A-Z guide to interviews

Interviews are inevitable part of job hunting but they don't need to be something you dread. With the right amount of preparation you can stand out from the other candidates and give yourself a much better chance of getting that job.

Here is my tried and tested A-Z guide for interviews.

Ask
If the letter inviting you to an interview is rather vague, don't just accept it. It will be time to ask some questions, so give HR a call and ask for a few more details. It's advisable to have names and job titles of your interviewer(s) and what the interview agenda will be. Get as many facts as you can since all information will help you focus in the right areas for your interview. The added bonus for requesting this information is that the HR department will remember your high level of professionalism which will give them a very good first impression of you.

Always prepare at least 3 questions to ask at your interview. These should be appropriate to the role or to the company - but don't try and be clever in asking a question to catch out your interview panel, it will put them right off you. Good question areas are: the products and/or services provided by the company, training procedures and career progression.

If you think you have the confidence to ask questions during the interview as opposed to just at the end please do so, it will demonstrate you are engaged in the interview process and are interested in the role. Take care not to interrupt the interviewer with your questions though, always be patient and let them finish talking before jumping in.

Body language
Even if you are nervous, anxious or scared out of your wits, a positive body language will do you well and boost your confidence no end. A firm handshake, an honest smile, holding your head high and shoulders back and making eye contact, will all be remembered by the interviewers as you being a positive and likable candidate.

You may want to take notice of some of your habits you have when you are nervous or being slightly economical with the truth, for example, picking your nails, fiddling with your hair, rubbing your nose, scratching your face etc. The interviewers may not pick up on what these habits represent, but it will definitely distract them. Its better that they listen to what you have to say as opposed to being mesmerised by how often you stick your finger in your ear!

What is your 'listening look'? For many years I used to frown when I was concentrating on what someone was saying - unfortunately their perception of me was that I was angry with them. Now that I am aware I do this, I have changed my 'listening look' by relaxing my face to avoid that frown.

What do you look like when you concentrate?

Do you look angry, bored, confused? How do you check?

Well you can ask someone who's opinion you trust and get then to talk to you. Concentrate hard on what they are saying and then get them to give you feed back on how you look. You can discuss any adjustments that need to be made to change your 'listening look' to something more positive.

CV
Ensure you have a copy of your up-to-date CV with you at the interview. It is unlikely you will need to refer to it, but it will make you feel more confident having it with you. Make sure you are well versed on your CV; there is nothing worse than trying to remember where you worked 5 years ago and fumbling around in your head to recall what you did.

Dipping
If you find yourself in a situation where the interview has dipped and the mood has taken a down turn - stay calm. Humour can help here but don't go too crazy, you can put on a smile and explain how nervous you are and be positive. Take a deep breath and carry on. Showing your honesty and the appreciation of the situation with a positive spin will be acknowledged and appreciated by your interviewer(s). Remember there is nothing wrong in saying you are nervous, they are probably nervous too.

Enthusiasm
If there is one thing I enforce more than anything else to my clients it is this: be enthusiastic about the job! Even if it sounds like the dullest job on the planet, you can still show enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is highly infectious and it's highly sought after by employees.

Given the choice between 2 candidates - one with skills and no enthusiasm and one with hardly any experience and bags of energy and enthusiasm - the job will mostly likely be offered to the enthusiastic candidate. Remember: companies are happy to invest time in training for the job role, they won't want to bother training someone to have a positive attitude.

Friendly
It is important that the interviewers realise that you will fit in with the team or department. Showing you are approachable and friendly is just as important as having a strong skills set in the job itself.  

Grooming
Yes first impressions do count.
Ensure you have the simplest of things sorted: Clean polished shoes, freshly laundered and ironed clothes. If you are a smoker avoid having a quick ciggie right before the interview as the smell will linger, if you are desperate though, make sure you have mints or mouth freshener to hand. Avoid very tight fitting clothes or clothes that will irritate you.

• Ladies: Take care on the jewellery and make-up, a classic look is best. I have interviewed ladies with glitter lipstick and wearing enough jewellery to put Goldsmith's to shame. Avoid showing to much skin even on a hot day (that includes décolletage!).
  
  Make sure there are no holes in tights/stockings and it's always a good idea to pack a spare pair discretely in your bag - just in case.
  
  
• Gentlemen: Ensure your aftershave is not going to knock out a rhino at 20 paces; less is best. Facial hair is OK as long as it's neat and tidy. Avoid 'builder's cleavage' when you bend down, ensure your shirt is tucked in well.

Homework
Make sure you have done your research on the company and the role as much as you can. Try and remember a few facts about the company, as it will be highly likely they will ask a few questions in this area at the start of the interview. By making a little effort in your research, you will gain a lot of head way at the interview. I am always amazed at the number of candidates who do not bother doing this.

Intuition
Your preparation can in some instances go against you, especially if you have done prep work weeks in advance of the interview. Be ready to be intuitive with your answers and tweak your responses accordingly, rather than regurgitating what you have rehearsed and sounding like a robot.  

"Just one more thing"
This is what I call the Columbo technique. For those of you who missed out on the fabulous 70's detective series, our genius detective Columbo would ask loads of questions to the prime suspect. He would then leave the room, the suspect would then relax and then Columbo would suddenly reappear and say the classic line "..just one more thing " and then deliver the killer question while the suspect was completely off guard.

This can happen to you at the end of the interview. So if you think everything is drawing to an end, please stay in interview mode until you actually physically leave the building...you never know, they could ask that make or break question as you are shaking their hand good bye.

Killer skill set
Don't just think of qualifications and experience when preparing for your interview, chances are you will have a fabulous skill set too. It is very usual for all of us to play down what we do so well. If you made a list of all your skills most, if not all, would be transferable to anything you decide to do.

Remember soft skills are just as important as hands-on skills. So if you are an excellent negotiator, good listener, a natural leader or you just have the ability to brighten a persons day, then remember to mention this and prepare examples where you can illustrate your excellent talents.

Luck
I have put luck in this list as a number of my clients insist that getting the job is more about luck than it is about anything else. I don't agree, if you have done your preparation, dressed according, have a positive attitude with lots of enthusiasm you will definitely be short listed or better still offered the role.

Money
Unless asked, refrain from asking about money/salary or any other job perks at the interview. If you are asked any salary related questions by the interviewer, then by all means answer appropriately. What you want to avoid is to be seen as only wanting the job for the money. Even in a sales environment where salary and bonuses are a huge motivating factor; interest in the company and product are vitally important and are very appreciated.

Nerves
We all get nervous prior to an interview even the interviewers. Nerves are good, it means adrenalin is pumping which will help you focus and think on your feet. Avoid using negative coping mechanisms such a drugs and alcohol to calm your nerves. Instead, you can look to Bach natural flower remedies, deep breathing exercises or positive affirmations to help you feel really confident.  

Openness
Especially to other people's opinions. This is particularly important if you are in a group interview setting and you have to deal with other people's opinions as well as your own. It is important to be able to express yourself without alienating others.

With certain interview techniques, some very emotive questions may be asked just to see how you react. Be honest but fair and if in doubt use something like the 'sandwich technique' where you say something positive prior to saying something controversial (or negative) and then follow up with something positive or neutral at the end. This will ensure the interviewers are under no illusion that you can handle opinions in a balanced way.

Preparation
Like all things in life, preparation is key to success. Please don't go into an interview thinking you can wing-it!

You may want to consider some of the following:

• Working out the travel times to the place of interview
• Research on the company and position
• Presentation (if required)
• Your interview questions to ask interviewers
• Clothes and shoes
• Getting a good night sleep the night before
• Eating something at least 30 minutes prior to the interview
• Keep hydrated (good for the brain)  

Quirky
Now this is an interesting one and really depends on which industry you are going for an interview in. I have had clients in the past who are very individual and quirky in their appearance and lifestyle. They are keen to show their true selves at an interview, but unfortunately this can go against you. So if you fall into this category please be aware of the industry you are trying to get a job in.

If you are going for a job in the fashion or media/music industry individuality is crucial, it would be perfectly acceptable to show piercings, tattoos, modern hair cuts and hi-fashion clothing at your interview. However if you are going for a role in an industry slightly more conservative, for example, the pharmaceutical or banking industry, sporting a Mohican or wearing fetish stilettos to your interview would not be advisable.

If you are unsure of your interview 'look', check out the company's website, have a look at the photos of the staff (even if it is just stock footage), this should give you a feel for what they expect of their personnel. If there are no clues from the website, by all means check back with the recruitment agency or ask a reliable friend for advice on your attire.

Resist
Resist the urge to tell the interviewer(s) your whole life story. Nerves can play havoc with self censorship and you might feel the urge to share that really funny story when you were really drunk on B52 cocktails in Turkey and ended up at a nightclub waving your pants in the air....

Resist the urge to be really, really honest, saying that you only want the job is because you need something to pay the bills is not acceptable.

Resist moaning and complaining especially about your previous or current employers (or role). Warning! Many industries are small, and the chances of your interviewer knowing someone at your old or current place of work is very likely - so you could find your self slagging-off their best friend.

Smile
Smiling instantly builds rapport and breaks the ice with the interviewers. Don't be put off if they don't smile back, you may have found yourself in an old fashioned interview where there are stern faces all round, that's OK just carry on as normal, but don't be tempted to grin at them in a crazy way just to get a smile back.
Always ensure your smile is genuine - a fake smile will be spotted a mile away.

Take your time
Don't gabble your words and if you feel like your rushing, then ask for a few moments to gather your thoughts or better still ask if the question could be repeated at the end of the interview so you can buy yourself some time to think.

Understand what is expected of you

• Will there be a test?
• Will there be a group interview with other candidates?
• Will you be interviewed by a panel of interviewers?
• Will you being attending a lunch etc

These are all important aspects of the interview that you know before you step into the interview....remember ask and gather the information that you need.

Value who you are
High self esteem is important and body language and grooming will do well for you here. There is nothing wrong with saying how good you are at something, how successful a project was or what fabulous process you implemented in you current role.

The trick here is to be confident without being arrogant. Interviews are a great opportunity to tell the world how good you are and why you are the right person for the job. No one else can do that for you, so get comfortable in talking about yourself in a positive way.

Wading in
You might find a combination of nerves, and enthusiasm might cause you to wade in with answers before the interviewer has even finished the question. STOP. Slow down, let them finish and then take a few seconds to think about what you are going to say. It's better to take a few moments and seem thoughtful, than to rush in and regret what falls out of your mouth.

X-rated
It is absolutely totally unacceptable to use expletives (swear words) during your interview. This may seem like common sense but I am always amazed, or rather shocked at some of the language used during the interview process. If you are someone who has a natural habit of using strong language in your everyday dialogue then please be aware of this and self censor accordingly. Some interviews can be very laid back and even if the interviewer uses mildly offensive language, please do not follow suit.

You
It is important to bring an essence of you to the interview. It is very likely that all the candidates for the interview will say roughly the same thing in their responses to interview questions. What's important is bringing your own experiences to the interview so they get a sense of you, who you are and how you will fit into to the organisation. It is also vital that you know your strengths and weaknesses.

Be careful here, if asked what your weaknesses are, make sure they are relevant to work (no need to say you cry every time you watch a Disney film) and also end it on a positive note.

For example: "I like to have things organised really well so spend extra time on planning and preparation, some may think this is a weakness because of the time I spend doing this, however it can also be considered a strength since good preparation work is vital and saves time in the long run".

Zest for life
It is important to show you have a life outside of work; the key here is to make sure you have a good life-work balance. It's absolutely fine to show you are sociable, but take care you are not describing yourself as a party animal. The interviewers will unfortunately have visions of you rolling into work with hangovers or not being focussed on your work.

If asked about your hobbies please feel free to express what you do. Team sports are good, as are hobbies or interests that are very different from your working subject. If you love your work so much that you don't have any outside interests it might be advantageous to consider bringing some balance to your life and discover some outside interests.

And finally...always thank the interviewers at the end, ask when you would hope to hear from them and say that you are still very interested in the role, even if you are not. It is better that you make the decision if you want the job, rather than the interviewers deciding if they want you!

Are you too nice at work?

Come on, answer truthfully - what is your work-place personality?

Are you the grumpy so 'n' so in the corner, moaning and whinging that nothing is ever good enough?...or

Are you the one who just goes through the motions at work, after all you are only there to pay the bills?....or

Are you the happy, positive and ready to help anyone type?

I want to pay particular attention to the last one; the happy, positive and helpful employee, otherwise known as the nice one.... why? well contrary to popular belief I really believe they suffer the most in any workplace.

I have had several clients recently who have each dealt with some terrible times at work. The results of which have left them depressed, disillusioned, angry and totally confused by their situation.
What’s worse is that they consider themselves to be really positive, loyal, conscientious workers and well.....umm...nice.

If you consider yourself to be in this category of niceness, some of the following statements may seem familiar to you:

"You are great to work with, I wish more people were like you."

"*insert your name* is the really nice one around here, go and see them...they will be happy to help you out."

"It's so great to have you in my team, you are the only one who embraces change."

"Thank heavens we have you, you are always willing to go the extra mile."

"Thanks for doing all that over-time, you were the only one willing to stay late to get the job done."

"I just knew I could rely on you!"

While this is all very complementary and hugely flattering, being nice can also be a huge career limiting factor.

I have found from my experience that nice people tend not to get very far up the corporate ladder and if on the rare occasion they do, it has usually taken them a lot longer than any of their not-so-nice colleagues.


So what do I mean by nice?

Its often includes……

* wearing the big genuine smile

* having the "really happy to see everyone" approach

* showing a positive attitude (especially towards change)

* going-out-of-your-way to help others

* having a really strong team spirit

* towing the company line at all times

Nice people are always the first point of call when someone has a question or needs something doing, even if its outside the nice person’s remit. This can include fixing photocopiers, organising social events and ordering/purchasing some.. ahem …well..unusual 'items' for their boss (my clients have let me in on some very saucy secrets of the corporate world that are definitely not on anyone's job description).

Nice people like a good old natter but they avoid gossip, especially malicious gossip.
They support their fellow colleagues in times of need (they can always be trusted to keep a secret) and support their managers, even when they do not agree with the manager's agenda.

They do not care for office politics and will avoid confrontation.

They are fiercely loyal and are hard conscientious workers - above all they care; they care about their reputation, they care about their colleague's welfare and they care about the company they work for.

Surely all of this sounds like the ideal employee; workers with these attributes should be the ones striding up the corporate ladder - instead they are often the ones left behind, and worse still can be very vulnerable to be taken advantage of, or worse still, be open to bullying.

How being nice, doesn't always pay!

One of the hardest things for nice people to do is to say “No!”

Nice people in the work-place can often end up doing their job and at least the work-load of one other, this is due to their reliability to get the job done, do it well, do it on time and do it with a smile on their face.

Nice is often seen as weak.

If you are kind and caring it is an assumption that you will not make a good manager as you will be unable to make those tough business decisions, especially about team members.

It is therefore considered by those up the management food chain, that nice people are not capable of being responsible for staff and so managerial positions will remain elusive to them.

The office target

The ruthless types in the workplace will sniff out the nice people, regardless of their position. They will befriend the nice person, and over time use their kindness against them in order to climb their way to the top.
This can also escalate into bullying, here the nice person can find themselves in a situation where they are lied about, abused and brought to the point of anxiety and depression.


When nice turns bad!

If the above isn't enough to turn you nice genes off and you still want to fight the good fight, then the final straw can be that small occasion when the nice person turns bad.

It will be the case that 99% of the time the nice person will be positive and upbeat, but there will be times when they will have a bad day or someone or something will leave them feeling frustrated or irked. It will be that remaining 1% which can turn the nice person into a normal human being, who shows signs of disappointment, frustration and anger.

Yes it is a fact; nice people can get p*ssed-off too!

Unfortunately it tends to be unacceptable for nice people to show how fed up they are or display any form of negative behaviour, unlike their, grumpy, moaning, and aggressive counter-parts. What's worse is that negative employees will often be listened to, supported and more interestingly, they will be allowed to get away with their negative behaviour because it is considered ‘normal’ for them.

This often bemuses my clients, they don’t understand how their fellow colleagues can not cut them some slack when it comes to having an off day. It would seem that when nice employees are not on form, it is such a departure from their normal behaviour, that their manager and/or fellow colleagues are shocked.
They are shocked about the acute change in behaviour and so don’t know how to respond. At best they will ignore the scary-nice person or just not take them seriously, at worst, they will complain about them.

My clients have received many comments that range from the ridiculous to the sublime…but the one that seems to get to most of them is.....
“you seem REALLY stressed".

Now, if ever there was a way to stress-out a person who is stressed any more than they already are, it is to tell them that they seem really stressed!


A life beyond nice

It would seem that the only way nice people can get their point across is if they go off sick or if they leave. All of a sudden HR departments and managers want to take notice of the nice employee and inquire vigorously as to why they didn't seek help etc earlier.

There is no need to leave things to breaking point and there is no need to feel ashamed to ask for help or support to increase your skill set.

There are a lot of things a nice person at work can do to improve their prospects. At Best-Coaching we have have many years of experience in this arena and fully understand the situation a nice employee can find themselves in. Changes do need to be made, however they are very easy and manageable and have very powerful results.
In particular, the nice person can benefit greatly from the following:

Learn how to ask for what you want, get it and keep your integrity

Understand how to change your reactions to negative incidents

Deal with anger, so the rare outburst can be handled effectively

Learn to say No and get respect for it

Learn to recognise and manage lazy and manipulative people appropriately

Use stress management techniques that will impress your manager and colleagues alike

So please if YOU are a nice person at work then hoorah for you!
Keep up the good work, and strengthen your position for the future by considering making some key changes.

If you are a team leader/manger/director - give a thought to the nice people in your workplace - think how you can support them so they can grow and take on new roles within your organisation, after all YOU really would be lost without them!

Dealing with loss

Probably one of the hardest experiences we have to deal with in our lives is when we lose someone we love, which can also include a beloved pet.

Whether the loss is expected and is a relief, or is sudden and traumatic, the result will leave us devastated and dealing with a huge sense of emptiness.

The grieving process will affect us all differently; it's important to honour our emotions and respond accordingly but only when we are ready and in our own way.

There are also other losses that we tend not to look at in the same light.

The loss of a job, our home, a relationship, or our health can all trigger the same grieving cycle as that of the loss of a loved one, but we tend not to allow it the same amount of attention or importance.

Each event of loss will elicit a grieving cycle; this is something that happens regardless of how you think you can cope with the situation, or how 'important' you think it is in your life.

The main stages of the grieving cycle are:

Shock->Denial ->Anger And Guilt ->Despair & Depression ->Acceptance

Problems start when we don't believe certain events, such as being made redundant, warrants the same sort of attention as something we would consider to be more important and crushing. We get annoyed at ourselves for moping around, others can lose patience with us and all in all as much as we want to pull ourselves together, we find it hard to.

It is all too common for many of us to get 'stuck' in one part of the grieving cycle without even realising it.
Clues to this are usually when people are still feeling very angry and can't move beyond wanting to air their views (i.e., rant angrily) and voice how they feel, because they feel justice has not been served.
For others, there is the constant feeling of fear and abandonment or maybe it's the feeling of overwhelming guilt that they could have handled things differently and that it's all their fault.

Ultimately all of these feelings hinder positivity, change and hope coming into their lives.

Coaching is one of many ways where you will be provided with the appropriate space as well as total confidentiality to allow you to express yourself without any fear of judgment.

The sessions can be a huge benefit; they are totally supportive and motivate you to move on in your life with freshness, enthusiasm and wisdom.

If you have been exposed to a event in your life which has left you 'stuck' why not consider Life Coaching and get yourself moving and living your life again.

I hate my job!

This is the opening line I get from around 80% of my private clients.
I hate my job!....
I dread every morning going into work!
I feel sick when it gets to Sunday afternoon as I am one step closer going to that hell hole!
...these are pretty strong statements and as a coach I hear them more and more often.

So lets have a look at this situation in a bit more detail.
Here you are spending more time in work than you do with your loved ones, and every minute you are there you hate it. To add insult to injury you will also spend precious time commuting to the place you dread the most.
This amounts on average to 47 hours a week for the working person in the UK, where you are totally miserable.
What an awful situation to be in...and you are not alone by any means. The amount of work related depression, sickness and under performance costs this country billions of pounds every year.

But it doesn't have to be like this.

When I work with clients who find themselves trapped in this situation, it is important to get to the nitty gritty of EXACTLY what it is that generates this misery.

Quite often their initial sweeping statement to me turns out to be due to one of the following:
Lack of appreciation
Workplace Bullying
High work load
Low work load
Favouritism by the boss
Lack of training
Poor company ethos
Lack of team spirit
Line manager who cannot manage
Poor working conditions
In the wrong job/career
Office politics
and many many more....

It only needs to be one item from the list above to take anyone down a path that starts as frustration and anger...then festers into misery, low self esteem and dread...and spirals deep down to physical and mental health problems.

It is clear that in the current climate jobs are scarce and companies can call the shots more than ever. It can therefore very, very hard to stand up for yourself and make the changes to your job in fear of losing it.

What can you do then, when you feel institutionalised or just too tired and down to pick yourself up?

Get in partnership with a coach!

Working with a coach can bring huge changes to your career and job prospects. A coach will walk every step with you so you can bring about vital and positive change, for example:
Updating your CV
Getting interview techniques honed
Obtaining vital stress busting tools so you can face even the toughest of challenges
Learning how to ask for what you really want
Getting yourself noticed for the right reasons
Learning how to manage your anger
Building self esteem and self confidence
Getting you that indestructible self belief
Obtaining the job you REALLY want

If you are suffering from work-place blues working with a coach can allow you to believe you can make changes...show you that you can have things differently and deliver you to a workplace where you can be HAPPY!

Visit: www.best-coaching.co.uk
to see how career coaching and coaching in the work place can bring you positive change.

bring nature into your life

I love being surrounded by nature!

It boosts my sense of well being, calms a hectic environment and gets me back in touch with the simple yet beautiful things life has to offer.

At Best Coaching we believe getting back to nature can be a vital component in bringing balance into your life.

Although the snow over the last few weeks has not been welcomed by everyone, it certainly brought out the fun side in many of you.
It was an absolute joy to see kids, big and small, sledging down hills, having snowball fights and building snow men.

Why is this good?
Well consider the fun between parents and their children, the team work in building a snowman and the forgetting all the stresses and strains of life, when you are pre-occupied with the crisp snow and the sound of laughter.

Our world can and often is filled with gadgets, technology and cyber-space. Theses are all here to make our lives easier and to make the world a more accessible place.

All of this is very positive and forward thinking, however it is all to easy to forget there is a world outside, one made up of trees, mud, bird song and the smell of good old fashioned horse muck!

By no means am I recommending you run to the nearest farm and roll around in some cow pats...but you may want to consider the following ideas to get you back in touch with mother nature:

1.
Go for a walk along a beach (in any weather)....and be daring go on, take off your shoes and socks and go for a paddle...yes, even if its cold!
Collect a few pebbles or shells (make sure it is a few mind) and place them on your desk or work area.

2.
Have a bunch of fresh flowers in your house or office area. There is no need for expense - a lovely bunch of daffs can brighten any space.

3.
Grow some herbs - minimum space needed and no green fingers required; this is also a great way for children to get involved too.

4.
Take a trip to a farm shop to buy a few items of top quality produce.

5.
Mooch round a garden centre

6.
If you have the space in your garden - grow some veg. There is nothing better than eating your own home grown fruit and veg.

7.
Go for a walk in the park or better still an arboretum.

8.
Cut open a lemon or lime and inhale - this can uplift the spirits instantly!

9.
Become a wildlife volunteer

10.
Dust off the old digital camera and get out and take some amazing photos. The great outdoors can inspire all of us in its beauty and strength.

What have you done for yourself lately?

I spoke to a lovely lady today (a complete stranger at the bus stop) about life.
We first started to talk about the weather (of course) and then quickly entered into the realm of her work, her stresses and her kids!

What astonished me was that she did so much in one day, she packed every moment doing something for everyone else; her boss, her family and her friends, that there was absolutely no time for herself, even at the weekends.
She was great at justifying this situation with many excuses; some of them were quite incredible...

It never ceases to amaze me what we 'believe to be true' in order to make life bearable.

She did look tired and freely admitted to not really spending anything (time/money/or otherwise) on herself as this would be "totally selfish"!

Is this you too?
Are you of the same thinking as my lady on the bus?

Do you think its selfish and bad to spend anytime, money, or positive thoughts on yourself?

In my view being selfish is only when you do things for yourself to the detriment of others...(key word here is detriment).

Looking after yourself however, is vital to your own well-being and also to those you have contact with everyday.
It allows you to be a happy, confident, fulfilled, living and a growing human being.
It also has the fabulous by-product of making you a wonderful role model to all those that know you (especially your children).

Ok so this lovely lady got a free coaching session on her trip into Swindon this morning....and a fabulous bonus of setting 3 goals for herself by the time we got to Wootton Bassett:

1.Have a night out with her girlfriends once a month (her husband can babysit)
2.Get her hair cut by the end of January
3.Research an evening class in Life drawing - to start next week (she was very excited about this one!)

I urge you to do something for yourself today.
Set yourself 3 goals and start feeling alive again.
I will certainly be checking up on my fabulous fellow passenger to make sure she stays on track and replaces any completed goals with new ones.

You are wonderful, you are unique...it's time to wake up and start living YOUR life...you have so much to see, learn and experience!
Go for it!

A goal achieved

Hello and welcome to my new blog!

On the 1st of January I set myself some personal and professional goals for the year ahead, and one off the list for January was to set up my own personal blog for Best Coaching....so here I am.

Where are you with your goals/resolutions so far?
Yes I know we are still in January but I bet a lot of you have already lost sight of what you wanted for 2010. Goals lost, resolutions broken...another year of the same old - same old?

The beauty of goal setting is making them small - so they then start to add up to something much bigger - bite size pieces are the way to go; before you know it you will be way ahead and achieving such amazing things in your life, without it being a chore.
So set a goal now...a really small one..and I mean really, really, small.

My small goal for this month? Give myself 15 minutes each day to sit in the quiet away from everyone and everything, so I can refresh my mind and feel inspired.

What's yours going to be?