Sometimes when you’re either in a job or have a business and whichever industry you’re in, there are times when a change in career is considered, however, for lots of reasons, choosing to do nothing is often the easy option, but not necessarily the best one. Changing careers is fraught with difficulties and there are some key things that need to be considered. Check out the five points below to help you navigate through these potential difficulties: Fear of the Unknown: Transitioning to a new career often involves stepping into unfamiliar territory. The fear of the unknown can be a significant barrier, causing anxiety and hesitation. Skills and Qualifications Gap: A shift to a different career may require new skills or qualifications. The gap between your current expertise and the requirements of the desired career can be a challenge to overcome. Financial Concerns & Preparedness: Changing careers might come with financial implications. There
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Trying to be and stay motivated is and can be a challenge for all of us. There are some things we love doing, like doing, and those we avoid like the plague which can have consequences personally and professionally, and of course when this happens, it can be a de-motivator. When we’re tired our motivation drops, when we are feeling good our motivation increases, but it can be like a roller coaster with no even ground to keep us on an even keel and keep steady on an ongoing basis. Motivation is the driving force behind achieving goals and overcoming challenges. To be and sustain motivation, consider these four key tips: 1. Set Clear Goals: Define your objectives with clarity and specificity. Break down larger goals into smaller, achievable tasks. This not only makes the journey more manageable but also provides a sense of accomplishment as you progress. Having a roadmap
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Aarghhh!!! How often are we hearing the importance of work life balance! Most of us know what we should be doing, but often have various excuses why our work life balance isn’t balanced. Some of convince ourselves we will ‘fix’ it or ‘sort’ it next week, next month, next year; soon… The trouble is time just disappears and before we know it we are heading into burnout! We live in a 24/7 world where expectations are high, demands are even higher, and we can often feel pressured about ‘doing’ more and doing it now! We feel we need to respond to that email right now even when we are working on something that is a priority! For some, a career change is what is called for, and when it takes place, we end up in the same situation. We may reduce our hours in work, but often still find ourselves
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We all struggle with our mental health from time to time, and sometimes when things are a little wobbly, we can become anxious which can affect our work, business and affect us on a personal and daily basis. Whilst mental health is more open nowadays, some of us still struggle with being open about it and asking for help. Having someone to talk to is important, however, it’s also important for us to have some strategies we can draw upon to help us whilst we are going through these dips. Below are five tips to help manage your mental health and wellbeing personally and professionally when anxiety kicks in. Mindfulness Practices: Incorporate mindfulness techniques like deep breathing or meditation to centre yourself and manage anxious thoughts, both in personal and professional settings. Establish Boundaries: Clearly define boundaries between work and personal life to prevent burnout. Allocate dedicated time for self-care activities and
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Are you running a business? How effectively are you managing this? Are you perhaps considering buying or setting up a business? Are you wondering what aspects you need to help you with this? Either way, managing a business effectively requires a comprehensive approach that encompasses various aspects. Below are some aspects that might help you in doing this. Here are six key steps to successful business management: STRATEGIC PLANNING AND GOAL SETTING Define Clear Objectives: Establish a clear vision and specific, achievable goals for the business. Ensure these goals are aligned with the company's mission and values. Develop a Strategic Plan: Create a roadmap outlining the steps, timelines, and resources needed to achieve these goals. This plan should include contingencies for potential challenges and changes in the market landscape. EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP AND TEAM BUILDING Strong Leadership: Lead by example and inspire the team by fostering a positive company culture, setting clear expectations, and
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Here we are at the very beginning of a new year; this is when most of us start setting goals and feeling inspired and motivated to have an even better year than last year. For some, getting motivated and staying motivated are difficult to sustain, whereas for others they are automatically motivated naturally. Motivation, the driving force behind actions and aspirations, stems from various sources, which is why we should understand what motivates and why, and to use what we have naturally or find out what it is that will motivate us and use these strategies to help us set achievable and realistic goals for 2024. Below are four major motivators focusing on purpose and meaning, achievement and recognition, external incentives and rewards and emotional connection and relationships. Have a read through and see what you can tease out to use personally and professionally: PURPOSE AND MEANING Intrinsic Fulfilment: The pursuit
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Some of you may never have considered creating your own personal plan, whereas others may do this regularly. Either way there are different ways in which these can be done, and to help you get started, or even consider doing something different, the steps below may be helpful in getting you started. This is such a good time of year to be thinking about this. In between Christmas and New Year we often reflect on the year and how we feel about our progress and start thinking about the new year to come and what we might do differently. Crafting a personal plan involves several key steps to ensure clarity, feasibility, and effectiveness. Read through these below and get started! Here's some steps you might want to consider: Self-Assessment and Goal Setting Reflect: Start by introspecting to understand your values, strengths, weaknesses, passions, and aspirations. Set SMART Goals: Define Specific, Measurable, Achievable,
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Life is full of pressure points, barriers, obstacles, and challenges that can sometimes make us feel overwhelmed and stressed. Whether it's at work, in our personal lives, or pursuing our goals, it's essential to develop effective strategies to manage these difficulties. This week I will be covering four key areas to help you navigate and overcome these hurdles. Self-Awareness: The first step in managing pressure points and obstacles is self-awareness. Take a moment to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses. Recognise your triggers and understand how you react to stress. Knowing your limitations can help you plan more effectively and make better decisions. Keep a journal to track your emotions and responses in different situations, which will provide valuable insights into your stressors. Goal Setting: Setting clear and achievable goals is a vital aspect of managing challenges. Break your larger objectives into smaller, more manageable steps. This not only makes
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For those who are familiar with the concept of the ‘comfort zone’ and what it feels like to even consider moving outside ones ‘comfort zone’ can be varied and have different levels of fear and trepidation. There’s a great book if you haven’t read or listened to it, ‘Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway’ by Susan Jeffers, worth a read or listen – some great takeaways to note. Let’s look at the ‘comfort zone’ framework to more fully understand the various levels to become more familiar with the concept. The concept of the ‘comfort zone’ is a psychological framework that helps individuals understand their level of comfort and familiarity in various situations. It is often represented by a spectrum consisting of six points: safe, fear, learning, growth, panic, and danger zones. Here we focus on the first four points, from safe to growth zones: Safe Zone: The safe zone
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Have you ever had one of those days that start off bad and you just ‘know’ the rest of the day is going to go downhill from then on? You might also have heard of the statement that ‘bad things come in threes’, fully expecting another two things to come along after the first bad thing, resulting in a self-fulfilling prophecy! There’s also another saying about ‘opening the door to a good day and preparing yourself for a bad one’. Now this one resonates as it has a helpful element and one which we can extract personal and professional benefits from thus emphasising the importance of adopting a balanced and proactive approach to life's ups and downs. On a personal level, this statement encourages a mindset of resilience and mindfulness. Opening the door to a good day entails starting each day with a positive and optimistic outlook. This mental disposition
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