Take the opportunity today to take a step toward one of your career goals

June 13, 2013 By 1 Comment

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Photo of Hannah Young

 

By Stuart Young

 

Hopefully you already have a list of your career goals. If you haven’t made one yet, do it now,today! Make sure you organise it afterwards in to a priority list – it doesn’t matter at this time if things will actually pan out exactly as on your list. The important thing is to get the thought process going, the more organised your mind is around the subject the more likely you are to start taking action, and that action will lead to another and another. Be flexible along the way, use your intuition to guide you.

 

OK, for those of you that have written and organised your list – take the first step to achieving the first one. Whatever it is, do it! As with other goals, if the first step is actually quite daunting, break it down in to another 4 or 5 steps. But enable yourself to take a step that will actually start the ball rolling, something that will actually move you ‘towards’ that goal.

 

Once you’ve done it you’ll feel fantastic, energised, motivated and inspired. It’s worth doing for that feeling alone. And remember, it doesn’t matter how small the steps are as long as you take a step each day.

 

Take care and feel unlimited.

 

 

Stuart Young is the author of How to Change Your Life One Day at a Time and creator of the ‘Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life’ program. His mission is to help individuals change their lives for the better by offering daily practical guides and new ways of thinking. You can contact him via facebook, email or his blog.

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Do We Resist Growth?

June 11, 2013 By 2 Comments

growth

Photo of Hannah Young

 

By Avdhessh Arya

 

Just the other night, I was watching the movie ‘Abraham Lincoln, the Vampire Hunter’.

 

As soon the movie got over, my critical mind rejected the concept of ‘vampires’ by calling that a myth. “Well, it’s just a movie.” I said to myself.

 

I found no difference in my skepticism and Mary’s (Abraham Lincoln’s wife in the movie) that had rejected the concept of vampires as a myth when Lincoln had tried to tell her the truth.

 

Isn’t it funny that our minds jump to conclusions so fast; we either accept or reject things, presuming that we know everything about the world and its mysteries.

 

But, actually, do we really know everything or is it a technique of mind to not let us have ‘an open mind’?

 

Do we resist changing our beliefs and conceptions, and by doing so, don’t we resist growth?

 

Guess what, it seems that we’re afraid at some deeper level that things we reject as ‘myth’ might really exist…..they may be for real. I mean, who knows?

 

Avdhessh Arya is a personal development coach and voice actor based in New Delhi, India. He writes his thoughts on his website avdhessharya.com You can contact him via email atavdhessharya@gmail.com, facebook, twitter, or subscribe to his blog.

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Success Story: Eric Clark, Quincy Tutor Network

March 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment

eric clark

 

Eric Clark, the Director of the Center for Academic Success at Eastern Nazarene College and also the founder and CEO of the Quincy Tutor Network in Quincy, Massachusetts knows from his personal experience that understanding your own learning abilities and challenges can help you achieve your best potential. Having officially diagnosed with ADHD at a later time in his life, made it more realistic for him to connect and share his story to students and individuals who also suffer the lack of concentration or focus when it comes to completing a task. As the Director of the Center for Academic Success and the CEO of his tutoring company in the South Shore, he is great at many things – however there was a time in his life when he felt it was tough to decline projects and led to some challenges in completing them because of his inability to concentrate. It was by understanding his own learning difficulties that has helped him become more focused and more engaged with his colleagues thus, making him the best of who is right now and passing this on to his students and his clients.

 

Eric, was also named as one of the 40s under 40 awardee by the South Shore STARS in 2011. You can learn more about his company at http://quincytutoring.com/  or email him for questions regarding his tutoring services at eric@quincytutoring.com

 

This is his inspiring story:

 

Alpha: Tell us the story of your company and why you started it?

Eric: The Quincy Tutor Network evolved from an idea that I had while teaching 8th grade math at Central Middle School in Quincy MA. Several of my 8th grade students were applying to private high schools, and they were paying exorbitant amounts of money for a 10 hour test prep class. My primary goal was to provide a high quality high school test prep class for about 10% of what the big companies were charging. With very little overhead, I was able to do this rather well and ran classes (high school test prep and SAT classes) for roughly 4 years.

With time, my career focus evolved, and I made a transition to high education. While working at Eastern Nazarene college, I developed my tutor network with the help of Lance Cummins from nectafy.com. Lance and I connected via Twitter and our business relationship has grown into a good friendship. We occasionally work together on social media projects.

Now that the tutor network is sustainable, my primary goal for 2013 is to identify the needs of my immediate community, and help the QTN to grow in a way that can best support my local community.

Alpha: Tell us about the biggest successes and failures in your business. What worked, what didn’t, and what did you learn?

Eric: My biggest success is leveraging social media to grow the business by making connections with larger businesses in the education space. These relationships allow me to asses the needs of the industry and partner with other organizations that are passionate about education.

My biggest failure is spreading myself too thin. Until recently, I had a difficult time saying no to new ideas/projects. In December I was diagnosed with ADHD, and the treatment plan that I started has helped me focus better than ever before.

Alpha: What do you want to achieve in your company or in what you do:
the next week:
Eric: Next week I would like to have 100+ students sign up for the SAT Habit, a free SAT diagnostic/prep tool (http://bit.ly/VvZAQg). I am working with Testive to research students using the platform, and would like to identify ways that the Quincy Tutor Network can help create a more robust test prep experience.

the next year:

Eric: I would like to have 1000 tutors join my free tutor network.

the next 10 years:
Eric: Over the next ten years I would like to develop a robust platform for tutors to communicate, research, publish, and lead the conversation on the best practices of tutoring. Another goal is to establish a community learning center that has a primary goal of fighting educational injustices, and making high quality supplemental instruction (tutoring) available to all students.

Alpha: What was your most inspiring moment doing what you do?

 

Eric: My most inspiring moment tends to repeat itself. I am most inspired when my students persist through the struggle, and truly understand the material we are working on. Helping a student achieve the goals they set is one of the most amazing experiences (the magnitude is third behind the birth of my children and my wedding day)

Alpha: If you were to tell us what are the most important skills that you need in order to be successful in life- what are they?

 

Eric: Organization, planning, and follow through. It is also important not to take on too many projects at one time. Just because you are good at many things does not mean that you need to do them all!

 

 

Alpha: How would you define Success?

 

Eric: John Wooden describes success best, and I think success is finding comfort in the fact that you gave your very best and did everything you could to achieve your goal. I also agree with Wooden when is said, “The journey is always better than the end”.

 

Alpha: What are your favorite things?

Eric:

Movie:

Beautiful Mind
Book: .

Into the Wild
Place on earth:
Northeast Kingdom of Vermont – The place of my childhood

 

Travel:
St, Thomas

 

Food:
Anything that has to do with maple syrup

 

Drink:
Moxie

 

Quote:

Do not go gentle into that good night – Dylan Thomas

 

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight

Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

To read other inspiring Success Stories, click here.

 

Alpha Sanford is the creator and editor of Aspire.Motivate.Succeed! a personal development website which aims to inspire and motivate people from all walks of life through its bi-weekly articles. She interviews and features inspiring individuals whose extraordinary work impact the lives of many people in the community. You can contact her via facebook, twitter, email or pinterest.

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Success Story: Cenen N. Milan, Jr.

February 18, 2013 By 3 Comments

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“There are some things success is not. It’s not fame. It’s not money or power. Success is waking up in the morning so excited about what you have to do that you literally fly out the door. It’s getting to Work with people you love. Success is connecting with the World and making people feel. It’s finding a Way to bind together people who have nothing in common but a dream. It’s falling asleep at night knowing you did the best job you could. Success is joy and freedom and friendship. And success is love.”

 

Cenen N. Milan, Jr. Also known as  “Kuya Mac” or Happy is a Filipino long distance runner with a huge heart for many advocacies. He runs not only because he is passionate about running but because he supports causes that are dear to his heart. In his most recent walk in December 2012 he ran for seventeen straight days from Davao to Manila he ran into many obstacles but the outcome was great! Because of this run, he was able to donate 60,000 books to children and was able to open up more connections to other networks that are eventually supporting his advocacy in education and environment.

You can check out his website at http://irunmacmilan.wordpress.com/

You can also follow him on facebook, or via email at prayreadeatplayinc@yahoo.com

This is Happy’s happy story:

 

Alpha: Tell me the story of your latest project/occupation.

Happy: After I did not finish in BDM 160km last January, I first told my dream of running from Davao to Manila to Bianca… “Moh, I will run from Davao to Manila on December.” I got the sweetest smile – answer ever ”Train hard…focus…and learn to CRY, PRAY and LOVE more this one…passion of running.” From that time on, I kept on training slowly and at the same time looking for the reason why am I… and will be doing it. Not until, I saw two important ultra-races that Sir Jovie staged this year – the September – 102 KM National Championship and the November – West Coast 200KM. I saw it as an opportunity to see how my training regimens are. These two ultra-races taught me a lot of things that I am now using in this Davao – Manila Run.

Now, why did I start running? Simply because I just wanted to end the year doing something for a cause through my running. Last year, I wrote a concept about my dream foundation that will lead every child to PRAY, READ, EAT and PLAY. After so many months of waiting for a kind – hearted person to help me to get through the Securities and Exchange Commission, last October 10, 2012 a group of people helped to acquire necessary license to operate. I took it as a sign then, to run for a good reason, not only for myself but for those who will benefit from the organization. From that time on, people are coming to help me, one after another willing to assist me to put everything into reality, from my training, to my daily nutrition and so on. Until I have decided that December 1, 2011 will be the day of an epic run.

So in December 1, 2012 I started my long epic journey for a cause from Davao City to Manila. The journey was indeed very challenging. It was one of a kind journey. The run and walk defines me who really am I as a person. It really taught me that the longest distance really that I am going to take to, is the distance between my heart and mind. The distance between my heart and my mind is incomparable to the distance of Davao to Manila. It is all about the conquering the real me in my run. The run and walk to Manila took me 17 long days. It was a run for about 85 KM to 135 KM a day. It was a run and walk for my advocacy on education and on environment. The run and walk gave an opportunity for me to receive 60,000 books from an international non-government agency. From this on, another opportunity opened to me and that is to run from Manila to Brazil to support ten different foundations under the SWITC2SAVE.

I am also involved with the PRAY.READ.EAT.PLAY, INC, a non-profit, non-stock and non-government organization that seeks to transform the lives of every Filipino families through education and life sustaining environmental livelihood program. The organization works closely in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments. It aims to develop literacy skills particularly reading in the primary school, supports scholars and provide livelihood program for the mothers. To put this dream in a reality, the organization aims to put – up a free public library, preparatory school for the indigenous children and a livelihood environmental program for the mothers in Barangay Malangag, Antipas, North Cotabato. As well as to raise ONE MILLION TREES by building a nursery for the reforestation program of the said community and the nearby communities.

Alpha: Tell me about the biggest successes and failures in your life. What worked, what didn’t, and what did you learn?
Happy: Being the eldest in the family, I have the responsibility of taking good care of my siblings. Part of it is to send them to good schools. Part of the family journey is to be the bread winner also and a good role model to my siblings. For me, my family was actually the biggest success I ever had. It is in this family that I started to learn what real love is. It is through them that I learned to share more to others without asking anything in return. Compared to my run, my family journey is indeed a sweet run. In every journey, my family will always be there no matter what. No matter what it cost, they will always be there to love and support me.

It is in love that I became what I am now and at the same time it taught me to rise up from the obstacles or failures in my journey as well. Indeed it was a bumpy ride. Failures are failures if I didn’t learn anything from it. There were several lessons that I have along the way. Such as lessons in romantic relationship that defines my perspective in love. The not “happy – ending” story of my past romantic relationships taught me to believe and see the good things in others. It made me realize that everything happens for a reason. It taught me to see the brighter side of the world. It taught me to believe in “fair”.

happy3

Alpha: What do you want to achieve in:

 

Happy: the next week: I wanted to finish the preparation of my next run – “Manila to Brazil.” The said advocacy run will benefit the other ten foundations under the SWITCH2SAVE.

the next year: I am looking forward to finish my advocacy run from Manila – Brazil fruitfully and may it give more hope not only to the ten foundations under the SWITCH2SAVE but also the Filipinos that we will be passing by.
the next 10 years: I would like to see my foundation PREP a big one and extending its resources internationally. At the same time, seeing myself still running, happily married at that time, and being able to fulfill all my dreams.

Alpha: What was your most inspiring moment?
Happy: When I was running from Davao to Manila, particularly in Mindanao area there was this couple who waited for me for about two hours as I passed their area. They were both ice cream vendors in the area. As I passed by, they handed over six cups of ice cream to me. They also told me that I have to keep running and must finish the race. The very reason? They simply believed on my advocacy for the indigenous people in Mindanao. Whenever there are people who believe on my cause and advocacy, it brings me hope and passion to go on. It fuels me to move and never say it’s enough. Small incident it may be, but in the road and in the real world the simplest thing inspires me a lot. These were the incidents in my life that at times I ignore.

happy

Alpha: If you were to tell us what are the most important skills that you need in order to be successful in life- what are they?
Happy: It’s about living the spirit of “never-say-die” attitude. I always believe that everything happens for a reason. Disappointments and failures are part of the cycle of life. It teaches me to become wiser and stronger the next time that I encounter the same incident all over again. Simply BELIEVE in one self that I CAN! Simply TRUSTING oneself in all aspect! And being HUMBLE at all times. Life is beautiful!!!

Alpha: How would you define Success?
Happy: For me, I would define success as, “There are some things success is not. It’s not fame. It’s not money or power. Success is waking up in the morning so excited about what you have to do that you literally fly out the door. It’s getting to Work with people you love. Success is connecting with the World and making people feel. It’s finding a Way to bind together people who have nothing in common but a dream. It’s falling asleep at night knowing you did the best job you could. Success is joy and freedom and friendship. And success is love.”

Alpha: Lastly, what are your favorite things?

Happy’s list of favorite things:

Movie: Nothing Hill
Book: Tuesdays with Morrie
Place on earth: Oscariz, Ramon, Isabela
Travel: Anywhere basta white sand beach
Food: Pasta
Drink: Coke
Quote: LIFE is BEAUTIFUL

 

To read other inspiring Success Stories, click here.

 

Alpha Sanford is the creator and editor of Aspire.Motivate.Succeed! a personal development website which aims to inspire and motivate people from all walks of life through its bi-weekly articles. She interviews and features inspiring individuals whose extraordinary work impact the lives of many people in the community. You can contact her via facebook, twitter, email or pinterest.

 

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Why do you think people never attempt to fix what they complain about?

October 23, 2012 By 4 Comments
Why do people keep doing things that they do not love to do? For example, work at a place they hate.
A lot of people complain about their lives, how they wish they could change, how they wish they would’ve gone a different route in life. It is never to late!

Why do you think people never attempt to fix what they complain about?

 

 

 

About the Author: Ronald Colunga is a regular contributor for AMSDaily.net. He writes his thoughts on his website at  Lifessteppingstone.com! , which he is about to relaunch (make sure to subscribe to his newsletter as well). He is also the designer of AMSDaily’s logo and is one of the authors of the book, “The Best Inspirational Storie I Ever Read: Guide to a Purposeful Life”.
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