W&F Issue 9 2018

www.wealthandfinance-news.com 26 Wealth & Finance International - Issue 9 - 2018 However successful you feel today, and regardless of your position, there will come a time when you feel you’ve learned everything you can from the role you’re in and feel the urge to do more. Striving to be more successful is a cornerstone of personal development. We need goals because they take us out of our comfort zone and give us the opportunity to develop skills that enhance what we currently do, while making us more attractive to prospective employers. When we achieve ‘wins’ in our life, our brain releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine that is known as the ‘feel good’ chemical. Think back to feelings you had after successes in life--closing a major deal, securing a new client or winning the tennis league at your club. That ‘high’ you felt is dopamine spiking in your system. Achievement requires planning Making changes in your life requires thought and guidance. I developed a five-step system that ensures clients get the success they’re after more quickly and easily than they would on their own. It came about through my own frustration in figuring out the best way to reliably achieve goals. The five steps are clarity, confidence, commitment, companions and contribution. Clarity is your career GPS. You need to know what you want so you know where you’re going. This sounds deceptively easy, but many clients have a vague, or too broad, idea of what they want. You wouldn’t start a car trip without knowing where you’re going, so why leave your career to chance? You can get clarity by writing down your thoughts about what it represents to you. Don’t worry about doing this perfectly, just get the ideas out of your head. You’ll use what you’ve written to develop, what in neuro-linguistic programming terms, is a well-formed goal. Having a well-formed goal makes it easier to go after what you want because it’s specific and fits with your values and beliefs. (Guidance in how to develop a well-formed goal are available on my website --www.cindygalvin. com.) Step two is confidence. The high achievers I work with have risen to their positions due to skills, leadership and confidence, but insecurities arise for even the most seasoned executive who’s considering what to do next. Be aware of your internal dialogue. What are you saying to yourself when you think about your next career? Keep track of your thoughts for two days, take a break, then go back and read what you’ve written. You’ll be surprised by the negative thoughts you have. The good news is that you can rewire your brain to be more positive by reframing these thoughts. For example, thinking ‘I’ve been in this role too long and can’t see who’ll want me’ could be ‘I have decades of skills that make me a great candidate.’ Keep doing this exercise until you develop the habit of identifying and reframing negative thoughts as they arise. The more you do this, the easier it becomes. Habits are key in sticking with a plan that assures you’ll be successful, and that’s why commitment is important. You can have a well-formed goal and confidence, but without taking action every day to move toward your goal, you’re dressed with nowhere to go. Many people fail at commitment because they believe daily steps need to be significant to work. This isn’t true. Micro steps, which break a goal down into manageable actions, are just as effective. And better yet, you get a dopamine spike every time you achieve a step, regardless of size! Deciding you want to be more successful is easy. Figuring out how you’re going to achieve it isn’t. Feelings of insecurity, frustration and hesitancy can unexpectedly arise when you’re focused on your future, and that’s because things inevitably get in the way, not least of which are your thoughts and brain chemistry. Five steps that guide you to your next career success The next step is companions, by which I mean your network. Equate developing your network to having a board that mentors and encourages you, which is why the people you choose need to have the skills and insights you don’t have. I believe we need something other than what we do in our careers to feel fulfilled and that is why the final step is contribution. This is giving back without looking for personal recognition or compensation. This could be volunteering at your child’s school or helping a charity. Whatever it is, the act of giving of yourself for the happiness of helping others is a gift you give to your sense of well-being. Want more success? Get started today. Don’t wait for the best moment to come because it never well. Get your goal written and start taking small steps to get there. You’ll be amazed at the progress you’ll make, so long as you stick with it. When you have so much more to achieve in your life, why dilute your chances of getting there by doing this? And a final thing. Resist the urge to tell lots of people about your career goal because research has shown that doing this signals your brain that you’ve already accomplished it. Be gentle with yourself and have fun. We all want more success in our lives. Give yourself credit for the skills and background you have because these differentiate you from everyone else. About the author, Cindy Galvin: Cindy Galvin spent over 25 years in the energy brokerage and consulting industry. She is now a keynote speaker, executive coach, clinical hypnotherapist and best-selling author of ‘More to Give-Stepping into your new life at any age.’ https://www.amazon.co.uk/More-Give-Stepping- into-your/dp/1784521450/