5 Ways to Set AND Achieve Your Personal Goals

5 Ways to Set AND Achieve Your Personal Goals This article is all about goals, why they are important, how you can set them and finally how to achieve them. First off, what is a goal? Well in this context, a goal is a personal objective. Something you want to achieve within a specific period of time. All successful people are goal-oriented. They know exactly what they want they are working toward the achievement of their goals every single day. They tend to accomplish far more than the average person in all aspects of life. Goals are flexible and can be used for short term tasks such as booking a holiday or long term goals such as graduating from university. So how do we actually work with goals? There are myriads of ways to do this; I will present the 5 steps I have found working well. Remember that this is an important life skill so pay attention 1. Decide exactly what you want The more precise and clear your goals are the easier it will be to know when they are complete. Just like in business, objectives should be specific and measurable. Ensure they are achievable and within the realms of reality otherwise you will run the risk of them becoming demotivating. For instance, the chances of me winning a Nobel Prize this year are very slim but me doing my next Toastmasters speech before Christmas could actually happen. 2. Write it down If you do not write your goals down, they will merely be wishes. Something magical happens when you put pen to paper, your writing etches its way into your subconscious. I have found that writing by hand is more powerful than on a computer, just as with any learning. 3. Make it time-bound Make your goals time-bound by setting deadlines and sub deadlines in case you break it down. Give yourself a realistic but aggressive time scales so that your goals challenge you. Goals are here to get things going as we all know that life is not a dress rehearsal. 4. Get it out there By this I mean put the list of goals up very visible at home or at work, or if you prefer to put images of what you want to achieve up. When we see our goals, we are sending an important message to the brain that activates us, and we then take steps to do what must be done to attain those goals. Tell the world about your goals as well, this will make it very hard for you to pull out If you have ever run a race for charity, for instance, you know what I mean. 5. Take action immediately You have to have momentum going and you should ideally be taking an action every day to bring you one step closer to the achievement of your goal. An example could be if you want to own a brand new Rolls-Royce, take action by ordering a brochure or even book a test drive. Bottom line So that was the 5 steps, not exactly rocket science. It sounds easy enough but the trick is to keep things up and move closer to achieving your goals every day. I have found that the more clarity I have on goals the more likely I am to achieve them. Working with goals has worked really well for me, especially when writing them down and seeing them every day. Your subconscious gets to work and sometimes it feels like you attain a goal on autopilot. So take time to sort out what you want and then place your order Having said that, if you do not have that clarity already it’s best to put something down now and you see these goals developing over time. Remember that goals aren’t carved in stone and as they are yours, you can change them as often as you like. RELATED: The Power of Perspective and How to Reach Your Goals

A Single Picture That Describes How Personal Branding Went Mainstream - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

A Single Picture That Describes How Personal Branding Went Mainstream - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career No, this isnt an Apple commercial.   I just wanted to use something you were familiar with; two of the most notable and respected corporate brands on the planet. As the web has evolved from web 1.0 to web 2.0, our personal brands have moved at the same capacity, from me 1.0 to me 2.0. I want you to analyze the following picture for 2-4 minutes and then read my commentary below. Web 1.0 / Me 1.0 Web 1.0 was an web filled with static pages. Each website built back then (over 5 years ago) had little to no interactivity. There were discussion forums, where people could talk about special interest topics or role play, depending on the forums purpose. Web 1.0 was a web where you had no say and these sites shouted at you. You were helpless! I mean you probably didnt notice or care at the time, but you used the web differently. The web to us was a shopping experience or a research database. You wanted to find the cheapest plane tickets or research the latest market trends for your school paper. Of course you still do that today, but theres more. Me 1.0 was when your brand had to sit in the passenger seat (see the Apple example above). This was a time when the corporate brand would not let you speak. Forget about visibility and voice; you were just another number. Me 1.0 was when, if you werent a corporate spokesman (executive/PR person), then you couldnt say a word! Me 1.0 was when you had to hide behind your corporation and for some of you, you might still do this for better or worse. Web 2.0 / Me 2.0 Web 2.0 is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Think of web 2.0 as a 2-way conversation. The openness of web 2.0 allows anyone to get engaged in a conversation online. The trend Ive been seeing is people crafting more blogs and less static (web 1.0) pages. The reason you might ask? Simply put, you can publish on-demand, get feedback quickly and you dont need to be a technical person to get started today. Web 2.0 is a world filled with blogs, social networks and bookmarking, which enable you to be on the same level as your peers and even your company. Google has allowed this to happen. Google values links from credible sources, which has skyrocketed the importance of blogs, leaving them at the top of the search results. Web 2.0 is the great equalizer in a world filled with nasty politics. Me 2.0 is when you are able to stand in front of your corporate brand (see the Microsoft example above). Anyone in your company can be a spokesperson, from the secretary to the CEO. This is fundamentally different from years ago because social media has given everyone the privilege and support to become a powerful brand, at a minimal cost. Me 2.0 is empowered to make a big difference in the world. Me 2.0 has enough free tools on the web now to accomplish years of work in a few months. The web has put some of the most intelligent and reputable figures at your fingertips; corporate brand sold separately. You can now command just as much attention as a company or you can choose to use your brand in support of your company! What have you done for me 2.0 lately?

Resume Writing Services - How to Find the Best Resume Writing Service

Resume Writing Services - How to Find the Best Resume Writing ServiceResume writing services are ideal for individuals who want to get a job interview or employment without spending a lot of money. In order to find the best service that can provide you with quality results, you should be able to know what to look for.One of the things you need to consider when choosing a resume writing service is their experience. Since the services will be writing your resume, it is important that they have a great deal of experience. A person who has no experience in the field is useless.Experience will ensure that the writer is not making the mistakes that other businesses make. This means the writer has a good grasp on how things work. It also gives you confidence that the resume will be written correctly.Quality should be a priority when you write a person's resume. You want to avoid wasting money on a service that provides poor quality service. When you look at resume writing services, look for a service that produces high quality output.Each writer is unique and each company is different. There are many resume writing services that provide a standard resume template. This does not mean that they are all bad service.Before you choose a service, ask for samples of work that was done by writers they had previously written. Look for a service that will provide you with a free sample. Some will charge you, but this can be an important factor when looking for a great resume writing service.Resume writing services are available in a variety of formats. You can also have them write a custom one for you. The quality of their work will vary based on the amount of work that has to be done.Finding a resume writing service that provides excellent results is very important. You should have a lot of confidence in the service that you choose because you hired them to create your resume. Look for a resume writing service that you can trust.

Use Your Resume to Tell a Story

Use Your Resume to Tell a Story If someone who did not know you read your resume, what information would she take away? Would she be able to articulate any of the following? Austin professionals succeed with these job career tips What skills you have What you have accomplished in your career What your experiences demonstrate What kind of job you would be ideal for Whats the Story Your Resume is Telling? A good resume tells your story. It demonstrates where you have been, what you have accomplished, the skills you have developed and the achievements you have made. Would a person reading your resume hear your story? Better yet, would that person be able to articulate it back to you or to someone else, like a hiring manager? Many of us feel our resumes are extremely clear and accurately demonstrate our skills. Often times, we are too close to the information to objectively look at our resume and see the story (or lack of a story) it portrays. Solicit an Objective Opinion Having an objective viewpoint is essential in knowing how someone will interpret your resume.  Follow these steps for soliciting that viewpoint: Give your resume to a friend or relative who hasnt seen it before. Ask your friend to read it over thoroughly. Once she is done, ask her to tell you what skills, achievements, and experiences are highlighted. Additionally, you could ask your friend/relative to look at the job description you are applying for and if you are a good fit for the job.  Warning:  the answers might surprise you!  If so, ask for some feedback, make some changes to your resume and repeat the process with someone else. Want to share your tips for resume reviews? Leave it in our comments section below!

The Dangerous Minefield of Modifying Previous Job Titles - Pathfinder Careers

The Dangerous Minefield of Modifying Previous Job Titles - Pathfinder Careers The Dangerous Minefield of Modifying Previous Job Titles True confession time: Did you ever ‘tweak’ a job title on your résumé because the title you worked under didn’t quite fit the work that you were doing? The truth is (and I’ve seen this a lot with clients as a résumé writer), many people have done at least some ‘creative job title engineering’ at some point… the fear of being caught diminishes simply as time has worn on, and as that particular job record slides further back into history, and the inhibitions to keep to the facts sometimes wear off as job seekers try to provide a more accurate snapshot of the work that they did. But did you know that when you change your actual job title of record to something different on your résumé, it is seen as lying by human resource personnel? Let’s put it this way: If a prospective employer is ready to make an offer and calls one of your former workplace human resource offices, the job title that you have on the résumé absolutely better match what is on your personnel record Don’t fall into the lazy assumption that “Well, everyone at that company knew I did so much more than that job title â€" I was the glue that held it all together. They’ll roll with it and understand.” Wrong! The person at the end of the line is not going to be as understanding about any job title modifications. And, depending on how long ago your employment was at that company, consider this: Staff may have turned over to the point that anyone currently in that position or department might not have ever met you before to even know what you did at a personal level. Changing official job titles a dangerous road to go down and is littered with potential landmines. Resist the urge to take any creative license on your work history. Why? Anything different than what is officially on record is a huge red flag and could lose you a job offer as a result. Your earnestness to convey the actual level of your work can also be misunderstood by a prospective employer as a deliberate attempt to deceive. All is not lost, however. There is a way to get across the FUNCTION of what you did when the job title doesn’t do it justice… and without misrepresenting yourself. A simple solution to this common problem is to provide the information as follows: Actual Job Title of Record (Title equivalent), Month/Year â€" Month/Year Example: Business Development Director (Vice President equivalent), 6/2003â€"7/2009 This way, you are stating the official title that you held while conveying the scope and level as an equivalency, but not claiming it. However, there are some exceptions. Sometimes, business owners decide that they want to go work for someone else, and decide to throw their hat into the ring.   While keeping to the facts and being honest, it would be a fair thing to say that the business owner of a small company has worn many hats in a definitive role- theyve been the chief cook, bottlewasher, and server. These business  owners run  all operations, finance, marketing, human resources, sales, executive, and customer service roles.   By conveying their specific job title towards their target job, they can position their experience towards that themed area. A good way to position experience in this situation is as follows: ABC Company Marketing Director / Owner, 6/2003â€"7/2009 By positioning the most desireable and relevant attribute of their business ownership towards the position for which they are applying, but also indicating ownership, they have covered the bases and satisfied role clarifications sought by human resource managers. Another problem that I see is that some clients will enjoy a steady progression of internal promotions in a company, but when it comes to listing the duration of their career at that particular employer, some people will take their most recent position and include all of the years encompassing their previous positions… under that one job. The fact remains that they were not doing that higher level job for the entirety of their career at that company, and stating all those years at that company under a single job is considered lying as well. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve started to delve into client work histories during consultations, only to be interrupted with the client stating that they had several positions at that employer (which were not stated/listed on the résumé). When I press for more details, it turns out that there are multiple positions that break down their work history into separate jobs. Claiming one long stint under one job title is an equally dangerous landmine in the road to a successful job search â€" some human resource managers see it as an attempt to extend the longevity and put more weight / attention onto that higher level position. However, the ironic part is that most human resource personnel agree that demonstrating career progression by listing those successive promotions is actually more helpful to them by demonstrating your value to the previous employer. Remember, being honest in developing your résumé means you have nothing to explain or defend in an interview. And with the amount of effort that it takes to actually land the attention of an employer these days, why would you want to jeopardize a potential job offer with a mistake (either intentional or unintentional due to laziness or assumptions) way back at the beginning of the job application cycle? Pay attention now, be honest, and never assume anything that people will ‘understand.’

Resolutions and Job Change Advice for 2009 -

Resolutions and Job Change Advice for 2009 - Who can resist resolutions for the new year? Its a fresh slate, a brand new calendar. A chance to start over. An incentive to really get started on something you have been putting off for too long. Many of my colleagues have some great suggestions for those of you looking to make a career change or find a new job in 2009. Lindsey Pollak, CareerBuilder and Quintessential Careers all have great resolution ideas. Barbara Safani suggests working towards a plan for 2009 that aligns hard work, improved timing and even some premeditated luck to help facilitate your 2009 goals. Id like to simplify it even more. In the U.S. this past year, you could not escape the topics of change and experience. Yes, these tended to be political issues, but what better concepts to focus on for your career resolutions? Do you need a change? Do you have the experience you need to get where you want to go? Do you know how to communicate that experience effectively? Change. Focusing on a need for change is the most important step you must take if a new job or career will be in your future. Write down your goals and carry them with you. Recognize that change does not happen without effort. Decide if you are ready and willing to take that next step. Experience. Clearly, experience comes into play when looking for a job. However, more often than not, it is more important how you communicate your experience. Can you effectively explain what you have to offer? If not, work on your pitch. If you cant explain what you can contribute, it will be very difficult for you to network effectively,to write a great resume and to interview to get the job. I hope that narrowing down your resolutions to: Choosing change and Understanding and communicating your own experience will help you make 2009 the year that you make your career goals come true! I want to wish everyone a happy and successful new year! All the best for 2009! Dont forget that we are here to help you with your goals! If youve decided on a change, Keppie Careers can help you identify and communicate your skills. We can write your resume and coach you to a new job. Contact me to see how I can help! Im offering a free teleseminar with coach Carolann Jacobs to help you dive into your job hunt. Click HERE for more information! photo by atomische

What You Can Do About Writing Your Resume after 12 Years on a Job Starting in the Next 9 Minutes

What You Can Do About Writing Your Resume after 12 Years on a Job Starting in the Next 9 Minutes The Argument About Writing Your Resume after 12 Years on a Job There's nobody correct method. For a fast start, it's particularly designed to keep reading to a minimum so it's possible to begin sending out your resume whenever possible. The written account is much worse than that which the screen can display. While writing a resume, it is quite important to remain focused. The gig economy stipulates a number of freelance opportunities that permit you to pick up where you left off. You're not writing a resume just for a few months. Maybe you took a couple of years off to increase your child, or needed to look after a sick relative. If you've got several years of experience, it's reasonable to only consist of information from the previous 10 to 15 decades. If You Read Nothing Else Today, Read This Report on Writing Your Resume after 12 Years on a Job The point is to prove that you don't believe in wasting your time. Furthermore, you may wind up in work which you can't do. These things may have changed since you last applied for work. An excellent editing job will take a small longerand some particular tactics intended to catch resume errors. You're not mistakenthis actually is a horror story. There's a guy who was born as a slave and doesn't understand what it means to be a completely free man. Again, that Solomon always looks for a means through, a means to keep living, a means to find his loved ones. Writing Your Resume after 12 Years on a Job and Writing Your Resume after 12 Years on a Job - The Perfect Combination There are some guidelines to follow that could help your resume shine. If you require additional info, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me. You can discover a list of helpful action verbs on page 34. There isn't just one correct resume format.