Writing Ten Articles a Day

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It is not easy to be a writer. It is not easy to write articles. However, there are so many people who aim to be a writer. Why? It is simply because they want to work at home while earning a handsome income. However, this is not going to happen unless you have the writing skills and the ideas to write about. Still, don’t give up just yet.

You can practice writing if you are not good at writing so that you can learn to write better. Yes, practice makes perfect. Everyone knows this. However, you have to make it work for you. Try to write ten articles a day, five days a week. This is an exercise for you to be in tune with writing.

How you can write ten articles a day?

It is easy. You just need to follow these steps.

  1. Gather all your writing ideas. Yes, you need to have ideas before you can write. Choose your topic wisely, research about it and gather as many information as you can.
  2. Work on your articles one at a time. Don’t rush into all ten articles at one time.
  3. Take your time to write the articles. You cannot set a time to write an article since some of the articles might take a longer time to write than the others.
  4. Once you have written your articles, it is time to check for spelling errors and grammar mistakes. If you are not good at writing, you are bound to make mistakes. Use the grammar and spell checker to help you out. You will get to learn something.
  5. Once you have checked through the articles, it is time to polish the articles. You can read the articles again and edit any part that you feel should not be there at all. Editing is helpful as you are reading your own work again and again. You are bound to get better at writing and reading thanks to this exercise.

Training For the Half Marathon

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In this article, I want to serve up the meat and potatoes of using heart rate as the principle training guide for a half marathon. Over the past 15 years I have tried desperately to “dummy down” the explanation regarding physical adaptations that occur when heart rate is systematically used in training. I am reminded time and again to employ the K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid) principle when trying to explain these concepts to my clients. Here at last, I think we have successfully achieved that end.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, we need two things; first, is a reliable heart rate monitor. I am personally vested with Polar. They have the greatest variety of monitors on the market. My favorite model for serious runners is the RS800sd. The reason I prefer this monitor is because of the highly detailed feedback it can provide, such as speed, distance, cadence, stride rate and of course all of the heart rate related data. This monitor is a bit pricey, selling for around $499.00 retail. If this is a bit too much for your budget, my next best choice is the RS400sd which provides all of the aforementioned details minus cadence and stride rate. Other less expensive monitors are available, as you lose some of the functionality the price drops considerably. A word of caution; avoid cheating yourself from these valuable functions, once you get accustomed to using heart rate while you train you will become addicted to the feedback, the more the better. As they say “its better to spend a little more than you planned than a little less than you should have”.

Next, we need to establish some base parameters, namely your anaerobic threshold and maximal heart rate. Your anaerobic threshold is the line in the sand so to speak, between your bodies’ energy systems. Further referred to as your “AT”, the point which defines when you have stopped accessing your fat stores and are now completely drawing from your sugar stores for energy. This bit of information is critical in that it defines the intensity of all of your training.

In a perfect world, to arrive at this priceless information you need a VO2 max test. We perform these tests everyday in our lab for runners, triathletes and fitness enthusiasts interested in weight management. This approach is highly recommended. On the other hand, if you are on a tight budget, the next best approach is to employ predictive measures. Unfortunately, a host of variables can affect the accuracy, but it is easy, and costs you nothing.

The formula I would suggest goes like this; simply subtract your age from 180 to arrive at a base heart rate threshold and infuse a plus or minus 5 beats per minute based on your current state of fitness, for example:

  • If you are new to running and this is your first long event, don’t ass or subtract points.
  • If you have been away from training or recovering from a virus subtract 5 points.
  • If you have been running and healthy for the past 6 months, add 5 points.

You’re newly established “AT” serves as the nucleus of your training plan. Once you have this value, you now need to establish a one mile “AT” time trial. To do this, you simply go to your local track, warm up and run until you achieve your “AT” heart rate and begin timing yourself at this heart rate for exactly one mile. This test is important because it will serve as your progress report throughout the course of your training.
Once this is done, it’s a good time to determine a maximal heart rate as well. This can be done by running up to your peak effort, recovering for about thirty seconds and repeating this process about 3-4 times. The highest attainable heart rate is a pretty close indication of your peak heart rate.

Now that we are empowered with the governing heart rate responses it’s time to apply them to the four principle training stimuli.

Example:Sally is 40 years old and has been healthy and training for the past year. She would subtract 180-40=140bpm, add 5bpm for her fitness level and arrive at an AT of 145bpm

Afterwards Sally performed a field test and found she could not exceed a max heart rate of 180bpm with this information we can now begin to build the correct intensity for each training stimulus

  • AB -135-145bpm “aerobic base training” training conducted for long duration below the anaerobic threshold.
  • MSD– 110-170bpm “motor skill development” interval training that focuses on enhanced economy at speed.
  • LT– 140-160bpm “lactate tolerance” training which is analogous to race pace efforts with governed recovery.
  • AR– 120-130 bpm “active recovery” low intensity training that promotes recovery and preparedness to get back to training soon.

Organizing these training components properly will prepare you for nearly any endurance event. This is not rocket science, varying intensity and duration is nothing new. However, as they say “the devil is in the details”. Instead of using pace, distance and time to govern your training, you are now using critical feedback from your bodies pump (the heart) to dictate how hard, how long and when to recover from your efforts. Keep in mind that your central nervous system is the boss; it regulates bodily functions to protect and serve. Trying to follow a program that does not account for this bio-feedback will never be as effective.

Arranging the schedule to meet my level of ability
The primary concept of an endurance program is to gradually build “resistance to fatigue”. Our template ensures that all the pertinent elements of your training are integrated into your daily, weekly and monthly program.
Once you understand and can conceptualize what I have done here, you are able to adjust the workloads, days off etc. to match your lifestyle and responsibilities.

How do I rate my level of experience?
With running, it is always better to error with less than more mileage in your planning. After all, you can always increase your mileage, however if you take on too much too early you risk injury.

The following training mileage/time recommendations should adequately place most runners into a scheme that works well for a successful outcome. Keep in mind that in our training, your principle concern is the volume of time committed to each specific component of training NOT mileage. Your mileage increases proportionately with your improvements over time.

Beginner 3.0 to 4.5 hours per week (aprox. 18-25 miles per week)
Intermediate 4.5-6.0 hours per week (aprox. 25-40 miles per week)
Advanced 6.0-8.0+ hours per week (aprox. 40-60+ miles per week)

Caution:
BE CONSERVATIVE don’t take on more work than you are physically prepared to achieve. You can always add mileage but you cannot subtract injury or over training once it occurs.

How Long Does Bartending School Take?

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Are you interested in bartending school, but have been wondering: “How long is bartending school?”” The simple answer is, it depends. Don’t worry, though – if you are interested in a longer class, or a shorter class, or a class that’s only one day a week, you should have no trouble finding one that meets your unique needs. No matter how long bartending school takes, once you graduate, you will be confident in your bartending skills!

The Actual Length Of Bartending School

Most bartending classes are forty hours total, and they go across either one or two weeks. Maryland Bartending has one class each Saturday for five weeks, and another class that’s two weeks, Monday through Friday. For the Monday through Friday classes, we offer both day and evening classes.

The length of bartending school does vary from school to school, of course. If you opted to take evening classes once or twice per week, you might end up with a three-month class.

Depending on your goals, it might be smarter to try to take the classes as close together as you can, because you don’t want to forget what you’ve learned over a week’s time before the next class. Plus, if you do it in a shorter time span, you can actually get done sooner!

Getting through with the school will set you up pretty well for getting your foot in the door at a local establishment, especially if you have your TIPS certification and a school that helps with job placement. Any school that can help land you a bartender job is easily worth the cost.

Does It Matter How Long Bartending School Takes?

Honestly, the length of your bartender school is secondary to the quality of school, unless the better schools don’t offer classes at a time that you can attend. If you’re really determined to become a bartender, don’t ask your self: “how long is bartending school going to take?” Instead, you should try to get into a more expensive school that will really prepare you well.

A good school can help solidify your knowledge of various mixed drink recipes, techniques for mixing, and even some dazzling tricks that will really give you an edge when it comes to landing your dream bartending job. If you are interested in learning some flair tricks, it would be a good idea to get some help in a class. After all, it’s much easier to learn an advanced trick with personal help and advice.

When asking yourself “How long is bartender school?”, it’s important to remember that it’s really a small investment in your future. For just a few hundred dollars and a couple of weeks, you can dramatically increase your chances of getting a good bartending job and being set for a long time. Compared to other trades, the cost-to-benefit ratio of bartending school is a no-brainer.

If you’re serious about becoming a bartender, the skills and foundation you’ll get through bartending school are invaluable. Now, instead of asking “How long is bartending course?”, you should ask, ” Where do I sign up?”

How Did I Learn English?

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As a migrant from China to Australia, I am often asked this question, “How did you learn English?”

I speak English and Chinese both fluently. I speak fluent mandarin and a few dialects of Chinese such as Cantonese and another dialect in my hometown.

People ask this question for different reasons. Some people are just out of curiosity, some are trying to justify how hard or how easy it is to learn a foreign language, and others might want some tips on how to learn English.

This is a difficult question to answer. It really depends on your expectations of how well you want to master this language. I probably learnt it the hard way, like most Chinese did – actually I am sure most Chinese are still learning it the hard way.

The hard work does get rewarded, if you know how to do it. I will talk about how I was rewarded later. Now I’d like to introduce the hard way and easy way to learn English.

The hard way to learn English

In 2011 I went to China to visit my family. I have been going to China to visit my family once a year since 2006 I came to Australia. My sister is a teacher in China teaching English at a secondary school. She speaks reasonably good English in comparison with some English teachers I know in China. My sister teaches English the traditional way English and other subjects are taught in China, the whole purpose of that is, to pass exams.

One of my nephews just finished secondary school and he was about to go to high school. He was one of those students struggling to get high scores in English exams. My brother and his wife desperately wanted him to get some tips from me on how to learn English.

When I went to school, we started to have the subject of English at secondary. I was taught the same way as my sister still does to her students these days, except I did a bit extra work to stand above others. I did this unconsciously to start with, then I found that this bit of extra work made my English exam scores went from average to right at the very top, sometimes well above the others. It was until then that I realized that it really worked for me.

At school, every student of the same grade would be given the same book for a subject for the term and this is the book you need to study to pass your exams. The process would be: in the whole term the teacher concentrates on this very book and goes through it over and over until the students have a very good understanding of everything in this book, and then you get the exams about this book.

Since every question in the exams was related to this book, so my extra bit of work was to remember every word in the book until I could repeat the articles without having a look at the book. I was happy to share my little secret of success with others but I obviously had a talent of remembering things because I could finish repeating an article within about half an hour while others found it hard to accomplish it at all. I kept this habit of repeating articles in the books until I finished high school and in the whole middle school period I was my English teacher’s pride because teachers are valued by their students’ scores.

If you want to pass exams in China this is the way to go. But in reality when you actually want to use what you learnt in a practical way, i.e. have a conversation with your clients from English speaking countries, you might find it very disappointing. I experienced this when I finished university and went to work for a company that had clients from overseas.

I was in Guangzhou, China at the time. Twice a year we would have clients from overseas to visit the trading fairs in Guangzhou. Sometimes I got the job of showing them ways around Guangzhou and that was completely disaster – I already had communications with them via emails but I could not talk to them face to face. I just did not understand what they were talking about. After 10 years of studying English at school, I could not understand their English!!

After 10 years of studying English at school I could read and write well but I could not talk to people face to face. I realized that I needed to do something about it. I went on Internet for the answers. I found the answer after I tried a few things.

The answer was, chat to people and learn how other people engage conversations. You could choose those online chat rooms. In these chat rooms you meet people you never met before and chances are that you will never meet them in real life. In this way you can avoid embarrassment that you think your English is not good enough to chat with people. It was that easy. If the person you are chatting with lose interest because your English is not good enough, then move on. There are a million other people are interested just for a chat.

After a couple of months my English speaking skills were improved noticeably. I was then confident enough to telephone my clients, which I used to always try to avoid. I used to try to write emails instead. One day after I finished conversation with a client on the phone, the sales manager said to me “Hey, I didn’t notice that your English has improved so much recently. What have you done?”

I smiled and said, “I try hard.”

By the time I came to Australia in 2006, my English was good enough to understand 60% of the conversations and after 3 months in Australia I could understand most of people talking.

So much about the hard way. I will now introduce the easy way.

The easy way to learn English

Empty your cup, Learn like a child.

When my daughter came to Australia with me, she was three and half years old, just old enough to go to kinder garden. She came in December and the kinder garden started in early February. My daughter had already had kinder garden experience in China so she was quite happy to keep going. The first day I walked her to her room and she could not talk to anybody. She could not speak a word of English.

The teachers from the kinder garden were very concerned about her English and made a few suggestions to me on how to get her learn to speak English. They were so kind that they bought a few books to try to learn a bit Chinese so they could talk to her. Their journey of learning Chinese did not go far because in three months my daughter was already speaking English well enough to make herself understood and in another 3 months she was speaking English as well as other kids.

How did my daughter learn English? Watching TV.

One of the kinder garden mums suggested me to get my daughter watch “Play School”, one of the popular children TV shows in Australia. It was on twice a day, in the morning and in the afternoon. My daughter was quite attracted to it and watched pretty much every episode. She watched it from home, from the back of the shop I worked from and wherever she could find the show. I often heard her singing new songs and nursery rhymes that she learnt from the show.

Bret sometimes complains that she watched too much TV, and she would say: “I have to watch this. My teacher said so.”

My daughter now speaks better English than I do but I write better English than half of the people I know.

My hard work of learning English in the hard way was finally rewarded when in 2011 I engaged myself to a course to obtain a full real estate license. It took me five months to finish the majority of the total 24 modules of the course by studying in the back of our real estate office while it took Bret, as a native Australian, twelve months full time studying on campus of RMIT to get the same license in 2003 and 2004.

To summarize it, here is the list of ways to learn English:

Step 1-Watch TV shows and movies that you like and feel attracted to. This will improve your listening skills within a short period and will then lead you to step 2;

Step 2 – Try to have conversations with people and use as much English as you can and you will also learn a lot from other people as you go.

Step 3 – Step 1 and 2 will take you to speak English reasonably well if you try hard enough but if you want to read and write well, then you will need to read a lot and practice writing a lot.

Multistate Bar Exam Strategy Tip: You Can’t Memorize Everything!

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Success on the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) requires time and correct strategy. The time element simply means that you have to put in the hours of studying. There are no shortcuts or overnight solutions. Correct strategy means that you are studying in a way that leads to correct answers. To some extent, a correct strategy can overcome some shortage of time; however, no amount of time spent studying can compensate for a poor study strategy. (If you doubt this, consider how many students dedicate huge amounts of time to studying for the bar exam and fail.)

One strategic mistake that many students make is thinking that they should memorize all the black-letter law. This is a mistake for two reasons.

First, it would be nearly impossible to memorize this amount of law. I was watching a young woman study for the MBE (Multistate Bar Exam) in the library a few years ago. She was lugging around several printed and bound outline books for each of the MBE subjects. Stacked on top of each other, the outlines must have stood five inches tall. I am guessing she had at least 500 pages of densely packed outlines in front of her. It would be nearly impossible to memorize all of that. If you are like many students, bar exam review starts in June and ends in July. Even if all you had to worry about was the MBE, you still would not have time to memorize every definition, three-prong test, and exception to the exception.

The second reason why it does not make sense to spend your time memorizing black-letter law is that the MBE is an exam that requires application of the law, not regurgitation. No question will ask you to list the elements of a cause of action or the definition of an easement. What you need to do is get a working familiarity with each subject and then dive into sample questions. For example, you could take the time to memorize the elements of each property crime or you could skim the section of your outline and start doing questions. Memorizing each element is a waste of time because in reality the crimes are all similar – they all involve stealing someone else’s stuff! When you dive into sample questions, you focus on how these crimes are different. And the differences between these crimes is where the testable issues hide.

In short, don’t waste time memorizing black-letter law for the MBE. It makes more sense to just dive into the questions and test your knowledge and learn along the way.

Tips For Finding The Best Online Education Opportunities

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Online education is the new way to obtain a degree with convenience. There are a number of wonderful online programs which allow individuals to obtain their education at times which are most convenient to their currently daily schedules. Whether attending full time or holding down a day job and taking classes whenever possible, this online educational avenue is a great thing to pursue. There are a few tips to keep in mind in order to find the best education opportunity possible for those who wish to obtain degrees via the World Wide Web.

Search a Multitude of Options

First and foremost, it is extremely important to look around a bit at different options and not select the first online university which you come across. As with any type of educational institution, some online education providers are better than others. Therefore, shop around a bit with regard to educational possibilities and only select one from the bunch after thoroughly reviewing your options.

Consider The Cost Of The Online Program

It is also important to consider how much the entire online program will cost you. This relates to not only the online class portion but books and any other costs as well. Some online program providers will offer loans for those who need to find a way to pay for their education. Other providers may not offer loans but will accept money obtained via outside lenders. In addition, there may be a way to pay for the online degree in installment payments which will make the overall education much more affordable.

Determine How Many Credits Will Need to Be Obtained to Acquire a Degree

You should also determine how many credits you will need to acquire in order to get your degree in the desired educational subject. Some online schools will offer degrees for fewer credits than others. By choosing a school where less credits are required, you may find that you receive the same type of education for less money. Therefore look into the credit requirements of each online educational provider prior to selecting a specific one.

Look Into How Classroom Sessions Are Administered

One who is searching for an online school should also find out how the virtual classes are administered. Some may find that classes where the students can do the coursework at their leisure may be more suitable to their schedule than ones which require the student to log on at certain times throughout the week to attend classroom sessions. This is an important factor to consider so that you can be certain to get all of your coursework done in a timely and efficient manner.

Inquire About the Reputability of the Online Program

Last but certainly not least, you should inquire about the reputability of a certain program prior to signing up for a specific one as this will often determine whether the program is worth your money or not. As with any educational institution, certain online educational programs will be better than others. Therefore, try doing some research online when it comes to figuring out how good a certain education program is and ask friends and family members with regard to online education recommendations.

Take a Chance on These Two Japanese Language Courses – Rocket Or Rosetta Stone Japanese

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Among the Japanese language courses that are available in the market today, Rosetta Stone Japanese takes marketing leverage in replicating a give and take learning method, which is similar to how people acquired their native language. With word associations, this language program introduces context and meaning using carefully selected objects, which happens to be an effective reinforcement to immediately learn Japanese language. Through a step-by-step process, this Japanese language courses uses the student’s response and immediately gives feedback so the student determines his learning progress. It uses the mind’s innate ability to associate words to sounds and pictures to meanings.

On the other hand, the Rocket Japanese offers a well-structured and comprehensive interactive audio instruction format of its language courses program. It presents a complete learning system that contains everything you need to learn to speak and understand Japanese. Clear and easy to use, it promises to make you fluent in less than 8 weeks. But of course, that would depend on your learning progress, which adds to the flexibility of Rocket’s language learning program.

The Challenge

To learn Japanese , teachers would agree that the most challenging part of learning the Japanese is grammar and vocabulary. Learning the pronunciations of Japanese works is even trickier. To solve this issue, Rosetta Stone and Rocket Japanese language courses offer modern, comprehensive, and flexible learning programs that will define a whole new experience to language learning.

Rocket Language Software

Rocket Japanese solves such issue by providing you with audio courses and learning software. Through interactive games, learning vocabulary as well as grammar would be a breeze. It leaves you to its well-structured learning course to learn at your own pace, and at the comfort of your own time. Its interactive audio courses of Rocket Japanese are its flagship component. It also includes transcripts for these audio lessons in Japanese characters with English translations. Along with its audio materials, it also has three corresponding grammar and culture lessons. Hence, unlike traditional classroom sessions, Rocket learn Japanese language courses appeals to your comfort level to make learning a fun and engaging experience.

Rosetta – Level by Level Learning

Rosetta Stone learn Japanese language courses is offering levels 1, 2 and 3 on their Japanese packs. Level 1 is designed to help you build a foundation on Japanese , which include vocabulary and sentence structure. It also includes instructions on how to master basic conversation skills, including greetings and introductions. Level 2 includes audio companion and is designed to reinforce the fundamental Japanese vocabulary and language structure that you have learned. At the end of this course, you can better communicate in Japanese; get directions, tell time, dine out and other basic social interactions. Level 3 enables you to connect to the world as a fluent and seemingly native Japanese speaker.

To conclude

Just like any product that you buy, Rosetta Stone and Rocket learn Japanese language courses software carries some pros and cons. When Rosetta Stone has a reputation in the field of linguistic training through its 3-level Japanese learning programs, Rocket Japanese covers advanced topics equally well as it includes discussions on the aspects of grammar, colloquial usage and pronunciation all in one language pack. Though anyone can say that Rosetta Stone Japanese packs are stronger than Rocket, Rocket at a better value at the cost of $99, you get a fairly comprehensive language course which will effectively help you learn to understand and speak fluent Japanese. When Rocket Japanese do not have the more comprehensive and thorough learn Japanese language courses offered by Rosetta Stone, Rosetta lacks audio reinforcements and is therefore not ideal for people who do not want to use computer for long hours.

Reasons Not to Choose a College – Part 1

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There are reasons that you should not choose a college to attend, just as there are reasons that you should choose to attend college. There will be many different temptations when selecting a college. You must choose which reasons should be at the top of your list for going to a certain college. There should be validity in these reasons in helping you identify a school to attend.

The first reason is choosing a college because someone else likes it. You are going to have friends, relatives, and even your parents that have their own favorite colleges. Just because one college was right for your mom or dad, does not mean it will be right for you. If you have a group of friends that are all planning on attending a local college and are applying, then it is okay to put that college on your list. Send out one of your many applications to that particular college and see what happens. Do not choose to go to that college based on the decision that all of your friends are going. Even if you have an older sibling that has attended a prestigious university, does not mean that you should go to the same university.

Do not choose a college because of its status or prestige. If you are thinking of applying to Harvard or Yale, then apply and see if you get accepted. Choosing to go to Harvard or Yale based off of society’s view of these two schools does not mean that you will be happy at the school. You may also be thinking that you will have a better chance of getting a high paying job you graduate from a prestigious university. Which college or university you attend can play a part in getting you hired for a great job. However, where you go to school is just one of the many factors that is considered in hiring you for specific job. Do not make the mistake of thinking that it is the only one.

Small Business Coaching & Consulting – The Hottest, Must Have Accessory For 2009!

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Do you want to know the secret that most successful people in this world know and have that you don’t?

A great spiritual leader, tells of his visit to the land of Africa. All his life he wanted to see the wild animals of my home-land.  I share a bit of his account while they were out and about:

We stopped at a water hole to watch the animals come to drink. It was very dry that season and there was not much water, really just muddy spots. When the elephants stepped into the soft mud the water would seep into the depression and the animals would drink from the elephant tracks.

The antelope, particularly, were very nervous. They would approach the mud hole, only to turn and run away in great fright. I could see there were no lions about and asked the guide why they didn’t drink. His answer, and this is the lesson, was “Crocodiles.”

I knew he must be joking and asked him seriously, “What is the problem?” The answer again: “Crocodiles.”

“Nonsense,” I said. “There are no crocodiles out there. Anyone can see that.”

Tiger woods, the famed golf player has one!  Michael Phelps swears by it!  Barbara Streisand says without it she would not be the power house we know her today.  Serena and Venus Williams have one , goodness even Oprah has one!  It is definitely  the must have accessory for the 2009 year!   Do you have one?

Apparently after a (rare) disappointing round of golf, Tiger Woods will often take a golf lesson. Why would  Tiger Woods, the greatest golfer the world has ever known take a golf lesson?  And from whom would he take this lesson? You see it is not so much about the greatest golfer taking a lesson from lesser known, no-talent person.  The value here is in Tiger’s ability to “see himself objectively” from an angle or perspective that is not his own.

All coaching is, is taking a player where he can’t take himself – Bill McCartney

It is therefore very apparent that the worlds highest performers get this concept.  Hence the vast difference between mediocrity and phenomenal success!

Einstein said, “The mind that created the problem cannot be the one be to solve it.” In the same way, the person in the trenches is often unable to see themselves objectively enough to overcome their limitations.

By now you have figured out that we are talking about Personal coaching.  That’s just one of the reasons that coaching is so powerful. A great coach can provide comprehensive knowledge and/or training that you just do not possess.

Having personal, one-on-one coaching can make all the difference in the world between being somewhat successful and being phenomenally successful.

A question was posed on yahoo answers that read:

Has anyone used a business coach or consultant? Will I get help or scammed?

I have a small home-based business that I’m looking to take to the next level. Should I just plunge into business books and try to grow it myself? Or should I sink the $4000 into a one-year relationship with a business consultant who is confident he can help me grow? I don’t want to contract with him and find out that everything he tells me is just common sense business advice straight out of the books.

 

  • Wouldn’t you much rather have a qualified expert take a look at what you’ve done and give you suggestions on improving it?
  • Wouldn’t you much rather have a qualified expert to turn to when you have a question rather than try to figure it out through trial and error?
  • Wouldn’t you much rather have a qualified expert who can tell you “that’s a bad idea, here’s a better way” than to get it wrong and face another setback?
  • Wouldn’t you much rather have a qualified expert hold you accountable and keep you motivated and on track rather than go at it alone and quit before the finish line

In reply, may I share with you this quote:

Coaching helps you develop your leadership skills, clarify your values and guiding principles and build your reputation.” –  John G Agno

Every person’s situation and needs are different. If you want the most power behind your punch, you want to have coaching that is focused 100% on you. The only strengths and weaknesses that will be targeted are yours, not those of 10 other people as well.

Often there is a natural desire to buy answers in a packaged program rather than do the work it takes to find a solution, BUT all too often what people end up with is an EMPTY PACKAGE! You have come to coaching for many reasons, but the bottom line is YOU WANT CHANGE!

The coaching-client relationship is like having your own personal GPS, for the journey that is your life. 

Why would someone at the top of their chosen profession need a coach?

The answer is quite simple. They realize, as do top performers in every field, the value of having someone on the sidelines watching their every move and making sure they’re on track. They know that, while they are doing what they do, it’s important to have someone watching their every step and providing feedback to help them be their best.

Today, smart entrepreneurs are doing the same. Understanding that, rarely does anyone reach their potential without a coach, they are hiring coaches who specialize in working with businesses. Small business owners in particular, many who have no one to confide in other than their partner or spouse, can benefit greatly from the services of a small business coach. And hiring a coach tends to be a minor investment when compared to the value it brings.

In addition to providing a confidential and objective sounding board for problem solving and brainstorming, their coach will hold them accountable for achieving the goals they set for themselves and their business. Often the bane of the small business owner is that they are too busy with day-to-day activities, putting out the occasional “fires” that flare up unexpectedly to be concentrating on their long term vision. And most have learned from experience how difficult it is to achieve significant results going it alone.

Their coach, on the other hand, is able to hold this vision with them and ensure they are moving toward it. And a really great coach will help the entrepreneur envision a result bigger than they would have thought possible.

So, if you want to see your business grow and prosper, go out and get a coach.

It is important to note that there is a difference between coaching and consulting.

Consulting is when you pay an expert to come in and lay out exactly what you need to do in order to succeed. In consulting, the expert makes a blueprint and points you in the exact direction you need to go.

Coaching involves more interaction. It is more two-sided. The coach is there to guide and work with the client to find out how improvements can be made. “What can you say differently next time?”… “How can you invoke more feelings from your prospect next time?”…”How can you do a better job of finding their motivation next time?”…These are questions that a coach should ask and find answers to when working with a client.

 

Consulting could be considered a beginning level of guidance and coaching a more advanced level.

Andrea Waltz, author of the popular book Go For No, states;

The relationship with your coach is an important and powerful one. As such, when choosing a coach, we recommend you interview him/her just like you would an employee you are hiring. But make no mistake; your coach will not be an employee. They will be your partner.

And if they brag about how everything comes easy to him/her and how they’ve never had any problems in their lives, find another coach! You want someone who has worked through obstacles to get where they are!”

And there you have it.  The must have accessory of the year 2009.  Do you have one?

Career Personality Tests

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Since most people spend a majority of their life on the job, choosing a career that you actually enjoy is very important for a happy and fulfilling lifestyle. Choosing a career that does not suit your personality can lead to confusion, unhappiness and boredom. People seek to find a career that best suits their natural traits and talents. When your work lets you realize your true potential and utilize your talents to the fullest, only then can you be satisfied with your career.

Personality Tests

Large corporate companies and business houses around the world hire employees by conducting personality tests as it measures skills, abilities, values and interests. These tests determine one’s aptitude for a certain type of career and even mention the right job that suits an individual’s personality. They determine the personality type; whether you are outgoing or reserved, realistic or imaginative, logical or sensitive, organized or spontaneous.

Personality Tests Help:

  • Match individuals to career interests
  • Improve employee communication
  • Increase team effectiveness and productivity
  • Reduce workplace conflict
  • People understand themselves and others

    • How A Personality Test Works

    An informal series of questions is prepared and a team of experts analyzes the test results. They examine different personality aspects to form a personality profile. This profile is then discussed within a group, comprising of a panel of psychology graduates and career advisors. The best career choice is made according to the personality type and a detailed report is declared in front of the candidate.

    There are a variety of tests that measure your intelligence and skills and assess your ability to succeed in a career. Some are more complex as compared to others. Some might be free of cost or may charge a nominal fee. The tests range from a five-minute color test to an hour-long complete personality test.

    1) Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI): This is the most important tool that helps to assess a personality type and explore career options. A certain amount of fee is charged for conducting the test. It is fast, secure and confidential.

    2) Career Key: This is a free online assessment tool that helps people make the best career choice.

    3) Keirsey Temperament Sorter: This tool helps discover what type of temperament you possess and tells if you are an Artisan, Guardian, Rational or Idealist. They also charge a small fee for conducting the test.

    4) Princeton Review Career Quiz: A series of questions are answered and accordingly, the best career choice is determined. They estimate your personal interests and usual styles. Registration is necessary for getting the results.

    5) Strong Interest Inventory: This tool helps to match your interest with a professional career.

    The results of these tests give a fair indication of an individual’s personality and should not be relied on as absolute. The examiners analyze the personality profile based on the answers. Taking a few personality tests can acquaint you with new career options that might not have been considered before.

    These instruments help evaluate your personality type and explore new career options. A proper match between your job and your personality plays a major role in ensuring job satisfaction. Personality tests will direct you to a profession that will best compliment your personality.