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After living and working in London for the past three years and having recently moved to Dublin, where pub culture is the hub of social interaction, I have been extended many invitations to “grab a pint” after work.

The late N. Eldon Tanner said, "Service is the rent we pay for living in this world of ours."

Industrious alaskans have developed unique stress management techniques. Many employers in the northern region give employees “subsistence leave” as a negotiated benefit. How do the thrifty natives use their subsistence leave? They prepare for the cold months ahead by drying and packaging hundreds of fish and enjoy family time together handpicking quarts of blueberries. 

An employee who underperforms usually belongs to either the “can do/won’t do” or the “will do/can’t do” category. Those who can but won’t have motivation problems and those who will but can’t have performance problems associated with lack of skills.

Layoffs add stress. You may decide to find a new, more stable job. If not, these tips may help:

As a community college business instructor, I must stay current on the latest business developments and technologies. I have incorporated three things into my continuing education regimen that I have found helpful.

I own two small companies. It’s hard to pay myself benefits, let alone all my employees. The first thing to look at is making sure they are paid a competitive wage, then add vacation/holidays and keep within reason. Next, they might need health insurance, but if the spouse is working elsewhere and is covered, we can sometimes eliminate it. Finally, you might look at adding tax deferred savings plans and insurance. Since both my companies are retail, we offer very steep discounts to employees. It has been my experience that most people working for small companies do not expect superb benefits. Also, in order to keep costs down, you must do a lot of shopping.

There are no easy fixes to maintaining a workable balance between family and career; it is always a struggle. I have found that this sort of balance can only be achieved through clear focus and relentless personal discipline.