Use silence effectively and base your salary requests on solid research of your industry to be more successful in negotiations, writes Don Raskin. Be creative when asking for faster performance reviews or other benefits and never accept a low salary without negotiating, Raskin writes.

Delusions about having to control your entire reality or worrying about others thinking poorly of you will prevent you from reaching your career potential, writes Allison Maslan. Don't be so afraid to make a mistake that you refuse to take chances, Maslan writes.

Others will stop paying attention to you if the things you say are constantly peppered with exaggerations, excuses or complaints, writes Richard Feloni. You should also avoid gossiping about others whenever possible, Feloni writes.

Nearly half the approximately 2 million US child care workers receive public assistance, according to a report. Their wages -- median hourly wage is $9.77 -- fail to account for the importance of early childhood development, the authors note.

You can improve your performance during phone interviews simply by using a picture of your interviewer to make you feel you're talking to someone in person, writes Peggy McKee. Standing up while talking will give your voice a stronger sound, while looking in the mirror can help you remember to smile when talking, McKee writes.

A study of dinosaurs' vocal organs has revealed that the mighty animals probably cooed and hummed, not roared, as they crashed through the jungle. "Some may say that this comparison diminishes the awesome power of the dinosaur, but the truth is that it only makes them all the more terrifying," writes Ria Misra.