Make a Wish List

Most of us know of New Year’s Resolutions, where one sets intentions for the year ahead. But too often, people make their resolutions     1     — “I will no longer eat biscuits left at my desk”— and then feel unhappy. In the cold month of January, the last thing you need is to     2     your energy further by setting up a series of battles with yourself. And if you break a resolution, you feel     3    , which is a rubbish way to start the year. What you need instead are things to look forward to.

So instead, try a wish list. This involves writing down 100 things you would like to do in the year ahead. The items can be enormous or tiny, ranging from “Climb Everest” to “buy a new pencil sharper”. The main thing is that at some point it has     4     to you as something that you would like to do.

The key here is — write it down.

Do you feel any resistance to the ideas? If so, ask yourself why. What is wrong with     5     what you would like to do? Try not to say to yourself: “I can’t I don’t have the money/time/energy/skills.” Just write it down.

It helps to be     6    , so rather than “Get outdoors”,     7     a place you would like to visit. And take your time when creating it — a wish list is not built in a day. Think about it, polish it and     8     it.

Finally, you have your list. And what a work of beauty it is. Here are all the things that you would like to do. Remember to     9     them up where you can see them; let yourself consider how they can be accomplished. You’ll be amazed that so many of your dreams can be realized though the simple trick of writing them down and     10     to them.

Dealing with customer complaints

While we do our best to provide our customers with top-quality products and service, there are unavoidably occasional complaints. The vast majority of customers who complain have reasonable grounds for doing so and we should be grateful to them: the majority of unhappy customers will not make a complaint to us but will instead make it known to a(n)     1     of ten people, as well as possibly complaining online.

A professional approach

Some     2     complaints can be delivered forcefully. It is a challenge to remain calm in such situations, but this is what we, as staff, must do. It is worth bearing in mind that we shouldn’t turn it into a personal matter: just address the issue at hand. Take a professional approach if a customer gets angry or upset and keep your own emotions in check.

Finding out what’s wrong

Sometimes, you are     3     about what the customer really wants. Listen carefully and attentively to what the customer has to say and let him finish. Sometimes people just want to be heard. Ensure you know the exact nature of the problem and give the customer the     4     that you care and want to know what happened.

Providing solutions

When the customer has given you all the details, be sure to acknowledge the issue. If the customer has not opened an item or the item is faulty (有毛病的), give him a replacement if that is what he     5    . There is no need to have this approved by a manager but note it in the diary in the office and put faulty items in the returns area. However, if the customer demands a refund (退款), you will need to have this processed by management.

In the case of ongoing or more serious complaints, it may be wise to follow up with a phone call or email to make sure the customer is satisfied with the     6    .

Many students don’t understand how to get along with their classmates. When students don’t get along, the potential for success in the classroom     1    . Not only are the students involved often unable to concentrate on their work, but teachers must spend valuable classroom time dealing with those in conflict.

There are many different classroom conflicts, and not all can be dealt with in the same manner; however, there are four key conflict     2     strategies which can help create a better classroom environment for learning when used appropriately.

Negotiating. When both the goal and the relationship are highly important to the students, problem-solving negotiations are started to solve the     3    , which ensure both students fully achieve their goals and that any tensions or negative (消极的) feelings between the two die away.

Smoothing. When the goal is of little importance, but the relationship is of high importance, one person gives up his goal so that the other person can achieve his. This is done to maintain the highest-quality relationship possible. If the teacher     4     that relationships between two students in conflict are very important, he can facilitate a smoothing of the conflict. Smoothing should be done with good humor!

    5    . When both the goal and the relationship are important, and it appears that neither person can have his way, the students will need to give up part of their goals in order to reach an agreement. This strategy is often used when students wish to engage in problem-solving negotiations but do not have the time to do so.

    6    . When the goal is not important to the students and neither is the relationship, a student may wish to give up his goal completely. Sometimes it is good for both students to do so until they have calmed down and are in control of their feelings.

Our planet is our home, the place that    1    us; but are we living in harmony with nature? It seems like we humans have embraced a path of self-destruction,     2    the very home that shelters us. From rising carbon emissions, to deforestation and land degradation, anthropogenic activities are having detrimental effects on our    3    and environmental biodiversity. Not many are aware that the United Nations General Assembly had declared the period of 2011-2020, as the “Decade for Biodiversity”. We have just gone through the final period of this    4    decade, and despite several strategic plans and initiatives to mobilize people at different levels, we are    5    behind in achieving the stipulated targets. The negative trends in biodiversity and ecosystems conservation, indicate that we need to do a lot more.

As teenagers, sometimes we feel helpless and powerless, unable to take action, or do things that really    6    to us, since governments and large corporations are the ones taking vital decisions. While major changes are only possible if countries and corporations alter their policies and actions, we as individuals also have the potential to make a difference, whether through small actions, or larger initiatives. Let’s not forget that consumers dictate markets, and they can    7    impact the way goods are produced and traded if they decide to change their consumption habits.

Recycling is a simple, yet    8    way of conserving resources and reducing your individual carbon footprint. Rather than throwing everything in the trash, separate your plastic, paper, and metal waste, and deposit it in a recycling bin. Recycling helps reduce landfill pollution, raw materials and fossil fuel consumption, and    9    a circular economy.

Lastly, think about your purchasing habits. As natural resources are limited, our excessive consumption can be counter-productive, and undermine our planet’s biodiversity.

The hopes of the world    10    on young people.

How to Check Out a Charity Before You Donate

You hear the words “childhood disease” or “natural disaster,” and it can be hard to say no to donation requests to help. But your instinct to be generous always should be     1     by a healthy dose of doubt. The recent crackdown launched by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on four cancer charities a good reminder to make sure your donations are put to good use. So how can you make sure that the money you give doesn’t end up lining the pockets of the     2     ? Follow these tips.

Hang up on telemarketers. The cancer charities charged with fraud by the FTC used telemarketing calls to raise donations. If you get a call from a group asking for money, you might feel     3     to make a donation on the spot. But the FTC cautions that you shouldn’t rush to say yes but     4     any requests to give over the phone. Telemarketing companies often keep a significant portion of the funds they raise. You’re better off     5     the middleman and contacting a charity directly to make a donation.

Don’t wait for charities to come to you. To avoid feeling the pressure to give to an organization that reaches out to you, figure out what     6     is important to you. Then find charities that are     7     it. You can browse charities that have been evaluated by Charity Navigator by category to identify groups you want to support. Having a(n)     8     plan will make it easier to avoid making impulse donations.

Research before you give. The FTC     9     against the four cancer charities shows that just because an organization claims to do good doesn’t mean it actually does. That’s why it’s important to find out as much as you can about how an organization will use your donation before you give. You can start with third-party evaluations and ratings at sites such as Charity Navigator and Charity Watch, which examine charities’     10    , governance and effectiveness.

If you’re talented, creative, and passionate about art, becoming an artist is an achievable goal. You just have to take steps to turn your dream into a reality. Sometimes getting started is the hardest part, and that’s     1    (why, how) we’ve put together this guide to help you. We’ll walk you through something you need to know to start working towards becoming an artist.

Recognise your strengths and interest.

Once you have tried out all of the mediums (形式), decide on     2    (where, what) you are strong at. Often someone who is fantastic at creating sculptures won’t take up painting.

Another important thing to keep in mind is     3    (that, which) you should enjoy working with the medium you choose. However, there are exceptions to every rule. If you are a fantastic drawer but feel yourself pulled more towards sculpting, why not give this new medium a try?

Do your research and learn from others.

Learn     4    (what, which) you can find out about the medium you have chosen to focus on — read books and articles, watch instructional videos, and research various methods and approaches other artists in your medium take. One of the best lessons you can learn is to study the work of others who have come before you. This is     5    (which, how) you can succeed.

With the flexibility of online degree programmes, learning can happen from almost anywhere—at home, on the road or even on a plane. Students have the ability to attend college while also juggling other life     1    , like being a parent or working full time.

“Reflecting on the past three years, the one thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us is that ‘life happens,’ and in education it is critical to meet learners where they are,” Makana Craig, director of Chaminade Online at Chaminade University of Honolulu, wrote in an email. “This means     2     that students have other life priorities, and affording them the     3    and autonomy to complete their coursework when they have the time and space(mental, physical, emotional)to do so.”

But taking online courses, which are mostly     4    , requires motivation and discipline. Here are some time-management tips to consider.

1. Set Short-and Long-Term Goals

Reasons for attending or     5     in college look different for each student. But creating short-term and long-term goals, like graduating before your child goes to college, may serve as an incentive towards degree completion.

“Setting those goals and then working toward them is really motivating,” says Jamie Guigar Storey, director of advising and student services in the College of Education and Human Services at Central Michigan University.

2. Get Organized Early

Before each semester, review the course syllabus and break down each unit on a personal     6     to track all assignments. Taking the time to get organized early reduces the chances of missing     7    dates later on.

“That 40 minutes of work will pay off in spades later on,” says Luyen Chou, chief learning officer at 2U, an online higher education company. “When you’re in the middle of it and there’s a lot going on, not having to worry about whether or not you’re on pace just     8    your mind of huge stress.”

3. Make Learning Social

Online learning comes in a variety of formats, including live lectures, classroom discussions and individual work.

In an asynchronous model that relies mostly on discussion forums, email or text for communication, it can be easy to feel lonely or isolated. Experts suggest leaning into the social aspect of learning, like creating a study group with peers or     9    office hours with an instructor.

“Even if you don’t need it     10    , research shows that sense of connection with other learners and with instructors is associated with strong outcomes for the learner,” Chou says.

Students can also find an accountability partner, such as a fellow online classmate, who can help you stay on top of assignments.

Four Leadership Essentials for Uncertain Times

The past two years have sowed a tremendous amount of uncertainty around the world. Yet, we are reminded that even though the most violent of storms, the     1    willow(柳树)bends but does not break. So, which skills and strategies should you pay attention to so that you and your organization can not only survive but even thrive through these complicated times? Here are 4 strategies you can apply to navigate your business in uncertain times:

Don’t Become Paralyzed by Uncertainty

No one knows what is coming over the next few weeks or months. Yet, you cannot afford to stand     2    in the face of ambiguity. You must be willing to act even without what you consider to be complete information.

Gather the best data available to you and move forward. In the words of Marcus Tullius Cicero, “More is lost by indecision than wrong decision. Indecision is the thief of opportunity. It will steal you blind.”

Adopt a Learner’s Mindset

Start by assessing your abilities honestly with tools, such as leadership self-assessment tests, and     3    which ones you want to work on most. Then, set a plan to create opportunities in which you can learn through direct experience, pushing yourself beyond your     4     zone. This will make you more prepared to face new challenges that you or your organization may encounter on the road.

Accept Life’s Paradoxes

Wise leaders understand that every situation holds positives and negatives, threats and opportunities. As you     5    these contradictions, you will become more resilient.

Ask yourself what you and your company might learn from the current crises. Can you create new products and services that     6    our present circumstances? Can you innovate the way you design and deliver your products and services?

Finally, remember the English proverb, “necessity is the mother of invention.” When faced with difficult situations, we are more likely to create innovative solutions, if we can learn to live with uncertainty, find a(n)     7    footing in the middle of the chaos, and accept life’s paradoxes.

To survive, thrive and profit, organizations must move from disruption to     8    —must evolve to retain and grow their people to ensure a successful talent pipeline-and the most vital organizations will     9    thrive by giving more than they take from the world.

Put simply, this new year demands a more human approach, with a particular eye toward inclusivity and adaptability. This     10    in leaders who can remain optimistic, build flexibility in times of disruption, and deliver business strategies that will create workplaces for both people and organizations to flourish and succeed.