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We hear a lot about being effective, but what does it mean? Well the dictionary definition is productive, persuasive, having a desired result or effect. Synonyms include able, competent, energetic, forceful, and powerful. The effective person is the person who works smart and hard. One of the real keys is organisation, and for most of us that means having a system that works for us and helps to plan and manage our time. So whether you use the latest electronic gadgetry or just plain old paper and pencil, you need to devote some “headspace” to thinking about your work, planning and organising it. You don’t want to be the person caught on the hop, totally unprepared for todays big meeting. Here are my top ten tips for getting organised.

Buying a car can be exciting, but it can also be quite a headache. One of the big choices facing buyers is whether to get something new, or a used model with a few miles on the clock. But would you believe me if I told you that sometimes it is possible to get a new car for the price of a second-hand model?

The abductions have sparked worldwide protests, like here in South Africa US Secretary of State John Kerry says a specialist team is set to start work in Nigeria to help find more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by militants. He said the US team, working with the Nigerian government, would do everything possible to free the girls.

Beats is best known for its headphones which have been gaining popularity Technology giant Apple is in talks to buy headphone maker and music-streaming service provider Beats Electronics, according to various media reports. The reports claim Apple could pay as much as $3.2bn (£1.9bn) and a deal could be announced next week. If completed, it will be Apple's biggest ever acquisition. It is being seen as move by Apple to get a stronger foothold in the phone and music accessories business and bolster its online music offerings.

The start of the match was delayed while officials spoke to fans Three Napoli football fans were injured by gunfire in Rome before the Italian cup final between Napoli and Fiorentina, Italian media report.

Remember that old washing machine you bought back in the 1980s? The one that seemed to go on for ever? And then there was the one you bought only a couple of years back, which seemed to give up the ghost more quickly than an ultra-fast spin cycle.

US federal corporation tax is 35%, while the UK's rate is 21% and is due to be cut to 20% in 2015. But Ms Self added that a significant tax gain for the UK would be unlikely. "All it will mean is moving a few senior people here and having a few board meetings here.

UK drugs firm AstraZeneca has rejected the new takeover offer from Pfizer The US company had earlier raised the priceit was offering for AstraZeneca to the equivalent of £50 a share, valuing the firm at £63bn. But Astra saidthe new terms offered were, "inadequate, substantially undervalue AstraZeneca and are not a basis on which to engage with Pfizer".

Your "check engine" light is your car's means of sitting you down for an intervention. It's trying to tell you that something's wrong and that you need to take action before it gets worse. If your "check engine" light could talk, it might want to hurl obscenities at you for ignoring it when it's only trying to help you out. If you're like many of us, you're just going to hope that little LED bulb burns itself out so you can go about your business. After all, how bad could it really be? You'd hear something, right? Then you could search "car banging noise" on YouTube and watch an instructional video on how to fix it yourself.

Joe Biden (left) was greeted by Ukraine's FM, Andriy Deshchytsia, when he arrived in Kiev on Monday US Vice-President Joe Biden is to meet Ukraine's new leaders in a show of support for the pro-Western government.

Content publishers all have the same goal in mind when it comes to building their website: get more followers! If done correctly, more followers can mean more loyal visitors and brand advocates of your site and content. Here are a few tips that have helped site owners grow the community around their content.

HMRC says further consultation on the plans will take place Taxpayers' personal data could be shared with private firms under plans drawn up by Revenue & Customs (HMRC). If given the go-ahead it would allow HMRC to release anonymous tax data to third parties including companies, researchers and public bodies.

If you are thinking of buying a used Japanese car from one of Japan’s many used cars auction sites, there are a few things you should think about. While buying from an auto auction can get you a great Japanese cheap car, because the vehicle will be second-hand there are some common sense rules to follow.

Would you feel uncomfortable chatting to your boss in your pyjamas? How about brushing your teeth together in the morning, or preparing breakfast with one another? While sleepovers are standard fare when you're a child, spending the night with your boss is a level of intimacy that most people would rather avoid.

Justice J.T. Tsoho gave the order on Friday in a suit filed by Mr. Sanusi through his counsel, Kola Awodehin. A Federal High Court in Lagos has given a preservatory order restraining the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRCN, from investigating the suspended Central Bank Governor, Lamido Sanusi.

Minister faults World Bank’s classification of Nigeria based on large population. The Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Thursday reacted to the pronouncement by the World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim, classifying Nigeria among the world’s “extreme poor countries.”

The Indian firm has been implicated in unsavoury mining acts in Mozambique. The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, ERA/FoEN, has cautioned the Federal Government from going ahead with a rumoured deal with Jindal Power and Steel India, to revitalise coal mining in the country.

“Taking advantage of a system that has been a conduit for corruption in the statement should not be allowed.” The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Thursday advised the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, not to provoke Nigerians by embarking on frivolous strikes due to personal interest. This is contained in a statement issued by the NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar, in Abuja on Thursday, stressing that strike should not be so cheaply abused.

The Lagos Deputy Governor briefed journalists on the case id Alexandra Ossai. The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, on Friday advocated review of the Nigerian Labour Law to offer more protection to employees against violence at workplaces. Ms. Orelope-Adefulire made the call when she briefed journalists on the recent case of the alleged battery of a resident, Alexandra Ossai, by her employee in Ikeja.

The doctors planned to embark on a nationwide strike from January 6. The executives of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) are holding an emergency meeting in Abuja. The meeting, which commenced at about 5:00 p.m. will take a stance on the proposed strike scheduled to commence on Monday, January 6. The doctors, who held a nationwide five-day strike before christmas, proposed to continue the withdrawal of their services from January 6 if the federal government fails to meet their demands. Their demands include better working conditions and upgrade of health facilities. The heads of various state chapters of the NMA are represented at the meeting. More details later…