Excuse Me, Stop Making Excuses for Yourself

2014 is coming to an end soon in about 20 days time!

That equates to:

480 hours

28800 minutes

1728000 seconds!

The big questions now are...

"How many of your goals set at the end of 2013 or the beginning of 2014 have you accomplished?"

"What excuses have you given yourself for NOT achieving those ticks?"

"What am you going to do with this remaining time?"

"Is your time for the rest of the 345 days, well spent?"

Of course, only you and yourself would know which are the goals you have really made a conscious effort to achieve, and even if you missed it, no one else can judge, but yourself. (Hooray and pop that champagne! Great efforts Mates!)

However, on the other spectrum, there are also who have come up excuse of all sorts to keep hold and at bay the tedious tasks of running after their goals.

(Come'on!! You know who you're! Quit that sheepish smile already!)

I'm no saint, and I admit, there are some things which I've managed to achieve so far, and also those which I chased after halfheartedly and yes... made excuses for too!

Which is why for a parting post of the year, I thought it will be good to write something that is going to aid in our 2015's New Year Resolutions again!

I believe it will be unfair to generalize excuse-makers as weak...lazy...etc etc..

We all indulge in excuses once in awhile (Judgement of Valid vs Invalid save for oneself) don't we?

There are typically two scenarios where I classify as a "lack of" mental toughness.

1) Times we felt the fire in our guts and started immediately on the tasks, and finished ahead of schedule.

2) Times we procrastinated and wasted precious time before starting anything; afterwards, that's where all the excuses start popping out like little sparks on why things weren't completed.

The first scenario is pretty straightforward, you put in the effort, you accomplished the goal or missed it by a certain mark. Fair enough. Case closed.

In the second scenario though, I would describe as a lack of mental toughness to push oneself on the first step. However, mental toughness or will power, or any terms which is used to coin the tenacity of one's mental capacity to push oneself through tasks; is usually not within our own control.

Good news is though, we can take steps to ensure a higher percentage of success rates

What are your priorities and top goals?

We all have to define and rank the priorities that is going take up the very limited 365 days we have each year. Conflicts are bound to happen; ranking our goals ensures and minimizes the occurrences of such conflicts and gives us a constant check-in on what's important.

Consider this:

Your wife is 8 months pregnant, delivering soon; and you're in the midst of taking your MBA, where research work on that report is going to be tedious as hell; while at the same time, your boss is going task you to travel 1008 miles across the globe to supervise some project going on.

So... How do you prioritize your objectives?

Building that family and relationship?

Graduating with that MBA you've always dreamed about?

Complete that work task or project and secure a promotion which equates to better finances for: the baby, the family and the bills etc?

Which ranks higher?

Setting priorities greatly reduces the need for excuses later on as it simplifies with clarity what is what with conflicting values.

Define where you want to focus your energies into: Major or Minor objectives

Consider the following scenario:

You're in a Armed Forces mission team, your main objective is to take a out a enemy base while other objectives are to collect any plausible Intel on remaining remnants of enemy combatants.

Get the picture?

In All: prioritize your goals into such that, the minor objectives become a "by the way" thing without forsaking them at all while, while devoting time and energy to the bigger picture

Prioritizing your objectives into a major focus and several minor focuses makes it harder for excuses. I simply think of my priorities whenever a conflict occurs; before I can think of any excuse.

When one's priorities are clear, it is that much difficult to justify making excuses for them.

Cheers!
Have a Great Final Sprint into the Year
Jason

Positivity - The Next Two Rules

In the last post, we spoke about the 1st two rules of positivity which we term as Self Speak. (Apologies by the way, for this long overdue follow up)

Today we look at the next two rules which to improve our positivity.

Rule 3 - Consciously improve your self-speak. When someone compliments you on something good, learn to follow up with something positive; saying it out loud will help you to strengthen your beliefs in it.

So when your gym trainer says "Your workout today on the treadmill went great!", reply with something like "Thanks! I've been working really hard to improve and I think it's working!" instead of "I think I was just lucky today"

"But won't that seem like over-inflating myself?"

Think about it:

1) You put in the efforts didn't you?

2) Don't you deserve to feel good about yourself ?

Yes! We all deserve and need to! 

Because no one else will do nor say the same good things to you, as well or as willing as yourself!

Old habits are hard to break, so if you've been full of negative self talk for years like most people, a few kind words to yourself aren't going to fix the problem overnight. What you have to learn is how to make a concentrated effort to have some daily "self-conversation" to start taking over the negative.

Rule 4 - use visualization to literally see yourself removing such bad programs from your brain just like you remove unwanted software from your PC and replace them with positive self talk. Tell yourself each new day:

"I'm ready for anything!"

"I'm confident of my ability to survive!"

"I'm ready to make the right decisions"

"I'm all set to win every challenge!"

And that's it! The total 4 rules of being positive.

Well.. talking to yourself might seem crazy at first, but Hey! if learning and understanding how your conscious and unconscious mind works allows you to gain that mental edge to perform at your peak, why not?!

Besides... we all speak to ourselves constantly, don't we?

Jason

Positivity - The 1st Two Rules

1) Don't think of the red apple.
2) Don't look to your kitchen and see / wonder what your kids or spouse is doing.
3) Don't imagine your pet dog walking around like Goofy.

Bet you had a hard time to NOT do any of the above!

Why?

Because there are certain words and instructions which the human brain does not register; the "don't" word being one of them.

This is one of the many exercises our trainees used to go through while I was running training workshops few years back. ( Stop trying already! )

As the training workshops back then was related to Personal Protection; one of the most important factors we always share with our participants in terms of personal, survival, security or law enforcement safety is:

How we talk to ourselves - a.k.a Self Talk

Admit it! Yes! We do talk to ourselves! Don't you? - such Self Talk not only applied to those physical altercations as taught during our training but also in our personal, professional lives.

We all do, be it in words, or even a feeling described as butterflies in the stomach; especially when you're on a date with a hunk/ babe but feels like they are James Bond or La Femme Nakita waiting to pull their guns out on you?

Rule 1 - Listen to the truth.

Learn to trust your gut and your instincts, they are usually right. Not all self-talk is silent and unconscious. Most of us have spent years saying something negative about ourselves over and over without understanding how this can affect us.(ADMIT IT!)

• “I’m just lousy with my dates! ”
• “I can’t read a map !"
• “I can't control my diet!"
• “I always can't remember where I left my phone in the kitchen”
• “I hate to talk in front of a crowd,”

...... and lots more.....

Work? Do you ever find yourself saying

• “I’m only an average employee”
• “My boss doesn’t like me”
• “I’m no good at reports”

...... and even lots more.....

Any of the above sounds familiar?

Rule 2 - protect yourself from the negative.

Like most things, this is easier said than done. You can walk into the gym and tell yourself, “I’m gonna love the run on the mill today!” or "I'm gonna love my workout today!"

But if you don’t change your behavior, your technique, or your attitude, you’re probably still going to hate it.

Examine why you hate the gym:

• Is the machine too hi-tech to use or too big for you?
• Have you tried to ask for help from the trainers? or are you reluctant to?
• Have you had some bad training / experience?

Fix the outside, and then change that negative self talk into a positive.

• “I’m gonna do great today because I asked the trainers for help!”
• “I’m gonna rock today because I finally figured how it works!”

Self talk isn't just about words, it’s also about behavior, attitude and actions

When you finish an hour on mill, 30 pushups, crunches etc. do you tell yourself:

• “Great job I did there!”

Or do you just say

• “Wow that was lucky.”

When the someone compliments you on your great workout, do you say

• “Thanks man!”

or do you just say

• “It was no big deal, it's a lucky day.”

This is our "Self Speak". We talk to ourselves everyday, the only challenge is most people tend to talk to themselves more on the negative end, rather than on the positive spectrum.

Hopefully with this first 2 rules and with practice, we are all able to slowly see how a simple shift in our own internal paradigm enables an increase in the positive energy everyone is capable of carrying.

Jason

Before You Accept That Job...

We have all heard about many different stories about employers choosing their candidates and how they always prevent bad hires.

Now, what if we switched the roles and how about we ourselves as job seekers, assess whether a potential employer and its managers, are worth joining?

I believe we have all followed bad managers or bosses at one point or another in our professional lives, no matter what work we're in, what level we're at, agreed? ( I see many of you nodding your heads ferociously )

1. Take notice of how the office works. 

What do you notice and what are your 1st signs of perception as you walk through the office? Are the folks focused with a positive energy or look negative with a grudge-like look? These would tell you a great deal about the culture, managerial styles etc

2. What do you think of the interviewer?

Your interviewer should respect you in the bare minimum. If an interviewer is rude or hostile, belittles you etc ( you get the idea ); what you see is what you get. 

Period.

3. How does your success look like in the position?

Ask how you can excel and the company's expectation of you to reach that stage. If the interviewer or manager you're talking to can't tell you that, it's already a red signal. You're likely to be surprised with different expectations than initially thought.


4. Are you asked questions that relate to your ability to do the job?

You need to be asked questions relevant to the job you're going to do; which assists the interviewers to assess you, and also to let yourself know if the role fits your own skill sets / if you have the skill sets to perform the role. It helps to bring alot of clarity to the table for both parties. If they don't ask, it is a possible sign the managers are good team builders  and it's likely to cause problems once you're on the job.

5. Who, what, when, why, how long is the position open?

Asking the 5W 1H brings alot of information to you about the role and the company.  Hearing about the experience of people in the job previously won't always be conclusive, but it can give you some insight into what the position might be like - or the company, and the management

6. Ask how he / she manages?

• "What type of person works best (or not that well )with you?"
• "What do you think of your management style?"
• "How do you let your staffs  know they're doing well / where they can improve?"
• 
  

It's never too late to start on anything.

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5 Things Every Employer Wants to Hear in an Interview

Ever wonder what a potential boss wants to hear in an interview? What exactly can you say that will increase your chances of receiving a job offer?Thought I would share this great advice with you! Here are five things to communicate during an interview that will convince the employer you’re a great hire.

1. You will never have to tell me what to do twice. Every employer wants to know they can give you instructions once—and you’ll get the jobdone. I guarantee you that no employer wants to micromanage or ask an employee more than once to do something—no matter what it is.

2. I will complete the job/assignment you give me with excellence. The employer wants to hear that, no matter what, you are going to make it happen—that you’re going to get the job done and do it to the best of your ability.

3. I am an agreeable person. The employer wants to know that no matter what situation you are put in, you’re going to be a team player—and that you’re not going to create confusion, conflict, problems, or challenge their authority.

4. I am easy to correct and instruct—I am teachable. If there is something that’s not getting done, or if you’re not doing it correctly, the employer wants to know that they can approach you to discuss the situation and that you’re not going to fly off the handle or think you’re superior.

5. I am a loyal employee. I will not talk poorly about you. I will do everything I can to promote you and help promote this business. While I am working for you I will always be the best employee—whether for 1 year or 10 years. And should I leave, I will be rehireable, and I will leave in an amicable and responsible manner. Prospective employers nowadays understand that asking employees to make a commitment to stay for 10—or even 25 years—just isn’t realistic. Loyalty isn’t about longevity. It’s about being a committed and responsible employee while you’re with that company.

These five points are essentially what every employer wants to hear from a potential employee. Of course, this isn’t an end-all, be-all of an interview, but if you can communicate these very important points to a prospective employer during an interview, it will help the interviewer to feel at ease, sense that you are a great employee, and believe that you would be an asset to the organization.

5 myths of working with recruiters or recruitment consultants

Despite people saying of possible economic or job market turmoils, companies are hiring. Surprisingly, they are finding it difficult to find just the right people for positions that they need to fill. Recruiters are often called "headhunters".

Working with a recruiter can be a great benefit in your job hunt, but only if you understand their role in the hiring process. Unfortunately, too many people have misconceptions about what they do, and how to motivate them to be your advocate. It's time to clear the air and bust some of the myths.

1. MYTH: The Recruiter's Job is to Help a Job Hunter Find Employment

FACT: Recruiters work for employers, not job hunters. Their job is to find the best talent for the position the employer is seeking to fill, bearing in mind all of the employer's "must haves," "should haves," and "shouldn't haves." They aren't paid to help people to transition to new fields, but rather to find talented individuals who have done the job already in a different context, or people ready to move up to the next level in their same career path. To be sure, they help individuals whom they are able to place, but their primary responsibility is not to be a career counselor or coach for job seekers.

2. MYTH: All Recruiters Are Paid the Same Way

FACT: There are essentially two types of recruiters for full-time permanent jobs:

Contingency recruiting companies aren't paid unless their client company hires a candidate they submit. Competition among firms is intense. For individual contributor-type positions, employers will frequently offer multiple recruiters the opportunity to work on the same job posting, and only pay a fee to the recruiter who actually finds the right talent.

That said, many contingency recruiters form networks or alliances to cooperate with each other and do "splits" where they share job listings with one side, taking 50 percent of the commission for getting the listing and another side taking 50 percent for finding the successful candidate. This is much akin to realtors sharing commissions for the sale of a home. If a recruiter advertises a search for "my client," but doesn't include the name of the client, it is likely a contingency search.

Retained search firms are paid by a company to take on an exclusive role in a given search, with the understanding that they will receive a higher level of service and more complete candidate vetting than is typically the case with contingency firms. These firms are most often utilized for executive level searches. Fees earned for retained searches are generally much higher than for contingency searches, and are paid out at specific points in the search process.

3. MYTH: Recruiters Are Rude and Unresponsive

FACT: Recruiters, like anyone else with very limited time, prioritize who that time is worth speaking with, and for how long. They are likely to be very responsive to clients or potential clients who have job orders for them to fill, and people who they see as strong (potential) candidates for those job orders. They are likely to be much less responsive to individuals who approach them out of a sense of desperation, with a career change in mind, or who are not perceived as "A" class workers.

Most recruiters simply don't have the time to respond to the hundreds of unsolicited resumes or phone calls that they receive virtually every week. And it simply is not their role to coach people who aren't a close fit for the kinds of positions with which they work. It is common for a recruiter to make 50 to 100 phone calls each day, and with that kind of volume they simply don't have the time to deal with extraneous conversations.

4. MYTH: Recruiters Aren't Out to Get Job Hunters the Best Possible Compensation

FACT: In almost every situation, recruiting fees are pegged as a percentage of the new hire's first year base salary. The more you earn, the more they earn. Often they have inside information about what the company is willing to pay, and are able to obtain a higher salary than what a job hunter initially thought they could get. Companies do not take the recruiter's commission out of the new hire's compensation. Much more often they understand that they must pay a premium for candidates sourced through recruiters.

5. MYTH: Recruiters Don't Care About Creating Long-Term Relationships

FACT: Recruiters are essentially in a relationship-building business. The successful ones know that their long-term success is based on building their network of relationships. They remember who helps them on one search, and will be likely to want to aid that person later on. They appreciate when a job hunter isn't a good fit for a current job, but goes out of their way to introduce them to someone who will be. They love the repeat business that comes from gaining multiple job orders from the same company. One surefire way to get a recruiter's attention and build a long-term relationship with them is to offer to provide the names of people who are strong connectors to others, thought leaders, and high performers in their specialized field.

Not every job hunter will find success working with a headhunter, but if you are accomplished in your field and committed to staying in it, building relationships with recruiters who specialize in your skill set and industry will be a great asset in your job hunt.

Happy hunting!

5 tips to starting your own business - by Richard Branson

1. Listen more than you talk

We have two ears and one mouth, using them in proportion is not a bad idea! To be a good leader you have to be a great listener. Brilliant ideas can spring from the most unlikely places, so you should always keep your ears open for some shrewd advice. This can mean following online comments as closely as board meeting notes, or asking the frontline staff for their opinions as often as the CEOs. Get out there, listen to people, draw people out and learn from them.

2. Keep it simple

You have to do something radically different to stand out in business. But nobody ever said different has to be complex. There are thousands of simple business solutions to problems out there, just waiting to be solved by the next big thing in business. Maintain a focus upon innovation, but don’t try to reinvent the wheel. A simple change for the better is far more effective than five complicated changes for the worse.

3. Take pride in your work

Last week I enjoyed my favourite night of the year, the Virgin Stars of the Year Awards, where we celebrated some of those people who have gone the extra mile for us around the Virgin world. With so many different companies, nationalities and personalities represented under one roof, it was interesting to see what qualities they all have in common. One was pride in their work, and in the company they represent. Remember your staff are your biggest brand advocates, and focusing on helping them take pride will shine through in how they treat your customers.

4. Have fun, success will follow

If you aren’t having fun, you are doing it wrong. If you feel like getting up in the morning to work on your business is a chore, then it's time to try something else. If you are having a good time, there is a far greater chance a positive, innovative atmosphere will be nurtured and your business will fluorish. A smile and a joke can go a long way, so be quick to see the lighter side of life.

5. Rip it up and start again

If you are an entrepreneur and your first venture isn’t a success, welcome to the club! Every successful businessperson has experienced a few failures along the way – the important thing is how you learn from them. Don’t allow yourself to get disheartened by a setback or two, instead dust yourself off and work out what went wrong. Then you can find the positives, analyse where you can improve, rip it up and start again.

After few mths of waiting! Finally it's out!

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Prepare Your Journey for 2014

Year 2014 is already coming to the end of the 1st quarter in about 1.5 months time and for those who have achieved great in 2013 and looking to better and greener pastures in 2014, you have nothing to worry about! 

How about those who don't? No worries! Make use of 2014 to start building up your achievements and accomplishments; especially in these uncertain and challenging markets and times.

Many candidates in a challenging job market settle in their job and do not even consider changing jobs. They may choose to believe that jobs are scarce so why bother. That can lead to complacency.

Are you in that mindset? Are you playing your “A Game” or just laying low and meeting company standards?

I am here to say, “Wake up! In any job market, especially a challenging market, you must bring it!” You don’t know when the next lay-off announcement will come. On the flip side, you don’t know the big opportunities that you are missing in your company and beyond.

Let’s talk about how you can accomplish more at work, how you can go beyond your job description, and how you can prepare yourself for your next job. We will start working on your 2014 resume, today!

1.) Come to work every day with the intention of being the best you can be. Treat each customer – internal or external – like gold. They are gold as they are responsible for your paycheck and your future promotions. This is the attitude of a successful person.

2.) Perform a skill and knowledge check. Go to online boards and check your skills with those required in the marketplace. Ask your manager if she or he recommends any additional training, certifications, or work experience to elevate your performance. Integrate these target skills into your written personal goal statement, including a firm timeline for achievement.

3.) Does your company or your industry associations present awards or hold annual contests? Take advantage of those opportunities.

4.) Are there active task forces within your company? Or, perhaps your company has a quality board? Get involved in these ongoing improvement committees. They are a great way to work on corporate or department-wide efforts in which you can build relationships and accomplishments.

5.) Volunteer for new assignments. Perhaps you are not ready to lead a large project. However, volunteer to be a key contributor or to lead a portion of a project. Don’t wait to be asked. Talk to your manager privately about ways you can take on new assignments or lead efforts. Your manager may not be aware of your desire to reach beyond your daily functions.

This may seem like a daunting list to tackle. Break it down into manageable goals that you can attain on a quarterly basis. By end of 2014, you will have gained considerable skills and experience. As you accomplish new things, update your resume. Be bold and commit yourself to excellence!