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10 Personal Development Tips You Can Try Today

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article
 
Growing personally and professionally are ways to remain competitive and stay ahead of the market today. As a professional, you have to always be aware of the fact that your personal development starts with you; it is your responsibility to know how you want to improve and advance in your career and in life in general.

Personal development doesn’t have to be complicated too. Simple changes to how you do things, actively seeking new skills to master, and learning continuously are among the things you can do to continue to grow as a person and a professional. These next 10 personal development tips will help make managing your own growth even easier.

1. Now Is the Time

Don’t wait until tomorrow to take charge of your personal growth. Do the things that you can do today and worry about the rest later. Now is always the best time to start because the longer you wait, the further away you are from the goals you want to achieve.

Besides, there is no room for procrastination in a market as competitive as today. Whether your goal is to advance in your career, to make a jump to a new field, or to simply grow as a person, figure out how to achieve that goal and take action today.

2. Small and Steady

Big leaps are exciting and often take you to new places, but it is not always possible to make such a big leap forward. Rather than wait for the opportunity for that big step to come, focus more on making smaller steps and steady growth.

Taking small steps to improve yourself as a professional is much more sustainable than waiting for big opportunities to seize. You will be surprised by how far you can go when you start taking one small step after another.

3. Have Clear Objectives

It is much easier to plot a course when you know exactly where you are going; the same principle applies to personal development as well. There is nothing wrong with having big goals to achieve, but you also need to set smaller, more reachable milestones to keep you going.

Having clear objectives allow you to set clear plans on how to achieve them. More importantly, they let you stay driven for longer.

4. Define a Plan

Now that you have the objectives nailed, it is time to work on a detailed plan for how to achieve them. If the goal is to land that managerial position you have always wanted, find ways to showcase what you can do to get the attention of your superiors.

When the goal is to boost your wealth, learn more about how you can offer services and generate additional sources of income while working a full-time job. Every objective is reachable; you just have to know how to get there in a timely manner.

5. Learn from Others

One of the fastest ways to learn – especially for personal growth – is by learning from others. Fortunately, you have plenty of role models to follow and people whose skills and experience you can absorb.

Let’s say you want to start investing in the financial markets. Learning about the basics and mastering technical analysis are things you can do on your own. Quickly gaining the experience to be a successful trader, on the other hand, isn’t as straightforward.

As a solution, you can learn from other traders who are more successful in the market. It is possible to turn to trading signals and the technical strategies that other traders have used to speed up your learning process.

6. Appreciate Your Achievements

We’re back to the smaller milestones you have set earlier. The main purpose of having smaller milestones to achieve is so that you can appreciate hitting those milestones. Do so and show yourself the appreciation you deserve.

Whenever you feel tired of pushing for the big objectives, the smaller milestones will keep you going. You know that hitting one milestone means you are one step closer to your final goal. You can stay motivated for longer and you will be able to focus on your goals better too.

7. Challenge Yourself

There is nothing wrong with feeling afraid or uncertain when trying new things. Those emotions are parts of the process. Overcoming those emotions is exactly how you become a better person and a more capable professional.

You also want to challenge yourself frequently. Learn new skills and practice implementing those skills in real-life situations. You can bring the new abilities to work and become a better professional too. Don’t be afraid to try new things; don’t be afraid to fail at those things, especially on your first try.

8. Explore Your Passion

While you are at it, make sure you also listen to yourself better. Learn more about your true passion and give yourself the opportunity to pursue that passion to the fullest. You’ll be surprised by what you can achieve when you start doing things you are really passionate about.

Going after your passion is a realistic thing to do, especially since you have your full-time job acting as a safety net. As long as you can utilize your time effectively, you’ll be able to achieve great things while following your true passion.

9. Evaluate

We discussed how it is completely okay to fail when trying new things. Failures aren’t such a bad thing, especially when you think about the many things you can learn from them. All you need to do is be more critical about your failures – and your successes.

Evaluate your steps, assess the new skills you master, and get a clearer view of your progress as a whole. Whenever adjustments are needed, don’t hesitate to change your course and return to pursuing the big objectives you have in mind.

10. Persevere

Patience is your biggest asset in personal development. You cannot achieve great things overnight; everything takes time and you have to be patient enough to go through the process.

At the end of the day, every step you take to grow as a person and a professional is a step worth taking. With these tips in mind, personal development is even more manageable than you think.

The Big Picture of Business – Wisdom From the Disasters, Recovery Through Compassion and Resilience

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StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship ArticleThe month of September saw natural disasters. In times of crisis, people came together to help each other.

Forces of nature: from disasters came citizens with noble hearts and a willingness to serve others. Young people sought to help, thus inspiring lifelong commitments to community stewardship. The beacons of light came from caring people, corporate contributors and a spirit of goodwill.

Wisdom from hurricanes and natural disasters: Bring your hearts and your hands. The worst disasters bring out the best in caring, compassionate people.

Hurricane storms do not redefine who communities are… they make communities stronger. Volunteers are the glue to resilient communities. In rebuilding after hurricanes, don’t just build the way it was. When there are tragedies, there will always be helpers. Heroism emerging from Harvey and Irma.

The more we do for others, the more we feel the “potlache” of giving to others. Natural disaster stages: Warning, hit, search and rescue, recovery, rebounding, analysis, flood prevention planning, learning from crisis, community development.

Commit to a program of volunteering. Heart warming scenes of neighbors helping each other in disaster spark the passion of citizens to contribute further. Ongoing community needs for volunteers are supplied by Volunteer Houston: http://www.volunteerhou.org. This is the central contact, as they work with hundreds of non-profit organizations in the greater Houston area, ascertaining needs and scheduling volunteers. Volunteer Houston gave me their Lifetime Achievement Award two years ago. To volunteer statewide in Texas, OneStar Foundation is the coordinating entity: http://onestarfoundation.org.

Houston Strong motivational campaign launched. It embodies resilience, rebounding from disaster, teamwork and volunteer spirit. Other memorable campaigns have included: Houston Proud, Texas Cares, Clutch City, H-Town, The City With No Limits, Houston’s Hot, Magnolia City, Bayou City, Energy Capitol, Space City, Texas Sesquicentennial, Texas State of Mind, Don’t Mess With Texas, Spirit of Texas. There were classic radio jingles: “My Home Town” and “Sounds of the City.” And there was “Houston Legends,” my seventh book, a comprehensive city history that inspired community forums, volunteer recognition and nostalgia.

George R. Brown would be so proud that the convention center bearing his name would temporarily house flood victims. He was a community leader and would be warmly greeting the citizens if he were here today. I knew Mr. Brown in the 1960s and 1970s, first as friends of President Lyndon B. Johnson, then later serving together on charity boards. His favorite accomplishments included the establishment of intercity educational and daycare programs. He was born in Belton, TX, joined the U.S. Marines in World War I and co-founded the construction firm Brown and Root. Pictured, GRB and brother Herman Brown. GRB and LBJ.

There are 23,000 non-profit organizations in the greater Houston area, in action to assist flood victims and citizens in need. Many other cities are sending rescue vehicles, supplies and volunteers. Kudos to friends and community supporters. Volunteers are always to be thanked for their service. In crises and other times, neighbors help each other.

In recovery from the disaster weather crisis, it is important to honor volunteers for their service. The more we do, the more we feel the “potlache” of giving to others.

Realities of giving and charity:

  • Ego charities benefit the organizers.
  • Celebrities often get duped into promoting causes.
  • Charitable involvement is not a game or contest.
  • Most companies give to communities.
  • Cause-related marketing is a good thing.
  • Some companies use “philanthropy” as a marketing scam.

Best advice to You, the Humanitarian:

  • Give generously.
  • Pick causes about which you are passionate.
  • Serve causes which serve many.
  • Your time is your most valuable commodity.

We’re a very giving society and want to make a difference. Companies making donations should be recognized. Human caring and hours of their volunteer service are what matters most. After the crisis, many unsung heroes render glorious service behind the scenes, where it matters.

Love and respect to the humanitarians.

About the Author

Hank MoorePower Stars to Light the Business Flame, by Hank Moore, encompasses a full-scope business perspective, invaluable for the corporate and small business markets. It is a compendium book, containing quotes and extrapolations into business culture, arranged in 76 business categories.

Hank’s latest book functions as a ‘PDR of business,’ a view of Big Picture strategies, methodologies and recommendations. This is a creative way of re-treading old knowledge to enable executives to master change rather than feel as they’re victims of it.

Power Stars to Light the Business Flame is now out in all three e-book formats: iTunes, Kindle, and Nook.

What Degrees Do You Need to Become a Veterinary Surgeon?

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StrategyDriven Professional Development ArticleIf you’re researching the viability of becoming a veterinary surgeon, you’ve likely already discovered it takes a lot of hard work, grit, determination and skill. Most veterinary surgeons decide from a young age that this is the career route they want to progress down, and so plan their school-age studies to lead them towards their end goal.

That’s not to say, though, that you can’t pivot and retrain to become a vet or veterinary surgeon once you’ve already graduated from high school or college. Regardless of your pathway into training, here’s a brief overview of the degrees and qualifications you’d need to become a veterinary surgeon.

Your route into studying Veterinary Science…

Typically, to set yourself up from a young age you’ll need to select the right subjects to study at school and high school. To win a place on a higher education course to study veterinary science, you’ll need to have attained high grades in the Sciences – Biology, Chemistry, Physics – as well as Mathematics. It’s also useful to have studied some Latin, if that’s available on your school curriculum; many animal genus names stem from Latin sources, so you’ll more easily get your head around species groupings if you have a basic understanding of this ancient language.

If you don’t find yourself to have a natural ability with the Sciences at a young age, you may find progressing towards a career as a veterinary surgeon difficult. A propensity for these studies will put you in good stead to succeed; if you underperform at this stage, it’s not to say you can’t make it through to your desired job role, you’ll just need to continue to work hard.

Typically, once you’ve graduated high school, you’ll need to study veterinary sciences at a higher level — at college or university, for instance — before receiving a place on a dedicated veterinary school course.

While at Veterinary school…

Congratulations on making it into veterinary school! Now you’re here, you’ll need to buckle down and truly commit yourself to your studies.

In order to become a veterinary surgeon, you’ll need to complete all the standard veterinary training your course offers, as well as specializing in surgical skills. The level to which you specialize is somewhat up to you; you may want to narrow down your skillset to operating on a species of animals, such as cats, dogs or bigger animals such as livestock and horses.

Once you’ve completed your veterinary school training, you may be able to look for entry-level jobs — through a platform such as www.vetpetjobs.com.au — to get started on your professional journey.

Further training required…

If you struggle to land a job straight out of veterinary school, don’t worry; it’s an incredibly competitive sector to work in.

Consider what you can do to further bolster your chances and make your application more desirable. Perhaps you can undertake further training, or volunteer at a rescue center, zoo or small veterinary practice; this work experience will do wonders for your confidence and skills, as well as producing a standout application.

The Big Picture of Business – Entrepreneurs’ Guideposts to Real Business Success

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StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship ArticleThere are many romantic notions about entrepreneurship. There are many misconceptions.

People hear about entrepreneurism and think it is for them. They may not do much research or may think there are pots of gold at the end of the rainbow. They talk to other entrepreneurs and learn that it all about perseverance and building sweat-equity in companies.

The wise entrepreneurs have mentors, compensated for their advice, tenured in consulting and wise beyond reproach. Advisers are important to fitting the entrepreneurs to the right niche. Mentors draw out transferrable talents to apply to the appropriate entrepreneurial situation.

The corporate mindset does not necessarily transfer to small business. Just because someone took early retirement is not a reason to go into a startup business. People who worked for other people do not necessarily transfer to the entrepreneurial mode.

Those who have captained teams tend to make better collaborators and members of others’ teams. Entrepreneur is as entrepreneur does

Make an equitable blend of ambition and desire: Fine-tuning one’s career is an admirable and necessary process. It is quite illuminating. Imagine going back to reflect upon all you were taught. Along the way, you reapply old knowledge, find some new nuggets and create your own philosophies.

We were taught to be our best and have strong ambition to succeed. Unfortunately, we were not taught the best methods of working with others in achieving desired goals. We became a society of highly ambitious achievers without the full roster of resources to facilitate steady success.

Every company must and should put its best face forward for the public. Public perceptions are called “credence goods” by economists. Every organization must educate outside publics about what they do and how they do it. This premise also holds true for each corporate operating unit and department. The whole of the business and each sub-set must always educate corporate opinion makers on how it functions and the skill with which the company operates.

Gaining confidence among stakeholders is crucial. Business relationships with customers, collaborators and other professionals are established to be long-term in duration. Each organization or should determine and craft its own corporate culture, character and personality, seeking to differentiate itself from others.

Every business, company or organization goes through cycles in its life. At any point, each program or business unit is in a different phase from others. The astute organization assesses the status of each program and orients its team members to meet constant changes and fluctuations.

I’ve talked with many entrepreneurs and founders of companies which rapidly grew from the seed of an idea they had. Most admitted enjoying the founding phase but lost interest shortly after giving birth. Over and over, they said, “When it stops being fun, I move on.”

After the initial honeymoon, you speak with them and hear rumblings like, “It isn’t supposed to be this hard. Whatever happened to the old days? I’m ready to move on. This seems too much like running a business. I’m an idea person, and all this administrative stuff is a waste of my time. I should move on to other new projects.”

When they come to me, they want the business to transition smoothly and still make the founders some money. They ask, “Are you the one who comes in here and makes this into a real business?” I reply, “No. After the caretakers come in and apply the wrong approaches to making something of your business, I’m the one who cleans up after them and starts the business over again.” The reality is that I’m even better on the front end, helping business owners avoid the costly pitfalls attached to their losing interest and abdicating to the wrong people.

Entrepreneurial companies enjoy the early stage of success…and wish things would stay as in the beginning. When “the fun ends,” the hard work begins. There are no fast-forward buttons or skipping steps inn developing an effective organization, just as there are no shortcuts in formulating a career and Body of Work.

Questions to ask entrepreneurs:

  1. Do you have goals for the next year in writing?
  2. Are the long-range strategic planning and budgeting processes integrated?
  3. Are planning activities consolidated into a written organizational plan?
  4. Do you have a written analysis of organizational strengths and weaknesses?
  5. Do you have a detailed, written analysis of your market area?
  6. Do detailed action plans support each major strategy?
  7. Is there a Big Picture?

About the Author

Hank MoorePower Stars to Light the Business Flame, by Hank Moore, encompasses a full-scope business perspective, invaluable for the corporate and small business markets. It is a compendium book, containing quotes and extrapolations into business culture, arranged in 76 business categories.

Hank’s latest book functions as a ‘PDR of business,’ a view of Big Picture strategies, methodologies and recommendations. This is a creative way of re-treading old knowledge to enable executives to master change rather than feel as they’re victims of it.

Power Stars to Light the Business Flame is now out in all three e-book formats: iTunes, Kindle, and Nook.

Industries That Provide Stable Careers

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article
 
It’s important to find a job that feels like the right fit. Any job is going to be challenging and exhausting, at times, but that doesn’t mean you should go for a role that you hate. The key is to focus on your preferences as well as your academic ability or experience. But you probably want to pursue a career path in an industry that can provide a stable long-term job. If you’re trying to find a career that both suits your personality and promises the possibility of financial stability (for as many years as possible) then here are some of the best industries to consider.

Real estate

The property market provides a very stable landscape for anybody looking to build a long-term career. If you have a passion for socializing with new people on a daily basis then you could translate this skill into a sales environment. Essentially, that’s the core requirement of a real estate representative; you have to know how to sell properties to potential buyers. But this is definitely one of the best sales environments in which to be based because you’re dealing with an asset that’s always going to have a market. The better you are at selling, the better your commission will be. It’s a career that can earn you a substantial income. If you’re interested then you should look into potential routes for pursuing a career in this industry. Usually, you need a license if you want to practice real estate.

Construction

The construction industry is another one that can provide very stable job opportunities. Governments, businesses, and even individual homeowners always need experienced professionals to help them construct things. There are so many different routes to take in this industry, but many of the job positions can provide a long-term career that spans years or decades (depending on your aspirations). If you’d be looking for a senior role in a well-paying career then you might want to consider becoming a civil engineer. You could study to get a civil engineering degree online. Getting qualified at such a high level would open many different doors for you in the construction industry. It all depends on the type of job role you want to secure.

Marketing

What’s the one thing that businesses will always need? Marketing. It’s a very smart industry in which to pursue a career if you’re looking for stability. If you’re a creative person who wants a job role that’ll allow them to tackle different challenges with every new project then there are plenty of paths you could pursue. You could design artistic adverts, write captivating marketing copy, or simply communicate ideas with an equally-passionate team. Marketing is a great career path to pursue if you’re creative, sociable, or you simply want to be part of a constantly-changing industry. With technology and social media driving the new landscape of advertising, you won’t have to worry about becoming bored of this career route; the industry is always adapting to a changing landscape.