Doing The Work You Were Born To Do

By Catherine Trebble

Have you ever felt like you were born to do something in particular with your life? Maybe you don't really understand why, but you feel yourself pulled in a particular direction and feel like if you don't do it now, you will regret it.

You might very well have a job right now that isn't so bad. Maybe you enjoy the people you work with and you get joy out of it. But it's still not what you really want to be doing with your life. It could be that you ended up in the job that you are in now because you took a wrong turn somewhere in your life, or maybe it's just because you've just never mustered up enough courage to take whatever leap you need to take to do what it is that you know you want to do.

As a person who has always had that feeling inside me, I can tell you from my own personal experience that if you feel yourself being pulled in a certain direction when it comes to your career, don't ignore it. Even if you feel right now is the worst time possible for you to just drop everything and pursue the job of your dreams, you can at least stop ignoring your calling and start working on a plan to get you from where you are right now to where you want to be.

When we're little, we always have an idea of what we want to be when we grow up. More often than not, we miss the boat and don't always get to realize our childhood dreams. As we grow older, not only do our interests change, but our realities change as well. But that doesn't mean you've missed the boat entirely.

There are many opportunities awaiting you out there. It all starts with working out what's right for you and then designing a plan that will help you get from where you are right now to where you want to be.

This plan will not only help make the transition from your comfort zone to your new career environment a lot smoother and easier to navigate, it will also help you achieve the happiness you want and deserve in your life.

There is a lot of truth in the saying "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life." When you do what you love, your entire outlook when it comes to work changes. Stress is minimized, your confidence and self esteem rises, and life is more enjoyable and fulfilling all around. When you love what you do for a living, you will find it easier to give more of yourself and to be the best at what you do. Because when you care about what you are doing, your heart is in it!

In life, there are no guarantees. You may think that you can pursue your dreams later, but if you continue to put things off, you may run out of time and there may be no later. We all know people who never 'got around to it'. So act now-even if the first step is to simply acknowledge what it is you want to do with your life. After that, it's all about making a plan and taking the steps, no matter how little or big, to launch you into doing what you know you were born to do.

Copyright (c) 2010 Catherine Trebble. All Rights Reserved.

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WRITERS WANTED!

How do I get a break into the competitive world of journalism?

We are regularly asked if we 'have any vacancies for journalists on our newspaper and magazine titles?'

The answer is; yes! ... We are always on the lookout for genuinely talented people. YOU are the lifeblood of future reporting and the news industry depends upon your input.

But first of all we need to know that you can develop the same high standard we have come to expect from our team of writers?

To give you a chance to shine as a scribe we select interns who can trial for a period as 'guest bloggers' on one of our publication's websites; working on established regional newspapers and magazines that go out in key areas throughout the UK.

In this way you get a chance to put your news and views across direct to our readers, 1000s of them, often gaining you an immediate following and linking your name, as a brand new journalist, with one of Britain's most successful and prolific regional publishing companies.

So, if you are really interested in making an impression and possibly joining our professional team of bloggers for a 12 week period of free training, please read the five tips below and then do get in touch with us...

Five Tips Every Guest Blogger Should Know


One of the best ways to increase your visibility is to become a guest blogger at a popular blog. This is a chance for you to gain exposure to a new audience and credibility by being associated with highly-respected bloggers with major followings. Guest blogging is a win-win situation for everyone if done right: the blog gets excellent and free content to use while the guest blogger gets increased exposure for their blog, brand or products.

Of course, there are many other people who want to become guest bloggers for the same reason it might make sense for you to do the same. In order to get the prime guest blogging spots on the top sites you need to make yourself and your content stand out from the pack. Here are five tips on how to make that happen:

1. Read and Understand the Blog: It's amazing how many people contact major blogs wanting to be guest bloggers without fully understanding what the blog is all about. Each blog has its own topics that are of interest to the owners and their readers. If you suggest content which is not appropriate your guest blogging request is going to be denied.

Instead, read through the past two to three months of blog posts to see what topics the blog is focused on. You'll want to avoid pitching topic ideas that have already been covered, but at the same time you might be able to pitch a rebuttal to a previous post or a different take on a popular theme. This will also give you a strong sense for the tone of the blog.

2. Know the Guest Blogging Guidelines: Not all blogs accept guest bloggers, so you'll want to make sure they do before you pitch them with your idea. If they do accept guest posts, chances are that they'll have specific guest blogger guidelines published on their site. It's important to review these rules before you contact a blog. You don't want to break any rules at the start which might anger the blog owners and make it harder for you to convince them to let you be a guest blogger. If you seem uninformed about the guidelines of the blog, it's tough to convince a blogger that you will provide great content.

3. Write the Blog First: If you are dealing with a very popular blog, chances are that the site's owners and editorial team are extremely busy. Taking the time to establish a rapport with the blog's management, pitching a story idea and then working through the details is time-consuming. In many cases, it's better to just write a blog on a topic you feel confident will work and send it to the blog. If they like it, they can publish it without having to jump through hoops. If they reject it, you can take it to another blog.

4. Prove Yourself: It's important to provide your credentials when sending over a guest blog in order for the bloggers to understand that you are an expert in the field. A guest blog written by a savvy industry professional is going to carry more weight than one written by a random person. Explain to the blog why you are the right person to discuss a certain topic with their audience and what perspective you bring that can't be found anywhere else.

5. Write a Compelling Headline: A great headline can do more than bring readers to your blog -- it's also the perfect way to grab the attention of the owner or editor of a blog. Much like readers, the people you contact with a request to guest post might only skim to the title of your proposed post. If it's interesting and engaging, they'll want to read more; if it's boring or stale, they'll move on. One great tip is to write a headline that proposes a question you will answer in your article.



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What Happens When Motivation Fails?

An article for Independent News by Lindelle Jones




When we put forth a constant effort to be positive and behave in a positive manner, yet the day comes to an end and you are lacking that motivation. What causes this type of motivational failure? How can we beat it?

There are probably two very different types of individuals that ask this question:

1) The Individual Being Motivated: Employee, Student, Daughter, Son, etc. These are the types of individuals that normally receive motivation from a motivator, or are guided along the self motivation path. Yet they have trouble finding motivation.

2) The Individual Motivator: Manager, Teacher, Mother, Father, etc. These are the types of individuals who inspire motivation, help guide motivation, and require self motivation. Yet they too find it hard to stay motivated.

Understanding the problem and finding a solution may vary upon individuals. The first group has lost confidence and need a bit of a nudge now and again. They are finding themselves and need to be guided along the pathway of motivation. It is important to note that this group tends to need motivation defined by someone else before they see it within themselves. They have to learn to set attainable goals. They must create a version of success within their own minds and follow their own path. They may need help along the way, but they'll make it.

The second group has to have an understanding of individualism and understand the fact that everyone is different. Nothing is set in stone, and what motivates one individual may not work for another. They have to be willing to help change the attitudes of others. Attitudes cause behavioural problems when they are out of synch with the individual. These are tell tale signs that more guidance is needed, and that the individual has yet to be motivated properly. When this group gets down they must reflect inward and look for the changes and adjustments they can make within their own lives.

Let's look at some of the things that motivate people. Some people are motivated by an example. A teacher gives guidance and motivates students by showing a positive attitude. The students pick up on this and exemplify that attitude. Some people are motivated by money. A manager and employee; the manager sets a bonus for productivity and the employee works toward that. A criminal and a police officer; the criminals actions are normally motivated by the fear of being caught and the thrill of getting away with something illegal. Fear can be a very powerful motivator. There are as many different types of motivators as there are people, and each individual is motivated by something unique to them. Some will be the same as others and others will be totally independent.

The idea is that with the right attitude and proper motivation, anyone can pick themselves back up. Some people may need help, others just need time. Overall it just depends on the individual and what motivates them.


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