Read more at http://lwww.thecareertimes.com/why-you-need-to-master-the-art-of-self-discipline/

If you asked every person you met over the next one week if they have a goal, a dream or a vision for their life, the answer would most likely be an overwhelming “yes!”. Most people have dreams and goals – a picture of how they would like their lives to become. Yet, only few people ever actualise their dreams. Very often, the difference between those who reach their goals and those who don’t, boils down to one thing: self-discipline, which goes hand in hand with tenacity and hard-work.

Self-discipline is the ability to do what is required, in order to achieve results – whether or not it’s convenient. Self-discipline is not a one-day activity. It is a conscious, continuous process which ultimately becomes a lifestyle.

Successful people didn’t get there by chance, nor did they become successful overnight. Think of world-class athletes, musicians, entrepreneurs, successful academics and spiritual leaders. They have each had to pay a price to achieve the level of success that they have. World-class athletes have to put in several hours of practice, often while the rest of the world is asleep, to reach and maintain #1 position in their sport. Musicians have to consistently practice, to train their voices and to be the best at their game. Entrepreneurs often have to work longer hours than most, postponing leisure till they have met their goals. Successful academics invest time in studying and performing research into their specific fields, to gain valuable insights. Spiritual leaders often live a fasted life, denying themselves of many of life’s pleasures, to achieve and maintain spiritual strength.

Without self-discipline, it is next to impossible to become successful at anything. With self-discipline, there is hardly a goal you cannot reach.

Key steps to achieving self-discipline:

Spend some time to think, and then to write out your vision for your life, your goals, and the steps required to accomplish those goals

It’s hard to achieve the level of motivation required to be disciplined if you don’t know where your life is headed or what you’re working towards. Think about your life as it is today, and then think about it as you would like it to be in the future. Write down your vision and your goals, and identify the things that you can start to do in order to get there. Your goals don’t have to be long-term ones initially. You could decide, for example, to learn a new skill over the next 3 months, which will increase your value in the eyes of potential employers or investors.

From this point on, each day, review every decision you make and ever activity you carry out, against your vision and your goals. Stick to those activities that align with your goals and ditch those that don’t.

Review your habits

Your habits ultimately determine your destination. Are you the sort of person who eats between meals? Wakes up late or sleeps late because you’ve been browsing the web or talking all evening? Arrives late for work, church, or meetings? Struggles to keep promises? Watches TV all day long? Cannot control your tongue or your thoughts? Cannot be trusted with money? The first step to achieving self-discipline is understanding what areas you need to work on. Conduct an honest self-analysis and make a commitment to yourself today, to work on each of these areas.

Consciously cultivate habits that positively impact your physical, emotional, mental, financial and spiritual well-being

Self-discipline is a conscious process. This means that it is only likely to be achieved if you deliberately go out of your way to take steps to get your life on track.

A step towards achieving self-discipline is to cultivate the right habits, consciously. Think about eating right (i.e. healthy), saving as much money as you can (e.g. spending less on eating out, partying, clothes); spending less time on social media or unproductive habits and instead investing time in increasing your knowledge and your value; exercising (even if it’s just jugging in your room or living room for 20-30 minutes each day); reflecting daily on what areas in your life can be improved upon. These seemingly insignificant things are the things that will ultimately shape your future.

Set boundaries for yourself

A very helpful tip for cultivating self-discipline is to master the art of saying ‘NO’, to yourself and to others. Say ‘no’ to the temptation to check your Facebook profile first thing in the morning. Say ‘no’ to the temptation to eat between meals or to eat unhealthy food. Say ‘no’ to that friend who is accustomed to calling and speaking for hours on end, without contributing much value to your life. Say ‘no’ to the temptation to watch TV when you could be learning and improving your skills and your value.

Self-discipline is the fuel that keeps you going when you are discouraged, or when your desired outcome seems too far away. It does not come overnight, nor is it restricted to only a fortunate few. It is a choice – one which can drastically alter the course of your life.

The internet is inundated with life-changing quotes, but these 24 really stood out for me. Feel free to add quotes you have found life changing.
Originally posted on http://www.thecareertimes.com/24-quotes-that-will-transform-your-career-and-life/

1. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. – Chinese proverb.

2. Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover. – Mark Twain

3. It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. – Confucius.

4. The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can never fail to accomplish the object upon which is heart is set.- James Allen

5. If you don’t know what to do with your life, do something that saves lives. The world is full of people in need, be the part of their life that fills that need. – Sanjeev Saxena

6. You are braver than you believe, smarter than you seem, and stronger than you think. – Winnie-the-Pooh

7. The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney

8. Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome. – Booker T. Washington

9. I was once afraid of people saying, “Who does she think she is?” Now I have the courage to stand and say, “This is who I am.’ – Oprah Winfrey

10. Do. Or do not. There is no try. – Yoda

11. Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears. – Les Brown

12. We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. ― Maya Angelou

13. I’m an ordinary woman who chooses every day to make one more extraordinary decision – Lisa Nichols

14. You only get one shot at life. You owe it to yourself to give your dreams a chance. – TheCareerTimes

15. A book is a dream that you hold in your hand. – Neil Gaiman

16. When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. – Henry Ford

17. Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not. – Oprah Winfrey

18. A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new. – Albert Einstein

19. The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It’s as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer. –Nolan Bushnell

20. Watch, listen, and learn. You can’t know it all yourself. Anyone who thinks they do is destined for mediocrity. – Donald Trump

21. The unexamined life is not worth living. ― Socrates

22. Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely. ― Roy T. Bennett

23. I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance. – Steve Jobs

24. Timing, perseverance, and ten years of trying will eventually make you look like an overnight success. – Biz Stone, co-founder, Twitter

Originally posted on http://www.thecareertimes.com/4-ways-to-handle-negativity-about-your-new-earned-promotion/

If you're doing well in the work place and maybe earn a promotion, get ready to be hated/ envied by your colleagues and even 'friends'. This is a sad reality of life.

Below is a great article on how to handle this, and rise above it.


If you have worked hard to earn your new, elevated position, it’s always a refreshing and rewarding experience to finally be given the chance to prove yourself at the higher level you have long aspired towards.
Sadly, not everyone is likely to be as excited as you are about your promotion – even if you have worked hard to earn it. It’s just the way human beings are. I once worked with a team of 5, and within 9 months, the team manager left the company and there was an opening for a new manager. Without even knowing that such an opportunity would arise, I had worked my hardest throughout the 9 month period, so it came as no surprise that I was offered the manager position – and accepted it with glee! Somehow, each person feels that a promotion is their right, and that by getting promoted, you have deprived them of what is rightfully theirs. Well, do not let this deter you from feeling as great as you do, and maximising every opportunity your new role brings.
Here are 4 strategies that will get you off to a flying start in your new role..

1. Be graceful but unapologetic
There is sometimes the tendency to feel a bit of guilt about your new position, especially if you were selected from among your peers. While it is important to remain graceful and level-headed, you should also wholeheartedly accept your new position along with the new level of responsibility that it brings, with pride. You have worked hard, sacrificed and paid your dues, and should therefore not feel the need to apologise to anyone for getting rewarded. When I got my first ever promotion, I tried at first to please (even appease) my then subordinates, by going out of my way to show that I still saw them as peers. However, that strategy soon backfired. What I got in return was ‘attitude’ – the people who I was supposed to be managing began to act as though they were managing me. Well, needless to say, I took off my ‘nice’ hat, replaced it with my ‘boss’ hat, and didn’t look back. The results were outstanding.

2. Start as you mean to continue
I have heard the above quote used several times, and nothing could be more true in this case. When you become a new manager or take on a new level of responsibility, you must start out with a big bang – let the world know that you mean business. This doesn’t have to mean a change in personality or character, but it must mean that you take on your challenge with all the seriousness that it deserves, as the precedent you set when you begin is most likely what will determine what direction your tenure takes.

3. Do not react in kind
It is not unlikely that you may meet with serious resistance or negativity from members of your organisation when you get promoted. If this happens, it is extremely important that you react with grace. Resist the temptation to react with negativity. Remember that you have assumed a higher level of responsibility (and expectation) and often, such negativity could be a test of your character. It is possible to be firm without being negative. Embrace ‘firm’ but avoid ‘negative’. If, fr example, some colleagues begin to spread negative information around, about you, ensure that you do not retaliate by joining gossip sessions. Rather, stay above the fray and remain professional.

4. Remember why you got promoted
While your promotion is certainly an achievement, always remember that the sky is – as I like to call it – the starting point. For as long as you are on this earth, there’s always a higher level to pursue, so rather the rest on your oars believing that you have finally ‘arrived’, you should keep the future in focus and aspire of your next great level. This mindset will be helpful in keeping you on track and avoiding negativity.

cp2dec1:
I probably do about 75% of all you listed. However you are forgetting SLEEPING AT WORK and COMING TO WORK LATE....CONSTANTLY

I love my JOB tho...We do amazing things.

Well spotted. I mentioned sleeping, being rude to your boss/colleagues and coming in late in the original version of the post here http://www.thecareertimes.com/things-to-never-do-at-work/

I hope you're planning to stop doing the 75%

pachman:
Really good post, even as I am not done with school yet, I still gained one or two things

Glad it was useful to you!

triplec93:
Lol, do you share an office with elderly people, cos i can't figure out why a young working class would have a mouth odour.

Sadly it happens a lot

Feel free to add to the list. Read more at www.thecareertimes.com

Here are our top 12 office no-nos (if you plan on having a successful career).

Taking office supplies home. They are small things, and you think it doesn’t really matter, but imagine if everyone took something home..soon there’d be nothing left at all! Plus, it’s outright stealing.

Eating smelly food at your desk. Everyone loves a good efo riro, but maybe it’s not such a good idea to eat smelly food in an enclosed space where others are trying to concentrate. Try the cafeteria.

Rummaging through your colleagues' desk/ bag etc. Aside from the fact that you could be accused of stealing, it’s just rude to go through other people’s things.

Not everyone shares your taste in music, so keep it down. Invest in a good pair of headphones if you need music to concentrate.

Staying fresh. It’s very difficult to hold a conversation with a person who has bad breath. Do your colleagues a favour and always have mints to hand.

Taking off your shoes!!!. I can recall a time a colleague of mine took off her shoes in the office. The smell was so bad everyone started complaining, and it was super embarrassing for her. Save yourself the embarrassment and just don’t take off your shoes in the office.

Constantly borrowing. Can I use your pen? Can I have some paper? Can I use your calculator? What time is it? Do you have chewing gum? There are some people who are ALWAYS borrowing things. Don’t be that person.

Stealing people’s food/ drinks from the fridge. There are people who actually steal their colleagues lunch from the office fridge. Seriously. What kind of person steals someone else’s lunch? What if the food is contaminated? Plus if you get caught, just imagine the disgrace…they’ll think there’s something seriously wrong with you.

Gossiping about co workers. The thing with gossip is that it always comes back to haunt you. That person gossiping with you, is the very same person who will go on to gossip about you.

Complaining. No matter how bad you think you have it at work, there are thousands of people out there who are desperate for ANY job at all

Taking angry phone calls. Yes, the mechanic messed up your car, but maybe screaming at him in the middle of the office is not such a good idea. Always take your personal calls outside.

Lying to get ahead. The truth ALWAYS comes out.

I think this is a very timely article for anyone feeling down/ frustrated in the job search journey. Read more at http://www.thecareertimes.com/handling-rejection-in-your-job-search/

If there is one thing that most job seekers have in common, it is the experience of rejection. And it comes in various forms. Whether it is not hearing back from recruiters after submitting a CV, or getting a rejection email or phone call after an interview, rejection results in the same feeling – one of self-doubt, deflation and anxiety over if a job offer will ever materialise.

Having had what I would consider to be my fair share of this in the time that I have searched for jobs, and having had the privilege of sitting on both ends of the interview table, there are a number of things I know now, which would have been of great benefit had I known them when I first started out in the job market.


1. Understand that rejection is part of the job search journey

Don’t take it personally. When you get that rejection email, your first thought is “there is something wrong with me”. But you’re most likely wrong. Given that several applicants often compete for the same job role, there is a possibility that although you had the right background and delivered a strong performance, someone else applied who was an even better fit for the role. As long as you constantly put your best foot forward in both your CV and your interview, it is just a question of time before the role that you are the perfect fit for comes along.

2. Seize the opportunity to improve

While you may not be to blame for not being the most qualified candidate for a particular role, with each rejection comes the opportunity to analyse what went wrong, if any. If you believe you were suitably qualified for the role, ask yourself: did your CV reflect this? Did you give your interview your best shot or are there things you think you could have done differently? Are there certain skills you didn’t have, which you can seize the opportunity to learn?

In some cases, employers are happy to give feedback to candidates so, if you get the chance to communicate with the recruiter, don’t be afraid to ask for feedback that they think may be helpful to you in your job search journey.

3. Move on as quickly as possible

When we get turned down for a role we realy liked, it is natural to keep thinking about what went wrong or what could have, would have or should have been. However, whilst it is okay to reflect on what could be improved upon, it is important to move on from negative thoughts as quickly as possible, and focus your energy on securing and aceing that next interview.

4. Understand that one recruiter’s perspective is not all recruiters’ perspectives

Sometimes, employers make wrong hiring decisions. Not all recruiters have the ability to exercise sound judgment. So, don’t get discouraged from making applications for similar roles to other companies if you believe that you have the right skills and competencies. Whilst you certainly should take on board any feedback provided by the recruiter, remember that this is the view of one employer based on their own unique circumstances and not the views of all employerss.

5. Stay Positive

While it’s easier said than done, staying positive after rejection is one of the best and the fastest ways to land another role. When you receive that rejection email or call, thank the recruiter gracefully and and let them know that you would be grateful if they could consider you for future opportunities that you may be suited for.

Don’t carry the baggage from your last rejection into the rest of your job search, as this could negatively impact your future performance. Rather, remember that most employed people faced one or several rejections at some point before landing their jobs and you too, will land your job soon. Focus on improving your job search and interview performance, read books to increase your knowledge and keep you motivated, find a hobby that adds value to society and can be listed on your CV, and keep improving your skills by attending courses that advance your career, many of which are available online, for free.

And remember…

Thomas Edison, who invented the light bulb, had been told by his teachers at school that he was “too stupid to learn anything”. But he didn’t let that deter him. By focusing on his goal with determination, he became a huge success. After several hundreds or thousands of trials and failures, he finally succeeded at creating the light bulb.

Here are the main reasons recruiters are deleting your CV; read more at http://www.thecareertimes.com/why-recruiters-are-deleting-your-cv/

Typos.
There is no reason why your CV should have typos in 2017!. There are many CV writing services out there. Invest in a good CV, it’s pretty much a summary of your life achievements. Make it a good one.

Too Lengthy.
With the exception of a handful of individuals such as Elon Musk or Dangote, there is no reason why you cannot fit your CV into 2 pages max. Anything longer, and your run the very high risk of your CV being dumped in the trash. Keep it short, punchy, concise and readable.

No Cover Letter.
A cover letter serves one major function, it lets the recruiter know whether they’d like to find out more, or just delete the CV. Your cover letter needs to be a paragraph long summary of why you specifically are suited to the job being advertised. Begging, desperation etc have no place in your cover letter.
Net fishing vs pole fishing.
When you fish with a net, you catch all sort. However, when you fish with a pole you catch one fish at a time. A lot of job seekers ‘net fish’-they use one CV to apply for 100 jobs. You need to ‘pole fish’ in your job search – customise your CV to each job you are applying for. Best believe recruiters know when you have sent out a generic CV.

No relevance.
If you know you do not possess the qualifications required for a job, don’t apply. Rather spend your time enrolling on courses or gaining experience that will increase your value proposition.

Rambling.
In CV writing, bullet points are your friend. Use them to summarise and highlight parts of your CV that are relevant to the position you are applying to.

Adele - When we were young
Infact, everything by adele is emotional

Nairaland March 29,2005
vs
Now.
It hasn't really changed much! Rquest a site, and i'll dig up the photos!

Interesting to see what some of the most visited websited in Nigeria looked like at launch, and how they've evolved. Some have not really changed at all! Feel free to add to the list. Orignially posted on http://www.thecareertimes.com/then-vs-now-what-popular-nigerian-websites-looked-like-at-launch-and-how-they-look-today/?preview_id=2146&preview_nonce=43a5e55f39&_thumbnail_id=2157&preview=true

1. GT Bank Then vs now
2. Linda Ikeji Then vs now
3. Bella Naija Then vs now
4. Google then vs now
5. Jumia then vs now
6. Konga then vs now