What are your plans for today?

I wonder how close you are living your dreams. Make a list of what you will do this weekend. Then on the back page list all the things that you would do this weekend if you could. Interesting reading?

When did you last pause to think about what you want?

Are you facing up to a major career change in your life?

Every so often we're hit by the urge to change jobs and for a lot of people since the global economic downturn, enforced job change. Particularly in the case of redundancy the future may look very frightening. This is specially if you have been in the same role and/or company for some time. I do not need to rehearse the reasons for this, as you will know them well.
The solution to this problem is manageable although still hard work. The solution is to remember to break the problem down into manageable sections.

Do you/can you replicate your old job?

What do you really want to do?

Is this an opportunity to consider if you are happy with your life style?

What are your strengths, capabilities and assets?

What are your transferable skills?

How long will your severance money last?

Look at your budget. Is there a way to cut back and take the pressure off, or allocate some funds to a special project?

Think about what may be standing in your way of achieving your chosen path. What would it take to remove those barriers? It can be a very exciting time when you approach job change in an enlightened way. The secret to success is to explore a range of options. To give yourself the time and space to think about your core values and aspirations. If there were no barriers, what would you be doing in six months time? When you take the time to dream, you will discover that you are qualified for many more opportunities than your CV/resume or your current mind set would allow you to believe.
If you would like a confidential no cost consultation about how one t0 one coaching can help your career or personal growth – call 07790126264 or email paul.ainscough@fiducia.org.uk.

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What time did you get home?

Working late again?
Work couldn't survive without you? May I suggest that you put down the Blackberry and write down what would happen if you were on a desert island for two weeks unable to communicate. What would happen in your office? Who would pick up the pieces? What could your team handle that you've never allowed room for? How productive were you in that last hour of work?
Here is the challenge: send me your list as a comment.

Staying focused on your goals

Apart from knowing what you want to do and having the confidence to realise your potntial, it is vital that you remain focused. The following article by Hugh Russell provides a good starting point for you to gain and maintain focus.

Being productive at work is directly dependent on your ability to focus on your current activity. I cringe when I think about how much time I have wasted thinking about where I was going to go for lunch! Those thoughts would start as soon as I got to work and would keep bubbling up until I actually arrived at the restaurant. I accomplish a lot more at work when I spend those distracted moments focusing on completing my activities instead. This same logic applies to how many times I stop to check Outlook for new e-mails. Rarely do I get an e-mail that cannot wait a few hours to be read. Staying focused is a skill that you must learn and continually practice. Below are steps for increasing your productivity by increasing your ability to focus.
1. Create and maintain an open item list that contains all of your commitments.
Your mind will wander less if you know that you have captured your commitments and that you are actively working on completing them.
2. Remove distractions from your work environment.
Clear your desk of distractions.
Shut your door to discourage interruptions.
Mute your phone, pager and/or mobile phone.
Get a comfortable chair.
3. Remove distractions from your computer.
Turn off the radio or your iPod.
Log out of your instant messaging software, Facebook, or your favorite internet site.
Mute your computer so that you will not hear when new messages arrive.
4. Give yourself permission to focus on one activity.
Many of us feel guilty if we are not working one hundred miles an hour while multi-tasking but as we begin to see beneficial results from focused work, we will begin to feel less guilty and more satisfied. It may take some practice before you are able to completely focus on one activity. When other thoughts come up, simply notice the thoughts and then release them.
5. Work for fifty focused minutes.
When the time period is up, finish your current task. It is more important that you complete the task than it is for you to adhere to the fifty minute guideline. As your ability to stay focused grows, gradually increase the length of your work period.
6. Take a 5-10 minute break.
Get out of your chair and move around. Do a few light stretches. Clear your mind. Don’t think about what you are working on. This break will allow you to recharge your battery so that you can fully focus during the work period.
7. Select the next activity to work on and begin the next period of focused work.

Are you on the right track?

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