Why not make a Change?

I know I haven’t posted in a long time. I tell ya school can be time consuming. As of right now I’m working on my application to study abroad in an exchange program with the Universidad de Alicante, in Alicante Spain. My goal of studies is in International Business. Aso of right now the only money I have for this program is the tuition being covered by my FAFSA. This helps, but here’s the downside…

• Travel Costs - Yielding about $750-800 Each way. Luckily there are only two of these, one there in the Fall of ‘09 and once in the spring of ‘10.
• Food - I don’t know whether or not I will be hosted by a host family or in a school sponsored apartment either way this would be included into additional costs not covered by FAFSA.
• Insurance - Insurance for the Exchange Program is $1/day. Being that I will be in Spain for the full year this amounts to approximately $275-$300 dollars. But! Spain Long term visa requires at least $1000 of insurance.

What I ask of you is to help me out, mainly with the administrative costs, and the cost of getting my self to Spain. Using this ChipIn program, you can use paypal to submit any amount you please. My goal is $2000 by March 31st. This is entirely do able, if you think you can help any amount is good enough.

What do YOU get??

In return I am offering to take photos of anything that interests you in Spain or anywhere else I travel to while in Spain, such as France, Italy, Morrocco etc. I will also routinely update my blog with Spanish going ons, historical facts, and even more importanty what I am doing with your money in Spain. If you want me to take photos of specific things, submit an amount, and then email me, greg{at}gregdelima{dot}com with what you want me to do and I will do the best I can to get that photo!

If you have any other ideas, shoot them over to my, I will do what I can so I can Study Abroad

Thank You!

I’ve been back in Boone for about three weeks now, it’s great! I love being back and the weather is amazing. But now that I’m back it’s a new routine. So because of my time being back here’s a great way to allocate time and find ways to study between your breaks and scarce time off.

Between Classes

While you’re between classes if you have longer breaks around and hour long, take that time and hit the library, review, and type up your notes in a way that makes them easy to read and study. This helps you a lot. Being able to go back through your notes enables them to be committed to memory, and locks them in. The fact you’re saving them in a study guide style (however that may be for you) makes them better for reviewing for exams.

In Class

Do you use a laptop, or iPhone or iPod Touch? Consider Evernote. A note taking tool that syncs with your iPhone, Desktop, and Online. This is great because it lets you access your notes wherever. Though the free version has limited space if you use many photos, it is great for text documents and the like. Otherwise, make sure your notes are clear and you understand them. If you can’t follow your train of thought in your notes, how do you expect to be able to get back to them and recall what you learned?

Organize Yourself

Stand back and take a look at everything that’s on your plate. Sort it out and find a way to make it all fit together. I for example have one 5 subject notebook, it holds all I need. I also tote my laptop on Mon, Wed, Fri, that way if I need it I have it with me. Be sure your home is organized also. Make sure your papers are in order, your desk is neat all that fun jazz your mom always told you to do. Keep all your play and work separate, if you get these mixed up, you’ll end up foolin around instead of getting your work done.

Hoard Your Dough

Save Save Save. If you don’t need to spend it don’t! If you have a meal plan use it. I know the on campus food might be about the worst thing you’ve ever had, but hey, it’s on your meal plan. If your off campus, use the grocery store’s discount program. It Helps! Get the generics, and the staples, you only need these once. Use menus and opensourcefood for some ideas on recipes. This lets you get good food ideas while saving the money from going out.

Okay so I’m done with working at the Hilton, for the summer. Which I am somewhat thankful for. However, at the same time, they were an Amazing place to work for and the people were awesome. I think though, that there were some management things that could have been taken care of on a much more professional level. So from my point of view as an employee under management, here are my suggestions to anyone for increasing their management skill.

First off read as many of these as you deem applicable.

The Managers Handbook

Next - Be understanding. Yes there are people under you but you have to realize they’re probably working their way up. Don’t sit there and become some power hungry mongeror and push them around thinking they’re your little peons. They’re not. They’re people just like you, understand that they like to see you doing some work besides just pushing them around asking them to do various tasks.

Chill the Attitude Dude

I had a major problem with my manager in this one. We came under new management recently and our new GM apparently had a lot of catching up to do. But this gives her no reason to be some supreme bitch to me. I was never really bad at my job. I made my mistakes, but I fixed them. If people make a mistake help them learn, don’t just bitch at them and tell them they suck at their job. That won’t help you or them at all.Be constructive, be supportive, don’t go around being pesky and bitchy, you probably won’t solve anything. Think Empathy.

Constructive Criticism

Be more on the Constructive end of the criticism. Remember you want to increase the productivity of your business, so the more you can help your employees be better at what they do, they better off your business will be.

When I say tipping I mean multiple types. Tip waiters, housekeepers, baristas; or are you giving people tips to give advice. Either way there are perks to giving monetary tips and constructive criticism. I do my best to try to tell people ways to increase their productivity, decrease slack time, and other ways to try  to help them. But at the same time, I tend to be a ridiculous tipper, close to 30% sometimes.

Photo from KM&G-Morris’

But what are the perks?

You’re helping out

Tips might be small in comparison to many things you do, but you are helping that person. Whether by giving them a few extra dollars, or a couple pointers to help them get through the day, you’re tipping. The key is to not try to come across as a) Loaded with dough, or b) a smart ass know-it-all. But doing your best to contribute to others helps society. Remember, tipped positions are most likely paid minimum wage, or less and the majority of their money comes in through tips.

You benefit too!

There are countless stories of people who have recieved better service, better upgrades, many many other opportunities, just by tipping. It doesn’t even have to be a big tip. Any tip that you give is one that will make customer service associates recognize you more. Want a better table, better service, give a little tip. Concierge services are the same way, prepay a $20 tip for your whole stay, and I guarantee the Concierge will work with you the best they can. If they pull through for you, give a little extra per task.

Constructive Criticsm

This is where everyone could use some help. If you think someone is doing somthing incorrectly, or it could be done better, let them know. Sometimes they might not know that they could be doing their work better. Especially if these people work for you, constructive criticsm is better than pure criticsm. Give the individual the opportunity to grow and be a bigger asset to you and your company. Give constructive criticsm, and be willing to accept it.