| If you work in one of the majority of offices that | | | | might make you appear legitimately 'busy' but |
| sees extremely slow business and low | | | | face it, you're not as sneaky as you think. Don't |
| productivity during the holiday season, it can be | | | | do it!7. List the gifts you don't want for sale on |
| mighty tempting to 'make use' of all that | | | | ebay or craigslist: did you get a bunch of gifts |
| downtime. But if you want to end up the year in | | | | you're not thrilled with and can't return them to |
| good standing and shine in the new year, here are | | | | the stores? Ebay and craigslist are great places to |
| eight dumb things to not do while on the job | | | | list items for sale, and that fast connection you've |
| during the holidays:1. Shop online: this might be the | | | | got at work might make the work go faster, but... |
| biggest temptation of them all. Maybe you have a | | | | Don't do it!8. Post to your favorite blogs: blogs are |
| much faster connection at work than at home | | | | wonderful reading and it's fun to post your own |
| and figure you'll get your shopping done so much | | | | opinions, stories, or recommendations, but... Don't |
| more quickly if you sneak it in between small | | | | do it! (wait until you get home to add your own |
| projects or meetings at work. Don't do it!2. Catch | | | | post to the new blog: The Dumbest Thing I Ever |
| up with old friends via email or phone: probably | | | | Did...! Find it at thankful this holiday that you've got |
| the next biggest temptation you'll have. You may | | | | a job, and make sure you keep it through the |
| feel that it's a terrific use of quiet downtime at | | | | new year by resisting the temptation to make |
| the office plus, hey, the calls are free! But these | | | | your office just another home away from home. |
| days many, if not most, employers are | | | | You and your boss will be happy you did!Kathryn |
| monitoring all your calls and emails in one way or | | | | Marion is the creator of the new book series due |
| another. Don't do it!3. Compose your family's | | | | out in 2007 called The Smartest Thing I Ever Did... |
| annual letter: besides the fact that you'd be | | | | (TM) She is seeking contributions of success |
| putting personal details of your life on your | | | | stories and advice for the first six titles: ...as a |
| employer's system, how clearly can you really | | | | Parent, ...for My Marriage, ...for My Career, ...with |
| think about what you've been up to off-the-job, | | | | My Money, ...for Myself, and ...for My Business. Visit |
| anyway? Don't do it!4. Post family pictures online: | | | | for complete details and to make contributions |
| with what people do to photographs these days | | | | online. All contributions published will include a byline |
| and then plaster them all over the internet, you | | | | and author bio (which may include a website and |
| don't want your personal pictures on your | | | | or email address, giving contributors valuable |
| employer's computer. Don't do it!5. Rework family | | | | national exposure). She is also the author of |
| pix in a photo editor: again, you don't want your | | | | Success in the 'Real World', a book dedicated to |
| personal pictures on your employer's | | | | helping graduates succeed in their new life in the |
| computer...you may not be the only one who | | | | 'real world' of work and independent living, which |
| wants to 're-touch' and use them. Don't do it!6. | | | | was distributed to almost 1. |
| Catch up on your reading (books, emails, blogs):. it | | | | |