During the journey from a job that you hate to finding the work that you love, you will need lots of guidance, support, motivation and encouragement.
Most of us fail to create our dream life because of trying to do it alone. Interruptions, setbacks, and fears are part of every journey and they are inevitable. Without getting help, most of us lack focus, commitment, and accountability. Even if you were very disciplined and motivated, it would take much longer to reach your goal without someone who believes in you, who will praise your achievements, take you out of your comfort zone and keep you on track.
Here are some tips to help you get the support you will need during your journey:
1. Create (or join) an online group of like-minded people who are interested in personal development and/or career change. Online groups enable each member to keep focused in a supportive environment. You can create your own group or join an existing one on Yahoo or Google:
• http://groups.yahoo.com
• http://groups.google.com
2. Create a team of people who want to leave their jobs to discover their purpose and find the work they were born to do. Get together regularly to give each other inspiration and support. The number of people you would like to invite to your meetings is totally up to you but three people are enough to start with. Meet weekly to motivate each other and exchange help and ideas. Take turns to talk about your dreams and allow others to help you in your goals.
Here is how the team works :
• The first member (let’s call her Julia) begins by describing her dream. Other members help Julia to create a specific goal with a target date.
• Julia then states the obstacles that are preventing her from realizing her dream. Other members help her to overcome these obstacles by suggestions, contacts, materials and ideas.
• Then Julia tells the group what actions she will take until the next meeting. The others brainstorm options and help Julia create an action plan.
This is the format of the inital get-together. At the next meeting, Julia tells the others what she has achieved since the last meeting and sets another action plan with the help of the other members.
Each member’s time is limited to 30 minutes (or less if it is a larger team).
It is crucial to make these meetings a priority in your life. You need to be 100% committed.
If you would like to find out more about how to create small groups in which members dedicate their efforts to help each other achieve their goals, I recommend Barbara Sher’s “success teams website” which will give you plenty of ideas :
http://www.shersuccessteams.com
http://www.shersuccessteams.com/iparties.htm
3. Enlist the services of a career coach. A good career coach will help to remove barriers that you have placed in your path, inspire you to take action and provide you with resources and tools to help you discover and follow your dreams of working at what you love.
Here are some suggestions to help you choose a great coach:
• Begin searching online for a career coach or ask for word-of-mouth referral from someone you know.
• Ensure that the coach has got a qualification from a reputable training organization.
• Ask for a free consultation to check out the rapport between you and the potential coach. Does the coach listen to you? Do you feel they clearly understand what you want to achieve through coaching?
• Find out whether their previous clients have had a result.
• Ask for their rates and make sure you understand exactly what services will be received for your investment in coaching.
As Barbara Sher says, “Isolation is the dream killer”. If you've been trying to go after your dreams alone and haven't been able to move forward, it's because you haven't had the support and structure you need. Make sure to take action in a supportive environment where you can get all the help and the encouragement you will need along your journey.
About the Author
Ebru Ulufer is a Career Coach with 16 years of corporate career experience. She helps people who are unfulfilled with their jobs to find their life purpose and earn a living doing the work they love. For more information, visit Career Transition Coaching
Friday
How To Keep Fit In The Workplace
You can participate in exercises at work to help yourself. Some exercises you can do while working are: Ankle rotation, back stretches, and tightening and relaxing the abdominal muscles.
1. A foundation for fitnessYou can contribute to your fitness by using a healthy diet and exercise plan. You do not have to start a fad, crash diet or spend hours daily at the gym. To stay fit, cut fatty foods and high sugar foods from your diet, snack on greens and fruits and take long walks every few days. Many people can maintain a healthy body by eating salad for lunch and taking a refreshing jog every other day.
2. Prevent Obesity
Anybody can become obese by for example neglecting themselves. Financial concerns usually takes priority over physical fitness. If you often find yourself pressed for time because of a large project or a looming deadline, there are a few simple exercises you can do right in your cubicle to keep your muscles flexible and your joints strong.
3. What you should do
Rotate your ankles to help blood circulation and to loosen muscles and joints. Stretch your back often to help prevent achy back problems. Tighten and relax your abdominal muscles to give your tummy some workout. You can do this in many places because they're discreetly tightening and relaxing muscles.
4. Work Exercises
Abs: Sit on the edge of chair, arms extending in front. Keeping back straight, contract the abs and slowly lower torso towards back of chair. Hold 2-3 seconds and repeat.
Curls: Cross arms over chest and sit up straight. Contract abs and curl shoulder towards hips, pulling abs in. Hold for 2 seconds and repeat.
Standing Hip Flexion: Stand with abs in, spine straight. Lift leg up until level with hip. Hold for 2 seconds, repeat other side.
Leg Lift: In same starting position as above, lift left leg straight out to the side a few inches off the floor. Hold for 2 seconds, repeat on the other side.
For more great fitness related articles and resources check out http://www.weknowfitness.info
1. A foundation for fitnessYou can contribute to your fitness by using a healthy diet and exercise plan. You do not have to start a fad, crash diet or spend hours daily at the gym. To stay fit, cut fatty foods and high sugar foods from your diet, snack on greens and fruits and take long walks every few days. Many people can maintain a healthy body by eating salad for lunch and taking a refreshing jog every other day.
2. Prevent Obesity
Anybody can become obese by for example neglecting themselves. Financial concerns usually takes priority over physical fitness. If you often find yourself pressed for time because of a large project or a looming deadline, there are a few simple exercises you can do right in your cubicle to keep your muscles flexible and your joints strong.
3. What you should do
Rotate your ankles to help blood circulation and to loosen muscles and joints. Stretch your back often to help prevent achy back problems. Tighten and relax your abdominal muscles to give your tummy some workout. You can do this in many places because they're discreetly tightening and relaxing muscles.
4. Work Exercises
Abs: Sit on the edge of chair, arms extending in front. Keeping back straight, contract the abs and slowly lower torso towards back of chair. Hold 2-3 seconds and repeat.
Curls: Cross arms over chest and sit up straight. Contract abs and curl shoulder towards hips, pulling abs in. Hold for 2 seconds and repeat.
Standing Hip Flexion: Stand with abs in, spine straight. Lift leg up until level with hip. Hold for 2 seconds, repeat other side.
Leg Lift: In same starting position as above, lift left leg straight out to the side a few inches off the floor. Hold for 2 seconds, repeat on the other side.
For more great fitness related articles and resources check out http://www.weknowfitness.info
Taking Back The Workplace: Workplace Stress Relief Tips
It can be easily argued that today's world has grown far more complicated. This complication, it can be argued, is due to the high cost of living, global economy, the pressures placed on the family, etc. In addition, the increased expectations of performance and revenue generating have increased the demands in the workplace.
All of this has contributed greatly to the stress that individuals experience in their lives and specifically stress in the workplace. It is important to note that stress can be a significant detriment to the well-being of individuals and families. Therefore, it is critical that stress be relieved.
Specifically, there are certain workplace stress relief tips that can be followed. These specific workplace stress relief tips can be divided into two categories. The first category is through the implementation of practical suggestions and the second category is through a change in attitude.
Practical Suggestions
There are many physical symptoms that are associated with increased levels of stress. Those symptoms include tension headaches, muscle ache, upset stomach, etc. At the first sign of these symptoms it is important to put into practice some practical workplace stress relief tips.
One of those practical tips it is to take a mini stress relieving vacation. First of all, it is important that you are not disturbed. This can be accomplished by hitting the do not disturb button on the phone or turning the phone off. In addition put a do not disturb sign on the door leading into your office.
Once this has been accomplished than simply close your eyes and allow your mind to fix on a favorite vacation spot or dream area that compels you. In addition, concentrate on your breathing. Any thoughts that bombard your mind should be acknowledged and quickly let go. Also, take into account your body and how it is feeling. For example, if you realize that your neck or the muscles of the shoulders are tense release that tension through your breathing.
Finally, focus on a mantra. This mantra can be affirmations of being stress free or can be a mantra that simply calls your mind to dwell on higher thoughts.
A workplace stress relief tip for those individuals who do not have offices is to take a walk. If there is a park nearby or garden area take advantage of the stress relieving power of communing with nature. This action will help to reduce stress through this nature communing process and through exercising.
Attitude Change
An additional workplace stress relief tip is through an attitude change. This can be accomplished by thinking about stress situations differently.
Rather than hanging on to the stress of the day, share your stress with others. This can be done in an enjoyable manner in that a group of people will share their stresses of the day, within reason, and try to out do the others. Often this type of session will end up in laughter as people try to embellish their stressful situations.
Also, another workplace stress relief tip is to try to find the good in every situation. For example, if a co-worker is especially annoying think to yourself about one good quality that they may have. If you can identify that quality reward yourself with an enjoyable treat.
About the Author
If you are looking for some great information about Stress please visit Scott Goodman's website located at: Wicked Stressed Info
All of this has contributed greatly to the stress that individuals experience in their lives and specifically stress in the workplace. It is important to note that stress can be a significant detriment to the well-being of individuals and families. Therefore, it is critical that stress be relieved.
Specifically, there are certain workplace stress relief tips that can be followed. These specific workplace stress relief tips can be divided into two categories. The first category is through the implementation of practical suggestions and the second category is through a change in attitude.
Practical Suggestions
There are many physical symptoms that are associated with increased levels of stress. Those symptoms include tension headaches, muscle ache, upset stomach, etc. At the first sign of these symptoms it is important to put into practice some practical workplace stress relief tips.
One of those practical tips it is to take a mini stress relieving vacation. First of all, it is important that you are not disturbed. This can be accomplished by hitting the do not disturb button on the phone or turning the phone off. In addition put a do not disturb sign on the door leading into your office.
Once this has been accomplished than simply close your eyes and allow your mind to fix on a favorite vacation spot or dream area that compels you. In addition, concentrate on your breathing. Any thoughts that bombard your mind should be acknowledged and quickly let go. Also, take into account your body and how it is feeling. For example, if you realize that your neck or the muscles of the shoulders are tense release that tension through your breathing.
Finally, focus on a mantra. This mantra can be affirmations of being stress free or can be a mantra that simply calls your mind to dwell on higher thoughts.
A workplace stress relief tip for those individuals who do not have offices is to take a walk. If there is a park nearby or garden area take advantage of the stress relieving power of communing with nature. This action will help to reduce stress through this nature communing process and through exercising.
Attitude Change
An additional workplace stress relief tip is through an attitude change. This can be accomplished by thinking about stress situations differently.
Rather than hanging on to the stress of the day, share your stress with others. This can be done in an enjoyable manner in that a group of people will share their stresses of the day, within reason, and try to out do the others. Often this type of session will end up in laughter as people try to embellish their stressful situations.
Also, another workplace stress relief tip is to try to find the good in every situation. For example, if a co-worker is especially annoying think to yourself about one good quality that they may have. If you can identify that quality reward yourself with an enjoyable treat.
About the Author
If you are looking for some great information about Stress please visit Scott Goodman's website located at: Wicked Stressed Info
Workplace Conflict Resolution: What’s Creating Workplace Conflict And 9 Easy Ways To Resolve It
A radio interviewer recently asked me if I thought there was more conflict in the workplace today than in the past. After thinking about it, I replied, “Yes, I think there is more conflict today.”
Here Are 3 Main Reasons Why There Is More Conflict In The Workplace Today Than In The Past:
1. Today’s workplace is much more egalitarian. We have flatter chains of command, dotted line relationships, and primarily knowledge workers who are capable of making decisions themselves and have the freedom to move on to another job if they don’t like the way they are being treated.
In prior years, the workplace consisted of a clear authoritarian structure and chain of command. Workers obeyed orders, kept their gripes and personal issues to themselves, and did their work. If they failed to perform effectively, they were immediately fired and replaced.
2. Today, people of all ages from all over the world have come to work together. They have different values, goals, behavioral expectations and prior experiences. Yet they are expected to work together without really understanding why all the misunderstandings between them occur.
3. Women are now in the workplace in equal numbers to their male counterparts. Generally speaking, women are much less accustomed to following a chain of command than men. Most men grow up participating in organized sports where they are taught how to obey. Although some women are now active in sports, many more grow up playing creative games that didn’t have any particular organization or chain of command. In games like house, girls take turns in varying roles.
Although we’ve come a long way towards understanding each other and working harmoniously together in the workplace, there are still behavioral differences in teasing, flirting, confronting, aggression and simple communication styles.
Solutions To Conflicts In The Workplace
Clearly, these workplace issues are here to stay. How can we handle them? How can we change certain elements? Here are some of my ideas:
Dealing with Different People in the Workplace
Your organization is going to continue to have people of all genders, ages, cultures, styles and expectations working together. You need to provide them with:
• A common culture with clearly defined behavioral expectations. This includes policy, procedures, statements of corporate values and culture – and the follow through to hold people accountable.
• Diversity training that teaches how to manage different people as well as how to get them to cooperate at meetings and other group forums. Your organization needs to delve into training. Trainers need to understand cognitive and communication styles, values around politeness and dealing with superiors, as well as issues of pride, humility, conformity and all the other differences that cause conflicts in the workplace.
• Acceptance and recognition of the differences, so your organization doesn’t try to have a “one size fits all” method of managing.
• More attempts to help each other clear up disagreements and misunderstandings – rather than passing judgment and deciding who is right and who is wrong.
Management Style and Hours Worked
When management creates a clear set of guidelines as to work expectations and measures success rather than time spent, it will be easier for people to know what to do because the parameters are clear. Here’s what your organization can do to avoid conflicts in the workplace related to management styles:
• Publish policy, procedures, values, expectations, and guidelines. Since there no longer is a supervisor with a whip looking over each worker’s shoulder, it is these documents that guide your employees’ behaviors.
• Managers need to learn how to correctly manage different individuals to enable each person to be successful. Some people need more instruction and others need to be left alone to create. Some are more trustworthy than others and can be relied upon to know their own limits and decision-making authority. Others need to be managed more tightly.
• The quality and the quantity of the work should be rewarded, not time. Managers need to stop the subtle and not-so-subtle remarks about not seeing a worker on a Saturday or early in the morning.
• Employees need to have flexible time whenever possible. Some jobs require attendance at set hours. Most do not. People with young children at home might want to go home for a few hours in the late afternoon and return either to work, or to their home computer after their children have been put to bed.
• Recognize that less is often more. If people get to relax, have a family life, recreation, and pleasure, they are almost always more productive and creative during their working time.
Although conflict is here to stay, it certainly can be mitigated by taking the needs and differences of people seriously and by teaching them about each other and how to work together. Stop being afraid and start being kind.
About the Author
ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D can teach your management team how to manage your organization effectively and efficiently. For more free tips that will help your organization increase its productivity by cutting the number of conflicts in the workplace in half go to: http://www.diamondassociates.net/articles
Here Are 3 Main Reasons Why There Is More Conflict In The Workplace Today Than In The Past:
1. Today’s workplace is much more egalitarian. We have flatter chains of command, dotted line relationships, and primarily knowledge workers who are capable of making decisions themselves and have the freedom to move on to another job if they don’t like the way they are being treated.
In prior years, the workplace consisted of a clear authoritarian structure and chain of command. Workers obeyed orders, kept their gripes and personal issues to themselves, and did their work. If they failed to perform effectively, they were immediately fired and replaced.
2. Today, people of all ages from all over the world have come to work together. They have different values, goals, behavioral expectations and prior experiences. Yet they are expected to work together without really understanding why all the misunderstandings between them occur.
3. Women are now in the workplace in equal numbers to their male counterparts. Generally speaking, women are much less accustomed to following a chain of command than men. Most men grow up participating in organized sports where they are taught how to obey. Although some women are now active in sports, many more grow up playing creative games that didn’t have any particular organization or chain of command. In games like house, girls take turns in varying roles.
Although we’ve come a long way towards understanding each other and working harmoniously together in the workplace, there are still behavioral differences in teasing, flirting, confronting, aggression and simple communication styles.
Solutions To Conflicts In The Workplace
Clearly, these workplace issues are here to stay. How can we handle them? How can we change certain elements? Here are some of my ideas:
Dealing with Different People in the Workplace
Your organization is going to continue to have people of all genders, ages, cultures, styles and expectations working together. You need to provide them with:
• A common culture with clearly defined behavioral expectations. This includes policy, procedures, statements of corporate values and culture – and the follow through to hold people accountable.
• Diversity training that teaches how to manage different people as well as how to get them to cooperate at meetings and other group forums. Your organization needs to delve into training. Trainers need to understand cognitive and communication styles, values around politeness and dealing with superiors, as well as issues of pride, humility, conformity and all the other differences that cause conflicts in the workplace.
• Acceptance and recognition of the differences, so your organization doesn’t try to have a “one size fits all” method of managing.
• More attempts to help each other clear up disagreements and misunderstandings – rather than passing judgment and deciding who is right and who is wrong.
Management Style and Hours Worked
When management creates a clear set of guidelines as to work expectations and measures success rather than time spent, it will be easier for people to know what to do because the parameters are clear. Here’s what your organization can do to avoid conflicts in the workplace related to management styles:
• Publish policy, procedures, values, expectations, and guidelines. Since there no longer is a supervisor with a whip looking over each worker’s shoulder, it is these documents that guide your employees’ behaviors.
• Managers need to learn how to correctly manage different individuals to enable each person to be successful. Some people need more instruction and others need to be left alone to create. Some are more trustworthy than others and can be relied upon to know their own limits and decision-making authority. Others need to be managed more tightly.
• The quality and the quantity of the work should be rewarded, not time. Managers need to stop the subtle and not-so-subtle remarks about not seeing a worker on a Saturday or early in the morning.
• Employees need to have flexible time whenever possible. Some jobs require attendance at set hours. Most do not. People with young children at home might want to go home for a few hours in the late afternoon and return either to work, or to their home computer after their children have been put to bed.
• Recognize that less is often more. If people get to relax, have a family life, recreation, and pleasure, they are almost always more productive and creative during their working time.
Although conflict is here to stay, it certainly can be mitigated by taking the needs and differences of people seriously and by teaching them about each other and how to work together. Stop being afraid and start being kind.
About the Author
ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D can teach your management team how to manage your organization effectively and efficiently. For more free tips that will help your organization increase its productivity by cutting the number of conflicts in the workplace in half go to: http://www.diamondassociates.net/articles
Tuesday
Spending More Time At Work Then At Home
Admit it, you treat people at work better than you treat the ones you say you love at home.
I know about money, bills, daycare, rent, lights, gas, emergency savings, etc. The stress of having to pay for all of these things is great and at times you want to walk away from it all. Yet, with all the responsibilities that are on your shoulders there are some people at home who wish you were spending as much time with them as you do at work.
When the time comes and it will and you are lying on your back sick from all your stress, the realization will come to you to change your life, you may do something about it, you may not. That's your choice, but their are heavy costs that you will pay if you don't. If your child is crying out for your attention now, your wife is telling you she wants to spend time with you and the grandparents are complaining about not seeing their you or their grandchild enough, these are warning signs to make the time for them.
If you are spiritual, you know that in the end of this life God isn't going to say, "job well done..." to the man or woman who acquired much material wealth and shared it; rather, he will be more interested in the relationships you accumulated with people and how you handled them.
Long hours at the job are needed if you have done all you can on the home front to cut costs. They also help (for a time) when you are trying to get your financial house in order again or if you are looking for a promotion. However, they are not meant to be used forever and companies who are financially savvy will not hesitate to cut them. Long hours aren't necessary if you know you are living comfortable, the bills are getting paid and you are secure in your position at work.
Time for yourself will always be needed to rejuvenate your mind,body and spirit. You can find the time during your lunchbreak, before you get to work or after work about once, twice or more a week. Of course on weekends, between spending time with your family, you can find even more time for yourself. However, when you don't take this time, everyone around you suffers and it usually isn't the people at work dealing with your mood swings, it is the people at home.
Your family is your support system in good times and in bad; yet, if you don't know how to "keep your cool" with them, then they can be your worst enemies. They deserve to be treated with respect like you treat your boss and co-workers. Notice how you communicate with people at work. You are polite, offer praise on a job, take the time to go out on lunch dates, always look your best, remember holidays and most of all sit down and meet with them to talk about upcoming plans, concerns, money and much more. Why is it that you can't set aside that time for your family when you come home? Yet, some of you will rush to get home to do what? Sit in front of the television, go to your room or participate in what you want to do barely socializing with your family. As for being tired, that happens, but if everyday you feel this way, then schedule a doctor's appointment.
Show some love, appreciation, respect, honesty, accountability, trust, etc. like you do at work. Consider the following, if your family waved thousands of dollars over your head you would feel motivated to do right by them, now wouldn't you? Well, they don't have money dangling over your head, but they do have love, now let that be your motivation! Capice?
I know about money, bills, daycare, rent, lights, gas, emergency savings, etc. The stress of having to pay for all of these things is great and at times you want to walk away from it all. Yet, with all the responsibilities that are on your shoulders there are some people at home who wish you were spending as much time with them as you do at work.
When the time comes and it will and you are lying on your back sick from all your stress, the realization will come to you to change your life, you may do something about it, you may not. That's your choice, but their are heavy costs that you will pay if you don't. If your child is crying out for your attention now, your wife is telling you she wants to spend time with you and the grandparents are complaining about not seeing their you or their grandchild enough, these are warning signs to make the time for them.
If you are spiritual, you know that in the end of this life God isn't going to say, "job well done..." to the man or woman who acquired much material wealth and shared it; rather, he will be more interested in the relationships you accumulated with people and how you handled them.
Long hours at the job are needed if you have done all you can on the home front to cut costs. They also help (for a time) when you are trying to get your financial house in order again or if you are looking for a promotion. However, they are not meant to be used forever and companies who are financially savvy will not hesitate to cut them. Long hours aren't necessary if you know you are living comfortable, the bills are getting paid and you are secure in your position at work.
Time for yourself will always be needed to rejuvenate your mind,body and spirit. You can find the time during your lunchbreak, before you get to work or after work about once, twice or more a week. Of course on weekends, between spending time with your family, you can find even more time for yourself. However, when you don't take this time, everyone around you suffers and it usually isn't the people at work dealing with your mood swings, it is the people at home.
Your family is your support system in good times and in bad; yet, if you don't know how to "keep your cool" with them, then they can be your worst enemies. They deserve to be treated with respect like you treat your boss and co-workers. Notice how you communicate with people at work. You are polite, offer praise on a job, take the time to go out on lunch dates, always look your best, remember holidays and most of all sit down and meet with them to talk about upcoming plans, concerns, money and much more. Why is it that you can't set aside that time for your family when you come home? Yet, some of you will rush to get home to do what? Sit in front of the television, go to your room or participate in what you want to do barely socializing with your family. As for being tired, that happens, but if everyday you feel this way, then schedule a doctor's appointment.
Show some love, appreciation, respect, honesty, accountability, trust, etc. like you do at work. Consider the following, if your family waved thousands of dollars over your head you would feel motivated to do right by them, now wouldn't you? Well, they don't have money dangling over your head, but they do have love, now let that be your motivation! Capice?
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