Going The Extra Mile Will Get You Even Farther by Jack Canfield

Are you someone who consistently goes the extra mile and routinely
over delivers on your promises?

It's rare these days, but it's the hallmark of high achievers who
know that exceeding expectations helps you stand above the crowd.
Almost by force of habit, successful people simply do more.

As a result, they experience not only greater financial rewards for
their extra efforts but also a personal transformation, becoming
more self-confident, more self-reliant, and more influential with
those around them.

These high achievers stand out from the crowd because of their
extra efforts. They are unwilling to give up, even in the face of
difficult times.

They get the promotions, they get the loyal customers, they grow
their businesses twice as fast, they get financial rewards, job
security, and they go home feeling satisfied.

Do you exceed expectations?

Do you surprise people with more than they were expecting from you?

Do you have the opportunity - but also the personal initiative - to
go the extra mile?

To be successful you must change your thinking. You can only win by
making extra efforts. People who go the extra mile always get
payback. You will discover yourself becoming more self-confident,
more self-reliant and more influential with those around you.

People notice the special services and all the small touches that
make dealing with you so pleasurable. And when they are talking to
their friends they will mention you and recommend you because you
are the one who stands out.

People will see that you pay attention to detail, that you consider
all the small things that really make a business successful, that
you care about your image, and that you belong with all the other
people who work hard to achieve. You will attract new business and
new opportunities.

Listen to any success story and you will hear of someone who worked
exceptionally hard to get what they wanted.

You'll hear how they put in the extra time, did what wasn't part of
their job description, and over-delivered on what was asked of
them. You'll hear how they stuck at it until they broke through,
and usually you'll hear how it only took them a couple of years to
do it.

What have you been doing for the past couple of years? Think of
what you could accomplish if you made it a habit to exceed
everyone's expectations. Image what doors could be open to you if
you decided to be of better service and value.

How are you willing to go the extra mile? What kind of extra
service are you willing to provide in order to stand out from the
rest? What areas of your life could you be giving more of your
effort and time, becoming more valuable, and improving your
reputation?

Be willing to treat everyone like you'd treat your dearest friend.
Don't skimp on service. Don't be mediocre or run of the mill. Show
people what you are capable of. Show them that you care about your
image and reputation.

When it comes to success, the people who are willing to go the
extra mile get there that much faster!

Get Yourself Work-Ready by Kamal Kant

Leaving university with a good degree is an indisputable pre-requisite in the graduate employment market. But this alone is not enough to secure your first job.

Optimally, the skills, competencies and abilities you develop during your university years and the experiences you gain from industrial attachments and temporary jobs will help to give you an edge over the next candidate.

In a highly competitive employment landscape where fresh graduates are finding their job search challenging, employers are seeking candidates who can hit the ground running.

It is essential to not just bury your head in your books while you are in university, but to continue to develop your interests beyond the academic and acquire some work experience.

This will help to enrich your life and your resume. Many graduating students are so focused on academic results they often overlook enriching their life beyond lectures and assignments.

Employ ability skills are more important to some organisations and employers than the specific occupational, technical or academic knowledge and skills associated with the graduate’s degree. The desired skills for today’s fresh graduates fall into four broad areas: self-reliance, people, general employment and specialist skills.

1. Self-reliance skills

These skills include self-awareness and being proactive. Employers usually want to know how purposeful and focused the candidate is. They want to discover his beliefs as well as how realistic his career expectations and goals are.

Being proactive includes having resourcefulness, drive and self-reliance. Among the gamut of self-reliance skills, employers are also looking into the graduate’s ability to market themselves modestly in a positive but persistent manner. The ability to network and be an astute decision-maker is another quality that distinguishes good candidates.

2. People skills

In the people skills arena, employers want to know whether the candidate has worked in a shop, supermarket or restaurant, engaged in fund-raising activities for charity, or participated regularly in voluntary work.

These are front-line work areas where individuals are likely to develop people skills. Being a member of an orchestra, participating in a team sport or having a leadership role are also good indicators of people skills.

In essence, employers try to determine whether the candidate has engaged in activities that have helped to develop his interpersonal skills, effective communication competencies and leadership abilities. They are seeking candidates with customer-centric attitudes who demonstrate a friendly and caring attitude, and can handle difficult situations diplomatically. Employers also want candidates who are comfortable with diversity associated with globalisation and multi-ethnic workforces.

3. Other skills

Of course, general business skills like problem-solving, flexibility, business acumen, computer and numerate literacy, and commitment are desired personal skills. Candidates who are versatile, willing and multi-skilled definitely have an advantage. However, specific occupational skills and specialist relevant knowledge are equally important in certain occupations.

Many employers also prefer graduates who have gained practical work experience and have a better idea about what the world of work has in store for them. Employers are also looking for personal qualities in fresh graduates that include cultural intelligence and an ability to connect with colleagues and partners who are a generation older than them.

According to some employers, completing an internship, industrial attachment or a community project in an under-developed country remains the useful road to the improvement of workplace soft skills for graduates.

Your degree is no longer enough to land you a job. You will have to demonstrate that you are work-ready, willing to put in hard work and not fearful of challenging tasks.

Can you prove all this and more in an effective resume? Will you be able to demonstrate to and persuade a potential employer that you have what it takes to succeed in their business? Will you be able to live up to the promise of being a well-rounded employee in your first six months at work?

Consider these issues, then try and fill the gaps in your resume. Seek the help and advice of career counsellors or friends who have work experience. With some effort and a positive attitude, you will boost your ability to find the job you want.

Power of Persistence

Calvin Coolidge quote:

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

Motivational Video

Hi readers,

Everybody needs a mentor or coach to push them to achieve their goals, whether they need it or not.

Will Smith Wisdom

Hi readers,

In this video, Will Smith shares his secrets of success.

Enjoy watching!

Move Forward To Grow Wiser by Mark Foo

As you move forward, you grow wiser.

Move forward because standing still is the guaranteed way to fail. Moving forward, whether you walk through victories or defeats, is the only way you will learn and grow.

Every step you take brings you one step closer to your goals. While on the journey to your dreams, you gather wisdom from your experiences, which helps you make better decisions in the future. In doing so, you are setting yourself up for a life with no regrets.

Be eager to learn new lessons around you every day. You are mature enough to learn from the situations of others even before you face those situations yourself. When you experience a shortcoming, remind yourself that mistakes are simply lessons in disguise.

When you experience a personal victory, take note of successful strategies that you can use in the future. If you ever encounter failure, reflect on your actions in order to perform better the next time.

Open yourself up to new challenges with confidence allowing life to be your classroom. Each day, embrace life with the expectation that you will receive knowledge from the most unexpected places.

Be daring to venture into every day, even when you are surrounded by uncertainty, because being a risk taker pays off with new knowledge that you never would have acquired otherwise.

Today, choose to walk forth into your destiny with wisdom and direction. Embrace the opportunity to learn from the many sources of knowledge that engulf you. Your knowledge increases as you fearlessly accept the lessons you are being taught by life itself.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. What lessons has life taught you recently?
2. What unexpected knowledge can you find today?
3. How can you share your wisdom with others?

Anything In The Horizon Is Possible by Mark Foo

As long as you think you can, anything in the horizon is possible.

Always be open to the possibility of success. Look for ways to succeed rather than excuses to fail, and so you'll enjoy the thrills of success. Confidence and an optimistic attitude are the traits that pave the way.

In the classic story, The Little Engine That Could, it was the smallest engine in the train yard that climbed the mountain to save the day. He just kept saying, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..." all the way up.

In the same way, you don't have to be the strongest, smartest, most beautiful, most educated, or most experienced person to succeed. All your lights don't have to be green in order for you to get started on your journey to success.

The world is filled with examples of people who've succeeded despite the tremendous odds against them! What makes the difference? Attitude!

Develop your winning attitude daily with affirmations and positive self-talk. Congratulate yourself for even trivial achievements because what are they? Successes of course!

If you feel your confidence waning, remind yourself of your past successes to build it back up again.

When you encounter a challenge, waste no time in continuing to move ahead. Just tell yourself, "I think I can," and jump right into searching for a viable solution.

Today, make your mantra to be "I think I can." Nothing is out of reach for you if you decide it is what you want. Your can-do attitude can always bring you success!

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. When you start toward a new goal, what is your attitude?
2. What goal have you achieved simply because you thought you could?
3. What's holding you back? How can you move past that and believe in the possibility of your success?