Category Archives: Goal Setting

Goal setting … Why and how you should do it

We bet a lot of you set yourselves goals to achieve daily, monthly and yearly. However, how many of you have actually taken steps to achieve these goals?
Goal setting is something that gets thrown around a lot, but have you ever wondered the importance? Think of the saying ‘how can you get where you want to go until you know where you’re going’.  Setting goals is a fundamental component to long-term success.  Goals help you focus and allocate your time and resources efficiently and keep you motived when something may have led you astray. Additionally, Research indicates a direct link between goals and enhanced performance.
 
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Developing an objective
Defining an objective is imperative. A clear objective will allow you to focus on what you […read more]

Categories : Professional Development, Personal Growth, Career, Planning, Goal Setting, Motivation
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We asked some of our students their best study tips

So, there’s this crazy trick that helps you perform better when you’re studying or about to sit an exam. Spin around seven-and-a-half times (make sure it’s exactly this amount) while waving a blue and white polka dot handkerchief in the air. You should try it.
In all seriousness, studying can be a challenge. Even if you’re the brainiest person to grace the earth since Albert Einstein, every little bit of help can make all the difference.
We recently asked some of our students to share their best study tips; and no, they didn’t involve an over-indulgence of caffeine.
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“Actually utilising the study guide. It can be overwhelming looking at all the questions and reading what you have to have done, but by following these guidelines it really does break it all down and makes it manageable.” […read more]

Categories : Professional Development, Career, Goal Setting, Motivation

Things successful people do every morning

Have you ever wondered why some people are just so damn successful? Is it something they eat or drink… are they blessed with incredible luck? Maybe; but they aren’t great attributors to success. Successful people encompass a number of qualities; one of these is what they do every morning. We’re not saying every successful person does the below, but a fair few do … so, get inspired!
Have you noticed that poor self-control and lapses in decision-making often come later in the day? That’s because early mornings offer a new dose of willpower and people tend to be more optimistic and ready to tackle challenging tasks.
 
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Wake up earlier: Get your hand off that snooze button! Jump out of bed because let’s face it, that extra 10 minutes isn’t going to make a difference. Time is a precious commodity, so make the most of your […read more]

Categories : Professional Development, Personal Growth, Career, Goal Setting, Motivation

How to take advantage of changing times in your career

We are living in a time of constant change. Change in one’s career can strike at any time. Did you know? 1 in 4 workers has been with their employer for less than 1 year, while 1 in 2 workers have been with their employer less than 5 years.
When you start to see change occur in your career you may view this as an opportunity. It’s important to regularly stop and re-assess your goals; where do you want to be and what do you want to achieve.
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There are many life strategies to help you grow and to better change your current situation:

Be innovative: it may be time to review your career and ascertain what some of the gaps are. Do you need to upskill?  To stand out from the competition you may need to undertake training or a […read more]

Categories : Professional Development, Personal Growth, Career, Goal Setting, Motivation

The importance of a strong personal brand

Have you ever wondered about other people’s perception of you inside and outside of the workplace?
Amazon CEO and founder Jeff Bezos once said, “your brand is what people say about you when you are not in the room.” Sure, you can’t control what other people say behind your back, but you can enhance their perception of your professional skills.
 
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Why is a strong personal brand important?
Personal branding is becoming increasingly important because modern consumers tend to trust people more than corporations. Therefore, a strong professional brand is the foundation for a lengthy and fulfilling career. Demonstrating to employers how you are unique and relevant can maximise your potential as an employee, while enhancing their perception of your professional skills and technical ability. Additionally, personal branding allows you to establish a reputation and an identity while […read more]

Categories : Professional Development, Personal Growth, Career, Goal Setting

How can you better manage your work / life / study balance?

Managing your professional and personal goals often feels like an impossible task.
How can you manage all of your commitments, while feeling satisfied with all?
Work-life balance means something different to every individual, but here we share tips to help you find the balance that’s right for you.
 
 
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Time management
As someone who is juggling work, study, family and social commitments, your time is limited and valuable. This is where a schedule or timetable can be useful:

Take the time to plan weekly
Set achievable personal and professional goals
Have you considered waking up earlier in the morning? Some of the world’s most successful and productive people are early risers.
Reward yourself for achieving daily and /or weekly goals
Timetable more challenging tasks for when you are most alert
Make time for every commitment. Don’t let one facet of […read more]

Categories : Professional Development, Personal Growth, Career, Planning, Goal Setting

Stay on track during the final weeks of the year

Christmas is just around the corner.  The upcoming holiday period and time spent relaxing with family and friends is etching itself more prominently into your thoughts.
For many of us, being busy at work isn’t limited to a few periods during certain months of the year; it’s full-on all year round.  We understand it can be difficult to remain 100% focused as the end of the year draws closer by the day, so we’ve compiled a few pointers to help you remain productive.
 
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Prioritise – Acknowledge that this time of year is a busy period. Therefore, develop a priority list. This will ensure you have a clear focus on the task at hand and more time can be spent being productive and directed towards the most pressing projects. Setting clear deadlines […read more]

Categories : Professional Development, Personal Growth, Career, Planning, Goal Setting

How do I progress my career?

How do I progress my career? Six words that probably play on the mind of anyone, in any career, quite regularly… unless you’ve achieved everything and anything in your career (congratulations if you have!)
 
Whether you’ve just started out or have 30 years’ experience, you’re probably going to want to take the steps to move up the career ladder somewhere along the way.
 
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So, what steps can you take? We’ve put together a few tips to help you out.
 

Ask for more work – Sounds crazy, right? Helping out others in your organisation or taking on more individual responsibilities increases your value. It also shows an interest and desire for you to help your organisation succeed, while showing that you value who you’re working for.

 

Get noticed – Many people often underestimate […read more]

Categories : Professional Development, Personal Growth, Career, Goal Setting