The office birthday party.  The baby shower at work.  Jimmy's promotion.  Whatever the occasion, every office has a party planning butterfly, a person who will jump at the chance to gather people around the conference room table to indulge in saturated fats.

Each office has its own ritual, but the most common way to facilitate a work party is to send around office party invitations in the form of an email to your coworkers (omitting the person at the center of the celebration, of course!).  Each person is then asked to bring in a food item.  It's that or a money  collection, and we all know how the latter usually works out.

These office affairs often have different names, but the menu items are the same.  Are you the type who buys Hostess cupcakes on sale (2 for $5) on the way to work, or do you fire up the stove to bring in the honorees' favorite treat?

We're not judging...but some sweet treats show you care more than others.

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Have you had this experience with a co-worker or boss - no matter who he is interacting with, he takes on the characteristics of that person? It could be mimicking the person’s mannerisms, voice inflection or even using the same verbiage or jargon. It’s weird if you notice it once or twice, but if it’s a constant M.O. of taking on personality traits, it can get a little creepy.  

Why would someone adopt this behavior? From a psychological perspective, it could be a number of different things.

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We played a blind softball team and we lost.  No, it's not some horrible politically incorrect joke, it's the truth.  The nine guys who could barely see a thing beat us, fair and square, in a five-inning game.

For those of you who have not had the good fortune of getting your butt kicked by the visually impaired, it's nothing short of an eye-opening experience.

Before I tell you why these guys are awesome, and what career advice we can learn from them, I should tell you that the ball beeps.  Literally.  That's how the visually impaired tap into their sense of hearing to embarrass you in front of your friends and coworkers.

Beep Ball, as it's affectionately known as, has been around for more than three decades.  The ball and the bases (there are only two, and they are cushioned pylons) all emit sound.  To level the playing field, since all participants have varying levels of sight, all players are blindfolded.

These "beep ball" players are awesome.  And even though we lost the game, I left inspired.  Here are three of the career lessons the visually impaired softball players taught me.

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Looking for employment, or trying to change careers? Need a second job, to save for that dream trip? Then search no further than Twitter for job search, the social media site that's proving to be fertile grounds for all types of information, including job leads, interviewing and resume tips, and more. Following the right tweeter can save time and energy, as tweets sent directly to your cell phone can alert you to the job next door, just waiting to be filled, and keep your employment search focused. Some of the best to follow include:

1.) JobsDirectUSA.  With over 17,000 tweets, this user keeps followers updated not only on jobs postings nationwide, but also on job-market data and facts, as well as news on the latest knowledge and skills employers want most.

2.) mashablejobs. Over 5,000 people follow this Twitter extension of online social-media, entertainment, and business-job guru Mashable. An excellent way to keep in the loop about these fast-moving jobs while interviewing, traveling, or even working.

3.) JobsWSJ. Here, the Wall Street Journal supplies inside information into the workings of the job market. No specific job postings, but plenty of insight into trends, successful--and not-so-successful--companies to work for or avoid, and job-seeking tips from one of the country’s most respected economic journals.

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A recent episode of “Mad Men” had a scene where a secretary was collecting money for a baby gift for a coworker. One person signed the card without contributing any cash (a definite no-no in most offices; read the rules of office gifts). Most of us have experienced the baby shower extortion, I mean collection, at work. Personally, I think the workplace is an odd place for a baby shower. But then, I go out of my way to avoid all showers in general.

What if you want to pick up a gift (non-shower related) for a co-worker? It could be acknowledgement of a birthday or maybe just a “thank-you for saving my a--” gift. A few things to consider; you don’t want to look too cheap, it should appear that you put a little thought into it and you want the gift to be appropriate for a coworker-level relationship.

For some reason, I always get candles as gifts from co-workers. It’s a safe bet because most people like candles. What people don’t know is that the scents in most candles give me headaches. And do you give guys candles? Not to be sexist, but most guys I know wouldn’t be very thrilled to get a candle.

So here are some ideas for gifts for coworkers:

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What does the future hold as far as education is concerned?  If you have the right degree, the future may bring many exciting career opportunities your way. Not surprisingly, most of the promising up and coming degrees have a lot to do with the technology field, green living and healthcare. Check out some of the great career fields of the future. If you chose one of these paths now, chances are you will have a great career for many years to come.

1.    Green Jobs
Everyone knows that going green is the future. While the trend is catching on and becoming more and more popular each day, it is no wonder that this will be one of the most important career paths of the future. There are many lucrative jobs to get into when it comes to being green, such as a Biologist, Food Scientist and Biochemical Engineer. There are also jobs in Green energy and even Marketing, in which you would market and convince others to buy and use green products. The average mean annual wages for someone in these types of Green career paths is around $71,000.

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We all have to make tough choices in our lives, to do what needs to be done in order to survive. Many people find themselves selling off pieces of the dreams they held when they were young, trading the hopes and desires for a steady job with a reliable income they can use to support their families. The end result being that dreaded feeling as the weekend rushes by and Monday comes around again, calling reluctant workers back to the soul grinding drudgery of a job they never wanted to take in the first place.

It's nice to believe that all you have to do is work hard and you will be rewarded for your efforts, with the universe magically aligning to present you with the perfect job to keep you content and well paid despite your current predicament. Sadly, despite what the movies would have you believe, this rarely turns out to be the case.

You may well have a variety of skills, its entirely possible you even have a plan which you know deep in your gut would be a viable way for you to make a living apart from working under the comfort of a large companies shadow. Fear is what keeps most people from ever realizing their dreams. Fear that they won't succeed, that they won't make any money and their families will fall into ruin as a result.

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Got stress on the job?  Who doesn't!
 
In a tough economy, many bosses are expecting more work for less pay. Workers are being expected to do more with fewer resources.  High levels of unemployment cause “employed” folks to have high levels of anxiety.  High stress levels can lead to illness. Illness can lead to time off work.  Time off work can lead to unemployment. YIKES!

It's  a  “catch 22” that no worker wants to be caught up in. But it's a common dynamic in today's workplace, regardless as to one's industry or occupation.

To help to manage workplace stress better, and learn more about this little word that has huge impact, we have joining us today Dr. Serena Wadhwa of TriQual Living Center.   

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