I received an update recently from a fabulously talented lady in the States I've been following and I couldn't help but be excited by how similarly we are feeling.

Here's her entry that got me thinking that it's time to stop, rest, dream and plan rather than continue frenetically along the pathS I'm currently on.

"You may have to reinvent your role as a marketer too at some point. It’s not that I’m wishy washy about it - I just have a lot I want to accomplish. I like teaching total newbies what an autoresponder is, or exchanging ideas with other advanced marketers. I like introducing new concepts to people and providing cheap writing via my PLR Mini Mart.

Right now, I have my hands in too many cookie jars - literally and figuratively. So I’ve decided that starting tomorrow and through the month of August, I am going to step back and decide what I want to pursue more heavily. Instead of doing a little PLR, a little info product training, a bit of social networking tutorials - I will decide what makes my heart go kerplunk and follow that dream full steam ahead. I need a drawing board with a plan, Stan! And I’m going to get it.

But I need a clear head for it. This month, I worked my butt off paying off my August bills ahead of time. I know it sounds odd to those without a problem, but I have to spend a lot of time on losing weight, too. It impedes my thought process. I can’t explain it - it just does. I’m happy in every way in life except my weight - and I have 100 pounds to lose. A mountain.

So I am making this next month (starting tomorrow), a period of back to the basics for Tiff. I’m going to wake up each morning, check email to answer customer service questions, etc., and then work on my weight. While I’m exercising, I will be exploring my options, thinking hard about what fulfills me - not just what makes ends meet or allows me to profit more. Right now, I can’t even multi task between weight loss and work. It is exhausting because exercise drains my energy and I need energy to work. I need my head to be clear and focused."

If Tiff can do it - I can do. So effective tonight I'm going to disconnect from technology for a while and do some serious thinking about who I am, who I want to be and how I'm going to get there. Exciting stuff!

So far I've cut myself some slack from my architecture studies - the course is not really what I need and being with 17-18 year olds not the stimulation I need to fuel my passion. So quess what - I quit! That doesn't mean I'm going to give up on my dream. IT just means I'm going to buy myself some time and really look at my options.

Effective tonight I'm baby sitting my mothers dog and her house for a month - so that will be a nice break.

After that....I'll deal with that then

How can you take time out to reflect on who you are and what makes you tick?

Labels: achieving goals, Career Creation, Happiness, Motivation, passion, Powerful thinking

People often ask me, "How do you manage to stay so happy at work. What's your secret?"

Surrounding myself with inspiration is a central and constant theme.

Last night I went along to see my good friend and acclaimed NZ artist Max Gimblett. He is in NZ fresh from his successful showing at the Guggenheim in New York. Marcia and James of PaigeBlackie Gallery hosted a simply divine evening where myself and a few select clients and followers of Max's work and life dined in the gallery surrounded by his new work.

Just look how colourful this particular one is! The amazing thing is that it goes with my new ColourGirl logo perfectly.



What a night of coincidences it was - just look how my friend Laurie, and Max, unconsciously matched their outfits. Can you believe that this is the first time they met! I noticed Max's shoes immediately. Aren't they gorgeous!

Max had a similar pair custom made for the Guggenheim show. "I thought, I'm going to have make a stand amongst all these well established artists, so I wore a pair of silver shoes, and was instantly noticed." he laughed.

Laurie and I definitely stood out in the gallery that night - every single other guest, apart from co-owner Marcia, was dressed head to toe in black.

Of course nothing compared to the mesmerising beauty of Max Gimblett's work.

Be sure to get along to the PaigeBlackie Gallery

Max's show White Stone Clear Water is on show 19 May until 20 June.

As you may know, Max Gimblett wrote the foreword to my book "Happy@work: job hunting for mid-lifer's +" The timing couldn't be better - another international publisher has expressed interest in helping me take the book to the world!

Click here to learn more about this exciting new development.

Labels: Career Creation, Motivation, Powerful Creativity, The Book

“IF TODAY WERE THE LAST DAY OF MY LIFE, WOULD I WANT TO DO WHAT I AM ABOUT TO DO TODAY?” AND WHENEVER THE ANSWER HAS BEEN “NO” FOR TOO MANY DAYS IN A ROW, I KNOW I NEED TO CHANGE SOMETHING.” - Steve Jobs, Co-founder of Apple Computers

No means yes when it comes to summoning the courage to make a change.

Every year researchers map levels of job satisfaction across the nation, and odds are this year will be no different. Global recruiting firm TMP/Hudson has estimated that more than 43% of people dislike their jobs. This is reflected in a management article in February 2008 saying 85% of people would leave if a better offer came along. However, better offers are not like buses - they don’t drive past every 10 to 15 minutes, sweep people off their feet and carry them to their destinations. Job seekers must take a proactive, focused approach to job hunting, or they risk ending up in a place they never wanted to be.


You may be staying in a job you hate because you can’t see any better options. Maybe you have lost your confidence, or perhaps you don’t know what skills you have, and wonder whether anyone would ever hire you. Career related issues are one of the major sources of stress for people today. Misfit is also a primary reason for low levels of productivity and performance within organisations. As career expert and author, Po Bronson says, “we are on the verge of a great productivity boom as long as we can get the square pegs out of the round holes.” Career dissatisfaction and the personal and professional costs associated with this is reaching almost epidemic proportions and. The great news is that there is a cure!

Success Tip: Where there’s a problem there’s a cure. You need to find out what dissatisfies you to find out what you want.

Hello! Goodbye
A simple and positive way to do this is to take a page and divide it. On one side list the things that you would gladly say goodbye to, and on the other list your "hello's".

Let's use me an an example
* This year I said "goodbye" to working in town everyday, and I said "hello" to working from my home based studio (she how happy I look - my clients love it too "It's so serene and relaxing" they often say. I agree! I'm far more productive here than I ever was in a windowless corporate box)

* I said "goodbye" to corporate training roles and "hello" to earning income from my creativity. As you know, "I've enjoyed tremendous success with my painting this year and met so many life-affirming people like Max Gimblett and other people working and living with passion)

* Next year I'm saying "goodbye" to so much one-one coaching and "hello" to helping people through my books and freelance writing

Here is one of my clients hellos goodbyes - since doing this exercise she has progressed leaps and bounds. She took up singing and found her voice and her confidence. She's also preparing to make a huge change in career direction bu going back to school and leaving the Government sector for ever. I can not get over the changes in her. It is amazing and incredibly inspiring to see.


How about you? What are you leaving behind in 2009 and what are you saying hello to?

Labels: Career Creation, Happiness

"We are suffering from an epidemic of overthinking—caught in torrents of negative thoughts and emotions that overwhelm us and interfere with our functioning and well-being." Nolen-Hoeksema, professor of psychology at the University of Michigan

I recently received an email from a client asking me how she could stop over analysing everything. Her specific challenge to me was " How can Petra let her spirit run more freer? (and less dominated by the rational side of her)".

Rather than spend too much time thinking about this myself I did a brain purge - listing all the possible ways she could free her mind and let her spirit soar. "Just whatever comes up for you intuitively would be lovely!" she said. What an ideal client! I love to work intuitively. Little does she know that I am a recovering over-thinker myself. Still as they say, we learn best what we need to teach."

Here's my intuitive response:

Stop over thinking!

•MeditateNumerous studies have documented the health benefits of meditating daily. Increased creativity, clearer thinking, minimised stress and anxiety are just some of the many benefits. I learned the Transcendental Meditation technique over 13 years ago and have never looked back. See the resource section below

• Wear more colourful and flowing clothes. So many people's spirits are straitjacketed in tight, tailored, black suits. Woman especially seem to have lost their femininity at work

•Be silly, reckless, and childlike. Learn to adopt the spontaneous, playful curiosity of children. Spend time at a play centre, hang out with nieces and nephews if you have forgotten how and copy-cat your way to playfulness.

•Do at least one FTE a day - First Time Experience. This may be little like going down a street you have never been down before, or bigger like make an impulsive purchase or asking a complete stranger to dance!

•Have massages regularly to loosen up. It's hard to let your spirit soar if your body is tied up in knots.

•Take up dance - let your body move. Movement frees up tension and energises our minds and spirits. Take up a class or dance to your own music at home. Really let yourself go.

•Ensure your home and work environment reflect the way you want to feel. While studying interior architecture several years ago I came across a wonderful book, "the house is a reflection of self." This resonated with me. Look around your own home. Do the colours, shapes, textures, furnishings reflect the way you wan to feel? How can you create more spontaneity, intuition, creativity?

•Learn to say no. Taking on too much responsibility can cripple creativity. Learn to say no and delegate where ever possible. Practice creative procrastination - put off until tomorrow that which won't advance your life today.


•Monitor your words and thoughts. - "Must's, should's, have to's, can'ts, if's", are restricting words. Proactively weed them out and feed with "want to's" and more decisive, knowing words.

• See your freedom. Get a photo of you when you were most free - place it where you can see it everyday

•Affirm for what you want. Repeat, "I am a free spirit" or " everyday my spirit is feeling freer and freer" to programme your mind for success.

•Take regular holidays. Taking time out is a great tonic for the over-wrought soul

•Take up a creative hobby – painting, photography, creative writing, poetry, singing

•Set a freedom goal – make a project of it. Replace the word "goal" with " desire" to experience all the benefits shifting from over analysing everything will manifest

•Aromatherapy – smell freedom! Scents from essential oils like mandarin, orange and Ylang Ylang can alter brain chemistry and free up restrictive, analytical thinking. Pick up an aromatherapy book and find the scent that's right for you

•“Plan a day” where there is no plan – allow your soul to guide you. This reminds me of a very uptight friend of mine who turned up one day looking uncharacteristically untidy, "We're having a playful day" she proudly said.

•Take a load off your feet - Go gliding or soak in a flotation tank (a light-and sound-proof tank filled with water) like NZ Portrait artist Mark Olsen

•Free your working week. Create some more variety and freedom in your day. Cut down your work hours/times where you have to be available to others– so you can drive your time how you like

• Copy your way to freedom. Think of your least rational friend – copycat, ask them for tips, etc

•Leverage off your strengths. Make less rationality a research project – use your rational side to help you. Another rational solution is to complete a force field analysis:1. List all the forces against/things that constrain your spirit - if not "free" then what? "trapped"?? 2. Now list all the forces for a more free-er sense of self. 3. Now identify ways to maximise forces for, ways to minimse forces against 4. Develop an action plan

• Tap into the spiritual realm - Visit a psychic and have an intuitive, spiritual reading

• Trust yourself - make failure your friend. The fear of failure is one of the primary reasons people spend so much time over-thinking. Set a time limit on thinking and decide when enough is enough then commit to action. If it doesn't work out this time at least you'll know what not to do next time.

and not last, and not least....

•Trust your gut! As Einstein once said, "The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift." Listen to life’s whispers and act on your intuition. Intuitively I always “knew” I could build a house on the back of my section. Rationally I had no idea how!
Allow your intuition to guide you to the higher ground as Oprah does, "My business skills have come from being guided by my higher self or my intuition. I am who I am today because of... intuition, my ability to feel what is right for me and allowing that to be the strongest guide in my life. Intuition is akin to God. It is akin to being led by that which is greater than yourself. My intuition, my intention and my passion have allowed me to be who I am and will take me to higher ground..."
Everyone is intuitive – many of us have just forgotten how to listen. Listen to and strengthen your intuition – keep an intuition journal by noting all the times your intuition speaks to you.

Helpful resources:

Learn to meditate - read benefits and find out about classes

Women Who Think Too Much: How to Break Free of Overthinking and Reclaim Your Life" -
Read the article here

Labels: achieving goals, Career Creation, Happiness, Health, Intuition, Motivation, Powerful Creativity, Powerful thinking

I am working around the clock to get my final edits done of my book, "Happy@work: job hunting for mid-lifer's". Tonight I'm working on a favourite chapter of mine - "Love it, don't leave it."

As one frustrated HR manager said to me recently, “The only time people tell us what they want is when they are walking out the door. If only they would tell as what they need, then at least we could try and work something out.”

The trouble. as you may well know, is that most people don’t know what they want. So they hop from dissatisfying job, to dissatisfying job, never pausing long enough to work out what’s wrong. Conversations are never had with work colleages and bosses to improve the unhappy situation, and internal opportunities are never followed. All in all it’s an incredible waste of talent, time, money and energy. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Job sculpting is a term that came out research by career theorists at The Harvard Business School. They encourage people to chisel way at their staid, linear job descriptions and tailor responsibilities, tasks, even remuneration to better meet individual needs – and both people and organisations all over the world are doing just that.

If you are already employed, but not really enjoying it, you'll find the job sculpting exercise in the book really helpful. As I was writing this chapter I reflected on my own experience.

My first job when I graduated from university as a mature student was working for an international recruitment firm. I had graduated with a Commerce degree – majoring in Human Resource Management. I was full of excitement about the prospects of landing a fantastic, high paying job. Hope turned to despair as initially I was only offered a role as a PA. I’d had seven years out of the workforce and even though I’d had numerous senior management roles prior to this, the organisation didn’t feel my skills were current enough.

I took a deep breath, sucked in my pride and, my eye firmly on my longer-term career goals, took the job. I was single-parenting at the time and desperate for relevant work experience. Even though I didn’t enjoy being a PA at all and I wasn’t too thrilled about not being taken more seriously I didn’t let it get to me. Leaving wasn’t an option. I actively set out to find ways of increasing my satisfaction and future career prospects. I signed up for an international certification in recruitment and asked my new boss if I could shadow him to gain more first hand experience for my assignments. It wasn’t long before he rewarded my initiative and enthusiasm by promoting me to a trainee recruiter. Was I glad. Being a PA didn’t come naturally to me. I found all the running around and organising stressful. The money was terrible too.

For a while recruiting was fine but the individual performance targets, and sales culture didn’t sit well with my values. The hours were terrible too. At the interview they told me, "We know who will succeed here - they work late at night and they are here in the weekends. I was tempted to leave – especially after I developed shingles from all the stress." The corporate culture was terrible and one of my bosses threatened to smash my head in if I asked him one more time if a candidate I was looking after was going to get an interview. I don't know what was worse - his bullying or the fact that because he was a big biller, the company ignored his behaviour.

What I really wanted to do was help people find a job they would love. So I did some internal research and found out that this was the kind of work that another part of the firm did. I networked actively with people in that department to learn more about what they did and to make a good impression in case an opportunity ever arose. When a vacancy came up I talked to my boss about moving across. He wasn’t happy at all. In fact he was positively angry. He tried to make me resign and then reapply.

The company made me apply for the internal vacancy with other external candidates. I had three interviews – including a panel interview with 8 senior executives. I also had to do a role play and perform in an assessment centre. Everyone asked me, “why are you staying? You don’t have to put up with that.” But I did. I needed to get more experience to achieve my long-term goals. Besides I didn’t want my bully boss to win.

I visualised succeeding, practiced for the interviews ,maintained my cool and promoted myself with passion. I got the job. Once again it was just a stepping-stone to where I truly wanted to be – career counselling and running my own business. When I moved into this role it was still a sales role - I brought in the work and other people got to career counsel staff affected by redundancy. My motivated skills of counselling and coaching, and my values of helping people still weren’t met. I tried numerous times to get the company to allow me to redefine my role. I showed them what was in it for them and how by helping me they would also grow the business. They wanted to keep me in sales. So I looked around for another company who needed my sales and marketing skills but who would also give me the opportunity to coach people hands on. While in the short-term I took a salary plummet, I moved to a Greenfield role that allowed me to gain the experience I needed. They also supported my counselling training. Four years later I went out on my own and trebled my salary and satisfaction.

Being self employed meets all my criteria for career and life satisfaction. Importantly, it has allowed me the flexibility to support and care for my daughter during her school years. It’s also enabled me to make the best use of my talents and the things that give my work a sense of meaning and purpose. My work is a powerful vehicle for me self-expression - it allows me to be who I am, and who I truly want to be,, while serving others at the same time. Bliss!

If you are already working but unhappy at work, rather than leave, I can't encourage you enough to look for internal opportunities to gain experience. Take a sideways move, put your hand up for a secondment, or identify an untapped market demand and create an internal opportunity. Let other people leave their fate in others hands - but not you my friend, not you.

Labels: achieving goals, Career Creation, Happiness

Sometimes all it takes is one idea, one inspirational story of someone else’s happiness at work to make a positive change. Check out some wonderful happy@work profiles here.

First up is Nikki Pender - a very successful and prominent New Zealand Barrister. You can find out more about who she is and what she does on her website http://www.legalempowerment.co.nz

My Happy@work profile

I love my work most when one or more of these things are at play:

I’m learning and doing new things.
I’m being challenged intellectually.
I have problems to solve.
I’m helping others in a constructive way.
There’s an element of public speaking involved.
I’m part of a group of impassioned, motivated people


My unique passion point

Skills –
Problem-solving,
Intuition and perception
Communication (oral and written)
Motivational

Interests
Justice,
Personal development
Public law & politics,
Entertainment

What motivates me
Deadlines: and they better be real ones, because I push them hard!
Purpose: a sense that something I’m about to do makes some sense
and will be useful.
Novelty: the prospect of learning or starting something new.

No wonder a career in law fighting for justice suits her!

To demonstrate how unique everyone's happy@work profile is here is one a past client of mine completed - he prefers to stay anonymous:

Your Happy@work profile

1.)In the space below summarise the happy@work themes that are beginning to stand out for you. Remember to refer to this summary when deciding on possible career options. You may wish to use heading such as: “my values; my interests, my needs, when I am most happiest, my joys, career options that inspire me, my personality preferences”, or anything else relevant for you.
1. My Values

I enjoy helping others and I want to do something that is worthwhile. I don't have a huge go and dislike pretentiousness and snobbery.

2. My interests

Challenges, music, sport, health, travelling and adventures, languages, photography, people, history, socialising.

3. My needs

My main priority is my work environment and those who I work for. At the bottom line I need to work for an organisation that supports and nurtures me with great workmates and levelheaded superiors. Little things like when the boss says thanks for your help today, really means something. Feeling appreciated is a great thing.
I need mental stimulation but I also need to be able to see my work and what I produce.
I'm still not sure whether my need is to work outside or whether it is in the office but I prefer to have both at this stage.

4. When I am most happiest

I am most happiest when I have a several clear goals that I am working towards in different areas that are all giving me joy. I need lots of variety in my job and it has to bring a sense of achievement. I am happiest when I am working in a respectful environment where I want to work for my superiors. I like project-based work the most. I do need goals outside of work - that is just as important as working itself. I need lots of challenges throughout the year to look forward to as that energises me. Having nothing to work towards makes me dull and takes my edge away.

5. My joys

Any challenge - physical or mental - such as learning a language or competing in a race.

Doing things I have never done before.

I love being outdoors and exercising it can be anything mountainbiking, running, tramping, surfing - but in the sun - and even better with friends or family.

Writing something that is just right.

Taking a great photo.

Travelling and meeting new people from different cultures and learning about them.

Helping others to achieve their goals.

Achieving my own goals and making my visions happen.

Socialising and conversation with family and friends.

Listening to or playing music.

6. Career options that inspire me

Marketing employee for a respected sporting organisation like a premiership football team.

Adventure tour guide

Thoroughbred horse breeder

Farmer

Photo journalist

Athlete

Your Unique Passion Point
2.)Your unique passion point is where your skills, interests, and motivation intersect. Surrounding this is also the external market where there may be a demand for the things you offer. Create your unique passion point , and external market, in the space below.

I have a unique passion point being that I have excellent written and oral communication skills. I can also take great photos. I am interested in sports and music. I could use this to become a marketing or communications manager for a sporting organisation or record company where I could also use my interpersonal skills.
Your vision for the future

3.)A vision for the future can be big or small, and it can be about work or about your personal life, or both. The source or sources of achieving your vision may be from any or all of the five worlds - spiritual, physical, mental, emotional or cultural.

Some say people are driven by six basic needs, with all our choices and behaviours based on the urgency for survival, power, love, belonging, freedom and fun. In putting together a vision it is important to consider your needs and the real you - including your journey to this point, your priorities or central values as they are today, your interests, passions and desires, your skills, and what gives you a sense of meaning and purpose.

In the space below make a mind map to draw together the themes that are beginning to stand out for you as a vision for your future development and fulfilment. You may wish to create your vision on a board or dedicate a whole wall at home to help you keep your vision alive.



What I can see is me standing outside my house in the country with my family - it is peaceful. I work from here mostly but often travel both nationally and internationally with my job. I have worked through a number of marketing jobs to get to this point but now I have more time for enjoying my life - it's not all about work.
We have a nice house but it's not a mansion. There are also some animals and a garden. From here I can get out into the countryside mountainbiking or tramping although we are close enough to the city to enjoy that as well.
Inside my house are all the memories - the photos of family and friends, places we have travelled to and reminders of the successes that we have had. We are happy with what we have got and we have worked hard for it - but we are not egomaniacs.
We are fit and healthy too which means we can enjoy our lives even more. We are looking forward to more challenges......


Hi -I don't mind it going on your blog but I'm not that keen on my name being on there.

I'm not sure if it's a dream, it could be yeah, it's a vision as well I think.

It's been quite funny recently I have been thinking about you know the saying if you can dream you can do it and how important it is to dream a bit about things because that is where everything stems from.

The label visionary (you know people say he/she is a visionary in their field) makes so much sense to me now, before it was just a word.

It's funny how you know creating visions helps but sometimes you just forget because you have so many things going on.

I have been trying to dream up what I want to happen next. The thing is you need the inspiration first from something and sometimes you can search for ages and you just can't find it - and then one day you are onto something and you are away! You need a calm environment.

It goes back to that quantum physics as per the dvd "what the bleep do we know"

Labels: Career Creation, Happiness

As promised here is a progress update.

Very appropriately I have just finished the updates for the chapter focusing on ways to finance your career.

As with all the chapters in "Happy@work: career changing for mid-lifers" I have followed these strategies myself. Donna Summer sums it up well when she says"“Nobody wants you to stop, obviously because you’re a moneymaking machine. But you have to make the decision and you have to move forward. So I took time off to have babies and do all that. ”

I choose to take time out in my career to raise my daughter - so I started my own business. The business grew so big so fast that when I started wanting to change and follow my new hearts desire it was so hard to stop....my clients kept wanting me to keep going. Now I have to turn my attention to ways to slow down this side of my business, follow my new passions and still pay the bills.

I think you will love this chapter. I'll share my best finance your career tips and also the wisdom of many of the people I have helped over the years.

Here's what one of my business acquaintances, Cho Chan shared with me recently"

Cho Chan is consciously slowing down in his business in order to have time out to reflect about living and what he wants to do next. In order to generate enough cash flow to live on he borrowed $200,000 – the maximum he could borrow from his bank asset using his current set of accounts.

“My view we accumulate assets for are for future benefit of it. In order to change an asset to cash flow one way is to borrow. Many people worry about repayments and increasing debt. Yet the reality is if you can’t spend your savings (your assets are savings – i.e. your house, investments, property, shares etc) what is the point of saving?”

Cho is using this money to buy him two years `of time so that he can build a plan to achieve his next dream – to do exactly what he wants.

Cho knows a thing or two about money - he has had many finance and investment related careers in his 52 years including: “systems analyst, financial planner, systems accountant, financial systems accountant, financial systems consultant, account manager, polytechnic tutor in business, property valuer and property manager and investor.

"The business was roaring at the time. When you are on a treadmill you can’t just run and suddenly stop – or you will crash. You have to take time to slow down. Since 2003 (five years) I have been planning and cutting down expenses.”

The funny thing is that Cho this idea from me. He looked at me and watched how I took time out from my business to reforge my next career path and thought, “If Cassandra can do it I can too!”

Both Cho and I agree that leaping into a new direction with inadequate planning is a recipe for disaster. But so is staying in a career that no longer gives you a thrill. Financing your career maybe the most signicant investment you ever make - paying back huge dividends in all areas of your life. These benefits can include increased health and welll-being, improved rleationships with family and friends, imprved quality of life or, in the longer term, increased salary and benefits.

Resist the tendency to view any borrowings as “debt”. Take a longer term view. As Cho says, “My advise is that if you need to sell or borrow to generate cash flow or to repay your lifestyle – just do it!”

I have two more chapters to edit for section 6 "strategies for success" and then I will be onto the "wrapping it up section." This section is important because this is where you will consolidate all that you have learned and develop a vision and action plan to help ensure your dreams become your future!

Labels: Career Creation, Overcoming setbacks

Table of Contents:

1. Hello again!
2. Dare to Dream
3. Resources that can help
4. Inspirational Quotes – “New Beginnings”
5. Success Stories
6. Closing Notes
7. A final word and update on Cassandra's creative endeavours
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1. Hello!
Dare to dream!
Spring is here and there is no better time to clean out the old and make way for the new. Sounds easy but where do you start? As you know I am a big fan of beginning with the end in mind…..the end for me always begins with my dreams. In this month’s newsletter I’ll share some simple but effective ways to help you clarify your dreams and some action steps to help bring them into reality.

One of my latest dreams has been to integrate my creativity into my worklife. As you know – this month I have made that happen. Plus, a special bonus is that by collaborating with other artists I have also helped them achieve their dreams too. Check out the blog to share the passionate opening of our “Joy’ance” exhibition. It was so great to see so many of my past coaching clients there. Please do drop in if you live in Wellington – I will be in the gallery personally on Tuesday September the 2nd and would love to see you.


Until then, I hope you find some helpful tips in this month’s newsletter. Feel free to pass it on to any friends who could benefit from some inspiration as we head into spring here in New Zealand

Passionately yours,
Cassandra
ps Last month I was interviewed by the Auckland Herald. Check out the Media Page to down load this interview.

Plus check out the preview and download a sample chapter of http://Happy@Work:Job hunting for mid-lifers

If you haven’t already completed the Happy@work survey we’d love to hear your views
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2. DARE TO DREAM - PRACTICAL STRATEGIES TO CREATE MORE EXCITEMENT IN YOUR LIFE
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1. Collect feedback. One of the most effective ways to get clear about your dream life is to record the feedback that others give you. Today I had lunch with Jasbindar Singh – the very talented author of one of my favourite books
"Get Your Groove Back: how spiritual intelligence can give you the work and life you really want.” She told me she loved my new website www.cassandragaisford.com: “It is more you. It reflects your creative essence, your soul and your life purpose – it is far more expansive. I think that is what you should do. You should be the female equivalent of “Edward de Bono.” Collecting feedback like this energises me and helps me clarify possible dreams that I may want to pursue. Collecting feedback could also help you!

Learn more about how Jasbindar's book can help you live your dreams or buy this fabulous book on-line in our secure webstore

2. Upskill/get inspired – Read books about others already living your dream; listen to seminars. I dream of living and working in France. For the last 6 months I have been collecting articles, tuning into blogs and reading books about people who have made my dream their reality. I’ve also enrolled in French language lessons so that when the opportunity presents I am ready!


One of my client’s Cheree works for the Deaf Association. Here she is at the Joy'ance opening supporting my dream. Her dream is to help as many deaf clients as she can find employment – not just any job but a job they can love. Her work has paid for her to upskill and she has just completed our Certified Career Coach training course. Then yesterday I saw an amazing DVD that was based on the true story of Richard Pimentel, a brilliant public speaker with a troubled past, who returns from Vietnam severely hearing -impaired and finds a new purpose in his landmark efforts on the behalf of Americans with disabilities. Because I love to help people even after the formal programmes have ended I always keep an eye for ways to keep helping my clients live their dreams so I forwarded the name of the DVD and told her to go and get it. I know this will help her continue to learn new skills and have the courage and perseverance to pursue her soul mission.

Look at this lovely feedback I just received from her as I was typing this newsletter for you: “This course has not only re-ignited me but it has set my heart on fire.After so many months of dragging my feet into a job I once loved, I can now kick those heels with joy. My values, interest, passions and goals have now been clarified and I look forward to passing on what I have learnt to my clients.”

It is nice also to have my creativity affirmed – not all coaches work creatively. So many just use bland, rational approaches - in fact, when I attended an international career coaches forum in Venice, Italy experts there were predicting that the number one skill that career coaches needed was to help their clients to have more imagination! My creative, client centered approach to career planning and coach training was definitely appreciated by Cheree “What I enjoyed most about the Coach Training was: the flexibility, the one on one training and the creativity to learn. I also enjoyed the massage (I could tell she was stressed so I paid for her to have a massage!), crayon drawing therapy and of course the post dinner celebration!”

3) Wear your dream – One of my clients, a bank teller, dreamt of being the bank manager one day. He started wearing more professional suits and 6mths later was promoted! Of course he was busy doing other things to help him get noticed, but boosting his image in this way helped him live his dream before it actually happened. If you were living your dream what would you be wearing? Another effective way to wear your dream is to engage all your senses - wear colours that boost your confidence, aromatherapy blends, like orange and jasmine that boost confidence. Aromatherapy can be a great tool for unleashing the creative juices. – try oil blends of bay, coriander, grapefruit white or orange sweet to boost your creative, dream making capacity.

4. Live your dream – What would life look like if you already had the life you dream of? How can you begin to live that dream today? For some of my clients who dream of starting their own business this means having their own business cards. This is a great way to start planning toward their reality – suddenly they have to think about their logo, their name, their contact details etc. The vision of their business card helps propel them into the actions needed. Setting up my website www.cassandragaisford.com was my way of making a global statement of intention. It was, and is, a very public commitment to my dream. It’s also a safe way to give my dream a test run before I cut the safety strings tying me to my past. How could you live your dream?

5. Challenge your fears – Living your dreams can take great courage and often means confronting your fears and challenging unhelpful assumptions. Today over lunch Jasbindar and I played with The Passion Pack. I was telling her how it really is uncanny how it works as an oracle – my clients always pull out exactly the card they need. I was demonstrating this to her and I pulled out the “Fear of Change” card - it asked me “how can you confront your fears safely?” One of the first steps is to acknowledge all the things I am scared of…only then can I set about “problem solving.”

What stands in the way of your dreams? Where there’s a problem there’s a cure! Affirm for what you want

6. Meditate – People often ask me how I manage to stay so positive and juggle so many activities. I meditate regularly – at least once a day for 20 minutes…ideally twice a day if I can. I truly believe in the energising power of meditation to help me stress less and achieve more. Numerous studies have also proven that people who meditate are more creative, successful and resilient.
Eat your way to your dream – feed your mind, body and soul – eat healthy, energising food; exercise regularly and listen to music that keeps you pumped. Some of my favourite “dream” soundtracks are from the aptly named movie “Dream Girls”

7. Challenge negative thinking – What assumptions left untested are blocking the path on your road less travelled?

8. Share your dream – Sharing your dream with others can bring huge benefits including; motivating you to stay on track, supporting you when things get a bit grim, encouraging you when everything is going well and in some cases sharing tasks and responsibilities.

While doing a workshop with acclaimed artist Jane Kellahan I had the good luck to meet fellow aspiring artist Janet Mazenier. I have not known her long but already we are planning to travel to Provence in late May next year and soak up the skills of acclaimed Canadian landscape artist and author Ian Roberts. We are even going to room together – so sharing dreams can even save costs. The same can be said for the Joy’ance exhibition. Not only are Deanna, Amie and I sharing costs, but we are sharing the highs of our sales and media coverage and the lows that can come as we establish ourselves. When one of us is down the other/s are up - together we stay up!

My client Cheree also knows the positive power of sharing a dream and surrounding herself with people that inspire her: Not only did I re-energise her but in turn she has taken what she has learned and re-energized her colleague Karen: “Thanks again for getting me out of the “puddle” and splashing again (she wants to make a big splash for her clients and get them all great jobs!). Karen and I very excited about implementing some of the great ideas that we covered in the course.”

How could you surround yourself with your fans and other like minded people?

10. Visualisation – Bring your dreams into reality. Many of us are visual learners. Words – especially black and white words have very minimal motivational impact. Have a peek at one of my clients dream journal. . Click on the video link of my interview with Brendan Pongia on The Good Morning Show. Check out the Media Page http://www.cassandragaisford.com/media.html.

11. Write it down, make it happen – Knowing what you want and then getting it are pretty closely connected. Affirm for what you want by writing a letter “recalling” how it felt to achieve your goal. Writing can help you clarify what you want, focus your mind on your dreams (not your disappointments), tap into your intuitive guides, and reassure yourself that when the timing is right your dream can be true.

12. Set a goal and reward yourself - I can honestly say that within a goal I achieve nothing. During the few times I feel down it is usually because I have nothing to aspire to – that is until I set myself a challenge and then….whoosh I am like a dog with a bone…unstoppable. Even if I do pause now and then to catch my breath or to change tactics when something temporarily gets in my way.

This brings me to my Happy@work project….yes I did get off track a little waiting for the New York agent to deliver…well she hasn’t….so now I’m getting off that track and getting on a new one…..I’m back to doing it my way….(I love Frank Sinatra’s song “my way” – it’s a great motivator …and one that my daughter sang at my father’s funeral…I must u-tube it so you can hear her!

My goal is to have it totally ready for publication by 29 September and to have sold a minimum of 2000 by April 2008 – my reward will be to stay in Provence for 2 months following the workshop! There I have shared my goal with you! Please help me make it happen! 2000 books at $35 per book will be $70,000 – gosh that’s a lot of money…achieving that goal definitely feels exciting!

3. RESOURCES TO HELP

Life Coaching: being in the love wars can play havoc with your self-esteem, confidence and emotions. Prepare for success by getting these things in order. When you love yourself others will too.

Career coaching: If you are unhappy@work chances are its affecting your love life too. When you do what you love, other loves come too. Get a career makeover this autumn. Career coaching can help you discover your life purpose, get clearer about your passions and goals and tap into proven strategies to help you achieve them.

Check out the Worklife Solutions website for more information about career or life coaching or contact me in person. We offer one off sessions, email coaching and face-to –face session individually tailored to your needs. Cassandra@worklifesolutions.co.nz . I’d love to hear from you.

Books - Listed below are just a few of the wonderful books written by career planning experts. If you find any more brilliant ones please let me know - I’d love to share them with others:

“Write It Down, and Make It Happen" - Henriette Anne Klauser
“It’s not how good you are, it’s how good you want to be” - Paul Arden
“Dream Big” - Ian Falconer
“Get Your Groove Back: how spiritual intelligence can give you the work and life you really want” - Jasbindar Singh. Learn more about how Jaspindar's book can help you live your dreams or buy this fabulous book on-line in our secure webstore


Websites - Listed below are just a few of the websites that address issues related to career changing. Self-help by searching for more on www.google.com. If you find any more brilliant ones please let me know – I’d love to share them with others.

Gift Vouchers – Help someone you love fulfill their potential and achieve greater success in their life. Enquire now about our gift vouchers.
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4. INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES RE DREAMS AND NEW BEGINNINGS

"Spring is nature’s way of saying “let’s party." Robin Williams, US comedian

“If one advances confidently in the direction of his own dreams, and endeavours to live the life which he has imagined he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” - Henry Thoreau

"All glory comes from daring to begin." - Eugene F. Ware

"Almost everything comes from nothing." - Henry F. Amiel

“You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” - Zig Ziglar

“Let us live our lives as though all of our dreams have come true and then challenge reality to catch up.” ?


5. SUCCESS STORIES!
Happy@work is gaining momentum - finally the corporate world is waking up to the compelling evidence that helping staff be happy at work is not just a nice to have but a must have. Yee-ha! I can't tell you how delighted I am to be working with national and multi-national clients to create happier, healthier, more humane place to be work.

Passion@work workshops for Colgate Palmolive
Last month I ran several Passion@work workshops for staff at Colgate Palmolive. They had just moved into new offices and wanting to begin with the end in mind chose me to run the first workshops ever held in their gorgeous new training room. Here’s some of the feedback I received:

“It was great to push the message about the importance of passion at work.”
“The most helpful part of the workshop was sharing ideas with the wider group and seeing similarities.”

“I loved the exercise involving the Passion Cards – our topic “Daily Tonic” was particularly interesting.”

Keynote presentation on happiness@work and productivityIn September I will be speaking to the institute that provides a tertiary qualification for Company Secretaries, the members of which are made up of accountants, lawyers and other professional people who manage staff. The institute has discussed the issue of productivity and having read my article in the Dominion on the 6th of February is keen to tap into my knowledge about the direct link between our current workplace productivity problem and the management of staff.

Please contact me if you feel a similar presentation may be of benefit to your organisation. Or, on a more personal note if you would like me or one of my team to help you live and work with passion, achieve the job of your dreams, tap into your intuitive intelligence or help you make positive changes in any area of your life contact me without delay. Mention this newsletter and you will be eligible for our spring promotion – a whopping 20% off the cost of all coaching programmes. Plus you’ll receive a free copy of “You Don’t Make a Leap Without A Gulp.” – a total savings of over $200

Preferred Supplier for Land Information New Zealand

We are also pleased to be riding the waves of success by being selected to be one of Land Information New Zealand's preferred provider of career coaching and leadership coaching services. LINZ has been a great client of Worklife Solutions for many years now and it was affirming to be reselected after a competitive tender process. I can honestly say they are one of the best companies I know re valuing and investing in their staff. Thank you LINZ – we are proud to partner with you.

Returning clients

We are so pleased to be passing on our skills, passion and knowledge to Cheree Walker. It's great to be helping her pursue her dreams again. Not only was she one of my first clients when I began my business but now I am training her to do what I do. Cheree is truly passionate about making a difference - vivre la passion!

If you are an employer and would like to help her in quest to find meaningful work for her deaf clients please contact her via the Deaf Association here in Wellington.



6. A FINAL WORD!
Tap into spring’s inspiring energy – make room for the new and get rid of the old. Life is too short to put up with a less than satisfactory life. Having a spring clean and say goodbye to anything that is zapping your energy and hello to living the career and life of your dreams. Commit to making a fresh start. This may mean leaving unhappy situation, banning negativity or rekindling the sparks of your most passionate, inspiring dreams.

Dust of your adventurous spirit and prepare for some fun this spring.
Passionately yours
Cassandra and the Worklife Solutions team.
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7. CLOSING NOTES and Update re Cassandra's Creative Endeavours
www.cassandragaisford.com is live! Last month I was interviewed by the Auckland Herald on the subject of the great mid-life adventurers. Check out the Media Page to down load this article

Check out the powerful creativity blog for tips and inspiration on work and creativity. You can also have a wee sneak at the opening night photos of Joy'ance

Here is one of the three joys - my fellow artists Amie McCarron, Deanna Gracie and I


Check out our practical and inspiring eBooks on a range of topics including how to find your passion and still pay the bills, overcoming obstacles, and powerhouse interview techniques. http://www.cassandragaisford.com/shop/

You’ll also find gorgeous photos, paintings and other artworks to give your environment a boost. http://www.cassandragaisford.com/shop/

And last but by no means least, please come and visit us at 128 Featherston Street, Wellington for the final days of our Joy’ance art sale. Check out the powerful creativity blog to take a peek at our opening night party.


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I LOVE TO HEAR YOUR SUCCESS STORIES. PLEASE SEND ME A NOTE!
You can email me at: Cassandra@worklifesolutions.co.nz or info@cassandragaisford.com

Labels: achieving goals, Career Creation, Happiness, Motivation

“Without passion, man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark.”
-Henri-Frederic Amiel, Writer

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• What makes you spark?
• What inspires you?
• What gives you so much satisfaction or/such a buzz that you would do it for free?
• What role does passion play in your working life?
• How can you convert your deepest passion into a rewarding career?

These are questions many people seeking fulfilling work or changing careers never ask. Discovering and pursuing your passion is a vital component of career satisfaction and success. It is the driving and motivating force that will ignite your special talents and gifts, and gives you both a vehicle and means by which to express your uniqueness. You can not only find the career of your dreams, but can attain the competitive edge to achieve success. When your passions are aligned with your work activities you will be more satisfied, productive, happy and well.

Passions pay cheque
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By discovering your passion you will tap into a huge source of potential energy. Pursuing your passion can be profitable on many levels:

• When you do what you love, your true talent will reveal itself; passion can’t be faked.
• You’ll be more enthusiastic about your pursuits.
• You’ll have more energy to overcome obstacles,
• You will be more determined to make things happen.
• You will enjoy your work.
• Your work will become a vehicle for self-expression.
• Passion will give you a competitive edge

Case study: Jane the Visual Merchandiser

Jane wanted to change her profession from a background in retail sales and management to something more creative and hands on and which was less management and sales focused. She was struggling to identify her transferable skills and how her passion for fabric could be combined into a new career. After focusing on all the facets of her passion, including her natural gifts and talents, she successfully transitioned into her dream job. “I have just got the position at Radfords of Visual Merchandiser for their 5 stores. Yippee! I start on Monday, and can't wait. This job is going to enable me to use all those key skills that I have and a huge bonus is that I also get to work with fabrics which is just perfect. I know I came across with confidence and the right attitude thanks to you reminding me that I need to "blow my own trumpet" and allow my passion to shine.”

What is passion?

“Passion is a lot like ‘love’. It is difficult, probably impossible, to define in precise terms, but easy to see and feel when it is present”
- Charles Kovess, Writer

• To be passionate is to be fully alive. Being passionate is a vital part of being human.
• Passion is about emotion, feeling, zest and enthusiasm. Passion is about intensity, fervour, ardour and zeal. Passion is about fire. Passion is about eagerness and preoccupation.
• Passion is about excitement and animation. Passion is about determination and self-belief.
• Passion is about being willing to change. Passion is about following your heart’s desire.
• Passion is about doing something you love.

Passion is not an intellectual thought. It is a feeling, an emotion. Western society tends to value thoughts, reason, logic, and clear thinking more highly than feelings, intuition and soul. Perhaps because of this, people have become de-sensitised to the clues and callings of their own passions.

If it is our desire to be the best that we can be, then the integration of mind, body and spirit is essential. However passion can be difficult to find – and many adults fail to find it altogether. In the absence of any encouragement they give up searching for it, or at least rediscovering it.


Case study: Mary, the journalist

Martha was a disillushioned journalist. She felt trapped in her job because she couldn’t think of anything else she wanted to do. One day she walked into a bookstore and her forgotten passion for colour was reawakened. “Tucked away in the corner of the shop I saw this book on colour. had this most incredibly sensation inside, the same feeling you get when you fall in love. I felt really embarrassed because I couldn’t understand it. I mean it was just a book. For days I ignored it until I knew, really knew that I had to write a book about colour. I’d always loved colour but I was no good at drawing and painting. So I caste it aside. Now I’ve combined my skills as a journalist with my passion for colour.“

Action Question What does passion mean to you? If you were passionate about something what would others notice?

What does passion look like?

“Passionate people exude energy, power, excitement, drive and commitment. Their eyes sparkle, they are fully alive. They have an impact on others. They are the people who often become our leaders, or become the achievers on this planet. They achieve what they want, and most of us talk about them and often envy them. Yet less than 10% of people are visibly pursuing their passion.”
-Charles Kovess, Author.

Every human being is capable of passion. But many people think they are not. This can be because they have narrow ideas of what passion is, or because they think that you have to be really extroverted or do something hugely fantastic to earn the right to say you are passionate. Passion is for everyone – some people just need help taking it out of the drawer.

Some common signs include:

• A burning desire or hunger Mahatma Gandhi had a burning desire or hunger to help his fellow human beings. Gandhi was a passionate man, and his passion enabled him to produce extraordinary results

• A feeling of inspiration

• A feeling in the pit of the stomach If thinking about a particular task, or activity, gives you a “hit” in your stomach with nerves, tingling, pressure, or palpitations, you could be passionate

• A sense of excitement

• A feeling of limitless energy Passionate people do not get easily tired. Their passion feeds them, sustains their body, and overcomes the kind of mental activity that might make a less passionate person feel tired.

• The feeling ”I shouldn’t be paid for this I’m having too much fun.” Many people believe that work, by definition, should be a struggle, and endured – something that can only be enjoyed in exceptional or unusual times. If you are not passionate about your work, then it is hard to see how it could be fun. If you had $10 million in the bank, would you do the work you are doing now? If the answer is “yes”, you are clearly passionate.

• The belief that nothing is too much trouble. Do you have a passion for excellence? Do you have a passion for the outcome?

• A clarity of vision. The quality of the picture in your mind’s eye will demonstrate to you the power of your passion. Passionate people have a spectacularly clear picture of what they want to create, of how the world will be when they have achieved their passion.

• A sense of caring deeply Caring comes from a part of us that is more than body or mind: it is a soul connection, or a heart-to-heart connection. When you care, you have a greater energy, a greater ability to create a greater ability to produce.

Nothing great is the world has been accomplished without passion!

“When it becomes clear that no one else shares your level of passion, you are where you belong.”- Placido Domingo

What's are you passionate about?

You could be passionate about anything! Judge not what you are passionate about. See only if it serves you, given who you are and who you want to be. It could be the simplest of things that excite you and lead you onto a fulfilling career. We spend too much time at work to give up on passion, but some people think that you save the things you like for a hobby or for when you retire. The truth is you are unlikely to find real satisfaction or meaning in your work unless it engages you as a person and delivers some kind of buzz.

Case studies:

Chris Cairns is passionate about cricket, and has carved out a good living as a result. For many years he represented NZ and played cricket at international level.

Graham Books was a researcher who was passionate about potatoes, especially the old Maori varieties. He is still regarded as a world expert in this area and won a significant export contract as a result.

Brian Clifford is passionate about helping people and bugs. He has combined his passion into a successful business as a pest controller. “All the rats, all the maggots, all the cockroaches all over the place. These are the things that I love doing.”

John Holley has turned his passion for bones into a business, Skulls Downunder, selling skeletons to museums all over the world.

Roger Simpson and Murray Langham have turned their love of chocolate and their counselling backgrounds into a philosophy and a successful business. They are chocolate makers, therapists and authors.

What are your buzz factors?


Don't worry if you are struggling to answer some of these questions. Many people have no idea what they are passionate about or how to transfer their deepest passions into a rewarding career. Research consistantly reveals that less than 10% of the population are living their passion.

Cassandra Gaisford (me!)is passion about passion! I have boxes and boxes of clippings and articles of people who are passionate about their work. I didn't choose to be passionate about passion - it chose me! I've made it my life's work to help people find their passion. OVer the last 15 years I've helped thousands of people and organisations find and rekindle thier passion. I've developed tools like the "PassionPack" and unique career and life coaching programmes like the "PassionPoint" and "passion@work" programmes to help make this world a more passionate, happier, joy filled place to live and work.

Stay tuned to this blog if you would like help working with passion and still paying the bills. Visit us at www.worklifesolutions.co.nz or www.passionpod.com to find out about our range of passion tools, 1-1 coaching and other ways we can can help.

“Never deny passion. For that is to deny who you are and who you want to be.”
-Neale Walsch, author

Labels: Career Creation, Happiness, passion