TopTenStuffs has gone Green!

With the recent increase in crude oil prices, rising inflation, increasing pollution & the ever growing problem of power shortage around the world, its now time that we move forward on the Kardashev scale and discover new sustainable, affordable and efficient ways of generating electricity to run our houses, cars, cities, businesses and countries. In view of the same, I have decided to make TopTenStuffs green and hence the new, greener look. I hope you like it. However, if you have any suggestions it, feel free to post your comments.

I also invite you to come forward and share your energy efficient, energy saving and new generating ideas with me. I will try my best to take them to the higher level!

Top 10 Healthy Reasons Why You Should Have Chocolates

Chocolates are simply irresistible!! Its taste simply tempts us and leads to intense craving. It is also one of the most popular sweet treats of the world. It has numerous health benefits. In fact, it increases our satiety value and helps in curing numerous ailments like fatigue, tuberculosis, weak digestion, low virility. Here are more reasons to your chocolate taste more tastier than before.

1. High Levels of Minerals and Vitamins: Chocolate contains high levels of potassium and magnesium, as well as vitamins B1, B2, D and E. They alone are very advantageous and helps to over coming many heath problems

2. Healthy blood flow: Chocolates contain flavanol which boost blood flow in the body. It increases the antioxidants level as a result of which blood does not clot in the brain.

3. Lowering high blood pressure: People, who suffer from acute problem of hypertension, are also advised to consume chocolates. It aids in balancing blood pressure, prevents the arteries from hardening and lowers blood clotting.

4. Prevents Heart Attack: By increasing healthy blood flow and lowering blood pressure, chocolates help in a major way to prevent heart attacks.

5. Elevate your mood: Dark chocolates contain phenyl ethylamine which acts as a mild mood elevator. It soothes our nerves, reduces pain and makes us feel good.

6. Fights tooth decay: Many think that chocolates lead to tooth decay, but instead it helps in fighting tooth decay. It has antibacterial agents which help in killing germs.

7. Helps ease chronic fatigue syndrome: During a recent study, its has been analysed that adults suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome and who were made to consumed 1.5 ounces of 85% cocoa dark chocolate, were feeling less fatigued after they ate the chocolate.

8. Raises HDL cholesterol and lowers LDL cholesterol: A Penn State study has found that diets high in cocoa powder and dark chocolate (with high flavonoid content) are related to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels when compared with diets low in flavonoids such as tea, wine, coffee, and onions.

9. Improves processing of blood sugar: An Italian study found that dark chocolate consumption increased the body’s metabolism of blood sugar and which may reduce the risk of diabetes.

10. Eases a persistent cough: A UK study has found that theobromine, a component in cocoa, may be more effective as a cough medicine than standard drug treatments. The research showed that “theobromine acts on the sensory nerve endings of the vagus nerve, which runs through the airways in the lungs to the brain.”

However, many chocolates can be high on calories, sugar, and saturated fat. To maximize the health benefits of chocolate, avoid eating processed chocolate products that have refined sugar and milk fat. Instead, choose the purest dark chocolate you can find - the more raw and unprocessed, the higher the flavonoid content. The best dark chocolate to eat has at least 60% cocoa solids.

Also, you are always advised to practice moderation! So let me know how did you enjoy the chocolate the next time round :)

10 Most Effective Tips To Have A Good Night's Sleep

It’s very important to have a good sleep in the night to start a refreshing tomorrow. Getting a good night sleep is always advisable before the day of an important exam, sales presentation, hearing or any other important engagement. However, people often face sleeping problems like insomnia and do not get good quality sleep. They can also have dark circles around their eyes due to lack of sleep. Here are 10 most effective tips to have a good night's sleep. Just follow them and revitalize your life.

Restrain from taking afternoon nap: After a full tummy, most of us have the tendency to sleep in the afternoon for sometime. But you need to completely avoid it to have a sound sleep at night. If it’s not possible to control yourself because you are very tired, then just take a small nap for less than 30 minutes.

Completely avoid the consumption of caffeine and alcohol before bed: Intake of coffee and liquor can interrupt the pattern of sleep at night. It can adversely affect your sleep. It is very much advisable not to consume coffee or alcohol before going to bed.

Sleep in the dark: Before going to sleep, just turn off all the lights so that you can have a good night's sleep. Lights will surely distract your sleep and can restrain your body from taking the rest.

Sleep on a cosy bed: You should always sleep on a comfortable and warm bed. Use good quality cotton sheets on your bed for an easy sleep. A well ventilated room and a quiet atmosphere also plays an important role in ensuring better sleep.

Workouts should be done in the morning hours: Exercising your body is very important for a healthy lifestyle. But it should be avoided during night time or just before going to bed. Aerobics and other forms of exercises can charged the body which will make sleep more difficult for you.

Low iron count can make sleep difficult: People, often women, face the problem of low iron content in their body which leads them to have sleepless nights. So an iron supplement can help them to have a healthy body and get a good quality sleep.

Relax your body before you are ready to go to bed: Relaxation of your body includes taking a warm refreshing bath, or doing meditation can help you in early sleep. Listening to music can also be relaxing before going to bed.

Avoid heavy meals at the dinner time: It’s been right said that one should eat their dinner like a beggar. Too much food can lead to indigestion which can interfere with your sleep. Large intake of liquid can take you to the toilet all night. It is very important to eat two hours prior going to bed.

Note down all your problems: Thinking about tomorrow can keep you awake all night. So write down all your troubles and its better to maintain to-do list for the next day. This will help you in sleeping peacefully.

Maintain a regular time-table: It’s very important to have a steady routine for your sleep. Everyday you need to sleep and wake up at the same time so that your body maintains this habit. This will enhance good quality sleep.

I hope these tips help you to get the sound sleep at night for which we all pray for. Good Night!

Somethings you may not know……

1. Coca-Cola was originally Green.

2. There are two credit cards for every person in the United States .

3. TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.

4. It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky.

5. The “sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick” is said to be the toughest tongue twister in the English language.

6. If you sneeze too hard, you can fracture a rib. If you try to Suppress a sneeze; you can rupture a blood vessel in your head or neck and die.

7. 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

8. If a statue of a warrior on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle.
If the horse has a all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.

9. In the last 4000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.

10. Rats multiply so quickly that in 18 months, two rats could have over million descendants.

Hope you like these facts? BUT WAIT………. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SHARE SOMETHING AMAZING WHICH YOU KNOW!

10 Most Commonly Asked Questions in an Interview (And How to Answer them)

Having conducted numerous interviews, from an 18 year college student, to a 55 year old retired government employee, to a B-School graduate, I can now claim to have some idea about interviews and how one can easily crack them!

Getting ready for a job interview isn’t just about dressing appropriately & being there before time, it’s also about knowing how to respond thoughtfully to the questions which will be shot at you. Most interviewers tend to ask questions which can give them an insight about yourself and make every effort to make it intimidating. But the truth is that they all tend to ask the same questions. So, if you know what these questions are, you can prepare accordingly. Here are ten of the most commonly-asked job interview questions. Don’t be surprised if they come up in your next interview!!

1. “Tell me about yourself.”
This is the ice breaker, they will always ask you this question first. But if the old English saying is be believed, this is the most important question of all!

It is important to understand that your answer doesn’t sound rehearsed. Your answer should be genuine and honest as well as short and sweet. Don’t talk endlessly about every detail of your life - that’s not what potential employers want to know. Focus on your education, work history, recent career experience and any hobbies or accomplishments that reflect a strong character. And remember, never start by introducing yourself, this should be done before the interview begins!

2. “What do you know about this company?”
You should expect this question at every interview. This is why you should always do some research on the company before the interview. Always get answers to the following questions before hand and make sure that your career goals appear alined with the company's vision:

• Where they have been and where they are going?
• What are the current issues and who are the major players?

This shows the interviewer that you are actually interested in the company and being employed by them.

3. “Why do you want to work for this company?”
Again, make sure you’ve done your homework and base your response on the knowledge you’ve acquired. Try to relate your answer to your personal interests or career goals and how they aline with the company's long term visions and goals of the particular position you are applying for.

4. “How long do you plan on staying with the company if you’re hired?”
Logically, employers are not supposed to ask this question; still, somehow it finds its way into the conversation. If it does, steer clear of specific answers; being too specific could be potentially dangerous. At the same time, being too vague will not be good either. Try something along the lines of “I’d like it to be a long term employee", or "As long as we both feel that I am doing a good job.”

5. “Are you willing to work overtime?”
You’re on your own here - but be prepared for the question. It’s to your advantage to be honest up front in setting the terms of employment; however, keep in mind that the more flexible you are, the more likely you’ll get the job. Ideally, you should let your interviewer know that while you have preferences or special circumstances, you are willing to be flexible.

6. “Why did you leave your last job?”
It is crucial to be brief, honest, and most importantly, positive. If you left by choice, don't put blame on others or talk bad about the previous employer. Or else, you’ll only make yourself look bad. Instead say you left for a better opportunity. If you were fired, be honest about the reasons and assure the interviewer that the mistakes - if any - will not happen again. Being honest is being confident about yourself.

7. “Why should we hire you?”
This is a half volley - an easy opportunity to show your strengths - so hit it right out of the park. Sound confident rather than cocky. Create your answer by thinking in terms of your abilities and experience. Point out specific ways in which your assets as a candidate will benefit the company.

8. “What is your philosophy/attitude towards work?”
If you get this question, be advised that the interviewer is not looking for a soliloquy. Ask yourself: “Do I have strong feelings about how work should be done?” If so, answer accordingly. If not, keep it short and positive, always showing concern for the good of the organization.

9. “What do you feel this position should pay?”
A loaded and a delicate question. The best way to have success with this question is to not answer it directly. A good tactic is to counter with something like, “That’s a tough question… Can you tell me the range for this position?” In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you. Of course, a better approach would be to do your homework. Find the average salary for the position you’re applying for and answer, “I understand that the range for this job is between $____ and $____. That seems appropriate for the job as I understand it.” Either way, make sure you communicate that while the money is important; getting the job is first priority.

10. “Do you have any questions for me?”
This is one of the most neglected and overlooked questions of the interview. However, this can be a real clincher for you! Come with some prepared questions, such as: “How can I be an asset to the organization? How soon will I be able to be productive? What type of projects will I be involved with?” Remember that a keen or insightful question on your part will tell the employer as much about you as your answers.

To conclude, the key to most of these questions is doing your homework well. However, even the best answers will have no credibility whatsoever unless you are completely honest and sincere with yourself and with your interviewer. And while I can’t promise you’ll get every job using these tips, I hope you will do will in all your interviews and wish you well for them!

10 Ways to Negotiate With a Difficult Person

Negotiation is an important nowadays. We are negotiating something or the other every time. Be it negotiating your pay package with your boss, your relationship with your partner, the prices of supplies with the vendor or your own life with yourself. So, its important to learn a few things that would help you to become a better negotiator! However, the first thing you should note is that there’s a marked difference between a negotiation and a counterpart who is deliberately adversarial. The following should help to diffuse the situation.

1. Don’t take their behavior personally. It is usually never about you. Their bad behavior has to
do with them; you just happen to be in the way at the moment.

2. Don’t fight back or try to win. In the end, difficult people need to save face. Their selfidentity
is tied into winning.

3. Exercise the greatest power you have as a negotiator: the power to change the game. You can’t change them. The only person you are in control of is you. Change your attitude and your response to their behavior.

4. Let them vent. Don’t vent back. Let them explain themselves without jumping in. Use the power of acknowledgment. Nod your head (nodding does not mean you agree, it just means you have heard what they said). Use positive gestures. Disarm and deflect the other side with kindness. Use silence to your advantage: It makes the other side wonder what you are thinking. Remain steadfast and assertive in expressing your goals and interests. Once the other side sees you are listening and understand their plight, they may be more willing to work with you.

5. Reframe what they say into neutral language. They say, “If you don’t like the room rental,
find another location.” You rephrase: “I understand the hotel needs a certain amount of revenue
to make this meeting fit into your goals; let’s come up with another way to satisfy both our needs.” (Offer a shorter setup time and indicate that they can sell space to another group for a meal function.)

6. If you are being given the silent treatment, get them to answer questions that do not include
a “yes” or “no” response. “I feel that we need more conversation to resolve the issues, please let
me know … (your thoughts, feelings).” Draw them out into a safe environment and listen.

7. Be prepared, remain professional, and use industry resources, such as Professional Meeting
Management, Fifth Edition (PMM5), to back up your points. It is hard to argue the same facts from several sources.

8. Create a safe environment; be up-front about your interests; do not make surprise attacks
or deadlines; be trustworthy; go at their pace.

9. Strengthen interpersonal relationships. Non-intrusive small talk may lead to common outside interests. Try to find a real person under the “bad behavior.”

10. If the negotiation is really awful and nothing seems to work, see if you can change the
venue for your discussions. If that does not work, as a last resort, try to get another person to
replace the bad apple. Take a non-confrontational approach, such as, “It seems we are getting
stuck a lot on the issues. Maybe we can get another perspective.”

10 Ways to Relaxify Your Workspace

Feeling stressed out has now becoming a part of our daily lives. This is not just costing the companies millions of dollars, but is also exposing us to various health problems like diabetics, high pressure and heart problems. It is very important to understand that stress doesn’t just happen, like bad weather. But for this reason, many don't consider themselves responsible for the stress in their own lives. The trouble is, most people want to get rid of the stress and but they simply cannot change their lifestyle!

No matter if you are working at office or home, there are needs to improve your quality of your workspace to feel more positive. Steve Pavlina has suggested 10 simple ways to “relaxify” your workspace without changing your life style. These "simple to follow" tips will ease your emotion when working at your workspace and thus reduce your stress levels:

• Make your workspace look attractive to you.
• Clear out the clutter.
• Add plants.
• Make it smell good.
• Play relaxing music.
• Get a decent chair.
• Add a portable fan.
• Add a fountain.
• Personalize your space.
• Establish uninterruptible periods.

10 Ways to Relaxify Your Workspace - [Steve Pavlina]