Positive Energy - Making the Most of Yourself?

July 2007

Dear Anne

Welcome to another edition of Positive Energy from Milecastle Consultancy.

In this month’s newsletter we’re going evaluate where you shine and how you can make the most of your assets. Together we’ll analyse your strengths, skills and qualities to boost your confidence and help you reach your goals!

I hope this newsletter is helpful to you. Please do send me your comments and success stories. Click here to email me or call me on 01697 747 821.

Best wishes,

By the time we reach adulthood most of us have adopted a can do/can’t do attitude. We underestimate our own strengths, skills and qualities. We find it hard to entertain the possibility that new skills can be learnt or old skills can be transferred. That’s when we find ourselves stuck in a rut.

Perhaps you dream of getting a new job, but don’t feel you have the right skills or experience? Perhaps you’d like a promotion or pay rise, but don’t have the confidence to ask? Or do you feel taken for granted by friends or family, but don’t know how to assert yourself?

We’d all like to make changes in our lives. But how often do we actually get round to doing it? Now’s your chance!

Many of us are quick to dismiss goals and aspirations because we assume they’re beyond our reach. But if you actually take the time to analyse what skills and strengths are required, then you’ll realise that you already have a lot of the necessary qualities.

Are you ready to give yourself an incredible confidence boost? Find ten minutes today to complete the exercise below. By the time you’ve finished you’ll be energised, motivated and ten times closer to reaching goals you never dreamed were possible.

Identify your goal. If you have lots of goals, then focus on them one at a time. Write down one thing that you’d like to change or achieve. It doesn’t matter how big or small it is.
Identify what qualities, strengths and skills you need to achieve your goal. Take the time to consider everything that you’ll need in order to reach your goal. For example, if you want to lose weight, will you need an understanding of what your diet should consist of? Do you need to increase the amount you exercise? Do you need commitment, support and motivation?
Identity what you’ve already got going for you. Finally identify what skills, qualities and strengths you already have that will help you to achieve your target. Perhaps you have a loving and supportive family that will help and encourage you. Or maybe you’ve already got the self motivation and commitment required. Or do you take regular exercise, but can find time to increase the amount you do?

It’s amazing how attainable goals can be when they’re broken down like this. If you’ve completed this exercise then you are already well on your way to achieving your target.

Theresa Yellford from Thame wanted a new project.

Theresa worked in the sales department at the local paper and the department had just won a company award. They were due a visit from the group sales manager who was going to present the award and Theresa wanted to be involved in arranging the day. She wrote in her Springboard workbook “My goal is to be the person in sales responsible for Mr Harris’s visit”. When she looked at this she really had no idea how to achieve the goal. I then asked her “If that is your goal, what is the first thing that you need to do?”

She needed to go to their personnel office and ask about being involved, but she was afraid they would laugh at her. When we identified her skills and experience, she realised that she had already organised several events in her last job and had recently started planning her daughters wedding. These gave her all the necessary skills that she needed to arrange the visit and she then felt much more confident that she could convince personnel that she was the person for the job.

How To Get What You Want Out Of Life by William J Reilly – A step by step guide showing you how you can make the most of what you have going for you now and in the future.

Ready for Anything by David Allen – Many of us put off starting anything new because we feel we don’t have enough time. This book will help you to create space for success.

Turning 50 by Olivia Wu – I have listed this for all our new Fresh Steps subscribers and it has fabulous ideas for creative celebrations, whatever our age. It’s never too late to set yourself new goals.

BlogPositive – A blog is a bit like a regular newspaper column; it weaves current issues into useful content. You will find mine, BlogPositive, at www.suehewitt.typepad.com.

Milecastle Consultancy Ltd
Tel: 01697 747 821 Email: sue.hewitt@milecastle.co.uk Website: www.milecastle.co.uk
Milecastle Consultancy Ltd, 1 Rose Cottages, Gilsland, Brampton, Cumbria CA8 7AP