Mind Tools Newsletter 37 - 13 December 2005

Reflect on Your Future! This newsletter is published by Mind Tools Ltd, of 2nd Floor, 145-157 St John Street, London, EC1V 4PY, United Kingdom. To contact us, please email us from this page. You have received this newsletter because you have subscribed to our double opt-in newsletter.To unsubscribe, just click the link at the bottom of the email se sent you. If you are not already a member and you would like to subscribe, please visit http://mindtools.com/subscribe.htm.

Contents: What's New Reflect On Your Future! Mind Tools Store Holiday Stress Hotspots A Final Note

In this issue, we kick off an exciting series of life design-related articles with "Reflect On The Future." Written by Rachel Thompson, who has spent more than 17 years in business consultancy and management development, this powerful series is sure to help you be your very best in this coming New Year and long after.

Rachel joined the Mind Tools team in 2004 and since then has led a number of key projects, including commissioning and editing Mind Tools' "Design Your Life" program, the 2nd edition of which is published today. Please join us in welcoming Rachel and her exceptional expertise to the Mind Tools editorial team!

You can look for Rachel's articles to be published in the next two newsletters, as well. Her "New Year, New You" article on life goals and life design will be published in the 27 Dec issue. The third and final article, called "Life Success," will be published in a special edition of the Mind Tools newsletterearly in the New Year.

Also, we extend a special thank-you to the many readers who recently participated in the Mind Tools Customer Survey and in our Holiday Prize Draw. We congratulate Kathleen Kirkish, Girum Assefa, Linda Robinson and Susan Cassaburo, who have each won a $100 gift certificate for their participation. We’ll be contacting winners over the next few days to arrange delivery of their certificate.

Below, we also list the latest tools added to the “What’s New” section of the Mind Tools website, including articles on Role-Playing, the Johari Window (a personal communication model), and the Sales Funnel.

We’ve also just introduced RSS (Really Simple Syndication) to the site. This lets you know the instant that a new tool is uploaded (click here to find out more about RSS, and here to subscribe to the Mind Tools feed.)

Lastly, we conclude our newsletter with the second of two guest articles written by Simma Lieberman. You may recall Simma’s article in the last newsletter, in which she wrote about workplace diversity and being sensitive to the unique needs and cultural differences of everyone in the workplace, especially during the holiday season.

In this second article, Lieberman provides information on managing holiday stress, something we all need to practice this time of year.

Enjoy this issue and please continue to let us know how we are doing, what topics you would like to see discussed in future newsletters, even what tools you wish to see added to the Mind Tools site.

Rest assured, we’re listening!

James & Kellie

James Manktelow and Rachel Thompson
MindTools.com
Mind Tools – Essential skills for an excellent career!

To find out about new tools on the Mind Tools site the moment they’re uploaded, click here to subscribe to the Mind Tools RSS feed (you'll need an RSS newsreader installed), or here to find out more about RSS.

New tools on the Mind Tools site

• 13th Dec - Design Your Life (Second edition launched today!) - Mind Tools' life design and success motivation system.
• 9th Dec - Role Playing - Preparing for difficult conversations and situations.
• 7th Dec - The Johari Window - Helping individuals and groups to understand one-another.
• 2nd Dec - The Sales Funnel - Keeping control of your sales pipeline.

Find out about new tools on the Mind Tools site the moment they’re uploaded by subscribing to our RSS feed.Click here to subscribe (you'll need an RSS newsreader installed), or here to find out more about RSS.

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Tools Reviewed:

Reflect on Your Future!

by Rachel Thompson.

Rachel Thompson is an experienced management consultant with 17 years experience in corporate consultancy and management development, serving clients including Diageo, SBC Warburg and DHL. With an Executive MBA from London Business School, she is passionate about helping people build their career skills in new and innovative ways. Rachel joined Mind Tools in 2004 and has led a number of projects, including commissioning and editing Mind Tools’ “Design Your Life” program, the 2nd edition of which is published today.

It’s almost that time of year. Everywhere you look you’ll see quizzes about the year that has been - news quizzes, sports quizzes, pop quizzes, trivia quizzes, and so on. Over the next few of weeks each of us will be invited to re-live every moment of 2005 (and possibly the whole of the twenty-first century so far!)

So, December is a time for reflection. But what about spending some of that time to reflect on how your own life will be? What will the year ahead, or even the next 10 or 20 years, hold for you?

Only 3% of People Actively Plan Out Their Lives
Many people spend very little time evaluating and planning their life. In fact, Mind Tools goal-setting expert Rod Moore estimates that only three percent of people actively plan out their lives. And yet, time and again, we hear how most very successful people have a clear vision of what they want to achieve and they keep working on it.

So here’s a little December-time exercise for you from Mind Tools. It’s a personal quiz with a twist. Instead of reflecting on the past, why not “reflect” on your future…?

Here’s how it works.

Imagine the scene: It’s December 2010 and you have just finished work for the holidays. You are decorating your home and wrapping gifts for friends and family. You are smiling contentedly about another successful year that has just passed…

Take some time to imagine yourself in this scene. And then think about various areas of your life starting with your career, then your family life, even your leisure.

Imagine You're Reflecting on Things You've Already Achieved...
Now, write down your vision for each life area. Write this down as if you are reflecting on things you have already achieved. Go ahead – and don’t hold back. Write down what you truly dream of achieving and try to be as specific as you can. For example:

“It’s December 2010 and my career is in great shape. I completed my qualifications with distinction and I have been promoted to the job I always dreamed of. I have worked hard to create a good reputation and network of contacts within my company and industry, and as a result, I am invited to do more exciting and challenging projects. Each project I work on is something I am truly passionate about…”

Writing your vision as if you have already achieved it is a great technique to motivate and challenge yourself to achieve your dreams.

So what next?

Most people feel pretty inspired when they have written down their visions of their future. Maybe you feel inspired to take comprehensive look at your life, and Mind Tools “Design Your Life” program can help you do just that. And maybe you feel inspired to start work today, right now, on achieving some of those dreams.

Buzzing around your head, you probably also have at least 100 things you want to do RIGHT NOW! Write them down, and try not to be too overwhelmed. Choose one or two things that you can get started on, starting this week. You will get amazing satisfaction from achieving the first small steps and this will motivate you towards achieving more of your dreams.

This article introduces just one of the many techniques from the 2nd edition of Mind Tools’ Design Your Life system, published today. Written by Rod Moore and edited by Rachel Thompson, “Design Your Life” is a comprehensive system for planning your life and motivating success. Click here to find out more.

This is the first article in a three-part series accompanying the launch of the second edition of "Design Your Life". This article will be followed by an insightful article on life goals, with the three-part series concluding with an article on life success.

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The Mind Tools Store:

• Design Your Life Second Edition Launched Today!Design the life you want to live. Set the clear, vivid, powerful goals you need to live it to the full. More >>
  
  
• How to Lead: Discover the Leader Within You: Learn the 48 simple but essential skills you need to become a top leader in your industry. More >>
  
  
• Stress Management Masterclass: The Stress Management Masterclass shows you how to tackle the deep structural problems that cause stress in your working life. It introduces you to relaxation techniques, shows you how to win control of your career, and helps you manage stress effectively. More >>
  
  
• Personal Coaching from Career Excellence Professionals:Find career and life direction, bring your job under control, build self-confidence and put yourself on the path to long term success with a Mind Tools coach. Our coaches give you the focused personal coaching you need to make the very most of your career and life. More >>
  
  
• The Mind Tools E-book: All of the tools on the Mind Tools website in one convenient, easily-downloadable, easily-printable PDF file. We have excluded advertising to enhance clarity and have formatted sections to be easy to read, print and use. More >>

Guest Article:

Holiday Stress Hotspots: Manage Holiday Stress with Knowledge

By Simma Lieberman

There are four main causes of holiday stress: gift giving obligations, expenses, a lack of time, and unrealistic expectations about creating a perfect holiday. To reduce holiday stress, arm yourself with knowledge. Know the ins and outs of these top four holiday stress hotspots and follow these effective stress-reducing tips:

Holiday Stress Hotspot #1: Gifts

• Make a list of everyone you need to buy gifts for.
• Look for gifts you can buy for multiple people. Similarly, look for stores where you can buy many gifts for a lot of people.
• Plan a few back-up gifts, generic gifts with blank cards for people you might forget or who unexpectedly give you a gift.
• Focus on the point of gift giving: showing your appreciation for someone. Enjoy the process of finding them something they'll like.
• If you don't like shopping, plan a single gift-shopping day. Make this day sooner than later to avoid the holiday shopping craze.
• Or, don't go shopping. Thanks to the Internet and catalogues, there’s just be enough time to order gifts so you don't have to leave your house or office. (Companies like Amazon.com are careful to let you know whether they can deliver on time, but make sure you check!)
• Better yet, take off the rest of December and go to the mountains where no one can call, email or page you. ;-)

Holiday Stress Hotspot #2: Holiday Expenses

• Set a budget, and stick to it. Don't buy gifts that you'll spend the rest of the year trying to pay off.
• Think of alternative ways to give gifts (set up a gift exchange, make some handmade gifts or foodstuffs).
• Choose inexpensive ways of entertaining and enjoying. Have a potluck party instead of providing all the food yourself.
• Do activities with family and friends that cost little or no money: go on walks, have a movie night in instead of going to see the latest blockbuster together.
• Depending on the person, consider giving the gift of a phone call or note. Let the people you care about know how important they are to you with words, not expensive gifts. Most people need this type of nourishment in general and may need it even more during the holidays. It may be the best gift they receive.

Holiday Stress Hotspot #3: A Lack of Time

• Complete your gift shopping early. This will relieve you of one of the biggest time stresses during the holidays.
• You can politely refuse Invitations. You don't have to go to every party you're invited to. If party going becomes a chore or exhausting, step back and slow down the pace.
• Take time for yourself. With so much emphasis on time with family and friends, many people feel guilty taking time for themselves. Take it. When you consciously plan to have alone time, it keeps you empowered and reduces possible feelings of melancholy during the holiday season. You will also be less overwhelmed by the external stimuli experienced this time of year.
• Share tasks. Don't take on too much. View your to-do list as an opportunity to spend time with people. -Share responsibilities and your tasks will take half as long and be more enjoyable.

Holiday Stress Hotspot #4: Anticipation and Expectations

• Be realistic. Just because it's the holidays, family issues will not suddenly disappear and everything will not be perfect.
• Adjust your expectations. Expect a few bumps in the road at family events and gatherings and you'll be better able to deal with them.
• Relish Traditions. Focus on those little traditions that make evoke positive memories for the holidays: songs, events, rituals, etc. Consider creating new traditions if older ones are marred with mixed memories.

About the Author:
Simma Lieberman helps organizations create environments where people can do their best work and be successful. She specializes in diversity and inclusion, diversity dialogues, and eliminating fear and self-doubt. She is the co-author with Kate Berardo and George Simons of the book "Putting Diversity to Work." She can be reached at http://www.simmalieberman.com.

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A Final Note From James
As we gear-up for the holiday season, I find myself amazed that another year has come and nearly gone. There is only one more edition of the Mind Tools newsletter left to be published in 2005. After that, we’re into 2006. Hard to believe, isn’t it?

As we look ahead and into the New Year, we all have expectations. This is just a given as we pull down our 2005 calendars and replace these with 12 new months – all of which are open and allow us to plan our goals and to finally meet them.

Considering this, I urge you to take to heart the important information about this that is relayed to you in this edition and in following ones on Life Design. Undoubtedly, these articles will ensure you have a happy and healthy transition into the New Year and can better suit yourself up for success in 2006.

As always, thanks for reading. Best wishes, and until next time!

James

James Manktelow

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Essential Skills for an Excellent Career!

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