ESL Basics

This post is in response to an article from Business Spotlight about pipe dreams.

This post just goes to show you that there is always more to learn about the English language. I am a native English language speaker and I never knew the real meaning behind a pipe dream. No matter how much you think you know about English, there is always more to learn. This is encouraging to me as I grow in my experiences with English. As the article explains: 

"Originally, a pipe dream was a dream that someone experienced while smoking an opium pipe."

As an idiomatic expression, a pipe dream in modern terms means a goal or ambition that is unlikely to happen... or even impossible. A page that sites the origin with the definition can be found here (wiktionary.com). An example of the idiom "pipe dream" in my life would be the pipe dream I had when I was a kid of being a professional baseball player. 

Comment below to let me know what were/are some of your pipe dreams? Have you ever had a pipe dream for your business?

This post is in response to this blog post about cover letters from imediaconnection.com. In the article, there are 5 great points about writing a cover letter and how it can affect the entire application process. If you are applying for a job that requires a cover letter, this article is a must read.

Also, keep in mind that the job you are applying for may not require a cover letter. When in doubt, use a cover letter. But, most importantly, show the employer that you are creative and let your personality shine. Right now I work for a large corporation and I didn't include a cover letter with my resume because it does not demonstrate my personality. I was hired for this job because I matched the personality and the required skills they were looking for, not because I submitted a well written cover letter.

What jobs have you applied for that required a cover letter?

Chances are if you are reading this, you have an email address. In fact, if you have signed up for our newsletter or registered to make comments on one of Andrea’s videos you have to have an email address. Email is everywhere and used by countless individuals. Well, maybe it is not countless because according to Email-Marketing-Reports.com there are roughly 1.4 billion email users.

So, assuming you are one of those users, how do you use English effectively for business in your emails? Many posts on email will be written in the future, but, today we are looking at the greeting or salutation. This is the first line of the email.

Below are several examples of common greetings used in emails. I will start with more formal and professional examples and move my way down to personal and informal examples. Please note that part of your job as a business person is being able to tell what type of greeting is appropriate for your audience.

Professional / Formal

• Mr. Jones, (Using the last name in the salutation conveys formality in the email. The only exception to this is when you use their last name as a nickname like “Jonesy”)
• Good Morning,
• Hello Mr. Jones,
• Good Evening,
• Ladies and Gentlemen,

Casual but still respectful

• Hey guys,
• Friend,
• Hi Team,
• All,
• Hey,
• Matt, (Using just the first name can be a powerful salutation because it isn’t so informal that you show disrespect, but it is still their name. Make sure you are on a first-name basis with the receiver of your email.)

Informal

• What’s up,
• Dude,
• Loser,
• Jonesy,
• Hey man,
• No salutation (Greetings are usually important to have, but if you are making a quick note sometimes you don’t need a greeting.)

Part of being a successful business person has to do with how well we manage the money we have been given.  This post deals more with personal finances, but it is important to rethink the way we spend money no matter what the circumstance.

The holiday season is a busy time and if you are not careful, can be an expensive time. I wanted to share with you, this link from Investopedia.com. On this page they have "8 easy ways to slash your holiday budget." In addition to their information, I wanted to give you a few more tips on how to spend your money wisely this holiday season, so you are not kicking yourself in January. 

• Instead of buying expensive wrapping paper, use the comics from your local paper or magazine pages with holiday advertisements. This will not only save you money, but will also add a nice twist to the gift.
• Go shopping for next year's decorations in January. You will find the decorations that were being sold at the beginning of December for 50%-70% off in the beginning of January.
• Instead of going out to the movie theater with your family and friends, have a talent show. Everyone is responsible for 1-4 sketches, songs to sing, talents to perform, etc. and this way everyone is involved and you will be surprised just how talented your family and friends are. Sing karaoke with one of your favorite English songs!
• Turn your leftover food into a new meal. Check out this website with tips on what to do with your leftover turkey.

Have you ever had a brief or short conversation about simple things like the weather or a TV show?  That is called "small talk" and everyone has small talk at some point in their life.  In a business setting, small talk can get you a job or lose you a sale or client.  You may be asking yourself, how can small talk impact my sales performance or my job qualifications?

To understand the importance of small talk, you need to understand that business is not just about numbers, it is about people.  Although small talk won't get you a job you are unqualified for, it can be used to move you to the top of the list of already qualified applicants.  Small talk is used as a way of building rapport.  Rapport is a subtle way of relating or connecting to someone.

The next time to have a brief conversation with someone, think "I am small talking" and then think about how your small talking impacts your view of the other people in the conversation and how their view of you may have changed.

To learn more about small talk, watch Andrea's video on "shooting the breeze", check out this video on culture and small talk that inspired this post, or read about it on eHow.com.