< Career - News >

Stay or quit? - ARTICLE

noreply@blogger.com (vitalcoach) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:16:00 +0000

Suppose you face challenges with your current position.

It can be anything:

Your boss is a bully.
There is no future in that position.
You didn't get a raize in 5 years.
No exciting tragets in sight.
Etc.

Quitting is always an option.

Now, before you do here are some key questions to ask yourself so that you don't take a step you might regret later:

What is the exact limiting factor in your job right now?
Is there a way to change that?
What would it take to change it?
If you quit and find another similar position in another company, what are your chances of facing the exact same challenge again?
Is it a career change you want or just another similar type of job somewhere else?
If it is a career shift you need, what do you see yourself doing next?
Is your job the real limiting factor or is there something else going on in your life righ now that which truly frustrates you?
Etc.

You have many more questions you can ask.

It is better to brainstorm a bit before you take a final decision.

In my experience coaching people in all sorts of postions, many apparent professional dead ends can be overcome, once you get extra power and attack the challenge with the right strategy.

If you feel cornered with that one, get in touch and sign up for a coaching session. I am sure that even a 30 min power kick can clarify your options. I'll be happy to help you strategize that step

Think twice before you quit!

To your power!

It can easily take 1 to 5 years to shift careers - ARTICLE

noreply@blogger.com (vitalcoach) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:53:00 +0000

It depends of course from the field you want to engage into but as a general idea, think 1 to 5 years.

1 years if what you plan to do is close to what you were doing before.

5 years if it's a totally new unrelated field.

Many people fantasize about career shifts.

They often underestimate what it REALLY takes to be successful in a new field.

I don't want to discourage you to follow your dreams of course!

I am a life coach! It's my job to tell you to follow your dream!

What brings you definitely one step closer to reaching your goals though, is to make a few reality checks and see if your dream actually matches reality.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

What new studies do I need?
How long do they last?
What will be my source of income during that time?
Once I finish, how competitive is the field I am engaging into?
What's my business or career idea for the future?
What age will I be when I am done and ready to start?
If I am starting a new business, do I realize it frequently takes 1 to 3 years before I start making profit? Do I have the resources to survive during that time?
How passionate am I about this new career?

These reality checks are tests you want to go through before you engage into a new field.

Why? Because you don't want to end up half ways realizing that all this effort was a pipe dream.

Keep your two feet on the ground.

Be realistic about what it truly takes to win in this new career.

If after checking these question, you come up with a solid plan, this means you are READY TO GO!

Good luck!

Study or Party? - Do I need to choose? - STUDY STRATEGIES

noreply@blogger.com (vitalcoach) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:40:00 +0000

You are aware of that, right?

A hang over is NOT going to help you integrate what you need to know to pass your exams!

It takes 2 to 4 days to get over a heavy partying night + your level of energy might be prety low during that time.

Is it worth it?

Of course not!

Does it mean that you have to cut all social contacts and hide in cave?

Yeah... Right!

Look, if you approach your social life with some measure, there is no problem at all.

You can go and feast with your friends and have a good time.

It's excess that kills you!

So, here are some simple rules:

Yes! Do socialize! - It's good for you!
No excess!
Get enough sleep!
Give yourself a good energy boost with some healthy smothies or a jog early morning the day after.

This is it really!

You don't have to punish yourself and become a monk in a tower of books!

No need to!

Remember: Measure! No excess!

Good luck!

Make it practical! - STUDY STRATEGIES

noreply@blogger.com (vitalcoach) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:18:00 +0000

Theories can be dry!

Succesion of facts can be hard to digest.

Now, a good way to remember facts is to see these facts into action.

In other terms, turn a theory into a practical expression of that theory.

Make it practical! practice that theory rather than focusing on the theoretical fact itself.

Work with mind maps and other visual tools - STUDY STRATEGIES

noreply@blogger.com (vitalcoach) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:14:00 +0000

That's one major strategy that can radically shift the pleasure you have with any topic.

Some authors write in a super dry way and have no idea how to transmit what they know in an exciting way.

They will overlaod you with irrelevant information and flood you with detailed facts without giving your structure or the full picture.

If you take notes, rather than simply writing one fact after the other, put the name of the topic in the centre and from that center radiate facts out.

Ad colours to highlight what really matters.

Use short concepts rather tha full explanatory sentences.

This is what will digest any topic for you!

Choose small chunks of information you can easily digest - STUDY STRATEGY

noreply@blogger.com (vitalcoach) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:11:00 +0000

For every topic, you need to identify the core key concepts that represent the foundation for that topic.

Knoweledge is not a cloud of uncoherent information.

If you structure a specfic topic and oversee the way it is REALLY organized, then it makes it possible to digest.

Not every piece of information has the same value, right?

Some facts are totally central, while other elements might be really secondary or even irrelevant.

Rather than having a linear succession of facts, work with mind maps to organize your knowledge

Study SMART! - STUDY STRATEGIES

noreply@blogger.com (vitalcoach) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:09:00 +0000

Studying smart means that the strategies you design are the best you can come up with.

You need to understand how your mind works.

Your mind needs rest and breaks.

It needs shifts and variation, otherwise it gets bored.

It needs small chunks of information it can easily digest

Don't over discipline yourself - STUDY STRATEGIES

noreply@blogger.com (vitalcoach) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:05:00 +0000

Aiming too high IS a mistake!

Why? Because too much discipline actually kills the fun and excitement you might have about a topic.

Most topics have something interesting about them.

It simply depends on the angle or how you approach it.

Too much discipline requires too much will power and will power is something you can run off.

Instead, choose a study rhythm you can easily maintain without major effort.

That's the ideal goal!

I know... Sometimes you are pressured by time and you need to boost your productivity and study long hours.

But guess what? Usually, that's something you can predict, so plan ahead.

If you start early on a topic the mind sets associated with it are integrated in your mind progressively.

Give yourself space and time

Give rhythm to your study time! - STUDY STRATEGIES

noreply@blogger.com (vitalcoach) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:02:00 +0000

Rhythm means that you shifts activities frequently + take many short breaks.

The ideal study cicle can be around one hour.

After one hour, stand up, stretch your legs, get a snack - Take a 5 to 10 min break and come back.

You can do some stretches, push ups or light jogging.

Anything that clears your mind and energizes your body is good.

Strategize your study time! - STUDY STRATEGIES

noreply@blogger.com (vitalcoach) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Yes!

Absolutely!

This is a battle and what you want to conquer are skills and knowedge!

Now, of course, you mind can resits change.

The way to win this is to give rhythm to your study time + Don't over discipline yourself

Measure your productivity! - STUDY STRATEGIES

noreply@blogger.com (vitalcoach) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:58:00 +0000

If I ask you:

"How productive was your day?"

You can come up with the exact answer.

Really, estimate your daily productivity level between 0% and 100%

If you don't score as high as you would like, ask yourself:

"What would raise your prodcivity level from x% to 100%"

Then, do something about it!

It is not just about blindly rushing into it!

You need to strategize your steps and come up with a plan of action you can easily implement.

Kill distractions - STUDY STRATEGIES

noreply@blogger.com (vitalcoach) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:53:00 +0000

Here we go!

One of the key challenges you can face with power boosting your career is studying!

You REALLY need to study smart.

The first step is to kill distractions!

distractions come in many forms:

Your cell phone
Email
Surfing
Social life
Other priorities
Etc.

Basically you can find a million reasons not to do what you have to do.

It is not about spending longs hours of unproductive study time.

It is about being effective and smart!

We'll cover these various distraction strategies individually as they are the keys to your success!

TOTALLY stressed up at work!!! - 6 min - VIDEO

noreply@blogger.com (vitalcoach) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:24:00 +0000

http://vitalcoaching.com/tacklestress.htm

http://vitalcoaching.com/coaching.htm

Stick to what you are paid for - Dont take responsibility for your bosses actions or the organizations choices - Respect - Diplomacy - Professionalism - Have you been around a toxic colleague

http://vitalcoaching.com/tacklestress.htm

http://vitalcoaching.com/coaching.htm

I WANT MORE MONEY! - Wake up your wealth muscle! - 6 min - VIDEO

noreply@blogger.com (vitalcoach) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:10:00 +0000

http://vitalcoaching.com/moremoney.htm

http://vitalcoaching.com/coaching.htm

I WANT MORE MONEY! - Wake up your wealth muscle! - Mater the money energy - Not to be enslaved - Master what you spend - And how you earn it - Financial freedom - Love money - Money is not corrupted - But the way it is used can be - Contribution - Building a successful business or developing skills

http://vitalcoaching.com/moremoney.htm

http://vitalcoaching.com/coaching.htm

19 winning job interview strategies - CAREER ADVICE - 6 min - VIDEO

noreply@blogger.com (vitalcoach) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:21:00 +0000

http://vitalcoaching.com/interviewstrategies.htm

http://vitalcoaching.com/coaching.htm

19 winning job interview strategies - CAREER ADVICE - Competition - Be better! Win! - With equal cvs and qualifications, attitude preparation are keys! - Being well prepared multiplies your chances of getting selected - Positive energy - You might be working with one of these interviewers - Team player - It is easy to work with you - Character Edge - Coaching - Get the e-book

http://vitalcoaching.com/interviewstrategies.htm

http://vitalcoaching.com/coaching.htm

Why unconventional career choices can lead you to professional success

noreply@blogger.com (vitalcoach) — Mon, 14 May 2007 14:44:00 +0000

Do you have a degree or a master already?

The main question when you want to expand your career path is:

Are you going to do it the conventional way or the unconventional one.

The conventional way is to follow the traditional curriculum.

This means that you sit in a classroom for many years.

Get a diploma or degree.

Apply for jobs.

Get hired.

Work in an organization.

Etc.

That's the conventional way.

The unconventional way is to respond to a call.

You know that many people who succeed with their career did not follow the usual study line.

They took another path.

Probably 90% of the work force followed the conventional path while only a fraction took another road.

What exactly is that other road?

You identify a need in society.

You create a response for that need.

Now, you have to navigate and stay within the limits of the regulations of course.

You can't go around operating people if you are not trained as a surgeon.

In many fields, though, diplomas have much less weight and you can practice what you love without the hassle of getting certified or trained in that specific field.

Now, why would you do that?

Because it might be much faster!!! And, more effective!

The problem with classroom training is that you often end up using only a very small fraction of what you actually need for your profession.

Some of the tools you did learn might be needed as background or backup but very often even the skills you need to perform effectively with your profession are not there... Even after a few years training and a couple of diplomas!

Why is that? Because most of the times what really makes you successful in your profession can't be learned in a classroom: you have to learn it in the field via experience!

Practical experience is very different than rational knowledge.

Depending on the area you want to focus on, the rational knowledge and tools needed might be very minimal.

In other terms focusing on classroom type of training could be a mistake!

Suppose you want to set up your own business for instance, what do you think works best to learn the skills:

Starting your first business when you are 16 and selling this first successful enterprise to someone else by the time you are 20?

Sitting in a classroom for 4 years, learning the theory of business and economics and having a nice diploma and no experience by the time you are 20?

Which of these two directions do you think works best?

Which one will give you the greatest satisfaction and excitement?

Which one will give you the most valuable skills?

Which one will even get you the most likely hired?

These are the questions you can ask yourself.

I believe that if you have inspiration and focus on a field which does not require highly qualified technical skills, than the self discovery road might often be more suitable.

Does this mean that you don't need education at all?

Absolutely not!

You simply need the right balance of theoretical and practical experience.

The key word here is: right balance.