Isn’t it great to step out of the rat race every now and then and get some clarity? For some it’s a morning walk, for others it’s special time with the kids and family over the Christmas break. No matter what it is for you, the important thing is making time to do it!

We are at the start of yet another exciting year, 2008. If the energy and verve you were hoping to start the year with sometimes eludes you, read Masha Young’s article featuring simple tips to feel great.

Haven't captured those 2008 goals down yet? Read below why writing them down really matters! Then get moving… (or call us!)

…and for those who believe that insights often come from the most obscure places, you will enjoy reading about how rats and leadership have much in common.

Happy Valentines, Happy Chinese New Year and happy reading!

Best of life,

 

 

 

Did you know that less than 5% of people actually write their goals down? Capturing your goals down on paper isn’t just a formality, it’s an incredibly important part of the process of achieving what you want.

Translating your thoughts into existence on paper helps you to get clarity on exactly what it is you would like to achieve. As the old saying goes “a problem well stated is a problem half solved”. Not only that, the visual presence provides a fantastic cue for your memory, so your goal stays top of mind and this means it’s less likely to drift out of your conscious awareness. Keep your goals in a place you are likely to see them often.

Once something is written down, it certainly feels a little more official, especially if you share it with someone else! The act of stating what your goal is, immediately allows you to evaluate where you are now in relation to that goal and hence start to define the steps required to get to your outcome.

Writing a goal down creates a very definitive point to focus on. Focus is fundamental to goal achievement and being able to focus on your outcome rather than the potential obstacles increases your chance of success. As with other wonderful thoughts, writing your goals down also allows some extra space in your conscious mind so you can start to consider other things, like how to achieve them!

Not convinced to take that pen out just yet?

Your written goals provide a means to measure and track your success toward them. Writing objectives down works for the world’s most successful companies, it works for world class athletes… it will absolutely be of benefit for you. If you’re interested in reading more about setting goals, read: Ten brave tips for setting and getting your goals

Important Note: Given the fact that no one actually writes anything down anymore, please be assured that typing your goals will have an equally positive effect!

“People may not always believe what you say; but they will believe what you do.”
- Anonymous

By Belinda Cordina

For those of you still wondering what happened to 2007, you can breathe a little easier, there’s still one more chance to welcome in the New Year. Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration on the Chinese calendar and it starts on February 7. So there are still 6 days left to prepare your resolutions for the year ahead!

2008 is the year of the Rat. Ancient Chinese culture asserts that those born in the year of the rat tend to be pioneers. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. These qualities form the foundation of a great leader. In fact, many of the world’s great leaders were born in the years of the rat.

Believe it or not, there’s a lot we can learn from our rodent friends. In the spirit of Chinese New Year celebrations I’ve explored some of the leadership traits that rats naturally possess (both the furry and the human kind!)

1. Drive
   Rats are incredibly driven. They constantly pursue their personal ambitions and goals and remain focused on exactly what it is they want. When you know what it is you want, it’s so much easier to get it.
2. Focus on solutions
   Ever seen a rat running through an obstacle course? They just keep on going, determined to find a solution. Rats overcome obstacles by focusing on finding solutions to the challenges they face.
3. Hard working
   A rat knows the value of a hard nights work. They are relentless in their pursuit to get the job done and they’re not afraid of getting their claws dirty! A rat doesn’t rest until the job is done.
4. Energy to burn
   Rats don’t sit still for very long. They keep fit to ensure that they have plenty of energy to complete all that they need to do. Rats don’t often walk. They run because it’s the most efficient way to get where they need to go.
5. Rats are smart
   Rats are well known for their sharp wit and intellect and incredible organisation skills (it’s true, just look at Danger Mouse!)
6. Rats are survivors
   They’re not a needy breed and it doesn’t take much to keep them happy. They’re not discouraged by the opinions others have of them and they don’t get side tracked by things that don’t really matter.
7. Rats love to be in the driver’s seat
   Rats like to be in control. They enjoy leading rather than being told what to do. Famous leading rats are Shakespeare, Mozart, Churchill, Washington and Truman Capote.

The industrious and hard working rat can teach us a lot! The next time you’re facing a leadership or business challenge, consider what a rat with the qualities above might do… the visual will probably trigger a little smile (or even your nose to twitch) and may spark the exact brave thinking required to overcome your challenge.

Find out more about Belinda Cordina here.

By Masha Young

It’s 2008! Are you grinning from ear to ear madly excited about the months to come? Perhaps you are a little overwhelmed by the feeling that it’s yet another year to trudge through? If the thought of the challenges ahead makes you want to hide under the covers until something magically rights itself on your behalf, I have great news for you, it can change! Below are 10 steps that will instantly get you in a more resourceful and empowered state. Your year is about to get truly magical.

1. Sit up (your physiology has an effect on your state of mind)
2. Take a few deep breaths (Oxygen revitalises the mind)
3. Smile (your facial muscles will send signals to you body telling it you are happy)
4. Sip on some cool and refreshing water (Your body needs hydration)
5. Become aware of how you are relating to yourself. Would you treat a close friend in that way? Decide that you are special, grab a pen and list ten reasons why (The exercise appears simplistic but you will be astounded at the change in your state of mind)
6. Write down everything you did last year that you are exceptionally proud of, refuse to play down your successes.
7. Start asking yourself empowering questions. If you ask ‘why is this so hard?’ you will get millions of negative responses to reinforce your unresourceful emotion. Why not ask ‘how can I make this easier, more pleasurable?’ or even better ‘How can I make this fun?’(If you’re feeling dire, truth is it’s probably related to the answer you gave yourself to the last question you asked yourself)
8. Chose a negative belief, replace it with a positive & empowering statement. Whenever it comes up replace it with your positive belief, one day it will disappear.
9. In 2008 promise to spend only 10% of your time on the challenge at hand and 90% on brainstorming & actioning solutions. (Write down your solutions, pick one and forge ahead!)
10. Use your imagination and visualise. Focus on what makes you feel good, on what you want not what you don’t want, and then pay attention to the detail of the image. (Your mind conjures up the image of whatever you focus on as a precedence to making it happen, make it what you want and make it as specific as possible)

Feeling good yet?

These 10 steps can change your state of mind dramatically, remember that ‘whatever you think, you are right!’ Your sense of lethargy or discouragement is coming from the way you are perceiving your immediate situation. What you are experiencing is not due to the event at hand, but entirely down to the meaning you are giving to the events in your life. These are conditioned by past experiences of which everything you see is filtered through. Whenever you feel less than enthusiastic, change the meaning you are associating with the event, ask yourself an empowering question, brainstorm a solution and you’ll change the way you feel and therefore the outcome and result you get.

Take responsibility and make a choice to make 2008 a truly joyful and memorable year. There is no time like the present to start feeling good. Einstein said that the definition of madness is 'doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result’. Don’t delay any further, transform the way you do and see things this year starting now, and watch and marvel as a new world of exciting possibilities unravels before you.

Find out more about Masha Young here.

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