Survive the Heatwave in Style

It's sweltering outside, but thankfully our guest blogger Anne Sowden has some great tips on how to beat the heat in high style.

Hot Weather Style Survival for the Office
By Anne Sowden

It's a tough time of year to look (and feel) cool without sacrificing your business look.

Flat or frizzy hair? Get advice from your hairstylist on products or a style that adaptable for humidity. Or, wear a hat--very stylish and protects your skin.

Keep an extra shirt in your car, at the office or gym. Light colours won't show clamminess--one reason tennis players wear white. A light cotton layer under your shirt helps you feel cooler and avoids embarrassing wet patches.

White pants look great but are magnets for dirt (and as a friend of mine found out, red wine). Make sure they're washable or you'll have to win the lottery to cover cleaning bills. If you're toned, a skin tone thong underneath is best. If you're not, consider full coverage skin tone underwear. Some styles guarantee no panty lines but ask someone before you leave the house what they see. It's easier to change than spend the day carrying your laptop in creative ways.

Think twice before spritzing yourself with cologne to cool off. Perfume reacts with your body heat. Your usual scent will be stronger or not smell the same. Try misting your face with water or using a handheld fan.
Yes, real men have pedicures--not necessarily pink nail polish. Your feet will look, and feel great, in sandals.
Summer is time to show a bit of skin. But, the more skin you show, the less professional you look. Keep a jacket or cardi handy to make that sleeveless dress or top office worthy. How low is too low for necklines? As my colleague Angie Michael says, "No lower than three fingers above your cleavage. Or, three fingers above where you'd like your cleavage to be.

No matter how casual your office is, never show up in surfer shorts (with or without a surfboard), flip flops. sarong, bathing suit, hat adorned with fishing flies, or the worst infraction of all--socks and sandals.

Project your personal and professional best every day!

Anne Sowden is a Professional Image Consultant and President of Here's Looking at You Image Consulting . To learn more about Anne's services please visit www.hereslookingatyou.ca

The G20 Via Videoconference?

All the delays and disruptions surrounding the G20 conference have finally subsided, and everything in Toronto is thankfully back to "business as usual". During the second half of June, the Downtown Toronto financial district experienced numerous inconveniences as security was heightened for this very high-profile summit of world leaders. Over a billion dollars was spent in preparation for the 2010 G20 conference – a staggeringly high figure considering alternative options that would have greatly reduced costs and eliminated unnecessary security-related business disruptions.

In a recent Toronto Star article , Craig Kielburger suggests that holding the summit via videoconference would have made a lot more fiscal sense – and caused far fewer headaches for everyone involved. Kielburger estimates that the cost to hold the G20 Summit by videoconference would be around $420,000. Compare that to the 1.2 billion dollars spent on the Toronto conference, and the benefits of videoconferencing option become quite obvious. Videoconferencing technology has already been utilized for other by other major international symposiums, such as the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change –with excellent results!

Videoconferencing saves both time and money, and is the most environmentally meeting option currently available. This wonderful technology has advanced to a point that is now possible for hundreds of people located around the world to seamlessly interact in real-time HD video. Imagine all the trouble that could have been avoided if the world’s leaders had taken part in the G20 summit via videoconference? For over 10 years The Rostie Group has provided videoconferencing solutions to a diverse customer-base including Fortune 500 companies, educational institutions and small business owners. The feedback we have received about this technology has been overwhelmingly positive, and many of our customers have made a permanent transition to videoconferencing as their primary meeting option.

If you are looking for videoconferencing in Toronto or videoconferencing in Mississauga, The Rostie Group can provide you with a range of personalized options that will ensure your next videoconference is a huge success. For more information please call Stacey Carvalho at (416) 214-1840 or 1-800-648-1840.  

Business as Usual During G20

Videoconferencing in Toronto

Thanks to recent innovations in videoconferencing, it is now possible to effortlessly connect with friends or colleagues around the world in full HD video. Recent advancements in video conferencing have allowed this groundbreaking technology to become a low cost and eco-friendly alternative to traditional face-to-face business meetings. During the volcanic eruption in Iceland, several Fortune 500 companies turned to videoconferencing as a last-minute solution to unexpected travel disruptions. If you have yet to conduct a meeting via videoconference, you may be missing out on a terrific way to both increase productivity and save money.

One of the main benefits of videoconferencing it helps you avoid time-consuming travel hassles. Anyone who has travelled to attend a business meeting can attest to the many annoying complications that can arise when trying to reach your desired meeting destination. A single 60 minute meeting can require hours of long-distance travel, during which you often experience many other unnecessary delays. This is not only frustrating, but also very costly for your company’s bottom line.

Having a meeting via video conference means never having experience any travel-related troubles. This saves you time and money, as well as a lot of gas. As an added bonus, Videoconferencing is also great for the environment, because it helps to reduce your company’s overall carbon footprint. This technology is both convenient and eco-friendly, making it a smart option for businesses of all sizes.

Videoconferencing is an attractive option for both local and international meetings. Even travelling to a meeting across the city can take hours, especially during snowstorms and major road closures. Why subject yourself to such wasteful delays, when you could connect with clients or associates in seconds? The modest cost of setting up a videoconference is nothing compared to the many dollars needlessly wasted on business travel. Advancements in Telepresence have made videoconferencing so lifelike, that it almost as good as being there in person - if not better!

The Rostie Group offers videoconferencing in both Toronto and Mississauga. We have offices at 20 Bay Street in Downtown Toronto, and at 2810 Matheson Blvd East, near Pearson International Airport in Mississauga. If you would like more information about videoconferencing, or our other personalized meeting solutions, please feel free contact Stacey Semprie at 416-214-1840 or 1-800-648-1840 (Toll Free).


Toronto Virtual Offices for Lawyers

A few days ago we wrote about our diverse selection of meeting rooms, which are a popular choice for legal professionals and union representatives looking for mediation or arbitration space. Regrettably, in the previous article we forgot mention our cutting-edge virtual office packages, another Rostie Group product that has proved to be of great value to many Lawyers.

A recent article from Law.com, listed virtual offices one of the best business tools for recent law school graduates planning to open solo practices. Virtual offices give you a high-profile corporate address and business support services, while limiting overhead expenses. This makes virtual offices an ideal solution for lawyers looking to grow their practice on a modest budget.

The Rostie Group offers virtual offices from both of its first-class Toronto area business locations. For a very low monthly fee, you get a 20 Bay Street or 2810 Matheson Blvd East mailing address, personalized live telephone answering service, and a 24 hour voice mailbox. We can also offer you full technical and administrative support, as well as meeting room space and office day rentals.

For a mere fraction of what it would costs to lease traditional office space in far less appealing area, you can have a full-service virtual office that gives your practice the valuable prestige of a Downtown Toronto or Mississauga Airport business address.

We are currently offering virtual offices for only $74.95 a month, the absolute lowest price in the entire greater Toronto area. If you are interested in growing your legal practice, while lowering overhead expenses, do not hesitate to Contact Us.

Mediation and Arbitration Rooms

The Rostie Group’s versatile meeting rooms are a popular choice amongst legal professionals looking for convenient and flexible space that can easily accommodate their unique professional needs. Our videoconferencing-equipped meetings rooms can be setup in a variety of different configurations, and can be easily customized according to your individual requirements. In addition to arbitration, mediation and litigation space, we also offer breakout rooms and private offices that can be used for client prep or one-on-one consultations. Our diverse room selection allows us to host groups ranging in size from 1-150.

The Rostie Group’s 24 hour availability and full-service catering and support options, make us an ideal choice for lawyers or union representatives looking for both flexibility and personalized service. We offer an unbeatable meeting room value, and are always happy to assist our customers with planning and preparation.

For more information on the The Rostie Group’s mediation rooms, arbitration space, deliberation Rooms, and office rentals, please contact Tracey Cook at 416-214-1840 or tcook@rostiegroup.com
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Click here to learn more about our Toronto Mediation and Arbitration Space

An Introduction to Mind Mapping

On Monday, May 17th join us at The Rostie Group's 20 Bay Street business centre for a free Lunch n' Learn. You can either bring your own brown bag lunch, or purchase one on-site for only $5.00. Lunch includes: Sandwich, Drink, and a Snack.


This week's seminar will be...

An Introduction to Mind Mapping
Learn how to better absorb information and reduce stress.

By Susan Percy
(MacGrercy Consultants)

Seminar Summary:

Entrepreneurs and executives can at times feel overwhelmed by the amount of information there is to learn and take hold of and by the number or detail of projects they are involved in. Mind Mapping can help to quickly organize information, absorb information and help to reduce stress. Susan will explain how Mind Mapping works and attendees will have the opportunity to practice the technique in the workshop and understand how to apply it to current work, opportunities and projects. Mind Mapping is a tool that has been used by business leaders, entrepreneurs and skilled executives world-wide for decades. The session will be educational, interactive and fun.

Susan Percy Biography:

Susan Percy, a highly-praised, international Mind Mapping trainer. She has shared Mind Mapping with audiences worldwide, including organizations such as KPMG, the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and CitiBank. Susan promises the session will be packed with exercises and examples of how you can use Mind Maps immediately in your work and personal life.

Registration and Location Details:

This seminar will be taking place in The Pacific Room (20 Bay Street, 11th floor)
from 12:00-1:00pm. To ensure seating, please arrive at least 10 minutes in advance. To RSVP please contact dnoble@rostiegroup.com, and mention whether you will be bringing your own lunch, or wish to purchase one at the seminar. If you will be purchasing a lunch, please also note your sandwich preference, options are Turkey, Tuna, Assorted, Ham, or Veggie.

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