Personal Growth Cafe

Some people may find this hard to believe, but every single person in this world is good at something. Yes, everyone!

Your strength could be your artistic hand or eloquence in speech.

The key is to figure out your strengths and become an expert at them.

How to Discover Your Strengths

You can do your own assessment of what you think you’re good at and what you’re most comfortable doing. Here are a couple of ideas:

Make a list. Think about all the responsibilities of your job and everything that’s expected of you.

Now go through that list and put a star next to everything you excel at or enjoy doing. Don’t be modest; be honest with yourself!

Study your list and meditate on your choices. Really focus your mind on the direction you want your career to take and which skills you need to sharpen to achieve your goals.

Focus your attention on the skills that will immediately benefit you.

Discovering Your Strengths In Conversation

The second way to discover your personal strengths is to talk to others.

You may tend to believe you know what you’re good at, but when you talk to someone who sees you with fresh, unbiased eyes, you’ll get a completely different perspective.

Don’t be afraid to approach your boss and ask him or her about your strengths.

Be proactive! Take control of your career and take the necessary steps to improve your leadership skills and develop your expertise.

Take additional training and development courses. Does your job or company offer any kind of continuing education programs?

Are there training classes that sound interesting and pique your interest?

Follow those instincts and register for the class to build upon the knowledge you already have.

Of course, you can ask your loved ones to characterize your strengths and weaknesses.

They know you better than anyone else, so they’re more likely to be able to read between the lines and help you discover new things about yourself.

Chances are your friends and family won’t want to hurt your feelings by saying you’re no good at something, so instead, ask them to help you pick out your strengths.

Or ask an open-ended question such as, “What jobs or skills do you think I have a talent for?”

Make sure you understand your family’s biases before making any big decisions.

Just because your Uncle Bob owned his own company, it doesn’t mean that’s the road you should take.

How to Develop Your Expertise

Now that you’ve found your strengths, it’s time for you to bolster your expertise and become a true authority.

This means you have to seek out opportunities to work on these skills.

For example, if speaking is your strength, consider taking a public speaking class at a local university to improve that skill.

Take every opportunity to speak in front of groups, whether it’s a fundraiser, company meeting, giving a toast at a special event, or speaking to your child’s class.

Remember: no one becomes an expert without practice.

That old adage “Practice makes perfect,” is true.

You have to seek out the opportunities and take advantage of them.

The goal is to find ways to get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself to sharpen your skills.

How do you feel about the skills you have now?

How have you developed the skills you already have?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

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July 18, 2018January 8, 2018

Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished. – Confucius

July 18, 2018January 8, 2018

Top 10 Self-Confidence Building Tips

A lack of confidence can affect every area of your life, from your job performance to your personal relationships.

In reality, how you perceive yourself has a powerful impact on how others treat you.

Some factors in bolstering self-confidence may be beyond your control, but there are some very tangible things that you can do as well.

Using these tips will help you reach your full potential as a successful and confident person.

1. Dress confidently. Dress like the person you want to be and you’ll feel yourself become that person.

When you look good, you’ll feel good.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to go out and spend a fortune on clothes.

It’s better to buy a few really nice pieces than a bunch of cheap ones.

2. Walk faster. People who walk confidently keep a brisk pace because they have things to do and places to be.

Simply quickening your step will help you feel more confident.

3. Keep good posture. People can tell a lot about you by the way you carry yourself.

If you have slumped shoulders and cannot look people in the eye, you’ll leave a negative impression on them.

Keep your head up, make eye contact with others, and stand up straight and tall. You have nothing to hide.

4. Be grateful. Gratitude creates a state of peace in the body. A peaceful mind radiates confidence.

Make a list of the things you appreciate about yourself and be grateful for your past successes.

Tell those you love how much you appreciate them being in your life.

5. Compliment others. In addition to showing appreciation for what you have, it’s also important to show others your appreciation.

If you think negatively about yourself, then you’ll have a tendency to criticize others.

Break this habit by praising others on a daily basis. Seeing the best in others will bring out the best in you.

6. Give back. Contributing to the success of others will not only help you feel better about yourself, but karma will reward you in the end.

What goes around comes around, right?

Volunteer your time to help those in need or make a monetary contribution to your favorite local charity.

7. Don’t be afraid to speak up. Many people keep quiet for fear of saying something silly.

Taking an active role in discussions will distinguish you as a leader amongst your peers.

They will quickly recognize that you have confidence and plenty to offer.

8. Exercise regularly. If you work hard to create a better physical image, you’ll not only be healthier, but you’ll also have more energy.

Both of these things will contribute to your self-confidence, as will the compliments you’ll receive.

9. Sit in the front row. Most of us have a tendency to try to blend into the back of the room somewhere.

We don’t like being noticed. Confident people sit up front where they can take part in discussions without fear.

10. Take a chance and try something new. Learning a new hobby or activity will broaden your horizons and help you feel “alive.”

Anytime you spend stretching your mind improves your overall self-confidence.

Life’s Lessons

The more self-confidence you build in yourself, the more likely you’ll be to succeed.

No matter what task you choose to conquer, you’ll do so with enthusiasm.

Any setbacks you encounter won’t bother you because you’ll have the confidence necessary to continue.

Those who are insecure often find life to be a struggle, but with self-confidence, you can find it to be a joy.

Why suffer when you can soar!

How has self confidence made you feel better?

How important is having self confidence in your daily tasks?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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July 17, 2018January 8, 2018

Many hands make light work. – John Heywood

July 17, 2018January 8, 2018

Tips to Make Group Collaborations Run Efficiently

Whether you’re the person in charge of the group or simply one of the key people that help make the wheel turn, you’re in a position that’s critical to making everything work smoothly in a team.

When it comes to teamwork, there are times when things can easily get out of control.

Dealing with other people can sometimes make you feel frustrated no matter what the setting.

There are things you can do to make working in a group more enjoyable.

Let’s discuss a few collaboration techniques to make the process a more level playing field for everyone involved.

Defining Every Member’s Role in the Group

There must be clear definitions of responsibility for every member of the group.

This is important no matter how big or small the group is.

Even if there are only two people involved, it will help alleviate problems such as duplicate work or missing pieces.

A group won’t function unless everyone involved knows what their job is and is allowed to carry it out.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Always clarify your exact responsibilities for the project.
Consider the other tasks being performed and how they relate to your specific duty.
Think about the skills necessary to complete the project and who is best suited to perform those steps.
Make sure everyone involved understands the project and all the steps needed to complete it.
Leave the floor open for questions and solutions should they arise throughout the project.

Dividing Up the Work

No one appreciates having all the work of their teammates dumped on them so consider how much time each step of the project takes and divide the work accordingly.

Always ask yourself:

How many hours do you think a specific task will take?
How will the added tasks fit into each person’s schedule?
What else are they responsible for?
Do they have too much on their plate?

If you’re a team leader, remember that people won’t necessarily do things exactly as you would have done it, and that’s okay!

Just because they do things differently doesn’t make their way wrong.

Resist the Urge to Micromanage Your Team

The people you’re overseeing were put on your team for a reason. If you’re dealing with people you trust, simply trust them to do their job.

While asking for an update is fine, constantly being after them about meeting their deadline is one way to drive them crazy or stage a revolt!

Micromanaging is extremely alienating to members of a team.

Unless you can make your team feel comfortable with their assigned jobs, you’ll end up with some really unhappy team members.

Settling Conflict

When you’re working on a team, conflict is something you’ll have to deal with at some point or another along the way.

In some ways, developing a teacher’s outlook is important.

For example, unless the members with the conflict are going to bring it to you in a formal manner, it’s often best not to get involved.

However, if you see active cruelty or malice going on, make sure you put a stop to it quickly.

While there’s nothing necessarily wrong with heated discussions, make sure the entire team understands that hostility or disrespect simply won’t be tolerated.

The above tips are four key areas that should be dealt with as soon as possible once the group is formed.

Working with a team can be very rewarding when the strengths of its members are used in harmony.

How can working as a team help make the workload lighter?

How can you work more efficiently through the help of others?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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July 16, 2018January 8, 2018

Tips for Using “The Secret” In Your Life

By now you must’ve heard of The Secret, a book by Rhonda Bryne that talks about the Law of Attraction and how to use The Secret in your life.

But have you read the book or seen the movie and tried to incorporate the tips into your life but failed? If so, it’s okay! You’re not alone.

That frustration stems from the fact that The Secret really only skims the surface on what you need to do in order to change your life.

To help you have the success you’re after, we’ve compiled a few tips to help you achieve your deepest desires!

How to Use The Secret In Your Daily Life

The basic premise of The Secret is that you attract the things you constantly think about.

To help make sure you stay on track with manifesting your desires, make a list.

You may think you know what you want, but those thoughts are often vague or not put in the right perspective.

Get specific. Instead of writing that you want to be out of debt, you need to visualize that you have all the money you could ever need and desire.

Think of your credit card statements with a zero balance. Think about what you will do with the money.

Make your list of wants very precise all the way down to the smallest detail.

Use visual reminders to help keep you focused. If you want a new car, then find a picture of the exact car you want.

You can even go to a dealership with a friend and take your dream car for a test drive and have your friend take your picture in the car.

Print the picture out and post it where you’ll see it each and everyday. You can do this with anything you want.

To attract more money, write yourself a check in the exact amount you want and post it everywhere you can see it.

The mind works well with visual reminders and clues.

Create a personal mantra or motto that you can use as a screensaver or wallpaper on your computer.

Record the message on your voicemail.

Write it out on small slips of paper and post those papers everywhere so every time you start to slip into negative thinking, you have a positive reminder to help you re-focus.

Reprogram Your Mind

To make sure you’re taking complete advantage of what The Secret teaches, you have to reprogram the way you think and this takes time.

Making sure you have gentle reminders that help reprogram your mind will be greatly beneficial.

It’s easy to slip into the old way of thinking, worrying about money, or stressing over negative things.

But you can disallow yourself to get into that negative spiral by staying focused on the positive.

Being Grateful For The Abundance Already In Your Life

You also need to be grateful for the things you have in your life right now. No, you may not have everything you want, but you have everything you need to succeed.

Be thankful for each day you wake up, for the fact that you’re able to breathe and move on your own.

Be thankful that you have a job, a roof over your head, and clothes on your back.

Be gracious because you have someone who loves you. The only way to get more of a good thing is to appreciate the good you have.

Create a gratitude book. Write in it whenever you have time and keep it handy so any time you feel down, you can take it out and remind yourself of all the good you have.

Follow these tips and you’ll see the magic of The Secret at work in your life.

Which among the tips above can be most helpful to you?

How can life be better for you by doing these?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

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July 16, 2018January 8, 2018

Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it. – Bill Cosby

July 15, 2018January 8, 2018

Real success is finding your lifework in the work that you love. – David McCullough

July 15, 2018January 8, 2018

Tips for Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking

Public speaking is one of the most common fears that plagues us all!

But have you ever wondered why it’s so common?

I mean, we all speak all the time to our family and friends, what makes public speaking so different?

Well, it tends to be a social fear because we don’t want to appear stupid in front of others.

After all, what could be more embarrassing than making a fool of yourself in front of a large group of people?

Fear of Public Speaking Symptoms:

Dry mouth
Racing heart rate
Sweaty palms
Light-headedness
Unsettled stomach
Trembling hands or legs
Stammered speech
Rambling incoherent speech

Do these symptoms of fear plague you when you think about speaking in public?

If so, you’re not alone. Millions of people go through the exact same symptoms as you.

There are ways to overcome your fear of public speaking:

Be Prepared

Making every preparation before the big event will help give you confidence. Planning out every detail will help to put you at ease.

Know your material. If you’re worried about rambling off course, try to have very detailed outlines and notes of what you’re going to say.

Then, stick to the notes when you are speaking.

You should know your material well enough that your eyes are not glued to the paper for the entire speech.

Know your audience. Be aware of why the audience has come to listen to you speak.

If it’s a special occasion, then be prepared for the importance of the event.

This may make you more nervous, but it’s better to know beforehand.

Know the conditions under which you will speak. Check the lectern and microphone ahead of time to make sure everything is working properly.

Check out the room and visualize how the speech will go so you can make your entrance and give your speech with confidence.

Practice your speech as many times as possible. You can practice alone, in front of a mirror, or even in front of some friends.

Recording yourself giving your speech can also be helpful.

Relax Before Opening Your Mouth

This can take an enormous amount of effort, but by following a few simple steps, you’ll find that you can relax and speak as you normally would.

And after a few practice runs, you might even find that you enjoy public speaking!

Visualize the audience as being on your side.

They’re friends waiting to hang upon your every word. If you feel this way your body language will reflect that in your speech.

Don’t hesitate to take deep breaths and pauses when needed.

For example, when you’re called on to speak, take several deep breaths before leaving your chair.

When you reach the lectern, thank the person who introduced you and then slowly count to 3 in your head before speaking.

Implementing these tips will give you time to collect your thoughts and calm your nerves.

You’ll be less likely to start rambling and you’ll start to feel your muscles slowly begin to unwind.

If necessary, look at your notes and prepare what you’re going to say before opening your mouth.

If you’re worried about looking foolish in front of others, simply eliminate the possibility.

If you’ve come prepared and relaxed about the event, then you’re no fool!

You’re an intelligent human being with something special to offer the audience. Don’t forget it!

How confident are you when speaking in public?

How do you feel when speaking in front of a big crowd?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

Posts

The road reaches every place. The short cut only one. – James Richardson

Tips for Finding Your Strengths and Developing Your Expertise

Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished. – Confucius

Top 10 Self-Confidence Building Tips

Many hands make light work. – John Heywood

Tips to Make Group Collaborations Run Efficiently

Tips for Using “The Secret” In Your Life

Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it. – Bill Cosby

Real success is finding your lifework in the work that you love. – David McCullough

Tips for Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking