92 11th Avenue, Tauranga

1 Palmer Place, Te Puke

17b Commerce Street, Whakatane
 

Job Club Newsletter

...November 2009...
 
Have you had a good year?...

We are coming to the end of another year, and this has been a hard one for a lot of people.  The swine flu, the global recession, the ongoing headlines about job losses, rising unemployment, loss of confidence in the economy, the terrible tsunami that devastated Samoa, Tonga and our other Pacific cousins and increasing troubles in Afghanistan.  Even the All Blacks have been a bit shaky!

How has this year affected you?  And even more importantly, how have you responded?

This is an ideal time to consider your life, and the direction you want to take next year.  Are you  happy in your job?  What can you do to 'future-proof' yourself so that you have ongoing opportunities no matter what the economy. 

What changes have you got coming up in your life, and in your family that you will have to make adjustments for? 

How is your health?  And your financial health?

By conducting a thorough review of all facets of your life you will be able to make plans that will help you succeed in 2010.  And these plans are what turns those New Years Eve resolutions into Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely goals. 

When setting goals, it is important to know what motivates you.  It is this that keeps you focused on your goals, gives you a sense of purpose and means that even when things start going against you as they invariably do, you keep on track until the tide turns and life starts flowing easily again.  Read our article below to help discover your motivating forces

Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all.

Sam Ewing

The Gardeners Badge

A landscape gardener ran a business that had been in the family for two or three generations. The staff were happy, and customers loved to visit the store, or to have the staff work on their gardens or make deliveries - anything from bedding plants to ride-on mowers.

For as long as anyone could remember, the current owner and previous generations of owners were extremely positive happy people.

Most folk assumed it was because they ran a successful business.  In fact it was the other way around...

A tradition in the business was that the owner always wore a big lapel badge, saying Business Is Great!

The business was indeed generally great, although it went through tough times like any other. What never changed however was the owner's attitude, and the badge saying Business Is Great!

Everyone who saw the badge for the first time invariably asked, "What's so great about business?" Sometimes people would also comment that their own business was miserable, or even that they personally were miserable or stressed.

Anyhow, the Business Is Great! badge always tended to start a conversation, which typically involved the owner talking about lots of positive aspects of business and work, for example:

  • the pleasure of meeting and talking with different people every day

  • the reward that comes from helping staff take on new challenges and experiences

  • the fun and laughter in a relaxed and healthy work environment

  • the fascination in the work itself, and in the other people's work and businesses

  • the great feeling when you finish a job and do it to the best of your capabilities

  • the new things you learn every day - even without looking to do so

  • and the thought that everyone in business is blessed - because there are many millions of people who would swap their own situation to have the same opportunities of doing a productive meaningful job, in a civilized well-fed country, where we have no real worries.

And so the list went on. And no matter how miserable a person was, they'd usually end up feeling a lot happier after just a couple of minutes listening to all this infectious enthusiasm and positivity.

It is impossible to quantify or measure attitude like this, but to one extent or another it's probably a self-fulfilling prophecy, on which point, if asked about the badge in a quiet moment, the business owner would confide:

"The badge came first. The great business followed.

What is motivation?

The key to motivation is having the desire and the willingness to do something.     The desire may come from a dream of yours - the willingness to make it happen is what turns you from a dreamer into an achiever.

A passionate desire for something pleasurable, coupled with the avoidance of pain creates the strongest motivation. The best way motivate yourself is to set inspiring worthy goals. You are most likely to stay motivated if you have plenty of good reasons to accomplish your goals and are mindful of the consequences of failure.

What about you?

  • What's currently in your life that you would like not to be there any more?

  • What's not in your life that you would like to have?

  • How much do you want your life to change?  Enough to take some targeted action?

If you are committed to change you'll find a way even if there doesn't seem to be one.

What would get you up early, keep you up late, and live with purpose and passion? If you can find your answer to that question you'll be well on your way to living a fulfilling purpose filled life.

What do you really want to do? What will motivate you to do it?  Think of times when you were motivated and times when you weren't. What was the difference?

Take time to reflect and discover what motivates you then use it to fuel your motivation.

 

Would you like an up-to-date record of your accomplishments this year?

Have a professional  CV created and bound!

Tel: 07 573-6465 and ask for Kim.

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Registered company name: Waimarie Training and Development Ltd.