Newsletter 5 - 16th January 2004

Newsletter 5, January 2004 This newsletter is published by James Manktelow of Mind Tools Ltd. To contact us, please email newsletter@mindtools.com.

This newsletter keeps you up-to-date on what's new at Mind Tools and Lets you know about new career skills on the Mind Tools website.

In our last edition, we told you about the debut of the Mind Tools Stress Management Masterclass. This course shows you how to survive the stresses that are an inevitable part of a successful career.

Good time management skills are another tool needed to succeed in the workplace. Learning to more effectively manage your time helps you to achieve your goals by prioritizing tasks and removing time-wasting barriers from your everyday life. In this newsletter, we'll introduce a new article on Scheduling Skills and take another look at the time management resources available on the Mind Tools website.

With the start of the New Year, we also review "Setting& Achieving Goals Now!", a new audio program that helps you set and achieve important goals. Also in this edition, Henry Neils writes about avoiding burnout. Again, this seems appropriate to discuss with the beginning of the New Year which is typically a time for resolutions and reflection.

In the newsletter’s “Old favorites” section, we take another look at the Mind Tools e-book. This e-book includes all of the critical career information on the Mind Tools web site.

Here at Mind Tools, we continually strive to improve the products and services we provide you. Because of such, we are always on the lookout for useful new tools that may be of interest to you. Please let us know if there are tools, services or even additional information you would like us to explore. And, of course, we want your ongoing input and feedback, so let us know if you have any comments, questions or suggestions for the Mind Tools newsletters at Suggestions@mindtools.com.

In the meantime, enjoy using www.mindtools.com!

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New on Mind Tools:

Effective Scheduling: Planning to make the best use of your time

Within the Time Management section of Mind Tools, we put great emphasis on helping you to set goals. Proper goal setting gives the necessary focus that helps you succeed in your career and achieve your life ambitions.

Goal setting is, of necessity, aspirational. Scheduling is where these aspirations meet the hard reality of the time you have available.

Scheduling is the process by which you look at the time available to you, and plan how you will use it to achieve the goals you have identified. By using a schedule properly, you can:

• Understand what you can realistically achieve

• Plan to make the best use of the time available

• Leave enough time for things you absolutely must do

• Preserve contingency time to handle 'the unexpected', and

• Minimize stress by avoiding over-commitment to yourself and others.

Visit www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_07.htm to find out how to schedule effectively and make the best use of your time…

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Mind Tools Refresher: Time Management Skills

Scheduling is just one off the important Time Management Skills explained on the Mind Tools web site. This section continues to expand with helpful articles, book reviews, and additional resources and supporting products that aid in the development of important time management skills.

Find out how much your time costs and learn how to evaluate tasks to see which has the greatest value and should be tackled first. This section also boasts an Activity Log which helps users better understand where time can be lost and small-scale action plans that prompt results.

There is even a link to download the Mind Tools Time Management section so you can save this information in PDF format and review it at your leisure.

The Time Management section can help you set personal goals and shows you exactly how start today with a plan that allows you to live life your way. The skills it explains are essential for a successful, high-powered career.

For more on the Mind Tools Time Management section, visit:
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/main/newMN_HTE.htm

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Tools Reviewed:
Setting & Achieving Goals Now! (A Think Right Now! product)
Reviewed by Kellie Fowler

Under the direction of developer Mike Brescia, Think Right Now! releases books, audio programs and a regular e-zine aimed at bringing about positive life enhancing, permanent changes. In the audio program Setting & Achieving Goals Now!, listeners will find an abundance of useful relaxation techniques paired with proven, realistic tips on overcoming past mistakes, breaking through current barriers and setting and achieving new goals. Listeners will also benefit from the audio program’s practical motivational tips that can be easily applied to everyday life.

The audio program, which is just over an hour long, is divided into four programs: two short programs on relaxation and two longer programs on setting and achieving goals. Listeners may find it useful to break the program into two parts, listening to the first relaxation section and first program on setting and achieving goals (Tracks 1 and 2) in one sitting and saving the next two programs (Tracks 3 and 4, which are also on relaxation and goal setting and achieving) for a separate sitting.

This audio program places appropriate emphasis on dissolving barriers that inhibit goal reaching, establishing and sticking to your goals, taking responsibility for your failures and successes, and to obtaining the skills you need to obtain your goals, all while effectively managing your time. The audio program boasts short, helpful tips and tidbits of advice that serve to “re-program” negative thinking, while helping listeners to focus on positive end results.

Just as important, the audio program is balanced with information on letting go of failures and fears, but not before taking time to learn and grow from such experiences and feelings. It boasts easy-to-follow, self-improvement advice that will undoubtedly enhance both your personal and professional life, enabling you to set and reach new, realistic goals.

I found the audio program to be helpful, referring to it several times during the workday and enjoying it during commutes to and from work. I also find it interesting that the Think Right Now! products were designed by a once unemployed and financially distraught young man who used these very thoughts and ideas to propel him to success.

For more information about Mike Brescia and the Think Right Now! Products and services, go to http://www.mindtools.com/rs/ThinkRightNow.

Note from James: I’ve listened to many, many audio programs over the last few years from many sources. The Think Right Now “Setting& Achieving Goals Now!” CD is one of the best I’ve seen. The content is well-structured and highly effective, and the production quality is exceptional. I think you can also see from Kellie’s review how much she likes it. See for yourself by visiting: http://www.mindtools.com/rs/ThinkRightNow.

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Advertorial: Avoiding Burnout
by Henry Neils, Assessment.com (Mind Tools partner)

In some ways, it was a typical breakfast meeting. The waitress was pleasant, the eggs were average, and the restaurant was full of busy people. We shared a cup of black, coffee-like substance, and the first few times my client took a sip he managed to spill quite a bit of it. His trembling hand was just one of the symptoms of his burnout.

That’s why we were meeting. He wanted to know if I could help him. I picked up a fork and explained that as long as I used it for eating, the fork would last indefinitely. However, if I began to use it to drive nails or dig trenches, it would soon break. The key was to use it for what it was designed to do.

The look in his eyes told me he got it, but I still went on to say that people are like the fork. When they do what they are not designed to do, they eventually break.

Sure enough, his MAPP showed that he was designed to work on projects where there was a definitely goal. He derived immense satisfaction from reaching goals. He also needed to work by himself about half the time. He was a scientist and enjoyed lab time, doing calculations, and interpreting test results.

What his job required on a day-to-day basis was another story. His primary task was to supervise a dozen people and maintain operations. No goals. No projects. No time alone. Consequently, his job was sucking the life out of him.

Much credit for his recovery goes to his boss who was willing to change the job content to fit the design of a valuable employee.

So how do you know if you, a loved one, or someone who reports to you is suffering from burnout? Here are the early-warning signs:

1. Chronic fatigue - exhaustion, tiredness, a sense of being physically run down
2. Anger at those making demands
3. Self-criticism for putting up with the demands
4. Cynicism, negativity, and irritability
5. A sense of being besieged
6. Exploding easily at seemingly inconsequential things
7. Frequent headaches and gastrointestinal disturbances
8. Weight loss or gain
9. Sleeplessness and depression
10. Shortness of breath
11. Suspiciousness
12. Feelings of helplessness
13. Increased degree of risk taking

Fight burnout. Do what you were designed to do. If you know someone who fits this description have him/her take a Free Career analysis like you did at http://www.mindtools.com/rs/mapp.

Mind Tools “Old favorites”
Mind Tools e-book

This section of the newsletter is here to refresh your memory of some of the most powerful techniques featured on the Mind Tools site.

In this issue, we take another look at the Mind Tools ebook, which can be downloaded from the Mind Tools website. This ebook is available in Adobe Acrobat format, giving you convenient access to all the Mind Tools articles and career resources in an easily accessible format.

What’s more, the downloadable e-book lets you control how and where to read – on or offline, on screen or printed. You can take notes and instantly navigate wherever you need, use quick contents links to jump to the section you choose, and quickly revisit the information that’s most important to you.

To find out more about the e-book, visit: https://www.mindtools.com/cgi-bin/sgx2/shop.cgi?page=orderform_mindtools.htm

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A Note from James…

In the next newsletter, we look forward to letting you know about more new articles and developments on the Mind Tools website. Until then, best wishes and thank you for reading!

James & Kellie

James & Kellie

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