

Once the submission team establishes a TOC with the FDA or relevant regulatory submission body for the clinical filing, responsibilities and accountabilities are assigned to individual medical writers. Common questions that arise include: "Who will write which documents? Will the documents be written by the sponsor? Will the documents be written by the pharmaceutical functional areas? Will the documents be written by the CRO or will the documents be written by consultants, members of a high level medical writing project/clinical submission team asked to participate (outsourced) by the sponsoring pharmaceutical company?"

These and other questions will be addressed in the Dante Resources Effective Medical Writing article series.

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How Should You Dress For an Interview If You Are a Woman

By : Ed Raine

In an interview, the first three minutes are the most important for the one who interviews to make a first impression about the one that runs on a post. Even before opening your mouth, your appearance says a lot about you. Therefore you must be very careful how you choose clothes, shoes, jewelry and makeup. Every single detail is important!

In order to make the best impression, you must first make sure that the clothes you chose for the occasion fit you perfectly, are comfortable and give you a professional image, according to job requirements and company which you want to join as well. The most important rule is to dress classic, demonstrating a perfect taste. Choose conservative models of natural materials, in colors that resonate with your hair color and your skin. For example beige, brown, reddish brown, blue, navy, gray. Skirt suits are recommended, especially the ones with skirts covering the knees. If you wear a skirt that is too short, you will create the impression of superficiality, rather than impress. Choose a simple blouse pattern in bright colors. Avoid deep decolletages, flounces and harsh colors.

Shoes will be cut, without laces, with not too high heels, in a color matching that of the clothes and the most important element - perfectly polished. If it is winter, you will choose ankles or moderate heeled boots, with no fripperies. The stockings will be light colored. Avoid mesh stockings, colored or patterned. The purse will be chosen by small or medium size, matching the shoes.

Nail polish must be clear or in a conservative color: beige, cream, white and the makeup must be light, very close to natural.

Jewelry should be simple and few. A pair of earrings and a ring are more than sufficient. Remember that the material they are made of to be a quality one.

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Should I Get an MBA?

By : Larry Wang

In the course of doing a great many Asian job-market seminars for young professionals, I typically close with a question and answer session. Inevitably, it's never long before someone asks "Do you think it's worth it to get an MBA?" To this question, my initial response is always. "What's the reason that you want an MBA in the first place?"

Most often, people will say that they just feel they need one, as if an MBA is some magical certificate that will allow them to accelerate their advance through the management ranks. Actually, for many it can definitely work this way. But for those seeking an MBA just for the sake of having one, the end result often leaves them little farther ahead after the two years (and an investment of USS50,000 or more) than if they had just continued working!

In accessing whether an MBA is "worth" it or not, you first need to clearly identify your personal and career objectives. Start with an honest assessment of yourself, and your stage of career development. Then ask yourself. 'What do I expect to get out of an MBA program?"

What an MBA represents and can deliver is incredibly diverse, with each person's MBA experience is typically very different. Many people seek an MBA in order to acquire fundamental business training (i.e. accounting. finance, marketing, operations, etc.) that they may not have been exposed to in their lob or may have missed out on in their undergraduate studies. Some use their MBA experience to make a career switch, or as a chance to learn more about a variety of companies and industries. And many people look at an MBA simply as a confidence booster. After all, an MBA does gain attention in most professional circles (and it certainly doesn't hurt to mention it when meeting the parents of a significant other), and it can give people the so called "edge" they're looking for.

Beyond identifying your objectives, you should also evaluate the quality of the MBA program(s) being considered, and the ability of a program to deliver what you seek. The quality of an MBA education varies greatly. There are many who receive their degree from smaller, more obscure programs that are little known even in the U.S. In these cases, the value of your two-year degree often amounts to little more than expensive piece of paper that offers minimal advantages to your career.

Finally, you need to determine what you intend to do to ensure that you achieve your goals. Whether an MBA delivers or not depends on your own effort in the program, as much as the program itself. It is often said that, within an MBA program. What you learn outside the classroom is more valuable than what you learn inside. Being active in student organizations, interacting with diverse and talented classmates, meeting and interviewing company representatives can all offer opportunities to greatly enhance your skills and understanding of business and management.

In the dynamic, entrepreneurial business environment of Asia, practical experience and performance are number one. Certainly in Asia, there are many highly successful non-MBA's. Ultimately and MBA program is merely an environment of career and professional training resources that offers one excellent opportunities to better oneself. As I've told many ambitious professionals. I don't think an MBA ever hurt anyone. But how you maximize its benefits can vary quite a bit. The value of an MBA is greatest for those with focused gains in mind up front, and who are mature and ready to really take advantage of what a good program has to offer.

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Life As a Service Technician in a Computer Repair Shop

By : Roderick Dunne

As the use of computers increases in businesses and homes across the country, working in a computer repair shop fixing computers would appear to be a good career to get into. Here, we will look at the training required to get into this role, the career path potential and finding suitable jobs.

The day to day life of a computer service technician in a repair shop involves making a wide variety of computer repairs and upgrades. At the simple level, upgrading RAM and CPU are some of the easier tasks while doing data recovery of faulty or damaged PCs would be more complex.

Starting out in the role is best approached by becoming a qualified computer service technician from Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA). While it is fair to say that qualifications are not always required, having these certifications will always look better on your resume.

You also have to realize that this is the type of role where ongoing training will need to be completed as new technologies enter the market place throughout your career.

Long term, the career of a bench technician has the potential for going freelance and working for yourself, which is what a lot of individuals do. Alternatively, the opportunities are always there to work on client sites (rather than from a computer repair shop) and specialize in specific technologies (e.g. networks/phone systems/etc.).

Finding these jobs can be done by checking the online job websites but you should also research companies that you would wish to work for, check the careers section of their website and send them your resume directly as these roles can often be filled quickly and do not always make it to the online websites.

Starting up your own computer repair shop may not be something you would be comfortable doing without gaining enough experience. You could being a freelance career in PC repairs by doing onsite consultancy or doing call-out repairs in order to establish if there is enough of a market in your community, and before committing to renting your own work premises.

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