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Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?

Do you think Houdini ever locked his keys in his car?

If the #2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still #2?

If time heals all wounds, how come belly buttons stay the same?

If practice makes perfect, and nobody's perfect, why practice?

Why is there always one in every crowd?

If all the world is a stage, where does the audience sit?

How do you know when it's time to tune your bagpipes?

If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

When someone asks you, "A penny for your thoughts, " and you put your two cents in, what happens to the other penny?

When cheese gets its' picture taken, what does it say?

Why isn't 11 pronounced "onety-one"?

If people from Poland are called "Poles," why aren't people from Holland called "Holes?"

Are people more violently opposed to fur rather than leather because it's much easier to harass rich w omen rather than motorcycle gangs?

If you take an Oriental person and spin him around several times, does he become disoriented?

Source: Passed from here to there

Tactful Ways To Say ‘No’

When you have to turn down a favor, here are some effective ways to say "no":

Be direct. Example: "No. I can’t do that this week." If the person continues to push, repeat yourself in a different way. Examples: "It just doesn’t work for me this week" or "It’s not possible."
Let them down easy. Depending on the situation, you may try to soften the blow. Examples: "Please ask me again next week," "Maybe next week will be a better time for me" or "I’d be happy to help you with that another time."
Avoid giving excuses. Examples: "I’d love to help you with that but I can’t" or "I wish I could but I’m really busy."
Source: Say What You Mean, Get What You Want, by Judith C. Tingley, Ph.D., 1601 Broadway, New York, MNY

Three Questions To Ask Employees

Get ideas to improve customer service by asking employees:

What have we done to make a customer say, "That’s the way it should be done" or "That’s the way I would have handled it"?
What have we done - or not done - to anger a customer enough to say, "I’m never coming back?"
What do you suggest we do - or change - to get customers to want to come back?
Source: Philip D. Steffen, CSP, CPAE, writing in Words of Mouth

Some Supervisory Myths

Your productivity - and that of your employees - will suffer if you’re tempted to believe these micromanagement myths:

Myth one: My staff can’t function without me. Reality: You’ve failed to give the authority for making routine decisions to those in the best position to make them. Myth-breaker: Let employees’ job descriptions specify which decisions the staff can make and which they must discuss with you before acting.
Myth two: I must be ever vigilant to prevent mistakes. Reality: Occasional failure is a hallmark of innovation and progress. Myth-breaker: Allow employees to err occasionally and you’ll get their best effort all the time.
Myth three: My employees either can’t or are afraid to make decisions. Reality: This lame excuse stunts their growth and imposes an unnecessary burden on you. Myth-breaker: Train employees in the decision-making process. But give them only guidelines, not a recipe book covering every possible decision.
Source: HR Focus, 1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019.