Greg Underwood, Author at A Million Lives

October 15, 2017 by Greg Underwood

How To Make a Positive First Impression in Your Business Meeting

How are first impressions formed?

You only get one chance at a first impression and, according to recent studies, 55% of a first impression is formed by the way you dress, act and walk through the door. That’s over half of the impression you’re trying to make being given, without you even saying anything! Another 38% is simply from the quality of your voice; the grammar and confidence you have, leaving a mere 7% of your first impression to the words you say themselves. Wow.

So how do we achieve that perfect first impression?

Make eye contact.

In my experience, someone who doesn’t make eye contact with me when we’re talking, makes me feel a little uneasy. I find it slightly unsettling when I’m having a conversation with a person, and they’re looking at everything but me. I don’t know why, but it makes me feel suspicious and a touch paranoid. Now, imagine I’m someone who you’re having an important business meeting with…

If you’re simply a little shy and nervous about making eye contact with people, then, for the purpose of this meeting, you might have to embrace it head on. Likewise, too much eye contact can be equally as unnerving. We aren’t looking to acquire a restraining order from our first encounter.

Smile. Genuinely.

A smile; one of the simplest of movements our faces can do, one of the first we learn to do, and quite possibly one of the best expressions to display. But it must be genuine. Anything forced, or fake will be obvious, so smile genuinely, at the opportunity arising to you, as you greet a new person.

Give a firm handshake.

Now, we all know this one. This pearl of wisdom that is passed around through generations of families, strangers in the street, careers advisors. Just the right amount of pressure; too much and you’ll hurt the person, this isn’t a world’s strongest man contest. But not enough squeezing and your bordering on just simply allowing the other person to hold your hand; and you might not know each other that well yet!

If you could combine a firm, but not too firm hand shake, with a genuine smile, whilst making eye contact with that person then you are onto a winner.

Be presentable.

Dress for the part. Smart, appropriate clothing is always the best option. I would always rather be over dressed for an occasion, than under dressed. Hair should be neat and tidy, this includes facial hair. Err on the side of caution as you don’t know how strict or relaxed a company’s policies are.

Say their name.

You’d be surprised at how effective simply referring to someone by their name can be in creating a great first impression. It shows you’ve paid attention, you’ve retained some information and it can make that person feel special and important, to be individually identified.

Listen.

A fundamental skill. It shows respect, enthusiasm and empathy to listen to another person. Showing them signs that you’re actively listening is even better. Smiling, nodding and responding to what is being said shows you are present and engaged in the conversation.

First impressions can make or break your success in any situation. Undertaking some simple steps to ensure you create a positive and lasting first impression could be a lot simpler than you thought.

October 15, 2017 by Greg Underwood

5 Hacks To Paying Off Your Loan Earlier

There are a million and one loan companies around these days. Short term ones available to help you get to the next pay day if you’ve had an unexpected expenditure, or a more long-term loan for a big purchase. It’s the paying the money back when issues can occur. When it comes down to it, paying off your loan or credit card debt as quickly as possible will save you money which, could be put to much better use.

Shop around

By this I mean seek out and switch over to credit cards with 0% on balance transfers. Also consider switching your bank account to one with lesser charges or offers you a percentage of your spending back. Arrange a meeting with your bank and discuss an authorised over-draft to save any unnecessary charges if you’re going over-drawn every month. You could always take out another loan at a lower interest rate to pay the first off giving you some months of interest free payments to get back on top. Even increasing your monthly payments will save you money in the long run as you’re paying off less interest. Just be sure not to leave yourself struggling with your outgoings each month.

Use savings.

I know we all believe we should be saving for a rainy day, but the truth of the matter is that most debt’s usually cost more than savings earn and so if you can cancel them out you’ll be much better off. The interest rates are always a lot higher on the money you owe rather than what you’re saving. So, it is worth considering using that emergency fund to pay off some debt

Generate more money.

I’m sure we would all be doing this if we could, right? But what I mean is make some cut backs, budget, have a look around your house, your bedroom and put any unwanted and unused items on second hand selling sites to give you a little extra cash in your hand. £10 here and there might not seem like a lot but it will quickly add up over the course of a month or year. If possible, take a part time job to help boost your income. A couple of evenings work in a bar is great for socialising and will bring you in a few extra bucks. There’s opportunities out there for flexible people, plus it doesn’t have to be a long-term thing if you don’t want it to be.

Consolidate your debts with a loan.

If you have a car on finance or several credit cards, contemplate getting a bank loan and paying off a few debts with it. The interest rates are notoriously lower, so you’ll be in a better position each month and could even afford to pay more.

Round up the payments.

This is one way of paying off the money quicker without really realising it. If your monthly payment is £264 a month, rounding it up to £300, an extra £36 a month creates an extra £432 a year. That’s got to help shave a few more months off payments off the length of your loan.

There are lots of benefits to paying off your debts early, not least of which is the easing of stress and strain thinking about monthly payments and interest rates.

October 15, 2017 by Greg Underwood

5 Common Driving Hazards and How To Avoid Them

The population of the world is 7.3 billion and, of this, there are 1.2 billion drivers equating to 16.4 percent of the population. So, there are, without a doubt, a few circumstances which many us will happen upon during our driving lives. I’m going to outline the 5 most common and how to avoid, or deal with them.

Skidding.

Driving in the rain or post downpour and negotiating a bend which sends your car skidding on the wet surface and spinning out of control. Now what? We’ve all heard that expert advice of ‘turning into the skid’ but in the heat of the moment you panic, and things become blurry so remembering which way is into or away from the skid can be confusing. Therefore, new advice is to take your foot off the gas immediately, pick a focal point somewhere slightly further down the road and gently steer your vehicle towards that. The most important thing to remember is not to over-steer. Jolting the steering wheel left and right can cause the car to over-turn. Also, slamming the breaks on can cause more of a skid, so avoid this too.

Flat tyre.

Whether it’s been a slow puncture or a tyre blowout, everyone should be prepared to deal with this happening. Get into the habit of regularly checking your tyres before embarking on a journey for good practice. If it happens whilst driving, don’t panic. Slow down and pull over as soon as you can, safely and preferably on a level, firm surface where you’ll be able to use a jack if you know how to do so. If not, call your breakdown cover.

Driver fatigue.

Being tired behind the wheel increases your chances of crashing the car by a third. That feeling of dreaminess, restlessness, sore eyes and yawning are just some of the things to look out for. If you can, take a break, drink some water and get some fresh air. A decent night’s sleep the night before definitely helps too.

Being unprepared.

Plenty of fuel in the car, make sure you check engine oil, water and screen wash before journeys. Check the weather conditions before making trips, especially in the case of ice or snow. Ensure you have a breakdown kit in the boot, extra blankets, fuel can, torch

Distractions.

Having anything distracting in the car can always be quite hazardous. If travelling with children make sure you have games, entertainment, snacks and drinks to hand. Regular stops to break the boredom may be necessary too. Cell phones on silent or on hands-free mode is a no brainer, try not to try changing CDs or Sat nav destination whilst driving too.

And an extra tip, just for good measure; is to simply, be aware. As crazy as it sounds, you need to think about other drivers. Anticipate things that might occur and be aware of your surroundings. Pedestrians, wildlife, other road users just use your peripheral vision to be conscious that you are not alone on that road or journey.

October 15, 2017 by Greg Underwood

A Trendy Guy´s Guide To Fall Fashion

Fall has got to be the best season, in my opinion. I love packing away the shorts and flip flops in exchange for scarves, jumpers and boots. Various ‘on trend’ items tend to sneak their way in which aren’t for everyone but, there are always going to be fail-safe key items that just look the part in the fall, year after year. Basically, choosing to combine a few of the classics with one or two recent trends, will have you looking dapper and not too ‘try hard’.

Ripped jeans.

These made their way back into our wardrobes in the early 2010’s, a throwback to the punk movement of the 70’s and rebranded as ‘distressed denim’. This year, to look the part grab yourself a super skinny, distressed pair in a couple of colours. A black pair can easily be dressed up with a shirt for a night out, whereas a lighter blue looks great for a more casual appearance. They must be a skinny fit though.

Statement clothing.

I don’t mean a Lady Gaga-esque dress of meat; tees and sweatshirts with statements adorning the front are going to be everywhere. It’s all down to these turbulent times we’re currently living in which the fashion gods like to express themselves through.

Fur and shearling collars.

Saving you the effort of trying to find the perfect scarf to match your outfits, opting for a jacket with a statement collar is a win win. Think of Tom Cruise in Top Gun. And we all know aviators are fool-proof too.

Quilted jackets.

Making their way into our lives from aristocrat’s wardrobes, the quilted jacket is a staple piece to keep off that chill. Double points for a quilted jacket will a fur collar too!

Checks.

Checked shirts always look good in the fall, it must be the lumberjack connotations, where we envisage jeans, a knitted hat and checked shirt in forest surroundings! Whatever you picture, a checked shirt, or, for the more modest of us, a more subtle checked scarf with add a touch of excitement to block colours.

Knits.

We always see the emergence of knitwear in the shops come fall and you can go one of two ways with it. Thick and chunky jumpers and cardigans look great paired with slimmer fitting jeans, or you could opt for a fine knit sweater layered over a shirt with smarter chino trousers or suit pants. You’ll also see the turtle-neck sweater making its way into stores.

Boots.

There are some incredible boots hitting the stores. To keep yourself bang on trend, go for either a suede or distressed leather look in brown. Teamed with the usual dark autumnal shades of jeans and jackets, a brown boot will give you that edge.

Corduroy.

Textures are huge this season and with the continuing seventies revival we’re seeing a lot of corduroy. Make a statement in a full cord suit, if you like, or, ease yourself in with just a pair of corded trousers. Keep the colour dark and deep, as always, in the fall, colour is key. Deep earthy tones usually work best so think mossy greens, rich navy, deep burgundy, camel tones or a pop of this season’s orange if you’re feeling adventurous.

October 15, 2017 by Greg Underwood

How To Balance Work and Social Life On Social Media

Without a doubt, we are well and truly living in a digital age. There are gadgets at our disposal for almost every task imaginable, and for the most part, it’s truly amazing. One large aspect of the digital age which we are surrounded by, is social media, and for most, the idea of shutting it out would be wholly unrealistic. Social media can be extremely advantageous in the business world, as well as on a personal level, allowing us to reach far-flung corners of the world and make connections at the click of a button.

When working in an online business, this is when it starts to become difficult to juggle between using social media for personal and professional purposes. How do we keep the two separate? Do we keep them separate? When working online, how do we resist the temptation to quickly log onto our private accounts?

Create separate accounts.

Having clearly defined accounts for professional and personal use is vital. If it is a blog you which run, you will want to keep some aspects of your life private and so from a posting point of view, the two should be separate. If you have a certain number of followers for example, you don’t necessarily want them knowing every part of your life.

There are always going to be connections between one and the other, and therefore posting something risqué on one could damage the other so it’s important to think about what you’re doing and who has the potential to see it.

Time.

When you work online, it might be a sensible idea to not allow yourself to dip in and out of your personal accounts whilst working. It’s probably still a good idea to treat working online, or indeed, within social media, as if it were any other job. For example, if you were a teacher you wouldn’t dream of logging onto your Facebook account in the middle of a class, and so it is important to remain in that state of thought. You might even want to opt for a ‘day off’. Leave your phone somewhere safe and simply have a day off using it. No checking emails, social media, constantly texting friends, it might be quite liberating! Giving yourself allotted time to access social media could mean you utilise this time better.

Go old school.

Make connections with people how we used to. Physically talk to their face! Tone and sarcasm do not translate that well digitally. Talking to someone in person allows us to reconnect with each other, to read body language and gauge people’s reactions. Make a phone call instead or, I might even be so bold as to suggest putting pen to paper. I relish in the idea of becoming pen-pals with someone, writing a long letter detailing things I’ve been doing recently, I think it’s romantic, nostalgic and a dying art I want to keep alive. My grandma also loves receiving postcards from the kids when we go on trips away.

Rules.

Putting some restrictions on usage can be very beneficial. Send your goodnight texts and then leave your phone in another room. Spend the hour or thirty minutes before you go to sleep reading a book or talking to your partner. Less screen time before bed has been proven to aid a better night’s sleep. Ban devices from the dinner table so everyone is more present during a meal.

We spend over half our days ‘plugged in’, and it was only five years ago that we were spending twice as much time present in the physical world around us. A worrying thought, or just the inevitable advancing of society? I’ll let you decide that one…

October 15, 2017 by Greg Underwood

A Guide To Choosing The Right Flooring For Your Home

Don’t look at your house as a whole; consider each room individually based on its function and this will make it much easier to select the right type of flooring. Your hallway, for example, is a high traffic area, people are in and out all the time, wearing their shoes, if you have dogs, or a pushchair, you’re going to need something hard-wearing and washable. It comes down to more than simply looks. Below are the most popular types of flooring, their pros and cons, leaving you to decide on a personal level, which rooms they’re best suited to.

Hardwood.

There’s no denying the beauty of a real wood floor, the different grains and shades, imperfections adding to its natural beauty and unlikely to ever go out of fashion, it’s a classic. It’s sturdy and long-lasting, is warmer under foot and looks great. However, in an area with moisture, solid wood boards can move, if you live in a flat I would avoid as it is a noisy floor and it can scratch and stain. In the busy areas such as in front of the sink, or oven it will show wear and tear. Yes, you can re-sand and stain it, but, it is a pretty messy process.

Tiles.

There are a few types of flooring tile, the main two being ceramic or porcelain.

Porcelain tiles are pretty maintenance free, extremely hard-wearing, it’s very difficult to chip or scratch and is extremely hygienic as it can be cleaned with anything. That being said, porcelain is cold to stand on for any period, can be extremely slippery when wet, and if a chip or crack was to occur they’re unrepairable on an individual basis.

Ceramic tiles work out cheaper than porcelain, they come in a range of designs and, like their more expensive relative, are hygienic and easy to clean too. However, they aren’t quite as durable as porcelain and so need to be laid on a completely flat, solid floor or they will crack. Again, they are cold under foot and chips will be more obvious as the colour is only on the surface.

Vinyl.

This is a great budget-friendly option and comes in a vast choice of finishes, replicating woods, stones, mosaics. It is easy to clean and water resistant. The thin, hard vinyl is very robust but if you opt for the thicker, spongier type be wary that it can dent. It is comfortable to walk on and can even be laid on top of an existing floor. But, vinyl does have a relatively short life-span, it will fade when exposed to strong sunlight and, if damaged, it is unrepairable, so you must be careful.

Carpet.

Carpet can be as inexpensive or extravagant as you want it to be. In many different colours and patterns, it’s a go to option for most rooms in the house. Comfortable and warm under foot, a lot of carpets are now durable and can be cleaned or even stain resistant. Not a good idea in the bathroom where it will absorb moisture and become damp and mouldy in time, or the kitchen due to food spillages and oil.

There are, of course, more flooring choices to consider, these are simply a selection of the more commonly used options. Remember to consider the logistics but don’t choose something you don’t like just because you’ve read it serves a better function. You have to live with it after all.

A Million Lives

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