Some people thrive on meetings, but most of us would just as soon have a "you-know-what" as to attend another meeting. Reason -- we've learned that meetings can be a waste of time.

Most of us don't mind a meaningful meeting, but those routinely scheduled group meetings where everyone reports on their own activities are boring and meaningless.

Here are 10 tips for running a good meeting -- even one of those regularly scheduled, departmental meetings:

1. Make sure you need a meeting -- this rule is number one for a reason. If you don't need the meeting, don't have it.

2. Prepare an agenda and distribute it to all members well before the meeting

3. Set goals for the meeting and know what must be accomplished at each gathering

4. Instead of having individuals report on their departmental activities, allow them to bring their problems to the table for group input. Routine data can be distributed in other ways.

5. Make sure everyone is engaged throughout the meeting, not simply waiting for their turn to present their information.

6. Keep the meeting on schedule -- start on time, stay on track, don't allow interruptions, phone calls, beepers, or movement into and out of the meeting.

7. Stick with the agenda -- if other important items surface during the meeting, move them to the end of the agenda or schedule them for the next meeting.

8. Make sure the room and environment are conducive to the meeting -- not too hot, not too cold -- just right. No more noise than necessary. Proper lighting. Adequate seating and table space, AV equipment, and appropriate tools.

9. The boss should attend regularly. Frequent absences illustrate the importance the boss puts on these meetings and sets the tone for those who are present.

10. Develop assignments for the next meeting. Who will do what to move the agenda forward.

At one time, I was so fed up with meetings that I just discontinued them. The staff loved it -- for awhile. Then they got nervous because the routine was different. Soon, they complained that they didn't know what was going on.

The entire staff actually looked forward to resuming meetings, especially when I learned how to run a worthwhile meeting.

How much revenue do you generate from Google Adsense?

Recently there has been a lot of discussion about people who earn over $10,000 a month just from Adsense. Furthermore, there are rumors of a few individuals who earn over $1 million a year just from using the power of Google advertisements.

So what is Google Adsense and how can you use this program to earn a six-figure income?

About two years ago, Google created this program to help websites to monetize their web-traffic.

Here's how it works:

Webmasters obtain a special code from Google which then displays targeted ads on their website. Whenever avisitor clicks on one of these ads, the webmaster earns a commission. Unlike other online businesses, there is no selling involved. All you need to do is get people to click on the ads.

Although this is an excellent way to generate an income, many websites are not effectively maximizing their Adsense potential. As a result, they are leaving a lot of cash on the table.

The question is how can you increase your Adsense revenue without increasing the number of web visitors?

The key to earning an income with Google Adsense is to have your ads match the rest of the site, making them look like part of your content. Your focus is to avoid having the Adsense blocks look like blatant advertisements.

The following are six ways that you can do this and increase your revenue at the same time:

1) Find the right place. Most website visitors read content that is in the middle of a webpage. As a result, the best place to put your Adsense block is in the top part of the page, at the beginning of your web content. You want to weave the Google Ads into your web content to give the appearance that they are extra links which expand on the information of the page.

2) Use the Large Rectangle. With Google Adsense, you have the option of picking different ad formats. Most of the time people opt to use the Leaderboard (728x90) or Wide Skyscraper (160x600) style ads. Unfortunately, this is the wrong choice, because both look like blatant advertisements. Instead smart webmasters have found that using the Large Rectangle (336x280) yields the best amount of click- thrus.

3) Ditch the border. Many people experience a sharp increase in Adsense revenue when they change their border. What they change is very simple¡ ¬they get rid of the border on their Adsense blocks. This is another way to make the advertisements look like useful web content.

4) Adapt the font. Whenever you write content, it should be the same font size and style as your Google Adsense block. This will help make it appear that the advertisements are a natural part of your website.

5) Match the colors. In addition to changing the fonts, you also should match the colors of your website. For instance, if your content is written in black, and your hyperlinks are blue, then the Adsense blocks should also be the same color. Again, this helps the advertisements appear to be normal web content.

6) Don't have too many distractions- On a webpage, it is important to give web visitor a limited number of options. By having too many links and graphics, the web visitor might go to a section that doesn¡¯t help increase your profits. While it is important to inform and entertain your web visitor, it is also vital that you monetize your site. So if the main focus of your site is to earn an income through Google Adsense, then get rid of all non-essential links and graphics.

By taking the time to implement these six simple steps, you'll see a dramatic increase in the click-thru ratio of your ads. If added to all of the content of your site, your Adsense income will skyrocket!

Personal visibility is critical for success no matter what business arena you work in. Many women make the mistake that if they work hard and do good work, that they will be recognized for their efforts. This is just not so.

Take a look around you at the people who seem to buzz with success, no matter what they do or what they touch. These are the people you read about in the paper and who seem to be at all of the right networking events and know all of the right people. They are also the people who are in demand to speak at events and whose articles appear in your local paper.

What do these men or women know that you don't? They have mastered the art of personal visibility. I spoke with a woman that fits this description shortly after she had signed on to do her own radio show with a local station. I asked her what her secret of success was in terms of personal visibility. The main thing she told me was that you can't sit back and wait for visibility. Instead, you have to go out and find it.

Here are some practical tips you can use:

1. Send News Releases: Send out a news release for anything noteworthy that you might do. Signed a new client? Appointed to a new board position? Remember, local papers are often searching for stories with a local angle. Be sure to include a photo.

2. Write Articles or Editorials: This is a great way to become recognized as an expert in your field. Remember to develop relationships with your local editors. Contact them with your ideas and help them when they are looking for resources.

3. Speak at local events: Many chambers of commerce, professional organizations and other non-profit organizations look for local speakers knowledgeable on a range of topics. Find the organizations that might be interested in your area of expertise and get on a panel or facilitate a program for them.

4. Allow reporters to interview and quote you: Reporters are always looking for third parties to corroborate or refute information that they include in their stories. Many women do not like to be quoted because they fear that their words will be misconstrued or misrepresented. Women need to get over this fear and make themselves more available to be quoted in public. This serves to position you as an expert in your field and gets your name into the public eye.

5. Volunteer for visible projects or committees: This can be either internally at your organization or externally within your community. Then use this opportunity to advantage by using tips 1-4 above.

6. Get nominated for an award or recognition list: Typically women sit back and wait to be nominated by someone. However, if there is an award or recognition that you think you are worthy of, let someone know that you are deserving and ask if they would be willing to nominate you. Even if you don't win, you will still receive visibility.

7. Teach a college class or seminar: This allows you to get out in front of your peers or a target audience that you are interested in getting exposure from. This not only gives you visibility but may also provide you with your next business referral or job opportunity.

These are just a few ideas. If you have other ideas, we'd love to hear about them. Email them to us at mailto:info@... and we will share them in next month's newsletter.

In the meantime, remember, to get ahead in business you need to take charge of your own visibility. For those that do, the possibilities for success are endless.

In today's hurried business world, thank you and gestures of appreciation are most commonly reserved for the Christmas season. Small and large businesses from home-based to conglomerates give and receive gifts at that time of year. The problem is that unless the gift is personalized with the giver's logo and information,the recipient may not realize, or forget who sent it.

Did you ever wish to acknowledge a gift only to find yourself confused about who sent what? Did you ever take cards off gifts and misplaced them? These dilemmas are common-place and frustrating. There isn't much you can do about gifts you receive but you can eliminate such a situation from those receiving gifts from you.

To create good will and advertise "without advertising" it is wise to send a thoughtful, unique and long lasting thank you gift, which will be displayed,or used repeatedly. This is one reason for the success rate and high appeal of personalized coffee mugs, wearing apparel, card carriers, calendars, office aides, office decorations,collector's items and conversation pieces and yes, a most unique concept, personalized candles.

Personalized gifts range in price and in impact and fall into three major categories.

1. Gifts used by an individual have an impact on the individual. The recipient will think of you when using the gift.

2. Gifts used in an office setting have an impact mostly by virtue of name recognition by the recipient,office personnel and visitors who will notice your business name.

3. Gifts that are displayed. Have the highest impact. Just like a trophy or a certificate, an eye catching, pretty or especially interesting displayed item will generate questions and request for information. In some situations, starting a conversation may feel awkward and a prominently displayed item may serve as an icebreaker. That may help clients and customers, even those who might be otherwise intimidates or shy feel at ease.

The following suggestions will help you make a great impression:

1. Give a unique gift, a one of a kind item, a gift the recipient is unlikely to receive from anyone else.

2. Stand out! Be genuine! Do not wait for the Christmas season to give or send a gift. Think about how special you feel when someone conveys "Thank you" or "E appreciate your business" etc... when you least expect it.

3. Give or send a gift that will be used or displayed and enjoyed for a long time.

4. Personalize your gifts in such a way that they serve as unintentional advertisements.

You probably wonder about what would be considered, and how to find unique gifts. Some ideas might come from talking with your colleagues, from specialized catalogues, from searching the Internet, from recommendations,and of course from unique gifts you personally received and enjoyed.

I have one more suggestion about gift giving. Don't wait for the Christmas Holiday season to say Thank You. When it comes to gifts, the least expected, the most remembered.