| How to Schmooze Posted: 28 Aug 2017 05:00 PM PDT Schmoozing is an excellent way to get people to like you and to grow your professional and social network. Contrary to popular belief, schmoozing isn't all about complimenting a person. To schmooze effectively, you'll need to come across as genuine and likable. If you present yourself well, concentrate on positive small talk, and then build rapport with people, you can schmooze your way to the top. EditMaking Small Talk - Introduce yourself to people. Pay attention to the people who are at the event and introduce yourself to those who make eye contact. Don't limit the conversation to people who you know. Instead, try to go out of your existing network and introduce yourself to new people. If you're nervous and don't want to introduce yourself, you can ask the host to introduce you to people who you want to talk to.[1]
- You can introduce yourself by saying "Hey, my name's Joe, I work over in accounting. How are you today?"
- You can also say "Hi, my name's Stephanie. I saw your presentation on nuclear thermodynamics, and I thought that was awesome."
- Or, "Hey, I'm Jake. I heard about the prank that you guys pulled in accounting yesterday, and I couldn't stop laughing about it."
- Stay up on current events. Read magazines and blogs, and watch new documentaries to stay up on the latest trends. Staying up on trends will give you something to talk about outside of work and your social life. Having a couple of subjects that you're knowledgeable about will make you seem more interesting to the people you're schmoozing with.[2]
- Avoid talking about religion, politics, or race. Unless you are in a particular setting, like a church or political fundraising event, you shouldn't bring up these topics. Often, people have strong feelings and opinions about these themes, and it's easy to offend someone. Steer clear from these conversations and stay neutral if someone brings it up.[3]
- For instance, if someone says, "What do you think of the new president?" you can say something like "I don't really follow politics."
- Be genuine. The goal of schmoozing may be to build your network, but it shouldn't be obvious. People don't want to associate with those who they think are overly ambitious or goal-oriented. Avoid talking solely about work, especially if you're in a social setting with your coworkers. Stick to more interesting subjects so that people don't think that you're fake.[4]
- Be polite but end bad or pointless conversations. If you run into someone who you don't want to talk to anymore, you shouldn't be rude. Smile, nod, and give short responses until they run out of small talk. Wait around five minutes, then excuse yourself politely.[5]
- When you're leaving the conversation you can say something like "Well, it was really nice meeting you. I think I'm going to find my friends and grab a drink, thanks."
- You can also say "Ah, I have to use the restroom. It was nice talking to you."
EditImproving Rapport - Look for similarities with you and the person you're talking to. The more similar a person thinks they are to you, the more engaged they will be in the conversation. Try to draw parallels between the person you're talking to.[6]
- For example, if someone says "This customer blamed me because their order didn't arrive, but it was the shipping company's fault," you can say something like, "Yeah, customers sometimes complain about things outside of my control too."
- Listen and ask questions. You don't want to talk too much when you're schmoozing. Make sure that you give the person you're talking to enough space in the conversation to say things. A great way to do this is by asking questions that require a response. Think of the conversation as a series of opportunities to expand your relationship and don't obsess over saying the wrong thing.[7]
- For example, if someone is talking about a recent baseball game, you can say, "What do you think of the Mets performance so far this season?"
- If you're talking about a movie you've both seen recently you could say something like, "Yeah, Eli Roth's directing has really evolved over the last ten years. What's your favorite movie of his?"
- Give them genuine compliments. Don't just come out and say something like "You're the best!" Instead, frame your compliment as a question or statement. For example, you could say something like "How did you keep such a cool head yesterday with that customer?" or "I wasn't sure about your techniques at first, but now I see it's really the best way to do it."[8]
- You can also compliment them by saying something like "I don't want to embarrass you, but your explanation of the classical dynamics of spinning tops is one of the best I've ever heard."
EditPresenting Yourself - Wear clean, pressed clothes. Wear clothes that make you feel confident. This will vary depending on the situation you're in. If you're in a formal setting, you should dress up in a suit or a formal dress and nice shoes. If you're in a more casual environment, wear whatever clothes make you feel confident and comfortable. Regardless of the setting, clean, wrinkle-free clothing will always make a good impression.[9]
- Have good hygiene. Make sure that you groom your hair and bathe before you go to a networking or social event. If you have bad breath or you smell bad, people won't want to be around you. Brush your teeth, chew gum, or eat breath mints to prevent bad breath. You can wear underarm deodorant or perfume to smell good.[10]
- Read about the event before you arrive. Make sure that you know what the event is and who will be there. This will give you an idea of the type of conversations you might be having and the people you should target. You'll most likely want to talk to people in your field of work or study, or people that can help advance your career. If you can get a hold of a guest list, you should do some research on the web on the people who will be there.[11]
- Exude self-confidence, but don't come off as arrogant. Don't put others down, ridicule others, or talk about how you're better than others. This comes off as arrogant and will give off a bad impression. Instead, act like you're sure of yourself and your abilities but don't talk about it constantly.[12]
- Even though you think the other person agrees with you, don't complain too much. You can come off as unfriendly, which is what you don't want.
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| How to Do a Behind the Neck Press Posted: 28 Aug 2017 09:00 AM PDT A behind the neck press is a shoulder exercise that engages several muscle groups. Start by doing a seated behind the neck press, preferably with someone to spot you. Once you are comfortable with the seated press, try the standing version, which will engage lower-body muscle groups in addition to your shoulders. It is advisable to have a trainer or experienced weight lifter demonstrate the exercise to you in person to ensure that you are doing it correctly.[1] EditDoing a Seated Behind the Neck Press - Find a smith machine with a barbell. For this exercise, you'll need a smith machine with a barbell. Most gyms will have this machine, or you can purchase your own from several different manufacturers.
- Position your hands on the bar. Sit on the bench directly in front of the bar, facing away from it. Reach your arms backwards and place them on the bar with an underhand grip. Position your hands shoulder-width apart.[2]
- Lift the bar off the rack. To be safe, have someone spot you before you start lifting. Carefully remove the bar from the rack. Be sure to hold the bar steady so it does not fall backwards.[3]
- Lower the weight. Gently lower the weight behind your head. Stop when your elbows are perpendicular. Lowering the bar any further will put you at a significant risk for shoulder injury.[4]
- Push the weight back up. Exhale as you push the bar back upwards using a careful, fluid motion. Concentrate on keeping the bar steady. Extend your arms fully above you, but don't "lock" your elbows.[5]
- Rack the weight. When you are done with the exercise, bring the bar upwards toward the rack. Hold the bar steady for your spotter to grasp and re-rack. Keep your hands on the bar until it is securely back on the rack, then let go.[6]
- Do this exercise sparingly. Because this exercise has a high risk of injury, you should only do one or two sets. Choose a weight slightly lighter than your overhead press weight. Complete this exercise early in the workout after warming up and before fatigue sets in.
EditDoing a Standing Behind the Neck Press - Begin with the barbell on the floor and adjust your stance. Put the barbell on the floor in front of you, rather than on the rack. Position your feet hip-width apart. Turn your toes out slightly. Keep your feet planted on the floor and balance your weight on your heels.[7]
- Pick up the weight. Bend your knees to reach down and place your hands shoulder-width apart on the bar. Straighten your legs and pull the bar up as you stand up straight. Hold the bar with your arms flat in front of you.[8]
- Position the weight behind your neck. Bend your elbows to pull the weight up in front of your chest. Extend your arms upwards and push the bar over your head in a fluid motion. Slowly lower the bar, pulling your shoulders back and allowing the elbows to bend to 90 degrees in order to rest the bar behind your neck.[9]
- Lift the weight. Drive the bar up aggressively in a directly vertical motion. Bring your arms up into a fully extended overhead position (without "locking" your elbows). Be sure to keep a steady motion to avoid letting the bar extend forward or backward.[10]
- Place the weight back onto the ground. When you are done with your reps, finish with the weight fully extended above you. Lower the weight slowly, bringing it down to rest in front of your chest, then extend it downwards until your arms are straight. Bend your knees to rest it back on the ground, then raise yourself back to a standing position.[11]
- Work up to more reps. Start by doing 3-5 reps of this exercise at a time. As you grow more comfortable, extend the reps to 6-10. Begin with lighter weights to get accustomed to positioning and executing the press.[12]
EditLifting Safely - Consult your doctor. It is important to check with your doctor before embarking on any kind of strength-training program, especially if you have a history of injury or illness. Ask if this kind of exercise will exacerbate damage to joints or muscles, or if it is safe given other medical conditions (e.g., high blood pressure). Once you start lifting weights, see your doctor immediately if you suspect that you are injured.[13]
- Shoulder flexibility is necessary to perform this exercise, so avoid this if you suffer from a shoulder injury.
- If your shoulder are rounded forward, develop flexibility by stretching the chest and front of shoulders before trying this version of an overhead lift.
- Choose a weight. For greatest strength and muscle development, choose a weight that causes fatigue around 8 reps. This will depend on many factors including your experience, body mass, and overall strength. You should begin performing this exercise with lighter weight and more reps to build up strength in the connective tissues of the upper back and shoulders. Learning proper technique with lighter weight first will develop muscle memory, making the exercise safer when you go heavy.[14]
- Find a spotter. Having a spotter can dramatically reduce the likelihood of injury while weight lifting by preventing dropping or body strain. Ask a friend or fellow gym-goer to spot you, and offer to do the same for them. Be sure to choose someone that you trust and interact well with, as communication is key between spotters and lifters.[15]
- Watch for signs of potential injury. After weight lifting, there is generally a recovery period of 24 to 48 hours. If you have aching muscles or sore joints after this time, or experience severe neck pain after weightlifting, contact your doctor. You should seek medical attention immediately if you notice a painful bulge in your abdomen, which could be a hernia.[16]
- Practice behind the neck presses safely by starting with light weight, and working up to heavier weight gradually.
- Remember proper breathing techniques to help control your blood pressure. Never hold your breath on this exercise.
- This exercise should be viewed as a compliment to shoulder work which keeps the movement in a safe and comfortable range of motion.
- Lifting weight behind the head places risks on the shoulder joint, the neck, the upper spine, and the elbows.
- Lifting weight over the head works the heart hard and can lead to significantly increased blood pressure. Anyone with high blood pressure or related health issues should proceed with caution.
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| How to Lacto‐Ferment Posted: 28 Aug 2017 01:00 AM PDT Lacto-fermenting is an ancient process used primarily to preserve food. Before getting started, equip yourself with a good knife (or knives), a glass canning jar, some weights for the vessel, and any other tools you think you might need. Select the vegetables you want to ferment and prepare them to your liking. When you're ready, simply pack the food into the glass canning jar with some brining liquid and let the lacto-fermentation process take over. EditChoosing Fermentation Equipment - Obtain a knife that meets your needs. The knife you decide to obtain depends on the use you will be putting it towards. For instance, if you are grating vegetables, the knife you use should differ from one that is best suited to slicing or chopping.[1]
- Paring knives are good for small, short, and precise tasks like peeling or trimming off vegetable skin.[2]
- Serrated knives are good for slicing veggies. They have scalloped edges and should give you a smooth, clean slice.
- A chef's knife can be used for many purposes, but is best when working with large produce like spaghetti squash or pumpkin.
- Get a glass canning jar. Glass canning jars (Mason jars, especially) are the most common container for lacto-fermentation. These jars have metal lids and seal tightly to keep the fermentation process simple.[3]
- Get some weights. While it is not absolutely necessary to keep your veggies completely submerged during the lacto-fermentation process, doing so will encourage probiotic growth and prevent mold. To accomplish this, you will need to add a small weight to the glass canning jar to press down on whatever you're fermenting. The weight should have the same (or nearly the same) diameter of the jar you're using.[4]
- The best weights will be of dense but thin glass. This way, they will consume a minimal amount of room inside the glass canning jar.
- Avoid using limestone weights, as they can dissolve in the acidic environment of the glass canning jar.[5]
- Do not use wooden weights, as they will expand in the aqueous environment.
- Get a pounding tool. If you intend to ferment sauerkraut or other veggies that ferment in their own juices, you'll need a pounding tool (sometimes called a tamper) to break the vegetables apart and compress them in the glass canning jar. You might have such an object at home – a rolling pin with one handle removed works well – or you could buy a product specifically designed to compact veggies for lacto-fermentation.[6]
EditLacto-Fermenting Vegetables - Prepare your brining liquid. For quart-sized canning jars, mixing two cups of filtered water and one tablespoon of sea salt should yield enough brining liquid for the lacto-fermentation process. Set the liquid aside.[7]
- If your glass canning jar is larger or smaller, just scale the proportions accordingly.
- Add herbs and spices to your glass canning jar. Adding herbs and spices to your lacto-fermenting veggies will give the final product a pleasing flavor. You could use dried chili peppers, bay leaves, fresh basil, fresh tarragon, fresh mint, or black peppercorns. Add one or two teaspoons of each herb and spice you wish to use.[8]
- Add these herbs and spices in any combination you desire, but it's best not to overdo it. You should probably limit the number of herbs and spices you utilize to three or four.
- Prepare and add your vegetables. Cut and dice your vegetables down to the size you want. You can slice, dice, or grate your vegetables. Some veggies, like beets or baby carrots, can be tossed in the glass canning jar without being altered at all. Once your veggies are ready, pack them in the glass canning jar, leaving enough room to add your weight (if you're using one).[9]
- Consider adding a mixture of vegetables to a single glass canning jar.
- If you're making sauerkraut, use the tamper to push the kraut into the jar.
- Pour the brining liquid over the veggies. With your veggies and spices in the glass canning jar, pour the brining liquid in to cover them. Fill the jar to a point about half an inch (one centimeter) from the top, or to a point that leaves enough room to add your weight (if you're using one).[10]
- Seal the glass canning jar. If you're adding a weight, place it on top of the food you're lacto-fermenting. Then, close the glass canning jar tightly to prevent air from disrupting the process.[11]
EditManaging the Lacto-fermentation Process - Place the vessel in a cool, dark place. Fermentation occurs best in a temperature of between 18 and 22 degrees Centigrade (64 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit).[12] Place your glass canning jar in a climate controlled space to achieve the desired temperature.[13]
- An absence of light also helps the fermentation process along. Place the jar in a dark closet or cover it with a thick cloth.
- Burp your glass canning jar. After two or three days, the lacto-fermentation process will start. To prevent excess buildup of gasses, slowly twist the top of the sealed glass canning jar until you hear gasses start to escape. Twist it closed quickly. Repeat daily.[14]
- Some specially-designed canning jars include an airlock that automatically ejects carbon dioxide from the vessel as it accrues. Such vessels do not need to be burped.
- Consult manufacturer directions for more information about whether burping your glass canning jar is necessary.
- Move the glass canning jar to a cooler location. After two to four days in a cool-to-room-temperature location, the vessel should be moved. The target temperature is about four degrees Centigrade (40 degrees Fahrenheit). For small batches, the bottom shelf of the fridge works nicely.[15]
- Taste your lacto-fermented product. There is no single "right" time to end the lacto-fermentation process. Most people wait one to three weeks to allow the lacto-fermentation process to work. Once you've waited on the lacto-fermentation process as long as you wish to, remove the vessel and sample the flavor.[16]
- You can always replace the lid and allow the fermentation process to continue for longer (though removing the lid of the glass canning jar will slow the momentum of the process).
- Experiment with the lacto-fermentation process by waiting a longer or shorter time before tasting the product. This will allow you to achieve the flavor you want.
EditLacto-fermenting Soda - Simmer your raspberries, sugar, and water. Combine four cups berries, one cup sugar, and two quarts (1.9 liters) water in a medium-sized pot. Turn the heat to high, then reduce to medium once it reaches a boil. Simmer the ingredients for 30 minutes.[17]
- You could use raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, or another sweet berry to make your soda.
- Strain the fruit. After 30 minutes has elapsed, remove the ingredients from the heat and allow them to cool. Place a strainer over your glass canning jar, then slowly pour the ingredients into the jar. Discard the fruit solids collected in the strainer.[18]
- Add flavorings. If you want to make a hybrid flavor, you can add other fruit flavorings to the canning jar. For instance, if you wanted a lemon-raspberry soda, you could have used raspberries in your original mixture, then, after straining, you could squirt a teaspoon or two of lemon juice into the mix.[19]
- Other popular flavorings include peppermint or spearmint.
- There is no wrong combination of soda flavors. Use whatever flavorings you like.
- Add the culture. The culture will kick-start the fermentation process. The most common option is 1/2 cup (64 grams) of whey. Add it to your glass canning jar. If you don't have any whey, you could use an equal amount of champagne yeast.[20]
- Drink the soda after about three days. Tightly close the jar and place it in your cupboard. Wait about three days before sampling your soda. If you want a less sweet soda, you can wait four or five days.[21]
- You should be able to see your soda fizzing through the glass. This is a sign that it is ready to drink.
- When you're ready to serve, pour your soda over ice. Enjoy drinking your lacto-fermented soda with friends.
- Lacto-fermented veggies are tasty on their own, or atop quinoa, beans, and salads. They also pair nicely with fish, chicken, or scrambled eggs.[22]
- It would be tedious to compile a complete list of foods you could lacto-ferment. However, among the most common options for lacto-fermentation include cucumbers, beets, turnips, green tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage, eggplant, sweet potatoes, squash, onions, and carrots.[23]
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