10 Workplace Myths

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 153 million people in the United States were part of the civilian workforce in July 2010. With that many workers out there, it's no wonder that there are thousands of people starting new jobs on any given day. If you're about to start your first full-time job, or if you're just looking for something new, you're among those thousands who are gathering information, sending out résumés and getting prepared for the first day in a new workplace. As you research and prepare for the big day, you may ask for advice from friends, family and mentors. These folks are often glad to help, recounting their experiences and insisting that you take their most valuable pieces of advice to heart. But how do you know if it's applicable for you and your job? First, consider the source. The workforce is changing as quickly as culture and technology, so some of your parents' advice may be outdated. Plus, each industry is unique in what employers expect, so advice about being a software engineer is probably not valuable coming from a restaurant owner or bank executive. If you've considered the source a reliable one, the next thing to do is to separate fact from fiction. There's a lot of misinformation out there, and even the most well-meaning advisor may not know he's leading you astray. To help you get started, this article covers 10 common workplace myths you should know as you apply for jobs and before you get started that first day.

10 of the Biggest IPOs in History

Friday, May 18, 2012, was a big day for American tech giant Facebook. The social media behemoth made its initial public offering (IPO) -- its debut as a publicly traded company -- on the New York Stock Exchange that day. In just one day of trading, Facebook sold 421.2 million shares of itself to investors for $38 apiece, amassing a cool $16 billion in new capital just about instantly. Facebook's IPO became the largest tech offering – and third largest overall -- in U.S. history. In the parlance of global IPO history, however, this is peanuts. Initial public offerings are as high as high finance gets. When a well-known, formerly private company goes public, investors clamor for shares. They already know the company's management, they know its earning history, its forecasts. In many cases, the only thing left to chance is how much higher the share price will go once trading begins. They're also the result of months or years of work. Companies turn to investment banks to underwrite the offerings, vet buyers, scintillate the media and value the stock. When it goes right, an IPO can mean a sudden infusion of cash in the tens of billions in just a matter of hours for some companies.

10 Risky Investments

To some people, losing a dollar on a lottery ticket is an acceptable risk. To others, losing a few million dollars on the chance that a cup of coffee will cost more next year is an acceptable risk. The idea of risk in investments is largely a matter of perception.
Even so, some types of investments consistently make more money than others. Other types of investments stand a greater chance of losing money or holding steady. In general, the higher the risk of loss, the higher the chance of good returns.
"It really depends on a person's tolerance for risk and perceptions of risk," says John Grable, professor of personal finance at Kansas State University. He adds that it would be difficult to find a list of definitively bad investments.
Indeed, for every investment you place on a list, you'll have hordes of investors reporting that they made money or lost money on that particular item. The key is that while we all have plenty to gain, in tough times we tend to think twice about what we lose.

10 Restaurant Chains that Flopped

Feeling famished? Got a hankering for a Lums hotdog steamed in beer, or a Gino Giant burger drenched in Ameche 35 sauce, the fabled "banquet in a bun"? How about a plate of Minnie Pearl's down-home fried chicken? Chi-Chi's tangy nachos grande? Or maybe you're in the mood for something classier, like Steak and Ale's signature herb-roasted prime rib?
Well, too bad, because those delectable treats were on the menus of national restaurant chains that no longer exist. Whether you're talking about humble burger joints or fancy sit-down dining establishments, the restaurant trade is relentlessly, mercilessly Darwinian. Just as the sabre-toothed tigers and mastodons roamed the land eons ago, there was a more recent time when American roadsides were dotted with orange-roofed Howard Johnson's restaurants and their promise of 27 different ice cream flavors, the gleaming ivory facades of White Tower hamburger stands, and Chi-Chi's imitation Mexican cantinas, among others. Some restaurant chains lost out because of diners' changing tastes, while others were swallowed up by larger competitors. And a few succumbed ignominiously to stock market scandals, unfortunate name choices and an occasional outbreak of food-borne illness. But we also must thank defunct restaurant chains for innovations that revolutionized American casual dining, ranging from the salad bar to special kids' meals.

10 Most Expensive Presidential Perks

Ever since it won independence, the United States has cherished democracy and spurned the semblance of aristocracy and monarchy. However, the need for a central executive leader -- the president -- has made it difficult to avoid giving that person preferential treatment. After all, it's a big job. Should presidents have to waste time doing their own laundry and buying plane tickets when they're signing legislation and dispatching troops?

As time's gone on, the perks of the job have become more numerous. Some of these perks have sparked controversy, such as free campaign resources at the president's disposal. But in general, the American people seem to accept this special treatment. It helps that presidents only get to be spoiled for eight years at most -- they aren't royalty from the cradle to the grave (though we will talk about post-presidential perks later). The VIP treatment also seems fitting considering the difficult road to the White House. Presidential candidates spend years and millions upon millions of dollars campaigning. Once they win, these perks eliminate the hassles and distractions from their all-important job.
But perks aren't just about making the president's life easier; instead, many are for security or just practical reasons. And having one of the highest-pressure jobs in the world probably dulls the joys of such perks. Still, it's nice to imagine what life would be like with all these extras.

5 Internet Careers for Retirees

Ah, retirement ... long, lazy days of doing nothing except exactly what you want! Yet, for some retired folks, it's not enough to play golf, enjoy hobbies, travel, and spend time with friends and family. They enjoy the challenge -- and the paycheck -- that comes with a regular job.

Going back to work is a lifestyle choice for some, while for others, it's an economic necessity. Fortunately, the Internet makes it possible for retirees to enjoy the best of both worlds: a flexible schedule, the ability to work at home without a long commute or excessive stress, and an opportunity to supplement retirement income or savings.
Read on to learn about five Internet careers for retirees that can help you stay connected, offer a personal challenge and bring in some extra dough.

10 Gadgets That Can Save You Money

You know that slurping sound of water going down the drain after you finish taking a shower? Well, it's not just water. If you aren't using a low-flow showerhead, that's the sound of money getting washed away.

This is just one example of money disappearing: On the following pages, you'll find a list of 10 gadgets designed to save you cash. Some of them make tried-and-true penny pinching strategies a little less daunting. Others take advantage of new technologies to find new solutions for old fiscal burdens. Some are so inexpensive and readily available that you could probably find one today. But one way or another, these 10 gadgets are intended to make your wallet a little bit thicker.

10 Ways to Make Money on the Side

The idea of getting rich quick and making easy money is part of the American Dream. Who hasn't spent time daydreaming about becoming one of those overnight millionaires? But your high school economics teacher was probably right: There's no such thing as a free lunch. With the exception of the occasional lottery winner, making real money takes time and effort. Still, there are legitimate ways you can make extra money to supplement the income from your day job, without breaking your back.

Click through the next 10 pages for ways you can moonlight, and end up with some money to show for it.