Tag: Goal setting

Your #Goals – These Small Steps Help Achieve Giant #Results

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Reaching A Goal Means Connecting To Others – Picture Credit Pexels.com

When it comes to the great achievement of the Moon landing ‘One small step’ and ‘One giant leap’ are perfect metaphors.

 

The giant leap involved a huge amount of teamwork, leading from President Kennedy’s ambitious idea in 1962 to a an awesome achievement celebrated by President Nixon in 1969.

 

To realise the major goal of a manned Moon landing it was necessary to break down that ambition into small bite sized chunks, assigning tasks to physicists, mathematicians, engineers, pilots and a network of other specialists, Once the stages were set the milestones completed and the risks managed the results became inevitable.

 

And so the example of the moon landing is useful for all of us when we think about the goals we wish to achieve.

 

For instance if the ambition after this summer is to get a new job by year’s end, there are several steps to take. 

 

  • First take stock of qualifications and experience. 

 

  • Then identify gaps in either area. 

 

  • Next work out how to plug those gaps. 

 

  • Having done that hard work we can make a decision about the sorts of jobs that we want and the employers we would like to wok for.

 

  • With that knowledge about what we want, what we offer and who we would like to offer it to ,we can make a strategic series of applications or at least establish a presence on the social media front aimed at connecting with the potential employers and people who would be interested in making use of our talents.

 

Doing this very important work, in bite sized chunks, makes accountability possible. Doing all the work means we can to stand up, breathe deep and reach for the stars.

 

What is your favourite way to achieve the biggest goals you face? Feel free to share this content, if you have found this post useful. You can Like or Comment too if you want. 

Your Top 5 Recommended #Stress Busters

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How Do You Manage Your Stress? Picture from Pexels.com

If you have survived another busy week (mine involved plenty of running around for other people) I’ve got to ask, how do you let go of the stress, relax and become a nice person to be around once again?

Being mindful of your own stress level and varying the pace of life makes the intense times easier to bear. I am more productive and a better team player when I feel in control of my life.

In fact I remember a few years ago asking a group of carers (busy people responsible for loved ones’ well being) what they did to unwind and I still think their approach makes sense. They recommended

 

  • Nature – spending time outside, feeling the sun on my face shifts my mood.
  • Music – listening to a favourite artist reminds me of good times.
  • Laughing –  enjoying a good comedy programme puts tough times into the background.
  • Exercise – getting to the gym, playing sport, taking the stairs releases feel good chemicals into our system.
  • Friends – catching up with people we care about activates our support system, which reminds us we are not alone.

I have followed 2 of these strategies consistently and they help. Which ones do you follow or do you have other suggestions to share?

Remember These 5 Truths When The Going Gets Tough

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Men And Women With Something To Say

5 Ways To Put Problems Into Perspective (Photo from Rawpixel.com on Pexels.com)

Phew! We’ve made it through the first third of the year.

Hopefully there are more good days in those four months than there are bad ones. In case the next eight months don’t all go well here are 5 upbeat thoughts to remember when the going gets tough and goals seem out of reach.

 

  • Our friends can give us great support, if we are not too proud to ask them for it.
  • We can find new people who will understand what we are going through by using social media.
  • We might have forgotten about today’s crisis in 6 month’s time.
  • We have overcome hard times before, so we can definitely do so again.
  • Once we have got past this problem we will be able to help others who are struggling.
Are there any other points that should go on the list?  Feel free to comment, like and share if this post is helpful.

World Mental Health Day Means We Can Do More Than #Asktwice

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Guys Laughing

We Can Count On Our Friends To Help Us Feel Better – Picture by Nappy at Pexels dot com

Today is World Mental Health Day.

The goal for #WMHD is raising awareness that 1 in 4 of us will personally experience mental health challenges during our life.

Yes, that is even true for us guys. Although getting us talking about our feelings can be hard work (that’s why it is worth asking us twice ‘how are you’ just to check what is really going on).

Having poor mental health sucks, believe me: It might be back in the early 2000s but I remember that feeling alone; being unable to get out of bed; seeing the world in black and white made no sense at all.

Today is is also time to remember we can overcome the rubbish feelings caused by stress, anxiety and depression with the help of family, friends and maybe professionals.

How do we start to change our situation?

By talking about our feelings with our family, colleagues and mates today.

And keeping the conversation going tomorrow.

And the next day.

And the next.

What Are Your Next Steps?

This isn’t an easy conversation to have. If this post rings bells here are some questions we can ask ourselves to get started. 

  • Who can we talk to about what is really going on inside?
  • What isn’t working in our life?
  • What is the smallest step that might help us feel just a bit better?
  • Do we need professional help?

Thanks for reading this post. How will you use the information to make your life, or someone else’s better? Follow the link to Time For Change if you want to know more https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/asktwice

Finally, remember to Like, Comment and Share so others can learn how to help themselves too.

The Value of Emotionally Inspiring #Goals

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Lincoln Memorial Washington D.C.

Are Your Goals Emotionally Inspiring ? Picture Credit Pexels.Com

I like working on goals with other people as I did at a recent workshop. There is something powerful about taking an opportunity to share information and experiences; help people connect to one another; solve a longstanding problem. This work and the changes it triggers can get emotional.

I know some people prefer standing alone. They believe the status quo is necessary. They have a Me-versus-The-World mentality. Their emotions are negative. Their life is more of a struggle than it need be. Their well being suffers.

That isn’t necessary. When they are emotionally ready even isolated people can choose to change.

With Work Dreams Can Become Reality

Speaking of emotions, this week marked the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. It is inspiring to realise he helped build lasting change in the United States by saying the civil rights status quo of the 1960s was not acceptable.

He brought change-ready people together, so they could reflect, share experiences and identify solutions to the longstanding problems they and the country faced.

Speaking in front of the Lincoln Memorial on 28 August 1963 Doctor King set out a goal which he would not live to see realised. The goal changed the course of history in the United States. The goal he outlined was simple. He dreamed of a day when diverse American children would:

Not be judged by the colour of their skin…but the content of their character

(President Kennedy was more specific with his emotionally inspiring September 1962 goal – to be delivered before the end of that decade. Choosing to land a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth also changed the course of American history).

What’s the valuable lesson? That adding emotion to a goal makes it a more powerful target to work toward.

How Are Your Goals Progressing?

Most of us are working on smaller, more personal goals then those Doctor King or President Kennedy planned. We still need to pay attention to what we want to achieve at each step; fix the boundaries within which we are working so we don’t go off course; care passionately about the progress we make along the way. How much emotion do your goals contain and how much progress are you making on them?

Thank you for reading to the end. I hope this post has inspired you. Feel free to comment, like, share and see what else the site has to offer. There will be more to say in May. Meanwhile enjoy the rest of April.

Roger

Here Are The 3 Key Questions To Answer Before Setting Your Next #Goal

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People Planning Their Future

Where Will Your Next Goal Take You? Picture Credit Pexels.Com

The seasons are about to change and Spring is in the air. This is the time of year where plenty of us are thinking about what we want to happen next in our life and how satisfied we are with the status quo.

How Are Things With You?

Take a minute and be honest with yourself. How have you felt over the last year?

Congratulations if the last 12 months were ideal and gave you every chance to shine. You now have the choice of staying the same and still enjoying life without too much effort.

If the last 12 months were a struggle and you feel frustrated, unhappy or stuck in a rut you owe it to yourself to set a goal that will change your life. Here’s the key question to answer to get you started.

Where Will You Focus Your Attention?

It is very easy to get caught up in the business of being busy. If you have a job, lead a team, run a business, have a family and enjoy your social life your calendar is already full.

Do yourself a favour. Stop. Take a piece of paper and a pen then write down the key words that matter to you. This could look like a list, or it might be spread across the page. Either way you will have information from which you can pick the one area on which you can focus attention (the area you know in your heart / gut needs some work). That’s the one on which to build your next goal.

What Is Your Next Move?

The resources in the blog posts right here will give pointers to get going on your goal and change your situation for the better. Alternatively, if you are in London on 7 April you can book yourself a place at my next goal-setting workshop and get support to create the kind of powerful goal which will help you move forward over the coming months. Follow the link for more information and tickets (feel free to comment, like and share so others can also get the benefit of the opportunity).  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/create-great-goals-tickets-41940471078

See You on 7 April – All the best

Roger

Answer These 5 Questions To Help Choose Your Next #Goal

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Someone Writing Their Action Plan Down

Start Planning What You Want To Achieve

I hope January is treating you well. January can feel like a long month after the fun of Christmas and the New Year celebrations. Some of us even use this time for soul searching:

  • Where does my money go each month? (Personal Finance )
  • What job should I be doing? (Career)
  • How can I find my life’s purpose? (Wellbeing)
  • When will I meet someone I want to know better? (Relationships)
  • Who do I know that I can turn to for help? (Support)

It can feel overwhelming to start working out which area to focus on. It requires paper, pens and time, plus our full attention.

If we score the various areas in the brackets with marks out of 10 it is the 6s and the 5s we might want to focus on. The trick is to start listening to our inner voice and paying the proper attention to the goals that speak to us deeply.

Ready To Take Action And Change Your Life?

To start that ball rolling I’m offering a workshop on Saturday 27 January at The Mill, in the East End, to help streamline the process of identifying and working on our goals, so we are more likely to achieve success in our key areas.

If you are in London on 27 January and want to come along please follow the link below for information and tickets – it would be great to see you there!

Thanks for reading this post. Feel free to leave a Like or a comment about your goal planning strategy. Share this post too, if you think someone else would benefit from seeing it.

All the best

Roger

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-start-telling-your-story-to-achieve-your-goals-tickets-41940471078

How Do Our True Stories Help Us Achieve #Success With Our #Goals ?

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People Looking Choosing Colleagues Photo From Pexels.com

So, I went to a funeral last week.

It was an emotional ceremony of course. It was also a celebration of the life of someone whose 89 years were well spent.

As well as the tears there were tons of stories about the difference this much loved grandparent made in raising a family; holding down a career; being a fantastic cook.

These anecdotes reminded me that our true stories are very important.

Knowing our true stories and sharing them helps others see the gifts we have to offer. If you have ever had to frame your life experience for an interviewer or college admissions officer you know what I mean.

What Does It Take To Tell Your Story?

For some people it is very easy to describe what they have done, what they have learned and the value they contribute to their customers.

For some of us it can take time and effort to organise our story so it does us justice. Does preparing for an interview feel overwhelming? Are you a bit shy to talk about your achievements? Have you ever thought you are just not ready to take the next step to achieve your goal?

If so help is at hand. Next month I’ll be publishing a resource to help you tell your story. Be sure to check back in November to find out more.

Meanwhile feel free to share your secret to interview success by leaving a comment and to Like and Share this post if it has been useful.

All the best

Roger

5 Principles You Can Use To Boost Your #Success Today

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Inspiration For Success

Inspiration For Success – Picture Courtesy of Pexels dot com

Blimey. There are only 122 days left in 2017.

That is still enough time to make progress on a goal which is important to you. So, here are 5 inspiring principles you can start using today, if you are motivated to take action and achieve more freedom and success by:

  • Gaining a quick qualification
  • Making an important contribution to your network
  • Applying for and starting a new job
  • Bringing creativity into your work
  • Prioritising your needs as equally important to others’ requests

5 Principles You Can Use To Boost Your Success

Be Ambitious

A Man’s Reach Should Exceed His Grasp (Robert Browning)

Have A Clear End Goal

Start With The End In Mind (Stephen R Covey)

Embrace Change 

Change Is The Law of Life (John F Kennedy)

Share Your Success

It Is Literally True That You Can Succeed Best And Quickest By Helping Others To Succeed (Napoleon Hill)

Build Powerful Relationships

A Friend Is Someone Who Gives You Total Freedom To Be Yourself (Jim Morrison)

Thanks for reading this post. Feel free to feedback about the other principles that work for you by commenting below. You can always Like and Share this post if it helps you during the days ahead.

Speak to you soon.

Roger

3 Steps To Your #Goal Of Giving A Great Job Interview

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An Interview Can Bring You Closer To Your Goal – Picture Credit Pexels Dot Com

It’s that time of year. The time when you start thinking about your next goal.

Maybe your heart is set on getting a new job, or starting a college course. Assuming your initial application has been successful and you have been chosen for interview the tricky part is ahead. 30 minutes marketing yourself to someone else.

So, your interview clothes are pressed.

Your shoes are clean.

You’ve practised smiling and shaking hands at the same time.

What’s your next step toward your goal?

How Do You Market Yourself?

Just recently I helped some interviewees practice their self-marketing skills. The candidates turned up looking like they wanted to impress (professionally dressed, heads up, smiling).

They were prepared, as they knew how the interview helped them toward their ultimate goal.

Each candidate brought a different set of skills and experiences to their interview too. They told their stories well. The ability to respond thoughtfully to three basic questions really let some interviewees shine

Preparing Your Answers

Here are the questions. What answers would you give? Feel free to Leave A Reply, Like and Share

First, What Attracted You To Apply For This Job / Course?

This open question allows you to start showing the interviewer why they should consider you an ideal fit for their opportunity.

You can use examples which show the strengths you have which make you perfectly suited to be a good performer if you join the organisation quite quickly and a great one in the longer term.

When you are presenting your examples use the STAR method to explain your Situation the Task you tackled, the Action you took and the great Results you produced. Extra credit if you describe the obstacles you overcame and the lessons you learned.

2. What Qualities Do You Bring To The Team?

More often than not you will be involved with other people in a business-as-usual or project team. How have you worked with others to solve problems? What skills do you bring to a team? If you have led a team, how have you motivated others? Use the STAR process to tell your story.

3. What Is The First Thing You Do When Your Plans Don’t Work Out?

Here’s your chance to shine. Everyone knows that plans don’t always work out. If you have a good example of how you handled a problem which came up out of the blue, use it. It is important to spotlight what you did in the situation though, even if others were involved. The interviewer will want to know about the difference you made to the end result.

Your Preparation, Evidence And Answers Matter

If you have thoughtful answers to these questions (and you tell your story well) you will stand out in the interviewers mind. If she or he has seen five or six candidates you want to be the first person they think about when they imagine selecting a new team member. Good preparation and presentation will help you stand out.

What Is Your Next Move? 

So, good luck if you are a starting out, or moving on in your career. Use the comment section to say how you prepare for interviews where you are marketing yourself to strangers. You can be sure others will appreciate what you have to say.

Finally, thanks for reading. Feel free to Like and Share these ideas if you found them helpful.