Aspirations for 2013...

For the last 5 years I have made a huge list of about 30-40 New Year’s Resolutions; some are on-going, some are year specific and almost half of each list is yet to be achieved.

This year I have decided to take a different approach and (in keeping with The Secret) make my resolutions more about my mental approach to life rather than an impossible series of specific targets which will only serve to draw attention to where I have failed.

With this in mind, my resolutions for 2013 are:

Banish the perfection obsession- the world will not end if I leave the housework for a week

Stay positive and banish thoughts of lack (especially when it comes to time)

Acknowledge that relaxing and enjoying life is important

Better work/ life balance; make time for hobbies and exercise

Focus on improving health rather than losing weight (and as a pleasant side effect shed 1.5 stone before Las Vegas... Ha ha!)

Self-employment or a new job with flexibility

Develop [Your] place, Your Rules

Dry January... I shall not drink for one whole month

Simple.

Happy New Year!

 

Wham BAM Thank you Mam...

I Got It...

So it's been a little over two weeks since I last blogged, and here's the latest.

The week after the interview I was in constant contact with the agent (Kathryn at Eden Brown... who is amazing and I fully recommend) and everything was sounding very positive, there was talk of 'An offer by the end of the week' ... 

I was feeling so grateful, excited and happy and I was telling everyone that I the interview went so well that I was sure that I was going to get the job [in the name of positive visualisation].

But then the 'Sure offer' 

became 'Hopefully an offer early the following week'

which finally reduced to 'A decision be the end of the following week'


It had seemed so certain initially and now there seemed to be so much doubt. I started to worry, I started to feel bad and I started to think negative thoughts and because I was feeling bad I was attracting more bad feelings.

This was a dangerous spiral... so I told myself to 'Slap out of it' [Quote from my favourite ever show Cougar Town]

I turned my attention to how I could fix my negative vibe and started to ponder what I had done to change my energy, I thought about the advice The Secret gives and I realised that I had been trying to work out 'how', and 'when' and 'where' an offer was going to be made which had been instilling doubt that I was going to receive what I had asked for.

From that moment on I resolved to stop thinking about anything that I wasn't sure about and just trust that I was going to get what I want I has asked for.

Every time a negative thought surfaced I corrected it and then pushed it away. I resolved to be calm and collected and instead of thinking about 'when' 'if' 'how' the job offer was going to come I started focusing on fun and positive actions I could take in anticipation of the new job. This included things that i naturally find fun like the new fun clothes I could wear at my new job [I am a big clothes whore by nature and the new dress code is super relaxed... yay! Big selling point for me!]

Once I started getting back on the positive track I started to feel better and the worry went away.

On Valentines day someone left a tube of Lovehearts on my desk [there is a mystery romancer who bestows gifts on all the ladies in the office every Valentines day... very gentlemanly if a little sexist] and in that pack of Lovehearts there was a 'Lucky Day' Loveheart.

I scoffed down the rest [in the spirit of the day obviously] but I decided to keep the 'Lucky Day' Loveheart until I felt that the job offer would come that day. Luckily I didn't have to wait long because the next day I felt sure the offer was coming so I chomped the Loveheart first thing and before lunch I had my offer.

I know the Lovehearts are just a silly game I was playing with myself but I think that if silly games help you to feel good about getting what you want then play away...

I am so excited and proud about starting my job, it is the oh-so desired 'private practice', it has so much career development potential and is such a good company that 6 months ago I wouldn't even have had the confidence to apply for it,

So....

Thank you 'The Secret'

Thank you Davey who has spent a great deal of time investing in boosting my confidence and telling me that 'I can do it'

Thank you to my friends & family who have invested many hours of their personal time checking over my CV and portfolio and boosting my confidence.

I really feel like the new job is a team effort and I really feel like I finally made it x

Since I got the offer there has been an abundance of bubbly and celebration

Right well I am off to my Mums now for more Champagne and a celebration dinner, everyone around the table has something to celebrate tonight so we are officially the 'Good News Crew'!

Then tomorrow my lovely fella is whisking me away to Bruges as part of an oh-so thoughtful Christmas/ Anniversary Pressie

P.S Happy five Year Anniversary Davey

The Interview...

So yesterday was The Interview...

I usually get very nervous at interviews; I was so nervous at my first interview (at NPS) I had to use all my self control not to sob and bolt for the door.

I previously blogged about how positive thinking has transformed my career in the last 18 months (if you haven't read it of you want a re-cap click here) so I was sure that if I could use The Secret techniques I could 'rock their socks' at the interview.

Four of the techniques The Secret recommends played a key part in my preparation:

1) Focus on what you want and trust your instincts
Ahead of the interview I made sure I had enough time to prepare so I wasn't rushed or stressed on the day. Despite my best intentions I had a little mishap on the day before the interview. I took my portfolio to get printed only to find it was going to cost me £200.
This freaked me out and made me uncertain whether I should go into work first and try to sneak print my portfolio. The idea of trying to sneak into work and illegally print made me feel stressed and guilty so I made a decision to trust my instincts and that The Secret would provide an alternative solution.

It did...
The next day I found 'Positive Print' (it was a sign) and got my work beautifully printed and bound for £40 with no stress (which on the day of your interview is worth its weight in gold)

Incidentally two other things happened at the print shop:
1) I got stuck in the snow, so I would like to that the kind man that pushed me out of the icy trench
2) I got a call from another recruitment consultant offering me an interview for the same position = massive confidence booster!

2) Visualising the result that I want
During the run up to the interview I spent time researching the company and managed to pick out a few details and questions for the interview. On the journey there I visualised exactly how I wanted the interview to go focusing on the things I had learnt about the company particularly the design awards they have won.

It was brilliant. Everything I had picked out and managed to remember
came up totally naturally. The interview went so well that we ran out of time before the next candidate arrived. Following my interview I was shown the office and taken to meet the design director who spent 45 minutes telling me all the benefits of working for them. The original advertisement was for a 12 month contract but the discussions with the design director soon meant that we were discussing a permanent position with benefits. There are a lot... its a truly excellent package, more than I ever imagined.

3) Acting as though I have already received it
I told everyone about the interview.
I told everyone about all the positive feedback that the fantastic recruitment consultant gave me.
I told everyone I was going to get the interview, the job and a massive pay rise (which made some people recoil, but luckily no one that mattered).
Following the interview I told everyone (including the recruitment consultant) how well I did and that 'unless the candidate after me was exceptional then the job was mine’. 
When I got home I drafted my resignation letter and wrote my name, new title and address out until I felt it was my new place of work.

4) Feeling gratitude
I said thank you for my new job all the way home last night, before I went to sleep and when I woke up this morning.

Then Today...
The consultant called me and told me that the feedback from my interview was excellent and I should expect a job offer in the next few days...

Now I am just focusing on the salary I want :o)

I'll keep you posted

2 [and a bit] week update...

So what have I been up to in the two [and a bit] weeks since my last post?


Well let me tell you...

I have been listening to The Secret Audio book every day; on the way to work, at work and at home. I have listened to it in the background, I have concentrated on it and I have let it sink into my subconscious.

It’s working.

I have been listening to all the advice given and sought out podcasts from other 'teachers' [as they call themselves]. Turns out most life coaches, Feng Shui gurus and other 'sorts' that the rich and famous can afford to hire, are all advocates of The Secret.

Now some of the Americanisms and the over the top dramatics are a bit much for my slightly cynical British reserve [thank god for Rhonda Byrne, who reads the majority of the book, in her soft Australian accent] but they have a point and as a result of really absorbing the concept of The Secret I have taken 3 steps:

1) Saying thank you for all the brilliant things I have to be grateful for every morning

There are a lot! When you stop and think about it you will be shocked about how much you have to be grateful for (including things that we maybe we all take for granted). Whether it’s your family, your friends, your colleagues, that man that held the door open for you, that woman who stopped you to tell you that you had dropped your favourite scarf, the fact that you have food to eat, that we have access to clean water, that we can see a doctor when we need to, our health, our ability to exercise, your family pet...

The list goes on and on and the more you think about it the more you will remember to be grateful for.

2) I have focused on what I want and asked for it

Following on from my last post I have been thinking in more detail about what I really want. Thinking about this can be a scary process, as you can discover that a lot of what you thought you wanted is actually what you thought you should want... like world peace  
None the less I let my mind have free rein to establish what I would dare to dream for if I truly believed there were no limits to what I could achieve... I realised I left a few things of my list:

My dream home
The image below was designed by, Interior Designer, Kathryn Tyler who I absolutely idolise. I first saw her on Grand Designs and totally fell in love with her style, green design principles and her courage to grab success.

Her practice is Linea Studio which she established, in 2004, very soon after leaving university. She is an inspiration to me because she showed me that you need to have courage and commitment to your own style, the confidence to risk going it alone and the balls to ignore the critics.
When Dave and I build our own house this will be the precedent.

£300,000.00 In the savings account
Don’t know how I expect it to get there but I want it.

3) Finally I have taken action to achieve ‘Great Success and Wealth in my Perfect Career’...

Over the last few years I have spent a lot of time working on various portfolios, but I never really found a layout and style that represented me or gave me confidence in my work.

I spent a lot of time worrying about if it gave the right message and if people would like my style or toss all my dreams and hopes into the shredder, as such I hadn't sent out an application for a new job in 7 years!

Since I have started focusing on being positive I found it incredibly easy to design a portfolio layout and content that I love. I have updated my CV and confidently sung my own praises. I have also applied for my first job in 7 years. And guess what I already have an interview...

So thank you Rhonda Byrne.