Friday 2 January 2015

Make 2015 your most successful year ever!

The start of a new year is a time for reflection when we consider whether we are on the right track to a productive and fulfilling future.  With this in mind, here are five simple but effective New Year's resolutions to put you on the road to success:

1. Devote time to professional development

If you are studying with ABE, then you have already invested in your professional development by undertaking a qualification that will help you build a successful career.  But being an ABE member offers the opportunity to do more than obtain a professional qualification.   You can access a wealth of resources in the Members Area, including the Emerald e-database of over 140 academic journals which provide the opportunity to learn from some of the world’s leading business authorities. 

Spend time taking advantage of these resources and use your ABE membership as an opportunity to become an expert in your field. This, of course, will also increase your chance of getting a fantastic exam result!

2. Learn something new every day

Whether or not you are studying, this is a great affirmation to live by.  Consider everything you do and always question whether things could be done better; learn what works well and how mistakes could have been avoided. This will hone your ability to understand new situations and make the right choices quickly and decisively.  With this ability you are likely to gain a reputation as a strong leader.

3.  Be a great listener

Learning every day depends on listening to those around us.  Talk to colleagues and peers, listen to their feedback and try to understand their point of view. Develop the art of being totally focused on what people are saying without getting distracted by planning your reply or interrupting.  Rather than making their own point, a good listener will ask questions until they have established all the facts and then, if in doubt, check their understanding by summarising what they have heard.   

If you find you are doing all the talking in a discussion, ask someone else to give their opinion and make a point of keeping quiet for a while.  If you disagree with their view, explain why in a way that makes it clear that you respect their opinion. That way, people are encouraged to share their thoughts with you and you benefit from hearing an alternative perspective.

4. Be positive

We all have setbacks, for instance when we don’t get a job, promotion or the exam results we had hoped for.  When this happens it is easy to feel defeated.  But remember, to achieve in life you need to retain a positive ‘can-do’ attitude.  For example, if you don’t pass an exam and say; “It’s too hard, I give up”, you will never learn where your knowledge was lacking or get the qualification you wanted.  However, if you remain positive, look at what went wrong with your paper and study hard in the areas that let you down you will be rewarded with success.   Take inspiration from the words of inventor and entrepreneur James Dyson, who overcame many setbacks in his early career; "Enjoy failure and learn from it. You can never learn from success."

5. Enjoy what you do

Your time is precious so use it wisely.  Take time to understand yourself, to work out what makes you happy and fulfilled and then set your goals based on these values.    A quote from the late esteemed journalist and television presenter, David Frost, sums this up nicely, “Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in and it will come naturally.”

Good luck!  

Do share your own favourite inspirational New Year's resolution.

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