Archive for January, 2008

by R. L. Fielding
Building a strong team that can work together is paramount to the success of any company. Much like the ingredients in a recipe, each employee performs a unique role within the organization, yet is dependent on other employees to achieve both short-tem goals and long-term objectives.

In order to find the recipe for team building success, many companies are serving up culinary team building programs. Since food is a common denominator for all people, these programs are a great way to build effective relationships between employees while having a lot of fun. In a culinary team building session, each team draws upon the ideas and skills of its members to create unique and inventive culinary creations.

Culinary Team Building — Get It While It’s Hot

Culinary team building is currently one of the hottest trends in the field of employee performance improvement. Both conference planningand cooking schools offer a wide selection of culinary programs for organizations. Many of these programs focus on the development of cooking skills and serve up team building tips on the side. The most effective programs are those which encourage teamwork and build camaraderie while using the culinary activity as a tool for exploring group dynamics.

What results will a culinary team building program provide? By uniting people through interactive, fun activities, a culinary team building program can help employees:

- Bond with colleagues and build stronger working relationships
- Learn to better communicate with one another
- Practice creative thinking and problem solving in a team environment
- Boost team spirits and create a unified sense of accomplishment

A successful program will energize your team and teach its participants to rely on each others’ strengths to produce results.

Fun, Effective … And Delicious!

So how does culinary team building work? Again, it depends on the type of program you choose.

Some culinary team building programs are structured similarly to cooking classes. As a group, participants are tasked with cooking a gourmet meal. A chef will provide instruction on food preparation and will guide the team as needed. Throughout the session, the group must work to find common ground while stretching their culinary skills. The group is typically asked to document its strategy for preparing the meal. At the end of the cooking session, participants share the food they’ve just made while evaluating how well the group worked together. By teaching participants new skills in a rewarding and friendly atmosphere, programs of this style are excellent for building camaraderie and enhancing team communication skills.

Other culinary team building programs turn up the heat by turning the event into a competition. Participants are divided into teams and assigned to cooking stations. Each group is given a few minutes to get acquainted and to create a unique team name. Instead of sticking to a pre-planned menu, each team is challenged to invent a new food creation during the allotted time.

A chef provides basic instruction and hands-on assistance during the competition. A professional facilitator may be brought in to help run the show and serve as a mentor. In addition to providing instruction throughout the high energy event, professional facilitators bring a wealth of team development expertise to the table and help integrate the team’s goals and objectives into the event.

At the end of the competition, the final culinary creations are evaluated by a panel of judges. Winners are announced and feedback is provided. While the judges take into account the taste and presentation of the food entries, the teams are evaluated on their ability to work together as well. Typical judging criteria include:

- How well did everyone participate in the group?
- Did the group plan in advance as a team or did they just “jump into it”?
- How creative was the team? Did they use a variety of ingredients or do something unique?
- Did the team have fun with the competition?

As a finishing touch to the program, the professional facilitator will lead the group in analyzing the team building activity. This discussion session helps to reinforce the organization’s objectives and goals.

Culinary team building programs provide the resources to help organizations foster positive group dynamics while letting participants flex their creative and problem-solving muscles. For participants, you could say it’s like having your cake and eating it too! Take your next team-building session to the kitchen. Your employees—and your stomach—will thank you.

About R.L. Fielding

R.L. Fielding has been a freelance writer for 10 years, offering her expertise and skills to a variety of major organizations in the education, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing industries. She lives in New Jersey with her dog and two cats and enjoys rock climbing and ornamental gardening.

About Q Center
This article was provided by Q Center, which is dedicated to providing premier learning and conference facilities equipped for total productivity and supported by a quality-focused team. Q Center has the facilities and technology to create virtually unlimited meeting scenarios. More than an ordinary conference center, Q Center is a conference complex. Located in the western suburbs of Chicago, Q Center is conveniently accessible to both of Chicago’s major airports and to the many organizations with headquarters and major offices in Chicago. Visit http://www.qcenter.com for more information.

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by Lena Nozizwe
In 2008 you’ve resolved to lose weight. Or perhaps it’s to save more money. Or maybe you want to get a better job.

One study at the University of Scranton found that only 46% of us who make resolutions are still on track with them six months later.No one has the absolute answer as to what separates the resolution keepers from the
resolution scofflaws, but examining your motivation can go a long way in helping you achieve your goals.

Start of by reviewing your list of resolutions. Ask yourself, “What is my motivation?”

It’s not going to be so easy to lose weight if it’s simply because your husband is telling you that yes, your butt looks big in your jeans.

It’s not going to be a slam dunk to save more money because your mother keeps telling you you’ll turn into a street person if you don’t deposit
your paycheck in the bank rather than at the nearby mall.

It’s going to be a struggle to get a better job just so you can keep up with your college rival who has a corner office.

In 2008 Turbo charge your resolutions by resolving to shine. Resolve to make changes because you want to set goals to lead you to becoming the best person you can be.

Your resolutions should simply be a part of the general goals you have for your life. You know how nutrition experts say that you should not diet. Healthy eating should simply be a part of your life. Think of your resolutions the same way. They are simply a part of your path to shining.

Shine as you become more healthy, shine as you prepare for a glorious future, shine because you have found a career that takes full advantage of
your personality and skills.

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by Nan S. Russell
“How could that be?” I muttered silently as I reread the message. This was not a person I wanted to encounter as I returned from a holiday vacation filled with family, friends, and fun. And yet, there he was on my calendar. My first meeting of the New Year was scheduled with my nemesis.

I wish I could tell you it was a good meeting, but it wasn’t. I got exactly the difficult, irritating, frustrating event I expected. Now years later, that meeting snapshot easily pops to mind as I remember the negative relationship dance played out in my office that day.

Yet it was that occurrence that ignited change. Like Janus, the Roman god of doorways, beginnings and endings, whose name inspired the first month of the year, I saw in two directions. I could either drag that past into the future by continuing the detrimental escalation of this important work relationship, or I could leave it behind and make a psychological fresh start. I chose the latter.

What changed that day was my vision of the doorway I wanted to go through. I realized that every time I dealt with that difficult manager, he brought out my less than positive side. In effect, I had relinquished to him the power to control my reactions. But with one simple thought I took it back.

I decided that every time I saw him in the hallway, or at a meeting, or had to deal with him, I would directly look at him and mentally say, “I wish you well.” At first I forced the thought, but in time it flowed easily. It turns out I did wish him well. How could I not if I offered the best of who I was?

Wishing him well slowly altered my response to him. It refashioned how I showed up, and transformed a negative, difficult work relationship into a professionally neutral one.

You see, it’s easy to see the things we don’t like in other people, easy to identify their irritating habits, their performance deficiencies, and their problems. It’s easy to remember when we’ve been wronged, replay memories of their roadblocks, escalate their email tirades, or relive their failed promises. It’s easy to put all the blame and onus for change on them.

But people who are winning at working train themselves to look again at difficult work relationships. They seek to glean positive traits in those who frustrate them. They extend a mental thank you for the mirror these people hold up, realizing that often their most professional and personal growth is spurred by those who push their hot buttons. And they accept that the only person whose behavior they can control is their own.

While people who are winning at working may develop goals, commitments, and reflective inspiration at the start of a New Year, they don’t limit their timing of fresh starts to one day. They recognize the choice they have to start anew with old problems, difficult relationships, limiting beliefs, or narrow thinking doesn’t happen once a year, nor does setting goals or dreaming dreams or assessing progress.

People who are winning at working know that any day of the year they can make a fresh start; any day of the year they can change their thinking and their results; any day of the year, they can begin to create a different work future. And they do.

(c) 2008 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved.

Author of Hitting Your Stride: Your Work, Your Way (Capital Books; January 2008). Host of “Work Matters with Nan Russell” weekly on webtalkradio.net. Nan Russell has spent over twenty years in management, most recently with QVC as a Vice President. Sign up to receive Nan’s “Winning at Working” tips and insights at http://www.nanrussell.com

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by Robert Pardon
One week later I walked back into the rooms of AA. The date was April 25, 1986 and I have never drunk again. A year later my dad showed up at my morning AA meeting and gave me my 1-year chip.

What most co-dependents don’t realize is that while we coddle, care and accommodate the practicing addict out of love, we are actually doing it out of fear. True love is not enabling someone to continue in their behavior. Rather, it is allowing that person to “hit bottom” sooner with the hope that it will help them see their condition as hopeless and seek help.

I received a phone call the other day from a friend I didn’t expect to hear from. This friend and I had a falling out a few months ago over his addiction condition. Let me start by saying how much I love and care for this person and over the years of our relationship I have tried to be a friend, counselor and confidant.

Nothing I said would he do and of course his ways caused him to slip deeper and deeper into his addiction. I watched him go through jobs, his marriage, and loss of family including his daughter and yet he would not see that the damage was a direct result of his drinking and using. I had finally come to my end of the road. I knew what was needed.

Tough love on the surface seems harsh and uncaring, but it has been my experience that it is the highest level of caring a person can exhibit. That is what I had to do with my friend. I finally had to tell him the truth regarding the condition I believed he was in. Unless he did something now he would lose it all and I would no longer be there to tell him it was okay.

I am excited to tell you he called me the other day and he is on the start of his journey to recovery. He has gone to some AA meetings and began seeking professional help. He is beginning to communicate with his father and mother again and most importantly he now fully sees that it was his drinking and using causing all the problem, not those around him. Now that alcohol and drugs are out of the way he can get down to some of the core reasons of why he found it necessary to go through life sideways. Fortunately my friend knew that my tough love was driven by my true love for him as my friend. Remember, people don’t care what you know, until they know that you care.

Robert Pardon is the founder of becomingwellnow.com, a website that offers recovery information, hope and solutions for those who suffer from alcohol and drug addiction.

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by Dan Farrell
Increasing self esteem is not that hard, however you can do some things, which you can’t develop overnight. There are twelve steps to expand self esteem.

1st:

Please stop comparing yourself with other people. There might be people who have a higher self esteem than you and some who have less than you. If you start looking at other people, you will assuredly face defeat.

2nd:

It is quite important that you don’t put down yourself. It isn’t possible to expand self esteem if you are always repeating use negative words about yourself and your skills. Always avoid self depreciating comments whenever you talk about your relationships, financial condition, any aspect of life, and speaking about your appearances.

3rd:

Try to always be polite and take any compliments with “thank you”. Whenever you reject a compliment the message you give yourself is that you are not worthy of the compliment, which shows low self esteem.

4th:

Try to always use affirmation to enhanceyour self esteem. Create a sentence that reflects well on you and place it where you will read it and reinforce positive comments or compliments said to you.

5th:

Whenever possible take advantage of workshops, books and various cassette programs on self esteem. By watching negative things, they will have an affect on your self esteem, shows like news about murders or bad television programs are to be avoided. They will make you grow cynical and pessimistic. Yet, if you watch postive programs or read positive books you will become less negative and more positive.

6th:

Try to always avoid pessimistic people, try to associate with with positive people because negative thinking people will not accept your ideas or views, lowering your self esteem. It is a fact that if you are approved and encouraged you will feel encouraged about your self and your self esteem will expand.

7th:

Create a list of past successes, consisting of any achievement, small or significant, like learning to drive, graduation, receiving an award, reaching a business goal, etc. Place the list where your read it often, and after reading try to repeat these accomplishments while closing your eyes tosense the satisfaction they bring to mind.

8th:

Make out the list of your positive talents. Always being honest with yourself and make out at least 20 positive qualities. Here it is also important to review all these qualities often. At all times focusing on your positive personality traits.

9th:

Give time to other people. Start helping, and by making a positive contribution, you will feel a more valuable person, which will expand your spirit and expand your own self esteem.

10th:

Get involved in things which you love to do. Self esteem increases, when you are engaged yourselfin work which you most enjoy. This passion doesn’t have to be work, it can be a hobby or leisure time.

11th:

It is essential important that you be honest to yourself. You will not feel good about yourself if you are not being truthful and upfront with yourself.

12th:

Do not be timid of challenges, try to accept challenges. You can’t expand high self esteem without accepting challenges. Facing and meeting challenges boosts your self esteem when you take an decide to act without being concerned about the end result

To get a complete guide to self confidence, go to: Self Esteem

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by donyates
It’s only life if you live it.
In today’s highly technical age, all too many people’s focus, has become narrowed in personal perspective — restricting their activity to a blind, self serving path. But in this complex environment networking Internet humans; needs and desires have increased to place higher demands for broader satisfaction. People who are set on developing their physical or mental capabilities to excess, are little more than machines when they choose to exclude other important areas of life’s stimulus. In order experience the joy of life in its entirety, one must be balanced in their Spiritual, Financial, Mental, Social, Physical areas of life. Life is not mechanical; it is living, breathing, achieving, creating, serving, experiencing and enjoying — the best life has to offer.

There are five key-action areas which form an intricate web; supporting a harmonious person. Given the equality of each area, no one area can be passed over for the sake of another. When combined, these key-action areas are rightfully called “the wheel of life”. After all, which spoke of a wheel is the most important? It is only through the healthy meshing of all areas that a person becomes well rounded and qualified to develop into a capable person of continued growth and expansion. Interactions between the physical, mental, spiritual, social and financial become obvious in a harmonious experience. People who neglect their well-being cannot readily stand up to stress when the rigors and challenges of growth confront them.

A stunted mental development confines a person to small and simple-minded task Spiritual growth, regardless of its nature, helps to build the inner strength and spirit necessary to provide the initial zest to the challenges of success. Financial endeavors give us life’s necessities and deserved luxuries as well as the opportunity to expand our horizons even further. Social contacts add depth, warmth, and responsibility to our personal adventure. And if a person is not physically fit he/she will not be able to execute the demands of every day life which renders everything else useless. It is the total sum of all these activities combined which makes for a balanced, well-minded successful person.

The problem is, people get too tied up in the unimportant things of life. Car payments, house payments, work and personal demands, the list goes on and on, all biding for our time and effort yet, none really have any importance to the essence of life. It’s like the background noise is so loud you can’t hear the symphony. The question is; if life is only an experience, why not make it the best experience possible?

The Physical Area
It is written in the Bible that there are no riches greater than a sound body. We could carry that a little further for without a sound body, life itself is threatened. Those dangers come in many forms, some self inflicted like over-weight, exhaustion, lack of sleep, or simple sluggishness — mental as well as physical — resulting from little exercise. If you are to function well, physical health is a must.

Physical well-being is something that takes effort to built. It is an impenetrable fortress and within its walls your daily activity functions optimally and productively. A diet is often useful. Sleep should be adequate. Exercise is vital to good physical condition and the release of emotional pressures. All these areas require more than passive concern.

The Mental Area
“There are but two powers in the world,” wrote Napoleon, “the sword and the mind. In the long run, the sword is always beaten by the mind.”

It is the mind that the strategies battles making history, weather they be for nations or for a single person with direction and purpose. Regardless of occupation or profession, mental alertness, growth and well being are key ingredients of personal success and happiness.
Sound mental health reflects positive attitudes and the willingness to act. Sanity is a confident rational self-image — to tap life’s bountiful reservoir. On the other hand, a person full of doubt and insecurity is inviting failure. Failure is the result of weakness and weakness comes from weak decisions. It is the weak decisions of man that drives failure.

The Financial Action Area
This is an area for many Americans, that is given more attention than any other. This is not surprising, since nearly everything we do involves money in one way or another. The quality of living itself depends on money to support it.

Our concern for money should not weigh any more or less than any of the other key action areas. When kept within reason, finance plays a respectable role in our lives but will never dominate it. Finance like the other key action areas, requires the evolution of a specific plan. Targets have to be outlined and goal routes must be plotted.

Now may be a good time for you to evaluate your own financial situation. Just where do you stand? What remains to be done in the future? How secure are you now? These questions are not meant to create anxiety; on the contrary, here’s a chance to examine your financial strengths. For instance:

1.Do you have sufficient savings to survive a difficult period?
2.Are all your investments in stocks? Or do you have a small nest egg for emergencies?
3.Do your liabilities exceed your assets?

These questions are only a sample of the many that need to be addressed. The point is to develop a plan for the future that you can work on.

The Spiritual Area
There is a certain spark within every person, a vibrant spiritual force that acts with an undefinable, yet dynamic energy. Its outward manifestation may take the form of religion or philosophy or some other system that stirs the soul. It is the spiritual realm of man’s being that warns when wrongdoing is at hand. It has been poked and prodded and investigated by many religious leaders, scientists, psychologists, philosophers, and others.

How does one pursue this highly personal spiritual area? That depends upon the individual. But the decision must be made, for the sake of harmony with nature and your fellow man. When considering your personal success action plan, allow adequate emphasis for spiritual development. It adds a special sense to life that gives purpose to many diverse activities. It is a force that builds personal security and self-assurance.

The Social Acton Area
Man is gregarious in nature, constantly seeking the companionship of others. While he/she has a insatiable need for love and affection he/she also desires recognition and admiration from his/her peers. His/her concern with protection and safety has led him/her to evolve the most complex social systems imaginable.

Anyone doubting the strength of man’s social craving need only take a quick look at today’s industry. Here’s positive proof. Automobiles are sold on the basis of keeping up with the neighborers — social acceptance — rather than real mechanical need. The list goes on and on, hair spray, deodorants, soaps, toothpastes, houses, clothing — the list of goods marketed to enhance status is endless.

As you develop your success action plan, set your sights on various social activities and accomplishments. Keep in mind all five key-areas of life as each area works to support the other. Every road, building, bridge or dam requires a solid foundation as your five points are your foundation for life. They are the groundwork needed for progressive progression through the ages. Keep focused, plan well, and most of all, never give up.

Donald Yates, Former Director of Business and Leadership Development for Imperial Research, is now retired but continues to assist young people in engaging life through self discovery, Life course planning, intuitiveness and fulfillment. Learn how you can build a powerful organization of your own. To learn more, visit Ordinary people making money working on the Internet Good Stuff For Seniors

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by Geoff Goh
Hi All,

Welcome aboard.

This is me, Geoff Goh, in a family of 5 and I’m the youngest with two elder sisters, both happily married with kids except me. For those who know me in person, I no longer do training on my own because the systems I created have started running on its own.

I’m from Singapore, I had travelled a few neighboring countries but still I feel safe, clean and homely every time I get back. HOME-SWEET-HOME! ;D I love this country very much although it do not provide any forms of natural resources but it never calls till this moment, grateful for that.
Please keep us safe forever!

The Secret to My Wealthtree of Success is to constantly monitor thyself financially in order to build a stable income both offline n online through affiliate marketing.

Thanks to my Mentor, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, I started off practicing his concept and currently acquiring on my assets column to increase my monthly cashflow since 18.

How much did it cost me? 5yrs of Trial-n-Error through Thick n Thin in Time n Opportunity Losses. I.e. Door-to-Door Sale, Telemarketing, Business Builder cum Trainer, Networking, Engineering, Real Estate Agent, finally able to invest on Real Estate and Options Trading.

Now I generate 1k daily from My Wealthtree, I’m only 25 and still constantly pursuing towards my Goals.

Read on Team!

Best,

Geoff Goh
Singapore
P.S. U can trust me but don’t believe me, it’s all base on my own experience.
www.mywealthtreeofsuccess.com

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by
Throughout my St Albans motivation courses, I make it clear that in order to be motivated you need to be moving. The word motivation leads us to think about being enthused, inspired and driven and these are important qualities for a human being to posses. They are the feelings that get us out of bed in the morning, that enable us to work in pressurised environment and that help us to grow. Everything in the universe is either growing or dying, and if you want to avoid the latter for as long as possible, there needs to be something in your life that helps you to feel as if you are growing. This is where St Albans Motivational courses can help.

Most people seek this growth from the work that they do, in their every day job. Others find it in a hobby. The challenge occurs when the work you are doing is not motivating, or not motivating enough. This can lead to a “flat” feeling or worse still, real negative emotions, but the lack of motivation may also prevent any action being taken that could potentially change things for the better.

A lack of motivation will eventually filter its way through into other areas of our lives, because these things are all interlinked. A person, who feels a lack of motivation at work, may be in bad spirits when they get home, and therefore not give the best of themselves to their relationship, or perhaps they will go wild socially to attempt to rebalance, and this could then have a negative impact on their health. In fact, this is the most common scenario and I have witnessed it firsthand. Many people I worked with in the past- and even myself, have been in disempowering or unstimulating jobs, and then spend Friday and Saturday night drinking too much, eating too much and generally over doing things. Now I am in a job that I love, providing NLP, Hypnotherapy and Life Coaching for motivation to those in St Albans, that constantly sets me worthwhile challenges I can say that I have a much more balanced lifestyle.

People require motivation for many different areas of their life- some need it to get them to the gym, others to give up smoking and others to change their career. In order to be completely committed to gaining motivation there are two things you must be willing to accept. One is pleasure (oh good!) and the other is pain (oh dear!). It’s the typical carrot and stick scenario and you must think of it this way: If you want to do something that you are currently not motivated to do, the chances are, you have probably considered all of the pleasurable ways it would be good for you to do it. For example, if you want to be motivated to go to the gym, you might list the following positive (pleasure/carrot) reasons:

1) I will look better when my body is fit
2) My body will be physically healthier
3) Exercising will help me to sleep better
4) I will meet more people

Now read Motivational Courses using Hypnotherapy, NLP and Life Coaching 2/3

Gemma Bailey is a qualified NLP Master practitioner, Hypnotherapist and Life Coach. http://www.gemmabailey.co.uk

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by Craig Harper
Yep, it’s that time of the year again.

The time when we all tell ourselves (and everyone within earshot) just how dramatically our life is about to change. Of course it is. Of course we do. Just like we did the last twenty New Year’s eves. And didn’t all those resolutions work out well for us? Many of us are champion resolution makers. Beyond that, not so good. The making, good. The doing, not so good. If you’re like the vast majority, then right now you’re about three days into your new life.
How’s that workin’ out?

Sure, we would have made those necessary changes earlier than now, but we all know that you can’t do it in October or November, and don’t even talk to me about December; that would be simply ridiculous. January is the official ’start-time’ for change.
Apparently.
Yep, richer, thinner, happier, more relaxed, more balanced, healthier; different. It’s all about to happen. For a week at least. This year, we may even stretch it to two.

Of course you don’t need to be a research scientist to know that the vast majority of New Year’s resolutions ultimately amount to nothing. Nothing positive anyway. But we continue with the stupid tradition nonetheless. Just watch your friends, family and colleagues over the next few days, weeks and months. Then again, probably just days and weeks. And take a peek at your past while you’re at it. Unless you’re the exception, there’s been lots of talk, lots of great intentions and lots of amazing ideas over the years, but very little in the way of lasting change. If we’re completely honest; probably a bunch of hot air and very little results. Moments of greatness but overall, kinda disappointing.

“Yep, this is my year”.
“No, really”.
“Hey, stop laughing”.

You know it, we all know it, we’ve all done it.
As a collective of people, we continue to do the same thing every year; make a bunch of promises to ourselves that we never keep. We get excited for about eight minutes and then we fall back into our old ways. It’s what we do. It’s not so much life-long change, as it is a momentary phase. Short term behavioural change.

Kind of like flatulence; comes and goes and makes us feel better for a moment.
And sometimes embarrassed.
But I digress.
Again. Even in 2008 I’m doing it.

Yet despite our abysmal track record and a vast wasteland of shattered dreams, we continue to approach every New Year the same way; with the same dumb, pointless strategy. They say that “insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome”, so I guess on some level, a whole bunch of us are insane because that’s exactly what we do. Like a broken record stuck in the same groove, repeating the same line over and over.

I apologise if I sound like the voice of gloom to this point in the lesson, but my intention is in fact to be the voice of reality, logic, honesty and life-long change; to tell you the no BS truth about this stuff. Twenty five years of watching and working with people in the area of ‘change’ has taught me that sometimes, what we need to hear, is not what we want to hear. And if we’re really serious about the ‘different forever’ thing, then we need to learn that the New Year is not the right time for making resolutions. In fact, the right time has nothing to do with a date on a calendar and everything to do with us as individuals; our level of emotional, psychological and physical commitment to achieve our goals. Our readiness for the journey.

If we’re genuinely prepared to do whatever it takes (that is, we are totally committed), then it’s the right time. Whether it’s January 1 or March 16 makes absolutely no difference. What determines success or failure is not what date we start something, but whether or not we have the mindset, the emotional toughness and the self-control to get the job done. Sadly, we live in a culture which teaches that new beginnings start on January 1. And we continue to perpetuate this stupid psychology despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Whatever you do, don’t let logic or common sense get in the way.

As you know by now, I’m not interested in making you feel good for five minutes. But I am interested in helping you achieve something that’s probably eluded you for too long; permanent results. Your best life. Or at the very least, a better life. Neither am I interested in resolutions that are made in the midst of food, alcohol, emotion and crowds. They are likely to create short-term change at best. No, I’m interested in sensible, proven methods which are most likely to create ‘forever’ results. I’m interested in, and passionate about you maximising your chances of success, because the ‘traditional approach’ (for want of a better term) to creating change (ritual goal-setting at New Year), ain’t cuttin’ it. New Year’s resolutions rarely lead to anything other than short-term change. That’s a fact Jack.

So how do we make it stick this time?
1. Ya gotta do different to create different. Whatever you did last time (remember last year?), don’t do that. Whatever it was, it didn’t work right? So don’t do it again. There’s a reason you didn’t get there last time. What is it? Address it. Not rocket science is it? Too many people consistently do what doesn’t work because they are creatures of habit. Unproductive habit. They love familiarity, no matter how pointless it is.

2. Punch yourself in the head. Hurts doesn’t it? Get used to a little pain. Give yourself an uppercut each morning. If you’re pretty, make it a rip in the guts instead; don’t wanna damage those looks. If you want to totally avoid pain, discomfort and risk, then don’t set goals, don’t have any ambition and learn to be happy where you are. Forever. Significant change is often uncomfortable and messy, so toughen up. Get your head around that concept and you will dramatically improve your chances of getting where you wanna go. The results are worth it but the journey might be a little bumpy from time to time. You want spectacular results? Then saddle up cowgirl. Er, boy. Whatever.

3. Don’t make resolutions after you’ve had three hundred beers.
“But Craig, it made so much sense at the time”. Yes, we might be less inhibited when we’re drunk but we’re also less intelligent. Anecdotal evidence would suggest that inebriation is not the greatest platform from which to plan the rest of your life.

4. Don’t start planning the ‘new you’ thirty minutes before the New Year ticks over. Probably not gonna make the best decisions from there. May wanna give your ‘best life’ a little more thought than that (call me old-fashioned). Goal setting, planning and preparation for life-long change can be a process which takes weeks or months.

5. Don’t start something you probably won’t or can’t maintain. “Right, that’s it; I’m running every day from, now on”. Hey Champ, why don’t you start with two or three days per week? “That’s it, I’m never eating junk food again”. Well, nice intention but you probably won’t maintain that commitment for the next fifty years! Maybe ease into it a little. Too many of us simply start things which are virtually impossible to maintain over the long haul. It’s not about the next four weeks; it’s about the next four decades (or so). Extreme never works. Be completely realistic in your approach. More logic, less emotion. Emotion is good, but only to a point. It needs to be wrapped around some logic. Emotion all on it’s own has a propensity to be somewhat destructive. Kind of like a Ferrari; can be amazing, but needs to be driven properly.

6. Don’t try and change too many things at once. Too many people fail because they try to ‘undo’ decades of destructive behaviour in three weeks. Ain’t gonna happen. Make it a sensible, practical, progressive process. When I mentor people, we aim to make one or two lasting changes per week, not seventy five. Trying to change too much too quickly will typically lead to one thing; disappointment. However, in life or death situations (that is, no other choice), we often see people make numerous monumental changes in a relatively short period of time. Pity some of us wait for death to knock on the door before we get serious about changing our destructive habits. Stupid also.

7. Don’t make big (egotistical, emotional, stupid) public declarations. They rarely amount to anything good. Resolutions should be well-thought-through commitments (usually made in private after appropriate consideration).

8. Don’t throw in the towel every time you stumble. Messing up (breaking a diet for example) is only a failure if you call it that. Messing up is normal. Giving up is pathetic. Get back on that horse and stop your whining and sulking. If you find this language offensive, you’re too precious and I’m probably not the right coach for you. Re-read point two. And give yourself that uppercut.

9. Don’t make resolutions because it’s January. Make resolutions because you’re absolutely ready to change. Not pseudo-ready (like the last ten times). Not ‘allegedly’ ready. Not ‘almost’ ready. No, R-E-A-D-Y!! And don’t let others goal set for you. Don’t be pressured into making certain resolutions. The desire for real change needs to come from, and be driven by, you.

10. Have monthly evaluations. A pit stop of sorts. Stop, get out of the car, kick the tyres, put it up on the hoist and check that everything is working and progressing as it should. If it ain’t broken just keep driving. If you’re veering to the left or something’s rattling, make the necessary adjustments, get back in and keep heading towards your destination. If need be, see your mechanic (mentor, coach, trainer, ass-kicker), she might be more objective or informed about the state of your ‘car’ than you are. These pit-stops are great for keeping you accountable and moving in the right direction. For me, they have always been one of the most important ingredients. You want forever results? Then make yourself accountable.

Well there you have it; there is no right time, but there is a right ’state’. Creating lasting change is not about a particular day of the year, it’s about whether or not you’re ready to stop making resolutions and to start changing. Forever.

If not, there’s always next New Years Eve.

Craig Harper (B.Ex.Sci.) is the #1 ranked Motivational Speaker (according to Google). He is a qualified exercise scientist, author, columnist, radio presenter, television host and owner of one of the largest personal training centres in the world.Motivational Speaker - Craig Harper

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by Cathy Wilson
New Year’s creates hope, new beginnings, and opens up all of the possibilities that are available to us. We think about our lives today and look forward to the changes we’d like to make. Changes can be made but the key to success is making them permanent changes.

You’ve acknowledged your desire to make change or changes in your life. Now, think about a specific time when you felt driven to accomplish a goal and achieve success. What reasons motivated you? Why did you want to succeed? Why was the change important to you? Now that you have this in mind, feel that sense of empowerment. You can use this experience multiple times to create the motivation to make changes in your life. You can create the life you want to live with long-lasting changes.

Motivation can seem fleeting. It can come and go without notice. You seem to have it easily one moment and the next it seems to have disappeared. The good news for making lasting changes is that you control your motivation. Reaffirm your motivation every single day. By reaffirming your motivation daily, you renew the promise of change that you made to yourself. You brush your teeth and take a shower every day, right? Reaffirm your mental motivation daily as well.

You can replay the experiences of past successes as many times as you need to reaffirm your motivation. Play the video of you achieving past successes. Remember and relive those feelings of accomplishment and personal power. If you succeeded once, you can do it again. Yes, you can do it and you will. Success in making lasting changes is yours.

In making changes that last, you need a plan. In creating your plan, here are five steps to lasting change. After each step, I’ve listed an example for your reference in making your own plan.

1. Identify an area(s) that you want to change. (I want to lose 20 pounds.)

2. Ask yourself three questions about each area:

a. Why do I want to make this change? (For my health, and to feel stronger and better about myself.)

b. Is it a good time to make this change? (YES!)

c. Do I have support to make this change? Identify your system of support. (Yes, my spouse or significant other, my best friend, my friends, my family, my coach.)

3. Select one or two things you will do to accomplish your change. One or two thing are the maximum. Remember, less is more so you don’t get overwhelmed by trying to switch things in your life too abruptly. (To lose 20 pounds, I will: Eliminate simple sugar and refined carbs; Walk four days per week.)

4. Start slowly, making workable changes occurs in small steps. (I will replace fruit for the simple sugar and refined carbs food choices; I will start out walking three days per week for 20 minutes.)

5. Write down your reward system. (When I lose five pounds, I will download five new songs on my MP3 player to enjoy while I am walking.)

Write down your plan. Without a plan that is written down in a journal, in your computer, or a note posted on your refrigerator, your changes are merely a wish list. To put your plan in writing is the equivalent of planting flowers in soil.

To make changes requires personal commitment, dedication, and motivation. There’s no external hocus pocus magic. The magic exists in you. When your motivation lessens, review your plan. When you wrote your plan, remember why making this change is important to you. Renew your excitement and the enthusiasm you had when making your plan.

Look at the changes you want to make right now as an opportunity to grow and improve your life. Acknowledge change as another way you are growing in your self-improvement and personal growth. The changes you’re planning for today will be the habits that are second-nature before you know it. Just by making your plan using the five steps and replaying past personal successes, you’re already on your way!

Cathy Wilson is a weight loss life coach. Cathy lost 147 pounds six years ago. Her passion is helping clients achieve their weight loss and life goals. Cathy works with clients to create a weight loss life plan that is customized to each client. Cathy is a member of the International Coaching Federation, International Association of Coaches, and Obesity Action Coalition.Visit Cathy’s website:http://www.LoseWeightFindLife.com

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