Show that you mean business by arriving five to ten minutes early for any meeting or appointment you might have. This shows that you respect your time and the time of others. This applies to professional settings. It is typically okay to be a few minutes late to parties and other social events. Stay up on the current events in your city, state, country and the world. Don't just know about the latest pop culture, know about the politics that are affecting you. This will give you serious topics to discuss with others. Download news apps to your phone and take fifteen minutes daily to read articles every morning. You can even sign up for news alerts. Should you be assigned a task at work or school, work diligently on it. Do your research so you can do it to the best of you ability. If there is a presentation portion, practice beforehand until you have mastered it. This will show that you take your work seriously. For instance, if you have a presentation coming up, prepare a powerpoint. Use a simplistic format and include visuals or charts. Check for typos and practice presenting in the mirror. Take care of your appearance by showering and keeping your hair and clothes presentable. This will keep you looking sharp, neat and clean. You don't have to look ready for a board meeting (unless you're actually going to a board meeting), but you should always look nice. Iron your clothes the night before so you don't have to rush in the mornings. Use your clothes to tell people what you want them to think about you. If you want to be taken seriously, don't do things that make people think less of you. Avoid public intoxication, drugs, crime, and other poor decisions. Instead, involve yourself in positive activities like volunteering. Be mindful of what you post on social media, too. Avoid posts that glorify drugs, violence or other negative behaviors. If you tell someone that you will do something, you should follow through on that. If they see you as someone that just makes empty promises, they will be very unlikely to take you seriously. Perhaps you promised a coworker that you would pick them up the following morning for work. Be sure to set a reminder on your phone and wake up early so you can keep the promise. If you are lying often, you can't really expect people to believe you. They aren't going to trust you to tell them the right information. Always be truthful with others, even when it's difficult. They will begin to take you seriously if they know you will be honest with them. People value honesty and genuineness in others. For example, if you don't know something, say, "I'm not familiar with that, but I'll look it up." If someone is being rude to others or suggest something that is wrong, speak up for what you believe. Do so in a respectful and kind manner. This will show to others that you have integrity and that you're willing to fight for what's right. For instance, your boss might suggest paying the new female coworker less than the male staff because of her gender. Let him know that this is not okay and that she deserves equal pay to do equal work.

Summary: Arrive early. Read the news. Prepare for your assignments or projects. Dress for success. Set up a good reputation. Follow through on your promises. Tell the truth. Speak up when you disagree.

For example, do some cleaning, pay your bills, and run errands, such as buying groceries you may want during recovery. Remember, you may be incapacitated for some time, so do what you can before the surgery to minimize the demands on you during recovery. Having your home in some order before you go in for surgery will help eliminate some of the emotional stress you may experience during recovery and will make you better prepared to have a good physical recovery. Don't be hesitant to change how you organize things for a time. Daily use items, such as dishes, should be moved to a higher or lower level than normal if you're going to have difficulty leaning over to reach things. Also, think about buying equipment that could make your life easier. For instance, buying a tool to grab items that are located high or low may be key for your recovery. Sometimes after surgery, taking a shower has to be done very carefully. Place shampoo, soap, and other supplies at waist height before you go in for your surgery, so that you can reach them easily in the shower. Make sure to bring special items you may need while staying in the hospital, such as a CPAP machine and your regular medications. If you're having surgery that will affect your range of movement, mobility, or stability, make your home safe by removing obstacles or furniture that may block the entrance to the bathroom or kitchen. You also want to have a bed on the first floor, so that you don't have to climb stairs regularly. Also make sure you will have easy access from your bed to a bathroom or portable commode. You don't want wires or rugs lying around that may trip you and cause you to fall and further injure yourself. Go to your favorite beauty salon and get a haircut, manicure, facial, or pedicure. Depending upon your type of surgery, you may not be able to do this for a few weeks after the operation, so getting it done beforehand will help you to feel like yourself as you recover. However, do not apply nail polish or fake nails to your toes or fingers, as this may interfere with the machine that monitors the oxygen in your blood and you'll only have to be asked to remove it or go home. Meditation, hypnosis, or just deep breathing exercises will allow your mind and your body to cope better with the surgery and heal faster. You should also find activities which calm you down and which you can do as you heal, for example listening to music, drawing, and knitting. It's your choice how you occupy your free time, but try to make sure it is relaxing. Often hospitals lack entertainment, so feel free to bring your own, which you think won't be obstructive to the nurses and other patients.

Summary: Get your home in order before the surgery. Gather and move supplies that will be helpful during recovery. Rearrange your furniture to make recovery easier. Do personal grooming and pamper yourself before your surgery. Learn ways to relax during recovery.

Ferrets are not cheap. The cost of adoption will vary depending on the humane society or pet store you're working with, but it ranges from $75 to $250. In general, if you're adopting a ferret from a shelter, you can expect the cost to be lower. Like all animals, ferrets need basic vaccinations to prevent diseases like rabies. Check with vets in your area to see what the average fee for vaccinations are. Also, like any pet, ferrets will need annual vet visits to stay healthy. Make sure you can find a vet in your area that takes ferrets. Not all vets are familiar with treating ferrets. If your ferret is not already spayed or neutered, it's important to have the procedure done. Unless you're specifically buying a ferret to breed, you do not want to end up with unwanted babies. Sterilization is especially important if you have two ferrets of different genders. While costs will vary from vet to vet, sterilization generally costs between $200 and $300. There also may be other fees for any medication your ferret needs after surgery. Between the cage, accessories, food, treats, toys, litter, and other items, your ferret could cost a large amount of money upfront. Make a list of all the things you will need to buy and add up the total cost. This will give you a sense of whether you can truly afford a ferret in the present moment. You should also have some extra money in case of unexpected circumstances. A ferret could, for example, contract a cold from a pet store or shelter. You will need extra money for vet bills.
Summary: Learn about adoption fees. Make sure you can afford vaccinations. Consider the cost of sterilization. Weigh in other general costs of care.