Thrill Builder! Slowly the car inches up the improbable incline, defying gravity, and propelled by unseen forces. As the roller coaster car gets to the crest of the hill and peers over the top at the twisted tracks and loop-the-loops that lie just ahead, you try to convince yourself that the person who designed this cruel contraption knows what he is doing. Relax. He does. Kent Seko originally wanted to be an architect. He rode roller coasters as a kid, but never thought about designing them until years later, when a friend who worked at Arrow Dynamics, Inc., a roller coaster design firm, talk... view article details

'Salary.com uncovered the top (and bottom) US metros for building personal net worth, taking into account local salaries, cost of living, and unemployment relative to the national average.'  Are you considering moving to a new town? Maybe your earnings just aren't up to par with the cost of living in your current city. Perhaps you're even having trouble finding a job. If so, it may be time to look at one of the cities at the top of Salary.com's Salary Value Index. The compensation experts at Salary.com uncovered the top (and bottom) US metros for building personal net worth, taking into accoun... view article details

Research shows that humor works wonders for your health by relieving both physical and emotional stress and connecting you to others.Because of this, appropriate office humor is one of the best ways to relieve on-the-job tension, boost morale, and promote teamwork.But not all humor is created equal. Used inappropriately, humor can also alienate co-workers and create a hostile environment, which, in turn, can contribute to excess stress.How do you know when you've crossed the line? This article explores seven dos and seven don’ts of workplace humor. Don't alienate When the honey-haired... view article details

Achoo!Dear Annette,Our manager keeps coming into the office when he is obviously sick, such as when he has an awful cold. We don't want to get what he has. How can we get him to stay home?Sick of ItDear Sick of It,Ah, the miracles of droplet infection. Just one tiny sneeze gone awry, or a revolting tissue placed for nary a second on a common surface, and all of you will be singing the same song, complete with a chorus of choking gasps, honks, and other noises. It is never fabulous to contaminate others, particularly if the company is planning to institute a 360-degree review process soon.Your ... view article details

Dear Annette,Someone keeps stealing my lunch from the office kitchen. I think I know who it is, but I'm not sure I want to confront the person. What should I do? Lunchless in Lincoln Dear Lunchless,Your plight reminds me of a balmy spring day several years ago when my dog Dickie and I did an on-site etiquette seminar on an oil rig in the Caspian Sea. As I demonstrated to the energy-efficient crew how to convert the simplest white paper bag into an elegant dining surface, a rare bird-of-prey swooped down and made off with one of Dickie's grilled sardines. I was so startled I nearly dropped the ... view article details

Dear Heather,Any suggestions for “unfriending” a co-worker? Or at least taking it down a notch? When I first started my job, “Melanie” and I became fast friends. We were both going through some similar challenges and bonded quickly over daily lunches and the occasional happy hour. But over the past six months, I’ve become her boss and she has made some bad relationship decisions that are beginning to impact her work. She comes into my office and bursts into tears, and I feel like a horrible friend for saying this, but I can’t deal with it! At least not at the office. Any ideas??? I like her. A... view article details

What to Do When You're There to Work, Not Make Friends It's All About Boundaries It might be tempting to hang out at the water cooler half the morning and indulge in the latest gossip, the fun anticipation of the office lottery pool, or friendly sports bets. But these easy friendships with coworkers can begin to spill over into your personal life, and that's when things get dicey. Setting boundaries is a good idea, but where do you begin? Can you set boundaries without hurting someone's feelings? Can you keep your work relationships healthy even while you decline invitations that infringe o... view article details

A List of the Most Lucrative Professions of the Year Which Jobs Pay the Most? The good news is these jobs pay a whole lot of money. Unfortunately, you have to spend a lot of money on schooling and specialized education to nab one of those huge paychecks. Careercast is back with its annual list of highest paying jobs. Healthcare occupations rule the day for the most part, taking a whopping seven spots on the list. But even the ones that aren’t in the medical industry require many years of higher education and years of training. Which often means there is substantial debt that goes along with... view article details

Just like an interview, a job offer can tell you a great deal about a potential employer. An offer can reveal how serious the employer is about the offer, how valuable you are to the company, and most importantly, whether you should make the move. Jobs are customarily offered over the telephone or in person. The employer should offer more than just, 'Congratulations, you've got the job.' He or she should explain the offer in detail and answer your questions.It is appropriate to respond to a job offer within two to four days. Rarely would an employer expect you to accept a position on the spot.... view article details

Our first round-up of 13 Must-Read Business Books That Could Change Your Life sparked such an onslaught of suggestions, it was clear we only scratched the surface. So armed with a list of book titles, we decided to follow-up with a list of business books suggested by you, our readers.These books---some old, some new---run the gamut from business-building strategies to helping those who haven’t discovered their passion explore their options and goals.Check out these books that have helped change readers’ lives.Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting out of the Boxby Arbinger InstituteIf you disl... view article details