For 2014, a record number of consumers — 54% — are considering making a financial New Year’s resolution, according to a study by Fidelity Investments. One reason could be that 26% of survey participants say they are in a stronger financial situation than they were a year ago, compared to 19% last year.
If you also plan to make a financial resolution, you may have learned from past New Years that it’s much easier to make a resolution than to achieve one. The same study found that about three in ten people fall off the bandwagon.
So what’s the key to succeeding? Having a well-crafted goal.
“It’s easier for us to stay motivated with goals that have certain elements to them,” says Dr. Will Meek, a psychologist in Vancouver, Washington. “If we shape a goal well, it’s something we’ll continue to pay attention to and that will help us stay motivated. If we don’t shape it well, we’ll lose track of it and lose our motivation, and it won’t come to be.”
Below are tips on creating strong goals in general and around the top three financial resolutions people make — as well as an extra one we think you should add.
How To Formulate Strong Resolutions
1. Be positive.
Goals should be positively worded, says Dr. Meek. For instance, instead of saying something like, “We’re going to spend less money on frivolous things,” say instead, “We’re going to spend money only on things we truly value.”
2. Focus ruthlessly.
It’s easy at the New Year to become over-ambitious and think you’ll overhaul your entire life. But if you try to do too many things at once, you’ll be spread too thin. If you really want to make some changes this year, focus on one to three things that really matter to you, so you can put in the time and effort to achieve them.
3. Be specific.
Dr. Meek says the key elements of a strong goal can be summarized with the acronym SMART, starting with Specific.
“We want the goal to be as specific as possible rather than general. It keeps our attention on point, so we don’t say, ‘I’m going to be healthier’ but instead, ‘I’m going to eat two portions of vegetables two days a week,’” says Dr. Meek.
4. Make your goal measurable.
Goals also need to be Measurable, he says. “If we can track our progress, it can help with our motivation,” he says. If you have a goal of paying off $2,000 in credit card debt, you can easily break it down into four $500 payments, and get a boost as you watch yourself get 25%, then 50%, then 75% of your way to your goal.
5. Keep your resolution attainable.
“If [a goal is] so out of reach, that’s demotivating,” he says. If you know your tendency is not to be realistic about what you can accomplish in a given period of time, start tracking your time or looking back at your past accomplishments and how long they took you to achieve to get a sense of what’s possible.
6. Choose a goal that’s relevant.
Dr. Meek also recommends making your goal Relevant — “this is something that matters to me.” If you make a goal because it’s something you think you should do, but you personally don’t care much about, you’re much less likely to accomplish it. Part of this is just about framing, he says. While you might personally be bored by the idea of saving more, if you connect it to giving your child the best college education you can, that will be much more motivating.
7. Make it time-bound.
Finally, your goals should also be Time-bound, so they have a deadline, as that pressure will help you ensure you reach your goal. So, for instance, your goal of paying of $2,000 in debt should have a deadline of, say, April, so you know exactly what date you are aiming for.
Once You’ve Made Your Resolutions …
1. Check in regularly.
Make sure you don’t lose sight of your goal. Create a prompt for yourself that will always remind you of it. For instance, decide that every time you pay the mortgage, you’ll revisit your financial resolutions. Make sure you are doing a check-in at least once a month, and during that time, appreciate what you’ve already achieved. If you’ve made it this far, you can reach your goal.
2. Remind yourself of your motivation.
Once you’ve got all your resolutions set, document all your goals and your reasons for committing to them.
3. Don’t give in to downward spirals.
Finally, if you get off course, don’t beat yourself up or dwell on your mistakes. It will only make yourself feel worse, and you’ll end up even further off track. “When you slip up, get right back on as soon as possible,” Dr. Meek says.
How To Create Strong Financial Resolutions
For the third straight year, the Fidelity survey found that the top three New Year financial resolutions are saving more (54%), paying off debt( 24%) and spending less (19%), with the debt resolution passing “spending less” for the second most popular slot. It’s also increased threefold since 2010, when only 8% of respondents intended to pay off debt.
1. Saving More
If you intend to put away more money this year — whether for a rainy day, a down payment, a dream trip, your child’s college education or something else — Mary Beth Stojohann, certified financial planner and CEO and founder of Workable Wealth, says, “Always automate your savings. It’s hard to do a transfer on your own.” For instance, she recommends you set up automatic 401(k) or Individual Retirement Account contributions or automate a regular transfer from checking to savings.
2. Paying Off Debt
First, stop contributing more to your debt. Also keep a little rainy day fund of at minimum $1,000 so an emergency expense doesn’t end up on your credit card.
Second, she says, don’t chip away at your debt by sending random payments toward each debt every month. Instead, send as much as you can toward your debt with the highest interest rate, and then pay the minimum on all your other balances. “That will save you the most money in the long run,” she says.
Finally, as with savings, automate those debt payments.
3. Spending Less
Set a threshold for your big purchases, suggests Storjohann. “It’s one thing to spend $20 at Target on a whim, but if you ever want to buy something $50 or $100 or more, give yourself at least a 24-hour waiting period to make sure you’re reflecting on the purchase,” she says. “Ask yourself what you’re giving up in lieu of this purchase. Is it going to be that you’re not going to go out for the next month? Where are you going to make up the difference? Because it’s money that hasn’t been accounted for.”
She recommends setting your threshold at $50 or $100, depending on your budget. During your waiting period, ask yourself why you want this item and what it means for you — whether you really need it or want it to keep up with the Joneses. If it’s more the latter, remind yourself, “When you’re comparing yourself to other people, you’re seeing their best self — not the financial issues behind-the-scenes that make you keep up with them,” she says.
4. Bonus Resolution: Earning More
When it comes to improving their finances, most people turn to “austerity” measures like paying off debt or spending less. But they often don’t consider making more money — and that resolution should be on a lot more lists, as it will make it easier for you to save more and pay off debt without having to spend so much time and energy on cutting back.
5. Get creative about ways to earn more. Start with your salary — check out websites like Payscale, Glassdoor and Salary.com to see what you could be earning for your position and experience in your city. Then, come up with a plan for wowing your boss, so you can make a strong case for a raise or some kind of increase in benefits — or, if you feel up for navigating what is a trickier dance, interview for other positions to get a counteroffer or even jump ship.
6. Finally, consider decluttering — and profiting from it. Sell gently loved valuables on sites like eBay or Craigslist, or take brand-name items to consignment shops.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2013/12/30/the-secret-to-making-financial-resolutions-youll-actually-keep/
Showing posts with label Goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Goals. Show all posts
Tuesday, 31 December 2013
Tuesday, 19 November 2013
9 Tips for Seizing Control Of Your Life
1. Here today, gone today – live life now! Security is an illusion, so seize life today.
2. Follow your inner compass – your intuition. When you commit to the journey, you will always end up in a place you describe and recognise as better than your starting point.For me, intuition is a feeling I get in my stomach that a certain course of action should be pursued- normally it makes no sense from a rational perspective! For others, it is a compelling inner voice, sending them on their journey. The key is to find out how your intuition delivers. Then, once you’ve identified it, use it as your compass. The more you use it, the stronger this “core muscle” works.
3. Don’t commit your dreams and aspirations to the “normal” pros and cons approach. Remember, in the context of your dreams, knowledge will always give you enough reasons not to act.
4. Self awareness is the most important attribute a leader could develop, according to the Stanford Business School Advisory Committee, so start the journey today. Remember seeing, not solving, the problem is the ultimate challenge. When you are on the trip, you start to see!
5. Become a sponge – move towards expert status in your niche! You are a lot less than 10,000 hours away from not just getting, but creating a job! A commitment to ongoing learning is a key attribute of achievers.
6. Discover your purpose: live on flow and you’ll never truly work another day in your life! Reflect on your values and interests – this may give you an insight into your bliss.
7. Model off past success strategies. Even some of the highest achievers I have worked with around the world in companies had a disempowering inner dialogue running.The fact is, you have already shown you have what it takes to live the dreams. As a child, you mastered the art of walking and talking by intuitively knowing that failure brought you closer to success. The Global Entrepreneurial Monitor highlights “fear of failure” as the number one obstacle for potential entrepreneurs.
“Fear” or “failure” were not an issue when you were a child. Add to that the levels of creativity you enjoyed as a child… the ability to let emotions come and go… how curious you were… and you will realise you have truly shown you have what it takes to re-engage in life.
8. Be open to the fact that everybody can be your teacher – from the most annoying person in your life at the moment to the uninhibited child. This type of thinking will open the door to teachers that will show you the way!
9. Take the first step NOW! Crossing the bridge from inaction to action may be the longest bridge in the world, but when you get to the other side, watch your life transform into one of magic and adventure! Remember, the first step can be small or big!
2. Follow your inner compass – your intuition. When you commit to the journey, you will always end up in a place you describe and recognise as better than your starting point.For me, intuition is a feeling I get in my stomach that a certain course of action should be pursued- normally it makes no sense from a rational perspective! For others, it is a compelling inner voice, sending them on their journey. The key is to find out how your intuition delivers. Then, once you’ve identified it, use it as your compass. The more you use it, the stronger this “core muscle” works.
3. Don’t commit your dreams and aspirations to the “normal” pros and cons approach. Remember, in the context of your dreams, knowledge will always give you enough reasons not to act.
4. Self awareness is the most important attribute a leader could develop, according to the Stanford Business School Advisory Committee, so start the journey today. Remember seeing, not solving, the problem is the ultimate challenge. When you are on the trip, you start to see!
5. Become a sponge – move towards expert status in your niche! You are a lot less than 10,000 hours away from not just getting, but creating a job! A commitment to ongoing learning is a key attribute of achievers.
6. Discover your purpose: live on flow and you’ll never truly work another day in your life! Reflect on your values and interests – this may give you an insight into your bliss.
7. Model off past success strategies. Even some of the highest achievers I have worked with around the world in companies had a disempowering inner dialogue running.The fact is, you have already shown you have what it takes to live the dreams. As a child, you mastered the art of walking and talking by intuitively knowing that failure brought you closer to success. The Global Entrepreneurial Monitor highlights “fear of failure” as the number one obstacle for potential entrepreneurs.
“Fear” or “failure” were not an issue when you were a child. Add to that the levels of creativity you enjoyed as a child… the ability to let emotions come and go… how curious you were… and you will realise you have truly shown you have what it takes to re-engage in life.
8. Be open to the fact that everybody can be your teacher – from the most annoying person in your life at the moment to the uninhibited child. This type of thinking will open the door to teachers that will show you the way!
9. Take the first step NOW! Crossing the bridge from inaction to action may be the longest bridge in the world, but when you get to the other side, watch your life transform into one of magic and adventure! Remember, the first step can be small or big!
Sunday, 22 September 2013
The 6 Weight-Loss Tips That Science Actually Knows Work
1. Dieting trumps exercising
We hear a lot that a little exercise is the key to weight loss – that taking the stairs instead of the elevator will make a difference, for instance. But in fact it’s much more efficient to cut calories, says Samuel Klein, MD at Washington University’s School of Medicine. “Decreasing food intake is much more effective than increasing physical activity to achieve weight loss. If you want to achieve a 300 kcal energy deficit you can run in the park for 3 miles or not eat 2 ounces of potato chips.” It’s as simple as that. Of course, both together would be even better.
The problem is that when you rely on exercise alone, it often backfires, for a couple of reasons. This is partly because of exercise’s effects on the hunger and appetite hormones, which make you feel noticeably hungrier after exercise.
The other problem with exercise-without-dieting is that it’s simply tiring, and again, the body will compensate. Some of the calories we burn come from our basic movements throughout the day – so if you’re wiped out after exercise, and more likely to sit on the couch afterwards, you’ve lost the energy deficit you gained from your jog.
2. Exercise can help fix a “broken” metabolism, especially during maintenanceWhile exercise may not be as important for weigh loss as calorie restriction, it’s important in another way: It begins to repair a broken metabolism. Within a couple of days of non-activity, the metabolism becomes inflexible. You start moving again, and it does start to change.” Your metabolism may not ever go back to “normal” (more on this below), but theevidence indicates that it can indeed pick up again, in large part through moving your body every day.
This is a large part of why exercise is critical in the maintenance phase, which is well known to be more difficult than the weight loss phase. We think it’s partly because in the extra calories burned from physical activity, you have a bit more flexibility in food intake, so you’re not so much relying on ridged changes in eating habits; it makes it more tolerable.”
3. You’re going to have to work harder than other people – possibly forever
Though exercise can help correct a metabolism that’s been out of whack for a long time, the grisly reality is that it may not ever go back to what it was before gained weight. So if you’ve been overweight or obese and you lose weight, maintaining that loss means you’re probably going to have to work harder than other people, maybe for good. Building muscle can help your body burn a few more calories throughout the day, but it’s also likely that you’ll have to work harder aerobically in the long run.
4. There’s no magical combination of foods
There are low-fat diets, low-carb diets, low glycemic diets, Paleo diets, and a lot of iterations of all of these. There doesn’t seem to be any “right” diet, and there doesn’t seem to be any evidence that one particular diet will work better with an individual’s specific metabolism. We know pretty much that any diet will help you lose weight if you follow it. There’s no magic diet. The truth is that ALL Diets will work if you follow them.”
5. A calorie IS a calorie!
And for energy balance, it’s the number of calories that matters. You can gain weight eating too much healthy food as well as unhealthy. From the standpoint of health, it’s better to eat your veggies…. It’s just a lot easier to overeat calories from junk food than healthy food. But the source of calories obviously matters for other reasons. First of all, no one overeats veggies, so on a practical level, that’s a non-issue. In fact, the food industry has carved out a whole new area of food science to study the “bliss point,” in which foods are created to increase the amount it takes to feel satiated and full.
It’s true that types of foods you eat may, over time, affect your metabolic profile, so they may also matter in this way, but when it boils down, sticking to any reduced-calorie diet will create the energy deficit needed to lose weight.
6. It’s all about the brain As my colleagues have reported, it’s not the body or the metabolism that are actually creating overweight or obesity – it’s the brain. We all know intuitively that poor decisions are what make you gain weight and better ones are what make you lose it. The problem is that over time, the poor decisions lead to significant changes in how the brain governs – and, amazingly, responds to – the hunger and satiation processes.
While there may be some degree of “damage” to the brain, particularly in how hunger and satiety hormones function, it can correct itself to a large degree over time. The key is that the process does take time, and like any other behavior change, is ultimately a practice.
So boiling it down even further: reduce calories, eat better, exercise, and most of all, remember it is a practice that has to be repeated over time – months or years. The fact that you’ll have to work harder at maintenance than your never-overweight best friend is depressing, but it’s worth coming to terms with. And, most important to remember, your brain (the organ behind all this, after all) is plastic, and it will respond to the changes you make – better than you think. And so will your body.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2013/09/04/the-6-weight-loss-tips-that-science-actually-knows-work/
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
5 Easy Ways To Get Happy
Pursuing your dreams can have its challenges and sometimes be very emotional. However, it's important to stay focused on your goals and put your mind on the positive to fuel your drive to achieve. Guard your thoughts and emotions by intentionally taking action to keep your spirits high. In my office, we have a saying, "If anything can go well, it will!" Expect good things to happen for you and you'll see that more good will come your way! Below are five quick ways to help you the next time you're feeling down and out. Dig yourself out of the dumps with these proven strategies to a happier life.
1. Meditate 15 to 20 minutes every day.
Meditation can be a life-changing force in your life. The act of solitude can solve many problems. For example, when I was going through a rough divorce in my 20s, I would rise early and escape to my sweet spot where I just cleanse my mind of negative thoughts and visualize a happy future.
2. Guard what you listen to.
Surround yourself with positive people, have positive conversations and take a break from negative news. To protect your positive mind and atmosphere, refuse to say, hear or agree with any negative words, especially about your life, day or personal economy.
Instead, flip the switch and replace all negative expressions with positive ones. Say statements that create joy in your life. I challenged my clients to take a positivity challenge. For 30 days, speak positive about every situation. They used my personal positivity calendar to chart their progress. You can create your own by recording at least one positive thing that happens each day for 30 days. This challenge will shift your perspective and help you keep a watch on your words while charting a path to a much happier life.
3. Use goal cards.
Instead, flip the switch and replace all negative expressions with positive ones. Say statements that create joy in your life. I challenged my clients to take a positivity challenge. For 30 days, speak positive about every situation. They used my personal positivity calendar to chart their progress. You can create your own by recording at least one positive thing that happens each day for 30 days. This challenge will shift your perspective and help you keep a watch on your words while charting a path to a much happier life.
3. Use goal cards.
If you focus on what's possible, your passion to accomplish goals will increase dramatically. Goal cards make this process very simple. Studies show people who review and visualize their written goals are more apt to manifest what they see. There's no better feeling of happiness than to achieve something that you really desire in your life.
4. Eat energy-producing foods.
Eat lots of proteins and greens and drink water daily. When you feel healthy and alert, your confidence level goes up and makes you a much happier person.
Unhealthy eating and a sedentary lifestyle can have a negative affect on your mood. When you upgrade your body image by eating better and working out, you will immediately begin to upgrade your outlook and feel better about yourself.
5. Surround yourself with things that give you a happy outlook.
Unhealthy eating and a sedentary lifestyle can have a negative affect on your mood. When you upgrade your body image by eating better and working out, you will immediately begin to upgrade your outlook and feel better about yourself.
5. Surround yourself with things that give you a happy outlook.
Pictures of fond family memories, artwork, quotes, a happy screensaver on your computer or even fresh flowers. Often, I have my clients create happiness sticky notes where they write messages to affirm their goals, or simple words of encouragement like, "You can do it!" "You're loved!" "You're beautiful!" I tell them to post it to their computer, stick it on a desk or vision board so they can see it often.
Hold on to happiness
Take 10 minutes each morning to see yourself in a happy situation.Be grateful
Look for something to be happy about
Keep a happiness journal
Hold on to happiness
Take 10 minutes each morning to see yourself in a happy situation.Be grateful
Look for something to be happy about
Keep a happiness journal
Wednesday, 21 August 2013
Clarity Leads to Achievement
I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacation with better care than they do their lives. Perhaps that is because escape is easier than change.
Without specific goals, there will be no sustainable passion, purpose, or drive in your life. If your goals are too vague, you will find that it is much more difficult to reach your desired and intended results than if you had taken the time to properly prepare in the first place.
Plan your goals
You know the drill. Plan your work and work your plan. The planning phase of getting from here to “there,” moving from point A to point B, is the most important stage when it comes to achieving your goals. Planning might be easy or hard for you, but one thing is for sure, and that is without planning the end goal may not even come into existence at all. While it is important that you set up your own system, one that works well for you, there are some simple goal setting strategies you can use to make your planning easier.
Getting clarity
1. What do you want? Decide what specifically wish to achieve. Whether your goal is lofty or small, decide exactly what it is that you want. If you want money, how much? If you want to lose weight, how many pounds? If you want success, how do you describe your vision of success? How do you define success for yourself? Don’t be afraid to take your time to figure out what you want. At some point you will need to sift through all of your thoughts and take specific action, but be as sure as you can that you are acting on what is truly important to you!
2. Specify. The details matter. Be very detailed as you develop each part of your goal. Instead of a goal like “I want to be better at sports,” consider a goal like “I want to perform exceptionally well during spring tryouts so that I can become an all-star point guard for my high school basketball team.” Just being “better” at sports is way too vague. There are just too many options and roads to take that your mind will not be able to focus on any one route to reach your goal.
3. You know what’s next… Write it down. Write down your all of your ideas and decisions. It does not matter if you use pencil and paper, a computer, or even your cell phone. What is important is that you are able to keep track of a large amount of specific information instead of trying to remember everything. After all, your goals only feel real when you can see them clearly in front of you.
4. Baby steps. Break your goal down into smaller do-able pieces. If you have a lofty goal, it will be immensely more manageable if you break it down into smaller increments. Smaller pieces will make your goal seem less complex. Plus, it will be easier for you to achieve your ultimate goal if everything is set out for you as mini-goals, instead of just one huge, seemingly insurmountable feat.
5. Rinse and repeat. Repeat the process. Once you have found a good system, meaning, one that works for you, it is then time to repeat the process. Clarify each of the other goals that you would like to achieve. For example, if you would ideally like to “spend more time with your family,” which is waaaaay too vague, make a list of specific family activities you would like to do together, and then work out the details of how you can make those goals a reality.
Someday is NOT a day of the week!
One of the biggest reasons that people tend to keep their goals vague is that they are actually afraid of achieving them. It’s true! After all, it really is a whole lot easier and simpler to keep putting off your goals and do nothing, than it is to take specific action to achieve it.
But then you need to ask yourself, what good is a goal that merely resides on paper or in your head? Once you have decided on a clear and specific goal, it is time to take swift action to make it a reality.
Do NOT wait for someday to achieve your goals.
There’s no time like the present… so let’s do this!
Thoughts?
Monday, 19 August 2013
Changing Jobs? Plan Your Exit Strategy Well
Having an exit strategy can help you know the right time to seek a job change
As many business people may tell you: Having a viable exit strategy is a must for any successful project. Jobs are not any different. You always should know what you’re getting yourself into, what you want to achieve throughout your employment and what you will be able to do afterward – whether your exit is voluntary or not. At the end of the day your experience with each job should be a success story that can take you to the next level.
People who pursue such a plan often set goals for each and every job. These goals help them stay focused, enjoy their employment and be able to advance to a better position at the end.
Not to be confused with a lack of commitment, having an exit strategy can help you know the right time to seek a job change. Very often, people lured by a financial boost or what appears to be a better title, may leave their jobs prematurely. Sticking with each job for the right – often long – haul can help you make the best of each experience. When you make the decision to quit, then you’re sure you’re making the right move.
Here is how you should consider your exit strategy through each phase of employment.
Job huntingAlthough this may sound unrealistic in view of the still-tight job market, you should be cautious in accepting a job offer that isn’t a logical step on your career path. Such jobs can turn into obstacles for advancement. Not taking the job is usually better and less damaging than taking it for a short period. Think of the time and disruption involved with a short-term job experience. Not only your exit may not be as smooth as you would like it to be, your next step may become even more complicated. That is why you should focus on making sure that you pick a job that you can stay with and it will lead you to a better position once you go back in the market.
EmploymentThis is the core length of your work, and it can be several years. As mentioned, having an exit plan doesn’t mean that you won’t be full-heartedly investing in your job. Instead, you should keep your eye on your end goals in terms of achievement and advancement. This is a personal interest that shouldn’t conflict with your employer’s interest. Your enthusiasm may be highly regarded and appreciated. To position yourself for the next job, make sure that your knowledge and skills are always up-to-date. Keep your eyes open for training opportunities, webinars, certifications, etc. Most important, make sure that while you settle in nicely in your office routine, you don’t lose touch with what is going on around you. Having solid industry connections and being an active member in trade organizations and networks can help you stay abreast of your profession changes and market trends.
Near the end
Many people consider changing jobs out of boredom. While this is understandable, it is not justified. You may be bored of your job for the simple reason of not making the best out of it. If you change your attitude and see the potential areas that can be developed to shine, you may find yourself enjoying your current job and you will be able to make the decision to move based on more valid reasons. Apart from a layoff that may be unpredictable, the time for a voluntary exit should be set when your goals are achieved. These are typically long-term goals like closing several big projects, bringing in a certain volume of business, etc. Your goals can be a moving target and you may want to challenge yourself in achieving even a higher goal. An exit also can be through pursuing a promotion with your current employer.
The exit
Now that you’re at the exit, it is time to review how you’ve fared compared to your initial plan. Have you acquired the knowledge and the skills that help you with your next job? Are you confident that you can apply for more senior positions or with more quality employers as a result? Have you developed the connections within the industry that can help you place a job easier? If your answers are yes, then you’ve achieved your goals and benefited from having an exit plan from start to end.
Finding the exit
- Check a job leads in the right direction
- Set goals to advance
- Make sure you exit at the right time
- R.O.
http://gulfnews.com/business/opinion/changing-jobs-plan-your-exit-strategy-well-1.1218415
As many business people may tell you: Having a viable exit strategy is a must for any successful project. Jobs are not any different. You always should know what you’re getting yourself into, what you want to achieve throughout your employment and what you will be able to do afterward – whether your exit is voluntary or not. At the end of the day your experience with each job should be a success story that can take you to the next level.
People who pursue such a plan often set goals for each and every job. These goals help them stay focused, enjoy their employment and be able to advance to a better position at the end.
Not to be confused with a lack of commitment, having an exit strategy can help you know the right time to seek a job change. Very often, people lured by a financial boost or what appears to be a better title, may leave their jobs prematurely. Sticking with each job for the right – often long – haul can help you make the best of each experience. When you make the decision to quit, then you’re sure you’re making the right move.
Here is how you should consider your exit strategy through each phase of employment.
Job huntingAlthough this may sound unrealistic in view of the still-tight job market, you should be cautious in accepting a job offer that isn’t a logical step on your career path. Such jobs can turn into obstacles for advancement. Not taking the job is usually better and less damaging than taking it for a short period. Think of the time and disruption involved with a short-term job experience. Not only your exit may not be as smooth as you would like it to be, your next step may become even more complicated. That is why you should focus on making sure that you pick a job that you can stay with and it will lead you to a better position once you go back in the market.
EmploymentThis is the core length of your work, and it can be several years. As mentioned, having an exit plan doesn’t mean that you won’t be full-heartedly investing in your job. Instead, you should keep your eye on your end goals in terms of achievement and advancement. This is a personal interest that shouldn’t conflict with your employer’s interest. Your enthusiasm may be highly regarded and appreciated. To position yourself for the next job, make sure that your knowledge and skills are always up-to-date. Keep your eyes open for training opportunities, webinars, certifications, etc. Most important, make sure that while you settle in nicely in your office routine, you don’t lose touch with what is going on around you. Having solid industry connections and being an active member in trade organizations and networks can help you stay abreast of your profession changes and market trends.
Near the end
Many people consider changing jobs out of boredom. While this is understandable, it is not justified. You may be bored of your job for the simple reason of not making the best out of it. If you change your attitude and see the potential areas that can be developed to shine, you may find yourself enjoying your current job and you will be able to make the decision to move based on more valid reasons. Apart from a layoff that may be unpredictable, the time for a voluntary exit should be set when your goals are achieved. These are typically long-term goals like closing several big projects, bringing in a certain volume of business, etc. Your goals can be a moving target and you may want to challenge yourself in achieving even a higher goal. An exit also can be through pursuing a promotion with your current employer.
The exit
Now that you’re at the exit, it is time to review how you’ve fared compared to your initial plan. Have you acquired the knowledge and the skills that help you with your next job? Are you confident that you can apply for more senior positions or with more quality employers as a result? Have you developed the connections within the industry that can help you place a job easier? If your answers are yes, then you’ve achieved your goals and benefited from having an exit plan from start to end.
Finding the exit
- Check a job leads in the right direction
- Set goals to advance
- Make sure you exit at the right time
- R.O.
http://gulfnews.com/business/opinion/changing-jobs-plan-your-exit-strategy-well-1.1218415
Saturday, 17 August 2013
Get The Most From Your Personal Development Journey With These Simple Tips
Starting a personal development plan is the hardest part. Your personal being is so multifaceted, it’s almost impossible to comprehend. Where, then, do you start? A few simple actions can help you start moving towards your personal goals for self-improvement, whatever those goals may be. You will find numerous tips to help you reach your personal development goals.
It is possible to learn how to cope in a crisis without letting your emotions take full control. If you can keep your cool in times of stress, you can overcome a variety of obstacles. Take a moment and focus on your breathing technique.
There will usually be a difference in where you are in life, and where you want to be. This first step is certainly one of the hardest, and many people have a hard time committing themselves past this point. Without a clear understanding of exactly where you need to go, the process of achieving your personal development goals will be long and frustrating.
Respect your body’s boundaries in pursuit of any goal you might have. You should always put forth your best effort, but you also need to stay within your limits. You have to keep your body in mind when you are trying to accomplish something. Sacrificing what your body needs is counter-productive in improving yourself.
Succeed at everything you set your mind to. The passions you have should always make you want to achieve greatness. You can never be as good as you could be at one single thing but you can try to be the best you can be in what you are interested in. Increase your professional skillset, and you will feel a lot better about yourself.
Strive to improve daily so that each one is more perfect than the previous. It is important to make sure you keep pushing yourself every day to keep improving. Try and improve yourself daily.
Personal development starts with leadership. When thinking about leadership, think about it in terms of your level of influence on the world around you. Review your total experiences as a leader. Which experiences have been enriching for you? How have these events shaped your life? Ask yourself which qualities make you a good leader. By knowing yourself and your motives better, you can more easily integrate into a leadership role with others.
Talking to a professional counselor or a pastor can be an extremely rewarding experience. These people are educated and licensed to handle any problems you have, and usually have experience as well. They’ll eagerly listen, analyze what’s going on and help you find enlightenment. You may find that sharing your personal issues with a professional will open the door to health and happiness.
As you can see, personal development is simpler than it looks. By breaking your personal development process into small, manageable goals, you’ll find yourself closer to your goals by the end of every day. You’ll be able to practice what you’re seeking to adopt as habit, and you’ll increase your own morale to continue. These tips are only a springboard, it’s up to you to build a better life.
It is possible to learn how to cope in a crisis without letting your emotions take full control. If you can keep your cool in times of stress, you can overcome a variety of obstacles. Take a moment and focus on your breathing technique.There will usually be a difference in where you are in life, and where you want to be. This first step is certainly one of the hardest, and many people have a hard time committing themselves past this point. Without a clear understanding of exactly where you need to go, the process of achieving your personal development goals will be long and frustrating.
Respect your body’s boundaries in pursuit of any goal you might have. You should always put forth your best effort, but you also need to stay within your limits. You have to keep your body in mind when you are trying to accomplish something. Sacrificing what your body needs is counter-productive in improving yourself.
Succeed at everything you set your mind to. The passions you have should always make you want to achieve greatness. You can never be as good as you could be at one single thing but you can try to be the best you can be in what you are interested in. Increase your professional skillset, and you will feel a lot better about yourself.
Strive to improve daily so that each one is more perfect than the previous. It is important to make sure you keep pushing yourself every day to keep improving. Try and improve yourself daily.
Personal development starts with leadership. When thinking about leadership, think about it in terms of your level of influence on the world around you. Review your total experiences as a leader. Which experiences have been enriching for you? How have these events shaped your life? Ask yourself which qualities make you a good leader. By knowing yourself and your motives better, you can more easily integrate into a leadership role with others.
Talking to a professional counselor or a pastor can be an extremely rewarding experience. These people are educated and licensed to handle any problems you have, and usually have experience as well. They’ll eagerly listen, analyze what’s going on and help you find enlightenment. You may find that sharing your personal issues with a professional will open the door to health and happiness.
As you can see, personal development is simpler than it looks. By breaking your personal development process into small, manageable goals, you’ll find yourself closer to your goals by the end of every day. You’ll be able to practice what you’re seeking to adopt as habit, and you’ll increase your own morale to continue. These tips are only a springboard, it’s up to you to build a better life.
Thursday, 18 July 2013
3 Steps For Making Your Career Dream A Reality
Remember the scene in "Pretty Woman" where a man asks, “What’s your dream?” I watched this movie the other night, and the scene sparked a thought for me: Everyone has a dream, but very few of us actually share our dream with others.
There are a lot of reasons for this. Often it’s just a matter of confidence or fear of failure. But that’s the catch, we all need help from others to reach your vision, find your passion or achieve your lifetime goals. So, how do you make that happen?
1. Clearly define your dream.
There are a lot of reasons for this. Often it’s just a matter of confidence or fear of failure. But that’s the catch, we all need help from others to reach your vision, find your passion or achieve your lifetime goals. So, how do you make that happen?
1. Clearly define your dream.
Although most people have an idea of what that perfect life or career would look like, few actually define the details. Few people take the time to understand the components. Have you thought about your details? Who is in the picture? What is the setting? What are you wearing? How do you feel?
2. Acknowledge your dream.
2. Acknowledge your dream.
For most of the population, a dream feels unrealistic. The delta between our reality and our dreams may seem too great. Few people see dreams become realities. Those who make it a reality do it by visualizing themselves achieving the dream. They feel it, they can taste it. These are the people who have the confidence to clearly communicate their dreams to others.
You have to believe your dream is possible for you. If you have a hard time with this, flip the question around, and ask yourself why your dream isn’t possible for you. Then tackle those fears.
You have to believe your dream is possible for you. If you have a hard time with this, flip the question around, and ask yourself why your dream isn’t possible for you. Then tackle those fears.
3. Share your dream.
It’s time to start shouting from the rooftops. Let’s move away from all the gender issues and fear of failure. Some people will be intimidated by your communicating your desires. Stop listening to them. The people who see your vision, care about your passion or who have similar lifetime goals will step up to the plate and help you get there. Use appropriate language and effective communication techniques and share your dreams with anyone who will listen.
Throughout Pretty Woman, Julia Roberts’ character walks through these steps. She finds the fairy tale because she was clear about what that looked like for her, and she effectively communicated her dream with someone who could help her achieve it. I hope your professional circumstances are quite different than those in the movie — but that your outcome is the same.
Throughout Pretty Woman, Julia Roberts’ character walks through these steps. She finds the fairy tale because she was clear about what that looked like for her, and she effectively communicated her dream with someone who could help her achieve it. I hope your professional circumstances are quite different than those in the movie — but that your outcome is the same.
Friday, 5 July 2013
Personal Development Tips That Can Get You Out Of Your Slump
Personal development is about bettering yourself and taking on things that improve upon who you are as a person. It involves gaining knowledge about yourself, and fulfilling your personal goals. You’ll find tips and techniques within this article which will help you to find success in your journey. Concentrating on one large change at a time, will make your metamorphosis easier.
Stress can impede your ability to be happy. Stress causes both physical and mental damage that increases in severity the longer we experience it. To retain clarity of mind and the motivation to work towards our goals, it is critical to banish unnecessary stress from our minds. Each day, take time to quiet your mind and relax. Having a time to refresh can give you peace and improve your self-image.
Read good articles about personal development. Personal development books that are well written, insightful and instructive can provide you with the information you need to significantly enhance your outlook and your life. Try to pick a volume that has already been well-received by others because poorly done books in this category are fairly common.
Tell other people positive things. By being kind to others, you will also begin to care about yourself more.
Write a pep talk for yourself. Make a list of all the good things about you, and put it on a postcard. Keep this inspirational card with you at all times. Better yet, record your qualities on video or audio and listen to it often. “Why would I want to do this?”, you may be asking.
Identifying your personal values are the stepping stone to figuring out a personal development plan that works for you. Trying to change yourself in ways that are not in line with your values, is not a good idea. Instead of this, you should focus your energy on the things that you want to develop that also go along with your own values. This enables you to make lasting changes in your life, both in a personal and a professional capacity.
Treat everyone with respect, no matter what they can do or how much power those people may have. The way you act toward others says something about your character, not theirs.
Instead of bragging abut your achievements and awards, ask other people about what they have accomplished that they are most proud of. This is a wonderful means of learning more about your peers and their abilities; you also might discover a new role model.
When you are handling depression stay focused on the things you eat and eat more complex carbohydrates. Serotonin can be depleted without enough complex carbs in your diet. This can also be achieved by upping your intake of raw fruits and veggies, legumes and whole grains.
Whether or not a person can make things happen for you, you must treat everyone with respect and gratitude. The way you behave toward others has more to do with your personality than with anything they say or do.
You have to not only decide what you want out of life, you also have to take steps to get it. Pondering an ideal life without taking the action to make it a reality will inevitably lead to nothing. Take action, and turn your dreams into reality.
So, as you have seen, it is true that self help requires research, work, and effort to start making changes that you can keep applying to your life. Also, to make changes in your life you’re going to have to keep trying. Apply the advice from this article, and you will be well on your way to better living.
Stress can impede your ability to be happy. Stress causes both physical and mental damage that increases in severity the longer we experience it. To retain clarity of mind and the motivation to work towards our goals, it is critical to banish unnecessary stress from our minds. Each day, take time to quiet your mind and relax. Having a time to refresh can give you peace and improve your self-image.
Read good articles about personal development. Personal development books that are well written, insightful and instructive can provide you with the information you need to significantly enhance your outlook and your life. Try to pick a volume that has already been well-received by others because poorly done books in this category are fairly common.
Tell other people positive things. By being kind to others, you will also begin to care about yourself more.
Write a pep talk for yourself. Make a list of all the good things about you, and put it on a postcard. Keep this inspirational card with you at all times. Better yet, record your qualities on video or audio and listen to it often. “Why would I want to do this?”, you may be asking.
Identifying your personal values are the stepping stone to figuring out a personal development plan that works for you. Trying to change yourself in ways that are not in line with your values, is not a good idea. Instead of this, you should focus your energy on the things that you want to develop that also go along with your own values. This enables you to make lasting changes in your life, both in a personal and a professional capacity.
Treat everyone with respect, no matter what they can do or how much power those people may have. The way you act toward others says something about your character, not theirs.
Instead of bragging abut your achievements and awards, ask other people about what they have accomplished that they are most proud of. This is a wonderful means of learning more about your peers and their abilities; you also might discover a new role model.
When you are handling depression stay focused on the things you eat and eat more complex carbohydrates. Serotonin can be depleted without enough complex carbs in your diet. This can also be achieved by upping your intake of raw fruits and veggies, legumes and whole grains.
Whether or not a person can make things happen for you, you must treat everyone with respect and gratitude. The way you behave toward others has more to do with your personality than with anything they say or do.
You have to not only decide what you want out of life, you also have to take steps to get it. Pondering an ideal life without taking the action to make it a reality will inevitably lead to nothing. Take action, and turn your dreams into reality.
So, as you have seen, it is true that self help requires research, work, and effort to start making changes that you can keep applying to your life. Also, to make changes in your life you’re going to have to keep trying. Apply the advice from this article, and you will be well on your way to better living.
Wednesday, 19 June 2013
6 Tips For Happiness
Tip 1: Manage Your Time
“Time,” so they say “is money.” But imagine that as if it was the hours and minutes of your life, managed by a “Universal Bank of Time.”
Under their strict account usage terms, the UBT would mandate a compulsory daily withdrawal of 24 hours. The hours would be automatically transferred to you at the start of each day. But you could never make a deposit, you could never put back what you didn’t use – unused hours would be taxed at 100%. Worse still, there’d be no online banking with the UBT. No paper statements. You couldn’t even get a balance - you’d never be sure how much time you had left.
If real bank accounts worked this way you’d make sure you spent every penny of your daily withdrawal limit on something worthwhile. Pretty soon you’d probably start to plan your spending – you might even keep a book of items you wanted to spend your money on. So with that in mind…
Tip 2: Make a “Now List”
Most folks have heard of a Bucket List (taken from the movie of the same name), a list of all the things you’d like to do before you die (“kick the bucket”). It’s a fabulous idea - except for the built-in assumption that we’re going to be doing all these marvelous things at some far flung point in the future, probably when we’ll be far too old and frail to do anything more than regret each and every item on the list as a missed opportunity.
So let’s dispense with the term Bucket List. What we want is to “Live Life Now” list – or a “Now List” for short. Write down everything you’d like to do, then start making it happen.
Tip 3: Collect “Trophies” Andy Warhol, so it’s said, never opened any of his mail. He merely collected it up, put it in a box, and when that box was full, sealed it and wrote the year on the top.
I’ve never taken the time to find out just how true this story is, but I do know that the first time I heard it, it had a profound effect on me. I wanted to do the same. However, being a somewhat deluded individual, I was fairly certain I could improve on the concept.
And so I started to collect things. Theatre tickets, And so I started to collect things. Theatre tickets, raffle tickets, train tickets, plane tickets, postcards, greeting cards, thank you cards, business cards, labels, badges, anything that was evidence of somewhere I’d been, something I’d done, or someone I’d met. And something I could pin to a board.
Tip 4: Decide What’s Important
Most people I encounter haven’t actually got a clue what they really want. They might wake up in the morning and want to go back to bed. They might flick through a magazine and want those shoes. They might even want the person in the magazine wearing those shoes. But these desires come and go. Few of them seem to stick around and become important - and that’s a mistake.
Knowing exactly what you want is hugely important. Merely knowing has the power to change everything. Not convinced? Then allow me to introduce you to the incredible, completely automated wish-fulfilment machine you have inside your head…
Tip 5: Use The Power of Focus
Brains are amazing. Especially yours. Even mine has its moments. And one of the most fascinating mechanisms of the human brain is how it deals with focus. Have you ever noticed how when you buy a new car, or even when you’ve merely decided what type of car it is you want to buy, you start seeing that same car everywhere?! That’s the power of focus. It happens because in order for our brains to cope with the extraordinary amount of information coming in through our five senses from the world around us, we’re programmed to concentrate on what’s “important,” and more or less ignore the rest.
Unconvinced? Excellent!
“Time,” so they say “is money.” But imagine that as if it was the hours and minutes of your life, managed by a “Universal Bank of Time.”
Under their strict account usage terms, the UBT would mandate a compulsory daily withdrawal of 24 hours. The hours would be automatically transferred to you at the start of each day. But you could never make a deposit, you could never put back what you didn’t use – unused hours would be taxed at 100%. Worse still, there’d be no online banking with the UBT. No paper statements. You couldn’t even get a balance - you’d never be sure how much time you had left.
If real bank accounts worked this way you’d make sure you spent every penny of your daily withdrawal limit on something worthwhile. Pretty soon you’d probably start to plan your spending – you might even keep a book of items you wanted to spend your money on. So with that in mind…
Tip 2: Make a “Now List”
Most folks have heard of a Bucket List (taken from the movie of the same name), a list of all the things you’d like to do before you die (“kick the bucket”). It’s a fabulous idea - except for the built-in assumption that we’re going to be doing all these marvelous things at some far flung point in the future, probably when we’ll be far too old and frail to do anything more than regret each and every item on the list as a missed opportunity.
So let’s dispense with the term Bucket List. What we want is to “Live Life Now” list – or a “Now List” for short. Write down everything you’d like to do, then start making it happen.
Tip 3: Collect “Trophies” Andy Warhol, so it’s said, never opened any of his mail. He merely collected it up, put it in a box, and when that box was full, sealed it and wrote the year on the top.
I’ve never taken the time to find out just how true this story is, but I do know that the first time I heard it, it had a profound effect on me. I wanted to do the same. However, being a somewhat deluded individual, I was fairly certain I could improve on the concept.
And so I started to collect things. Theatre tickets, And so I started to collect things. Theatre tickets, raffle tickets, train tickets, plane tickets, postcards, greeting cards, thank you cards, business cards, labels, badges, anything that was evidence of somewhere I’d been, something I’d done, or someone I’d met. And something I could pin to a board.
Tip 4: Decide What’s Important
Most people I encounter haven’t actually got a clue what they really want. They might wake up in the morning and want to go back to bed. They might flick through a magazine and want those shoes. They might even want the person in the magazine wearing those shoes. But these desires come and go. Few of them seem to stick around and become important - and that’s a mistake.
Knowing exactly what you want is hugely important. Merely knowing has the power to change everything. Not convinced? Then allow me to introduce you to the incredible, completely automated wish-fulfilment machine you have inside your head…
Tip 5: Use The Power of Focus
Brains are amazing. Especially yours. Even mine has its moments. And one of the most fascinating mechanisms of the human brain is how it deals with focus. Have you ever noticed how when you buy a new car, or even when you’ve merely decided what type of car it is you want to buy, you start seeing that same car everywhere?! That’s the power of focus. It happens because in order for our brains to cope with the extraordinary amount of information coming in through our five senses from the world around us, we’re programmed to concentrate on what’s “important,” and more or less ignore the rest.
Unconvinced? Excellent!
You might be asking yourself how does the brain determine what’s important? And the answer is: you tell it! And this mechanism isn’t just taking place during card tricks; this happens all day, every day. Your brain is continually filtering the information coming in based on what you’ve decided is important. Strange then that we quite often focus on entirely the wrong things, or nothing at all.
Tip 6: Remind Yourself Of The Important Things Most people own a wallet, a purse, or some other item to carry around their credit cards, dog-eared receipts or (if you’re really retro) cash.
If your wallet is like mine then it might have a small see-through pocket where you’re supposed to put a photo of a loved one. Ditch it. Not the loved one, just the photo.
On a small piece of card, just big enough to fit that space, write down what you really want in life – your “life vision” if you like – and place it in your wallet. What we’re doing here is utilizing that Power Of Focus on a daily basis by creating something that will remind you of those important things, each and every time you look in your wallet.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-jones/6-tips-for happiness_b_3436324.html#slide=2567639
Tip 6: Remind Yourself Of The Important Things Most people own a wallet, a purse, or some other item to carry around their credit cards, dog-eared receipts or (if you’re really retro) cash.
If your wallet is like mine then it might have a small see-through pocket where you’re supposed to put a photo of a loved one. Ditch it. Not the loved one, just the photo.
On a small piece of card, just big enough to fit that space, write down what you really want in life – your “life vision” if you like – and place it in your wallet. What we’re doing here is utilizing that Power Of Focus on a daily basis by creating something that will remind you of those important things, each and every time you look in your wallet.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-jones/6-tips-for happiness_b_3436324.html#slide=2567639
Tuesday, 11 June 2013
How To Boost Your Confidence Easily
Do you want to boost your confidence?
Confidence is a skill that many folks want to master, but have a hard time acquiring. Have you ever wondered why? Let me inform you that you were born confident, you just allowed external sources such as your parents, friends, relatives, society, and media affect your level of self-esteem and self-worth.
Perhaps you were talked to negatively as a child or maybe you were rejected many times. Whatever the case is, know you can change all of that and you can begin to improve your self esteem and build confidence today.
How to boost your confidence?
1. Act as ifBegin to act as if you are confident. Act as the person you would want to be like. This requires you to know how a confident person looks like. Surround yourself with people who you think are confident and have high value. Begin to think and behave like them. You will learn so much from observing other confident folks.
2. Improve your positive self talkOne of the most areas that you need to pay attention to is your self-talk. Your thoughts about your capabilities and self-worth need to be positive and encouraging. When you start to program your mind with uplifting words and start believing you are a worthy human being, your confidence in yourself will become stronger.
Whenever you notice that you start thinking to yourself negatively, pause and take a moment, and shift your focus to something that can help you feel better about yourself.
3. Be optimisticLet me ask you, whenever you encounter an undesirable situation in life, do you start lamenting and beating yourself or do you trust that everything will be ok? Do you stay focusing on the problem or do you shift your focus to the various solutions you have available to you?
Optimism is an important aspect in boosting your confidence and it must be cultivated. Train yourself to trust that everything will be all right whenever you encounter an undesirable issue in life. This positive outlook on life helps you not only to improve your self esteem, but also to succeed in all areas of your life.
4. Go after your goalsIf you are really serious about building self confidence, you need to identify your goals and go after them. The more you add to your accomplishments, the more confident you will feel about your abilities and skills.
When you begin to achieve goals that you are passionate about, you begin to trust your inner self more and you begin to appreciate yourself more.
By using these four steps to boost your confidence, you will be on the path to enhancing your self esteem and self-worth.
http://www.2achieveyourgoals.com/how-to-boost-your-confidence-easily/
Confidence is a skill that many folks want to master, but have a hard time acquiring. Have you ever wondered why? Let me inform you that you were born confident, you just allowed external sources such as your parents, friends, relatives, society, and media affect your level of self-esteem and self-worth.
Perhaps you were talked to negatively as a child or maybe you were rejected many times. Whatever the case is, know you can change all of that and you can begin to improve your self esteem and build confidence today.
How to boost your confidence?
1. Act as ifBegin to act as if you are confident. Act as the person you would want to be like. This requires you to know how a confident person looks like. Surround yourself with people who you think are confident and have high value. Begin to think and behave like them. You will learn so much from observing other confident folks.
2. Improve your positive self talkOne of the most areas that you need to pay attention to is your self-talk. Your thoughts about your capabilities and self-worth need to be positive and encouraging. When you start to program your mind with uplifting words and start believing you are a worthy human being, your confidence in yourself will become stronger.
Whenever you notice that you start thinking to yourself negatively, pause and take a moment, and shift your focus to something that can help you feel better about yourself.
3. Be optimisticLet me ask you, whenever you encounter an undesirable situation in life, do you start lamenting and beating yourself or do you trust that everything will be ok? Do you stay focusing on the problem or do you shift your focus to the various solutions you have available to you?
Optimism is an important aspect in boosting your confidence and it must be cultivated. Train yourself to trust that everything will be all right whenever you encounter an undesirable issue in life. This positive outlook on life helps you not only to improve your self esteem, but also to succeed in all areas of your life.
4. Go after your goalsIf you are really serious about building self confidence, you need to identify your goals and go after them. The more you add to your accomplishments, the more confident you will feel about your abilities and skills.
When you begin to achieve goals that you are passionate about, you begin to trust your inner self more and you begin to appreciate yourself more.
By using these four steps to boost your confidence, you will be on the path to enhancing your self esteem and self-worth.
http://www.2achieveyourgoals.com/how-to-boost-your-confidence-easily/
Monday, 10 June 2013
You Need A Better Story
Everybody gets stuck. Life can be difficult, painful, and confusing. It's in those confusing seasons of life that we often find ourselves the most stuck, unable to change and move forward with our lives. I hate being stuck.
Solving Stuck
Like you, I've been stuck a lot. What immediately comes to mind is graduating college with no plan, the first and the second time my mom was diagnosed with cancer, that time my girlfriend broke up with me when I was just weeks away from proposing marriage, discovering a dead body in a lake, waking up one day and realizing I'd somehow become thirty pounds overweight during my twenty something years, and that terrible day when I was left unemployed for the first time in my life with two young sons, a pregnant wife, a mortgage, and a chest full of fear.
I've noticed that my tendency (and the tendency of everyone on the planet) is to solve stuck by doing something. We set new goals, write a to-do list, read a self-help book, and try to get un-stuck. Now, there's some merit to this. We certainly need to take action. But, at least for me, I've found that the problem of stuck runs much deeper than what can be fixed by a new exercise program, a change of scenery, or the latest method for improving my self-esteem. I need something bigger.
You Need A Better Story
Change and forward movement in our lives isn't merely a matter of trying harder. It's a matter of believing and living more deeply into a big story in which we each have an important role to play.
Your life would actually be a lot better if your life could become less about your life. If you could see that your life is part of a larger plot than simply "the story of me," then adventure, mystery, and joy would reenter the picture. Most of the stuck-ness in our lives is a product of an over focus on our lives. We spend so much time looking in, when we ought to be looking out and up. The late Austrian philosopher, Ivan Illich, was once asked about the most revolutionary way to change society. He answered the question this way:
Neither revolution nor reformation can ultimately change a society, rather you must tell a new powerful tale, one so persuasive that it sweeps away the old myths and becomes the preferred story, one so inclusive that it gathers all the bits of our past and our present into a coherent whole, one that even shines some light into our future so that we can take the next step... If you want to change a society, then you have to tell an alternative story.-- Ivan Illich, "Storytelling or Myth-Making? Frank Viola and Ivan Illich," Proclamation, Invitation, & Warning, July, 2007
What our larger society needs is the same thing you need: an alternative story. A bigger story. Ditch the small goals, anxious to-do list, and the self-help craze of the month. Instead, get your heart wrapped into a better story and watch what happens.
What sort of story are you in?
Solving Stuck
Like you, I've been stuck a lot. What immediately comes to mind is graduating college with no plan, the first and the second time my mom was diagnosed with cancer, that time my girlfriend broke up with me when I was just weeks away from proposing marriage, discovering a dead body in a lake, waking up one day and realizing I'd somehow become thirty pounds overweight during my twenty something years, and that terrible day when I was left unemployed for the first time in my life with two young sons, a pregnant wife, a mortgage, and a chest full of fear.
I've noticed that my tendency (and the tendency of everyone on the planet) is to solve stuck by doing something. We set new goals, write a to-do list, read a self-help book, and try to get un-stuck. Now, there's some merit to this. We certainly need to take action. But, at least for me, I've found that the problem of stuck runs much deeper than what can be fixed by a new exercise program, a change of scenery, or the latest method for improving my self-esteem. I need something bigger.
Finding A Story
A few years ago I read a quote that changed my life. Here it is:
The same impulse that makes us want our books to have a plot makes us want our lives to have a plot. We need to feel that we are getting somewhere, making progress. There is something in us that is not satisfied with a merely psychological explanation of our lives. It doesn't do justice to our conviction that we are on some kind of journey or quest, that there must be some deeper meaning to our lives than whether we feel good about ourselves. Only people who have lost the sense of adventure, mystery, and romance worry about their self-esteem. And at that point what they need is not a good therapist, but a good story. Or more precisely, the central question for us should not be, 'What personality dynamics explain my behavior?' but rather, 'What sort of story am I in?' - William Kilpatrick, Why Johnny Can't Tell Right from Wrong. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993
I realized I'd been asking the wrong questions. I'd been asking questions that were too small. When life got hard and I got stuck I tended to ask questions like, "How do I fix this?," "What's wrong with me?", "What do I do now?" Instead I started asking myself, "What sort of story am I in?"
Stories are powerful. Whether we're conscious of it or not, every single one of us believes some kind of a story in order to make sense out of our lives. Human beings are meaning makers. No matter our culture, background, or beliefs, we need to make meaning of our lives and the story of our life only begins to make sense when it's understood under the banner of a bigger story. We need a story that is big enough to make sense out of both the beauty and the brokenness in our lives and in our world. Or, in other words, we need a story that's big enough to get us un-stuck from whatever life throws at us and to keep us moving forward in the plot.
A few years ago I read a quote that changed my life. Here it is:
The same impulse that makes us want our books to have a plot makes us want our lives to have a plot. We need to feel that we are getting somewhere, making progress. There is something in us that is not satisfied with a merely psychological explanation of our lives. It doesn't do justice to our conviction that we are on some kind of journey or quest, that there must be some deeper meaning to our lives than whether we feel good about ourselves. Only people who have lost the sense of adventure, mystery, and romance worry about their self-esteem. And at that point what they need is not a good therapist, but a good story. Or more precisely, the central question for us should not be, 'What personality dynamics explain my behavior?' but rather, 'What sort of story am I in?' - William Kilpatrick, Why Johnny Can't Tell Right from Wrong. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993
I realized I'd been asking the wrong questions. I'd been asking questions that were too small. When life got hard and I got stuck I tended to ask questions like, "How do I fix this?," "What's wrong with me?", "What do I do now?" Instead I started asking myself, "What sort of story am I in?"
Stories are powerful. Whether we're conscious of it or not, every single one of us believes some kind of a story in order to make sense out of our lives. Human beings are meaning makers. No matter our culture, background, or beliefs, we need to make meaning of our lives and the story of our life only begins to make sense when it's understood under the banner of a bigger story. We need a story that is big enough to make sense out of both the beauty and the brokenness in our lives and in our world. Or, in other words, we need a story that's big enough to get us un-stuck from whatever life throws at us and to keep us moving forward in the plot.
You Need A Better Story
Change and forward movement in our lives isn't merely a matter of trying harder. It's a matter of believing and living more deeply into a big story in which we each have an important role to play.
Your life would actually be a lot better if your life could become less about your life. If you could see that your life is part of a larger plot than simply "the story of me," then adventure, mystery, and joy would reenter the picture. Most of the stuck-ness in our lives is a product of an over focus on our lives. We spend so much time looking in, when we ought to be looking out and up. The late Austrian philosopher, Ivan Illich, was once asked about the most revolutionary way to change society. He answered the question this way:
Neither revolution nor reformation can ultimately change a society, rather you must tell a new powerful tale, one so persuasive that it sweeps away the old myths and becomes the preferred story, one so inclusive that it gathers all the bits of our past and our present into a coherent whole, one that even shines some light into our future so that we can take the next step... If you want to change a society, then you have to tell an alternative story.-- Ivan Illich, "Storytelling or Myth-Making? Frank Viola and Ivan Illich," Proclamation, Invitation, & Warning, July, 2007
What our larger society needs is the same thing you need: an alternative story. A bigger story. Ditch the small goals, anxious to-do list, and the self-help craze of the month. Instead, get your heart wrapped into a better story and watch what happens.
What sort of story are you in?
Friday, 31 May 2013
Time for a Personal Mid-Year Review: This Is How! (What We Can Learn From Business)
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." -- Søren Kierkegaard
This week, the first companies announced their half-year results for 2013. Referring to the goals they had set themselves at the beginning of the year, they took a moment to reflect on their performance to date, in order to make adjustments where necessary, for the rest of the year.
Although this mid-year review in business is mainly driven by the capitalist system we live in, it is a very wise thing to do because growth can only come from understanding, and understanding always comes from reflecting on what has happened; it can indeed, like Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard said: "only be understood backwards."
So, if we wish to keep growing and developing in the right direction ourselves, and if we wish to achieve the goals we had set ourselves in our New Year's resolutions, writing a personal mid-year review is a great tool to do so!
This is how!
1. Write down the goals you had set yourself at the beginning of the year.
It is good to "categorize" your goals. For example: health, family/social life, work, the balance between the both, personal development and living sustainable.
2. Write down how you have "performed" in these categories.
Next to each goal, simply write down whether you have already succeeded or if you still need to work on it.
3. For each category, write down one or two of the biggest "challenges" you have had as well as one or two things that helped you to do really well.
This helps you to determine what "qualities" you can deploy to achieve the goals that are still on the "to do" list.
4. Are there any new goals you would like to set for yourself?
In the category "health" and "family life" I have added for example: "Making more home-cooked meals." In the category "personal development," I have added: "Being more patient" and "enroll in a course." And in the category "living sustainable," "don't keep the water running when I don't use it."
5. Write down in maximum two sentences how you wish to achieve the goals that are "open" on your list.
Limiting yourself to maximum two sentences will help you to get right to the point!
6. Write yourself and others a wish to succeed!
It is so very important to send yourself and others the strength to accomplish what you and they have wished for; it opens your heart to yourself and others, and this is in the end the key to whatever growth you wish for.
Having said that, there is also no other way for me to end this blog then by sending a wish myself: "May I, and all of you, be able to find the strength, wisdom and determination to overcome all challenges and to reach the goals that have been set!" Cheers to "live life forward!"
Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Ten Top Personal Development Tips
Personal development is a very broad topic and can encompass anything that involves your growth as a person. It means following a course of continual growth and striving to reach your full potential. When you become a little better in some way than you were the day prior, your life and your circumstances will continuously improve. Personal development is typically achieved by first looking within oneself, altering your thinking, and ultimately changing your behavior as a result.
Since each of us is a unique individual our paths will vary. That having been said, below you will find 10 of the most helpful suggestions for improving one's self. Enjoy the journey!
1. Don't Let Anything Stop You
Never quit, never give up. Throughout your journey, there will be ups and downs. It is a given that there will be slow points and setbacks. These things will occur. In those moments of doubt or despair, DO NOT GIVE UP. Know in your heart that no matter how difficult things may become, no matter how low you may feel, ultimately there is nothing that will stop you. Life can throw whatever it wants at you and you will not quit, you will not falter until you win.
Keep in mind that personal development is a lifelong journey. There is no ending. It's all about the experiences and lessons learned.
So since there really is no finish line, make sure you enjoy the ride!
2. Follow Your Passion
Do what makes you happy. This is something that we have very, very backwards. Most of us chase money. While money is certainly not a bad thing, money by itself does not bring joy. Money can buy stuff. Stuff can provide temporary fun. But stuff doesn't bring true joy.
Follow your heart. Do what you love. The amazing thing about this is that when you do something that you're passionate about, you'll be successful at it. You'll put it tons of hard work and many, many extra hours and it will never feel like "work" because you're having fun. And as a result, the money will follow.
3. Challenge Yourself
Discover your true intention and make certain your goals are in alignment. Picture yourself achieving this goal. Close your eyes and imagine how it feels to accomplish this goal. Truly allow yourself to experience the emotions associated with the experience. Feel as though it has already happened.
Go through this visualization process daily until your goal has been achieved. Many successful people believe in the power of visualization and have used it throughout their lives to achieve great things.
6. Personal Responsibility
Avoid the blame game. This may seem counter-intuitive, but accept fault for everything that goes wrong in your life. No, that's not a typo. As hard as this may be to face, the reality is YOU are responsible for where you currently are in life. You have created your circumstances. Your choices and actions have gotten you to where you are today.
There is a great freedom that comes as a result of accepting personal responsibility. As soon as you stop blaming others, you are no longer a victim. You're free to change things in your life for the better. Once you come to the realization that you are where you are as a result of your decisions, this puts you in the driver's seat for the future.
7. Be a Student of Change
Embrace change.
Take large items on your to do list and break them down into small, manageable steps. Using the example above, on Monday take out your credit report and highlight all errors that need to be addressed. On Tuesday contact each creditor and ask that the item be fixed/removed. On Wednesday set up automated payments for your bills so that you develop prompt payment history. And the list goes on.
Take it one step at a time and suddenly that giant mountain doesn't seem so imposing.
10. Sense of Urgency - Avoid Procrastination at All Costs!
For whatever reason, the longer we wait the less likely we will take action. It's just human nature. As time passes, things tend to lose importance in our minds. Sense of urgency will help you get things accomplished, and get them accomplished in a timely fashion.
If it's important, do it now. While the first step is always the most difficult, every step afterwards becomes progressively easier.
http://www.squidoo.com/personal-and-professional-development
Since each of us is a unique individual our paths will vary. That having been said, below you will find 10 of the most helpful suggestions for improving one's self. Enjoy the journey!
1. Don't Let Anything Stop You
Never quit, never give up. Throughout your journey, there will be ups and downs. It is a given that there will be slow points and setbacks. These things will occur. In those moments of doubt or despair, DO NOT GIVE UP. Know in your heart that no matter how difficult things may become, no matter how low you may feel, ultimately there is nothing that will stop you. Life can throw whatever it wants at you and you will not quit, you will not falter until you win.
Keep in mind that personal development is a lifelong journey. There is no ending. It's all about the experiences and lessons learned.
So since there really is no finish line, make sure you enjoy the ride!
2. Follow Your Passion
Do what makes you happy. This is something that we have very, very backwards. Most of us chase money. While money is certainly not a bad thing, money by itself does not bring joy. Money can buy stuff. Stuff can provide temporary fun. But stuff doesn't bring true joy.
Follow your heart. Do what you love. The amazing thing about this is that when you do something that you're passionate about, you'll be successful at it. You'll put it tons of hard work and many, many extra hours and it will never feel like "work" because you're having fun. And as a result, the money will follow.
3. Challenge Yourself
Your goals should be just out of reach. Always challenge yourself. Growth comes as a result of adversity. If everything were easy, we would never change or grow. Your goals should not be impossible, but they should be challenging. Push yourself beyond what you perceive to be your current limitations. Explore new territory. Try out different things that you've never done before. Do something that you're afraid of.
Greatness comes as a result of having to dig deep and discover something that you didn't realize you already had inside of you.
4. Conquer Yourself
Greatness comes as a result of having to dig deep and discover something that you didn't realize you already had inside of you.
4. Conquer Yourself
The only true obstacles in life are self-imposed. We will always have unforeseen things occur. Roadblocks will come up from time to time. You'll be right on the verge of accomplishing something only to have the rug yanked out from under you at the last moment. Murphy's Law strikes again.
While we cannot always control what happens to us, the one thing we can control is how we react to it. The only true obstacles we have in life are self-imposed. Our true obstacles lie within. If you can conquer yourself, nothing can stop you. As the saying goes, whether you think you can or you can't--you're right
5. Visualize Your Goals
Picture yourself where you want to be. As author Rhonda Byrne taught us in the best selling book "The Secret", what you intend will come to be.
5. Visualize Your Goals
Picture yourself where you want to be. As author Rhonda Byrne taught us in the best selling book "The Secret", what you intend will come to be.
Discover your true intention and make certain your goals are in alignment. Picture yourself achieving this goal. Close your eyes and imagine how it feels to accomplish this goal. Truly allow yourself to experience the emotions associated with the experience. Feel as though it has already happened.
Go through this visualization process daily until your goal has been achieved. Many successful people believe in the power of visualization and have used it throughout their lives to achieve great things.
6. Personal Responsibility
Avoid the blame game. This may seem counter-intuitive, but accept fault for everything that goes wrong in your life. No, that's not a typo. As hard as this may be to face, the reality is YOU are responsible for where you currently are in life. You have created your circumstances. Your choices and actions have gotten you to where you are today.
There is a great freedom that comes as a result of accepting personal responsibility. As soon as you stop blaming others, you are no longer a victim. You're free to change things in your life for the better. Once you come to the realization that you are where you are as a result of your decisions, this puts you in the driver's seat for the future.
7. Be a Student of Change
Embrace change.
Our world is constantly evolving and today at a much more rapid pace than in the past. Change is difficult. It's easier to find a comfort zone and stay there. The problem with this, however, is that the world is going to keep moving forward without you.
Things are changing, regardless of how you feel about it. By becoming a student of change, you'll be able to adapt and stay ahead of the curve. Besides, change is good. If it weren't for change, I'd be sitting in a cave right now. So learn to welcome change. In today's fast paced world, it's the only constant.
8. Read, Read, Read
Learn from others. You know the best way to become successful? Do what successful people do. While making mistakes is not something to be avoided (this is how we learn), you can certainly speed up your self development process by reading about the mistakes others have made and learn the lessons therein.
Make it your personal goal to read at least a book per month. I recommend reading anything written by Seth Godin or Robert Kiyosaki. For a list of further recommended reading books to help open your mind, click here:
9. Make It Manageable
Break big tasks down into small steps. Sometimes large goals or projects can seem unattainable. For example, "repair my credit" may seem like a daunting task. Where would you even begin?
Things are changing, regardless of how you feel about it. By becoming a student of change, you'll be able to adapt and stay ahead of the curve. Besides, change is good. If it weren't for change, I'd be sitting in a cave right now. So learn to welcome change. In today's fast paced world, it's the only constant.
8. Read, Read, Read
Learn from others. You know the best way to become successful? Do what successful people do. While making mistakes is not something to be avoided (this is how we learn), you can certainly speed up your self development process by reading about the mistakes others have made and learn the lessons therein.
Make it your personal goal to read at least a book per month. I recommend reading anything written by Seth Godin or Robert Kiyosaki. For a list of further recommended reading books to help open your mind, click here:
9. Make It Manageable
Break big tasks down into small steps. Sometimes large goals or projects can seem unattainable. For example, "repair my credit" may seem like a daunting task. Where would you even begin?
Take large items on your to do list and break them down into small, manageable steps. Using the example above, on Monday take out your credit report and highlight all errors that need to be addressed. On Tuesday contact each creditor and ask that the item be fixed/removed. On Wednesday set up automated payments for your bills so that you develop prompt payment history. And the list goes on.
Take it one step at a time and suddenly that giant mountain doesn't seem so imposing.
10. Sense of Urgency - Avoid Procrastination at All Costs!
Start TODAY! There is no such thing as the perfect time. The amazing thing is that 100% of people that begin something NOW all get started. Those that wait until tomorrow? Not so much.
For whatever reason, the longer we wait the less likely we will take action. It's just human nature. As time passes, things tend to lose importance in our minds. Sense of urgency will help you get things accomplished, and get them accomplished in a timely fashion.
If it's important, do it now. While the first step is always the most difficult, every step afterwards becomes progressively easier.
http://www.squidoo.com/personal-and-professional-development
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