Before you take your device to record a lecture, it’s a good idea to do a test run with it to make sure you know how to operate it properly. This will also help ensure that you don’t have any disasters the day of a lecture.  You can use the test run to figure out how close you need to be to a speaker to pick up her voice. You can easily do this by testing your own voice at different distances. Consider adding some background noise to your test run to see how this affects the quality of the recording and make adjustments as necessary. If you are aware of common recording problems, then you can avoid any disasters during the recording or when you play it back. This will help ensure that you also get the most from recording your college lecture.  Make sure you have enough memory and battery power to record the entire lecture.  Videotape the lecture if you’re allowed. It will allow you to record power point presentations if the professor uses them.  Make sure your device doesn’t make any loud noises or create any visual signals that will distract you, your classmates, or the professor. Before you go to a lecture, check to make sure that you have not only enough storage space on your recording device, but also that it has enough battery power. This will ensure that you capture the entire class and don’t miss anything.  If you have a battery-operated device, make sure it is charged or that you have spare batteries. If you are using a tape recorder, take an extra tape or two with you in case you run out of space or experience technical difficulties. In order to get the most optimal recording of a lecture, sit close to where the professor is standing. This will ensure that you directly hear her voice, but also that there isn’t as much background noise.  If the professor moves around the classroom, it may not be as easy to capture her voice. Try sitting near the front at one of the sides to make sure that there aren’t too many other people around you to dampen the professor’s voice. Don’t sit at the back of a classroom because you may not be able to record the lecture clearly.  Make sure that you are not moving around too much so that your movements don’t disrupt the sound recording. Taping a lecture is not an invitation to zone out during class. It’s important that you also take notes on a lecture. Not only will writing notes help you remember the subject matter more effectively, but there are also notes the professor wrote on a board or in a slide presentation that a recording might not capture.  Studies have shown that students who take handwritten notes actually learn and retain more.  Use the recording only to clarify what you don’t understand or didn’t catch in class. If you want to be able to listen to your recorded lecture for notes or to help you understand a topic, remember to save it at the end of class. This will be a good backup and help clarify your written notes if need be.  If you accidentally forgot to save the recording of your lecture, you can ask a friend if he has one. Many recording programs and devices will automatically save a recording as it progresses.

Summary: Do a test run with your device. Avoid common recording problems. Make sure you have enough storage and battery time. Sit close to the professor. Take notes to go with your recording. Save your recording.


Let the customer say everything they need to say.  If they are interrupted, they may feel the need to start over.  Nod to show you’re actively engaged in what they have to say and that you empathize with their predicament. Be attentive but relaxed.  Look the customer in the eye as they speak.  Keep an open mind when listening to the customer.  In other words, don’t listen for what you think the problem is or might be.  Rather, hear the customer out and understand their actual problem or issues. Don’t contradict or argue with what the customer says.  Even if they are wrong, informing them of their error will only exacerbate their frustration. Do not minimize the customer’s complaint.  Do not, for instance, say “Sometimes food is a little cold when it comes out.  It’s no big deal.”  This will not make the customer happy. For instance, a customer may say, “I was eating my soup and there were several little peas in it which were quite hard.”  In your mind’s eye, envision the soup in question.  Imagine the peas.  Are they large or small?  Round and smooth, or somewhat dimpled?  Are they bright green, or more of a pine color?  Finally, the texture.  Imagine you have several between your hand which are soft and pliant.  Several others are hard and undesirable in soup.  You will better understand the customer’s problem armed with this mental vision. There are two ways to clarify a customer complaint in order to better understand and handle it.  The first way is to ask questions about the complaint.  The second way is to repeat the customer’s complaint back to them in different language.  For instance, if you’ve just arrived for your shift and a customer is complaining about the soup, you might not know what soup the customer is referring to.  Ask questions as needed.  You might inquire, “Did you have the pea soup or the vegetable noodle?”  Don’t assume which menu item the customer is talking about; always follow up by asking for specifics as they explain their issue. Once the customer’s complaint has been explained, repeat it back to them in different language.  For instance, the customer might complain that the food was cold.  You could, after hearing the explanation, summarize their problem by saying, “So your food did not arrive at the temperature you wanted it to be at?  Is that right?”  If they agree, you’ve listened well and can move on to fixing the problem. Do not smile or laugh while listening to the customer’s complaint.  Adopt a solicitous, concerned facial expression.  Furrow your brow slightly in the center and turn down the corners of your mouth.  This will make the customer feel as if you are truly concerned about what they have to say.  Even if the customer is using profanity or yelling rudely, do not respond in kind.  Exercise patience and compassion.  Listen patiently to the entirety of the customer’s complaint. If they are being particularly boisterous, direct the customer to follow you into a more private quarter of the dining establishment.  There you can continue to listen to their tirade without drawing negative attention to the situation or disrupting the other diners.

Summary: Listen to the guest. Try to picture the problem as the customer explains it. Clarify what the customer says. Stay calm and show you’re concerned.


Over-exercising your dog when he is young can lead to bone and joint issues that may lead to the development of hip dysplasia. Gentle, low impact exercises can be beneficial for puppies, but avoid letting your pup run, leap, or jump until he is physically mature. High impact sports like jumping and leaping can be hard on your puppy’s developing joints, so avoid doing these activities with your puppy until he is fully developed. Keep your dog active to help him stay physically fit with moderate exercise like running, walking, and swimming. Dogs with large, strong leg muscle mass may be less likely to develop hip dysplasia than dogs with a smaller muscle mass. Activities that might apply too much force on your dog’s joints, such as jumping for a Frisbee or leaping for a ball, can lead to development of hip issues. Consistent walking, running, and swimming can help your dog build muscle strength without putting too much stress on his body.
Summary: Do not allow your dog to run or leap when he is a puppy. Take your dog on walks or runs when he is an adult. Avoid doing a lot of jumping activities with your dog.