May 8, 2007

Win My Dior Bag

Ladies, listen closely. Do you hear the high-pitched cackle of designers laughing, as they feast on gold-gilded crab cakes and diamond-encrusted Dover sole? Here’s the joke: The fact that women are spending nearly $1,000 for a plastic Chanel tote or $4,310 for the new Fendi Spy satchel. Are we insane? Apparently so, since there are hardly any designer purses selling for less than a thou these days. The new organic canvas shopper from Stella McCartney is priced at $495 and that’s, in essence, a grocery bag. Even a nylon Prada fanny pack sells for $420! In revolt, I will pass along my vintage petite Dior saddle bag—festooned with navy logos—to whomever posts the best way to "look" busy at work. Go to the Stylephile and tell us how to procrastinate AND get a raise! I will pick a winner by tomorrow at noon. -- Monica Corcoran

May 8, 2007 in PICK OF THE DAY | Permalink

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Posted by duduservice | May 13 2007 8:22AM

AND THE WINNER IS...CINDY, who posted about how to take long lunches. I love that she left her purse at the office (just took her wallet) to give the impression that she had not left the building and then drank Gin Fizzes and Champagne and won a freaking Emmy! Cindy - e-mail me at Monica.Corcoran@Variety.com, so I can send you the Dior bag. THANKS to everyone to posting. Hey Jamie? I can't believe you file your nails at work and still get raises. Amazing!

Posted by Monica Corcoran | May 9 2007 12:18PM

Well shopping online actually is my job....sort of. I pass the time at work surfing the net looking at the coolest, newest shopping websites online. I work for an e-retail company so while it looks like I'm doing 'research' I'm actually shopping for myself. Killing two birds with one stone, I'd say.

Posted by Becca | May 9 2007 12:10PM

I work in a clinic. Yes, I look forward to a woman screaming that a doctor has to see her rash on her wrist right away. Or the tiny fragile- looking elderly lady who looks like she can beat me up if the doctor does not see her soon either. Any way, after wearing ugly scrubs for 13 years - wearing a mike & chris hoodie over the top of the scrub or a primp hoodie covered with bunnies. Being a little style creative at work - can help you through the day. Not to mention the stylish patients who ask "where did you get that?" About the procrastination part - it is 11:35am right now. (Your deadline I believe was 12noon.) Thanks!

Posted by LUCKY | May 9 2007 11:35AM

In order earn the "the busy bee" label, you'll need to perfect the look and the act. Let's begin with the look... Skip the contacts; wear your studious yet chic, small-framed glasses. Pull your hair in a cute bun or chiffon (note- long, flowing hair can be distracting to your focus; don't have the time to twirl today!) Wear sophisticated business-attire; remember: the clothes make the woman. Dress the part and you ARE the girl on the next ladder up! Now the act... Place your monstrous to-do list, constantly-buzzing cell phone/blackberry, piled-high folders, notebooks, & tons of reading materials on your desk. Maintain an expression of concentration on your computer screen while you task from personal to business all-day long and you are good to go! Stay social and smiley-- and willing to help out, although you appear like you have a zillion things to do - the busy-bee that you are.

Posted by honey butter | May 9 2007 10:03AM

As a lawyer, I am constantly on the phone, dictating letters, etc. It makes for a long day. So what do i do when i need a few minutes to catch up on the latest gossip? Cover my desk. It ain't pretty. I move my mail around and place files closest to my computer so it looks like I am in the depths of important legalese. I am sure people.com and eonline are somehow related to my work but i just haven't figure out how. My secretary has caught on to my plight...i once dictated aletter about something i read but instead of ratting me out, she has joined in on th fun. Now we have something to talk about at leunch.

Posted by kimmer116 | May 9 2007 6:58AM

I'm a designer at a flower shop, where I work in VERY close proximity to the other 5 designers, so it's hard for me to procrastinate and not get noticed. What I do to look busy is to scan the weekly orders to find a design that someone found on the internet and that I would have to look up to recreate. So I actually surf the net to look busy to others!! What a great job!! Also, I'm the only one who checks the company email so I can surf the net, check the company and my email and no one is the wiser! Plus I don't have to fool with file folders, memos, or corporate team building BS! I love my job!!

Posted by Amysita | May 9 2007 5:11AM

I'm genuinely a hard worker and don't like to take advantage of my situation but I'm pregnant! My pregnancy has helped me procrastinate and spend most of my time waddling around the office. My days consist of frequent visits to the bathroom and to the kitchen. Then, I'm usually stopped in the hallway by someone who wants to check on the progress of my baby bump. I usually spend the last couple of hours catching up on my unruly piles of work with one of my fellow coworkers taking pity on me and helping me finish my tasks before I leave for the day. I even got praise for a project I just finished (I made sure to thank others who were involved) and I took advantage of that opportunity to ask for a raise. My boss said that we'll talk about it. Hey! I'm only pregnant for so long and it definitely helps achieve procrastination. I might even get a raise for all my socializing and mucking about. =) I'll be back to my old self and back to the grind.. but for now it's nice to slide a little.

Posted by Baby Mama | May 8 2007 7:49PM

I have a get-out-of-my-way reputation at work. I have mastered the art of looking busy, not just for myself, but for everyone. Even my assistant looks busy when I am near. How is this done? By looking hurried, frazzled with a "run, don't walk" attitude. I am constantly moving in a very hurried pace around the office. People physically have contorted their bodies to get out of my way. Grown men slim up their grown-men bellies to become wallpaper hoping that they don't get caught up by the eye of my storm. There is a dead man's alley in the office where people would rather back up backwards to where they started than come face to face with busy ol' moi. Not only has my run-hither attitude earned me much respect (think Moses parting the waters) but it also has translated to somewhat of an urban legend in that, even when the waters are still, the ripples can still be heard.

Posted by Niss | May 8 2007 7:46PM

While I'm a hard worker, and am horrible at procrastinating, I have learned a thing or two from my fellow employees. First off, be very sociable with your boss. And then be sociable with everyone else. This is a fun and effective way to procrastinate, and therefore, folks don't seem to mind that your not getting stuff done very quickly. Be sure to talk about whatever project your working on and often. And if you can create problem areas that you "working very hard" to resolve, that's even better. This is where you can use your creativity. Fun! Then stay late one night to finish the project. That's always very impressive. So have fun, get out there, mess up your desk a little, and start procrastinating your way to the top!

Posted by Jennifer | May 8 2007 6:49PM

The secret lies in two little letters: "cc." That is, cc: on e-mails. I am a PR professional and most of my day is spent communicating, either via e-mail or by phone. While there is no way to prove to my boss or clients that I'm actually on the phone pitching media, I can cc: them on e-mails that go out (to media, to clients, to potential new business opportunities) to prove that I'm busy working away all day on my computer. The e-mails go out as many times a day as I can fit into my busy schedule of work and keeping tabs on the latest in celebrity gossip and fashion. And the e-mails keep going out even after traditional work hours, thanks to the computer at home and the all-important Blackberry. While these e-mails are actual "work," if you're a fast typer such as myself, you can get a lot more e-mails out than your office mates, look like you're doing more work and still have time to not work and goof off!

Posted by peanut butter | May 8 2007 5:38PM

Well, everyone is lying if they don't spend all day on the Internet reading Defamer, Perez Hilton and The Stylephile. Therefore, the simplest way to maintain the rouse of multitasking is to re-size your internet window to match the preview pane of your Outlook inbox. I know, I know you might have to scroll a bit to get to all the juicy details, but to passers-by you are like a college student on Aderol, thoroughly reading your email. P.S. This is, like, my favorite bag of all-time. My former roommate has this bag and if I weren't a good friend, I might have stolen it from her in the night.

Posted by RebeccaSuzanne | May 8 2007 5:02PM

The way I look busy at work is by staying busy. I like my job a lot and I'm good at it. The days pass quickly if I have a lot to do. When it's slow, I let my management know and frequently they come up with something challenging to work on. When it's really slow, I can surf the web or play solitaire and not feel guilty in the least. (It helps that I have an office so no one else can check out my computer screen.) I'm not a workaholic; my time away from the office is my own, but since I'm being paid to come in and work, I feel a lot better if I actually give the company its money's worth.

Posted by Aisling | May 8 2007 3:07PM

oops, no HTML allowed. imagine the tags.

Posted by Danielle | May 8 2007 2:02PM

Oh look! I'm commenting on a blog from work! See, the cool thing is that, though I appear to be commenting on a relevant film blog on, say, the newest Documentary or Indian film, I'm here posting to Ze Stylephile (in a very meta way, I might add) about how to procrastinate at work. My friends, I am currently proving the success of my stated strategy: get a job that requires lots of blog monitoring, especially monitoring of Variety sites, and carefully formulate a response to the Stylephile blog, as opposed to thoughtfully responding to anything actually related to film. Results monitored as follows: 1. Co-workers amazed at how busy you are! 2. Boss marvels at time spent on Variety-related site 3. Friends think you're really "with it" 4. Additional vacation time (aka Weekends Off) distributed accordingly

Posted by Danielle | May 8 2007 2:01PM

I kiss azz and go do whatever they want. you want a coffee i will run, would you like me to male copies of whatever is needed i will. Im a suck up!

Posted by MCJunkie | May 8 2007 1:33PM

I have done it all: fast food, universities, catering, IT and public relations work. The best way to look like the overachieving, do-it-all, who is always on task is by mumbling these key words whenever your manager is near your work area: "Man, I'm so busy..., but hey that's what I come here for to work hard. Then during or after reciting this phrase speed up your typing, talking, servicing or whatever you do." Did should get a smile from your boss and they will move on to pester the next sucker (employee) for a while.

Posted by CStine | May 8 2007 1:21PM

I turn my chair so it's facing the rest of the staff. Next, I take a small nail file from my drawer, and begin filing. Openly. My boss assumes I'm way ahead on my work because I'd certainly hide it if I were procrastinating. That equals perfect nails, four raises, and counting!

Posted by Jamie K. | May 8 2007 1:20PM

When I put this together I did the explainations regarding my day to day job. Not my acting career. I do not cut any corners at all when I am acting. I have been a SAG member (kisses Union card) since 1989. I love acting and the Union and all it has done for me. My social services job does get quality work, I just do it fast, well and with a busy looking way about me. With that attitude I have in the past 20 or so years gotten many bonus's and raises in pay. I have also received community awards for the work I've done for the community so I haven't wasted anyones time. I just can look busy at doing nothing most all day, after getting my work done. Have a Pip~A~Roo day and an even better evening. I hope this gets to get added on to my first comments. In the Spirit, Sue Morales-Finckel aka Mz. Natterz, RWWWW 253-380-2444

Posted by Mz Natterz | May 8 2007 1:10PM

When I was an editor (union job) at ABC in San Francisco we always took long, long, longer lunches at great restaurants. We would leave all the video cassettes in the machines like we were editing, leave our coats, sweaters or whatever on the backs of our chairs (these were decoys--we brought extras to wear in the SF fog) and we left our purses under our chairs and just took our wallets. We had great 2-3 hours lunches at Fog City Diner, Hayes St. Grill, Zuni cafe and a few times we drove across the Golden Gate Bridge to have gin fizzes at Sam's in Tiburon or a bottle of champagne at Caprice. I won an Emmy for editing during that time because the lunches inspired my work!

Posted by Cindy | May 8 2007 1:02PM

Ah, the days of frantic office scrambling to look busy at work lest the boss-lady or "co-workers" (read: bitterest competition for said raise -- or, more likely, just plain avoiding the pink slip) catch wind that you're too smart to spend that much time spell and grammar checking every stinking last email and relentlessly professional cover letter -- you just plain don't have to! -- and mistake your free time as testament to your flighty disregard for the utterly important tasks that they spend their miserable time focusing on and cursing. How to look busy at work? BE busy at work! LOVE your work! Work for YOURSELF! Work with your BEST FRIENDS! Be COMMITTED to your integrity and push your PASSION on everyone you meet! Dream up TV shows and PITCH them! WRITE! Get EDUCATED as much as you can by the legions of SCINTILLATING PEOPLE around you every day! BREAK the rules! Go to Film FESTIVALS and find people with MONEY TO BURN and get them tickets to the PREMIERE of the movie they wind up financing FOR YOU! If this sounds like a scammy comment on that Myspace page your "colleagues" are eager to slap you on the wrist for checking out on the boss's dime, I feel worse than bad for you. But not that bad. Get off your butt and take over your boss's job. Then once you've realized THAT doesn't measure up, take over your OWN job... your life awaits! Personally, I'll be slinging my new Dior bag over my shoulder as I stroll up the red carpet at Cannes... arm in arm with a gent you're familiar with from US Weekly... I'll blow a kiss back at the life I used to have -- and hope to hell you office gals have the balls to someday follow in my happy (Jimmy Choo-clad) footsteps. Thanks, Stylephile! I'll give you a special thanks in the credits and work you into my next rom-com.

Posted by LizLizLiz | May 8 2007 12:57PM

I have been a waitress, a bartender and now an executive assistant...and still the number one way to look busy is quite simple (as is the adorable Dior bag!)...pens, always walk down the hall carrying a document you are "reviewing" with a pen in hand (in case you need to make a quick note). Even better than that? If you have a nice main of hair, put it in an updo and make it your pen "caddy." When I waited tables the more pens sticking out of my hair meant that I was super busy! Much, much too busy to go fishing for a pen!

Posted by luckybella | May 8 2007 12:51PM

I pin up my expired metro cards to spell out "rock star" on my bulletin board in my cubicle. I say team, "I be poundin the pavement!" But really just pick'in em up off the ground. Cold!

Posted by cecil | May 8 2007 12:17PM

I wasn't sure about the display name so I used my name I use on my My Space account. I am 52 years young and have worked in the same field for over 20 years. I keep a lot of papers on my desk. I move the piles of paper back and forth, I watch what eveyones schedule is going to be and when the boss comes in I go up to them with my clip board asking what they need done and let them know what I have also done. I move the papers around and around on my desk. I hide any personal computer work that I am doing and just switch screens when I hear anyone in the hall. I know my job inside out and backwards. I know how long each job takes to get done. I do an A #1 job that takes me about 10 minutes tops and spend a couple of hours moving the papers and faking research and zipping around with my clip board. I make sure to call my home phone when the clerk or best yet my boss is near and talk to my home phone and cancel my lunch date to a special assignment that I need to get done. I've already done the job. I hand it in after they rest of the office comes back from lunch and my boss tells the comtroller to give me another bonus for a job well done. I always do the best work there is, and I do it in record time. I would just never ever tell anyone how long it takes me to do the job. The other advantage I have is that I have been doing the job forever and some of the new workers who are fresh out of college are trying so hard to catch up to me. They come to me and ask the different codes and such. I let them know that I will get them the info soon. I never let them know that I already know the answer. When the boss gets in is when I chose to go to said worker and give them the info so that my boss hears them thanking me. I do enjoy my work, and it does help lots of children. I am not hurting any of the children or other workers or even the clients by doing my job so slow. The work is in on time and done well, there are no complaints. I just like the rest of my time to do things like this, trying to win a wondrous dior bag or for catching up on my My Space even to go and do research on the crafting I do after work hours. I get the patterns and such online at work so that I have time for them when I get home. I have successfully gotten raises and bonus's on a regular basis at this job since 1989. I hope that I win the bag, truely I do. I am off now to read what others wrote. Maybe I will pick up some new ideas. These are all being done during work hours, and my work is already done for the day and I have even done a little extra so I can leave 2 hours early. Have a Super-Spiffy day and an even better evening. In the Spirit, Sue Morales-Finckel 253-380-2444

Posted by Mz Natterz | May 8 2007 12:04PM

The absolute best way to look busy is keep all your work on your best - urgent/non-urgent, neat-messy - it really doesn't matter. When answering the phone or talking to co-workers always sound rushed and completely inundated with work. Have multiple windows open on your desktop. Click occastionally between work email, internet and varying office apps - the more the better. Keep lists everywhere in an open notebook or via post its. So, even if you're outside yucking it up with a friend you look busy. Now, no matter if you're working or faking it, you look like the best employee ever.

Posted by Samantha | May 8 2007 11:55AM

My best "look busy" strategy is to make "endless appointments" in my PDA, while I'm really just playing solitaire and/or bejeweled. And I just got a $5,000 raise because of it. "Becky is doing the work of 3 people, let's promote her!" Souuuuuuuunds good!

Posted by Becky | May 8 2007 11:49AM

The absolute best way to look busy and on top of things (especially when one is a bit hung over from the night before)is to always have big hair (I prefer a pompadour or messy chignon) and be gorgeously attired. Big hair and beautiful clothes and shoes distract everyone... They are so busy commenting on what you are wearing and who the designer is that they do not pay attention to anything else. Also do some shopping on line for clothing or even for your lunch. Your co-workers will believe that your look of total concentration is due to your abiltiy to focus, when really you are focusing on which shoes to buy or if you want the macrobiotic platter or the just Pinkberry for lunch today. And always smile at everyone and say hi and ask them how they are today... and spread the compliments around. Everyone loves to feel fabulous and if you make them feel that way, they will love you for it and sing your praises too!!!

Posted by Erica | May 8 2007 11:32AM

This is a sample of some content of a book I hope to write eventually...chronicling a dark moment in luxury-goods history. I'm not going to give names or too many details here since there is really a lot that I cannot comfortably say via this medium. Keeping it simple and light... Well, I used to work for the luxury goods company Hermes for a very long time. I worked in two locations: NYC when they were located on 57th street between 5th and Madison, and then later in Beverly Hills on Rodeo Drive (when they were just a tiny boutique at 343 No. and after the move to the new huge asylum-style bldg. they are in currently at 434 No.) I'll tell you how I did it while I was there. Everyday I would start by seeing what new things came in and bringing them down to the selling floor; teaching the new arrivals' use and design history to whomever would flit about me while I organized the new things in such a way that everyone could easily find them. Then I'd go to my client book to immediately call whomever would die to have one of these new treats. Obviously, if there was something I could afford (after my employee discount) I would put that aside for myself, so really my good behavior served two purposes. Being organized and putting my nose into everything that would come in to the store served the clients, company, and my addiction to shopping. Where else better to shop daily than Hermes? Every time the review period would come up, I would of course write a letter to Human Resources (in advance of my review) detailing my conscientious hard work and request a raise based upon it. It worked several times over several years, and I think I truly did deserve those raises if not more. I cared about the company more than most, and I saw discounted-luxury-shopping as being as crucial a benefit as the medical and vision coverage. In fact my being nosey and "into" everything that came in ultimately lost me a hard earned position as sales coordinator when a rogue manager decided I could find out what he was doing with the Japanese Grey-market behind (almost) all of our backs. Tensions grew to a point I doubt were ever seen in the company before or since. And while out of his way, I did a little more hard conscientious work for myself, the clients and the company and found a way to expose him. (Details available upon request.) Luckily after I left I was asked back, but I would not return until he was gone. After a few months he was gone and someone asked someone to ask me back. I still avoided it. Somehow I was still in shock and a depression that it all could have happened. But, I'll bet that if I accepted the request to return I could have arranged a nice big raise. HGF

Posted by HERMESGIRLFRIDAY | May 8 2007 11:32AM

There are several techniques my fellow executive assistants and I used to employ. First, use an eraser to create lots of eraser crumbs on the desk. Don't wipe it off your desk. Leave it there next to your appt. book. This will create an illusion that you are very busy scheduling insane amount of mtg. and appts. Secondly, using at least twenty yellow stickies to write reminder messages and post them all around your computer monitor. To further create a busy work station illusion, pile on the law books, manuals, and other file folders on top of your desk; creating a barricade around your desk. Open all the software programs on your desktop to make it look like you are switching back and forward from the many, many projects you are working on. And finally, always have your headset on at all times. If the headset is cordless, keep it on even when you are walking around the office; that way they won't stop to ask you questions.

Posted by Lo | May 8 2007 11:18AM

don't shower in the morning, wear your hair pulled back in a messy knot. skip the concealer and let the dark circles under your eyes shine through. keep an empty cup of coffee on your desk and one from which you're sipping. you'll always look like you're burning the midnight oil.

Posted by TheDelicious | May 8 2007 11:16AM

1) Make a VERY long list of things to do in the notebook that you carry around the office. List out even the SMALLEST thing (ie: clean your desk) and make this list visible...good placement is on a clean part of your desk where viewers will be drawn to look. 2) Have a blank compose email screen available all day as your "Go To" when someone walks by. 3) Look busy by printing, stapling, etc. There's a reason why it's called "Busy" work. :)

Posted by Fashion Therapist | May 8 2007 11:13AM

If at all possible, move your monitor in a way that no one who passes by can see what you are doing exactly on the computer. This will allow you to read The Stylephile when you should be concentrating on work. Next, look at the monitor with a serious look on your face as if you are in deep concentration. Your hand should be on the mouse at all times. Make sure that your desk is a bit messy looking with files, notes, and pens across it. Empty beverage containers are also a nice touch. It looks like you are so into what you are working on that you won't even leave your desk for a break.

Posted by Vanessa | May 8 2007 11:01AM

How to look busy at work and still get a raise? You must have a desk near a window where you can place things on the windowsill(did I spell that right? you get the point) Place a huge stack of papers on it. Place two more stacks of paper to the left and right of you. Then place a few sheets of paper on a standing clipboard to make it seem as if you're typing a letter. Every now and then mess around with the stacks of paper to make it seem as if you're looking for something. Works well when you're on the with phone with your caller(parent, child, husband/wife,your afterwork drinking pals). At the end of the day lock all stacks of paper in cabinet to make it seem that all work is done, leaving behind a few post it notes of things to do(phonecalls, faxes and emails)the next morning. All the while you were planning for a vacation and/or shopping online. Be sure to delete all sites visited from the explorer bar.

Posted by Anittress | May 8 2007 10:59AM

I usually just put on my headset and "pretend" to be talking on the phone with a client. Once someone passes my office I just smile at them, point at my headset and mimes "really important". My Co-workers smiles understanding and I can continue to surf the web for that perfect pair of shoes or the handbag of my dreams. If someone stays I'll just continue to smile, nod and go " ah.., ok...., mmh..." and then take a few notes in my pad. Well it works for me I constantly looks extremly buisy!!

Posted by Jola | May 8 2007 10:57AM

Over the past few years, I have developed this technique to fool my bosses into thinking I'm the hardest working girl in the office: I carry a folder or document and stride through the complex where I work, down hallways, up and down stairs, through the tunnels that connect my company's many buildings. I always look like I'm on my way somewhere important, but really, I'm accomplishing my two favorite activities: working out and goofing off. And the best part is, I keep getting promoted (and my legs look great)!

Posted by MelissaD | May 8 2007 10:50AM

Here are a number of ways to look busy at work (choose your favorite): *Next time you are installing a program take a screen shot of the "installing" window. You can use this as a wallpaper and put it on your destop when ever you leave your desk or have downtime. That way it looks like you are waiting for a program to finish installing. *Emailing looks like work (assuming you don't do it from a personal account) The more you write the busier you look. *Drink lots of water. Getting up to use the bathroom is a legitimate excuse to be away from your desk. *Always keep your headset on (if you have a bluetooth its even better) and always walk quickly (as though you are on the way to a meeting). *Call your voicemail during lunch and leave a couple of messages. That way when you return you can give the appearance of checking your voicemail for a good ten minutes.

Posted by Karen | May 8 2007 10:49AM

The keyword -- multi-tasking! On the desk: a ridiculously long to-do list in view for others to see upon wandering by... papers scattered about, but in an organized manner. (Remember - You are busy, yet have it together, of course! You are not scattered -- you are focused and on the mark.) A computer screen with many windows minimized (Word docs, IM, fun and work-related Web sites), yet one key window open - email, to catch the scoop on work and the personal. It's all about a good balance btwn the business and the pleasure and keeping anything non-business at work under wraps! Constantly being over-communicative with your manager - update her/him on your progress/accomplishments - be vocal and assertive. Anticipate that she will want to know what you are up to- tell before she asks. ;) If you share and update, you are always seen on the ball and perceived as "busy" (because in reality, you truly are - when it comes to the balance of both your worlds).

Posted by butter | May 8 2007 10:48AM

Looking busy at work is a lifestyle. It is fairly easy to accomplish too and if you are good at the masquerade, you can actually get a lot of personal things completed while at work. For example, while I am busy typing to the Stylephile, my boss and other co-workers have passed by my desk numerous times none the wiser. When I see them I may ask a simple question about a task that they needed completed (which of course I finished in less than 5 minutes). My point here- Don't ever do things too quickly, take your time before handing something in and that gives you plenty of time to check email or surf the web for all the great new clothes for summer or pick out the perfect bag for the weekend. Another great tip is to offer to help other people frequently, they love the help and it makes you seem like the hardworking type. All the time the people at work think you are the hardest working girl in the office. Be creative & you too can live the dream!

Posted by Jctimon | May 8 2007 10:42AM

Luckily, I have a laptop. So the easiest way to "look" busy is to avoid coming into work at all. If you claim to work from home for the day, you can shoot a few emails from your handheld while wiggling your way into a pair of True Relgions in the Nordstrom dressing room.

Posted by Rach | May 8 2007 10:39AM

How to look busy at work? Find things that require your attention that you normally don't have time to complete when you are extremely busy. Update and organize your Outlook contact folder. Update your spreadsheets. Also, sign up for Free online courses at Sony and HP, print out the assignments, reading and flipping thru the pages make you look busy and you are learning something new at the same time. In between I read my NYTimes.com or CNN.com. Do not talk on the telephone unless its business related. In the past, I have offered to assist my co-workers, they were very appreciative and this afforded me the opportunity to learn a new function.

Posted by thebest | May 8 2007 10:36AM

Collect tall stacks of file folders and place on your desk...grab a stack of post-its and then log on to the Stylephile for some serious information and fun...make sure you have several windows open so it looks like you are really working hard on some project...make sure you actually open the files and rummage through them and scribble something on a post-it and attach it to a page...have to keep it real!

Posted by Malinda | May 8 2007 10:33AM