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Life is an amazing teacher; Are we listening? A Personal confession

October 28, 2021

 

Life is a Teacher, Are you listening and taking notes?

Bad things happen …

Life is also about the things you don't like


Why does bad things happen to not so good people? Sometimes I know the answer to this question, but whatever may the answer; there is only truth I take with me.

I take the truth that life is a constant teacher. It forces us to stop and reflect.

One such reflection was something on the notion of my view of body. I rest in the believe of the sacredness of the body. Our body is not merely a vehicle but also a home we rest in. 

Consumeristic side of culture 

Wisdom is waiting to be heard


The consumeristic side of culture may turn it into some kind of idol for worship. Let me confess I have fallen for this wrong idea.

While looking back at my Google photos I realised that I have been living with a poor notion of myself.

Having children had given me a Dad bod but not accepting myself was not a motivation but an excuse to feel bad.

People playing God

Sometimes we may be carving our own misery rather God actively doing so.

Yes, I have started paying attention to my body and working on keeping it healthy. But this experience has thought me to take care of myself by a healthy Self acceptance.

Why is this so important Chris? I would answer that by saying that the way we see ourselves and accept ourselves may be the way we see others.

In Conclusion

Do Bad things have only side to it? Are they only filled with pain and emptiness?

Bad things can teach us how to stop and pay attention to things we thought were under your control.

They challenge you and keep you alert. Don't let them overwhelm you.

Breathe, Stop and Learn... Life is a teacher and it teaches you.

Thank you for your time and stopping by! If you have questions you want me answer you can frame your question as mail and send it across.

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Here's, How to Let go of pain in Life when you feel stuck? Chris Educator's Short guide to help you feel Free and Better

October 17, 2021
Short Guide: Letting go of pain when you feel stuck in a Situation

Hey! I missed you guys this week. My son was down with high fever. Thank goodness he is better now.

This week has been crazy, life can get you stuck sometimes. It was an opportunity to use what I preach and write about. 

I practiced a lot of stuff (Self help related, of course). I got back to researching theology and philosophy. I can spend hours studying these topics (Whilst spending time baby sitting etc.)

At some point of time we all feel let down by life or ourselves and it may not even be these things it could be a terrible situation that gets us stuck. 

For me it was my child' s health for others it may be a relationship or something else. How do we deal with these situations?

(Maybe)You can pray these away, but I will share with some powerful ideas I found out.

Here are some points I tried:

Accepting the present situation

Could this situation be an opportunity?


Accepting a situation comes when we are present and aware of what is going on. We don't need to decide the outcome mentally. It can be stressful and we may not make the best of the moment we find ourselves in.

You have options

You choose and don't let the situation dictate your choice


Do you think you are cornered or you have hit a wall? That can be a difficult situation. I have been there, I can share with you how I dealt with the problem.

I try looking at the situation objectively. Taking a note of the possible outcomes. Speaking with a friend or counsellor has personally helped.

Journaling the journey

Journaling is awesome...Write your own story!


I journal using my mobile phone. I have my phone with me all the time. Why not use it to write a note or two. It has really been useful. 

When I want to review or check how I felt at a particular situation I just browse through my notes on phone. It is that simple. If you are concerned about privacy just use an app locker.

Meditate or pray your tensions away

Lol... Ignore the Brand Mantra part


I am not trying to evangelize or anything. I think it is practical and it works. Personally, I just tune my thoughts out and close my eyes, I just lose myself in the moment, just focusing on my breath. 

It is s a relaxing experience. It refreshes me and feel energized. I pray too, it connects me with my higher purpose and puts things into perspective. 

Conclusion 

I believe life happens to all of us and we all face situations that can cripple us. 

But being there for others and yourself is important. Self care is also important to you and it can help others. 

I would like to leave you with this quote from my Twitter Feed.

I wish you an awesome week ahead and the very best. Do consider subscribe to our Newsletter... See you guys in the next blog post.

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Understanding yourself: A Quick and Practical guide to Self Introspection for building a Personal Brand

October 04, 2021

 

Self Introspection key as a tool to build Authenticity in a Personal Brand


Let me start with a Prediction, Most of you have a Facebook Account. I love Facebook and I am a fan of it.

The Best thing about it is you are connected or can connect with people who are your friends but due to a busy life or a different location you cannot connect.

Connections and Networks can be really powerful. Ask a successful Network Marketer or Business person the power and value of a Network.

People make a living of it (literally). You can leverage your Network to build a Successful business or brand.

My view of Brand or Business is not that of a person that uses his/her/zir network to suck the life of it. But rather to be a useful and reliable part of it (without being a doormat).

I believe building a Brand is like that, it is making a Promise and letting people know you can deliver on it.

Please check my Previous post on Personal Brand, where I share 6 Steps to Building a Powerful Personal Brand.

Lets look at Step 1, You are building a Personal Brand. You will have to start with you and an image or an idea of you.

A lot of us will accept that we mask our emotions at times and it is good.

But while building a brand you need to understand yourself so that you can showcase the 'Real You' you want people to understand and engage with.

The one who makes the promise to deliver a Service or Product that adds value to People.

So how does one Introspect? Do we have to prepare some kind of Questionnaire?

There are whole list of Questions. Let me break it down for you.

Experts recommend to use the following strategy while trying get a better picture of yourself.

Busting Some Myths about Personal Branding

Craft your own Brand Mantra


# Everyone is not your audience

This is one of the mistakes people make. I think we kind of assume everyone would find your content important or interesting.

It is like a movie or a song that you love and everyone else is like, 'Nah! that is crepes'.

Find your audience by focusing on niches that can be monetized.

Everyone does not like philosophy or self help, Some people do so why not focus on them.

# You don't need to meet everyone's standard

It is good to be on par with others, but sometimes we need to be clear about what we are into.

We must understand our purpose for a project or activity.  We must follow appropriate standards for the task at hand. Standards should also be implemented in a context or in  situation.

If you niche demands blog posts, see if you are following the right practices needed for a successful blog post.

# Modelling Successful influencers guarantees success

I think this is quite a fallacious thought to think that we can blindly model some Successful people and its surely going to work for everyone. 

Being successful is not following a recipe, Of Course there are established practices and techniques that do help people.

But I think these are more like guides or starting points rather than Laws of Success that cannot be broken.

# You have nothing to offer

I think this is an excuse we tell ourselves. Things or situations can be difficult to get around, but that should not stop you from achieving our goals.

Challenges make a journey more interesting. So you can focus on your positives and create a product or service that helps people.

May be you need to change the audience or the people you are selling to (some cases).

# Personal branding is one-upmanship

I think Personal Brands is about showcasing your Uniqueness and how you standout from your competition.

I don't think it is about putting people or brands down, competition doesn't need to be nasty.

Introspection and its Relation to PB

Change your world !


Where do we start is sometimes the question we all ask. Should we just blindly post pictures on Instagram or just write blogs or may be even a Book?

I don't think so, I think it is much more than that. What if all your efforts don't bear fruit? Should you just scrap it and leave it behind?

I think your purpose and goal will be a good guide to answer these questions besides an expert or consultant.

Introspection is key to authenticity, Authenticity adds value to your Personal brand.

Faking it till you make it does not mean being another person or portraying a false persona. I believe it is about portraying your potential to people. More like a symbol of what you could potentially become.

Introspection for building Authenticity

Introspection is preparing your mind for showcasing You


Introspection is key to understanding Authenticity.

We need to be clear about Who we are  and what we are offering people.

Story telling is key but authenticity builds a Strong Brand that promises Trust and Reliance to its audience.

Now before you check my other posts on Personal Branding, Let me leave you with a key to Introspection.

I would say take sometime out of your busy schedule and reflect on your dream. Try understand how it connects with your passion and how you can monetize it.

You could perform a SWOT analysis to help you understand yourself. You can see how your goals reflect you.

I would journal your thoughts and ideas regularly. On the weekends just skim through your own writings and evaluate them.

I believe this is a good starting point to be Authentic. Sometimes we  need sometime to just disconnect and connect with ourselves.

Concluding Thoughts

I believe Branding and Marketing is not about building a fake image or putting up a façade. I think it is more about serving people by being yourself.

When I speak about being yourself I believe it is about doing in a productive and smart manner.

I hope these thoughts and ideas are productive to you in understanding or building a Personal brand.

See you in the next post, Thank you for your time. Please do join the discussion on our Facebook Page!

Reference:

https://plantae.org/self-reflection-personal-branding/

https://medium.com/digital-reflections/be-the-brand-personal-branding-101-ab0f80576a00

https://cocoandcowe.com/2018/02/13/personal-branding/

https://influencermarketinghub.com/what-is-personal-branding/

https://www.capitalonecareers.com/how-to-create-your-personal-brand-divi-cdev

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/self-awareness-personal-branding-slava-noor/


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Conducting an Online Class Without a Computer; How Mobile Apps Helped Me Save My Work?

September 22, 2021

How to take an online class without a Computer?


 I didn't choose to write this article, The situation I was in actually was instrumental in making this happen.

Past Few days, There has been something amazingly crazy going on. My Laptop just stopped working, Then my wife's laptop had a problem.

Since then I have been working from a Phone and my wife from a Tablet. Working from a computer has been a luxury, lol!

But I must say thanks to a few products and apps it was possible.

I used some Resourcefulness and my Android powered phone did the rest.

As an Educator, We need to work with different materials and present to students.

With classes going online, it has also become about technology.

Taking classes on a Computer, gets a lot of details organized.

While in an online Classroom, We use whiteboard software, video conferencing application and whole host of apps to make the Lecture possible.

I thought of sharing a few tips and recommending a few apps to make things easier.


5 Apps that help take an amazing class on my phone:

1. Video Conferencing application:

I personally prefer Google Meet over Zoom. I believe both have their benefits.

But I prefer Google Meet because it makes it easy to send out emailers for classes.

It integrates with Gmail and Jamboard easily this makes it a comfortable experience.

User experience is good and there are less distractions. Zoom also has its benefits.

Both work well from the phone. The user interface is easy to use and works seamlessly in my estimation.

2. Graphic Design tools:

There are a lot of photo editing and Graphic designing tools.

I just prefer Canva. It is not a photo editing tool, but its mobile application is really powerful.

It has features and templates that can help you create a beautiful presentation for class.

I used Canva for my presentations and for creating posts for Social media.

The Pro version has many great features.

3. Time Management Tools:

I use Remember the Milk and Trello along with other Google applications.

The mobile apps are really convenient and simple to use. As an Educator, it is important to keep track of various activities.

Time management mobile apps can really make working without a Computer manageable.

4. Quizzing Software:

Online Classes require engagement. Students have to be present online for longer durations than previously required.

I use Quizizz for creating Quizizz for my Students along with Jamboard. I didn't use the mobile application but the website adapts easily to the phone.

It is a great resource for online classes

5. Connectivity Tools:

WhatsApp, Gmail app etc. are some apps we take for granted, but believe me they are really awesome.

It makes sharing files and other resources easy with students and parents.

I thank these companies for creating and maintaining such amazing services.

Conclusion

I would like end by thanking all these amazing companies for such simple and powerful products they create.

I think more than money it also about serving and helping a lot of people.

The mobile phone we use everyday is a very powerful instrument and can be used to create amazing experiences.

Though some of these points may seem obvious, But I wanted to bring out the potential everyday objects and applications we use have.

If you like this article, Do join my subscriber list and get my Newsletter, it will update you with interesting articles and ideas you could use...Join Now!

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How I overcame my Fear of Public Speaking? 101 Lessons I learnt from the School of Hard knocks, Numerous Trials and Errors

September 18, 2021

Public Speaking is about your Audience

Hey Chris!, You must be born a great speaker. You just speak your mind, Gosh! How do you do that? I have heard many comments and candid confessions from near and dear ones.

But as most of them know, It was not easy for me. In my College days, I was good Catholic boy (Now I am good catholic man with a small 'c')

I was a volunteer  at the local prayer group. We use to participate in cultural activities and interact with families.

When our prayer group shifted to another part of the city, our Prayer leader decided to connect with local schools and the local church community.

We gave presentations and I would just volunteer (mostly ushering people and smiling when needed). One day my Prayer Leader asked me to give a 45 minutes talk on the importance of the Holy Rosary.

I started collecting all the books available on Public Speaking. I was not prepared for it.

So I started reading up books on Public Speaking and books on the Rosary. I thought that I would be able to speak when the time was right.

I practiced in front of the mirror and I thought I was going to be okay. When the day had arrived I just couldn't open my mouth.

I picked up some courage and I spoke. I spoke all the information I knew and guess what I managed to speak for only 10 minutes.

What was going to happen for the next 35 minutes? What was I going to say? I just excused myself and moved away.

At that moment I thought 'flight' was a better response than other alternatives. I thought it didn't make sense to deal with a situation I never knew how to manage.

A decade later I was ready to lecture and speak with confidence. I was able to share my ideas and opinions.

Public Speaking can be difficult for the unprepared


This confidence and transition was not some kind of miracle. It was the result of an effort.

An Effort to achieve a Goal to change. Did I attend a course or read a book?

I did both and they helped me tremendously. But it was also the constant push and desire to make something happen.

A lot of times we think that things will miraculously change if you read a book or join a course?

Things will change, but it might only mean having more information about the strategies and techniques.

By themselves Strategies and techniques are not enough. One needs to also practice and be open to making mistakes.

One thing I learnt from the Bad Experiences I had with Public Speaking. They teach you a lot about yourself and people.

After the bad experience I had as a young College Student. I remember friends and people coming up to me and encouraging me.

Thinking about it I realized that your audience wants you to do a good job and are most willing to support you. Though sometimes it may not seem like that.

There are different kinds of people and we need to accept that reality. 

So Here are some Pointers I think beginners need to know about Public Speaking that I learnt.


#Number 1: Respect your audience



I remember people telling me to treat your Audience is like Pumpkins. Besides being a  horribly bad advice I think it is not true.

The audience might have people who are masters on the topic you are covering. When you respect your audience you mentally treat them as partners or participants rather than just a spectator.

Your Audience is giving you their attention; ask a marketer or salesman and they will tell you the value of attention.

It is a wonderful opportunity to share what you know and learn. When we share we explore ideas as a community.

I believe Public Speaking is a two way street. The Speaker uses primarily words to communicate and the audience uses body language, reactions etc.


#Number 2: Prepare well

It is an amazing experience Researching, it is like an adventure.


We live in an information age. There is an abundance of good information.

Preparing well would mean to me; Researching well.

Sifting through information you judge relevant to your audience or Topic at hand.

It is an amazing experience Researching, it is like an adventure.

One question opens up like a proverbial can of worms. You begin to see how an idea can be applied or is applied in various contexts and situations.

So Preparing well will also include writing your ideas and presenting them in a way that is coherent.

You can share a handout or some notes from what you have spoken to your audience in a digital format.

We live in a digital age, connecting and sharing good content is highly valuable.


#Number 3: Believe in yourself

Leaders are made


This is a line that is overused. I think but we all (at times) don't grasp the meaning of it in our hearts or we just take ourselves for granted.

We have tremendous potential to create something amazing. Look around and see all the great services and products you use.

They have been made possible by someone who believes in their own abilities to share something valuable to the world.

When you are engaging in Public Speaking you are sharing a part of you with others.


#Number 4: Practice well

Your audience wants you to succeed

You don't need to just practice in front of a mirror. I will throw a wild guess here, You have at least more than 10 friends on Facebook.

Request them to be your audience and review your talk. You could use those pointers in your presentation.

Go on Twitter and share your ideas. This will help you prepare better material.

There is no Rules here, You can be creative here. Practicing means more than memorizing lines.

It also can mean delivering better content.


#Number 5: Research on the topic

Public Speaking can be more than sharing information


You consider this as a Point connected to Preparing well.

But I include it as a separate pointer to emphasize this important aspect of Research.

It focuses on dealing with a problem or issues.

You must decide clearly what you want to share with the audience. Do you want your Presentation to be informative, entertaining or anything else?

This will set the tone for the way you collect material and deliver it.


#Number 6: Speak on what interests your Audience



Chris, How would you know that? If you have prepared well ask them directly. Then craft your presentation to what you and your audience have decided.

You can also interview the organizer or speak to some members of the audience before you  deliver your presentation.

You could also check online forums and groups for the topics that interests people.
You will get a lot of insights into topics that interests people.

Google search, Quora, Reddit or even Facebook groups are a great place to get great insights.

What is stopping you from getting insights about your audience? If you are wrong about it. 

Not an issue, as you have list of topics you can focus on (for your presentation).


#Number 7: It is not about you

The purpose is to express


I remember learning this from an Urdu Theater Guru, Iqbal Niyazi. He always says that Theater ( you could add Blogging, Public Speaking etc. here) is about expressing and not impressing.

We sometimes make it about numbers and impressing people. I think even if there is just one person who gives their time and attention, You are obliged to give your best.

Numbers are important and not important too. There is no wasted effort, It is only our Perception that makes use feel that way.

In Conclusion

We engage in Public Speaking everyday. We just don't realize it. In our offices when we speak to our teams, in Parties and other social situations.

We think that Public Speaking is limited to the Podium or Stage. In a way it is and it is not, What matters here is what you want to share.

I hope this post finds you good health and do share your thoughts on our FB Page.

You can subscribe to our Newsletter, I send you updates on the blogs I share and other ideas. You can click here to join.

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The Art of Ignoring 'barking dogs'; How to choose your critiques? Critiquing is an art and not a pariah trick

August 25, 2021

 

Every dog has his day (Sometimes to get their backsides kicked)

When I was in College the fear of Public Speaking would really grip me. I would dread speaking in front of people.

It was horrible and I had the most terrifying experiences to tell you the least. But Today things are different.

I still have fears I need to deal with. Public Speaking is no longer a Fear rather now its more of a profession.

When you actively try working towards solving Problems, the chances of success grows. If you are Lucky the magic happens.

As an Educator we get a lot of Appreciation and Feedback. One thing I realized is that Receiving Feedback is an art as much as giving it.

There are different kinds of People (We all know that right!), But when you experience it as a Speaker it is a different experience.

There are people who will like what you say and those that just Troll you because they can.

Critiquing and Peddling Bullsh*t

I have read and watched a lot of Movie Reviews and I have a close friend who does it Professionally.

As a Movie buff we can sometimes be overly critical. But just think about it, we are only criticizing them as outsiders.

We don't know the efforts or the amount of Work these artists put into working on themselves and delivering a Performance (Whether Good or Bad).

Here comes the Critics, They are professionals who understand Cinema and the other practical aspects like Trade, Genre, technical work etc. etc.

As an Educator we have our own Lot of Critiques & Critics, Some may be even unqualified and still feel like they have the right to give their feedback (which is great) but unfounded Bullying is what I feel is disgusting.

I think Bullies whether in work, relationship or leisure is just a source of pain and frustration. They are unrequired attention seekers trying to feel important.

The worst part is when they justify themselves. You encounter these bullies not just in work or Cinema, You experience them in Relationships too.

They and their Enablers will go to any length to believe their Bullsh*t. They use self deception in a way that is Self Destructive.

In all this the victim suffers unnecessarily (in most cases these victims don't stand up for themselves and thus enables the whole situation Tacitly, my two cents)

The Art of Not Trolling

I thinking Trolling must be fun. I have never done it. But I have had a few encounters and they were not very good.

They were with some Religious Fundamentalists on Facebook. The whole experience besides being annoying; is plain disgusting.

There must be some kind of fun these Trolls enjoy. So how does one not Troll and have valuable engagements.

I think first would be to understand the Psychology and the reasons behind their action. Is this the kind of leisure one wants to engage in? Does this kind of engagement add value to anyone? How does it make the world a better Place?

Yes, The last question is also important. We can't pull this question out only when there are major calamities or Tragedies. Minor abuses and harm also carry the potential for major Tragedies.

The Next thing we should look into methods and Triggers that push our buttons. Keeping a Track of these hot issues will help us keep this tendency under control.

I think lastly trying to understand the people we disagree with. I think irrespective of People's IQ they have reasonable reasons behind their actions (Including Trolls, Just that they don't know otherwise).

The Importance of a Good Critique

Now for the Real Critic. A good critique has tremendous value.

You have an expert that shares valuable feedback.

It can be harsh sometimes but the value can be immense.

Let us take an example to understand this better.

We all have taken up some kind of sport or new Hobby at some point of time.

But we do need some coaching and support. Even If you are better than your team mates and people you know there is always some room for growth.

This is where a good critic comes in, he or she will evaluate you and your performance keeping in mind much broader parameters.

We can then use that information to improve our game. Credibility and right feedback are so important.

At some point of time, we all need some amount of healthy feedback. 

But Yes, Feedback can be unhealthy as well.

Good Pariahs vs Bad Ones

I don't believe all Trolls are bad or malicious. Some might be just jiving in to enjoy the experience, sadly at the expense of another.

They are not actually good, but in their own eyes they think so. There is nothing called a Bad or Good Bully (in my opinion).

It is basically demeaning (act) and it treats another person with lack of respect and charity.

So the so called Good and Bad pariahs fall in one category.

Self Respect and Tolerating Bullies

So you must have guessed somewhat my opinion. I think there is no reason to tolerate Bullying, disrespect or injustice of any kind.

Overlooking it is a part of the problem. We tend to overlook a lot of important issues till they become a problem for all.

I think bullies are not limited to Schools and Colleges they are there in your workplace, homes and neighborhoods too.

Don't be an Enabler and get manipulated into Helping these people. They need help of their own.

In Conclusion

I think that things will change gradually and being a part of a Positive development (Anti Bullying, Anti-Body Shaming etc.) is indeed something to treasure.

I hope this article encourages you to take a stand or at least introspect on the issue of Mental abuse, Trolling and Bullying. 

Our world has seen enough of pain, we don't need more of it.

Thank you for your time. Do subscribe to my Newsletter!. Catch you in the next post! Ciao!

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6 Steps to Personal Branding; 3 Important Reasons you should consider branding yourself

August 04, 2021

  

Why Branding is important?

I love blogging about Self help and ideas that enhance self and how we interact with each other.

Throwing in a bit of personal insights to me is a form of self expression.

Blogging is quite a competitive space and there are blogs been churned out everyday.

But I had my reasons, As I mentioned earlier. This blog has helped me express myself and reach out to people with my opinion.

I believe Personal Branding is also an essential part of Personality Development. We cannot just develop ourselves and not focus on marketing it.

I know Marketing and Sales need some sort of PR of its own. 

People normally think of Marketing as just something that gets business and bring in cash. It does, but it is the lifeline of a business.

It is about satisfying needs and wants effectively through products and services in exchange for value.

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You run a business, you work as a professional. People know you and interact with you or you could say with your brand.

They have some expectations from you. They have certain impressions of you.

How about managing this effectively? How about branding it?

Branding is about building trust and delivering on promises made besides the public image. 

Why can't you do it?

Leave a legacy...Pursue excellence

You could start out in a small way. Let me share with you 6 Steps researchers say can help you get started.

But before that some important terms you need to understand.

Some Definitions and lingo

What is a Brand?

"A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that identifies one seller's goods or service as distinct from those of other sellers."


What is Self-development?

Self-development is "the growth or improvement of one’s qualities and abilities."


What is Impression management?

"How someone presents themselves, such as the way they look, act, and treat other people. The general impression that a person presents to the public."

Urban Dictionary (lol, it was a good explanation)

Let us learn about Personal Branding; let us see its basics after we have understood understanding the definition and terms regarding the subject. 

6 Steps to Personal Branding

Personal Branding is a process that starts with you.

Lol, Obvious one Chris, It got to be 'yourself'. But how much do you understand you.

You have to define yourself as a Professional, A Person who has something of value to offer.

Branding can be an important part of your Professional success.

According to a Research Paper published in Medical Reference Services Quarterly, There are 6 Steps to Personal Branding,

(1) taking an introspective look

(2) understanding the brand that may already exist

(3) developing your personal brand mantra

(4) crafting your physical footprint

(5) creating your digital footprint, 

and (6) communicating your message

Brand promise value and performance and so does your Personal Brand.

3 Reasons for Branding Yourself

So Let us look at 3 Reasons you should consider it

1. Standout from the Competition


Bring out your uniqueness

Competition grows everyday, Professionally it can be difficult.

Help people understand what you stand for.

It not only helps you but it also helps others too.

Personal Branding will shine a focus on your plus points.

2. People, People and People

Impression management is an art 

You will be surprised to know how many people check you online.

If you are on LinkedIn have a look at the number of people checking your profile.

It is important, don't think 'Who cares what other people think of me'. We are social creatures, believe me you do care.

If you are in a job, business or without a job consider it. Learn and read about it.

You could simply subscribe to our Free Newsletter for content like this 👇🏼📫.


3. Opportunities

Practice and hit your target

There are opportunities everywhere, you never know how things may turn out.

Yes, you can leverage yourself to showcase the best in you.

Personal Branding can be used to seize opportunities at work or business.

It is a really useful tool to build your path to success.

In Conclusion

I would say Personal Branding is more than just making a noise, it is about pursuing excellence while letting people know about it.

In the future posts, I shall go deeper into each of these 6 Steps. Do check this space.

If you like this post do share & join the discussion on our FB Page.

Ciao! See you in the next post...

Reference

^Personal Branding: Building Your Pathway to Professional Success, Jodi L. Philbrick &Ana D. Cleveland, Medical Reference Services Quarterly, Volume 34,2015- Issue 2

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Ponder points: What the month of July taught me? 3 Interesting Insights that could help me change

July 17, 2021

 

July has been kind to me


Gosh! This month has been masala packed. I have personally learnt a lot.

I would like share some of my insights this month has shared with me.

This month started as a regular month. One of the precious moments being my Mom's Birthday on the 4th of July.

This pandemic has brought me close to my Wife's family. It has been an insightful experience.

My daughter started school; managing work with schooling can be a challenge for a lot of parents.

3 Insights that helped me see Life differently this month

You can choose your Perspective

Learning and insights


You must be thinking Chris, Duh, isn't it obvious? Not for me...

After consuming some content from New Agers, I realized that I don't need to be fixated into one perspective.

Since ideas have consequences , So does see things from a perspective. When we think in terms of possibilities and scan different perspectives in our day to day lives its a different matter.

I actually started practicing it. It works like magic.

You can be Assertive, but being rude is not necessary

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I think sometimes Rudeness can be needed. But mostly it is not required. 

Assertiveness is something that helps resolve issues and when we master it. We can come across as being unnecessarily rude.

It was a realization that humbled me. (This post is feeling like a confession now...Lol)

I learnt that I was expressing myself without hurting others (unnecessarily).

You can blog without writing long posts, Hop on Twitter

Twitter is fun! Connect with me.


Initially Twitter seemed like something everyone followed and enjoyed; I couldn't see the point of it.

I forced myself to sign up and just use the platform. Its simplicity is so attractive.

Sometimes a line is enough to express oneself. Writing a long post just to keep it SEO friendly for the sake of it is completely not required.

Let's connect on Twitter and microblog...

In Conclusion

I have learnt so much in 15 days, Learning can shake up a lot of wrong ideas and can open New channels that enrich you.

I would say that learning different perspectives is helpful and besides informing you it can give you useful ideas.

So I hope it is not to early but July has been a kind month for me. I wish you a great month and wonderful day.

Do share your comments and connect with me on FB. Subscribe to my Newsletter by clicking here!

References





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Osho on Awareness, Powerful Quote that summarises Awareness

July 12, 2021

 

What does Awareness mean?


I love Osho for the simplicity and the honesty in the way he explains concepts. I sometimes do not agree with all of his view and as far as I know he would expect the same.

Some of us may suffer from Overthinking. Believe me overthinking can be a pain.

Obsessively driven to rationalize and think all the time.

It can be a horrible experience. It can stifle decisions, make you seem cowardly when you are not and a whole host of negatives.

 Practicing Awareness has helped in in this regard. It has helped be more still and absorb the value of each moment.

It is a miraculous experience. Read the quote and come back to it whenever you can.


A miraculous experience

Be present in the moment and let the moment be present in you.

I hope you enjoyed this quick post. See you in the next one!

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Five Barriers to action now, Insights from Top Influencers and why not taking acting can be a huge loss, Just start now!

May 24, 2021

 

Barriers keeping you back...Moving beyond limitations


He got started as a Trainer and he got presented with a Network Marketing Plan. He dived into it headfirst and is really killing it. He is into Crypto Trading too and doing well there too.

Besides the Merits and Demerits of Network Marketing and Crypto, he is learning and experimenting with what he understands. You may say Chris this is so risky.

Yes, it is, but not doing anything is equally risky. The amazing thing here is the fact that he was able to make it with the opportunity he had.

Sometimes a winning mindset is about putting things into motion; accompanied by the desire to learn from mistakes and others.

Paul is not an expert trader or a master marketer, he is just a person with the right mindset and desire to learn.

Learning is risky

Yes, It can be sh*t disruptive in a bad kind of way. It shows you another part of reality and it also makes you realise how much you don't know.

One thing I know about knowledge; is in plenty. Getting too much of it will cripple you(imagine the choices and the stuff to learn). A good way is to add 'Action' to the mix.

How do we do that? Let's say you are starting a business. You are ready with your business plan.

Put it in action, Meet Probable Clients. Interview and negotiate with suppliers. So Let's say you don't have a plan.

You can still Meet people understand their needs and businesses see what they offer and how they can add value to you. It could be difficult or plain awkward. But it's better than not doing anything.

You are starting out somewhere, there is no great cost involved. You could speak over the phone or just email them a questionnaire. There are plenty of options. Be creative!

So what are some Barriers we face before we start out and we must begin now!

Why lose out?

You and I know that every endeavour however good and positive does not promise success.

Let's do a short thought experiment. You start a Coaching business online, you create videos, training material and a whole lot of goodies.

It does not give you good results. Does this mean that there is no value in your efforts?

Absolutely not! So what can be done? How can we get the value we are seeking for it?

How about leveraging what you created? Can the resource you created to be used for generating leads?

You can offer it as a free program and get leads. You can repackage it and offer it to your students in your college or school.

You can offer it as a digital product online. People can test your product and it will give you feedback. You can use this feedback to improve your offering.

There is no lost effort, just a couple of ideas to repurpose it. If all this doesn't work, maybe you can get inspiration for your next project.

Rome wasn't built in a day; so wasn't Facebook, Starbucks and other businesses. 

Some Quick Reasons to start your Dream Project:

You deserve it:

Yes, You heard me right. Just because magical thinking isn't good, but it does not mean that you don't deserve better.

Imagine getting a better career or even a new car can be life-changing to you and your close ones.

Aim, Plan and work out your plans; Leverage what you learn from the experience. Achieve your dreams, you deserve it.

It may be valuable to others too:

Being satisfied is good, Being contented may not be the best alternative. We may have what makes us happy, but centring everything around us is good in a limited way.

Expand your influence to others, your dreams and goals is also a force to bring positive change. Change into our communities and societies for the good.

That Startup and business you wanted may be a blessing in the making for others too.

Being content can be spiritual, but selfish too:

This may seem like a repetition but it's not. Contentment is awesome, the feeling of having everything that makes life better.

But being satisfied feels like we have reached our destination, Why try? We all live in communities.

Whether we acknowledge it or not, our communities have been a blessing. They are not perfect, of course. But they are not completely horrible.

Giving back is not just some kind of exemplary virtue, it's also about choosing to be less self-centred.

So before we go ahead with some of the barriers we face repeat to yourself, "Why not?"

Barriers to Taking action

Wrong Mindset

All of this “every person can be extraordinary and achieve greatness” stuff is basically just jerking off your ego. It’s shit sold to you to make you feel good for a few minutes

- Mark Manson, Being Average [Blog post]

This is a key point, Mindset can be a difficult thing to fix.

Years of conditioning, personal experiences and a whole lot of ideas though not completely wrong can prevent us from achieving what we aim for.

I remember encountering this idea in a book related to Anxiety, the idea extolled the importance of being Average.

This sounded a bit odd. Sometimes we think our projects and outcomes need to be spectacular. I am sure a lot of Online courses and gurus preach the same.

But building a robust and well-focused business or project just does not need to be spectacular. It can be average but continuously improving and serving people better.

Mindset change to me is more about accepting responsibility for your dreams and actions.

Average does not mean substandard. It just means as good as the rest, but nothing stops it from being unique and different.


Under/Over appreciation of Self

The way you see things - your attitude - is the most important factor in your success.
- Zig Ziglar

I have seen it both in myself, this is not an exercise in self-deprecation. I am just wanting to be honest. Don't think I got it all going perfect.

As a former member of a pseudo-cult, I see the harmful effects of disinformation.

I think an under or over appreciation of self are both barriers. I think it prevents us from the opportunity to deal with issues whilst learning how to improve our situations and ourselves.

If we need to improve and have a better life, we need to understand ourselves first. Maybe what is keeping us back from taking action is because we don't have a healthy view of ourselves.

Stop, think and reflect on yourself. Keep a journal to learn more about how you think.

Give yourself a chance and act on your goals. You will learn a lot about your goals and yourself too.


Having No Plan

Never begin the day until it is finished on paper

- Jim Rohn

As a former IT professional, One thing I can tell you with confidence. Planning is really powerful, But don't get lost in your plans.

When one plan does not work, an opportunity to learn and set another plan in motion.

Planning gives structure to your time and purpose. Sometimes what keeps us back is we don't know where and why to begin.

Planning takes care of the part of 'What needs to be done?' You can review your day and see how productive you have been.

Review your day against the plan you made for it. You can see how productive you have been and what are activities did not bear fruit.

In the scenario that you are able to live the day by your plan; you get to review what activities will be more beneficial and profitable. 

Create great moments and days by planning well.


Fear

Extreme fear can neither fight nor fly.

- William Shakespeare

New Direction, new beginnings can have an element of the unknown. We may not know what lies ahead or how we may look in front of people.

This can bring a measure of fear. This feeling may stifle your action or the desire to act.

This can be a painful situation to be in. Take action, Yes it does not have the guarantee of success. But a chance in succeeding is better than no chance at all.

If the Plan is worthy and good to you and won't affect anybody else. It could be a place to consider planning and thought before acting on it.

Overthinking is also not good. But coupling action with planning will give you direction, it will help you realise the possibilities and reality behind your plans. 


Overestimating the Past

Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.  

- Bill Gates

So you are a veteran and experienced professional. You have tried and failed, you have seen it all.

You don't feel encouraged to continue or try something new. Maybe you need to reevaluate the way you look at your past experiences.

As a person with a fair amount of experience, I realise that sometimes we selectively look at our past. We overlook the bad or good moments depending on how situations might make us feel.

We may not be as objective as we think we are.  I personally found it more productive to learn from the past and continue with my current plans.

Success is also about the journey (Does it sound cliched? lol) But it is true...


In Conclusion

Yes, there is a lot more that can be said. But there is a lot that needs to be done.

Sometimes life and situations can be discouraging, or sometimes we may just be too lazy. I would encourage you to start today.

Maybe in a small way, Just by planning or take action on a plan. Barriers are means to take you to the next level.

Wish you a happy learning day, if you liked this article, Do Share it.

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