You don’t have to work in an office to be familiar with office politics – it is omnipresent. Anyone who has ever had a job knows the role dynamics among those who are part of the work environment plays in how a business is run.

Besides causing problems for the individuals who work together, the end result can be all the more demoralizing. Employees and managers who must concentrate on the political aspects of work may have less time to pay attention to their actual jobs. This could eventually lead to financial loss which may in turn translate into job loss for employees.

Office politics is something most people recognize when they see it in action, but find difficult to define. Office politics can be best defined as “…the use and misuse of power in the workplace” (Alesko, Michael. “Office Politics: Do You Play or Pass,” Today’s Careers). This definition implies that office politics is not truly a bad thing. I agree that it isn’t always bad and it certainly isn’t avoidable. Therefore we must learn to cope with it.

Here are 10 points on how to avoid and deal with office politics.

1. Keep your eyes and ears open

In order to properly deal with office politics, you need to be vigilant and knowledgeable about everything that is going on around you. You need to know the people who are involved in politics and the type of politics going on. Always know the people who are close to your boss or who can hurt you or reputation. The best way to stay away from your rivals is to predict their actions and stay one step ahead of them. Try to know every secret talks going on, without letting anyone notice you or being too nosey. You also need to be sure what plans are being formulated in your office and if there any chance that it may harm you. Make sure that people don’t think you to be a peep you nose too often.

2. Be neutral

Unless you are in a game of Survivor, there’s no need to take sides in office politics. There is always a time in your career when you have to take one side and oppose other, but not this time. Try to stay out of this situation. This may lead mutual impediments. Do not support anyone and do not contest anyone’s actions. The secret to a happy office life is to keep a good working relationship with everyone. Make sure that everyone is happy with your behavior and you don’t hurt anyone. If you want anyone to be good to you, you need to do the same with them. Taking sides doesn’t do any good, but create grudges among colleagues.

3. Keep a working relationship with your boss

The one who has the control over boss is always safe in office politics. If you are good to your boss and he/she is good to you, then there is no reason afraid of any kind of office politics going on. Know your boss and talk to them from time to time. Do your work efficiently and on time,so that he know your dedication. Get to know about his anniversaries and birthdays and always send well wishes whenever the time comes. You can also bring little flowers and chocolates. But constant gifting may look suspicious and not good on you. People may consider it as bribe.

4.  Never gossip.

I never repeat gossip, so listen carefully.
— Old joke

Nothing destroys the dynamics of an office more than gossip. Stay away from it, because nothing good will come of it. Just be sure to avoid the not so good attitude of lecturing your co-workers on the evils of gossip. You’ll make them lose face, and they’ll resent you even more. Instead, try to tactfully changing the subject. For example, suppose the group is talking about Jane’s problems with her child, and of course Jane is absent from the group. Do some free association and try to come up with some topic that’s related to Jane or her child, but won’t involve gossip. Then, make a comment about that topic.

For instance, suppose you know that  a co-worker’s son is involved in a sports league. You mention this fact, thereby linking the child and the league. Then, shift the conversation so that you’re now talking about the league rather than your co-worker’s son. You could ask when schedules will be published, or if they need parent volunteers. If you do it right, no one will even notice that you’ve moved them away from the gossip.

5. Become a straight arrow.

The only real way to keep out of trouble politically is to be seen as someone who does not play games and that includes office politics. Do what you say you’re going to do, alert people to issues, and admit your wrongs – everyone makes mistakes. Others will respect you, even if they don’t always agree with you. More important, you have a lower chance of being a victim of politics.

Some of the best home cooked meals can be found in your local gas station. This is a well kept secret by some to ensure when they go for lunch or dinner that there will be some for them. I am NOT promoting this store at all by any means. However, I am saying spend more wisely and think smarter. If you’re hungry, McDonald’s is NOT the only place open. And if you like food that is cheap, check out the deals at your local gas station convenience store. From Ice cold fountain drinks, to boiled peanuts, to hot dogs,coffee, sandwiches, and churros, you can save so much money just by taking a 1-3 minute drive down the road to a convenient store to catch a great deal for under $5 that will feed the entire family!

Check the photo below…see anything you would like to buy? Number one rule of convenience stores – don’t forget to pack a snack and you can avoid the pain of having to choose something. Of course, even Snack Girl isn’t perfect and was looking for a snack when she shot this photo.

We’ve compiled a list of 10 quick snacks found in gas stations. Some of these items are stomach fillers, while many others are not so healthy to eat. However, people still buy them because they are juicy, yummy, delicious and quick to eat.

1. Beef Jerkey

No food helps you work out your frustrations as well as beef jerkey. If you feel like you might get lost, slowed by the elements, or stuck in traffic, be sure to grab some before the most arduous leg of your journey. You’ll thank us as you work out your anger at the traffic gods by gnawing your way through some beef jerkey rather than punching the dashboard and hurting your hand.

2. Hot Dogs

We see that face you’re making. Don’t act you haven’t resorted to a gas station hot dog and kind of liked it. We’ve all been mesmerized by the red glow of those dogs that have clearly been simmering in that glass case for days. It’s never a good idea to buy one of these, but if you stare at them long enough, you can convince yourself to pull the trigger.

3. Trail Mixes

When you become an adult, you often get the idea in your head that the only way to start a party is to get your hands on some booze and weed. Wrong! The original way to start a party is to get your hands on some righteous party, trail, or Chex mix. Odds are you can’t stand at least one part of the mix: Nobody loves corn chips, tortilla chips, cheese curls, pretzels AND knock-off Doritos. Half the fun of party mix is digging through the bag and tossing your least favorite pieces out on to the road to poison the local wildlife as you dine on only your favorite portions of the mix.

4. Chocolate Bars

Obviously whomever invented this bullshit is a genius. I dated a girl once who ate Snickers bars for breakfast and when I asked her why, she told me that “Snickers really satisfies.” She was like the kind of girl who treated commercial slogans like hypotheses she’d eagerly test out in his own life and then declare correct or not.  Since that relationship I’ve been off that sauce, but when it all comes down to it, this is the definition of a candy bar, although it gets a bit boring now.

5. Salted Seeds

Most gas stations sell sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds, also known aspepitas, which make for a high-fiber, nutritious snack when portions are kept in proportion.A handful of sunflower seeds will take care of your hunger, while also enhancing your health by supplying significant amounts of vitamin E, magnesium and selenium.

Hairs are necessary part of a personality and give you a distinct identity as well as graceful looks. There is always a great problem of choosing a shampoo. Some years back, there was not a serious trend with regards to the shampoo selection but with the passage of time and with the increase in the environmental pollution there is an increase in the trend of selecting the best shampoo that has the ability to conserve the original hair tone.

I myself am always changing shampoos. It’s good to make that change, plus I am quite prone to buying whatever is on sale, as long as it smells good and makes me look sexy. Because of that trait, I have tried a lot of shampoos. Some of them are terrible, but the top 10 best shampoos on this top 10 list have made it into my permanent rotation, so I thought I would share them with everyone, especially for those with hair problems.

1. Head & Shoulders

This shampoo for men is a miracle worker for men who have severe scalp problems. One consumer with dandruff so bad,  his scalp would “almost come off in chunks” says, “I have been using this for about 2 months now and I am completely dandruff free!” Another consumer who has psoriasis says, “As long as I use this shampoo daily (on both my face and hair) I have absolutely NO psoriasis breakouts! But go one day without it and the layers start building up and everything starts itching.”

Excess build up on your scalp can leave your hair looking thinner than it normally is. Head & Shoulders Hair Endurance for Men 2 in 1 Dandruff Shampoo + Conditioner has a specially designed hydrazinc formula that will remove build up and help restore your scalp to its healthy shape. It leaves you up to 100% flake free* and cleans for hair that’s fuller and thicker looking.

2. Men’s Pantene Shampoo

Pantene Pro V formula helps to make your hairs healthy, long and stronger for life time provided the constant use of this shampoo. It results in a very healthy hair style for both men and women who seek healthy and smooth hairs. This shampoo makes the fundamentals of hairs roots sturdier to avoid hair fall.

3. Redken Extra Cleansing

If you use tens of hair products, or suffer from oily, greasy hair, then REDKEN Extra Cleansing shampoo will help you pull back the signs of damage and restore hair from the roots. This extra strength cleanser has grit-technology that stimulates hair follicles for a deep clean that also promotes new growth. Orange zest will leave you refreshed, and the brewers yeast is a powerful supplement that restores damaged hair. This is a great all-round shampoo that targets many of the men’s hair care problems.

4. Bosley Shampoo

This is best for guys who are experiencing a thinning hairline. It contains DHT inhibitors that work best for men’s scalp. DHT is the main reason why men are experiencing hair loss. This shampoo has plankton-derived laminarghane that fights DHT.Bosley is cheap in price and at the same time includes a lot of varieties for different hair categories. Bosley is ranked the 4th best shampoos for men by Top 10 lists.

5. Neutrogena Shampoo

It has herbal and synthetic products which act together to give quick action for your hair. The cooling effect of menthol will never be forgotten by you. Neutrogena has almost all the crops a man should ever want in keeping himself at his best looks. This herbal shampoo is very much popular in United States. Neutrogena does not only produce shampoos but they have a large range of cosmetic products.

Chocolates are delicacies and to a certain degree healthy to eat. If money is not an issue, feel free to buy one of the most expensive boxes of chocolate in the world for the love of your life. We have built a list of the ten most expensive chocolates available on the market today.

1. Chocopologie by Knipschildt

Cost: $2,600 per pound
Web site: www.knipschildt.com

Knipschildt Chocolatier was founded in 1999 by Fritz Knipschildt, who began his culinary journey as a chef in Odense, Denmark. The most-expensive chocolate he sells–a $250 dark chocolate truffle with a French black truffle inside–is available only on a preorder-only basis. It’s made of 70% Valrhona cacao, which is blended into a creamy ganache with truffle oil. The truffle is then magnificantly hand-rolled with a dark truffle on the inside and dusted with cocoa powder.

Chocopologie is much more than a chocolate factory in Connecticut—it’s an trendy European-style café that serves light fare from 7 a.m. to midnight, including specialty coffees and teas, and, of course, some of the finest chocolates in the United States.

2. Noka Vintages Collection

Cost: $854 per pound
Web site: www.nokachocolate.com

Noka chocolate is a mixture of the finest dark chocolates, exclusively extracted from plantations in Venezuela, Trinidad, Cote d’Ivoire and Ecuador. The Vintages Collection of chocolate is 75% pure, single-origin cacao, with other ingredients that include cacao butter and sugar. Noka does not use any soy lecithin or vanilla n their chocolate-making process.

Perfect chocolate pairing: Noka recommends bold red wines and brut champagnes as the ideal complements to its chocolates. If you have the money, I definitely recommend you try both.

3. Delafee

Cost: $508 per pound

Web site: www.delafee.com

For those who love a bit of sparkle in their chocolate, there’s always Delafee. The chocolate is specially prepared with fine cocoa beans and flakes of edible 24-karat gold applied by hand to each bar. Other ingredients include sugar, coconut oil, cocoa butter, milk powder and vanilla.

4. Godiva “G” Collection

Cost: $120 per pound
Web site: www.godiva.com

The well-known chocolate brand maker, which first originated in Belgium, introduced the “G” Collection of chocolates, which are made with various ingredients and flavors, such as Palet d’Or, Tasmanian Honey and Mexican Hot Chocolate. Each chocolate is comprised of premium cocoa beans and other ingredients that are dependent on each type of bonbon.

The collection itself is made up of 15 true artisan quality chocolates designed by an exceptional pastry chef, Norman Love. The pieces in the collection are simply exquisite and the flavors all too die for.

5. Richart:

Cost: $120 per pound
Web site: www.richart-chocolates.com

The Richart chocolate tradition originated in Lyon, France and has been on the market 1925. Today they operate more than a dozen boutiques across Europe and also in the U.S. and Tokyo. Richart’s range is vast. The first time you indulge in Richart chocolates, you probably won’t know where to begin. If it’s one of Richart’s special occasion assortments, you’ll find the petits (chocolates) hidden beneath an inscribed chocolate plaque. In the case of the Envol ballotin, you’ll be faced with some 49 luscious cubes decorated with hand-applied cocoa butter designs. Each is a small, but unique, work of art, pleasing to both eye and palate.

Ask yourself: is it common knowledge  to know that school does not  prepare you for the real world?

Sure, you can get a good degree, find a decent paying job, work until you retire, and then retire to enjoy the life you’ve deferred for 40+ years. However, that may not prove to be a successful life, a secure life, a financially sound life. A lot will depend on your outlook and your goal. It is important to know this:  College does not totally prepare you  for achieving wealth or becoming an entrepreneur and it downright fails you at teaching you the basics of being successful.

This article helps you identify courses which are the most relevant and helpful to you as a person hoping to become successful and rich.
 
 

1. Marketing

If you intend on making a living from selling something (which, incidentally, is how any business makes money), then you must learn how to find the right product and sell it in the right ways. Marketing is not all about selling. However, it helps you learn how to promote certain products and services. By taking Marketing, you can understand the process and figure out what your consumers want, where your consumers are located and focus on a product (s) that satisfies your consumers’ desires.

All too often, products fail because their creators do not bother to learn whether a market existed for that product. This process involves research and time, but, in the end, it can save a business thousands, if not millions, of dollars.

2. Logic

Logic is very useful because it can be used for any and every career or academic field. Logic courses can be taken within a school’s philosophy department because it is designed to sharpen your thinking and analytic skills. Taking logic, which teaches you to construct valid arguments, can be a strong determinant of one’s projected score on the LSAT, as well as one’s potential in careers such as law or computer science.

3. Economics

Economics courses will help you develop your understanding of economics and gives you insights into social and political issues which will be useful in whatever future career path you take – career wise. Most introductory to microeconomics and macroeconomics courses provide you with a sound understand of core, pure and applied economics. You’ll employ ideas and techniques from various other disciplines and will benefit you in your future career endeavors – as you will be extremely qualified at the time of graduation.

4. Statistics

Everyone who is in a management position and is in the position of responsibility to look at data should take an elementary statistics class. Not only do business managers look at data, but so also do political leaders and non-profit executives. A good statistics class will help the student comfortably pushing numbers around and stay away from false interpretations.

5. Introduction to Law

We’re not all meant to be lawyers and we’re not all going to end uop law school, but it’s good to understand the basic terminology and process of the legal system in your country. Knowing legal basics can help you stay out of a lot of trouble down the road or maybe buy a house. It’s best to know your rights and the legal system and to play within it.

The gambling industry took a big hit and has certainly lost a lot of business because of the recent economic situation affecting almost the entire world. The largest of the casinos have survived the troubling waters, and as the economic crisis curve slowly slopes downwards, the gambling corporations, and their gigantic casinos are now back in business and competing with each other.

This list compiles information about the top 10 largest casinos in the world. Surprisingly, most of them are not located in Las Vegas; they are located in Macao, China.

1. The Venetian Macao (Macau, China)

Square feet: 546,000
Table and poker games: 870
Gaming machines: 3,000
Hotel rooms: 3,000
Restaurants and bars: 24
Web site: venetianmacao.com

The Venetian is a luxury casino resort and is over 546,000 sq. ft. on Macau’s Coastal Strip. Owned by Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands (LVS), this casino has an 870-table gaming floor, 3,000 gaming machines, 3 huge shopping areas, 4 pools, gondola rides, 24 world-class restaurants and bars along with 3,000 hotel rooms. A gamblers haven!

It is well known because it is the flagship casino resort on Macau’s bustling Cotai Strip. Based on its sister property in Las Vegas, the Venetian Macao is – as the name suggests – themed on the romantic streets and canals of Venice and is very family oriented. Naturally some of the romance is lost through the 3000 plus slot machines constantly flashing at you.

2. City of Dreams Casino (Macau, China)

Square feet: 420,000
Gaming machines: 1,350
Table and poker games: 520
Hotel rooms: 1,400
Restaurant and Bars: 14
Website: cityofdreamsmacau.com

In contrast to their arch rival, the family oriented Venetian, City of Dreams is more romantic and couple oriented. Clearly marketed for singles and young couples, the mega resort is a motley mix of brash furnishings and bold contemporary design, like being on an MTV set. Every part of its property gives you a piece of action, from the bustling boutique driven Boulevard to the frantic lobby of the Hard Rock, from the packed foyer of the Dancing Water theatre to the scrum of humanity awaiting a glimpse of a mermaid at the Vquarium. The casino is truly one of a kind and a must see when in China.

If you are staying at Venetian, peak into City of Dreams because it is located right beside the Venetian Macao and the soon to opened Sands Cotai. The Wynn Cotai is scheduled to be built right behind it as well.

Without a doubt the loudest casino in Macau belongs to the City of Dreams, and I’m not talking about the background music. I’m talking about the sensory overload that hits you full force from the frenetic flashing floor. It’s not so much that the place is packed with people, but that it’s packed with lights, lights and more lights and a slew of decoration so abstract I don’t even know what half the stuff is supposed to be.

3. Foxwoods Resorts Casino (Ledyard, Connecticut)

Square feet: 340,000
Gaming machines: 7,000
Table and poker games: 400
Restaurants and bars: 29
Hotel rooms: 824
Web site: foxwoods.com

Foxwoods Resort Casino is a hotel-casino in Ledyard, Connecticut situated on the Mashantucket Pequot Indian Reservation. Together with the MGM Grand at Foxwoods, the resort covers an area of 4,700,000 sq ft (440,000 m²). The casino hasover 380 gaming tables for blackjack, craps, roulette, and poker and has over 6,300 slot machines. There are countless restaurants within the casino, among them, is the popular franchise Hard Rock Cafe. Foxwoods has 2,266 hotel rooms and a two-story arcade for children.

4. Casino Porte (Macau, China)

Square feet: 270,000
Gaming machines: 320
Table and poker games: 150
Restaurants and bars: 3
Hotel rooms: 423
Web site: ponte16.com.mo

Ponte 16’s architectural design draws inspiration from Macau’s unique East-West cultural pluralism, with a European/Portuguese design infused with traditional Chinese elements. The resort is significant as it is the only hotel to be situated in the inner harbor and is a part of the “The Historic Centre of Macao” – UNESCO World Heritage site.. Check it out!

5. Tusk Rio Casino Resort (Klerksdorp, South Africa)

Square feet: 266,330
Gaming machines: 257
Table and poker games: 12
Restaurants and bars: 2
Web site: riocasino.co.za

The Tusk Rio Casino Resort was developed as a model after the exotic Rio Carnival in Brazil and is located in Klerksdorp, South Africa. The Tusk Rio casino offers all the excitement that a first class casino resort provides. The casino offers both smoking and non-smoking floors for gambling with slots  - available for many denominations. The Tusk Rio Casino also provides casino table games as well. Progressive blackjack and poker tables are innumerably available as well as as all exclusive salon prive.

The casino staff at the Tusk Rio Casino will help you enjoy your gambling experience. The Tusk Rio Casino is the casino for fun and exciting gaming.

Nowadays many companies refrain from openly discussing their collaboration with the Nazi regime and who can blame them? After all, it’s bad for business to have your image associated with a dictator who time and time again has been portrayed as the most evil man in history, due to the atrocities committed by the fascist during World War 2.

What is even worse is that people are slowly starting to forget that WW II actually took place and, as the old saying goes, those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. Two generations later and the international politics are already starting to fall into the same old traps that lead to a world at war in 1939. But we digress.

Naturally, considering that the Nazi party exercised control over virtually every industry in Germany and since it was beginning to look like they were going to be the winners of the conflagration, many corporations sided with them. Some even played both sides, as you are about to find out. From the hundreds of companies that aided Hitler in his world domination plans, let’s find out the top 10 most famous ones that still exist today

1. Hugo Boss was responsible for making the Nazi fashionable

That’s right, if you were wondering who was responsible for the intimidating, highly functional and professional looking uniforms of the SS troops, it was Hugo Boss. After adhering to the Nazi party, the company received a hefty, exclusive contract for the manufacturing of the Hitlerjunge (Youth Division) and SS (storm troopers). At that time the company was only eight years old and a contract of this magnitude represented an immense boon. In fact, due to the increasing demand of uniforms, Hugo Boss came up with the idea to “recruit” slave laborers from the concentration camps in France and Poland.

2. Volkswagen built the Beetle model according to Hitler’s specs

Ferdinand Porsche, the head of the VW and Porsche automaker met Hitler in person in order to negotiate the full rights over a “people’s car” (Volkswagen). Hitler liked the concept and suggested that this automobile should have a streamlined profile, something that would look like, I don’t know, a beetle maybe? That’s right, the VW Beetle was Hitler’s idea. Not only that, but Ferdinand Porsche and Himmler had a direct line, so the former could order more slave laborers from Auschwitz for his factories when required. Sources say that 4/5 workers in Porsche’s production centers were recruited from concentration camps.

3. Bayer developed and manufactured Zyklon B

Not only was IG Farben responsible for the manufacturing of the toxic gas utilized to kill millions of people, but apparently they also invested quite a bit of money in Dr. Mengele’s sinister experiments, that were performed on prisoners. The immense profits generated by the Zyklon B gas business enabled the Bayer division to separate from IG Farben in the post war period and become a standalone company. Another clear act of Anti-Semitism attributed to Bayer (which of course they deny) is stealing the credit for the invention of the aspirin from Arthur Eichengrun (an employee of the company) due to his Jewish roots and awarding it to a “proud Aryan”, Felix Hoffman.

4. Siemens played a major role in the construction of gas chambers

If IG Farben manufactured the gas, Siemens constructed the place where it can be used. The gas chambers were erected with Siemens technology, but the workers were actually prisoners of the concentration camps. Essentially, they were building the execution chambers for them and their families based on Siemens’ blueprints.

5. Coca-Cola created the Fanta beverage for the Nazi soldiers

Coca Cola is just one of the companies who turned a hefty profit from both sides during the Second World War. But when the German branch of the company exhausted the supply of syrup necessary for the Coke back in 1941 and the embargo imposed by the U.S. did not permit them to acquire more, Coca Cola invented a new beverage to quench the thirst of Hitler’s troops, Fanta. Think about that when you see the next Fanta flavor promoted by exotic women having fun on the beach.

Given the uncertainty of the global economy as well as the alarming climate changes occurring in the past couple of years, implementing a continuity plan represents a critical risk management step no business owner should ignore. Essentially, the business continuity plan can be defined as an identification of the internal and external threats to the organization in order to develop a proficient prevention and recovery strategy in case of disaster, while trying to maintain a competitive advantage in the industry niche. In other words, this plan represents a safety net that guarantees the continuation of the company’s operations under unfavorable conditions. Let’s analyze the benefits such a plan can bring for your business.

1. Disclosing the company’s vulnerabilities

Because the continuity plan implies a thorough evaluation of the company and focuses on discovering the aspects vital for the business, the direct consequence of this action is to reveal the unproductive elements and the ones you can do without. Analyzing the company from the inefficiency-efficiency points of view will practically determine the non-critical parts to disclose themselves, so you can dedicate additional resources to the products and services that truly matter.

2. Maintaining the costs of insurance affordable

When it comes to implementing risk management strategies to keep a company safe, the first thing any business needs is insurance. Without denying the importance of being covered by a comprehensive insurance policy, it is necessary to mention that with a continuity plan the business owner will be able to keep the costs of the premiums under control. The reason for this resides in the fact that the business continuity plan is perceived as a long term commitment to managing risk.

3. It guarantees the survival of your business

In spite of the fact that few entrepreneurs actually give it a thorough thought, you should know that your company’s activity can be disturbed by a plethora of disasters, be them natural or manmade. What the continuity plan brings to the picture is a secure roadmap that allows you to effectively cope with the hazard, rather than going bust.

4. Provides an edge over the competition

Granted, implementing a business continuity plan is a lengthy and difficult process for any company. On the other hand, if you keep your clients informed about the stages of the implementation at all times, you could surely win their support. In addition, once the process is over, your clientele will be reassured that regardless of what happens to your business, they will be in good hands, even if those hands are not yours. In addition, if you have clients who own businesses, then you have the perfect chance to show them the numerous advantages of working with you, a company with a continuity plan.

5. Inspires confidence and boosts the staff’s morale

In the eventuality that something happens to your business, then you have no other alternative than rely on the employees to deal with customers, prospects, partners and vendors. Moreover, your staff will try to reassure all of the aforementioned parties while trying to deal with their own negative emotions. This is where the continuity plans comes in to save the day: if your employees know that they are safe, then you can be certain that they will put in their best efforts to reassure and inspire confidence in your clients and business partners. However, it is necessary that you review the plan with them several times per year to check if anything needs updating or reconsideration.

As a business owner, you are surely aware of the importance of attending conventions, trade shows and expos. Not only will you be able to meet a lot of new people, but such events provide the perfect opportunity to expand your client base. Considering the visitors will get to check out numerous stands and learn about many companies, you will have to do something special to draw their attention. More often than not, making sure that the potential clients remember you simply imply offering promotional items.

While you could offer standard personalized pens and notepads, it is necessary to mention that your competition will have such giveaway items as well. Let’s go over the top ten promotional items that can capture the visitors’ attention and help them remember your company.

1. Personalized T-shirts

The all-time favorite promotional item people prefer to receive consists of a free cotton t-shirt. First off, they are available in any color, pattern, design, size and most importantly, if you order a bulk of t-shirts they will not cost you a fortune. It is important to note that you should take the time to find a trendy design for your t-shirt in order to make a good impression. If you start offering a free t-shirt to anyone who tried out your new product/service, then rest assured you will see a line forming at your stand in no time.

2. Bobble Heads

Because the work environment is perceived as a rather tedious and monotonous space by most employees, you could consider cheering their desk a bit with a fun Bobble Head. In spite of the fact that they do not have an actual functionality, people still love to display them and you can certain they will show off with their Bobble Head with every occasion. As a side note, since it is very likely that the competition can offer such promotional items as well, don’t forget to customize them so they look like your company’s mascot, yourself or your employees.

3. Custom multi-tools

Even though customers love getting free stuff, they do not appreciate junk or poorly made items. Therefore, if you are going to offer give-away items, then acquiring a quality product represents an investment in your company’s name and brand. Furthermore, since you aim to impress the attendees, you can consider offering a mixture of multi-tool items that everyone could use, such as Swiss army knives or a key chain incorporating bottle openers and a small storage compartment.

4. Toys, puzzles and mini games

While the popular belief is that toys address children-only, the truth is that adults like to cut loose as well from time to time. Consequentially, if you present them in the right light, you can be sure to draw people’s attention. For instance, you could offer a free Frisbee that you gently throw towards the visitors for a win-win situation. Chances are that somebody will pick it up and come talk to you, while the rest of the attendees will surely remember your “out of the ordinary” means.

5. Mood products

The various items that change their colors according to the person’s mood are still trendy. Because they continue to fascinate people after all this time, you have the chance of drawing attention in a new and exciting way. From cans and pens to sport bottles and mood rings, the mood “divination” products are a buzz-worthy and in high-demand promotional item to consider.

One question often asked by hardcore antique fans and collectors alike is, “What are the most expensive items ever sold at auctions?” . No comic books, action figures or other licensed collectibles even come close to what these top 10 items got sold for. From Gigayachts to Marilyn Monroe Happy Birthday Mr. President Dress, here is a of the most expensive items sold at auctions.

1. Gigayacht:

One of the most expensive items to ever be auctioned on eBay was the gigayacht. The gigayacht sold for a record breaking $168 million. The 405-ft boat was designed by naval architect Frank Mulder and sold by a Florida company called 4Yacht. It came complete with a helicopter garage and 14 multilevel VIP Suites.

2. Nude Green Leaves and Bust by Pablo Picasso

This painting was sold at Christie’s in New York on May 4, 2010 for $106,482,500.

3. L’Homme Qui March I by Albert Giacometti

This Giacometti sculpture sold at Sotehby’s in London on February 3, 2010 for $103,700,000.

The sculpture was billed as the star of the auction and everyone expected it to sell well and it did. A sweepstake among dealers predicted it would go for around £40million.  It went for more.

The etiolated, life-size figure of a man walking was placed to the left of the auctioneer’s rostrum and the opening bid was £12m. There were gasps as the price passed £35m, laughter at £50m.

I guess no one cared about the recession as as many as ten people had the funds to keep the bids going past £30m – all of them ignoring the auctioneer’s £18m pre-sale estimate. WOW!

4. Qianlong Vase

This vase sold  for $53 million.

This is the most expensive Chinese vase that was sold at Bainbridges Auction House in just 30 minutes of bidding. It was actually an 18^th century origin that believed to be in present during the Qing Dynasty period under the reign of the 4^th emperor. It is 16 inches tall and you could find engravings of fishes that serve as its adornments.

5. The Graff Pink

This Graff Pink Diamond weighing 24.78 carats and mounted in a ring was sold for $46,000,000 at Sotheby’s in Geneva.

The rectangular diamond was bought by the British billionaire jeweller Laurence Graff, 72.

Dubbed ‘The King of Bling’ – Mr Graff said that he had bought the gem for himself and immediately named it ‘The Graff Pink’, of course after him.

He paid nearly double the previous record which was for the 17th century stone the ‘Wittelsbach’ blue diamond two years ago. What a lucky lady would any girl be to get such a ring.